Showing posts with label General. Show all posts
Showing posts with label General. Show all posts

30 July, 2015

Watermelon-Citrus Cooler/Juice Recipe | Simple and Quick Summer Cooler Recipe

Learn how to make the Watermelon-Citrus Cooler/Juice

It’s been a wonderful summer so far… In fact, it’s the best summer season I have ever experienced in Britain! The flowers in rainbow colours are in full bloom, the rich green foliage of trees kissing the bright blue skies, the fluffy white sugar candy like clouds drifting away in the bright sky, the dainty white daisies smiling on a rich Persian green grass carpet and the smiling tanned faces that greets others in the streets. Ah… Blissful days of the year!



Summer is the time when I am busiest, inspite of the fact that the schools are closed. I see myself like an ant working long hours. With five year old for a company, the 24 hours in a day is not long enough to get everything done in a day. By the end of the day, I am so tired that I snooze off as soon as my head hits pillow.

23 April, 2014

As we write a new chapter of our life... In India!


My mind is filled with millions of thoughts and my heart is beating at the pace that is giving me scare! My hands are trembling and I feel bit nauseous. It looks like I am showing every signs of nervous breakdown as I try to calm my loud heart. I am afraid that loud noise of my beating heart will wake my Lil Dumpling lying next to me without any worry in the world. How I wish I could sleep that way without having to worry about anything! Well, it’s been a while since I slept through the night without worrying about the never ending list of things to do...



As I try to calm the voices that shout and scream loudly in my mind, I look around the dimly lit room that was once filled with little bits and pieces of our life. This is a room where we three lay our head in the night on a soft pillow, cuddling and hugging one another, our arms thrown carelessly around each other and our legs tangled under the blanket. I try to visualise the bed, the dresser, cloths in the closets, photo frames scattered around the room, night lights, piles of books and many other pieces of furnishing that once made this room a peaceful sanctuary are now carefully wrapped in a bubble wrap and packed in a brown cardboard boxes. I slowly get up from the makeshift bed on the floor, not to wake my little boy, and tip toe to next room which is as bare as the room I just left. I run down the stairs, very well knowing the sight that will welcome me. I walk from one room to another that were once filled with pieces and mementos of our lives, colours, cushions, books, toys, lovingly hand picked knick-knacks, pots and pans, photos and frames, cry and laughter, tears and joy, light, warmth and every other things that makes a house into a home. It’s all gone! It’s now just an empty shell… But…

10 July, 2013

Summer Days...With Lil Dumpling!


Because it’s summer and the memories are just waiting to happen.
~ Unknown
So it's 10th day of my year long sabbatical and to tell you frankly, I have never been busier than this before! Few told me that they will expect me to post more recipes as I will have more time on hand to cook, photograph and blog the recipes! I just smiled and looked at my lil one who was sleeping in my arms, the only quiet in our home :) Once he is up, there is no way I get to do things I please ;)

Now after all these days, there is not a moment I can call my own. But I am not complaining! I feel blessed to wake up every morning and not worry about meeting project deadlines at work and other hundred things that revolves around work. I wake up with a smile on my face and look forward to spending many happy hours with Lil Dumpling. We colour, draw, learn our numbers and letters, talk non-stop about bugs, dinosaurs, go for long walks, play hide and seek, laugh more, sing songs, read stories, make our own stories, dance silly, cook together, talk a lot, make bubbles, splash water and create many happy memories! I am eternally thankful to get this chance to relive my childhood through Lil Dumpling.

18 June, 2013

Goodbye Terrible Twos and Welcome Troublesome Threes! Happy 3rd Birthday to My Darling Lil Dumpling....


My dearest, darling, little menace Lil Dumpling,
You are going to be THREE this Sunday! Let’s get over with the cliché first, “How time flies!” Holy macaroni, when did you turn 3?! Seriously!!! ~sigh~

As you leave behind the year of Terrible Twos and enter the year of Troublesome Threes, your parents can’t help but feel proud for the little feisty fighter they are blessed with! As we see you, our little brave boy, hopping around the room dancing to the music playing in his mind, we feel the love for this little brat gushing from our hearts and threatening to flood our eyes! A wise person once told me that when your heart filled to the brim with love for someone, it is quite natural for it to overflow in the form of pearly tears! That wise person is now in different time zone, thousands of miles away eagerly waiting to cuddle you, her very first grandchild. You, our Lil dumpling, have shown us the true meaning of our hearts beating outside our bodies!

