Low Fat Love

Conversation over breakfast one fine morning :

Him : Yummy pasta, it's  much better than what we had at restaurant!

Me   : Really? Thanks.. I have reached to this recipe after several trial and error combination. But I feel it would taste better with cheese (Master Chef in me is wide awake now)

Him : No, this is fine and healthy, we don't need cheese.

Me   : (With the attitude of Master Chef) Don't you think cheese would give a nice creamy touch & glossy look?

Him : Well, in that case, just touch the pasta pan with your fingers

Me   : Huh??? 

Him  : "Tu cheese badi hai mast mast tu cheese badi hai mast"

Me    : (Speechless!!!!!!!!)

Pasta Pan : Clean wiped :)

There goes my low fat pasta with high dose of love, Happy Valentines day friends :)

Ashwini.

The Art Of Eating Vadey

I know, this term "Vadey" is rarely used, as it's usually covered under mostly used South Indian term "Vada" or the word I hate the most "Medu Vada",to distinguish from other famous variety"dal vada" But for a true "Kannadathi" it's totally unacceptable. We don't lack words to use one word for different items, for us it's either "vadey/ambode/bajji/bonda" & we would know exactly what we are am referring to, without a prefix. And more importantly, the cook must be really sick to make it "medu" as "vada" in Karanataka is always "gari gari" Mind you, every true Kannada hotel respects it by calling "Idly-Vadey" (No, not "Vadai" either!!)

I have always relished having "Vadey" in it's true form, unaccompanied by "Sambar" or "Chutney" for a sole reason that "Vadey" loses it's charm when it's dipped in any of the former. The crispness of the outer cover is lost with moist "Sambar/Chutney" and you end up eating basically a "medu vada". Additionally, you also miss to experience the chunks of coconut, pepper, ginger and chilly hidden inside the crispy heaven. Well why not eat the raw dough itself with "Sambar/Chutney" when you have to compulsorily force to eat with them?

I am not an "Anti-sambarist", I do love it equally, but with greater love for "vadey" the former takes back seat. But last week I saw something that made me realize I can do justice to both at a time, without losing the charm of any. While in a restaurant, I saw two kids revealing the greater art of eating a crispy "Vadey", first by eating only the outer crispy layer, followed by dipping the inner stuff in "sambar" until it's soaked completely within. It was literally Eureka moment for me, and I did realize "Vadey-Sambar" can co exist in much harmony while justifying each others presence.

So dear readers, next time while eating "Vadey" do remember this simple tip, and close your eyes and relish each bite of that sinful fried piece of heaven.

Eat well, live happily,
Ashwini.

A Year That Cheated

I am referring to 2016, which to my agony was not so sweet 16 at all. Fancy numbers are simply mind games and nothing that ends with 16 is that sweet after all. But between the conflicts of my heart & brain, heart never loses , so I again fell into false fantasy of the number and I really expected 2016 to create magic. But the year being a witch, kept serving me stale food in silver crockery, neither of which I could take or ditch.

A born foodie that I am, I have tried to analyse 2016 as a menu of "katta meeta" platter.

The main course, lets say "Biriyani"  of 2016 was my great fall (literally) towards end of 2015 (this is my 3rd consecutive Dec fall), due to which I had to welcome 2016 performing "aarthi" in one hand. The idiot sleepy cranky driver hit the brake of the bus I was travelling in such a way that I found myself flying from 3rd row to 1st row of the bus, landing on the floor with entire weight on my left shoulder, followed by shower of few suitcases and bottles over me. You will understand this crankiness of bus drivers if you have ever traveled long routes on express buses on national highways. But what fun life would have with this simple painful fall? An additional "tadka" was added in form of delayed MRI approval , simply due to negligence of the hospital staff . So several calls and follow ups and physiotherapy sessions later, I was able to lift my hand with little pain and raise complaint about careless behavior of hospital staff. Least did I know life was waiting for this extra spice, I had to attend 100s of calls later to justify my complaint ,utter same lines to 100 different callers, at the end of which I had to apologies them for giving a complaint in first place (I almost did).

Following months in the menu of life was bitter sweet moments. Parents visited us for the first time in ten years, but in the shadow of sickness, it was not as relaxing as expected. Its like being served with masala dosa, with masala full of curry leaves.. Thankfully, the aroma lasted on my fingers and wonderful  memories of the trip in my memory.

Bitter gaurd of my 2016 came in the form of trip plan to Georgia, successfully ruined by the ass holes of Holiday Factory. First they charged more than advertised price on the site, then they demanded to travel on the dates of "their convenience", then they failed to confirm any of the plan, ended with the frustrated customer (me) cancelling the plan at the cost of  cancellation charges, which they deserve "for ruining our trip" But isn't bitter guard good for health? Ofcourse, we ended up visiting Nepal, the memories of which will last like last sip of hot filter coffee. Bonus to this was "Beluru" and "Melukote" trips, which I equally enjoyed.

Just like much hated thick edges of pizza, which we endure to relish rest of the best part, 2016 also came with hitches in professional life, the memory of which I simply like to discard.  Apart from this, I lost few of my best friends, and had to put up with few jerks, just like how I hate mushrooms in pizza, but eat anyway.

2016 also made me bite few lemon seeds that came uninvited, which I regret for not being careful enough.

