Demanding Fresh

With the weather changing here in the Midwest, “fresh” is a term that helps lift my moods. Fresh air, fresh flowers, fresh leaves, fresh lawn, fresh vegetables… all suggest that spring is here. I love all things fresh. It helps me think positive, it helps me charge ahead with energy and it helps me look at life with a fresh, optimistic outlook. I love springtime. I love the freshness in the air, the birds chirping, the fresh flowers blooming and I love watching all the grass turning green.
Are you wondering what all this is about? Well, nothing much really. I just wanted to share a thought with you lovely readers. If you know India and Bangalore my hometown, you would know that the weather there is warm and sunny most year round. Of course, we have our rains, our cold and our really hot! But all the same, the weather for the most part is great! And because of that, I, like most other people there just take the weather for granted. But after having migrated to the Midwest, I know better than that! Good weather for us here is prime. Especially in a place where today can never be an indication of tomorrow, we love it when the weather turns sunny. We make the most of it. And what with global warming and conservation of our planet, I know that weather and our protection of it is really important!
So dear readers, in this month of the Earth day, let’s all do our share. Even if it means something simple, something small … let’s do it. If it means, planting one small tree or plant, if it means taking the stairs instead of the elevator just one time more, if it means walking instead of using a vehicle or just anything. Our small share to help conserve our planet for our future generations. Remember that, tiny drops of water can make a big ocean!
And personally, on behalf of Mother Earth, I thank you for reading this post and making one small change to help preserve the environment.
And my small contribution.. I am getting ready to plant my vegetable patch in my backyard and our annual plants and flowers. It is exciting and adventurous. And my kids love getting their hands messy with the soil!
On that note, I wanted to share with you guys pictures of some fresh vegetables that I picked up from our Indian store last week. We have about 5 Indian stores here now. One too many for our town I think. But I suppose, it’s a good thing that competition drives out monopoly and we buyers stand to gain.
So anyway, I make a trip to one of the Indian stores every other week to buy fresh Indian vegetables. This time round, I had Indira’s JFI-WBB Greens event in mind. I bought, Mint (Pudina), Cilantro (Kothimeera), Daikon Radish (Mooli), Fenugreek Leaves (Methi), Red Spinach (Thotakoora), Green Chillies, Green Eggplants (Poluru Vankaya), Purple Eggplants, Broad beans (Chikudukaya), Bittergourd (Kaakarkaya) and Okra.
I ended up buying more than I need just because I was really hungry in the evening when I went to the store and I just kept thinking of all the wonderful dishes I can make (read EAT) with these vegetables on hand! Here are some pictures from my shopping:

In the picture (from left to right) - Cilantro, Purple Eggplants, Daikon Radish and Mint.



In the picture (from left to right) - Broad Beans, Green Eggplants, Bittergourd, Methi.

Fresh Okra.

I have been busy with work and sickness all of the last week :-) Waiting to get working on some of these veggies. I already made Indira's Gutthi Vankay Koora (I used the last filling from her list, it was excellent!) with the Poluru Vankaya .. but the koora was gone before i could get some pictures :-) Recipes with the other veggies coming up soon! Thanks for stopping by.