Cupcakes and Curry

Ga Ga for Gobi (Aloo Gobi That Is)

2011-07-28T00:00:00.000+02:00

My hubby returned from a weeklong trip to Houston last Friday. After five days of Texas BBQ and chicken ‘n’ waffles, I figured there was nothing he’d be wanting than a home cooked motha-land-inspired meal. I slaved over the stove and made a delicious pot of beef vindaloo (recipe coming soon!) with some brown rice and a side of aloo gobi.

Aloo gobi is one of the most classic Indian dishes around. It’s the perfect hearty and healthy side to just about any Indian meal. I adapted this recipe from the Food Network’s Aarti Sequeira (my new fave Indian chef!) and it was a total hit. Hubby said if he’d be coming home to meals like this, he’d travel for work every week . . .

What You Need:

2 tablespoons ginger-garlic paste (can be bought at the store or made by blending equal parts garlic and ginger in a food processor with a drizzle of vegetable oil)

1 tablespoon ground coriander

1/3 teaspoon turmeric

1 cup water, divided

1 jalapeno pepper, cut in half length-wise (optional; 1/2 teaspoon of red chili powder can alternatively be used)

1-teaspoon cumin seeds or ground cumin

1 head cauliflower, cut into florets

1 large potato, peeled and diced into inch cubes similar in size to cauliflower

1/2-bunch minced cilantro to garnish

Salt, pepper, and lemon wedges

Oil for sauteing (about 1–2 tablespoons)

What to Do:

Combine the ginger-garlic paste and ground coriander with 1/2 cup of water and set aside. Drizzle oil in a warmed skillet over medium heat. Once oil is hot, add the pepper and then the cumin seeds. Saute for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the ginger-garlic mixture and stir for about two minutes. Add cauliflower and potatoes, coat veggies with masala. Season with salt and pepper and add remaining water. Cover covered over medium heat for 15 minutes. Remove lid and cook another five minutes until potatoes are soft. Garnish with cilantro and a spritz of fresh lemon and serve hot.

Pretty and Perfect Portobello Fries

2011-07-18T05:12:00.000+02:00

My fry-ophile obsession continued this evening with homemade Portobello mushroom fries inspired from a recent brunch at Bottega Louie in Los Angeles. (Even though SF is the best city in the state, this place is worth a visit if you ever find yourself lost and hungry in Lala land.)

I found this dee-lish recipe on A Cozy Kitchen and used it for inspiration for my very own oven-baked mushroom magic. (Even though they are doused in breadcrumbs, they’re still pretty darn healthy.) Between hubby and myself, we just finished the entire plateful and are scrumptiously filled to the brim.

What You Need:

Fries:

1/2-cup breadcrumbs

2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese

Pinch of red chili powder

Pinch of oregano

Salt and Pepper

3 Portobello mushrooms

2 large eggs (whites work fine too) beaten

Mint Yogurt Dip:

2 teaspoons olive oil

Fist-full of fresh mint leaves, finely chopped cup packed basil leaves

2 garlic cloves, super-finely diced

Salt and pepper

1/2-cup Greek yogurt

What to Do:

Slice mushrooms into 1/2-inch thick slices. On a large plate, mix together breadcrumbs, cheese, and spices. In a bowl, whisk together eggs. Dip mushroom slices in eggs and then breadcrumbs. Place on a wax paper-lined and Pam-sprayed baking sheet. Bake in a 425 degree oven for 12 minutes; flip once.

In a small bowl, mix together all ingredients. Serve fries warm with a bit of salt and dash of lemon to finish.

Fiery and Fabulous Parsnip Masala Fries

2011-06-28T01:44:00.001+02:00

When it comes to foods I can’t resist, French fries top my list. I’d choose fries over ice cream, Girl Scout Cookies, krispy kreme donuts—basically pretty much everything. While this is excellent news for my taste buds, it’s not as jovial for my waistline. You can imagine the immense joy I felt when I discovered an Indian-inspired recipe for parsnip fries courtesy of Aarti Party on the Food Network. (Woo hoo!)

Parsnips are the albino cousin of carrots. They’re naturally buttery, a bit sweet and taste slightly of cardamom and honey when cooked. Parsnips are packed with fiber, potassium, and vitamins. These babies have half the calories of potatoes too, making them the perfect healthy addition to my fry-ophile lifestyle.

(Note: I modified it slightly from Aarti, her’s were a bit too spicy and could do with a bit less oil and more salt.)

What You Need:

4 large parsnips

1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon red chili powder

1/2 teaspoon garam masala

1-1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

What to Do:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Peel parsnips and cut ’em into fries. Toss olive oil and spices in a large bowl. Add in parsnips and toss to evenly coat. Place them on a foil-lined baking sheet evenly spaced in a single layer. Roast for 40 minutes, tossing once at the halfway point.

Serve warm with light sour cream or ketchup as a dipping sauce.

Breakfast of Champs: Bananas for Banana Fritters

2011-04-08T03:22:00.000+02:00

I'm b-a-n-a-n-a-s for bananas. Gwen Stefani- and Rachel Zoe-style bananas. My mom, on the other hand detests bananas. She hates them so much that she made me peel my own as soon as I had enough dexterity in my 'lil fingers. With that being said, it's pretty ironic that this ye olde recipe for banana fritters comes from my mama. They are the perfect Sunday morning breakfast and a great way to salvage those bananas rotting in your fruit bowl.

What You Need:

2 bananas, the riper and rottener the better
2 eggs
1/2-cup milk
3/4-cup flour or whole wheat baking mix (I used Arrowhead Multigrain Pancake and Waffle Mix.)

What to Do:

Mash bananas with a fork in a large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients until well mixed. Heat pan on medium heat with butter (or Pam if you're on the healthy train). Pour a 4-6 inch sized fritter onto hot frying pan and let 'er go. Cook 3 minutes each side. Serve warm and crispy.

Yum. So wishing it was breakfast not dinner time right about now ...

Epic Eats: Ad Hoc in Yountville

2011-03-12T02:50:00.002+01:00

I'm a firm believer that there's nothing a night of good food, good drinks, and good company can't cure. (We had one of those nights last night at Garcon on Mission and 22nd. In a word, ah-maze-balls … a must try.) To celebrate the one-year anniversary of our Bombay wedding, hubby and I dined at Ad Hoc in Yountville. Put simply, Ad Hoc is the poor man's version of French Laundry. (At $52/ahead, that's one rich poor man.)

It was one of those rare dining experiences when every little detail was perfect. It wasn't fancy—no white gloves, no snobbery. The waiters wore converse and jeans and didn't laugh when I asked them what exactly a "sweet bread" was. (F.Y.I. It's thymus gland, an epicurean treasure that tastes kinda like chicken.)

Here's what we ate:

Butter Lettuce Salad with Bacon, Olives, and Blue Cheese

Beef Prime Rib with Buttermilk Onion Rings and Crispy Potatoes

Fried Sweetbreads with Egg

Apple Tart with Caramel Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream

There was some crispy asparagus, a cheese course, and of course a wine pairing. (I used to think wine pairings were for snobby, pretentious mo-fos, but they're actually quite transcending if done right.)

It was a meal that made me feel so happy and so fulfilled that I just had to share the experience. If you're ever in Yountville, and don't have $800 to spend at French Laundry, try Ad Hoc for a night you'll never, ever forget.

Kra ... Kra ... Krazy for Kale Chips

2011-02-25T20:33:00.000+01:00

I decided to go vegan this week. It's been surprisingly easy and I can already feel my pants getting looser. (Woo hoo!) While I this won't be a permanent thing, I'm def gonna try to limit my meat intake in the future. The best part of going meatless is discovering the immense variety of non-meat stuff that's out there. Kale! Swiss Chard! Tempeh! Yum. One thing I crave when I'm on the healthy train is a bite of something crispy and crunchy. I found this recipe for kale chips and it totally satisfies that craving. Enjoy!

1 bunch kale
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoons olive oil

(Optional: Red chili powder and cumin powder.)

Pre-heat oven to 350°F Rinse and thoroughly dry kale. Pull leaves from stem and tear into bite-sized pieces. Toss kale, salt, olive oil, and optional spices in a bowl. Place on cookie tray (be sure they are evenly spaced and not overlapping). Cook for 20 minutes until crisp. You'll know when they're ready when they turn a dark green and the sides turn up.

Who needs movie popcorn and Cool Ranch Doritos when you got kale chips? (Let's be honest, everyone. But these make a great, delicious, crispy 'n' salty substitute.)

Chai Time

2011-02-22T01:11:00.001+01:00

It's been a rainy week in San Francisco and I've been hiding in my apartment sipping copious cups of tea trying to stay dry. In almost every Indian home, when the clock strikes four, the kettle goes on and life stops. If you're lucky, chai time comes with snacks. If you're really lucky, it comes with samosas. (I've been dying to try this recipe from Arthi Party for chicken and mango samosas.)

A classic cup of Indian chai is made from black tea (my favorites are Lipton Yellow Label or Taj Mahal), milk, and sugar. Masala chai (a version of which you get at a coffee shop whose name rhymes with Shmarshucks) includes a mixture of spices, mint, lemon grass, and ginger.

For the name-cards at our wedding, I made individual packs of tea bags and spices for each guest. I attached a note that read:

Tea for Two

There are few things better then chatting with somebody special over a cup of chai. We fell in love sitting on Danoosh’s balcony in Houston sipping cups of tea (or whiskey, vodka, or wine depending on the day).

6 whole cloves  

4 cardamom pods  

2 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces  

2 cups water   

1/4 cup milk  

1 tablespoons granulated sugar  

Crush the cloves, cardamom pods, and cinnamon. Transfer the crushed spices to a small saucepan, add water bring to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat, cover and let steep for five minutes. Add the milk and sugar to the pan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and drop in the tea bags. Cover and let steep for three minutes. Stir the chai, strain it into a warmed teapot or directly into teacups. Spice it up with mint, lemon grass, black peppercorns, or ginger.

It's 4:12 pm. Chai time!

Baked Butternut Squash, Bollywood Style

2011-02-18T21:40:00.001+01:00

Since I'm attempting to be on the healthy train (it's true, marriage does make you a chubber), I've been having fun experimenting with different veggies. (My attempt at kale chips coming soon.) I'm madly in love with butternut squash. It's buttery yet hearty and sweet yet savory. I recently tried a recipe for butternut fries from HungryGirl.com, deeelish! I used that recipe as inspiration for this spiced-up Indian version. The results were addicting and amazing.

What You Need:

One butternut squash

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon cumin

1 tablespoon red chili powder

What to Do:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove peel and cut butternut squash into bite sized pieces. (If you're not comfortable cutting one, take a peek at this article for a quick how-to guide.) Toss squash in bowl with olive oil, salt, cumin, and chili powder. Spread squash on cookie sheet and cook for around 30 minutes, tossing once.

