By

VIKRAM KARVE

I love tea.

You too love a cup of invigorating tea, don’t you – but tell me do you know how to make a good cup of delicious tea?

Okay, let me tell you the time-tested simple way of preparing the best cup of invigorating tea.

Get some good Assam CTC Tea [CTC is an acronym for Crush, Tear and Curl].

CTC teas have a granular appearance and the fact of the matter is that if you are really interested in a Stimulating, Refreshing and Invigorating cup of traditional Indian Tea, Orthodox Leaf Teas [the OPs, the BOPs, et al] just don’t fit the bill – you need CTC tea to brew your strong, bright and full-bodied cup of milky Chai which looks deliciously appetizing – a lively reddish orange colour, not the dull muddy brown colour you get when you add milk to tea made from leaf teas the orthodox “teapot” way.

Take two cups of fresh water [one for you and one for me!] in a stainless steel vessel. Add four teaspoons of sugar. Put on the stove, cover with a lid and boil. Once the water starts boiling, remove the lid and boil for one and a half minutes – yes, exactly one and a half minutes!

Now briskly add two teaspoons of CTC Tea leaves – the boiling water will suddenly erupt, and surge up, like a volcano, so smartly switch off the flame before it spills over and quickly cover tightly with the lid.

Brew for five minutes till the liquor is full-bodied and the infusion is complete.

Have ready some freshly boiled full cream buffalo milk – yes, fresh creamy buffalo milk is a must – in Pune, I prefer Chitale’s.

First pour in some hot milk in the cup, and through a strainer, pour in the rich tea brew and till you get beautiful reddish orange colour.

Remember – always pour tea into milk, never pour milk into tea.

This is the secret of the appetizingly attractive bright lively carroty red colour as it facilitates the perfect blending of the strong rich full-bodied intense tea liquor tea brew with the creamy white milk without producing any bitterness.

Now, go ahead, relish every sip, and enjoy your cup of ambrosial divine rejuvenating tea.

And do tell us how you liked your delicious cup of tea.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2009

Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

http://books.sulekha.com/book/appetite-for-a-stroll/default.htm
VIKRAM KARVE educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU and The Lawrence School Lovedale, is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, a Human Resource and Training Manager by occupation, a Teacher by vocation, a Creative Writer by inclination and a Foodie by passion. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. His delicious foodie blogs have been compiled in a book “Appetite for a Stroll”. Vikram lives in Pune with his family and pet Doberman girl Sherry, with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

[A Simple recipe for the ultimate Mughlai dish]

By

VIKRAM KARVE

If you want a first impression of the authenticity of a “Mughlai” Restaurant, the first dish you must order and taste is a “Do Piaza” and it will give you an idea of the standard and authenticity of Mughlai Cuisine you can expect there.

Indeed the “Do Piaza” may be considered the culinary benchmark to judge and evaluate a Mughlai Restaurant.

And if Do Piaza [Mutton or Chicken] doesn’t figure on the menu, you better order Chinese or Continental, or stick to the ubiquitous “Punjabi” Butter Chicken-Naan routine!

“Do Piaza” means “two onions” or rather “double onions”.

Now how did this dish get its name?

Maybe it’s apocryphal, but legend has it that this delicious dish was invented by Mullah Do-Piaza, a renowned and celebrated cook at the Mughal Emperor Akbar’s court. One of the Navaratnas (nine jewels), it is said he could conjure up culinary delights using only two onions, and a Mughlai dish cooked in that particular style is called a “Do Piaza”.

Water is not used at all when cooking a Do Piaza.

Onions (Piaz or Pyaaz) are used twice – hence the name “Do” [“Two”] Piaza, or Pyaaza, spell it whichever way you like.

Come Dear Reader and fellow Foodie; let’s together cook a Chicken Do Piaza. It takes time, but it’s easy.

THE FIRST PIAZA

First cut a generous number of onions (the more the onions the sweeter the gravy) into rings, yes separate onion rings.

