Is it too early to start thinking of Valentine's Day?

This topic may be off-putting for most of you . After all, why would I, a woman in her mid-thirties be talking about Valentine's Day in January? What is wrong with me? Don't I know that Valentine's Day is a money churning idea, which was created and (obviously) successfully marketed by Hallmark? And, considering my age/experience, don't I know any better? Or my favorite one - Why do I need "1" day in a year to express my love for my spouse, after all, every day should be Valentine's Day?

Can I just say that the last one really cracks me up!! I mean, if you have been married for anywhere over 10+ years, and have children, you know that the possibility of "celebrating" your love for one another has been tossed out of the window somewhere between the birth of the first and second child. Forget about celebrating your love on Feb 14th.....you will possibly not be celebrating it till your 25th wedding anniversary and at that time too - it will be because you too, Hallmark style, would have succumbed to peer pressure.
 
Anyways, the true topic of discussion today was really how I find that being married to someone for 14 years has resulted in a weird osmosis of sorts. Suddenly, the apple pie/crisps that I somewhat detested when I first got married, have become my dessert of choice. The carrot cake that I termed "too healthy", is the first pick for me (the waistline may have something to do with this one - I admit) nowadays. I had read somewhere that if you have been married for too long, you start looking like each other (God forbid, if that comes true for either of us!), but, this change in my "tastes" is really surprising - more so because it seemed to have crept up on me and I only realized it after my dear husband (DH) pointed it out to me.

The recipe I am sharing below is a divine combination of warm apples that was simultaneously sweet and tart, a salted caramel sauce full of gooey goodness and a crispy, crusty, cobbler topping. Here, the apples and the cobbler bits are more for my DH, and the salted caramel sauce is truly dedicated to me. This apple cobbler, has to be eaten to be believed.....

Rustic Caramel Apple Cobbler

(Serves 6)

 

For the apple mixture -

3 Granny Smith apples

3 Gala Apples

1/2 tsp Cinnamon Powder

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg powder

1 tbsp. flour

2 tsp fresh lemon juice

 

For the caramel sauce -

1/2 cup salted butter

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup cream

 

For the cobbler topping -

1 cup flour

3/4 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup +2 tbsp. pecans (you can try walnuts instead or skip these, if unavailable)

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1/4 tsp cinnamon powder

 

Roast the pecans in an oven at temperature of 180 degree Celsius for 3-4 mins till they get toasty, but not browned. Chop roughly after cooling and set aside.

 

Make the caramel sauce by adding the sugar, butter and cream to a thick bottomed pot over medium heat.  Allow the sauce to come together by letting it cook for at least another 2-3 minutes after it comes to a boil. This will result in an even sauce. Put aside.

In the meanwhile, peel, core, and slice the apples 1 cm wide (mix the gala and the granny smith together). Put in a bowl and add the lemon juice, the cinnamon and nutmeg powder, the  sugar and the flour. Mix well. Then add to a thick bottomed buttered baking dish.

 

Preheat the oven to 175 degree Celsius

Pour the caramel sauce over the apples and set a little bit aside for serving

Mix the flour, sugar, oatmeal, cinnamon powder and pecans together. Add cold, cubed butter to the mixture. Using your fingers, mix in the butter to the dry mixture till the topping becomes crumbly.

Top the apple and caramel mixture well with the crumb topping, keeping in mind that it will settle down after baking

Bake for 35-45 minutes in the oven and enjoy your rustic caramel apple cobbler while it is still hot with a nice dollop of vanilla ice cream and some of the caramel sauce on the side. The caramel sauce in the cobbler will be bubbly and very hot, so be cautious.

 

All I can add here is that sometimes, the "osmosis" can be good and blending your loved one's favorite ingredients with yours can create a true sense of solidarity and enjoyed comfort as you sit together to watch the latest episode of Sherlock Holmes on TV (more on that later :).



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Warmth in a bowl

Why is it that after returning from a vacation, most of us come back saying - "I need a vacation to recover from that one".  This was true when I was working in the US (maybe because I usually returned back to 800 unread messages!! or was it the 3 loads of laundry that I usually ended up doing on Sunday nights?); when I had very young children (transition to day-care was always a nightmare and there was laundry to do as well!!); when I come home to Bangalore (it seems like my whole routine has been disrupted with regards to staffing - yes, I lose a few and gain a couple each time I leave for a week or more). All in all, vacations are great while you experiencing them, but, the nightmare starts setting in as soon as I start heading towards the airport for my return flight.

