Me says po-ta-toh!

There are some days when I am really peppy and end up doing some good cooking. One such supper is this: aalu fry, dal fry and lemon rice. South Indian - all oily and fried:-) I love this type of food. It's a good break from the sandwiches, burgers and pizzas. With old songs playing on smashits.com or on comp, cooking is fun. Before I eat, I pay my tribute by taking a picture of my creation. This was last month's cooking. A simple seasoning of mustard, cumin seeds, red chillies, curry leaves, garlic for boiled and diced potaoes resulted in this after adding tumeric and salt and frying for some more time before giving a final touch of coriander garnish.
















This is another of my favourite - this and arbi fry are heaven for me. Though I love chicken and other things alu fry and arbi fry by mom are the best. Luckily, what I did was also tasty. Ricky, Bittu - not bad, eh?

Indian shrimp pakoda and the ancient Chinese puzzle!

When Maria [she joined ID dept in September] asked if I needed anything from the US during Ramadan vacation, I asked her to get 'Tangram'. She hadn't heard about it earlier. Nor anyone on the bus. Maria was buying books for her department and hey presto! she found Tangram and gifted it to me. She bought one for herself too. I have many memories associated with with this beautiful Chinese puzzle. Rekha Abel used to have one. Calts Coffee Club!! Ara, Rekha, Priya, Savitha and me were its members. In Rekha's room in the old ladies hostel, we would generally gather around 11pm and chat till 2, 3, 4 am having tea. Ara would have coffee. Till 11pm either it was library, boyfriends, city or meeting guides. Rekha's room was tiny and cozy. Solving crossword puzzles, reading newspaper, playing pictionary, tangram... they were the wonderful days. That's when my hobby of star gazing with naked eye also had begun. With our small guides and the night sky map from the Hindu newspaper, we would locate various constellations. Rekha was very good at it. From Savitha butterflying-watching, from Priya bird-watching, from Rekha star-watching, I learnt. Walks in the late afternoons and get-together at nights - life as a research scholar was fun!
What I write is the period till 1995. Then everybody left one by one - Ara to Baroda [later to London], Rekha to Chennai [later to Hyd], Priya to US. In 1995, Indrani Roy - student of Ara and Tanmoy at MSU, Baroda joined and a new era of friendship began... We instantly gelled well coz of our love for tea! Later, Savitha too left to Chennai [later to US].















Tomato catch-up with times....

Of Shrimps and Pimps? Limps? Wimps? No propah rhyming word:-(

The pictures are of the shrimps curry I had made for the first time in my life a couple of weeks back. I made today the second time. Will upload that also. Be patient!
For me, my mother is the greatest cook of all. There are some things no one can replicate. So the unfortunate fall in August when she broke her hip bone, followed by a major surgery and resulted in her depending on a 'walker' even after three months - had made me realise that I will no longer [at least for many more months to come] taste her dishes. When I realised this, I was so sad [ no, not because I will miss her cooking] but regarding how one small thing can change one's life forever! That week I thought I should start mastering my cooking slowly - I want to give the best dishes to my children when they start staying with me again. I want them to relish my cooking just like I do of my mom's. I have to adopt something of my mother and make it a part of me without feeling sad for the way things have happened.


The lovely shrimps - all ready!
















Frying in oil with onions, garlic, tomatoes and spices.... losing all its nutrition value :-)
Anyday this - I am not a sushi lover!
What a treat! That was with plain rice. Today I made it again. I had it with mint pulav!
Himani! You were chatting with me when I was at it. This picture is for you.

Weekend cooking!

I don't remember creating this blog. Trust me I was a bit taken aback to see it 'blank'. As my contribution to the reverent virtual community - I will start posting some. I will start with my works of 'art' - just off the cuff - I thought of it right now. I will start adding the pictures of the food I take all the time. I can add the related stories with each. Ooooh! Now I am excited... So soon...
Right now I am hungry - so will take care of that first.

New Blogger! New Day!

7th June! Another birthday celebrated among friends. Previous night at 9.30 pm which was 12 in India, I blew the candles on a cake brought by Ishrat, arranged by Himani. It was a great surprise. Himani was on the phone as I cut the cake. Then Monis called up. The cake was yummy. Ishrat and I spent some time together talking and seeing the pictures of my children. Then we walked for sometime in the warm breezy night before saying our goodnights. It was good.

Akka, Bavagaru and Sushmit called me last evening in advance. Today morning Daddy and Anna called me. Later I called and got wishes from Mom, Paru, Ricky and Bittu. Got Vikram's sms in the morning and phone call in the night. In email - Sanjeev, Shridhar, Patils, Dhawal sent their wishes. Few virtual cards from Himani. bahut pyaare hain.

Today Kiki asked me to come to her place for tea. I said fine 'cause it had been a long time. I had a nap. Got ready. Went to Kiki's place and she said Jenny asked us to come to her place. I returned Kiki's books. Then called Sherin who was supposed to visit me and told her to call me before she comes. She said she will come after 1 hour. Kiki and I walked to Jenny's flat. I noticed that she was dressed up. Then Sherin and Sanah surfaced. It didnt take long to realise it was a surprise party!!! Jenny baked a cake. It was too good - cake, tea, chips, ice-creams and the chat.

Before I blew the candles, I made a wish to have such friends always!

Sanah made a beautiful card. Jenny gave me a big recipe book. Kiki gave me gorgeous candles.

[PS: This post was lying in drafts!! This was written on 7th June, 2007. So I guess the new blog was my birthday gift to self which reflects my aging:-)]