Author Archives: memoriesandsuch

In My Hands Today…

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The Pleasure Seekers – Tishani Doshi

8238048Meet the Patel-Joneses—Babo, Sian, Mayuri, and Bean—in their little house with orange and black gates next door to the Punjab Women’s Association in Madras. Babo grew up here, but he and Sian, his cream-skinned Welsh love, met in London. Babo’s parents disapproved. And then they disapproved unless the couple moved back to Madras. So here they are. And as the twentieth century creaks and croaks its way along, Babo, Sian, and the children navigate their way through the uncharted territory of a “hybrid” family: the hustle and bustle of Babo’s relatives; the faraway phone-line crackle of Sian’s; the eternal wisdom and soft bosom of Great-Grandmother Ba; the perils of first love, lost innocence, and old age; and the big question: What do you do with the space your loved ones leave behind?

Recipe: Coconut Semiya (Vermicelli)

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Coconut Vermicelli 5

Growing up, the making of semiya used to be a day-long affair at home with preparations starting in the morning to make the rice paste which then gets cooked and then using a special machine, thin strands of rice vermicelli are passed out which are then cooked to make this yummy coconut vermicelli. Nowadays, instant rice vermicelli is readily available which makes making this dish easy.

Coconut Vermicelli 3Coconut Semiya or Vermicelli

Ingredients:

  • 1 packet instant rice vermicelli
  • 1 cup grated coconut
  • 2 tsp oil
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp broken urad dal (split black gram)
  • A handful of raisins
  • 1/4 tsp asafoetida
  • 1 green chilli, chopped
  • 4-5 curry leaves
  • 2 dried red chillies, broken
  • Salt to taste

Method:

  • Prepare the instant rice vermicelli as per the instructions in the packet. Drain well and keep aside.
  • In a separate pan, heat the oil and when warm, add the mustard seeds, urad dal, asafoetida, green chillies, dried red chillies, curry leaves, raisins and stir for a few seconds till the urad dal becomes red and the raisins start to plump up.
  • Now add the grated coconut and stir well till it starts to brown and crisp up.
  • Add salt to taste and continue stirring till the coconut is slightly brown and crisp.
  • Now add the drained vermicelli and stir well to mix together.
  • Remove from the flame and serve hot.

This is yummy both as a slightly heavy breakfast or a light meal.

Coconut Vermicelli 2Coconut Vermicelli 4Coconut Vermicelli 1

 

 

 

 

 

In My Hands Today…

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The Blue Book – A.L. Kennedy

11076137Elizabeth Barber is crossing the Atlantic by liner with her perfectly adequate boyfriend, Derek, who might be planning to propose. In fleeing the UK – temporarily – Elizabeth may also be in flight from her past and the charismatic Arthur, once her partner in what she came to see as a series of crimes. Together they acted as fake mediums, perfecting the arcane skills practised by effective frauds.

Elizabeth finally rejected what once seemed an intoxicating game. Arthur continued his search for the right way to do wrong. He now subsidises free closure for the traumatised and dispossessed by preying on the super-rich. The pair still meet occasionally, for weekends of sexual oblivion, but their affection lacerates as much as it consoles.

She hadn’t, though, expected the other man on the boat. As her voyage progresses, Elizabeth’s past is revealed, codes slowly form and break as communication deepens. It’s time for her to discover who are the true deceivers and who are the truly deceived.

What’s more, is the book itself – a fiction which may not always be lying – deceiving the reader? Offering illusions and false trails, magical numbers and redemptive humour, this is a novel about what happens when we are misled and when we are true: an extraordinarily intricate and intimate journey into our minds and hearts undertaken by a writer of great gifts – a maker of wonders.

2017 Week 39 Update

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Another sort of boring week for me! My parents landed in Singapore and it’s been a week of spending time with them.

Other than that, I’m back to my usual routine of looking for a new job. I’ve sent some applications, but none have bitten so far. I really hope that I am more successful this time around and don’t have to wait so long to get another position.

I  am also prepping for the biggest festival in the Hindu calendar – Deepavali or Diwali as it is called in the northern parts of India! We’ve started cleaning the house and my mum and I have started deciding on what to make (sweets and savouries) for the festival. The children still have exams going on and once it ends (by the end of this week), I’ll take them shopping to buy new clothes.

Have a wonderful week folks! Hope that next week I have more to share….

Secondary 2 Week 39 Update

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Exam week for both GG & BB!

BB’s exams almost ended on Friday with only Art left on Monday. He has already started celebrating his end of exams and it’s a real pain to get him to do the prep work for his art exam.

GG has changed a lot over the last year or so and has matured so much, I am surprised each time I see glimpses of her maturity. She has been studying every opportunity she gets and her goal is to top her previous marks which is very commendable.

Nothing much to write this week. Have a good Sunday people!