Ladies Coupé by Anita Nair

Distinctly feminine, this novel explores the life of Akhila who had to give up her dreams to become the family breadwinner. Akhila's life is examined through the lives of other women in the coupe. Each has a story to tell and all of them are unique, none of them offering a straight answer for Akhila but each giving something to help her know herself better.

Through the stories of all these women, Nair tackles many subjects including Lesbianism. Nair has tried to bring to light many social and emotional issues which shape women to be who they are and how they find their place in society and family. She examines the lives of dependent and independent women and those in between, trying to find the path for Akhila.

The writing style is simple but the description of south Indian food and life is very interesting. More interestingly, the book has recipes in the end for the food mentioned in the novel!

Pleasure Seekers by Tishani Doshi

This is a story of a Gujarati Boy and a Welsh girl who meet, fall in love and get married. The novel is possibly inspired from her parent's story. It takes you through the life of Babo and Sian and how their love for each other shapes their future. The story is sweet and the characters are apt in every way. Each character is well defined, described and consistent. The novel flows smoothly throughout.

In terms of the writing style, it a touch different because Doshi has used 'smells' and 'fragrances' through the character of Ba, the grandmother, to describe the others. She has explored their feelings but not in the philosophical style, rather she has expressed raw emotion, stripped to the core, yet written in a poetic fashion. The use of Ba's character to string the whole novel together is the most beautiful part. I would say Ba is the Sutradhar as used in Gujarati Dramas. Doshi is a dancer and a poet which makes the way she describes emotions of her characters very unique. There is a flow to the writing like there would be in a poem or dance, its like she has not written but the book but choreographed it. 

Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry

Like other works of Mistry, this too is tender in its description and understanding of human nature. This novel deals with the subject of ageing and dying and how these natural phenomena affects the daily lives of those who are in its vicinity. How the old can get discarded to make space for the new and yet how the old continues to shape the new, is the essence of this novel. It also beautifully weaves a picture of how desires which never come to fruition can leave a mark on the future and the way it can affect the quality of death or the process of dying.

I suppose I make it sound rather sad but it is not so. Mistry's prose captures the sadness in everyday life but does not make the reader depressed, rather it nudges the emotional cord within you and makes the characters live forever in your mind. He helps the reader form a bond with the characters.

In terms of style, it is distinctly the Mistry style with Parsi characters, dishes and daily life. Written in the same fashion as his other works which I have read, it continues to keep your interest alive throughout. I never rush to finish Mistry's novels because each line is meaningful and skipping a few will leave the experience incomplete. The story and the characters linger in your mind as if they are real people with real issues. 

Aloo Gobi with Beetroot (Cauliflower and Potato curry with Beetroot)

Description:

This is a dish very rich in flavours. This too was a result of some experimenting.

Ingredients:

For the paste:

• 1 teaspoon Cumins seeds (OR Black cumin seeds - these will give a very different flavour)
• 4-5 cloves of finely garlic
• 1-2 inch pieces of ginger
• 1 teaspoon of coriander seeds
• 1 teaspoon of peppercorns
• 3-4 dry red chillies
• 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder

For the curry:

• 1 large roughly chopped onion
• 1 medium sized potato cut into rough pieces
• 1 medium sized cauliflower, separated into individual florets
• 1/4 of a beetroot, finely grated
• Few chopped green chillies if you like to make it even hotter
• 1 pinch sugar
• chopped coriander for garnish
• 1 tablespoon of instant mashed potato powder for thickening gravy (any other method to thicken gravy may also be used, e.g. milk n wheat flower, cream etc)

Method:

1. Make a paste of the ingredients for paste in a grinder. Add water as required.
2. Heat oil in a pan and fry this paste till the turmeric becomes a little darker
3. Add the onions and salt to taste
4. After the onions are brown, add the potatoes and water if necessary
5. Cover lid for faster cooking
6. When potatoes are cooked about halfway, add the cauliflower florets
7. Add water if necessary and cover
8. Few mins later, add the beetroot and green chillies
9. Add a pinch of sugar if the taste is too sharp. Not required if the taste if smooth and even.
10. When its almost done, add the mashed potato powder to thicken the gravy
11. Finally, garnish with coriander and serve

Mixed Vegetable Medley with Butterbeans

Description:

I had some left over vegetables which led to this dish. Its very mild in taste and contains a variety of veggies. It goes well with just rice or chapattis or naan.

Ingredients:

• 3-4 cloves of finely chopped garlic
• 2 green chillies, slit longitudinally
• 1 inch piece of ginger, grated
• 1 teaspoon paprika powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 vegetable stock cube
• 1 large onion, roughly chopped (to match the butterbean size)
• 2 sticks of celery, roughly cut ((to match the butterbean size)
• 1 pepper (capsicum), roughly cut ((to match the butterbean size)
• 1 tin of Butterbeans
• Bunch of Spinach

Method:

1. Heat some oil in a pan
2. Add the garlic, green chillies and ginger
3. Fry for a few seconds to a minute
4. Add the onions and salt to taste
5. Let the onions go brown
6. Add peppers and celery
7. Close the lid and allow it to cook in its own juice for a few mins
8. Meanwhile dissolve the vegetable stock in a little warm/hot water
9. Add the stock to the pan
10. Add the paprika and turmeric
11. Add butterbeans after washing
12. Let it cook for a minute
13. Then add the spinach leave and cover again till the leaves wilt
14. You may add water as and when necessary. 
15. If you want a thicker gravy, add a spoonful of instant mashed potato powder.