As I sit down to write this post the world as I know it is turning all sorts of hues It makes us wonder what 2020 is supposed to teach us… perspectives to be gained ,emotions to be communicated and above all the gratitude to recognise everyday what we are gifted with. Irrfan Khan’s passing away yesterday and the many tributes really did feel that each of us lost someone close to us.
Now as the news spreads of Rishi Kapoor’s passing ,the cheerful face of Neetu Kapoor who took joy in the people around her, during the bleakest moments is what immediately comes to mind. I ask myself everyday , do we have time to waste in brooding , to be anxious ,worry or be with people who do not uplift us in any way.There is only one answer to that. A big NO !
When chatting with someone recently who was struggling to find an outlet for his thoughts, the only solace I could offer was to hit the ground running each day. When we give each day our absolute best I truly believe that the outcome can only be positive. Because when we are productive and busy the mind is free from worry, pettiness and many of the vices which hamper growth. It frees us to open ourselves to new possibilities, people who actually care and to understand that good exists. It was wonderful to hear a few days later that what I had said made a huge difference.
As I bring back my thoughts to what I like to share on this platform, I realise even more that exposing our thoughts in this manner means that somewhere you maybe connecting with a stranger who just needs to hear it.
As a child, I remember my mother enjoying a bread snack the most. Having young children around and being a young mother often warrants a bit of pick me up and a tasty snack provides just that. This need gets less frequent as the children grow up but still does surface occasionally. Tempered cubes of bread with onions, green chillies and curry leaves were always what I connected a rotti uppma or bread uppma to be.
A couple of years ago while breaking fast at the Amudha Surabhi restaurant at Pollachi ,my fellow diners ordered along with the usual (breakfast) vadai and roast dosai staples, a plate of bread uppma. What was set down in front of me was nothing like the ‘bread uppma’ of my childhood or what was made at home. This particular dish looked exactly like a rava kichdi , loaded with finely chopped vegetables. A white rava (semolina) uppma is a hearty meal ,well liked by all and this looked so similar, except it was made with bread.
Of course I had to taste it and it was graciously shared (despite each of us being ravenous for our independent orders). In my defense I took only a teeny helping ! 🙂 🙂 It was a delicious blend of spices,vegetables and bread. The sweetness which came from using white bread was evident especially.i have made this with any kind of bread which is in my pantry. We buy mostly whole grain loaves,wheat, multi grain, ragi ,kambhu , whatever… The bread uppma ends up tasting different each time.
Right now we have access to only whole wheat bread and that’s what has been used to make this uppma. After a bit of heavy duty cleaning a serving of bread uppma felt like a much deserved prize and there was no guilt whatsoever of eating it for lunch with a bowl of curd on the side. I enjoyed it so much that it got me thinking…
When my house help return to their respective jobs, I think they more than deserve a weekly bread uppma treat at tea time!
Wonderful and so nostalgic.
The humble bread upma is indeed the quickest tasty snack.
Thank you Mamta 😊