Under The Rubber Tree

There are few things as comforting as chicken stew to have with appam or steamed milk bread. Not bread just out of the packet of bread, but one that you have steamed for about 3- 4 minutes, making it utterly soft and ready to sop up all that is on your plate.  And Kerala style chicken stew is perfect for that hot, steaming bread - mild in flavor and easy to prepare. You don't need to spend hours to enjoy a perfect breakfast or dinner, just a few minutes and some patience.  What makes the stew or Ishtew as it is sometimes referred to the perfect breakfast accompaniment is the lack of "masalas" - you don't have tonnes of chilli powder or coriander powder, the usual suspects in Indian cooking. Instead you have mild whole spices - sputtered in oil, just enough to impart its fragrance. Everyone at home can have the same meal - no one would complain that it upset their tummy or their mouth was on fire.  Most of the time you have what you need in your kitchen itself. Nothing...