tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64221735678479064842012-01-22T19:20:49.856+05:30The witch who stirs up some spells and magic in her kitchen....Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.comBlogger1221100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-4323106218261794922011-12-19T02:15:00.000+05:302011-12-19T08:42:18.708+05:30

This is the ultimate comfort food as far as I am concerned. Hot steaming rice, a dollop of ghee, pour this dal on top and you have got yourself a perfect meal. Its all very well to want to eat out and try out different foods, but after a while home food is the best. My mother used to make this the best but I like to think mine is not that far behind in either taste or appearance. Even if I have

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-74215545817851093512011-11-18T18:33:00.000+05:302011-11-18T18:33:26.077+05:30

My cook at home comes out with very unusual foods. Sometimes, she makes things for herself, and puts a bit on the table for us to taste. And more often than not, they end up being very tasty and a staple on the dining table. This is one such dish. I think it is fairly typical of the Nellore region. INGREDIENTS: 1/2 kg Brinjals/Aubergines 2 Onions 2 Tomatoes 2 pods Garlic 50 grams of Roasted

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-41231947552363757362011-11-09T12:54:00.000+05:302011-11-09T12:54:10.294+05:30

At home, salad is an integral part of each meal. Without fail, we have a raw vegetable salad everyday.  Fresh vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals, fibre and all the goodness which leads to a healthy lifestyle. They offer quantity AND quality and at a low calorie cost. Raw food is nature in its purest form. Today's theories state that adding a lot of colour to the meal is important. That

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-58925200090096892632011-08-29T09:09:00.001+05:302011-08-29T09:30:02.846+05:30

Its has been raining on and off here and though we are well into August and September is already peeping round the corner, there seems to be no respite from the heat. The only times it cools down a bit is when it rains. Now rains in my town bring with them not only a much needed drop in temperature but a host of problems as well like traffic snarls, water logging, .... But then I think we

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-3474990053770303952011-08-23T18:36:00.001+05:302011-08-23T19:21:21.208+05:30

In my opinion, biryani makes for the perfect Sunday lunch. A one dish meal and enough time in the afternoon to change one's persona to that of a beached whale. Sleep for a couple of hours to give the tummy a chance to concentrate and work hard to digest all that food. With all that rich and oily rice intake, there's not much else one can do. Without further ado, let us get on with the recipe.

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-78675106162018954402011-06-17T06:11:00.003+05:302011-07-02T11:55:14.028+05:30

Summers in India are long and hot. And homes in India are replete with natural thirst quenchers. You have the Nimbu Paani, Lassis, Tender Coconut water, Sugarcane Juice. It is absolutely essential to have these natural drinks that combat the heat outside. These drinks which contain herbs and spices work with the body to help you cope with the heat. The mix of ingredients help in replenishing

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-59905061830307645822011-06-13T07:07:00.001+05:302011-06-13T14:58:15.174+05:30

I love eating out. I think that is the absolute single reason I do not end up losing any of the weight that I have gained over the last many years. And going out of town for me is reason enough to pig out. It is a standing joke amongst my friends that I am food obsessed. If I am visiting a new place, I love to research the restaurants there, food specialities there.. Now for the record, that's

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-65323858250134656762011-06-04T18:16:00.012+05:302011-06-04T19:12:11.597+05:30

Whichever side you turn these days the conversation only revolves around weight loss, health, fitness, exercise... Agree? It seems to have become an obsession with almost everyone. Each one is trying to outdo the other in losing weight and becoming fit.Now in all this madness, my personal opinion is that moderation is the key. Moderation in eating, exercising. I really think that one needs to

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-31597715731319918802011-05-23T12:08:00.003+05:302011-05-23T19:24:41.208+05:30

I love this recipe simply because it was something I invented by myself. I was so thrilled the first time I made it and it came out well. I used to have Pina Coladas in Bangalore at Pub World. The consistency of the drink lent itself very well to conversion to a dessert. The secret to a good cook, in my opinion, is the constant experimentation in the kitchen. The more you try out you know what

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-71464341779147590962011-05-19T18:53:00.015+05:302011-05-19T22:39:30.309+05:30

There is a very sweet story about the arrival of Parsis who, because of being persecuted in their own land, came to seek refuge in India. When they arrived into Gujarat, the king sent them a glass of milk filled to the brim signifying that the land was full and could not support any more people. The Parsis then added a pinch of sugar to the milk sending an astute message to the king that they

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-59501247934446112402011-05-05T02:59:00.002+05:302011-05-06T17:33:48.704+05:30

This is a quick snack to make when kids are home from school- hungry and cranky. It is easy enough to make and has very kid friendly ingredients like cheese. I used home made corn and flour tortillas, recipe for which is also given below.Before I start with the recipe, let me apologise for the picture accompanying this post. It is sad to say the least and does not do justice to quesadillas. But

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-4253616706028803922011-04-24T15:22:00.014+05:302011-04-24T19:13:51.436+05:30

I love baking. I love taking nice pictures for my blog. And I love corn (particularly the sweet American corn niblets. The kind that come in a tin. Yes I know. They are unhealthy. But I still love them, okay?). But when all three things come together and perfectly for one post ... my day is made.Eden restaurant in Chennai serves up this awesome spicy corn on toast. It is a great tasting dish but

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-67447690966169751602011-04-17T12:15:00.006+05:302011-04-18T10:13:19.378+05:30