It's an exercise in simplicity, health and deliciousness. YUM!

Doin' It on a Banana Leaf

2011-01-21T00:45:00.000+01:00

I just returned from a three-week trip to India and Singapore. During the first week of my trip, I ate on a banana leaf three times in three different cities. The first time (pictured here) was for Christmas brunch in Singapore with my best friend Rikki and her boyfriend Rav. We ate at Samy’s Curry House, a South Indian Singaporean institution. Despite our hangovers (Christmas Eve in Asia is similar to New Years Eve in the rest of the world. You drink all night and countdown to Santa’s arrival) we devoured delicious chicken curry, fried cauliflower, crispy chicken, tender lamb … you name it.

The second banana leaf incident occurred at a friend’s wedding in Bangalore. It was a traditional South Indian wedding. We ate on a banana leaf in typical South Indian style ... with our hands. The food was to die for. Completely vegetarian and utterly delicious. We were served over twenty items and I tried every single one of them. Hubs and I aren’t used to eating with our hands, so it was a bit of a situation. I used my noodle and substituted the papad and uttapam as utensils. The hubby didn’t take to the whole no-fork thing as easily and after an awkward incident with some yogurt a server ended up throwing a spoon at him.

The third banana leaf sighting was at the Parsi wedding of our very good friends Shenaya and Pirzad. They had a beautiful New Years Eve nuptial celebration at the same place we wed nearly one year prior. (This spot, called Colaba Agyari, is THE spot for Parsi parties in Bombay, FYI.) Their banana leaf dinner, called a patra or lagan nu bhonu, included like sarya (crisps), achaar/rotli (pickle and rotis), patra ni macchi (steamed fish), salli margi (chicken with potato crisps), lagan nu custard, and pulao-dal (rice and lentils).

All these banana leaves got me thinking … why don’t we ever eat on banana leaves stateside? Word on the street is that banana leaves add to the flavor of the food. While I’m not sure about all that, it definitely adds to the funness of the meal. I’m considering opening a San Francisco spot that forgoes plates ...

Z Is for Zucchini. F is for Frittata

2010-12-02T02:15:00.000+01:00

I know I once said brussel sprouts are my favorite veggie and they are, really, I swear. But zucchini comes in a very close second. Usually I just cook my zucs up in a pan with a little bit of olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper until they are a little bit charred and crispy so they taste like chips. My second favorite way to use zucchini is with eggs. I make a mean frittata. Here’s my recipe for a classic zucchini frittata. It can be jazzed up with any other veggies too (including sweet potatoes, I tried that once with leeks and it was amaze-balls).

What You Need:

Garlic (2–5 cloves; I usually go heavy on the garlic.)

Olive Oil

Four zucchinis

8 whole eggs (I usually do about 4 eggs and 8 whites.)

Milk (Just a dash)

Salt and pepper

Parmesan Cheese (As little or as much as you like.)

What to Do:

Preheat the broiler. Chop the zucchini into ¼'' slices and crush garlic. (If you’ve got a fancy mandolin use that; I unfortunately don’t.) Sauté them together in a cast-iron skillet that’s been coated with olive oil for about ten minutes.

In a bowl beat together eggs, milk (about 2 tablespoons worth) and salt and pepper. (Sometimes I mix the eggs together in my Magic Bullet to get them extra foamy. A blender works too.) Pour the egg mixture into the warm skillet and let cook for about 2 minutes. Use a spatula to un-stick the sides.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and place the skillet in the heated broiler for about 3 minutes. Let it set until cool. Flip over, slice and serve.

Pie + Booze = Fun Parties: Butterscotch Pumpkin Pie

2010-11-30T20:43:00.001+01:00

We had a faboo family Thanksgiving party last week and I ate to my hearts content (and then some). For those of you wondering, no we did not have tandoori turkey or cranberry curry, it was traditional American T-day fare for us.

I was in charge of making a pumpkin pie. Instead of doing a boring ole classic version, I boozed it up and made a pumpkin butterscotch pie that I’m pretty sure was a hit. It’s perfect for Christmas or anytime of year you’re craving pumpkin, pie, or booze (basically everyday).

P.S. Look at my pretty table decor made from leaves stolen from our neighbor's yard.

What You Need:

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup scotch or whiskey (to be honest, I’m not sure what the diff is!)

1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream

1 cup canned pure pumpkin

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

What to Do:

Mix 1/2 cup brown sugar, butter, and salt in pan and bring to boil, stirring gradually. Boil until deep brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add booze, then cream. It will get bubbly and then the caramel will solidify. Put it back on the stove and whisky gently until most caramel bits dissolve. Strain butterscotch mixture into small bowl. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally.

Use an electric mixer to mix the remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar and pumpkin puree in large bowl. Whisk in eggs and spices. Add butterscotch mixture and blend it all together.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Fill up pie crust (I used the store-bought stuff) with pumpkin/butterscotch mixture. Bake until just set, about 50 minutes. Cool before serving. Can be served warm or at room temp.

Every pie needs whipped cream (obviously!). I infused booze into mine for T-day. (Word on the street is that I was a bit too heavy handed, sorry guys.)

What You Need:

1 cup chilled whipping cream

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon Scotch

What to Do:

Using a hand beater, beat cream, sugar, and Scotch until peaks form.

Put a spoonful of cream on a slice of pie and serve with a festive smile which will happen naturally after slaving over a liquor-filled stove all day.

You'll Fall for Indian Meatballs

2010-10-21T06:03:00.000+02:00

Last night I made Indian meatballs. It was a good night.

I reheated some again today for lunch. It was a good afternoon.

Here’s the recipe so you can make them too:

(They are aka kebabs in the motha-land.)

What you need:

1lb. lean ground beef (I used Trader Joes 96/4 beef.)

1lb. ground turkey

1 large onion, chopped in small pieces

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

1/2 cup chopped mint

1 lime

1 tablespoon ginger/garlic paste

2 green chilies, chopped and seeded (I use Jalapenos.)

2 eggs

2 potatoes, boiled, peeled and chopped (If you don’t have potatoes or are too lazy to boil them as I usually am, use 2 slices of bread. This is just to help them stick together better.)

1 teaspoon turmeric powder

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 palm-full salt

(I also usually add Shaan Seekh Kabab masala and Shaan chaat masala, but if you don’t have that, no sweat.)

What to do:

Mix together meats, onion, cilantro, mint, ginger/garlic paste, green chilies, eggs, potatoes/bread, turmeric, chili powder and salt. Squeeze juice of lime into mixture. Thoroughly mix all ingredients together. (If you’re squeamish, use a wooden spoon. I personally like to get dirty and use my hands. I think it tastes better that way.)

In the meantime, heat up a large pan over medium heat on the stove. Spray with Pam or a light layer of vegetable oil.

Use your hands to make two-inch sized balls with the meat mixture.

Throw kebabs into the heated pan. Heat evenly on all sides until cooked through—about ten minutes.

Eat and enjoy!

P.S. You might notice that the quality of the pictures has drastically improved. It's not me ... it's all the hubby.

Spicy Broc That'll Knock Off Your Sox

2010-10-15T22:41:00.000+02:00

I really don’t know why broccoli gets such a bad rap. True it can make you gassy if you eat too much of it raw, but I personally am a huge fan of the broc. The only way I can get my hubby to eat veggies is if they’re cooked, apparently fresh salads don’t exist in India. (I can actually personally attest to that because everyone is scared that veggies have been washed in contaminated water, you really don’t get fresh veggies too often there, only cooked.) So, I’ve been developing (i.e. finding recipes) ingenious ways to cook veggies every night. My latest and greatest find is broccoli rabe; it’s just so much better than normal broccoli. Here’s my fave way to prepare it:

Sauteed Broccoli Rabe with Garlic and Red Chili Flakes

What you need:

4 bunches of broccoli rabe

2 tablespoons olive oil

8 garlic cloves, sliced

Red pepper flakes

Salt and pepper

What to do:

Wash and prepare the broc by cutting down the bottom part of the stem and any stray leaves.

Blanche the broc by bringing a large pot of water to boil. Have another large pot of ice water nearby (aka an ice bath). Once the water has come to a boil, drop in the broc and let boil until it becomes tender and bright green—about 5 minutes. Using tongs, pull it from the boiling water, dry it on a paper towel, and immediately throw it in the ice bath. (You might have to do this in a few batches.) After it's fully cooled, let the water dry out by placing it on a stack of paper towels.

Heat the olive oil in a large pan over a medium flame. Add the garlic and heat for 1–2 minutes until it starts getting brown and crispy. Add the blanched broc and toss it frequently. Add a pinch or two (depending on how spicy you like it, I personally am a two-pinch kinda gal). Season with salt and pepper. (I’ve been using a lot of kosher salt lately. Here’s a good article on its benefits.)

This dish is a great side to almost anything. It pairs beautifully with Indian or non-Indian dishes. Delish!

Krazy for Keema

2010-10-07T00:28:00.000+02:00

My hubs and I have about five go-to dishes that we make every week. The are healthy, relatively simple, and usually Indian. Keema, spicy ground meat, is at the top of our list. It’s deeelicious comfort food—kinda the Indo version of Sloppy Joe’s I’d imagine …

What you need:

1 pound ground meat (We used 96% lean beef this week but you can use turkey, chicken, or beef.)
2 large tomatoes, diced
2 large onions, diced
1 bunch of cilantro
2 potatoes, peeled and diced (These are optional if you are on the low-carb train … this week we were not! I am dying to try keema with sweet potatoes but hubs isn’t interested. Lame.)
1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
3 green chilies, remove seeds, chop finely
Fennel (This is also optional
Shaan Keema Masala
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

What to do:

Heat oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. One the oil is hot (test by throwing in a piece of onion and see if it sizzles) throw in onions and let the sauté until the turn brown—about ten minutes. Add in tomatoes, ginger-garlic paste, meat, fennel, masala, turmeric, potatoes, and 1/2 of the cilantro. Add a few tablespoons of water, stir and let simmer over medium heat for 15–20 minutes, until the meat is tender. Add green chilies and garnish with remaining cilantro and squeeze of lemon. Note: The keema masala is already heavily salted so it isn’t always necessary to add extra salt.

There are tons of variations on keema. You can throw in peas, carrots, even barbeque sauce. This recipe is classic and it’s our favorite!

Braised Beef Ribs, Also Known As, Butta in Yo Mouth

2010-09-30T01:02:00.001+02:00

We had a birthday gathering for my mom at our apartment last Sunday. The dish du jour was braised beef short ribs we adapted from Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc at Home cookbook, our newest and most favorite book. While it did take all day to cook, I think the results were worth it.

