One measure of rice and two measures of water.
Pressure cook the rice with two or three unpeeled potatoes.
After the first whistle, let it sim until the second whistle. Then switch off.
Don't force out the steam.
Remove the clamp of the pressure cooker and let the lid drop by itself .
Peel and mash the potatoes. Mix with the rice.
Add ghee (clarified butter), salt, pepper and (if you like that tang) amchur (dried mango) powder.
Eat with hot-spicy mango/lemon/mixed vegetable/dried fish/prawn pickles.

If that is too dry for your taste, then make dal.

Here is how.
One measure of Tuvar dal, two-three measures of water (depending on how liquid you want it to be). If you wish, add firm vegetables (carrot, pumpkin, gourd, peeled raw banana) or green leafy vegetable if you wish (especially if you are one of those with sad bowels).

Pressure cook.

After the first whistle, let it simmer until the third whistle. Then switch off. Don't force out the steam.
Remove the clamp of the pressure cooker and let the lid drop by itself.

You can simply add lots of green chillies, onions and mustard oil to the boiled lentil and mix it with the rice or you can do 'tadka'. In a wok heat oil, add mustard (until they split), cook onions till they are golden brown, add bay leaves, curry leaves, ginger-garlic, tomatoes, lots of green chillies. Be creative and go with your gut feeling.

Add the boiled dal (and vegetables). Let it simmer. Add coriander leaves if you wish with asofoetida.

Mix with rice and eat in joy.

The dal stays in the chiller (not freezer) for up to a week.

BTW, small tip. If you don't have papads and want something crispy with food - try potato wafers. Any crisp chips for that matter.

Another 'traditional' tip. When planning an elaborate banquet keep in mind that the meal must have:
Five tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, salty
Five textures: solid, liquid, crisp, soft/gooey, hard
Five food groups: vegetables, fruits, non-veg (optional), rice-bread-pasta, sweets
Five courses: appetiser, soup, starter, main course, desert
Five colors: red, orange, green, brown and white
Five appeals: it must look good, smell good, feel good, taste good, sound good (slurp!)

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