Galouti Kebabs: The Awadhi Indulgence

Known as one of the most popular and significant dishes of Awadhi cuisine, Galouti Kebab is synonymous to Lucknow and its royal culinary culture. The city is known for its rich royal heritage be it through its architecture, literature, music, history, or food. Warm welcome and hospitality are the two significance features of the city that can be always bragged about.

Lucknow is home of Nawabs and Awadhi cuisine and a paradise for food lovers. You can have an endless list of the rich and royal delicacies while in the city, like, Galouti Kebab, Boti Kebab, Tunday Kebab, Lucknowi Biriyani, Rogan Josh, Nihari, and an exquisite variety of desserts and sweets.

Galouti Kebab is a special delicacy which was said to be made exclusively for an old Nawab in Lucknow. Galouti means "the thing the melts in your mouth" and that exactly this does. The mouth-melting, mouth-watering soft meatballs should be placed first in your wish list, once you visit the city.

But as we all are not that lucky to taste this gem of an delicacy sitting right amidst city of Lucknow, can try a homemade variety as well. Although it can never bring you the original royal taste, but definitely satisfy your taste buds with least doubt.

Ingrdients for Galouti Kebab:

1. Minced meat (lamb, goat, or beef): 1 lb
2. Paste of green raw papaya: 1 tbsp
3. Fried onion: 2 tbsp
4. Ginger and Garlic paste: 1 tsp
5. Garam Masala powder: 2 tsp
6. Red chili powder: half tsp or as spicy as preferred
7. Salt: half tsp or as preferred
8. Roasted gram flour/besan: 1 tsp
9. Saffron strands: 1 pinch, soaked in 1 tbsp warm milk
10. Rose water: half tsp
11. Ghee/clarified butter : 2-3 tbsp

Procedure:

1. Take a large mixing bowl and put all the ingredients along with the minced meat except the ghee.
2. Mix together very finely, almost like kneading a dough.
3. Make small ball size patties, and flatten a bit with your palms.
4. Keep them in the refrigerator for an hour.
5. Take a heavy bottom flat pan and heat the ghee for frying.
6. Shallow fry the kebabs over medium heat till golden brown, turning the sides carefully as they are very soft.
7. Serve hot kebabs with paranthas or as per your preference.

Yellowstone National Park: The first national park in the world

 Yellowstone National Park is the paradise for nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers. Hiking, biking, camping, fishing, kayaking...you name it and get everything here at the first national park in the U.S and as well as in the world. With so much unspoiled natural beauty, from picturesque high mountains and crystal-clear lakes to breathtaking waterfalls, canyons and infamous geysers, Yellowstone attracts millions of visitors from across the world.There is a substantial concentration of wildlife inside Yellowstone, which includes Bears, Wolves, Moose, Elk, Bison, Badgers, Otters, Fox and many more.

The Geothermal areas of Yellowstone are known to be among the various exclusive features of the region. This area comprises of several geyser basins, hot springs and mud pots. Yellowstone Caldera, also known as "supervolcanoes" are formed by immensely large explosive eruptions. Travelers and backpackers from different parts of the world come to see the virgin yet dangerous beauty of this place. Consider yourself lucky enough if you can spot even a small eruption in any of these spots. 

We have been visited this place twice, and yet want to go back again and again to experience the extraordinary wonder of nature. Yellowstone National Park is so big and diverse that you can easily spend 5-6 days or even an entire week there. There is never a dearth of attractions to amaze you every moment. 

The first time we visited Yellowstone, it was a 2 days trip and the second time it lasted for 3 days. But I must say if you want to explore the place extensively, 5 days will be a fair option, if not less. 

So based on own own experiences, here are some important tips and suggestions to explore the place in an impressive manner. 

Summer time is the best to visit the place, although it is hugely crowded. The traffic is also another consideration to take care of. So it will be a good decision to take short hikes and walks after parking your car in designated areas. 

June and July are the busiest months to visit, although most of the visitors want to see and move around the most popular attractions.  

Another important information to share is that there will be no network inside the park. So be prepared and don't forget to carry your map all the time. If you want to keep up with the place and your plan, you need to move slow. Never make a mistake to be in a hurry to explore everything at a time. Make a proper and effective plan and try to go accordingly. 

In Winter most of the roads inside the park are closed and hard to access because of snow and other things. 

So here are the highlights and some of the prime attractions of Yellowstone National Park that you can cover within 3 days according to an expensive plan. 