The sweet dish of 2016 was completing 10 years of my life with Raghav. This too has been a roller coaster ride, but with him next to me, I will survive any storm. There is nothing a chocolate can not heal, and there is nothing my "R-Man" can not do to see his "Nagavalli" smile :) (That's how he ruined our new year party performance)

The digestive "meeta pan" was as usual my beloved family, friends & blessings that kept me & my sane in one piece.

So that was my 2016, sandwich of sweet and sour memories. With this in mind, I have decided to let 2017 surprise me while making a note not to expect anything from anyone, which would be my only resolution.

Regards,
Ashwini.

To B(12) or not to B(12)

And so it happens that I have Vitamin B12 deficiency, which is common with vegetarians. If there was prize for lowest count, I would stand first, so much is the deficiency. . My google studies say that B12 is abundantly found in meat and hardly in vegan food. 

After studying blood test report, doctor suggested medicines either in form of tablets or injections.  Any person with common sense will choose tablets over injections. But I guess I had common sense deficiency too.. and asked for injections. The fact that tablets was a 2 months course and injections just 5 rounds, supports my “wise” decision. If you know me close, you know how much I hate taking any sort of medicine.

Happy with my smartness, I popped up in front on nurse with the injections. I had all calculations in mind as how in next ten days I would be overflowing with damn B12 and I would be bouncing back on my feet. The happy bubble burst when the nurse asked me to lie down on the bed, flat on my stomach…the thunder hit me with a realization that the injection was not on the arm but, well, you know where. I stood (laid down) at a point where there was no looking back, literally! But the person to have a good look at my back was the nurse and I can’t describe how shy and embarrassed I was. The agony increased imagining the same scene for next 4 rounds on alternate days!!! And if it was different nurse every day, all the nurses in that hospital would know me by my left or right gluteus by end of the course! Thus, what hurt me more than the injection was my mindless decision..

In all that guilt and shame and pain I reached home teary eyed and isolated myself on the couch, in a “Leave me Alone” status. I wanted some time to come in terms with my foolishness and prepare myself for the next rounds. But the more I thought, the more I hated my stupidity. Mind you laugh, my mighty reader, you never know when you get your dose!

But the end to this misery was magical. Seeing me in sad-angry-helpless mode, Raghav brought me an ice-cream after dinner, that too my favorite Choco nut. There is nothing that a chocolate ice cream cannot treat. Its dark, rich creamy flavor freezes every tension. And with the last drop of such soul-healer, I wiped away the tragedy and went to sleep happily.

Did I hear calories? Count the blessings yaar :) 

Why the change

I had to.

Unlike a rhythmic flowing river like before, my mind is a tornado now. Reasons are many & the window to out pour my feelings are very few. I don't expect my dear ones to understand my madness,because, as I said, it's madness. I feel writing down is the only way to calm the hurricane which is disturbing my mind.

I know what I want from life, and so far walking towards my aim seemed feasible. But now there are few speed breakers, few humps and quite a long muddy road, the end of which I don't know is how far. But if not started the walk now, I won't reach my goal. Hence writing down my journey hoping to make mind calm and vision clear.

I don't expect anyone to understand my posts, these are scribbles, not movie script. 

Wishing myself good luck.

Ashwini.

Time Lapse

“I will always be with you, my princess can’t be let alone”

“Call me whenever you need, ok? I will reach you in no time”

“Is that very urgent? Can I call you back after my meeting?”

“I’m busy, I will see you when I’m free”

“(Automated voice message) The number you have dialed is busy, please try again later”

“(Automated voice message) The mobile phone you have called has been switched off, please try again later”

The princess walks alone now. No more anticipation of any call… Streets away, a beggar is staring at a mobile phone he found on the road.

Hattrick Post!

Not only my 3rd post in 3 simultaneous days but 3rd simultaneous post about same topic-FOOD!

While going all praises about restaurant food, it I realized there is more glory of home food too, especially when it was prepared by someone who didn’t even know names of commonly used vegetables. Yes, Raghav cooked. And what inspired him? His sick wife who did not enter kitchen for couple of days. He decided to take the kitchen by storm after several takeaways.  

I was surprised as cooking never interested him. He would struggle even to fix a sandwich & needs my assistance to prepare simplest noodles.(No, not Maggie) So with doubtful shock, I lied down in my room dreading the outcome. As time passed, I could hear chopping & dropping noise from kitchen. My Prestige Cooker too whistled in disbelief & fridge sighed after his raid. After patiently waiting for 40 mins (yes, that is the level of my patience), I spied into kitchen. And what do I see? Kitchen table consisting of several bowls filled with ingredients laid out just the way they do in cookery show! And midst of all lies the laptop with recipe page open. As if this show off is not enough, he was humming to the background music, while totally lost in his experiment.

After some more waiting & nail biting, my chef of the day laid a beautiful table, served me with steaming long grain rice accompanied by desi ghee-seasoned lentils cooked in tender tomatoes & crunchy papad. In simple words, Anna-Saaru (Rice-Rasam).

I was already awed by his gesture. Adding to it, the food tasted awesome. All in all, I gladly declared him the best chef of the day and happily clean wiped my plate. Are you wondering about situation of the kitchen after his invasion? It was left spic & span, garbage trashed and dish washed till they sparkle. Isnt he a sweetheart?

Here is the proof of leaving his trails in kitchen:

Ashwini