The Pongal Weekend...

.... was well spent in Chennai from Friday to Sunday. Dont ask me why friday.. Its cos thats when I booked tickets for.. I had to book Pongal tickets as early as October, by which time the leave calendar for 2012 was not yet published. I "assumed" Pongal would be 13th, 14th and 15th and thus booked tickets for the wrong days. As Pongal fell on Sunday - One holiday gone waste. We took off from work on friday for no other reason except for the pain of booking new tickets again. Friday was spent at my place - the most relaxing of all. I remember nothing but eating and sleeping - LITERALLY. Moreover, dad and sis had to go office so it was only me and mom. We spoke, spoke and spoke a lot. It was the best time of all.

Saturday was Bhogi - mom made bommattu (poli) which was just melting in the mouth. After having a heavy breakfast at 7 in the morning, I was restless for mom to complete her pooja to satisfy my taste buds with those ghee laden bommattus. I had not kept the count of how many I ate, for I will have heart attack later :) Lunch was again heavy with sambar, yam fry , tendli fry and curds with pickle. My quota of stay at my place was getting over as soon as lunch and it was turn for me to go to in-laws place. Thats when I decided to have a twist. One of my close friends is getting married and what else would be the better to meet friends.. We quickly decided to meet at one of the other close friend's home. We were four of us and we brought down the roof of the house literally :) :) So much of talking, laughing, screaming, shouting, pulling each others legs - I was truly living my school days again..We also had a cake cutting (for Dr. R, hahaha ) in advance and it was great!  We had to force ourselves to leave as it was getting too late. What was I waiting when I went back home all dry throat, fully exhausted - I was half expecting the night would be so long and I was not proved wrong. The local association was organising a kolam comptetion and all the inmates were more than excited about this. Being experts in drawing perfect kolams, we serached over net for some intricate designs, practised them. After a quick dinner, we went out with all the winter wear to beat the weather and laid out 3 biiiiiig kolams. I dono what time it would have been when we started to color them. It was too huge a task. I was left was shaking lims and trembling hands at the end of 3hr struggle, but it paid of well. At 1.30Am in the morning, we finally called it a night and went to sleep.

Sunday being the Pongal festival and I being the new DIL, the preparations were huge. Thank God I was not denied breakfast, I was already feeling so low. I had not planned a saree, I knew I would have lots of work and Its not easy with saree. We started preparing from 9.30 in the morning. Venn Pongal and Chakkara Pongal in 2 big pots. Avial had to prepared for the side dish. I was impressed by the recipe so much that I would try it sometime here. 10 different vegetables cooked in coconut milk and paste, tasted so good. We also made Vazhai Poo vadai, crisp and hot! It was nearly 1.30Pm when we had offered all this to the Sun God along with sugarcanes and fresh turmeric. The lunch was heavy but so different for me. Only Chakkara Pongal with Avial (one very sweet and the other being hot, salty). I took a long nap after the tiring day of work. I was really missing being at my home. This is something I cant accept how many years it may take. Girl being girl will be deprived of all the fun she had once she is married. I missed my home, my mom's cooking, watching tv with sis and above all getting to stay with dad on festival. These cant be sidelined at all how much ever care, love and affection been shown from in-laws. I felt guilty was missing my home when everyone surrounding was so affectionate with me - but thats only natural, it felt to me. Yest was the most tiring - I have never worked in the kitchen for such a long time and it was definitely back breaking though MIL was helping me equally. I cant imagine how hard it is to pull over everything all alone. For a minute I felt responsible (I had to act atleast). I had watched no special programme on TV yest-this is the first time ever. Looks like its the time for me to act grown up. But it looks unfair. S was all the time enjoying himself watching tv or doing the stuff he liked while I had to take up the tasks whether I like it or not. (His mom wouldnt let him do anything, that's another post altogether). By the end of day, I was feeling have mixed emotions. I knew I cant handle these changes in my life. The day which started happily was looking a bit broken by the end of it. It was all made up when my dad and sis came to see us and send us off in the railway station. I had some quality time with them and hit the berth even before the train started off. This is how the 3 day break went off so soon.... :) Waiting for the next 4 day break!! :)

Engaging weekend!

