A new day and a new life -food fiction

Morning when I got up and looked in the mirror I saw the changes which had happened in me ,there were wrinkles on my skin,my skin looked pale and white and I almost look like a skeleton ,now I knew why I was not given the mirror even after repeatedly asking for it and why my hair was combed by my husband .I looked in despair at myself and then heard my sons scream in the background.
"Mumma look what I baked for you today"
I turned around holding the door and the clutches and saw him with a tray full of cupcakes and my favorite coffee.

My son looked so mature,two months  had matured him so much,he took my hand and guided me slowly to the coach my favorite area to sit in the house ,nothing had changed in the house ,everything looked the same

.
Still lost in my reverie  my son brought me back to the reality by giving me a envelope which was titled graduation day ,tears brimmed in my eyes when I read the card,we had been invited for the graduation ceremony ,so much had happened while I and been sleeping how they must have managed ,what about my family with so many questions going in my mind I felt as if I would collapse again ,..
"Mumma you know what I knew  that you would be fine one day"
I just shook my head and controlled my tears 
"Mumma I used to read your blog and felt as if you are talking to me , I would read your blog daily and  felt at peace and I learnt to bake cake too ,the one which you love to eat."
Me-" How's your papa?"
"He is fine ,we came every evening to meet you ,.."
Me-" but I have changed I am not the same I look so different ,like a ghost how can anyone love me now ?"
" Mumma you are back and that's the greatest gift to us from god ,you know what I never cried for you because I always felt that you would be back one day scolding me ,teaching me ,loving me,and caring for me like you always did ,..and ya now you  drink coffee or it will be cold ,dad will be coming soon and then we are going out for a drive ,,..:)"

I just sighed and smiled ya indeed life is back to normal but will I be fine and be the same PIa as I was two months  back before the accident which changed my life forever but when I  took a bite of the cupcake which my son had baked for me and saw the gleam in his eye I could see sunshine in the clouds and thanked god for giving me second chance to love and live again




This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda

Who is Radha ?-Food Fiction

Sita knew she had made some mistakes; her first mistake was choosing a career which she never loved; her second mistake was loving someone who never returned her love and she regretted leaving her house for good but then she didn't had any choice. Her parents’ recent death in the accident, a tethering marriage and her recent tiff with her boss had just triggered this. Sita had resigned from her job and planned a solo vacation for a few days. Bali was on her wish list since a long time especially for its’ magnificent temples and serene beaches

 and it took her just a couple of days to plan trip for Denpasar which included getting her ticket done, buying books on Bali, making notes on what to see and where to stay and she didn’t forget to buy her favourite artists coffee book on Bali. Within few hours she would be at a perfect spot on the resort beach to relax on the lounge chair with her favorite book until dinner time.
The next morning, as Sita was caressed by the morning breeze she stirred to realize that she was not in her own room where her maid would wake her up with morning tea and news paper. Awed by this new found liberation from her daily chores, she rushed herself to get ready. After a hearty meal of her favorite breakfast consisting mainly of of croissants and black coffee she planned her day to be as slow as possible. Instead of taking a guided tour of the town, she opted for a drop to her favorite place - Ubud which is an artists paradise. She stuffed her sketch pad, pencil, books, phone and other basic things in her duffel bag and booked a taxi. It took only minutes for Sita to reach a serene spot where she could sit and sketch in peace. She was so engrossed in painting the seanic view that she didn’t realize that time just flew by and it was already dark by the time she looked up to see the the first traces of the gray night creeping on. She reached for the granola bars while still sketching when she realized that the weather had turned for the worse when the slow drizzle took on a somewhat more powerful tone. “Its time to pack up”, she thought and went to look for a taxi but the roads were empty except for the long shadows. Her cell battery was discharged so had no idea about the time. She was hungry, thirsty, wet from the rain and very tired and was just contemplating spending the night there itself she saw some lights flickering ahead.

 Hungry and harassed Sita didn't had any other option but to go ahead but she was amazed to see some tiny diyas and a flower rangoli at the entrance.

