AainaA

This was one of the recent postings before I upgraded to the most recent WordPress update. Once recycled, most posts backed-up or not, usually stays trashed. I saved this one, because I love bitter gourd.

I took my second miniature gourd just now - raw. I think my tummy is getting smaller, though the skin on the outside reflects something like a baby hippo - no, I meant the size, not the skin. I had the unfortunate incident of looking and talking to one of our staff, wondering why he never did bother about anything but sleep, and making money when he can - and why he never bothered to work out since he has a huge belly, and I swore, I had a terrible thought. I think without contemplating much, and being an idiot, I must have poked him.

Serves me right, my tummy is growing like a watermelon - a giant watermelon. Bitter gourd contains vitamin A, B1, B2, and C. It also contains minerals like calcium, phosphorous, iron, copper and potassium. From the ayurvedic perspective, bitter gourd is excellent for balancing Kapha. It helps purify blood tissue, enhances digestion, and stimulates the liver.

According to aryuvedic living, I’m the perfect example of a Kaphic Goddess. Meaning even if I don’t eat for 2000 years, the probability of me putting on weight is not slim. Working and facing the computer 20/24 is detrimental to my lifestyle - when you’ve reached the thirties, the best profession to indulge onself in, would be to steer very far away from the Internet. Back to the idea of tasting bitterness on the tongue after noticing the evolution of my tummy growing like a pumpkin overnight, I decided to do a deeper read on bitter gourd.

The fruits and leaves of the plant contain two alkaloids, one of them being momordicine. The plant is reported to contain a glucoside, a saponin-like substance, a resin with an unpleasant taste, an aromatic volatile oil and a mucilage. Bitter gourd being rich in all the essential vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin A, B1, B2, C and Iron, its regular use helps to prevent many complications such as hypertension, eye complications, neuritis and defective metabolism of carbohydrates. It increases body’s resistance against infection. Bitter gourd is a highly beneficial help in the treatment of blood disorders like blood boils, scabies, itching, psoriasis, ring-worm and other fungal diseases

… but it doesn’t say anywhere about consuming it and shedding all those pounds - maybe I need to get myself marinated {sexed-up love!}. And I need to shed these last century already! The magic pouch would make Doraemon envious - it looks like a teddy bear as it is, and I can imagine hugging myself to bits! I dislike holidays really - its something in my system that just stops and think of food 20/24. Even when I can’t find the energy to eat, I’d think of food. I think Kwai {a friend whom I travelled about in Europe aeons ago} would enjoy this… one.

• 1 medium bitter gourd, trimmed, cut into half, deseeded and sliced thinly
• 1 tablespoon ghee
• 1 tsp brown mustard seed
• 1 tsp urad dhal
• 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 cup thick coconut milk mixed with 1/2 cup pure water
• Rock salt to taste
• 6-8 curry leaves

1. Blanch the sliced bitter gourd in boiling salted water for 3-4 minutes, drain.
2. Heat ghee in a heavy-bottomed pot till it looks clear.
3. Add the brown mustard seed and urad dhal.
4. When the mustard seed starts to pop and the urad dhal turns golden brown, add the bitter gourd, turmeric, cumin and salt, and mix well.
5. Add the thinned coconut milk and crushed curry leaves and simmer until heated through.
6. Serve hot with cooked Basmati rice.

I will not do this tonight - I just had one rib-eye for dinner, and six small strips of sirloin. Christmas when alone, incites you to be merry {hungry, in my case!}. Well, I hope I’ll feel much better tomorrow.