Blogging A to Z:E is for..

So its a lazy Saturday,with the husband out of town(yet again!)
I'm lounging at home with a face pack, watching reruns of Law and Order:Criminal Intent on Fox Crime and thinking up stuff that starts with "E".That's how good I am at multitasking.

E is for....

-Google

E is for Elmo.The cute monster from Sesame Street.My daughter loves the "Elmo has a question" bit.So now its  "Cookie has a question" or "Cookie wants this".How long before this third person thing gets on my nerves though?Oh and they also house the "Cookie Monster" just as I do :) :)

E is for E-Mail.I wonder how we got through life without it?As much as I would love receiving paper handwritten letters,I think its more for the romance of it than its practical purpose.Can you imagine having to note down your clients address and send them written documents,wait for them to read,write and mail back.Now what if your client was abroad?What would have happened to globalization if not for e-mail?Today I shoot an e-mail out to my counterpart in the US and get a reply instantly.
We NEED e-mails for progress,not to mention preserving trees.

E is for Enid Blyton.I don't think there is a single book of her's I haven't read.I even wanted to go to boarding school after I read Malory Towers and St.Clares.I have happy memories of afternoons spent on the estate,with "The Famous Five" and "Mr.Pink Whistle".I wanted to visit all the lands that settled on top of the "Faraway Tree" and take off on "The Wishing Chair" when I got really bored(There isn't anything much to do on the estate).
I cant wait for Cookie to start reading so I can re-read.

E is for "Early Mornings".I hate them :(.I hate early morning calls,I hate early morning flights,you get the drift.
I remember being up for some god forsaken reason at 5:30 a.m and seeing people around me up and about, looking bright and fresh.A) Why would you voluntarily get up at this unearthly hour and B)Why do you look so chirpy?I kid you not, I look like something that the cat dragged in early in the morning and trust me you don't talk to me before 9 a.m unless you want your head bitten off.
Early mornings...baaah!
Late Nights?...Now that I can get on board with.

E is for Earrings.They are just so pretty.But I have this bad habit of loosing them.I know friends who have lovely earrings and manage to match it to outfit.I couldn't even if I tried.I do buy them by the dozen because when you go to a store and see these lovely accessories lined up,you cant help but buy them.I recently bought hoops in 5 different colors!Sad to say I cannot locate them as of now :(

E is for Easter Lily's.This gorgeous trumpet shaped flower symbolizes purity to me and I love the calming sense that prevails when you have them arranged in the house.

-Google

E is for Echo.And how fascinated I am with them.Imagine just because of the way the room or space is positioned sound can reverberate back.Eerie but nice.Read more here.

E is for Eclairs.Especially those ones that you get at Pandhal in Cochin.Nice whipped cream inside with lovely crusty pastry slathered with chocolate outside!

-Google.....Slurrrp

Now I'm just hungry...so I'll be off.

That was "E" for today,I'll see you with "F" for tomorrow.
Caio

Blogging A to Z : D is for...

I missed a couple of days(and alphabets).Not very "diligent blogger" of me.But I was out of town.
I flew in and out out of Cochin at such lightning speed that I think part of me still thinks I'm in Cochin instead of at my desk at work.

Moving on now,since I have been tardy enough as it is!

-Google

"D" is the word for today!

D is for Dolls and the scores of them I had as a kid.I remember the fascination I had for the walky-talky variety that weren't readily available in India at the time.My parents still managed to source one for me from somewhere!Cookie unfortunately or fortunately does not have the same love for dolls I have had.She finds great pleasure in beheading her barbies and trampling on her baby-doll without a care in the world.The good thing though is that she is quite happy with real world things.She knows how to work the remote and manages my S2 with greater ease than me.Maybe I just need to make peace with the fact that she isnt a girly girly girl.Not too bad that is :)

D is for Dogs.I LOVE them!They are the most darling loyal beings on the planet.I remember our family dog Trigger was as good as another family member.I had to beg and plead for months on end before I was allowed to get him but once I did get him mom and dad were more attached to him than I was.I remember mom feeding him when he was ill and he slept in our bedroom on his own plush cushion.He had moods and expressions and managed to get his way always!
If I could I would take in any stray that I could lay my hands on.Unfortunately I cannot.I hope my daughter is as persistent as I was and we manage to convince the family to get another dog..soon :)

