Kaffir Lime and Chickpeas Salad — refreshingly light and clean flavors

Sometimes plans don’t go according to, um, plan. 

I wanted to post something festive today. In time for Eid. Right before I slipped away.

But, alas. With all the happenings behind the screen, it’s been a bit difficult even to get on to my notebook. Even more so, I was feeling kinda restless at the thought of leaving without a word. Luckily, I have a few recipes in my draft. After much second… er, third, no-no, fourth thoughts, I decided to share this light and refreshing salad instead of a biryani recipe, as planned.

Chickpea Burger — guilt-free, veggie option to spice up your summer grill

This has been quite an educating and rewarding week for me. I happened to spent some time generally lazing around and surfing on the web, stopping by some inspirational food photography blogs. Blogs that are already on my radar, as well as discovering new awe-inspiring ones and adding them to the list. As always, I am hugely struck by the amazing skills of the people working behind the screens. Multitalented people who can cook, write and—take gorgeous photographs.

More often than not I’m so much in awe of such versatile personalities that it kinda borders envy. Frankly, I envy their skills. See...with a whooping passion to create beautiful imagery, each time I connect to my little space after hitting another awesome blog, I cannot help feeling a twinge of disappointment. Yes, disappointment at my lack of creativity, and lack of efforts in making this space a better place for you and I to stop by and enjoy. As they say, “A picture’s worth a thousand words.” Perhaps a total amateur like me needs to travel long miles before ever thinking of having that kinda picture here.

Steamed Rice-Cake with Black Garbanzo Beans Curry — Puttu with Kadala

The weather was gorgeous the past few days. In the midst of rising mercury, we were back to spring with the drizzling rain. Oh yeah. Drizzling rain, balmy breeze and peals of thunder. Aha. The tinkling wind chimes and sweet fragrance of flowers from my garden evoked a sense of déjà vu—blissful memories of times past. I wish the weather would stay like this for a while. Calm, beautiful and soothing. Before summer truly envelops us.

Chickpeas Stir-fry — Spicy Kabuli Chana — Vella Kadala Upperi

It’s a sunny day. A Sunday. Weekday in Qatar, weekend for most of the world. There’s nothing like a sunny day and good food to chase away the winter blues, don’t you agree? But the thing is I don’t feel like much activity today. I just want to have some quite time, go back to bed, pull up the sheets, and rest my eyes and my thoughts. Ah, a lazy Sunday.