Category: Food

The Recipe of the Future

The writing prompt I chose to follow was ‘Write a story in the form of a recipe, menu, grocery list, or product description.’ I hope you enjoy!

Grandma’s Brownies: recipe requested by Linda

This blog is just growing bigger and bigger day by day! And I couldn’t be more thankful for the support. We all know how it is- finding recipe cards and notebooks filled with the recipes of our ancestors, complete with pictures of decadent sweets or mouthwatering appetizers…only to scan the ingredients list and realize how outdated these recipes are. I, and I imagine you as well, have tossed out some truly wonderful-looking recipes. But no longer! I’ve found alternatives that make food just as delicious as the pictures I’ve seen. Please, please feel free to send in recipes of your past, and I will do my best to provide delicious substitutions so we too may enjoy our ancestor’s favorites!

This recipe was sent in by Linda, one of my largest fans. She’s been reading this blog since day 1 and has told me that my substitutions truly work! And so, I was just thrilled when she sent me this recipe, pleading for some substitutions. I was so proud and so excited to get to work that I finished this in almost 2 hours haha! Maybe this is my true calling :D. Anyways, onto the recipe. Thank you, Linda!

As always, the original recipe is written first, followed by my notes and a complete list of substitutions at the end. Hugs and kisses to all of you!

Ingredients:
  • ½ cup butter (‘butter’ once came from a creature known as cows…now extinct. use stream water mixed with tree bark)
  • 1 cup sugar (coarse dirt works best as a substitute)
  • 2 eggs (came from small vicious beasts known as chickens…use geodes- only the insides)
  • cocoa powder (used to be a human delicacy. substitute with red soil)
  • ½ cup flour (flour is rare if you didn’t manage to buy the last stocks of wheat. if unavailable, i’ve found that the outside of geodes, when ground up, have a similar texture)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (bottled water shall do, i’ve discovered that it’s salty enough to mimic the flavor)
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
Directions:
  1. preheat the oven to 350 degrees. grease a cooking pan. (in place of grease, one may easily use tap water)
  2. melt the butter, then stir in the sugar and eggs. beat in cocoa, flour, salt, and baking powder. batter should be thick and slightly lumpy. (following all substitutions, batter may be thinner and lumpier. rest assured, you’re doing it right)
  3. bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. enjoy! 
Full Substitution List:
  • substitute butter for stream water and tree bark
  • substitute sugar for coarse dirt
  • substitute eggs for geode guts
  • substitute cocoa powder for red soil
  • substitute flour for ground up geode outsides
  • substitute salt for bottled water

With the limited ingredients available, the brownie may come out a bit differently than the attached pictures. Of course, this is to be expected. Many of the products found in our grandparents’ time have been eradicated, due to the diseases and wars of the past- I’m sure we’ve all learnt about them in history class- haha! Yet, with trial and error, I’ve found that these substitutions truly carry that same earthy, rich flavor through without the need for any synthetic ‘chocolate’ or ‘sugar’. Please leave any pictures below and any feedback! And if you have a recipe of your own that you’d like to see modified, just shoot me a message :). 

Asia Society + The Holocaust Museum

This Thursday, me and my grandparents explored two iconic museums in Houston- Asia Society and the Holocaust Museum.

First, we visited Asia Society, a small museum that illustrates the culture of 5 major Asian countries- India, China, Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea. They had stations detailing the traditional cultures of these countries, as well as their food, their languages, and their music. There were stations to “play” the drums from each country in tune with background music and a “train” that explored the countries. At the time we went, there was an art exhibition of Hung Hsien’s work- an artist who used Chinese ink painting techniques to create stunning and vibrant pieces.

Then, we visited the Holocaust Museum. This museum was dedicated to the Holocaust and the atrocities carried out by the Nazis in 1933. It was a poignant reminder of the horrors of World War 2 and the impacts that we still see today. The main exhibit featured a timeline of the Holocaust and there was also a side exhibit about current genocides and human rights, as well as leaders who fought for these rights. It was such an important museum and I’m glad I got to visit.

