Product I Liked - Gits South Indian Breakfast Kit

I am not a fan of ready-to-eat Indian food because I believe that Indian food doesn't naturally lend itself to this format. There is a peculiar smell and taste attached to any such packaged food, which I suspect could be because of the added preservatives. Normally, I don't go to grocery stores without a list of items to be bought - saves a lot of time, not to mention the calories. But last weekend I was roaming about the aisles of Food Bazaar with the specific aim of locating any new food products in the market when my eyes caught sight of the South Indian Breakfast Kit from Gits. The kit contains 2 packets each of Dosa mix, Idli mix, Sambhar mix and Upma mix. All for Rs. 120. I bought one.

Since the Upma is relatively easy to make (!) I chose that first. The experience with the first packet wasn't very good. I had put in plenty of water as per the instructions but the mixture dried up pretty soon and the green chilies that I added later on didn't get cooked at all. The result was a tasteless lumpy mix.Yuck! I was better prepared for the second packet though. I added the chilies to the water before turning on the gas so they got cooked through. I not only added a bit more water but kept stirring it continuously and turned off the gas while the mixture was still a bit wet. This time the end result was much better - though, obviously, not as good as Umpa prepared from scratch using fresh ingredients.

I used one Sambhar packet when I made Upma the second time around. On its own, the gravy is a bit salty, at least for my taste. But if you mix it with Umpa, both taste better. You have to add veggies like tomatoes, drumsticks etc as per your taste as the Sambhar mix doesn't contain any vegetables.

The Dosas made from the batter turned out to be pretty good. Of course, there isn't much that can go wrong with Dosa batter - except maybe the proportion of salt. I made tomato chutney as an accompaniment. Just heat oil. Add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, asafoetida, chana dal (if you want), curry leaves, turmeric, onion (finely sliced)., salt and green chilies (finely sliced). Once the onion is translucent, add finely chopped tomatoes. Once they are cooked add chopped coriander leaves. Let the mixture cool down a bit and then grind it to a coarse paste using blender. I like this chutney better than the coconut one.

I am yet to try the Idli mix but judging by the Dosa mix, I guess it should be okay.

All in all, I think this breakfast kit is a must to have in case you need to rustle up a healthy breakfast in no time.

Product I liked - Wagh Bakri Instant Tea Premix

Picture this: it's a quiet afternoon at home and you are trying to do your very best to get a task done. You feel sleepy and are finding it hard to concentrate. You could kill for a steaming cup of tea but are too bored/tired/lazy to go through the whole circus of boiling water, adding tea leaves and sugar, then milk, then waiting for a lifetime before straining the hot liquid into a cup. And you hate the very concept of dip tea. I don't know about you but I have gone through many such afternoons. I tried Girnar's instant tea premix but felt it was too watery for my taste. And then I chanced upon Wagh Bakri Instant Tea Premix. BTW, I need to find out the logic or story behind this brand name. The concept of a tiger and she-goat just doesn't make any sense to me.

Pros:

I tried the Ilaichi flavor. The tea does have a smell and taste of Ilachi. That sounds like a no-brainer but in the past I have come across products claiming to contain spices that can neither be smelt nor tasted. Some premix teas drive you deeper into the sleep kingdom but this one is strong enough to wake you up - despite the Ilaichi flavor. Just use a little less water for a stronger taste. Plus this premix doesn't leave disgusting lumps at the bottom of the cup if you don't stir as if your life depends on it.

Cons:

The tea consistency is still a bit watery for my comfort. But then premix teas cannot really boast of the density of freshly made tea.

There is no denying the fact that I can finish my cuppa tea without making funny faces or throwing half of it in the sink in the end. Mission accomplished! :-)

P.S. Neither I nor anyone from my family is related to this company. 

Product I liked - Soul Pickles

I once had a roommate who would reach out for the pickle jar at every lunch and dinner - that never stopped amazing me because I am not a big fan of pickles. Less so, since I read somewhere that the excess salt in them (added as a preservative) can cause blood pressure problems. Who wants high or low BP, right? But since past few months, a jar of Soul pickle has become a hot favorite at mealtimes.

Pros:

The first thing that you notice is that there is more gravy in it as compared to the other brands. Plus, there is no torrent of oil just waiting to gush out the minute you open the bottle. It has a great taste - especially if you mix a dollop of it with simple dal and rice. Just fry (or microwave!) a papad or two and you have all the trappings of a soul-satisfying meal :-)

Cons:

For the record, I don't know if the claim of 'Less Salt' on the bottle is valid or not. I hope it is because it will be an icing on the cake.

P.S. So far I have tried only the Mango variety. But there is a brand new bottle of Mixed pickle in the fridge. And when I have worked my way through it, I plan to go for the lime one :-)

P.P.S. Neither I nor anyone from my family is related to this company.