Hindi Short Story- Chalak Khargosh

बच्चो की कहानी: चालाक खरगोश

एक बार की बात है जब निक्कू नाम का एक खरगोश सुंदर से एक घने बगीचे के आस-पास रहता था। उस बगीचे के आस-पास कई अन्य प्राणी भी रहते थे, परंतू बाग में जाने से वह सब डरते थे। एक दिन निक्कू अपनी पत्नी के साथ बाग में घूम रहा था, जब उसकी पत्नी की नज़र एक पेड पर पडी। पेड़ पर मीठे-मीठे ताज़ा फल लटके देखे तो उसके पत्नी के मुँह में पानी आ गया। उसने निक्कू को पेड़ से फल तोड़ कर लाने को कहा। इस पर निक्कू ने कहा कि, "यह बाग एक भेड़िये का है जो बहुत ही खूँखार है। अगर उसे पता चला कि हमने पेड़ से फल तोड़े है तो वह हम दोनों को मार कर खा जाएगा।" परन्तु निक्कू की पत्नी उसके समझाने पर भी ना मानी। हारकर निक्कू को पेड़ से फल तोड़ने के लिए जाना पड़ा।

निक्कू और उसकी पत्नी

भेड़िया वहा बगीचे के एक कोने में तभी सो रहा था। निक्कू ने जैसे ही पेड़ से फल तोड़ने शुरू करे, उसके आवाज़ से वह भेडिया जाग गया और वहाँ उस पेड के पास पहूँच गया। निक्कू को संदह हो गया था कि भेड़िया जाग गया होगा, इस्लिए उसने अपनी पत्नी को पेड़ के पिछे जल्दी से छुप जाने को कहा।

भेड़िया

और फिर निक्कू ने तुरंत फल लेकर वहां से भागा और वही पेड़ के पास एक ड्रम पडा था। निक्कू उस ड्रम में जाकर घूस गया और उसके अंदर में फल रखकर बाहर आकर चुपचाप खडा हो गया। तभी भेड़िया वहाँ आ गया और उसने निक्कू से पूछा, "क्या तुमने किसी खरगोश को यहा से फल ले जाते हुए देखा है।"

निक्कू ड्रम के पास

निक्कू फौरन समझ गया कि भेड़िये ने उसे नहीं पहचाना। तभी उसे एक उपाय सूझा, उसने भेड़िये से कहा कि, "अभी एक खरगोश को मैंने इस ड्रम में घूसते हुए देखा है। उसके पास बहुत सारे फल थे।"

निक्कू भेड़िये के साथ

भेड़िया ड्रम के पास गया, जब भेड़िये ने ड्रम के अंदर शूँगा, तो उसे वहां से फलों की खशबू आने लगी, भेड़िये उस खरगोश को मारने के लिए उस ड्रम के अंदर घूस गया। अब जैसे ही भेड़िया ड्रम के अंदर घुसा, चालाक निक्कू ने फटाफट उस ड्रम का दरवाजा ढक्कन से बंद कर दिया। भेड़िया ड्रम में छटपटाने लगा और उसके अंदर ही कैद होकर रह गया। निक्कू और उसकी पत्नी ने राहत की सांस ली तथा दूसरे प्राणियों को भी यह सूसंवाद सुनाया। यह सुनकर दुसरे प्राणी बहुत प्रसन्न हुए तथा निक्कू को आदर और उच्छसित होकर बगीचे का मालीक घोषित कर दिया।

निक्कू ने अपने दिमाग का सही समय पर उपयोग किया और निपुण काम किया। निक्कू और उसकी पत्नी उस बगीचे के मालिक बन गए और वह कभी किसी प्राणी को फल तोडने से नहीं रोकते थे। सभी उस बाग में खुशी से आते और कोइ संकोच के बगैर उधर घूमते रहते थे। भेड़िया उस ड्रम के अंदर ही पड़े-पड़े मर गया, अब कोई भी उस खूंखार भेड़िये से भयभीत होकर न रहता था।

निक्कू

इस तरह से निक्कू ने अपनी बुद्धि से न सिर्फ अपनी जान बचाई बल्कि उस बगिचे में आते हुए हर एक प्राणी की मदद की ताकी कोई भी उस भेडिये के आतंक से ना डरे और नाही छिपते हुए रहे। तथा चालाक निक्कू ने न केवल अपनी पत्नी की इच्छा पूर्ण कि बल्कि उस बगीचे का मालिक भी बन गया। फिर निक्कू और उसकी पत्नी दोनों भेड़िये के डर के बिना खुशी से अपना जिवन व्यतित करने लगे तथा बगीचे में आते हुए हर प्राणी का सम्मान करते थे। ।

सीख: चालाक बुद्धि परिस्थिति को न केवल संभाल सकता है परंतु उसे जीत भी लेता है।

Moral: Clever intelligence can handle not only the situation but also conquers it.

