An Indian Food Blog

Maple Masala Paal
The trees towered above them. The canopy stood high above and dwarfed Poet and Flower. Flower was carefully carrying a a very full bucket of sap when plop, she tripped over her feet and fell into a sweet, sticky mountain of maple sap.

The latest recipes.

11/19/21 11/19/21

The Glue of Life - Masala Peanuts

Family is like the unseen glue that holds things together. As the years go by, there are cracks and sometimes outright breaks, but much of the time, some glue (or maybe a lot) can help to put things back together. Now and then, the story of Humpty Dumpty comes to mind, and all the glue in the world cannot mend things.

11/9/21 11/9/21

The Meaning of the Holiday - Hyderabadi Shami Kebab

Thanksgiving has been an evolution for me. It has always been my favorite holiday, a time for my mother and me to cook together. For years, the goal was to have a beautiful Thanksgiving table with the classic roast turkey and all the sides. I will always miss cooking with my mom, but I know I am making new traditions with Poet and Flower.

10/28/21 10/28/21

What is Authentic? - Aloo Katli

Authentic is a tall order. In food, is anything truly authentic? As recipes are passed down during the generations, they slowly change. They are adapted to new tastes and ingredients. The food may change but it retains its essence.

10/19/21 10/19/21

Joy of the Puddle - Balti Pumpkin Galette

The joys of childhood are simple and boundless. Watching Poet and Flower discover things for the first time has helped me see the world in a different light. As a photographer, I'm always trying to look out at our world (and particularly food) from a different lens or perspective. Poet and Flower do the same daily. Sharing in their joy is a unique pleasure.

10/14/21 10/14/21

The Scaffolding of Life - Methi Aloo (Potatoes with Fenugreek)

Rituals are important. We have so many of them in our lives, both large and small. Some I don't even think about, but play a large role in giving shape and structure in my life. I think perhaps we don't think about them until they are gone, slowly realizing their importance in the first place.

10/8/21 10/8/21

How Much Time Do We Have? - Kufta ka Salan

How much time do we have? Sometimes it feels as though we have all the time in the world one moment and then none. Most of the time, we don't think about time at all because we believe there is so much of it.

9/24/21 9/24/21

Splashing in the Water - Crispy Bhindi (Okra)

Taking a break is hard. It's a constant balancing act that often ends up on the floor in a collapsed heap. But, it doesn't have to be that way, and taking a break can help. Just stepping back for a few days or the day can help to reset our busy lives.

9/15/21 9/15/21

A Love of Baking - Spiced Apple Hand Pies

My mother's love of baking may have started at McDonald's. She emigrated from India knowing how to make kheer and halva, but baking was completely foreign to her.

9/8/21 9/8/21

The Great Uni the Unicorn Tantrum- Gajar Halwa

Parenting is like a sea of landmines. One wrong move and you're left with yelling, crying children. But if you acquiesce every time, you have complacent, entitled children who always get their way.

8/25/21 8/25/21

The Power of Childhood Experiences - Fish Vada

Childhood memories are powerful. I grew up hearing about my parents' childhood. But it is now only as an adult that I realize the importance of these stories. I would love to share experiences I had as a child with Poet and Flower.

8/11/21 8/11/21

The Thrill of the Grill - Lamb Kebabs

We are almost out of time. Summer is drawing to a close, and another year of school starts again next week. Where does the time go? Each day is a blur of activities, playing, swimming, reading, and finally, bedtime. But in between there is always time for summer grilling.

8/3/21 8/3/21

Watching the World Go By - Perfect Lamb Kuftas

I don't want to watch the world go by. In my twenties, I spent most of my time doing just that, or at least it certainly felt like it. I applied to college and medical school together while in high school.

Hi! I’m Sameena

Welcome! I'm Sameena. I'm a physician by day, mom on call round-the-clock and avid cook. Poet and Flower is an Indian food blog celebrating my passion for food and family. I learned to cook in my mother's kitchen. My kids, Poet and Flower, are both the inspiration for the blog and the main distraction which keeps me from it.