FROM MY GARDEN

THREE EVENINGS OF MUSIC WITH FR.JOHN SAMUEL

This snap was taken after all the recording sessions on the last day of the BASS group. This was the last part of the whole project at Chennai that Fr.John had planned. The whole project involved the separate recording of the SUPRANO, TENOR, ALTO and BASS groups singing the Holy Sacrament songs of our church and then mixing it together to get the right harmony.

We all know the inaccurate rumour in history that Emperor Nero fiddled while Rome burned. I believe my situation was also of almost the same kind. I could not make it to one practice session before the recording as my sister had been admitted to the hospital. And during the actual recording for three evenings, my father had also been admitted.

From one perspective, it looked pretty odd to go out and sing when there was so much happening at home. But my father while on the hospital bed, told me that I should go as I had committed for the same. Besides there was a time when I was pretty young and was battling for life, when my father had promised that I would render my service for the church in some form. He reminded me about this atleast thrice.

Otherwise I felt real happy singing for this compilation. It was challenging as one had to remember a lot of tunes in a short span of time and so a knowledge of reading the music notes was vital.I was really lucky that I was in the company of Elias and Deepu(standing to my right), who were much better BASS singers and who were also much familiar in reading the music notes. It was nice to be a part of a professional recording while my singing was mostly home grown.

Fr.John is an inspiration. Blessed with an amazing voice, it was great to see him get the best out of all of us. He was able to spot even the smallest discord. I felt blessed standing beside him for singing one of the difficult and deep bass numbers. When I left our church on the night of the final day, I felt immensely satisfied.

SCRIBBLES ON DUST

SHREDDED MUSHROOM CURRY

This Sunday I got the opportunity to get back to cooking after a long time and I tried out mushroom curry. It was lip smacking and believe me you are going to like it too. This was the first time I was trying out making a mushroom curry with this approach and I think it came out well by sheer accident. I believe you also should try it out especially when you have the time to relax and enjoy a cooking experiment.

One funny thing that happened in the middle of the cooking was that the mixer's opening gave way and a part of the puree found its way to the bottom of the kitchen's shelf and some on to my head. Otherwise it was real fun. I normally get into a wild singing mode while am cooking and that good mood reflects in the results too.

Here is the recipe. Give it a shot.

Slice 2 big onions and 3 tomatoes into medium pieces.
Slice a small piece of ginger and 3 pods of garlic
Seperate peas from about 10 green peas pods
Keep 1/4 kg of oyster mushroom shredded. It is this shredding of the button mushrooms that brings a big difference to the curry. Putting the mushrooms inside as buttons gives a totally different taste.

Pour 4 teaspoons of oil into a shallow open pan and keep it on a medium flame. 
Add a small quantity of mustard and once the bursting starts, add the onions and saute, till the onions get a shade brown.
Add ginger and saute and then garlic and continue the sauteing.
Add the tomato pieces and saute. Add some water so that the tomato gets a little cooked.
Take the pan off the flame and transfer the contents into the mixer's jar. Whip the contents for about 2 to 3 minutes and keep the puree ready.
Pour 4 teaspoons of oil into a shallow open pan and keep it on a medium flame.
Add a small quantity of mustard and once the bursting starts, add the puree carefully using a large spoon.
Add the mushroom and peas into this mix and pour sufficient quantity of water so as to spread around the mushroom.
Add one teaspoon of chilli powder, one and half teaspoons of coriander powder, a pinch of turmeric and 3/4 teaspoon of gharam masala.
Add salt in small pinches and keep checking the taste slowly to spot the minute differences in taste till you get the final right one.
Leave the contents to boil for about 15 minutes so that the curry gets a little thick and then switch of the flame.
The mushroom curry is now ready for you.
A few chappatis and rice can form a hit combo with this curry. Go for it!!!

SUNSET AT PALLIKARANAI

OUR GROUP WAS ON SONG THIS YULETIDE

This yuletide took us to more competitions. We emerged winners and learnt good lessons too.

We had two free singing opportunities and four competitions.

We were dethroned at the very first encounter, but got back to the winning rhythm from the second competiton. One of these was the "Battle of Carols" organized by Chennai 104.8 FM where we even competed with professional bands and emerged second.

I believe that even if another group took up the same songs that we sang, we would still have won them by a mile, as we had a great conductor who trained us and brought the best out of us.

We also had great co-ordinators who organized the several gatherings, rehearsals and trips extremely well.

We also could clearly see, how our opponents have improved over the years. And that meant that we will have to slog more, and challenge ourselves more, to retain the crown while we move into the coming years.

I liked the camaraderie of this group. Everytime I went back home, I took with me a lot of energy from it. This energy flowed in all the more, when we gave out our victory cry each time. I could sense enthusiasm, a fighting spirit and a killer instinct in that cry. And that still keeps filling in me and in everything I do. Its a great feeling.

THE CHURCH AT MANARCAD, KOTTAYAM

What I like best about this shot are the few pigeons that have come as part of this picture, on either side of the cross. I never noticed this while I was taking this picture.