Gluttons and Epicures Fusion Party

I have a spacious garden which can accommodate 10 – 15 people for a party. I would love to host an early evening party with the Fusion Gourmet Menu

The venue

Invitees: of course my best friends

The music on the background will be some smooth non-distracting jazz

Food:

Appetizers

Roasted Corn served with Hot Mango Chutney from the Kitchens of India. Roasted corn is so simple, yet delicious. When we add herbs and spices to the ear of corn before grilling it. It tastes heavenly



Lamb Shami kebabs served it with Mint-Coriander Chutney. This is a popular Iranian and Indian variety of kebab. It is also found in Pakistani cuisine. This is a small patty of minced lamb meat, with ground chickpeas, egg to hold it together, and spices. Shami kebabs are a popular snack throughout Iran and in India, particularly the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Main course

For vegetarians : Parathas , Paneer Darbari from the Kitchens of India, Vegetable Biryani made using the mix from the Kitchens of India.





For non – vegetarians : Parathas, Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani and Mutton Kolhapuri made using the mix from the Kitchens of India.





Paneer is all time favorite for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Kids to elders, everyone likes it. Paneer Darbari is a very rich and a delightful dish! This makes an excellent accompaniment for Indian breads specially parathas.
Making briyani is an art! Be it vegetarian or non-vegetarian. It is the most wanted main course item in marriages and parties. For non-vegetatians Hyderabadi chicken biryani is a gastronomical delight. Mutton Kolhapuri is a mouthwatering spicy dish. This recipe serves excellent with chapattis, parathas, idly, dosa etc

Salad
The Greek style healthy and yummy potato yogurt salad


Dessert

Jodhpuri Moong Dal Halwa again from the Kitchens of India and seasonal fresh fruits. Moong Dal Halwa is a delicacy from the state of Rajasthan in India. It is rich, creamy and pudding-like dessert madee with split yellow moong dal. This is a popular and delicious dessert during the winter months





Drink:

Ginger ale and water



After the dinner we would have a jamming & karaoke session

This post was written for the 'My Gourmet Party' contest at Indiblogger in association with Kitchens of India





psst: pics are from the internet

Near death to life....

It was a Sunday and early in the morning. My mobile phone doesn’t usually ring at this time, that day it was quiet unusual. It was ringing and some unknown number was flashing on the phone! It was a call from Apollo Hospitals.

The lady voice on the other side said “Madam, one of your students named Sandeep has met with a fatal accident and has been admitted here, Can you please come to the trauma care center Apollo Mount Road Branch, Chennai” I immediately called my Head of the Department and informed him about the news. We took some cash and reached Apollo immediately.

After reaching there we came to know that the accident was really serious. The cops and medical staff explained how it had happened. There were two boys in the middle of the night, heavily drunk, riding their bike at more 120km/h speed. They had lost control and hit the iron divider in the center. They weren't wearing helmets. Sandeep who was in the pillion, was thrown from the bike several feel away hit the lamp post and had fallen on the floor! Sandeep was brought to Apollo with blood running down his head, ears, nose and mouth. He was in coma, with severe head injury. The other student who was driving had fractured his leg! It was a complex fracture with bones hanging out !

We paid the money which in the counter and came to know that the doctors had started treating the students as soon as they were brought to the hospital. That was such a good act, that the doctors had started treatment even before they knew who they were treating!

My HOD, then informed his parents. They came down immediately. There were few surgeries conducted in his cranium. He was kept in a dark room for more than a month under medical supervision. After 2-3 months of treatment like a miracle the boy started recovering! During the critical times the doctors were promising. He is now perfectly normal, happily married!

For me it seems like a miracle! From near death to life experience! Every time I recall this incident I am thankful to God and the doctors

(This post is an entry to the Apollo Hospitals - Indiblogger 'Touching lives' contest. you can read more about the hospital here: http://www.apollohospitals.com/cutting-edge.php)



psst: This is a real incident. Name changed for privacy reasons

What my hairstyle says

My hair talks to me everyday. It mostly complained that I never took care. I travel a lot and forget to nourish and pamper my hair. Every time I am back home my hair needed a rehab. Dad gives me a head massage with a hair spa. Then my hair looks all awesome and beautiful. I love the way my hair is naturally wavy, curly and twisted. I love it when my hairstyle matched my mood. I've compiled a humorous little list of what message my hair conveys on a given day.


