March 2011 – Page 3 – Smriti "Simmi" D. Isaac

Posted on March 26, 2011 by Simmi D. Isaac — Leave a comment

Brussel Sprouts Subzi in Tamarind-Date Chutney

I didn’t grow up eating Brussel Sprouts because we didn’t get them where I lived (in a small town in the northern plains of India). So, when I first saw them in the States, I was quite fascinated to see these mini-cabbages, which is really what they are. Well, I soon discovered that you can make these miniature cabbages, aka Brussel Sprouts any which way, and over time, I have continued to experiment with them in any number of ways.

Today, I decided to toss them with a bunch of other vegetables: a Parisian blend of finely sliced green beans and carrots, and the key seasoning ingredient was a Tamarind-Date Chutney.

Suffice to say the experiment has been a tremendous success! See for yourself.

Posted on March 26, 2011 by Simmi D. Isaac — Leave a comment

Gobi-Alu with Charoli & Green Chillies

Well, for the uninitiated, that’s Cauliflower and Potatoes. Stir-fried with a flick of your wrist with a simple three-ingredient tempered seasoning of cumin, green chillies and turmeric. Toss a handful of charoli nuts, followed by the veggies. Don’t forget the salt. Stir-fry for a few minutes, then close lid and simmer for a few more.

Doesn’t get better than that. Serve with Parathas. You’ll end up saying Yeh Hui Na Baat!

Posted on March 25, 2011January 19, 2013 by Simmi D. Isaac — Leave a comment

A Murder of Quality by John Le Carre

If you’re going to plan a murder, you may as well do it right, nay, make it a work of quality, if you please. Like George Smiley, the British former secret service agent who discovers just such a murder of quality and solves it in the small town with an exclusive school.

Le Carre is known for his spy novels, but this was apparently his early work, and a short one it is that takes you on a little trip of intrigue and leaves you guessing until the very end. Reminiscent of the style of Poirot and Miss Marple.

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Simmi D. Isaac — 1 Comment

Twice Baked Potatoes with Poached Eggs and Other Goodies

I happen to share a roof with three very creative individuals, two of whom are exceptionally bold and creative in the kitchen. (Hmmm, I wonder where they get that from?!) So, this is a post that is late by a couple of weeks, but is one that is no less a jewel of a post for two reasons: first, it happens to be made by two of the most adorable creatures I know (aforementioned super-creative beings), and second, because these two creatures practically created this out of their imagination– inspired by a chance viewing of a somewhat similar dish on a TV-show.

So, what these are, are Twice Baked Potatoes with Poached Eggs and Other Goodies. Take a look at the slideshow below for how these were put together:

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Simmi D. Isaac — 2 Comments

Wicked, the Broadway Musical @ The Majestic Theatre in SA, Texas

One of the other highlights of my lovely vacation in San Antonio, Texas last month was going to see the hugely popular Broadway show, Wicked that was playing there on a limited engagement for two weeks. The beautiful Majestic Theatre happened to be right across the street from our hotel, and one evening we decided on a whim to see if there might be any tickets available. There weren’t. But, we were told, there were two seats in the third row, left side, that were reserved for the handicapped. These were actually large stand-alone chairs placed on the far side of the row. Furthermore, they were discounted half-price because it was an hour before showtime! Could we have gotten any luckier? I doubt it! Needless to say, we took the tickets, and had ourselves a FABulous time!

It is no small wonder that this show is as hugely popular as it is– the sets, the actors, the orchestra, everything was inconceivably amazing. If you ever get the chance to see it, you truly must! Photography is not permitted inside the theatre (one of the most ornate I’ve ever seen), and so these few pictures are of related memorabilia of the evening. Take a look:

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Simmi D. Isaac — 1 Comment

La Villita, Historic Arts Village in San Antonio, Texas

Well, if you thought you’d (vicariously) seen it all, you haven’t. Not just yet. Because there’s more of the lovely city of San Antonio, Texas, that is to be shared in the annals of this lovely travel blog of mine.

And so, after experiencing the dizzying heights of the Tower of the Americas and the magnificent Hemisfair Park grounds, we walked across the street and entered the exquisite La Villita, the Village, if you will. And what a lovely little village it is, indeed. La Villita is a historic arts village that consists of a group of quaint shops housed within a large compound that carry authentic handmade wares from artisans and craftsmen in Mexico, Central America and South America. These are not factory-made or mass-manufactured products; they are each a one-of-a-kind item be it a piece of jewelry, art, pottery, etc. Many of the artists whose work is displayed here are well-known in their field in their home countries, I was told.

To see the official website of the La Villita, click here. Reminded me of the Dilli Haat in New Delhi, a very similar arts village that carries the handiwork of artists from around the country. The Villita was not like the El Mercado that we went to see the other day, by the way.

A very pleasant afternoon may be had at the La Villita in San Antonio. Go see for yourself. But until you go in person, check out in the slideshow below to see what we saw:

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Simmi D. Isaac — Leave a comment

An Origami Bird (aka, Crane) In Remembrance of Japan

So, earlier today, I attended a “Campus Ceremony for the People of Japan”, an event organized by the Office of the President, the Dean of Students Office, and the Office of International Students and Scholars. It was open to the campus and the community, and it was a short program that included comments from the Consul General of Japan. A disaster relief fund is currently underway at WSU, and money collected will be given to the American Red Cross Japan Disaster Relief Effort.

Students from the Japan Student Organization on campus were giving out these lovely handmade origami pieces. Mine is here. What a lovely reminder that the show must go on! Despite all the death and devastation, and despite all the odds, the show must go on!

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Simmi D. Isaac — 1 Comment

A Soup & Croissanwich Working Lunch

So, what can you do when you forget to bring lunch? Well, you could go out to the Food-Court in the Student Union around the corner, or you could just go down to the first-floor in your own office building, where in the Atrium area, you have the FAB Cart (FAB because that’s short for Faculty/Administration Building) Monday through Thursday where you can get soups and sandwiches and other small snacks and hot and cold beverages. What a nice convenience! It’s no cafeteria; it’s only a Cart on wheels, but its packed with fresh foods everyday, and its there until 2:00 pm. Just be sure you bring cash, because unfortunately Denise won’t take your plastic!

So, what I got today was a Cream of Broccoli Soup and a Chicken Salad Croissant Sandwich. For a cold and gray day like today, it hit the spot right away! Now back to work.