D is for Delicious.I love the word "delicious".Doesn't it roll off the tongue in the most sensual,drool provoking way?Its like "luscious" and "delightful" put together.How can you not like the word.Note to self though:Don't eat everything described as delicious!:-/

D is for Dexter.My all time favorite TV show.A serial killer who only kills bad guys.I remember seeing the rushes on TV and wondering how gripping could this show get?I also wondered if it would have stand alone episodes or have a story woven in.This has BOTH.The awesomeness that is this show leaves you wanting for more after each episode.Dexter has a perfect life and a dark side.The way in which the story weaves in and out of both is what makes Dexter interesting.Now if only they would hurry up and finish shooting the next season.

D is for DeeDee.The adorably cute irritating and lanky girl who is the cartoon character Dexter's sister.You remember Dexter from "Dexter's Lab" dont you?I cant be that old!I thought Dee Dee was the epitome of a "pain in the *&% older sister to a geeky brother.

D is for Doremon.A series that I hear is all the rage now a days.I hope to goodness Cookie isn't hooked to it,because I cant seem to tolerate the cast and crew of that cartoon!

D is for Dracula.I remember watching this cute cartoon called "Mina and the Count" Where dracula ends up at the wrong house.He thinks Mina is a 18 year old hot babe but finds an 8 year old cutie instead.He tries to leave but ends up staying and having a little tea party with her.It was just so adorable seeing Dracula sit there with a tiny pink teacup asking for more tea.He also tucks her into bed before leaving and gives her a tiny kiss on her forehead.
I liked the cartoon not only because it was cute,but because it tried not to scare children.It moved away from the stereotype attached to Dracula and I think anything that removes stereotypes is a winner.
Pity its not a very popular cartoon.

D is for the Danube.Its a river that I had heard of in history class.So what I did today was learn the countries it flows through.Just trying to increase my knowledge (via blogging) as well you see.
It mainly runs through Central Europe and touches places like Vienna and Budapest.

-Thank you wikipedia.You can see the full size map here

D is for Dinner.My most important meal of the day.I know,I know.That's supposed to be breakfast.But for me its dinner.Its usually oats for breakfast,a bite at office for lunch and a heavy dinner that consists of stuff the cook made.Of late though I have started cooking a nice,kind of elaborate(depends on your definition of elaborate though) dinner all on my own.And the fact that my husband is a willing test subject is quite useful.

D is for Debrecen a quaint city in Hungary.A friend visited this place recently and I saw the most beautiful pictures.I.WANT.TO.GO.!

D is for Daniel Steele.One of the first few adultish books I read!Looking back now I find her books oh so predictable.I did enjoy them at the time though.

D is for Deep Purple.Enough said.
But can I add "Highway star" is my favorite song :)

So that was "D" for today,I'll see you with "E" for tomorrow.
Caio

Blogging A to Z: C is for....

So I'm back after the weekend and a good weekend it was!
A movie(Vicky Doner,slightly over hyped),dinner,shopping(but of course),a party with some friends from work and body pain as of now since dancing is apparently for people who do not wear high heels and I just had to break in my new Zara pumps!

Anyway that aside.Lets get down to business.

I'll start with the prettiest image of a "C" I can find via Google.

C is for Cookie!My adorable little 2 year old.Cookie is her pet name and we chose this name because one,I ate basket loads of cookies when I was expecting her and two,I have a longish face but my daughter who is a carbon copy of my husband has a nice round little face.And with dark brown eyes,a button nose and rosebud lips she reminds me of an oatmeal raisin cookie :)Plus I had a ball calling her strawberry cookie when she was dressed in pink and lemon cookie when she was dressed in yellow.And I kid you not she looked good enough to eat! :D

C is for the Cold.You have no idea how much I am craving for some nice..cold.. ANYTHING!The heat is unbearable and I want to retire to the cold confines of my bedroom or even office (where the air conditioning is usually verrry high)..Yes, that's how hot it is!
I just want to live on some nice cold lemonade,eat a chilled ceaser's salad and finish off the meal with a cold cheesecake.And while I'm dreaming I'd rather do all this in Canada where I'm pretty sure its cold all year around!Oh..Oh...and COLD COLD Ice cream...LOTS.OF.IT.