Now, in a large cooking vessel, put in the chicken pieces, add a liberal amount of curds and mix well. Copiously layer the chicken-curd mixture with the onion rings, cover with a tight lid and set aside to marinate for at least an hour.

Remember, do not vigorously mix in the onion rings; just liberally layer the chicken-curd mélange with the onion rings.

After marinating the chicken-curd-onion ring mixture for an hour or more, place the vessel on a slow fire with the lid on, and let the chicken cook slowly in its own juices and those released by the onion rings, till the onion rings are reduced to a pulp and, finally, the liquid almost dries up.

This is the first “Piaza”!

THE SECOND PIAZA

In another pan, pour in and heat pure ghee and fry sliced onions (the “second” piaza) till crisp brown, add finely chopped ginger and garlic, bay leaf, slit green chillies, cardamoms, cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns, and then an adequate amount of chopped tomatoes, stir and fry on slow fire, and when the ghee separates, add the chicken [cooked in curds and onion rings] from the first pot, and stir fry till well browned and the gravy becomes nice and thick.

I don’t like to add garam masala, turmeric, red chilli powder, or any other spice powders; but if you like it, go ahead.

I always find it best to taste the gravy and add the minimal amount of salt as necessary almost at the end of the cooking process.

Remember, do not add water at any stage or you will ruin the dish.

A “Do Piaza” cooks in its own juices – during both the first and second “piazas”.

EATING THE “DO PIAZA”

Place in a serving dish, squeeze a lemon, garnish with fresh green chopped coriander and your Chicken Do Piaza is ready to eat.

But first let’s “visually” savour the Do Piaza in our mind’s eye.

It looks appetizing – nicely browned generous pieces of succulent mutton, in translucent juicy onion rings in scrumptious gravy.

It smells good too – heavenly mouth-watering aroma wafts towards you making you smack your lips and salivate in anticipation of the gastronomic treat that awaits you.

It tastes marvellous – absolutely delicious, not spicy hot, but mild and flavoursome, the unique sweetish zest of onions is discernible and as the heavenly medley of flavours and fragrances synergizes inside you, and you feel a sense of supreme satisfaction.

Relish the Chicken Do Piaza with hot chappties, phulkas or even a piece of soft fluffy pav, and you will experience sheer bliss.

Happy Eating.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2009

Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

http://books.sulekha.com/book/appetite-for-a-stroll/default.htm

http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com

vikramkarve@sify.com

VIKRAM KARVE educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU and The Lawrence School Lovedale, is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, a Human Resource and Training Manager by occupation, a Teacher by vocation, a Creative Writer by inclination and a Foodie by passion. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. His delicious foodie blogs have been compiled in a book “Appetite for a Stroll”. Vikram lives in Pune with his family and pet Doberman girl Sherry, with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

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The Apple in the Bible

In the Bible King Solomon says in his Song:

I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.

As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women.

As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

Sustain me with grape-cakes; refresh me with apples, for I am sick with love.

His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me!

Upon reading this Biblical song, one may ask if the Bible is a book that teaches the religion or a book that teaches the private hot issues happening between men and women!

In the Noble Quran, the great Prophet King Solomon does not say such a song.

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Song of Solomon 2:1-6 in four different versions of the Bible:

New International Version

1 I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.

2 Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens.

3 Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

4 He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love.

5 Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.

6 His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.

American Standard Version

1 I am a rose of Sharon, A lily of the valleys.

2 As a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters.

3 As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, So is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, And his fruit was sweet to my taste.

4 He brought me to the banqueting-house, And his banner over me was love.

5 Stay ye me with raisins, refresh me with apples; For I am sick from love.

6 His left hand is under my head, And his right hand doth embrace me.

King James Version

1I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.

2As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

3As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

4He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

5Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.

6His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.

Young’s Literal Translation

1As a lily among the thorns,

2So [is] my friend among the daughters!

