A trip to San Fran

I've been to San Fran about 4-5 years back. Hmm just before I got married - those were the days. I still remember the late nights & the taco bell dinners. It is a pleasure to work with like-minded colleagues. That is one project I shall remember for a long long time.

Am going all over the place, aren't I? So, where was I? We went to San Fran to visit our cousin & her family for the weekend. Visited the usual tourist spots. Here's a picture of the Golden Gate bridge.

We had a wonderful time playing with her two little boys, chatting late into the night & I should certainly mention all the great food. What I really enjoyed about our little visit was going shopping with our cousin. Oh it was so good to have a ladies night out. Really enjoyed it & got to know my cousin too in the bargain. Picked up some great clothes too.

Another thing we really enjoyed was dinner from saravanabhavan. We decided to do take out so that the kids can have fun too. While there, I started chatting with the cashier - yes, I am a chatterbox. I was asking him why there are no Karnataka dishes in their menu. He asked me to make some suggestions, while I was thinking, our cousin told him he should visit my blog! Gosh, was I surprised, it never occurred to me to suggest that. God bless her!!! :D The manager has taken the details from me. Isn't that simply wonderful?

Away we go...

We are off to San Francisco this weekend. Will come back with lots of pictures. Meanwhile, who's going to take care of my darling plants, I wonder?

Till I post next ... Take care.. Have fun & keep smiling!!!

Coconuts....

I decided to grate fresh coconut to make the kozhakattais. Little did I know what I was getting into!!! Bought this cute looking gizmo from the local indian store & spent the better part of an hour grating a single coconut!!!


Not that I haven't grated a coconut before. Many a time have I had that pleasure back home. But then it took only about 10-15 minutes. After I got married, our maid used to grate it.

Hmmm, but in all honesty, the problem wasn't with the device. It was the size of the coconut!!! I just couldn't hold it in one palm. This will work a lot better with an indian sized coconut.

Or maybe, just maybe, I was using it all wrong!!! Having lived a year in Japan, I now understand why P says if using a japanese device is difficult, you are probably using it wrong!!!

Roses bloomed...

Bought my first rose plant a few days back. And it bloomed... Today.... On Ganesh Chathurthi!!! I am so very happy...

Alright, alright... I'll stop... Just that these look so beautiful!!! Happy Ganesh Chathurthi!!!

South Indian Meal

Made beetroot stem upperi (Dry beetroot stem side dish), pavakkai kara kari (Dry spicy bitter gourd side), vellaripazha (ripe cucumber) sambar (indian lentil based curry). Since, I had already made so much, thought I'll also fry some papads / vadams as a treat. We never fry papads, prefer to microwave them.

Took this a step further, and made it a proper south indian plate meal (South Indian Thaali), with mango juice on the side. Of course, it is missing a few things, but I liked the picture.



What do you think? A nice start to the month of September!!!