Some of my favorite, but, somewhat unexpected "moments" of trauma after my return are - "standing next to the baggage carousel and wondering if my bags will ever show up!....this may have to do with the fact that all International flights land in India at ridiculous hours and my kids are typically trying to figure out the mechanics of the carousel as I repeatedly pray for my bag to come fast"; Monday morning blues start with looking at my children's school bags and getting some vague recollections of "holiday homework" and then, with minutes to spare....I am trying to evaluate if anything was done or better still, if I can come up with a grand excuse for why it was not done; how can I forget about the time when I realized a bit late that I went to the local vendor with only Thai Baht in my purse? Yes, switching wallets should be a priority!; and what about the "unpacking"???? Seriously, is there anything worse? There is truly nothing more draining that running around the house and trying to put clothes/accessories/gifts/food items/toilet kits/shoes etc. in the right place.  Each time I go thru this exercise, I kick myself mentally for not packing more "intelligently" (you know, by packing for "each room" so unpacking is a breeze).....maybe next time.... 

Of course, catching up with friends and family, getting unexpected house guests, getting back on schedule, sharing and enjoying the treats you picked from your time abroad, all make it worth it!!! Almost :). 

Within a week of our return, my son wanted to eat some Thai curry! Apparently, the Bangkok hangover was not just limited to me!!!

I made my favorite green curry with vegetables and tofu because, a) it is extremely easy; b) it is superbly quick; c) it is delicious; d) it is a meal in a pot and e) it is truly "warmth in a bowl"

 

Thai Vegetable Green Curry

(serves 4)

 

1 Packet of Firm Tofu

1 tbsp. peanut butter

2 tsp oil and 1 tbsp. oil

2 cups coconut milk

1 cup vegetable stock

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped mixed bell peppers

 

(Any 3/4 of the below vegetables or all -just reduce quantities)

1/2 cup sliced carrots

1/2 cup chopped green beans

1/2 cup sliced baby corn

1 cup broccoli florets

1/2 cup mushrooms

1/2 cup cauliflower florets

1/4 cup green peas

 

For the curry paste:

2 lemon grass stalks, chopped

1 cup Thai basil leaves

1/2 cup red onion

1 lemon zest

3 tsp lemon juice

1 tbsp. brown sugar

1/4 cup cilantro leaves

2/3 green chili (stems and seeds removed) - add as per taste

1 inch ginger

5 cloves garlic

1 tsp of roasted cumin seeds

Salt and pepper to taste

 

For garnish/serving:

1/4 cup sliced spring onions

1-2 sliced lemons

Steamed rice

 

Cut all the vegetables approx. 1 inch in size. Cook tofu in a pan with 2 tsp oil, after cutting it in cubes. Steam/par boil the optional vegetables (carrots, broccoli, baby corn, green beans etc.).



Take all the ingredients from the paste and add to a blender. Blend well till a smooth paste is formed. Keep aside.

Sauté the onions and bell peppers with 1 tbsp. of oil for 2 minutes till slightly softened, but firm. Add the curry paste and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add the steamed vegetable and stir well. Cook for another 2-3 minutes till the flavors are well blended.

Now for the super amazing addition!!!! Add the peanut butter and mix well. This is truly my secret ingredient - it creates a richness to the curry with a slight nutty flavor, which seems to be usually missing in the vegetarian versions. In case you don't have peanut butter, you can add roasted peanuts to the curry paste before blending.

Add the cooked tofu and stir well. Then add the coconut milk and vegetable stock (for a richer curry, you can use only coconut milk). Keep the heat between low and medium and stir well. Let the mixture come to a slight simmer. Add the spring onions. and mix well. Do not allow the curry to come to a full boil. This will truly reduce the flavor.

 

Serve in a bowl with steamed rice and a wedge of lemon. Truly, heaven in a bowl!!!



Cooking is therapeutic, and in this case, there is no better way to re-visit great memories from a vacation, than to bring back the flavors, the taste and the smells with you!!

Something for everyone...