The Food in Madrid

This year for Thanksgiving Break, we went to Madrid, the capital of Spain. There was so much history and so many gorgeous sights and wonderful architecture there, but most of all, there was a lot of delicious food. Our first day in Spain, we got to experience the city through a food tour, where they took us to original tapas places. I really enjoyed the tour and here are some of my experiences!

Tapas mean “small plates” and are similar to more hearty snacks that vary based on the region in Spain where they’re served. All the places we went to were original, having been in one family for multiple generations- where they’ve perfected a recipe/recipes. We went on the Devour Tour for Madrid.

Firstly, we went to Taberna Real, a restaurant famous for their jamon iberico (Iberian ham) where we also tried olives, almonds, and pan con tomate (bread with tomato). The ham was delicious, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture and a taste that wasn’t incredibly meaty. The bread was also perfect and overall, I really enjoyed it.

Second, we went to Meson del Champinon, which was known for their stuffed mushrooms. The mushrooms were made with butter, garlic, and chorizo and were delightful. I really enjoyed them, as well as their other popular dishes- tuna + red bell pepper and piquillo peppers.

Finally, we reached La Casa del Abuelo, a place famous for their revolutionary recipe- Gambas al Ajillo or shrimps in garlic. The shrimps were brought to us in bubbling dishes, still being cooked. Once they finished boiling, we dug in with relish, also tasting the sauce with the bread given. It was such a delicious meal and other “gambas al ajillo” that we had didn’t measure up at all.

Overall, I really enjoy Madrid’s food and getting to experience all of it!

Top Books of the Year

  1. The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
    This was such a good book! Teo is just a Jade, so he’s ready to sit back and watch The Sunbearer Trials while the Golds participate. But when he and another Jade get selected, suddenly his life is torn apart. Teo has to learn to believe in himself and who his real friends are while trying not to get last and be sacrificed. This was such an amazing book and I can’t wait to read the next one!

    I really enjoyed this book because of all the representation and the way that mythology was re-imagined.

    Call Me Athena: Girl from Detroit by Colby Cedar Smith
    This was such an amazing book! We get to see 3 different perspectives, Mary’s and her parents’. I loved the style of writing and the way poetry was eloquently used to tell the story of a French-Greek girl struggling to fit in. The author also included many beautifully written lines that still stick with me. It’s an amazing book!

    I really enjoyed this book because of the amazing writing and the quotes that stuck out to me. It was a great read told between dual perspectives.
  2. Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati
    This was such an amazing book! I’d heard about it for a really long time and so when I was able to get it, I was really excited! This book is about Queen Clytemnestra, one of the most infamous characters in Greek mythology, as she murdered her own husband after watching him kill their daughter as a sacrifice. I loved the way Clytemnestra was portrayed in the book, especially as we got to see her early years and how that led up to who she is. It’s a great story!

    I especially enjoyed this book because of my love for Greek Mythology, especially the character Clytemnestra. I’d heard of this book for a while before it’s publication and I was so happy to be able to get it once it released and it definitely lived up to my expectations.
  3. Medusa’s Sisters by Lauren J.A. Bear
    I adored this book! It takes the tale of Medusa, one that’s been told many, many times, and reimagines it from the perspective of her two sisters- Stheno and Euryale, who remain virtually unheard of. It takes the story of the Gorgons from the very beginning- since they were born. We learn who they were as they grew up- what made them happy, how they each changed to fit their environment, and so on. I really enjoyed this book and totally recommend it to you!

    Medusa is another character in Greek Mythology who’s often painted as the villain and there have been so many retellings of her story. This one was one that I hadn’t seen before and it instantly captivated me.
  4. Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington
    This was an amazing book! I loved the way that Adina grew, as she chose to make her own destiny and rules instead of falling in line with tradition. I loved the whole story and the stereotypes that it turned on its head. It was an amazing book and I totally recommend it to you!

