Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow

Its snowing!!. Or has been since last few days.Everything has turned white. It never ceases to surprise me ...this sudden transformation from green to white. We had a hard frost as well. It adds the silvery touch to the trees which the snow somehow cannot. From the train on my way to work, the countryside is magical. It looks all out of the movie set of ‘Narnia’. There is no other way to describe this.

I lived 5 years of my life in Dehradun, under the shadow of Mussoorie without ever once witnessing snow. That only added to the wonder for it. I would have never predicted myself going about my regular activities with snow around. It was always something you had in hill stations..to be experienced on a holiday.

I could really appreciate a lot of the wonder of snow because I was able to stay at home and work. Thank god for software industry. You would assume that working from home for both of us would be a relaxing experience. Well...it wasn’t. In between conference calls, answering emails and working in the system..we ended up working in different rooms.
Of course we did not risk our bones to get much grocery and there came a time when we didn’t have enough left to cook.

It was the perfect time to cook Pav bhaji. Pav bhaji has become a dish coupled with fridge cleaning. It is also one good way of throwing a lot of vegetables together without causing disharmony. It saves me a lot of time as well, because it is not process intensive.


Ingredients
For the Masala
Onions – 2 large
Tomatoes – 2 large
Corainder – 1½ Cup
Ginger – 1 inch
Green chilli – 1-2 as per the fieriness you want
Lime – ½

Pav bhaji Masala (optional)- I skip this sometimes to get the medley of taste from the vegetables
Garam Masala – 3 Tbsp
Coriander Powder – 2 Tbsp
Cumin powder – 2 Tbsp
Oil
Salt

Vegetables (diced)
Potato – 2large
Carrots – 3- medium sized
Capsicum – 1 large
Beans – about 150 gms
Broccoli – 7-8 medium florets
Cauliflower – 7-8 medium florets
Peas- 1 cup

I sometimes throw in beetroot/ cabbage..basically anything other than slimy ones like aubergine.


Boil the vegetables either in a pressure cooker or in a stock pot. Drain them in a colander. Try to preferable time it such that you have then ready when you are adding the powder spices in the tomatoes and onions.
Heat the oil and add the finely chopped onions. When they become very soft add the tomatoes. A couple of minutes later add the ginger pieces. If you do not the taste of ginger then add them with onion so that they can be fried. When the tomatoes are mushed up add the powder spices and mix well. Add 1 cup of the chopped coriander to it as well. Let is cook till it starts oozing oil. Now add the boiled vegetables and mash them up whichever way is easier for you. I use a masher because i like to get the texture of the vegetables. You can use a hand mixer as well.

I have not included any details of the Pav because it is totally up to you what you want to eat the bhaji with.Rice. chappati bread or Pav.