Back from the world of high-street botox, designer dogs and leapord-print everything that is Cannes, I am basking in a warm glow that is a fabulous sun tan.
But until recently, I was more likely to carry a Victorian parasol in the sun for fear of catching colour than bake on a beach for hours a day.
I blame my grandmothers. When I was growing up in India, they considered a sun tan to be the third vice, after alcohol and cigarettes, exclaiming after my Goan holiday: “Look how dark you are. Who will marry you??”
Not like this was ever going to put me off tanning for long (or anything else for that matter).
But two generations later, my sister greets me at home yesterday with: “Oh my God, look how dark you are. Use yogurt and lemon juice right now!”
Scary, that. It would both cool and bleach my skin right back to normal. But I’m not sure I want to steep myself in a chicken tikka marinade just yet…
Actually, I was already basking in a warm glow when I left for Cannes.
Despite missing every single food blog event, posting intermittently and blogging only when time permits, I have been deemed worthy of not one but two blog awards! A real honour if I can spot one!
So I am now a thoughtful blogger thanks to Sandeepa of Bong Mom’s Cookbook.
And then I got a Rockin’ Girl Blogger award from Sra of When My Soup Came Alive.
Thanks ladies. It certainly makes it all the more worthwhile. As do all the lovely comments, sometimes fraught, about this, that and the other in recipes.
I’ll be back to blogging about food tomorrow. But here are my nominations for the awards:
Meena of Hooked on Heat, Sam of Becks & Posh, Nandita of Saffron Trail and Michelle of The Maltese Bacon are my Rockin’ Girl Bloggers.
Kathryn of Limes and Lycopene, Coffee of The Spice Cafe, Bee of Jugalbandi and Wendy at A Wee Bit of Cooking are my Thoughtful bloggers.
I could nominate Asha of Foodie’s Hope for both, but then she has already received the award 100 times over as she well deserves it.
And a special mention for Mangs, who diligently tries almost all the vegetarian recipes on this site and is on the verge of pissing off her Halal Indian cornershop with her queries. Hang in there buddy…
14 Comments
LOL!! I know! We are always told to avoid the Sun not for safety but for skin color!! While at the beach, I saw white people literally frying themselves the whole day! ;D Enjoy the awards and thank you for your appreciation too. Hugs!:)
Hello Mallika, Congratulations for the award !!!!
Congrats for the awards! first time here. nice blog mallika! Now you should see the TV commercials in India! even men have fairness cream!!
Congrats on the awards ! You rock! and think too
aww. mallika, thanks. you were missed. your awards are thoroughly deserved. i’ve been snooping around when you were away. pissing off the halal indian cornershop? lol.
Hey, you’re back… Now get cooking! ;o)
Congrats on the awards, and thanks for the nomination too!
“catching colour” - nice phrase, is that an Indian phrase transliterated into English? chicken tikka marinade -
Awww, thank you! You really cheered me up and I TOTALLY needed it tonight.
xx
First time to ur blog… love ur style of writing.. cracked me up
Welcome back and congrats on your awards!
By the way, I made your channa salad (substituting white beans and lime juice because I have pesky food allergies to lemon and chickpeas). I LOVED it! I so wanted to lick my bowl (but I was at work)! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Hi Mallika,
First time here, you have a rocking blog here with all wonderful recipes….Congrats for your awards
It’s only in India that people comment on my skin tone (whether it’s lighter or darker than usual). People in India were always shocked when I declared that the most beautiful girl in my circle of friends was my best friend from Kerala with dark brown skin - but she was exquisite and in the UK people would have been fawning all over her.
wow congrats on your award . keep it up baby.
Mallika, thank you so much. I’ve had my head down over the last couple of weeks and only just realised you’ve included me in your awards ceremony. Thank you so much.