My two cents

Square Root by Dave Feinberg

2010-03-16T16:49:00.000-07:00

Kumar in 'Harold and Kumar-Escape from Guantanamo' recites this poem. This goes out to all the Root 3s out there-

I’m sure that I will always be,
A lonely number like root three,

The three is all that’s good and right,
Why must my three keep out of sight
Beneath the vicious square root sign,
I wish instead I were a nine,

For nine could thwart this evil trick,
with just some quick arithmetic,

I know I’ll never see the sun, as 1.7321,
Such is my reality, a sad irrationality,

When hark! What is this I see,
Another square root of a three

As quietly co-waltzing by,
Together now we multiply
To form a number we prefer,
Rejoicing as an integer

We break free from our mortal bonds,
With the wave of magic wands,

Our square root signs become unglued,
Your love for me has been renewed.

GM Diet -Update

2010-03-03T23:24:00.000-08:00

Well...in case you haven't guessed, I quit the GM diet on day 3. I lasted the whole day, but then ended up eating a big Chipotle burrito bowl for dinner.And then ofcourse ate Italian for lunch the next day.So much for those 3 days when I didn't give into my cravings..!
Current state of mind -Eat Drink and Be Merry...!!!
Current TV Show - Easy Italian with Giada

GM Diet –Day 2 Recap

2010-02-19T12:39:00.000-08:00

Today was a difficult day. The tomatoes, carrots and cucumbers were just not what my heart wanted. My head hurt all day. I was not hungry because I kept stuffing myself with all the raw veggies; however I faced the strongest cravings ever. I gave in to my craving today..Ate a piece of dark chocolate..:-(!!!...

Apart of that little piece of sheer decadence..I ate 2 small baked potatoes for breakfast, 2 carrots for mid-morning snack, 2 cucumbers for lunch and some baked veggies and Spinach soup for dinner.

Day 3 is Veggie+ Fruit Day..!! No bananas ,no potatoes.

P.S – Abhi has already lost 5 pounds..!!!

GM Diet -Recap of Day 1

2010-02-18T11:30:00.001-08:00

I survived Day 1. Inspite of all the temptations prowling at me from everywhere..the office break room..the cubicle neighbor with his mouth watering Panini melt..someone's Bday cake..the TV ads showing all the gooey stuff. I finally made it thru the day. Abhi kept me going. I was about to cheat, just a little bit, around 8 pm last night, but somehow controlled my will power.
I ate an apple for breakfast, a bowl full of cantaloupe for lunch, an orange for my evening snack and another orange for dinner. I drank almost 10-12 glasses of water/green tea. It made me run to the loo every two minutes.
I did not weigh myself at the end of Day 1. I intend to stay away from the scale till I complete the 7 day diet. I am hoping to be pleasantly surprised at the end of this ordeal.
Day 2 is a Veggie Day..No Fruits.

Malibu State Park Hike

2010-01-10T01:10:00.000-08:00

It was a beautiful day in SoCal today.Perfect amount of sun.We had been planning to hike the Malibu Canyon for a while now.Today was the day.The Canyon is tucked into the Santa Monica Mountains,facing the Pacific Ocean.It has lush green mountains covered with Oak and Sycamore trees and plenty of open grasslands.It was also once used for shooting films like Planet of the Apes and Tarzan and was the primary shooting location for the TV series M.A.S.H.

We reached the park at half past ten;parked our car at the main parking lot and started walking.I noticed that the park was very well equipped with sign boards at all trail turns, water points and restrooms.Since this was our first time , we didn't want to take any random trails and then eventually get lost. So we chose to stay on the main trail.We walked along the river via the Rock Climbing wall to reach the Reflection Pool.The pool is between two Volcano rock faces, extremely serene and peaceful.We tried our luck and stamina at some hard core climbing to reach the top of the Volcano rocky face.We made it 80% up but then realized that the way down would be even more difficult so decided to head back. We will go back soon to complete the climb.

Take a look at the trail we took - Green square is the starting point and yellow the end.follow the red dots..blue dots denote the return path.It was a 1.5 mile hike one way.

The Rock Climbing Wall...looked very challenging..but quickly noticed that it was not meant for weaklings like us.So..quitely walked on.

