Infusing Pagna's Birthday with Blessings of Happiness and Success

Dear Pagna, Happy birthday! I hope this special day brings you joy, love, and countless blessings. It is a time to celebrate the wonderful person you are and all that you have accomplished. On your birthday, I wanted to take a moment to let you know how much you mean to me. You are not only a friend but also someone I deeply admire. Your kindness, compassion, and strength inspire me every day. As we celebrate another year of your life, I wanted to remind you of the incredible impact you have had on those around you.

That's when I look to my Bombay cheese toast maker. Making this sandwich takes some planning: I have to go to the Indian store to buy chutney, Amul cheese, and green chiles, as well as square white Wonder bread, which I don't usually have around because I prefer boules. Pain de mie or brioche will not work here; only soft white Wonder bread. This feels like a lot of work for a snack that takes 5 minutes to make, but then again, I only make this sandwich when I need the distraction. It's funny how much this snack from my past, made using a tool from my past, helps me live in the moment. Maybe it makes me feel like I can make a home wherever I go, even if I don't know where that will be.

Sometimes I ll also put the chutney in between the slices of bread, like Food52 contrib Annada Rathi does in her Mumbai Vegetable Sandwich, because I can t get enough of the stuff. I m sure everyone knows how amazing MSM Deli sandwiches are BUT I just want to give props to their professional and efficient ways during this pandemic.

As we celebrate another year of your life, I wanted to remind you of the incredible impact you have had on those around you. Your warm smile and infectious laughter can brighten even the darkest of days. Your presence brings comfort and joy to everyone fortunate enough to know you.

My Most Cherished Kitchen Tool Is the One I Use Least

My favorite cooking tool in the entire world is also, arguably, the most useless. I call it the Bombay cheese toast maker because that's the only thing it can make: a single-serving Indianized grilled cheese, which I aggressively dip in cilantro chutney. (Sometimes I'll also put the chutney in between the slices of bread, like Food52 contrib Annada Rathi does in her Mumbai Vegetable Sandwich, because I can't get enough of the stuff.)

The tool is essentially a portable panini press, except tiny and not electric. At one end is a square cast iron pocket in which you place the prepared sandwich, and the rest of it is a long handle that opens and closes like an alligator's mouth. The closest comparison I can find to my Bombay cheese toast maker is a jaffle iron (see below), except mine is not meant to be used over a campfire; it's too short, and the plastic handles would melt. Only a stovetop fire will do.

Cast Iron Campfire Pie Iron $25 – $32

Round Jaffle Iron $25

The cast iron is ridged, so that the sandwich emerges from its fire bath juuuuuust barely cut into four neat triangles. Give a triangle a little tug and it releases itself from the rest of the sandwich, cheese oozing out as though it is crying from separation anxiety (delicious, though!). The Bombay cheese toast maker seals in the edges of the sandwich, which means there will be minimal dripping.

Could I make other, possibly non-cheesy sandwiches in this tool? Sure. (In fact, our Test Kitchen used it to make fellow editor Brinda Ayer's potato curry sandwich.) But I don't want to. That would, somehow, make this tool less special to me.

My Bombay cheese toast maker, like me, was born in India. I don't know if it moved out of India to New Jersey with me in the year 2000, or if I collected it on a later trip, but it's with me now. Both my parents worked full-time, six days a week, so our family cook, Meenamma, prepared most of our meals. She would let me stand on my tiptoes and flail this very same toast maker above my head. She gently scolded me not to eat all the Amul cheese slices, or there wouldn't be any left for the sandwich.

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“I want to eat it fairly often- like you, when I want to feel grounded again- but keep making excuses for not buying a whole second type of rice to store in my tiny kitchen on my tiny budget.”