What you need:

Red Wine Reduction

1 bottle dry red wine (We used $4 Merlot from Whole Foods.) 

1 cup 1/2 inch diced yellow onion 

1 cup 1/2 inch thick slices peed carrots 

1 cup 1/2 inch thick slices white and light green parts leeks 

1 cup thinly sliced shallots (We skipped the shallots and put in some more onion, just to save some moola.)

1 cup thinly sliced button mushrooms 

3 thyme sprigs 

6 flat leaf parsley sprigs 

2 bay leaves 

1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns 

3 large garlic cloves, smashed, with skin

Braise

2-1/2 pounds boneless chuck short rib 

Salt and pepper 

Flour 

Canola oil 

1 cup 1/2 inch diced yellow onion 

2/3 cup 1/2 inch thick slices peeled carrots 

1 1/2 cups 1/2 inch thick slices white and light green parts leeks

2 garlic cloves, smashed, skin left on 

3 thyme sprigs

2 bay leaves about

5 cups beef stock

What to do:

1. Combine all the ingredients for the red wine reduction in a large, deep oven-proof pot that will hold the meat comfortably. Bring to a simmer over high heat and reduce the heat to maintain the simmer for 45 to 50 minutes, until the wine has reduced to a glaze. 

2. Season the meat generously with salt and pepper, coat in flour, patting off any excess. Heat canola oil in a large saute pan over high heat until it shimmers. Add the meat, fat side down, reduce the heat and brown the mean for 3 minutes. Turn the meat and brown the other side. Transfer meat to a tray. 

3. Preheat the oven to 350˚F. 

4. Add the onion, leeks, garlic, thyme and bay leaves to the wine reduction and toss. Cut a piece of cheesecloth about 4 inches larger than the diameter of the pot. Place it over the vegetables and put the meat on the cheesecloth and fold over the edges to form a “nest.” Add the stock, it should come to just the top of the meat. 

5. Cut a parchment paper lid and place it over the meat. 

6. Put the pot in the oven and reduce the heat to 325˚F. Braise the beef for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until tender. 

7. Transfer the meat to a heatproof container. Strain the braising liquid and pour over the meat. You can keep the meat in the refrigerated in the liquid for up to three days.

I Love You, My Sweet Potato

2010-09-27T22:53:00.000+02:00

Happy yummy Monday!

We had a delicious weekend of birthdays, bridal showers, and lots of good eats. After Anita's crazy birthday party on Saturday night (which ended with me eating a burrito the size of my head), I woke up Sunday morning craving greasy carbs. I was feeling guilty about the whole head-sized burrito incident so opted for a home-cooked, slightly healthier option to my favorite morning-after treat: french fries. Instead of high-tailing it to Mickey D's, I made some oven-baked sweet potato fries. Yum. Check out this DivineCaroline article on how much better these spuds are then the traditional ones.

What you need:

4 sweet potatoes

Olive Oil

Kosher Salt

Black Pepper

Cayenne Pepper (aka Red Chili Powder)

Image courtesy of The Food Advocate.

What do do:

Slice potatoes into fry-sized bits. Throw them into a ziplock bag containing 2 tablespoons of the following: olive oil, kosher salt, and black pepper. Add another tablespoon of red chili powder and shake it up.

Bake them in the oven at 450 degrees for 20 minutes. Let cool for ten minutes and devour.

I made my own dipping sauce of two parts ketchup, one part mayo. Maybe not as healthy as I intended, but so delicious to eat as I watched the season premier of The Office. A perfect lazy Sunday.

Next time I am going to spice my sweet potato fries up and try this recipe from my favorite food blog, Smitten Kitchen.

Stay turned tomorrow for some of the good stuff we made for my Mama's b'day party including ... braised beef ribs. Heaven.

Simply Breakfast

2010-09-23T20:57:00.001+02:00

My breakfast today of steel cut oats and fresh nectarines was too lovely not to share. I just finished eating it, and it was as delicious as it was beautiful.

I'm looking forward to a weekend of deliciousness including dinner tonight at my favorite Indian spot in the city, Dosa, my BF Anita's birthday party, the San Francisco Greek Festival, and my Mom's birthday dinner at our place ... we're making braised short ribs ... stay tuned.

Today's post was inspired by one of my favorites, Simply Breakfast. Yum.

Bhindi the Beautiful, Two Ways

2010-09-21T23:07:00.001+02:00

After brussels sprouts my next favorite veggie is probably okra, aka bhindi. While the customary way to eat it in this country is breaded and fried (which I am FAR from opposed to!) in the motha-land they do it a bit differently. I cook bindi at least once a week; it's uber healthy and the perfect side dish for a night of spicy curry (or any Indian dish for that matter).

Bhindi One Way
My mama invented this recipe. It's quick, easy, and the bhindi un-failingly comes out perfect.

What you need:

1 pound of okra
1 packet of Chaat Masala (I use Shaan Chaat.)
Lemon (Or as we say it, Limboo.)
Pam (Don't use oil to ensure the bhindi's come out crispy, not greasy.)

What you do:

Heat a medium skillet and spray heavily with Pam. Once the pan is hot, throw in chopped okra and stir-fry over medium-low heat for about ten minutes until the bindi start to crispen on the edges. Shake in about four tablespoons of chaat masala, taste and add more or less to your liking. (I'm not much of a measurer, more of a taster-and-adder.) Don't add any additional salt as the chaat masala is already heavily salted. Spray with fresh lemon juice and serve hot.

Bhindi Two Ways
This recipe is adapted from my favorite Indian/Parsi cookbook, My Bombay Kitchen, written by one of our dearest family friends, Niloufer Ichaporia King. Her book is the Bible of our kitchen.

What you need:

1 onion
1 pound okra
A few green chilies
Half a bunch of cilantro
2 teaspoons ginger garlic paste (This is the staple of Indian cooking. The store bought one sucks in my opinion. Here's a recipe I found online.)
Oil (Note that vegetable oil is best for Indian cooking. I use olive sometimes because it's healthier, but for maximum taste go for the veggie oil.)
Salt

What you do:

Heat about two tablespoons of oil in a pan over medium heat. Throw in chopped onion and let brown. Add in ginger garlic paste and stir together for about two minutes. Drop in salt, okra, and green chilies. Stir-fry for ten minutes until the okra is soft. Garnish with fresh cilantro.

Have a bhindi-ful day!

Quinoa Is Our Homie

2010-09-20T01:50:00.000+02:00

Just a little sneak peek of my Moroccan Squash quinoa creation last Thursday night. It was spicy, hearty, and full of Indian flavors and spices. It was my first time making this delicious grain and I think it will definitely make it on our menu more often. The best part of cooking with quinoa was that it it so incredibly filling; we were stuffed for hours after dinner. I used this recipe from epicurious and I was sure hubby would hate it as he's more of a bacon and cheese kinda guy. Surprisingly, he loved it and said, "Quinoa is my homie." So cute.

Fig Tarts Are a Work of Art

2010-09-17T00:19:00.001+02:00

Our lovely, lazy Sunday brunch party last weekend was a total success. It actually ended up turning into a all-day-nearly-dinnertime snack-a-thon as guests stayed until 7 p.m. (the last one, my sis, stayed until after 10!). Here's what I learned from our love-filled afternoon:

1. There is nothing better than spending all day lounding on the floor with people you love.

2. Hubby and I love, love, LOVE to cook and the only thing we love more than that is sharing what we cooked with our buddies.

3. Thomas Keller is a genius. (More on that later ... but if you are looking to buy a beautiful cookbook check out Ad Hoc at Home, I made his savory bread pudding and it was To.Die.For.)

4. Rooftop decks are awesome.

5. I love San Francisco.

Phew! Who knew eating and cooking butter-encrusted foods and drinking cocktails could be such a learning experience! Here was our menu:

Herb Scrambled Eggs
Savory Herb and Leek Bread Pudding a la Thomas Keller
Nimon Ranch Applewood Smoked Bacon
Fig Tart (See below for recipe.)
Fresh Berries
D.I.Y Waffle Bar with Nutella (How can you have a party without Nutella, obvi!)
Croissants
Tater Tots
Aperol-Orange Mimosas (See below for recipe.)
Blue Bottle Coffee

The Aperol-Orange Mimosas

This recipe was inspired by Italy and created by my hubs.

What you need:

Aperol

Orange Juice

Prosecco

Freshly-sliced oranges

What you do:

Mix at least one hour ahead of time in a carafe, a 1:1 ratio of OJ and Aperol. Drop in orange slices and chill.

Serve with a 1:1 ratio of OJ Aperol and Prosecco.

Drink sparingly!

The Fig Tart

This recipe was inspired by a recipe I saw on Chez Pim and by my obsessive love-fest with figs. I took a secret easy way out and modified the recipe but it was still a total hit.

What you need:

Figs, Chopped in quarters

Puff Pastry Crust (I used the frozen one from Trader Joe's ... I know, I know, Padma would so be asking me to pack my knives ...)

Two Eggs

Sugar

(Optional ingredient: Goat or Feta Cheese)

What to do:

Whisk together two eggs in a small bowl. Brush over de-frosted puff pastry with pastry brush.

Randomly place chopped figs on egg-covered pastry dough.

Dust with sugar.

Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.

Slice into squares and serve.

Here's a sneak peek of our lovely new apartment pre-party. What do you think of the hint of the orange wall peeking out of the corner?!

Tonight I'm cooking Moroccan-inspired Quinoa and Squash stew ... wish me luck!

Challo! (Meaning until next time in Hindi.)

Brunch and Hash on My Mind

2010-09-11T22:44:00.000+02:00

We are having a brunch party tomorrow and I am so excited. My two additions to the menu are a savory bread pudding from the Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc book and a fresh fig tart. I'll definitely let you guys know how it all turned out ... wish me luck!

Right now I am stuck inside on a gorgeous sunny day because we are having some walls painted in our house. Bummer! Also, after eating thai food and then late night pizza last night I'm currently munching on apples and ginger/lemon/mint-infused water. Yum.
What I really wish I was eating was this:

This is a picture of the best breakfast I've ever eaten as far as my memory can serve. It was taken at a random biker hangout/brunch spot near Flagstaff, Arizona on our cross-country road trip. I adore hash. My best friend Meghan's mom used to make it for us for breakfast as kids and it's my favorite indulgent b-fast treat. Here's an recipe I found on Epicurious that I solemnly swear to try asap. Delish.

What you need:

1 lb baking (russet) potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice
1-lb piece cooked corned beef, cut into chunks
1 cup chopped onion
1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup heavy cream
4 large eggs (optional)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
What to do:
Cook potatoes in boiling salted water to cover until just tender, about 3 minutes, then drain. Pulse corned beef in a food processor until coarsely chopped.

