It's a pleasure to eyes biking on a Friday morning on our streets. You will get to see, all colorfully decked up ladies with flowing hair, lovingly adorned with flowers. It's a tradition to have a head bath and get ready for a full swung pooja on a Friday morning for most Hindu ladies. Though I hardly ever follow such rules, it's still a pleasure to get a colour attack on your rush hour. At least you can relax while you wait for the traffic signal to go green! I try to put the waiting time to some use. If I am traveling by car, I try to catch with friends, if on the bike, then I spend gazing and observing the world passing me by! I tell you, it's a great pastime. You get to see so many different people on the road, even it's only for a few minutes that you have.
Peddu and Chinnu are happy going to the crèche now. They don't cry anymore. In the beginning, Athamma used to carry Cadbury's Gems and the moment they reach the place, she used to give them each. So seeing the gems they stop crying. This has become a ritual for them. Now that they don't cry, Athamma thought she need not carry, but the moment they see the gate, both of them turn to her with extended hands. There is no way she can escape. Coming back home, she was so amused by their action and recollecting to us happily. All three kids have a different preference, yet it never amazes me to know how the little ones can eat spicy stuff. Like this rice, we made out of ground paste, both the twins liked it. In fact, Konda liked it when I packed it for lunch. But the fact that the twins wanted it more, cheered me up. So it's definitely something I will make for them when they start carrying lunch, of course, it's going to be 5 years later, hunh!
Today's Lunch Box had
Ground Masala Rice
Egg curry
Rasam Rice
Curd Rice
I have never attempted to make Thakkali Sadam, so to say. It's still on my to-do list. We have always made Tomato rice more in pulao types. We have a menu decided for the whole week, it makes it easy for cooking and planning. So it's always one Rice variety either on Wednesday or Thursday depending on mood. But on this Wednesday totally forgetting the plan, had the rice already in the cooker. Athamma reminded me that it's a Variety Rice day! Well what else to do, the previous day lunch was Sambar, so no way another sambar to follow. This was simple and very tasty and can be made in a short of 10 mins if you have cooked rice on hand!
Ground Masala Rice
Cooked Rice - 1 cup
Onion - medium
Tomato - 1 medium
Ginger Garlic paste - 1/2 tsp
Green Chilies -1 long
Clove - 1
Cinnamon - 1 "
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Bay Leaf - 1
Chili powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 /2 tsp
Turmeric powder a pinch
Salt to taste
Ghee / Butter - 1 - 2 tsp
Method to prepare:
Wash and soak rice for 15 mins, Pressure cook it for 2-3 whistles. Spread in a bowl, so that the grains separate.
Chop onions, tomatoes roughly. Grind onions, tomatoes, cloves, cinnamon to a smooth paste. If you don't have ginger garlic paste, you can add the whole and grind along with the onions and tomatoes.
Heat a big Kadai or pan with ghee/butter. Ensure it doesn't start smoking, add the cumin seeds, chopped chilies and bay leaf. When the cumin starts sputtering, add the ground masala. If you are using the ginger garlic paste, add it along with the paste. Simmer and fry for 5 mins.
Then add the salt, chili powder, coriander powder, and Turmeric powder. Fry till oil comes out. Add the cooked rice to the pan and mix well Simmer and Cover and cook for 5 mins for the masala to steep into the rice.
Onion Raitha can be best, but I prepared Egg Curry as a side dish. And to make things easier, mixed Rasam rice too, for hassle-free lunch!
Recipe
Onion Tomato Masala Rice | Lunch Box Series : LBS#39
Tried this recipe?Mention @cooking4all or tag #cooking4all!
Roma says
Lunch Box looks very delicious. I am hungry!
SriLekha says
Lunch box is so good! especially masal rice is a new recipe for me thanks for sharing!
arundati says
watching and observing people at public places is my favourite passtime....no fiddling with phones for me.....love the look of that egg curry....i wonder if i would work at all if i ate this lunch....on the other hand i would go to work just to get at such a lunch box!!
Laura says
Yum... first time I have been to your site. Boy this sure isn't how I ever ate in school--I'm jealous!
Jayashree says
You are right about the riot of colours on Fridays.....I don't enjoy it as much though, 'coz all the people flocking to the temples and pujas makes the road that much more crowded.
Sia says
valli, i like to watch people while waiting for my bus or while driving to office. sometimes it is the best way to pass time when u r stuck in a long traffic jam isn't it?
i am so much craving for Gems now 🙂 ask ur atthamma to carry one more packet for me;) love to ur twins and konda.
and as usual delicious spread. girl, how do u manage to cook so much for lunch box??? u always amaze me:)
Sangeeth says
all ur lunch box series have made me nostalgic ...luv ur recipes...
ANJALI J. says
yummy lunch box.. cant wait to have it.. esp ground masala rice.
delhibelle says
three varities of rice in one lunch box..hats off!
you're amazing:)
Uma says
yummy yummy lunch box. Wish I have that for my lunch!
Shreya says
everything looks so yum, will surely try the ground masala rice. post was a nice read...
Simran says
I've been planning to make egg curry for a few weeks now but somehow it always gets postponed. It's on the menu for tomorrow now.
karuna says
nice combination of dishes. the egg curry looks yummmmyyyyyyyy!!!!!
bee says
will give me gems too, every time i visit your blog?
live2cook says
We have a pulao day in our weekly menu too. It is the saturday lunch. It is always nice to have variety in menu.
Your lunch box looks awesome. I will share with you how we pack ours once in a while. I pack breakfast too as all the three of us leave home before the sun rises.
Srivalli says
Jayashree, yeah thats true...but its still fun right
Sia, so true...heheh...sure will ask her to carry for you too...thanks ..glad you liked it!
karuna, Shreya, Uma, Reshmi, Anjali, Sangeeth, Roma, SriLekha, thank you for your lovely comments!
arundati, heheh..nice to know that...:)
Laura, thanks for stopping by...glad to have you here...oh you have some great stuff your place!
bee, well to tempt I shall initially..:)
Simran, well then just go make it!..
Divya Vikram says
I make this egg curry always when am out of vegetables..Nice recipe..