Shades of Gray + Banana Blossoms Pakoda/Pakora

Day7of BM#10: I am very emotional today. Emotional, bleak, hopeless and utterly bereft.Color me Gray-Thundercloud Gray.. Tornado Funnel Gray.. Gloomy Day Gray. Here is why -
Today, a few minutes before noon, a half-an-hour before lunch -- I get a phone call from my buddy. I didn't pick up the first time. She gives me a buzz again. As I pick up my cell to attend her call,I was wondering why someone who is at work seemed so intent on reaching me..There was a reason.She then dropped a bomb on me -- That our closest friend's toddler is dead.  A million questions arise on my mind- What? Who? When? Why? Why god why? Hell no..NO NO NO NO..She couldn't have lost her precious son..a son for whom she almost knocked at death's door delivering him to the world. A child who was her hope for a "brighter tomorrow"..I was in a complete daze. I continued work like an automaton while my mind was wondering if I heard it right. When my brain finally unfroze a multitude of emotions assault me.. brutally!!!

First came the anger - Anger at the gods, the unfairness and the way my buddy was dealt with such a cruel cruel blow.The kind of anger that makes one shaky like a leaf caught at crosswinds... an anger that makes every nerve of a being twitch uncontrollably. Second came the hatred -- Hatred, intense yet a "fleeting" hatred at the buddy who delivered me the news-she who burst the perfect bubble of mine called "Sweet November, Post Thanksgiving"- the harbinger of melancholy that soon followed . Next came the tears, like a dam burst. I ordered my brain to control it...to keep it in check until lunch break and then lose it. Cause at work, emotions don't come to play.

Lunchtime came and I headed to the restroom. I gave in to what my heart and mind wanted.. seek comfort by shedding tears. Then I took a walk. The cold and crisp air kissing my face was a poor poor consolation. But it composed and calmed the turmoil that was running rife inside of me and I went back to work. Evening came and grief promptly descended on me with its swift wings. I was a big mess..as I drove back home, I was cursing the fate for messing with the order of things -- parents losing a child is a big NO NO. Just thinking of what my friend must be going through was enough to break my heart anew.

Lastly came acceptance -- Acceptance that the pattern in the fabric of our life is intricately woven by a much higher power and things don't always happen in a favorable way.Especially for us mere mortals who are at the receiving end.But I tell you that I do come to that conclusion with a bleeding heart. A heart that sincerely wishes for a safe deliverance of the precious and innocent little soul, snatched wayyy before it had a chance to flourish and take root, into the safe hands of the Almighty. A heart that prays to God to give strength and courage to my friend and her family to overcome this unimaginable loss. Lil S, Rest in Peace. 

Please love your family like there is no tomorrow..especially the kids, cause they are the real asset to the parents, a true apple of one's eye(s).

I wasn't in the mood to blog as it was the last thing on my mind but this was already ready in the draft and I wanted to pour my emotions somewhere that were like a bubbling cauldron inside of me -

Anyways here is what I made for BM#10:

• Day1 - Vegan Pumpkin,Applesauce and Double Chocolate Muffins
• Day2 - Baked Tandoori Chicken from scratch
• Day3 - Spicy Apple and Red Pepper Chutney
• Day4 - Paneer and Veggies Kofta Curry
• Day5 - Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread
• Day6 - Pan Fried Masala Salmon
• Day7 - Crispy Banana Blossoms Pakora/Pakoda

On a lighter note - Way7 To Maintain A Healthy Level of Insanity (and a bonus):

• When Leaving The Zoo, Start Running Towards The Parking Lot, Yelling "Run For Your Lives, They're Loose!!"
• Tell Your Children Over Dinner. "Due To The Economy, We Are Going To Have To Let One Of You Go."

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Split Chickpea/Bengal Gram, soaked for 3-4 hours prior to grinding
• 3/4 Cup Cleaned Banana Blossoms
• 2-3 Medium Garlic Cloves
• ¼ inch Ginger, peeled
• ½ Cup Cilantro, finely chopped
• 2 Tbsp Mint, finely chopped
• 2 Stalks Curry Leaves, finely chopped
• 6-7 or less/more Green Chili, finely sliced
• 1/4 Tsp Fennel Seeds, roughly ground
• Salt for taste
• Vegtable Oil for deep frying

Learn how to clean the Banana Blossoms here.

Procedure:

• Soak the split chick pea in little water along with garlic cloves and ginger.Grind to a coarse/gritty paste without water.

• Soak the cleaned Banana Blossoms in little Buttermilk and Water mixture. This delays the discoloration of the blossoms. Completely drain it of moisture and add it to a bowl.

• Add the drained banana blossoms, ground split chickpea, finely chopped cilantro, mint, chilies, fennel seeds and salt.

• Combine all of them together. Heat the oil in a wok/kadai/dutch oven.

• Drop small lumps of the mixture into the hot oil using hands.

• Deep fry until its light brown.

• Drain the Pakora/Pakoda on a paper-towel lined plate.

• Move it to a serving bowl and have it as a snack or appetizer.

Similar Recipes @PGKC, FYI -

Banana Blossoms Fritters:

Cabbage Pakora/Pakoda:

 

Enjoy!