Stir fried noodles - Under 30 minutes

THIS this this is the ultimate lazy person's quick meal. Quicker than a take-out. No kidding. With all the snow, -52F and stuck at home, I am in no mood to spend hours cooking. Though that is a good way of spending time, somehow, I've become this lazy person with my nose in a book. Perfect for a cold brrrr day. 

That was almost ten days ago, I have been meaning to post this, but somehow one thing or the other has kept me away. Between my skype photography lessons, client work and my own life the days seem to blur into nights in a flash. I have never enjoyed photography as much as I am doing this year. I think the classes are so refreshing, thank you for enrolling. Keeps me on my toes.

Between all this, I've been catching up on reading. Right now I am reading two books, both non-dual inquiry. As a teen, I have spent hours learning about Advaita philosophy from my father. Somewhere, between my twenties and now I got distanced from any form of philosophy as life took over. And the same life just pulled me back into it. With such strength, that I willingly got pulled along. The last couple of years, I have started meditating, it has changed my life. I'm just so happy, not that I was ever a sad person, but this happiness has a different texture to it, it has a sense of fulfillment. Earlier, I was outcome driven and now I am more task driven. That really cuts out the anxiety of the outcome and makes the overall experience of doing anything very joy full.

We only live once and we have to be truthful to who we are. There is no perfect life, it is all in the mind and the mind can mislead, often addressed as monkey-mind, needs to get tamed and meditation is a great tool.

Going back to the stir-fried noodles, the sauce is the key. Add any veggies or meat of choice. I have used fettuccine here as I ran out of my favorite brown rice noodles. So pick the noodle of your choice.

Here comes the recipe ....

Pesto Zoodles, healthy pita pockets, vegan buddha bowl and more - The color diet

In a 2012 study, 52% of Americans ( polled numbers) said doing their taxes was easier than figuring out how to eat healthy. USA, is one of 10 most educated countries in the world and we do not know how to eat well. You walk into any super market, you have fresh produce, locally grown, organic, imported ... you name it. Where is the issue, is it time? is it lack of education ?? What is making an abundant nation unhealthy ?? I don't have an answer to this question but I do think cooking is not rocket science, a bit of planning, some simple recipes and some good music while cooking ...is the secret to a good home cooked meal.

I am sharing three simple recipes for week nights. I am not a nutritionist, so I do not have much knowledge about carbs, protein, fat ....but I do know from my gut feel that a good meal incorporates raw foods and colors. As much color as you can get. I can it the color diet... you just cannot go wrong with veggies. Just make sure you go through the dirty dozen list - aka the most pesticide laden fruits and veggies. One way is to avoid the dirty dozen or just buy organic. Make sure you also go through the clean fifteen list - that way you are not forced to buy organic.

I make three kinds of pesto and I rotate between them ... I usually make all three and have it in my refrigerator. Add lime to all of them and it stays good for at least one week in the refrigerator.

First I will share the recipe of the pesto - that is the main punch of flavor to these almost raw meals.

Pesto

Mint pesto

• Small bunch of mint leaves
• 3 tbsp walnuts
• juice of 1/2 lime
• 1 jalapeno
• salt to taste 

Basil Pesto  

• Small bunch of fresh basil leaves
• 3 tbsp cashewnuts
• juice of 1/2 lime
• 1 jalapeno
• salt to taste 
• 
  

Lime Basil-Cilantro Pesto 

• Small bunch of fresh basil and cilantro leaves
• 1 tbsp roasted sesame seeds 
• 2 tbsp walnuts
• juice of 1/2 lime
• 1 jalapeno
• salt to taste   

Blend into smooth thick paste and store in airtight container 

Sauce 

1. Add 1 tsp garam masala to 1/4 cup of ketchup.
2. Add 1 tsp sriracha to 1/4 cup Greek yogurt 
3. Add 1 tbsp roasted sesame, 1 tbsp crushed pepper to soy sauce 

Mexican Buddha Bowl

This post is has been sitting, waiting to be published for over a month now...I'm glad it is not archived into oblivion. If you love Mexican food, hold on to your chair and stop drooling, this is food orgasm right here and right now. It is a bit of effort, but not as much as it looks, and worth every minute of the effort. My assurance, else, lunch on me...

