This Year...

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A new year is about to begin. And with it, comes new hopes, new dreams, new wishes and many more. There is so much excitement in the air on new year's eve because the next day officially marks a new beginning. For me, new year's eve has always been about celebration - of the year that has gone by, of the year that is about to start and being amidst the ones I love. But this year, I wanted the celebration to be within me. I didn't want to be in the middle of a crowd trying desperately to get the husband on the phone at 12 to wish him happy new year (the first time after marriage we are away from each other for new year!) and trying even desperately to find the brother and parents among the crowd to hug and wish them the best. This year, instead, I chose to stay at home, reflecting on the year that went by and hoping for a good year ahead.

This year, I want to be a better person. I want to love more. I want to smile more. I want to worry less. This year, I want to pursue all that I like and push myself to the limit that I have to extend the limit. This year, I want to connect with me in a better way. This year, I want to write more, read more and dream big. This year, I want to go for many a trips and come back with memories for a lifetime. This year, I want to be happy!

This year I wish well for my family. I wish love and happiness for us. This year, I wish my little cherub all the cheer. I wish the house be filled with happy sounds of his laughter all the time. This year, I wish we have lots of family time together. This year, I wish all of us stay healthy. This year I wish us just enough - enough of happiness, enough of health, enough of everything. This year I wish we have the best year!

Here's to the year that went by and the new year that holds lot of hope. Happy New Year!

Happy Birthday, My Baby Boy!

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You are two already! Time flies indeed!

I still remember this day, two years back, when the doctor told me "it's a baby boy!". I still remember the joy I felt. I still remember smiling to myself thinking about all the things we were going to do together. I still remember that tiny face which resembled my grandfather's and wondering how godly you looked. I still remember holding you for the first time. I still remember trying to hug you and sleep and you were so tiny that I was, in fact, hugging the entire you. I still remember, each and every moment we shared till now!

Life has been on a fast forward button from the time you were born. There has never been a dull moment ever since you were born.You have been my best part in the last two years. You've been my heart, soul and life. You've brought out all the emotions I had and the ones I never knew I had as well. I've prayed the hardest for you, I've wished better than the best for you and I've hoped you well all the time.

You've grown since the time I set my eyes first on you. You are a total entertainer. You blabber and talk to everyone around you in your own language. You are becoming more of a charmer as each day pass. Talking with you is my favourite pass time now. I love playing peekaboo with you because it's just too cute to see you stand right in front of me with your eyes closed and thinking I can't see you. I love how you come running to me and give me a hug just for the sake of it. I love how in your sleep you want to snuggle next to me and hug me. I love the sound of your laughter. I love the way you talk. I love your naughtiness. I love the way you make me feel special. I love the fact that we are a team and I promise you we'll be a team..always! 

And I love you... I will always love you.. And I will always remember this day two years ago. Because that day, I was given the best gift in life to treasure, protect and love forever!

Happy Birthday, my baby boy! Here's to many many more and all the wonderful days in your life through which you spread happiness to all!

Vegetable Green Curry

This time, after I came back to Bangalore from Kerala, I was tired and lazy. We - me and my little boy - were in Kerala near to a month. I did absolutely nothing there other than lazing around. In my defence, I can't be blamed. I was at my home and I was getting a break from the routine chores in Bangalore, so this was my time to rest! Combined with this, our last week in Kerala was hectic with a wedding and all things associated with it including an almost three day trip to attend the wedding which included almost 12 hours of travel by car in both direction and taking the same day flight to Bangalore. This got the better of me and I was a dead log by the time I reached Bangalore. And the weather here did not help at all. I was put from an oven to a fridge! Ok, I might be exaggerating but Kerala and Bangalore are two extremes when it comes to weather!

So, once I was settled and the routine chores started, laziness not over though, all I wanted was a Thai Green Curry. I love making the curry from scratch and hate using the store bought paste. This time though, I was ready to make an exception - if the store didn't have the ingredients, might as well buy the paste and make the curry! But, the store didn't have that either. The craving was so bad that I really wanted a Thai Green Curry. So I decided to make a Pseudo Thai Green Curry. You can't call it a Thai Green Curry, per se, and hence I named it the Vegetable Green Curry.

