A cup of Assam Tea

      The famous who visited, the awards and the showstopper dal, I was little nervous to write about Bukhara.  The visit itself, you experience the warmth and high hospitality the Indian culture stands for with rhythm of rustic interior keeping rendition with yesteryears of Mughal inspiration.      We were hit by the usual Delhi traffic that got us little late for lunch. Consider ourselves lucky, 5 minutes passed lunch, and we were greeted with the most gracious welcome.       As we already felt little guilty about getting late, so started our day with the main and how would it be without the iconic dal Bukhara. And then pudina paratha, Murg malai kabab, and Kastoori kabab.       Dal Bukhara: cooked for 24 hours in the earthen oven (tandoor)  with tomato and ginger garlic was indeed a show stopper and signature. Thick whippy black gram dal comes with a generous dollop of butter on top. If you haven't...

They say India resides in the villages. In today's science and technologies enormous achievements inevitably wipe out the differences between village and city. However, there are a few places where village charm is still there. My recent visits to Assam India I click a few pictures in Assam. Love to share with you guys.   Me wearing traditional assamese attire called mekhela chadar in my in-law's ancestral village. Tengamora (Roselle) - A favorite assamese sour vegetable. Banana and banana flower- both edible. Banana flower curry is a favorite assamese staple. It can make scrumptious curry with chicken and sometimes with lentils and sometimes without anything.  Bhoot Jalokiya(Ghost chili) one of the hottest chili in the world. It can make a very spicy pickle. Pukhuri(Small fish tank). Almost every assamese village household own a pukhuri for daily fish need.   Bhoral(Paddy Storage). You can't imagine an ...

Meji- The holy fire  With a mixed feeling happy Magh Bihu all. Last day in Assam trip. We are leaving home, Assam tomorrow on the day of Magh Bihu. I almost feel like a five-year-old little girl who refuses to go to school. I refuse to leave Assam. It's always difficult for me to decide what makes me so sad - my parents, brother, family, and friends or those familiar sights I grew up with.                                      Masor Tenga (Assamese sour fish curry) Magh Bihu, the most fun, food and frolic festival of Assam. It's all about enjoying food with friends and family after the successful harvest. It usually falls in the 2nd week of January. If you read my blog, you might know there are three Bihus in Assam. Magh Bihu is the one celebration where it's about eating and enjoyment, and that is the reason it's also called Bhugali Bihu. Bhug means enjoying and eating. The...

      How is the new year treating you?  Freshness and positivity always bring hope, isn't it?       I recently attended a friends daughter's sweet sixteen birthday party. Sweet sixteen is beginning of adulthood. The energy and hope of sweet sixteen is unmatched. Sweet sixteen is a year of dream and aspiration. When I look back to my sweet sixteen, I was always dreaming about writing. Probably that dream of mine became reality today. Doing something you like has more love than anything else. Here is my outfit post for the sweet sixteen. It was an Indian theme party, so I wore Indian Rohit Bal dress. It came with a legging but I switched it with a black skirt I already own. I wore red lips and added a brocade potli bag. Just to give the whole traditional affair a modern touch, I wore a pair of Suhani Petit earrings.  Do let me know how you like it.

      We are on the threshold of a new beginning, I don't want to call it an end because of as always beginning is thrilling and inspiring. But, it is essential to look back as well. I had a tremendous eventful year. I started my blog this year and never imagined I could write that much without skipping even one week. Blogging has positively changed my life forever and gave a new meaning to my life. To my readers, I can't thank you all enough.       As I talked about a great year with the incredible beginning, I am thankful for it ended with a great ending as well. The last event in the last month of the year was Ctbloggersoiree. The event was organized by Connecticutbloggersbabe or ctbloggercollectives. Yes, I was lucky enough to attend ctblogger soiree with good food and company, more precisely with people in your own niche, almost like a dream come true. With all the hassle of life, I am glad that I could attend it. Blogging event like...

      Even though I am complaining about the cold, and unpredictable weather, I can't deny the merriment and joy of the holiday season with some great food and great company. As you know, I am from India, and I am not used to celebrating Christmas as a holiday, but after moving to the USA, we now look forward to this snow-white Christmas holiday. I help my kids deck up the Christmas tree and enjoy their never-ending list for Santa. The last couple of years during Christmas I have always baked Christmas cake. This is a healthier version of the regular Christmas cake and is alcohol-free. I use wheat flour instead of refined flour and jaggery in place of white sugar. The cake is loaded with the goodness of dry fruit. My kids love it too. Great for after Christmas snacks, very filling because of the dry fruits. Do let me how you like it. Have a great holiday and enjoy the festive season.   Ingredients 1. 2 cups whole wheat flour 2. 1/4 cup of dates 3. 1/4 cup...

      How is the holiday feeling? Snowing and sipping your cup of tea or coffee has its own charm. Decked up the tree but this is also the season when things start to slow down. Time for a vacation. I love snow, I love the holiday, at the same time I imagine great Caribbean vacation as well. Today, I want to make it short and share with you few of Puerto Rico vacation pictures, probably that will inspire you to visit Pristine Puerto Rico. Nature, culture, and wonders. Enjoy the season's festive offerings and take a break too.