tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-355789752012-01-28T05:14:13.110-05:00A Bong, a mom & a cook...Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.comBlogger3711100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-30623227065868092022012-01-27T11:49:00.002-05:002012-01-27T11:52:49.742-05:00

"Khai Se" -- said with an East Bengal accent followed by scratching of head or any other decent body part translates to "Oh My Gosh(OMG)" And no not the "OMG!OMG!!! you look so pretty" said to the bride. Rather "OMG! #$%#$%!!! I am so sorry. I spilled my greasy butter paneer on your wedding saree" kinda "OMG". So I wanted to say I made "Khao Soi" because that is what my heart was set on. And

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-16751018325990785822012-01-21T22:34:00.001-05:002012-01-21T22:36:58.231-05:00

Everybody and their nephew must already know how to make a Sweet Corn Soup. I didn't. Before Jan 16th that is. I didn't even want to know. Sweet Corn Soup wasn't the kind of soup I ordered at a restaurant. At a restaurant I usually skip the soup. Except of course if it is Thai where I can practically live on the soup. And if it is Panera where I go to torture myself. But on Jan 16th after all

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-84082325047718425192012-01-15T00:18:00.001-05:002012-01-15T00:19:53.227-05:00

I really had no intention to make a dessert again today. Sankranti, Columbus Day, Republic Day -- no, I wasn't going to celebrate them by making anything sweet. Enough !! My Ma though had other ideas. She had already made the coconut-kheer stuffing and was all ready to launch into Poush-Parbon frenzy. "Nah, no more sweets. Do you realize how much of sugar we have consumed all through December?"

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-47982849921437044042012-01-11T12:01:00.001-05:002012-01-11T12:03:30.900-05:00

"Go, watch a movie", my Mother prods. She does this every time she is here. Religiously, during the course of her six months of stay, she asks me to go out to a movie theater. To a multiplex, with digital screens, buckets of popcorn, large glasses of coke, the whole zing-bang. She says it the same way she asks me to take my vitamins, calcium , drink milk, exercise, kapalbhaati, breath in-out.

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-75806611103315577102012-01-08T21:23:00.001-05:002012-01-08T21:25:16.814-05:00

I wanted to start the New Year on this blog with something very profound and meaningful, maybe even a bit philosophical with a swirl of spiritual thrown in. Something which would ensure that I wasn't really high on Tequila on the 31st, which btw I wasn't. Honest. I wanted to say stuff like "What does Happy New year mean "? What is "happy" after all ? Who decides "Happy" and what is it with "

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-83326446931871325472011-12-20T11:05:00.000-05:002011-12-20T11:05:57.159-05:00

The year is almost at the end and I love that there is so much of holiday spirit and excitement which leaves little time to look back on the year that is past. I am not great at the whole "looking back" thing. You give me a moment to pause and ponder and I go hyper, over-analyzing things I should have done the other way. I like it better this way when everything happens so fast that I have

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-37836282640095231502011-12-13T10:21:00.004-05:002012-01-11T11:12:32.794-05:00

The inspiration of this Prawn Pulao came from Mishmash's CheMmeen Biryani. I call it "CheenMeen" which sounds so lyrical that it is hard to get it out of my head. It is like raindrops but better. However I will stick to Prawn Pulao or better Chingri Maacher Polao because the recipe is quiet different from her Biryani and you would better check out her page for the Biryani. Also if I said "

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-19171564406618190332011-12-05T14:31:00.004-05:002011-12-05T14:58:07.357-05:00

Last year when we went to India my biggest regret was not being able to eat at Oh!Calcutta. I sure must have had other regrets. But 365 days later, that is the one that still haunts me. No amount of Biryani, egg roll, chicken chaap seemed to be able to apply a thick layer of soothing balm on that. And it is not that we had not tried. We did. I had it all planned out even before the flight so

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-74335784076146794042011-11-28T12:36:00.003-05:002011-11-29T09:36:50.483-05:00

This is my Sister-in-law's recipe. Actually her innovation. She invented this thing. Including the nomenclature. Called it "Begun Bahar" (or was it "Begum Bahar"). Then she sent me an e-mail. This is what her mail read. Ditto. "Bengan Bahaar (amaar deo naam ) Fry shrimp with salt and haldi keep it aside.Fry the begun as we do begun bhaja and keep aside. Grind cut onion ginger garlic and

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-19000573388753647942011-11-21T14:21:00.000-05:002011-11-21T14:21:57.775-05:00

I had no Plan To make a Flan Okay, bad joke. Granted. Without wasting any more time, let me go onto the recipe. But let me tell you I actually wanted to make a steamed Caramel Pudding the kind my/your/neighbor's Mom used to do in India, right in the Pressure Cooker. I did not know about Flan but again I DID NOT want to use the pressure cooker. I am not too sure with the cooker when it comes

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-16555589924368051472011-11-16T10:04:00.000-05:002011-11-16T10:04:14.170-05:00

Got up 20 mins later than usual.It was a chaos.While was frantically trying to rush out in time had a squabble with BigSis who was waiting for her school bus. "I won't tell you the fun thing we had in Social Studies", she said, still mad at me. I ignored. I was late. The fuel indicator in my car was blinking furiously. I would not be able to beat the traffic today, my mind said. Big Sis waited

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-55718544355279298202011-11-10T10:38:00.003-05:002011-11-10T10:50:49.996-05:00

Some people are dumb and then some are dumber. Always one way or the other.And then there are some who will not only act dumb but also tell the whole world about their "dumbness" as if that was the one thing the world wanted to know. In reality, the world could care less. But I fall in the last category. I like to talk about my very own dumbness because I think it might act as a pep pill for