C is for CCR.My dad listens to them and I think I just grew up on their songs.On our long drives it was either CCR(dad's choice) or Mohamed Rafi(mom's choice),(My contribution to the music scene was the Spice Girls!Common..I was 13 and they were the in thing!
Back to CCR,this was my favorite song.

C is for Coffee and the fact that I don't drink it.In any form.Not hot, not cold.Not as a cake,not as a creamy pastry.Not as a toffee not as a sweet.
I know friends who need to have their shot of coffee to kick start their day.Hell,they need a caffeine high through the day.I dont.
I actually get a headache IF I drink coffee.But then that's just me!

C is for Cream.That thin little film that forms on top of my milk and custard if I'm not careful. I hate positively loath it.
I remember the first time Ram brought me breakfast in bed.As much as I appreciated the gesture.As much as I liked the one rose laid out on the side of the tray.As amused as I was with his cheesy idea.I HAD to get up and go strain my glass of Boost least it have a little bit of cream hidden somewhere!(On another note,yes he got me milk with Boost in it!Don't ask!)

C is for Croatia.A place I want to visit,like really really badly.Nestled in Central Europe,the place is magical.It has castles and rivers,beaches and bungalows and everything dreams are made of.
And looks something like this.

Croatia

C is for Copper.I was fascinated with copper at one point in time.We used to get these copper snake rings from a temple near Cochin.

This is exactly like the one I had!

And if you left them on long enough it used to cause a blue line around your finger where the ring used to be.I know now that it was the copper reacting to the perspiration on my skin,but since I didn't know that then,I was(as I said) FASCINATED.I collected copper rings,bracelets and even little pots and pans made of copper for my dollhouse.

Pheww... I didnt think I would have so much to say about "C",but just "C"how much I managed to type down!
(Cheesy joke?Sorry)


So that was "C" for today,I'll see you with "D" for tomorrow!
Caio.

Blogging A to Z : B is for..

I will be deviating from my "Freewheeling Friday" this week (and maybe the subsequent week as well).
Not that anything much has been happening besides work so I'm actually doing you a favour.


 So moving on...

I was not particularly fond of the alphabet "B".
I didn't think it looked pretty and I was quite surprised when I found this pretty little B on google.

B is for Buses!Its like they make it their mission in life to wipe out every other vehicle/human they see on the road.

B is for Blood Pressure,that I am sure to have,thanks to driving amongst these buses.!

B is for Bangalore!I LOVE this city.I know people hate the traffic and the tight deadlines.But I don't mind those things.Stay close to work and drive an airconditioned car.You are sorted.
Plus you HAVE to love a city that does not have a hot and humid summer!Coming from sweaty Cochin.That alone is reason enough for me.

B is for Bed.
A place I spend most of my time when at home.I read there.I eat there.I watch TV there.I work on my laptop there.

B is for Blogging or the lack there of.Hope to remedy that.

B is for Bananas,Bread and the Banana Bread that I made the other day.I hate bread.I don't like the dryness of it and I hate burgers even more.I don't even like pizza but I guess that's a "P" post.
I don't care for Bananas either,especially the over ripe variety!

B is for Bolivia. Ensconced in South America with Brazil on one side and Paraguay on another its on my list of places to visit.

B is for Bubbles.The kind I love to blow,with my daughter.

B is for Bubblegum.And my fascination for Boomer when I was a kid.It was filled choc a bloc with strawberry essence but I still liked it.Shudder.

B is for the Black Eyed Peas.I honestly love all their songs!"The Time of My Life(Dirty Bit)" being one of my favorites.

B is for Bollywood.And I'm grateful for the few good movies they make. :)Also some of the songs are not too bad either.