Sauté onion and bell pepper in butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat, stirring, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add potatoes and sauté over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in corned beef and salt and pepper to taste, then cook, stirring occasionally, until browned. Add cream and cook, stirring, 1 minute.

If desired, make 4 holes in hash and break 1 egg into each. Cook over moderately low heat, covered, 5 minutes, or until eggs are cooked to desired doneness, and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle hash with parsley.

My Fave Healthy (and Spicy) Dinner: Chana Masala

2010-09-10T01:44:00.000+02:00

I had an impromptu dinner party last night with my sissy, my dearest friend Natasha, and my cousin Anita. (Anita is my fourth cousin, I really just call her my cousin because I love her so much, and one of my best friends and she happens to live in our building. How AWESOME is that?!) Anyways, I didn’t have much time to plan ahead so instead of ordering take-out, I made my favorite go-to dish: chana masala.

Chana masala is basically spicy garbanzo beans. They are delicious, healthy, and super easy to make.

Here’s what you need:

2 cans of garbanzo beans, rinsed

1 large onion

2 tomatoes

1 head cilantro

1 packet Chana Chaat masala (You can find this at any Indian store or even buy it online. You can even use regular chaat masala with some red chili powder too.)

Salt

Here’s what you do:

Dice the onion, tomato, and half the head of cilantro.

Sauté the onions on medium-low heat until they start to turn brown (about 10 minutes). Add in the chopped tomato and cilantro. Mix these together over medium heat for about 3 minutes.

Add in the cans of garbanzo beans. Sprinkle in half the packet of Chana Chaat and let simmer. Add salt to taste. Garnish with the rest of the fresh cilantro when you are ready to serve.

I often double this recipe and make a big pot of chana masala and refrigerate to eat throughout the week. It’s delicious, nutritious, and my favorite go-to snack.

P.S. The best part of getting married is all the fun kitchen equipment you get. My number one favorite addition is this purple Le Creuset pot … amazing!

The Perfect Salad on a Summer Day in Spain

2010-09-08T23:32:00.000+02:00

... or Italy for that matter. That's me (or my hand and sunglasses at least) in Lake Como just before I took a bite of that delicious salad. Called ensalada mixta in Spain, this salad is fresh, light, healthy, and absolutely perfect. It can be served with white asparagus, beets, olives, or cucumbers, but this version above is the most classic, and in my opinion, the most delicious. I've been making this salad almost everyday since I've been back from Europe just so I can close my eyes and imagine that I am still sitting in that plaza in Italy with my hubby, basking in the sun and eating some tuna.

Ensalada Mixta a la Shyla

Butter or romaine lettuce
Fresh, ripe tomatoes (I try to use heirlooms whenever I can get my hands on them)
Corn (fresh is better, but canned works perfectly)
Red tuna (I use the canned stuff ... the one in water, not oil)

Dressing:
To be extra Euro, serve the olive oil, vinegar (white or balsamic), salt and pepper separately so each person can dress their ensalada to their liking.

I don't know what it is about this salad that makes it so perfect, but to me it's Spain and there is nothing more perfect than that.

Ode to Brussels Sprouts (a la the Motha-land)

2010-09-03T21:27:00.000+02:00

We are finally moved in to our beautiful San Francisco apartment. We are settled and trying to get our lives back in order after the weddings, Europe, and the cross-country move. Ah!

Road trip + Europe trip = Carb, fast food, and cheese overload. I am therefore trying (albeit not so successfully) to combat the post-trip flabiness by eating lots o' veggies. My numero uno fave veggie of the moment is Brussels Sprouts.

My favorite way to prepare them is inspired by none other than the mother-land, India. This obviously includes lots of spices, especially turmeric.

Here's how I do it:

What you need:

One large onion

Three (ish) cloves of garlic

One pound brussels sprouts

Turmeric

Coriander Powder

Cumin

Salt

Sauté one large, diced onion with a few cloves of garlic.

When the onion turns brown, throw in one pound of brussels sprouts.

Throw in a dash (about 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of each) of turmeric, coriander powder, cumin, and salt.

Sprinkle in a few drops of water, cover, and let simmer.

About ten minutes later--walla!--perfect, spicy, warm brussels. YUM!

A Yummy Announcement ...

2010-08-13T00:59:00.000+02:00

So, I have an announcement to make …

I started Cupcakes and Curry over a year ago to blog about my two weddings on opposite sides of the world. Truth be told, I am not that into weddings and gave the majority of the planning prowess to my mom and mother-in-law.

I recently went to my friend Sarah’s wedding in Las Vegas. It was a surprise wedding. We all landed up in Vegas for her bachelor/bachelorette party and she essentially announced, “We’re getting married tonight!” She got married in the gorgeous Sky Lofts at the MGM grand in an intimate ceremony consisting of thirty of their closest friends and family—it was perfect. It was so laid back and so them.

While I did have an amazing time at my 800-person and 250-person fetes, there was something about the intimacy of Sarah’s day that was pure magic.

That’s pretty much my two cents on getting hitched.

The big announcement is that Cupcakes and Curry is getting a facelift. With the weddings over with, I’ve decided to write about something that I am truly, deeply, and whole-heartedly passionate about—food and travel. (Clichéd a bit, I agree, who doesn’t love food and travel?) So, Danoosh (my adorable hubs) and I are going to join forces on the new and improved Cupcakes and Curry to blog about what’s cooking in our newly-wed nest, what we’ve eaten on our journeys around the globe, and all our deepest darkest food fantasies.

Left My Heart in Europe ...

2010-07-21T03:42:00.000+02:00

I am sorry that I left all my Cupcake and Curryers high and dry for the past six weeks, but the post-wedding road-trip, move, dash to Europe all happened oh-so fast. Now as I laze around on the sofa it all feels like a distant, far-away memory. From Spain to Greece to Italy to Austria to Prague, I did not want to leave. I. Love. Europe. I love that within one night train, bus ride, or two-hour flight you are completely immersed in a new, vibrant, and totally different culture.

So much to share ... more to come.

To all the bride and grooms to be, if your life allows it, take a break after the wedding and take some time to explore the world. Just a few images.

The Red Elephant: You Are Invited ...

2010-05-27T06:49:00.001+02:00

We are days away from our six-week backpacking honeymoon trip around Europe and having a hectic time packing, planning, and organizing all the post-wedding stuff. I am excited, nervous, and ready for a nice long trip back to Europe. Any recommendations for Spain, Greece, Croatia, Turkey, or Prague?!

I mentioned that my talented friend designed our wedding invite and I'm not gonna lie, the invite was one of my favorite fun projects of the whole wedding. It was personal, simple, and sweet. My friend designed it and we had it printed by Park Life Press--an awesome one-man shop based out of North Carolina. We limited paper products as much as possible by ix-naying reply cards, direction cards, and any other random pieces of paper often included in invites. I loved the end result ... check it out above. xoxo

The Open Road & The Story of Our Special Day

2010-05-24T23:10:00.002+02:00

We are back from our AMAZING road trip and scrambling to get our 'ish together before our big Europe trip. Check out some amazing images of our trip from my hubby who is an aspiring (and fantastic) photographer. Here's a bit about our trip in his words:

"We had a fab road trip over the course of a week. The first 24 hours were probably the worst, driving through hours of nothingness in West Texas and New Mexico. Spent the first night in Odessa, Tx which is a place hopefully none of you will ever need to go. As you can see the sunsets in the desert are the best ever! The second night was in Santa Fe, NM which was awesome. Worth visiting, but hella old peeps so kinda boring after dark, but then there are casinos which is where we won $300 and obviously lost it all back within 24 hour. The third and fourth nights were spent in Flagstaff, AZ which is an hour from the Grand Canyon, which truly was spectacular. The fifth and sixth nights we spent in Huntington Beach (SoCal) Shyla's old college stomping ground--and yes we did get wasted beyond recognition on tequila.

About the head shaving, I decided to do it on my way out of Houston after I sold all my stuff and packed my car. I felt like after quitting a steady job, and deciding to move and then travel for several months without a paycheck was a retarded enough decision to warrant something very extreme. At first it took a while to get used to, but now I totally love it, so it's going to stay for a while. Plus it was fun to see the shock effect on the fam since I didn't tell a soul about it."

Here are some images of the amazingly delicious food we ate too. I am now starving to be bathing suit ready for Europe in seven days, ahh!

OH ... I ALMOST forgot ... Check out this extra special link to a sneak peek of some stunning wedding pictures:

http://storyboxart.com/blog/2010/05/content/shyla-danoosh-part-1/

Lightening in Odessa and Aliens in Roswell

2010-05-15T07:14:00.000+02:00

Sorry for the lack of updates but we are now creatures of the road! We are three days in to our road trip and it's been quite the adventure. There is no better way to kick-off married life than a cross-country road trip. Some of the highlights include:

1. Getting caught on an un-lit two-road highway at 11pm in the midst of a lightening storm in the middle of who-knows where Texas.
2. Eating french fries and fast food everyday. (For instance, lunch today was McDonalds and dinner was Del Taco.)
3. The Alien Museum in Roswell, NM as seen on the Kendra show!
4. Endless amounts of casinos off the highways in New Mexico. The good news: We won $235! The bad news: We lost it an hour later.
5. The turquoise trail outside of Santa Fe, NM
6. A gorgeous sunset on the horizon every evening.

Many, many more stories but that's just a tid-bit to keep you in the loop. Dan had a waffle shaped like Texas for breakfast in Odessa, Texas on day one. Perhaps state-shaped (or anything shaped for that matter) food could be a great addition to a wedding celebration ... I'm just sayin'.

I Got It from My Mama

2010-05-10T21:56:00.000+02:00

We are knee-deep in packing and prepping for our cross-country road-trip from Houston to SF. If anyone has any suggestions of stuff to see along the way, let me know! Our plans as of now are to stop in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Grand Canyon, and Newport Beach (my old 'hood). Since I'm not home in SF I didn't have any access to these until I got some scanned copies from my Mama, but here's a bit of an homage to my very special mama the day after mother's day.

I love the idea of incorporating family photos into your wedding. Either in frames on a special area or hanging from clothespins on a line. We didn't get a chance to do this as wrangling in photos from India is no easy task, but here's a few I would have picked if we had:

Love you mama.

That's me in the testube! My mom and sis when they found out a baby was on the way.

I'm the crying baby ...

Sissy, Mommy, Me and some llamas.

Khaana Means Food: We Like it Spicy!