Heaving a sigh of relief at the Indian decoration, Sita reads the name board has – Travellers’ Inn for Women. She used the antique brass bell at the entrance to make her presence felt and soon heard the tinkle of anklets coming towards the door, which was soon opened by an Indian woman in her mid-30s. The woman was attired in sari and she had a smile on her face when she greeted Sita.
Radha-" namaste I am Radha, how can I help you?"
Sita-" huh namaste I am Sita. I have come here for vacation but I am hopelessly lost right now."
Radha -"don't worry you can stay here for the night. Would you like some tea?"
Sita -"yeah I am hungry too don't worry I will pay I have money."
Radha -"I will prepare some poha for you. The guest room is upstairs ,you can go and change there ,take this sarong ."
Sita-" thanks I will be back."
Sita could see that though the place was small it was done very aesthetically. There was small divan at one corner and some floor cushions ,kitchen was open with a door which led to kitchen garden,small study area near the stairs where some books and iPad was kept on which some Hindi old no was being played. she was  awed by beautiful paintings of Ganesha which adorned the staircase wall

 She passed through attic too which had numerous paintings of all sizes. The guest room had a single bed ,dresser and a washroom .fresh flowers adorned the room and some books too were kept on a side table, while rushing down Sita could smell the aroma of mustard seeds and curry leaves spluttering in oil Radha was busy chopping onion and green chilies,tea was brewing on the other side and Sita could smell tulsi leaves in it.
Sita –" you are preparaing tulsi tea ,its my favourite but I don’t how to prepare ,I never got opportunity to cook in kitchen ,everytime some one was there to take care of cooking,and you know what Poha is my favourite specially when it rains ,reminds me of my mom cooking,please teach me how to prepare poha ."
Radha-" Poha is the easiet ,how come you are from india and you don’t know how to prepare Poha ?"
Sita -"I never showed any interest ,now that I want to learn theres no one to teach."
Radha -"first step is to soak  a cup of beaten rice and drain the water,you can see that bowl its wet beaten rice ."
Sita-" it wont be soggy once I tried it was soggy ."
Radha- " just add few drops of water make it wet ,u need not pour water on it."
Sita-" then I know we have to heat oil in non stick pan.,half cup of oil right ?"
Radha - "no not half cup half tbsp is enough  but before that do all the preparation like I have done chop onion green chili ,potato,and then for tempering you need curry leaves and dried red chili and ya pinch of mustard too,once oil is hot add the tempering ingrdeint,like I have done and add onion and green chili which you can see in the kadhai now."
Sita could see oniong being caramalised with green and red chili,once onions were done ,Radha asks Sita to add pinch of turmeric and salt and give a good stir.Radha was enjoying cooking ,it had been so long since she entered kitchen,her maid Reena was there for her 24 hrs,ad when she was not there she would go for take away options,,
Radha -"Sita you can add potato now as onions are done."
Sita-" why have you kept chopped potatoes in water ?"
Radha -"so that they dont turn brown,you never helped your mother in kitchen?"
Sita -"no there were two helpers there at home and then i stayed at boarding "
Radha -"oh ,ya now you can add rice flakes,give it a good stir add lemon juice and remove from flame after two minutes."
Sita -"thats it ,its so easy ,is tea ready i am so hungry ?"
Radha-" its already there in tea pot"
Once the breakfast nook was set with two bowls of poha and  warm mugs of steaming tulsi tea

and Sita was busy eating
 Radha asked her - "so what brings you here to this  small village this place is for artists like me,?
Sita -"ya I know I just wanted to live free and do what I luv ,I luv to paint and sketch but never learnt it professionally or you can say never got a chance,I just wanted to explore this place."
Radha-" then you have come to right place,this place is artists heaven :)"
Sita -"I saw your work ,it's awesome ,it adorns your house everywhere"
Radha - "I am self learned person ,I luv it here ,this place is like heaven for me,."
Sita - "you stay here alone you are not scared..?"
Radha -"no my parents visit me every week ,they stay in Denpasar,I like it here,and this inn is for wanderers like you who get lost and for artists who like to paint in the wee hour of morning,sometime they just come for tea or some snacks."
Sita-" you are so lucky u have everything you like,u have a perfect place which you can your own,you do something which you luv and your family is around too,.it's just opposite with me,."
Radha-" just because your marriage is broken that's not the end of the world,you can start again,what's your age?"
Sita-" i just turned 30."
Radha-" I started painting when I was 30 before that I was managing my fathers business,so it's the same for you,.:)"
 It had been so long since Sita shared so much about her life with anyone and here she was sitting in a a small inn and sharing everything about her life,Radha could see that Sita was lost somewhere.
Radha -"what are you thinking ?"
Sita-" i was thinking if I could stay with you for few days ,instead of going back to the resort,I like it here,this place is so serene,I promise I won't bother you much."
Radha-" thats oky dear,you can stay as long as you like till your visa is there."
Sita -"thanks see ya in the morning :) good nite."
Morning when Sita got up ,she was shocked to see herself in hospital, her husband was sitting by her side ,holding her hand ,there was a nurse who was busy monitoring her vital stats.
Sita -"I was in Bali how come I am in hospital.'
Raj -"what are you speaking ,you took sleeping pills two days back I don't know,why I know your parents are no more,but that's not the end of the world and I spoke to your boss too ,he told me about the resignation ,he told he was upset about something else and thats why shouted at you why did you do this ,dont you love me ,you never thought about me ,how i will live."
Sita - "sleeping pills,i just dont remember anything except that i met a wonderful artist named Radha in Bali, and that i was at her place in a inn,i went for nap ,i dont know what happened ."
Raj-"  I got call from Radha your friend that you are sick so I came back rushing,thank god i still have the other key ,i tried your cell too but it was off and Reena told me that you had given her off for few days ,since past two days i have been sitting here crying and praying asking for your forgiveness,i know its my behaviour which must have forced you to take this step."
Sita-" have you lost it ,I don't have any friend whose name is Radha and why will i commit suicide."
Raj-" i dont know who she is ,but i am indebted to her  here’s a letter from her and some flowers as she had to leave for a business meeting .
Sita couldn't understand anything ,who was Radha ?
Sita read the note
 Dear Sita ,
hope you are doing good now, I know you don't want to see your husband’s face, but he loves you,sometimes we just see what we want to see but thats not always right ,it's not late now start new life and forgive your husband ,have enclosed few brochures for art centres in your city  do enroll there and start doing what you have always wanted to do,and ya learn cooking too :-)
Luv
Radha
Sita couldn't control herself ,she cried and cried and then seeing the love in her husband’s eyes, she hugged him.
Radha saw them hugging through the glass door  and smiled.
Special thanks to my sis for helping me edit the post.
Linking this post to
Of Chalk and Chopsticks -september hosted by Aqua of Served with Love.
The Weekly Story 51 hosted by Colours Dekor .
Thats all friends,take care and happy blogging.

