Maloonga ~A Flat Bread From Yemen

Maloonga ~A Flat Bread From Yemen

This week I am doing International Flatbreads. My first thought was Aloo paratha, naan but Valli had said no Pakistan, India!

My first thought was not fair Valli I don’t have the time! but then Valli is not forcing me to sign up. I am doing it because I want to so explore beyond the boundaries and comfort zone. So here is my contribution to our exploration of flat breads.

If you want to see what a flatbread is and what a diverse variety of flatbreads India has then check this out.

Today I take you to Yemen and Malooga a Yemeni flat bread.

Apparently this is a very common yeasted flatbread in Yemen that is eaten with eggs, buttermilk, fasoolia and it is used in the Yemeni Ramadan dish called shafuta. But getting any documented history is difficult.

In Yemen, it is baked in a taboon to me it looks like a tandoor.

Traditionally a makhbaza is used to apply the malooga to the hot pan. The makhbaza is a round, domed tool that you place the malooga on. You pick it up from the bottom which has a handle, and with one swift motion, you smack the malooga on the hot pan or the taboon.

Since we cannot get a makhbaza, bake it like pizza crust.
I took the picture with the girls being extremely hungry and irritable for a delayed dinner, so that calls for a  trail again for better pictures.

Maloonga ~A Flat Bread From Yemen

Malooga

Recipe Source: Here

Ingredients:

• 2 cups warm water
• 2 ½  tsp active yeast
• 5- 6 cups flour
• 2 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup semn, warmed
• 2 tbsp  oil

Method:

• Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water and proof it.
• To the 5 cups of flour and salt add the  water as needed. Mix with hand, adding more flour if needed to form a stiff dough.
• Knead for at least 10 minutes or until dough is smooth, not sticky, and pliable.
• Cover dough, and place in a draft-free place. Set aside for 1 hour or until risen.
• On a surface sprinkled with flour, cut dough into mounds( the recommendation was of the size of what you do for a large pizza suit yourself). Let sit for 5 min.
• Preheat oven at250°C/ 550° F.
• Mix the warmed semn with oil in a small bowl. Prepare a large surface by sprinkling flour. Place one of the mounds on the surface and pat down and stretch into a rectangle, 1/2 an inch thick (about 20 x 15). I used a rolling pin.
• Brush or smear with your hand the  entire surface with the semn-oil mix.
•  Fold dough in half towards you. Brush the top surface with semn-oil mix and fold it in half towards you again. Brush with semn-oil mix and fold in half sideways. Brush again. Fold sideways and brush with mix again. Finally brush surface and pinch corners together to form a ball.
•  Place ball on the floured pan and, move on to the next one.
• By the time you have finished layering the last one, the first layered dough would be ready for baking because it had time to rest.
• Pat down the dough mound into a large round the size of a thick large pizza and place into a greased baking sheet. Brush and egg wash (1 egg + 2 tablespoons milk) or buttermilk on top. 
• Bake in hot oven until bottom is brown and top has brown spots (it won't fully brown).

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#50

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Book Review “Shattered Dreams”, the Book 2 of Ramayana – by Shubha Vilas

Blogadda wrote saying I was selected  for reviewing "Shattered Dreams by Shubha Vilas. 

Here is what I think...

 Overall the book makes thought provoking reading. The flow of the narrative and the revelation of human emotions behind the familiar scenes make it a page turner. Indeed, the mind does get hooked, when you realize that gods, demigods and godly humans exhibit emotions similar to the emotions of the common man and that they also exhibit similar anxieties. It is a learning experience as to how these heavenly beings handle their emotions and cope with adversities in life.

The author has put footnotes about the lessons at relevant points in the book. Though the flow of the narrative does get affected due to these footnotes, a student of management or psychology can use these “interruptions to reflect, ruminate and digest the lessons. In addition, one is tempted to anticipate such footnotes in the scenes ahead.