What my hairstyle says:

All down with well set defined curls: This took a long time and costed me some money so, I must be going somewhere where I want to look good.
Loose, messy braid: I am going to sleep, so my hair should all be staying tied up
French braid: There is lot of work so I cant be combing my hair in between.
Tight ballerina bun: I am going on some serious official business.
Messy bun: It is a hot day, I am not able to tolerate my hair touching my neck.
Hat/cap: The kiss curls have just started growing, I should keep them tucked in.
Ponytail: I am going jogging-sporty sporty feelin'.
Wet n curly look: I am going out with friends
Fish tail braid: I have oiled my hair and it's so convenient.
Wet and let down to air-dry with jasmine flowers: I must be wearing a saree and going for a marriage.
Side ponytail: In the party mood or mebbe I have planned to sweep some guy off his feet ;)
All down & straight: Ironed it because it was too messy.
Hair flying in all possible directions: I forgot the hairpins
Frizzy and messy : I m having a bad hair day and a bad mood day
None of the hairstyles look good : I haven't washed my hair for the past 2-3 days :(. Its all sticky sticky

I used to live in the US sometime back and I have a very good experience with TRESemmé ! My hair used to be all silky and shiny. When I came back to India, I was a little disappointed to see that TRESemmé was not here anywhere! Now that it is available my hair smiles.

Always remember to wear a smile, carry an attitude, look confident to rock the ramp :). Here are some of my favorite ramp ready hairstyles...




This post in written for TRESemme India in association with Indiblogger.

Rapunzel Rapunzel!

Braids are beautiful,
Braids are awesome,
Braids are in vogue,
Braids are sexy,
Braids can be wild,
Braids are impulsive,
Braids are cool,
Braids are lovely
Braids are classic
Braids are ethnic
Braids can be simple
Braids can be complicated
Braids go with saree or skirts
Braids go with Jeans and T's

Talking about long healthy hair and braids, every girl immediately thinks of Rapunzel! As a child I always wanted the braids of Rapunzel. Who doesn’t want one like that…Well, here is my attempt to write for the Beautiful Ends to your Beautiful Braids Contest! on Indiblogger Sponsored by Dove Split Ends Rescue System

“Sophie! Sophie!” She pulled my braid
Who else could dare touch my hair? It was my sister!
“Hey Suji, why did you pull my hair?” saying this I pulled hers’ back
“Momma, Momma, Sophie is pulling my hair” she ran complaining to my mom
Well, that is what sisters were meant to be…

I had a long disheveled tousle,
Dark wavy locks with cascading her kiss curls.
My mom took good care of my hair.
She washed, oiled, removed the knots and braided them to school.
Well that is what Moms are meant to be... :p

I had two crazy friends in school who loved my braids.
They so loved my braids that they pulled them in opposite directions.
In the evening we braided our hair together and
sat over a wall, singing songs
Well that is what best friends are meant to be..

Those were the carefree childhood days
We flaunted our braids
The bohemian style or the water fall style
Classic twist and pin or the bulky side braid
Well that is what the good old days were meant to be

Days went by, months went by, and years went by
Due to work, several places I had to fly
Climate, pollution, food and nutrition
Took a toll on my hair condition
Dandruff, split-ends and frizzy hair
Oh well! It was not that it was meant to be

Hair became thinner, frizzier day by day,
Hair care product, every corner of the street had one
To treat my hair there was none!
Hair fall and split ends shattered my dream
Off the different styles, I want to beam
Oh well! It was not that it was meant to be

Oh my billowing tresses, come back to me!
My cascading curls, come back to me!
I want to do the braid and waves
Oh hair magician, do you hear my rave
I promise! I promise! I won’t misbehave
Well, that is why Dove Rescue System is meant to be

My childhood braid memories


My dream braids


Thank you Dove for the gift hamper :)

Psst: My dream braid ensemble is designed and made by me..pics are from the internet

Madras to Chennai

I am from the time when Madras became Chennai!

Call it Madrasapattinam or Chennai Managaram

"Home is where the heart is!"

I would always proudly say “I was born in Chennai and grew up in Chennai". This place has taught me how to walk, laugh, cry, like, love, fight and fight back.

I say Chennai and the next thing that comes to my mind is

Idli, dosa, pongal, vadai, kozhukattai, upma...that's what I have been eating as breakfast all my life.

Filter coffee or ginger tea... is what I wake up to in the morning

St. Thomas Mount...Born in St.Thomas Mount Hospital, I have always lived around this place, went to school down hill

St. Dominic's and it's green pin-a-form. This is my school. We were called "pattani ponnunga (meaning the green peas girls)" by the neighboring schools

Kathipara Junction... I have seen this place evolve into what it is now

Bessy beach or Marina...Sea shore is one which we Chennaites are always proud off

Childrens' park & Gandhi Mandapam are walking distance from home

Theo"sophi"cal Society... the ghostly place in Chennai! Did you know Ghost research happens there ?? Beware! it has Sophi in it !!

University of Madras... I love its ancient vintage looks

Madras Christian College... Want to live US student life in India?...This is where you should be! I did my Post graduation there

CSIR Campus...This is where I work! The green patch between the concrete blocks ...I mean Ascendas and Tidel

Scorching sun and unpredictable rains are Chennai's identities

I can write endlessly about Chennai... well there are going to be other posts. Find the next one by Charan here

Find the link to the previous post on What Chennai means to me by Prasanna here


Note: All the pics are clicked by me in Chennai