The Reflection Pool hidden between Volcanic Rock faces.
The Volcanic Rocky faces in the backdrop.

Satisfied after a good hike..!

Tofu Stir Fry

2010-01-05T19:17:00.001-08:00

Every now and then I have these mood swings (yeah right!!) when all I need is an empty refrigerator. Otherwise, if it’s already mid-week and I still have a load full of vegetables, nearing expiry, I just tend to get weighed down with all the stuff I need to make in the next 2 days to consume these veggies. So, today was one of those days! An overstuffed refrigerator and an over anxious me.

Now the way I deal with my nerves is vital. I open the fridge and start picking items that inspire me. Mind you, I don’t even have a recipe thought out yet. The thumb rule is to make something that has an array of colors. Today’s recipe made use of 10 ingredients just from my fridge. You don’t have to put all these ingredients; the aim is to get inspired and create something that is your own.

Here’s what you need to make the world’s best Stir Fry-Home Made and Super Healthy.

1 Yellow Bell Pepper–Sliced
1 Green Bell Pepper –Sliced
3 Small Carrots –Sliced
1 Green Chili–Finely chopped
½ Radicchio- Shredded
1 Celery Root - Chopped
Basil – Roughly Tear
Alfalfa Sprouts -handful
5-6 Mushrooms -Sliced
1/2 cup Tofu - Cubed
½ cup Tomato Paste (Canned or fresh tomatoes blended)
1 Tspn Ginger-Grated
Peanuts-one handful
2 Tspns Lemon Juice
1 Onion–Sliced
Noodles (I used Egg Noodles, but any kind is fine)

For the Sauce
2-3 Tblspn Soy Sauce
3 Tblspn White Wine Vinegar
3 Tblspn Tomato Ketchup
2 Tblspn Mustard Sauce
2 Tblspn Sugar
1 Tspn Red Pepper Flakes
Salt per taste
Whisk all these ingredients together.Keep aside.

Cook the noodles as per instructions on the box.

Heat some oil in a big wide non-stick pan. Add grated ginger, green chili and peanuts. Fry for a few minutes.Next toss in the onions. Sauté till the onions turn light golden brown.

Move the onion mixture to one side of the pan. Place the tofu on one corner of the pan and mushrooms on the other. We are doing this so that the mushrooms and tofu get some direct heat so as to get toasted or else they will get steamed, which will make them watery, which we don’t want.
Okay, once the tofu turns golden brown and mushrooms dark brown, throw in all the veggies-Bell Peppers, Radicchio, Carrots, and Celery,Alfalfa & Basil. Sauté for 5-10 minutes.

Next add the sauce mixture and the noodles. Toss the noodles so as to coat the sauce all over.Cook for a few minutes and take off heat.

Garnish with wonton strips and basil.

Eureka!!!!Your healthy hearty, loaded with vitamin meal is served Señor.

Compulsive Gambler!!

2009-12-30T21:03:00.000-08:00

Family Guy!

2009-12-20T21:44:00.001-08:00

I started off with hating this show.I found it irritating and double meaning. But slowly it grew on me.I still find it irritating and double meaning..but i also find it extremely funny.
I think Seth Mcfarlane ,the guy who dubs for most of the characters in this cartoon show,is extremely talented.
Here's a video clip of him performing Stewey

And this is in the cartoon -

My Hiking Expeditions

2009-10-27T13:09:00.000-07:00

As kids, my father tried his best to make hikers out of me and my brother. My brother was a city boy and never really took pleasure in admiring the beauty of the Himalayas. I, on the other hand, was in love with anything ‘natury’. The serene beauty of the Shivalik mountains, the cold desert of Lahaul-Spiti and Ladakh , the raging-wild mountain rivers ,the clear blue sky ,like out of a postcard picture, gave me immense peace and joy.

Every summer holiday, our routine was to wake up in the morning, and start climbing the nearest mountain..Breakfast would get served only if we reached the top. We would explore the local vegetation, the streams, the people and sometimes snakes & leeches!!! The feeling of triumph after reaching the peak was unlike anything else. It was a big fun activity.

I lost track of this side of me when I moved to the city and got busy in the rat race. Well, of late, I have been exploring the local hills a lot and have realized that some things never change. I still get all charged up with the idea of a hike and the feeling of triumph is still the same.

