Sunday Chats - 6

Hershey's Brownies, is my favorite brownie and since I have found that I never looked further as it is perfect! Crunchy outside and ooey gooe inside. These brownies never failed me and I have made them countless times, I have also tweaked them a bit by adding some rum and raisins during Christmas time and also used as a base for my ice cream brownie pie. I have to tell you that these brownies are the BEST! and you got to try them ASAP.

For the perfect brownie/cake, you should make sure that all the ingredients are brought to room temp and preheat oven. Do not place the batter in a cold oven and always understand your oven as each one is different. I always try to use the freshest ingredients while making cakes or brownies....and make sure that they are cooked through with the help of a toothpick. Though for brownies a slightly under-cooked texture is preferred....but the crust should be crisp...it also depends on personal tastes.

This past Saturday, I celebrated 42 years of life in this beautiful planet, I was born in a rainy day and grew up hearing stories of how my dad braved the rains to get the doctor that night, and all through my life rain played an important part during my birthdays.....until now! This year, the first I can ever remember; it was sunny and sun shone so fiercely that  one wondered whether its Monsoon season or its Summer! Monsoons are Kerala's only indulgence and as far as I can remember, I have not seen fewer rains in my life especially in June. Kerala, is hugely dependent on its monsoon rains, and with lesser or fewer rains, I wonder what could be the reason. Is it the so-called-global-warming really on us? If so, then it is high time that we as global citizens do something about it and preserve our natural resources as much as we can.

Chicken tikka, nothing beats them, my kids and hubby just love them and it always brings me immense pleasure to serve them once in a while. Have you felt the same...when you serve your loved ones favorite?? food has that power to make you smile. If you haven't made them yet, you should definitely try them.

With Fifa world cup in its peak, my son who is all of 12 years is much into it and taking me along with him and I am becoming a football freak these days. He just could not understand Neymar's injury and idolize Messi and that means I am also kneed into his football fever. Much of his talks and readings center around the world cup and over today morning's breakfast it was Neymar and Neymar's pain. What about you?? are you also into world cup?

On a lighter note, did you know that sniffing rosemary enhances your memory, plant them, and sniff them! It seems in ancient days it was kept beneath pillowcases (wow! no wonder the older generation has good memory power) it was also said that it could protect the sleeper from nightmares too....well, that would really make me have one underneath my pillow, ha!

My kids want a pet dog, but I have no idea how to raise them in a flat. If you have any suggestion regarding this please share with me..

On the food note, though I was pretty much sick for some days, I did manage to cook some new things; Homey is again on a diet mode and he wanted a low fat - low cal fish dish; and yes, I did invent one with mackerel and he did love it and gave me a thumbs up sign, hopefully I will share in the coming week.

I do hope you will try my new recipe on the blog for lunch today; it sure will make your family smile.

Thanks for all the support and love and have a wonderful week ahead.

Happy Sunday!