Fresh Honey Pretzels

I don't want any of you to think that all i do is bag on Delhi. While that hobby does occupy a goodly portion of my time i am capable of recognizing the town's positive aspects. Specifically, I am currently nibbling on a fresh Jelabi that i witnessed being cooked and brought home for next nothing, cost wise.

For those of you who don't know what a Jelabi is... Shame on you! *Stern look* These are my favorite Indian sweet and have been for many, many years now. Let the plebes go on about the galub jamun I'll take Jelabi any day!

Growing up my family referred to these as "honey pretzels" and devoured them on the rare occasions they were made available to us. I was; however, never able to remember their real name and was always stuck describing them to Indian people i met to explain what i was talking about. They all thought i was nuts. None of them ever said as much to me but i could tell. =)

So when i meandered into the sweet shoppe to purchase a samosa, imagine my shock when i saw somebody being handed a giant box of Honey Pretzels. "What are those called?" i asked hoping he would understand me. No such luck. So i turned to the boy behind the counter and said "Give me 6 of what that man had. Please, six like in that box," I begged while pointing urgently at the man's departing figure. Yeah, not so much. I tried describing what i wanted gesturing frantically. Still nada. Finally the angel with the wok figured it out. Bless him.

"Jelabi? You want Jelabi, Auntie?" Yes! Yes! Yes! We had finally broken our language barrier. (I'm sticking by the fact that Jelabi means Honey Pretzel in English. If it doesn't then it should!) He handed me a small box for my two lamb samosas and a larger one for the handful of Jelabi. I could tell he was laughing me but i didn't care because i was going to have a Jelabi that I seen being made before my eyes.

Even as i arrived home the box was still warm to the touch. And as I bit into the first of my pretzel shaped delicacies i was finally willing to accept that life is good in Delhi. Life is very good. =)