Beware the Sweet Potato Thief

Note: This story has previously appeared on my blog The Family Dance. I have found over the past year that maintaining two blogs is a tremendous time commitment, so I am considering and wanted to experiment with the idea of bringing some of my posts over to Aunt Nubby's Kitchen and possibly work at combining the two blogs. I'd love to have your feedback on having the blogs combined (or not).



Yesterday I bought two perfect sweet potatoes from the grocery store. I hand-picked them from the produce bin for their shape and size, as I planned to bake them, and I am persnickety about my sweet potatoes. I don't like the skinny ones; I want mine to be fat in the middle, slightly tapered at each end, and not too big. I don't want any of those strangely shaped ones that look like they were meant to be crafted into animals to display at the county fair.

I chose two that met my requirements and purchased them along with a box of spinach and arugula and a bunch of radishes. Oh yes, and I bought frozen waffles for my grandson, too, the strawberry and the chocolate chip ones, and also some milk. Then I took my purchases home and carried the bags inside, unpacked them on the kitchen counter and put it all away.

Fast forward to the following evening when I started to make dinner, and I headed to the pantry to get my sweet potatoes. I looked in the potato bin, but the only thing there was a bag of russet potatoes. My two carefully chosen tubers seemed to be out of place. I thought back to yesterday and remembered seeing them on the counter in the plastic produce bag amid the other groceries. So, I headed back to the kitchen to see if maybe I had just neglected to put them away, and perhaps they were pushed back between the toaster and the mixer.

I moved the toaster aside to reveal - nothing. Where did I put those sweet potatoes? Remembering the other items I had bought, I went to check the refrigerator first, then the freezer, but no sweet potatoes were found in either place.

How strange . . . do you suppose a thief would come stealthily into my house and bypass the computer sitting on the kitchen desk, my purse thrown carelessly on the stool in the corner, and the iPad on the bar, and then sneak out with my two prized sweet potatoes?

I don't know, but I do know this: My sweet potatoes are gone, and I don't know where they are. I have a hunch that I will eventually find those sweet potatoes exactly where I put them, but it may not be in any logical place. I did a great job when I put those potatoes away.

Something tells me there is more missing here than sweet potatoes. What I'm afraid of is that the sweet potato thief could be the same culprit who keeps snatching tiny bits and pieces of my memory. I think it's time I reported this, and I will, just as soon as I can find my phone book.

Note: This story has previously appeared on my blog The Family Dance. I have found over the past year that maintaining two blogs is a tremendous time commitment, so I am considering and wanted to experiment with the idea of bringing some of my posts over to Aunt Nubby's Kitchen and possibly work at combining the two blogs. I'd love to have your feedback on having the blogs combined (or not).



Yesterday I bought two perfect sweet potatoes from the grocery store. I hand-picked them from the produce bin for their shape and size, as I planned to bake them, and I am persnickety about my sweet potatoes. I don't like the skinny ones; I want mine to be fat in the middle, slightly tapered at each end, and not too big. I don't want any of those strangely shaped ones that look like they were meant to be crafted into animals to display at the county fair.

I chose two that met my requirements and purchased them along with a box of spinach and arugula and a bunch of radishes. Oh yes, and I bought frozen waffles for my grandson, too, the strawberry and the chocolate chip ones, and also some milk. Then I took my purchases home and carried the bags inside, unpacked them on the kitchen counter and put it all away.

Fast forward to the following evening when I started to make dinner, and I headed to the pantry to get my sweet potatoes. I looked in the potato bin, but the only thing there was a bag of russet potatoes. My two carefully chosen tubers seemed to be out of place. I thought back to yesterday and remembered seeing them on the counter in the plastic produce bag amid the other groceries. So, I headed back to the kitchen to see if maybe I had just neglected to put them away, and perhaps they were pushed back between the toaster and the mixer.

I moved the toaster aside to reveal - nothing. Where did I put those sweet potatoes? Remembering the other items I had bought, I went to check the refrigerator first, then the freezer, but no sweet potatoes were found in either place.

