Friday 25 October 2013

Spices for body & soul

Thali is for me India-on-a-plate. Those small bowls filled up with yummy stuff - each one with it's own flavor, color, taste and identity. And still complementing each other, making a balance, a wholeness. Spicy, bland, bitter, creamy, sweet and sour. It all comes together perfectly, and where would that thali be without spices?

Ah, those Indian spices, dear reader. I tell you, my taste buds have never been challenged this much anywhere else in the world! Tasting and eating. Cooking with spices in a whole new way. Shopping for spices at the markets. Chatting with the sellers, trying out something new, bringing home my favorites. Ginger, chili, turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, coriander and uncountable masalas'. The colors are vibrant: red, orange, yellow and green. And check the health benefits: spices may f.ex. help for depression, digestion and different aches&ouches around the body. At Indiaparenting you can find a list of the most common spices, their benefits and as an extra bonus for us never-giving-up-to-learn-Hindi-people - the name of the spice in both English and Hindi.

So, spices for body and soul, dear reader. Here are a few shots from shopping spices at stalls and markets:
Tasting new nuts
My garam masala being measured up
Pick and choose! 
And then conveniently enough - loads of fresh vegetables and herbs next door -
 just waiting eagerly to be added some spices:-)  
Spices for body and soul. Another important ingredient adding color, flavor and spice to my life is music. And like with the spices: I have my favorites, but I am more than open to try new stuff! And India has certainly introduced me to some new catchy rhythms! Once a week I meet with a group of ladies and a dance teacher - and we dance modern Indian music, and very often music from Bollywood - films. We have a lot of fun, and what a great feeling that music brings me! The catch is that very often the song is completely stuck with me for the rest of that day. Here we go again! Now, we are dancing to Balam Pichkari from the film Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. Spice for body & soul - music and wellness. Have a look - catchy, eh? (PS: Reader outside India: The scenery is from the Holi-festival! And yes, we do throw colored powder and water at each other. And some do dance around like this:-) )Enjoy!

So, more spices in my everyday life? Well, for you with a taste for mystery, I can report that the mysterious wall outside our door, remember - has now vanished. Our new neighbors-to-be wanted to follow vastu -principles and had it built as a part of a new entrance complex. However, since it limited the access to the fire exits, cable-storage and common space - it went down again. So, now it looks like this.

Oh, well, some surprises kind of spice up our daily life, I guess:-) I hope you have a good Friday, dear reader, and I wish you a wonderful spicy weekend:-)
Ta ta!
My favorite-spices-on-a-plate  - love the size & flavor of those cinnamon sticks! 


12 comments:

  1. Well written Body and Soul :)

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  2. You capture the essence of India very well. This Vastu is a big thing in a lot of homes...

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  3. Really nice Blog! :) It'll be good if you add a followers widget!

    *also this captcha code is annoying :/ remove that if possible.

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    1. Thanks Anil:-) The follower gadget /Google is on. Best to you:-)

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  4. I like your opening statement "Thali is for me India-on-a-plate". Without spices cooking in India is incomplete.

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    1. So true Rajesh:-) I am happy you like it:-) All the best to you

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  5. Those beautiful spices look incredible, so lovely to have discovered your blog Eli ; )

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    1. Thank you so much!) The feeling is mutual - so happy to connect with you. Warm thoughts:-)

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  6. "The Mystery of the Vanishing (Vanished?) Wall" :-)

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    1. He he... amazing ..:-) Best to you- you have a great blog!

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