Celebrating in Indian style

This blog is about family travel around the world without leaving the UK. We do this in a bid to be less polluting and tackle climate change while at the same time keeping a global outlook. Here is a nice way to celebrate a university landmark with an Indian sweet. Words from Nicola Baird (see www.nicolabaird.com for more info about my books and blogs).

Gulabjam to celebrate the completion of the first draft of Kapil's PhD. Good luck with the next stage.

Just been around to a friend's house in London and her lodger was in celebration mood. He's just finished the first draft of his PhD - a staggering 95,000 words, plus years of research.

To celebrate he warmed up some gulabjam for the three of us to eat with a cup of builders' tea. It was great - and yes, one of those super sweet treats is enough!

Gulabjam are very sweet - almost like condensed milk dumplings, and they taste gorgeous.

Gulabjam is also popular in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. It's a proper party food - expect to see it at Diwali celebrations too.

Back in India his wife is celebrating this massive step forward - a first draft finished - by baking an English-style cake.

I like this confectionery mix-up!

Over to you
What food do you eat to celebrate rites of passage, triumphs or just the end of the week? My family now holds a pizza friday, every friday (thank you Italy) but we aren't quite so confident about what to choose when we want to celebrate something that doesn't fall on Friday!