Upma/Rulaav (from Rahul's mom)

1 cup cream of wheat ("sooji"--coarse, not instant/quick-cooking)
5 tablespoon olive oil or canola oil
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon urid dal
few curry leaves(optional)
3 green chillies
1/2 cup carrots and peas (optional)
small piece of fresh ginger
salt and sugar to taste.
Method of cooking:
Fry cream of wheat in a pan until light brown (dry-without any oil). Take it out in a plate.
Heat oil,add mustard seeds. Once it splutters,add urid dal until it browns. Add curry leaves,ginger and chillies.
Add 2 cups of water to the seasonings and boil the water. Add salt (1 teaspoon) sugar(2 teaspoon), carrots and peas.If you like,you can also add onions and tomatoes. But you have to add these before you pour water in the seasonings.If you are adding onions, add after you put curry leaves and fry the onions in oil till light brown and then add tomatoes.Boil till the vegetables are cooked. Reduce the heat, and add fried cream of wheat and stir slowly till it dissolves in the water(Don't mash the cream of wheat) If it is lumpy, you can add little more water.
Cook on low heat for five minutes or till the water evaporates.Add cilantro chopped if you like. Bon Appetit!