Indian Easter

Yesterday was the first Easter I've spent away from home and the usual traditions of Easter. We didn't have a big Easter Egg dying event(though I did get an Easter Egg surprise), no Egg Hunts or Easter brunches with the family. Actually, it seemed like just another normal day going outside into the marketplace, with most people unaware of such a big holiday that I am used to back home. Abhinav and I went to Easter church service and had special "brunch" food outside. He even gave me one surprise that might not seem like much, but it actually meant a lot to me...

After hearing about our tradition of dying Easter Eggs, Abhinav set off to try it himself and surprise me. Since we don't have any Easter Egg dyes or other interesting things to make colors, he boiled this egg in black tea and dyed it brown...pretty creative, and I was happy to still have a little bit of home tradition here in India. :)


Happy Easter everyone.

Mac N Cheese

The other day while I was still feeling under-the-weather with my stomach issues hanging around, I was having unusual cravings for American food like never before. I decided to whip up a box of plain Kraft Macaroni and Cheese that I had brought with me from home to satisfy my craving and introduce a new food to Abhinav and his family.

I made it as is directed on the box, and happily ate until my stomach was full and satisfied. BUT when I tried to have Abhinav and his sister try it, the first question they asked was, "There's not even any salt or chilis in it? No spices at all??" :) They tried it, but wouldn't fully eat and enjoy it until I cooked some onions with salt and red chili to add to the macaroni. Its funny how different taste in food is across cultures.

Did You Say Stomach Infection?

Yes, stomach infection. Since Tuesday evening (which happened to be my birthday) I have had some slight stomach issues. Starting with loose motion (diarhea) and vomiting into the late night, the ending of my birthday is not one I'd like to relive. Needless to say I spent the whole next day resting with no appetite to eat or drink anything (though Abhinav and his family made it a point to make sure I was eating and drinking). On the third day I was still feeling weak with no appetite and lots of nausea, so we decided to go to the doctor. Apparently I have some type of stomach infection and stomach swelling; possibly due to bad water or food though I can't remember eating or drinking anything dirty or from the roadside recently (or could it have been the sugarcane juice???). Either way, the doc gave me four different pills to take three times a day now and I'm beginning to feel much better.

And I know, its a little ironic that my last post was about how much I like sugarcane juice from the roadside, and now I'm posting about my stomach problems...

Kabhi Kabhi Hota Hai...Sometimes It Happens...

Sugarcane Juice

There are a lot of different types of foods and drinks here in India, and most that I've tried I have enjoyed. One of my favorite things that I've tried from roadside stands is sugarcane juice. At first glance the sugarcane juice stands look a little frightening; the stand owners operate loud machines to squeeze the juice from the sugar cane (otherwise I think I would have tried it a long time ago). This sugarcane juice is a mixture of sugarcane, lime, mint, and black salt (an ingredient I haven't seen in the U.S. but then again, I was never looking for it).

The monster-sugarcane-eating-machine 

The juice comes out as a greenish color 

Used sugarcane