I use the colonial name Bombay instead of the modern Mumbai because that's just what my family was used to saying. For us, it was always Madras, not Chennai; Calcutta, not Kolkata. That's no longer the case now, since we are just calling these places what Google Maps and Zomato (a.k.a. Indian Yelp) and the news call them, and I'm okay with it. But I hold on to the word Bombay in the way I hold on to those memories of making my favorite after-school snack and dipping the finished project in ketchup rather than cilantro chutney, because ketchup was the novelty back then.

14 Things I Didn't Get to Eat as a Kid Because of One Potato-Curry Sandwich

I don't make Bombay cheese toast often, because this tool is hidden away in my top cabinet. I only whip it out in the times I feel like I need it most desperately—when I'm feeling far off-center, longing for something familiar to quiet all the questions running through my mind about "what my next step is"—you know, in life. Because I don't think I've lived a day of my life without thinking about my next step. Usually these thoughts are de rigueur, and they keep me motivated—until they make me panic because I don't have an answer.

That's when I look to my Bombay cheese toast maker. Making this sandwich takes some planning: I have to go to the Indian store to buy chutney, Amul cheese, and green chiles, as well as square white Wonder bread, which I don't usually have around because I prefer boules. Pain de mie or brioche will not work here; only soft white Wonder bread. This feels like a lot of work for a snack that takes 5 minutes to make, but then again, I only make this sandwich when I need the distraction. It's funny how much this snack from my past, made using a tool from my past, helps me live in the moment. Maybe it makes me feel like I can make a home wherever I go, even if I don't know where that will be.

MSM is one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. I try to go here as often as possible. The Mike's Deluxe is amazing. This is truly one of the (not so) hidden gems of Tacoma. I'd recommend calling ahead if you can believe they are always busy. So great. If you want an amazing sandwich for a good price, I highly recommend you eat here. You will not regret it.

I hope this birthday is filled with all the things that bring you happiness – whether it be spending time with loved ones, indulging in your favorite activities, or simply taking a moment to reflect on the blessings in your life. May this year be filled with new opportunities, exciting adventures, and endless possibilities. Thank you for being the amazing person that you are. I am grateful for our friendship and cherish the moments we have shared together. May this birthday be the beginning of a year filled with even more unforgettable memories and accomplishments. Once again, happy birthday, Pagna! I hope this day brings you all the love and joy you deserve. Warmest wishes, [Your Name].

Reviews for "Unlocking the Power of Birthday Blessings for Pagna"

1. Emma - 2 stars - "I have to say, I was really disappointed with 'Pagna birthday blessing'. The plot felt disjointed and poorly executed. The characters lacked depth and were difficult to connect with. The pacing was off, with some parts feeling rushed while others dragged on. Overall, it just didn't live up to my expectations and I wouldn't recommend it to others."

2. John - 1 star - "I couldn't finish 'Pagna birthday blessing'. The writing style was incredibly tedious and confusing. The author seemed to jump from one scene to another without any clear transition or explanation. I found myself constantly having to go back and reread sections just to try and understand what was going on. It was a frustrating and unenjoyable reading experience, and I would not recommend it to anyone."

3. Sarah - 3 stars - "While 'Pagna birthday blessing' had some interesting ideas, the execution fell flat for me. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the character development was lacking. There were also numerous grammar and spelling errors throughout the book, which made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. Overall, it had potential, but it just didn't deliver."

4. Michael - 2 stars - "I found 'Pagna birthday blessing' to be a forgettable read. The plot was predictable and lacked any real surprises. The writing was bland and uninspiring, and the characters were one-dimensional. It felt like a story I had read a hundred times before, with nothing new or refreshing to offer. I was left feeling disappointed and unfulfilled by the end."

5. Laura - 1 star - "I really struggled to get through 'Pagna birthday blessing'. The writing was overly descriptive to the point of being tedious, and the story felt repetitive. The protagonist was unlikable and the conflicts felt contrived. I couldn't find any enjoyment in reading this book and was ultimately left unsatisfied."

Blessings Galore: Pagna's Birthday Celebration