My Kerala Connection...

Hello all...
Where are you from???This question more ofter than not puts me into a quandary....how do I respond to that???No, I do not have a colourful background ,its just that I Belong to so many places, that ,sometimes its like balancing on two....(pun unintended) many boats.
Born in Kochi,Kerala... that explains my fascination for all things South Indian...and my love for Coffee...Filter Kapi to top that....not to mention banana chips...
One parent from Jammu...so that explains the dogri and the Kashmiri connection...
One from Punjab...So that explains my spirit of adventure....
Never lived long either place  though...
I call Delhi home....Don't live there any more...but its still home...
Married to a Dogra Rajput...
With roots in Himachal pradesh and Rajasthan..
Here is where the Pahari/Himachali cuisine comes in.
Due credit to the in-laws.
Lived in Alwar, Rajasthan five years...absolutely ADORE the place...Its not the desert yet but that's where I want to drop anchor....
So my food choices are oft dictated by geography....
It was Onam last week ...so to all my South Indian friends...Happy Onam....many in St Anselm's Alwar....
A bit late in the day but its always better late...
We attended a lunch hosted for Onam on Friday last,Were really enthusiastic because of the idea of eating all trhose delicacies on a banana leaf and all that jazz....
This was what we expected but

Lo and Behold...were we dazzled....

A wide variety of veggies we wouldn't dream of touching with pickles and TWO payasam!....made with jaggery!

It was a little uncomfortable eating with my hands...what with the talons I sport....So I had to resort to a plastic spoon ,but the food was worth the inconvenience!
Back home that inspired a flurry of all things South Indian...the Fried Bhindi (Okra) for those of you uber refined individuals... and the rasam and the sambar.....we added our Idli and dosa to it.To many Idli dosa is to South Indian Cusine  what Tandoori Chicken is to the North.
So the  Fried Bhindi (Okra) came out like so...

OK, there was no tomato in theOnam platter ...
Masala Dosa...

And so

No coconut ...so peanut Chutney...

Healthy Idlis...and

Only thing missing was the Filter "Kapi"
Managed to procure one coffee filter from Bangalore....

To be able to drink this!

And as with the "V" for victory pen.....I was Happy to be!...alive,cooking,blogging,eating,smelling the aromas,photographing.......endless  list

With the stress of the imminent end of the term exams of sweet child o'mine......the momentum is lacking but the spirit is willing...so today will post all I can!

Let me know whats on your table....

So what are you baking today????