My father was your typical working person. Off to work in the morning, back in the evening, cursory look at marks and homework. He was a tremendously hardworking and focussed person for whom nothing was too much work. I wish I had one tenth of his focus and capacity for work. I am sure I would have been a lot better for it. He was an engineer by profession and a pretty good one at that. He never

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-16875754453685018422011-02-28T20:39:00.006+05:302011-02-28T22:42:41.529+05:30

My son is being indulged totally these days thanks to his Board Exams. All he needs to say is " Mummy, I need this to eat" and I go out of my way to make it for him. I guess I feel he is studying so hard, he needs these treats to up his spirits too.He is extremely fond of Tiramisu and so when I saw this easy recipe on the internet and happened to have cream cheese in the refrigerator, I decided

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-75832211174273174232011-02-18T18:35:00.005+05:302011-02-19T09:42:33.257+05:30

As promised in the title, this is a real quick one... No time to write anything at all.. The countdown to exams has begun.This is a very easy to assemble dessert and tastes very fresh.INGREDIENTS:1 box ( maybe about 300 grams) Strawberries2+2 tablespoons Sugar4 slices Vanilla sponge cake ( or pound cake)4 tablespoons Cream4 Tablespoons Fruit juice METHOD:Dice the strawberries and macerate with 2

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-63923868176610506732011-01-16T22:11:00.011+05:302011-01-17T08:42:14.279+05:30

This promises to be another short and sweet post. I guess that is going to be the case till March 30th. And then Sweet Sweet Freedom!!!!! Freedom from nagging. Nagging, not getting nagged. At least I have that on my side. I am the Nagger. My poor son is on the other side. He is the Nagged. We have completely stopped having any sort of conversation leave alone having a pleasant conversation. Our

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-82965252662293860132011-01-10T18:10:00.007+05:302011-01-11T08:14:55.809+05:30

This is going to be a real quick post as I am studying very hard for my sons exams and don't have much time for a long write up. Well I am all stressed out over here, but he for sure is a real cool cucumber about it. The much dreaded Boards are here, but does he seem to worry about it? Oh no... never. Why worry when there are so many exciting other things to plan, friends' birthday parties...jam

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-77351731529464782392011-01-03T09:56:00.008+05:302011-01-04T09:19:46.494+05:30

Reunions are something that everyone has a different opinion on. Some look forward to it and some are anxious. I wonder why? These are people you have grown up with. But I think it is also because you want to impress them the most, no? It is fun to go back in time,see the kids you knew way back then, and find out what happened to whom... My school friends and I had a mini reunion in Bombay a few

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-22742854398747941492010-12-24T15:29:00.019+05:302010-12-25T11:11:49.603+05:30

They say a picture speaks a thousand words. We have all heard this a million times over. We have also heard that every picture speaks a story. These are very clichéd sayings but hold very true nonetheless. In this day of instant gratification, people want to have a lot of visual stimulation along with the written word. They need to be pulled towards your blog through a lot of good pictures and

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-89545524350871215902010-12-14T04:33:00.004+05:302010-12-14T19:38:29.488+05:30

To continue with my recurring theme of loving unhealthy foods, would you consider carrot cake to be healthy or unhealthy? Healthy is a word which is very in. Healthy living, healthy choices are all expressions to which we react with pride. Now as far as carrot cake is concerned, it has carrot, uses only vegetable oil, brown sugar instead of refined white sugar, walnuts... I think it is healthy

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-51905863686822911482010-12-12T16:31:00.010+05:302010-12-12T17:34:27.925+05:30

I love rice. Is it any surprise? Any self respecting South Indian would. I cannot do without rice. It is very very hard for me to give it up for anything in the world. In today's world, where everyone is so afraid of eating those dreaded 'carbs', I boldly go where other fear to tread. I eat rice without any qualms at all. In my opinion, rice cannot be all that bad considering us South Indians

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-33485455388132376202010-11-28T11:09:00.014+05:302010-11-28T12:25:55.520+05:30

The first time I ate a waffle was when I was in college in Bombay. As a treat one night, a few of us from the hostel went across to the Taj (of the 26/11 infamy) to have dinner. We went to the coffee shop then called Shamiana. We had a blast that evening. Got dressed to the hilt. It was an evening to remember after all. Here we were, college students splurging on a dinner in one of the fanciest

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-50141291435186857222010-11-24T04:59:00.005+05:302010-11-24T20:08:20.887+05:30

This is going to be a real quick post. It has been on the back burner for a long long time. Made the pickle, forgot to take the picture. By which time the fresh red chillies disappeared from the market. And I was determined to take the picture only with the red chillies in it. The pickle started getting consumed and also changing colour. First I pondered on whether to make a fresh batch whenever

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-60914059269355765432010-11-18T20:15:00.021+05:302010-11-18T23:14:17.179+05:30

Tamil is an old classical language. It has been around for many many years. And the point to note is that if you don't speak Tamil in Chennai or at least something resembling it, it is very hard to manage. Particularly a while back. At least now, some lots of the people speak English in the city.When I moved to Chennai about 20 years ago I did not know a word of Tamil. Not a word. Even now I

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-80810256144058755162010-11-04T11:30:00.011+05:302010-11-04T15:15:23.063+05:30