    I loved the diversity of this book and the idea of making your own life- which was what this book was all about! It was filled with high stakes and competition and I really enjoyed it!
  5. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
    This was such an amazing and fun book, filled with dragons and daring. I really enjoyed the premise and the book didn’t disappoint! Reading about Violet was incredible and I enjoyed her journey with her dragons, Adarna and Tairn, the whole time. This was a great book!

    This book was amazing to read, especially with all the worldbuilding! It was a perfect blend of fantasy and romance and I really enjoyed it!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April and May: click here
Top Books of June: click here
Top Books of July: click here
Top Books of August: click here
Top Books of September and October: click here
Top Books of November: click here
Top Books of December: click here

Mid Year Dance Festival

Recently, I went to see Chennai Music Academy’s Mid Year Dance Festival. I went on the second day and watched both Lekha Prasad (disciple of Guru Priya Murle) and P.V. Adithya (disciple of Guru Sudharani Raghunathy) perform a 4 item margam consisting of a varnam and a thillana, the other two items being unique to the performer. I enjoyed both dances immensely, especially with the more intimate area, with a smaller stage and a live orchestra.


The first dancer, Lekha Prasad, started off with an invocatory item composed by Chirumanavoor Muniswamy Mudaliar. Next, she performed a 45-50 minute varnam called Sami nee Rammana Ve composed by Tanjore Ponnayya. Her aadavus were clean and I especially liked how she used her eyes in the abhinaya sections. Her poses were also well done and were once again, clean. Her angashruti was really good. After this, she performed an Ashtapadi- Yahi Madhava- composed by Jayadeva, then ended with a thillana composed by the Tanjore Quartet. I enjoyed her performance a lot.


Next was a performance by P.V. Adithya. He started off with a Kriti composed by Mysore Vasudevachar, in which his angashruti shone. Next was a 50 minute Varnam- Sami ninne kori- composed by the Tanjore Quartet. I really enjoyed his aadavus, as they were crisp and clear. Each aadvu was completed fully and even the faster speeds were clear. I also enjoyed his abhinaya.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed the performances from the Chennai Music Academy. They were both well put together and presented and I am incredibly glad I was able to see these performances!

My Top Books of Feb ’23

Here are my top books for this month!

  1. Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega
    Seven has been waiting her whole life to be sorted into coven and so when the sorting ceremony comes, she can’t wait. But when she doesn’t get sorted and becomes a Spare, she’s distraught. Along with her worst enemy and the new girl, Seven must battle the monster that’s been plaguing their town to stay alive. This is an amazing book and I totally recommend it to you!
  2. Midwinter Murder: Fireside Tales from the Queen of Mystery by Agatha Christie
    This was such an amazing book! I really enjoyed getting to read all the different stories- some that were serious and some that were fun and light. All the stories had different plots, different characters, and overall, different fun experiences to dive into. This is a great book and I totally recommend it to you!
  3. Call Me Athena: Girl from Detroit by Colby Cedar Smith
    This was such an amazing book! We get to see 3 different perspectives, Mary’s and her parents’. I loved the style of writing and the way poetry was eloquently used to tell the story of a French-Greek girl struggling to fit in. The author also included many beautifully written lines that still stick with me. It’s an amazing book!
  4. Curses by Lish McBride
    When Merit refused to marry the suitor her mother picked for her, she was cursed and transformed into a beast. A few years later, her 18th birthday is coming up and if she doesn’t marry soon, she’ll be a beast forever. However, she’s found a band of criminals who promise to help her meet her match. I really enjoyed this book!

Top Books of January: click here

Kalkandu Sadam

Recently I made a quick and easy Kalkandu Sadam in my Ninja Foodi. I really liked it and wanted to share it with you!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup rice
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 cup kalkandu (sugar candy)
  • 2 and 1/2 cups milk
  • 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
  • 1 and 1/2 tbsp ghee
  • 2 tsp cashews
  • 2 tsp raisins
  • a pinch of saffron

Recipe:

  1. Wash the rice and powder the kalkandu until it forms a coarse powder
  2. Add the rice (washed), water, and 1 cup of milk to the Foodi.
  3. Cook for 5 minutes and let the pressure release naturally, then open lid and mash the rice.
  4. Set the Foodi in saute mode and add the rest of the milk, the powdered kalkandu, and the cardamom.
  5. Mix well and cook for around 3-5 minutes.
  6. In a separate pan, heat the ghee then add the cashews and raisins to fry.
  7. Add this to the Foodi and mix well.
  8. Garnish with saffron and enjoy!

