I’m glad its over. It was like a huge burden sitting on me. Its one thing to cook for people but a whole different ball game to have 4 adults over in your kitchen, teaching them to cook. I am an okay cook..I used to suck but now for non Indians my food is awesome and for Indians, my food is passable.
The house was filthy and NK and I took the better part of the morning to vacuum, mop, and put everything back in its place. A random note from school(times 3 for me) on the hutch, junk mail on the dining table, Tiger behind the sofa. I swear the kids drive me insane with their clutter.
The living room looked like this
Still see a Dora Book
The hallway. The lilies I bought on Wed bloomed just in time
See the white square thing on the candle stand. Its a flower frog. I am using it to hold the kid’s pencils. NK bought it for me. The leopard vase, a recent thrift store find.
Sangria on the side
Chai on the table
Chai was consumed first. Sangria was made twice. The platter was waiting for garam garam samosas.
The table set up
See I do use the fancy napkins and napkin rings and fancy china. I dont store them away. Since this was Singaporean-Indian fusion class, I had chopsticks out as well. There is chivda and noodles. We started with chai, and samosas. I showed them how to make chai. Then we made the black rice pudding. Spinach was boling for palak paneer.
Palak paneer was on one stove, the pudding on the other. I blended ingredients for Ayam Merah. Started Chole. Turned off palak paneer. Turned off pudding. Made atta for puris. One of them, helped chop up cucumber and tomatoes for raita. Raita in fridge.. Atta done. Chicken done. We had tasted the food as we cooked. Took a short break as we had been standing for 2 hours almost.
Topped up the wine, They helped wash up some of the pots. Started rolling puri. Puris rolled, Started frying. Almost 530 now. I told them to start packing up the food. Everyone doled out their portions. Sat around the dining table exhausted. Called NK. he came home. Made more chai.
Cleaned up a bit. Showered. Clean some more. Washed pots. Wipes stove. Kids showered. Went to bed exhausted at 10pm.
I dont know whether I would ever host something like this again. Maybe I was too ambitious in having 3 main dishes. Next time, I will pare down the menu
Wowwwwwww!! You are soo cool!The cooking class seems like something I would like to host!
Can you share the recipe for Ayam Merah?
Me: I did a modified version of BL’s recipe. http://beaulotus.blogspot.com/2009/11/ayam-masak-merah-with-nasi-lemak.html
thankss..:)
Ohhh..and I love the way you use your bargains!
Lovely lilies, samosa and inviting sangria
I think you’re the one person I know who packs a whole week in a day! Enough said.
Me: hahaha..your last sentence cracked me up
LOVELY! LOVELY! LOVELY! I’m sure you’ll be the talk of the town..hehehe. Yes – you were overly ambitious, but I’m sure the mom’s had a great time! Love the table setting.
I can only imagine what your house will look like when all the kids are off to college!
Me: Ohhh. No more clutter. No toys, no Dora books. No Sharpies.. YAY!
I am sure you handled this soo well. I freak out when I call people over and totally over estimate the portions of the food and am nervous that people wont like the food or will find my house dirty or will not have a good time..
The set up looks lovely and you HAVE to email me the recipe for the sangria. Som’s professor made the awesomest sangria on the weekend and I wanna make it too
Me: Buy cheap white wine. Chill. Freeze slices lemon/lime/orange slices in ice cubes. Buy Fresca..a type of soda. I had the Citrus flavor. I have done it with 7-up and ginger ale as well. So I dumped 3/4 of white wine in pitcher, cut up some fruits, strawberries,pineapples, lemon,oranges..chill for 5-6 hours. For an evening party, make it at 10-12. When people start arriving, add 1-2 cans of the soda. Taste it. Add the ice cubes before serving. very very delicious and simple and pretty to look at.
This is actually a very interesting idea when you have people over. And you do put all the fancy things you buy to excellent use. I was at Bloomingdale’s the other day and was telling the husband how you got the Villeroy set for pennies.
Me: Isnt it insane how expensive those plates are. I saw them at Nordstroms, I think
You are a super woman!!! I wish I had half the energy that you do..
Me:Thanks! I am just insane. Thats it!
Tell me about this burden, I still have at least 2 cooking classes to do…
But I’m super impressed with your house – mine’s like a typhoon went through it. I scream and scream all the time but no effect.
And you have special sets for every drink – impressive. And knowing that they were all great finds…
Me: I do have different glasses. I love it. You know using a nice glass and ice cubes frozen with lemon slices,makes water taste special
How come no photos of the food??!!! Black rice pudding is bubur hitam?
Me: Yup Pulot or Bubur Hitam. Easy dish to make and yet so delicious. I didnt take any pictures of the food. Should have.
Everyhting looks right out of a homes and gardens magazine S!
Me: Aww thanks Shilpa. The magazines mostly lie you know. The rags, the cords..nothings visible.
You were too ambitious I think …. had too many things to take care of. But I am glad everything went of just fine.
Me: They paid quite a bit and I wanted them to feel like they got their money’s worth.
One of the things I am most happy about staying here is guests don’t just drop in, they call / notify before they drop in. That gives me time to clean up the house … and those that don’t call and drop in, well they must be pretty close to me, so I don’t really mind the mess
Me: The calling happens in Singapore too right. So, when I was a new bride in India, my mil wouldnt call and we would just go to XYZ relative’s house. It wasnt a big deal.
The house and your decor looks amazing, I really love how much light you have! I’m sure your guests had a great time, you make the entertaining sound so effortless … I would have been exhausted just contemplating the menu!
Me:
I was exhausted at the end of the day. 
Wish I could come over for tasting, more like eating all that yummy food. Did the mothers like the food? It must have been all so so exotic for them na!! I can imagine your exhaustion, but I am sure it was worth the effort. Well done S, you never fail to impress with your efforts!
Me: They did love all of it. It wasnt that exotic to them actually. They are all really adventourous eaters.
I want to eat it, you actually taught them to make samosas…. I so so want I tell you!
Me: no no. Samosas were just deep fried. Frozen from the desi store
Your house looks lovely ! And your cooking class seemed like they were super successful and fun – I would have never been able to do that !
Nice fusion cuisine:)..Ayam Merah sounds yummy…should try it soon.Btw I tried out the Balti prawns recipe you had posted eons ago..Absolutely loved it..!
Good Work! Since I couldn’t taste it …woud have liked to see a pic of the food u cooked though.
Waaaaaaaaaahh… I wanna come over for a classy do like this
I sent u an email. FINALLY!
Me: I did get it.
WOW !!! You are SUPER-WOMAN for sure!! There is no doubt about it !!!!!
I bow to thee….
i spent over an hour here reading through the archives… i love your spirit and i love that you express yourself so truthfully and none of that fake “i was born to be a mother and my kids never drive me mad” crap i read on other blogs…i also love the classily laid out table…looks fab