Author: Paromita Pramanick

Reference: Conceptualised from खरगोश और भेड़िये की प्रेरक कहानी

Other Hindi Short Stories --

दो कंजूस  [Two Miser]

छेद वाला मटका  [Chhed wala Matka]

खेल के मैदान  [Playground]

बातूनी कछुआ  [The Talkative Turtle]

प्यासा कौआ  [ThirstyCrow]

छोटी तितली  [Chhoti Titli]

बताशा और चींटी [Antsand the Sugar Candy]

Paromita Pramanick ©2018. All Rights Reserved.

Easy Kadhai Mushroom

Today I'll share a short discovering story about Mushrooms, before I share the recipe with you. As I recall the first time when actually did I see the Mushrooms in my life and when I started learning or discovering about mushrooms. It was about 2 and a half decades ago when I was just a kid about 6, I went to my mamma's natives which is quite far from Kolkata. Her native is a beautiful land of cultivating crops and cattle rearing, I could still remember the blankets of greenery all over acres of land, also the tall bamboo trees on both sides of the road. It was amazing to pluck the fresh fruits or vegetables from the plants those were cultivated in my maternal's own farm.

And that is how while wandering around the farms I came across a white colored spongy textured outgrowths near the swamps or marshy areas. I found them bulbous, an umbrella-shaped structure growing in moist places under the sack of hays and woods. People at that time were unaware of the nutritious factors related to those edible fungi, and my maternal uncle was just too fussy about not to touch those weedy growths in his farms. Then I was not quite learned about those tiny white plants, which we actually had consumed in one of our restaurant visit in Tirupati way back in the early 90's. It was pretty interesting to discover something later I would love to eat as a substitute for meat. This was a small memory about my discovery of the Mushrooms. Now coming to the recipe that I'm going to share today is quite very simple 'Easy Kadhai Mushroom'.

Mushrooms are often the first choices for most of the non-meat eaters. And when it comes to making a vegetarian special dish, we usually think about making either Paneer, Soya chunks or of course Mushrooms. Mushrooms are highly recommended for the vegetarians as it contains a higher percentage of proteins and vitamins when compared to egg or meat for the non-vegetarians. Hence Mushrooms recipes are an alternative and very delightful option for the vegetarian and as well as non-vegetarian when they want to prepare something beyond the non-veg course. And these Mushrooms must be always fresh while buying them from the market and washed properly with water before cooking.

Easy Kadhai Mushroom is a kind of very simple recipe prepared with just four main ingredients and other spices. Basically, it requires very less time for the preparation as well. Easy Kadhai Mushroom can be served with Naan roti, Stuffed parathas, or hot steamed rice.

Here I have shared my version of the 'Easy Kadhai Mushroom' recipe with step by step instructions.

Easy Kadhai Mushroom

Tips:

1. Rinse the mushrooms thoroughly with water. Do not soak the mushrooms in water while washing them, because it will absorb water and spoil the taste.
2. Do not add salt while frying the vegetables as this will release water, make them mushy and lose their crunchiness.

[Veg]

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Course: Side

Cuisine: Indian

Serves: 2

Measuring Items: Teaspoon

Ingredients:

1. Mushroom- 200 grams
2. Onion- 2
3. Capsicum- 1
4. Tomato- 3
5. Green chili- 4
6. Ginger- half an inch
7. Garlic- 8 cloves
8. Coriander leaves (for garnish)

Spices:

1. Red Mirchi powder- 1 Tsp
2. Turmeric powder- half Tsp
3. Coriander powder- 1.5 Tsp
4. Salt- half tsp
5. Refined Soyabean oil- 5 to 6 Tsp

Method:

How to prepare ‘Easy Kadhai Mushroom’ with step by step pictures and instructions-

1. Chop the vegetables and mushrooms as shown in the picture.
   
2. Take a nonstick pan, heat 1 tsp oil and put the mushrooms. (Mushrooms may release a little bit of water, so keep stirring them in medium flame and fry)
3. Remove mushrooms from the pan, and add 3 tsp oil followed by the chopped vegetables. Stir-fry for 2 minutes.
4. Bring in the mushrooms and vegetables together in the pan and fry for another two minutes.
   
