A Cooked up Story

Hello Folks!!! Travelling has a magical way of introducing us to local flavours. Some dishes remain true to their original style but sometimes they take a beautiful twist and turn into a melange of past and new trends. This recipe is one such keeper, a dish that never fails to make me feel special, whether I’m pretending to dine at a fancy restaurant or enjoying a lazy Sunday brunch at home, hair tied up in a messy bun, completely at ease. The past few months have been nothing short of wholesome. Each day has felt like a fresh dawn, full of little joys waiting to be discovered. So come along with me as I share a tiny chapter from my life. Just sit back and I’ll take you there. A long time ago, when I was a five-year-old bundle of energy, my evenings after preschool came with the promise of a special treat. My mom would serve me the most delightful snacks, and honestly, it was the most awaited part of my day. After all, who doesn’t love nibbling on little tidbits after a long day of pla...

Hello Folks!!!  " Cooking is like painting or writing a song. Just as there are only so many notes or colours, there are only so many flavours— it’s how you combine them that sets you apart” This year marks the 15th anniversary of Pixar's Ratatouille. It's hard to believe that it's been that long since we were last in Paris learning how to cook alongside Remy, the rat and Linguini, the garbage boy. With its summery combination of aubergines, courgettes, peppers and tomatoes, ratatouille is a beloved classic of southern French cuisine, particularly in Nice. But this simple, seasonal stew is more complex than it may seem at first glance 😉 What a delight to the eyes! Garnished with chopped herbs, spices and parmesan cheese with a gentle drizzle of red wine. Adding to the beauty of finely cut vegetables arranged most intricately with perfection, this warm rustic dish has a very homely aroma and can be devoured with buttered chunks of bread. A stalwart of the 1980s d...

Hello Folks!!! "Christmas cookies and happy hearts, this is how the holiday starts!" Tucking all those cookies into your tummy, soon you will fit into Santa's costume. Ho Ho Ho! Cookies, cookies, the baker's pride!!! Have you heard of  the 'Baker's Dozen'? There are many stories behind this legend, so I will narrate to you the one passed down to me. Well then, sit back and enjoy reading. Long ago, in a Dutch colonial town, the present Albany in New York, there lived an honest baker, well known for his Saint Nicholas Cookies. His shop used to be busy throughout the year and even more busy on days before December 6, St. Nicholas Day, when people flocked to his shop to buy those perfect cookies. Every morning, before he would start to bake, he would check his weights and balances and give exactly what his customers paid for. Never more, never less. However, one morning, there came an old woman in a yellow dress, who asked him for a dozen of his famous cookies...

Hello Folks!!! The past few weeks in Bangalore have been marked by rainy evenings and nights too cold to stay without a pair of socks and a sweater. I was just sitting in my veranda and watching the rain fall. It was then that my mind time travelled into the past and I relived the day I was riding my bicycle to my dance class on a rainy evening. I was in grade 7 when we had the annual day celebration of our dance class. I used to go to my dance class directly from school and stay there for practice until 9 at night due to which I would carry my dance class uniform, 2 bottles of water and an extra box of snacks to eat before my class began- all packed carefully in my school bag. It was a really tough schedule and used to strain out the energy of the dancer but those are some memories that will never leave my mind. The last day of rehearsals was very tiring and after practice I was waiting for my parents to pick me up. At that time, my teacher went to the kitchen and brought me this ...