2010-05-08T18:10:00.001+02:00

I'm currently in Houston sorting through Dan's stuff and getting ready for our big roadtrip. Ever since the wedding I've turned into a baby Beluga whale and have decided it's appropriate to eat like a pregnant woman. Two days ago I had Benihanas for lunch and Buca di Beppo for dinner. WTF?! I am petrified to get on the scale after a week in Houston and five days of fast food on the road. All this eating has made me think about our wedding menu ... here it is:

Appetizers:
Chicken Tikkas
Aloo Tikki
Paneer Tikka
Sheek Kabab
Shrimp Tikka

Main Course:
Lamb Chops
Chilli Chicken
Lamb Biryani
Veg Biryani
Bhindi
Nav Rattan Vegetables

Sides:
Assorted Naan, Roti

Raita

Kachumber

Dessert:
Gulab Jamun

We also had some fabulous late night snacks, amazing cupcakes, and of course, plenty of booze (including a special mango martini!) I'll post on all that stuff later. Our cater was the cutest old man called Anil from Wah Jee Wah in Fremont, CA. While the food was awesomely delicious, it was also awesomely spicy, a bit overly spicy! This made for some good stories of burning buttholes the following day as well as one blonde surfer dude friend of mine consuming EIGHT lamb chops ... EIGHT! Everyone loved the apps and loved dousing their food in raita to curb the intense spice. We still have leftovers in the fridge so feel free to come over for some extra spicy Lamb Biryani!

This pic is from our tasting a few weeks earlier, yum!

How Indian Guys Pick Up Chicks

2010-05-07T22:07:00.001+02:00

I am actually on my way to Houston to spend the week packing Dan up and driving his car cross country from Houston to SF. (So why a I blogging instead of packing when I have to leave in one hours, ahhh?!) We are officially no longer ever going to have to be apart for the rest of our lives! Woo hoo!

My friend Sanjay is hilarious. So hilarious that he moonlights as a stand-up comedian when he's not busy being a big time corporate consultant. He is so going to be the next Russell Peters. (If you don't know who Russ is, google him and be prepared to die laughing.) Apparently at our wedding, Sanjay coupled with his bff Furhan, and their cousin Shazieh to do a skit on how dorky Indian dudes pick up girls at weddings. Check this hilarious 'ish out below. Watch 'til the end for a sneak peek of my walk down the aisle and my Dad tripping on my sari!

(Click here to watch it the clip won't fit properly below.)

It's a Buddha-ful Day!

2010-05-07T01:42:00.000+02:00

There are few things more peaceful than the image of a Buddha. Danoosh and I got my parents a giant Buddha statue for the garden as a thank you gift for throwing an amazing wedding. I found these guys today and wanted to share.

Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.--Buddha

Etsy User theroomnexttoyours

Etsy User Soule

Gumps Store, San Francisco

Etsy User JAdamsDesigns

Just One + Some Poms

2010-05-06T19:35:00.000+02:00

Here's just one photo of me and my gorgeous sister who gave an AWESOME speech from our beyond incredibly talented professional photog, Alpana from Storybox Art. Can't wait to see the rest, yo! And yes, we did end up using the flower poms ... they turned out pretty spectacular, no?

The Night Before the BIG Night

2010-05-06T01:06:00.000+02:00

From Saudi Arabia and India to London and New York, we had wedding guests traveling far and wide to attend our special day. We thought it really sucked that we'd only get to see most of them on the actual wedding day so we planned a chillaxed beer and pizza party at Pauline's Pizza in the Mission the night before. We stuffed our faces with pizza, heard some speeches from a few close friends, and just got a chance to spend some time with the special people in our life the night before the big night. I think the best part of the night before party was that everybody got meet and make friends before the wedding. I think all brides and grooms should plan something fun, silly, and special to get everyone together before they get hitched.

Lal Means Red, Rang Means Color: The Flowers

2010-05-04T20:01:00.000+02:00

The best advice I have for choosing vendors, is to pick someone who knows what they are doing and let them do their thang. Danoosh's philosophy (which I completely agree with) is to never critique a creative. When it comes to getting people to do their best work which they are passionate about and personally involved in, give them the freedom to make the big decisions and you will surely adore the final product.

When it came to flowers, that's exactly what I did. The florist was the one vendor we shopped around for quite a bit. One lady gave an estimate for 25K (and we showed her the door). Another one just wasn't quite my style. One more florist that I loved took over three months to send an estimate which made me wonder if she'd even show up on the actual big day. When I met the lovely Jill and Alethea of Studio Choo at Starbucks on 2nd Street it was love at fifth (or sixth) florist! I knew immediately that they were the ones ... and boy ... oh boy was I right.

For the table arrangements, I pretty much told them I like bright, beautiful colors with lots of hot pinks, reds, purples, oranges, and greens--the works. We decided to use old Indian soda bottles like Thums Up, Limca, and Fanta, large mango pulp cans, stainless steel cups, and glass jars instead of vases. Take a peek of the end result, pretty awesome, no?

Images courtesy of Studio Choo.

Hooked, Booked, and Cooked ... Again

2010-05-04T07:49:00.002+02:00

I am sorry for my embarrassingly long absence, but life's been a bit insane. Dan and I got married (again!) in San Francisco this past weekend. It was beyond my wildest dreams of bridal perfection. There is no better feeling in the world then dancing your pants off in a room full of people you love so much you want to explode. I promise to take some time this week to post some pictures of all the little details and final touches of our oh-so perfect day.

Of all the numerous compliments we've received for the wedding (and there's been quite a few!) the best one has been, "It was just so you--so Shy and Dan."

I Heart Books

2010-04-02T03:52:00.001+02:00

There's nothing like an old book that's been read, treasured, and shared between friends. For lovers of reading, writing, and story telling, these paper heart garlands are the perfect wedding day touch. I'd love to incorporate these into the decor of our space or even use them in our apartment. Simply, utterly adorable. {From etsy user bookity.}

Stamp It Out, Yo!

2010-03-31T20:56:00.002+02:00

I've had a few inquiries about the stamps from my STDs (Save The Dates, sillies!) so I though I'd share the wealth ... I purchased them at the Paper Source in San Francisco. They have tons, and tons of adorable stamps and awesome wedding ideas. Everyone in the store is super helpful and has tons of creative ideas for wedding decor. For our STDs, I embossed the stamps with embossing powder and an embossing heat tool. They turned out pretty cute and I had tons of fun making them.

Me Loves Me Some Me & Ro Jewelry

2010-03-25T01:48:00.002+01:00

Hygiene and the cure for IBS we Indians might not know, but jewelry, my friends, jewelry we know and know well. From traditional Rajastani Jaddau jewelry to more contemporary diamond sets (yup, that’s me in the mast-head decked out in j’s the in-laws got me, crazy, huh?!), Indians love, adore, and have a borderline clinical obsession with jewelry. While I personally can’t tell the real diamonds from the Forever 21 versions, I do appreciate a pretty looking piece of jewels as much as the next bride. It’s not easy to find pretty ethnic jewelry (at a reasonable price) living in the U.S.A. I wanted to share one of my favorite finds: New York-based jewelry design company Me&Ro. They have mastered the feel and look of modern India. Love.

SJP, Is That You?! My Love for Tulle

2010-03-23T19:31:00.000+01:00

Like most girls on most parts of the planet, I am obsessed with Sex and the City. My hubs even thinks my inspiration to be a writer is a direct link to my belief that I am Carrie Bradshaw, the Indian version, (subconsciously, he might be right ...). So, when searching for part two of my bridal outfit for the San Francisco wedding, I managed to find an outfit that channeled Carrie just a little bit.

I wanted something Indian, yet Western, and classic yet modern ... It was no easy feat. I ended up stumbling into a store called Atrima, one of the few stores in Northern California with quality Indian clothing. I found a gorgeous white tulle skirt that was paired with a not-so gorgeous sequin blouse. I just adored the skirt, but I hated the top. I ended up pairing the top with a red brocade sari blouse and voila! I love the end result! It's Indian on top and American on the bottom. What's more American bride then a big white skirt and what's more Indian than a red and gold sari? Morale of the story: I love tulle and I love Carrie Bradshaw. Check out these pictures for some inspiration, however, remember, I HATE pink.

Photo courtesy of Marigolds and Mithai

Photo courtesy of bridalblissdesigns on etsy

I'm Just Bein' Honest

2010-03-19T19:59:00.000+01:00

Instead of opting for thank you cards with fancy writing and swirly pink bows for thank you cards, how about offering some practical advice on life to your beloved guests? Love these from dearcolleen at etsy.

True that!

Bye-bye Bouquets, Hello Helium!

2010-03-18T23:39:00.001+01:00

Photo by Michele Waite via 100 Layer Cake

How fricking awesome is this idea … use balloons instead of flowers for your bridesmaids to hold?! It’s cheaper, more environmentally friendly, more dramatic, and much more unique than flowers. I am a huge fan of balloons; they remind me of being a kid and not having to give a turd. I love balloons so much so that we used a big red one in our engagement shoot (see my last post). If I was having bridesmaids I’d def have them rock some balls of helium instead of balls of hyacinthias down that aisle!

I Want to Grow Old with You ...

2010-03-16T01:40:00.000+01:00

I think this is a case where a picture speaks a thousand words (more like quite a few thousand if I say so myself). Danoosh and I had an incredible day on our engagement shoot with our stunningly talented photographer Alpana. She's traditionally a children's photog, but we were so impressed with her artistic eye, we convinced her to shoot our wedding, her first wedding ever! We started in Hayes Valley, headed to Baker Beach, and ended with drinks and snacks at Absinthe. It was a lovely day and we have even lovelier photos to prove it. Thank you Alpana!

It's All in the Writing ...

2010-03-13T02:11:00.000+01:00

I decided to learn calligraphy. I'm going to Michael's this weekend to buy a kit and teach myself. I used to think calligraphy was just something old grannies did when they were bored, but I've recently discovered what a truly amazing art form it is. One day I hope to have my own calligraphy business and address beautiful invitations for beautiful people. Until then, I'll search the internet for people who are doin' it already.

I came across Primele Calligraphy on Etsy (obvi!) and instantly fell in love. Primitive Feel. Modern Style. Natural Elements. Simply and utterly gorgeous.

Ravishing Red Dress

2010-03-10T02:32:00.001+01:00

Immediately after I landed stateside the search for the dress for the San Francisco wedding started. I needed something that was comfortable enough to dance and drink in for hours and hours and that was cute enough for me to look back on for a lifetime and not think WTF was I thinking?! I didn’t want a white dress (that just doesn’t feel right) nor did I want another sari (I’m wearing my Indian sari already for the ceremony in SF). So, I decided I wanted a red dress.

After a brief and disheartening search, I realized that dress shopping is not my forte. Actually, I hate it more than anything. I’d rather have my fingernails individually removed with pliers then waste my weekends shopping for dresses—seriously.

