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!!! Last night, my mother was heating some egg roast for dinner while the rest of us set the table. The egg roast is a very simple, semi-dry side-dish, where eggs are coated in luscious thick sauce made with red tomatoes and caramelized onions. I wouldn't say this is a super quick dish, because you need to let the masala fry for a while in order to let the flavours blend with each other properly. But, with a little bit of patience, anyone can always cook up a magic potion. It's a wonder in itself that tastes equally good.  Interrupting my short happiness of watching the buttery smooth onions and tangy tomatoes swirling around the pot and bubbling into thick sauce, my garrulous little sister picked up a silly conversation. She started off by saying that she was ready to sacrifice her share of the egg roast and remain a good child who can 'sometimes' sacrifice good things. It reminded me of the story "The Sacrificial Egg" by Chinua Achebe, and all the...

Hello Folks!!! “I’m starving, thought Horrid Henry. I’ll just eat a few biscuits really, really, really quietly”. Last afternoon, my sister wanted me to watch her cartoon shows with her. Before we settle down to watch TV, we always make sure we have some really good munchies.   She quickly switched on the television and we made ourselves cosy on the sofa. This time, she wanted to watch “Horrid Henry” and both of us agreed to watch it for some time, after which we would watch a show of my choice. A few minutes into the programe, Henry said “I’m starving. I’ll just eat a few biscuits really, really, really quietly”.   As soon as I heard it, I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. It reminded me of a similar incident that took place just a year ago, but it was not just one girl, there were three hungry girls who planned a master plan to nick a snack from the kitchen. It was a normal week day, when everyone was hungry at 5pm; the time we expect to munch on 2 thin biscuits a...