The simple pleasures I talk about in my column this week refer not to the new, simple and easy-to-prepare dishes I have learnt (I'd need more than one newspaper page for that) :) but rather to the simple foods and things about food that I enjoy.
I invite you to read the column and come back to this virtual dining table and share some of your simple food pleasures.
Green-plantain chips are such a treat - crisp, savoury and can't-stop-till-it's-all-gone. At school we would buy and eat these daily. They make for a nice appetizer. A must-have on games night, movie night or anytime!
Cream soda with milk and ice. My aunt introduced to me this as a child. She'd take me to see matinee shows and when we returned to her house, she'd make this for me to have with a tennis roll and cheese. I'd sip it little by little because I never wanted it to finish. Then I'd suck on the ice for any remants of the drink. (lol)
Snow cone! Everyday the snow cone man passes in front of my house, honking his horn :) But I don't eat it everyday. Only now and then. Ice and syrup - quite an indulgence. Long ago these used to be served in a pointed, paper-like cup but these days they come in plastic cups.
25 comments:
Those plantain chips look so light and crispy.YUM!
We add turmeric and slice them into thick rounds and fry in India.
Ice cones are a blessing in summer,we are not ready yet for that here:))
Cynthia, I liked the pic of ur snow cone...every summer, its a pleasure to watch those kids hanging around the snow cone man :)
Shn
Hey, I thoroughly enjoyed ur column and this line " Dhal, rice and achar - this is comfort food for me. " did surprise me a lot....coz thats a comfort food for many in India :)
Shn
Cynthia, Read your article. Very nice. The ice cone is really tempting as summer started here. Childhood memories. Nice post. Viji
Old Bajan song: "Girl you sweeter than a snowcone." I could probably eat snowcones each afternoon, and I love cornedbeef and rice. BUT I draw the line at dunking :). Makes my biscuit too soggy.
Ohhh, for the simple pleasures of life...but aren't they the great ones...
Hi Cynthia
We love green plantain.we make curries also with them..
the chips are making me drool at ur plate..ice cones are beautifull.
cynthia, going through your recipes i am amzed how similar it is to india. as asha mentioned in india banana chips are yellowish and round but yours looks like crisy potato chips..yum! and that snow cone is to die for.
Asha - tumeric, hmmmm need to try that. We also slice them into rounds, but thin rounds. The ladies at school would stack the rounds so you'd get a cylindrical package of plantain chips, made for a beautiful presentation.
Soon, hon, soon I hope it will be time for you to enjoy ice cones where you are.
Shn - it's like Santa has arrived when the snow cone man comes around the area as well, and like I said, he comes everyday!
Well, as I said in my first column at Dining Hall, our cuisine in the Caribbean is heavily influenced by India especially Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica.
Viji - Thanks for taking the time to read the column. It is highly appreciated.
Susan - Well it depends on how long you are dunking the biscuit for (lol), make a quick dip :)
Sunita - you are right on the money. The things that bring us the most intense pleasure are simple. If only we can keep that at the forefront of our minds...
Swapna - ohhhh curried plantains, why did I not think of that before?! Thanks!
Reena - Yes our cuisine in the Caribbean has a heavy indian influence.
As I was saying to Asha also, we make round plantain chips, sliced thin. We also make the long thin ones you see in the post - slicing length-wise. I used a mandoline.
Hi Cynthia, read your column. Dal rice and achar are mine and my hubby's favorite too. there is nothing like it. I also like th eidea of soda and milk will give a try. but have to hunt for creme soda. never heard of it.
Snow cones used to be served in those pointy paper cups in the States, too. I haven't thought of snow cones for years. Now I miss them. Thanks for the very sweet memory. You have a beautiful blog with lovely photos and amazing recipes, some familiar, some not. Great fun.
Cynthia!!
ice cones already, we just started to have sunny days here.
Plaintain chips looks so yummy.
Susan - welcome, welcome, welcome! It is so good to have another cyber friend. Please make yourself comfortable and have a look around. Feel free to ask about anything you are not sure of... I encourage you to comment as often as you like or just browse. Whatever you do, you are most welcome and please visit often, it's good to have you over.
Thanks for the compliments.
Padmaja - I know you are only now getting sunny days hon, but as you know, it is hot all year-round in my part of the world. Nevertheless, be sure to have a snow cone/ice cone as things heat up. I think it is going to be a very hot summer this year.
cynthia was a naughty girl. slurping cream soda instead of eating bitter gourd.
Hi, I stumbled across your blog today and I love it...everything looks so delicious, I was wondering if possible can you please post the recipe for gilbaka curry...thanks so much.
Cynthia,I loved ur coloum.Yes,duncking is a skill!I am an expert in that ,My kids also loved dipping gloucose biscuts in their milk.
Keep sharing all ur childhood memories
wow cynthia. girl u know how to make us feel young and nostalgic at the same time;) wonderful post which took me down the memory lane:)
Hey cynthia how do you make that cream soda with milk. I am sure my daughter will love it
Bee - I am a good girl too. I bought bitter gourd and plan to cook it soon :))
Alina - Welcome, welcome. I am so happy you found the blog. Thanks for the compliments. Please visit often to browse, read, comment, whatever. You are very welcome.
I am inserting a recipe in the fish curry post so please check it out. You can find the post easily by clicking on the Category on the left-hand side of the blog. Barring that, you can email me diretly and I will send you the recipe.
Please let me know how it turns out and enjoy!
Kitchen Fairy - thanks for taking the time to read the column and for the compliments. Dunking skills, you either have it or you don't :)
Sia - I aim to please ;) Thanks, hon.
Sandeepa - The cream soda is a soft drink. The flavour of the drink is called cream soda and made with vanilla (that's why it tastes so good with milk). Here is a link that will give you some more information. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cream_soda
I'm sure you'll be able to find some at a supermarket or a store that sells beverages.
For the drink you'll need:
Chilled cream soda drink
Some milk (whole/full cream)
Ice
With the ice in glass, pour the cream soda, and then add some milk (2 tbsp or more if you like). Stir and drink. It is so good.
I think I'm going to make myself some shortly :) Just the thought of it makes me happy.
We used to do black softdrink (pepsi/coke) and milk.
It's been a long time since I've had it!
Cynthis - the chips and the soda looks so good. Also your line "about dhal rice and achar" brought back memories. Growing up, I loved dal rice and mango achar :)
Lilandra - as a kid I tried it with pepsi and coke but found that it curdled. I think it has something to do with the chemistry make-up of the pepsi/coke in combination with the milk.
Mandira - Welcome! and thanks for stopping by. Please come back and visit soon and often :)
Mango achar is my favourite to have with dal and rice
Dear Cynthia: You took me back to my childhood in Chilean Patagonia, quite different from yours, but full of those family flavors that we always try to get back to our lives.
p.d. I love dunking toooooo! specially here, in winter, any biscuit in hot coffee, yumy.
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