Here comes that time of the year again. Here's wishing all my readers a very happy Deepavali and a prosperous year ahead.Deepavali is a festival celebrated with great fervor throughout the country. It is a festival eagerly looked forward to by one and all . It has no age barriers. Deepavali definitely means food, crackers, new clothes, food, visiting people, food, food....That having been said it

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-83715388183609492222010-10-31T04:27:00.002+05:302010-10-31T11:54:08.644+05:30

Recently, I went to visit my sister in law who has just moved to a new home. For me the highlight of the new place was not how nice the area was or how lovely the house was. I was completely fascinated by the fruit trees in her backyard. Now let me clarify. It was not that I have not seen fruit trees earlier or those that are dropping down with fruit. It was simply that these were there for our

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-5545267864002906342010-10-28T15:26:00.008+05:302010-10-29T11:57:38.971+05:30

I have this incredibly sweet sweet tooth. It just shouts out to be satisfied after every single meal. It controls me totally and just as soon as my lunch is over, it starts shrilly demanding "Give me sweet, give me sweet!!! NOW NOW NOW!!!". Whatever my good intentions and before I can even comprehend what is happening, something sweet is already down my throat. Swallowed, digested and then total

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-45641479040965155822010-09-26T09:28:00.011+05:302010-09-26T14:14:07.874+05:30

This is another thing we learnt at the Mexican cooking class mentioned here. It was delicious, perfect tasting and definitely a keeper. The kids loved it, we loved, friends who ate it loved it... you get the message...Enchiladas are corn/flour tortillas with a filling and a spicy sauce poured on top. Now when it is said so generally, you can imagine the variety that can come up in terms of

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-64810318256842370372010-09-16T11:00:00.014+05:302010-09-16T21:18:42.520+05:30

Vinayaka Chaturthi is a festival looked forward to eagerly by our family ( and not just because it means a holiday at home to laze and relax, oh no not at all!!! :).. ). Vinayaka is such a cute looking god. His pot belly and cheery face just make you feel so good. You know immediately that he is right there watching out for you.Usually we have a purohit to come home and do the puja for us. This

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-47947200147032408632010-09-14T02:59:00.002+05:302010-09-14T15:38:18.931+05:30

Eating food from different cultures is now so common all over the world. It is so easy nowadays to procure ingredients to cook anything. Just check out the shelves of any grocery store in the larger cities.They say that the Indian palate is so used to its own tastes that it is very hard to introduce new tastes. That I am not so sure is true. You find people trying out all types of food. But the

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-63208111137392492572010-08-05T22:17:00.001+05:302010-08-06T13:05:38.912+05:30

I think breakfast is the most important meal of the day. A lot of experts out there have always maintained that a good breakfast energizes you and makes you alert of the rest of the day. It makes the difference between being focussed and mentally drifting off into lala land. It helps in weight loss and also in avoiding constant snacking between meals. Calories consumed early in the day are far

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-46563468351180308172010-07-29T21:51:00.003+05:302010-07-30T12:28:27.358+05:30

The weather here in Chennai has been really crazy of late, alternating between hot and humid and cold and rainy. This has promptly resulted in most everyone at home falling sick, down with colds coughs or just feeling under the weather. This is the time when you feel like eating that one thing in particular which will stimulate your tastebuds and nothing else will do. My craving right now is for

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-76737622045510398702010-07-25T23:00:00.000+05:302010-07-26T14:47:44.529+05:30

If there is one dish that is bursting with good nutrition, it has to be this hariyali dal.... full of greens or various types, it just screams "HEALTHY!!! HEALTHY!! Spinach (palak), methi (fenugreek), coriander are all added to this dal in generous quantities. Greens are considered power houses of nutrition. They provide the most concentrated sources of vitamins and minerals. All this despite

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-15419627999896198612010-07-01T21:15:00.000+05:302010-07-02T10:20:59.129+05:30

These days, there is a gradual change in the food habits of people here in India. We are willing to try out ( mind you, only try out) various cuisines and experiment with different tastes. So with the first tastes of pizzas and burgers and other American Fast food taking hold, soon there was no stopping the Indian palate. Thai, Japanese, Mexican... all cuisines are tried and tested. But you will

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-30385379177822251932010-06-27T08:06:00.002+05:302010-06-28T18:02:20.069+05:30

When I first started this series, I never ever thought I would know enough to continue it for so long. But it seems that I do and I am mighty pleased. I was not planning to only concentrate on this series but also have a more wide variety on my blog but I think I shall let it take its own course. I guess that is the best way.When I was a kid, I remember eating out at one of my mom's friends

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-65223064006731073152010-06-24T08:53:00.006+05:302010-06-25T11:15:48.205+05:30

Andhra food is replete with different kinds of powders or podis. I have not seen this variety of podis in any other cuisine of India. It is eaten as the first course mixed with hot, fresh off the stove steamed rice and a dollop of home made ghee. First course mainly because the plate is still dry and one has not yet added any wet, gravy like item yet. This helps in keeping the podi-rice

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-59661613269668336222010-06-20T16:36:00.013+05:302010-06-20T19:25:39.835+05:30

APPETIZERS/ STARTERS/ SALADSCarrot saladHara Bhara KababsKosambariBruschettaMAIN COURSE/ENTREESStuffed BhindiPumpkin KootuGreen Moong DalAloo Jeera South Indian styleMoghlai Egg CurryPaneer BhurjiMacaroni HotpotDal PalakMattar PaneerSambharyu ShaakGujarati KadhiOlanPoondu KozhambuAloo SabjiTinda MasalaKanda BachaliDondakai Ulli Kharam/Tindora SabjiPalak PaneerMajiga PulusuRidge Gourd CurryMukkala

