I was immersed in a flurry of vivid memory the moment I stepped inside that large kitchen area at a photo shoot recently. The heady smell of sweets wafting out of the kitchen instantly transported me back into time, to the family weddings conducted at my granny’s place.

Long forgotten memories of my childhood came flooding back as I watched traditional Halwais work in the giant assembly line at Bombay Sweets in Thanjavur during a food photo-shoot last week.

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” ~ Frederick Keonig

Reminiscing good old days, appreciating small things in life and connecting with beautiful people, keeps me happy…always.

Sunday lunches have been a big affair since childhood. Mom would decide the menu a day before and start prepping for the dishes early in the morning. Though the menu would be a simple Indian meal with a dessert to go with it, but eating together made us try new food without making fuss and helped creating a feeling of belonging.

“Life is not the way it’s supposed to be, it’s the way it is. The way you cope is what makes the difference.”~Virginia Satir

“Packing..Checked, flight details..checked, just one more day to go and we will be having fun at your granny’s home” I looked at children and smiled, barely hiding my excitement of meeting mom and just being in Udaipur again.

But destiny has its own plans and sometimes unexpected things can happen. We went through tough times, the very thought of which makes me shudder. The trip was called off.

Foods that bring back comforting memories are precious and so is my homemade Paneer. Cottage cheese or paneer rarely made onto the shopping list of my mother, in fact it was never sold in any shop or super market back then.

Three vessels would always occupy the prime space of my mom’s refrigerator, fresh milk, leftover milk and the last one had thick cream or malai collected from the leftover milk.

“Sometimes what you’re looking for comes when you’re not looking at all.”

With couple of television commercials, Ad shoots and the ongoing project at home, things have been a bit frenzied last few weeks.

So hectic, that at times I started to feel the pinch of physical exhaustion and insomnia on the sets. But in all, I have had some great time meeting people, cooking and styling food products for new brands and companies.

“Friends are the family you choose“~ J. Scott.

Here is a hurried post I was longing to write, when the non-stop photo shoots kept me busy and away from online world.

Well, finally I am opening happiness again, with two wonderful trips that shall never be forgotten.

Reminiscing couple of days of simple joy, love, laughter and fun with two different groups of blogger friends in Karaikudi.

“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.” Marcus Aurelius.

“Ah…excuse me, I didn’t get your name.”

“Sanjeeta”

I turned around and looked at the representative from client’s office standing behind me. We would have spoken at length on topics ranging from food to Indian culture on the sets for last two days, but forgot to exchange our names.

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”~ Jim Rohn

It has been days since my last post on Lite Bite.

After the life-changing career shift through food blogging, time is one luxury I don’t have.

Finding a balance between the demands of family and fulfilling your dreams is tough when you are passionately inclined towards both.

“A couple in love is like a pair of scissors….two useless pieces of metal, until they are inextricably connected at the core so that they can move together as one and accomplish great things.” ~ Jack Canfield

KK and I have known each other for more than two decades. Marriage is just a reason, but lifelong friendship is the most precious gift that we received on 22nd January 1996.

“I have to mention about a person who played an important role in this project. I didn’t know how to use social media network or to even send a mail. She is the one who opened my Gmail account and started my facebook page called DSOFT. She clicked pictures of the clothes we stitched and uploaded on the page.”

“Sanjeeta, my tech-guru, please stand up where ever you are” Saranya looked at me from the stage and smiled.

I shyly stood and waved to the audience. I could see my son smiling in disbelief after hearing her mom referred as ‘tech-guru’ 🙂

Another fruitful year comes to an end. Well, you don’t need a new year to make a change, all you need is a new morning.