For the love of hot halwa
The greeting ’What’s up, doc?’ immediately conjures up an image of Bugs Bunny in my head, nonchalantly chewing on a carrot, trying to evade (or shall I say, torment?) his eternal archenemies Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam. I am a big Looney Tunes fan and I know for a fact that many people ate carrots as kids only because Bugs Bunny ate them, just like Popeye fans couldn’t get enough of spinach (yuck!). All the toon-talk aside, carrots are one of the most loved of all vegetables (some even argue it’s a ...
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The tragic tale of a Lahori vegetarian
The value of a society is usually gauged by the way they treat their minorities. Folks, I confess to being a minority. No, I am not a non-Muslim; I am not gay, or a lesbian; I am not an atheist, nor am I fat (not that there is anything wrong with that). I am a vegetarian and I have spent most of my life answering stupid questions with uneasy looks and evasive answers. Questions like the following have often been put to me: “Why aren’t you eating anything baita (child), do you have a medical problem?” or “You don’t eat red meat, that is all right. Have some chicken?” I have had ...
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Life on the balcony
The number of apartments is growing with increasing population. More buildings usually means less green spaces and a greyer city. Nonetheless, living in an apartment must not keep you away from having a healthy green space. Even small spaces such as a balcony can become a rewarding and refreshing garden of your own. All you need is some planning. What do you want from your garden? Ask yourself, which type of garden you would like to walk into each day? This mostly depends on the space, sun, wind exposure and the irrigation system. But first thing is first. Weight management: Firstly, find ...
Read Full PostA hot samosa on a cold winter night
It’s that time of the year again – the elusive Karachi winter is finally here so enjoy it while it lasts. Dig into your storage and dust out the oh-so-soft blankets, heaters, leather jackets, cozy mufflers and some downright crazy head-gear. This season brings with it the joys of eating piping hot food that would otherwise make you perspire. You seem to notice a sudden increase in the roadside samosay-wala’s clientele waiting in line (a polite way of referring to the mob that surrounds his stand), for this mouth-watering – albeit a bit unhygienic- delicacy you so love, becomes a ...
Read Full PostPrepare your garden for winter blooms
Once you have decided which crops and flowers you want in your garden this fall, get ready to plant some seeds for your winter garden. When to sow seeds? For a winter harvest, sow your seeds as soon as fall begins. For people living in Karachi and Lahore the last week of September and beginning of October is ideal. Read your seed packs to find out more about the temperatures required for the germination of seeds. Most vegetables will be ready to be harvested in 60-80 days. Where to sow seeds? You have three options here. Select according to your skill level and plant ...
Read Full PostPotatoes – my first love
It usually takes two to three weeks for the potatoes to sprout. Once you see the green shoots prepare your plot, container or a bag for planting potatoes. I have selected a large blue tub. It has enough space for planting 5-7 potatoes. Here are three simple steps how you can plant your potatoes 1. Fill your container 2/4 with a good mixture of sand and manure. (60:40 works for me). Soil must be well drained. 2. Place potatoes at 6-7 inches distance from each other. 3. Cover with sand. Make sure the leafs are visible. Keep your potatoes healthy Simply water the plant softly ...
Read Full PostA vegetable paradise in the middle of winter
Wouldn’t you just love to have a garden that produces fresh, scrumptious vegetables all year long? It is that time of the year when gardeners from colder countries are preparing for the icy winters that will bring a long pause to their gardening activities. But for us it is just the beginning of a very fruitful and colorful winter. I have been waiting for September to spread the spell of fertility into my garden. As it is finally here I better get my plan for a rooftop vegetable farm ready. It is essential to have a good plan for a successful vegetable garden. Each ...
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The most expensive Ramazan ever
The holy month of Ramazan has arrived with pre-dawn prayers, iftar’s and frantic efforts to make up for every sin committed during the rest of the year. For most of us, religious fervor is accompanied with more worldly pleasures like delicious parathas, traditional khajla and pheni to be devoured at sehri and the innumerable delights of Iftar. Would Ramazan even feel like Ramazan if not for the daily dose of fruit chat and the onion and potato pakoras and samosas? Traditional Ramazan fare has long fed the greed of hoarders and profiteers. But this year man made shortages have been eclipsed by a natural destruction of an unbelievable ...
Read Full PostHow to chit potatoes
Every one loves potatoes. Why not grow your own this season? I have a roof top garden where I also grow crops in pots. Potatoes are my favorite crop because they are so easy to grow. This afternoon I decided to chit some potatoes. Chitting potatoes simply means encouraging the tubers to sprout before planting. The easiest way to grow potatoes is in bags, bins or large containers. Here is how you can start chitting your potatoes: Selecting potatoes You can simply select any potato that you like the best. It’s hard to find potato seeds ( which are basically baby potatoes) here ...
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