Recipe | Beaten Rice Poha – The joy of holding an award.. Recipe
We all love to win, it makes us feel good.
Well, I can only remember winning a couple of small events during school days and receiving colourful plastic pencil boxes or laminated certificates from the principal…Those were small wins, but were wins nonetheless.
Though a little disappointment for not getting a ‘real trophy‘ still remain 🙂
I was in for a surprise when I received a call from Aval Kitchen magazine informing me about my nomination for ‘Best Food Stylist’ award.
Pic courtesy Aval Vikatan
Aval Vikatan is a very popular regional magazine from South India and they conduct many such award functions at regular intervals to felicitate various artistes in music, cinema and other creative fields.
The award function was conducted at Crown Plaza to felicitate creative persons around Tamil Nadu for their contribution in the food industry.
I remember sitting in the front row with my family which was reserved for the privileged guests of the event. The banquet hall was filled with eminent personalities from the food world. I could recognize Chef Damu, Mallika Badrinath and many other television personalities sitting next to us.
The event was yet to begin, and while most of the crowd was busy checking their mobiles, my mind started to wander into the food world.
It went back to that moment when I hesitantly answered a phone call to accept the first food styling assignment. A series of food images and memorable interactions from every photo shoot started rolling by, as I gazed at the big screen in front.
I stepped out of my dreamworld the moment I saw myself on the big screen. It was the AV (audio-visual) about my life and food journey.
I could clearly visualize the gradual transformation of that reluctant back-stage food stylist into one who is more confident & authoritative in her field now.
“They called your name mom” my daughter shook my hand, she literally had to push me off the chair when my name was announced for the award.
To my surprise the stage was already full…they invited all the eminent chefs from Aval vikatan magazine and their art director to felicitate me with the award.
I was overwhelmed & emotional at such an honour. To whoever said that “receiving an award is not just for show, it is a symbol of respect and acceptance of a greater responsibility”.
And finally, here I hold a ‘real award‘ on stage, in front of the crowd. It was a surreal moment for me.
And the moment of astonishment has not quite ended yet…
Thank you Aval Kitchen for the recognition and for awarding me this beautiful trophy, which I will cherish forever.
Check the You tube video of award function here. My intro starts exactly at 1:23:50 time in the video 🙂
Beaten rice Poha or Kanda poha
A quick and simple recipe of Beaten rice onion poha or Kanda poha which is quite popular India and is a staple breakfast food in many households.
Ingredients;
(serve 2)
1 medium potato
1 tbsp roasted groundnuts
Salt to taste
Tempering;
1 tbsp oil
1 green chilly
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp. fennel seeds
Few curry leaves and coriander leaves
Method; rinse beaten rice in a strainer and keep it aside for 5-10 minutes.
Peel and chop onion, green chilly and potato into very fine slices.
Heat oil and splutter mustard and fennel seeds.
Add chopped green chilly, onion, potato, curry leaves, salt, sugar, turmeric powder and combine well.
Cover the kadai with a lid and let it cook for 3-4 minutes.
Add soaked beaten rice, lemon juice, combine well and put off the flame.
Garnish it with chopped coriander leaves and serve with a sprinkle of spicy mixture.
Notes;
Do not over wash the beaten rice as it may turn soggy and lumpy.
Use medium size beaten rice (not the thin variety) to make this recipe.
You can spruce up your poha with grated carrots or fresh peas. .
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