Something Different that spiced up my week

This week I am proud to say that I have done two things I have never done before in my life. One is that I have attempted to stitch a dress for my daughter's doll and the other is I made Pani Puri (well almost). As you read on, you will understand why I am surprised that I did these two things. Pani puri is the most easily available snack in Chennai and I would never ever have thought of making it at home, but for my daughter's request. She loves the snack and somehow managed to persuade me to make it for her. Stitching is an activity I normally don't indulge in as it requires a lot of patience. But when you have a nine year old looking so hopefully up at you, it makes you believe in yourself.

It seems to me that whatever else happens, it is important for us to try out new things, atleast once a month. Its almost like pressing the refresh button for our brains. When I spent one hour stitching a tiny piece of cloth, I realised the amount of concentration it needed. It took my mind off any other brooding topic. It was extremely relaxing and I felt like one of those characters in a Jane Austen book, who carried on with their 'needle work', sitting so beautifully in their picture perfect living rooms or parlours. Sorry, I don't have a finished picture of what I am stitching. I would like you to believe that its all in the process, or work in progress. I am yet to complete the dress and it seems like it would require another couple of hours.

Cooking a new dish is always a creative experience but what I don't like is attempting a dish that I do not really enjoy eating. Pani puri is a snack that I almost never buy or never really feel like buying and eating. It is because of two reasons, one it is too messy and two, I hate to stand and eat or gobble one puri after another, right in front of the person who is making it. So it took a lot of persuasion for me to agree to attempt this dish. And even then, I decided to buy the puris and the pani puri masala. You might wonder what I actually made myself. Well, I made the spicy potato masala, cooked to my daughter's taste. I cooked and pureed the date and jaggery to make a sweet thick chutney. And I served it with some finely chopped onions and boiled chana. So, I am proud to say that I did manage to make the plain puris quite delicious.

I don't think one needs to attempt bungee jumping or sky diving to experience that adrenaline rush or feel alive. All you have to do is try out something that you have never tried before. You might end up not liking it but hey its all in the effort you take to think and act outside your comfort zone.