Kanch comes back home from work super-excited. “Guess what A (her boss) lent me today?”
With Kanch, my experience has been that the ‘guess what’ question could have answers ranging from a virus to a ragi biscuit to an elephant – all equal sources of excitement! So I don’t dare hazard a guess – yesterday’s source of excitement could just as easily be today’s “oh, that’s so lame” – rather difficult to keep up with, to say the least!
So the rest of us have developed a coping strategy – “WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, what??” in equally excited tones is the way to get a coherent answer and to share the latest rage! She thrusts out a book and I read the title “Enter the Kettlebell”… any of you who knows without reading this post what a kettlebell is merits a 3-course meal at home – you can pick what you want from my blog and I’ll make it for you, I promise! And if you’re working in the fitness industry, sorry that automatically disqualifies you!
Back to the book – like it was a serious glossy book by a guy to improve strength and sub-titled (i am NOT making this up, i swear!!) “Strength Secret of the Soviet Supermen”. Like, wow!! and WOW!! Giving me ideas for books like “Come, Rediscover the Joys of the Tava” or “Enter the Wok”!! Why not?? Soliciting feedback from my viewers here, please…
Back to the kettlebell contest. Kettlebells – as I learnt a few months ago – are a sort of advanced free weights used to build strength. Get that? Well, I didn’t either – till saw the thingummies – and so, am including a pic up there in the images section for you to figger! Ok, Kanch is peeking over my shoulder as I write this and falling over herself with giggles so let me get the ‘correct’ dope from her! I quote “It’s a type of weight – an alternative to barbells or dumbells with which you can do ballistic movements”. Duh? Superman kinda stuff, i’m guessing??
With an athlete and a swimmer to nurture and an aunt who’s a nutritionist, the quest has been to make meals as nutritionally balanced as possible. Tough task when all the yummy things seems to be bad for you!! But with a daughter who just doesn’t snack – no samosas, no chips, no masala peanuts and get this – NO VADAS (makes me suspect that she has no Nemali genes at all)!! – i still have to provide up to six square meals a day for her!! While slow food has been the order of our lives all these decades, I do need shortcuts once in a while. Here’s something I came across – healthy, quick and nutritious – meeting all of Kanchu’s requirements!
THE SCOTTISH SKIRLIE
The quantities are basically andaaza – meaning make ’em up as you go along but am giving some idea here.
- Onions – chopped – 1/2 cup
- Oats – 1.5 cups
- Paneer or cottage cheese or any crumbly cheese – feta would also do – 3/4 cup – grated
- Spinach – 1 cup – chopped
- Eggs – 2 or 3
- Salt
- Pepper
- Water – 2 tbsp
- Cooking oil or butter – 1 or 2 tbsp
Heat the oil or butter in a saucepan and fry the onions till translucent. Toss in the oats and toast till golden and aromatic. Add one or two tbsp of water to soften the oats.Now add spinach and stir till it wilts. Salt it, pepper it, spoon it into bowls and top with a LOT of crumbled cheese. If you eat eggs, fry one or two for each bowl and serve on top. If not, add a few halved cherry tomatoes along with the spinach. See pic.
Serve it with a thin shorba or soup for a light but filling dinner.
(Pics courtesy internet)