Day 1: Here are some of the highlights or the prime attractions we were able to cover on the 1st day.

Tower Falls 

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Norris Geyser Basin

Mammoth Hot Spring

Day 2: 

Canyon Village

Hayden  valley

Yellowstone Lake

Fishing Bridge

Ribbon Lake

Dragon's Mouth Spring

West Thumb Geyser basin

Day 3:

Old Faithful Geyser

Grand Prismatic

Upper geyser basin

Midway Geyser basin 

These are some of the prime highlights and most popular attractions in Yellowstone National Park. But these are really not enough to cherish the charm and beauty of this park. It is almost impossible to say how many big and small geysers, hot springs and mud spots are there inside. You will get to see them on the way while going between different points of attraction. No pictures or descriptions or travel blogs can justify the inner beauty and extravagance of Yellowstone. So it is best to see and explore it by yourself and overwhelmed by the wonderful things the nature displays. 

Montreal: The Canadian city with a French charm

One of the most populous and popular cities of Canada, Montreal features some stunning metropolis combining old-world architecture with flashing blends of modern flings. It is Canada's second largest city and has a huge population of French speakers outside Paris. So if you are planning to explore Montreal, make sure to learn some basics of French and expect a good amount of French essence in peoples' behavioral manner. This beautiful Canadian city has a French soul and a big heart, at the same time very welcoming to other nationalities. Montreal portrays a perfect montage of ethnicity and culture.

Montreal has a good old European charm and an unpretentious love for the travelers as well as the good food investibles.  Take your time to roam around the city, especially the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal, amazing street performances, centuries back European architectures, historic buildings and beautiful churches.

Although there is something for everyone in Montreal, the true spirit of exploring the city requires walking, walking and only walking.

Vieux Montréal or Old Montreal is the most popular area to walk around, including the Notre-Dame Basilica, cobblestone streets and nice museums.

Notre-Dame Basilica is a gem of Victorian Gothic and attracts a large number of visitors every year across the world. There are horse-drawn carriages available near the basilica to give you a memorable ride through the most beautiful attractions of the city.

After having a refreshing day trip of the wonderful city, unwind yourself exploring  the famous food street of old Montreal. Sit and relax outside any of the local restaurants and order some French wine and poutine. Poutine is a local delicacy, originating from Quebec province, consisting French fries and cheese curd topped with delicious meat gravy.

Montreal Old Port is a perfect place to spend the evening. You can have a spectacular view of the city from the Montreal Observation Wheel. This will be an unforgettable experience to have a breathtaking view of the river St. Lawrence, old Montreal, downtown and the mountains as well.

There are numerous local stores, coffee shops, bars and road side restaurants in the Old Port area offering refreshments for everyone's taste.

Start your next day exploring the mountains. Mont Royal or Mount Royal is one of the prime highlights of Montreal, as they say the city had taken it name after the name of this mountain. Mount Royal Park is within a very short distance from the downtown and once you reach there, park your car in the designated area and follow the hiking trails towards the summit.

From the base to summit its a short hike and it's even stroller accessible. Chalet du Mont-Royal offers a spectacular view of the city's skyline, River St. Lawrence and of course the surrounding mountains.

Parc Olumpique or The Olympic Park can be your next destination in Montreal.

According to me, this should be included in your must-see list of the city. It was built in 1976 to host the Summer Olympic Games of that very year and since then it has become one of the prime tourist destinations in Montreal.

You can have a guided tour inside providing good old history about the stadium and some lesser known interesting stories about the magnificent architecture, sports, culture and many more.

Another popular destination of the city is the Jean-Talon Market in Little Italy area. This place is extremely crowded during weekends and finding a good and proper public parking could be a pain. This is kind of an outdoor farmers market offering a wide variety of fresh local produces and widely popular among locals and visitors.

Montreal is a food-lover's paradise and known for a wide range of gastronomic delights. French, Italian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Afghan, you name it and there are so many options available in various parts of the city. But if you are in Montreal, you should not miss the scope to try some local delicacies, like poutine, local bagels, and smoked meat. Apart from these you will never run out of various local bakeries, creperies, coffee shops and bistros.

Getting around in Montreal is not very tricky. The public parking's are available throughout the city but can be a little expensive sometimes. Public transportation like metros and buses are easily available for roaming around the city. But walking is the easiest and convenient way to explore Montreal, although you have to drive or take other transportation to hop between different destinations.