After 3 weeks, I got a weekend to spend for myself. To sleep more, to eat more. Our plan to go Chennai was very much spoilt when irctc decided it should never come up at the most expected time of tatkal - resulting which we couldnt get tickets, I was only more happy for the weekend to be spent like this :)

Saturday saw me waking up at 8.30 or so.. I woke up hungry! No bath, no cleaning amidst a very very dirty home and a kitchen sink full of dishes. I managed to clear the way only to reach kitchen, fish out the dosa tava. Inspite of all the mess - I was interested to prepare masala dosa chennai style with groundnut chutney - Yummy combination, that one! After a satisfying breakfast, I went back to my bed - thanks to the heavy masala dosa. After 15-20mins, I could do nothing but bring myself back to the kitchen sink - to do a million dishes(Not that I own that many, but I was stuck in the task for an hour or more!) I had put my MP4 to good use while doing the dishes - singing with my loud, shrill voice (thanks to the throat pain) ignorant of the irritation I was causing to my neighbors and more to S. Then, I began cleaning the house fully. Sweeping took a good 45 mins, leaving the dutbin with a kilo of dust and sand. I dont know from where this house gets dusted so much given the fact that we leave it open for not more than 20 mins altogether everyday. I was still feeling energetic to mop the floor as well - little knowing abt that back pain that could come. The songs playing from my player were more than enough to keep me going. Inspite of a very cool and chill climate, I was fully wet at the end of all the cleaning activity. It felt good overall and very satisfying. Though my back pain was pulling me towards the bed, my stomach dragged me to the kitchen to cook. In a shot I made Dhondakaai fry (Tendli fry) with daal spiced with tomato tadka. Had a long afternoon sleep after a sumptuous meal. Where was S, one may ask. I would have thought I was alone at home doing all this by myself while he went to office on a Saturday, if he had not been sitting right infront of me on the sofa shouting on the phone for 4 hrs delegating work to some one on the other side (office work it all meant!). He rightly joined for the breakfast and lunch, atleast! I never  knew a long afternoon nap could cause me so much headache. I was feeling heavy on head, couldnt do much. We ordered pizzas from Dominos - heavy, very heavy dinner. These were the four pizzas - Soya-Tomato, Panner-Onion, Onion- Capsicum and Pineapple - Jalapeno. It was yummmmmmmm!! I had brought fever to myself by this time. S was supposed to get me a crocin, he got me a 5star crunchy along with it. :) :) What a perfect way to end the day after a lot of hard work :P

Sunday started off lazily - got up at 8.45 or so - Lazing around for an hour thinking of a good breakfast recipe. I started preparing Semiya Upma at 10. I dint have much work to do or so I thought - fogetting about the loads of clothes I had to wash :( I remembered it only while talking to amma. It was too late to act then. Did the dishes in some time and I was still feeling bored. Thats when I thought I would try preparing veg puffs in the new OTG. Got the recipe for it and started preparing - with the minimal quantities and all. Meanwhile, I was preparing the lunch which was Egg Biriyani. Had a good lunch and the I was set out to try veg puff again. I was half doubting that all the flour and butter was going to be waste. Also some details in the recipe were so confusing. Nevertheless, I wanted to try - but just the crispy outer layer of the puff with out the stuffing inside- called as puff pastry. S recalled that its called as "Bombay Salt" and he liked it so much in his childhood :) Feeling encouraged and all, I switched on the OTG. In 10 mins, the house was smelling like a bakery ( I am not exaggerating here). I was too shocked to see that I had actually prepared something better that the veg puff pastry that sells here. :) :) :) That left me so motivated that I thought of making garlic bread rolls next. This time, I could trust my skills and prepared for around 6 rolls. It was a bit complicated comparatively which left me doubtful again. The home was smelling of raw garlic and oregano. Once the rolls were made, I was only more doubtful. I thought they are going to be raw from inside. How wrong I proved to be - I kept  a watch on the oven as the bread was getting ready. I had strong garlic bread rolls that were so soft and fully done - yet so healthy for I used less than 2 teaspoons for oil and 1 spoon of butter. Its the most healthiest form of garlic bread, but very tasty. S loved everything and we had so much fun.

