A belated GMT: Mushroom Pepper Fry

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So I have been MIA for quite some time. The reason? I have been traveling a lot the past two weeks. First it was Phoenix. V had a week long conference and I tagged along. I managed to do a quick post about the four layer chocolate cake while I was there, but that was about it. We came back Sunday, the week before last. I was home for two days and then I left for a 4 day vacation to New York, sans V.

It was my second time in New York, though the first actually doesn’t count. I was in first grade the first time I went there, and don’t remember my visit at all. So according me it didn’t count. But this one does. And it was the most amazing vacation I have had after a long time. And OMG I am in loooooove with the city! Thanks to my friends and V’s cousin I was able to do a lot- all the tourist-y stuff like Times Square, Wall street, view of Statue of Liberty and the non conventional stuff as well- a 15 mile bike tour of lower Manhattan and Brooklyn! I will share more of my trip to New York in a later post, but for now I must tell you I am totally hungover on the place. I got back Monday early morning, and every time I see something related to New York on TV, I feel like crying. Yes, I miss the city THAT much!

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Garam Masala Tuesdays: Celebrating India’s Independence Day with….

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For some time now, I have been craving Jalebis– a popular Indian sweet that is made by deep-frying a flour batter in kind of a pretzel or circular spiral shape, which is then soaked in sugar syrup.

Growing up there was this ad for cooking oil that used to come on Indian television. The ad starts with this little boy who decides to leave his house because everyone shouts at him all the time. Somebody known to the family finds the small boy sitting at the station and the boy tells him that he doesn’t plan to go back home. To get the boy back home, the old guy tells him that his mom has just made hot, out of the oil Jalebis.

You should hear the excitement and the greed in the boy’s voice when he says “Jalebi”. The boy then thinks its a better idea to just go back home and there to greet him are these warm, orange colored spiral shapes, more popularly known as Jalebis. Because of the really cute boy who was the real star of the advertisement, the ad was one of the most popular advertisements of that time. But the ad also told the love Indians have for the very popular sweet Jalebi.

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Garam Masala Tuesdays: Khichdi

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This might not be one of the most popularly known Indian recipes. Most of you (and by that I mean non-Indians) probably have never heard of it. The Indians reading, of course, have- and probably have horrible stomach upset stories related to this dish.

So why am I sharing it today?

Because for the last three nights this is what are dinner has looked like. And whether or not there are bad experiences surrounding this dish, it is one of the most beloved comfort food cooked in Indian kitchens.

And I don’t know if its because of eating this at night or just a reduced appetite because of what happened on Thursday, I am feeling lighter and have lost 1 kilo in 2 days. Since Thursday I have actually lost 2 kgs! But I know once I am back to eating properly (which I am, as of today), those kilos lost will be gained again! But hopefully they will be gained in muscle and not fat.

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