Chicken Tikka Commentary--with a great tip at the end for perfect basmati rice

form my other blog too...

Saturday, September 18, 2010

purposeful sensory overload

Life is hard. Human suffering that I have seen, see, know of, is making me sad and feel disconnected from the simple pleasures of my keeping at home...I was out from 9-3 today, a Saturday...I seem to be out alot...even when it seems like i am scheduled to be home more than usual...actually I was "out" via the phone working something out that took an emotional toll.

It is easy to think you want to live in the country, when you drive though it on a blue sky sunny day. it is easy to talk about things that are yet to be done, standing a gabbing when there is work to be done. It is hard to feel at home when you have a heart to alleviate suffering, and you can't.

Tonight in my oven is a most aromatic dinner, that i did not have all the ingredients for it, but i made anyway. I've never made it before but i have been thinking about it for weeks. Chicken Tikka, pre-made canned saag, and perfectly textured basmati. *It is drifting in the kitchen window like a cartoon genie emerging from a bottle. It is mesmerizing the neighbors by now, because I am still making use of my outdoor oven set-up to keep the house cool, and in case the aroma was too potent and got stuck in the curtains! it is definitely potent. One of my grown sons is sick, it will get past his stuffy nose.

It is sensory jamming, can't get around it....I needed override this out of sorts feeling that i have.

(Also, if I am going to be half starved being good on a diet that is really saving my life, and does give me more energy, i am going to eat something memorable,that might make me feel hungry. I have been cooking both lunches and suppers, and will continue until I have gotten"back to where i once belonged! spring rolls on Thursday for lunch, baked of course. Five spice ground chicken breast and veggies....no one will suffer on mom's diet...no whining!!!)

Tonight's menu:

Basmati Note--I learned form my Indian friend Nina that you use less water then with brown rice, and cook only until it is absorbed and leave it...the texture is wonderful, not like the pablum i used to serve.Now to get this house in order for the Sabbath and determine to meet next weeks challenges, both known and unknown.