of October snow and BLOG friends

If you follow me on twitter, are friends with me on facebook or happen to be on my g-chat list ( the whole world seems to land there - wonder how- anyway, lets leave that for another post) you have probably read my little statements like ' snow storm'; 'loving the orange sky', 'beautiful snow' and 'commute to work this morning wasn't fun'.... however since it's considered to be an 'epic' snowstorm - first in 10 yrs to have hit Denver so hard in the month of October I think it calls for a post on my Blog...

Yes - my Blog - its my oldest outlet on the 'social media' circle - now there is facebook, twitter, linked in - and what not (and you can find me on all!) - but my blog happens to be my oldest and also clique'iest' of the lot - a place known to my few loyal readers who have been with me through the past five years - through thick and thin...through my happy posts- grumpy posts - opinionated posts - green posts - intangible posts - cryptic posts-  random posts- grammatically incorrect posts and on days like these - posts which start with one topic and move on to another .... thank you dear blog 'clique'  for sticking with me-  a unique group of friends - my BLOG friends!

Now back to the October snow storm - the snow started as a heavy consistent downpour on Tuesday evening - went on all day Wednesday and Thursday - spiced up at intervals with gusty winds and COLD temperatures on Thursday- very different from the storms I have seen in Denver before - this one wasn't as dramatic or as Blizzardy ( yumm- the word makes me think of dairy queen bliazzards:) ) as the ones in the past years but was Consistent - kept pouring - 4"-6"-8"-12"-18"- almost a couple of feet - it didnt cause disruption as the ones before - but has piled up a TON of snow....  the white stuff that's the beautiful powder when it is fresh and either deadly ice or slushy slippery mess the next day! Here's to a White October!
Happy Halloween

experiences

its been pretty busy on this side of the world of late - hence the lack of new posts at my end here! 

between busy work schedules we also managed two mini vacations to two DIVERSE cities that share a few core values! In my mind they are both... 

Culturally unique

Culinarily marvelous
Soulfully rich

Artistically inclined

... in very different ways...while San Francisco pretty much defines what a contemporary cultural experience should be like for this side of the continent, New Orleans is rich in its the historic charm! 

First time in New Orleans - loved it! looking forward to going back

Not first time in SFO and around - as always - loved it! looking forward to going back

Date Nights...

.... at home are always so fun!

Last night's menu :

- Mixed herb salad with black grapes, walnuts and olive oil, peach-apricot, chili flakes dressing!
- Tilapia Fish Fry
- Sol Kadhi
- Lemon scented basmati rice

a mangotini for the lady and dirty martini for the husband :)

Nutella update!

now that the chocolate hazelnut goodness has been finger licked to emptiness there will be guilt free evenings....

.... till we get another jar!

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi All

We made some Modaks!

and the verdict...

Taste: 10/10

Texture of filling : 10/ 10

Consistency of outer layer : 9 /10

Looks/Presentation: 6/10

As you can see while we believe we nailed the taste, texture, consistency we still have a lot of work to do on perfecting the shaping of these yummy favorites of Ganpati Bappa and us!

TOP CHEF

the new season started tonight and shows a lot of promise - one of the contestants is a James Beard award nominee - another has received a Michelin star - many others seem talented too - looking forward to the season

also....

Top Chef masters finale happened tonight - all three - Chef Hubert Keller, Chef Rick Bayless and Chef Michael Chiarello are all rock stars - the finale dinner looked and sounded heavenly

-kept wishing we were there to eat it! ha ha

I am glad Rick Bayless won - he was my favorite -he is so charming! Added two new

restaurants to our must eat at list :)

TOI b***wood shit

so... what happened to Swine flu? oh - didn't you hear? Shahrukh took it on himself to reduce media hype about it ? In the process got some publicity for himself and satisfied his craving for some attention. Also at first glance on the TOI website I learnt today ' Ash unwell, Big B worried' BIG news man! oh another big news- alls well between Shahrukh and Vishal ( apologize my ignorance- who is Vishal?) and then I learnt about ' bollywood's kiss controversies and Irfan gives kiss a miss.

thanks TOI for all of this!

and that too in less than a minute of reading.

p.s - SRK found a spot for himself on Anderson Cooper 360 tonight!!!!

Of Pride and Love

Pride for everything you achieved... and who you are!
Love inspite of all that you are not and aspiring to be!

Happy Independence Day dear Motherland.

this KOKOnut likes...

