Broccoli Stem Rasam

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I came to my hometown with my little one and my parents wouldn’t go out of the house. I was getting worried about my socially active parents, who had  suddenly become asocial. Their only concern in life was their grandson. So one evening, I literally threw them out to watch a Bollywood movie, being screened at a near by theatre. As soon as my parents left , I thought of going to kitchen and  never in my wildest dream, I anticipated a monkey on the kitchen counter, eating the sprouts my mom had prepared . Seeing me, the monkey ran towards me, touched my wrist ….all commotion and next thing I know , I was in my room, locked with my son and cell phone. I first called my downstairs neighbour, everybody in my building started shouting away to throw the spare keys so that they can open the door, but then  those keys were in the living room and I peeped to see, it was not just one monkey but three of them running around, how could I go?? Finally I called my parents and they  came back in a jiffi and opened the door, not been able to witness any movie, also by that time the monkeys had ransacked my moms decorated living room and left, so they could neither witness those monkeys. My son is very fond of the cartoon character Oliver the monkey , I would like to believe it is all because of that crazy encounter. My Doctor recently told me that all the mothers especially those who are running after their little monkeys must and ought to include broccoli in their diet, also the stem of broccoli, so here to all the moms.
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Ingredients:

• 1 stem of broccoli
• 1 tsp. of chana dal
• 1 tsp mustard 
• a pinch asafoetida
• a few curry leaves
• 2 tbsp of grated coconut ( optional)
• 3 red chillies
• 2/3 black pepper whole
• 1 clove
• 1 tbsp of oil
• 1/2 spoon garlic  paste
• salt

 Method:

• Peel the stem of the broccoli, cut and steam in a pressure cooker with a little salt, dont throw the stock, when cool make a paste in a processor.
• dry roast chana dal, chillies, pepper, clove and grind with little water to make a smooth paste.( you can add grated coconut if you wish).
• In a frying pan heat oil, add mustard when it sputters add  asafoetida,curry leaves,garlic paste and the above paste, cook for 5 mins 
• Add the broccoli stem paste and cook for another 5 mins, add some stock and salt and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes
• Serve hot with rice

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Beat the egg with a spoonful of yogurt to get those fluffy omelettes

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