Media/MEntion

2014, What a year it had been

9:02 AM

2014  started with so much anticipation. We were awaiting the birth of our second kid and secretly hoping to have a daughter this time. Even on January 10th when they were taking me inside the OT I was praying to God to bless us with a daughter. and when my Doctor said those magical words 'It's a girl'...my joy knew know bound. Tears rolling down my cheek I just felt grateful...so did my family. We cheered, we celebrated her birth and I thanked God thousand time for making my dream come true...

But I did not know what he had in store for me. He just made me realise that "Sometimes the dreams that come true, are the dreams you never even knew you had." So true.

Memoir

The sweetest Excuse I ever had...

5:50 AM


Babies (daughters) are bits of stardust, blown from the hand of God...Barretto

For all who mailed and queried about me being MIA from active blogging...this is the reason, The sweetest excuse I ever had...


...And we feel blessed as a family to have her in our lives. She was born on January 10th but the feeling that am a mother of two kids had not sinked in properly yet.

Little R is a big brother now and it melts our heart to see how he takes care of his baby sister. He constantly sings and talks to her...and wants her to grow faster...

Hopefully I will be back soon with all your requests with some more great announcements. 


Memoir

I will be back soon...

7:29 AM

I know I have been missing in action for quite some time but trust me this time, I have a really good reason for that. 
I will come back soon with some good news and some exciting new recipes and yes... with all your requests.
I apologies to all all those who mailed but dint get any reply. Please allow me some more time to get back to you.
Thanks a billion to all those who messaged, mailed and called to check...I cannot thank God enough for having you all around me.


Memoir

5 Years of Blogging...

11:56 AM


Today this cherished space of mine is completing 5 years. I have never celebrated any blog anniversary till date  but 5 years is not just any other day, its a milestone which even excited a very practical person like me. 

I never thought I would ever see this day as active blogging not only claims your time but needs a lot of attachment and thinking in the process. but today when I look back I see a remarkable journey and a steep learning curve both as a blogger and as a human being. The best achievement is though not the collection of recipes or the applause but the support and love I have got from all you readers. The mails that supported my thoughts, the comments that gave me positive feedback or the demanding mails asking for some old forgotten dish made me go on, made me think, made me feel blessed and loved. I can never thank you enough for being there, trusting and supporting me the way you do...and never I will try to do that impossible task.

I know I have never been very consistent with blogging. Family, my other works and definitely the kid consumes most of my time but I put an honest effort to be here. It was wonderful to grow with this space, to have made some friends for life. 

Hope to see many more such moments and many more such milestones being achieved with all your support.


Memoir

Happy women's day

4:18 AM


‎34 is not an age to be termed wise...but all I have learned till now is to be true to myself...peace and happiness comes only when you are at peace with who you are.
Be yourself, celebrate life, celebrate womanhood, live like there's no tomorrow, lough out loud, be happy, be silly, be the woman you want to be...but at the end of the day never forget the little girl in you...
Happy women's day my girlfriends...you make life better

Memoir

Happy Weekend

8:55 PM



I see trees of green........ red roses too 
I see em bloom..... for me and for you 
And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world. 

I see skies of blue..... clouds of white 
Bright blessed days....dark sacred nights 
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world. 

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky 
Are also on the faces.....of people ..going by 
I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do 
They're really sayin......i love you. 

I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow 
They'll learn much more.....than I'll never know 
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world 

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky 
Are there on the faces.....of people ..going by 
I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do 
They're really sayin...(I ....love....you). 

I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow 
*spoken*(you know their gonna learn 
A whole lot more than I'll never know) 
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world 
Yes I think to myself .......what a wonderful world.....
....Have a great weekend friends
In case you want to listen here is the youtube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2VCwBzGdPM

Memoir

Project 365

6:39 AM


This year I wish to be more disciplined and live a more regimented life. But my procrastinating soul needs some rules to follow and here is the first step. 
Project 365
Little late in starting this still want to stick to the rule and click, edit and upload a photo each day this year. 
You can view the Flickr set HERE.

