WEEK 3: DAY 1 & 2...

Week 3

Day 1...
Well it started just like the way I hoped...
With a bang...
Woke up early , did not go running, because now have an excuse, "it's getting cold , what if I fall ill ,blah ! Blah ! Blah!
So listened to music, whatsapp 'd my friends in Bombay and suddenly I was rushing to make it in time to class...
Me who can get ready with shower , blow-dry and make up in 15 minutes, now gets late to leave at 9am , even after waking up at 6,15 am...
I have not had so much of time to myself in a very long time...
First it was lack of sleep and early morning shoots with MTV...
Then cricket in Sri LAnka and South Africa with Sony..
And life was one big shoot , with wonderful moments thrown in...
Where all I wanted was a few extra hours in the day , just to be but it never happened...
So lived life in speed mode...
Well I throughly enjoyed every minuscule moment of it...and could not have asked for a better time... 
Then came Zeke and Zene...
And I love running after them ...
I love kids and would gladly have at least two more ...

And so , now all of a sudden , I wake up and have no one too run after, and nothing to do , except pander to my own needs...
And how delightful is that ...

Get to class, and get a new partner for the week ...
Joe...who is not in class....OUCH....
Bloody hell.. And we had lots to do ...
So I started with prepping the food and getting ready to cook alone , but thankfully was informed that he will be coming in later ...
Which Joe did, and we whizzed around like bees and finished all our food on time ...whew..
Have decided that at least for this week , I'm his alarm clock ...ha ha ha ...
Have not washed so many utensils in a very long time ...
The afternoon, was for baking with Nick, soft -spoken and absolutely lovely to learn from, he is always there to answer questions and help and encourage you , he just has a very calming demeanour , and its wonderful to cook with him ...
and all of us made the softest loveliest lemon cake...
And prepped for the mutton carbonnade ....which is mutton , onions , butter , ale etc cooked in the oven...for a long time..
We learnt the carbonnade from Ally, who is just one of the nicest teachers , I have, she Ooohs and Aaaahs when she talks about food and is never to shy to add an extra dollop of butter, and says " ummmmm deeeelicious " and makes the class salivate and extremely eager to make what she has demonstrated , a lovely smiling face and a fantastic teacher..
Day done...
Happy tummies and happy faces...
Came back and just sat and listened to music and did a bit of reading ,
Wrote a bit and slept like a baby...

Day 2
 This had to be a wonderful day , because woke up with the sound of my whatsapp beeper , buzzing in full frantic mode, so knew that ,Mini, Jaya and Sandy were all chatting...
Woke up and got into chatter mode..
Got ready for class...20 degrees..just perfect...
Class today was quizzing with excitement over lunch ..we were all waiting for our carbonnade..
Made lovely fluffy cheese cake ...
And broccoli and leek puree...that looked like something Shrek and Princess Fiona would feed their kids ...ha ha ha ...but it was really tasty....
We all sat and had a great lunch together with much laughter and camaraderie ...
Had a long break ...
 I shared with all my new cooking friends a glimpse of my life in Mumbai...
Think they had fun...
And introduced them to "Bollywood", though I can't stand the name , much prefer the Indian Film Industry ...well ..well..it's here to stay...
The afternoon session was fantastic...
We had Al doing a Breakfast demonstration ....
That was filled with eggs, pancakes, herrings, haddock, muesli, porridge, kippers, banana muffins , bacon et all ...
In the break Maya, Maja, Ryan, Georgia , Tom and me played cards...
I'm beginning to get the hang of it now...
Oh have I told you about Ryan from, my favourite city in the world New York..
Well he is really nice, sweet , shy , good looking and is going off to South freaking Africa to work as a ranger....I'm so so jealous...but in a good way...
Well he is your all American boy , who loves his foot-ball on weekends...and is good with making pan cakes too...

Al continued cooking post our little break, and it was a fun session..
Ryan helped making pancakes and so did Tom...
The class was filled with infectious energy...
And then Al taught us how to make "poached eggs"
Now this is truly an art form and he said, "I'm absolutely amazing at poaching eggs" ..I swear he did...
And right there in front of us, in a swirling dervish of vinegar water, he made beautiful poached eggs...
If I were the Queen of England , swear, I would Knight him, "Sir Master Poacher" ...
 Well on a more serious note, he is a very good chef and teacher,  the ease with which he talks and cooks and gives out information, answers us , makes it fun and lively and allows us to be ...makes for a very interesting class...
Food cooked..we all tasted everything..and with bellies full of various breakfast goodies at 4pm in the evening , we all sauntered out of Tante Marie , in the direction of our respective homes...
Missed having Amanda in class...she went of for an interview..well hope she does get the job, because she is really amazing ....
Must say that in these 2 weeks and 2 days , this has been the best day for me ,so far...
Had a blast , also because I made many more friends...
I'm a happy bunny...

TANTE MARIE: WEEK 2...

Week 2

And this week flew like a jet to a holiday destination...
This whole week just whizzed ....
We started the week with ,again new partners...

This week I worked with Olly...
Lovely, bright, fun and a voracious appetite for food like me...
She loves Sushi and has lived in Hong Kong , so yes loves oriental food...
She was real fun, we tasted more food than we ate , actually no we ate more ha ha ha and had a blast ...
Will miss cooking with  her ..