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-57060507048765398452011-10-31T21:13:00.003-04:002011-11-01T10:25:21.177-04:00

It snowed. In October. After Diwali and Before Halloween, even before daylight saving set in. And all because when I heard of Colorado having a "White Diwali" I thought to myself "Thank God, I don't live in Colorado". Yes, go ahead and blame me for this freak of nature. And the worst part is it happened on a Saturday instead of a lovely Monday when it would have served the perfect excuse for not

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-39575930033284151182011-10-24T14:29:00.000-04:002011-10-24T14:29:22.343-04:00

If you have known me even for t-e-n nanoseconds you would know that when there is a microwaveable-done in twenty minutes- besan laddoo versus stove top-arm twisting- back aching-one whole hour-besan laddoo, I will choose the former. If you are the kind who will go for the latter, more power to you and a Happy Diwali in the kitchen. Others, please read on. I could have cited reasons as this,

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-9994297502553045062011-10-19T22:54:00.002-04:002011-10-24T12:14:42.139-04:00

Before any of you go ballistic and start crashing up your iPads and say this recipe is a hoax, let me come clean and tell you this recipe of Methi Chicken does not need a single sprig of fresh methi green. I mean you can add fresh methi greens if you want and it definitely would be a nice thing to do but on a chilly October evening when you do not feel like donning a jacket to drive out in

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-85966168307288718982011-10-19T09:20:00.001-04:002011-10-19T09:21:09.749-04:00

When coking is not a chore it is fun. Why else do you think little hands fly around to make tiny rotis when the mother sucks big time at them. This picture goes to Susan's lovely photo event Black & White Wednesday. The second picture has nothing to do with food directly but a lot indirectly. It was taken on a rainy Saturday when we had gone all the way to the city for the sole purpose of

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-29987174886715263062011-10-11T10:47:00.002-04:002011-10-11T10:58:22.703-04:00

I used to like October a lot, a humongous size of a lot, more than 2.5 acres of a lot. I would count the days leading up to Shoshthi, the days of missing school, the days until the magazine guy would drop off the anandomela on the front porch and the days until we would pack up or suitcases and metal trunks to wait at the small station early in the morning with sleep in our eyes. I still like

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-88702165040324643742011-10-07T23:50:00.000-04:002011-10-07T23:50:47.400-04:00

Sorry, I have been awfully late in declaring the winner. Couldn't help it. It was Durga Pujo after all. Not that we did a lot given that the Pujo this time spanned across all week days. But we did manage to wear our sarees, offer anjali, eat Bhog, see arati and even a bit of sindoor khela at the wee end of Bijoya evening.We also saw the wonderful Golu set up at the Krishna Temple near our home

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-509319916736394822011-09-28T12:00:00.006-04:002011-09-28T15:01:25.038-04:00

No, this post has nothing to do with any religion. I am not the right person for that kind of thing. I have little knowledge about the tenets and rituals of the various religion including mine. All I want myself to have is faith, a belief to guide me through life. This B&W photo of Narkel Naru from a previous Durga Pujo goes to Susan's B&W Wednesday Why I mention Ramadan or is it Ramzan, is

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-77003051701109574952011-09-26T21:43:00.000-04:002011-09-26T21:43:10.302-04:00

My Dad who is really bad at story telling is coerced into telling LittleSis a story. He goes, " There was a cow who gave us milk...". Okay I really don't know how this exciting story would have turned out but LS intervened " Cow gives you milk ? Naaaah. We get Milk from the fridge and Baba puts it there. He gets it from the grocery stores". Does this prove "Baba is cow" ? Kind of. The BigSis

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-19044443217679550672011-09-21T11:46:00.000-04:002011-09-21T11:46:46.970-04:00

This post should have been written last year, but I sat on it for the longest time ever because I did not know how to write what I felt. I still don't. But what the heck I thought. It is Black & White Wednesday. And anyway what can you write about something that is as mythical as Coffee House,tucked between old bookshops, above betel-juice stained stairs on a by-lane just east off College Street.

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-58150452229648738722011-09-19T22:15:00.004-04:002011-09-20T08:15:03.850-04:00

5 years and I am still the same. Not really same-same but same as in my paranoia about pre-school teachers remains exactly same as when BigSis started school 5 years ago. While my faith and absolute regard has gone up for elementary school teachers my trust on pre-school teachers hovers around the bottom of the curve. Of course once I get to know them and 3 months have passed I love them like

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-10734266869775202912011-09-10T00:04:00.000-04:002011-09-10T00:04:29.257-04:00

Mashla Muri is the homebody, gharelu cousin of sexy Jhaalmuri. It doesn't ask much from you. Roast some puffed rice to warm and crisp, add finely chopped onion and green chili. The chili must be the fiery, hot kind. Some finely chopped cukes are most welcome. Next goes some spicy mixture or dalmut. While you pour the pungent mustard oil, let the tea boil to give you company when you need it

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-90785612480085675962011-09-01T12:34:00.001-04:002011-09-01T12:36:32.748-04:00

A couple of months back... Me to BigSis: Have you heard of Isaac newton ? Do you know who he is ? BigSis : Yes, yes, he is the guy who said we should wash our hands twenty times with soap and water to kill germs. Me: ????? Don't they teach anything at your school ? Newton was a famous scientist... BigSis: Yes, that is why he said to wash hands !!! Me, now confused, maybe Newton said

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-69512804915341858902011-08-29T00:10:00.008-04:002011-09-01T12:29:22.939-04:00

Last week was the season premiere of TWC -- The Weather Channel. There was drama, earthquake, suspense, Irene the tormenting saas making an entry, hurricane, fear, tropical storm, tornado watch and lots of media coverage. I watched Weather Channel like I have never done in my life. It is usually my Dad's prerogative when he is here and especially if it is winter. But in one week I outdid him.

