Month: February 2018

RootsandLeisure_RosseleJam

Recipe | Ruby Red Roselle Jam

“I got a good batch of red roselle from my terrace garden itself. Apart from cooking various dishes , I made this beautiful tangy sweet jam from the roselles . Goes great with bread ,rotis and even in tarts” ~  Geeta (@geeta_4u) Geeta’s yummy roselle jam  recipe is given below. Ingredients: 1kg of Red Roselle Sugar to taste A table spoon of vinegar Directions to cook: Remove the red outer covering from the fruit All the red part is then boiled in a large vessel with water Once the water starts to boil ,it becomes ruby red Add equal amount of sugar and keep stirring continuously Remove the foam which forms at the top with a laddle Keep stirring for almost 45 mins The red petals will become mushy . (Optional to keep it if you want the mushy consistency) Add the vinegar The liquid will become dark red in colour and thick in consistency The jam is ready Let it cool Store it in clean , dry bottles .

RootsandLeisure_HillWild

“Hill Wild Chocolates” from Manipur are Made with Local Nuts and Seeds | A Chat with Founder Zeinorin Stephen

Armed with the passion for experimental ideas and geared with confidence and determination, Zeinorin from Ukhrul is not your regular entrepreneur. What sets her apart is her insatiable appetite for success and new ventures. The young lady will stop at nothing to keep her spirit high and going! And she has a secret sauce that literally helps her do that – which involves chocolates. Here’s her story. She’s someone you’ll always find hustling – wherever or whatever the situation. Along with running multiple initiatives under her venture “Hill Wild”, she also leads an NGO called “Phiva” which trains and works with women (they have 13 so far) to  make pickles and doughnuts. Hi Zeinorin, tell us something about yourself and How did you start your chocolate startup?  I’m Zeinorin Stephen from Ukhrul, Manipur. I often call myself a passionate entrepreneur because no matter how often I fail,  I always move on with persistence. It’s almost innate. I love sharing knowledge and I  have been extremely fortunate for I always end up meeting people with similar ideas and altruistic vision. So …

Valentine’s Day Special Doughnuts Recipe

Ingredients All-purpose flour – 500gms Salt – 10gms Granulated sugar – 60gms Instant dry yeast – 15gms Soft butter – 50gms Egg – 3 nos Milk – 160ml Makes 10-12 doughnuts Preparation In a large bowl, combine lukewarm milk, yeast and sugar. Stir it lightly, and let it sit until the mixture is foamy. In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the egg, salt and soft butter. Add flour and the yeast mixture and combine until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Remove the dough from the mixer and transfer it to a floured surface and knead until smooth. Transfer the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with cling wrap and let it sit in a warm place until its size doubles. Roll the dough onto a floured surface to a ½ inch thickness. Cut out the dough with the help of a heart-shaped cutter and place it on a baking tray lined with grease-proof paper keeping plenty of space between each one. Let it rise in a …

Young Mom from Nagaland is Trending on Instagram with Her Stylish Traditional Looks | A Chat with “Mekhala Mama”

If you’re following North East Indian fashion on Instagram, chances are you’ve come across “Mekhla Mama” and her super stylish traditional outfits that command attention. At first, we were delighted by her strong sense of individual style. However, as we continued to see her consistently striking looks, our fascination grew and turned to curiosity about the person behind the avatar. We couldn’t help but wonder where she gets her inspiration from, as each style exuded a level of consistency and authenticity that must stem from a personal motivation.  So here we are, chatting up with the lady herself to know all about the person behind the face, and to dig deeper into the message she is trying to convey through her “Mekhala Mama” avatar. R&L: Could you share a bit about yourself and what you do? Mekhala Mama:  My name is Theyie Keditsu and I was born and brought up in Kohima, Nagaland. I currently teach at Kohima College, Department of English. This will be my 12th year of teaching college. I’ve taught in Pfütsero …

Faces | Human of Shadows, Mumbai

“Shadows are inseparable from us. Doesn’t matter if we can see it or not depending on the light source, but we are never alone. And what happens if we become our own shadow? Mumbai is a dream city for many. When I saw this person who had made a big sewage tunnel his home, I wondered did he also land in this city with some dreams? What were those? Dif they get shattered? While I was silently taking this picture as my heart sank thinking about the life of this shadow human, he turned back and that was the moment that was captured. And he turned back with a big smile; literally posing for the picture! Making me realize: No matter what, keep smiling.”  @ banjara_musafir

Faces | A Day Spent at Chok Chai Farm,Thailand

“Me and my friend were passing through the Khorat province of Thailand, when we accidentally spotted a farm and decided to pull over and check it out. We discovered that it was the popular Chok Chai Farm – that houses in numerous animals like cows, sheep, horses, chickens and more. We decided to stay back there for a while. Most surprisingly, we even got to experience milking the cow, feeding the sheep, riding horses and basically watching the animals being on their own. We had an amazing time!” @t.prang  

RootsandLeisure_StinkyBeansRecipe

Recipe | Stink Beans and Smoked Beef Chutney

Here’s a snack/chutney made of smoked beef and the very popular stink beans aka Yongchak. East to make, but has a memorable unique taste. Try it! Ingredients: 1 thinly sliced Stinky beans (Yongchak) 2 pieces of smoked beef A handful of chameleon roots 4 leaves of sliced Lomba (Elsholtzia griffithii ) 1 small sliced onion A handful of coriander leaves 1 medium-sized sliced king chili 2 Roasted fermented fish 2 cloves of garlic Salt to taste Directions to cook: Mash garlic cloves using a mortar and pestle Add roasted fermented fish and mash Roast the smoked beef and shred it into pieces Mix stink beans, smoked beef, lomba, onion, chili and chameleon roots in a bowl Add the mashed garlic and fermented fish Add salt Mix it well and serve Stink Beans and Smoked Beef Chutney is ready to be served!

RootsandLeisure_Shivani

Sewing Art onto Fabric | Meet Shivani from Darjeeling

Shivani Rai from Darjeeling, West Bengal is a fabric artist who sews, swoons, and sells personalised artwork online, making sure that she weaves quality into her products, giving her customers the satisfaction of creating exclusive and unique gifts. Are you one of those people who find it hard to buy the perfect gift for someone else? Or, are you looking for quirky, customised artefacts to personalise your office bay or that lonely corner in your home? Well, we have a solution for your problems – the adorable Shivani Rai, who weaves charm, insight, and love into all her creations. At Roots and Leisure, we are forever on the lookout for ‘unique’. So, when we had the chance to talk to this amazingly talented artist, we definitely weren’t going to pass it up! Read on for the interview below… Photo | Shivani Tell us a little bit about yourself. My name is Shivani Rai. I’m from Darjeeling, India and am currently based in Delhi. I make fabric art and sell it via my Instagram page – …