Food Fiction - Of Spinach leaves and Sapeta

She was clocked up with thoughts about dinner,even though it was just 5pm but still she had to rush with things as she knew once her son would be back from playground she wouldnt get any time,cooking was something which she enjoyed the most when she was alone because she could be herself ,she pondered a lot and then decided to prepare Sapeta,plain rice and onion raita  for dinner .

(photo taken from here )

In a basket she kept all the ingredient she needed tomato,onion,green chili,garlic and spinach leaves,she tuned to her favourite radio station and started with the preparation .Her one of the favourite song Babul Mora Naihar Chuto Jaye was playing on the radio ,as she started chopping spinach leaves her thoughts went back to her childhood days.
It had been some four years since she last visited them ,because of her son's school . she just didnt get time to visit her parents .It was just either phone call or skype which kept them connected,but now since her son's exams were over she thought of planning a visit soon.Once spinach leaves were chopped,she washed and drained the leaves and started with the  preparation of  dal but mentally she was still at her parents place.Anjali was so busy frying onion that she didnt realise that the  door bell was ringing ,surprised that who would  be at this time she wiped her hand in the kitchen towel and rushed to open the door.
Vivek - "what took you so long ?"
Anjali - "Oh i was so busy cooking that i didnt realise,how come you are early today ?"
Vivek - "I thought of surprising you -) "
Anjali - " thanks i just had tea what would u like ?"
Vivek  - "nothing i am going on office tour for few days,and as Akshat is going for his summer camp the same time i thought you can join me for the tour."
Anjali thinks ( i cant go to my parents place again  this summer ),"oh ya sure i gonna join you."
Vivek-  " I knew you would be ready , have booked the ticket and spoke to Akshat too."
Anjai wiping tears from her eyes adds tomato and powdered masala to the fried onions,her younger sis was coming after two years from States ,she knew that she cant tell this to her hubby ,keeping her emotions to her self she adds chopped and drained spinach to fried onion and tomato mixture.
Vivek - "what are you preparing it smells so good ?"
Anjali - " i am preparing Sapeta this reminds me of my Dadi ,you know when i was kid i never used to like this,but now not only i prepare i like it too."
Vivek -" hmm you missing your Dadi ?"
Anjali - " no its just that some recipes makes us nostalgic."
Once Sapeta was prepared and the table was set Anjali saw a envelope addressed to her on the kitchen table.
Anjali - "Vivek when did this come , evening there was no mail."
Vivek -" its addressed to you so i didnt open"
Anjali opens the envelope slowly and finds a card and ticket to India for her hometown tears filled her eyes and she knew who would do this,Vivek was looking at her expression with a grin on his face,
Anjali -" so this is it ,thanks a ton ."
Vivek  -" Thanks now when did this word come between our relationship,you deserve a break its been so long since u visited your parents ,so i planned it i know ur younger sister is coming from States."
Anjali - " I thought of telling you today but when you told me about the trip I dropped the idea anyways thanks for making my day ,.:-)"
The above story is my entry for Of Chalks and Chopsticks hosted this month by
Jaya of Desi Soccer Mom event started by Aqua of Served with Love .

