Skip to content
chocolate bar on white table

Describe your dream chocolate bar.

At 56, my wallet isn’t the only thing keeping me from my favorite chocolate bar. My family geneslaced with generous helpings of diabetes, high cholesterol, and fatty liverhave put a strict “no indulgence” sign on my cravings. But that doesn’t stop my mind from wandering to those decadent treats now and then. You know the kind: studded with crunchy nuts on top, hiding a gooey, melt-in-your-mouth center. The ones that start with a satisfying snap and end with you fishing bits from your teeth for hours. Pure bliss. Chocolates are time machines. One bite, and I’m a kid againcarefree, with no bills, no doctor’s appointments, just the joy of sneaking an extra piece from the pantry. Those creamy, nutty bars were my childhood heroes, each bite a tiny rebellion against bedtime or chores. Of course, the world now offers “healthy” chocolates for folks like me. I tried one oncea dark,… Describe your dream chocolate bar.

Dall Khichdi

My special dish

If I had to pick one dish as my special dish, it would be khichdi. This South Asian comfort food, made from rice and lentils, is one of the first solid meals we’re introduced to as kids. Maybe that’s why, later in life, we tend to turn to it when we’re pressed for time or need something soothing during recovery from an illness. The beauty of its cooking process lies in its simplicityespecially when I’m cooking for myself, like I am right now. Here’s how I make it: I start with a glass of basmati rice and an equal amount of mixed lentils, using the same glass for both. After rinsing them thoroughly (my wife insists three washes is the magic number), I soak them for about 30 minutes. Once they’re ready, I transfer the mixture to a pressure cooker, add salt to taste, and cook it just like rice.… My special dish