Pepper 'n Spice

Its a very rainy day. Landslides and floods are predicted in parts of my state. All of us are cooped up indoors. To brighten the mood and atmosphere, my husband has lit candles on our Swedish candleholders. He has also put a few drops of lavender oil in the candle wax. The fragrance from the oil is pleasing and uplifting and also helps keep insects and bugs away that are plenty this monsoon season.   In my younger days, my family's favourite eatery was a Chinese restaurant called Mallaya. I used to like their Chinese fried rice and noodles.     For this recipe, I marinated the vegetables in soya sauce and spices, which helped reduce the cooking time and retain their crunchiness. Ingredients for the noodles are : Broad noodles, dry - 100 gms Water Garlic - 4 or 5 pod, peeled Carrot - 1, peeled Yellow zucchini - 1/2, peeled Green capsicum - 1, deseeded Mushroom - 4 or 5 Salt - 1/2 tsp Pepper - 1/4 tsp Red chili flakes - 1/4 tsp Soya sauce - 1 tsp Apple cider vinegar - ...

Soba noodles is thin noodles made from a combination of buckwheat and wholewheat flours. The cat is Rosina Wachtmeister's 'Enrico'. The porcelain figurine with swarovski crystals looks like a toy, but is very delicate. The colorful and artistic design appeals to both kids and adults. For the tomato paste, Onion - 2 medium sized, peeled Garlic cloves - 3 or 4, peeled Tomato - 3 small Red chili flakes - 1 and 1/2 tsp Oregano - 1 and 1/2 tsp Dried rosemary - 1/4 tsp Chicken masala - 1 tsp Ginger garlic paste - 1/2 tsp Salt - 1/2 tsp Coriander leaves - a handful Soba noodles - 150 gms Water Olive oil - 3 tsp Beans - 200 gms, ends trimmed Green capsicum - 1 Mushroom - 100 gms Yellow zuchinni - 1/2, peeled Carrot - 1, peeled Pepper - a pinch Paneer, frozen - 50 gms Green olives - 4 or 5, pitted Cheddar cheese Boil noodles in water, with little salt and a drop of oil. Strain. Put the noodles in cold water for a few minutes. Strain. Chop onions ...

Soba is Japanese noodles. This soup I made is chicken soup with a few noodle strands floating in the broth. If you cook the noodles along with the chicken and carrot, it will absorb the broth.  Talking about soba and Japan, there is an excellent book called Ikigai, which is the Japanese secret to a fulfilling life. I remember enjoying it. Ingredients for the soup are  Soba noodles - a few Chicken breasts - 2, cubed Carrot - 2, peeled and cubed Salt - to taste Pepper - 1 tsp Water - 4 cups Olive oil - 1 tsp Ginger - 1/2 inch, peeled and thinly chopped Garlic - 4 pods, peeled and thinly chopped Boil noodles in water till it swells up and becomes soft. Strain and keep aside. Clean chicken and cook in pressure cooker for 3 whistles. Open lid of cooker, add 3 cups of water, carrot, salt and pepper. Cook on slow flame, 15 to 20 minutes without lid. In a saucepan, add olive oil. When it becomes warm, add ginger and garlic. Stir, 5 minute...