tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77883929394600592732009-12-19T00:27:14.315-06:00Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.comBlogger173125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-91623676409262103782009-09-20T10:31:00.017-05:002009-09-20T11:46:54.207-05:00

Imagine my surprise, walking into a cafe and greeted by none, no servers, no clutter of tables, no clink-clank of cutlery, just a vast space with an array of staring fiberglass dolls of varying colors, and paintings on the wall.If you are like me, who can stare at a painting or an installation for hours, drink some black coffee and gobble up some rich and delicious cakes, Kashi Art Café is the

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-24610037071961879322009-09-08T16:43:00.007-05:002009-09-08T17:02:27.969-05:00

Try telling the people in Tamil Nadu, that their staple food iddlis are not theirs but imported from Indonesia. Kakka Kakka, a Tamil film, which I loved, for the major part because of Surya ;) has an amusing scene. In that while the villain is questioning the lady, the co-villain interrupts the main one and asks, "anne pasikkathu, iddli saappittu varenne?" (Brother, I am hungry, can I go and eat

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-65677104989561763112009-08-31T15:07:00.013-05:002009-08-31T15:56:41.328-05:00

Have had many Onams and have prepared elaborate dishes sweating it out the previous nights and in wee hours. After preparing elaborate Onam Sadya, after the backbreaking and the payasam sweetness, I would just want to put up my feet and snore to glory and have happy dreams that another Onam is another year long. This fresh flower carpet is made on top of an old tyre that caught my attention. This

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-56488929348745958782009-08-29T16:00:00.011-05:002009-08-29T16:56:50.202-05:00

Strolling through the street of Santa Cruz Basilica at Ft Kochi, at the turn of the street corner, one could get a whiff of olive oil and mozzarella, the evening breeze carrying it down through a narrow stairway, part of an old house, painted in simple blue and white, the windows decorated in devil's ivy, in old earthen pots.You climb upstairs to reach Upstairs, a homely Italian twist to Fort

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-40540440470761216282009-08-28T16:51:00.007-05:002009-08-29T16:55:13.695-05:00

Cochin is considered to be the Queen of Arabian Sea, then Ft. Kochi must be her darling little princess. (It has a Princess Street too).If one more time I see a Kerala picture with green, with Chinese fishing nets, I would hit my head somewhere. I am exhausted telling people, Kerala is not all about greenery to die for, and coconuts to eat for, that we have much much more. The best place to

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-33541253826568417172009-04-05T21:12:00.009-05:002009-04-08T10:32:07.671-05:00

There was this Sunday at church where we kids could play, play with smooth cream and green leaves, curl it up into shapes, making crosses, or just folding it until the brown creases show through and pretend they were work of art – all the while parents wouldn’t mind as long as we didn’t destroy the leaves or start a sword fight or trying to hold the thinner ends and try to fish or make them

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-86462475868251057622009-01-11T21:18:00.005-06:002009-01-11T21:33:28.785-06:00

This is the first time I am making crabs in my life. I was (still a little) dead scared of these creatures. First of all, they look so scary and second you need to buy them fresh, oh my god! But I have eaten them so many times, once I ate so much, chewing even on the shells, I got a stomach ache. I just love to eat them.But then to prepare, eeeewwwww! I don’t like the feeling of being scared. So,

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-72741479343236959742009-01-05T22:04:00.015-06:002009-01-05T22:18:06.436-06:00

Hey, wont it be great to have an event for Snacks with holes!Kuzhalappam or Kozhalappam might be a distant cousin of those donuts and those uzhunnu vadas, if the hole is vital part of the dna of snacks. I am sure they come up with these holes just to fancy the kids, for the kids to get excited, wear it round their fingers like a giant diamond ring, and then munch on them. Oh what a wonderful life

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-76763737142189913582009-01-01T22:17:00.007-06:002009-01-01T22:27:36.352-06:00

Christmas and New Year Party Time! Easy appetizers!Buy some sausages, dice them up, sauté them in oil, add some pepper, add some shredded vegetables. Wrap them in pre-made egg roll sheets. I tried to bake some of them, it didn’t come out good, so switched to deep frying them. Let them pictures speak.

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-12355084219079719782008-12-30T23:42:00.005-06:002008-12-30T23:50:16.762-06:00

Many don’t like Brinjal due to its gooey texture after cooking. But at home, since my mom was very strict on us eating all kind of vegetables she could lay her hands on, we never got time to complain about texture. I was told by someone Brinjal didn’t have any nutrients and even plucked out some Brinjal plants. I was wrong. It has a stash of nutrients and those violet colors are good for

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-90173202617198965922008-12-17T19:14:00.003-06:002008-12-17T19:47:48.319-06:00

I am a big fan of spicyana and her fairy like creations. It is not only that she creates beautiful artifacts; she handles the camera at amazing angles and will make you drool over the fantastic pictures. Her aesthetic sense is amazing.So when she made ‘melting moments’ last Christmas and packed goodie bags, I so so wanted one of that. I don’t have Archana near by me so I had to make them myself

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-90822103923760358252008-12-13T11:57:00.013-06:002008-12-17T19:17:54.529-06:00

This time I made a lot of cakes all at once, Usually I make them batch by batch so that I could correct in the later batches. I tried my luck this time and took one whole day for baking… it was smelling Christmas all last Sunday and as the cakes sit there waiting to be eaten it sure smells like a Bakery. So Welcome to Ginger and Mango Bakeries.I am not a good baker and I follow K.M Mathews cake

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-43191266563938861342008-12-02T18:16:00.002-06:002008-12-17T19:18:06.562-06:00