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-20831136433363246472011-08-23T22:47:00.002-04:002011-08-23T22:52:25.638-04:00

My garden did not grow this summer. I mean it did, but only the weeds.Tall, willowy, reed like weeds are growing in abundance and I am telling myself it is an unkempt, english garden. Truth be told, there is nothing English about it, there is just a whole lot of crappy weeds. That's it. Far back in April we had decided that we will not do our tiny veggie patch this year. We had also decided

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-52339959200626650692011-08-18T14:43:00.006-04:002011-08-18T14:50:24.523-04:00

Nazrul or Rabindrasangeet ? Ghoti or Bangal ? Suman or Nachiketa ? Threading or Brazilian wax ? Ilish or Chingri ? Bedouin or HotKathi ? Goldspot or Limca ? Soumitro or Uttam ? Jhaaler jhol or Rasa ? To each his own, I say. Jhaaler Jhol is a light dish with lots of vegetables that my friend N makes. When I made it last weekend D said his mother made something similar but with tender

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-38656688305915851722011-08-11T22:45:00.002-04:002011-08-11T22:49:07.832-04:00

Birthdays when I was a kid were simplistic affairs. It was the 70's. The most glamorous birthday song I had ever heard was Johnny Walker singing "Happy Birthday To You" on Binaca Geetmala. It was a good thing that we hadn't watched the movie and there was no YouTube to see the song. Other than Johnny Walker and Joy Mukherjee no one seems to enjoy that birthday party, not even Saira Banu in her

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-76464591594045765142011-08-09T13:47:00.001-04:002011-08-09T13:47:19.518-04:00

She had an inkling of it for a while now.But never uttered a word. Why bring the climax in the middle of a beautiful life story, she thought. If I can just avert my eyes a little, to the left, I can pretend I never saw it. Hadn't she been doing this all her life now, her life after marriage that is. When he would drop the wet towel right there on the middle of her Jaipuri bedspread, leaving a

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-34170400965736431662011-08-01T14:32:00.012-04:002011-08-01T14:36:09.793-04:00

This summer, being the Type A parent that I am, I had been a little worried. Big Sis might not have fun I thought. The scenario was something like this.She did not want to join a summer camp; her very good friend, the little neighbor girl left for India the day after the vacations started; she would be home with Little Sis and the nanny and nothing on TV except basic cable translated to PBS kids.

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-44501973539722371332011-07-28T12:19:00.001-04:002011-07-28T12:34:32.098-04:00

At last it is here. The Chalks and Chopsticks round up that you all probably waited for and then politely gave up. I will not bore you with lame excuses and sheer tales of my laziness; instead dig in and start on a wonderful journey of food and tales. If I have missed anyone's entry please do let me know and pardon my incompetence. Next edition is at Jaya's. Hop over to see the rules she has

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-12333321885755093222011-07-06T21:07:00.004-04:002011-07-07T15:12:20.400-04:00

Vegetable Chop or Bhejtebil Chop(sic!) is another popular snack from streets of Kolkata My Mother having grown up in the mofussils, where everything from rosogolla to chingri'r chop(shrimp cutlet) was made at home, had an uncanny fear of Kolkata street food. Actually any street food. All through the 80's, she stymied my attempts at street food with a vengeance that matched a NRI mother who

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-78276739252525266452011-07-01T11:46:00.003-04:002011-07-01T12:21:20.845-04:00

The Mashima* at 37B/1 was very stingy. Miser might be a better word to describe her. She complained about everything, about the corners not being swept, the brown stain not being scrubbed well from the teapot, the Rin bar getting over on the 28th instead of the 31st and about how much tea Manju drank throughout the day. And the last one wasn't even true. But Manju kept quiet. The money here was

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-67265485314917238862011-06-29T11:40:00.000-04:002011-06-29T11:41:45.538-04:00

Looks a gorgeous mess but it IS delicious It has been 12 days since Big Sis's summer vacation started. In these 12 days there have been picnics, movie at the theater(Judy Moody), umpteen library visits, one piano recital, friends staying over for one weekend and one sleepover. Only the sleepover did not culminate in sleep because it was Big Sis's first and she missed her little sis terribly.

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-84391066533608549822011-06-22T13:07:00.003-04:002011-06-22T14:56:33.525-04:00

The whole of winter we rarely ever see our neighbors except little neighbor girl of course. Come summer everyone creeps out of the woodwork.There is weight that has been lost, pounds that have been put on, hair that has changed color and in some cases babies that have sprouted.I wouldn't even have recognized the same people in a different surrounding. Last week on a balmy summer evening, we

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-64419100076955102032011-06-17T13:02:00.002-04:002011-06-17T14:13:10.311-04:00

Near my home there is a place called Tuscany. Beautiful rolling hills, wind rustling through the olive branches, bales of golden hay rolled up in meadows.... Okay, Cut, Cut...That is the other Tuscany Repeat again. Near my home there is a place called Tuscany, the Italian Gourmet Food store. BigSis loves the pasta there. I love it too but she loves it more so lets blame it on her. The other

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-16186417586656356302011-06-13T12:16:00.003-04:002011-06-14T10:09:27.341-04:00