 I was going to have my bf over for lunch and we decided to make something special, we both love to cook. It was understood that I was going to take pictures too, while she stood there and cried every 2 minutes, " are you done." Her version, I starved her, till she threatened to leave. Might be some truth to that, I was feasting visually, never realized not everyone likes to eat that way. After the photo session we both had a fabulous lunch. I'm blessed to have friends like her, caring, loving, and she's always reading my mind and moods.She is  my lifeline. So many things to be grateful for, specially the people in your life. Money can buy a lot , it can never buy good people, who add positivism and propel you forward.

This one to friends who make the world a better place and who love you unconditionally....


You will need

1.  Guacamole
2.  Mexican salad
3. Mexican fried rice
4. Mexican stirfry veggies 
5. Mexican beans
6. Salsa
7. Quesadillas
8. Assemble soft tacos 
9. Chips (store bought) 
10. Mexican Cheese blend
11. Sour cream 
12. Shredded lettuce

Creamy Avocado Alfredo



She hated being alone and yet sought loneliness. Misery is a habit and we are a creature of habit. As she opened the door of her apartment, she felt a cool whiff of air, solitude at last, she thought to herself. The quite and still air seemed to embrace her, giving her comfort and yet a dull nagging in the heart. This is my place and I can be who I am here, she thought to herself. Somewhere deep inside she wanted to join the dinner invitation she had just refused. She was fighting to justify her own decisions.

There was nothing on the television that caught her interest. she threw her soft grey scarf and tied an apron, for once she broke her own code...I'm not going to change. She was trying to rebel, only with herself. Sometimes our own rules break us down, she was a prisoner of her own self. Rules and more rules and rules for rules. Freedom boxed with strong borders...

Her hands moved fast in the kitchen.

The door bell rang.....

There he stood, not very handsome and yet there was something about him that would make you smile. He placed the bottle of wine in her hands...." sorry! did I miss something" She blurted out. " I thought you could use some company", he said. She hated his audacity as it questioned her authority. One cannot take anyone for granted, and just walk into their home. He almost read her mind, " do you always think so much, it is just dinner. I though you had a rough day and might appreciate company." She was not convinced and worried about his motive.

They had been working on the same project for the last couple of months, she hated his indolent attitude. He was always so casual, starting from his dress sense to work sense...nothing planned always spur of the moment.

He found security in her strength, she seemed to be so put together and always knew what to do. The rules that chained her, gave a sense of structure to his nomadic lifestyle. As he poured the wine and she carefully measured out the ingredients for the pasta. He knew somewhere deep inside, there was more to her than what was on the surface.


to be continued....

Potatoes n Greens stir-fried

Creamy potatoes - with greens! Such a versatile side. Our good old aloo methi with a twist :)


Maybe time is moving at a faster pace. Each day seemed to be booked edge to edge with little room for daily chores. The to-do list has grown a couple of miles. Maybe I need time management 1o1.

I planted my first set of annuals and have been wanting to do the rest - my herbs and tomatoes, it is almost June and probably if I keep postponing this, soon it will be fall.  I need an intern to help. I think I should hire teen for the summer months…hmmm! not a bad idea. It is hard when you are doing everything…styling, photography, edits, clients briefs, communication & rate negotiations …money matters! I have never been good at numbers and it's a miracle I understand my apertures and shutter.

Somedays  Most days my morning stroll helps me clear my mind and think…it forces me to slow down and catch my breath and most important it forces me to absorb it all. The pace at which life is running, if I don't slow down…I'll exhaust myself and I think it is more about enjoying my journey than the destination. That's the reason my weekends are sacrosant - I don't touch my laptop. My camera yes :)

This week I read two write ups,  one of them is an experiment on social media and the other a commencement address. Both so relevant to the times we live in. At the end of the day…what you create is what stays with you …that compelling feeling of satisfaction. It's not a numbers game or stats or followers…! I remember once when a brand approached me about a affiliation, they asked me about my media-kit..I don't have one. It's not rocket science to put it together…but it is not who I am that was important …it was more about the numbers. To me it felt like working in a boxed room with no windows. I know numbers are important but when it becomes the only criteria …That is just me, I love my readers because they give me feedback, we chat…it's more like friendship, they are not numbers in a spreadsheet - most certainly not.

It's almost become a ritual to share some clicks from my walk…not too many :) I don't want you guys to run away…..this time it's downtown Chicago.

Garlic Stir-fried Udon Noodles

Ginger- garlicky, slurp..y noodles. You can't refuse that bowl, I challenge you !!