Started the first day but burning my hand with with hot water, fortunately, it was not very very bad...It got ok in a day...
So lesson to remember , "You play with Hot-Stuff , you can get burnt ...

So this week was great , because we did have a  good menu of oriental food...
We did everything, from sesame chicken to wantons, to ice-cream, scones, learnt how to make pasta, made and ate sticky pudding that I loved..
Did a hygiene course and an exam ...
And ended the week with a fun menu....

Met a few more teachers this week...
I think our class has a whole bunch of really talented and fun guys...

Amanda -who has worked in a kitchen for some time, you can see her ease as she preps and chops, and is always ready to help, she is lovely ...

Thomas or Tom- he has a natural affinity to food and loves to sing, frankly so do I ,  think he he is gonna be a travelling singing chef , and is quite a a charmer ...

Sam- he is quiet and shy , but is always at the sink to help with wiping or anything else...and works quietly and efficiently..and is very sweet and friendly...

Joseph or Joe- he loves to cook , but think at his own time and pace , and loves to chew on plastic glasses, for some reason.... he loves food and loves cooking for his family and with friends ...

Maya- she is lovely, beautiful, good at her work , kind and fun, and lovely to hang with ...
We play cards , and hang in our breaks, she is beautiful inside out...

Martin - he reminds me of a young Justin Timberlake ....he cooks well ... good with his food , and very sincere...

Katie- well she knows what she is doing, don't know her very well yet ,but will know her sooner than later, she is friendly and sweet , and wears glasses like me...

Ally- she is pretty has big eyes and is cute, she does her work quietly and sincerely...

Well then there is Maya from Korea , Georgia from Australia and Ryan from New York , who are doing the4 week essential course, and I meet them during break everyday ,,,they are lovely...
Last week we played cards during one of our breaks...i'm terrible at cards...
Then there  is Maria from the 6 month course from Columbia...
She is a doll and so friendly , and welcoming , have to go live with her at least once before I go back home ....

Then there is Kejanne, who is from my most favourite part of the world , South Africa, she is lovely, friendly warm and just has such great energy ...

I also went for a ballet with my land-lady  Eve... My first ever..
Cleopatra-it was riveting , mesmerising , passionate , heart breaking and simply the most beautiful dancing I have seen ...
When I see dancing like this ...I really feel jealous, but a good wow , you are amazing kinda jealous ...
Gosh ! Dancing is the only thing I truly miss...

Anyway, this week was fabulous and learnt tons of stuff, some I knew some i was taught...

I love cooking with Ally, Al , Vera, Nick, Tim and Kate....
Not only because they are fantastic teachers ...but because I'm in love with food and how it touches the people we feed...

I think the amount of love you put into your food is directly proportionate  to the smiles of satisfaction on the faces of the ones you feed....
Yup that's my theory and I'm sticking to it...

When I go back , what I will miss most is sitting together all the ten of us and the ten more students we cook for, all eating together , sometimes in silence , sometimes in laughter, sometimes in questions...
I love that part of the day the most...
Pure simple hunger and food ...
So so basic and so real ...

Just wonderful is how I would describe my second week here ...
The temperature has dropped by 10 degrees, so for a Bombay girl like me, this is heaven ....
Today I went off to London to indulge in some retail therapy, need to still buy my boots, which are made for walking and dancing , well I found four pairs I like, 1 from Uggs, the furry kind that I love very pocahontas ,and a brown leather too,   then a black from Aldo and a black from Ecco...well will buy at least one tomorrow...
 Went and watched, "Phantom of the opera", because I'm a succour for love stories...
It was goose-flesh amazing....
God the power and intensity of their voices and the emotions that's flowed , just kept me enthralled...
Unrequited love...that's what it was about....it made me cry...which was very embarrassing , because I was the only one wiping my tears while everyone else was clapping....

Went and sat at St.James Park, I love sitting there watching the ducks and geese...and people pass by...
I thought of Zeke so much, because I used to take him there every day to feed him his break-fast ...and play and run..
Was pregnant with Zene at that time....
Well , the park was full of kids running and people hugging and kissing ...
Hmmmm ....You can feel love around you , like the sky round the moon.....not my words, they are from my favourite song from my favourite film, "serendipity "....
So I decided retail therapy is what I need....ha ha ha 
So went and bought more sweaters and jackets that I will never need once I go back to India, and so may have to migrate to a very cold place just to wear my new winter wardrobe....ha ha ha ....

Well tomorrow I'm off to Covent garden...
Did I hear a "why"...
Well because Wagamamma  is calling out to me ...
I'm sure you guys must think I'm crazy .... And maybe you are absolutely right ...
Oh by the way this course is for 9  1/2 weeks like the movie , not 11 weeks, like it was supposed to be ....

But , I'm looking forward to Monday , spending time in the Tante Marie kitchens , with people who are there because of only one reason ...
They love food.....

So till next week ...
Bye ..
Keep in touch ...by writing back ....

P.s.Will load photos as soon as I down load some new programme for uploading photographs onto my blog, after down-loading them from my iPhone on to the iPad ...
So I hope you all understand my plight ...ha ha  ...really wish I was tech savvy or at least had friends who were tech savvy here...

TIME.....