B is for Brandy Glasses.I love their shape.Curvy and sexy :)

- Google

Last but not the least B is for Books.
Where would I be without them.They have this innate ability to lift you up and send you off into this space that is just you,your thoughts and your book.I am yet to come across any other activity that can do that.I wish I could be marooned on an island with a good book.Hell,I wish I could be marooned in my bedroom right now-WITH a good book.
And you know what.Its the weekend!So I actually get to do that.James Patterson's Cross Country it is.

So that was "B" for today,I'll see you with "C" for tomorrow.
Caio.

Blogging A to Z : A is for...

I have been blog hopping like crazy,hoping for inspiration to strike.
I was tempted to do a tag but wanted something "meatier".

That's when I came across this idea.

Blogging A to Z.

• Simple
• Easy
• Entertaining and most importantly
• Gives you a starting point to ramble on :)Which is exactly what a novice blogger needs!

And I invite all my blog readers(all 2 of them!) to try this :D

 

Isn't this cute!Thanks Google!

 So here goes...

"A"  is actually one of my favorite alphabets.It just is :)

My name starts with an A.And that was fun until you realize you are almost always called out first in class.
And if your class follows alphabetic seating woe betide you because you are almost always assured a place right under that strict maths teachers nose.
A is also the highest grade you can get in school.(Or an A+ if your school had that little system going),and even though I didnt get as many A's as I think I deserved,I did pretty decent. :)

A is for Apple.My all time favorite fruit.I have loved apples since I can remember.My uncle,who was in the army,was posted at Srinagar,when I was in the 3rd or 4th grade and I fondly remember the crates and crates of apples he used to send us.I also remember taking an apple to school and leaving it on my favorite teachers desk!A very British/American thing to do right?Blame it on Enid Blyton!
I have also tried baking numerous apple cakes and crumbles.While they are excellent to eat,they didn't look as...ummm...appetizing.
I am also sad that, Sweet Chariot in Bangalore the only place that used to make some divine apple pies(that they served with whipped cream) has now STOPPED making them :(.They do make an apple cake now,which frankly isn't as good.

A is for August.My husbands birthday is August.I realize that this isn't something extra special but we didn't have any reason for celebration in August(no birthdays,no anniversaries etc) until he came along!

A is for Aladdin."A whole new world" is still one of my favorite Disney songs!

A is for Adele.I have her songs STUCK in my head and on constant loop.You most certainly can "Set fire to the rain" Adele!

A is for Alappuzha.This quaint little town in Kerala.My grandfather belonged to Alappuzha and I remember some nice long drives with him and my grand mom there and back.We always picked up coir mats from the shops that dotted the highway and they once surprised me with a hammock.

A is for Android.My new phone has android and I'm going crazy downloading apps.

A is for the armed forces.Though my parents weren't in the armed forces per say,I have scores of relatives enlisted and I attended Naval Public School,which was predominantly for defense kids.
And I must say.There is something about the armed forces that is such a turn on.The uniforms,the patriotism,the confidence.I swoon for defense personnel and my husband HATES that!

A is for Actor or the lack thereof in our current Hindi film industry.One more muscle man and I'll throw up!


So that was "A" for today,I'll see you with "B" for tomorrow.

Caio!

Putting pen to paper....or hands to keypad...easier said than done.

I read some fabulous blogs.

They all have something special about them.Be it their style of writing,the layout of the blog,they way they put down their thoughts in a easy to read yet gripping manner,their innovative topic choice and I could go on with my string of adjectives.

They seem to have it all figured out.

I don't.

I am still in that space where I haven't found my blogarythm as yet.
As of now this blog space is my playground.(In a literary sense of course).
It is where I get to pen down what I'm thinking,what I'm feeling,what I'm shopping for,what I'm cooking,what I'm eating,what I'm feeling like eating and the list could go on.Not that this is a bad thing but I would like to find a theme for my blog.Is that incredibly anal of me?

Anyway.I have a million thoughts in my head per day.I do a million things per day.

But when I sit down to write about it?Everything I have done starts to feel inconsequential
And I draw a great big blank.
Like now!


