Mango Mustache, Mutter, and Masala

You know that person in the group who usually always order "wrong" at a restaurant?  

That'd be me.  

Except one time I ordered the absolute best, so good, in fact, that we went back again the next day to order what I did.  So, I usually let Ryan do the choosing when we do family style.  He's a pro.  Like last night, Ryan was craving Indian food.  Indian food takes a lot of work in my mind with all those spices, you know?  So we got take-out.  And Ryan ordered.  I chose one thing.  And yes, my one thing was not so good.  BUT, next door to the Indian Restaurant was an Indian grocery store.  As we walked up and down the aisles and commented how Indian grocery stores tend to smell better than Asian grocery stores, I told Ryan I would make the beverage, because unlike my ordering abilities, my beverages skills are above par.  Some call them mad.

I think I might have perfected my Mango Lassi.  Ryan said it was the best I've ever made, which is saying a lot because Ryan is a very critical cuisine critique.  I think the key is using Indian yogurt, which is much thicker and more solid than what I normally buy.  

My proportions: 

15 oz mango PULP [not juice or nectar, mind you]

15 oz plain yogurt

1/4 cup sugar

15-20 ice cubes [I didn't really count, and I have never been known to win those guessing games of candy in a jar, so perhaps you should use your own judgment, but I do like a frigid Mango Lassi]

Blend until s m o o O o o t h and serve pronto.

 I made two batches to appease the miniature angry mob, which is exactly what these two large containers yield, and this Deep brand is really flavorful, although any brand we've tried works well.  A mango lassi is the perfect thing to have on hand when your Dal, Paneer Masala, and Mutter Paneer are spicier than the man in the turban says they are.  

And don't forget the Peshwari Naan [the kind with the coconut inside]--I'd be happy with this and Mango Lassi.

Gummy Rat and Hymn Revival

My dad was always the one to make our birthday cakes.  Well, my mom made the cakes and my dad would decorate the cakes, like the time he put a giant gummy rat in a chocolate twig cage on top of my brother's cake.  It's just what they did.  Have you noticed that in relationships?  How each person has their "thing" they do?  Changing the oil in the cars, the one who makes the ice cream, the one who dusts the fan fixtures, or plans the details of family vacations, or scrubs the toilets.  It's funny how these duties unconsciously get divided up.  

Ryan is both the financial and music investor in our family.  He loves to get on itunes and sample all the different versions of songs he likes.  I'm happy to relinquish these charges to his hand as he keeps our accounts in order, refreshes our playlists, and cleans out our traveling cd collection, but when I came across this new album, I got to downloading and was delighted to surprise him with my own addition, we all like to be useful, you know?

Do you classify your music like we do:  Sunday music and non-Sunday music?  The Sunday music category is obviously more challenging to build and keep appealing and new.  Basically it is comprised of classical music and hymns.  As Sundays give us plenty of at-home-family time, our baby Dills tend to get dolled up and dance until drained of energy.  Adding to our Sunday music repertoire as you can guess is a great bonus for both the performers and the patrons.  Lower Lights Hymn Revival is just that--reviving.  The classics that we all know and love, like Sing Low, Sweet Chariot, and This Little Light of Mine, redone with a fresh voice and a Blue Grass pulse [did you just start singing them in your head?]  I was going to try to tell you which song is my favorite and sat here re-listening to the entire album, but I like them all for different reasons, so you lose and I will make you decide for yourself.


Want a sampling or to get your own?  Go here.  Or you can come over and listen to ours, but you'll have to dance, too.  

Not only is the music fantastic, but the photography and videos of the album are phenomenal.

enjoy.  

you're welcome.