07 May, 2013

Spring on Our Doorstep


“What a strange thing!
to be alive
beneath cherry blossoms.”
― Kobayashi Issa

Spring is in full bloom and I had to share few snapshots of the season to celebrate the new beginning… Beautiful weather, vibrant colours and bees and people buzzing alike makes this season rather special…. So here are few photographs of the season from our doorsteps that brought so much joy to my heart!

22 April, 2013

Travel with me to The Lakes...


My initial plan was to post my Amma’s signature dish today, but my heart is not really into sharing fond memories of my childhood for some personal reasons. Instead I am sharing few photographs I clicked during our recent visit to one of the most beautiful and scenic holiday destination in the UK during first week of this month. I am hoping that revisiting this natural, untouched beauty of Mother Nature will bring much needed calmness and peace to my troubled heart and soul.

10 April, 2013

The Winners of Prashad Cookbook Are...

Kaushy Patel's Prashad

Hello All,

Thank you all for participating in a cookbook giveaway. After counting out the duplicate comments and leaving out my own comments, here are the two winners selected using random number generator.


The Winners of Mrs. Kaushy Patel’s cookbook Prashad are commenter #15 Manasi and #58 Naveen. Congratulations guys :) Please email me your shipping address to siakrishna(at)gmail(dot)com so that you can cook delicious meals from Prashad as soon as possible! If I don’t hear from you in week’s time I will randomly choose another winner(s) on 17th of April, 2013.

Warm Regards
Sia

21 January, 2013

Winter Wonderland!

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?
~ J. B. Priestley

31 December, 2012

Goodbye 2012 and Welcome 2013... Happy New Year!!!


A plate of Indian street food, Chaats is what I have for you on the last day of 2012. For me this plate of Chaat symbolises the life in general; a touch of sweet, a pinch of salt, a dash of sourness and a kick of spice! Just the way our life is, with ups and downs, challenges and achievements, happiness and joy, peppered with few tears and tantrums! But in the end it is quite satisfying and fulfilling experience... I hope the new year also brings new expectations, new opportunities, new challenges, and a whole new way of delighting people related with you!

Wishing you all a life changing, world shaping, wonderful, purposeful, awe-inspiring and ridiculously Happy New Year!!!

Warm Regards
Sia | Monsoon Spice

24 December, 2012

Merry Chirstmas!


The best gifts in life will never be found under a Christmas tree! Those gifts are friends, family, kids and the one you love!


To all of my family and the friends I have made, those who left for a while and those who have stayed...

Wishing You All A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

Warm Regards
Sia

21 November, 2012

31 October, 2012

Scotland ~ Through My Eyes!

My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart's in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer;
A-chasing the wild deer, and following the roe,
My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go.
~ Robert Burns

10 July, 2012

An Update and A Thank You!


Dear readers, 

I know it’s been a while since I updated Monsoon Spice with new recipes. Since my laptop battery has conked out, I am waiting for the new battery to arrive so that I can share some delicious food we have been enjoying. Please bear with me for few more days and I will update this space with freshly made home cooked meals ASAP. 

Warm Regards, 
Sia

29 April, 2012

They Inspire Me!


A bunch of blogs/website I love to visit… I found them to be really inspiring and visit them whenever I can… Some for wonderful recipes, some for soul touching narrations, some for good humour and laugh, some for brilliant food photography, some for larger than life photography and other for just being themselves without any frills and pretense! This is a work-in-progress list and I will update it as and when I come across the websites that touch my heart, make me think, makes me speak out, inspires me and make me weak at knees!!! :D

26 September, 2011

22 August, 2011

Shri Krishna Janmashtami Wishes



Avalakki Payasa/Poha Kheer for Shri Krishna Janmashtami celebration

Wishing all the readers of the Monsoon Spice a very Happy Shri Krishna Janmashtami.

warm regards
Sia

14 February, 2011

Valentine's Day Wishes to All...

Valentine1

"Love is like playing the piano. First you must learn to play by the rules, then you must forget the rules and play from your heart."
~Unknown

Wishing all the readers and well wishers of Monsoon Spice family a very Happy Valentine's Day.

With Love
Krish, Sia & Paarth