So I decided to do the next best thing which was revisit my blog,reread all my posts,correct the silly mistakes I seem to make by the dozen!and flat out delete some posts that were quite beyond repair.
I also decided to stick to one simple easy and classy theme.Rather than go about crazily theme switching like I have been doing this past month!
I think this calls for some "Blogging Resolutions"

• Simple,easy theme.
• Re-read and post ONLY when satisfied.
• Check grammar..and then check again!(Its crazy that I was know in school and college for my public speaking skills and I make mistakes by the tonne on my blog!)
• Make a little something on my blog(need to decide what) that showcases,something new that I have learnt every week.
• Be happy with my "sometimes" inane little musings because its my blog and my thoughts aren't that bad!
• Subscribe to more blogs and seriously consider moving to wordpress.

So that's all from me folks.

Here's hoping I stick to my "Blogging Resolutions" and they don't meet the same fate my "New Year Resolutions" did.

But that's a post for another day.

Dinner Parties of Yester and Yore...

I am a sucker for dinner parties.
I love the fact that it lets me get together with my friends and I love the fact that they are informal.A pizza,some wine and you are good to go.No cleaning up.No frills.

Having said that,I must admit I am a secret "Fancy Dinner Party" lover.

The chance to sit down to fine bone china laid out on some lovely table linen with a nice creative centerpiece and there is no wonder I am a fan!

My fascination for china,crystal and fancy dinner parties started when I was quite young.When all dinner parties were fancy!

My dad worked on the plantations and we predominantly lived in these lovely and quaint British bungalows (many of which have now been converted into home stays).

I actually stayed at places that looked like this!
(This is courtesy Google though)

Parties at our place almost always involved sit down dinners,with warm plates(Yes!) and actual courses.You know the entree,dessert and stuff.
I also remember that the kitchen had a switchboard with names of all the rooms of the bungalow and they lit up when the bell from the corresponding room was rung.
This was so that the butler could go to the correct room when the bell was rung.(Much like the "Call the air-hostess button" on the flight).
My mom used to have a bell switch under the table during major sit down dinners,like when the Goenka's came down for dinner.(They came with their own personal chef and insisted on watching live Kathakalil shows on our lawn basically they wanted the works!).

Anyway,when the first course would be done with, mom would press the bell with her foot and it would light up the tiny dining room bulb in the kitchen and set the next course in motion.
And to the guests at the dining room it just seemed like perfect timing!

I remember mom getting out the best crystal and making a big deal out of the kind of whiskey glasses she thought the occasion demanded.
The ice bucket had to be chinked up and the best flowers from the garden were brought in.
Flowers were arranged in each room and even the bathrooms.

I know all this is mostly over the top.And admit that with our busy schedules and cranky housekeepers doing all this is virtually impossible!
But then again if mom could do all this before she had access to the internet and Martha Stewart!I think I can bother with a few little fineries the next time I call some friends over for dinner.

I saw these lovely and easy ideas online today and thought of sharing them.

Lime slices and Perennials

I am absolutely in the mood for lime these days considering the heat!And this looks reasonably simple.I may have to exchange the Perennials for some Hydrangea.But I think it will still look as pretty!

Lemon Slices and Yellow Roses

I love the green theme in this one.So summery and so easy!

I also came across this lovely site that has amazing deals on luxury home decor.I already have my eye on some crystal that's on sale :).

Go wild!

Anyway a happy evening spent surfing through bright and colorful pictures and promises made to myself to pay a little more attention to the way I lay my table for my next dinner party and I think I am ready to call it a night.

But before I go I must leave you with a table setting I did recently for my daughter's second birthday.(It doesn't hold a candle to all the beautiful stuff out there,but hey it proves that I do try. Occasionally.)

My "squareish" black and white plates.
My Ice bucket which chilled the champagne
Black stemmed wine glasses
Crystal whiskey glasses 

 I wish I had made a nice black and silver centerpiece.But I remember I was down with a bad cold and fever then and getting this itself done was a BIG Deal!

Tomorrow....Bed Linen!(Kidding!)

Paneer Mutter Masala-A First!

Anyone who knows me (especially my husband) would attest to the fact that I do not cook.I do not enjoy chopping,I do not enjoy stirring stuff over a hot flame and most of all I do not enjoy it when the dish comes out looking nothing like you envisioned it to be.
I am not going to go into details of the times when my cooking has been less than perfect because trust me,NO ONE needs to hear about that.