Memoir

Diwali Wishes...

6:32 AM


Wish all my foodie friends and fellow bloggers a 
very happy and prosperous Diwali!!!

Memoir

Shubho Nababarsho 1419

8:48 AM


Wish all my readers, fellow bloggers and friends a very happy Bengali New Year. 
Sending lots of cheer from my Orange nook, from where my Scrap metal Durga maa looks after all of us.

Love the magical play of light and shadow on the wall.

Memoir

Help! Viren Needs Treatment For Leukemia

7:38 AM

Cancer, the worst nightmare one could have is spreading like an epidemic. I personally have lost some very near and dear ones to it. Right now my own uncles are fighting against it and you never know who is it next. Recently when my dear friend Mousumi lost her battle to this fatal disease I was shocked, scared and devastated all at the same time. She and all my relatives were diagnosed at a very later stage which made the cure rate quite bad for them. I always have thought what if we had got slightest of hint at an early stage...may be now they would have been with us today. It's such a frustrating feeling to just watch without being able to do anything. I know most of you have such similar stories around you. Which makes us bleed in our heart.

Recently Anjali of Annaparabramha has shared one such incident HERE. Her  friend Viren is diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML a type of blood cancer) and needs urgent treatment. but sadly the treatment is not cheap. He needs INR 50,75,000/- (i.e. USD 105,000/- approx.), which is by no means a small amount. any middle class Indian family cannot afford this kind of treatment with their own resources. He needs all our support in raising this amount. All his childhood friends have started a fund drive for him which could be found HERE. 


I do not know Viren personally but I knew my friend Mousumi who had to leave her daughter at such young age and I dont want Viren's son to suffer the same pain. I am doing my bit and will also request you all to please chip in and save him. 

If you would like to donate for this cause please visit Anjali's blog for more details or check this Facebook page started by his friends. Am also sharing the details below.

If you wish to meet any of his friends in person for this purpose then any of them (mentioned below) would be more than glad to be available to meet you, whenever you find time.

Nikhil Sadanand Wange (Viren's friend since childhood)
+91.992.013.5435
More of Viren's friends :
yogesh kanade<yogeshkanade@gmail.com>;


_______________________________________________________________________
Cheques can be accepted in the name of  "Viren Shah"
OR "Tata Memorial Hospital"

You can also donate by wire transfers crediting into


A/C no: 9100 100 3263 7451
A/C holder: Viren Shah
IFSC: UTIB0000328
Name of the Bank: AXIS Bank, Branch- Andheri East


New a/c (Donations only)


Savings Account Number  -  912010010577759
Bank / Branch   -  Axis Bank, UTHALSAR NAKA, THANE
IFSC Code                 - UTIB0000509



Viren's paypal account - viren.ns@gmail.com 

_______________________________________________________________________





_______________________________________________________________________




Memoir

Mousumi and Miri-Rest in peace my friends

9:24 AM

For the last few days am opening my computer and looking at the blank screen. This has never happened to me before. Everytime am trying to pen down my thoughts, plethora of emotions and memories are overwhelming me. Can’t believe Miri, our dearest Miri of Peppermill blog is no more. More so because I have lost another young friend like her very very recently.

