What are the quirky things you miss

[trinket 30]

Yes, I'm from a hill station. It is so much fun watching football in dense fog and you have no idea what is going on the ground but you cheer coz you hear people who are closer to ground cheering. Sometimes you hear people cheer and find out that it was the wrong football team.

I miss pani puri and i miss fried fish. What kind of fish is good for frying in U.S?? I tried mackrel once but was a waste of time and poor fish. IS anyone Bengali here?? Any tip for fried fish??

I am Bengali, and yes fish has been pain in my a$$/heart everywhere. Don't buy fish from walmart or places like that, they sell those frozen fish, try small grocery store. I am not sure which city you live in but here in this midwestern town there is a small Chinese grocery store which also sells Indian products, I buy my fish from them.

Try getting red snapper and salmon (again don't get your salmon from walmart, its dry and chewy at best). I personally don't enjoy fresh water fish, but if you do then Tilapia might be another option for you, so is cat fish. Tuna is good too but don't think its good for just fried, more like coconut curry kind

Do you like the American breaded fried version of Fish or just plain fry? I can't stand the breaded fried stuff, let it be fish or chicken.

Oh and since you are from hill station, are you from Darjeeling by any chance

[Nina~ 431]

If you find a chinese grocery, try asking for either sardines or king fish. Sardines are small but a tasy south Indian delicacy.. or see if you can find king fish, which is a large meaty fish with very few large bones.

[Arun+Catie 1]

I miss crowd haha, there are no people on the roads.

[Nina~ 431]

There are some unique fruits and vegetables in India that I have not been able to find anywhere else... Like those red carrots, and grapes that has a faint rose flavor.. Anybody know what I am talking about? Not to forgot the many different kinds of mangoes... Yummy!!!

[ELW 5]

Ah yes, the fruits! I miss sweet, juicy Indian mangoes! I used to literally only eat mangoes for weeks when they were in season. I haven't had a decent mango since I left India. I also loved custard apples (sitaphalam).

I found some familiar yummy Indian vegetables at a local Asian (mostly Chinese) market, like bitter gourd, ridge gourd, etc.

[trinket 30]

I thought I would never have litchis again but the Chinese store I go to had those this summer. I seriously love this Chinese store, lady out there is really nice and I get most of the Indian veggies, I have seen red carrots out there, but not sure about the grapes you are talking about.

[Twisted K 2]

All this talk about fruits makes me want to explore to see what my city has to offer. funny thing is, i am the one who wants the indian food in our relationship

[ELW 5]

i am the one who wants the indian food in our relationship

That is not right!

In our house, either we have Indian food loaded with spices or something plain (for me, butter and salt only). Nothing else!

[trinket 30]

My brother said some wise words before I boarded the flight to US; he said-- all you'll need from now on is salt & pepper

[Twisted K 2]

my husband is scared that he will only get cold cereal and sandwiches. never had the opportunity to cook when i was there. in 2007, i stayed in a hotel for 6 months because it was company paid. then in february we went to manali for the majority of the time. then in may his mom and sister were in town and kicked me out of the kitchen, unless husband and i went out to eat. he told me he can cook, and when i mentioned that to his mom and sister, they laughed i have lived on my own since 2002, and i barely cook because i come from a big family, and do not know how to make smaller portions, and i got tired of eating left overs so i have sworn to my husband that we will cook together, because that is what he wants.

[Nina~ 431]

Ah yes, the fruits! I miss sweet, juicy Indian mangoes! I used to literally only eat mangoes for weeks when they were in season. I haven't had a decent mango since I left India. I also loved custard apples (sitaphalam).

aah yes.. I love custard apples!! And also those fruits (forgot the name) that has a brown kiwi like skin and orange meat on the inside with black seeds.

[Imua 0]

We miss the sound of chickens, mynahs and crows everywhere..... Bhaktapur dahi with mango and beaten rice.... yak cheese pizza(where's a drool smilie???)....some of the best trekking in the world only a short bus-ride away....wearing chappals everywhere... music playing everywhere(lok geet or sometimes Nepali pop but NOT gangsta rap)... really good chiyaa(chai)... of course Aama-Baa-Didi-Bahini.... cheap taxis or when all else fails the 'micro'... sadhus....monkeys outside the window.....

[Third 0]

Yes, I'm from a hill station. It is so much fun watching football in dense fog and you have no idea what is going on the ground but you cheer coz you hear people who are closer to ground cheering. Sometimes you hear people cheer and find out that it was the wrong football team.

I miss pani puri and i miss fried fish. What kind of fish is good for frying in U.S?? I tried mackrel once but was a waste of time and poor fish. IS anyone Bengali here?? Any tip for fried fish??

I am Bengali, and yes fish has been pain in my a$$/heart everywhere. Don't buy fish from walmart or places like that, they sell those frozen fish, try small grocery store. I am not sure which city you live in but here in this midwestern town there is a small Chinese grocery store which also sells Indian products, I buy my fish from them.

Try getting red snapper and salmon (again don't get your salmon from walmart, its dry and chewy at best). I personally don't enjoy fresh water fish, but if you do then Tilapia might be another option for you, so is cat fish. Tuna is good too but don't think its good for just fried, more like coconut curry kind

Do you like the American breaded fried version of Fish or just plain fry? I can't stand the breaded fried stuff, let it be fish or chicken.

Oh and since you are from hill station, are you from Darjeeling by any chance

Hi Tinket,

No I am not from Darjeeling but my sis-in-law is Loveeeeeee that place!! Thank you for the tips :-) I am going to go tomorrow and get red snapper and i will snap it

[Third 0]

I wish you all a very happy Friday. Anyone has long weekend??

[ELW 5]

You reminded me Pattu! I also miss wearing chapels everywhere, even to work! I loved year-round warm weather, never had to bundle up or feel chill to the bone. I miss lazy summer mornings with the mynah birds and their distinctive calls. I miss being able to walk everywhere or cheap rickshaws or buses or trains always available; I wish I didn't have to drive now!

Third, no long weekend for us but several other county offices have it due to the mandatory furlough. We are taking all the 5 required unpaid leave days in December, everyone in our office will be off for 11 days in a row then!

Nina Ballerina, I knew exactly what fruit you were talking about and also forgot the name. But I looked it up and found it - SAPOTA! Yes they are super sweet too, yum!

Kaushalia, it will be SO fun the two of you learning to cook together! I remember the first time hubby and I tried to make idlees - he insisted on pouring too much batter into the molds and when we looked after it steamed for some time, all we saw was a big boiled mass of wet batter. Since then it's been OK though and we can make perfect idlees now.