Remember my rant about nail paints some weeks back ? Remember me as the Mom who does not like kids to indulge in such pleasures ? Well, after a long, long time I went for a pediacure last week. Other than work, I don't go out much without the kids so these ventures are very notable in my life.To achieve the said task, I went to work an hour early and then left an hour early so that in spite of

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-27383232685068755952011-06-09T11:22:00.001-04:002011-06-09T11:25:41.233-04:00

Summer is here upon us, all with its 90F+ temperature and I am lovin' it. As usual summer gets me extremely hyper. With first signs of warmth I start planning outdoor weekend trips which eventually leads to fun weekends but very very tired weekdays. A couple weeks back we took BigSis and Little Sis to the Philadelphia Zoo. This was LS's first zoo visit and she was very excited. BS's school had

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-46382686615405919282011-06-06T11:53:00.005-04:002011-06-09T11:27:17.094-04:00

Little S loves bandhakopir tarkari or cabbage sabzi. Only she calls it "Baba Kopi". This makes us laugh because "Baba"=Dad in Bengali. She does not like Fulkopi or Cauliflower as much as "BabaKopi". Also she refers to Cauliflower as "White Broccoli". And then she calls Swami Vivekananda -- Ferdinando. Otherwise her Bengali is impeccable. The Dalna in Bengali Cooking is a gravy dish where

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-21361305426123338932011-06-03T10:26:00.004-04:002011-06-03T10:46:18.474-04:00

...drinking Tea and reading a book in a rocking chair by the window. Mine will definitely be an antithesis to that but a girl can always dream. The two cups in the picture were my Mother's day gift from BigSis and Little Sis, who rather whose father knows about my cup fetish too well. There were also lovely hand made cards and a home made brunch. The books, Orhan Pamuk's "Museum of innocence"

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-75324535625294033082011-05-31T11:04:00.000-04:002011-05-31T11:05:04.791-04:00

No, no, not me. My wife. Yes, the one on the far right, with the expensive camera around her shoulder. She is the Food Blogger. At least when our nosy neighbor asks her "What do you do?", that is what she says with a toss of her head. Our neighbor is stumped, I tell you. These people, our neighbors, they do not have a modern outlook. All they know is to eat dal, bhaat, maacher jhol. And they

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-91602056433668585192011-05-20T11:13:00.005-04:002011-11-18T12:17:47.960-05:00

Nightime Photography -- Bad. The Curry -- Too Good ** Note to Myself: Update with better pics taken in daylight I have never admitted this before but I think on some days, I expect a lot from BigSis. With the little one throwing her signature tantrums, the Dad having fun with erratic schedules and my PMS stretching to a month, I forget that BigSis is only a 7 year old. And a very mature, good

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-19802131036837408992011-05-17T13:42:00.003-04:002011-05-17T14:43:43.522-04:00

More on Shukto Now, if you know me or even if you don't, you should know that I am not your regular everyday shukto making kinda gal. Heck, I am not even a gal any more, but that is besides the matter. I do not get up at 5 in the morning and make shukto, dal, maacher jhol and bhaat. Ok, so nobody does that anymore. No one gets up at 5 apparently. I do at 5:30, tap the snooze button and drag

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-16012924326056826532011-05-06T23:11:00.004-04:002011-05-06T23:45:43.110-04:00

I wasn't really in a mood to write anything today. And then I cam home in the afternoon and found a blissful silence, not an uncanny one like this but a total peace and quiet which is very very rare in my home. The Dad was back from his trip and had taken the kids out for groceries. I had moments to savor on my one, to sit with my feet curled up and enjoy one uninterrupted cup of tea. But that

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-3623634049102507692011-04-21T12:00:00.004-04:002011-04-22T23:38:52.660-04:00

While there was much furor going over nothing and people were discussing gender issues and such, I had a very basic question to ask. Why paint a child's nail ? Kohl rimmed eyes and kala tikka, I can understand. They are not makeup. There is scientific evidence that they ward off evil eyes.Or, maybe not. But neon pink nail paint ? What the good will it do ? I have chipped nail polish on my toe

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-47271960676404680172011-04-14T21:29:00.001-04:002011-04-14T21:56:48.099-04:00

Wishing all of you a very Happy New YearI have not cooked anything special for New Year tomorrow. We celebrated today by ordering Thai Take Out. Tomorrow we will go to the nearby Guruvayoor temple and eat tamarind rice, if they have any that is. No wonder they say the earth is flat. The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring. ~Bern Williams The flip-flops

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-77557187657389022212011-04-13T12:07:00.003-04:002011-04-13T12:22:15.914-04:00

**This is my pet rant. Brings out the dying, old feminist in me. While nouveau feminists have more important matters to deal with, me, I love this one. Solves my purpose ** Why is it that we women, educated and enlightened like a Sylvania Laxman 100watt bulb, tell the woman, whose husband loads the dishwasher every night, "You are so very lucky".Can someone please come up and ascribe some luck

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-18345455220006845242011-04-09T01:10:00.002-04:002011-04-09T01:11:27.817-04:00

In the last couple of weeks, I have been in deep s*** where time and work is concerned. There is loads of work and very less of time. I don't know how I got myself into this situation but I really want to go and live in Venus with its longer days. On top of all this the husband will have to move to a work location, beyond everyday commutable distance and so he intends to do a Mon-Thur which

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-66609245784058882932011-04-01T22:54:00.002-04:002011-04-01T22:55:24.918-04:00

I had a different post for this week. But then Wednesday happened.And tomorrow is happening, so I could not possibly post a recipe which was blah. And I am not even a cricket fanatic. I am the kinds who watch the last two overs if India has chance to win or lose as the case may be. It is the "chance" thing that gets my adrenaline rushing rather than the actual nittie-gritties of the match. It is

