Lemon Rice

Here Iam, this is me, theres no where else on earth i'd rather be !!!!!
Boy, its good to be back again after a months break to blog and to blog hop !
I would like to kick-start with one of my favourite recipes. This had always been our childhood vacation food from the time i remember. Comes a vacation or a picnic, my mom used to pack this refreshing lemon flavoured rice for us. This recipe is very special to my heart. Cant thank my mom enough for her love and care she has been providing and her constant support ever since i stepped my tiny little pink foot on this world !  This post is for you Ammi :)

Even after so many years, we siblings still remember the time when we used to open the lunch boxes hungrily and eagerly to finish its contents. Its been years now and recently when i had a chat with my brother (did i ever mention that he is a food lover too and we chat for hours anything and everything related to food :). He had himself prepared this lemon flavoured rice for lunch and was eating all by himself thinking of our mom and we both went back to time remembering our good old days and our vacations.
well well well, here iam engrossed with my goody memories.....Now coming back about the recipe....

South Indians must be familiar to this rice variety but for those who are wondering about lemon juice being mixed with rice ?????.....The explanantion goes like, adding lemon to the cakes and cookies gives a wonderful aroma and a mild sour taste. Same goes to this rice too......but here, the sour taste is a little bit strong (but i bet you would love it ! if you are not a "sour person", you could as well reduce the amount of lemon juice added in the recipe) ..... Rice is prepared separately and is mixed with the lemon juice and lentils seasoned and oil fried.

Now we go to the recipe......

Ingredients 
For rice
Raw rice - 2 cups
Water - 4 cups

For the lemon juice seasoning
Oil - 2 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 2 tsp
Urad dal lentils  - 2tbsp
Chana dal lentils (Bengal gram) - 2 tbsp
Curry leaves - 5-6 leaves (optional, but enhances the flavor when used)
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Green chilli - according to your taste
Salt - according to your taste
lemon juice - 1 big
water - 1/4 cup.

Method 

1. Cook the rice with water until done. Set aside.
2. In a pan, heat the oil. Add mustard seeds. The seeds splatter and pop.
3. Add chana dal, urad dal, green chilli and saute until the lentils turn brown.

 4. Add curry leaves and turmeric powder, salt and saute for 5 seconds.

 5. Finally add the lemon juice and 1/4 cup water and let it boil.

6. Mix this well with the rice set aside.

Serve it with potato fry and lemon pickle :)