Food

Smoked butter chicken – This is not one of those quick fix dishes. It required patience and time so don’t attempt it if you are in a hurry. This is my version of the butter chicken which I cooked for every family party and then never cooked it for more than 25 years. I had to dig deep into my head and heart to put this together and it worked. The fact that the dish says butter chicken does not make it inauthentic because the recipe has no butter. The correct translation would read creamy chicken. 

Chicken – 1 kilo

For the marinade
Fresh sweet thick curd ( don’t compromise on this) – 250 gms
Chilly powder – 1 tea spoon
Turmeric powder- 1/4 tea spoon
Cumin powder- 1 tea spoon
Coriander powder – 2 tea spoon
Ginger & garlic paste – one large tea spoon
Red food colour – optional( but i suggest you add)

For special mix
Star anise ground (चक्र फूल) – one teaspoon
Sauf  or fennel – one teaspoon
Ajwain or carom seed- three pinches

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Food

Most of our cooking need not be complex. Because a dish has many ingredients it does not translate as a great dish. Most vegetables carry flavours distinct to themselves; capsicums and Ivy gourd being some of them. These vegetables carry themselves off very well and over spicing them is like pouring soya sauce on an Indian-Chinese dish before you even eat it. Finally, vegetables need to be cooked not over cooked. Keep this dish crisp and light and enjoy it as soon as you make it. The cooking time is no more than ten minutes while the preparation may take about twenty. 

Tendli or Ivy Gourd – 650 Grams
One onion minced
Tomato – one
Coconut – 50 grams or four large tablespoons
Curry leaves – one sprig
Chillies – two
Pepper powder – one and a half teaspoon coarsely crushed
Turmeric – half teaspoon
Salt to taste

In a pan heat some oil. Add curry leaves, chillies and onion. Fry till translucent and then add the tomato. Stir this for a minute and add the pepper powder, turmeric and salt. Now add the tendli which you have cut into quarters, lengthwise and cook it for four minutes with a lid on stirring it quickly every minute ( I actually timed this). Turn off the gas and add the grated coconut. Cover with a lid and let the tendli bhaji cook in its own heat. It must be crunchy not soggy when you eat it

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Art/ Heritage

Cardinal Donald Wuerl at the Museum around the cabinet that holds the conclave ballot

OBJECTS AND STORIES – The Ballot of the Papal Conclave, 2013

It was March 13, 2013. The world awaited with baited breath for the new successor of St. Peter. Storm clouds gathered around the Vatican as thousands of rain-soaked tourists and faithful, huddled under multi-coloured raincoats and ponchos, in prayer and patience. All eyes were fixed on the humble four-foot chimney, first used in 1939 to elect Pope Pius XII, now charged by the weight to reveal the new Pope. This time, the audience hoped not for an audible Noooo.

At 7:06 pm, Roman Time, the sombre setting erupted to a new-found joy! The chimney spewed billows of white smoke and the bells of the Vatican pealed in jubilation! We now had a Pope. But who? A hundred-thousand eyes turned to the red draped windows of the loggia of St. Peter’s, tinged with hope. The cool atmosphere was thick with suspense.

The French Cardinal Protodeacon, Jean-Louis Tauran appeared on the balcony with those famous feverish words – “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam!” (I announce to you with great joy WE HAVE A POPE!). A page in history turned as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, stepped out of the wings as Pope Francis I.

Seven years later, a little cabinet at the Archdiocesan Heritage Museum, still stands tall in memory of these unforgettable moments. Within the cabinet are placed a series of souvenirs graciously donated by H.E. Oswald Cardinal Gracias who participated in the 2013 Conclave. The most significant among them is the unused ballot which delicately reminds us of the process of the Papal Election.

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Art/ Heritage

Christian Art 101 – An Introduction

‘Throughout history, art has been second only to life in bearing witness to the Lord. It was, and remains, a majestic road allowing us more than by words and ideas to approach the faith, because it follows the same path of faith, that of beauty. The beauty of art enriches life and creates communion, because it unites God, man and creation in a single symphony. It connects the past, the present and the future, and it attracts – in the same place and with the same gaze – different and far-off peoples.’ – Pope Francis

The Holy Catholic Church has fostered a fruitful dialogue with the arts and the artists throughout centuries. This dialogue has always been rooted in creed and creativity making the Church one of the greatest patrons of art and today one of the largest reservoirs of her works. The artistic language of Christian faith has varied forms. They include: paintings (frescoes, murals, encaustic, oil, tempera, enamel); sculptures; architecture; decorative arts (stained glass, mosaics); illuminated manuscripts; embroidery etc.

It is important to note that the inspiration for Christian art began as a scriptural symbolic code. The fish, the bread, the anchor, the boat, the shepherd, the raised hands and several other illustrations discovered in the early catacombs evoked mystery to memory and established the secretive voice of faith.

In 313 AD, the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great issued the famous Edict of Milan which legalized ‘the Way’ while in 380 AD Emperor Theodosius I adopted Christianity as the Empire’s sole authorized religion. Both these political developments provided a fresh breath of freedom to religious art. Majestic Basilicas were built, modified and decorated in the East and the West Roman Empire in order to meet the needs of the growing Christian community.

Since the papacy of Pope Gregory the Great (590 – 604 AD), ample emphasis was placed upon the use of religious representations as catechesis to the unlettered and as a visual supplementation to worship. Scenes from the life of Christ were painted upon the walls of Churches and illuminated liturgical manuscripts. Artists rendered an indispensable service to public and private prayer.

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Food

Chicken mince cooked with cluster beans and potatoes

This is a very simple dish with few ingredients and yet the taste is simply fantastic. This dish has a slight bitterish aftertaste due to the cluster beans but this is exactly what makes this dish so interesting. The peppery chicken mince marries beautifully with the cluster beans

Chicken mince – 250 grams
Cluster beans – 400 grams
Potato – one very large diced yum nail size
Onion – one large cut very fine
Tomato – one large cut very fine
Green chillies – two to three
Curry leaves – one sprig
Ginger and garlic paste – one teaspoon
Cumin powder – one large teaspoon
Turmeric powder – 1/2 teaspoon
Pepper powder – coarsely ground and fresh, two teaspoons
Lime

In a pot heat some oil and add the green chillies and curry leaves. Add the onions and let it fry till they are translucent. Now add the tomatoes and cook for a minute or so. At this stage add the ginger and garlic paste along with the turmeric, cumin and pepper powder. Stir this in and add the chicken mince with the potatoes. Add half a cup of water and cook this for five minutes on a medium heat.

Now add on the cluster beans which have been finely cut and mix well. This needs to cook for three minutes only. Remember the cluster beans are cut fine so they will cook quickly. You don’t want the vegetables to go limp and you need to retain the bright green colour. Turn off the heat and cover and allow the vegetables to cook in the heat of the dish. When serving add lime.

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