Sourdough, Biryani & Deadly Pasta

I have another difficult Sunday post here. I hate to be difficult but when it comes to Sourdough, Biryani and Deadly Pasta, I cannot make a decision in a jiffy.

The Biryani is in between the Sourdough and the Pasta. That’s a deliberate choice for some. It’s not to run down Biryani or to highlight the merits of either Sourdough or Pasta. It’s just how it is often in life.

I’m a little angry now because life’s sometimes fairly unfair.

I share this Sourdough Biryani & Pasta post in the hope that, while we have our debates and discussions, we can also eat something and not go on hunger strikes.

Sourdough, Biryani & Deadly Pasta- all have carbs

There are many who have faced acute food shortages and seen really bad days. I am blessed to have food on my table today. And there are children who still need to be fed.

So, I make this decision to share a recipe of a simple Pasta which is easy to make, and good for kids. It can be made in bulk as well for Sunday lunches or dinners.

We already have an excellent recipe here. So, nothing new being done in a way. I just share a variation as a reminder that what we take today is from others who are to follow. And some of us live closer to the seas.

Yes, I am aware of it

I have already taken up a lot. Sometimes, we are caught between the proverbial Devil and the Deep Blue. I want to smile, laugh and feel happy as I did yesterday with my friends. But, I don’t feel like it today.

There’s not much I can do. So, I share this recipe and my offering of a simple art project done in 2020 for my husband’s company’s team morale boosting initiative. I was happy to help, and I think it helped me to get over some difficult losses in life. It’s a different matter that I lost my husband, I lost the utensils, I lost the kitchen, I lost the helper and I lost the people (friendly neighbors) who ate those little works of art. I believe his company has paid to support him in this initiative of generating losses.

Weird to bring this up now after so many years.

Well, people have older passports which get lost at times. But doesn’t change their feelings, I think. So, that sense of helplessness, fear and pain is something I can relate to. If you feel sorry for those who lost their loved ones – do imagine how it might feel to lose everything.

It’s too early for those who are deeply affected to just simply move on. So, they need some help and support from friends and family around while others help to get normalcy back as early as possible.

Elders who have seen worse and children who are Innocents help sometimes. And sometimes, taking care of them is a distraction that is useful for those who have deeper blues to get out of a black funk.

Simple Sourdough Biryani & Deadly Pasta Story

Difficult weeks need more work. My brother is unwell, and I have an older ailing mother. I don’t have a rich dad or poor dad. That’s unfortunately how it is today. I’ve struggled for a few years now without any friends or family around. A few kind strangers and a few older relatives helped me.

I grew some basil leaves in a pot. Some friends helped me with the seeds. I got a gardener to come and clean up the little terrace garden. And a few people helped me to get the shrimps and the pasta.

Somebody helped to get the plain vanilla pods which I soak now as I prep for days ahead when we may need this as well. Somebody else helped to get a little bit of orange vodka that I use to soak it in. I don’t have Bourbon which a friend recommended but that’s ok for now. I want to live till later when I can perhaps find the heart to use it for baking something sweeter.

I have had a bite of chocolate last night and I remember younger days of fighting over it with my partner. Sometimes silly memories help when you don’t have silly people around.

Am I dependent on others? Sure I am. This is just a random example. Who was with me when I was really down and out and kicked by those I loved and trusted? Who?

So, while I can’t claim to know each individually, I try to take care of a few in my own way.

If you tell me that there’s something that affects you deeply- I try to understand. If I can’t then I got my own way and do something more productive instead.

Mothers tell me their Kids are important to them

Isn’t that obvious? For some it may not be. (Really?)

If I don’t have a kid, am I unimportant? No- I am not unimportant! But sometimes I am dispensable. Everyone will dispense their Gyan to me. I feel strongly about a few things too. So where do I share that if nobody has the time, space or money to understand further about what I feel and go through often. I take to this route online.

This is not about cultural appropriation. I love to learn, and I know some of us try to experiment. Some of us maybe slower than others, but we always try to reach out.

Ok now we shall get to the cooking finally! We really need to talk it out at times.

Deadly Pasta

Why is it deadly? Did Pasta kill your husband? Did the carbs kill your husband or was it a whole lot of phobia? Who knows. (Eye roll moment).

However, we do make these classic dishes once in a while. And I happen to have the ingredients at hand. So without much ado, we shall get to the recipe. While I was taking out the shrimps I noticed a block of parmesan cheese left from my trip to Kodai earlier this year. Happy memories and a bit of music helped to cook this dish with a bit of love.

Also thankful for our Youtube channel hitting 250 subscribers. Thanks to all who collaborated, contributed, encouraged and subscribed. 🙂

Footnote

Just Another Sunday Shrimp Deadly Pasta

Vanilla pod swirling in orange vodka

Can you hold me together till next November or December?

I see you on the table and say, Stay

It’s not even May, not even May

My way or the Highway dumps it on me every time

She takes pleasure in our pain and weakness

And laughs when she can lord over others

Power control by your own and stabbed in the back

Multiple times. You want me to be sugary sweet now?

Sorry- I can’t but I leave it here for you to be

Trying your tricks with others like you- who are blind.

And I have no recourse to justice of any kind.

I am red. I said that many times

Nobody heard me.

It’s the colour of all Stop signs

Can you hear my feeble voice?

-Melting Lemon Drop 27. 04. 2025

Sunday Shrimp Deadly Pasta

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Serves: 4-5 Prep Time: 30 min Cooking Time: 30 min

Ingredients

• 250g Shrimps Cleaned and Deveined
• 1 knob of butter
• 8 Garlic pods crushed
• 3-4 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 Large Onion Sliced
• 2 Tomatoes made into a paste
• a Handful of cherry tomatoes halved
• 90ml port wine
• 2 tbsp Oregano seasoning
• A bunch of basil leaves
• Parmesan cheese
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• 5-6 olives
• 200g Spaghetti
• 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• A slice of lime

Instructions

1. Heat butter in a pan
2. Add 1tsp of crushed garlic pods and brown it slightly
3. Add the prawns, add a bit of salt and pepper and saute quickly for 1-2 mins. Keep aside.
4. Heat 3-4 tbsp of Olive oil in the pan and add the sliced onion
5. After the onion is slightly pink, add the rest of the crushed garlic- approx 2tsp
6. While this is frying boil approx 1-2 cups of water in a big pan and season it with 1 tsp of salt and 1 tsp of olive oil to cook the pasta
7. Add the tomato paste to the fried onion in the pan and add some salt
8. Add the sliced cherry tomatoes and the port wine
9. Drop the spaghetti in it and cook for 1-2 mins. It should still be a bit chewy when you switch off and drain it quickly. Reserve the water for adding to the sauce later. 
10. Sprinkle some more salt and oregano seasoning, basil leaves and olives- let it simmer
11. Add the port wine and let it cook some more. Add some of the juices from the sautéed shrimps to this sauce
12. Finally add the pasta and cook for 2 mins with the sauce. Add the shrimps on top
13. Garnish with some more of basil leaves, parmesan shavings and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. 

Sourdough, Biryani & Deadly Pasta was last modified: April 27th, 2025 by Melting Lemon Drop

Notes

This is best made fresh and served hot for brunch, lunch or dinner. Leftover cold pasta can be stored and made later in a pasta salad. You can add other seafood of your choice Skip the shrimps and add mushrooms if you like a vegetarian version of this