5. Remove the stir-fried vegetables and mushrooms from the pan and keep aside.
   
6. Now add 2 tsp oil, followed by the sliced onions, green chili, minced ginger, and garlic. Saute for 2 minutes.
   
7. Add the powdered spices and salt. Mix and fry for another two minutes.
   
8. Add half a cup of water and bring to a boil.
   
9. Then add the fried vegetables and mushrooms, mix them all properly and cook for 5 more minutes.
   
10. Finally, add chopped coriander leaves and serve hot.
    

So here's how the recipe for 'Easy Kadhai Mushroom' cooked for the perfect dinner extravaganza. Prepare this easy to make Kadhai Mushrooms frying them to the extent by keeping the texture soft, succulent and flavorsome. This ' Easy Kadhai Mushroom' is my hot favorite for the season and what's yours? Try this recipe in your kitchen and share your experiences with me. And enjoy cooking, serving and eating!!

Paromita Pramanick ©2018. All Rights Reserved.

Rui Fish with Cauliflower

Today I bring to you one of the very basic Rohu Fish preparation from the Bengal cuisines. Normally Fish is prepared as a non-veg dish everywhere, so as in Bengali kitchen too, however, we tend to bring out the different flavors in our fish recipes by adding different kinds of vegetables in the dish.

Yes, you read it right Bengalis do add vegetables to the fish recipes, as it is quite very famous and known worldwide that the staple food of Bengalis is white rice, dal and of course fish. And every Bengalis prefer to have fish in their meals be it for the lunch or dinner on an everyday basis or at least thrice a week. Therefore, giving the dishes unique taste and flavor compiling to the very common daily fish curries might get a bit boring. That is why the culinary of Bengal has a different story to tell the world about how we add different varieties of vegetables to our fish recipes.

Rui Fish with Cauliflower

Vegetables such as Brinjal (eggplant), Drumsticks, Potato, Bottleguord etc, are usually added to the fish recipes and in this session, today I will be sharing the fish curry cooked with cauliflower. We generally have the Aamish (Non-Veg) and Niramish (Veg) sessions of recipes holding back to the ages from the Bengali Culinary culture, where there's a strict restriction of not adding even onion and garlic to the Niramish Bhojan, especially considering the people having the roots in West Bengal strictly prevent the addition of any non-veg to the veg dish or vice versa.

But as the time span, along with the mixed culture, few people having a base from the East Bengal (present Bangladesh) has eventually brought the concept of adding vegetables to their nonveg recipes. Although I could remember my Grandmother used to prepare fish curries with drumsticks a lot of time in the past, but I couldn't recollect her recipe now. We Bengalis generally follow a strict niramish routine in the festivals, keeping the mixed culture aside during the fasting days. But its always a new learning at the end of the day about how both the sides Bengalis have together given a new look to the traditional methods. And its always adapting the culture, ideas of the cuisines and enjoying the traditional methods in a modern way.

Hence, the recipe is shared below adapting it from one of my aunt having a base from Bangladesh (Sylhet), and she flagged off a green signal for this recipe and that is the reason I'm sharing it with my friends today.

Tips: Do not overcook the cauliflower, just fry for 5 minutes and add in the curry to retain its flavor.

