Sprigs of flame

 Few sprigs of a roadside Flame tree ( Gulmohor;Indian name) were lying on the ground,they looked so lovely I could not stop myself from picking them up.Came back home very excited quickly pulled out my old wicker basket/bag picked up from my mum's house some time ago,filled up a mug with water and placed those sprigs in them and now in the wicker bag they all go!

GASP! my bedroom corner is now in FLAMES ! 
I cry out  but with a smile you see. 

Wishing all a very happy and fun filled weekend ahead and I am off for my summer holidays in the hills,will be back with some lovely post cards from there ..... tra la laa la.
Till then all you lovely people do enjoy this timeless oldies below. 

Cliff Richard's  Summer Holiday
We're all going on a summer holiday 
No more working for a week or two 
Fun and laughter on our summer holiday 
No more worries for me or you 
For a week or two 
We're going where the sun shines brightly 
We're going where the sea is blue 
We've all seen it on the movies 
Now let's see if it's true 
Everybody has a summer holiday 
Doing things wanted to 
So we're going on a summer holiday 
To make our dreams come true 
For me and you For me and you 
" So we're going on a summer holiday 
To make our dreams come true ......"
Watch the video here 

Hugs Auro.
Find me @ Ivy and Elephants
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Summers are here..... officially

Poila Baisakh /Vaisakhi/Ugadi/Vishu ....all these celebrations announces the official start of the Indian New Year,summer being the first season of the year.With that rings the bells for the schools to close for summer holidays.

           Today I have two special recipes to share for this special day 

Aam Panna( Aam pora sherbet)

Ingredients:

Raw Mangoes

Rocksalt
Sugar
Cumin seeds, roasted and ground

Method:

1. Roast the raw mangoes, with the skin on over an open flame like you would roast a eggplant. Use a tong to turn it around so it is evenly roasted on all sides.

2. Let it cool and peel the charred skin. Scoop out the pulp

3. Mix the pulp with some salt, sugar and water and pulse it in the blender

4. Sieve the sharbat to get rid of the tiny bits of pulp that may still remain.

5. Sprinkle the roasted cumin powder just before serving.

Kathal ki subzi ( Unripe jackfruit's vegetable)

Ingredients:

1. 500 gm Green Jack Fruit / Echor
2. 1 Onion
3. 1 tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
4. 1 tsp Cumin Powder
5. 1 tsp Coriander Powder
6. 1 Tomato
7. 1 tbsp Ghee
8. 1 Potato
9. 1 tsp Garam Masala
10. Salt to taste
11. Sugar to taste
12. 1 tsp Turmeric Powder 
13. 2 Bay leaves   
14. 2 Diced potatoes                                                                                                     Method:  Marinate the jackfruit with salt and turmeric , parboil them.Marinate the potatoes with salt and turmeric and fry  it with the parboiled jackfruits  and keep them aside. Heat oil in a wok and add bay leaves and whole garam masala to it, add onions, tomatoes chopped ,ginger garlic paste , chilli powder, cumin and coriander powders, salt / sugar  and a little water and cook till the oil separates out , add the fried jackfruits and potatoes to the gravy and let it simmer for sometime . Heat some ghee(clarified butter) in a separate wok and pour it over the jackfruits and sprinkle some garam masala powder.All ready to be eaten now.      
    
                                                       Amar chitra kathas, Malgudi days and icy aam pannas (roasted raw mango drink) are so very reminiscent of my childhood days during summer holidays..... feeling like reliving those days once more.What are your cherished memories of summer holidays?Will be eagerly waiting to learn about them.                                                  Here's wishing a very Happy New Year to all                                                                                                                   Partying with Colours Dekor

Sunday Brunch @ my nest

I am doing a post on a friday night for a Sunday brunch tablescape, for all the inspirations to my blogger friends to spice up

 their Sunday and making it a funday.  

The bane of city life as all knows is about limited space,

         oh how I wish for an outdoor porch  and country living 

.... sigh. I've been thinking on how to 

add a slice of country living to my indoor urban space.

So I landed up customizing two low lying folding 

tables out of left over wooden planks, got them painted in white

 and my outdoor table is set to be laid. 

   Loved these butterfly and floral printed tableware

    the moment my eyes fell on them,bought many years ago 

on a shopping spree.

 Nothing did justice than these frog and leaves printed tissues to match the plates and add the feel of summer to my table here.

 and now to make it more cosy and cushy, just threw in some cushions with a fusion of French country and Indian kitsch prints over my Afghani kilim (a fusion fiesta indeed) and actually am quite happy with the effect,I am !

and so what do we have it here actually for brunch?

      Sunday Brunch: Spinach and salami frittatas + vegetable cutlets

      + Goat cheese and fruit cocktail bites+healthy orange juice

      ( I ensure that Vitamin C is included in my breakfast daily) 

 Well it's possible you see;country outdoor living in an urban limited spaced abode. So go on what are you thinking ..... pull out your old shabby wooden tables,old candle stands,heirloom china handed down over the years and to it add that X factor to zing it up... and you'll be surprised with the magic you created ! trust me.  

A very happy weekend to all

Hugs Auro

Find me @ The Dedicated House
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from the Pedlar's cart.

......Chairs to mend and delf to sell --
He clashes the basins like a bell.
Tea-trays, baskets, ranged in order,
Plates, with the alphabet round the border.
The roads are brown, and the sea is green,
But his house is just like a bathing-machine.
The world is round, but he can ride,
Rumble, and splash to the other side.
With the pedlar-man I should like to roam,
And write a book when I come home.
All the people would read my book,
Just like the Travels of Captain Cook.

                                                                                                    

                                                          ( from "The Pedlar's Caravan by William Brighty Rands)

 

A cartful of treasures, how can I resist.

and so here what we picked : Tibetan prayer bowls and a Kerala water boat candle stand.

Tell me how you like them ?

Good cheers from a vagabond me ......

 Hugs Auro

Find me @ Ivy and Elephants

A Weekend Getaway

We spent a lovely weekend this Easter break amidst the sun 

and the sand at a country home resort at Manori 

and I am dying to share the photos with you all. 

                 My friend's cane bag was lying carelessly on the ground 

                        and that gave me the perfect shot for this post ! 

  Was reminded of the song "cause you are the wind beneath my wings" 

 do hum along .....

                 Loved the alfresco dining area facing the beach,
                           with the cool winds drifting in. 

Note the country kitchen look with the rustic touches 

 and this vintage ice crushing machine for making ice lollies.

     Ladies serving delicious food with their aprons still donned,

     gives a feel that its coming right from your mother's kitchen.

                         This coconut cake was a  complimentary treat,
                        warm and fresh straight from the oven to feast on! 

Doesn't this bed drape looks dreamy? 

A picture from the pages of some medieval bedtime stories 

where the princess is sleeping in pretty! 

                                             and this ....

                           Gasp! (yes,that's exactly what I did)

 3 o' clock at night I had to click this, it was such a
 breathtaking sight, the full moon  and the sea .... sigh.
 Please do not wake me up honey!  

Happy dreaming all

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