Here are some pictures of our hikes in Griffith Park in LA and Mission Peak in Fremont. Next on my list is to hike down Grand Canyon and back..That’s coming up.

Wedding Entrance Dance

2009-10-08T22:15:00.001-07:00

The Original -

And now the Office version -

Konkan Getaway!

2009-07-13T07:32:00.000-07:00

This last weekend we visited a cousin’s beach house in the Konkan region of Maharashtra.My father’s side of the family is originally from this region. Even though we haven’t really gone back to our village ever, it’s a good feeling to see your part of the country.

We started from Pune on Friday at 5pm. We took the Pune-Mumbai expressway till Khopoli. At Khopoli, we took the road toward Mandgaon. This road takes you through some really scenic sites. You drive through the famous village of Pali, which has the temple of Sree Balaleshwar, one of the Ganpatis of Ashtavinayak.You take the Mumbai-Goa highway to reach the village of Mandgaon.The drive to Mandgaon takes around 2 hours. At Mandgaon, you take the road that goes to the village of Mhasala and Dapoli.You should top up you tank here and refill supplies. You are entering interior Konkan now.

The road to Mhasala-Sreevardhan and Diveagar is picture perfect. You will notice mango trees and paddy plantation on either side. Countless natural waterfalls and backwaters. You will drive through sleepy little Konkani villages with thatch houses and lush green fields all the way till the horizon. Carry some packed sandwiches and hot coffee and have a little picnic anywhere you want. Visit a nearby village and speak to the villagers. These people are extremely welcoming and friendly. The villages are remote, but they all have cell phones and Dish TV..even they watch popular serials like Balika Badhu and Lado.Its amazing to see how technology has found its way even in the most interior parts of India.

Our final destination was Diveagar, a coastal village in the Raigarh District, with a population running only in a few hundreds. The Diveagar beach runs approximately 6 kms. It has a few decent places to stay. The MTDC resort (Exotica) is quite nice and right on the beach, but you have to book almost a month in advance. There are few other options. Since my cousin’s beach house is still under construction, we stayed at a hotel called Dhanraj. The resort is in a typical Konkani ‘vaadi’, full of coconut trees. Its not five-star but you will get a clean room, clean bathroom and clean fresh Konkani food. Well, this is the reason why inspite of having such a beautiful shoreline, Konkan Maharashtra is not as popular with tourists as Goa or Kerala, because there aren’t too many good resorts. It probably works because the place still has its rustic beauty and hasn’t given in to commercialization. Other than the clean, sandy beach; Divegar is famous for its Suvarna Ganpathy Temple, which one must-visit.

We spent the night at Divegar.Woke up to some monsoon showers. Had sumptuous kanda poha for breakfast and marched off to the town of Dapoli. The drive to Dapoli via Kelshi and Anjarle is even better. You cross rivers on ferries, you drive along the shore for hours, you look at some of the most breathtaking locales your eyes have ever scene. Trust me. I used to boast of the drive to Hana in Maui, Hawaii, but this drive beats all those Pacific coast drives hands down.

Dapoli is a slightly bigger town in the Ratnagiri district. There is nothing in the town as such, but the drive is worth it.

Make sure you try Konkani food. Its slightly spicy , has loads of coconut but is quite yummy. If you are a fish eater, then go crazy here. You should also try the Amba Poli and Jackfruit Poli, very typical of this region.

If you are planning to travel in the monsoon period, then check if the roads are open. Carry umbrellas and odomos..i found the mosquitoes quite relentless. Carry a pair of comfortable sneakers for hiking and floaters for the beach. Shorts and Ts are ideal for this weather.Make sure you have your supply of meds..some thing for diarrhea..(Yeah all the Konkani food I have been talking of) and something for road sickness.

While heading back to Pune on Sunday evening, I had this sinking feeling. I don’t know if it had something to do with leaving Konkan or just routine pre-Monday blues. I can’t wait to plan another weekend getaway to another beautiful location in the picturesque land of Konkan.

Ferry Ride to Bancot
Back Waters
Paddy Fields
View from Anjarle

Diveagar Beach
Enroute to Diveagar
Murud Janjira

It Happened on A Wednesday!

