Sambol Sambol!

The day started off rather early- with Pads waking me at 3 am. To be honest, I thought the sky was falling and in typical Chicken Little fashion I scurried around for exactly 6 seconds before burrowing myself deeper into my pillow and tucking the blanket snugly around myself for round 2. Snore...

I woke myself up with determined effort and made it to work by half past ten. Breakfast was Alu Parathas with tomato chutney. Fairly good- and after missing last night's dinner it was just what I needed to set off on my morning.

Pri called in sick and the day unfolded with a huge flurry of work... Despite the rush jobs required, I wanted a satisfying meal. Su was dutifully blackmailed into joining me and we rushed to Sri Krishna Cafe. There was mixed vegetable sambar, puzhikozhambu, more kozhambu and a yummy pepper rasam with the rice. A masaledar bitter gourd gravy, kosambri with diced, steamed beans and carrots (this was a new one for me- I've never had kosambri with dices and steamed veggies in combination before!) and a delicious ash gourd kootu. Hmmm- it hit the spot. The appalam and the instant mango pickle I swiped clean. I consciously avoided over-eating and wafted into the office- in a happier and lighter frame of mind. Can't say the same for Su though!

I skipped going for a swim- it is way too cold... and a dip in freezing water doesn't sound too appealing... I hope the clouds clear away by tomorrow.

Dinner was a thai red curry with Tina's latest contribution to my larder- the sambol paste that she found too spicy! A generous dollop of coconut milk, a few leaves of basil and lemon grass and sliced veggies and dinner was ready and served by half past eight. Smiles galore from Chef- who for some reason was trying to get me to add the cashew paste he had made into my curry. Pads was dropping off and headed straight for bed by a quarter past nine.

Hmmm- bed does sound inviting!