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-61867853964992849002010-02-06T11:16:00.003+05:302010-02-06T12:04:51.971+05:30

I think highly starchy foods like potatoes, yam, sweet potatoes etc etc have to rank highly on the popularity scale. Potatoes needless to say will top the list worldwide. Though much maligned now because of all the health conscious folks out there. But in my opinion there has to be some good to it too. Most foods eaten in moderation are good for you. Yams have a lot of pluses. They contain small

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-88530459032546971432010-01-22T16:05:00.001+05:302010-02-10T11:44:23.364+05:30

This is recipe is so long overdue. Exactly 2 years ago I promised this would up and running in a few days. few days turned out to be 2 years.... sorry. I apologise to all my readers out there to whom I have been promising the immediate post of this recipe.This was supposed to be put up after my visit to Bangalore on work. We stayed at a serviced apartment where the cook churned out great tasting

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-90808955003870281422009-12-28T14:59:00.000+05:302009-12-28T16:02:54.106+05:30

It is that time of the year. New Year is fast coming up upon us. It is time to do something that is now almost mandatory. Make the all important New Year Resolutions.I make resolutions almost every year, but I am not sure why I do that. I don't think I've ever kept one for a whole month, let alone the entire year. In my opinion, it is impossible to do anything that radical for such a long time

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-4953946271557542702009-12-18T10:12:00.000+05:302009-12-18T11:23:41.591+05:30

My brother went off to college as soon as he finished his 11th. Thereafter, with post graduation and work, he really did not stay at home other than for the vacation breaks. He had no idea about cooking at all, particularly how to cook home style Andhra food. Slowly as time went by, he turned out to be quite good at churning out simple food. The other day he called me and asked me the recipe for

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-59154561722074561232009-12-08T08:05:00.000+05:302009-12-08T10:31:52.145+05:30

Everytime, I make a wonderful dessert, I wonder why I don't make it more often. After I finish more than my fair share, on my own or with some help from my son (particularly if it is a chocolate dessert), then I remember exactly why. The hours on the treadmill to compensate for just one teeny tiny portion of most desserts, makes me wonder if it is really worthwhile. Like someone wisely said, "a

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-13272432794820054612009-12-03T18:30:00.000+05:302009-12-03T18:59:05.919+05:30

We are always having last minute guests for dinner and we end up serving whatever simple food we are having that evening. But the other day, as usual kids were complaining that I was not being adventurous in the kitchen. So I sallied forth into the kitchen to make something "different". Luckily I had already bought some french loaves. And had basil in refrigerator (that is quite a rarity, as it

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-75630061202049891692009-09-20T19:25:00.000+05:302009-09-20T19:49:28.168+05:30

I think that one person who was my inspiration to start my own blog was Saffron Hut. She has this most interesting blog with amazing photographs and to top it off, she has a very nice take on life and writes very well.Her recipes are easy, simple and taste good. I have tried a few, but ridge gourd being one of my favorite vegetables, this is one from her blog ended up being a staple on my table.

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-3158270586594092792009-09-15T17:56:00.000+05:302009-09-15T17:56:00.472+05:30

This post has been long on the back burner. I uploaded the pictures and then promptly forgot about it. For some reason, it simply never came to mind. The other day reading about a blog about old memories, the penny dropped and I remembered that I had not finished this particular post.Boorelu are a very typical Andhra sweet served at most functions and festivals.I have absolutely no recollection

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-27337697312670550782009-07-04T14:55:00.000+05:302009-07-04T16:12:22.044+05:30

My mom was quite a good cook and my dad always had this story ( he was secretly very proud of her for this talent) that she would taste something either in someone else's home or at a restaurant and will be able to very accurately identify the ingredients that went into it. She was very rarely wrong or if so, off by maximum of an ingredient. She could replicate dishes at home quite easily and

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-75910728814158613152009-06-26T18:21:00.000+05:302009-06-27T12:23:27.402+05:30

Of late, my blog seems to be peppered with desserts, chocolate, fudge.... What's happening to me? I am supposed to be off sugar completely. The more I want to be off big bad sugar, the more it shows up, insidiously finding its way into my life somehow. I wonder why? The further I run, the closer it gets. Until it is so so hard to say no and I give in. Well now I say enough is enough and the next

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-60895381942575084282009-06-20T19:50:00.000+05:302009-06-20T20:23:05.768+05:30

Chocolate pudding is one dessert that has always been in great demand. This is one recipe that is most requested for whenever we have a pot luck. It is easy, quick and does not call for too many ingredients. To top it off, it is eggless which makes it a perfect dessert for most of our friends. I am not sure where I got this recipe from but it has been in my handwritten recpe book for a number of

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-60241896297065906482009-05-26T19:13:00.000+05:302009-05-27T09:28:51.297+05:30

I remember when the boys were younger, birthdays were something that were looked forward to for months. We would count down the days till D Day arrived. The excitement was almost palpable and on the morning of the birthday???!!! It was crazy. The opening of the birthday presents, the mandatory payasam, the oh so excited to wear the "colour" dress to school instead of the much hated uniform....I

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-67580002766630278712009-04-21T10:50:00.000+05:302009-04-21T10:21:21.576+05:30

