I tried dating my thoughts with those of my parents. My parents belonged to vernacular mediums with very humble upbringing. They worked hard and came to a stage where they could weave newer dreams for their children. My mother tried so hard to get us into an exceptional missionary school in our cosmopolitan township. It was no cake walk for her because she herself had to get attuned to the education pattern of missionary schools. In a way she was widening her horizons through our channel. She mugged up all nursery rhymes with actions, made test papers to mimic the unit tests at school, had lengthy conversations in english with my teachers, hummed all the songs we sang at school and most importantly she inculcated tolerance for a completely different culture. I not only speak about my parents but majority of them who belonged to that genre.
Music is another stream which transcends boundaries and my school played a key role in nurturing those inclinations. Today when the literary world is divided over Bob Dylan’s noble prize. I have a two pence to contribute. Had it not been because of the tiny blue song book page no 7 `blowing in the wind‘ the name Bob Dylan wouldn’t have registered in this brain. The man’s journey into music was not conventional literature but it was unique in its own way rooting for folk and singular in its approach. That soul of music was pervasive and it struck a chord with a 10-year-old then.
I still remember Wilma from school (hoping thats the name) perched on top of a globe and echoing ‘Im on top of the world‘ which belonged to the smooth harmonies of Carpenters. They were a huge influence on me and that is why I went hunting around several remote boot sales looking for a 33rpm original record for adding it to my collection of LPs.
To marry a person who only magnifies your pent-up passion with his mega outlook in music whether old or new. You always say a thank you to god for his love and personifications in terms of relations who connect with your soul-searching quest.
My cherub is sitting with a small wooden guitar and is humming Do-re-mi which we learnt while huddling on cold winter mornings, the warmth of our bond is far more tempting than the brewing cauldron of soup. All because some twenty odd years back Teacher Zarin played the cassette of Sound of Music repeatedly on the tape recorder till we got the chords right for our fundamental notes.
We have a huge LP record player, weekend mornings are about lounging in stealth because our 5-year-old cherub is up so early. Her biological clock doesn’t understand the meaning of lounging. We need to play a game of LUDO or MONOPOLY with her , even before we have brushed our teeth. Then music is humming on our Pluto or Bose or Sonas speakers. My hubby’s huge inclination towards good music has made the house into a music gadget store. Exposing the little one to understanding music so early in life, she now has her say and can definitely sense the difference between soft and heavy metal. So we alternate our musical choices since it’s a very small house and we can’t have their different types of musical playlist simultaneously played.
The food could be a hearty breakfast or a very heavy brunch it varies with moods and days. I am quite particular about aesthetics so I occasionally do table setups and mood lighting for enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the home and vibe. The family….pause…has minimal understanding…..but complies. 🙂
The recipes presented are something which go with the chill of the autumn mornings, they don’t exactly qualify for breakfast but rather brunch or lunch. I am a rule breaker so I haven’t categorised them but just want to share some positivity of recipes and the lovely warm vibes of autumn.
A Stunning Autumn Tablescape
The leaves and the red berries are all from our community garden below. I have woven them sometimes to get a nice presentation. Otherwise it quite rustic and more of an impromptu arrangement. I would also loved some conkers and clay models but I did not have a stock. The idea is to rev up simple meals with earthy aesthetics.
- Skip linens altogether and position yellow roses in the middle of your table. The dried autumn leaves and foliage creates a rustic runner on an old wooden plank. The leaves were dried and cleaned before being placed on the table. 🙂
- Used wooden finished cutlery for a perfect warmed autumn look.
- Sticking to the warm amber and brown colour palette is great but a certain pop of colour from the seasonal fruits also enhances the seasonal appeal of your table.
- Out with the silver in with the black and maroon, for the crockery. The tables cape should do the talking while the food colour should pop the subdued colour toned crockery.A certain old classic tale.
- To add personality to your napkins instead of using store-bought napkin rings, why not tie them with autumn confetti and do nothings. Certainly adds personality and goes low-budget still high key look for your table.
- Have skipped the candles because it was morning brunch setup, but go spoil yourself with lovely scented candles for an evening supper or dinner.
Boiled Lentils with condiments
This recipe belongs to my father, I don’t even know if it is recipe or figment of his imagination. This is a simple lentil soup which is boiled or pressure cooked for sometime and then the simple flavours are enhanced with onions, fresh coriander, ghee, home-made spice sprinkle and pickle oil. The flavour is so divine and it totally opens your senses on cold winter mornings. I recollect coming back from art school and this piping hot bowl of lentils would be kept in front of me. It’s a no frill recipe and hits the chord from the first sip. I have another version of Dal with chora wadi incase you wanted to check it out too.
This recipe belongs to my mother in law, again its her way adding some goodness into our diet. She worked for 30 years relentlessly and yet managed such gorgeous meals for the family. Here I see my myself passing out even after detailed lunch. Spinach & bean soup, mixed vegetable soup, beetroot & carrot soup, tomato & beetroot soup were regular additions to everyday meal. The key to these soups were not having one overpowering flavour and the ratio played a very key role. And that last dollop of butter. Heaven !! 🙂
This recipe belongs to my mother. She made various forms of stuffed veggies, stuffed bitter gourd was my favourite as it’s quite detailed hence I have added it to the blog. What I liked about her fillings was she used the core in the filling along with other spices. It would make filling so flavoursome and would leave you craving for more. Combined well with roti or hot rice. The Maharashtrian way of doing stuffed green peppers is here.
I am in love with this post Pallavi!! What a splendid job done!! ❤️
Beautiful, the season is so beautiful which you have bought fall to your dinner table, wish I can sit on that beautifully set up table and enjoy the lentil soup
Love love love Just! Simply Gorgeous!
Love this posts for the beautiful notes that it hits! Bringing together different stories and making it one and your own is a work of talent. And I see that in this post. You have weaved your childhood, your cherub’s present, music then and now, and food harmoniously in the form of this article 🙂