Just wanna say.....
Thank you ..
You opened my heart..
My mind and soul .
So I guess thats your path
And I know we all walk alone..
But i know you will think of me..
And this passage in time...
To you, to me and what we share...
Laughter,stupidness, craziness , still moments ,sleepy breaths and photographs across miles..
I'm letting this out into the universe ...
Into the open air...
To the stars above and the sea's below..
And when in time our paths do cross..
Whether we shake hands..
Or just smile...
we walked together for a bit in time...

MY HEART AND ME ....

My mind is bursting ..
I don't know what I feel..
I think I'm in a dream...
A thousand questions are running a marathon in my mind..
What if this ...?
What if that...?
Why..?
When .. ?
How..?
And how about now...!!!
I'm happy ,and I know ..
I have sooooo much love and some more...
Feel like my heart is a well so deep..
And it's there ...my all I keep...
Memories...
People...
Conversations..
Days..
Stories I have been told ..
And hysterical moments replayed..
I have stories stored for every day of the year..
Of moments I will always hold dear...
I'm like an elephant with a memory sublime..
Some moments I always remember ..
Some I definitely want to forget in time..
Trying to sleep , trying to rest ..
Good-Night....
And God Bless....
Hugs and misses too......
From me to you ...

TANTE MARIE : WEEK 1

Well what can I say , I'm extremely happy and fortunate to have come to Tante Marie, because it's lovely....
The teachers are fantastic , the teaching method is actually quiet simply put forward and I'm thinking that by the time I have finished with this course , I will have acquired a new skill for life...
Everyone keeps asking me what I'm gonna do with this, the answer, very plain and simply is ,"I really don't know"...
I just love cooking and feeding people ,and my family and friends love food and so , just feel blessed that I could come here for two and a half months...

Now let me tell you about my first day...
Well if you want to know how it felt...
Hmmmm ...well it felt like a first date with the guy you have had a crush on ,for the longest time...
You know that feeling in your stomach where you are excited and nervous all together...
And wondering what to wear, how to do your hair ....etc etc...

That's exactly how it was for me...
I woke up went for a run...and then..got ready and walked to Tante Marie,which is 10 minutes away from my home stay...
We were all given a basic introduction and were given our uniforms and knives, and a set of rules...and the day began...

Lunch on that day was made by the 1 years..
Well there are 64 students in all , and various batches...
Some doing the 4week essential, where you just enjoy cooking, you don't cover the entire recipe book, and you are not marked or graded , you just get certificate of attendance...

Then there is the Cordon Bleu Certificate course, which is what i'm doing , where you get the same book as the essential course but , learn all the recipes with the chefs from Tante Marie..and get a certificate after you pass the , budget meal, theory and the practical exam..

Then there is the 6month Cordon Bleu Diploma course , that ideally I would have wanted to do , but another life-time I guess..

And finally the one year, Intensive Cordon Bleu Diploma......wow

And so the first day, the 6 month class made lunch and we joined them to eat....
Awesome herbed stuffed chicken and roasted potatoes...
They were all so cool as they discussed what each one did and tasted each others food...
Gosh I was in Food Heaven ...

And from the next day we got into our kitchen
And made lunch and some other class who had theory , came and joined us...
It's just awesome meeting so many people in a room who all love "FOOD"....
And we all sit and eat together sometimes with lots of chatter and sometimes like today ,very quietly , because we were all so hungry ...
The 4 Week Essential class does not get to do this, feel bad for them.....

And after a big lunch, we normally start the next session at 2 , and invariably , If its a theory os a demonstration , I doze like crazy , because I'm full and want to actually lie in the lawn and snooze a bit...ha ha ha ...
Made my first friend, "Kejen", a lovely girl from South Africa...
And Maria..from ...I forgot where...

Well my colleagues are all very interesting ...
Still getting to know all of them , every week we get a new partner to cook with, this week I had Maja from Denmark, lovely , very pretty and very talented, we worked well together, without taking one another for granted and still having our own opinion...will miss cooking with her...
But it's nice that I will get a chance to work with all the 9 in class...
We all get a whole lot of chores...
I cut my little finger on the left hand twice....bloody hell....
But all in all a fantastic week...

Made a whole lot of French sounding food...
Which is yummy and very fatty...
Oh ..and I have to learn French vocabulary as part of my syllabus for my theory exams...only problem is I'm learning it with a Indian-Spanish accent ha ha ha ....
I really hope to get it right...
Because this time for me is never coming back ....

Miss my family at home too much ...miss my friends, my blanket , my toilet, my bathroom,
my car, my driver, my help at home, my pillow, my nariyal-walla, my dhobi, the screaming, the noise , the crowded roads , my plants, my pillow, my masseur,my beetle,all the daily banter with my girls on the phone,the radio, my mummy and daddy, paani-puri at appointment , coffee at Costa with Sandy, Sunday brunch with Mini and the kids, soul-chats with Jaya, Arshad coming in and out to pack for the next destination that he has to shoot in, my Zeke and Zene , all the tumbling, refusing to brush their teeth, bargaining for for tv time, cuddles before they sleep.....and even my 10 yr old puppy Taz ....
Aaaaaarrrrgggghhhhhhhh .....I miss home.....

But it's a good missing , I'm not pining for them just missing all the moments I'm used to....
So will continue learning and spending time with myself here in Tante Marie...
Oh and forgot to tell you, I have the sweetest land lady Eve, she is a doll and absolutely adorable...
She is one of the friendliest souls and feel at home at her home, she walks as fast as me and is just too sweet...
So you see, all is good...
There is a full moon tonight and in the quiet cold night , I'm sipping on a glass of merlot..and wishing on stars...

