First times are always memorable – like when I had an aerated drink (Thumbs Up) for the first time.

TV ads showed incredible feats being acheived with a bottle of Thumbs Up in your hand. The adventuress in me was determined not be left behind. With my brother’s unconditional support, I begged and bugged my father till he relented. There was a condition though – that we two have to finish the bottle. Hardly a challenge!

How excited we were to have this cool drink in our hand, so like the movie star Salman Khan! Except we were only half his height and 1/3rd his age then. Still, we were cool.

I smugly took a sip from the bottle – that’s when the smile in my face was wiped off. The cola was too strong for me. I quickly passed the bottle to my brother. He had a sip, passed it back to me double quick. The harassed look in my father’s face was was slowly being replaced by laughter! The quick exchange of the bottle between us was what he had predicted earlier. After ten minutes of drinking and the bottle still being full, father finally took it from our hands, kept it back and brought us home.

Now, when I see Bebo – who is not even five, downing the ‘black juice’ (Coke) without any problem, I wonder…

Like the Thumbs Up, I had a troubled start with Tofu too. Thank god, for the internet and the flavorsome recipes I found online, tofu is now a favorite. This recipe is adapted from here.

Ingredients:

Tofu                                  : 1 pack
Vegetable Broth          : 6 tbsp
Tomato Ketchup         : 2 tbsp
Balsamic Vinegar        : 4 tsp
Soy sauce                       : 2 tsp
Oil                                      : 1 tsp
Corn Flour                     : 1/2 tsp
Crushed Chili Flakes  : 1 tsp

Method:

1. Dice the Tofu and shallow fry until all the sides are brown. Keep aside.
2. Mix the broth, ketchup, vinegar, soy sauce, corn flour, oil and chili flakes together. Heat for a minute in a pan, till the raw smell of corn flour goes away.
3. Add the diced tofu. Serve with white rice or fried rice.

Linked to Cook It Healthy – Proteinious and My Legume Love Affair.