Hindus Angry over Canton Township Commissioner's Urination Remark

Catherine Johnson a Canton Township, MI planning commissioner asked during a debate whether Hindu women urinate in public as part of their faith. This was said on December 3rd, 2007 at a meeting over a $5 million plans to expand the Hindu Temple of Canton. Asian Indians were very...very angry at this and their anger resulted in Catherine Johnson quiting her post.

This from Detroit News:

many Asian Indians said the question was an unfair characterization of their culture and a lie. Others complained the remark underscored stereotypes about cleanliness in India, where poverty is rampant.

About the Hindu Temple expansion plans:

The Hindu temple's expansion plans have caused controversy because neighbors claim the project would look out of place next to $300,000 homes. Members want to demolish the 20-year-old temple and build an ornate, 35,000-square-foot, double-domed replacement deeper on property at Cherry Hill near Canton Center. Planners delayed a decision this month.

Rabid Fox attacks residents in Plymouth Township, MI

Detroit News is reporting that

A rabid fox is still on the loose today after biting a township woman and her beagle near Ann Arbor Trail and McClumpha last night.

Around 9 p.m. Thursday, the crazed animal "came out of nowhere," nipped at the woman's ankle and broke the skin, said Plymouth Township Police Chief Thomas Tiderington.

The woman's dog then chased the fox and was also bit. Both sought medical treatment, he said.

The incident is the latest following several attacks occurring in the same area over the last month.

"There's not much we can do…except notify the public to be on the lookout," Tiderington said. "We've contacted professional animal control and we're discussing what capabilities they have."

Careful out there when jogging or taking your dog for a walk!

Fragrant Chicken Curry With Coconut Milk

A reader writes in to Detroit News (Eats and Drink Section) with the following question

How does one cook recipes that call for dairy-based ingredients when you are not to have dairy products

Lynne Rossetto Kasper answers the question

Don't make yourself crazy. Skip those recipes. With all the nondairy recipes out there, you don't have to struggle. I think out this kind of thing by looking at the parts of the world where the food that needs to be avoided (dairy in your case) is rarely used.

Then Lynne, as an example gives out the recipe of "Fragrant Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk" which is a dish from southern India which is based on a "milk" that's never seen a cow and can be made in about 15 minutes.

Here's the recipe:

Curry paste:

1 large onion, cut in half
5 large garlic cloves
1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled
1/2 teaspoon each ground cumin, coriander, cinnamon, salt and black pepper
2 medium-sized ripe tomatoes, or 3 to 4 canned tomatoes
Bottom 2 inches of a lemon grass stalk, trimmed of rough outer leaves (optional)
1 to 2 jalapenos, stemmed and seeded (or not, if you like it hot)
1/2 cup water

Chicken:

Cold-pressed vegetable oil
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces (organic if possible)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 cup water
1 cup canned coconut milk
2 tightly packed tablespoons fresh mint leaves, chopped

In a food processor, puree together half the onion, all the garlic, the ginger, spices, salt, pepper, tomatoes, lemon grass (if using), jalapeno and the 1/2 cup water. Set aside.

Thinly slice the other onion half. Film the bottom of a straight-sided 12-inch saute pan with the oil. Heat over medium high, add the onion, and saute until it begins to color. Add the curry blend, reduce the heat to medium and saute 10 minutes, stirring often with a wooden spatula, until the oil separates from the curry. Don't rush this step; it sets up the foundation of the dish.

Stir in the chicken and 1 cup water. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a slow simmer. Cook, uncovered, for 8 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.

Lift the chicken out of the pan with a slotted spoon into a serving bowl. Raise the heat until the sauce is boiling. Boil it down until once again it is so thick that the oil separates from the curry paste. Taste the sauce for seasoning, stir in the coconut milk and heat another 3 to 4 minutes. Pour the sauce over the chicken. Sprinkle it with the mint and serve hot. Serves 4.

Per serving: 488 calories; 32 g fat (17 g saturated fat; 59 percent calories from fat); 14 g carbohydrates; 124 mg cholesterol; 437 mg sodium; 38 g protein; 4 g fiber.

Bharatiya Temple in Troy, MI to double its size

Detroit News is reporting (story by reporter Catherine Jun) that

A $9 million expansion of the temple on North Adams and South Boulevard is finally scheduled to begin within a week, with final building permits in hand that will allow excavation and foundation work on 17 acres.

The project has been in the works for nearly a decade. By the end of 2009, builders will erect a 60,000-square-foot structure, with a grand rotunda, a sky-lit worship hall and three shikharas, similar to steeples, pointing to the sky.

The new structure will fuse architectural styles of northern and southern India, in keeping with the temple's inclusive approach to worship, rather than focusing on one region's religious traditions.

Indians are the largest Asian Population in Metro Detroit

Detroit News (09/12/2007) is reporting that Asians have overtaken Hispanics to become the 2nd largest Minority Group in Metro Detroit. Indians make up more than a 3rd of the Asian Population followed by the folks from China, Philippines, Japan and Korea.

Detroit News interviewed Ramana Mudeganti of Rochester Hills a native of Southern India. Quoting Detroit News:

"I never imagined coming to Detroit, if not for the job" said Ramana Mudeganti, a 34-year-old native of southern India who left Raleigh, N.C., for a technology job at Compuware six years ago.

He was comforted by the fact that many classmates and a neighbor from India were already here. Now a contract worker at Chrysler, he settled in Rochester Hills and got married. On Sunday, his son was born.

"When I moved here, it felt good. If you can bear the winter, it's not that expensive here," he said. "It's a very big community. There's Middle Eastern, Asian; all communities here. A very diversified community."

Detroit News also interviewed Vijyesh Saxena who along with his teammates beat a rival team of Chrysler workers in the game of Cricket this past Monday at Auburn Hills. Quoting Detroit News:

Saxena, the tournament MVP and a Chrysler information technology worker, and his fellow cricket players are the flesh and blood behind the influx of Asians.

"The funny thing is, I never played that much cricket in India," Saxon, 33, said Monday, scooping up his MVP trophy before heading home. But he does now, thanks to Chrysler's 12 cricket teams and organized groups like the Detroit Cricket League, which has nearly doubled the number of teams since 2001.

Saxena's immigration story is emblematic of most foreign-born workers moving into Detroit.

The Jaipur, India, native enrolled in a master's degree program at Eastern Michigan University in 2001, got a job at Chrysler and a temporary work visa that expires in 2011. He has applied for a green card and would like to stay, especially since he is now married and his wife is expecting a baby in April.

He is far from home, but doesn't always feel that way because several friends also live and work in Metro Detroit.

"I never really felt out of country," he said.