Thursday Treats – Tisha’s Maang Tikka

Tisha'a Maang Tikka
Tisha’s Maang Tikka
  • Do you know that Maang Tikka is an Indian Hair accessory?

  • Do you know that Maang Tikka is mostly worn on traditional Indian Clothes, like Saaree and Lehnga, but now a days, it has entered into the modern day fashion world too?

  • Do you know that mostly Maang Tikka is worn with centrally parted hairs, with a simple bun?

  • Do you know that there are many more types of Maang Tikka, like Borla, Matha Patti, Damni, and Jhoomar?

Tisha'a Maang Tikka
Tisha’s Maang Tikka

Tisha is wearing a Maang Tikka in this photo, which is a Matha Patti, style from south of India. Isn’t she lovely? ❤

Mouthwatering Monday – Kaleji / Mutton Liver

Kaleji / Mutton Liver by Jyoti Singh
Kaleji / Mutton Liver

Today I am first time trying my hands at Mutton Liver, also called Kaleji in Hindi. Lets see how this one turn out.

Liver of Lamb/Mutton is considered very nutritional as it is rich in iron and proteins. However special care should be taken to not overcook it.

Ingredients

  • 4 lbs Mutton Liver
  • 2 Big Onions finely chopped
  • 3 Green Chilli, chopped
  • 3 Tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
  • 1 Cup Yogurt
  • 1 tbsp julienne Ginger
  • 2 Black Cardamon
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 5-6 Cloves
  • 6-7 Black Pepper
  • 1 tbsp Cumin
  • 1 tbsp Red Chili Powder
  • ½ tbsp Turmeric Powder
  • 1 tbsp Coriander Powder
  • Salt as per taste
  • 2 tbsp Fenugreek Leaves
  • 3 tbsp Oil/Butter

Method

  • Heat oil in a pan and add Black Pepper, Cloves, Cinnamon, Black Cardamon and cumin.
  • Add onions and Ginger Garlic paste, and cook till onions turn golden brown.
  • Add liver to it, and cook on until liver change it’s color.
  • Cook on Low-Med heat now, and add cook liver until all moisture dries up.
  • Add spices, red chili, turmeric and coriander powder. Mix well.
  • When oil start leaving from the sides, add tomatoes.
  • Cook till tomatoes are cooked perfectly and gravy becomes thick.
  • Mix Yogurt to the whole gravy and cook for another 3 minutes.
  • Add fenugreek leaves, julienne ginger pieces, green chillies and salt.
  • Cook for 3 more minutes and done.
  • Garnish with green chili and julienne ginger.
Kaleji / Mutton Liver by Jyoti Singh
Kaleji / Mutton Liver

It’s a nutritional recipe, but to make it more effective and healthy, reduce the amount of oil/butter used. Do not overcook it otherwise it will become rubbery. One thing to remember is that do not cover the lid of pan, when cooking liver.

Kaleji / Mutton Liver by Jyoti Singh
Kaleji / Mutton Liver

Enjoy!!!

P.S. My cooking is experimental. You will find many similar and different recipes, but the idea is to explore your food and do experiments with it. Enjoy Cooking Experiments and Experiences 🙂

Silent Sunday – City Of St. Louis

City Of St. Louis - by Jyoti Singh
City Of St. Louis

Saturday Scroll – Quote

“A Smile, even if you have forced it on your lips, has the great Power to change the feeling of everyone who comes in it’s contact, including you.  So, Smile” 🙂

Frolic Friday – Curious Case of King Henry’s Wives : Wife # 5 – Catherine

King Henry VIII, was the second Monarch of Tudor dynasty. He was King of England from 21 April, 1509 until his death by 28 January 1547. King Henry was famous for two main reasons – one for separating Church of England from Roman Catholic Church; and second reason, he was most notoriously famous for, was his Six Wives and their fate bestowed by King Henry. These posts are dedicated to Six Wives of King Henry VIII. It’s not a historical fact or document, rather a conversational satirical viewpoint of ill-fated Queens.

Catherine Howard - Fifth Queen Of King Henry
Catherine HowardFifth Queen Of King Henry

Wife # 5I am Catherine Howard, Fifth wife of King Henry VIII

A Rose without a thorn – that was me, Catherine Howard, the fifth and the most doomed wife of King Henry VIII.

