cooking with heart and soul

last week i was in a bit of a domestic funk. more specifically with cooking. i was uninspired, bored of what i cook (because i think iv kind of maxed out my miniscule repertoire of cooking), and i was too lethargic to try anything new. what little i cooked, was half-hearted. and i realized that when i cook half-heartedly, it shows.

today however, i have an unexplained zest. and that is very strange for a monday morning. i was excited to cook lunch, and i realized that when i cook with heart and soul, it shows.

rat trauma

if you've been following the happenings on my other blog, you probably already know how the highlight of last week was this, this and finally THIS.

with that as a backgrounder, let me tell you what happened this morning. the morning after a crazy afternoon, evening, and a whole night of torrential rain.

i opened my balcony door, to find little stuart curled up behind it. drenched to the bone, wet, cold, almost too cold to move. but very much alive!

seems to me he is a rat with a mistaken identity. his behaviour was much like a cats. coming when he pleased, hiding, lying low, eating stuff, disappearing as he pleased. but yesterday the doors were shut before he made it in, i suppose and he didnt have a way in. so he just sat there getting soaked. when i found him in the morning he looked most forlorn, sad and too cold to move.

i quickly let all feelings of pity and "aww-ness" at how cute he looked disappear as my maid got rid of him. she let him live, though. and i hope he doesnt find his way back.

a walk in the rain

Muahhh

A big goodbye to Anjuna, Vagatore, Benaulim and Baga. Until next season, we shall enjoy the rain!

rain food

since most posts these days are about the rain/monsoon, or about the culinary journey i have been on since i moved to goa, heres something that brings both together.

in honor of the monsoons that have well and truly arrived (and HOW!? :O!), and keeping in mind that i have been fairly busy with some assignments, that have led me to neglect the kitchen every now and then, todays lunch is rain food. easy, healthy and perfect for rainy weather.

boiled french beans and carrots, sauteed in butter. with a sprinkle of home made cottage cheese.
mashed potatoes.
toast.

now, im ready to face the rain.

bliss

the monsoons have been playing a tantalizing game for a few weeks now. intermittent downpours and showers, leave us thinking its FINALLY here. and then it goes back to being bright and sunshiney. but the days when it rains, it really rains. and everything around me becomes a gorgeous verdent green. i cant get my eyes off it.

yesterday was one such day. i was lucky to have a meeting atop the hill at dona paula. as i drove up the winding road, i realized how everything was so fresh and pretty. nothing can give me an insnant high like good weather + lovely drive + great music can. and that can be such an instant mood upper!

on the way back, i could see the sea beneath me, off the edge of the hill, with rolling greens along the hillside. a sight i havent seen in an indian city before. lush. green. pretty.

i drove to the market. theres something about the rains that cleans out the air and gives everything a pristine sparkly look. the market was a delectable mish mash of bright colors and liveliness. everything looks fresh and yummy.

just when i thought the evening couldnt get any better, we ended it with a swim in the drizzle.

pure bliss.