Blogaholic and Blue CuPcAkeS!!

I am still a blogaholic!
Just because I did not blog for a while does not mean I havnt thought about this blog. It is constantly on my mind. Because isn't this the place where I plan to write my opinions, thoughts, personal judgements and vent-a-rants!
But it has been hectic.
Its little over 100 days since we moved to our new house and did you know it is not a easy job to turn a house into a warm and cozy home. well, that is what I have been upto lately. I am enjoying, looking at the garden from the kitchen window while I wash Champ's bottles and spoons. I spend lot of time staring at the fragrant lemons and apricots hanging from the trees. I watch the hummingbirds zoom across the shared fences and make me wonder whether any of my neighor is witnessing nature's joy as I am.
Its wonderful and feels surreal but its been 3 months already.
I have also been busy cooking. Of course the regular course as well as hefty cooking show worth ones. Since May there have been quite a few rounds of House Warming parties and then the wonderful month of June. Champ celebrated his 1st Birthday, with not just one party. So it has been pretty busy at this corner.
I think I hosted the last of the big bashes the past Saturday and now, I heave a sigh of relief. Have some music practices going and then will start preps for Pujo.

I leave you with the pic of the 3 tier cupcake stand from Champ's Birthday Party.

Salmon in Yellow Sauce

My boy is my image. So what if the world says that he resembles his father, vada vada... I know in my hearts heart. My boy is exactly like me. Well, almost!Ya need the proof and here it is.

Similarities :

My boy's Birthday is on 19th June, 2011 and mine is on 19th Jan, 19** see see.
My boy loves red and yellow, and I love YelloW!!
My boy loves to be pampered and I love to pamper him.
My boy is a talker and guess who else is !!
My boy loves Salmon and I love Salman... see see.
And you can blackmail him into anything if you give him salmon. 
The only time he will eat something that has not been pureed to his consistency(watery). 

Well, since we are a bengali family from Burdwan where fish is what you have, twice or maybe thrice a day. So when it comes to special celebrations serving fish, the likes of betki, pabda, hilsa, king prawns is a must. For Champ's birthday party we had an easy answer. SALMON. 
The rest of the menu for adult guests consisted of haleem, achari bhindi, butter chicken, lau chingri and so, I needed to find a salmon recipe that would go with the rest of the menu and rice.
I finally stumbled upon this recipe which I then improvised to suit a more indian platter. It came out wonderful so wonderful that I did not have the time to click pictures of the party dish. I made it again to take pictures but Dh just could not wait for me to click pictures and took large spoonfuls before I could take a look at the dish. And that is exactly how it has been for the last two weeks, during which I made this dish thrice at home.

So here is the recipe:
Salmon in Yellow sauce:
 Ingredients:
salmon fillets
Olive oil
Salt and pepper 1/2 teaspoon 
Turmeric
chilli
groun cumin
1 can Coconut cream
half cup milk
1 tablespoon butter 
1/4 cup chopped onion 
1 garlic clove
Large pinch saffron(optional)


Directions: Preheat the oven to 350° F. Drizzle olive oil and season each fillet with cumin, salt and pepper. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake until the salmon is cooked through (Maybe for 20-25 mins). The sauce- melt the butter. Add the onions and fry for 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the coconut milk, heavy cream, saffron, turmeric and milk. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally.Put the Salmon in the sauce. Simmer for couple of minutes.an awesome dish is ready.It is so yum you will have this all the time. And the baby will love it too. Some other variations to this dish is adding lemon juice or adding yogurt instead of milk. Or adding coriander and finely chopped green chills.I have also made this dish with finely shredded coconut and milk. This come out much more crunchy and textures and is actually my favorite.I have made this dish in all these variations and it comes out beautifully each time. Great with white rice.

Fear of being too happy!

Have you ever had the fear of being too happy? I have it. I am very scared of being too happy. I allow myself certain happiness but I have become very conscious. When I see that this is a situation where I can be carried away with happiness, I start to hold back or absolutely avoid the situation.
I was a very happy person prior to 2009. I was at my peak to say the least. I was working as a teacher, doing voluntary work, I was traveling, going to school, singing and had a vibrant social life. I had friends around me all the time and was enjoying myself so much. My weekends were about good company, good food and good fun. I was all about bellows of laughter, screams of joy and ecstasy, strings of giggles and silly grins.
Every weekend I would talk to my parents about how much fun I was having. Actually we would share notes of who was having more fun. My parents are were such a fun and happening couple. Their life was the ideal retirement life any senior couple can dream of - traveling around the country, visiting friends and family, taking trips with friends, parties, constant trains of celebrations in wonderful,very youthful (spiritually) company, when tragedy struck. In Nov'09, within 2 weeks of falling sick, my father passed away. Maybe some other day I will be able to write the whole string of events, not today.
          My life came crashing down. I was at the peak of my happy moment when I came crashing face down and hit the granite. I faced everything as I could at the moment but it is all a blur. All I remember is that I did not want to face the world anymore. I did not contact a single friend when i got back. I did not want to do anything with any living creature.
I remember meeting an ex-schoolmate's family on the Singapore Airport and did not tell them anything. I smiled and exchanged greetings everything, talked about our families and still I could not bring myself to say it. That is how I was for almost 9 months. My mother came to visit me in September I felt little better and the following month we got the good news that I was expecting. But I still remained very cautious because someone does not want me to be too happy I said. so just keep all the happy thoughts all of it all in.
I became a mother on Father's Day 2011.
It is a full year since that auspicious day of happiness. The month June has been a month of happiness and there have been times when I have forgotten caution and been really happy. Let myself feel my happy moment.
The month of June has been wonderful.

But, I am worried if this fear will ever leave me.