From my kitchen to yours

From my kitchen to yours

Saturday, September 24, 2011

TANTE MARIE AND ME.....



All my bags are packed and I'm ready to go....


Have been humming this for some time now ..

Actually the truth is I'm not ready at all, physically yes, mentally not at all...


This is the first time in my life that I'm actually embarking on a journey , completely on my own..


There is no crew, no make-up or hairdresser. no director, producer, co-anchor, no friends and no family...’Oh my God !!!


Sometimes I feel like how will I ever do this and then again ...I'm sooooo excited...



Gosh! I feel like the luckiest girl in the world and completely blessed that I'm actually getting a chance to go and learn something that I have fallen in love with over time….






Well the bare naked truth is that,. I actually have loved food all my life, sometimes I feel that in my past life I must have been born in a country that had no food , because frankly I'm eternally hungry and my near and dear ones will vouch for that.


I could never really do without eating, so you see dieting or fasting has never been part of my life.


Food is my "happy person", and cooking and feeding friends and family is my ."happy time , and watching people enjoying my food is fully "Nirvana" to me ...


Among all the things that bring a smile to my face, food figures pretty high on my list ....


I think my passion for cooking is my “pot of gold” that my grandmothers Rose-Mary and Agnes left me with lots of blessings that I have just discovered…





My Mum who is fantastic in the kitchen and in all spheres in life, used to keep telling me that I need to learn to cook and I always told her that I would never really cook.


Frankly learning slowly but surely , “Never say never”,


Because like my friend Sandy says, “God has a wicked sense of humour “.


So going with an open heart and am actually feeling like Alice in Wonderland, going to just follow the Rabbit …and enjoy this adventure…



I just feel like its divine providence that I'm actually able to go to Tante Marie , which is Gordon Ramsay's institute in Surrey , Woking..


I'm going for the Cordon Bleu certificate course that happens once in a year ...


And I'm just happy that I'm going to be part of this fantastic learning experience...


Have butterflies in my stomach ...and every time I think about this ...my heart beats at triple the speed, in nervousness, anxiety, excitement and complete thrilling freakin happiness..


This for me is going to be my “TOOMUCKINGFUCH” moment of the year…



I just know that …



Know these two and a half months on my own is gonna be tough, but I think its just what ‘LIFE” has ordered for me..


It’s a new day and a new season , a brand new path and I’m just gonna follow the Yellow Brick Road…







Will work really hard, because , that's what I really enjoy doing,


Hope to travel a bit and hoping I have friends coming to visit..




I could never really do this..


If Arshad did not support my love for food and is always so encouraging ...


So thank you Warsi.... for being YOU

You are the "King of the jungle"...



My parents... for coming over to help me out ,with looking after my kids and my home...Thank you for always standing by me and for always believing in me...



My friends who really pushed me every time I was in two mind's,


Mini: Will miss that look on your face when I know you don't approve , but still indulge me...


And will miss sharing a room with you, you are my "scary- monster" slayer


Jaya: Will miss those Green eyes flashing which say , I know what you up to ha ha ha...


Thanks for always being there in a loving non-judgemental way...


Sandy :Everytime I have a cup of coffee , I will think of you , and all the laughter you bring to my life...


Really gonna miss "US" 4 together ...and really wish you guys could come visit...


Anusha:Please try and not have too many "mutton " dinners that I may miss, and hope to learn some awesome Hyderabadi fare from you when I'm back..



Roshan and Shaheen:Thank you guys for always being part of my life and infusing it with fun and love ...


And my babies, "Zeke and Zene"... Found my passion because of you, every smile, every "I love this food', every , 'You are the best Mama in the world"....


Actually made me discover that 'Food' is what I love ...its my meditation, my path, my happiness....



And so to all of you reading this...


Keep me in your prayers and stay in touch via Twitter....


Will keep in touch with you via ‘Food and fun times” ...





Wrote this and wanted to share it with all of you ..




You know I have to go...
A little birdie told me so ...
My bags are packed with folded clothes ..
My heart feels scared,and my toe nails painted blue instead of red....