I knew very little about Miri (Raji), that too only through her blogs. Loved reading her well thought posts, practical approach towards foods, easy to follow recipes and intellectual comments. I admired her for all these qualities. Everytime we exchanged comments I found her very sensible and generous. Then I saw her picture on Manisha’s blog I thought Wow! She is gorgeous. Her maturity, elegance, intelligence, grace and beauty all were reflected in her wide smile. She looked so effervescent. Little did I know then that her health issues are so crucial that one day it would take her away. She hardly talked about her health on her blog apart from some passing references. Today she is no more I wish I have read the posts more carefully or have mailed her enquiring about it. But every time I wanted to do so I was deterred by the thought that it would be too interfering. But today I just wish I had done that. She always visited me, read my posts carefully and left a thoughtful comment at the end. Her witty and appreciating comments were something I became used to after this post. But was unaware that she was suffering from such a problem. Its hard to make out from the way she thought, cooked, wrote and made her posts about food that she was not even allowed to eat any food for a whole year. Even from the last one year or so she had to really struggle to eat a few spoonfuls everyday. Her love for food is so generous that when we all aahed and oohed over her pear, beetroot and feta salad and we all complained about how feta cheese is so expensive in our local markets, she generously offered to send some from her local dairy. She hardly knew us and she dint have to do that. But she was Miri. Such an energetic, vivacious and positive person she was that she was never in denial that her time was limited. Rather she made peace with it and made pickles in winter, baked cakes for Christmas with her daughter and carried on life with a very very positive attitude. Now that I get to know her more my respect for her has increased many folds. I admired her then and will admire her my entire life.


Mousumi was a dear real life friend and our friendship goes back to that time when I just started working. On the very first day she welcomed me with her trademarked wide smile. Soon we were part of a big group that still keeps in touch. We bonded over many things and apart from work, good food, shopping. Gossiping, bitching about movie stars were something on which we spent many our Saturdays. This bond became strong over time. We often talked and she loved reading my blog. Three years back when she was diagnosed with cancer I could not believe it. She was so young, her daughter was only two… God cant be that unfair. I was in Bangalore then and on my next visit to Kolkata we all went to see her and she welcomed us with that big smile which somehow made me believe in my heart that everything was well. But it was not. Her condition was deteriorating rapidly and within 2 years she was in bed. I never had the heart to ask her how she was as by that time it was clear what was in store. She never ever discussed anything about her condition. We talked and shared everything under the sun. About our kids, parenting tips, recipes, movies, facebook and everything else but her illness. She delivered facts like she was in hospital or she was having food through her tubes or she was not able to move any of her organs just matter of factly but it left me stunned. Every time we finished the call I burst into tears. But she never did. She was every bit the upbeat and positive person I knew her till her last breadth.

I don’t know how to pay tribute to some one you really love and admire. I also don’t know how to say goodbye but when I look back what pains me most is the fact that both of them lost their mothers to the same condition or illness when they were very very young. They knew how difficult it is to deal with such a great loss at such young age yet they were faced with same situation. As a mother it breaks my heart to even think that I wont be there in my lil one’s growing years and I can imagine how difficult it had been for them to deal with that fact. But I also know they made peace with everything and prepared their family well with love and strength.

Today when they are no more with us and when am finally done with mourning, I realize in my heart that it’s not time yet to say good-bye. They will always live in my heart. Remembering them will always bring a smile and will encourage and inspire me just the way their words have done earlier. As a friend of Miri’s wrote

“… am leaving you with something --
see me, for I will always be near you, and you will always feel me….
………
….Love does not die, people do.
So, when all that's left of me is love,
Give me away as best you can.”


Rest in peace my friends. 

If you already haven't read about her from her friends please read
Archana's post here
and Nina's post Here.

Memoir

A Taste Test and A Break

8:45 PM

via.google images

A couple of month’s back Kalyan of finely chopped shared a post written by Pooja dhingra of Le 15 Patissiere. He said if your family tells you should run a restaurant then you should read it. That made me thinking. Its not like everyone who tastes my food wants me to start food business but I hear this pretty often. Trust me I don’t have big foodie dream rather my love for food (which is there on my minf 24X7) is quite platonic. I love to cook and don’t have much expectations from it. But that article made me want to go for an acid test. A test where family members are not associated, where appreciations are not tossed just because they love me and most importantly where my food would be tasted after paying the price. That way no one will spare the mistakes or the quality. And  I am excited to share that I had my first food sale this weekend. Which was a roaring success and am overwhelmed with the response and the appreciations.



