Happy thanksgiving and cranberry sauce recipe with a indian twist

      Hope you all had a fabulous and flavorful Thanksgiving. After moving to the USA Thanksgiving is one holiday I look forward too. And after having my children, we celebrate it even more. The last couple of years, we always celebrated with our close friends and cousins. My family doesn't live here but our close friends and cousins always make us feel at home. This year is no exception. I believe that festival not only brings food to our table they brings our heart closer too. My mom always says sharing food spreads your love. It is that time of the year where we are thankful for all little things in our life food, silly jokes, fun which make our life flavourful. By the way, what's your favorite food in thanksgiving table? I have many, can't just name one. I made cranberry sauce with an Indian Twist. You can call it relish too. Use it after Thanksgiving as a spread or jam as well.


Cranberry sauce with Indian jaggery instead of white sugar.

Ingredients
1. 4 cups cranberry
2. 1 cup jaggery
3. Zest of orange, a pinch
4. A pinch of cinnamon

Process
First clean and wash cranberry and in a pan heat four cups of water and yield the cranberry. Once start boiling add jaggery. Always in a medium heat. Let it cook for 10 to 15 minutes. Then Switch off the heat, add orange zest and the pinch of cinnamon. It will add extra flavor to your cranberry sauce.Your homemade cranberry sauce is ready. It is a lot healthier as I am using jaggery. It has so much health benefits for improving your digestion etc. You can get jaggery in any Indian or Asian store.

Blue Plate Kitchen: Brunch review

      A gloomy November afternoon can be a hearty afternoon if you have a great array of delectable food. The thought made us visit blue plate kitchen with their conscious choice of locally sourced sustainable food. Modern set up with an open kitchen concept, a gracious welcome greeting made our warm-up instantly. As brunch was getting served in the afternoon, we ordered from the eclectic brunch menu, a perfect melange of American affair with global cuisine. We started our day with fresh squeezed orange juice. Little pulpy but with a homey and fresh feel personified. For the appetizer, I opted for Mediterranean platter. It consists of hummus, falafel, quinoa, tabouli, feta cheese, kalamata olives, pickled cabbage, cucumber salad and herbed crisps. An excellent appetizer choice for anybody and everybody with a decent amount. A combination of little guilt and guilt-free choices. I love crisp falafel and hummus.

      My son chose ginger chicken, a healthy choice of protein with a handful of curated veg choice, mint and ginger with lettuce. Succulent at the same time a high pick for the healthy eater. It was so filling that he did not care for the main. As I said earlier, their quantities are large.

      No wonder as a Mediterranean cuisine admirer, for mains I had it again, a veg whole wheat with wrap hearty hummus, feta cheese, crunchy cool cucumber and quoina tabuli inside and bed of salad and pickle cucumber on the side. A decent entry for lunch choice and you can also add your choice of protein.

      We ended the gloomy November day with a sweet note of oven-hot coconut cake and a wide array of strawberry and blueberry with housemade whip cream on top. My son said, he had the best dessert after a long time, and I can't agree more.

My rating is 3.5 out of 5

Address: 345 N Main St, West Hartford, CT 06117
Hours:
Saturday 7AM–10PM
Sunday 7AM–8PM
Monday 7AM–9PM
Tuesday 7AM–9PM
Wednesday 7AM–9PM
Thursday  7AM–9PM
Friday 7AM–10PM

Beauty of life and outfit of the day

      I have a habit of not throwing things away. Keep them with me for years and years. This also creates a little trouble in my life from time to time. People who advocate minimalist approach, say that it is not just clot and clutters your physical lifestyle and mental state. I have old New Year cards sent by my school friends, a small container that mom sent snacks couples of years back; there are so many countless things, a little swan by brother's friend bought with his pocket money, my paper where I received a great compliment from my teacher. Not only physical attributes, but fragrances, little fragments of childhood lullabies, a small conversation, people names, compliments, so many things stay with me. 

      If you are a mother or parent, you might know how much your child's milestone memories matter to you. Just the other day we had our community get together. I was planning on what to wear, then an old saree came to my mind, which I wore for my sons 1st birthday about eight years back. My husband gifted a dual tone peach chiffon with antique gold round embroidery. That's it; I picked the saree as it had to do with my sons 1st birthday. I added a gold choker, cocktail ring, a thick bangle and gold watch. I quickly switched over the blouse with a bell sleeves top for instant pump up and fresh new vibe.  Sometimes old things that create hassle, give you the immense pleasure of wearing and riding your absolute favorite memory ride instead. Perhaps the beauty of life lies in the small things and small imperfections.

Martha's Vineyard - Top five offbeat things to do

      I always believe that the best things about travel are the memories, curated memories. Now just like me, this fall,  I remember the memory of summer travel to Martha's Vineyard. Located to the south of Cape Cod Massachusets, this island is 100 square miles (260 km2), and the third largest on the East Coast of the United States, Marthas Vineyard is not only former presidents Mr. Obama's favorite destination, it could be yours too. It is easily accessible through ferries and buses are readily available to travel inside the island, if you are not renting a bike or a car. Pristine beaches, scenic cliffs, lighthouses and charming towns, Martha's Vineyard, the tiny island can please you in so many ways. If you are lucky to visit, I am sure it will hold a little piece in your heart forever.

• The Aquinnah Cliffs - If you want to witness nature's own live painting, this is what it is, The Aquinnah cliff.  The beauty beyond words with the vast view of clay cliffs.

• Oak buff Campground - More than 300 houses, used for methodologist camp meeting houses in 1835. Entering into the ground, you will feel like landing in a fairytale. Riots of beautiful colors adorned with lovely set up is a must visit not just for adults, but kids would wonder too.

• Edgartown lighthouse -  You will be amazed by this 1828 built lighthouse surrounded by the view of the beach and the harbor. If you are visiting during sunset or sunrise, it is definitely a cherry on top. Could be a great stroll through nature and history.

• Edgartown - Quaint, classy and colonial charm is all about Edgartown. With pretty shops and with great eateries, without taking a tour of it, your Martha's Vineyard trip is incomplete.

• Food - No vacation would be complete without some great flavorsome food. Here you are in Martha's Vineyard with a great selection of food for anybody from dinner to dessert and coffee to the cocktail.