Do not underestimate the power of the 'F' words!
😍
They rock!
Durga Puja was celebrated here in The Netherlands.
(I know, I am writing after a long time)
We put in immense effort to organize it all, created a piece of India here, re-created our childhood memories and basked in nostalgia.
The weeks before the event went in a frenzy, with things to be done, calls to be made, meetings to be arranged. The week itself went in a frenzy too.....satisfied, happy, content and excited with friends. The week after made me feel ..hmm...what a lovely event it was.
Then it was Diwali. I spent it at home with family and lights.
Now it is time for Sinterklas, Thanksgiving, Christmas ...the festive season continues......
As the days become dull and the mercury levels drop, the two things that help me to survive are the festival lights and the baking aroma from the neighbour's kitchen.
(Sometimes from my kitchen too).
The mood (even at work, on Mondays) is festive with a positive feel everywhere.
(Sometimes from my kitchen too).
The mood (even at work, on Mondays) is festive with a positive feel everywhere.
(We will keep the boss and the end year appraisal out of this discussion) ;-)
There is indeed a 'Thanksgiving' mood everywhere.
We are thankful for everything that we have. Life itself has taught us to be thankful.
The Gift of Life.
The Gift of Life.
One of the many things that make this festive season so special is food.
After a week of delicious Indian Bengali food during the Pujas, the food at the office canteen was no less than a culture-shock! My taste buds freaked out once again!
Why cant they serve hot spicy fish fry at lunch?
I know. I know. (still, dil mange more!)
Food is not a hobby in my family.
It is passion, it is bonding, it is a 24x7 thought process.
It is passion, it is bonding, it is a 24x7 thought process.
Cooking is not an everyday chore but a celebration by itself.
(I do not discuss this with my dietitian or my gym-instructor, and I do not have either)
So when my next door Dutch neighbour goes out for a jog because the sun is shining, I look at her from my kitchen window with appreciation and plan to make "Lobongolotika*".
No kidding.
Different people have energy for different things. That is what makes the Earth such an interesting place to live in.
How boring would it have been if all of us went for a jog just because the sun was shining?
(Impressive! that is one of the most convincing anti-jogging excuses I have come up with in recent times)
The other good thing about the festive season is that it comes 'guilt-free'.
When happy people talk about food during this season, somehow the topic of calories do not ruin the conversation. Even if they do, they are treated as cute kids whose naughtiness can be ignored for the moment. They are not discussed as scary monsters that take over your life and never leave you.
Take a deep breath. I did make Lobongolotika that day (will share the recipe later).
Today I made a FLAN. (Baked Caramel Pudding)
Right! just to match the F-words in the title of my post.
The recipe is adapted from BongMoms cookbook.
Every time I make it, it turns out to be delicious and I thank BongMom from the bottom of my stomach.
Ingredients:
Right! just to match the F-words in the title of my post.
The recipe is adapted from BongMoms cookbook.
Every time I make it, it turns out to be delicious and I thank BongMom from the bottom of my stomach.
Ingredients:
- 3 Eggs
- 1 can of condensed milk
- 2 cans of full milk (use the empty condensed milk can to measure)
- 1 tbsp Orange zest (Fresh zest adds a LOT of flavour)
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 1 cup Sugar
Ready steady cook:
In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, condensed milk and full milk.
Add the orange zest and the vanilla essence.
In a separate heavy bottom pan, add a cup of sugar and 1/2 cup water. Let it come to boil at high heat. It will caramelize and turn brown. Keep swirling the mix till it turns dark brown and you can smell the caramelised sugar. Keep swirling the pan continuously so that it is not burnt.
Pour it into an oven proof bowl. Swirl the bowl immediately so that the caramel coats the bottom of the bowl uniformly.
It solidifies very fast...so be faster.
It solidifies very fast...so be faster.
Let it cool. Pour the egg and milk mix into the bowl.
Preheat the oven to 180 deg C.
Bake the mix in a water bath for 65-70 mins. Let it cool down to room temperature and then put in the refrigerator to cool for 5-6 hrs.
Take out. Cover the bowl with a flat serving plate and with one quick jerky move, turn the pudding bowl upside down. The caramel pudding (with the brown caramel on top) easily slides on to the plate.