My first week here...AWESOME...

p.s. I'm writing from my iPad and have no clue how to load pictures ...

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 ...
--

DAY 60 : ZEKE AND HIS FOOTBALL / DINOSAUR EGG...

What is it about little boys...
I can forgive Zeke anything....
I never understood "Love at first sight" , till I looked at Zeke..
He is the Boy I will always be in love with..
And I will always be the first girl he ever loved , and no matter what , he will never forget me...
mostly because I wont let him..ha ha ha ..
Well Zeke just turned 7 years old, he is no longer a baby , but a little boy, who knows what he wants, and does not hug me or kiss me like he used to , and I don't like it all...

But I guess that's what little boys are like...
He has a mind of his own and wants to do things his way ...
He loves Doremon...who I want to throttle ..and does weird funny Mithun kinda dances...
And and on the other hand loves to dance to Michael Buble, while he mimes "Feeling good" like he is actually singing it...
He loves cold water and Lays chips, and loves irritating Zene..
But he still sucks his thumb...
But when he hugs me tight (once in a blue moon) , its the sweetest hug ever...
He still wants me to put him to sleep every night and snuggle with him...
Zeke ..my baby , my boy that I love with all my heart...
And we fight just as much, in fact I don't think I fight with anyone as much as we do ...
And its fine ,because it's better to express what you feel , than hold it all in...

This year I told him that we will invite 7 kids home as he is turning 7...
By the time , it was his birthday, there were 37 kids at home...
And it was a mad funny day..


They had their 'Froggy' Amole Gupte , who surprised the entire Besant gang after they watched "Stanley ka Dabba"..
And enthralled them with his spur of the moment stories ...

Then came Rob from Pogo...
Rob is just too sweet and unbelievably simple and down to earth , and such a talented artist and magician ..
Zeke, completely loves him ...and for some reason thinks that he is his buddy , and Rob indulges him...

And then there was Arshad ,the in-house DJ for the evening ...and general entertainer ...who also signed autographs ...
We started by 2pm and went on till 8.30pm

Well I attempted to make a football cake ....but it become a little oblong ...but tasted really yummy here goes ..

Ingredients..
200 gm good quality chocolate, chopped
120 gm butter diced
150 ml water
270 gm granulated sugar
10 ml vanilla essence
4 eggs separated
3/4 cup soured cream
350gm plain flour
10 ml baking powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Method
Over a low flame , in a saucepan ,melt the chocolate, butter and water stirring ..
Remove from heat , beat in the sugar and vanilla and leave to cool..
Beat the egg yolks lightly , then beat into the chocolate mixture..
Gently fold in the soured cream...
Sift over this batter the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda , and fold it in gently... Whisk the egg whites till they are stiff, then fold in gently into the chocolate mixture...

Pre-heat the oven to 150 degrees...
This batter makes two cakes of 7 inches in diameter... and gets done in 40 minutes..

Its soft and really rich ...and tastes very nice even with just some chocolate poured on it ...

Zeke's birthday cake was plunged into with a cake knife, he took great pleasure stabbing it, and so did the few kids who got to the cake before I got to it, my hard work all destroyed ha ha ha
And I kept saying its a 'Foot ball" and they kept saying "No , No , its a dinosaur's egg''...
Well it was a cake that was dug into and devoured , then the kids proceeded to dance to some fun Hindi music and jump on my sofa's..
And frankly , it was all fine..
The big fat smile pasted on Zeke's face was really worth everything ...

It was a day well spent...
So here's presenting , "Zeke's 7th birthday" football/egg cake, soft and sin worthy , with lots of love only from "Maria's Kitchen"....

P.S. Wrote this for Zeke , cannot even tell you how cutely he smiled as he read it ...

My little Zeke..
He is nothing less than the most amazing treat..
He came to me on a rainy day ..
And just glowed like the suns rays..
I was smitten ..I was sold..
On this little bundle ... All swaddled with pink toes..
When he cried he got all pink ..
And when he poo'd.. Yuck! He raised a stink ..
But all that really did not make a difference..
Because this was my baby my providence ..
He blew bubbles and showed us his middle finger ..
And we excitedly took his pictures ...
He is the only boy ..
I fell in love with on sight and am happy that for a portion of his life ..
He will love me with all his might ..
Well now he is 7 years old ,,,
And has become a little brash and bold ..
But that's good.. Because he has his own mind
And that's always a good sign ..
Well I don't know what's written in the stars ..
But know this..
He will be looked after by the one above and he will be deeply loved..
Because he is my boy and I love him so ..
And when I'm gone ..
I pray to God to always keep my Zeke safe in his arms..
My little Zeke ,my shooting star ..
It does not matter where you are ..
You will always be in my prayers and thoughts..
That's because I will always love you more than , much too, much..
My little boy is 7 today ..
Big bright smile and his loving way ..
His friends all love him so ..
And are knocking at our door ..
For a day of frolic and fun ...
Well let this day unfold ..
With all these little boys ...
And their stories untold...
I'm ready for mayhem and crazy times..
With Zeke and all his boys ..
Frankly I would not like it any other way..
Because being naughty is the only way ...
So off I go ...
With a big smile ..
To spend wonderful times , with the one boy I can truly call mine ....

