Blogging 101, Day: Fifteen, create a New Posting Feature

 

 

Today’s task: develop a regular feature for your blog.

Today’s feature is : A flavor Friday: I got this recipe from YouTube. This is a samosa recipe, the girls call it sambusa. They are from Jeddah,Saudi Arabia, I guess in Arabic language it is Sambusa. As I wasn’t ready to make it myself, I decided to post the recipe from YouTube. Next week I will be ready to post my own recipe. I hope you won’t mind watching this recipe for this Friday.

All the best to you all.Here is the recipe:

 

DP Daily Prompts: Mystery Box

You wake up one morning to find a beautifully wrapped package next to your bed. Attached to it is a note : “Open me, if you dare.”

What’s inside the mystery box? Do you open it?

The warm bright sun attracted the attention of our two felines, Gabriel and Raphael, they were meowing so loud to sit on the window sill I had to get up to open the blinds, when I opened my eyes I saw something shiny and colorful right beside my bed. This thing was beautifully wrapped, I thought this person is an experienced wrapper, then I saw something, a note there is a note I exclaimed, I took the note and started reading it, strange what’s this, I told myself, “open, if you dare.”

I could not understand why anyone would leave a gift for me and dare me to open it. It was not making much sense. I am a curious person, I made up my mind to open it, surely there is nothing wrong opening a gift is there, at this point I was curious and afraid as well.

I picked up this mysterious gift and with hands shaking started to open it, I had to forget about fear, no one wants to hurt me I kept telling myself.

I opened the lid of the box, I found a dried rose on top, it was laid on a shiny green piece of  paper, is this all I said I was disappointed, but I could see something else under, I carefully picked up the paper with the rose and put it aside.

There I found a red folded paper, I opened it, it’s a pack of dried  catnip leaves and a  recipe too.

I began reading the recipe: Catnip is most often drunk as a tea to calm an upset stomach or help with sleep.

1. place 1–2 teaspoons of dried catnip into a cup and add hot( not boiling) water.

2. Let it sit for 10 minutes.

3.Flavor with honey or lemon(optional).

Catnip can also be used as an aromatic herb in cooking and salads.

I sat on my bed and wondered who gave me this gift, it’s useful I thought and put away my mystery gift. I waited for my daughter to come home to show her my strange but useful gift.

: https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/12/25/dp-daily-prompts-mystery-box/

 

DP Daily Prompts: Unsung Heroes

We all have our semi-secret, less known personal favorites –a great B-side, an early work by an artist that later became famous, an obscure(but delicious) family recipe. Share one of your unsung heroes with us–how did you discover it? Why has it stayed off everyone’s radar?

I have a few unsung heroes on my list, one of them is my dad, his accomplishments were many, unfortunately he was in a part of the world where his gift was not recognized, instead of welcoming him, they tried to push him aside, they were not successful, but he died very young.

Second is one of my youngest brother, he was a brilliant student, he loved to read about everything, he was doing Phd. in space science, he too like my dad died early.

Then there was my mom, she’d wow anyone with her cooking skills, friends and family knew her, the knowledge of her gift stayed within the family and friends.

At this moment I know another gifted individual, who is capable of being very famous, he knows it but as far as I know, he doesn’t use his potential as he should which in my mind is a shame.

k: https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/12/15/dp-daily-prompts-3/

DP Daily Prompt: Shaken and Stirred

What’s the most elaborate,complicated meal you’ve ever cooked? Was it a triumph for the ages, or a colossal fiasco? Give us the behind the- scenes story( pictures are welcome, of course).

Call it elaborate or not it was certainly time consuming, It happens to be my first attempt to cook ‘Pad Thai’.

I got the recipe from the internet. Out of eighteen ingredients I did not have one,it was the peanuts, I let it go thinking if I didn’t have it, it was fine, one less ingredient.

It wasn’t difficult to understand the method but it was a long and arduous task.

There were so many things I had to do step by step before I could put it together.

I had to brown the chicken in batches, it took a while to get that done, then slicing the fresh carrots was a bit tough, the carrots were so hard I thought I might slice my fingers with the carrots, I thank the Lord it didn’t happen, making the sauce with so many ingredients was another thing that took long.

After investing more than two hours I was able to put it together. Why did I take so long, you may be curious, it was my first attempt, I never cooked ‘Pad Thai,’ before. I know if I try it second time it will not take this long.

My first attempt I’d say was successful, it was not a colossal fiasco!

Sorry there are no pictures, I didn’t think of it. If I took pictures the two and a half would be three and a half, which is too long to cook one dish!

https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/11/26/dp-daily-prompt-6/

 

365 Writing prompts: Google and rescue operation

What was the last thing you searched for online? why were you looking for it?

The last thing I looked for was a recipe for cupcakes. I was thinking of what I’d offer to my blogger friends for trick or treat, the only idea that came to mind was, ‘Cupcakes,’ I’ve often baked cupcakes, but my reason for looking was I was interested to see if I could get a recipe which would wow the friends. I didn’t see anyone excited, there was no comment  from anyone except Robert, he is my most sincere follower, he appreciates everything I publish.

I could publish recipes of my exotic dishes, it was ,’Halloween,’  recipes that had sugar as the main ingredient would be welcome by my friends, sadly no one cared.

nk: https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/11/06/365-writing-pr…scue-operation

 

Five sentence fiction: Hunger

My friend Nasreen is a voracious reader, any book I give her she reads without reading the title.

To test her I gave her a cookbook, it had recipes of a variety of foods, she grabbed it and began reading from the first page, I thought this is an odd behavior, no one I know reads a cook book unless he/she is looking for a particular recipe.