On a happier note,I actually managed a pretty decent Paneer Mutter Masala the other day.
This recipe is heavily inspired from "Enigma" and I have just tweaked it at a few places.
The end result was awesome though and we polished off the entire dish at one go.

Finished product!Not very pretty but tasted great :D

Ingredients
2 cups of frozen green peas
1 Cup Paneer (grated)
2 large sized tomatos
1 tbl spoon of ginger garlic paste                                                   
1 tbl spoon of cashew paste
1 large sized onion
4 green chillies
4 tbl spoon of chilli powder
1 tbl spoon of garam masala
salt to taste
1/4 tbl spoon of turmeric powder
1/2 cup of curds
oil as needed
Chopped coriander leaves for garnishing

Preparation

1.  Make tomato puree by grinding them in a mixer and keep it aside.
2. Soak cashews in water for 15-20 mins so they become soft and can be made into a paste.Grind in a mixi and keep it aside.
3.  Grind onions and green chillies.
4.  Heat the oil and fry the onion and green chilly paste well. Add turmeric powder, ginger-garlic paste and fry again for a few mins.
5. Add tomato puree, curd, cashew paste, garam masala, chilli powder and salt and fry some more.
6. Add peas to this and let it saute till the peas are cooked.(If you use frozen peas they cook much faster).Add the grated paneer to this and let it cook for some more time.
7.  Add coriander and serve hot. 

 Bon Appetite!

Freewheeling Friday-3

And this week...

The Good : I seem to be managing the 2 roles at work quite smoothly!Surprise!
The Bad   : I ended up working even though I had taken a day off on Thursday.
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The Good : I behaved myself and didn't shop this week.
The Bad   : It's only Saturday and God give me the strength to get through the weekend.
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The Good : I managed some good quality time with the husband.
The Bad   : Why do we wait until I get the urge to murder him.
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The Good : I am off to the parlor for some nice treatments on my hair.You know the treatments that make your hair all shiny and stuff.
The Bad  : The salon B:Blunt has a lovely spa but I hate massages!
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The Good : I'm off to Cochin for a little impromptu holiday/work.
The Bad   : The husband as usual can't make it!Why don't all jobs have flexibility I say!
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The Good : Its Vishu tomorrow.Happy New Year to my mallu friends.
The Bad   : I have no sadya and no elders to get any money from(as is tradition!).Stealing from the husbands wallet does not count!
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The Good : I have a vacation sort of planned.Finally!
The Bad   : Its in October and I need to save all my leave until then!
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The Good : We saw a movie.
The Bad   : It was Housefull 2!
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The Good : TGIF figured we are regulars and gave us their membership card.
The Bad   : We end up at TGIF almost every weekend and I miss dining at other places!
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So that was the past week.
Adios until next week (unless inspiration strikes before that!)

The Food List

I found this interesting app/post on facebook that all my friends seemed to be doing.It was "The Food List" where you mark off all the food's that you have eaten ever.
One of the high scores I happened to catch sight of  were in the 70-80 category.

I obviously have a bunch of very experimental(foodwise!)friends.

And me, you ask?Well I stick to the tried and tested.If I like the biryani at one place and the kebobs at another,you can be rest assured I will have the biryani at that place and the kebob at the other.No mixing,no matching,nothing.

Yes.I do live life on the edge.

Anyway, I thought it would be interesting to do this list.Not because I want to showcase what a wuss I am when it comes to eating sea snails,but because it indulges my favorite activity...googling(I'm sure thats a legit word now!)!
I had a ball googling all the dishes I didnt know,googling the dishes I wanted to know more about and so on.

So here goes...

