Celebrating the first showers of Monsoon in Gurgaon

Hi All, My kettle is whistling again. So why are you waiting? Join me for a cup of steaming Makaibari or Margaret’s Hope Tea Gardens. By the way this tea kettle from pepperfry is a recent gift.

But ,What do you serve with tea? Honestly, it varies from region to region. British tea as a concept was elaborate, cookies, crackers or the heavier scones, and tea cakes and savoury tidbits make teatime a well set celebration. This is a recent addition to my crockery...waiting eagerly to get filled up, when you join me for tea-time adda.

In Kolkata, tea always comes with a plate of biscuits at the least. Biscuits come in plenty of forms, taste and structure. But it always makes us so nostalgic to remember the lero biscuit. The low grade local bakery product available in the tiniest of the local tea or grocery shops.

Even today, Kolkata can proudly boast of the best cake shops and now baking studios. Today’s new gen bakers are doing wonders with cupcakes and macarons, cake pops, scones, tarts to name a few.

Though I am just a basic lapsed baker, it makes me so happy to see a dear friend baking storms with here the Ethereal Desserts in Bangalore. I am already floored, am sure you will love them as well.

But come what may , on such rainy days, the Makaibari or Margaret's Hope will give way to the kadak, sweet and milky tea and the crunchy steaming and obviously not so healthy samosas from Alwar sweets. So choice is yours, samosa or scones, macarons or cupcakes , tea-time adda is must to breath in fresh air, and smile and face a brand new 24 hours.

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Happy Holi & RCI Bengal

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Hi! Happy Independence Day to u all...... Twenty years back, did I know that we had to wish each other on the Independence day? Or rather we believed it had to be celebrated with sombre respect and pride by hoisting the National flag and singing the patriotic songs. The serious event had its share of parades and guard of honour, a few lectures and finally the a familiar pack of dry food, with Poori bhaji, sweets of different size, texture, type that mix and embrace each other in the packet and in course of time, lend taste and flavour to each other, so that at the end. Time has passed by, so no more visiting school on independence day to take part in the prestigious celebration with some special guest of honour. Any way, coming back to reality.... On our trip to Neemrana, along the enjoyable NH8, we stopped over for a quick breakfast at Jungle Babbler, a Haryana Tourism Motel with a great property. Another 40 mins down, as we snail through the steep and narrow village roads to the Neem...

Mom's Whistling Kettle and tea-time chats

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