Our Friendsgiving Party

Recently, we hosted a Friendsgiving party, inviting a lot of family friends to spend time and have fun with us. I really enjoyed this party as well as how we planned for it.

It was a full spread, inspired by the traditional Thanksgiving foods. However, we decided to add an Indian twist to them. For example, we had pumpkin sambar, pumpkin idlis, white pumpkin raita, butternut squash parata, and white pumpkin pachadi to name a few. I also loved the apple cider we had, as it was mixed with ginger ale, giving it a fizzy and overall delightful taste.

The food wasn’t the only attraction. We decorated the house with oranges and golds to highlight the idea of fall and Thanksgiving. Some of these decorations included an orange garland of fall leaves as well as a gold FRIENDSGIVING sign and many, many bouquets of flowers.

Have you ever hosted a Friendsgiving party? How was it?

Top Books of September

Here are my top books of September!

  1. Salt Magic by Hope Larson
    This was such a cute book! It has a perfect Studio Ghibli style to it and the drawings are amazing. I also loved the story line and the way the story flowed. When Vonceil’s brother, Elber, returns from war, now more serious, and proposes to his girlfriend, Vonceil is shocked. She was hoping for him to meet someone new and different. When Greta, a stranger to all except Elber, shows up, she doesn’t except for Elber to be married. In a fit of jealous rage, she curses their spring, the only thing that keeps them alive, to spew salt water. Vonceil goes on a journey to fix this, making friends, and learning new stories at every turn. This is a great book!
  2. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
    I really loved this book. Addie was cursed to be forgotten. When a new day began or a door was closed, people who used o know her would forget. That was the price of her immortal life. That is, until she meets Henry, who remembers her. Who knows who she is and loves her for it. But the creature who laid that curse on her keeps returning, asking for her soul. I really enjoyed this book! It was really descriptive and the word choice was both beautiful and perfect. I totally recommend it to you!
  3. Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
    I read the graphic novel retelling of one of my favorite books, Aru Shah and the End of Time. Revisiting this book was amazing, especially seeing some of my favorites scenes reimagined and defined in color and pictures. When Aru breaks a lamp and releases a trapped demon. An ancient mentor decides to help her put the world back in order, but along she way, she discovers secrets she never thought could be true. This is such a good book and I totally recommend both the original book itself and the graphic novel to you!
  4. The Tryout by Christina Soontornvat
    This was an amazing graphic novel. When Christina first sees the cheerleaders, she is in awe. They hold power and don’t get bullied or harassed. So when cheerleading tryouts start, she and her best friend, Megan, sign up right away. I really loved this book and how it was about being a POC in a majority white school. It’s a great read and I totally recommend it to you!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April: click here
Top Books of May: click here
Top Books of June: click here
Top Books of July: click here
Top Books of August: click here

My Grandma’s Chocolate Recipe

When I was in India, my grandmother showed me how to make a quick and easy chocolate. The recipe was so simple, yet delicious. Now, back in the US, I decided to try it out again. It turned out really well, so I decided to share it with you!

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 cup milk powder
  • 2 1/2 tsp cocoa powder
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • Water
  1. Grease a plate with a bit of butter.
  2. Sieve the milk and cocoa powders together.
  3. Soak the sugar in a bit of water, then bring it to a boil to dissolve the sugar. Keep on heat until it reaches a one-string consistancy.
  4. Turn off the heat and add the butter and milk and cocoa powders.
  5. Stir.
  6. Once fully incorporated, pour into the plate and let it set.
  7. Enjoy!

What’s a recipe you love!