[Non-Veg]

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Course: Side

Cuisine: Indian/Bengali

Serves: 4

Measuring Items: 250 ml = 1 cup; Teaspoon

Ingredients:

1. Rohu Fish- 500 grams
2. Cauliflower- 10 to 12 florets
3. Potato- 4
4. Onion- 2 large
5. Chili- 10 (small sized)
6. Tomato- 4
7. Ginger- 1 inch
8. Garlic- 8 cloves
9. Coriander leaves (for garnish)

Spices:

1. Mustard oil- 1.5 cups
2. Bay leaf- 1
3. Turmeric powder- 1 Tsp
4. Red Mirchi powder- 2 Tsp
5. Cumin powder- 1 Tsp
6. Coriander powder- 2 Tsp
7. Salt- 3 tsp (or as per taste)

Method:

How to prepare ‘Rui Fish with Cauliflower’ with step by step pictures and instructions-

1. Wash the Fish pieces, sprinkle turmeric powder and salt. Marinade the fish pieces for 15 to 30 minutes.

   

   Rui Fish

2. Meanwhile, chop the required vegetables for the recipe.
   
3. Take a large cooking wok, heat mustard oil and fry the fish pieces.
   
4. Keep the fried fish pieces aside.

   

   Fried Rui Fish

5. Now fry the potato cubes and cauliflower one after the other for 5 minutes each.
   
6. Oil remains after frying, continue cooking in the same wok. Add Bay leaf, sliced onions, slit chilies and ginger-garlic paste. Fry them for 2 minutes.
   
7. Add the other spices that are mentioned above and saute for 2 minutes.
   
8. Now put the chopped tomatoes and cook until the masalas remove oil from the sides in the wok.
9. Drop in the fried potatoes and cauliflower, cover with the lid and cook for 5 minutes.
10. Pour in a cup of water and bring it to boil.
    
11. Finally, add the fried fishes and chopped coriander leaves.

So here is the full recipe with stepwise instructions for Rui Fish with Cauliflower. Savor it along with white rice for lunch or dinner. Prepare this easy Fish curry for your grand meal tantalizer and tell me how you liked it. Till then enjoy cooking, serving and eating!!

Paromita Pramanick ©2018. All Rights Reserved.

Short Story- The Two Pots

Short Story for Children- 'The Two Pots'

It was a season of cyclones when rain poured down heavily all throughout a village for several days. Due to the continuous rainfall, there was a flood everywhere and the village got flooded. All the houses in the village were drowned in the flood and many things were floating on water. Now there were two pots in a house and both were being washed away in the flood with the same water flow towards a river. Those two pots were a Copper Pot and an Earthen Pot, both were floating on water and struggling to survive for themselves.

Earthen Pot

Those two pots float down the waterway terribly. The Copper Pot asks the Earthen Pot to stay close to it, but the Earthen Pot refuses thinking that the Copper Pot is stronger than itself. Hence fearing its breakage the Earthen Pot kept a distance from the Copper Pot.

Copper Pot

The Copper Pot noticed the Earthen Pot was struggling hard to escape from the flow of running water, it called the Earthen Pot and said, "My dear friend you are made of mud and you are so weak. I don't think you can stay afloat for a long time. Please come near me, I'll save you from drowning and protect you from the flood." The Earthen Pot replied, "My friend, I thank you for your kindness. But you are too strong and much harder than me. If I come near you, I could be broken into pieces. Therefore, I shall protect myself and let me swim to the bank of the river myself."

After saying this to the Copper Pot, the Earthen Pot moved to another direction to find a safer place. It began to swim and finally reached the bank of the river. But when the Copper Pot tried to swim, water got filled with it and was about to get drowned in water. The Earthen Pot looked at the Copper Pot and felt sorry saying, "I am sorry my friend, but I'm helpless too, because if I strike near you I shall suffer my breakage due to your strong metallic body, and also if I get back into the water my earthen body would wash off with the flow of water and I too will be drowned." Saying this the Earthen Pot helplessly turned its face and moved away from the river. And in the meanwhile, the Copper Pot was drowned in the river water.

Moral: Equal characteristics make the best friends.

Reference: Various.

Also, find other Short Stories on the blog-

The Peacock and the Crane 

Honesty is the best Policy

The Ant and the Dove

The Fox and the Grapes

The Magic of Patience

The Ant and the Grasshopper

The Foolish Bear 

Paromita Pramanick ©2018. All Rights Reserved.

Homemade Potato Chips

We all love to have potato in one form or the other, be it the potato wedges, french fries, Potato cutlets, fritters or Potato Chips for that matter. Isn't it? Potato Chips are all-time favourite munching snack for all the age groups. We just like to munch those crispy fries given at any time of the day. Potato Chips are said to be the best appetisers of all time. Needless to say, even a toddler loves to gnaw these fries with their tiny milk teeth.