I think college days are the most fun days for most people. Everyone looks back on their college days with such nostalgia. Everything was so perfect back then and all one needed to worry about was having fun and the next entertainment plans on the horizon. Movies, partying, eating out, meeting boys!!!! The list goes on. I had the good fortune to go to college even for my intermediate which I am

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-65736841574425184112009-04-21T10:01:00.000+05:302009-04-21T10:09:55.727+05:30

Sweet date chutney aka Saunth chutney again is an integral part of each and every chaat preparation. It is also used as a topping on Dahi wada. It adds a tangy sweet taste to whichever dish it is added to.2 cups dates1/4 cup tamarind soaked in water1 cup jaggery1 teaspoon red chilli powdera pinch of asafoetidasalt to tastea pinch dried ginger powder1 teaspoon jeera (cumin) roasted and coarsely

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-74034378347347121272009-04-21T09:16:00.000+05:302009-04-21T10:20:07.937+05:30

This chutney is one of the most versatile chutneys that one can find. It can be used in many ways and is the best accompaniment for paneer tikkas, samosas, kababs and other fried food. It is also great in using to make chutney sandwiches.2 bunches coriander leaves ( as this usually is a very variable amount, the washed and chopped leaves should amount to 2 cups)1 large onion2-3 green chillies1

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-72878629983076625702009-02-22T19:23:00.000+05:302009-02-22T19:34:03.203+05:30

One of the most commonly found south indian sweets is Rava Laddoo. No festival is complete without Rava Ladooo as the sweet of honour. I guess being one of the easiest sweets to prepare, it takes hardly any time to make. To top it all, the number of ingredients are few and very easily found in any pantry.I simply love rava laddoos. They taste awesome. One can grind the rava and the sugar to a

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-44119802084086014262009-02-19T08:16:00.000+05:302009-02-19T19:49:41.256+05:30

Popeye had it right when he said " I'm strong to the finish when i eats me spinach, i Popeye the sailor man! toot toot (pipe)". Whenever he is bludgeoned by Bluto, the evil villain, this can of spinach magically appears in his hand and once popped into his mouth can and all, it gives him strength of immense proportions. He can now single handedly eliminate all villains and get the babe of his

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-55772251405232780292009-01-13T19:57:00.000+05:302009-01-13T20:43:09.265+05:30

Deepavali has come and gone and though I made a bunch of sweets and savories, they never got posted. At least I was smart enough to take the pictures before everything got consumed. This year I have decided to turn over a new leaf ( no resolutions, mind you, they never work out). Post a little more than I did this last year. So I thought new beginnings have to be sweet beginnings and therefore,

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-80938936540046157492009-01-06T22:32:00.000+05:302009-01-10T11:25:57.354+05:30

One of my all time favourite desserts has to be the ubiquitous trifle. It is found on the menus of every single club that I have been to. I think it is one better legacies of the British Raj. As children, whenever we went to the club for a meal, it was always a trifle pudding that completed the outing. I am sure many of you out there will know exactly what I am talking about. It is with a lot

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-54018387724564195482008-12-14T09:20:00.000+05:302009-07-04T09:50:30.081+05:30

One of the least eaten or liked vegetables has to be brinjals aka aubergines or egg plant. For some reason, this is a very acquired taste. But this was one vegetable that was cooked regularly at home in one form or the other. I think one reason for this has to be that it is my mother's favorite veggie. She made it in so many different ways and made sure that all her kids loved it as much as she

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-45510087110223461272008-10-26T16:44:00.000+05:302009-04-21T10:20:45.017+05:30

Happy Deepavali to all my readers. Its that time of the year again. I simply love Deepavali. It is really a festival that brings so much excitement into our lives. The new clothes the crackers, the sweet making, the yummy food that we eat. The list goes on and on. Deepavali is a time to bend all rules and simply enjoy.My sister in law and I decided to make something really ultra simple this year.

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-14205056991796223462008-10-17T07:23:00.000+05:302008-10-17T09:24:59.609+05:30

Just back from a fabulous holiday, totally relaxed and well rested and raring to go. I was really looking forward to a holiday for a while now but somehow it just did not happen. Finally made plans and just got onto to the plane. There is nothing like a holiday to cheer you up. The only downside was that I was by myself minus husband dear.Since I was on a no travel, no do anything holiday, I

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-78689106375721401472008-08-19T17:58:00.000+05:302008-08-19T22:20:11.399+05:30

My husband loves teasing the kids. Now that is a father's prerogative, wouldn't you say? Each time we have cookies on the table, he says "hey kids pass the biscuits, please". They hate it. They have a clear distinction between a cookie and a biscuit and just don't like the words interchanged. In India all small baked goodies are called biscuits. I think it just depends on which part of the world

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-21416333712091021752008-06-27T17:15:00.000+05:302008-06-29T17:10:19.431+05:30

As usual, I am running somewhere else and have to be in another place too while I am desperately trying to update my blog and put in a new post. I always wonder if it such a struggle for everyone. Trying to juggle so many balls and keep them all up in the air at one time. I guess this is something all working women face. Every time I discuss this with my girlfriends, we come to the conclusion

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-287289340405953692008-06-15T18:36:00.000+05:302008-06-15T22:02:54.473+05:30

This is an ongoing series that I am attempting to do. Put all the recipes on Andhra food ( at least all the ones I know and also the ones I would like to learn) in one place. I think a food blog should be a store house of all your favourite recipes and those of your family in addition to expressing personal views and being your personal space on the World Wide Web. Writing is a hard thing to do.