How strange . . . do you suppose a thief would come stealthily into my house and bypass the computer sitting on the kitchen desk, my purse thrown carelessly on the stool in the corner, and the iPad on the bar, and then sneak out with my two prized sweet potatoes?

I don't know, but I do know this: My sweet potatoes are gone, and I don't know where they are. I have a hunch that I will eventually find those sweet potatoes exactly where I put them, but it may not be in any logical place. I did a great job when I put those potatoes away.

Something tells me there is more missing here than sweet potatoes. What I'm afraid of is that the sweet potato thief could be the same culprit who keeps snatching tiny bits and pieces of my memory. I think it's time I reported this, and I will, just as soon as I can find my phone book.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Ice Cream Parlour For Your Special Ice Cream Memory

In a time when yoghurt-based and several other new kinds of ice creams are ruling the dessert scene, the variety available at Natural Ice Cream Parlour instantly reminds you of the simple and traditional ice cream. While its tag line reads Ice Cream of Juhu Scheme, today, the brand has gone way beyond the posh locale of Juhu, and is available at several places around Mumbai (and throughout India).

As soon as you step into the Ice cream outlet located at Lokhandwala Complex in Andheri (west), the huge posters of various ice cream flavours tempt you, and, may we add, confuse you, whilst taking a pick. Having said that, one of the best qualities of Natural is the fact that it truly believes in the virtue of less is more. While there is an interesting range of fruit - dry fruit- and chocolate-based ice creams, along with the basic malai flavour one, the specialty of this brand is that it doesn't have any special toppings (yet another 'in' thing in the modern-day ice creams) overpowering the original taste of the ice cream.

Its freshness keeps you asking for more from the very first bite to the last lick. Depending on the season, Natural offers an even bigger treat with its combination of mango or strawberry ice cream (only available in these two flavours), freshly cut pieces of the respective fruit, and a dollop of fresh cream. Absolutely sinful!

While the parlour can get a little crowded at times, especially during summers, you could perhaps pick up a cone or cup of ice cream (be patient, as, at times, the queue is rather long), and enjoy it over a stroll, or order it (it's free home delivery!) and have it in the comfort of your home. Take your pick - single or double scoop, fresh waffle cone or the typical one or just in a cup. The tubs are available in a quantity of half kilo. The reasonable price of the ice creams is one more reason why it can be enjoyed by anyone - from a college student to someone making big bucks.

For any reason and in every season, that dripping ice cream is always a 'hot' favourite. Everyone has a special 'ice cream memory', and a modest place, such as Natural, is sure to help you relive yours! You can find it at Natural, 21, Encore Apartments Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri (west), Mumbai a little ahead of McDonald's and Food Inn restaurant.

In a time when yoghurt-based and several other new kinds of ice creams are ruling the dessert scene, the variety available at Natural Ice Cream Parlour instantly reminds you of the simple and traditional ice cream. While its tag line reads Ice Cream of Juhu Scheme, today, the brand has gone way beyond the posh locale of Juhu, and is available at several places around Mumbai (and throughout India).

As soon as you step into the Ice cream outlet located at Lokhandwala Complex in Andheri (west), the huge posters of various ice cream flavours tempt you, and, may we add, confuse you, whilst taking a pick. Having said that, one of the best qualities of Natural is the fact that it truly believes in the virtue of less is more. While there is an interesting range of fruit - dry fruit- and chocolate-based ice creams, along with the basic malai flavour one, the specialty of this brand is that it doesn't have any special toppings (yet another 'in' thing in the modern-day ice creams) overpowering the original taste of the ice cream.

Its freshness keeps you asking for more from the very first bite to the last lick. Depending on the season, Natural offers an even bigger treat with its combination of mango or strawberry ice cream (only available in these two flavours), freshly cut pieces of the respective fruit, and a dollop of fresh cream. Absolutely sinful!