DAY 59 : FOUR GIRLS MEET SERENDIPITY......

Four girls...

Turkey-Spain

Oh my god, it just has the makings of the best time ever..

Filled with fun, laughter, gossip, smiles, giggles, shopping, irritation, hugs, kisses, sand, water, beautiful bronzed bodies, burnt shoulders, pink cheeks, glossy mouths, kohl rimmed eyes, bikinis, snorkeling, shoes, bags, sangria's, delectable food, walking, running, climbing, whistling, singing, dancing, crying, hysterical laughing...

Well we found pieces of our hearts, we forgot existed …and found us again...

Not that we were lost and this was a soul searching trip..

But going on holiday with the girls is like a shot of oxygen...

It's a heady feeling.

Like a shot of wheat grass...

It's detoxifying and cleansing...

Gosh it was a trippy..

We all found answers that we never even went in search of...

We found happiness, when we were not even looking..

We went our separate ways on some days , only to meet up again with lots of missing, love , warmth and trust ..

We felt like a sister-hood has been formed without really saying it ..

Feel an unspoken bond of love and trust ..

Like no matter what you doing someones watching your back ...

Gosh I feel blessed and like the luckiest girl in the world ...

That I could do a holiday like this , travel to a destination of our choice , and with girls that I love immensely ..

We were so busy having a blast that the days flew by, it's always too short a time when you having a blast

Mini, Sandy, Jaya and Me...

We did it all..

Four hot-headed, strong- willed, smart and gorgeous girls, planning a holiday together…

Well there were bound to be a lot of arguments, because though we are all pretty alike, we are all so darn different its not even funny…

Mini- the smart, fun and mad Devils advocate, the voice of sense, who went hysterically mad with laughter at moments you would least expect...

Sandy- The sassy-sexy Intelligent chica, who has a body to die for, who says it like it is…and made us laugh till we cried…

Jaya- The writer, easy going Vegetarian, who was up for most of everything. And was partner in crime with me, while we soaked in the culture of Barcelona…

Me- Think I’m easy going, but stubborn, with crazy energy and wanted to do everything and all…and talked too much and always woke up too early…

Had never been on a holiday with anyone of them before, well we have all worked together a lot in and out of the country and traveled together, but holiday well…

We plotted and planned and e-mailed one another …I hated that. Not good with e-mails, so also got shouted at, for not replying…

Mini was in-charge of stay in Barcelona.

Jaya was in-charge of ticketing…

Sandy and me of stay in Turkey.

Mini and me –Stay in Tossa

And all of us had to do research and find stuff we wanted to do in all the places we would be traveling to …

We were all going a little bit mad and excited. We had never really gone on a holiday without kids and the men in our life, so this was new.

We wanted to make the most of this holiday, and soak in the city and shop and party and do it all.

We laughed within minutes of waking up, pranced around in our nightwear.

Drank various teas together..

Screamed at one another from the bathroom..

Put mud packs on our faces and talked funny...

Readied ourselves for the day and went out with a skip in our steps…

We did a lot on this trip..

We carried our own luggage unlike the spoilt way we live in Bombay…

Into and from airports, hailed cabs, bargained with various men for various things, that we had to buy or we would die ha ha

Dragged our ever growing luggage into taxis and dragged them from various streets..

Pulled them into trains, trams and buses more often than not…

And the luggage always increased in weight and number ha ha ha

We fought with guys who thought they could take us for a ride, and gave it back,even if deep inside we were petrified ha ha ha

We went into a Turkish Hamam.

That had to be for us. One of the maddest and funniest experiences…

Where we met burly Turkish women who scrubbed us till we were clean and our skin had a sheen.

But this experience was like a bonding exercise in a weird sort of way...

We laughed and talked , wrapped in towels,with shiny faces, drinking amazing apple tea, still not really believing that we were all there together…

Shopped at the Grand Bazaar and bargained like fiends…came back in trams with a zillion bags…bone tired and so very very happy ..

Devoured clams with lime on the streets.

Went and soaked in all the sites…but were most kicked at being inside the royal harem in Turkey ..

In Barcelona armed with a map, we found our way around town..

Traveled in and out of Gaudi’s city in trains and walked till our calve muscles were weary.

Partied at Garcia and danced the night away…the streets were filled with music and smiling faces…

Got into a train and went to Dali’s museum and from there we went to Tossa…

That was truly the high point of out trip..

We soaked in the sun and got burnt..

Downed sangria's, snorkeled, giggled hysterically shopped and swam some more….

We brought in Mini’s Birthday at this beautiful out door bar in a run down castle atop this hillock with the most amazing view…

Gosh ….could anyone ask for more..

Came back to Barcelona and went back into gypsy mode..

I went and climbed up this mountain alone…

Never done something like that before..

Was not even scared at all..

Felt a deep sense of freedom and insane love ..

We laughed, cried, wiped each others eyes, soul-searched, found answers where we least expected and bared our fears to each other, we sang , danced and forgave each other for everything …

and grew a new respect for each other…

We met “Serendipity”

I love this word…

I love the meaning of this word…'It's the act of finding something valuable or delightful or magical when you are not looking...

OK I added magical...because I feel some wonderful moments are magical..

And I can say with a smile in my heart, that unknowingly and very very often this year I have experienced this wonderful feeling …

Feel that the moment you let go, and you keep yourself open to the universe…

The stars just smile down on you…

Today I don’t have any food from “Maria’s Kitchen “ to offer you , but have something that I want to share with you…

Serendipity Sangria...

