The smell of buns...

Although I never grew up eating hot cross buns, I am more than familiar and have spent countless childhood hours dreaming about the smells of fresh buns wafting through the house, enticing me with their alluring, matured yeast aromas...

That's what reading too many Enid Blyton books does to you. One paints fantasy picnics and adventures with a benevolent housekeeper who bakes fresh goodies to keep up the young ones' spirits! ;-)

Click for recipes -->>

Giving.....

The Holidays...It's that time again.... about sharing and showing the caring... :-)

As cold as this time of the year usually is, I love the warmth that permeates everywhere.. from careless laughter... bright, cheery smiles as people walk by festive store windows... joy of shopping... and more importantly for me.. the joy of giving...

I will always remember my granddad's words... the joy of giving is so much more than the thrill of receiving.. and I could not agree more. I am delighted when I receive gifts, oh yes! But, I have to say that the happy glow from the giving is definitely longer lasting.

Click for recipes -->>

Feeding the heart....

A way to a man's heart is .....? A hearty Mutton Pie!




Mutton as I know, since I was ye high, has been goat meat, specifically 'kid' meat. Buying this meat is an art and science. Science because you have to choose a young goat, so you get the tenderest meat. Art because you have to stand over the butcher and make sure he does not sneak in not-so-prime cuts to up his margins.

In India, butcher shops are adorned with goat carcasses hung like curtains across the entrance the store. Inside it is usually dark, dank and filled with the smells of freshly slaughtered goats. Somehow one never heard the sounds of it! Nevertheless, I have never once stepped into a butcher's shop in India. The sights were always too intimidating. Besides, I was always a touch too OCD for the place... :)

Click for recipes -->>

Tell me why....

Persimmons! Or as I was introduced to them in Japan - Fuyu.. except the ones here are very, very different from the ones from the Far East...

Fuyus as I knew them, and had the treasured opportunity to revisit, a couple of years back, when a sweet friend smuggled it in to the States, are sweet, ridiculously succulent and take you away into the garden of Eden, leaving behind the reality of the dirty life we live...

Persimmons, or at least the ones, I have had the misfortune to taste here.. are quite in the contrary to that memoried taste! Sweet they are, yes, on the first bite but they invariably leave an acrid, mouth-drying after taste and feel. So tell me why?

I tried slow baking them to extract more sweetness but ironically it only heightened the bitterness! Any thoughts?



In other news.. I have a new toy! Nikkor 24-70 2.8G lens! Am super thrilled and alreayd playing with it ;-) does make up for the fruit problems!

When you (think) are losing control.....

Have a cup of coffee and do something that makes you happy(ier)...



I bake...

Click for recipes -->>