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-16317193723841575362008-06-10T20:17:00.000+05:302008-06-10T20:24:21.051+05:30

Hey, Finally got my very first blogging award. It was so exciting and even more so because it came from someone I had not met till then in the "blogosphere". It just goes to show there are real people out there reading my blog and it is simply a wonderful feeling. When I saw a message in my inbox from Rashmi, I thought it was just another comment. Just another comment???? No way. As she put it so

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-73311753329111330302008-06-02T08:59:00.000+05:302008-06-02T08:59:00.676+05:30

We have been going through a harrowing time lately as we had a personal problem and as a result of which, we had to spend a large amount of time in Rajamundry ( a small town in Andhra Pradesh). Now, tho Rajamundry is supposed to be officially home to my dad's side of the family, we have never stayed there for any length of time. My only recollection of the place was short day visits to see family

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-88336280108017935822008-05-30T16:04:00.000+05:302008-05-30T23:11:16.035+05:30

Let me take a poll out here. How many of you enjoy, really enjoy your grocery shopping? Please do let me know because I would like to know if I am in the minority out here.If there is one thing I really enjoy, I think it has to be grocery shopping. I get such immense pleasure in picking out the perfect fruit and vegetables. I drool at the sight of the piles and piles of fresh, glistening with

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-5894452005580854302008-05-10T11:30:00.000+05:302008-05-10T11:30:01.305+05:30

My first holiday abroad was to the US. It was a trip that I will always remember for many reasons. I tried out so many different types of cuisines each day. Those days, the restaurant scene in India had not quite exploded the way it has today. Today, even in a small town or in the conservative deep down south, you will find pastas and other international cuisines. There was not so much exposure

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-46815950864811385482008-05-01T20:58:00.000+05:302008-05-01T21:49:15.480+05:30

Today was quite an exciting day, one that I was looking forward to for a while. I have been off blogging for a few months now due to various personal reasons and despite having many commitments, I was simply determined to go and meet everyone. I have to put on record here that I bravely drove many miles to make it there as I was I think the only one from the other side of town.We had such a blast

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-88319251343043005822008-02-10T04:40:00.000+05:302008-02-09T16:50:45.447+05:30

I would like to introduce you all to the newest member of our family - Smokey... This pintsize is a handful of trouble and keeps us all on our toes. The whole house's routine now revolves around her - feeding and taking her out.But she is just so adorable.... Don't you agree?

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-28105254888548023392008-02-08T02:06:00.000+05:302008-02-07T18:14:19.277+05:30

At the risk of giving out a hint of how old I am, I have to say that back in the day, everything but everything was seasonal. When it was oranges time, then the market would get flooded with oranges. And just as suddenly, it would go off the market and one had to wait a whole year for oranges to reappear. Ditto with grapes and sapotas and water melons and many other types of fruit. But now things

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-19899214320446195152008-01-30T15:35:00.000+05:302008-01-30T16:06:16.148+05:30

I know I know... I just hope I have enough time to get this through to B&J. My computer has been really troubling me and my half baked knowledge is not really helping.So I am quickly sending off this to their photography event CLICK: LIQUID COMFORT. There is no time to waste at all... Water is a real saviour and the only drink we need in the hot summer months that we face here in Chennai. And

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-26433211524368867342008-01-27T11:27:00.001+05:302010-02-15T18:40:05.429+05:30

All of last week, I was away at Bangalore on work. It was a wonderful break and I enjoyed myself. Its been a while since I had been anywhere and this was most welcome.There we were put up at this service apartment. Basic place and basic amenities but the food was superb. There were two Nepali boys working there, and they would churn out this amzing food. Unforunately, my meals were restricted to

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-72228160130287817522008-01-19T10:39:00.000+05:302008-01-18T16:52:07.070+05:30

When I first moved to Chennai, there were a lot of new cuisines we tried out. My husband and I love eating out and we would do a lot of it then ( particularly as he was a carnivore then). We once went out on a busy Saturday night with friends without a reservation. Not a table to be had anywhere. After trying about 4 or 5 places, someone suggested that we try a Chettinad restaurant. Not having

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-74726226891713313722008-01-17T11:49:00.000+05:302008-01-16T15:53:45.477+05:30

My mother in law has a friend 'I' who is the most awesome cook ever. She makes the most amazing but ultimately the simplest of foods ever. As they say around here, " it is in the hand". She keeps sending me these delicious little dabbas of simple home cooked food. Her rasams are to die for. Whenever she makes something she thinks I will like, she sends it across and what do you know? I love

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-10466704971697130422008-01-11T12:30:00.000+05:302008-01-10T14:01:25.879+05:30

This the last one in this meal series. I did mention in my previous post that Khichdi was coming along next. Khichdi Kadhi is the ultimate combination. It is so comforting. Khichdi is a combination of rice and lentils usually moong dal. It has various names all over India but in the South it is called Pongal. Khichdi is a bland dish which is served to convalescents as it is considered easy on the

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-59756375348341031842008-01-07T12:17:00.000+05:302008-01-07T12:55:11.124+05:30