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-8242490721463804822011-03-22T12:06:00.002-04:002011-03-22T12:10:30.984-04:00

Yes, all those spices and more... When I was vacillating between blogging and not-blogging a month or two back, I realized two things. I referred to my blog to cook. Yes, things have gotten that bad over here. Of course I don't trust myself that much and 1" inch of ginger does not warrant an exact measure but I do look up my recipes and then bring out my teaspoons and tablespoons and on days

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-70043622089581169432011-03-20T17:35:00.000-04:002011-03-20T17:35:15.275-04:00

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-60223469432605286272011-03-18T08:38:00.000-04:002011-03-18T08:46:49.831-04:00

I made enchor er dalna two weekends back. The basic recipe is same as my old one but it has been worked on and the rough edges polished over the years with helpful tips from the Mater. This one was a hit with my non-Bong friend who fondly remembers "kathal" but has never dared the canned ones in the US. The canned jackfruit as I have said has a salty-sour undertone because of all that brine. I

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-35365468942500632452011-03-10T10:45:00.003-05:002011-03-10T14:24:30.786-05:00

My Mom makes one hundred and fifty different kinds of dals. Actually that is an understatement. Frankly I do not know how many kinds she makes. Every time she cooks a dal, she uses a different something as phoron, adds an onion here, removes a garlic there and thus creates a new end product. A product which will look maybe similar to what is familiar but you take a spoonful and voila there is a

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-51541779002855191242011-03-01T12:05:00.005-05:002011-03-02T09:55:21.845-05:00

"Knock, Knock" "Who's there?" "Apple" "Apple, who?" "Orange" "Orange, who?" Thus it goes with names of whatever fruits available at home. And then "I am a fruit salad"...with peals of laughter Right on cue we start laughing too. We have to. For that my folks is a joke in LS's realm She has a whole repository of Knock, Knock jokes. She makes them up. None of them make sense. They are not

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-45449837195080299002011-02-20T01:02:00.003-05:002011-02-20T01:06:53.247-05:00

Note: This post was drafted in January just after Sankranti. I never got around posting it. I am doing it now because it is a precious recipe with wonderful results. "What are you making?", asked my 7 year old. It was cold outside and hinted of snow. She was housebound and hovered around the kitchen. "Pithey", I said, not wanting to go into details at that moment. Pithey was not my strong

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-51128281620800265582011-02-17T13:15:00.003-05:002011-02-17T13:27:18.408-05:00

As much as I love traditions and festivals, I abhor rituals that most times comes with it. You might say that it is the rituals which make actually make up a tradition and there is no point celebrating Diwali with unlit candles. But I like to adjust the rituals to my convenience, to bend them around to suit me instead of bending backwards to comply. A lot of it comes from sheer laziness and

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-27893453818557031332011-02-06T22:21:00.007-05:002011-03-02T12:38:31.435-05:00

Saraswati Pujo is two days away and a reader sent in a mail asking for the recipe of Labra. Khichuri is an important part of this day for the Bengalis and labra is a mixed veggie dish popular as a side to the Khichuri. Since I never really liked Khichuri all that much, the day did not mean much to me food wise. There were other incentives of course like the sweet & sour kul, visiting the Pujos 

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-2767147498358910892011-01-07T10:31:00.002-05:002011-01-07T22:07:31.841-05:00

It was New year. Left, right and center everyone was making resolutions. Work towards a better career, lose weight, see the world, learn to do shirsana....there were all kinds. Me ? I hadn't decided anything.. Too much work, will not happen, I wish, too difficult...naah, there was nothing I resolved to do. It is not that I did not need resolutions to make a better me.Only it would be a huge

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-11072916385531985532011-01-04T20:54:00.005-05:002011-01-26T13:55:50.489-05:00

I had resolved to be un-floured and unen-doughed for the first few days of my New year. But that did not happen. So I decided to push my New year to next week, Jan 9th to be precise. Till then I am living in the old decade. This Date Cake is my friend's recipe. She is a very good cook and has been making this cake for a while now. I myself have had it several times baked by her and each time

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-42897746100790670082010-12-28T21:50:00.003-05:002010-12-28T22:13:48.472-05:00

Parota with Alu Bati Charchari -- Divine 1.We had an amazing Christmas party. 2.The Liberty Science Center is a whole lot of fun when there is no one around. 3.The kids faith in Santa was re-instilled. BS got her toy which changes hair color only it needs icy cold water to do that and I am unable to provide icy cold water in this icy cold weather. LS got her "geef",a Thomas engine and couple

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-50762972376353106862010-12-24T22:14:00.002-05:002010-12-24T22:15:46.852-05:00

We have too many parties during the holidays. By too many, I mean "two", but that is many by my standards. And by parties I do not mean the sequined slips, pointed stilettos,dancing in smoky room kind of parties. That would be cool and I could have then put up pics of such dos on FB but I am never invited to such parties and I don't even have a personal account on FB or a sequined slip for that

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-21107635729362753522010-12-20T23:04:00.009-05:002011-02-28T20:49:33.445-05:00

I really really love December. Though the month brings lots of housework, cooking, cleaning, re-cleaning, making umpteen trips to the grocery store on cold cold days, I still love it. I don't do too many Christmas presents so am saved running around in the madding crowd of department stores. Though BS & LS don't really have a wish list for Santa, I still have to buy something for them, to keep

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-25037717340282172872010-12-13T20:58:00.005-05:002010-12-13T21:04:24.162-05:00

