The world is full of amazing things to eat. Different parts of the world offer different spices, textures and tastes. Recipes and ideas vary not only from region to region but from family to family. We are truly limited only by our imagination. That is why I wanted to share stories about people and food. Kolpona is the Bangla word for imagination, and since I’m from Bangladesh it seemed like a great fit!
When my grandmother passed away several years ago, many of her amazing recipes were lost since in my part of the world everything is very oral. Most great cooks just cook. They don’t bother to measure anything, they create. The results are delicious but sometimes the lack of written recipes means that when someone passes away those amazing dishes disappear. I’d love to eat some of my Grandma’s “special” dishes again just because the tastes and smells brings back great memories. I lost a part of my heritage because nobody in my family wrote down any recipes. I’m hoping to change that. I am making an effort to write down things that my mom and aunts cook and quantify them into recipes. I married a wonderful man from the Caribbean, I’ve lived and traveled in many different parts of the world and in each place I’ve enjoyed the variety of foods. I’ve found that making a delicious meal and sharing it with people around you is one of life’s rare pleasures. So… I’ve made a new resolution to write down things that I cook. It’s annoying. It takes time and effort but in the end, I think it will be good to leave a legacy of food behind. Life tastes good!
Great job Tahmina! Can’t wait to try some of these recipes… Gotta get my baking on point!
Do let us know when your efforts are done and you make one of those recipes.
Very nicely written! And so true – I also have to learn my grandmother’s recipes before it is too late…
Hi Tahmina! Hope all is well with you. I think your blog is very lovely, so here is the Lovely Blog Award for you :)
http://insearchofperfect.com/2012/08/19/how-stella-got-her-groove-back/
Thank you,
Yulia
It’s been awhile since you’ve posted a recipe. I hope all is well.
Namaste Desi Chick, I hope all flows well. I see your baking at the minute, great looking goods. We love you over here in the beach house, your food is so packed full of flavour and energy. We’ve voted you for a ‘Lovely Blogger Award’, see here – http://thebeachhousekitchen.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/beach-house-kitchen-voted-for-one-lovely-blog-award/. We hope it brings many new good folk into your ‘desi’ world. Well deserved and so true of your blog! I look forward to cooking some of your Bengali delights. Happiness, lee and jane
Nice blog! Mom’s food is always the best :)
Great food is always tied with great memories. Thanks so much for visiting this little blog!
It does take a lot longer to create and cook a dish when you are measuring and writing. The end result is great though…you can now pass on your dishes to family and friends in the blogging world.
It has had unexpected benefits. I started it in part to write things down and in part because I teach some nutrition classes at the University of Utah and needed an electronic site for the times we use the kitchen and do world cuisine. I was surprised to have readers beyond my students and immediate family! :)
Hi there … been following you for a while and I just thought I’d let you know I added your blog to my ‘blogroll’ links…
Thank you so much. What an honor!
I love the philosophy behind your blog. To me, mum always has the best recipes, and it’s definitely a shame to let all these wisdoms go to waste. really enjoy indian food, so I’m enjoying your recipes so far! great blog, keep up the brlliant work (:
Thank you so much!
Hey Luna apa, here there is another wedding in the family around July. Got the news from Nadia.
and yes while reading the indonesian chicken curry recipe i remembered about the indonesian egg curry that ryan likes a lot! me too a foodie like you :). can you pl share the recipe .Thanks
Excellent
Yes! I’m super excited for these two recipes. I myself am trying to shed a little winter weight. I’ve done P90x and Insanity in the past, Both awesome. I’m also always looking for a good fish recipe. Thanks for all your efforts!
You should also try those pizzas on the grill I posted the other day. It’s right up your alley!
PS – Do you make your own paneer? I’d love some tips.
Yes I do. Here’s the post http://kolpona.com/2012/04/20/paneer-101-how-to-make-your-own-cheese-for-fun-and-profit/
Try it out and let me know. It’s pretty easy.
This all looks amazing! Bravo. I am missing food with spice here in Wales, I have to cook my own. Happy blogging, Lee….www.thebeachhousekitchen.wordpress.com
Thank for coming over to the brown side and looking around! :)
That is great ! grandma’s recipes are always the best! They are treasure that you need to safeguard for generations!
Agreed!!
This is a great post. I’ve been pretty good about writing down my recipes – now I just have to figure out how to organize them. Right now, there are just piles of them on my desk! :)
Nice blog!
P.S. loved your tagline..haha! So True :)
Thank you for coming by to check things out!
I’m with you! Plus, I like the idea of amassing recipes that I know well in one place, so that when I can’t think of anything it’s all there! I take a picture of new recipes too!
It takes time but it’s worth it. Loved your blog by the way!
What a gorgeous site!! Guess I need to loosen the belt and dig in some :)
Thank you so much for coming by my little blog. I really enjoyed looking around yours!! I have so much to learn!
You and me, both! But that’s part of the fun, right? :) I can’t wait to see more of your creations. And I was just considering making palak paneer (one of my favorites) this evening so now I may try to make my own cheese!
