“Secure your dreams for they are the wings of your soul” Bianca Bower.

What do you do when you are caught in the hectic happenings of the week?

The never-ending household grind, grocery shopping, dropping and picking children from school, driving daughter from one corner of the city to other for sports & music classes in evening, dropping son for his evening extra classes, organizing for shoots and then squeezing time in between to manage this blog.

Well, in reality there’s not much I can do about it but to vent my feelings and anger in every other blogpost…or..errr…just hope for one another Sunday to put a break on my fast-paced lifestyle 🙂

But then, I am also enjoying the various phases and changes that life brings every single day as time marches on.

I was delighted to find a new organic store opened close to my house loaded with many unusual food products I would love to cook with. I bought a few packets of red Sorghum (jowar) and sweet smelling pure cane sugar or as they call it sucanat (sugar cane natural).

The red Sorghum has harder skin and more nutty taste than the white grain and takes a little longer to cook.

I did my first few years of primary schooling in a small town called Zawar Mines, in Rajasthan.

Dad was a doctor, we lived in an independent spacious bungalow surrounded by huge garden on all the three sides of our house.

Mom converted the front portion into a cozy sit out. Small cement benches placed in the centre of soft and neatly manicured lawn decked with some rare and exotic varieties of flowering plants she collected from our LTC trips every year.

‘All good food comes with a story, and the stories need sharing as much as the food‘.

“Wait, don’t keep that box for washing…taste the dish in it and tell me how is it?” asked hubby, who saw me holding and sniffing that small blue box. The tiny box and the food inside looked unfamiliar to me.

“Hmm..it does taste good, but what is it and how did it come in your lunch-bag?” staring at him, I asked.

“My colleague KC brought this Kulambu (curry) for lunch today. I found the recipe quite interesting and asked him to pack a little for me so that you can taste and try it at home.” Hubby smiled and answered, clearing the doubt in my mind.

Passion creates positive energy and we feed on that energy to stay motivated. ~ #onlineread

I am blessed by a number of things I love to do. Painting, travelling, cooking, reading, sketching, gardening, photography and many such activities. I do not find my diverse interest as a dilemma and love to engage myself in some of these activities whenever time permits.

But – well, there exists another life. A real world, where there is a laundry to be cleared, grocery shopping, doctor’s appointments, a hungry family to feed, activity classes for children and the never ending list of mundane daily chores.

Life does exist. It’s the purpose that counts.” ~Toba Beta

“Is your life passion-driven or purpose-driven” the lady sitting next to me in the lunch room asked.

I looked at her and smiled. I couldn’t comprehend her question and was at a loss of words for a minute.

It was during a photo-shoot last week where I met this beautiful lady who works as an art director. She was assisting a jewellery shoot adjacent to my room. We were having lunch together when she checked my blog on her mobile and asked me about my work.

Creamy, mildly spicy and an exotic recipe, Paneer Pasanda is a very elaborate Indian dish served in many hi end restaurants in India. Cottage cheese are sliced into thin triangles which are stuffed with a paste of nuts, coated with chickpea flour marinate, deep fried and then dunked into rich creamy gravy to make a delicious Paneer Pasanda.

The preferred gravy for Paneer Pasanda is deep red in colour, which comes from ground tomatoes, deep fried onions and turmeric powder.

Food is an invaluable asset to connect with people across the globe and is also a perfect medium to get access to the cultural habits and cooking traditions of any region.
“Are you free for an hour or so in the day to meet, do let me know”, the mail from chef Saransh read.
What do you do when you get a mail from a celebrity chef asking you to take time out for a food walk in your city.
You count your blessings and leave every important work aside to make it …

“Behind all your stories is always your mother’s story. Because hers is where yours begin.”~M. Albom

“I prepared ‘Panjiri’ today with fresh gond & Makhane. ‘M’ got it for me from Jaisalmer” told mom during our telephonic conversation the other day.

“Awee…I already miss your gond ke ladoo and Palak Makhane ki subji , big time. Okay, mom, I have got to go now” I said and disconnected the line, stuffing my washing machine with soiled clothes.

“But your looks, accent, mannerism…I can’t believe you are not a South Indian….you don’t look like a Rajasthani  to me from any angle” her gaze narrowed on my face.

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do” I replied with a cheery grin pulling out my glasses from the box and getting ready for the interview to follow.

She nodded with a naughty smile and started the audio recorder.