Even Children can cook Indian- a Poodle tells

 

Coconut had to wait outside. He knew. He sat next to the water bowl. Whining unusually. But he knew the rules. He was obedient. It was a way to show love to those around him. Coconut peered through the glass hoping he would catch her eye. The eye of Ephemera, the Elephant.

It was not to be today. He knew his time will come

This happened over several days. But no sign of Ephemera's eye.

His mummy went in and bought a dress by Injiri, a kimono of Bagru Prints. And House of Wandering Silk beads. This was nice and Coconut knew he was close to the one. The one and only Ephemera.

What does a poodle do when waiting?

Coconut was blessed. He could hum the words his father had taught him as a pup

"You are the strongest yellow

the mightiest yellow poodle

think of yellow when you feel alone

yellow will settle all that anxiety in your stomach.

Your day full of naans will come my dear yellow coconut"

The patience paid off. Coconut managed to get into the shop with his mummy one day. He kept quiet and looked lovingly at her. She turned to the shop keeper and said.."you see he is just saying that you can bring me into the shop and I can behave". Sadly no sign of that eye, of Ephemera.

Coconut kept humming the yellow song as he was whisked away outside

7 am one morning. There she was. Bella the Kelpie tied to the lamp post outside the shop.

A mandala or a rangoli was being made outside the shop on the footpath. There was music playing, laughter, sweets, dog biscuits and flowers. Apparently the Indian Goddess of wealth visits on this day. Coconut however just wanted to catch the eye of Ephemera.

Bella was very happy to see him. They both remembered each other from that previous life in Varanasi.

"I just can't catch Ephemera eye", said Coconut immediately to Bella.

" Ah, our lovely Ephemera, the mighty one, the beautiful one, the queen of Varanasi. I just saw her and she was wondering why she had not seen you. But as you know many all day want to catch her attention" replied Bella

"I have been trying and trying and trying." "she won't look in my way", cried Coconut

"Did you make the offering though?" asked Bella. You know how she loves naans. 

" But how do I do it now", " I am a poodle"

" Offerings need not be physically made. You just have to offer in your mind and she will notice."

At last thought Coconut. I have found a way

Next time when he was waiting outside India in Balmain, he imagined Ephemera, the Elephant smiling

He imagined himself fetching a bowl. Adding a cup of self-raising flour to it. And then enough milk to make it the consistency of clay. He then left the dough for an hour. As if by magic, the dough rises. He makes small balls and pulls by hand to make these flatter. He places each in an oven tray with the heat in the oven at 200 degrees Celcius. Within 10 minutes the flatbread gets a few brown marks and it is ready. Sometimes when the brown marks do not appear he keeps the bread longer in the oven until these do. Moved to a plate then covered by butter, the naan offering is ready. Ready for the one and only Ephemera. Coconut can feel the Elephant sparkling.

Coconut looked up and there was Ephemera with her face to the window, smiling at him. He was happy. The most powerful Elephant in Balmain had smiled at him. This is all that he wanted. To please her.

The next time he saw Bella, she was excited to know that her idea had worked. She also said " I could see what delicious Naan you made in your imagination. In my imagination, I also cooked a curry to go with it."

Coconut knew that his life will now be full of magic and joy.

Bella's Curry ( even Children can cook this)

Make a curry paste. I teaspoon Turmeric, 4 tablespoons Cumin-Corriander Powder, 3 Tablespoons Oil

Smear these on 2 chopped and peeled potatoes. I large chopped Eggplant. Place in an oven tray

In a separate metal container mix thoroughly  1 tin chopped tomatoes, I cup water 1 tablespoon salt, 3 tablespoons sugar. 

Bake the potatoes and eggplant in a 220-degree oven for 30 minutes.  Also, place the metal container with the tomato mixture in the oven.

Make sure the potatoes are golden and cooked by piercing with a fork. Otherwise, leave baking for longer

Add the tomato mixture to the potatoes and eggplant

Garnish with coriander leaves and lemon juice before serving

Written for indiainbalmain.blogspot.com