I was born to Lord Edmund Howard and his wife Joyce Culpeper. Big family name but not wealthy enough to nourish the needs of 21 children. Yeah… I know, 21 is too much. Guess my folks haven’t heard of birth control back then. 😛

Catherine Howard - Fifth Queen Of King Henry
Catherine Howard – Fifth Queen Of King Henry

My father was from a royal lineage, but he was poor and thus he send me to my step grandmother’s place, where I stayed for most of my youth. My granny had so many girls, just like me, from a wealthy lineage but poorer families, in her household. We had a very relaxed upbringing there. What good is your grandmother, if she is strict with you? Mine was not. I loved her for her laxness. 😉

Catherine Howard - Fifth Queen Of King Henry
Catherine Howard – Fifth Queen Of King Henry

I was a young girl, flying like a bird in open skies, enjoying my youth, in every possible way… If you understood, I had my share of affairs. First was a music teacher. That pervert who wanted to take advantage of me, when I was just all of thirteen. 😡 I did find one handsome suitor too. He said he loved me. He wanted to marry me. He loved me like I was his wife. ❤

Catherine Howard - Fifth Queen Of King Henry
Catherine Howard – Fifth Queen Of King Henry

Those were some beautiful days. It was like I was living a dream, with my secret lover. My dream could have lasted longer, infact could be turned into a reality too, only if my grandmother hasn’t protested and send Francis (my lover) away from me. 😥 My dreams all shattered.

Not for long. I was not the one to cry over past. I was sent to King Henry’s court as a house maiden to Queen Anne of Cleves. Oh She was so plain!!! What Henry saw in her? I wondered. 😮

Catherine Howard - Fifth Queen Of King Henry
Catherine Howard wax statue

Okay, back to work. All this time what I have learnt, it was time to bring all of that into action, and this time I aimed higher. Higher as in, to the top. My eyes were lusting for the crown, the most coveted one. I started the game of flirting and seducing… Who will save Henry now?? 😀

Poor Henry!! He soon succumbed. Anne Out, Catherine In. Yippee!!!!

Catherine Howard - Fifth Queen Of King Henry
Catherine Howard – Fifth Queen Of King Henry

I was the Queen. Fifth Queen of King Henry VIII. Oldie showered me with so many gifts and valuable items. Only if my dead father could see that the girl whom he has left in others household to survive poverty, is now the richest woman in all of the England. I was The Queen. 😎

Catherine Howard - Fifth Queen Of King Henry
Catherine Howard – Fifth Queen Of King Henry

Problem with my plan. Did I tell you that Henry was approaching 50 and I was just 17? I was not even half of his age. Well, it was all good, with all those expensive clothes, so many gowns, and crowns to wear, maids to do all of your work, and beautiful gardens to roam around. It was all good. But, for how long? How long, can I enjoy these materialistic things, I needed love too. Not that Henry didn’t loved me. He did. It’s just that… not that love which I wanted. 👿

Catherine Howard - Fifth Queen Of King Henry
Catherine Howard – Fifth Queen Of King Henry

A 50 year old King, was no match for my 17 year old youth. He did not deliver as per my expectation. Also, he was ailing. Remember his smelly and pus filled leg. Anne must have told you about this. 😐

I have to had an affair. 👿 I am not justifying anything. It was just, I was a kid, you see. I was stupid, naive and young. I was just a silly girl. A silly girl, who was also a Queen. 😦 Who in this world has control over their heart? I fall in love. Thomas Culpeper, young groom of Henry. He was just my age, so young, so handsome.

Catherine Howard - Fifth Queen Of King Henry
Catherine Howard – Fifth Queen Of King Henry

I was again on cloud nine, in my dreamworld. 🙂 This time, I didn’t even had my grandmother, to stop me.

Alas, I wish, it would be my grandmother to stop me this time, and not that ruthless King and his courtiers. They charged me with treason and adultery. They executed my Love, Culpeper. Francis too was executed and quartered. 😥

Catherine Howard under captivity
Catherine Howard under captivity

I still couldn’t believed it, how a King whom I have given so much love can forget everything, and punish me for my foolishness. How can he not pardon the mischief of a 17 year old girl? I was just a kid? I was his rose without thorn. Only I forgot, that a Rose without thorn is always get plucked first. I still hoped that he will forgive me. He was the King afterall, he could do anything, right?

He did. He changed the law, so that I can be executed. Henry, the King, with no heart. 😦

I was executed.

Execution of Catherine Howard
Execution of Catherine Howard

But…. wait for it. I was the girl with so many dreams and hopes. I just couldn’t leave my dreamworld. I can still be seen in those gallery’s of Hampton Court, where once I ran after Henry to plead for my life. I still scream in that haunted gallery, and if you are lucky, you may encounter me. Just remember to cover your ears, because I scream a lot. 😆

Catherine Howard's Ghost
Catherine Howard’s Ghost