this past weekend marked a semi-big birthday for me but for the first year, i didn't care to celebrate in a big way. instead, i went out for dinner with my sweetie and my two oldest, best friends in the evening (ending in drunken karoke at 4am. karoke, i think you and i have finally officially broken up…) and earlier that day, my parents and aunt offered to host and cook for a couple of my cousins if i wanted to invite them to my house over lunch. they made "just a few things".
pictured above, left to right, from top: jackfruit cutlets, white-curry cabbbage, rice sticks w/ egg, fried potatoes, pickled chilies and shallots, papdums, caramalized onion sambol, "yellow" rice w/ fried shallots and eggs, eggplant, cashew nut curry, fried bean mallum, salmon cutlets (traditional filling for the non-veg guets)
i ate. and i ate. and then i drank a lot. and of course there was more eating. and much champagne! a low-key but rich and pampered birthday. the people that love me, love me a lot and i was reminded of that. anytime your house is filled with friends and family who really support you, and your plate is filled like mine below, you're in a very good place. i'm grateful. it's going to be another delicious year.
