April, the month of prosperity and travel!

Finally the first day of the financial year opens its arms. Many celebrate it as the 'Fools' day but to me it is a day that opens a month full of prosperity (many of us get our bonus pay this month!), fun n frolic!

April is the month when the ripest of Alphonso Mangoes flood the markets. It is a month when the birds twitter around full bloom branches and the month that brings in a lot of travel with the family!

April also brings in the auspicious moment of Akshay Tritiya, a day which is integral for new beginnings in the traditional Indian homes. This year it is being celebrated on 21st April.

With so much to look forward to, here is your copy of the exclusive Sensuous2Spiritual April Calendar.

To download your copy of the April Calendar, please click here.

Wish you a great summer season ahead!

xoxo
Sensuous2Spiritual

Rose wine and crystals!

There is something about Rose-wine and crystals that attract me beyond words.

I can work on the decor aesthetics for hours to get that perfect lure in place before we pour the wine into the crystal ware.

It is quiet a romantic set-up and for someone who loves this wine, it just cant get any better!!!

:) Here are some of my shots in getting the decor just right before I slug on the light and berry flavored liquid from my most precious collection of crystal!

Cheers!!! :)

Weekend Family Time: A family that cooks together stays together!

More than often by the time I am into Wednesday evening I begin to plan for the impending weekend; a time I long for with my nearest ones! The mundane Monday to Thursday schedule is made easier when I start thinking of the beautiful upcoming Friday, Saturday and Sunday!

I love to cook. Something I get to do only on special occasions but lately I am making it a point to be in the kitchen throughout the weekend. With a growing up lad and a 1/2 day Saturday work Husband it makes me feel really good when I see them lap up the dishes cooked specially for them! For that matter, who doesn't!!!

So the planning begins with a good research on World Cuisines. With 1/2 the house being vegetarian it is always not that easy to zero in on the composition of the table spread! :) To me a break from Indian food is a boon and I am getting to feel that with the other 2 members of the house as well.

Salads, soups, one pot dishes and variety of breads is a good combination so far. In case you want to, do look up my Pinterest Food Segment. Once this is zeroed in comes the fun part of actually preparing the food. I love the time I spend in the kitchen cutting, chopping, mixing, tasting and dishing out the produce! Voila, in almost negligible time a sumptuous meal is all set and ready to be served. It feels effortless since I do what I like doing best and my favorite 2 (when at home while I cook) hover around crackling, chatting, fixing me a drink and DJ-ing while I make the magic happen!

PS: Last weekend the success was in my Red Rice Soup and Stir Fried Greens spread with a variety of breads along with a sizable portion of fresh cut water melon.
Click here for the recipe. I used red rice instead of wild rice and cooked it in a clay-pot. Substituted Chicken to more veggies! :)
I cooked the soup over slow flame for almost 3 hours. Used a whole lot of mushrooms, carrots, spring onions, squash and broad beans. You could choose to add veggies like asparagus, bamboo shoots, etc. incase you want a variety that is less used!

Next up comes the planning for the aesthetics around food presentation. Typically the doting Husband and Son duo set up the table for us. In-fact the better part is that since we have begun using weekend time as a "family time" many of our unused cutlery are getting their due usage. I love the way the table decor ends up so very often. My son adds a special touch to it by adding a handwritten menu card along with a table number on it! Who says your home cant feel like a specialty restaurant!!! :) lil joys of life!

Finally, with hot steaming food, an inviting table and some awesome people around we have the fun and frolic of our weekend going strong.

Life in a busy metro like mine feels 'worth it' after all!

Happy weekend folks!

Sensuous2Spiritual

March; a month full of colors!

March, the sound of this month floods in visions of colors; that of fresh blooms of flowers, buzzing bees, longer days and in a country like that of mine, the much awaited celebration of Holi!

As promised, here is the Sensuous2Spiritual calendar for the month of March for you.

To download your copy of the March calendar, please click here.

Wishing all you folks out there a precious and colorful month ahead!

xoxo
Sensuous2Spiritual

The Bee's Knees: My variation this Friday evening!

Been quiet a drag of a week for me with my little one recuperating form a seriously bad tummy infection. Didn't realize the fatigue it has caused until earlier this evening. In such situations the best I like doing is to chill with a small drink and sit with the family while we cool off watching some movies.

So I walk into the kitchen with a clear mission. Whip up a drink that I haven't had ever! Armed with my iPad I look through my Pinterest Board: Poison. Next I spot 1 sole orange staring into my face. So them I walk to the Bar Unit and discover this old bottle of Bombay Sapphire, a Gin that never leaves the attic! Thanks to my experimental mood I decided to make the impossible happen. I decided to make a drink that we will remember for a while to come.

Voila, it is a zero in on 'The Bee's Knee' with a Mandarin twist!

Read the original recipe by Jennifer Rose Smith. In my case I did a slight bit of improvisation. Here's how!

Ingredients:
2 large yellow lemons
1 ounce honey (given that we are a recuperating household!)
2 ounces Bombay Saphire Gin
1 cup ice
1/2 an orange

Instructions:
First, you’ll create a simple syrup with the honey. Combine equal parts honey and boiling water. Stir well. Jar and refrigerate the syrup. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine one ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice, one ounce of your honey simple syrup, and two ounces of gin, juice of the 1/2 orange squeezed into the shaker. Shake well and strain into a glass of fresh ice. Garnish with one orange wedge (optional).

Signing off the Chinese New Year celebrations with my orange laced Bombay Sapphire cocktail. :)

Happy weekend folks! 

February, a month that celebrates love!

After a few grilling months of cold comes a month where warmth and love fill the air. New relationships strengthen while many mature. All in all, seems like a great time in the year to make some serious merry! :)

Here is my way of spreading love with you. :) The months calendar designed specially for all you lovely S2S friends! Click here to down load!

May this month be filled with love and warmth for each of you.

Xoxo
Sensuous2Spiritual 

The Queen of Damdama: Haimi, a beautiful mum to 3 cubs at the Khitauli Zone

Haimi, young and beautiful, she has a presence that one just cant miss. Distinct features, she is fairer (literally has a white sheen on her coat) than the rest of her clan.

We spotted her on our last of the 5 safari's. Just when we had given up hope of spotting a tiger that evening we were pleasantly surprised to see her quenching her thirst at one of the watering holes at Khitauli.












The only Safari jeep in the vicinity, she gave us quiet a show that evening. 15 minutes of unadulterated entertainment where she drank water, growled, called for her cubs from the den and sprawled on the white sand while she waited for her little ones to get out of the hiding place.

Unfortunately our time at the reserve was very quickly inching to a close which therefore stopped short the show. Had we been around a few minutes more perhaps we'd have seen her cubs!


Guess some fun is only possible when you are left longing for more!!! :)

Sharing a video where Haimi quenches her thirst while some wild birds keep hooting at her from the distance. :)

Happy viewing! :)