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.

12/1/21 12/1/21

Grieving is not Taboo - Hyderabadi Bagara Baingan

Growing up, grieving always felt like a taboo. I remember my mother standing by the kitchen sink. I must have been eleven or twelve. She was washing dishes and crying. I asked her what was wrong, and she said that my grandfather had passed away. She looked out the window sadly and then went on washing the dishes.

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.

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.

10/14/21 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.

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.

8/19/21 8/19/21

The Charm of the Midwest - Potato Palya

I never thought I'd be living in middle America. But, inevitably, it is now home. Poet and Flower were born here. Their childhood will be marked with Midwestern sensibilities and a place that will hopefully always be an anchor for them.

7/27/21 7/27/21

Is Life a Race? - South Indian Vaal Dal (Butter beans)

Is life a race? As a kid growing up, it sure felt like one. At least life was a race academically, if not in other aspects. As a child of Indian immigrants, my parents were certain education was the only path to success. Getting good grades was paramount.

7/13/21 7/13/21

The Humble Box - Spicy Quick Pickled Radishes

Poet and Flower have slowly accumulated things. Things being a vague term to describe clothes, toys, books, and more toys. These items have slowly accumulated despite my best efforts. They have filled the kids' rooms and have slowly spilled out into other parts of the house.

9/27/20 9/27/20

New and Old Weekend Traditions - Coconut Chutney

Or chut-ah-nee as the kids call it. One of my earliest food memories is of chutney. Chutney is a spicy Indian condiment that you can eat with almost anything. My mom loved to make chutneys and she always had one at the dinner table.

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.