I finally found an outfit that is quintessentially IndoWestern—it works beautifully well. More on that to come, but in the mean time I had, had, HAD to share this gem of a dress that I found on etsy (the best site in the world) made by Ruby Pearl. I have this dress bookmarked and gaze at it whenever I feel grumpy. It is simply stunning. It reminds me of Penelope at the Oscars this year. Ugh. So. Pretty. Makes. Me. Hurt.

If only I was taller, skinnier, and had smaller boobs, this would have been the dress I chose. (No, I don’t need a lesson in self-esteem, merely stating the facts. Certain things work on certain bodies, certain things don’t.) Unfortunately after consulting with a few of my most trusted allies, we came to terms with the fact that this dress would make me look like a big, round, rotten tomato. However, I’ll still share it with you so you can appreciate its beauty.

Amazing, huh?

DIY STDs (i.e. Save the Dates!)

2010-03-07T22:59:00.000+01:00

Before India I made and sent save-the-dates to all of our guests for the San Francisco wedding. While I don't think save-the-dates and totally necessary, I did them because I knew we would be in a time crunch to get invites out immediately when we returned from Bombay and am SO happy I did considering we're about seven weeks out and I'm still sending invites. (Ahhhhhh!)

I made ours myself with paper from Flax, the best craft store in San Francisco, and stamps from the Paper Source, an incredible paper shop in the Bay Area.

I bought three different Indiany stamps (fish, an elephant, and an Indian motif) and created an embossed image with the stamps on a plain white card. I then handwrote a little note to each guest telling them how much we'd love to celebrate our wedding with them. I used red envelopes lined with newspapers I cut from the India West paper and sealed them with a real wax seal.

Hooked, Booked, and Cooked

2010-03-05T20:58:00.000+01:00

With gaining a husband, I seem to have lost my ability to blog. (Ahhh!) The Big Fat Indian Wedding was exactly a month ago and the Big Fat San Francisco version will happen in exactly two months. I’ll most def be taking some time to share all the details, decisions, and designs, but in the meantime here’s a few pictures to tame your curious minds.

How was it, you ask?

Well, it was crazy. Bringing two families together and crossing oceans is no easy task. The best part was after it all when it was just the hubsters and me in a van driving along the coast to our hotel in Goa. I looked at him and realized I did this for one and only one reason and it was sitting right next to me. I think I’ve never felt happier.

BFFs Through Thick and Thin

2009-12-03T02:31:00.000+01:00

I am thrilled to be a bridesmaid in my best friend Sarah’s wedding next Fall, woo hoo! We kicked off a year of wedding festitvites this past weekend with a mafia-style Italian drunken fiesta in North Beach this past Saturday. Sarah gave each bridesmaid a letter to emphasize her Bridezilla-ness and fabulousness:

Hi Girls,

The day has finally come ... I am tying the knot with the one and only Mr. Grover. I figured I would write to each one of you to ensure we were on the same page with all bridesmaids and ME the wonderful bride. I have made a list of “bridesmaid duties” so there is no confusion on this journey down the aisle with me. I really believe in the formal wedding etiquette and I expect for all of you to abide the following requests:

1. You must never wear any wedding ring/nice baubles around me since my ring must be the center of attention at all times.

2. Do not diet before the wedding since I must be the skinny bitch of the group

3. Ask me if I need anything prior to the big day, including driving me, feeding me, and making sure I look good at all times

4. Check in with me once a week with all updated information on planning.

5. I expect the most amazing bachelorette party, everyone must match in pink and black and I want seven Chippendale dancers in a luxury suite. I will only go out if you glue condoms to a veil that I can go out in later that night!

6. Don’t make a spectacle out of yourself by drinking too much, this is a sober event.

7. Do not complain about any of my decisions on dresses or accessories.

8. I expect a long praising speech from each of you about all of my amazing qualities at each event as well as the wedding day.

J/K, I’m sick to my stomach even writing those things, HAHAHA.

On a serious note, I am so honored to have you girls by my side for my wedding day. I am so excited to plan and party for the next year. For many years we have been through thick and thin (literally, have you seen my ass?) and ups and truthfully not that many downs! You have helped me become the person I am today and nothing makes me happier than planning this wedding with you four. I have to confess my love to you and tell you how much fun I am having planning this with you!

Cheers to a really fun year!

Xoxoxoox

Sarah

Brunch at Beretta

2009-11-30T03:11:00.000+01:00

Ok, ok, I know brunch has nothing to do with my big fat Indian wedding, but brunch on a sunny Sunday morning is my number one favorite thing on the planet. Today future hubby, sister, bro-in-law, and I went to Beretta in the mission for brunch and it was spectacular. Hubby had a breakfast pizza and it was one of the most amazing things I've ever eaten. If you ever go there try the charred radicchio, its pure heaven. How delish does this look? I mean, who doesn't love pictures of food?!

The Saree Scramble

2009-11-18T07:07:00.000+01:00

I land in Bombay on January 21st. My wedding is February 4th (and festivities start five days before that). I don’t have a wedding saree yet as I’m waiting to get to Bombay to start the search. (Have you ever heard of a bride waiting until the WEEK BEFORE HER WEDDING to find her dress?!) Ahhhh … xanex, please. When I am staying up with thoughts of weddings and travels running through my head I often scour the internet for images of pretty white sarees to get me excited and ready for the seven-day dash. I found this one today by my all-time favorite Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee … it literally took my breath away. (However, I just got an email from my sister saying she didn’t like it and the color was too drab. Sigh. The search continues ...)

The Haathi Search

2009-11-10T05:38:00.000+01:00

My search for the perfect elephant for the invite is full swing underway. We are pretty much scouring the internet for cute ellies that my fabulous friend will help transform into a graphic for our invite. Here are some of my fave picks, let me know which is your favorite and if you find any other irresistible ones:

I Lichens You

2009-11-03T02:10:00.000+01:00

My love affair with Etsy and paper continues. I have a not-so secret dream to open my very own stationary shop one day. I hope that it looks something like this fabulous lady, thegreatlakes on Etsy. I love her simple yet heart-grabbing phrases, delectable graphics, and effortless style. The great lakes is a hand printed goods company based in Brooklyn with a love of all things natural and nostalgic that fuel the design campfires.

Flowers by Studio Choo

2009-10-18T09:29:00.000+02:00

We finalized our florist finally. (Hurray!) We are going with Studio Choo based out of Pacifica. Their designs are simple, colorful, and so my style. (See below, gorgeous, no?)

I am a huge fan of their vision too:

Studio Choo uses flowers that are locally grown (whenever possible) and always fresh and seasonal. The containers include “one of a kind” vintage pots, hand-crafted vases from independent artists, and vessels reclaimed sustainably from nature.

Pom Love

2009-10-14T07:24:00.000+02:00

By now you know that I adore everything paper—especially paper flowers. This wedding season it seems that lanterns are out and poms are in. Poms are marigold-looking flowers made of tissue paper. Martha Stewart has an awesome do-it-yourself guide to making your own poms. Pom Love on Etsy corners the markets on the best Poms around. I am still struggling on what to do with the high ceilings at the gallery.

One florist suggested using clusters of Poms scattered between candles, I am into it but not sure if it’s “the one” for us. I do like the marigold look as marigolds are a huge part of Indian weddings but my mom says no as they are practically considered weeds in the motherland! I am kinda into the super clustered Poms with lanterns hanging look below … hmmm … to pom or not to pom? (Did I really just say that?!)

All About the Invite

2009-10-11T02:12:00.000+02:00

My latest wedding project is the invitations. Our very good family friend is an incredible designer and she’s helping me craft the invite, which we’ll send off to the printer. Although I have yet to decide what the final design will be, I know it will have a modern-Indian flavor. I adore these elephant ones from one of my favorite blogs, Dolciodille—so cute, so whimsy, and so unique!

{Photos by Our Labor of Love}

Los Novios

2009-10-08T08:02:00.000+02:00

I remember making papel picado in my sixth grade Spanish class. I love this idea of decorating your reception with your names in traditional Mexican flair. I picture these hanging from sticks intertwined with lights at an outdoor reception—adorable, whimsical, and wedding-budget friendly.

aymujer

Life Is a Mystery … Everyone Must Stand Alone

2009-10-03T02:12:00.000+02:00

I love to get drunk and dance. Anybody who knows Shyla Batliwalla, knows this. (If you don’t know me, see exhibit A above, that’s me about four years ago on the dance floor in DC in yes … a t-shirt that says “Future Rock Star.” Clearly, this makes the DJ a crucial decision for the big day. I found a dude on yelp named DJ Jeremy who had over thirty reviews nearly all of which were five stars. Damn! I thought … I called him up and he turned out to be pretty kick-ass. A few weeks later, my coworker told me she went to a wedding and the DJ was utterly amazing. She went on and on about how great he was to the point of saying she’d fly him out to her wedding in Ohio if she could. Man, I thought, I gotta get dude’s name. Turns out dun daaa da daaa, it was the same DJ Jeremy! Woo Hoo! Check that off the list. We are going to see him tonight DJ at a bar in San Francisco. I can’t wait to—you guessed it—get drunk and dance.

Here’s ten dance song that must be played at my wedding. Please add a comment of what song would get you on the dance floor:

Like a Prayer, Madonna
Don’t Stop Believing, Journey
I Wanna Dance with Somebody, Whitney Houston
Jai Ho, A.R. Rahman
Total Eclipse of the Heart, Bonnie Tyler
Single Ladies, Beyonce
Simply the Best, Tina Turner
Go West, Pet Shop Boys
World Hold On, Bob Sinclar
Livin’ on a Prayer, Bon Jovi

Note: The YMCA, Macarena, Electric Slide, and all of that crap is STRICTLY banned.

Images with Words

2009-09-27T20:51:00.000+02:00

... because a picture is worth a thousand words and sometimes a picture with words is just priceless.

i can read

Closet Girly Girl

2009-09-19T05:22:00.000+02:00

Anybody who knows me knows that I hate anything overtly girly—especially pinks, pastels, and frills. There is one stereotypically girly thing that I have grown to adore and that’s flowers. Especially paper flowers, plastic ring flowers, fabric flowers … ugh, so bee-you-tee-ful. In my daily etsy email I came across a designer named FancifulForm. Her handmade floral creations are simply breathtaking. I love the Indian-inspired lotus. The lotus is India’s national flower and a symbol of growth and enlightenment. I also adore the mustard yellow rose ring. I have lots of little rose-inspired jewels (mostly plastic from Forever 21) but none as gorgeous as this one.

I picture one of these white lotus flowers on a brightly colored Indian table linen surrounded by tea lights on the table … ugh … so beautiful I can’t stand it! Oh, I also picture one of those rings (and necklaces) delicately draped on me. I swear, if I could register on Etsy I would.