Today I will not talk much and we will have a peas-ful time. There will be no nostalgia about shelling green peas by the mounds on winter evenings watching Chitrahar on DD1. No fond remembrance of the waxy pea pods and their sweet pea smell.Not a word about how the pea pods would taste in a jhol Ma would make. I could have lapsed into sweet memories of my Dida making koraishuti'r kochuri and

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-23632584016524361732010-12-08T13:18:00.004-05:002010-12-08T13:30:15.247-05:00

Come Winter, I start recollecting the exact way this light fish curry with tomatoes would taste. It is not that I make it only in Winter. No, it is an easy dish and I make it throughout the year whenever I have less time on hand which apparently translates to often. But never do I think deeply about it as I do, when the mercury drops and I seek out a patch of sunlight sliding through the high

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-3724811233132010422010-12-06T22:35:00.002-05:002010-12-06T22:39:02.914-05:00

Because it is December and we are in the Northern Hemisphere where December == Cold Winter, I have decided to crank up the oven on Friday nights to give us the much needed warmth. This will also help me work on my non-existent baking skills. My goals aren't lofty. I just want to bake something decent that BS and LS might love and their children might enjoy and 200 years later the family fondly

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-87653085804786898482010-12-03T12:48:00.002-05:002010-12-03T13:54:28.746-05:00

I don't know about you but I love the Louisiana Style Chicken Pasta at Cheesecake Factory. I love it so much that it is the dish I always have when I am there. Not that I am there a lot. I mean I would love to be there always but they have this 40 minute waiting time and my kids are not really the waiting kinds and though I can wait till infinity to have that pasta, my kids have better

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-31432825177136441202010-11-29T21:32:00.002-05:002010-11-30T09:16:28.184-05:00

So here we are, back to hectic Monday, from a long luxurious weekend. My high point of last week was getting the Cuisinart Hand blender from CSN Stores.Yep, that is what I finally ordered, thanks for all your wonderful comments. I still have some left over points and have to finish them up by this month end. I am not going to get extra tall bar stools, but they are selling those if you like. Now

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-29901650002474909132010-11-25T01:47:00.006-05:002010-11-30T15:24:10.710-05:00

This Thanksgiving I am really thankful that BS does not have a Thanksgiving Feast at school. Now don't get me wrong. Usually I have no problem with them, the feasts that is. Actually I love feasts more when they are hosted by a third party. In all her pre-school years, the teacher would put up a sign up sheet behind the door a week before the party and the parents would pick anything from

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-48385704667987402862010-11-22T10:35:00.002-05:002010-11-22T10:38:14.406-05:00

My two girls being different in a lot of aspects are uncannily similar and I am not including points about both being of the same gender here. For one they are both House Devils and Outside Angels. In case of LS, "Outside" means other people's homes and excludes public places like library, stores, mall etc. But the charm of hearing "How well behaved your kids are", have worn off me.I would

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-88777071796645029442010-11-18T11:35:00.006-05:002010-11-18T13:50:59.215-05:00

"Any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field." Who in the frickin blue

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-69034893944229684832010-11-15T11:44:00.012-05:002010-11-30T15:24:26.336-05:00

If you have known me for the last four years of my blogging, you must have realized by now that I am not-really "a-from-scratch" kind of person and take shortcuts if there is one. I mean I will not take a detour and heat frozen dinners when I cook for the kids or when I try to pack a healthy lunch or put dinner on the table but I will take a jump over the stream if there is one. Like I mostly

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-13597533893649280702010-11-10T23:34:00.004-05:002010-11-10T23:36:59.069-05:00

On my recent trip to the mater land, I had lofty intentions to make "eating food", especially street food my priority. Yeah, 2 weeks of binging on street food on the streets of Kolkata was going to be my motto.I had decided. And then I would click enough pictures to last me an year of blog post. I dreamed. That way I could still have a food blog and not cook. I was elated. And then some

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-3855960967609207312010-11-05T10:36:00.002-04:002010-11-05T10:38:32.022-04:00

It seems every week I surface only to wish someone something. This week I holler Happy Deepavali. Life has been extremely busy since we got back.The littlest one has a new fresh bout of separation anxiety which makes it extremely difficult for me to rush out to work, to cook, take a shower. Yes, I haven't taken a shower for the last 3 days. Ok, scratch that. It is not entirely true. Once home

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-29148142495253795312010-10-29T13:00:00.006-04:002010-10-29T13:00:23.376-04:00

Shubho Bijoya  to all my readers. I have not forgotten the Give Away and will announce the winner by next week, pinky promise, cross my heart. It is just that I have been extremely busy. Flying across seven seas and 13 rivers, with two kids to a land where you share the itinerary with Ma Durga and her five off-springs is pretty unnerving. And when your vacation is only a tad longer than her 5

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-50654499094848936382010-09-28T09:53:00.010-04:002010-10-25T11:35:29.398-04:00

Because it is Durga Pujo and on Pujo we Bongs have a tradition of giving gifts to people we love, like, and dislike but pretend to like I am having a giveaway. In your case though it is only love,like, love, like and so on. You don't have to love me in return. But 1. You can Like my Blog on FaceBook 2. Read me without fail by Subscribing 3. Leave a comment telling me what you can do to

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com108tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-3697797576035385202010-09-24T10:34:00.013-04:002010-09-27T12:33:03.469-04:00

If someone told me last week that I would hardly find time to do things that are important to me, like cook or blog or browse blogs or do nothing this week, I would say "Pfbttttt". And this week, I cannot tell you how much I am missing doing nothing. If someone told me last year that I wouldn't miss Durga Pujo at all this year, I would roll my eyes and look away But this year I really am not

