What do you guys generally say when asked, "How was your college life" ? Fun, good and some might even say awesome. But if you were to ask me, I would say it was "four years of vacation on paradise". Yeah, what could you expect if one was sent to a college campus that had a hostel like a resort overlooking a beautiful river, a lovely beach just few kms away and a bus-ride away to the main city that was buzzing with night life. It is a get away right!, after 12 years of school and perusal exams and scores. Once I got my admittance letter, I was on top of the world and excited to leave home for the first time in life. But everything changed once I stepped into that wide campus gate, that had rows of palm trees on either side of the road extending up to the horizon. It was overwhelming and scary, bizarre and confused and, it took almost a semester to settle down.
After overcoming the first semester blues and picking new friends, I got the hang of my new life. I was prepared to let go of my past, pet and pampered lifestyle and to accept the new independent and responsible life ahead. Being the first batch in campus, everything was fresh and brand new. Imagine getting a separate hostel room and a balcony with a view. What a delight that was! As mentioned in this post, I had quite a good food in my college. Surprisingly, my hostel mess (Atish's mess) served some good food when compared to other colleges that my school friends went. Then he himself opened a cafe in our shopping complex which catered to our weekend cravings and birthday treats! Then a year passed, and our campus grew along with us. There are three main additions that became a part of our life - College canteen, nestle maggi shop and a small confectionary nook from Monjinis besides the library and these three put an almost end to our hostel mess.
They were so ideally located that we have to pass through them to get back to the hostel and, all three attended to our needs at various time of the day. College canteen was for our breakfast. Their idly and upma along with the thick coconut chutney were unmatched for. I would not say that they were the best. But at that time, when we were away from home and our familiar surroundings, these were the welcome and homey foods that we could ask for. The lunch thali would be very similar to what we south Indians have at home. It was more than enough for us. Then the nestle shop, for our in between nibbling. The Monjinis confectioners were for our tea breaks especially during exams and for one other important need during college life - a perfect hang out for lovey-dovey couples at night.
Apart from the in-campus joints, Temptations and Annapoorna in Vasco city were our favourite eat out place. Temptations has the best pastries, especially chocolate ones. Unfortunately I hate chocolates and never touched them and was quite content with my other options. Annapoorna is the pure veg restaurant that we would always go for. Then there are others like monjinis, Ginzas and one chaat shop that is to die for. God! I am not able to recollect the name nor find it in google. Every Sunday the Karma plaza, where these are located will be flocking with college groups. These are real good places and has a youthful vibrant ambience to it.
Even though Goan food is a fabulous treat for the non veg people, it has few interesting veg options as well. In Goa, there are two cuisines that are predominant. Malvani cuisine, i.e., the Konkan cuisine and the other one is Goan catholic cuisine. The Goan catholic cuisine is heavily influenced by Portuguese and British. The two very popular dish from this type is Sanna and Bebinca - a layered dessert made during christmas, both my favourite. As I am typing this I realized two funny things. One, I have never tasted these two dishes during my college life and second, for me, Goa equals my college and nothing beyond that. Goa is widely known for its scenic beauty and its lovely beaches. We have had lots of fun sight seeing at Panjim, vasco and Madgaon yet the campus life is engraved so deeply in my heart that I can't think of anything else. I have no words to pen down and justify those four beautiful years in my life. This period in my life, significantly changed my thoughts, attitude, my lifestyle and almost most of my outlook.
This recipe is adapted from here Goan Sanna | Goan Idly - Goa BreakfastA soft, fluffy Goan delicacy. A Goan variant to the South Indian Idly. Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 12 mins | Total time: 10 hrs 30 Mins | Serves: ~25
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This post falls under Goa, in the south west of coastal India. Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 39
Also sending this to Come, join us for breakfast event hosted by Srivalli @ Cooking for all seasons.
vaishali sabnani says
Another delicious soft and spongy idli..the melt in the mouth kinds..zuper..fantastic.
Sapana Behl says
Very soft and fluffy idlis ! lovely....
Sreevalli E says
Lovely read of your post.. Those idly's are making me hungry now. Yum
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
You cannot have studied in a better place. lovely sannas and I loved how you made them in the regular idli plates. I ended up borrowing bowls from my friend to make them 🙂
Pavani N says
Lovely post Nisha.. College days are always the best and you are so lucky to have it in Goa..
Those Goan idlis look just perfect -- fluffy and delicious. Will have to try these soon.
Archana Potdar says
Enjoyed reading about your college life Nisha. Were you at MES College?Sannas look good.Sannas I have had are sweetish and with coconut and jaggary.
Srivalli says
Nice to know you did your college there Nisha..enjoyed reading about it..and sannas look fantastic with the curry!
Chef Mireille says
look so soft and fluffy
Harini-Jaya R says
Good one, Nisha. Had made this for ICC.
Nalini's Kitchen says
Soft and spongy looking sanna,nice write up...
Gayathri Kumar says
Nice to read about your college days in Goa. Goan idlis look fabulous...
Priya Suresh says
Very spongy and softy sannas, would love to have them for my breakfast even everyday.
Jayanthi Padmanabhan says
nice writeup.. really enjoyed reading it, almost missed the recipe. it was that interesting
Nivedhanams Sowmya says
so soft and so spongy!!! so tempting!
Manjula Bharath says
wow lovely post and fantastic sannas dear 🙂 perfectly done and very well captured !!
Usha says
These look so much like the idly. Apt dish for the state.
Varadas Kitchen says
Enjoyed reading memories from your college days. The sanna turned out great.