Mahanandi

To Mothers and Daughters Who Spend Time at Mahanandi and To My Dear Sisters ~
Happy Mother’s Day!

Flowers and Plants for Senses and for Spirit
Beautiful Roses
Berry Merry Flowers
Baby Amaranth

Mindful shoppers with waste-not mentality, that’s Vijay and me. We pretty much depend on grains, dals, vegetables and fruits for our nutritional needs, with an occasional splurge here and there. We try to maintain a tight budget and do not like to overspend. Inji Pennu’s event has prompted me to share my grocery bill with you all. I don’t know how useful you would find this bill display, but here it is:

My grocery bill for this week ~ for Inji’s Grocery Bill Event

I shop at DK Market, Renton these days for my grocery needs. The prices are low, the produce is fresh and wax free. And, we can get both Asian and Western variety vegetables and fruits. To the $ 23 above, add another $ 7 for milk, Garlic Naan and pita bread from Trader Joe’s for a total of $30. This is for two adults (with an occasional guest/friend dropping in) for one to two weeks. I may spend another ten dollars this week at Pike Place for fresh, plump peas and other seasonal vegetables and fruits.

Harvest Share: if you are a Seattle based hobby farmer or backyard grower, blessed with bountiful harvest of vegetables and berries this season, and looking for mindful consumers to share, please contact me at mailmahanandi@gmail.com for veggie-fruit exchange.

I have just come back from the Post Office. Arusuvai friendship packages are on their way to Archana, Dee, Faffer, Linda, Mandira, and Pooja.

I had great time preparing all the goodies for you, dear friends. I hope you would find the contents enjoyable as well.

Charming and talented food bloggers DK and Siri have opened a new forum for us food bloggers and fans.

Check it out to join.

Matta Rice (Red Rice from Kerala&Konkani Regions of India)

Is it for real?

The hype, is this due to low production, or an election year, market-induced scam? What do you think?

Right now, I have only about three pounds of Kerala matta rice at home. No basmati and not even Sona Masuri. Planning to buy one bag each this weekend.

Meal on a Sleepy Day

Samosa, Mandira’s almond-walnut chikki, Apple-mint yogurt kosambari, Ragi malt.

Your turn. Share your bhojanam burps.

Green Mango (Maamidikaya) through My Camera Lens

I love and enjoy food art greatly. Food described through pen and lens is nice. But, food related sketches, embroidery, knitting and jewelry - there is a special charm to these types of food depictions. How wonderful it would be if we celebrate Mother Earth’s bounty through food art. That thought led to this event idea. Here are the details. Let’s see if I can put together coherently.:)

Food Art: Mango Manthram

I would like to start the Food Art series with my favorite fruit, mango. The color and shape of the mango are an artist’s dream. Mango tree, mango leaves, mango fruit in various stages of development, and the scrumptious dishes we can prepare with mango - the magic of mangoes is a timeless tradition that is steeped in art, history and romance.

Bring your own touch, and interpret your mango memories and experiences through Food Art. The field is wide open.

Illustrations, cartoons, sketches, paintings of all types, cross-stitch, stitching, embroidery, knitting, kolam (muggulu), henna designs, jewelry (beads) - all are welcome on mango theme.

To participate:

Create a mango art piece using any of the media above.
Publish it on your website on the last Saturday of May (31st).
Mail me a picture of your creation in 150 x 200 pixel size. Include your name, blog name and a link to your post. Forward the details to mailfoodart@gmail.com
I will also participate with my own creation, and publish all the Mango Manthram collection in a neat art gallery on Mahanandi, on the first Saturday of June.

I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.