Recipe name- Sapeta
Recipe source kitchen experiment
Ingredient for the dal
Toor dal half cup
salt as per taste
turmeric powder half tsp
Ingredient for fried spinach
spinach leaves chopped one cup
onion one chopped coarsely
garlic clove two chopped coarsely
green chili two chopped coarsely
tomato one chopped coarsely
cumin seed half tsp
asafoetida pinch
bay leaves crushed two
dried red chili crushed one
oil to cook
coriander powder half tsp
red chili powder one fourth tsp
Preparation
pressure cook dal for one to two whistle and keep aside.
Procedure
heat two tsp  oil in non stick wok
once oil is hot lower the flame add cumin seed,asafoetida,dried red chili and bay leaves
once they start spluttering add chopped onion,garlic and green chili
keep stirring till onion starts changing its colour
add chopped tomato ,red chili and coriander powder followed by salt
keep stirring till oil is seen along the sides
add chopped spinach leaves and mix everything together
after 2 to 3 mins add cooked dal and let it simmer for 5 to 10 mins.
serve warm with rice and raita.

Also linking this post to
Weekend wrap up 40 hosted by Colours Dekor
My legume love affair 37  hosted by Susan of The Well Seasoned Cook.
Thats all friends,will catch up with you all soon,
take care and happy blogging ,.



,

Christmas Celebration at Peters Home

Mary counted the coins she had got in her coin box,she had counted twice ,this was the third  time she was counting,she had some nine dollars and fifty cents in her coin box thats it,tonight  being christmas eve she had managed to sell almost all of Santa hat and Chirstmas decorations ,but still money was not enough to get the  rest of the ingredients  for the  cake,which she had promised she would bake for her son .She knew at home her son must be waiting anxiously for her to come and bake the cake.Since past few weeks she had been collecting money to bake cake,she had got half ingredients but still she needed so many other things for the Christmas cake.Mary clutched her battered coat together to feel warm and walked slowly towards her house.
As soon as Mary left for her shop in the noon, Peter Mary's 12 year old son,took out the tiny bit of paper which he had kept in his notebook.He had asked his teacher for simple cookie recipe which he wanted to bake for his mother.He knew how hard his mother was working for him ,to take care of him .Morning she was working in  flower shop  and evening   in another  gift shop.He wanted to do something special for her,something which would make this Christmas eve  special for her.Since his fathers death his mother was everything for him.His teacher had explained him the recipe,with his small fingers he mixed everything in a bowl ,kneaded soft dough  and kept the dough  in the fridge to chill.He knew his mother wont be back till evening.Patiently he waited for an hour,then he preheated the oven his father had gifted his mother on her birthday,and with small cookie cutter which he had got from the near by shop shaped the cookies,it was not easy for him but he didnt give up,once done he kept the cookies for baking.

Peter cleaned the small table they had in their kitchen ,took out white bedsheet to spread,kept some old christmas ornaments  and burnt some candles to make the place look warm and cosy.He also prepared his mothers favourite coffee
When Mary reached home all she could see was some candles through the window,thinking she must have forgotten to pay the bill,she slowly knocked the door.Peter tells her about some wire break and guides her in with candle in his hand.
Peter : "Mamma u got the cake ingredients , but now we wont be able to bake."
Merry: " no son all the shops were closed,dont worry i will get the rest of the ingredients tomorrow."
Peter slowly takes the veil of from the table

Mary sees platter of cookies with warm mug of coffee
Peter:"Mamma I asked you to bake cake for me ,as i wanted to bake cookies with the ingredients which you had got ,wish you Merry Christmas Mamma."
Mary : "I was so upset thanks for making my day son,wish you Merry Christmas  too."

Christmas Sugar Cookies recipe adapted from here
Baking temperature 100 degree centigrade
baking time 3 to 4 mins
Linking this post to Of Chalks and Chopsticks 6th edition hosted this month by Jaya of Spice and Curry event started by Aqua of Served with Love .
Its time to Jingle again Christmas event
Bake Off event hosted by Versatile Kitchen
Thats all friends,see you all soon,;-)

Where is the food from ?