Morning turned to noon, it was lunch time Nasreen never put her head up,she was totally immersed, I called her a few times she just made a peculiar noise.

I was so annoyed I snatched the book from her, this surprised her, she said: Did you not want me to read this book, I was enjoying it, I tried to see if reading about food will arouse my hunger, my mom tries everything to make me eat, but I always refuse.

I apologized repeatedly, I didn’t know she had an eating disorder!

: https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/10/03/five-minute-fiction-hunger/

 

365 Writing Prompts: Drawing a blank

When was the last time you walked away from a discussion, only to think of a Perfect Come back hours later? Recreate the scene for us, and use your winning line.

I remember once my friend Mini and my classmate Hasina were discussing different ways chicken can be cooked. That day we invited our Provost to dinner, Mini volunteered to cook, we let her I didn’t want to cook, I was not sure how good my cooking skill was,I only cooked simple things when I was seven, I was fascinated by my mother’s cooking, I used to imitate   my mother’s famous pound cake, it was miniature cake I only ever tried,my mother praised me every time I  tried to cook anything. I probably was too confident about my skills.

When Mini said she’d cook korma I was thrilled it happened to be my favorite dish. I watched the spices she was adding in the pot to fry before she added the chicken. When she put whole red peppers with the rest of the spices, I objected, “My mother does not use peppers in this recipe”, I said.

Both looked up and started laughing,”this is the only way korma is cooked, you don’t know anything”, I was offended with this remark, I stomped out of the kitchen and went to the common room to read the  newspapers which was my way of cooling off.

All this time I was burning with anger, I told myself they didn’t have to be so mean. Then the thought maybe this recipe is used differently, my mother I knew did not use peppers, perhaps some people do to make it hot and spicy.

I went back to the kitchen to see what the girls were doing, Mini looked up and quipped, “so do you still think peppers are not used in this recipe?”

I was a bit annoyed at this remark, rather than have a shouting match with her, I calmed down,looked at  them and replied, ” There is more than one way of cooking this particular recipe with and without peppers, I like my mom’s recipe better”, I left the kitchen with the thought I’m glad I stood my ground!

https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/07/30/365-writing-pr…rawing-a-blank

DP Daily Prompt: Obstacle Course

Last week I wanted to try out a recipe posted by blogger Rainee. I was pleased with it. It was very tasty. I was able to pick up my refills. I wanted some groceries from Costco I went and bought them.

What I couldn’t do was pay my bills. The weather was not favourable. There was sunny one moment and snowing the next. The wind was fierce. I’ve decided to pay my bills this week.

The things that hold me back from doing everything, especially if it is outside my house is the weather. This year the winter here is colder than normal. We have strong winds and lots of snow. I’m hoping to see better weather to enable me to do everything that needs to be done.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/daily-prompt-barriers/

DP Daily Prompt: You,the Sandwich Post by Ranu

Garam Masala-spice (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If the restaurant were to name something after me,what can it be? I am thinking,it has to be something the customers would like to eat.I got it ,it will be Ranu’s bhoona gosht. It is a meat dish. The following is the recipe:

Ingredients:

2 pounds of blade roast—sliced into one inch pieces

5 small onions–chopped

4 cloves of garlic– chopped

one inch piece of ginger–chopped and blend into paste

1 table spoon– curry powder

half tsp. cayenne powder

1 tsp. coriander powder

half tsp. cumin powder

quarter tsp. cinnamon powder

1 tsp. garam masala  powder

half tsp. paprika powder

3 tblsp.  olive oil or canola oil

salt to taste

Method:

1.Wash the meat thoroughly,remove excess fat.

2. heat the oil in a sauce pan.

3. put the onion,ginger and garlic,fry it until the onion is transparent.

4. put all the spices and fry it for a minute,do not let it burn.

5. It should be cooked in medium heat.

6. put the meat and stir it . Cook it for five minutes.

7. Transfer the meat into an oven proof pot.

8. preheat the oven at 350 degrees.

9. place the meat in the oven,leave it to cook for an hour.You should check it every twenty minutes, do not let it burn.The finished meat dish will be dry.This is why it’s called ‘Bhoona Gosht’.

You can serve it with rice or chapati( something like tortilla)

If you follow it according to the instructions given it will be a very tasty dish. Your friends,provided they like spicy food will ask for the recipe. Keep it a secret,what do you think?

DP Daily Prompt: The Stat Connection post by Ranu

I have checked the stats page.I have noticed  there are three posts  listed frequently.One is a poem by Tagore,second is a recipe,and the third is a book review.

Tagore’s poem,’The rain is falling drip,drop,the river is overflowing,it is a very popular poem. During the monsoon season in Bengal,when everyone, especially the children are stuck in the house.This is one poem which is also a song is recited and sung by all.This helps them to come alive and happy. The weather doesn’t bother anyone.They are together, which doesn’t happen,when everyone is busy with their work. The poem brings back nostalgic memories of years gone by.

Keema Paratha is a recipe,there are a few steps to follow, if one is interested to make them. The pictures help,it gives an idea  what the finished product looks like.It is popular because they want to make them. The ingredients alone tells it is a tasty treat.

And The Mountains Echoed  a novel written by Khaled Hosseini.He is a great story writer. It is mostly about the people of Afghanistan. Their customs,what the wars are doing to the ordinary citizens’ daily life. Afghanistan happens to be in the news quite often.This would be one of the reasons people might like to read the book.The review helps to know what the story is about.