A bar of chocolate will not make me weak in my knees like a bowl of well made noodles will. Ok ! who am I kidding, I love chocolate ... you get my point. 

I have always been a foodie, my first question in the morning when I got up ( as a child) what's for breakfast. The question when I got home from school - what's for snack? I almost always polished my plate clean. That's a different story that mom is an amazing cook, we are talking about how great a kid I was ;) Even today food is always on my mind. 

Just the other day I had a disaster in my kitchen. I was watching tele and thinking about dinner ( not unusual), planning to make spicy okra and every time I cook okra - it's not as moist as I want it to be, unless I add more oil. So to add a nice masala and some moisture to  the veggie, I pureed some squash and red bell pepper with some chickpeas. I did not want to cook with the usual onion-tomato combo. Let me put it this way, that did not go very well. Am glad I had the sense to try a sample first.  Back to the drawing board with okra. 

Am glad the noodle story did not go in that direction. Noodles are probably one of the easiest meals to cook. Very forgiving. You really have to make an effort to ruin it, unless you overcook the noodles - there is no redemption there. Also don't overcook the veggies, if you end up doing that while updating your FB status....you can add a few al dente veggies and saving the dish. Remember don't overcook !

Lentil, quinoa and wheat fritters or savory pancakes

It is  crisp on the outside and soft inside, beautiful texture, whole sum, flavorful and super easy to make. I forgot to add - it is like a super food, really healthy. You can call this fritter or a savory pancake too. Created by your truly . If you do use this recipe or blog it, please link back, it takes lots of effort to develop recipes and I love link backs. :)

Am looking at my kitchen and wondering at the mess. I am not interested in spending my evening cleaning up the mess I just created, but I guess I have no option.  Rewind a decade ago and I  was a clean freak - proper things in proper place, all labeled, everything well organized. Somehow the mess does not bother me any more. Yesterday, I was shooting glass refection ( don’t ask why) and my neighbor just walked in. Instead of being embarrassed by the mess, I pulled the white diffuser cloth from the chair and made room for her to sit and we enjoyed a coup of tea over a bit of gossip ( a bit of gossip here and there is really healthy). Am so proud of myself, I have evolved. You think I am exaggerating - NO! My father-in-law once told me he does not like to sit in one place in my house,  he’s afraid I might dust him and probably place him with  curios. Thankfully that never happened, but my love for super clean has been replaced by reality check.

Evolved I have and somewhere I think it is all because I have found a creative outlet that I identify with. I have discovered myself. Small things don’t bother me, I don’t feel the need to prove myself to others - I just want to enjoy the journey. Wow ! I sound like a perfect angle….well, far from it. It was in September that I baked a cake for hub’s birthday - it was a new recipe and it fell apart and I did throw a mini tantrum that I was the worst cook ever. ( looks sheepishly )

Thankfully this is NOT a failed recipe and I just love it - total added bonus that it is super healthy.

Instant Rava Idli - the big Indian breakfast

As I entered the chatra ( marriage hall) I could smell jasmine, roses and sandle wood incense in the air. I fixed the pleats of my red and green kanjivaram sari, as my husband whispered to me, “ you are over dressed” . “ Absolutely not, this is a South Indian wedding, there is nothing called overdressed” was my quick response. I loved the scent of jasmine lingering in my hair, every traditional south Indian woman loves to adorn her hair with jasmine flowers, and I am no exception. We found a seat by a distant relative ( that’s the only face we recognized ) and sat there. Everyone seemed busy and occupied ….the bride’s father was busy talking to the guy serving kapi (coffee). A few cousins of the bride were shouting from the elevated stage like platform of the wedding, asking someone something in a tone of urgency. The old aunty next to me ( in India every elderly lady is an aunty and elderly man an uncle) was busy explaining her relation to the bride to another lady. The uncle next to my better half was telling my husband about his brother’s wife’s sister’s son who is also in Chicago and they are looking for a bride to fix an alliance.

In my twenties, I found it a waste of time and money…these lavish weddings….something changes when you hit the magic forties. I was soaking in all the colors, aroma chatter, and was loving every moment of the experience. From traditional kanjivarams to the most modern styles, it was all here, teens to elderly grandmas - all draped in rich colors of silk. My eyes were feasting, after living in the west for a long time ( especially midwest) you forget what color is….

