And it was that Day!!

The day finally arrived. My little one went to school today. Wasn’t this the day I had been waiting for? I wasn’t very sure anymore!
I was watching him get onto the bus. He looked so matured in the school uniform. Did the change happen overnight or did I fail to notice it before? I shooed away my thoughts. I was just a little overwhelmed perhaps!
As I waited at home to see him come back, I wondered if it’s a common feeling for all parents. When your child leaves the confinement of home and starts school, you are left with so many varied thoughts.
The wait seemed long. I had probably reached the Bus Stop quite ahead of time. And then, there he was - happy and overjoyed!
With the first day of his school gone by, I was sure there would be many more such moments. Brimming with pride I told myself, “He is a big boy now!”

Malai Kofta Curry

Ingredients

For the Koftas
Paneer - 250gms
Potatoes - 2 medium sized boiled
Flour/Maida - 3 Tbsps
Salt as per taste
Refined oil for Frying
Mixture of chopped cashews and raisins

For the Gravy

Cashews - 10 (soaked in water)
Khuskhus - 3Tbsp (soaked in water)
Tomatoes - 4 (pureed or blended in mixer)
Cinnamon/Dalchini - 2 sticks (finely crushed)
Mace/Javitri - 1 (finely crushed)
Coriander Powder - 2 tsps
Jeera Powder -1/2 tsp
Chilly powder - 1tsp
Salt - As per taste
Turmeric Powder - 1tsp
Fresh Cream/Malai - 2 cups whipped
Milk - 250ml





Method

To make Koftas:
Mash the paneer and potatoes
Add maida and salt
Mix all the ingredients together till well blended
Now make small balls and flatten like a tikki
Place the cashews and raisins mixture in the centre and roll into oval shapes
Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan/kadahi
Fry the koftas till golden in color
Repeat this with all the koftas and place them on a shallow dish




To make the Gravy:
Grind the tomatoes
Grind the Khuskhus and cashews to a fine paste
Mix together crushed cinnamon, mace, coriander powder, chilly powder, cumin powder, turmeric powder and salt in very little water so as to form a thick paste

Heat around 3 tbsps of oil in a heavy bottomed pan
Add the spice mixture to this
Fry till the spices look cooked enough
Add the khuskhus cashews paste to this and fry till the oil starts leaving the bottom of the pan
Now add the tomato paste to this and cook for some time
Add the whipped cream to this and let it simnmer
Now add the milk and let the gravy come to a boil
Cook till the gravy looks well blended
Place the koftas in the serving bowl and pour the prepared gravy over it.
The malai koftas would turn out well if this is done just before serving