Pretty Pretty Paper

2009-09-17T04:20:00.001+02:00

There are a few places that I must visit every time I go to Bombay: the Sea Lounge, the coffee shop at the Taj Mahal hotel, Copper Chimney (best kabobs and naan in India), and Chiminlals, the paper store. Indians are world-renowned for their beautiful handicrafts and one of our specialties is handmade paper. From notepaper to wrapping paper and chocolate boxes to tissue boxes, Chiminlalas is a one-stop stationary shop. (And the prices! If you convert, it’s just an embarrassment—so cheap!) Unfortunately, you can’t order Chiminlal’s products online in the USA. Fortunately, I stumbled across Indkia Imports, an online boutique that carries the same high-quality high-beauty products available in the USA. Hurray!

While I am still figuring out how and where I’ll include pretty Indian paper on our big day, I know this is one Indian tradition I won’t forget.

Faboo Fabric Flowers

2009-09-13T03:43:00.000+02:00

I am obsessed with this flower garland from Dolci Odille. The art gallery we are getting married at (did I mention yet that we are getting married at a gallery?!) has high ceilings with structures made to hang stuff from. I’ve been racking my (and my creative friends) brains for what to do with the ceiling space. These fabric flowers and draping fabric are one of my favorite ideas so far. We could use some Indo-fabric and make it gorge. I LOVE!

Here Comes the Nightmares

2009-09-03T07:10:00.000+02:00

I don’t really feel very stressed out about my wedding. To be honest, I barely even think about it (ironic, I know considering I have a wedding blog). However, last night I had a horrific nightmare about my wedding. I woke up in a cold sweat thanking the good old lordy that I was merely dreaming.

I don’t remember every detail of my ’mare clearly, but I do remember a few standout terrifying moments:

Me being clinically obese to the point where I no longer fit in my white gown. (Weird because I don’t plan on wearing a white gown.) I ended up looking like a stuffed, sweaty sausage rolling down the aisle—not a flattering image.

My groom showing up drenched in water and perspiration wearing cargo shorts and a blue and yellow striped polo shirt. His excuse was that he was attacked my some sort of water-something on his way to the ceremony.

The venue looked disastrous. The flower arrangements I chose were heinous and there were florescent colors everywhere and I was royally devastated.

Clearly this means I have some repressed psychological stress issues to deal with it before the big day comes along. I think the reason I tend not to think about the wedding is because it’s just to goddamn overwhelming. There are so many people to please, so many decisions to make, and I just don’t know where (or how) to truly begin.

At least we have picked all the vendors and in that sense are completely ready. However, I just heard from a friend who went to a friends destination wedding about two hours away and they said it was amazing and gorgeous … it made me re-think the whole urban San Francisco art gallery eco-chic minimalist Indian-inspired thing we had going ...

AHHHH. Ok, now I am going to watch Top Chef, sleep, and deal with this wedding insanity another day (and post pretty pictures for you to admire in the meantime).

Less Sex, More TV in the Motherland: WTF!

2009-08-27T07:02:00.000+02:00

I am working on a new column at work entitled “That’s Messed Up” about stuff you find and have no other words to say, but that’s fucked up! The first installment is about a proposed new law in India to bring electricity to every village in order to encourage couples to watch more TV and therefore have less sex. See my response to the ridiculousness below ...

With over one billion people, India is the second most populous country in the world. At the rate they’re currently growing, in fifty short years, India’s population will surpass China and become numero uno. The government is fiercely working to try to curb the population boom and save an already struggling nation. A recent CNN article outlined the latest bright idea politicians have come up with to prevent unplanned pregnancies: “Bring electricity to every Indian village so that people would watch television until late at night and therefore be too tired to make babies.” Yup, you heard it right; apparently, more TV equals less sex.

I have lived in India and worked in the slum communities over there; I am keenly aware of the resource strain overpopulation creates. I also know that China’s one-child policy is not the most effective (or humane) approach to population control. However, for a nation that’s edging to be a global superpower to say that giving people electricity to watch more TV is an effective governmental policy to control baby making is just ludicrous. How about education? Or condoms, perhaps? Or how about first ensuring every home in India has running water and a proper drainage system before tackling the need for a nightly dose of Bollywood entertainment?

It angers and saddens me that a headline like this shows up on a global news site. First of all, I’ll bet my left kidney (and throw the right one in, too, for that matter) that this policy will never get passed. Second of all, being an Indian myself, it’s just embarrassing. If people want to hump, they’re going to hump. It’s an animal instinct—we like to get it on. Before pumping money into tiring people out so they don’t have the energy to do the dirty, a lesson in birth control really should be the first step.

Omar Mohammed, an over-eighty-year-old man (who admittedly has never heard of the concept of population control) has twenty-four children. Even Omar sees through this shoddily thought-out plan; “After watching TV,” he says, “when we look at scintillating things, we will probably want to make more children.” Amen, Omar! Watching half-naked Bollywood men and woman would make me want to do the monkey dance all night long, too.

India, I have one thing to say to you—that’s messed up.

In the world of Web 2.0, the onslaught of news, personal stories, and random information we hear throughout the day can leave us in a state of shock. That’s Messed Up is a series dedicated to the various things we find and have no other words to say but, “That’s Messed Up.” If you come across anything that makes you want to utter those same words, please send it in care of the editor toshyla@realgirlsmedia.com.

Jewels and Gems

2009-08-18T04:08:00.000+02:00

After going to Carley's wedding this weekend I am finally getting really excited for ours. (HURRAY!)

I came across these stunning earrings and matching necklace on etsy. They are vintage, probably from India and absolutely stunning. I had to share. I love how they are versatile enough to wear everyday or be saved for a special occasion.

Congratulations to Carley and Adam!

2009-08-17T07:13:00.000+02:00

I am recovering from an amazing wedding weekend. My best friend Carley just married the sweetest boy in the world, Adam. (I was a bridesmaid!) I had so much fun celebrating with them and all of my dearest friends. Some of the highlights of the evening include:

1. That moment (See above!) when the doors opened and Carley walked down the aisle arm and arm with her parents ... not a dry eye in the room. She looked absolutely gorgeous.

2. Meghan physically pushing over all of the competition to catch the bouquet. Jeff (her bf) ran away hid and cried a few tears I think.

3. My friend Lauren stealing a baby. (See below.) Her boyfriend had a damn near heart attack.

4. Making a speech for Car and Adam with my bffs, Meghan, Em, and Lo. "It's a toast, not a roast!"

5. Passing out in the shuttle on the way home only to wake up and turn Car and Adam's room into a sex chalet complete with glow sticks, organic lube, rose petals, pearls, and a chocolate cake with penis candles ontop.

Oh! I almost forgot, the appetizer grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches, yum!!!

Tibetan Love Flags

2009-08-10T01:31:00.000+02:00

I adore this Buddhist prayer flags from Tibet. They represent luck, happiness, longevity, and prosperity—exactly what a wedding day should represent. I love the idea of incorporating auspicious traditions from other cultures into our special day. I found this from user Kkrishna on etsy, my fave shopping spot. Now if only they had prayer flags representing tequila and tandoori chicken, we'd be set ... a bride can dream.

Hard for Me to Say I’m Sorry

2009-08-01T02:12:00.000+02:00

In the words of Chicago (or Az Yet):

Everybody needs a little time away,
I heard her say, from each other.
Even lovers need a holiday,
far away, from each other.

Hold me now.
It’s hard for me to say I’m SORRY!
I just want you to stay.
After all that we’ve been through.
I will make it up to you, I promise you.

Consider this my apology for neglecting my cupcake and curry loving folks. Since I am the queen of excuses (as some people have told me), I’ll let you in on a few reasons why I’ve been astray:

1. I moved from Houston, Texas back home to San Francisco, California.
2. I started a not-so-new job. (I’m back working at DivineCaroline, woo hoo!)
3. I have not thought about the wedding at all in the past month.
4. I realized that it’s hard for me to write about weddings because to be honest, I am really not that into weddings.
5. I am incredibly lazy.

Alas, I have not forgotten you, in fact I ate a cupcake yesterday, some curry last week, and finally put a deposit on the San Francisco venue … more on that to come!

Advice from a Fellow Bride

2009-07-13T03:58:00.000+02:00

My friend Anna is in the midst of planning her wedding. After sending out her invites, I got this hilarious email from her that I had to share:

Hello Recent/Upcoming Brides!

I have had the "pleasure" of dealing with wedding RSVP's. To ensure that you are not blindsided, and to do some venting, here are my top 10 favorite RSVP scenarios thus far:

10. Multiple inquiries if her sister (who I barely know) is invited to the wedding.

9. Friend's surprise that her father is not included in the rehearsal festivities.

8. Trickery about a date/+1 (thought they were an actual item, but instead they are "fuck buddies").

7. Inviting his/her own guests (despite the invite clearly only stating specific names). Includes names. (this includes my very own father).

6. Inviting his/her own guests (despite the invite clearly only stating specific names). Does not includes names...you can call them "plus one."

5. Late RSVP responses.

4. No RSVP response at all.

3. No response to my response about their lack of response.

2. "Aunt Terry's bringing her daughter, but she doesn't have to eat."

1. RSVPing that all invited are intending, but then finding out 3rd person that actually the kids aren't coming...(still haven't been officially told)

Oh the joys of getting married... ;)

Thank YOU for the advice my friend!

Hope from the Motherland!

2009-07-02T09:28:00.000+02:00

This article entitled Indian Court: Gay Sex is Legal made me smile.

A bit of hope on the equal love for all front from the motherland.

Someday every couple will have the right to love--no matter the country or sexuality.

Good Night.

Boom Boom Pow!

2009-06-26T20:18:00.001+02:00

A friend sent me this gorgeous link to Our Blog of Love. I was transfixed by page after page of the gorgeous images this Georgia-based photographer captured. I wanted to share some of my favorite awe-inspiring images. Happy Friday!

With This Tandoori Lamb Chop, I Thee Wed

2009-06-24T20:31:00.000+02:00

{In our culture wedding food is traditionally served on a banana leaf. While I'm not sure we will necessarily serve our food on a banana leaf, we will definitely incorporate them into our decor somehow.}

Foregoing lobsters for burgers and foie gras for fries is so my bridal style. If Nor Cal’s summer weather and my parent’s snobby suburban neighbors would permit, I would totally celebrate my coming nuptials with a backyard bbq. I was thrilled to stumble upon this article With This Burger, I Thee Wed in the NY Times today that’s directly in line with my sentiment. With the economy in the sewer, couples are doing what they can to curb costs at their wedding. One of the first places people start dollar slashing is the menu. I personally prefer home-style burgers and fries to the fancy (and often tasteless) asparagus and duck confit that they serve at weddings anyways.