The kapi man approached us and I was quick to take a glass of coffee. ( In South of India coffee is served in six ounce steel glass). It was pipping hot and absolutely delicious a perfect blend of coffee and chicory, I wanted a second, a third and a forth. It would look rather rude and greedy to take seconds and thirds I thought. Before I could plan for a strategy to pick up another glass, a man approached with a smile, “ breakfast banni” ( please come for breakfast) hubs and I exchanged smiling glances and got up, walking slowly to the dining hall….

There were rows of tables with fresh banana leaves and a glass of water ( talk of biodegradable disposable ) a few people were sitting and we found space near some young kids in there late teens. Hot rava idlis, chatni, kesari bhaat, hot upma and coffee… this is the stuff life is made of. As the server approached me he gave me a generous helping of 3 idlis and a lot of chutney…I did not refuse, I wanted it all. It is part of an Indian wedding to eat well to your hearts content, hospitality at its best, people asking for seconds thirds and forth with endless gallons of coffee.

Back on a cold winter snowy morning, when everything around me looked white, so pristine and beautiful. I thought of the colors, the idlis and the coffee. Frantically looked thru my recipes and found a handwritten recipe of rava idli. My sister had written it up for me ( Picture below) the year I got married, it seems like yesterday….

Ilva, Sophia and myself are back with a similar themed post, this is our first one for 2015. Do visit their blogs to read about their favorite breakfast and gawk at the amazing images.

Seasonal Soup for Autumn

This is going to be a picture heavy post, I have been going crazy with fall colors and fallen leaves. Every time my husband and I go for a walk, am stopping for pictures ….everytime! He even asked me, don’t you get bored of taking the same picture…my response the light is different, it’s not same. I don’t think he gets it but pretends otherwise. You don’t want to mess with ’the wife’

Just yesterday, my family was looking for me, I thought I had told them that I will be in the yard, but apparently no one heard. The beautiful tree in our backyard was calling my name  …I was there for 10 minutes but I was told that it was 40. I have never been good with numbers :)  I did not know I was being photographed.  Here is me taking pictures of the beautiful tree.

This month Ilva, Sophia and myself thought of doing a soup for the monthly post that we do together. I am horribly terribly late ( by a week ) Ilva and Sophia already posted their’s, you must check it out. Absolute yumminess. Thanks girls for your patience and hope to do it on time in November.

Simple everyday pilaf

 Neel from Learn food Photography hosted a free food photography work shop sometime in September, like last year I took the plunge.  I met some amazing photographers and made some good friends, after all it was 30 days of working together and lots of inspiration and interaction. There are about 500 plus members in this group and somehow you  end up ‘connecting’ with some people.


 I met Krystallia through this workshop and by met, I mean, met online. We seem to like similar images,…I don’t know what it was, but we became friends.  Krys asked me to do a guest post on her blog ‘My Cooking Secrets’ , we started brainstorming about ideas, The time difference of eight hours did not come in our way, we were chatting till midnight. I asked her to tell me a little about herself,  other than photography,…. “My favorite moto is ‘’DO NOT WASTE FOOD, there is always a way to CREATE a dish from scratch’’. Seriously it was like my mom talking, I grew up on that….wasting food was unheard of and you eat what you get. I knew why we had become friends, we talked about a lot of things about Greek food, about real food, local foods and why we both started blogging, she said, “I didn' t set out to be a food photographer, let alone a blogger. I was previously an executive secretary and account assistant. When I got married and moved to Malta I focused on what I loved most. To create recipes, promote the Greek cuisine and inspire people to cook. My blog was the perfect way to combine my creative interests, yet it made me feel incredibly happy, so I ran with it.” Two women thousands of miles apart, who have never seen each other ( Krys, better put up a profile picture on FB), yet had so much in common. At the end of the day we are all the same under the skin and we relate to similar emotions. Krys is so passionate about her food, it percolates to her blog. Her enthusiasm and passion is surely contagious. Thanks so much Krys for your friendship and all the energy you bring to the blogging world.


Krys had a few questions…over to her to read the informal chat.

Wild Black Rice n’ Pumpkin Masala

Browsing through the grain section of the grocery store, my eyes fell on long shiny black rice, that was labeled wild rice. I was drawn to it like an artist is drawn to paint. I felt it with my hands, it was slippery and shiny and had extremely long grains, for a minute it looked too perfect, as though it was pieces of ebony that were hand polished. It made it’s way home with me and it lay on the pantry shelf for weeks. I was beginning to get skeptical, even thou I cook brown rice but my true love is pure white basmati:long aromatic grains of rice. A girl who likes her rice pure white, has here in her hand deep black shiny rice. Being attracted to black shiny long grains is one thing, eating it is another.