So, here is a brief summary of our memorable trip to Montreal. The vibrant city is full of some unique magnificent architectures, along with a picturesque downtown area. Don't miss an opportunity to walk around the beautiful cobblestone streets surrounded with some old European statues and buildings, the Old Port, and plenty of restaurants beside the streets offering local and international delicacies.

So take your time out to experience the unique French charm of this Canadian city and see yourself why Montreal is known to be one of the greatest tourist destinations of the world.

Kojagori Lakshmi Puja Special: Bhog er Khichuri

Kojagori Lakshmi Puja, also known as Sharad Purnima, is observed as one of the most significant days for worshipping Goddess Lakshmi. Goddess Lakshmi signifies wealth and prosperity as per Hindu mythology, as well as worshipped as the the Goddess of harvest, and thus to seek her blessings KojaGori Lakshmi Puja is celebrated in almost every household in Bengal, Orissa, and in many other states in India.

Kojagori Purnima is observed on the full moon night of the month of Aswin and Lakshmi Puja or the Vrata is mostly performed by the women of the household in a very calm, quiet and peaceful surroundings. It is a custom to light up every corner of the house with diyas (earthen lamps) and perform the puja to seek Her blessings on this auspicious night.

Also Kojagori Lakshmi Puja is not complete without the variety of offerings for the Goddess and when we talk about Bhog or sacred offerings, how can we forget Bhog er Khichuri.
The Goddess is pampered with an array of delicious, mouth-watering food amongst which Khichuri takes the most important place. She is also offered with a variety of homemade sweets and other delicacies. Rice, lentils (pulses) and variety of vegetables are the most significant offerings to the Goddess  and so Khichuri, popularly known as Bhog er Khichuri (Khichuri prepared for offering), is prepared as an auspicious ritual. Apart from these, different kinds of homemade sweets and fruits are also put together for the puja.

So today I am giving you a very easy and most wanted recipe for Bhog er Khichuri, which is a complete vegetarian preparation made from rice and moong dal along with few vegetables and spices. The variety of rice used in Bengali Khichuri is what makes it different and special. Gobindobhog Rice, a scented short-grained variety, is the most important ingredient for this delicious meal. Bhog or offering is known to be a sacred meal for God and Goddess and distributed amongst the devotees after puja is over. Bengali Bhog er Khichuri is a one-pot meal served with 5 types Bhaja or fries as well as Chutney, Papad and Payesh.

Bhog er Khichuri
Ingredients:

Gobindobhog Rice (or Basmati, in case it is not available): 1 cup/250 gms
Moong dal : 1 cup/250 gms
Cauliflower: 10-12 medium size florets
Potato: 7-8 chunks (or as per preference)
Green peas: 1\2 cup
Tomatoes: 1\2 cup roughly chopped
Ginger paste: 1\2 tsp
Turmeric powder: 2 tsp
Red chili powder: 2 tsp
Whole Garam Masala (cardamom, cloves, cinnamon): as per preference
Bay leaves: 1-2
Dry Red Chilies: 2
Salt: as per taste
Sugar: as per preference
Ghee: 2 tbsp or as much as you want
Oil: 2 tbsp

Procedure:
1. Wash and rinse rice and leave to dry
2. Dry roast moong dal on medium heat for 5 minutes, make sure to stir continuously to prevent it from burning. Roast till it turns light brown and nice aroma comes off. Transfer dal in a large bowl and wash.
3. Heat oil in a deep bottom pan or wok and fry the potato chunks till they turn golden brown. After setting them aside fry the cauliflower florets as well till they softened a little.
4. In the same oil add the whole garam masala, dry red chilies and bay leaves. When the spices smell nice add tomatoes and cook till they are softened a bit. Then add ginger paste, turmeric and red chili powder and cook till the oil comes off.
5. Now pour the rice and dal and add almost 4 cups of warm water. Stir them together to mix with the spices and cook covered for 4 minutes, in medium heat.
6. Next add the fried potatoes, cauliflower florets, green peas, salt and sugar and mix again. Cook covered for another 8-10 minutes, in medium to low heat. Check in between if the vegetables are cooked properly as well as the rice and dal.
7. Don't forget to stir occasionally as the Khichuri tends to stick the bottom of the pan. When everything is well cooked, give it a final stir, switch off heat and keep covered for 10 minutes.
8. Add generous amount of ghee on top before serving.