3As a citron among trees of the forest, So [is] my beloved among the sons, In his shade I delighted, and sat down, And his fruit [is] sweet to my palate.

4He hath brought me in unto a house of wine, And his banner over me [is] love,

5Sustain me with grape-cakes, Support me with citrons, for I [am] sick with love.

6His left hand [is] under my head, And his right doth embrace me.

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The Apple in the Quran

The Noble Quran does not mention the Apple but it talks about the fruits in general. The Quran says: for those who merit Paradise, they have different kinds of fruit therein and, therein, they have whatever they ask or call for, they have whatever they desire or wish for.

Verses 36: 55-58 talk about the fruits in the afterlife for those who merit Paradise i.e. the inhabitants of Paradise.

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The meaning of verse 36: 55

Indeed, this day which is the Day of Judgment, those who merit Paradise i.e. the inhabitants of Paradise are busy; they are delighting in pleasures; they are not tiring with anything wearisome, as there is no toil in Paradise; they are blissful and rejoicing in comfort.

The meaning of verse 36: 56

For those who merit Paradise, i.e. the inhabitants of Paradise, they and their wives are in pleasant shade; in other words, no sunlight affects them. They and their wives are on thrones reclining; reclining upon couches (the word couches in Arabic is pronounced as “Ara’ik”, which is the plural of ar?ka. Ar?ka is a bed inside a curtained canopy, or the bedding therein on thrones reclining)

The meaning of verse 36: 57

For those who merit Paradise, i.e. the inhabitants of Paradise, they have different kinds of fruit therein and, therein, they have whatever they ask or call for, they have whatever they desire or wish for.

The meaning of verse 36: 58

1. For those who merit Paradise, i.e. the inhabitants of Paradise, Allah, the Lord of the worlds will greet them with the word “Peace”; they are greeted with the greeting of peace! In other words, Allah, the Merciful Lord will say to them, ‘Peace be on you!’

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Verses 36: 55-58 of the Noble Quran in four different translations:

Verse 36: 55

QARIB: indeed, the companions of the garden are this day busy in their rejoicing.

SHAKIR: surely the dwellers of the garden shall on that day be in an occupation quite happy

PICKTHAL: lo! those who merit paradise this day are happily employed,

YUSUFALI: verily the companions of the garden shall that day have joy in all that they do;

Verse 36: 56

QARIB: together with their spouses, they shall recline on couches in the shade.

SHAKIR: they and their wives shall be in shades, reclining on raised couches

PICKTHAL: they and their wives, in pleasant shade, on thrones reclining;

YUSUFALI: they and their associates will be in groves of (cool) shade, reclining on thrones (of dignity);

Verse 36: 57

QARIB: they shall have fruits and all that they call for.

SHAKIR: they shall have fruits therein, and they shall have whatever they desire

PICKTHAL: theirs the fruit (of their good deeds) and theirs (all) that they ask;

YUSUFALI: (every) fruit (enjoyment) will be there for them; they shall have whatever they call for;

Verse 36: 58

QARIB: peace, a saying from the most merciful lord.

SHAKIR: peace: a word from a merciful lord

PICKTHAL: the word from a merciful lord (for them) is: peace!

YUSUFALI: “peace!” – a word (of salutation) from a lord most merciful!

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Back to my question unto the smart and interested reader:

Is the Quran quoted from the Bible?

Professor Dr. Ibrahim Khalil
? Prof. of Clinical and Chemical Pathology,
? Head of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control Unit, Ain-Shams University. Cairo, Egypt,
? President of the Egyptian Society of Inventors,
? Member of the Egyptian union of Writers,
? Published some 60 Medical Articles,
? Supervisors for 79 PhD theses,
? Supervisors for 111 Master Degree theses,
? Co-Chief Editor of the Egyptian Journal of Lab. Medicine,
? Honorary President of SPIC-Egypt (The Society of Practitioners of Infection Control – Egypt)