I took the plunge and put out some water to boil. Waited for 20 minutes, it smelled nothing like white rice. Very, very strong nutty aroma, and when I say strong, I mean really very strong. Something, told me this was not for me, with lot of inner courage I tasted the almost raw rice that was boiling away on the gas stove, I loved the crunch. First there was a crunch then a bit soft…. The aroma of the rice boiling in the water, grew on me, but definitely not my favorite. The taste: I really liked. It sat on the gas stove for 40 minutes, and barely cooked. Out came the pressure cooker and in went the rice - 3 whistles later there was nutty, aroma-less black rice. It’s has a strong flavor, so for me it is definitely not the main ingredient in the dish.  It really pairs well with pumpkin and together they can make a great tasting side. One cups makes almost two and a half cups, so keep that in mind when you cook it. 

Curried Noodles

My friends often think that, as a food blogger, I never run out of creative ideas. My teen is the luckiest as there is always something new cooking in my kitchen. Well, to tell you the truth, my home is like any other home on this planet. Every day, the same question is repeated: "What’s for dinner?" After my response, I usually hear a disgruntled plea to eat something different (read "better"). Yesterday’s favorite is today’s "boring", so it’s not an easy game to win, and I’m sure that all my readers can relate to that. There is a good amount of thought involved in creating a menu, and this process can seem daunting at times. Yes, I love to whip up a meal from scratch, but then there are days when you really don’t want to spend a lot of time in your kitchen. This definitely does not mean that you compromise on taste. My ardent fans and strongest critics are my teen and my better half as they propel me to pursue new adventures in the kitchen. I was really excited when Campbell approached me to develop a recipe from their cooking soups or make one from their existing list of recipes.  If you have picky eaters at home, you need to check out WisestKid.com: you will be pleasantly surprised by the options available.

I went on to check out the website and I was happy to find numerous options for everyday meals. When I started browsing through the recipes, my mind started to churn out creative ideas.  I felt like the possibilities were endless, and I eventually came up with a recipe. Creamy curried noodles made from the Cream of Celery soup by Campbell. I got a thumbs up from my "ardent fans." Don’t forget to check out Campbell's kitchen.

Baked Aubergine

Aubergine or eggplant, remind me of my childhood. I have loved roasted eggplant  (baigan ka bharta) with my rotis. Coming back from school on cold winter afternoons, baigan ka bharta and hot rotis was a treat that I would not miss. The smell of wheat roasting on the girdle is still fresh in my mind. The charm to sit on the kitchen ledge, feet dangling, with fresh food and stories to share...is probably my most cherished memory from childhood. Every time I go back, I try to re-live that moment...it's not half as magical as then. Homework was never my priority, it was eating lunch, narrating my stories to mom and then running off to Parul's house. Sunset was like a silent bell that beckoned me to get home. Almost always, before dad could get home...and then the realization of reality aka homework.

Finally teen is not crazy about  baigan ka bharta, however this is one of her favorites. I really don't blame her, if I were given a choice between the two, even thou am a die hard bharta fan, it would be very hard for me to pick one. You could just roast the eggplant without dunking it in pasta sauce, or cook in the pasta sauce. I occasionally break an egg on the roasted eggplant and boy! that's awesome too.

Tomato Fettuccine and Cherry Tomato Starters

This week has been really busy, I have a pile of things that I need to complete and unless I get super human powers overnight, there is no way it will get done.  I have some 8 posts in the draft and I have not had time to sit down and pen the write-ups, it is my dream to have some publish ready post in the draft for busy hectic weeks.   It is not going to be a reality any time soon.

Let me ignore the mile long to-do list for now, am excited to share this recipe with you guys, yesterday I got some fresh organic tomatoes from Wholesum Harvest and I was super excited to photograph these beauties and to use them. Tomatoes indeed make my world go round, it's just the perfect subject for photography, they are bright, they take light so well... you cannot go wrong with it. Since, the time I had seen Deeba's ( from Passionate about Baking) home-grown tomatoes in the LFP ( Learn Food Photography)  community my heart was set on capturing these cuties. Some of these pictures are inspired by Deeba, Thanks Deeba !  Also, thanks to  Wholesome Harvest for giving me the opportunity to use these organic produce.  I got  two varieties cherry and tomato on the vine (tov) which is their signature tomato. No guesses on why it is there signature tomato. It is from their brand new greenhouse in Amado, Arizona. These tomatoes are fresh, juicy and full of flavor, and organic. Enjoyed cooking and eating!