Oh my god!!!
There are voices in my head..
Of Gordon Ramsay inviting me to ...
Make bread..
So to Tante Marie I must go..
Baking ,cooking and all that jazz..
Will have the. Most fun I've had..
Will walk in the cold ...
All by my self..
Will live in a room that I pay rent ...
Hope my friends do come over for a while...
Will laugh ,giggle n drink some wine ..
Will really miss home I know..
But as I have never done this before..
This will be a tick on my "to do"list ...
And if I feel stressed... Think I will go shopping and buy a FCUK dress..
And if it becomes just too much ..
Then I will soak in a tub of fizzy "lush"
Don't want to be back..
Without my Cordon Bleu certificate tucked in my back pack..
Hope to catch a lot of theatre and on holidays just disappear..
Read a book in a park..
Or lay down just for a lark ...
And watch the puffy clouds go by....
Smile at strangers and maybe say Hiii !!!

Pick up hot coffee at Starbucks
Warm my hands and inhale the cold ...
Will sit at at St.James watching the ducks...
And when the night closes in ..
Hope to be really tired with all my pursuits ..
Have a shower and jump into my snuggliest night suit..
Then thank God as I lay down on my warm bed..
And pull the covers over my head ..
I'm not a kid to believe that spooky monsters stay under my bed ..
But it's just that after the candles are blown..
Well I really don't like to Sleep Alone ...
--

12 comments:

  1. Dear Maria,
    I've been following your blog for a while now, and I just wanted to wish you the very best for your upcoming adventure. You give off such a warm vibe and it makes me want to just be as positive and giving as you are. I'm expecting my first little one in a couple of months and I hope to feel the exact same way as you do about your boys :)

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  2. Hey Maria chanced up on your blog through twitter...already like it too much....will look forward to reading more from you...You and your blog are as bright and warm...Wishing you fabulous experience on your new endeavor...All the best!

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  3. Dear Pav,
    I wish you love and plenty of happiness, with your little adventure...
    And I have a boy Zeke and a girl Zene ...

    Dear Bhagsi,
    Thank you so much , hope to enthral you with a lot more magical warmth ...

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  4. I've always known you were hot... but this pic... O-M-G!!

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  5. Goodluck Maria! pretty courageous of you to do this... to follow your heart despite the butterflies in the tummy and the zebabillion things we use as excuses....Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow you... come back to cook up a storm! hugs

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  6. Maria, you write the simplest of things and they have this amazing effect on me after i'm done reading. Whenever i'm online your blog is something i have to read, i just have to!

    I hope you do continue blogging, well, whenever your free during the course you've taken up. I need the occasional dose. I.MUST.HAVE.IT!! lol... So i'm wishing you every success. I hope and pray that you have a fantastic time cooking, eating and sharing that same warmth you do through your blogs with the people you meet in the next two months. Your blessed!

    Much love till your next post and all the very best. :)

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  7. Hey Maria!
    Am just so so so happy for you! I know there must be a million things worrying you… but you are strong and brave to be taking this path that leads to your dreams. Am sure you will have a ball and return richer with experiences and memories! Will look forward to hearing all about it :) have lots of fun, cook up a storm, and give Gordon Ramsay a big hug ;) Sending lots of love, luck and excitement your way…

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  8. I love your spirit and your openness to re-defining yourself, Maria. Wishing you many happy cooking hours...and give that Gordon guy a hug for me! ;)

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  9. Dear Digistorm,
    Thank you so much , my little sister is a fantastic photographer ...
    So it helps ...

    Dear Arundati,
    Awww that is so sweet thank you so much ...

    Dear Cressida,
    Oh my God that is sooo sweet of you, I'm so happy that you connect with what I do , we'll will keep writing as long as I can ...
    And please keep coming back ...

    Dear Swati, Well frankly I have not yet seen Gordon Ramsay around at all...
    But thank you , for all the encouragement...
    Makes me feel really special ...

    DearCorinne,
    Hmmmm not yet seen Gordon , if I do will hug him , just because you insisted ha ha ha ....
    And thank you for just being here ...

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  10. Dear Maria

    Good luck on your adventure......you are blessed to be able to follow your heart. As we get older, with the gazillion things life throws our way - it is that much harder to do and I wish you every success! If I lived in Surrey, I'd invite you over to ease the homesickness if it ever crept up on you but I'm all the way over in South West England!!! That said, if you fancy a weekend ( that is if you actually get a weekend on the course ) - you're always welcome in our home!
    Love
    nisha

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  11. been following you on twitter coz your name came up in the "who to follow" thingy and reached this blog...cordon bleu certi..all the very best...not many get to live their dreams...live the moment and eat, feed well..much love, Skeeter

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  12. Dear Nisha,
    wow...that's soooo very sweet and warm of you ....
    Now I will never get homesick as I have a home so close by in south west England ...
    Stay happy

    Dear Rita,
    Thank you so much ...
    Yup I'm blessed that I get to follow my dream ....

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