• 3 1/4 cups ( dry red wine
• 2 cups sparkling apple juice or Appy fizz
• 4 tbsp gin
• 4 tablespoons citron-flavored vodka
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• Juice of 1 large orange
• Juice of 1 large lemon
• 1 small orange, sliced thin crosswise
• 1 small lemon, sliced thin crosswise
• 1 small lime, sliced thin crosswise

Pour all the ingredients into a large pitcher, mix well, and refrigerate. Serve chilled over ice.
You can also put some cinnamon sticks into it, it really tastes good...
Frankly I have not yet tried this recipe, but it sounds yummilicious, and so want to share it with you, I had a lot of sangria and so did not want to make any ...
But do try this and tell me how it was , and have a glass of this listen to Rihanna belting out, "only girl in the world "..
And you will feel like how we i.e.Mini, Sandy , Jaya and me felt ...
See you all really soon ...
Love always ...

DAY 58 : SO WHO SAYS IM CHICKEN

So how many of of you have been called "Chicken' or the more

colloquial "Darpok"...
I don't know about the rest of the world but , I have been called that
by some of my friends , sometimes by my acquaintances, at various
points of time and for a variety of reasons...
And me being me..often
rises to the bait , but mostly have smiled and stayed chicken ,
because felt that I would get into more trouble if I did. than stayed
chicken and didn't .....

And yes sometimes I feel thank God "I'M CHICKEN"
and sometimes I really wish I could just do what I felt like without thinking...

As much as I like to be "L'il Ms Dare-devil"...think what I do is
actually sometimes take the more difficult way out..

It is more difficult to not go with the flow than actually just swim
with the tide...

This world of ours is filled with really different people and we all do meet a large part of the world at least once..
I mean our paths do cross one another even it it is for a fleeting nano second
at least ...
On the road, in a theatre, at an airport, at a park, in a restaurant ,jogging, eating, swimming, trekking....
Gosh the possibilities are limitless...

As for me I have met innumerable people in my life , also because my job profile was to meet people
And it was a fantastic learning experience..because like we all are aware, no two people are ever really like..
We may appear to be alike ..and sometimes we are put in boxes ,depending on where we come from, the colour of our skin , our religion, our blood group or then our star sign...
And that's whats makes this world of ours so interesting ..

Some times we connect with people we meet , some times we just can't stand the person on sight, sometimes its love or lust, some just put a wide naughty smile on your face, some people make us laugh, and then some piss us off, some people stay on the fringes,some no matter how
much you like, all you do is fight, some you let in...some you have to let go off, even though your heart is breaking into a million pieces...

When I look back in retrospect, I also wonder "WHAT IF"...

How many of the friends I have in my life would actually be part of my life if we did not meet the way we did ...

And like Hrithik's character in "Zindagi nahi milega dobaara" say's when he has had a wee bit extra wine, " I think its all written in the stars"...
Frankly....... (Wine sometimes makes you say really .philosophical stuff or
then gets you in a whole lot of trouble )....

But I do completely believe in that theory...I do...

Everything is written in the Stars...
Who we meet, who we become friends with, who we go out with , who we break up with,who breaks our heart, whose heart we break, who makes us mad, who makes us sad, who makes our heart beat like its going to rip apart, who puts that unstoppable smile on our face, who makes us cross to the other side when we see them , who we sometimes hide from, who you call, who calls you, who returns your calls , whose call and sms's you wait for, who sends you flowers, who sends you songs, who brings magic, who destroys your peace who makes you feel like you
don't want this day/night to ever end, who stops you in your tracks,who takes your breath away,
who will always stay in your heart, who you will stay connected to no matter what the circumstances, who you will fight for , who you cant fight with,who forgives you , who you will forgive, who you cant stay upset with, who drives you crazy, who you will grieve for, who you will run after, who you will avoid, who robs your sleep, who puts you to sleep....hmmmmm

Well I believe its all written in the stars and so we should live and let life be lived...
Letting the adventure unfold..
And like my friend Amit says, ''In life always go straight and take the right turns"

Being an impulsive person by nature, I have many times been in a place where all I wanna do is jump into the unknown....

And sometimes feel I'm completely FREAKIN CHICKEN....
And wish I could actually jump into the deep blue and just dive into whatever awaits me
Because beneath the turbulent surface is a calm that's magical..
But how many of us can actually get through....

I was watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and Dumbledore says, "Words are an inexhaustible source of Magic"
AND IT JUST STAYED WITH ME....

Is it because of what we say to one another ,that determines our paths...

I mostly put my foot in my mouth...
I mostly never hold back from what I have to say because of what I'm feeling..(I would like
like to keep quiet though, but my heart never ever listens to my really smart and patient brain ...damn)
So does that make me" cool" or "chicken'
I also know fully well as those words have left my lips, that I should have "Shut Up"....
Sometimes I have called someone knowing fully well ,this is a very bad idea, but still went through with it ...

And with this thought I wanted to make , "Buffalo wings"...
Yes ..yes.. I know buffalo"s don't have wings...
And this dish is made with chicken...Poor Chicken.......

So here for you today..