...Macaroons
...Malibu rum
...any well made coconut based curry in this world
...tender coconut icecream
... Pina Colada
... Koprapak /coconut barfi
... Coconut rice
... Coconut water
... Bounty chocolate
... toasted coconut cupcakes
... Coconut
... the Sun, the sand and the sea!

an assorted AM mind

The media collectively is one evil soul!
It wasn't as hot as I thought it would be as I walked to work this morning.
I can't make up my mind - which one is the bigger evil - politicians or media?
Thinking about the chicken saguti recipe mom just shared with me!
People who are extremely opinionated should be able to take extreme criticism well?
The entire world should start using Macs instead of PCs
I had HBOO cereal for breakfast
I want to 'Design like you give a Damn'
My mind never stops talking to me!

When I look around...

... I am so glad that I am part of a profession directly involved in enhancing lives... in different ways, at different scales... if done right the bottom line still stays the same!

Sunday night gupshup with U

- Now that the Next Food Network Star Show is over with its finale last weekend the husband is having his way this evening with Sunday night baseball - little does he know that Next Iron Chef and ofcourse next season of Top Chef are going to premiere soon.

- While on the topic of Top Chef - is anyone else sad to see project runway go from Bravo -i think that new ' Fashion Show' sucks - the hosts, contestants and judges are all so bad. I think i read somewhere Project Runway is starting soon on Lifetime? Does anyone know when?

- Since I have pretty much given up on big banner Bollywood movies off late, Love Aaj Kal was a pleasant surprise. The story is good and well presented. the back and forth between yesterday and today seems seamless and nicely done. Love doesnt really follow any logic, decision making, discussion or any thoughtful process - its above all that!
Cast wise- Though this is a complete 'Shahrukh' role, I think Saif is good and convincing - in both the roles. I am so glad that Deepika Padukone plays the part of Meera and not Kareena Kapoor- she seems perfect for the 'practical' girl that she plays -and fresh too!

Off to dinner - the smell of our Kerala style ground and roasted coconut Chicken curry made yesterday is calling!

humpty dumpty had a great fall!!!

Oops!

check the above video out for a little peak at Steven Tyler's fall off the stage while performing at Sturgis, SD (talk about tough crowd!)

well - i am glad we could catch the Aerosmith concert in Denver last Saturday before his fall! - sure hope he feels better soon and is up and runnning/jumping/dancing/going crazy - and being himself!
the man is old - but still so H*T

a delicious addiction?

while we are on the subject of 'bad habits' here, I have a confession to make...
... lately I have been developing this habit that I am finding hard to get out of... I don't know if I can completely coin it as a bad habit yet - just because it is SO GOOD!

the habit takes place almost every weekday evening or night ' starts with quarter of a teaspoon of nutella; close the jar- open it again - another quarter of a teaspoon; guilt creeps up-so I close the jar- oh no- open it again and another quarter of a teaspoon'

all along growing up and even now Nutella surely has been one of my most favorite things to eat in this world - i mean seriously - how can someone come up with something so delicious and simple at the same time - cocoa and hazelnuts -can never go wrong for me (except of course if its in my coffee!)

so anyway -growing up nutella sandwiches were an integral part of my life - strawberry nutella crepes make for a delicious dessert anywhere anytime! nutella cupcakes are only divine! nutella with any fruit make a good snack! finger licking goodness of nutella is just getting me more and more addicted to it!

Here is what mainly goes into this delicious goodness - sugar, modified vegetable oils, hazelnut, cocoa and skimmed milk!
See - its not all bad for me :)

besides the fact that...

... its bad for you ...
It is so yesterday - Its like an 80s or 90s thing!
the other day after a long long time an acquaintance started to tell me how maybe the good thing about smoking is he has met some great and interesting people on his smoking breaks at work- outside bars etc.
i am surprised that 1. people of our generation smoke and 2. they think its cool!

Sometimes...

...the question is 'do you really like your job?'
and other times its a bigger question ' do you really like the profession you are in?'

Of school uniforms

i am so glad I grew up in a world where it was and still is a norm to wear Uniforms to school - maybe I didn't like it back then ( or maybe I did- i don't remember!) but whenever i see the back-to-school ads on TV here these days it seems like one big part of back to school shopping is clothes - oh man - as a kid i cant even imagine how much pressure there would be to wake up each morning and think what to wear - to dress well - to dress cool- to not repeat clothes and what not!

looking back - i loved my blue tunic and white shirt and especially loved the occasional white Fridays - white shirt and white skirt :) and it even made the 'party dress' days all the more fun.

Ah! the memories of a simple life!

FYI

Someone is back from their Nth hiatus .... 'random' reading on the web is going to be interesting again! :) I hope we dont have to see another 'writers block' anytime soon though.
http://chinaclay.blogspot.com/

each time...

.. keeps hitting another wall!!!!!

no matter what...

... the damn clock keeps ticking!