If you ask me what my favorite meal ever in life is, I will have to say Kadhi with Khichadi ( now you know for sure what Part 3 is going to be). It is the simplest, yet tastiest food I can think of. It is very easy on the tummy and therefore highly recommended for convalescents. It is the best get well soon food in India found in all parts of the country in different avatars.The same basic foods

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-65475479657196941372008-01-07T10:55:00.000+05:302008-01-07T12:16:45.922+05:30

One of my other resolutions for my blog for 2008 which I forgot to mention in the look back on 2007 was that I was going to make plenty from the other blogs and more importtantly, POST about it.Lat week I decided to make it a Gujarati day. That is one cuisine that we all enjoy at home. But just try saying "Let's eat out today, I feel like eating Gujju food today" and see the look of horror on the

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-55016899744085299002008-01-01T21:08:00.000+05:302008-01-01T09:24:24.221+05:30

HERES WISING ALL OF YOU A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR AND MAY IT BRING ALL OF YOU JOY, SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS.

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-29635035459885051152007-12-29T12:08:00.000+05:302007-12-28T21:59:40.967+05:30

It seems just like yesterday that the New Year of 2007 was upon us and I was happily spending hours of my day browsing through all the food blogs. You see I had only just discovered the wonderful world of food blogging. When I realised that I could also blog and it was not so technologically challenging either, I decided that my New Years resolution would be to start a blog of my own. But

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-37179471763315461032007-12-27T21:18:00.000+05:302007-12-27T10:05:05.828+05:30

Being holiday season and kids being on a break, I find that the children's friends drop in at home on the spur of the moment. I like them to stay over for lunch, but usually there is never anything exciting that they would like to eat, as the regular home fare is simple and consists mainly of healthy green vegetables. So I decided to immediately stock up the freezer with kid friendly foods that

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-83981566630862806582007-12-26T21:40:00.000+05:302007-12-26T09:16:06.013+05:30

Its been a while since my last post but as mentioned earlier, things have been a little hectic around here. My kids are on their new ( I call it "adoloscent") phase where they want to eat out all the time. I feel so old when I tell them "but we never would eat out at all as kids". Things were different back then. I guess it was a combination of no restaurants and the fact that the concept of

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-86331779948276933052007-12-14T12:51:00.000+05:302007-12-26T20:18:31.484+05:30

The other day I received a very pleasant surprise in the mail. It was from Srivalli of Cooking4allseasons. This was a surprise ingredient ( along with a very sweet letter seen above) sent to continue the Arusuvai friendship chain where we send something to a fellow blogger for them to make a dish using the surprise ingredient. She is one of the only fellow Chennai bloggers that I have met.

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-70862038588554869802007-12-08T03:26:00.000+05:302007-12-07T16:01:09.465+05:30

Yes!!! Finally!!! Waited for a long time. I used to dream about it. When I first started the blog, I used to get so excited each time I got a hit. Everyday was something to look forward to. Get up wondering, how many new people have seen my blog today?Then came along Food Blog Desam and my slow interaction with my fellow bloggers , and the numbers grew exponentially. It was a slow but very steady

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-11137390379868951192007-12-05T09:17:00.000+05:302007-12-17T08:21:40.988+05:30

As mentioned in my earlier post here, the change of seasons brings the freshest of fruits and vegetables. Right now with winter on our heels, the market is flooded with delicious kamala oranges. I think nature also knows what is good for us and when. Oranges with their high Vitamin C content helps protect us against colds and any other passing infections. And sure enough, right on cue, oranges

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-467876295212040582007-12-01T08:45:00.000+05:302007-11-30T15:37:43.350+05:30

How many of you have found people out there who simply hate sharing recipes? I have found many many such folk. I have had strange experiences in this. When you taste something that a good cook has made and ask them for the recipe, they prevaricate. For instance, once I had the most amazing fried rice at a friend's place. So I asked her how she made it. She said ( these are her words and I quote)

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-423550861422560972007-11-30T12:34:00.000+05:302007-11-29T11:50:56.088+05:30

Now what does one say about not posting for such a long time? For sure, it is not that I have become lazy or lost interest in my blog. I am sure being busy on all fronts in life should qualify as enough reason for not blogging. But the blog is not too far from my thoughts. It eats at me every morning when I realise one more day has passed without anything new on here.This is now a far cry from

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-43783800906720735942007-11-12T21:22:00.000+05:302007-11-12T21:26:25.603+05:30

I used to hate spinach as a child and those days Popeye wasn't such a popular character. So I received absolutely zilch inspiration on that front. I simply hated the sight of spinach in any form. I don't think I even tried it once. I guess just the look of it (so green and bursting with goodness and health) that was so unappealing. It used to make an appearance in many avatars and find its way on

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-46496974279391057422007-11-01T12:17:00.000+05:302007-11-03T18:33:19.674+05:30

Deepavali – The festival of lights… The festivities are all set to begin.It is a magical time when everyone is in high spirits - full of joy and happiness. The atmosphere is absolutely thrilling and excitement is at an all time high whether young or old.With Deepavali round the corner, one can sense the excitement slowly building up. Children wait eagerly for the roadside firecracker shops to

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-91057937030755810452007-10-30T09:24:00.000+05:302007-10-30T17:48:52.754+05:30

This name itself is so cute, isn't it? One just feels like immediately digging in into this hot and comforting sounding food. Well this certainly does live up to its name. It is hot, cheesy and very comforting. That too with the weather in Chennai the way it is right now, all wet and rainy and shockingly enough COLD ( can you believe it?), one feels like eating foods that make one's insides all

