An Indian Food Blog
Maple Masala Paal
The trees towered above them. The canopy stood high above and dwarfed Poet and Flower. Flower was carefully carrying a a very full bucket of sap when plop, she tripped over her feet and fell into a sweet, sticky mountain of maple sap.
The latest recipes.
I'm an Old Mom - Masala French Toast
I'm an old mom. I wasn't twenty-nine or thirty. I was older when Poet and Flower were born. Or, in medical terms, I was what doctors refer to as advanced maternal age or AMA. Written in big capital letters in all my medical records from pregnancy. What does that even mean?
How to Beat the Heat - Rose Lassi
Poet and Flower sat slumped on the bench. It was hot, very hot. After a rainy spring, the weekend turned out to be warm and sunny. It sounded like the perfect day to spend outdoors, running around and burning off all that little kid energy. But nobody was prepared for the heat.
Who Are We? - Coconut Banana Bread
Mom? Flower was almost asleep but said the word softly, checking gently if I was still there or had quietly slipped out of the room. And for an odd moment, I thought she was talking to someone else. But there was no one else, just me. I'm mom.
The Allure of the Claw - Shrimp with Green Bananas
"The claw is our master." It is one of my favorite lines from the movie Toy Story. Those cute little aliens are looking up at the claw while in the giant toy machine. They don't realize the menace in this giant claw. The claw machine is one of my favorites at the arcade. It has the same powerful draw for me as for the little aliens. Maybe we all look up to the sky for different reasons.
I Want to Go to Claire's - Seviyan ki Burfi
Flower was not enthusiastic about the tattoo parlor. Why would a little kid want to go to a tattoo parlor anyway? Flower had approached us suddenly, saying she wanted her ears pierced.
We Are All Artists - Kachumber Salad
What makes someone an artist? One thing is for certain, I have never thought of myself as an artist. Or at least until now. For the longest time, I was a daughter or sister. And then a physician, which has been a big part of my identity. But recently, that has changed. Which makes me thing about we view ourselves and a question about identity.
Learning Through Others - Better Weeknight Kheema
We learn through our children. A friend said it recently. I hadn't heard that phrase in years, but I knew I had heard it somewhere. It took some time and reaching way back in my book of memories, and it came to me. It was something my mother said too. I've never really thought about it until now. And perhaps it is true in many ways.
What is Hygge? - Kaali Mirchi ka Chaar (Tomato Pepper Rasam)
Hygge. Or hoo-gah. It's the Danish word for a sense of cozy contentment. Or, more simply, it means the joy of the little things and being together. G first mentioned this last winter, when we were shuttered in our house, just us, distancing from friends and doing too many things over zoom.
Are We the In-Between? - Lemon Bars with Jaggery
Are we the in-between? I am an Indian American, more than one foot in the US, but with culture and roots from India. A place that I barely know, only a handful of visits during my childhood, and many stories and traditions from my parents.
A Little Bit of Speed - Spicy Hush Puppies
The hill sprawled out in front of us. Poet and Flower couldn't wait. We spent the weekend snow tubing. It was their first snowy adventure. We haven't had any snow this season, a dusting here and there, but no more.
The Big Crash - Spinach Bhaji
There was a big crash! Poet and Flower came home with huge news. They couldn't contain themselves, and the words poured out. Their friend had been in a car accident. No one was hurt, and he was ok, but this was something new for them. They detailed how he had been on his way to their favorite park, Bumpy Slide Park.
It Was't Supposed to Be This Way - Overnight Oats
It wasn't supposed to be this way. I hear this from my patients, from friends, and I realize that it is also a little voice inside my head.
Hi! I’m Sameena
Welcome! I'm Sameena. I'm a physician by day, mom on call round-the-clock and avid cook. Poet and Flower is an Indian food blog celebrating my passion for food and family. I learned to cook in my mother's kitchen. My kids, Poet and Flower, are both the inspiration for the blog and the main distraction which keeps me from it.

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