A few months back, Meena at Elephants and The Coconut Trees asked me to do a Guest Post, and I jumped at the chance... of course, I also knew I'd be able to twist her arm into doing one for me too (which was HUGE motivation). I don't know how we first fell into each other's cyber lives, whether Meena found me or I found her - but here we are...
Meena's food and photography is authentic and appealing on so many levels. There's something artful in her photography that makes each recipe an event, her gentle musings add to the atmosphere and the recipes themselves will make you wish she was your best friend, lived next door and was always inviting you over to dinner.
I shall stop rambling on about how wonderful she is, and let you see for yourselves... over to you (and the simply GAWJUS recipe you've created... I just want to drop my face into the bowl and inhale!!!), Meena...
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I feel so honored to do a guest post for such a popular blog. A space where I cannot decide which is my favorite recipe. Everything you cook looks so drool worthy. How do you do make it so appealing always! Thank you so much for the opportunity Abbe.
Hello lovely readers, I am Meena the owner of the blog - elephants and the coconut trees. I am from India, currently living in California United States with my husband and daughter. Needless to say I am a complete foodie ready to try any new dish (drawback of not being a picky eater :)). of late my family thinks I eat, drink and breathe recipes :). Growing up, our family gatherings were always centered around feasts. By feast I mean 24 -30 dishes served in small portions in different courses on a plantain leaf including 2-3 really runny desserts. It requires a lot of skill to see that not even a morsel goes out of the flat leaf :). Only after marriage I started to really cook it was a struggle in the initial days... I must say it took a lot of perseverance in perfecting Indian cooking where masalas, texture and consistency play a crucial role and determine the pass or fail of a dish.
What/who inspired you to become a good cook?
I guess moving to the U.S, lack of easy access to my native food and too much browsing :) staring at good food all the time all led to better cooking.
Do your family love your food or do they have different tastes?
My herd loves what I cook when it is super spicy, non vegetarian or baked stuff but Indian vegetarian is a big no no for my daughter.
Why do you blog about food? Do you enjoy it? Does it fit into your life or do you have to make time for it?
We have lived most of the time away from our country so my daughter has no idea what is usually cooked in our homes so I began this blog just for her sake.Some day when she takes up serious cooking she will at least know the name of the dishes :) or identify by the pic is my hope. I do enjoy blogging and spend some time taking pictures. The blog does fit into my life because I cook dishes we love to have and never to feed the blog.
Do you eat out or do you prefer to cook at home? If you do eat out, where is your favourite place to go for a meal?
Never miss a chance to eat out. Oh Red Lobster! now the waitresses almost know us personally :)
What food could you not live without?
Rice and yogurt.
What food do you hate and why?
Oats ...I just don't like the slimy texture in porridge. I find it hard to swallow in dry preparations.
What is your "must have" piece of kitchen equipment that you couldn't do without?
Coffee grinder, it works like a charm when it comes to Indian masalas.
What piece of kitchen equipment would you love to have?
Abbe. ..don't ask me, the wish list is endless :)
What's your favourite recipe that isn't your own?
Savory Layered Cake (similar to a layered meat pie)
What are your five favourite recipes that are your own?
Purple Potato Salad with Grapefruit Vinaigrette (seen in the pic below)
I hope you like my recipe (below), I can't wait to hear from you lovely people out there.