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-71626809048631205162007-10-28T07:46:00.000+05:302007-11-03T18:33:19.676+05:30

90% of my working life has been in the hotel business, having done my hotel management. I loved working in that industry especially in the Food & Beverage department (no prizes for guessing why!!! I guess my interest in food was just blossoming then). But when I settled into work, I gravitated towards the Banquets which was very interesting. I helped in planning menus and execution of the dinners

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-52252729594833963562007-10-25T05:42:00.000+05:302007-10-25T08:10:56.136+05:30

I remember as a kid, everytime we had a party or an official do at home, my mother's favorite dessert to make would be rabdi with jelly. She was not at all culinarily challenged, but for some strange reason this would show up again and again. Even if there were other desserts, this just had to be on the menu. It was total overkill, even if it was tasty overkill.At that time, I think my siblings

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-15819614702129287572007-10-21T05:54:00.000+05:302007-10-25T08:11:59.553+05:30

Some days the kids come home with a heartfelt request. "Mom, I don't want regular food. Can't I have something different and yummier to eat?" It is always such a challenge. We have to get the fine balance of yummy and nourishing bang on. That's after all a mother's job. But I guess, sometimes its ok to have just a hearty snack even if it is not that nutritionally sound.But nice and easy AND quick

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-56401777378708822112007-10-19T10:48:00.000+05:302007-11-03T18:33:19.678+05:30

I am surrounded by a family of chocoholics. Chocolate in any form is devoured at a rapid pace in this household. I have yet to see this level of dedication to chocolate anywhere else. There are people in my family who at a chinese restaurant, will eat lychees with chocolate ice cream. That is the truth, cross my heart. There are others ( you know who you are!!!) whose idea of heaven on earth is

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-49682318384986274572007-10-15T16:22:00.000+05:302007-10-25T11:15:43.315+05:30

This is an extremely interesting article on the reasons why some cultures tend to use more spices than the others. I always wondered why Indian food was so full of spice as opposed continental food which is pretty bland.A lot in this article made sense to me.Food Bacteria-Spice Survey Shows Why Some Cultures Like It HotFans of hot, spicy cuisine can thank nasty bacteria and other foodborne

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-36866422308515732162007-10-13T22:31:00.000+05:302007-10-13T20:15:48.594+05:30

For the last week, I have been laid up in bed with a bad back. Having been advised total bedrest by the doctor, I looked for occupying my time productively. Therefore to keep myself really busy and productive all day, I have been counting all the spots on my ceiling. I now know for a fact that there are a) few patches which have been badly painted.. b) there is one little spider's web which needs

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-24860869504796279162007-09-26T19:05:00.001+05:302007-11-03T18:33:19.680+05:30

Mother nature has really perfected herself. Each day the sun rises and sets, moon waxes and wanes when they should. Seasons come and go just when they should. The nicest part of all these changes are that the fruit and vegetables also change. One really looks forward to summer when you know mangoes will flood the market. In December, it is the Kamala oranges from Nagpur. Come February and the

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-64703401864650171832007-09-21T22:50:00.000+05:302007-10-25T08:15:37.540+05:30

You know the old rut. " Ma, You never make anything nice nowadays. Its always soooooo bbbboooorrrring". Somehow whatever we make, the grass is always greener on the other side. A vegetable made in a friend's house is always "ssoooo yummy!!!!!" whereas the same thing when made at home, will get a response of " yuck, no". Like they say 'ghar ki murgi dal barabar' ( translated as a chicken from ones

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-85613243016321643482007-09-20T22:15:00.000+05:302007-10-25T10:27:57.543+05:30

I quite enjoy baking and I find it quite therapeutic. Usually it is restricted to cakes and cookies and pies. I find that when you get used to making something often, it becomes second nature and there is no challenge involved in it. But on the other hand, when you try something new, it keeps the interest going and you have to concentrate just that little extra to get it right.The other day a

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-57673057130361846542007-09-16T15:33:00.000+05:302009-12-06T17:55:03.377+05:30

Though from Andhra who are traditional pickle eating people, our family never ate that many pickles. Even if we did, as children, we would wash the mango piece (wash off the spices) and then take little bites from it to eat along with curd rice. But as I got older, I developed a taste for the famous Andhra pickles. What do you think? Are we genetically wired to like some foods? Or is it that we

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-35227661763772930512007-09-15T22:34:00.000+05:302007-11-03T18:33:19.683+05:30

For a long time before I started this blog, I used to spend a lot of time reading all these blogs which are now so familiar. Drool over the pictures, sternly make up my mind that I will make this that and the other.One of the recipes which caught my eye a long time ago was Banana Halwa which I saw in Indira's blog here. Knowing how much I love banana in any form, I was determined to try it for a

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6422173567847906484.post-82093058996009648602007-09-12T19:40:00.000+05:302007-11-03T18:33:19.684+05:30

Recently for my husband's birthday, the kids and I got him this recliner that he had his eye on for a long time. It was one herculean effort to get the recliner up, make space for it in the room, setting it up... But now that it is set up... its a whole new story....The room duplicates Kurukshetra and the biggest battles now at home resemble mini Mahabharatha yuddhas. Ask me why. Everyone is now

Kaminihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339472330211729029noreply@blogger.com11