May 2018 - A Month That Flew By #GratitudeCircle

May was a month for me that just flew by! Yes, quite literally. And it ended on such a crazy note that I myself can’t believe what happened.

Life always has its own ways of throwing things our way; things that we think would never happen to us. So, when they such things happen, we can be reeling under it's after effects for days. The challenge is to accept the things as they are and that can be the most difficult thing; easier said than done. No regrets whatsoever, because I think if I were to pass through the same circumstances again, for the first time, I would do the same thing, again. But, will I let that happen again? I won’t comment there, because as I said life can throw a googly anytime but I am better prepared now. At least I think so.

May though fast, it was also memorable (or should I say unforgettable) one. While I may not seem to be all that appreciative of others, I know in my heart how thankful I am. And even if I try to put it all in words, I know my words will fail me. My way of handling things that I can't control is by distancing myself from it. That doesn't necessarily mean that someone did anything wrong or that I mean to hurt someone or be coldhearted. It is just that I would rather occupy myself with something else rather live in a dilemma. It's only sane to stop when you can see that there is a dead-end ahead. Making up your mind is one thing, convincing your heart is another deal.

Everything in life happens for a reason. And my problem is that I try to find a reason for everything!

On that note, let me begin my reflections on the month of May 2018.

Eggless Whole Wheat Almond Cookie Recipe | Eggless Baking | Cookies Recipe

Eggless Whole Wheat Almond Cookie #Recipe

These eggless whole wheat almond cookies come with the goodness of almonds and whole wheat. So, shun the store bought refined flour cookies and enjoy these with a glass of milk.

Some time back, one of my fellow bloggers - Jolly, suggested that we try alphabet themed blog hop event and I was so excited about the whole idea. But, give it to my planning and execution, I am here with my blog post for the themed event on the very last day! Initially, I thought I would try something with apples. I had a couple of ideas - apple pie, apple crumble pie or applesauce brownies. But, none of those worked. And today, on the very final day for posting the recipe, this idea of almond cookies lit up in my head.

I just went into the kitchen, gathered all the ingredients and bingo - the cookies were done, photographed in good time.

Rajasthani Panchmel Dal Recipe | How to Make Rajasthani Panchmel Dal | Dal Recipes

Rajasthani Panchmel Dal #Recipe

Rajasthani Panchme Dal, as the name says is a dal made up of five types of lentils. It is commonly paired with baati in the quintessential Rajasthani dish 'daal baati', but can also be served with rice or chapati.

For long Rajasthan had been an arid land where water was scarce and hence fresh produce were not abundant. It reflects on the local cuisine quite predominantly. For example, in this dal, only dry ingredients are used. Of course, things are not same now and this dal can be adapted to one's taste buds. You can add sauteed onions and tomatoes too if you like. But, for now, I have kept this dal as simple and authentic as possible.

Chana Dal Recipe | Split Bengal Gram Curry Recipe | Dal Recipes

Chana Dal | Split Bengal Gram Curry #Recipe

Chana Dal is another of the regularly made lentil dish in my house. Also known as Bengal gram, chana dal is nothing but split black chana (chickpeas) with the husk removed. When this lentil is powdered we get the gram flour or besan.

The recipe for chana dal/ split Bengal gram curry is quite simple. The only thing to make sure is that you should soak the dal at least an hour or so, for it to be cooked properly. Also, the texture of this dish is not smooth. Some of the grains of the lentil should retain its shape. So, be sure to not overcook it. It is a nutritious dish and goes well with plain or jeera rice. It can also be served as a side dish along with the main course.

Restaurant Style Dal Tadka Recipe | How to Make Restaurant Style Dal Tadka at Home | Dal Recipes

Restaurant Style Dal Tadka #Recipe 

Dal Tadka is a very popular lentil dish and is a regular fare at restaurants. Typically made of cooked toor/arhar dal or a mixture of toor and masoor, this dish is typically served with rice or as a side dish with the main course.

The regular dal I make to go with rice is generally thin and light. However, since DH is a big fan of restaurant style tadka dal, this also makes an appearance on our menu every now and then. Lentils are protein-rich and are a must include in a vegetarian diet. For Dal Tadka, the lentils are first cooked and once it is cooked, it is tempered with ghee and spices which takes the taste of this dal to another level.

After a month break from the blogging marathon, I am here with this Tadka Dal recipe for Week2 Day 1 under the ‘Dazzling Dals’ theme.