Cool sounding books!
17 September 2002, 2:50 PM

Dangit! I just found two books I may just HAVE TO HAVE:

Sidra is Published...
17 September 2002, 2:21 PM

Bushed, and a recipe: Zarda
17 September 2002, 2:19 PM

I've been feeling really run-down this weekend. Enough so that I called in sick to work on Monday. It's probably related to allergies, but it's taking a long time to go away. I got a lot done at work today, but my creativity seems non-existent. And I still just want to go crawl back into bed.

Even so, I've managed to get a number of things done since last week. I de-fuzzed the bathroom. (I have lots o'hair on my head okay?) It's all nice and sparkly now. Got rid of a bunch of things by way of Goodwill, got some new plants for inside (Pothos Ivy) and cleaned up the kitchen. It's all nice and sparkly now too. :-)

I'm also keeping up with my studying, which is pleasing me to no end. It means that I can HAVE A LIFE even as I work full-time and finish my degree. In fact, I may have guests over soon for tea and cakes. Seriously. :-)

Another recipe - one I plan to make tonight:

Zarda - Sweet Orange Rice

1 cup basmati rice
2 cardamom (whole) 1 clove (whole)
zest of one orange
pulp of one orange (don't include skins or icky white stuff!)
1.5 cups of sugar
1/2 tsp Kewra water
(you can find this in Indian food stores) Food coloring (yellow, a few drops)

Boil 4 cups of water, along with the cardamom and cloves. Add rice and cook till almost tender. Drain. Boil orange zest 5minutes. Discard liquid. Melt sugar in 1/2 cup of water, pour over rice. Add orange zest and pulp and sprinkle with Kewra water. Turn gently to incorporate, and keep on very low heat until most of the liquid has evaporated. (Sometimes will have a nice crunchy layer on the bottom.)

Serve warm with milk or cream, or cold with cool whip topping.

There are many different versions of Zarda (an Indian desert), but this is the version I learn from my Dadijan.