 Vegetable Green Curry

Ingredients:

• Onion - 2 no.s, sliced
• Ginger - 1 inch, grated
• Bay leaf - 1 no.
• Zuchini - 1 small, cut into cubes
• Aubergine - 1 small, cut into cubes
• Mushroom -  few pieces, washed and cleaned 
• Babycorn - 3 no.s, cut into 1 inch pieces
• Bell peppers - a few cubes of red, green and yellow variety
• Coriander leaves - 1 cup
• Mint leaves - 1/2 cup
• Green chilli - 3 no.s
• Coconut milk - 1 cup, thick
• Oil - as required
• Salt - to taste
• Sugar - a pinch

Method:

• Grind the coriander and mint leaves along with ginger and green chillies and keep it aside.
• In a wok, heat oil. Add the bayleaf once it's hot.
• Add the sliced onion and salute till it's translucent.
• Add salt and sugar.
• Add the ground paste and saute for a few minutes till the raw smell goes.
• To this, add all the vegetables except mushroom and mix till the paste is well coated.
• Add a glass of water and mix properly. Let it boil.
• Once it starts to boil, lower the flame, cover and cook till it's almost done.
• Now add the mushroom pieces and cover and cook till done.
• To this, add the coconut milk and water (if required) and simmer till the flavour sets in. Do not let it boil.
• Serve hot.

Notes: 

• You can also add tofu, carrot, cauliflower, broccoli and peas.
• This curry goes best with rice.

This curry may not come anywhere near the Thai Green Curry in terms of flavour and taste, but it can definitely replace it in times when you have no other option. I loved the taste of it and by the time I finished my dinner, Thai Green Curry had gone out of my mind!

The Paragon Experience!

The first time I stepped into Paragon, I was excited. It was in their Calicut restaurant and I had heard so much raving reviews about the food and I was just too thrilled to try out their dishes. That day, I had the famous Paragon Chicken Biryani, Fish Mango Curry, Kallumakkai Roast and Kozhi Porichathu. Each and every item I tasted that day stayed in my heart and every time I remembered the Paragon food, I was drooling. And, that experience stayed with me that even now, whenever we have a talk about the best food experiences that we've had, this is on my top list! Years later, I heard Paragon was opening its branch in Cochin and I was jumping with joy because Paragon Cochin would any day be an easier access for me. 

Veg Biryani

On my first visit to Paragon Cochin, I was way too eager to grab a seat and place my order without any delay to relive that first Paragon experience I had years back. This place is three floors huge and always full! The waiters are friendly, eager to help you out and give you suggestions on the menu. They keep coming every now and then, enquiring about the food and checking if you require anything more. Though, I was a bit apprehensive because, in most cases, the food never tastes the same in branches as it is in their main centre. However, as soon as I took the first mouth, I knew I was reliving my Calicut Paragon experience. This time though, I had turned vegetarian and I didn't have much options. So I had to settle for the Veg Biriyani. It may not be as amazing as their famous Chicken Biryani, but among the veg biryanis that I've had from several places, this ranks among the top three for sure! 

After the first visit, I've been here whenever I had a chance to be in Cochin because this is, hands down, one of my favourite eat-outs in Cochin. I've accompanied people who are not crazy about eating out and converted them to Paragon fans as well! 

French Onion Soup in Bread Bowl

On my last visit there, a week back, I had a wonderful dining experience. We were a group and while the non vegetarians were ordering the Chicken Biryani, French Onion Soup and Fish Mango curry, we, vegetarians, were lamenting on how we were missing out on the Paragon's signature fish mango curry, when the waiter told us that he can get us Veg Mango curry! So this time, I started off with a Veg French Onion soup and Peppery Grilled Paneer. The French Onion Soup came in a bread bowl. You had to scrape the insides of the bowl and mix it with the soup. This is, by far, the best soup I've had in Cochin, if not in Kerala. The Peppery Grilled Paneer, tossed in freshly ground pepper with a dash of lemon was full of flavour and a welcome change from the usual starter range in restaurants. 

Aleppey Veg Curry

For the mains we ordered Veg Biryani, Aleppey Veg Curry, Veg Mango Curry and Kerala Porotta. I must say that none of these dishes come near their non veg counterpart but this is the best veg dining experience you can get in Malabar cuisine. The Veg Mango Curry was heavenly and this time, it was truly the star. We couldn't stop ourselves from taking one more serving as soon we finished the earlier serving and this curry was finished before anyone knew!

The Veg Mango Curry

Each time I've dined here, I've left with a wide grin on my face, an overfed tummy and a promise to myself to go back there soon! This place is truly a foodie's paradise!