Paneer Bhurji Recipe | Simple and Quick Paneer Recipes

Learn how to make Paneer Bhurji ~ Indian style scrambled Indian cottage cheese flavoured with spices

I should be finishing last minute packing, cleaning and cooking like right now, but here I am sitting and typing this post! I am not really sure why I am doing this amidst all that last minute packing and all that madness that comes with a day before flying! Well, that’s me I guess, wrapping myself in a comfort of words and memories when life gets little crazy and I want to drift back to cozy cocoon to calm my nerves or too much of excitement.

The summer holidays have begun for LD and it feels anything but summery in our neck of woods with pretty bad weather with cloudy skies, non-stop drizzles and even flash floods ruining the holiday mood. It’s no fun if one must spend indoors during summer, so we booked our tickets and travelling thousands of miles to be in a country which is bathed in heavy Monsoon rains! Halleluiah… Two sets of grandparents, half a dozen cousins, aunts and uncles should keep us busy and the fact that we are going to over indulge in Monsoon food specialities are making me too excited! This is going to be a mother and son holiday, at least for first 2 and half weeks until LD’s dad joins us and travelling with over excited, chatty, can’t-sit-still-for-more-than-five-minutes kid for most part of the day is going to be a piece of cake (not)!

Tandoori Gobi Recipe with Homade Tandoori Masala | Spicy Indian Whole Roasted Cauliflower Recipe

Learn how to make Tandoori Gobi and homemade Tandoori Masala ~ Roasted whole head of cauliflower marinaded with spicy yogurt flavoured with homemade tandoori masala spice blend

The doors and windows are wide open and thin, soft muslin curtains fluttering in the warm sun kissed breeze. Outside in the garden, the borders are decked with colourful flower beds that attract the buzzing bees and colourful butterflies. The trees are standing tall and proud showing off their beautiful mane of lush green leaves. The heady fragrance of roses, mogra and lilies perfume the air and senses… It is summer... the most wonderful season!

Homemade Tandoori Masala spice blend

My morning walks have become longer as I no longer need to cover myself with layers of clothing and thick coats/jackets weighing me down! My steps are lighter as I walk around in flip flops and shorts enjoying the warm sun on my face and breeze messing my hair! The people I meet on my walking route, and even the strangers, are greeting one another with big smile. That’s what the summer sun does to you… Happy and cheerful…

Aloo Tikki-Chole Chaat Recipe | How to Make Aloo Tikki Chole Chaat

Learn how to make Aloo Tikki-Chole Chaat ~ A popular Indian street food of spiced potato patties served with spicy chickpeas curry and assorted sweet date-tamarind chutney and hot mint-coriander chutney and topped with finely chopped onions, tomatoes and sev

Inside a small restaurant with double glazed window you will find several posters of Bollywood stars smiling at you. There are small granite tables with pickle and chutney trays on top and matching red velvet cushioned chairs. Large framed photograph of Guru Nanak is hung just above the cashier’s desk and a small table fan is rotating gently. The aroma of food being cooked inside the kitchen is intoxicating and people are busy savouring plates of Naans, Curries, Chaats, Indian sweets and Kebabs.

Come out of the restaurant you will find women in colourful saris and salwar kameez, men wearing colourful turbans and kurtas, pavement food stalls selling Samosas, Chaats and Jalebi, small shops selling mobile phones and bright fabrics in rainbow colours hanging in shop fronts. Add to this the Bhangra music and sweet smell of incense and spices is in the air. Am I in India?!