Declared Pass!

Our first night without each other was a good one. Anush and me both passed with flying colurs. Also Anush's welcome was a warm one but not a hot one ( no fever as soem mothers had warned me). It just felt like an extra long working day. I am now prepared to travel overnight, if required, on work. One uncanny thing, on the day I left, despiet my being really quiet, she woke up really early, around 5am, as if she sensed I was going to be away longer than usual and wailed for me before she went back to sleep . ( This is not her style- she usually gets up only after 6.30am) A couple of phone calls from the Chennai airport reassured me that she was well.

I enjoyed myself without feeling guilty or anxious. I really let my hair down and danced away into the night. Did some shopping in the really impressive Kochi airport. Got Anush a beautiful Paavadai Chattai made from the Kerala Mundu with gold zari.

I strongly recommend the brand "Delinut" for their cashews ( available in 9 flavours including barbecue!) . The honey and pepper ones are really good. If you like garlic, which I avoid usually, their chilli garlic is the fastest selling they mentioned.

As cashew goes, here is a lovely recipe for a yummy dish:

Methi Malai Kaju Mutter ( Fenugreek cream cashew peas)

Fresh Methi( Fenugreek) leaves bunch - 1-2
Fresh Peas- one cup
Roasted/Fried Cashews/ Kaju-15-20

Onion chopped fine- 1
Green Chillies- 3
Cloves, Peppercorns- a few
Vegetable Oil/ Ghee combination ( 2:1 spoons)

Half cup of milk
Malai- milk cream- 2 tbspoons
1 spoon of sugar
Salt to taste

Wash the methi leaves well and place them in a seive with some salt & let is rest for 15 mins. Then squeeze out gently and wash the methi in cold water.

Steam the peas in either your microwave or pressure cook.

Take a kadai/ wok . Fry the peppercorns, green chillies, cloves and onions.
Add in the roughly chopped methi & fry for a while. As it lets off the water and begins to brown, add the cooked peas & milk & steam for few mins.

Add the fried cashews (kaju) & let it simmer a while.
Add salt & sugar.
Cook for a few mins & top it off with the malai/fresh cream

Do not taste , else you will be tempted to finish off the dish yourself! Not kidding.
Serve with rotis or with ghee rice or pulao.