Pia was quiet tensed ,for the first time in her life she was going to prepare parathas for dinner,
last nights verbal spat was still fresh in her mind, she had served half done fried okra, saltless dal to her hubby with chapati which was hard like papad. Just because she was fasting that evening she didn’t had any clue how bad the meal was, but if her hubby threw everything and ordered pizza it must have been unpalatable.
Pia got married as soon as she finished her  studies so she never got time to learn cooking skills from her mom. Now while kneading dough she could hear her fathers words in her mind which had become quiet frequent whenever she was home for hoilidays “Please teach her to cook or she will just mess up things after getting married ." This was the third time she was kneading the dough but again the dough was sticky. Pia was so much engulfed in her own thoughts that she didnt hear the phone ringing .Wiping her hands in her apron she rushed to picked it up.
She heaved sigh of relief when she heard her mother’s voice on the other end. Pia started crying she just couldnt control her emotions , with hubby around she had not got time to talk to her mother and cry out.
Pias mother knew something was wrong or she wouldnt have cried like this,
Phone conversation
Pias mother :“What happened Beta why are you crying?”
Pia :“Nothing Mamma just missing you all”
Pias mother : “ya i know even i am missing you, what are you doing ?”
Pia : “i am kneading dough but it has become all watery and its sticking all over ,i am feeling so useless that i cant prepare proper day to day meal ,i guess i will have to again prepare rice and dal. I am so bored of serving him the same thing again and again. I am scared what if he tells me please stop cooking for him."
Pias mother :“ do one thing beta come on skype i will help you ."
Pia :“thanks Mamma.”
Pia places her laptop in her kitchen ,focuses her camera to the countertop, collects all the ingredients needed to knead the dough ie wheat flour,water and mixing bowl and logs in to skype
Pias mother : “ beta strain the atta through the sieve and add water slowly and mix.”
Pia does the same as her mother tells her ,she mixes,remixes more flour and water to get firm consistency dough,

Elated Pia thanks her mom.Next her mother asks her to collect the utensils for rolling out the parathas,rolling pin,flour to dust ,oil and casserole lined with foil to keep the parathas warm.
Pias mom : divide the dough into equal parts,roll each part into ball.
Pia is slowly doing the same when the phone rings
Pias hubby :“ I am going to restaurant what u want to eat,i will get for you.”
Pia : “no i am preparing , please dont get food
Pias hubby –“ it must be Dal and Chawal again ,i am sick of eating the same meal twice everyday ,u tried your hands with veggie and chapati but i dont want to eat the same tasteless meal again.This time when we go India i will leave you there for some months, please learn cooking from cooking school and come back.
Pia starts crying and tells her hubby not to get food for her and slams the phone down.
Pias mother was watching everything from skype,she was shocked to see her daughter crying ,but in her heart she knew that her daughter will overcome this.
Wiping her tears Pia comes back to the screen, determined to learn from her mother and impress her hubby.Phone rings again but Pia doesn’t answer..
Pia :“Mamma what next”
Pias mother tells her to roll out each ball and then draws on paper to show her how to fold the paratha
Pias does the same and feels so happy when she gets the triangle shape,her mother tells her to re do the same and apply few drops of oil in semicircle shape and then fold to triangle shape.

.Pias mother could see that Pia was enjoying doing the parathas. Once done for the second time she asks her to put the tava on the stovetop. While flipping the paratha Pia burns her fingers, but she continued doing , determined to learn and show her husband that she can prepare a simple meal.Once done she carefully packs the parathas ,and asks her mother how to prepare simple sabzi of Alloo Gobhis,once done she sets the table,and goes for walk.In her excitement she forgets her cell phone.
Evening when her hubby comes and finds the house emptyhe thinks Pia is gone forever,maybe he was too hard on her ,he should have thought that she is also human being who has emotion. With no mood to eat ,he goes straight to him room.
Pia enters through the main door ,bubbly full of life with flowers in her hand :“oh you are back,you should have buzzed me”
Pias hubby : “where were you, I called you up so many i thought you left me forever”
Pia smiles : " For that i need ticket right?"
Pia hubby : "so you really want to leave me now, i am really sorry , i shouldnt have spoken to you like this.”
Pia :“no ya,i just went to get some fresh flowers ,i am feeling so good today.”
Pias hubby : " good after all what i told u”
Pia : "ya it did me good,anyways lets have dinner”
Pia confidently serves her hubby paratha with sabzi and serves the platter with ginger tea

Pias hubby : "Where did you order this food from ? It tastes like home cooked meal.Now we will order everyday from here you dont worry,I know some basics i will teach you."
To which Pia replied with a smile,"O really , glad to know you liked it since it is from my kitchen prepared by me."
Linking this food fiction to Event Of Chalks and Chopsticks 6th edition hosted this month by Jaya of Spice and Curry and started by Aqua of Served with Love .
special thanks to Pallavi my sis for suggesting the title for this .
see u all soon friends,happy blogging.