the veggie with the worst reputation

Brussels sprouts, which before this post I thought they were called brussel sprouts, probably have the worst reputation ever, besides maybe meatloaf. Growing up, my mom never made them, thus they were never a part of my life. Little did I know, I had been missing out. Not only are they filling, but when marinated and tossed with other delicious ingredients, they can be an entire meal, a late night feastly snack, and even a food that I crave on a weekly, sometimes daily, basis.

With the help of a few recipes, I have created my own brussels sprouts that will change your life [okay that's a bit dramatic, but they'll definitely change your opinion on them].
*disclaimer: they smell like...well... not great... when you're cooking them; but don't be deterred! 

Ingredients:

Brussels sprouts, olive oil, thyme,

everyday seasoning [Trader Joe's], salt,

diced onion, sliced toasted almonds &

parmesan cheese

Wash and cut brussels sprouts in half. Blanch brussels sprouts in boiling water for two minutes. Put 1/4 cup olive oil in a bowl and add everyday seasoning, thyme and salt to taste. Dice onions and add to olive oil mixture. When brussels sprouts are slightly soft from the blanching, put on a cookie sheet and generously spread olive oil/onion mixture so that each sprout is coated. Cook on 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Add sliced almonds to the top and cook for five more minutes. Once finished, top with parmesan cheese and serve.

fashionably late new year's resolutions

After a longer than planned hiatus from my blog, I'm back. Happily settled back in San Diego, I got the job of my dreams working as a marketing coordinator [but on the content side of things where I'm able to write travel articles weekly] and moved into an adorable place in North Park, arguably the best neighborhood for feasting. instead of recapping the past few months, I'll sum them up with one word: change. Coming back from the trip of a lifetime in India was a change; moving back to the city I went to college in [minus many of my closest friends] was a change; paying rent and other bills has been a strangely positive change that has made me feel strong and independent; and the list goes on. though I've never really made, let alone stuck to, new year's resolutions, I decided that this year would be different. this year would be the year I'd do everything I've been wanting to do for a while, but didn't have time for because of the busyness and the seriously good time that is...college. but this year, this year will be different, and I call it [cue the laughter]:

twenty-twelve: the year of the allie

buy local and support local businesses

take calcium supplements

['cause this girl won't be drinking a tall glass of milk anytime soon]

remove artificial sweeteners from my life

[and replace with agave nectar]

learn to knit

find a piano to play

run a half marathon

buy only things i really need

save money for a trip

get my finances together so i can donate to bethel

[aka my indian nuggets]

call my grandmother weekly

stop texting and driving
respond to "how are you" with "i'm well" instead of "i'm good"

take care of me
[and be a tad spiffier]

so far, i'm proud to say that I have had my first knitting lesson [I'm working on a tea cozie], I carry a bottle of agave in my purse to ensure I never have to use sweet n' low in my iced tea ever again and I joined a gym [a fancy one] in order to help motivate me to be healthier and train for, first, a 15K, and eventually a half marathon.

In addition, I'm currently in the midst of a month-long "trial" of veganism with two of my favorite people/neighbors and I'd say it's going well.

All in all, I feel good about this year. Things are looking good.

whoa whoa whoaaa

So... I'm not in India anymore. This is weird.

I feel like the past few weeks have been a complete whirlwind. I left India and jetted off to Madrid, where I spent three incredible days walking with no purpose around the city, taking the metro to random stops I hadn't ever been to before and spending quality, Spanish-speaking time with one of my favorite people in the world: Concha. After Madrid, I came "home" to Tahoe for a few days and then headed down to the bay to see Lauren, where we spent a few days doing nothing productive and indulging in some of my favorite "American" activities (nail-painting, lululemon-shopping, Cheesecake Factory-eating... the usual). Now, I've been back in Tahoe a few days and will be heading to San Diego on Wednesday to search/beg for a job.

Since my life seems to be moving at a hundred miles per hour (thanks Tinchy Stryder for that one), I've had some time to reflect on my Indian experience. As I scroll through my millions of pictures, I look at them like I'm looking at someone elses' life. "Did that all just happen? Did I really get stranded in Bangkok and have to aggressively fight my way back into India? Did I really live without A/C and a shower for almost five months?" It all seems like a dream. But mostly, the question I've been asking myself is, "Do I really have to get a job? Can't I just travel the world forever and forget about living a cookie cutter life?" Of course that answer is easy. But after this experience, it's not that I just want to travel. As the child of a flight attendant and self-proclaimed gypsy, I've been traveling since I was in the womb and haven't really stopped since. But what I've found, only recently, that is even more exhilarating and amazing than just traveling, is traveling with a purpose.