Spicy buffalo wings

3 dozen chicken wing pieces (one wing makes 2 pieces - the "flat" and the "drum")
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tsp salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons Mummy's East-Indian Bottle Masala
4 tbsp butter

Pre-heat the oven to 170 degrees
Well take the wings and add the oil to it and the flour , and shake it
all together so that the wings are well coated..
Then spread it on a double foil and bake it for 20 minutes on either side...
While the wings are getting baked...

I was thinking of the past ..

As a kid , my cousin Linus and all of us were hanging on the terrace of my aunts house, fortunately it was just one level , and we got into an argument about , girls being chicken and guys have more guts..and it lead to lets see if you can jump from here down...

Very very foolish.. but just to prove that 'Girls can do as well or better" , before anyone could say Jack Robinson , I leaped down into the plants below...
Well I looked at him smug as a bug ,with leaves in my hair and dirt on my hands and knees, only to be given a tight slap by my mum...She was so upset and mad all together...

Then again I have jumped into my Granma's well in front of her house,because I was bored and my mum and aunt's came and sat around, asking me to come out, because there were water snakes, and if any of them came anywhere near me , I would drown in fright..
Well I was blissfully unaware of the slimy creatures...

Then as much as I'm frightened of the deep blue sea, I love deep sea diving, its magical and given a chance I will do it again...
It was not easy at all, because I'm not a big sea person, but it was just too inviting and irresistible ...

I have bungee jumped twice in my life and

Hopefully will sky dive very very soon...

Well back to my Buffalo wing's

On a low flame combine the rest of the ingredients, and bring to a
boil so that the masala's are not left raw...
But be very careful that it does not burn...
Switch the flame off
When the wings are done in the oven..
Empty the cooked wings into the big pan filled with sauce and very
quickly on a medium flame , toss it around for just 5 minutes...So
that its really well coated...At this point i also add honey..it just
adds the right amount of sweetness to the craziness of the spice...I
don't have a measurement, I just pour till I think its enough...

Serve it really hot....
This is really quick and easy and gets swiped leaving everyone teary eyed...
So if you want to tone the spicy content please feel free...

So here's presenting,"So who says I'm Chicken", Hot and spicy wings, served with a whole lot of thinking moments , only from "Maria's Kitchen"....

Thought I should share something I wrote...

''You make me say stuff , you never say ..
You laugh when I try to walk away..
You behave like it does not matter whether I'm there or far away...
Feel like a gypsy, where every path leads to a new magical stair-way...
Pondering...
Should I gather my ruffles and climb up..
Or simply be me and gallop away ....

So should we jump into the unknown , or just stay in the confines of our comfort zone....
Well life has taught me that there are no guarantees , whether you stay in
the sun or dive into the cool blue sea...

And frankly just live life on your terms, it does not really matter who thinks you are chicken or not..
What matters is that you when you leap, leap into a space that makes you happy, that fills your heart with so much Peace, Love and Happiness, that you don't feel the need to eat or sleep and puts a smile on your face that UN-WIPE ABLE...

It may or may not be a forever but think that time will be the happiest and
you will not have to ever say 'WHAT IF''........

DAY 56:LOVE ALL THINGS DELHI ....

Let me just start by saying....

"The most important things in life are not things"......

And as I'm spending my last and final day in Delhi today with a family that I love and having a lovely brunch with Col.Raj Kapoor , the man who introduced us to Shah Rukh Khan through Fauji

And celebrating his 80^th Birthday with his wonderful family and friends…

I'm transported back to the day I met Ritambhara for the very first time outside the airport in Sri Lanka, where we were both hired by Sony for the ICC World Cup, she said yes to it because she loved the game and I said yes to it because I knew nothing, this was uncharted territory and I was in for the adventure.. (and what an adventure it turned out to be )

Remember thinking that she must be some foreign tourist going to the same hotel..
Well as the journey proceeded , many little things happened in the van that were genuinely funny…

Well I realized that she was part of the team , we reached the hotel went our separate ways, and that was the start of a wonderful, warm , loving, supporting , laughing, mad, shopaholic, perennially hungry, movie-watching, talkathon worthy, deep diving 9 year old friendship…..
And with her I was enveloped by her lovely warm family …
Aunty Usha, Col.Kapoor , Kichie Poo and Akshay…..

And as someone who completely loves the city of Delhi..
Today I dedicate my food to the lovely city of Delhi and all the wonderful people from there who have touched my life …..

I first came to Delhi when I was a teenager on a summer camp..
Went shopping … and then got completely lost and scared and the rickshaw just went around in circles and I had imagined the very worst before I reached the train station after 45 minutes….

After that I visited Delhi many times, travelling with theatre and for photo shoots etc
And then after I joined MTV, remember going in winter,Siri Fort was my first gig and I just fell in love with Delhi….
The wide roads, the amazing food, the fantastic high octane concerts , ice-cream at India gate in freezing winter...
Shopping at good earth (Bombay did not have one then ), picking up tiles from Noida, and buying fabric from Fab India, even though we had it here, it always felt more special lugging it from Delhi…
Santushti ..a place I never leave Delhi without visiting…..
Even Sarojini nagar….a walk through was a must…For the PUCHKAS…
Diva..at least twice on any given trip, it has the best food and music in the world….And now that i know the person behind Diva , Ritu Dalmia...I fully understand why her food and music is without a doubt impeccable....
The Kebab factory….That’s one place I hung out a lot ..
Khan market, never left Delhi without spending time there, it’s the place that I can spend hours just walking and eating kebabs from that guy at the end…

yesterday i got drenched in the rain running through Khan Market to the kebabwala, who was shut....thought my taste buds went into shock ha ha ha

Saundha, that Mini introduced me to, bought tons of pots and ask everyone who is going to Delhi to get more…

And KAREEM’S ….Oh My God ...its Heaven on a plate...Fully jealous of everyone in Delhi because of this....