 One has always had logical doubts about various scenes like

• How a loving wife and mother like Keikeyi can turn a villain overnight
• Why Rama who is god incarnate, cannot correct his father when he erred in decision making
• Why Urmila does not insist on following Sita’s lead of accompanying her husband to the forest
• Why Ravana who was a learned Brahmin turns into a vicious demon

All these doubts are debated by various characters and a logical; explanation is provided in the book. The debate of Jabali and Rama is another instance of such a debate.

To a student of Management the five concepts explained by Rama to Bharata are invaluable:

1. Respect Management
2. Decision Management
3. Reputation Management
4. Team Management
5. Character Management

 These concepts are further clarified in various points and then one begins to realize as to how these can be put to use in one’s own profession as a manager, leader, politician or administrator. For a teacher too these points are a starting point for a complete presentation on Management principles.

There are certain questions that do linger in one’s mind at the end of reading the book:

• What happens to Manthara after Shatrughna releases her on Bharata’s instructions
• Why do gods and seers always insist on testing and retesting people; don’t they have “trust’ in the persons they are testing? Can they not read a person’s mind?
• Can gods also be a victim of human emotions like jealousy, vanity and lust?
• Before going to meet Dasaratha and Keikeyi, Rama and Sita have a symbolic exchange of messages through the exchange of a flowery garland and an imaginary garland. This indicates that they know that the time has come for them to proceed on the journey to fulfill the purpose of their birth on earth. Yet Rama insists on testing Sita about whether she would like to follow him to the forest.

In spite of the doubts that linger, the book does provide a thought provoking explanations to most scenes and also lessons in coping with adversities in life as well as lessons in the Principles of Management as well as Dharma; which are as relevant today.

My recommendation read the book, you will enjoy it!

This review is a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!

Hi! First time here? Well then you are Most Welcome! I hope you keep coming back for more here. If you are my regular visitor then Thanks, for you encourage me to experiment more!! I would like you to please click on my link below and like my Facebook Page. I will be happy if you can follow me on on Twitter too!

 

Blogging Marathon Day 3

Day 3!!

Tomorrow I am flying back! How do I pack!!

We need to have a rule for goody bags nothing more than ½ kg for each participant, even with that 11 of us makes 5 ½ kgs.

Why does the airline not allow extra baggage for females? Especially when you are visiting friends like this, all equally crazy !!

This weighty issue had me stay away from prop shopping L and all kinds of shopping.

Inspite of all these hurdles and the bitter sweet knowledge that the day 3 means I have come to the last day of my time with my friends I was looking forward to day 3.

Why?

We were to go to Foodology a beautiful place for all foodies. I will not say much but share with you the pictures.

Will it suffice to say this was the best day that I had in my life? The entire meet was to teach what one knew to others and I learnt a lot.

The Food!!

Thanks Chennai group for organizing it and here is the best cake creation that was a group exercise.

After the day at Foodology most of us departed to go to our homes with the sweet memories that we had made of the 3 days together!!

Wait, Vaishali and I are yet around we are to leave on the next day. Padma and her husband took us out are some shopping and a dinner where we had appams then it was time to pack.

Saying bye is difficult but particularly difficult to a person as warm as Padma who had opened her home and hearth to us. Padma had tears in her eyes as she waved to us I wanted to howl but controlled myself.

At the airport when it was time to say bye to Vaishali I had to remind myself this is the beginning, beginning for a new meeting! Our BM#75!!

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#49

Hi! First time here? Well then you are Most Welcome! I hope you keep coming back for more here. If you are my regular visitor then Thanks, for you encourage me to experiment more!! I would like you to please click on my link below and like my Facebook Page. I will be happy if you can follow me on on Twitter too!

 

Blogging Marathon Meet #50 Day 2

Aww do I have to get up? 

Can I not sleep for some more time? 

Am I waking my kids to go to school? No it’s me talking to myself.

Okay I am not crazy it’s Day 2 at Chennai and after sleeping very late in the morning we are waking up to go to the beach, Marina Beach.

I was tempted to tell the ladies you go I am sleeping but the enthusiasm of all the members was so catchy plus the fact that the kids were up and willing to go made me feel …. So to cut the long story short went to the beach.

