In the Kitchen with Josh's Mom!!!!

I just love the time I spend with my mom in law in her kitchen. Theres so much to learn, so much adventure and fun all the way.

Last week on her 77th birthday, She decided to cook for us 14 

(her kids, kids in law and grandkids) and I invited myself to her kitchen to see the magic and believe me, it was hands down the best cooking class Ive ever attended (so if u ask about the other cooking classes Ive attended, its everyday, every hour on every channel that airs cookery shows!!!!! :) :) :)

So she decides the menu!!! Chicken Biriyani. And I get ready with my phone to click pictures.

She calls the poultry shop and orders 2 kg chicken, biriyani cut she says.

It is delivered in 15 minutes and I see 16 pieces. so biriyani cut is 8 pieces per kilo!!!

9 cups of basmati rice soaked in water. Times 3:30 pm

I try to slice onions and all i can see is extra small onions and mom says it will take a lot of time so we need to buy big onions.

we start with me running to Reliance Fresh to buy the onions and tomatoes...I run back (my HRM says I burnt 30 calories running....not bad!!!! i can eat an extra teaspoon biriyani without having to worry about waking up with jiggly arms the next day!!! )

I start slicing the onions, 8 of em'. Since I hate a cluttered counter top, I keep away the tomatoes (Big mistake, I say!!!!Big Mistake!!!!)

Times 3;55....my kids will be back from school. I have to go to the bus stop. So I tell mom not to do anything till I return. Me returns at 5 pm ;0

Last one a half hours, the rice was in water...it still is....Iam worried...Mom  cool as ever!!!!!

and we start by sauteeing the onions in the microwave

This is half of those onions sliced mixed with a tablespoon oil and microwave for about 12 minutes (or more) Half way through, we mix everything so that it browns uniformly.

Then we heat the pressure pan and dump the onions and 4 green chillies (or was it 2???). After a few seconds, we realize, we forgot the whole garam masala. So we push the onions to the side, add a little oil and she added so much cardamom and cinnamon that my eyes popped out!!! I wasnt very sure and she assures me its fine. Iam not convinced.

Then after a few minutes of sauteeing, you again push the mix to the side and add 2 tablsepoon  (a little more) of ginger garlic paste. Saute, saute, saute

That is when we realize, half the onions are still on the chopping board. So again, microwave safe bowl, oil and onion goes into the miocrowave for 12 minutes.

While it is getting done, we add the turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon

Saute...

1 TBSP kashmiri chilly powder

3/4 tbsp coriander powder

1 heaped tsp of fennel powder

1 level tsp of cumin powder.

saute till the raw smell leaves and then add the cleaned chicken.

and a lot of salt. (again Iam worried about the salt...She is NOT)

By this time, the last set of onions are browned in the microwave....so we throw it into the chicken

and we chop a handful of mint leaves and more than a handful of coriander leaves.

We add a cup of water to the chicken and close the pan......yes completely forget to add the leaves...

when it is whistling, mom in law says...".ayyoe....leaves"...I panic....she says its fine!!!!!

We open and add the leaves

That is when she realize something and holds my hand and says... "enna madatharama nammal cheythethe" (roughly translates to we are crazy) 

we didnt add the tomatoes!!!!!

I start to sweat.....she says its fine!!!!!

In a wok, we add oil and start sauteeing the tomatoes.

The cooked chicken this side....and raw tomatoes the other side

After sauteeing we add to the chicken and mix everything.

By this time, my head was reeling. I tell her....I think we should cancel the dinner plans. She says it is okay. I kept away my phone......

time is 6 pm and the rice has been in water for 3 hours!!!!!!!!

we were planning on a pressure cooker biriyani but now we realize we dont have such a big cooker for 9 cups rice and 2 kg chicken. then we decide we will cook in 2 cookers..... but oh oh!!!! we soaked everything together and now have no clue how to separate the soaked rice to two cookers... (coz we r sure gonna mess up with the water to be added.)

we take a big pan and dump everything... 9 cups of water needs 13 and a half cups water in the cooker.... but this is open pan...so needs atleast 17 cups..... 

But wait wait.... this rice has been in the water for 3 hours..... I panic and all I want to do is run away.... mom in law is cool...she just adds 9 cups water and this is getting cooked.

We open the lid and find half the rice not cooked.....

I tell her..... we can cancel the plans..... she is not someone who will give up....She boils 3 cups water and separates the rice and pours it in the middle and again it is getting cooked with lid closed.

after a few minutes she turns off the stove and we leave the kitchen.

I tell her.... we will cancel the plans..... she says it will be fine.... 

I prayed.

After an hour, I come for dinner to see perfectly cooked rice...tasty as always.....and everyone enjoying the food. 

I found myself going for 2nd serving....who cares about jiggly arms when the food is so yummy and delicious... 

And after the dinner, I realize, I forgot to take pictures!!!!!!!!!

That was one of the best days Ive had in a long time.... A day well spent... learnt a lot of things..... most important lesson was.... Dont panic!!!! believe me...that works miracles....