Just having returned from vacationing in Thailand (we went to Bangkok and Krabi), I realized that there were lots of ways I could structure this post. It could be about "Bangkok with kids" or "Sight-seeing in Bangkok" or "Vegetarian in Thailand" or my personal favorite "shopping in Bangkok".  After analyzing the options for a bit, I finally decided on an amalgamation of all of the above.

Traveling with 3 and 6 yr old boys brings about its own set of challenges and adding to that mix is the amazing variety of sensory experiences that are on offer in this wonderful country. I had done a little bit of research prior to our trip, but, for the most part, I was keen to keep our plans somewhat fluid just for the sake of all our sanity.

We went to Wat Pho (the giant sleeping Buddha temple) earlier in the trip and I think the kids definitely appreciated the cool Buddha statue and the donation vessels lined against the wall.

I have to mention here that we were all equally amazed at the gracious and calm attitude of the people in the city. Coming from the bustle of Bangalore, the non-honking cars and the organized traffic was a refreshing change in itself.

The street foods of Bangkok can definitely count as some of the most amazing and varied fare in the world. From fresh coconut ice-cream (served in the coconut shells), to crepes with multiple topping options (under $1), to doughnuts served fresh off the fryer, to "twisty potatoes" (a continuous spiral of potatoes put thru a skewer, dipped in a cornflour mixture and then deep fried and accompanied with various seasonings)....and this is just a teaser.... 

 
....and then there are the drinks! From fresh sugar palm juice served in bamboo containers, to fresh squeezed mangoes (even in January), to drinks that can give a real kick even though they appear unassuming under their pretty umbrellas and colorful straws.

The street markets of Thailand are simply a must see!!! To say that I was transported to a sublime world of smells, sights and tastes would be an understatement. We went to various different markets - the Tor Kor market of fresh produce, the Chatuchak weekday flower market, the Krabi town night market (famous for having over 70 different types of street food stalls), the floating market at Ayuthaya...to name a few. From eating fresh cut fruits, to dipping baked buns in chocolate sauce, to savoring roasted corn on the cob, to drinking beer while listening to live music, to trying tamarind in various forms, to having our children create their own paintings while we shopped around....the markets were super fun!

Balancing our "touristy" needs with the kids needs were very important for the continued "zen" in our family....so we took the children to "Fun-arium" (the slides and the bike rides were the top favorites) , "Kidzania" (fire fighting took a whole new meaning here), "Central Chitlom's kids play area" (this one has a great maze and ball pool), "Safari World" (elephant show and getting to feed giraffes were the highlights) and a few other places. These visits allowed them to utilize a bit of their excess energy while giving us a much needed breather.

A visit to Ayuthaya - UNESCO world heritage site, was amazing because of the serenity around the ruins, the existing temples and the floating market. The historical park seemed a world away from the big city feel of Bangkok. For children, there was an option to enjoy elephant rides (we gave that one a miss).
 

 
We visited various restaurants in course of this trip and notable amongst them were Bussaba in Ao Nang, Krabi. Their Thai food was made fresh to order and tasted divine!! We also enjoyed Tanto's Pizzeria in Krabi. 
 

 

Yes, there is a thing called "vegetarian sushi"!!! At the Central World food court, we experienced some amazing Japanese fare and were well rewarded when both our boys joined us in munching away at the sushi rolls with complete gusto!! There was also Basilico on Soi 33 of Sukhmvit for the most authentic and fresh Italian fare. Since we were staying close to the famous "Cabbages and Condoms" restaurant, it would be remiss of me, if I don't mention how amazing the atmosphere in the restaurant is and how delicious their Thai food is (they have a separate vegetarian section in their menu).

 

 





Most of our afternoons were spent with at least one cup of relaxing coffee/tea and to be honest - there is nothing better than sitting with croissant and cappuccino or scones and tea at the Dean and Deluca outlet on Sukhmvit.  

Most of my evenings were spent getting the traditional Thai foot massage and realizing that 1 hour of foot rub can almost transform the state of your mind....if you have not tried this.....it is truly reason enough to book your tickets for Thailand!!
 

Bangkok is a full of everything that you could want to try and more - whether you are looking for a Christmas Tree decorated to promote safe intercourse, or looking to clean your feet by dipping it in a tank full of fish or seeing some well placed, but, somewhat non-utilitarian telephone booths.......this city is sure to keep you coming back for more and more.