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-34326377215994584342010-09-17T11:38:00.009-04:002010-09-17T12:52:45.443-04:00

Last week when I decided to cook Mutton Rogan Josh I found that it was as disputed as Park 51 if not more. There were several manifestations of the dish depending on where you came from.None radically different from each other but differing in subtleties that was enough to cause mayhem. Every one looked down upon the other Rogan Josh and there was much confusion about the authentic version.For

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-11129485714855452192010-09-13T23:16:00.003-04:002010-09-13T23:30:06.773-04:00

In the age and place I live, people are strange. They do not drink tea. Even if they do, it is the weird stuff, the echinacea tea, the dandelion tea, "please-don't-drink-me" tea but very rarely ever the simmering on the stove-frothy-milky-sweet-dhaba-style Indian tea.I like the last kind. I patiently wait for the milk and water to simmer and froth, to put a teaspoonful of Lipton Red Label, to

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-18875341379066643012010-09-11T21:56:00.003-04:002010-09-11T22:00:13.889-04:00

Thanks for the 1.5 million hits.You guys mean a lot to me. Without you this would never have been possible.Trust me, except for me, the hub and my Dad, no one I know and influence in real life visits this blog.My Dad has a slow connection and accounts for maybe 1% of the hits.The hub has blogger blocked at work, he can do only so much on his blackberry -- 0.5 %Me -- ok, ok 2%The rest 96.5% is you

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-54490239833116972532010-09-10T11:20:00.000-04:002010-09-10T11:21:20.585-04:00

Easy, quick meals is my mantra these days.In my late twenties I would have scoffed at "meal" and "mantra" being uttered in the same breath and dialed DeenDayal Dabba Delivery or Shanghai Indian Chinese for the quickest route to nirvana. If DeenDayal refused or my delicate digestive system protested I would say "Yenna Rascala" and throw potatoes, egg and rice in the pressure cooker. In under 20

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-49320947423856468522010-09-09T11:25:00.004-04:002010-09-12T22:17:12.507-04:00

School has started. The weather too has decided that summer vacation is over. The car windows have signs of frost in the mornings and dusk comes in early. BS started 2nd grade and seems to like her class teacher a lot.We have the same bus driver since last year, a sweet soul who drops off BS right in front of home and always has a cheery word in the morning. This is important because our current

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-25905395945583672092010-09-02T22:46:00.004-04:002010-09-02T22:53:23.580-04:00

She wanted to make Dahi Murg today. From that Madhur Jaffrey book sitting on her dresser. The one she had checked out from the local library three months back and never renewed or returned.The book was a treasure of good life made better with excellent food. She wished she had that kind of life, the kind spiced up with green mangoes sprinkled with red chili powder, the one rich and sensuous like

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-43644670690002920872010-08-30T12:50:00.003-04:002010-08-31T18:31:18.279-04:00

I am a hypocrite. I eat meat and yet I am queasy to discuss it's source. I am fine picking up a tray of frozen chicken legs, which look so pale and white and detached sitting besides the tray of chicken nuggets that you would doubt they ever belonged to any creature roaming the face of earth.And all this when I spent a good chunk of my years in a country where we never went to air-conditioned

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-21304886358853136472010-08-27T10:51:00.002-04:002010-08-27T11:37:04.385-04:00

Little Sis aka LS is not a gourmand. She might be a connoisseur of food. I am not exactly sure.Any time I sit down to feed her, she asks with utter contempt in her voice "Eta ki ?" (What is this ?). That question makes me extremely nervous. I have a feeling that she expects me to say "Lobster Thermidor" or some such thing. I cannot get myself to say it is just plain old "Khichuri" so I try to

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-42364736063101415302010-08-20T11:10:00.001-04:002010-08-20T11:13:34.991-04:00

Begun Pora -- the rustic suburban cousin of Upper East side Ms. Bharta is a very simple, easy and quick if you can rope in the husband, dish.The only scary part in this whole thing is roasting the eggplant, on the open flame, till it is charred and your smoke alarm starts ringing and the sprinklers go on and there are good looking firefighters ringing your door bell.That would call for some

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-59952790060899818782010-08-17T23:27:00.001-04:002010-08-17T23:30:50.970-04:00

It is still summer vacation time around here. 2 and half weeks more to go, almost 3 for many. The first half of the vacation BS spent in idyllic bliss with the grandparents being here. The second half Mommy is in charge and things are not so idyllic any more.For one Mommy is hyper and lazy at the same time. Instead of judiciously spending her time making alu parathas for the kids or giving them a

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-22973556863901101062010-08-13T10:31:00.000-04:002010-08-13T10:31:33.892-04:00

Have I told you that the parents have gone back home where they can drink their tea in peace while listening to Robindrosangeet leaving behind(a) Tomatoes growing in abundance(b) Two cranky kids missing their grandparents(c) and an acute shortage of time for meHave I told you I am so messed up right now that the one day I mange to reach the gym I arrive there in my flip-flops ?Have I told you

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-87252367567296344522010-08-09T11:38:00.004-04:002011-10-30T20:44:03.670-04:00

I had never thought I would make a Mutton Rezala at home. Heck, I didn't even know how to make a Rezala. All I knew was that Mutton Rezala was a very fragrant stew kind of mutton dish that could be found at Sabir's in Kolkata. It was heavenly but with years the taste had ebbed its sharpness and I couldn't recall how exactly it tasted. All I could remember is the anticipation and the fragrance

