Soulful Creations

in BITS, Pilani. I make this quite often-and have impressed the wise-guy enough that now he makes it more than I do. Its funny how as you get older (Read wiser) you realize some things are just not worth giving up. As a young undergrad cramming for exams, I used to go to the night canteen in our hostel (Meera Bhavanukku oru O Podu!)- get a bucket load of hot tea and this awesome paneer maggi, go to my room with high hopes of studying hard through the night. Alas, that never, let me stress that, NEVER happened. I have no idea how I came this far..:)

A few weekends ago, we were at a potluck-poker party (yes, a really sweet couple from wise guy's work had this party to celebrate our marriage!). I did my part for the potluck and the wise guy did his for poker (oops, that is a teeny-weeny lie now- he did his part for both the potluck and the poker game!). I rarely talk much and when it comes to parties I become super-calm (except before the party when it looks like a rioted kitchen and a nail biting-me), and super-quite. I love to watch people, listen to conversations around me and gather the most inconsequential pieces of information. I do love food talk, so when someone asks me what I brought for the party- they better be prepared for a long may be even boring monologue. This party was not much different except a big bunch (read six) of kids running around. We had great food- our Japanese friend brought a gorgeous Japanese vegetarian soup, the host had roasted beautiful green nori with olive oil, salt and pepper and even told u...

with juicy ripe mangoes, anyone? The ones in the picture are not juicy ripe mangoes- my dad thought the picture looked better with cut spicy mangoes. But the photo credit goes to him, as I amidst my mango devouring days in Chennai, I forgot all about the camera and this blog- now can ya blame me?   Of course, a quintessential Tam Bram (only when it comes to food though) that I am- I love my thayir sadam and; I love to have my thayir sadam with the golden beauties when they are in season. Something about sour yogurt and sweet mango combination- just feels right every time.   This time I had at least 4 different varieties- the ones in the picture are Haapoos or more lovingly known as alphonso, farm fresh and were being taken away for ripening. This was on our way back from Lavasa , Pune.  I had amrapali (mom bought them for me from Bhubaneswar), langda in Pune and one another varitey I do not remember the name- not that I care too much for names when I am eating them! ...

Check this article in NYtimes , நம்ம ஊரு தான் பா பெஷ்ட், தினமும் காய் வாங்கி சமைக்கணும். But I guess even in India the trend is changing, even my mom now buys veggies in bulk and stores it in the fridge!