It was almost evening and we decided to go out. Went to Big Bazaar - looked at some items (which are of no use to be purchased) for 1 hour and came out without getting anything :) As if this window shopping was not enough, we went to Park Square Mall and spent another 2 hours there. I got a Patiala Pant, duppata which  I was not even sure would match any of my kurtis (which is my Christmas gift BTW) and found Happy Endings (a Chocolate Cafe). I had Tiramisu while S had Greman Choc Truffle. Its always like this - I like what S orders better than mine and thus ended up eating half of his, in addition to eating a full tiramisu. As if this wasnt enough for our dinner, we stopped at Beijing Bites on our way and had these - American Chopsuey, Singapore Noodles, Chilly Fried Babycorn and Mirinda. I was so full that, moving 10 steps seemed so hard. Came home to watch TV till midnight. Stupid me, caught up a real stupid argument at that time with S and we kept arguing till it was 1. We really dont know when our eyelids closed amidst the argument. :) I would say, It was all in all a  very engaging and fun filled weekend. Some pics of some of the dishes tried out with OTG so far.

Wheat Biscuits - made to give office friends!

Choco Vanilla Spiral Cookies :)

Mini Veg Puff Pastries:)

Garlic Bread Rolls :)

The Weekend Post

I am starting on the weekend post series to record the activities that I am doing every weekend. This was a very happening weekend for me, Mom, dad and sister were here - meaning I dint have to step into kitchen, lie on dad for a change and nag sister, all while doing nothing but eating mom's food. Very relaxing weekend that way!

We went to Total Mall on Saturday evening, got loads of clothes (again!). I dont how how I end up liking a whole bunch of kurtis and any salwar material I set my eye upon while my sister is very very choosy. I mean, every cell of her should like it, literally!! :P I also got a saree for my mom and one for the househelp person my mom has back home. Poor dad and S, didnt get anything..ok ok I am miser that ways.. :) Actually, all the ladies wear had amazing discounts that, S had to stop me falling on the clothes. I got the best deals for some brands - Kurti for 134Rs, Dupatta for 99Rs so on and so forth.

After a never ending time of selecting kurtis, my dad wanted to go about the store to look out for other stuff too. I ran ahead of him and got a digital thermometer (what? Its a must in GreenBoochi-dom!). I was just looking at all the oven, microwaves being displayed, when S comes to me and asks me to choose one from them. I was shocked to even speak a word. My sis made sure I definitely get an OTG and we both chose the best of all while S paid the bill (see, see - there he is.. showering his love :P ) Its a Morphy Richards OTG which comes with Oven, Grill and Toaster. Additionally there is this Rotiserri which I was damn sure I would never use (Ok.. Its for Barbecuing Chicken as whole) but am impressed with additional features, jump in and get that. For the night we ordered from Dominos - should say everyone enjoyed except for dad (Mom and dad doesnt likes these kinds of foods).

Sunday Morning saw us prepare for the adventure with the OTG. Read the manual like a 100 times, searched the net through out the day to get recipes and going to the super market to get the items. We made thorough use of the oven with a variety of dishes -

1. Wheat Biscuits - Amazing taste that reminded me of chennai butter biscuits.
2. Panner Tikka with Green Pepper and Onions - Got superb comments (S mentioned that the taste overdid BBQ nation) I was pretty pleased
3. Choco Vanilla Spiral cookies - Good ones to try, but a lot of work.
4. Coconut macroons - Waste of time, we were left with a smoky room :P

Ok, out of these 4 only one was a disaster and I think its perfectly Ok :) I packed a few of no.3 to take back Chennai :) Soon i would be making garlic bread, cup cakes, muffins and would love to bake a full cake. All I want is some  time and more of energy. I must say, one must be really enthusiastic about all this till the end, cos You would be left with 100s of dishes to be cleaned and You cant escape! I had my mom who was generous enough to help me with the final task and of course all others did the honors of appreciating me when due :)

All-in-all a very fun filled, surprising and amazing weekend :)