In line with our beliefs, we are choosing an Indian caterer who brings his own tandoori bbq and grills fresh lamb chops, chicken tikkas, and naans on the spot. (Yum!) His catering style is far from fancy and his food is far from average. We used him at my sister’s wedding and there was a line down the driveway for his tandoori treats.

Basically, in today's economy budget-savvy brides don’t want their guests leaving the party saying, “Damn, they spent how much on that wedding?!” Recessionista couples want guests feeling comfortable, at home, and most importantly saying, “Damn, that was the most fun wedding ever!” I couldn’t agree more.

Wisdom-filled Words

2009-06-22T18:42:00.000+02:00

{i can read}

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

2009-06-18T03:35:00.000+02:00

Ever since I started this whole wedding planning process I’ve been transfixed by the idea of large branches—cherry blossoms, dogwood trees, and willows. I have a vision of huge vases brimming with tall overflowing branches, dimly lit candles, and brightly colored flowers. That's why the image above first caught my attention, after I digging a bit deeper I was sold ...

The Wedding Co has embarked on a global DIY art project. They are collecting origami paper cranes from engaged couples around the world to create a chandelier of cranes. With a goal to collect 10,000 cranes, they will contribute 50¢ from each birdie received to cancer research. The end result will be an overpowering community-made art installation. (How cool is that?) Couples should send a handmade crane with their names and the location of their wedding to the Wedding Co. to be a part of a global flock of love.

(I’ve already started on ours ... )

Happy Birthday Future Hubby!

2009-06-16T03:00:00.000+02:00

Today is my Danoosh’s Happy 26^th Birthday. We had an utterly fabulous weekend together celebrating with food, drinks, and friends. (What more can you ask for?!) Out of all of the fancy things we did to celebrate (a couples cooking class, a three-course dinner, multiple gifts) he said his favorite was going to see the movie Hangover on Sunday night. Ha! I told him next year all he gets is In and Out burger and a DVD rental.

We are both magazine-a-holics and have multiple subscriptions. I always feel guilty getting rid of old magazines so I decided to put them to use and wrapped Danny's present with them. I even topped it off with a handmade 'zine flower. He liked it and I think it turned out pretty cute. I have forever bidden adieu to wrapping paper.

My pressie wrapping made me think about an idea my sis and I had talked about for the wedding. I adore Indian sweets (known as mithai) and am def planning on serving some up on the big day. What's cuter than some newspaper cones stuffed with Indian sweets? Nothing. I agree.

Ode to Anthropologie and Tequila

2009-06-12T22:31:00.000+02:00

Anthropologie oh Anthropologie, how I love you let me count the ways. Sometimes I just browse through your aisles of beautiful skirts, dresses, rings, earrings, books, and teacups and am lost in a land of unprecedented beauty.

My sis sent me this Fireworks necklace made of cloth flowers of chiffon and satin and I had to share. While is has nothing really to do with my wedding, it's exactly what I want the big day to feel like—whimsical cloth flowers paired with shots of tequila while droppin' it like it's hot to Madge.

Stop and Smell the Roses

2009-06-10T07:16:00.000+02:00

Hubby-to-be and me spent a lovely, lazy Saturday wandering around the Mission in San Francisco this weekend. I love the Mission for it’s eclectic mix of culture, food, people, and style … it’s just so San Francisco. We wandered in and out of thrift stores, ate the best fried egg sammy in the world, soaked up the sun in Dolores Park, and had some blue bottle coffee.

We stopped and smelt the roses (literally) at my fave grocery store Bi-Rite. I was mesmerized by the deep red peonies and lush-smelling lavender. Flowers are so breathtaking just by themselves. There’s truly no need for bazillion dollar arrangements by design-school graduates to make our day special.

I guess this past Saturday just taught us that there is no better time then right this minute (ESPECIALLY during the wedding planning insanity) to stop and smell the roses.

Mom and Dad Seventies Style

2009-06-06T18:58:00.000+02:00

I love this photo of my mom and dad at the Bombay airport in 1970. My dad was on his way to study in New York and everyone was seeing him off at the airport. In those days flying was a big, huge deal. You wore a suit and an entourage of loved ones comes to the airport to see you off.

Vintage photos of parents, grandparents, and couples that inspire us are definitely going to be integrated into our big day. One idea I had is to have all our guests send us images of them on their weddings and have them framed and displayed throughout the wedding space. Just a thought ... off to brunch now at Mission Beach Cafe, one of my fave SF spots. Yum!

Boo on You Wedding Flowers!

2009-06-05T04:23:00.001+02:00

I am currently in San Francisco (hurray!) spending some time with the fam. My overly enthusiastic mother is in hard-core wedding-mode. This includes non-stop chatter about table linens, napkin colors, floral designs, and photographers. This also includes various appointments. Today we saw two wedding florists. The first one we saw "just for ideas." This woman definitely creates some floral masterpieces but her base price is $12,000 to $15,000 dollars. RIDICULOUSA.

After days and days of non-stop wedding nonsense I am further and further creeping into a black anti-wedding hole. I am excited about the wedding, but really not so much about tablecloths, flowers, high-boys, and bouquets. How does an anti-bride plan a love-filled wedding in a world of floral and family insanity?

Worth Fighting For

2009-06-01T21:45:00.001+02:00

I found this breathtaking quote on i can read, a gorgeous site that celebrates images with words. I am an incredibly lucky girl to have found the most sweet, adorable, and loving hubby-to-be. That being said, life together (clearly!) isn't all strawberries and orgasms. This phrase really touched my heart today because there is a very real chance that we may have to do long distance for the next six months to a year before we get married. A scary predicament, but worth it because I know that our love is always worth fighting for (and have no doubt that together we will always win).

Mango Tree Party

2009-06-01T01:33:00.000+02:00

What, you ask, in the world is a mango tree party? Well, a mango tree party is exactly what it sounds like—a party to plant a mango tree. Why, you ask? Well in our religion, Zoroastrianism, the mango tree party is a pre-wedding ritual to ensure newlyweds have lots and lots of healthy babies. Basically, the bride’s younger brother (or cousin or close family friend if no little bro exists) plants a mango tree as a fertility blessing for the starry-eyed couple.

We will have a mango tree party at Danoosh’s house in Bombay and my family’s house in Hillsborough, California. Traditionally, the ceremony takes place four days prior to the nuptials. Family and close friends get together watch the tree being planted, eat, drink, and be merry. Food and community are clearly the most important parts of the afternoon. After the tree is planted and the gifts are given, everyone pigs out on rice, shrimp curry, beef kebobs, spicy chicken—the works. {Check out the book My Bombay Kitchen by Niloufer Ichaporia King for a deeper look on the relationship between Parsis (Parsis are Zoroastrian’s from India, aka us) and food.}

Although I am not that well-versed with the various religious traditions and customs of our religion, my family kinda goes with the flow and picks and chooses the fun, meaningful ceremonies. The mango tree party is my favorite ceremony because its a relaxed celebration with those closest to us. Plus, there is just something so special about planting a tree, especially a tree that bears mangoes, my favorite fruit.

{Check out the pics above of my sissy’s mango tree party last July 2009. Danoosh, my hubby-to-be, Jehan, our little cousin, and Zephan and Zane, our two two-year-old family friends presided over the tree planting.}

Do you have any cultural or personal ceremonies that you did/will include in your wedding celebrations?

Padma Laxmi Is Hot (and Makes Hot Indo-Inspired Jewelry Too)

2009-05-29T19:45:00.001+02:00

Padma Laxmi is hot. Like if-I-were-a-lesbian-I’d-do-her hot/if-I-could-look-like-any-celeb-I-choose-Padma hot. I have literally no idea how she stays so incredibly hot while constantly being surrounded by culinary feats by some of the best chefs in the world. (I would be at least 200 lbs fatter and 200 times less hot if I were in her shoes.) She is totally one of those people who I’d trade lives with in a heartbeat, who I’d actually pay money to trade lives with. (To all of you who say, “Oh, I would never trade places with anyone, I am just so thrilled to be me!”—you are lying.) Plus, it’s fab to have an Indian woman in mainstream American cultures for us ABCD’s (American Born Confused Desi) to look up to.

Her hotness and my obsession with it have nothing to do with the fact that she recently launched her own line of Indian-inspired jewelry. I am usually a skeptic of the random celebs who brands themselves into various products (think J.Lo Glow perfume). However, when I saw Padma’s ethnic gems I was in awe. Many of her pieces are inspired by food. The shape of beans, the shape of cardamons, the color of fresh greens all have a place in Padma’s designs. I started tearing out pages to mail to my mother-in-law in an anonymous manila envelope with the words “HINT! HINT!” written in bold, black sharpie.

If you know anything about Indians, you know that jewelry is a big, huge, bank-breaking deal. While I adore rummaging through my mom’s drawers and admiring diamond chandeliers at weddings, these pieces are just not practical for everyday life. Clearly I will appreciate and treasure any piece of jewelry my family and in-laws gift me on the wedding, but I totally agree with Padma’s sentiment; “As I traveled through my life, I gathered many baubles [NOTE: what the hell is a bauble? Perhaps she meant to say bubble?] and coveted those gifts passed on to me by my Indian family. My life in the West, America, and Europe, heavily influenced my tastes. I found that while I loved those pieces, I wanted more delicate, modern versions of them to wear with everything from jeans to gowns.”

I would wear any of her pieces with jeans, gowns, dresses, saris, or nothing at all (ok, bad joke, I’d never wear them sans ropa but you get the point).

What is your take on bridal jewels? Is it a waste of money or a family treasure to pass on to the next generation?

Branches, Blossoms, and Burgers

2009-05-28T16:29:00.000+02:00

I got back to Houston late last night after a faboo week in DC. I lived in DC from 2005–2006 and that city will always have a special place in my heart. I can already see how the Obama’s youth and enthusiasm are permeating throughout the city. I read in People magazine that Michelle Obama recently ate at Good Stuff Eatery, the love-child creation from Spike of Top Chef, my fave show. Clearly, I had to go there. It was the best burger I’ve ever had in my life—hands down. Don’t miss the Obama burger with sweet grilled onions, crisp bacon, tart current jam, and feta cheese {pictured below}.

Seeking further inspiration from my time in the nations capital, there is nothing more romantic then flowering trees. Cherry blossoms are a symbol of the capital, but dogwood trees and magnolias are equally stunning. In a potted plant they make a great eco-friendly take-away for guests. They can be used to display place cards, to top the cake, or as décor for the entire room. I am picturing the Z Gallerie Moroccan lanterns, a few branches, and plenty of candles. I’ve always pictured branches and blossoms on my big day. After realizing their connection to a city I once called home, I will definitely find them a place.

{Image courtesy of ritzy bee blog}