2009-06-14T22:40:00.000-07:00

This incident could definitely top my ‘most adventurous event in your life ‘ list..

Now, as you must know from my last post, Abhi is in LA and me in Pune..so its back to the basics for me..!
Gaadi mein puncture hai..acha ..ab kya karu..?
Ketki..Builder gave you a smaller parking…what..teri toh!!!
Electricity ka bill aya hai..okay..what next?
Madam, your loan ROI has been reduced by 0.50%..Coooll…party..!

Marriage spoils you rotten..some of these items above never interested me and hence were always Abhi’s forte.But now, its all on me and I must say it’s a man’s world out there and its been one helluva experience .!

Okay..now the real story..! Pune has recently been given its version of ‘FreeWays’…Now, this road is a good attempt but it’s not all that free. Unlike the American freeways, the Pune one allows cars, trucks, two wheelers, cyclists and some times gallantry pedestrians too.

This road is my regular route to work…well atleast till last Wednesday.I was on my way back home, peacefully driving my little Xingy..Planning to go shopping at Central. maybe getting a mani-pedi ..the works. It’s a busy girl’s mind. The signal had opened and I was increasing my gears..1..2.. 3…now in these few seconds, I think I looked away from the road ..Barely..! The next thing I see, the Sumo in front crashing to a halt. Now, I react…literally stand on my brakes..Pull the handbrake..But gaadi hai bhai..laws of physics apply and the car does not stop in time..! I BANG into the Sumo…!

With Masakkalii loudly playing on Radio Mirchi, my head starts to spin…! I recollect holding my steering wheel and screaming all possible bad words from my vocab…! It’s peak traffic time, cars behind me honking away..giving me the most nasty looks…thinking..ladki hai..what more can you expect and frankly I don’t blame them.
I take a deep breath and decide to step out of the car..! My heart breaks after looking at my darling mehnat ki kamai…her bonnet is buckled up..she’s peeing green fluid ..and steam coming out from her internals..! Huh..my eyes tear up. I take another deep breath.
Now, the car I hit is also infront of me. Some 8-10 men come out of it. I start saying my prayers…start thinking of all the people who can bail me out…Abhi..where are you..!Papa..need help..!!!! Thanks to Gabbar..i realize Jo Darr Gaya Samjho Marr Gaya..!

Typical desi, I go upto the guys …
Ketki- ‘Kaise Chala Rahe ho Bhaiyya.Peeche waale ko thoda notice dena chahiye na’.
Sumo Driver -‘Madam, mere samne pedestrian aa gaya..mein kya karta’.
Ketki – ‘ Areh…aise kaise..Chalo Police ke pass’.( Shoot..relax you are overdoing it..dont’ say Police again..just say sorry and move on’).
Sumo Driver – ‘Madam, don’t worry.Hum saare Maharashtra Police Crime Branch se hai’.
Ketki Thinking- Okay..huh...so..hmm...did i...did i just..did i just hit a police van..?????!!!!!
$*(@#*)!…Fainting sensation...puking sensation...shooting pain in my left arm..someone else is about to pee green fluid ...!
Police – ‘We are police Madam..aap humko police ka dar mat dikhao…'!
Ketki- 'huh...'!
Police - 'Aapne break kyun nahi lagaya...itni powerful gaadi hai aapki'!
Ketki - 'huh...!'
Police - 'Aap darneka nahi madam...!'
Ketki – (regaining some sense)...decide to play the 'abla' naari card and say ‘Areh Bhaiyya ab mein kaise lekar jao gaadi ko..kitna traffic hai’….

They sympathize with me. One of the guys opens my car hood and confirms that apart from the exterior damage, the radiator has gone for a toss. Both head lights broken… and probably the condenser is busted. They take out their whistles..(i don’t know why crime branch carries whistles)..They stop the traffic and ask me to get the car to the side. One of the guys gets a mechanic. The main officer comes up to me and very politely reassures me that they will help me get the car fixed and that I should not worry...And should thank God that no one is hurt. He tells me he has to rush to the Commissioner’s office but he will leave a constable behind to help me out!

The kind constable stayed till I got my car to the service station. I never thought too much of Maharashtra Police since I never had to deal with them. But after this I have high regard for them.

