Memories are myopic? Are they?? Well i don’t completely agree to this belief,since i am amongst those who dwell in beautiful past.I hate to look at reprehensible stuff around me,but unfortunately i am always forced to throw myself in pits of gloom,corruption,political vested interests and rising prices and declining bank balances.Pity ,i can’t turn my eyes off the budging ugly head of terrorism and hatred but i wish i was allowed to be self occupied ,innocent,energetic and bubbly kid forever and ever and ever!
Well, i donot wear wishbones where my backbone ought to be,i am as practical as a person is supposed to be,but still there are moments when i simply loathe growing up , coz no longer i enjoy the simple blisses of life as i did when life was all about toys and plays,friends and laughter,school and homeworks, Chuppa chuppi and chor police …two most fav. games of India’s EX-Kids….yes today’s generation is just not interested in such OUTDATED outdoor GAMES,when they have fancy gizmos to fiddle around for their amusements
Sincerely ,how many of you remember chasing your friends behind the nook and corners of houses to do a THAPI(patting the wall to declare out),or during blind buff.How many of you still cherish the memories of climbing the trees of neighbours to pluck the mangoes or guavas?Despite  a load of fruits being omnipresent at your home courtesy to your father ,doesn’t those secretly PLUCKED mangoes tasted much sweeter??
How many of you hid the bruised knee or elbows from your parents ,so that they don’t come to know about your adventure of climbing to a roof to get back that shuttlecock which almost always landed to the neighbour’s roof?
Is anyone still nostalgic about the so called DOLL’s wedding,a trip to a neighbouring park with friends,breaking glass window panes with your cricket balls,or that triumphant shout when you got hold of that kite at some higher branch of tree,the non ending talks with your friends at a terrace ,sharing your innermost joys and woes?The Group studies,the nights that were spend awake studying at some friend’s place with many rounds of milk ,tea  and snacks by the lovely aunts.The freaking feeling of going dud in exams ,or the most peaceful feeling in the world when you handed the last exam answer paper to your teacher?
The celebration of clearing exams ,at some roadside restaurant with menu of DOsa,pavbhaji or even Vadapav,when you were surviving on shoestring budget.The shrieks(of joy) of friends in hostel when you carried some home made Gaajar ka halwa or Ladoos,which your mother packed for them,so that the poor things do not miss their family on festivals.Those silly fears,ridiculous fights,melodramatic patch ups,all in all a great life !
Sigh,i still long for those days? Do you??
My mind was flooded with nostalgic memories ,since i made this Prasad rice and Bhee patata(lotus stem and potato curry)The reason?? Well because of two reasons….one that this preparation is generally distributed at Langars and they taste awesome, and secondly this lunch enjoyed the numero Uno position during marriage ceremonies in Sindhis,few decades back,when there was no trend of Buffet Lunch or Dinner as such.The marriage ceremony was held in simple way,with just biscuits and Sherbets or tea.But yes, Relatives and neighbours were included into the joyous atmosphere by sharing this Bheepatata and Degh Waara chaanwara.Huge(and i mean HUGE) Iron or aluminum pots or containers  were kept outside on logs of wood,or coal(sighri) or stove,and a generous quantity of rice and curry was cooked on it . It was called DEGH.The same was then distributed in the family,relatives and neighbors to share the joy of marriage.

So let me share, how i made this most wonderful Sindhi curry and rice combination.The above thali consists of Degh waara Chaanwara(spiced rice),Bheepatata (lotus stem and potato curry),Gulabjamuns, Roti(flatbread),Sindhi Papad,Ghogroon ji khatain(Turnip pickle), and KABABS(crispies made from rice flour)

For Rice:

Ingredients:

• 2 cup basmati rice or any brand that you generally use(i didn’t used basmati)
• 1tiny (1″) piece of cinnamon
• 2 tsp of oil(less will do)
• 2 cloves
• 1 whole black cardamom(vado photo or black elaichi)
• 2 -3 blackpeppers(whole)
• 1 Bayleaf (tejpatta)
• Approximately 4 and half cups of water(you may need more or less depending upon the type of rice and its quality)
• Few drops of orange food colour(optional)
• Salt as per taste

• Pick and rinse rice few times with water ,till water runs clear
• Let the rice soak in water for about half hour(or 15 minutes if using Basmati)
• In a heavy bottom pan,Add 2 tspn of oil,and put all the whole spices and stir fry for few seconds
• Add rice and salt and mix gently
• Add water(almost double the quantity of rice) and few drops of orange colour(optional).Mix well,allow it to boil and then simmer.Cover it with lid,and gently mix it for one or two times after some time(2 minutes or so)
• Cook till rice grains are cooked from the core,and all water is evaporated
• Serve hot with Bhee patata curry

For Bhee patata(lotus stem and potato curry)

Ingredients:

• 2 Potatoes -Do not peel the skin.Just clean the surface thoroughly and if needed soak whole potatoes in warm water for few minutes and then gently scrap any mud residues).You can go ahead and peel it too if the skin is not clean enough
• Lotus stem(roots) or Bhee.Here again thoroughly wash the stem and get rid of the mud.The pores of stem ,if still muddy,could be cleaned with tooth picks,or again soak them in warm water and hold them under running tap for few seconds to wash away any residual mud. Depending upon the size and thickness ,you might need about 8-10 ,1″ thick  pieces of bhee.And don’t forget to slice them slantly
• 1  Onion (medium sized)
• 2 tomatoes
• 1 small brinjal (use half  brinjal if it is big sized)
• Shelled green peas,a handful
• Ginger about 1″
• Green chillies 2-3 depending upon your taste
• 1 /4 tspn Garam Masala
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
• 1 tsp Dhania Powder
• 1/2 tsp Jeera powder
• Salt to Taste
• 2-4  tspn Oil
• Fresh coriander leaves for garnishing

Method:

• Clean and cut bhee into slanting slices and pressure cook them with some salt and water till 2 whistles are heard(If the bhee quality is really good,it will be soft in just one whistle,so be aware).
• Remove the bhee from cooker and place aside.Clean the potaotes and cut them into large chunks.Wash and add salt and keep it aside for few minutes,taking care not to let them blacken(soak them in water in case they start turning black and you still are not ready to put them into curry)
• In same pressure cooker,add 2 -4 tspn of oil(depending upon your health consciousness),and saute chopped onions
• When onions turn pinkish,add chopped brinjal(with skin) and saute it till the mixture is brown in colour
• Add chopped tomatoes,salt ,chopped green chillies,ginger and all dry masalas
• Stir fry it for some more time and add potatoes and bhee and mix them very well.Add few spoons of water if the mixture is too dry
• Fry them for atleast 2 minutes(keep adding some water if mixture sticks to the bottom of cooker) and then add water(above the surface of bhee and potato mixture) and shelled peas
• Close the lid of cooker and wait for one whistle.Put the gas on sim for a minute or so and then put off the gas
• Check for the seasoning and consistency of gravy and adjust according to your taste
• Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and enjoy it with piping hot rice