I made two three recipes from them. With the cherry I made a cute cheery, mozzarella and basil starter. I had seen these a while ago on Pinterest.

The second one is a fettucini made from a dried tomato pesto and fresh tov.

The third one, is a simple salad with tomatoes, basil and a vinaigrette of balsamic, curry powder, brown sugar and olive oil. Unfortunately, I do not have pictures as I ate the salad up, it was so tasty and tempting ( sheepishly). It started with one bite and before I knew it...  I wanted to take some shots today, but too many things going on, so I will take some pictures as soon as I can and update it on the post.

Baked spinach curry

I love greens and if you tell me to eat them everyday - I certainly can ! As a matter of fact, I love all veggies and was never really a picky eater...I need my food to look good and yes taste good  (duh!). Am glad I don't have picky eaters at home, but very critical people ( raising an eyebrow) by very I mean very....!! They ( I mean both of you two people, who read my blog and live with me - yes BOTH  ) critical only in the context of food. The bright side, when something is super delicious, they shower me with compliments that could last for weeks and it get's embarrassing when we are outside and even after repeated pleas to dial in down ...they don't ! I know it's cute but a bit embarrassing when we are out.  Yesterday, when I baked them the spinach n eggs, they loved it - just makes me so happy.  I was a bit skeptical at first ...as finally teen said "I love it, am not sure dad will"  but looks like this baked dish is here to stay in my household, hope you guys enjoy it as much as we did and they are going to rave about it for days or even weeks :)

Tamarind Rice / Puliyogare

For once, I am kind of sad that it's Friday! Have had week long Diwali celebrations, followed by my special day. Thanks to my family and friends, for making my day extra special. I am glad to be surrounded by people who love me for who I am... tons of phone calls, texts, emails and surprise 'ringings' of the doorbell. I am so thankful!

It's amazing that what started as a food blog has become such a huge part of me. My week is incomplete if I do not share my jabbering with you. At first I thought that I was not going to blog about my big day but then... my fingers just typed and when I read it, I could only smile.When I started the blog, I did not know what to write, what to share, and how much to share. Now, writing here is like talking to a best friend. I am so glad, I found my voice. Thanks, guys, for hearing me jabber. And no, I am not sharing my age ;)

Going back to what's cooking...Puliyogare is a family recipe that has been passed down to me by my mother and my mother-in-law. It is one of those recipes that brings back memories and does tie all the generations together. It used to be my dad's favorite and it is also "finally teen's" absolute favorite. A dish that all of us enjoy as a quick weeknite meal and it is almost always a part of elaborate spread during festivals or wedding in the south of India. There are so many recipes that come to my mind when I talk about heritage dishes or family recipes.....but I think this one wins hands down. Am sure a lot of you have different versions of the same things, please feel free to leave a link, I would love to see the variations. 

The Vegi burger cook-off and grapefruit-cranberry-lemonade

Summer, grill and burgers are almost synonymous. OK, not synonymous, but you get the idea. It has been over a 100 degrees for the past couple of weeks here in  Midwestern USA. No matter how much we love summer and food, there was no way my other half was going to go outside and grill (well, neither was I). Now, it is a different story as to how he can go out  and fly his RC planes on even the hottest of days. But then again, neither was I in the mood to play the perfect sous chef, moving in and out the house. Mr other half loves to have things at arm's length when he is cooking and insists that I, as the sous chef, wait on him. You get the picture. It's just easier for me to do it! So, I got my cast iron grill pan out and no one was sweating!

Frankie/kathi rolls

Mumbai has always had a special place in my heart, I have never lived there but spent a good chunk of my summer vacations in Mumbai - every year,as far back as I can remember.  My mother's family home was always filled with people, good food and the sound of chatter. We had so much to share,  there was never a dull moment . Despite the heat, we would always be outside, shopping or eating.  I don't think any one of us realized how hot it was, the cool evening breeze with the smell of the sea is something I can never forget and brings back great memories. Day or night - Mumbai streets are full of life - this one to the city - that never sleeps :) :)

Street food - bhel, pani puri, kachori, samosa...  you name it. The first time I tasted Frankie was in Mumbai and absolutely fell in love with this spicy roll.....since then must have consumed a few hundred dozen of them - still can't get enough.