My 15 year old son made the Edam crackers today…they turned out so well, I seriously doubt we will be buying many crackers in the future. We are eating them with hummus, and we are finding that there are few things that taste better!
Okay, we have to come up with more cracker combinations. The possibilities are endless!
So true – I love cooking and I’ve cooking since a long time – but most of the time I can never tell my friends as well how I did this. Thankfully now I’ve started writing up… better late than never. So what if it is for my blog – I could have kept everything myself – right?
Hi! I really enjoy your blog so I am giving you the “Kreative Blogger Award” that I had given to me. Congratulations & great BLOG! http://foodashion.com/
Wow, Thanks Tasha. I am so honored, especially since I think your blog is so awesome!
Thanks so much!
Tahmina, you’re recipes are awesome, we are definitely missing the cooking sessions in class. I made the roasted pepper pesto the other night. It was good but I felt like I wanted to add something to spice it up and equalize the sweetness of the peppers, any suggestions?
Also can you post the recipes for the spinach artichoke dip and the chicken skewers you mentioned in class.
Thanks for all the effort you put into your blog and bringing new meals into my home.
I usually add a bunch of the spinach pesto to that as well (I posted that earlier). I make a big batch and freeze it in little baggies and often throw it in when I’m making the pepper pesto. That gives it an added flavor punch. If you have extra basil handy that will work well too.
love this
love your blog
EZ
Thank you, please come by and visit again. And I’m going to be looking for more Croatian inspired foods from you!
Roasted Sweet Pepper Pesto and Chicken Pasta sounds amazing! Wanna try it soon! : )
Thanks, let me know how it turns out, I’d love to hear!
Made the Lemon Rice, took just moments and is completely delicious!! These recipes are now my answer to “What’s for dinner?”
That is so awesome! I’m so glad you tried the rice.
Indeed it is best to write down recipes as you remember them. Time flies, new recipes come but there will always be longing for the old familiar comfort food that brings back memories of time past. ;-)
Congrats on everything Aunty!!! So glad I have a quick reference when my mom doesn’t remember certain recipies. The bakes caught my eye!!! I am looking forward to see if one of my fav dishes that you use to make me pops up on here.
You should sign up to follow it that way you’ll get alerts. I’m glad the bakes caught your eye. When you make them let me know how it turns out!!
Love you blog Tahmina. I have already tried your onion dill bread and your mac. and cheese.
Thanks Aqui! I’m so excited that you tried some of my food, it means a lot to me!
Hi Tahmina, your recipes look lovely and delicious. I will sure be trying them out. Thank you for “the like” on my blog at lizascooking.wordpress.com. Looking forward to reading more on your blog.
Thanks Liza!
Honored you included me as an invited guest to your new blog. I have not be a blogger in the past but my husband reads many cooking sites. My brother-in-law is a professional chef and I thought I would sent him a note to get his comments. Another friend is a professional software designer, perhaps he will have some comments also.
Hi Dorothy!! I could use all the help I can get since I’m so new to the blogging thing.
My lil betty crocker !!!!
That’s “Brown Betty Crocker” to you!
Love ya girl !! Good Luck !!
Hey girlfriend !! You are my lil betty crocker ! An excellent one at that!!! Hope you win!!!
Tahmina–so glad to be your friend! I love your cooking! Amazing and wonderful and succulent and delicious and savory and . . . !!!!!!
So blessed to be your friend as well! we need to inaugurate your kitchen soon!!
Great idea Tamina, and as always, very creative in concept. Looking forward to staying conncected through this project. This will be my first blog.
Yay Joan, so excited you’re on “board” – you know you’re one of my heros!
This is amazing! I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. glad you got it set up. this will probably be my “recipe book”.
Yay! Let me know if there’s anything specific you want and I’ll get that posted. I need a good photographer for my pics, if only you lived closer!
Yum!!!!!!! My mouth is watering and it’s only 10:00 AM!?! Thanks for the heads-up on your food blog, Tahmina – I’m looking forward to following the blog and trying-out your recipes!
Thanks Joel!
Good job TSM. If I follow your blog I can start having some variety in the kitchen so keep going. As always you are leading the pack.
Patrick
You’re right, Tahmina. As I read through these recipes, I can almost taste it and I’m reminded of good times, sitting around your table laughing and sharing stories with some AMAZING people. Thank you for sharing these with us. I can’t wait to pass your recipes in to a new crowd!
If we can’t sit together physically, at least we can share good food virtually my friend!
Congratulations!! This site looks awesome. I will certainly try the delicious recipes!!
Thanks Ritu Apu! I’m so glad I have you as a “follower”! Whoo Hoo!
Hey !! Congrats , this is a very pleasant surprise!
Looking forward to some yummy recipes. :)
I am so glad you are doing this. What a wonderful legacy and way to honor your heritage! :)
Thanks Kathy!
Hey Tahmina I know you are a great cook and now you are helping me and others to learn from you..looking forward for more yummy recipes….