	1. Abalone -Now I must admit I had never heard of this,even though I watch Masterchef Australia regularly and have heard of some really weird stuff there.(Or maybe I missed an episode)Abalone is some kind of Sea Snail that you can eat!Ewwww.Don't see myself trying this out...EVER.
	2. Absinthe - Ah the good ol "Green Fairy",I definitely wouldn't mind a sighting of him/her when I am in Europe.No(As of now)
	3. Alligator - No.But I did find a company "Cajun Grocer" that ships you alligator meat.And they claim their alligators are less than 6 feet long and between 2 and 3 years old.Now this just makes me sad :(
	4. Baba Ghanoush- The European version of our good old "Baingan bharta".But not a fan..of both.I can manage those slices of deep fried nicely spiced baingan,but no eggplant goop for me please.But ,yes...something I have eaten...AT LAST! :D
	5. Bagel and Lox-Bagel-Yes,but I don't eat seafood so Lox-No.
	6. Baklava- I ate some yumm pista bakalava in Dubai..It was the perfect balance between sweet and crunchy and just delicious.Yes to bakalava and gimme more!
	7. Barbecue Ribs- I have salivated over some nicely glazed ribs at Millers in Bangalore but have just nibbled a bit off the husbands plate,because I cannot eat so much meat at one go.Does that count?
	8. Bellini-Yes,in many forms :)
	9. Bird's Nest Soup-In case you are wondering it is NOT a play on words.This soup is ACTUALLY made of birds nests,and highlights(wait for it) the saliva they use to make that nest.And before I forget...NO!
	10. Biscuits and Gravy -Yes,the Indian version.
	11. Black Pudding-Blood Pudding?...No.
	12. Black Truffle-They had a food festival here that had trufles on the menu...but again No.Maybe I should have!Nice article though,this."Truffles from the Devils?"
	13. Borscht-Oh it is fabulous.Give me beetroot in this form anyday!Yes.
	14. Calamari-No seafood.But TGIF has the best I've seen my husband enjoy.
	15. Carp- No seafood.
	16. Caviar-No Seafood or seafood eggs.
	17. Cheese Fondue-Made my own one day.I mean you choose cheeses and melt.Romantic and yum.
	18. Chicken and Waffles-Chicken-Yes and Waffles-Yes.Chicken with waffles -No.
	19. Chicken Tikka Masala-Now I'm hungry and I WANT!Slurrrp.Yes,Yess,Oh yes!
	20. Chile Relleno-I do enjoy Mexican food.But when I hear chile,I want hot spicy chillies and this unfortunately uses those capsicum kinda chillies that I hate.So No.But the recipe looks good.
	21. Chitlins - Hog intestines or guts.Do I need to say more? NO.
	22. Churros- I remember seeing a Nigella episode on "Churros and chocolate dipping sauce".As yumm as it looks I'm not too big on sweet dough.Bread,doughnuts etc.So yes, I did try it at one of the Mexican restaurants I had been too but no,I won't be trying it again.
	23. Clam Chowder - No seafood for me.But the TopChef guys made a clam chowder that almost had me wishing I did eat seafood.
	24. Cognac- "Sharab nahi hoti" from some random hindi movie, ages ago.I have tried Cognac and loved it.Love the way it is pronounced even more :)
	25. Crab Cakes - Nope,though Mainland China is supposed to serve up some awesome ones.
	26. Crickets- Nooooooo
	27. Currywurst- No.But sounds good.I think it would taste awesome with the beer during Ocktober fest in Germany.Can we substitute the pork sausage for chicken though?
	28. Dandelion Wine - No.But wow!I didnt know those pretty little delicate flowers could make wine.I obviously had to go googling..and wow there is an easy recipe available online.Now where do I get dandelions in Bangalore?
	29. Dulce De Leche-( pronounced DOOL-say day LAY-chay)-Milk Candy-Sweetned milk heated untill somewhere between condensed and caramelized.Whatever the process if it looks like this on a muffin..gimme!
	30. Durian-Nope but they are banned on the subways in Singapore!
