Wanderberry Tales

Last week I came across this article on my favorite self-help blog - Tiny Buddha on how as adults we get so engrossed in the race of life that things that once sounded beautiful to us no longer evokes us in the same feelings. So, I guess it is time to step back unlearn this way of life and bring in a change that makes life more beautiful. I keep saying I am a person who finds happiness in every small thing in life. But do I really? May be not! Yet, it is never too late. So I have pulled up my socks and have begun viewing life differently and enjoying the tidbits that comprises life. And you know what! Life does seem more beautiful since the past three days incorporating just the below -  Letting bygones be bygones. Every single thing in your life has a reason! So live it up to brim. Tomorrow has to come anyway, so quit worrying about it now! Having said this - here is my recipe for the week Peanut Chutney straight out of my aunt's recipes! She always has this chutney bo...

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The climate wasn't exactly friendly this week. Lots of sand and dust up in the air and the temperature soaring higher by the hour. The hot and dry summer is here again! Getting out onto the streets seemed like a nightmare and we yearned to get back to the house in the evenings.We definitely were in need of something fresh and cold to cheer us up. A refreshing bowl of salad came to our rescue. I am not very fond of salads but I could give this one a pass by any day any time. I am sure your would love digging in this bowl as well. Every time I boil chickpeas for some gravy, I make sure I keep aside some for the salad too. My favorite bowl of salad could be yours too. Here you go - Ingredients  ( serves -2) Chickpeas - 2 cups boiled Capsicum/Green Pepper - 1 medium size chopped Cucumber - 1 skinned and chopped Tomato - 1 finely chopped Coriander leaves - a handful finely chopped Lemon juice - 1/2 lemon Pepper  - 1 tsp coarsely crushed Olive oil - ...

It is the peak of the summers in Dubai and my heart longs for the monsoons in India. Waking up to the sound of rains.. A rainy evening with a mug of hot coffee.. A walk in the rains.. Getting splashed - ugh!! Sounded annoying back then, but now! I need that one splash.  And of course, the hot fried bajjis that lifts your spirits. That is something I can do in Dubai too! My thoughts went scrambling and this is what it resulted in. Cheers to Goli Bajji/ Mangalore Bajji with hot tea that sent me down many memory lanes. While I get nostalgic, why don't you guys have a sneak peak at what is below -  Ingredients All purpose flour - 1 cup Yogurt - half cup Rice Flour - 2 tbsp Onion - 1 medium chopped Ginger - 1 tbsp grated Green Chilly - 1 sliced thinly Curry Leaves - 1 sprig finely chopped Coriander Leaves - a handful finely chopped Asafoetida - 2 pinches Baking powder - 1/4 tsp Sugar - 1 tbsp Salt to taste Oil for deep frying Method ...

On our recent trip to Archies library here in Dubai, I came across a cook book written by Madhur Jaffrey. A flip of the pages and I am her instant fan. The simple style of writing and her way of bringing in a personal touch to each of these left a strong impression on me.  It wasn't just her recipes but the intricacies of cooking she detailed in her book that mesmerized me.  From how to perfect your sauces to the tempering of the spices - it is all in there. True Indian cooking still original to her roots - that is Madhur Jaffrey's cooking to you. Having said this, it is my sincere endeavor to give my recipes a personal touch and keep it simple. Here is my latest venture in the kitchen - a retake on the pepper chicken by bringing in flavors of corriander and spiciness of green chilly. Ingredients Chicken - 1 kg ( cleaned and cut) Onion - 2 medium Curry leaves - 2 sprigs Salt to taste Oil For marinade: Pepper  - 2 tbsp coarsely ground Coriander leave...

It is simply amazing how simple ingredients come together to form a perfect cuisine. This Pola recipe combines egg with bread and plantain to form a delectable snack. It was only recently that I was introduced to Malabar cuisines and I am loving them. I definitely intend to try more of the Malabar flavors. Quite co-incidentally, during my recent visit to India, my aunt, in order to save overripe plantains from rotting away introduced me to this recipe. I liked the combination and ventured to add bread also into the recipe to make it a wholesome dish. Here is the recipe - a simple quick win snack. Ingredients Eggs - 5 no.s Plantain - 4 medium size Bread - 6 slices Sugar - 2 tbsp Milk - 1/4 cup Salt - 1 pinch Cinnamon powder - 1/4 tsp Ghee - 2 - 3 tbsp Cashewnuts - 2 tbsp chopped Raisins - 2 tbsp Method Cut the plantain into cubes and shallow fry them in ghee until the yellow color of the plantain begins to turn brown. Fry the cashew nuts and raisins in...

It is hard to find anyone who wouldn't love gorging a toast slathered with peanut butter - be it creamy or chunky! A cup of coffee and peanut butter toast forms my ideal breakfast on a weekday. I had my first taste of peanut butter during my hostel days when a friend's father got it from Dubai. Back then peanut butter had not gained the current popularity in India. Peanut butter slathered on Marie biscuit was a hot favorite snack in college. And on those nostalgic days we still do it.  For those of you who love peanut butter and never gave a thought of making it at home - here is how you make it. It doesn't take you more than 30 minutes and even lesser if you already have roasted peanuts handy. Give it a thought. It is any day better than the store bought peanut butter which we inadvertently put into our shopping cart at the supermarket. It can be easily stored for almost a month in an airtight container. For the ones who would love to lick on peanut but...