"2009 Washington DC - VT Meet July 24" Personal Page by jethanand

Greet the New Joiner ...

Zanzooni "Zana" is beaming at Kasha

Donna is contented

I am convinced VTers have a playing field all to themselves, the chemistry is instantaneous !

Shhhhhhh....

secret Santa had a wonderful surprise for us !

hmmmm...

Donna, I have saved this space for YOU ,but I gotta ask first !

Knock knock knock knock

Not just me, we ALL all heard the knocking

and I even opened the door to check, Lynne, twice !

those in attendance ...

Brij Laal - retired Army colonel who has succesfully re-invented himself as a designer of fancy jewelry

Star of the day - Kasha

Sandeep - proud pappa

Donna , we all know her as Donna_In_India, even when she is NOT in India

Zana - one lively lady

Jagdish - aka jethanand, jets, J H

Deepa - hostess supreme

Johnny Walker - all red

Chocolate to die for

wine (none left - ha ha )

agenda and progress report and Menu and recipes ...

picture taking

appetizers

recipe for Kaala channa masala (serves six)

ingredients
1 cup dry black channa (aka bengal peas) available in all Indian grocery stores

1 large potato
tbsp table salt to taste
1/2 onion (pungent type)
1/4th bunch hand-shredded fresh coriander leaves (optional)
1/4 cup lemon juice (recommended)
1/4 tbsp ground red hot pepper (optional)
1/8 tbsp fresh ground black pper (optional)
1/2 cup diced de-seeded tomato (optional)
1 small iceberg lettuce chilled and separated into fan leaves (may also use romaine lettuce)

1 - soak black peas overnight
1a - cook black peas and salt in pressure cooker for 8 minutes with 1/2 cup water (do not over-cook)
1b - drain softened peas and cool to room temperature (can also be served chilled)

2 - boil potato
2a - allow potato to cool to room temperature
2b - remove outside skin of potato
2c - cut potato into small cubes

3 - peel onion
3a- mince onion coarsely into small pieces

4 - mix all ingredients in bowl - add lemon juice to coat, do not make it too wet

5 - see picture above serve with chilled iceberg lettuce fan leaves or rolls (optional)

Recipe for Shrimp in white creamy sauce

ingredients (serves six)

1/2 lb small or medium size cleaned shrimp
1/2 lb fresh asparagus cut into spoon sizes
1/2 cup of milk
1/4 stick of butter
1 tbsp table salt
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
3 pods of grated fresh garlic
1/4th cup of parsley leaves or basil chopped finely
bread (or crackers or rolls or )

(5 minutes)
melt butter in pan
add garlic
add salt
add flour and stir continously to avoid lumpiness
add milk (as needed to thin the sauce) and stir continously

(4 minutes)
add shrimp and asparagus to sauce
cook for 4 minutes

garnish with parsley or basil
serve hot or warm with your favorite bread

lots and lots and lots of laughter

hugs

wine

scotch

gift exchange

biryani rice

salmon semi-poached

vegeatarian keema

vegetarian Ghobi masala

vegetarian palak paneer

Naan

Tabasco hot sauce

No laughing matter here ... several matters of great importance were discussed, among them,

what does a jethanand lollipop have anything to do with anything ?

what does a Donna slap feel like ? felt like ?

how do you cook eel ?

how is Kiwi doing ?

If New Zealand keeps moving closer to Australia, are we due for a break on airfares from Auckland to Sydney ?

anyone stayed at an airport (not a hotel ) for a VT meet ? Sydney airport ?

ha ha !