A coconut based stew - Thengai paal rasam

It has been more than 2 weeks since my fiancee left to the US. I have been talking non-stop about him to anyone whom I find on my way (wink) - literally my cousins were running away from the sight they see me beacuse I have bored them with my S-tales.

For the past few days, I have been missing him terribly and I found my dreams being filled with all fairy-tales about my prince charming.

Din-dong...... din-dong..... - The door bell rang at 6.00am at my residence on Xmas morning. My mother very lethargically got out of her bed thinking it to be the milk-fella.

Again.....

Din-dong....din-dong..... She yelled back "Yaaa! coming" and she opens the door and goes awestruck.

That was 'S' (my fiancee) standing with a bunch of flowers. My mom neither reacted nor greeted him. She stood there frozen.

I am not describing any scene from a bollywood movie, this happened to me on 25th December morning.

He walked straight into my room and said "Wake up".

I saw someone tall looking like "S" standing with flowers. I thought it to be my usual dream and spared a huge smile and continued to sleep.

He repeated with a louder tone "Get up...get up".

The voice sounded very similar to S's.I slowly woke up scratching my head and I opened my eyes again. I was completely shocked to see him in India...in Chennai...in my room. My eyes popped out and my mouth went wide open. I looked around and didn't know whether its a dream or he was there for real. In that moment of confusion too, I could hear the song "Tuje dekha toyeh jana sanam" in the back drop. Typical Indian girl nah!!! and typical Bollywood movie buff nah!!! (smiles).

Then I saw my mother-in-law smiling and she said "He has come down to spend the new year with you". I blushed and I am sure I was all pink.

Still I didn't speak a word and the next thing that came to my mind was "Oh my god!!!! How am I looking now!!!...jus-out-of-the-bed-look...Poor S would have got scared!! I tucked my face immediately into the duvey."

He then gave me the flowers and chocolates :-)
This is the best new year surprise I have ever had in my life. Thanks S!!!!! Life cann't get any better.

My mom, MIL, FIL and S kept talking and I was too quiet, hardly able to believe the fact that He is in India for me. :-)

The happiness further doubled as my article on Child health got published in Deccan Herald daily. ''S" is becoming my lucky charm. :-)

Now about the post for today.

A simple hot spicy soup just apt for this chilly weather. The lovely aromatic rasam masalas blends beautifully with the thick coconut milk and unfolds a perfect authentic mixture that is sure to tickle your taste buds. We either drink it as a soup or eat it with steamy rice.

Ingredients

• 1 cup vertically sliced onion
• 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
• 2 tsp ginger paste
• 2tsp garlic paste
• 2 tsp chilli powder
• 4 tsp coriander powder
  
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1-2 green chillies - slit lenghtwise
• 1 tsp rasam podi
• 500ml water
• 1 cup thick coconut milk
• 1/2 lemon
  
• 1 tbs ghee
• 1/2 bunch coriander
• Salt to taste

Masala:

• 1/2 tsp fennel seeds
• 1/2" cinnamon stick
• 2-3 cloves

Method

Heat the ghee in a cooking pan. Add the whole masalas, ginger-garlic paste and green chillies and stir for few seconds.

Saute the onions till brown in the tempered oil. Add the chopped tomatoes with little salt and let them cook for a couple of min.

Add the turmeric powder, coriander powder and chilli powder. Cook till the raw smell disappears. It would take about 3-5min. Add the rasam podi and saute for another 3-5min. Add the water and bring them to boil.

Simmer the flame for another 10min.Switch off. Now add the coconut milk and salt. Mix thoroughly and squeeze in the lemon juice.

Garnish with coriander and serve hot with soup sticks/pepper papads.

Note: This can also be taken with rice and tastes great with Tapioca Masala Curry.

WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY AND FUN-FILLED NEW YEAR! GOD BLESS!!!