While the parlour can get a little crowded at times, especially during summers, you could perhaps pick up a cone or cup of ice cream (be patient, as, at times, the queue is rather long), and enjoy it over a stroll, or order it (it's free home delivery!) and have it in the comfort of your home. Take your pick - single or double scoop, fresh waffle cone or the typical one or just in a cup. The tubs are available in a quantity of half kilo. The reasonable price of the ice creams is one more reason why it can be enjoyed by anyone - from a college student to someone making big bucks.

For any reason and in every season, that dripping ice cream is always a 'hot' favourite. Everyone has a special 'ice cream memory', and a modest place, such as Natural, is sure to help you relive yours! You can find it at Natural, 21, Encore Apartments Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri (west), Mumbai a little ahead of McDonald's and Food Inn restaurant.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Do You Know Where Your Cell Phone Is?

I lose my cell phone every now and then, as I'm sure you do too, but I usually find it somewhere in the house where I absentmindedly laid it as I was going about my daily chores. A few weeks ago I had a cell phone experience that has caused me to pay more attention to where I put my phone and to stop being so careless about mislaying it.

The incident happened on a Sunday morning as I was preparing to go to church. I don't have a fancy cell phone, mine is small and actually out-of-date, but I carry it with me all the time, as we no longer have a land line at our home. I was getting dressed for church when I first noticed it was missing. I did the usual retracing of steps back to each room I had been to, but I could not find it. I looked all over the house, high and low. My husband wasn't at home, so I couldn't have him call me to help locate it. Finally, I was out of time; I had to leave to get to church on time, so I gave up the search, even though I hated to leave home without my phone, because I would be driving farther that day to go to church with my mother.

I arrived at church, sat in the middle of the usual family pew between my mother and my nephew Philip, with my brother and sister-in-law on one end of the pew and three of mother's cousins on the other end. When the service ended I visited with family and friends for a while, then drove back home.

As I pulled the car into my garage, my cell phone started ringing. It startled me - because it was ringing from inside my bra! The realization then hit me. While I was getting ready for church I had slipped it there because the outfit I was wearing had no pockets.

What an idiot! I had worn the phone to church, sat with it inside my unmentionables with the volume on all during the service. And what would have happened if I had received a phone call during the church service? I'm certain I would have died right there. That's why I decided it was important enough to confess this phone faux pas to the world, or maybe I should say I just needed to "get it off my chest".

I lose my cell phone every now and then, as I'm sure you do too, but I usually find it somewhere in the house where I absentmindedly laid it as I was going about my daily chores. A few weeks ago I had a cell phone experience that has caused me to pay more attention to where I put my phone and to stop being so careless about mislaying it.

The incident happened on a Sunday morning as I was preparing to go to church. I don't have a fancy cell phone, mine is small and actually out-of-date, but I carry it with me all the time, as we no longer have a land line at our home. I was getting dressed for church when I first noticed it was missing. I did the usual retracing of steps back to each room I had been to, but I could not find it. I looked all over the house, high and low. My husband wasn't at home, so I couldn't have him call me to help locate it. Finally, I was out of time; I had to leave to get to church on time, so I gave up the search, even though I hated to leave home without my phone, because I would be driving farther that day to go to church with my mother.

I arrived at church, sat in the middle of the usual family pew between my mother and my nephew Philip, with my brother and sister-in-law on one end of the pew and three of mother's cousins on the other end. When the service ended I visited with family and friends for a while, then drove back home.

As I pulled the car into my garage, my cell phone started ringing. It startled me - because it was ringing from inside my bra! The realization then hit me. While I was getting ready for church I had slipped it there because the outfit I was wearing had no pockets.

What an idiot! I had worn the phone to church, sat with it inside my unmentionables with the volume on all during the service. And what would have happened if I had received a phone call during the church service? I'm certain I would have died right there. That's why I decided it was important enough to confess this phone faux pas to the world, or maybe I should say I just needed to "get it off my chest".

reade more... Résuméabuiyad