Hurrah for me!

I am a domestic diva. No, really I am I am!!!

I know that a couple of the girls are going to die laughing, especially SN, since I was famous for burning papad at her place at the tender training to-be-domestic-goddess age of 19. When they could roll out the perfect little rotis, I was relegated to sitting on the kitchen table and eating those little puris and zeera aalu.

But I did do my bestest this weekend. I think I am ready to be unveiled to the world!! Husband dearest’s praises does not really count because he was a dehati who had like never had any gourmet food beyond dal and chawal in his childhood and youth (he’s so lucky he has me, sigh!!!) and he looooves me (its amazing how much he does!), so even my burnt prawns are good for him.

Ever since we got back, colleagues, relatives, friends and friends of friends have been inviting us over for khana. It is payback time now! So, in the first round, RD, ND, G, NG, PG and baby H were invited for dinner on Friday night. I was all excited about making everything at home, since it was my opportunity to show off my domestic godessing skills.

This was my menu – adapted from Sanjeev Kapoors
* Spinach Nests (A yummy snacks, tastes like palak pakoras)

* Minestrone Soup

* Creole Spiced Corn

* Vegetables in red wine

* Pan-fried prawns with almonds

* Barbequed Chicken (This was done by the Hubby in the new Barbeque gifted by his team)

* Grilled peppers – since I didn’t have a grill, I just sort of let the peppers sauté in lotsa olive oil and thyme and a little balsamic. Served on garlic bread – this is something I learnt from Ma, and it worked pretty well.
* Warm potato and walnut salad with lemon parsley butter (oh god! this was the most easy-squeezy item and so good) Best part was ND doesn’t like walnuts, so there actually were leftovers for the chef :)
* Pasta with sun-dried tomatoes and broccoli

I love sun-dried tomatoes, which is very weird considering that I’m not that fond of tomatoes unless they are disguised in the form of Maggi Hot & Sweet but well, there is no accounting for what the sun can do to you, if you just soak it up for like a couple of hours. Look at me, I’m also a much better person, after lying around in the Australian sun :) I’m a sun-driedish – eat me eat me! No, no don’t really – I’m a happily married woman (most of the time, said with straight face).
* Fresh fruit cake

And I’m so happy to say this dinner worked well, there were no leftovers - the sign of overeating by everyone and ergo a good meal. I’m ready to entertain more people but would prefer it if they too were easy to please and had like 5 glasses of chardonnay before hand so everything seems a lovely happy yellow haze :)

Was very knocked out the rest of the weekend, so just can manage a small plug for my darling friend, SK, who opened her very own art gallery. Congrats SK, I think this calls for Peking duck at Blue Ginger (I’m serious, was cheated last time)

PS: How could I have forgotten? Here's wishing the brave and gallant men in my life (namely, dad, AB, RS and VD) a very Happy NDA Day!!