Of Bookstores & Cafes

Posted on by
7
Photo prompt @Rochelle Wisoff-Fields


Miles traveled to the old town of Paphos in late July, as he had done in previous years. He stepped into the bookstore, taking in the familiar scent that brought back a flood of memories and a rush of excitement. He browsed the shelves with anticipation looking for just the right book.

It was like an unspoken sentiment between them. Miles would go to the local cafe she owned, and they would talk for hours.

Miles quickened his pace, crossing the tram tracks, clutching the book in hand. His eyes searched for the cafe frantically, but it wasn’t there anymore.

This post was written as part of the Friday Fictioneers Challenge hosted by the wonderful Rochelle. The idea is to write a short story (100 words), based on the photo prompt provided.

To read more interesting stories, hop on over to the link below.
Read More Stories Here.

Birthday Anxiety : The Real Birthday Blues

Posted on by
8

Birthdays are inherently joyous occasions made even more special when surrounded by loved ones. Many people mark this occasion with month-long celebrations! They celebrate with their families, siblings, and different groups of friends, a date night with their spouse, and numerous evenings filled with slices of decadent chocolate cake and extravagant presents.

Birthdays tend to be tricky for me. To say I am less than enthusiastic about my own birthday is an understatement. As the day draws near, a feeling of anxiousness makes its way to me. It wasn’t always like this though. As a teen, I would stay up till midnight waiting excitedly for the phone to ring when my friends would call to wish me a ‘Happy Birthday’. But a lot has changed in recent years and I almost dread my birthday and want it to pass as quietly as possible now.

Continue reading →

Chicken Karahi

Posted on by
Reply

You will probably come across many recipes for Chicken Karahi these days since over the years everyone has come out with their own adaptations. The one I am sharing with you today is one I learned from my mother’s friend. I was a teenager, and we were hanging out at her place, and my mom’s friend said she will cook up some chicken karahi for lunch. I went in to help her and while she making it, she shared some of her tips and tricks. They have stuck with me all these years.

Continue reading →

Shakshouka

Posted on by
3

Great for breakfast or brunch, this rich tomato-based egg dish is sure to take your senses to another level. Eggs are poached in a hearty tomato mixture with a hint of sweetness from bell peppers and a smoky flavor from some cumin. You can customize it any way you like. Some folks like to add feta or sausages to their shakshouka or even top it off with some sour cream and avocado. I kept mine simple for this with just some parsley and spring onions on top. The best part is that it is essentially a one-pan meal!

Continue reading →

Normal People by Sally Rooney : The Rawness of Troubled Young Love

Posted on by
Reply

When I first read ‘Normal People’, I did not immediately fall in love with Rooney’s writing. The hype surrounding the book was immense and as much as this story left me feeling incomplete, watching its TV adaptation, made it come full circle. It made me fall in love with the story and its characters. In fact, so much so, I ended up reading parts of the book again to experience it with a renewed perspective. It is only then, that I truly understood how beautifully Rooney has captured the tenderness and torture of first love between the words of her pages. She has skillfully woven themes of social class, intimacy, and insecurity into this best-selling book.

Continue reading →

To My Friends Who Stood By Me As I Struggled With Anxiety

Posted on by
7

For the longest time, I was hesitant to share my struggles with anxiety and skeptical of opening up to even my closest friends. I was terrified that disclosing this would affect the nature of our relationship and change the dynamics of our friendship. At that time I felt my whole life was revolving around managing my anxiety and I did not want to be defined by it.
But once I shared my struggles I was surprisingly relieved and felt a weight had lifted off my shoulders. These friends stood by me and supported me through the most difficult time of my life.
My life is better because of you. I am so grateful to each and every one of you.
This one is for you!

Continue reading →

Hawaiian Chicken Wings

Posted on by
2

When I think of chicken wings I think of hot and spicy drenched in some ifery buffalo sauce. Add a side of ranch and that is my ideal way to have them.
However recently I have been experimenting with some different flavors and came across a recipe that makes sweet, sticky and tangy chicken wings. I’ve modified it slightly to suit our taste palette. They are perfect to have for a summer barbeque alongside some grilled pineapples

Continue reading →

Parenting Teens in the times of Covid

Posted on by
Reply
Hirshhorn Museum. Washington DC

It is a truth, universally acknowledged that raising teenagers is far from easy. Add to that a global pandemic, schools closed, afterschool activities cancelled, vacations postponed, no hanging out at malls and it starts to look even more bleak.

It would be safe to assume, it is equally frustrating for both parents and teens during these times. Under normal circumstances, I know I need a break from my teens every now and then, as do they. But now our days are spent diffusing tension between family members. (Fun Fact: It’s usually my husband diffusing the tension, and I’m the one creating it).

Continue reading →

Tomato & Ricotta Tart

Posted on by
2


This tomato & ricotta tart is a light but flavorful dish. It gets the tartness from the tomatoes and the dollops of ricotta add just the slightest sweetness. The drizzle of a good pesto and some parmesan really gives every bite that extra punch. One of the best features about the recipe today is how versatile it is! You can substitute any of the ingredients or add veggies and flavors of your choice!

Continue reading →