We are going to Thirupathi for Sriram's mottai and ear-piercing ceremony. Hope we get darshan without much hassle.

M.S. Subbulaxmi's demise was one of the incidents that shook me hard. She was a great legend and a devotee. We can keep listening to her 'Katrinile varum geetham' and 'Sabhaapathikku' forever. Though I'm not a great carnatic music lover, I've been listening to her songs for a long time now. Too bad, she had to pass away. That also brought a thought onto my mind. No matter how rich or intelligent a person is, only the good things that he/she did remains after one dies.

Today I went to the passport office to file passport for Sriram. The whole procedure was hassle free. I was out within two hours. A government office working efficiently is surely a good sign.

Today's recipe...

Potato, Pasta and Pesto soup

Cooking Time : 18 mins.Preparation Time : 10 mins.Serves 4.

Ingredients

1 cup potato, peeled and finely chopped
1/2 cup carrots, peeled and finely chopped
1 cup onions, finely chopped
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons macaroni or shell pasta
1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped
2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

To be ground into a pesto

12 to 14 basil leaves
2 or 3 walnuts, halved
1 large clove garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil or oil

For the garnish

4 tablespoons grated cheese

How To Proceed

1.Heat the butter in a pan, add the potato, carrots and onions and sauté for about 3 to 4 minutes.
2.Add the milk, macaroni, 2 cups of hot water, salt and pepper and simmer for about 10 to 12 minutes until the pasta is cooked.
3.Just before serving, reheat the soup, add the parsley, prepared pesto and mix well.
4.Serve hot, topped with the cheese.

Handy tip(s) :
1.You can add 2 teaspoons of ready pesto instead of the paste mentioned above. Add the pesto just before you serve the soup as it will retain its colour