A cup of Assam Tea

It has been a week since we celebrated Magh Bihu, yet I am still relishing Xutuli Pitha or Sutuli Pitha and so is my family. Last week, I posted my Magh Bihu food memory and most of my readers have never heard or knew the food I shared in my blog. Today I thought, I will share the most quintessential dessert we make during Magh Bihu or for that matter any Bihu . Pillowy, sticky, crunchy half-moon shape dessert inspired from an Assamese musical instrument.  If you closely look into Assamese cuisine especially festive cooking Bora Saul or Sticky rice is widely used. Since Bora Saul is indigenous rice in Assam, if you live outside Assam or India you can use Japanese sweet rice or sticky rice.   Let get to the ingredients... Ingredients 2 cups Japanese sweet rice or sticky rice 1 cup sesame seeds ( Teel ) and save 5 tablespoons for decoration (optional) 1 cup jaggery or gur Oil for frying Process  Wash and soak rice for 2 to 3 hours or until when you touch the rice you ...

 Nostalgia is a part and parcel of every immigrant's life, rather treasure trove of every immigrant's life. I carry a piece of Assam in my heart and wear it on my sleeves. Special occasions and festivities often transport me to my homeland, especially to my large family with all Uncles and Aunts, to our house and our big courtyard in Assam. During this time, my homeland Assam celebrates Magh Bihu with great zeal. Magh Bihu is a harvest festival just like Thanksgiving in the USA, where the end of harvest season is widely celebrated. I reminisce those wonderful times, how in the guidance of my Koka (Grandfather) we used to build a makeshift house in our courtyard, my Pehis(Aunts) and Mom prepared Bihu delicacies. How the whirlpool of flavor straightly tantalized my senses with roasted sesame, ground sticky rice, and the sticky and syrupy smell of jaggery. During the day our house help collected all the winter veggies whether it's olkobi or pohulkobi or tender potatoes from o...

 Happy New year everyone. A brand new year with new hopes and new planning and whatnot. This year I decided to take it a bit slow and steady, not going overboard on anything.  Taking it slow, does not always mean not doing anything but doing something at your own pace. Also, in New England, winter has just begun and we are limited to doing much because of Covid19.  Keeping myself or the kids inside all the time is not a good idea, so we decided to go for a short outing. Then, Saville Dam came to mind. Nested in the quaint countryside of New Hartford, Saville Dam at Berkhamsted reservoir was built-in 1940. I had been to Saville Dam many times and experienced all the seasons except winter. Every season offers its unique beauty. Spring and summer with crisp blue sky, sparkling water, emerald green mountain backdrops, while autumn with a vibrant color splash on the sweeping view of the mountains.  But, visiting Saville Dam in winter is a solitary experience. Even though ...