	31. Eel - Siigghh is everything here seafood based.
	32. Eggs Benedict - I don't usually like runny eggs.But when done properly(like it was at a quaint little cafe in Dubai) Eggs Benedict rock!
	33. Fish Tacos - No
	34. Foie Gras - Goose liver?! Nooo
	35. Fresh Spring Rolls - Fresh,not so fresh,stale...eaten all versions!
	36. Fried Catfish - No
	37. Fried Green Tomatoes -Yes and yummmmmm :)
	38. Fried Plantain - "Pazham puri" so happy to see you here!I miss you! :D Yes.
	39. Frito Pie - No,but wouldn't mind trying it.I think it will be a sort of baked "Bhel puri".
	40. Frogs’ Legs - No
	41. Fugu - No
	42. Funnel Cake - Basically batter fried in an overlapping mass.Something like a pretzel I would think.
	43. Gazpacho - Yes.Caperberry a lovely restaurant in Bnagalore has some awesome guzpacho.
	44. Goat - Yes,the spicier the better!
	45. Goat’s Milk - Probably have.Not really sure.
	46. Goulash - I have eaten the Indian version many time but eating it in Hungary.Now that would be something.
	47. Gumbo- Seafood again.
	48. Haggis - I figured from the picture that it wasnt something that was going to appeal to me.And I was right.We are talking pigs heart,liver,lungs etc.
	49. Head Cheese-Is not a cheese.Its a terrain made with the flesh from the head of a calf.So no.
	50. Heirloom Tomatoes - Thank you Nilgiris :)Bake them,roast them,pepper salt them   and you are good to go.
	51. Honeycomb- Yes.
	52. Hostess Fruit Pie-No
	53. Huevos Rancheros-Guacamole,eggs,tortillas and tomato chilly sauce.I want MORE.
	54. Jerk Chicken - Slurrrrpp!Yes.I could have done with more Scotch Bonnet Pepper on mine though.
	55. Kangaroo - No
	56. Key Lime Pie - No,but remember that "Dexter" episode where he tries to find the perfect key lime pie for that lady who is dying.Random thought. :D
	57. Kobe Beef - No.
	58. Lassi - Yes.Not a fan though.
	59. Lobster - No.The one Ram had recently looked good though!
	60. Mimosa-Yes :)
	61. MoonPie-No
	62. Morel Mushrooms-Yes.Love mushrooms.
	63. Nettle Tea-No
	64. Octopus - No
	65. Oxtail Soup - No
	66. Paella-Came across the seafood version so, no.
	67. Paneer - Oh so many times.
	68. Pastrami on Rye - No.Yes to rye though.
	69. Pavlova-Yes,with whipped cream and berries.
	70. Phaal-Supposed to be a hot and spicy British Asian Indian curry.Not had it so far.
	71. Philly Cheese Steak - No
	72. Pho-Asian noodles?No
	73. Pineapple and Cottage Cheese- Note to self must try this recipe. Looks like this AND takes 2 minutes to make.Can you ask for anything more?
	74. Pistachio Ice Cream - Yes
	75. Po’ Boy-No
	76. Pocky-No
	77. Polenta-Yes
	78. Prickly Pear-No
	79. Rabbit Stew - No.But I did let the waiter serve me roast rabbit.Didn't eat it though.It stayed on the corner of my plate.
	80. Raw Oysters - No
	81. Root Beer Float - Yes.It's not as nice as it sounds!
	82. S’mores-Yes.
	83. Sauerkraut-Something I ate recently came on a bed of Sauerkraut.What?. I don't remember.
	84. Sea Urchin - No
	85. Shark - No
	86. Snail- Sigggg..No.
	87. Snake - No
	88. Soft Shell Crab- No
	89. Som Tam - Yum yum yummmmmm.
	90. Spaetzle- A german dumpling or noodle that I havent had before.Similar to the gnocchi I think.
	91. Spam- No
	92. Squirrel - Oh god no.
	93. Steak Tartare - Uncooked meat?No thank you.
	94. Sweet Potato Fries - Yes.
	95. Sweetbreads-What a deceptive little name.No.
	96. Tom Yum- Oh yes.Good and bad versions!
	97. Umeboshi-Ok,so I must admit I hadn't heard of this ever.So here is the wiki link :)
	98. Venison - Yes.Didn't like it.
	99. Wasabi Peas-I don't eat Sushi.But I like this :)
	100. Zucchini Flowers - My friend makes the yummiest stuff with this.Must ask her for the recipe and put it up here. So that's my list.I am not even going to bother counting the stuff I did actually manage to eat. It would be a shameful number.