How I couldn't recall my childhood when I lived in Bangalore, me and mamma used to visit the 'Hot Chips' to buy Potato Chips and other ready-made mixtures from the store. I would observe that uncle who stands in front of the extraordinarily huge wok filled with hot boiling oil, he would immediately slice the potatoes into the hot oil, and then within a minute the fresh crispy fries hot potato chips would be ready for selling. The uncle would ask whether to put mirchi powder in the chips or want to have plain chips? Mamma would buy the plain potato chips for us because she used to be conscious about our health. Mamma would also make the potato chips at home, however, when I and my sisters were too young, she had no that much of time and helping hands to spend a day making those chips at home.

I remember whenever I used to visit my Grandmother, she used to pack a container full of 'Homemade potato Chips' for us, which she would make and keep prior to our visit. Many things have changed over the years, but the legacy of making those 'Homemade potato Chips' carried forward from my Grandmother has still been carried on by my mamma, and of course just because this morning, we were putting these 'Potato Chips' on our terrace, I thought of sharing this simple technique of 'Homemade potato Chips' with you guys.

There are many different methods carried out in different places, and its obvious with the modern advancement in the technology people get those ready-made packages filled with a very little of the chips in it from the shops, which is actually considered as a solution for a small hunger pang during travelling. However, 'Homemade potato Chips' are healthy, safe from any adulteration or harmful chemicals or any mixture of side effects and you can have them unlimited as well as pack them for your journey. So forget about spending much on the harmful products, just spend some time with your family in making these chemical free 'Homemade potato Chips' and enjoy them wholeheartedly.

Homemade Potato Chips

Tips:

1. Do not over-boil the potato slices as it will lose its crispiness.
2. Addition of Fitkari/Phitkari (Potash alum or simply Alum) will give a sturdy texture and make the chips more firm and crispy.

[Veg]

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Spreading Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Course: Appetiser

Cuisine: Indian

Yields: 30 to 34 Chips from 1 large Potato (approx)

Measuring Item: Teaspoon

Things Required: Cooking wok, Strainer, Potato peeler, Knife, Cutting board, Towel, Big Cloth, 1 Huge Vessel.

Ingredients:

1. Potato- 1 kilogram (6-7 large sized)
2. Salt- 1 Tsp
3. Alum (Fitkari)- 1 inch

Method:

How to prepare ‘Homemade Potato Chips’ with step by step pictures and instructions-

1. Peel the potato skin and wash them properly with water.
2. Chop the potatoes into thin slices.
    
3. As you slice the potatoes place the slices immediately in cold water.
   
4. I sliced the potatoes with the knife whereas my mamma used the traditional 'Boti' to slice the potatoes.

   

   This is a vegetable chopper- 'Boti'
   you get to see in Bengali kitchens
   

   
   

5. Now rinse and drain the water and keep the potato slices dipped in cold water for at least an hour.
   
6. Place a large cooking wok on the flame, add sufficient water so that the potato slices dip in it properly.
   
7. Boil the water for about 5 minutes, add salt and alum to the boiling potatoes in the wok.

   

   Alum & Salt

8. Boil water and potato slices for 5 minutes more and switch off the flame.
9. Drain the hot water in a strainer and spread the hot potato slices in a vessel layered with a clean towel.
   
10. Lay a big cloth or a mat under the sunlight and put the potato slices one after the other.
    
11. Leave the potato slices to dry under the sunlight for 3 to 4 hours.
12. After drying under the sun you get perfect dried potato chips within a day.
    
13. Store the dried potato chips in a container for later use (can store for about 4 to 5 months or even more). Or fry the dried potato chips immediately and enjoy.
    

Savour the extra crunchy, healthy and unadulterated Potato Chips right at your home any time when you wish to have them. Also, you can fry these 'Homemade potato Chips' and store it in a container for 4 to 5 days, and eat them whenever you like. This ''Homemade potato Chips' is a brilliant idea to treat any guests arriving on an unnoticed event. These are much crispier, fresher and far better than any store bought potato chips. It really goes well with a hot cup of tea alongside or sprinkle a bit of red mirchi powder, and for the kids sprinkle Chaat Masala or simply savour along by dipping them with tomato ketchup or some mint mayo. So prepare this easy to make ''Homemade potato Chips' and enjoy cooking, serving and eating!!

Homemade Potato Chips

Paromita Pramanick ©2018. All Rights Reserved.