Festival Foods Ad – Contact me. I’ll provide Meta and Google Ads.
Sundays often feel like the calm before the storm for many working professionals. After a week filled with deadlines, meetings, and responsibilities, Sunday provides a rare opportunity to relax, recharge, and spend time with those who matter. But Sunday is not just a day; it’s a chance to connect with friends, indulge in food that brings joy, and savor moments that will help you power through the next week with a smile.
Importance of Sunday for Working Professionals
For most of us, the workweek can feel like a never-ending cycle of tasks and obligations. Mondays to Saturdays can be busy and stressful, leaving little room for personal connections or relaxation. But Sunday offers a chance to slow down. It’s a day where we can step away from our work environment, shift gears, and focus on self-care.
It’s the perfect day to connect with friends, engage in activities that bring joy, and even cook a meal together. This time to unwind, recharge, and bond over shared experiences is not just crucial for personal well-being, but it also directly influences your energy and motivation for the upcoming week.
Sundays are no longer just the last day of the week; they have become a precious time for reflection, celebration, and recharging your mental batteries.
Food is Not Just Calories; It’s Happiness, It’s an Emotion, It’s an festival foods
Food has a deeper significance than just fueling our bodies. The meals we share with others often carry emotional weight, connecting us to memories, traditions, and bonds we cherish. Cooking together, especially after a long week of work, is not just about the calories; it’s about the experience, the joy, and the connection that food fosters.
When friends come together to prepare a meal, it’s a beautiful act of cooperation and celebration. Whether it’s chopping vegetables, stirring pots, or choosing ingredients, the process is just as important as the final dish. The laughter shared, the stories told, and the creativity in the kitchen create an atmosphere of warmth and togetherness.
At the end of the day, food transcends nutrition—it becomes an expression of love and happiness. It’s the feeling of belonging, the comfort of shared moments, and the reminder that life is more than just work.
It Wasn’t a Perfect Preparation for Cooking, but It Was Really Better Food | festival foods
There’s something magical about spontaneous cooking, especially when you don’t follow a strict recipe. Sure, there might not have been a well-thought-out preparation, and maybe the kitchen wasn’t as organized as it could have been. But the beauty of it is in the imperfection.
In fact, the best meals often come from the most unplanned moments. A dash of this, a pinch of that—cooking together doesn’t have to be perfect. The joy is in the process, and the results are often surprisingly delicious.
Sometimes the best dishes are born out of creativity, laughter, and a little bit of chaos. Whether it’s a mishap with spices or an ingredient substitution, these moments add character to the meal and make it even more memorable. The imperfections only add to the authenticity and the fun.
Recipes to Savor: Fish Fry, Crab Gravy, and Chicken Gravy
A rustic Sunday cooking experience on a wood fire with friends
Nothing bonds friends better than cooking together — especially when the aroma of spicy masala mingles with the earthy scent of wood smoke. Cooking over a wood fire isn’t just about food; it’s about patience, teamwork, and laughter. Let’s walk through the full process — right from cleaning the ingredients to serving that flavorful, home-style meal.
Step 1: Cleaning and Preparation
Fish:
Choose fresh fish like seer fish, pomfret, or tilapia.
Wash thoroughly with clean water. Rub a little turmeric and salt on the fish, rinse again to remove the raw smell.
Keep aside to drain excess water.
Crabs:
Clean live crabs properly — remove the shell top, clean the inside, and rinse well in salt water.
Crack the claws slightly so the masala can seep in while cooking.
Chicken:
Use country chicken (naatu kozhi) for the best flavor.
Cut into medium pieces, wash with turmeric and salt water to remove any odor.
Drain completely before marinating.
Step 2: Preparing the Masala Base
Common Masala Paste (for all dishes):
Grind together:
2 onions
1 tomato
1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
1 tbsp red chili powder
1 tsp turmeric
1 tbsp coriander powder
1 tsp cumin seeds
A handful of fresh curry leaves
2 tbsp fresh coconut (optional for extra thickness)
Add a little water and grind into a thick paste.
Step 3: Marination and Masala Coating
Fish Marinade:
Take the cleaned fish.
In a bowl, mix red chili powder, turmeric, crushed garlic, lemon juice, and salt.
Add a spoon of the ground masala paste for deeper flavor.
Rub this mixture all over the fish gently.
Let it rest for at least 30–45 minutes so the masala seeps into every fiber.
Chicken Marinade:
Mix the remaining masala paste with curd (about 3 tbsp).
Add salt, a little pepper, and 1 tsp garam masala.
Coat the chicken well and leave it to marinate for 1 hour.
Crabs:
Mix the cleaned crabs with the same masala base, add a little coconut milk and a handful of coriander.
Marinate for 20–30 minutes.
Step 4: Cooking on Wood Fire
The magic begins here!
Gather dry firewood — neem, mango, or tamarind wood give the best aroma. Set up a traditional clay stove or a small outdoor pit.
For Fish Fry:
Heat a thick iron tawa or flat pan over the wood fire.
Add 2–3 tbsp of coconut oil (or groundnut oil).
Once hot, gently place the marinated fish on the tawa.
Cook on low flame — the wood fire gives slow, even heat that crisps the outer layer beautifully.
Flip after 5–6 minutes and cook the other side.
Once both sides turn golden brown, remove and place on banana leaves.
Squeeze fresh lime on top and garnish with sliced onions.
👉 Enjoyment Moment: The crackling sound, smoky aroma, and laughter of friends around the fire make this fish fry more than just food — it’s pure happiness.
For Chicken Gravy:
In another clay pot, heat oil and add cinnamon, cloves, and bay leaf.
Add sliced onions and sauté until caramelized.
Add marinated chicken pieces and fry for a few minutes on high flame.
Pour in 1–2 cups of water depending on how thick you want the gravy.
Let it cook slowly over the wood fire for 25–30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Once the oil separates and chicken is tender, add chopped coriander and a spoon of ghee for flavor.
👉 Enjoyment Moment: The smoky wood aroma infuses the chicken with a rustic charm that no modern stove can replicate. Eat it hot with rice or chapati — pure heaven!
Step 5: The Feast
Spread banana leaves on the floor, serve the fish fry, crab gravy, and chicken gravy along with hot rice or kappa (tapioca).
Sit together, eat with your hands, and enjoy the food you made as a team. The taste of smoke, spice, and friendship lingers long after the plates are empty.
One Day is Not Just One Day – It’s 24 Hours to Enjoy Life
It’s easy to let life slip by in the hustle of work and responsibilities. But Sunday reminds us that life is about more than just getting through the week. It’s about enjoying each moment, embracing the people around us, and appreciating the small things that make life beautiful.
So, let’s not let Sunday pass by like any other day. It’s a special time to celebrate—whether it’s through food, laughter, or simply being with friends. Take those 24 hours and savor them. One day is not just one day; it’s a gift. Embrace it fully, recharge, and enjoy every bit of it, because before you know it, the workweek will be back again.
Remember, life is too short not to celebrate the little joys, and sometimes, all you need is good food, great friends, and the freedom to enjoy your life to the fullest. Happy Sunday!