What with this being the first month of 2012, every blog and website is full of new year wishes, nostalgia for the year gone by, wonderful resolutions, best of 2011 round ups, and general good cheer and optimism. But not a whisper anywhere about the looming 2012 phenomenon??! No, really. Didn’t read it on any of the blogs I follow at least. So is 2012 really going to mark the end of the world as we know it? Well, I heard conspiracy theories in office just today about how all coastal cities and towns are going to go under, and how certain renowned Bollywood personalities (no, I’m not saying who) are busy buying homes high up on hills and mountains to escape the apocalypse. Call them crazy if you will (No, you may ask, but I’m still not going to say who!) but they might just be the one’s having the last laugh...
What would you do if you knew you had just one year to live? What would you eat, what would you see, where would you go? Would you really concentrate on making your own Noah’s Ark somewhere in the hope of being the lucky one who might be spared? Or will you just throw caution to the windows and do all the wild things you ever wanted to? I know most of us will choose the latter at least in theory. Lets live to the fullest and all that... That’s great!
Oh but wait a minute... What if this whole 2012 thing turned out to be a false alarm after all?? Hah! Didn’t think of that, did you? Well, life after all, is a lot like Abbas Mastaan films. Twists and crashes and surprises where you thought were none. And a red herring “The End”. Just when you think it’s all over, the big twist in the plot smacks you in the face! And let me warn you it’s not always a good surprise ending! Case in point – Pankaj Kapoor’s “Mausam”.
So yes, you might just end up broke and resentful. And feeling a bit like a loser that the world did not come to an end. But hey, you have a world of experience and memories to get you by, right? Umm... ok, not a very comforting thought right now maybe. But it’s worth thinking about... :P
GRILLED PINEAPPLE SLICES
Ingredients:
Pineapple – 1 whole
Demerrera or Brown Sugar – ½ cup
Port wine – 2 tbsp (Optional)
Pre-heat your grill or barbecue. If you are using a temperature grill, then set it at 180 degrees C. Peel and core the pineapple and cut it into long slices about 2cms thick. You can skewer your pineapple slices like Nigella does, or simply lay them on a baking tray that is lined with aluminium foil. Sprinkle the brown sugar liberally on both sides of the pineapple. Sprinkle the port wine on top. Now put the tray inside your oven and grill for about 5min. Remove tray, flip all the pineapple slices and grill again for another 5-10min until you can see the scorch marks or you feel the slices have caramelised enough. My pineapple slices didn’t quite get the scorch marks Nigella’s has, but it tasted caramel-y enough.
The way I like it:
Remove the slices from the tray and serve warm with the juices dribbled on top. Tastes best with some Vanilla ice cream!
This recipe is being dashed off just in time for Zesty Palette's New "U" event being hosted by Vardhini. Do check it out!