Visit Vermont: The Majestic Green State

As you all may have known that Vermont is nicknamed "The Green Mountain State" and if you have already visited the place could possibly know why. You will literally and visibly feel the entire state is outlined by the lush green mountains, rolling green field. And when this green color bursts into the flaming and blazing colors in Fall, Vermont looks even more majestic and brighter. The shimmering red-hot color surrounds the place like heaven.

Although the season of Autumn looks beautiful in Vermont, the state is also known among the exquisite ski-resorts in the country. There are plenty of things to do in Vermont in each and every season and the beautiful state never fails to amaze people with varied interest.

We explored Vermont in Summer, and of course, experienced a wet day too. Starting our trip from Burlington, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vermont, we were totally blown off by the beauty and charm of this city. Based on the shores of gorgeous Lake Champlain, the city will definitely impress you with its European architecture and the bustling streets in downtown.

The downtown is called the famous Church Street Marketplace, lined with beautiful local boutiques and tons of restaurants suiting everyone's taste and preference.

While having some snacks and local drinks or coffee, seated outside the fantastic cafes, you can enjoy some street performances and music concerts. Church Street is the perfect destination for spending a nice day in Vermont. The charm and beauty of this place will fascinate the visitors and make them come back again and again.

After spending a perfect day in Church Street you have to take a stroll towards the Lakefront Park to enjoy a beautiful sunset over Lake Champlain. There are even cruises available on the lake to experience the ever beautiful sunset. It feels so refreshing to sit and enjoy the fascinating sight of the sunset from the lakefront area.

We got some added adventure to see the fantastic fireworks over the lake, as we visited the place during the 4th of July weekend. I can tell you this is one of the most amazing fireworks I have ever seen.

Our next day was not so good for some outdoor adventures, as it was rainy and humid day in Burlington. Summer in Burlington is often rainy, humid, and warm too for the close proximity of the lake. Thus we planned to spend the day at the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Nature Center with the kids.

Located in the lakefront neighborhood, this nature and science center is one of the great attractions in the city for families with kids and youngsters. The attraction of this place will easily take your 2-3 hours and that proved to be very convenient for us to escape the rainy weather. Kids had a wonderful time spending inside this nature center.

As we were already in the lakefront neighborhood, did not want to miss the chance to have a walk along the beautiful Lake Champlain and enjoy the burst of evening colors over there. You will have plenty of local shops and boutiques to look over and have some local shopping done. The city of Burlington with its lovely 1900 architecture offers all kinds of entertainment and attractions for everyone.

Next day we were excited to visit the village of Stowe, of which we heard and read a lot before visiting Vermont. Stowe is one of the most spectacular mountain resorts or ski resorts in the country.

The picturesque location of the village at the bottom of Mount Mansfield attracts worldwide travelers. Mount Mansfield is the highest peak of Vermont and there is a number options available to reach the summit point of the peak. If you are adventurous enough to hike and walk through the trail, you are most welcome to do that. But people like us prefer the Auto Toll Road which offers an unforgettable drive through the scenic Adirondacks Mountains and the stunning view of Lake Champlain. Even Gondola Rides are also available to reach the top point of the peak.

After a few miles from the village of Stowe, there is another spectacle called The Smugglers' Notch. You will experience some interesting bike paths and hiking trails surrounded by an amazing greenery.

The nature offers unending charm and beauty to this place. If you are a true nature lover, this place is a perfect destination for you boasting some mesmerizing waterfalls, serene green walking trails and beautiful landscape.

As of now reading my prolonged travel story, if you are thinking that kids are not finding enough interesting places for them, except ECHO Nature Center, you may be wrong. For my kids, the star attraction of this trip was the Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour. Yes yes, you are on absolute right track...America's one of the leading homemade ice cream and frozen yogurt manufacturer.

There is no doubt in the fact that not only the kids, but we all scream for ice cream. Located in Waterbury, this factory is few miles away from Stowe. Visitors can enjoy an exclusive factory tour experiencing how the creamery works and this was one of the few first factories run by Ben & Jerry. The added attraction was having your favorite flavor after the tour ends from the own den of Ben & Jerry....can you believe that!!!



The tour does not end here as we were going towards New Hampshire. But that story will be told in another blog as this one is  already getting very lengthy. The purpose of this travel story is to give a vivid picture of our trip to Vermont and to inspire people to go out and explore the world around you.