Quirky Me!

The other day I was pondering over the vagaries of life, as my lil son snuggled next to me for his morning nap. My trail of thoughts (its usually a long trail) took me on a self-discovery trip and I realized that I am quite quirky by nature. Now, now every man has his own share of quirks & twists, its just that the sudden realization of them made me quite unnerved. Is it like am afflicted with something or are there more like me out there?

Well here am adventourously compiling a few -

#1 I Count - I mean, when I am in a room I sub-consciously count. It could be the number of rings on the curtain rod or the number of door panels or the squares in the carpet design. I don't know why I do it but I simply like to keep a count.

#2 Creaseless Bedspread - I necessarily require the bedspread stretched and lengthend to its limit. Always. I hate to see a crumpled bedsheet or a bunch of dirty clothes on them. Hubby dearest by now knows the twitching of my eyebrow and would never leave a stray towel on our bed :D

#3 I doodle - I don't need a pen, pencil or paper....i find some pattern interesting & my finger tries tracing it out even on a desk that's in front of me.

#4 Newspapers - By now you would have got the hang of it. Yes I hate to see newspaper's strewn carelessly nor the centre page lying apart. Before I can stop myself the newspapers are all turned to the right page and neatly folded like it was just delivered :))

#5 Useless Abbreviations - It irks me no end to see people (esp senior ones) using unwanted abbreviations in sms or in mails. I completely abhor when people send messages like: "Cn U Cum 2day?" Well, its not that I never use short forms but for goodness sake if you can type "cum" so can you type "come" too.

Well I did discover a lot more things about me but I dont want to make myself appear like I am some looney-out-on-the-loose (if I haven't already managed to give that impression). Ta-ta!

Bhagawath Sevai: Seeking Divine Blessings

Most tambrams will need no introduction to what I'm saying out here, but to the others "Bhagavat Sevai" is a very special annual puja conducted for Goddess Bhagavati, seeking her blessings for the health, wealth and prosperity for the entire family.

Though it is one among the numerous puja's that are conducted annually, the bhagavat sevai has its own routines and elaborate rituals. The house gets cleaned, loads and loads of flowers of all variety are bought. The 'Aravana Payasam' or "Nei Payasam" gets prepared in the "uruli" and there is generally a festive atmosphere. Evening the vadhyar comes home, bathes and chastely draws a special kolam (rangoli) and the traditional kerala lamp is decorated with flowers. Then the prayers, melodious incantations and chants begin. The elaborate pooja ends with the priest chanting mantra's & naming each family member along with his or her Rasi & Nakshatram and seeking the Devi blessings. The aura around the entire puja altar becomes electrifying and one actually finds strength & peace instilled.

This weekend I got to attend two bhagavat sevai's in a row and needless to say it left me all spiritual and religiousy.

Monsoon Recipe: Crispy Bread Rolls

Am not a well-versed cook as I have hardly spent any time in the kitchen. Yet here is a snack that I am quite adept at making and would like to share it with all out there. Crispy Bread Rolls is the ideal snack for a raining evening as its quite easy to make and most of the ingredients are usually available at home.

Crispy Bread Rolls

Ingredients -

Sandwich Bread - 6 slices
Baked Potato - 2
Chopped Onion - 1
Green chilli's - 2
Oil & Seasonings

Method of Preparation -

Add a teaspoon of oil into a frying pan and then slowly add the chopped onions. When it turns golden, mash the baked potato's and add them along with the finely cut green chilli's. Add seasonings like finely chopped curry leaves, appropriate quantity of salt, turmeric and mix it well for a medium flame. The filling that goes into the bread pakoda is ready.

Cut the sides of the bread slice. Slightly damp the bread with a little water but ensure it does not turn soggy or too moist. Place 2 or more spoons of the above masala filling in the central portion of the bread and slowly roll into a ball. Fry these in a pan of oil till they turn golden brown and drain them well.

Serve hot with sauce or chutney.

Cheat code -
The bread roll can be made more easily when the filling is substituted with any dry bhaji or poori masala made earlier in the day

Rediff GetAhead publishes my recipe

Did You Know? Suppandi Has A Son

Recently I saw a couple of Tinkle comics on a coffee table that caught my attention and brought back lots of happy childhood
memories. Shikari Shambu, Suppandi and the rest used to be our favourite characters. I still remember how mom used to hold up the comics with a condition to finish our evening tiffin and homework. She could have blackmailed us to jump of the roof and we would have easily done that too.

This reminded me how my parents had inculcated the habit of reading in us. I clearly remember the newspaperwala supplying us with a regular dose of tamil magazines, comics & other general magazines along with the newspaper. My dad used to always encourage us to spend at least 10 minutes sifting through the morning paper and that has become such a habit that my morning cuppa coffee is not completely enjoyed without the newspaper. As we grew the comics gave way CSR (Competition Success Reviews) and then slowly to Readers Digest, which I yet enjoy immensely.

Am not sure how many are aware of this Russian children's monthly called "Misha". My dad had taken a three year subscription of Misha and I still have all the 36 books. Each copy of Misha would be delivered in the name of 'Svetlana', which used to thrill me no end. Just as Misha, there used to be a science mag called "Sputnik".

Suddenly I realised the conversation around the coffee table had paused and all were looking at me puzzled. Comics and children magazines teach values in a way that nobody else can and every child should get a fair chance of enjoying them.

Though there are online editions for most of these comics I am not sure how the pleasure of turning page after page, carrying them stealthily to school or hiding the magazine from your little sister, can ever be replciated. Now before I break into another reverie, thank you Amar Chitra Katha, Tinkle, Champak, Chandamama, Gokulam and host of other books that made my childhood so so very pleasant and happy.

Oh BTW while Tantri the Mantri is still plotting ways to kill the king and Kalia, the crow & Doob Doob the crocodile are still at loggerheads, Suppandi seems to have given way to Little Suppandi.