A Cooked up Story

Hello Folks!!! Close your eyes and think about your favourite place to visit. Now, imagine the food you love. I'm sure you smiled. That's it, eating and travelling are the things that really move us.  Surrounded by the rugged South African bushveld, in the heart of an ancient volcano, Sun City is a magical wonderland. One of my best memories are those summer days when we went to Sun City. The whole journey is just 'wonderlik'- travelling almost 200 kilometers on breathtakingly beautiful roads, picturesque table mountains, lush diverse scenery and the cheerful mediterranean climate. Calling itself "a world within a city", the resort complex has the unforgettable Palace of The Lost City, The Valley of The Waves water park and ancient legends and myths to keep you busy imagining. I used to enjoy walking over the time bridge, also known as the Seismic Bridge. It would make loud rumbling noises when you walk, giving you the feeling of a horrible earthquake. This de...

Hello Folks!!! Festivities are a smorgasbord of religious traditions and fine food. From mouth-watering cuisines and delicacies from different parts of the globe to fusion dishes, sweet and savory, there is a certain charm that surrounds a festive season. Easter is one of the most fun celebrations in any child's life - with a basket full of chocolates, nests full of colourful easter eggs, super cute Easter bunnies and lots of sticky buns.  In Africa, Easter means a long weekend, which creates the perfect opportunity for a large family gathering. We would have lunch parties in our friends house, play in the swimming pool and also have 'eggs'changing.  As children, we had so much fun at the easter treasure hunt game, picking up easter eggs and presents specially kept for us at each doorstep. After the treasure hunt, we used to have the perfect get together! All families, friends and neighbours at home. Every year a different house would host the party.  There was a very bea...

 Hello Folks!!! “There are shortcuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them”. It is soon going to be a year since I went to dance class and met my teacher and all my friends. The impact of the global pandemic in my little life! It was so blissful, wearing my salangai (anklets), tapping my feet and dancing to the beautiful swaraas and keerthanas sung by my guru. Nowadays when I miss my dance class, I go and watch a movie. You might wonder what’s wrong with me. I’ll tell you, I don’t watch any movie, just one particular movie, the Oscar-winning ‘Life of Pi’. Pi Patel, surviving in a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean, in the company of a fierce tiger, catching and eating the only food available in plenty- fish, fish, and only fish. What a sad life. It was not Pi Patel and his adventures that glued me to this movie. There was someone else. I watch the movie to feel that magical presence of this person. The vibrant voice, enigmatic smile and invincible energy instils so much...

Hello Folks!!! "There's nothing as cozy as a piece of candy and a book" says Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. The word candy is enough to brighten up your boring day and make you happy.  I am a huge candy fan! Wherever there is candy or any other kind of sweet dish, just look around and I will be there. During my 7th grade summer vacation, my grandfather came over and we decided to visit my grand aunt in Pondicherry. She was just lovely. With wavy white hair, a beaming smile and a lovely French accent, both of us had one thing in common - our love for candy. She loved this particular one called  'Kopiko', a coffee flavoured candy.  However, the day before we went to visit her, we searched all the shops, every nook and corner! But no luck …  having lost all our hopes of finding the Kopiko candy, we left for Pondicherry early in the morning . On the way, I found a mini truck offloading Kopiko I was overjoyed.... Even if candy is playing hide and seek, I can always find it .... a...

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...

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...