Christmas is a festival that transcends religion, as far as I see it. And for good reason. What's not to like about a day filled with fun, family, food, presents? My Christmas memories growing up are these fancy orange-jujup cocktail sticks my aunt would make, plum cakes my father would bring home every single Christmas eve, strolling down a gloriously lit Park Street and the thrill of finding a present under my pillow...

As I have grown up old, my love for Christmas has only multiplied and even though I am away from my family, I have a 10-step plan to make the most of my favourite holiday with loved ones who have become my family in this city.

1. GET INTO THE SPIRIT & DRESS UP!

No, not like a Christmas tree but a little something to add the festive spirit. I've been infusing the Christmas vibe with a red lip here, gold sandals there, with my emerald earrings thrown in the middle. OR go all out and be that girl who rocks a santa cap like a boss. It's christmas after all!

2. DRESS THE SPACE

It ain't Christmas without some green, red and gold! My tree is still under construction and I need to have it up before midnight. I am also yet to put up these amazing golden snowflakes that make me soooo happy! Can't wait to wrap up work and rush home to all this craftiness! 

3. ATTEND MASS

Bandra is home to some of the most beautiful churches in Mumbai. I am hoping to attend a midnight mass at either St. Stanislaus, St. Peter's, St. Andrews or Mount Mary's.

4. BLAST THE CHRISTMAS PLAYLIST

Ho ho ho! Merrry Christmas! It's 25th morning and before I can even think coffee, there will be three things I do: put on my red socks, put on my santa cap, put on my christmas playlist. Somehow and I don't know how, nothing feels like Christmas more than George Michael! 

6. WATCH A HOLIDAY MOVIE

At some point in the day (most likely after the festive lunch we are scheming) I will squeeze in a lazy, sprawled-on-the-couch viewing of either of these two holiday movies...I don't know which yet but just to clarify, I have seen both a million times :D

7. BAKE! 

I was gifted an OTG this October that I have not yet. So with a little help from my visiting bestie, baking will be the last new thing I do before the year ends. So far I am thinking salted caramel cookies but I could be persuaded otherwise. Yesterday I stumbled upon Cup of Jo's chocolate recipes and now my mind is running wild!

8. BE MY OWN SANTA

So Santa doesn't cater to adults...but I am not one to deny myself a good holiday present. I already bought me my christmas pressie and I am in LOVE! Say hi to the newest member of my modest window-sill garden. Isn't she a beauty?

9. SLOW DOWN AND SOAK IT ALL IN

Apparently Mumbai is seeing one of it's coldest winters in a decade, which is perfect for some blanket snuggles, sipping my awesome hot chocolate (yeah, no modesty about my culinary triumphs #sorrynotsorry), nibbling on the aforementioned cookies and enjoying a round or many of Taboo, UNO or Monopoly Deal. #bliss

10. PLAY SANTA

Apart from the obligatory office secret-santa, I haven't gifted anyone for Christmas in years.  So this year I plan to buy a present for someone I love or someone in need. Or maybe both!

Thank you for spending this time here and I wish you and your loved ones a very happy christmas!

Pancakes is not a food native to me. It does not remind me of cheery Sunday mornings of my childhood or my mother's house. I don't possess a secret family recipe. But somehow, pancakes have come to be my breakfast de choix of adult life, spelling comfort and decadence and luxury. I blame over-exposure to American sitcoms.

Anyhow, last year, when I had to go glutten-free for a few months, the biggest blow was not being able to eat pancakes on Sunday mornings. After tolerating lots and lots of whining, my boyfriend forwarded me one of those internet forwards about two-ingredient pancakes. I had seen those but was totally convinced that it won't work but I was WRONG. The concept is GENIUS!

Click on the image below to get the recipe. I have tried these and they kept me happy for a long long time. I would add:
a glug of vanilla extract, a pinch of salt and fry on a non-stick pan thinly lined with butter. So easy, so yummy! And quiet guilt-free. The banana adds so much sweetness and juiciness that you don't miss the syrup, at all!


But every now and then greedy me craves the real stuff. Fluffy, spongy cakes doused in maple syrup...*dreamland*

Now I don't believe in deprivation and support moderation instead. So in honour of pancake day, I am sharing my DIY dry-mix which is the fastest way to make the fluffiest pancakes that will brighten a dreary, hungover Sunday morning.

For my easy, effing cheap, chemical free ready mix you'll need:

500gm flour
3 tbsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
4tbsp vanilla sugar

Put everything in a jar and tumble. Store normally; no need to freeze. These keep good for a month or two months happily. But why would you store these that long?!

Now, a lazy girl would dump a cup of dry mix, one egg, a cup of milk, a dollop of butter into a mixer jar and give it a few good whizzes. Give the whisk a stink eye. Open jar, check, add a glug of vanilla and whiz some more. That's it. Ladle mixture straight from the jar onto the non-stick pan lined with a little butter. Enjoy with syrup, custard, jam, nutella....ah, its endless!

Just promise me you won't feel guilty while enjoying these babies. Adopt moderation not deprivation and that is my key to guilt-free happiness.

Love
S