Tag: ViewPoint

French Fries, Irresistible !

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French fries, the irresistible slices, have become a staple in our weekend diet.  Ignoring the calorie counts and the intake of starch, we blink away when holding a plate full of fries.

It is even more fun to watch a child when s/he is offered French fries. They pick them and observe them, before taking small bites. At times, they place a potato fry next to another to measure its height.

Technically speaking, the “French fries are batons of deep fried potatoes.” Here, the potatoes are  cut uniformly into long, but not too thin strips and is seasoned with salt.

My curiosity as to “why it is called French fries” took me on a reading trip down the history lanes. However, the claim on “who introduced the fries” is drawn in people and places, especially Belgium.

Well, to us, the French fries were introduced by a McDonald’s take away. They were “golden on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside”; just as the company has been advertising. Undoubtedly, they have popularised French fries world over.

With the growing number of packed food, frozen French fries come  handy. Nevertheless,  with a little time consuming peeling, cleaning and chopping, the fries can be made at home too. To avoid excess calories, pan frying is recommended.

Agreed, the home-made fries may not be as French as the branded fries. Yet, the wonder in the eyes of the children at having them home-made makes the mothers happy.

Sunday an Illusion

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illusion

Yet another Sunday. The thought of a holiday gives immense pleasure. Without jotting down, I tell myself, I am going to take a break from work. There are no prior appointments, there is no alarm, and there are no ringing phones.

I wake up on a fresh note. And I smile to myself. “It’s Sunday!”

The day begins well. Taking more time than usual, I relax with the newspaper and enjoy the music playing in the background. A little later into the morning, I walk into the kitchen. I set my agenda for the day, mechanically. Daily chores are taken care off. Cooking, clearing, and cleaning follows naturally.

The listed shopping, outing and meeting with friends happen along the way. The day progresses as desired. There is ample time in hand. So we decide to sort out some of our weekly plans ahead. Mentally take note of weekdays and organise the “what to cook” and “what to wear” bit of necessity. Further, the books, games and television fill in.

Time still seems to have granted us extra hours. That’s when realisation hit me. Staring into the bleak evening sky, I rewind the day’s events. The alarm did not ring. I did wake up at my usual time. The day might have begun differently, but the routine remained the same.

A beautiful illusion my body and mind agreed upon. Convinced that I have taken a break, I relaxed to the lovely Sunday. And I hear myself humming, Just an Illusion (Imagination)

Never let your feelings get you down
Open up your eyes and look around
It’s just an illusion, illusion, illusion.

Everlasting Fairy Tales

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Beauty and the Beast pic

Beauty and The Beast was the first book of fairy tales that came as a gift from an aunt. A cherished book till date, I had taken a fancy for its dream-like pictures that told the story below each page. The big prints and its simple language made it an easy to read book.

I read and re-read the book for I could never understand the relationship, or the concept of the story. My mother tried to explain the theme of the story as “a love story that speaks about selflessness, kindness, loyalty, and above all loving your family.” The fear of the beast was soon erased from my little mind. Since then I have been reading the story from a different perspective.

My approach towards Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, the story of the Three Bears and such other tales, had changed by then. The pictures gave me pleasure, but the stories were read “thoughtfully”. They became inspiring and moral stories. The question “why so” became a task my mother handled carefully.

With passing ages, these books became objects of beauty. Yet, the stories remained strongly ingrained. However, it was amusing to watch the familiar stories when I was introduced to television. The trend continued with movies being made on these stories, upholding the traditional themes but interpreted in a more realistic setting.

The latest movie, Beauty and the Beast, simply reiterates the fact that the classic fairy tales are indispensable. No matter “how they are retold”, they are captivating and enduring. A fantasy of everlasting relationships. “And they lived happily ever after”.

Fridge Magnets, A Source of Joy

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fridge magnet

The refrigerator stood in the kitchen with more adornments than it can take. A storyboard it appeared, with not just the props but the locations as well. These souvenirs, gathered over a period of time, were memoirs of the places travelled.

A few chits and notes of daily activities, a recipe of beetroot juice, and a fancy ribbon hung below a fridge magnet. Their co-existence has been a taken for granted affair, and to such an extent that, the particular fridge magnet is in shambles. Yet, it refuses to give up.

The dial-shaped magnet with a flat base, has remained fixed on the spot for years! It is undeniably a good quality fridge magnet. Technically speaking, it is a permanent magnet “often magnetised during manufacture with alternating north and south poles on the refrigerator side.” However, the new additions of fridge magnets appear to be ‘more of sticker and less of a conventional fridge magnet’.

Be it the familiar flowers, fruits and animals or maps, miniatures and cartoons, every house has got one or the other kind of decorative magnet for their refrigerator. In fact, customised fridge magnets with family photos in various permutations and combinations seem to add a personal touch.

A friend of mine described her collection of fridge magnets as “a source of happiness”. Indeed the fridge magnets are a source of happiness. They are the ornaments that remind us of our happier times, day after day. As for the refrigerator, isn’t it a member of our family?