Random Ramblings of a Reluctant Blogger

 My wife and I were returning back home after devouring some vitamin D directly from the source when she spotted fresh green methis or as scientists would call it as Trigonella foenum-graecum, and she couldn’t resist herself. “We shall make aloo methi today for lunch,” she said. And, would I object! Aloo in any form is always welcome. I believe aloo is one of the most humble and friendly of all vegetables, easily mingling with all and tasty in any form.

But, then it wasn’t aloo, but methi, that got me into trouble. As soon as we reached home I was entrusted with the task of cleaning and ‘de-leafing’ the methi to get it ready for cooking. It is not that I am averse to work or help (But of course getting your lunch  without any effort is a nirvanic experience we can talk about later) but the nature of work, that had me stumped. For, the instruction to clean the methi came with rider _ to spot and weed out other inedible leaves that may be nestled with the methi! 

Now, though I do enjoy my greens, I do admit I am a  little green behind the ears when it comes to identifying them. To me, the methi, the palak (spinach), the simple spinach and the various other green (keerais),  the  amaranthus (Ara keerai), drumstick green (Murungai keerai), the alternanthera (Ponanganni keerai), or the fenugreek greens (vendhiya keerai) to name a few, all look the same. But the blissful ignorance wasn’t going to get me off the hook and so I was subjected to a brief demo on what constitutes a methi and what doesn’t and in case of doubt I was to keep it aside for clearance.

In no time I realised how arduous the task was going to be. I was just into half the stack when I found that the ‘not-so-sure’ heap was filling up fast. Sensing trouble, I had to call for help and once again I was schooled on how to spot the intruder. My mind by now had started playing tricks. What looked like a methi from one angle looked like a weed from another. Adding to the confusion was that not one methi leaf looked like the other. The aroma wafting in from the kitchen as lunch was being prepared, was adding its own degree of difficulty. 

It was well close to noon and I was not even halfway through! That’s when expert help descended and my wife, shoving me aside, took up the task of leafing through, with the precision of a surgeon. In no time the intruders were shown their place and the methis were ready to join the aloo. As I tucked into the flavour of the day, my wife bowled a googly. “How is it?”, she asked. 

I leave it for you to guess if I said anything at all.