So you get the drift, this is one city I feel like home in, also because all my dearest friends are from Delhi ,Mini and Kabir, Sandy, Jaya and Sanju,Ritambhara, Roshan and Shaheen, Sahu, well most of them stay in Mumbai

and a few in Delhi..

That’s how it is, my soul connection to this city and it’s people…

Spent three amazing days here in Delhi,laughed, giggled, ran in the rain, shopped, got stuck in traffic...and just soaked in the Delhi I love with the people that are the family I have chosen...
Col.Kapoor who is turning 80 today and is still one of the most charming men I have met...

He just says the most amazing stuff, quotes Shakespear like it's his language, and is really funny and deep simultaneously...

Ritambhara-who is just someone I can share anything with without being judged, and I mean anything, she has a calm that permeates a room like the fragrance of Kenzo ...subtle and yet impactful...

Kichie poo- the most complicated , uncomplicated girl I know and
Akshay..who is the calm in her storm and the magic in her life..

I miss Aunty Usha, who made me feel like she has always known me, I can still see her , bright smile in place, beautiful bright sari and walking into the room with a huge pastry box from the Taj , saying, “you’re hungry , got you some nice things”, she always looked at me like she knew what was going on inside me, well, I know she did, she had a smile that reached her eyes, and exuded a warmth that was comforting….

And so today s a celebration of the wonderful people I know from Delhi…
It’s like a karmic connection that I do not question…..

So thought that today I will make something simple and easy, so thought of Basa and a mango chutney with it , with grilled vegetables on the side…
This is something that is inspired by a meal I ate in Toronto sitting in the back yard of a friends home, drinking wine ha ha ha ....and then jumped on the trampoline and fell ha ha ha

Here goes
BAKED BASA FILLET WITH VEGETABLES

Basa fillets -as much as you want, put some olive oil on them and a little squeeze of lemon juice and a little salt
Cut and chop the vegetables you like, I like carrots, broccoli, asparagus, squash, baby potatoes, small onions, red/yellow peppers, courgettes...
I sprinkled the vegetables with olive oil and a little paprika and some Mixed herbs..
But frankly please feel free to use any seasoning of your choice, only see that no matter what you use, let the seasoning not be over powering, let the lovely taste of every vegetable come through..
Pre-heat the oven to 170 degrees..
I half cooked the potatoes and then put them in the oven to bake...
Baked all the vegetables for about 40 minutes..
But kept checking because the asparagus gets done very quickly..
and the squash or orange pumpkin takes the longest ...
The trick is to use the best quality olive oil, and rock salt, and it all works like magic...

Then I could not resist , so made some
PESTO

Ground 2 garlic, salt, pine-nuts about a handful, and a hand full of freshly picked basil along with some olive oil and ...yes...this felt good...

Have to share this with you , its Aunty Bhajan's recipe and I devoured it spoon spoon like a little glutty person, its totally yummy and works like magic with the Basa...

1 ripe Mango
1 raw Mango
Green chili
I also added a little squeeze of lime and some cayanne pepper and a little sprinkle of olive oil....

Start cooking the Basa when you are absolutely ready to eat ..
In a hot pan add some olive oil and then lightly burn garlic , more the better, pan fry the Basa just enough on both sides to seal in the juices and then transfer them into a baking tray , pour some chicken stock on it and bake for a maximum 10 minutes...

I also threw in some bread to toast , just for the pesto ...
All the flavours are really subtle and fresh , and its a perfect afternoon meal...
Pop a bottle of bubbly and enjoy this with a lot of laughs and spicy conversation....

And as I'm sitting here with friends and my ZZ'S ..
I'm happy to be here in Delhi after ages, and having a lovely time..
To me Delhi is a city of Life-Long Friendships...

This simple dish that I cooked is full of its own flavour, nothing too over powering and just perfect for an afternoon with friends over a glass of wine and a whole lot of bonding....

My ZZ'S and me spending are spending our last few hours in Tivoli Gardens, celebrating Uncle Raj's birthday...
I look at this wonderful family that I have spent so much time with over the years and feel happy that I'm part of their family ...

Uncle Kapoor, "HAPPY 80th BIRTHDAY TO YOU" , and may you spend this year in the best of health and an exuberance for life that is completely your trade mark...and thanks for making me a part of your interesting life..actually I barged in and did not give you a choice ha ha ha ....

Delhi I love you for all the good times and for all the wonderful friends you have given me...
And the new friends I keep making..
Arun and Poonam, thanks for the awesome dinner at your home and for the scintillating and fun company of your rock star HT Brunch team , Tavishi, Yashika, Pranav and Venu...
And Arjun...all the best for your studies and have a great "Spring-Break" ha ha

And for all my readers who are part of my culinary obsessions and kitchen sessions, here's presenting, "Baked Basa with Vegetable Amore", fresh , simple and full of memories and moments of Delhi, only from 'Maria's Kitchen".....