The sea this time was Bay of Bengal and it looked so beautiful. I wish I had gone in the sea instead of playing my favourite game with the waves. Come get me… nana nan you missed!!

Anyway I loved the sea though the beachfront reminded me of Juhu when I had visited it ages ago. I will prefer my regular beach haunts in Goa.

After the beach we went to Woodlands  for breakfast since there were no big tables we were 4 to a table and Usha. I enjoyed my breakfast totally. Here as we were having beakfast a lady at the next table asked us why we were all in pink. As we explained about food blogging I realised none of us were wearing aprons.

Home and change we were ready to go shopping. With the Damocles sword of baggage allowed in the flight cut all my desire to go shopping. The place where Nandini took us was amazing and her offer of prop shopping I refused. After seeing all that had been purchased I wish I had gone though.

Anyway it was time for lunch! And we went here.

Yes, the E Hotel!!

 Padma’s husband had organised lunch for us here. Its beautiful look at the interiors.

 I fell in love with all the beautiful cake models here. Apparently there was a castle and buggy which was beautiful but has been removed. How I wish I could see it.

The lunch was at the multi-cuisine restaurant "Entree" was awesomely delicious buffet!!
Food here is delicious and had me vacillating in my choices and wishing I had an expandable bag for a stomach.

There was hardly anything I did not try and like!

There were breads, pasta, spaghetti, dumpling sauce, so many varieties of salads, pickles, flat breads, gravies and a whole lot of desserts.

 But all the while I had one goal in mind “the desserts!” My favourite rasmalai was on the menu along with  Gulab Jamun, Clusters, Choco Brownie, Pineapple mousse, Mocha Pastry, Ice cream Walnut and Banana Bread ice cream with various toppings. Take a look at the pictures they will speak volumes.

We had a fun time eating here but knowing that there is more fun waiting us and was making me impatient. We were to visit the kitchens.

Since Ahmadabad where Vaishali took us to the kitchens for the first time I find myself wanting to visit restaurant kitchens now. (The other day I went in the Office canteen kitchen!) What have you made me into Vaishali?

Anyway we were taken to the conference room and down to the works….

Executive Chef Balaji and Sous Chef Hari Babu took us around the kitchen. They patiently explained everything and demonstrated two south Indian dishes for the bloggers from North. There was rasmalai being made and Chef kindly shared the recipe with me.

There were demos for making of Keppal Roti and Kara Kozhukattai. I found it fascinating especially the Keppal Roti in Goa we use the drumstick leaves to make a vegetable but for nothing else. The girls find it bitter so I can use this dish to get some greens in them. As for the Kara Kozhukattai a savoury and steamed version of any dish is welcome. To go with the dishes Chef made a delicious onion and tomato chutney that was amazingly delicious.

After that we went down to the bakery section. Here I was like a kid in the candy shop there were amazingly delicious smells and aromas and textures and flavours hanging in the air. Just breathing the air made me wish I could camp here forever and ever.

Chef Ramesh demonstrated the making of tiramisu, chocolate mousse and chocolates. I wish I really really wished I had not had lunch. This was the amazing stuff that I wanted to eat all the day long.

Then all to soon it was time to say goodbye to the Chefs and the after we thanked Sou's Chef-Mr.Hari Babu, Bakery Chef-Chef Ramesh, Executive Chef-Mr.Balaji and the General Manager  Gaurav Gupta we left the E Hotel.

What an amazing experience it was!!
Here are soem of the treasures that were in the works!

This time it was time to dress in red and visit the dinner hosted for us with a surprise element of meeting families. Though the food was delicious I could not eat I all but made up by chatting with the BMer’s families.

Soon  this day too came to an end! Only we had an amazing day planned for the day 3 the most wonderful experience in my life…

Want to know about it? Join me tomorrow…

 Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#49

Hi! First time here? Well then you are Most Welcome! I hope you keep coming back for more here. If you are my regular visitor then Thanks, for you encourage me to experiment more!! I would like you to please click on my link below and like my Facebook Page. I will be happy if you can follow me on on Twitter too!