Murg Massallam and Rogan Josh...Turning back time

Don't you sometimes watch old movies...and by old I neither mean oldies nor period films, but movies ..of a common man..about times, say of the last century or early part of this century, and think that  if you could just turn that clock back on time and go right back there, whence and where, things were seemingly less competitive, in a sense maybe, even less complicated than our times ?  I certainly do wish like that. And no matter how weird this sounds, I will say it nonetheless. At such moments, I intensely hate my life like it is now. I hate how I wear a particular item of clothing, I hate the way the sound, I hate myself for all things that has everything and nothing to do with me.

Till.. of course reason lays a cold hand on me and I look around.. to see traffic lights, cafes,  thoroughfare, cars, cribs, mommies and daddies..but most of all how peaceful everything looks on the outside. And how it would not be so great nor feel good to be an anachronism. And then my reflection  in the mirror looks fine and acceptable...okay, maybe I just really need is a new pair of shoes :) or at most a few more bangs :)

Talking of such moments and movies and times moving back...or even actually having stopped.. and what not impossibilities it is that we dwell on, there is one way to literally turn back time and loose really nothing. You got it food!  And that reminds me I haven't told you about my culinary adventures over the Thanksgiving break :)

Over the course of the entire 4 and half day holiday period, I made two dishes which transcends time and generations . I am not going to write about any of the two recipes, which has no contribution from me. On second thoughts, I couldn't contribute to something which was from another century! But I must tell you about them. For making them was so much fun. I did everything which I never do. These were both spicy, took so very long to make and ended up rich and delectable. It was like dressing up for a fancy dress party or Halloween. To be what what you are not!

One was Murg Massallam. This is one recipe, which I believe, was a speciality of British Indian period and was handed down from the Mughal period. So mind you. This dish, as heavy sounding as it is, is a direct connection between you and me- Lord Mountbatten et al- emperor Akbar and his progeny. A heavy lineage. Is it true that the longer the history with the dish, the heavier it is? :)

Anyway this is just a cornish hen basted with oil/butter and a savory mix of yoghurt and spices, cooked slowly in a tandir oven. I, of course did it with olive oil in a regular oven. Turned out quite a looker. But the cool part is, R suggested ( he tells me that his grandfather is one who actually told him so) that it is best to put in some boiled eggs inside the hen. I couldn't find any recipe which suggested that. But we went ahead and stuffed the eggs in.  Must say..it was fun to do so :)

So here it is: An egg-stuffed cornish hen, basted in spice and yoghurt handed down across generations and centuries.  A thanksgiving feast :)

The next one is Rogan Josh. Posted by Nat loves baking. This one is lamb ribs, slow cooked in a lovely and rick gravy of red lentils and a plethora of spices and yoghurt. Apparently Rogan Josh literally translates into 'spicy oil'. And this one was handed down to the Mughals by the Persians...wow..this  transcends even longer times :)

Nat, it was brilliant. The smell took a while to wisp away. And I hear the taste never did :)

So here is Rogan Josh

Happy eating and happy reminiscing :)