So this might be the end, for now, of my India posts, but stay tuned. I can promise I'll be on another adventure soon (cross your fingers, South America) and in the mean time, I'll be reflecting on my Indian adventure here and, per usual, intermittently posting about my latest and greatest creations in the kitchen.

Namaste (though sadly not from India)

the end for now

For some reason, I was a little nervous heading back to Nuggetville (the orphanage). I didn't know how I was going to feel, leaving just a few days after my return. I anticipated feeling guilty and torn, with the conflicting thoughts of wanting to stay but also feeling satisfied and finished with my work. I was happy, though, when I returned to the smiling faces of the wonderful nuns and all of the eager children, dying to see pictures of the Taj Mahal and all of my travels. This was just yet another situation that brought me down to earth and made me think, again for the milionth time, I am so lucky. Here I am in their country and me, the American, gets to see their country's pride and joy... along with several other cities (I felt almost embarrassed rattling off the list of places I had visited), yet all of them, who have lived in India their entire lives might never see life outside of this little village, let alone the Taj Mahal. That made me sad but also fueled my desire to change that... and with the Miracle Foundation's help, these children will be well on their way.

  

Slight obsession

 

Cuties, Annusha and Shubustri

Today, I said my goodbyes to the nuns and children. I spoke with Sister Lilly about sponsoring Santhosh, so hopefully that will be in the works and I'll be able to monetarily support him (once I get a job) and receive updates on his progress in school etc. Though it broke my heart to leave him and all of the kids, I also had a feeling of hope and excitement in my heart, knowing that I'd be back in a few years to visit and see all of the progress the orphanage will have made, especially now with the help of the incredible Miracle Foundation. Though the children really didn't understand why I had to leave ("Why would you leave?" "Can't you stay here forever? At least a few years?"), I think they saw it in my eyes that this was not the end of my relationship with them, but merely the beginning. I think of this trip as just a sneak peak into the ongoing relationship I will have with this orphanage and India in general for probably the rest of my life.

 

My main man

        

A child after my own heart

         

                  

"Allie, mam, hip hip hooray!"

Even before I came to India, the country had a special place in my heart. Now that I've lived, worked and seen the harshness in which these people live in every day, and experienced, first hand, what it's like to watch a population of people truly trying to survive each day, India is and will continue to occupy my thoughts and take up even more space in my heart than I thought possible.

And even though I have only a couple dollars in my bank account and I have no idea what the future holds for me, it's comforting to know that regardless of where I end up or what I end up doing, India will be in it.

 

Post sob fest with my bestie, Bakkiam

 

Colombians

 

Quishar

 

SANTHOSH

 

My nuggets

Thank you to everyone who supported me in this journey. This trip was far from easy but as everyone told me from the beginning, sometimes the hardest things are the most rewarding, and I couldn't agree more. Thank you for all of the texts, emails and Facebook messages, rooting me on entire way, I couldn't have done it without you.


I truly believe with my whole heart and soul that one person can make a difference, and that it is our moral imperative as human beings to help other human beings who unfortunately were not born with the same rights or privileges as you and me. 


I encourage you all to visit www.miraclefoundation.org to learn more about this unique organization that is literally changing lives all around India. There, you'll have to opportunity to monetarily donate or even better give just 10 days of your life to travel to India and meet this precious children in person.


"Be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi

Namaste!

delhicious

The past three days I spent having the time of my life in Delhi with... MY DAD! Thankfully, even though my plans had changed, my dad was still able to come over and share in the Indian experience with me. Though I was sad he couldn't make it down south to see the orphanage, I'm thankful we got to spend some time together in Delhi.

After a semi-miserable overnight train ride (let's just say the employees were terribly offensive and bothersome the entire six hours), I arrived in Delhi at 5:30 a.m. I took the surprisingly clean and efficient metro and met up with Dad at our hotel. Though we were both tired, we didn't want to give up a precious day to napping, so we started out into the city. We saw the Red Fort...

 

...several markets and ultimately ended up at a cute cafe with two Kingfishers.

Growing more and more exhausted, we headed back to the hotel to relax.
The next day we ventured to the Lotus Temple, a pretty grand site, to say the least...

 

...did more shopping in Saket and ended our day with a huge Indian feast at our hotel's restaurant, Zune.

 

 

Cool door handle...

 

Appetizer...

  

Garlic naan to die for

  

Dal, duh

Though the trip was a short one, it was really fun to spend some time with my dad, who I rarely get one on one time with. It was nice to be able to share our love for India and traveling together (I definitely know where I get my traveling skills from now).

Today (but in real time two days ago), I head back to the orphanage to pack up and say my goodbyes. Though I'm not looking forward the sob fest that it will be (MOSTLY I WILL MISS SANTHOSH SO MUCH), I'm eager to get to Madrid and ultimately home to my family and friends (...oh yeah, and the dreaded job search...EEK!)