As every season, I am late by two weeks this Christmas too. I was supposed to soak all the dried fruits two weeks ago and I just did it 5 minutes back.I have soaked 1200 gm of Raisins and 1600 gm of mixed dried fruits. Poured 1.5 litr of some cheap brandy.Two days of soaking and I will start my baking.I am yet to decorate the tree, plan about the snacks, plan about the dinner. I am so busy at

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-43662266136992909952008-05-31T20:07:00.002-05:002008-12-30T23:48:21.986-06:00

Raw banana with smashed shallots and chili, sautéed in some coconut oil… Love to have that with some curd and rice.Buy raw bananas, any type. Usually in India, we get bananas that are used only for cooking. We call it ‘ponthan kaaya’, they are short and stout and is not good to eat when ripe. That is they are less sweet. So we cook them.Anyway you can use the same for any raw banana.Scrape the

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-63007721712377386112008-05-24T17:01:00.004-05:002008-05-24T17:08:01.047-05:00

I am just testing out this post to see whether it will appear on Taste of India. I wrote three posts this week, scheduled them to be posted on a certain date and time using bloggers new schedule your posts magic. The posts appear or publish at the exact time, but somehow Taste of India never picks it up?It appears on Reader, if it appears on Reader, why wont the feed be picked up?hmm......why

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-43764979538581957582008-05-24T07:02:00.002-05:002008-05-24T17:01:19.917-05:00

It is very difficult to get good mutton in U.S if you don’t know the right places. The difficulty being most Americans does not eat mutton. Usually Middle-Eastern, or Hyderabadi shops or Muslim shop owners carry good fresh mutton. Remember the Seinfeld episode where his girl friend feeds him mutton and he chews and puts them into his coat pocket and Elaine being chased by the street dogs? Mutton

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-69183183623114336772008-05-22T07:30:00.004-05:002008-05-22T07:51:58.844-05:00

Haven’t you seen the country style pork ribs at stores in U.S? Ever bought them? I love them more than the spareribs. They are an easy party dish, cheaper and fattier, more pieces and a party favorite.Buy country style ribs with the bone and divide each piece into three.Marinate them in a paste of curd, chili powder, ginger garlic paste, curry leaves, onion, salt, turmeric powder and a little bit

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-47337738959957862142008-05-20T07:48:00.003-05:002008-12-30T23:48:48.056-06:00

Don’t like bittergourd? Add them to potatoes. Yes, bittergourd and potato is a spectacular combination. Like one big happy family they cling on to each other sharing the sweetness and the bitterness. This is one great way to make all those bitterphobic kids and grownups to have a little iron in their food and to welcome bitter gourd, the nutrient rich gourd into your dinner plate.Bitter grourd.

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-70663657305101161732008-05-18T20:14:00.009-05:002008-12-30T23:49:09.539-06:00

Puris and potato curry for a Sunday brunch, for a train journey, as a friend drops by – it is the simplest and the best.I am yet to find a pantry that doesn’t store potatoes. With around five thousand varieties, you get them in any part of the World. Imagine a World where there were no potatoes? Well, ask the Irish about the Potato Famine.Cultivated some 7000 years ago in Peru, they are the

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-43893577409764230142008-05-06T22:32:00.007-05:002008-05-08T09:39:25.920-05:00

No I am not talking about Democratic Primaries, but about my $43.06 this week! :-)Do you remember me? Yes, I am cash. I know I am not popular around here with that cute little plastic thingie you all carry around to swipe. But let me tell y’all something, I am the real one with a capital r.So girls, guess what. I just impressed myself. Gave myself a pat on my back! Imagine I cut down my weekly

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-29501513463867996412008-04-30T21:35:00.009-05:002008-05-01T08:05:32.580-05:00

There are not many lyrics sung in their praises, not many stories, not many artists cared for their love. We all grew up thinking mothers can love only their biological children, the image so implanted into our heads, we start to hate them even before we see them. Yet there are millions of them, million of lovely ladies, million of mothers with so much love you are surprised why they are loathed

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-36810003208893841822008-04-29T20:52:00.007-05:002008-04-29T21:04:39.578-05:00

Hopefully this is my last shopping for this whole week if not surprised with guests. I do have milk I think will last me through the week and little bit of this and that. I was supposed to do all this on Saturday and didn’t get time on Sunday too. So had to do my usual shopping on Monday and Tuesday.This shop is a little further away from my home, but a Kerala store where we get Malayalam Films

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-79884340589685903462008-04-28T19:39:00.004-05:002008-04-28T19:46:13.923-05:00

My next stop was Wal-mart for the non-Indian things. Buying Indian ingredients is much cheaper in local Indian stores than the usual stores. After posting about the event, I am a little surprised since even though I said I would do my normal shopping, I am a little cautious I believe. Usually my bills at Wal-mart would be 40$ or so and at Indian stores around 30$. But I already see a difference

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-88237344498253932832008-04-27T10:49:00.007-05:002008-04-27T10:58:52.855-05:00

This is my normal routine. I buy vegetables, fruits and other supplies from Wal-mart, Publix and two Indian stores.Yesterday I got a small supply of vegetables from the first Indian store. These vegetables would last me for 2-3 days. Total bill comes to $16.34 Now I have got to buy milk, eggs, potatoes, tomatoes, frozen coconut etc from other stores.As others said we all waste a lot of food. I

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7788392939460059273.post-6254683817040218692008-04-24T21:24:00.005-05:002008-04-27T10:55:48.920-05:00

It is happening. There is food ration even in the U S of A. Look where oil politics have brought this world into. People are struggling in many parts of the World due to this global food crisis. U.S is the most gluttonous nation of all. Even here, the crisis is creeping into our daily lives in alarming rates.To be prepared, like everyone else the first thing that came to my mind is to check my

Inji Pennuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16079447688035812508suddenlyinji@gmail.com26