Holidays of 2016

‘Did you stop blogging?’ asks my friend.

‘No.’ I replied precisely.

Over the span of few months I thought, discussed and mulled over gallons of Matcha latte. It made me think ‘Why I started Story of Cooks?’ All of you know, the reason I started Story of Cooks, because I am terrible at organizing recipes. So I keep it handy by writing at blog.

But later food photography happened, so that motto just disappeared.

Anyhow, there is no point of discussing those things as you know the history.

Now I am in Harvard, the school I always dreamt of going. I am doing (design) which I always dreamt of doing. I can do design work for 16 hours a day tirelessly. I never liked web development so blogging was my way to escape boredom. But now I enjoy my work so there is a very little space for boredom. Yes, I am an artist so I need creative escapes. And when I need the creative escape, I don’t need to break my back for 20 plus hours of blog work.

When I am bored of studying and working, I pick up my camera, plugin into the computer (as I tether shoot always) and photograph for few hours. When my brain is fogged with creating Personas (User Design Topic) I cook fancy dishes for Matthew, learn new dessert recipes.

Why am I not sharing them then? Well, I don’t have time to sit down and write for a handful of you who really wants to know the recipe. If you want a recipe, ask me in email (storyofcooks@gmail.com) or at Instagram, I will share with you.

Now let talk about Christmas. What are you doing for Christmas?

My mother in law and most of my friends here wonder ‘How come a Hindu (me) love to celebrate Christmas?’

We celebrate Christmas in India. After Durga Puja and Diwali Indians look forward to the Christmas. When I was growing up we used to get 7 days off during Christmas and we rarely travelled during that time. Dad and cousins used to bring fancy cakes from the famous bakeries of Kolkata. We did not celebrate with red colored ribbons or fancy ornaments, but we had oranges, cakes and a lot of family time. In my family we did a Christmas picnic every year.

After I moved to States in 2010, I got semester breaks, work offs during Christmas. I love decorating with lights, garlands and what not. It must be hard for many of you to believe, but I really look forward to these 7 days. It’s like my staycation with Matthew. I plan for a month what to do, what to bake for these 7 days.

Every other religious festival we do with our family. This is my festival and I enjoy every seconds of it. I don’t need to follow gazillions of festival rules; I can just sip boozy hot chocolate with him while watching ‘Star Wars’.

Now you get, why Christmas is so important for me?

This year, I have decided to learn a few cookie recipes. But I am not doing Babka, SnickerDoodle or linzer cookies as most of the bloggers are doing them. I am going to learn Jewish cookies for Christmas just because I love them. Also Matthew can eat them for Hanukah!

I have decorated my home with Christmas Trees, Garlands, Lights, Candles and Pinecones and I invite you to have a tour at my home through this space. Did you decorate your home? Show me pictures?

Last but not the least, gift giving. I made flavored sugar for holiday gift giving – Cinnamon, Ginger and Vanilla Bean. I have given it to a few close friends and family. You can use these flavored sugars in anything and everything. Again, if you want a recipe – you need to let me know!

Holiday Decorations

Now they are at – Link

Dolphia’s Photography