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-39010636332263235672010-08-04T11:00:00.006-04:002010-08-04T11:39:57.232-04:00

My Dad is a big health freak. He also has a huge sweet tooth. So he has convinced himself and everyone around him that eating sweets is healthy.Isn't that brilliant ?Have you ever had the pleasure of feeding "high calorie-full fat-non vegan-decadent-deliciously- sweet-desserts" to someone who thinks it is actually healthy ?It is a shocking experience, I tell you.It gives you so much pleasure that

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-45764800405418113952010-07-27T11:52:00.007-04:002010-07-30T12:03:33.767-04:00

Friday was her Ma's Puja day. A day of thorough cleaning, sparse vegetarian eating, smoky incense sticks and hour long prayers.She didn't like Fridays much. Ma would not let her sleep in late. Early morning the swoosh of the water across the courtyard followed by the broom would wake her up. Thwack-thwack it would go clearing the dirt, chalk dust from yesterday's hop scotch and dry leaves from

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-56702161401557957092010-07-25T00:08:00.005-04:002010-08-15T22:31:08.580-04:00

Once upon a time there was a young girl newly married and her husband who too was newly married and they did not cook much.To simplify life they would often make a very easy chicken biryani. It would start of as a chicken curry and then they would add rice to it, put everything in the pressure cooker, close the lid and then wait expectantly for the pressure to go whoosh 3 times. Their little

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-19421360955501256392010-07-22T14:05:00.002-04:002010-07-22T14:56:48.819-04:00

Soon after I have had some deep fried goodness I go on a guilt mode. Isn't that sad ? I mean if life has come to a stage where I have to feel guilty of eating deep fried stuff, is that life even worth anything ? And hello, I am not in my seventies or something. My Hajmola eating, ever burping grandma did better than this.Also when I am on the guilt mode, I eat crap.Not.So on one of my such modes

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-2582699528699993532010-07-20T12:23:00.006-04:002011-03-18T23:06:34.777-04:00

BS lost her very first tooth last week, last Wednesday to be precise. Major excitement ensued.More than the tooth, it was about the Tooth Fairy and the cash she would bring. I had no clue that Tooth Fairies brought wads of dollar bills. A shiny quarter was all I knew. Apparently I am wrong, as suggested by little neighbor girl. The little neighbor girl has raised the bar pretty high saying

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-18967022613293729072010-07-19T23:02:00.003-04:002010-07-19T23:39:38.441-04:00

A very dear blogger friend has written a book.She is funny, witty, charming, chic and a terrific cook. Oh, wait and she is a fellow bong.Can you guess who she is ?Ok, she is already famous and you all probably know about her book. She is Mallika from Quick Indian Cooking, who blogs here at Quick Indian Cooking. Of course.Book: Miss MasalaAuthor: Mallika BasuHardcover: 248 pagesPublisher: Collins

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-55617646537473313922010-07-14T23:46:00.001-04:002010-07-14T23:53:35.703-04:00

Little Sis aka LS is a funny creature. She is the kind you would like to have at the other table at the fancy restaurant. The kind who will stick her tongue out at you, climb up and down the high chair, throw forks around, throw folks around and make you silently gloat on your own parenting skills. When she starts yelling you can pay your tip and leave.I cannot leave however. I am the Mother. I

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-87089164320749229602010-07-13T09:38:00.001-04:002010-07-13T09:39:43.842-04:00

It has been almost a month since the summer vacations started for BS and as far as I can see it, she is having a blast. For one, she is doing NOTHING on most days. Half of her day is spent at the neighbor's place, the second half of the day little neighbor friend spends at our place. I have no clue what they do other than eating a lot of ice lollies and blowing bubbles.Then there is the numerous

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-86203172182783322532010-07-09T14:09:00.006-04:002010-07-12T17:18:08.456-04:00

I need your help. Honest. Cross my heart.The very generous people from CSN stores who had sponsored a giveaway at my blog some months back, asked me to review one of their products. Anyone who has been to their site knows what gorgeous products they have.They sell everything from Housewares, Home Decor, vanity to Furniture. Check out their site for their amazing collection.Now I am a dummy when

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-79143862390395148262010-07-06T11:30:00.002-04:002010-07-06T11:51:11.247-04:00

Remember This ? The Basil in my Herb Pot.Well every year I throw together herbs in a pot and grow them. I grow them because I love the thought of growing my own herbs. But do I do anything with them ? Ummm, ummm...gulp, gulp. Well... I use all of the coriander and the garlic chives which are very scraggy in my pot and are not much but the rest is left to flourish and grow and look green and

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-90250254432830438912010-07-02T22:58:00.003-04:002010-07-02T23:24:26.157-04:00

"Two years ago, I was saying as I planted seeds in the garden, "I must believe in these seeds, that they fall into the earth and grow into flowers and radishes and beans." It is a miracle to me because I do not understand it. The very fact that they use glib technical phrases does not make it any less a miracle, and a miracle we all accept. Then why not accept God's miracles?"-Dorothy Day (

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35578975.post-90806491543787924192010-06-25T15:32:00.005-04:002010-06-26T12:42:21.447-04:00

Eating healthy does not necessarily mean eating a salad.Think of something your Mom used to make and you would turn up your nose at. Go ahead, quick. Do you see yellow, orange, green ? Yeah ? Well those were the nutrient laden, healthy dishes from your own cuisine.Cook them. Make your new age changes to them. Use EVOO.Talk like Rachel Ray.Ask yourself "Why do people like Rachel Ray?". They

Bong Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15407918137263251235noreply@blogger.com22