It was a part of the Nari seba sangha spring fete in Jodhpur park (please read more about it here). This is one of the renowned social events in Kolkata where a small fair is organized in their premise for 3 days. Almost 150 or more established and budding businesses (all run by women) participate with their unique products. You will find all types of products like designer and embroidered sarees, dress materials, home furnishings and decorative, ceramics, stationery, handmade soaps and oils, candles, jwelleries etc. The selection is done through an interview where products are also checked. I wanted to be a part of this prestigious affair and appeared for the interview and to my own amusement got selected. Only 10 food stalls were there. including some renowned food joints of South Kolkata.

On my menu were dishes that I do best ie. Bengali styles lunch items-both veg and non veg, snacks, traditional desserts and bakes. All the items were cooked by us (I and my maternal aunt) in our house. It was quite difficult for inexperienced persons like us to manage such huge quantity without proper utensils but I am proud to say that we managed it well. Everyone praised the food on taste and quality and we gained huge popularity. Who came on the first day brought more foodies to our stall the next days. Lots of small catering orders are also coming in which we were not prepared for but given the circumstances would have to rethink.

The best praise came from a 40 something lady who said my food reminded her of her mom’s cooking. Most of them wanted us to start our own business so that they can taste this regularly.

Now you might ask why dint I shared this news before. Its just because I was not sure if we could pull it off successfully. Also if you read my blog you must have realized that I prefer to maintain my anonymity as a blogger. It was hard for me to step out of my comfort zone. But if I go there next year would definitely give a shout out to you all.

With all the hard work of last week I definitely have earned myself a good break. We are off to Thailand for a 12 days trip. See you soon with loads of pictures on return.

Memoir

A new beginning...A Brand New year

1:32 AM



“Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true”

Lord Tennyson.

Memoir

Let's Pray...

11:06 AM

By now you all must have seen this  tragic fire in AMRI Hospital in Kolkata, which has claimed 91 lives so far. The worst tragedy of recent times when people dies at a place where they think they are at safe hands. Its not the death of some helpless patients but with them our faith and trust in such institution also dies. We are shocked, angry, sad, scared and helpless all at the same time and are still shivering every time the footage is shown on TV. All we can do is to pray to God to bless the souls who died and give courage to their families. Who were forced to watch helplessly when their near and dear ones were choked to death. though not family but I mourn with them. 

Rest in Peace....

Memoir

City Center Kolkata is using my picture for advertisement without my Permission.

8:14 AM


As you all know I have been keeping very busy with the humongous  task of shifting base to a new city and among all these madness last week I discovered that one of my photos (from the blog) is being used for advertising by a very famous chain of malls.

City Center is a very big chain of malls situated at places like Salt Lake (Kolkata), New Town(Kolkata), Siliguri (WestBnegal) and many more coming up in other states as well. I saw the advertisement on Times of India, where they used my Nolen Gurer Sandesh Picture to advertise their Bengali Sweets Festival as part of their Bengali New Year Festival Called 'Hullor'.

I don't blame The group behind the mall but the Advertising agency who has conveniently stolen this picture, cleverly photoshopped it to get rid of the background and the copyright information and shamelessly avoided mentioning the source. I am really pissed off with this gesture and planning to send them mail asking for apologies and damages. 
I have added the Screenshot of the e-Paper at the top. The Link to my post is HERE whereas you can find the Online advertisement on the 34th page of 15th April'11-Times of India (Kolkata Edtion).


Update: I am not sure if Times of India has anything to do with this, as it was an paid advertisement by City Center authority. and again most probably They also dont have any idea of this theft. As much as I can guess this is done by the advertising agency who is handling their public relations and media coverage.What irritates me is they earn huge money by making and posting advertisements but they fail to recognize other's work.

Tags:
Plagiarism.

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