I did have an accident and I completely blame my negligence for it.But then I thank God for sending help and for getting me out of it safely. For the time being my car is at the Garage..the total repair charges will exceed 50K..!!!Thinking of taking the bus for some time.

New Moon Promo Released!

2009-06-02T10:31:00.000-07:00

Waiting for the movie to come out now..!

Good to be home..!

2009-06-02T10:07:00.001-07:00

Its been almost 4 months since i last blogged. Quite a few things have changed in this short period. I am back in India..back in Pune.Abhi is still in LA slogging away..one more year before he graduates. So its long distance marriage for the two of us for atleast a couple of months. :-(...!
The good part is that i am getting to live in my own house..enjoying the weather in Pune...and last but not least, having a great time with the family.

Pune has changed a lot. Lots of new construction,malls,multiplexes. Traffic has become even more chaotic and parking is a major issue.But then there are these little neighbourhoods that haven't changed a speck.They make me so nostaligic..they remind me of my life pre-marriage..pre-25....pre-aged.!

Its been a great home coming for me. I don't know why I moved away.I guess i'm cherishing Pune even more now.And the best part is yet to come...the monsoons..! Will keep you posted.

Chicken a la Biryani

2009-02-14T12:43:00.000-08:00

Its wet and cold here in Los Angeles.And there is absolutely nothing that one could ask for other than a spicy chicken recipe..

So, here you have it..this awesome Indian delicacy called Chicken Biryani..(chicken pilaf). Its probably the perfect weekend lunch. Served with Raita(Yogurt dip) to balance the heat of the biryani.

I have been thinking of trying it out for quite some time but the whole biryani concept seemed a little intimidating for a cook of my level. Well, i decided to break it up in steps ...baby steps.

-->Step 1-- Marinate The Chicken

Ingredients- -

Chicken Pieces (Small size)- 15

Green Chilies - 2 -chopped

Turmeric - 1/2 tblspn

Red Chili Powder - 1 tblspn

Coriander Powder - 1 tblspn

Cumin Powder - 1 tblspn

Bay leaves(2-3)

Cloves - 3-4

Green Cardamon seeds - 3-4

Black Cardamom seeds - 3-4

Cinnamon Stick -1

Ginger-Garlic Paste 1 tblspn

Cilantro- Chopped

Yogurt - 1 cup

Fried Onion - 1 ( Just slice up onions and fry them until golden brown)

Oil- 2 tblspns

Yes, we need quite a few ingredients..! Mix them all and keep aside for 1-2 hours.

-->Step 2-- The Rice

Ingredients- -

Basmati Rice - 2 cups

Water - 4 cups

In an open pan ,mix the water with the rice ,with a pinch of salt. Keep checking the rice.You don't want to cook it all the way through. Once the water starts to boil ,keep stirring continuously.You want rice that crushes into pieces and has crunch.

Strain the water and keep the rice aside.

-->Step 3-- The Chicken

Ingredients- -

Oil

Onions -1 -Sliced

Tomatoes - 3 -Chopped

Ginger Garlic Paste

Coriander Powder-1/2 tblspn

Cumin Powder - 1/2 tblspn

Chili Powder- 1/2 tblspn

Heat some oil in a pan.Put in the onions and ginger-garlic paste. Fry till the onions are golden brown. Add the coriander powder,cumin powder and chili powder.Mix in the tomatoes and stir for some time.Mix in the chicken and cook on medium heat until the chicken is almost done(...^_^...use your judgement..don't try raw meat).

-->Step 4-- Assembling

Ingredients- -

The Almost Cooked Rice

The Almost Cooked Chicken

Dry Fruits - Almonds,Raisins

Fried Onions

Saffron -Soaked in warm milk

Okay...we are almost there..! In a wide thick bottomed pan,place a layer of the chicken ,then a layer of the rice,top the rice with some dry fruits and some saffron milk. Then place another layer of the chicken and then the rest of the rice..Top it up with fried onions and saffron milk.

Cover with a tight lid and place on a griddle flat pan(tava) on medium-low heat. We don't want to place the biryani on direct heat..this is called cooking on 'dum'..

Let the biryani cook for 1 hour, keep checking the rice .Reduce the heat in the last 15 mins.

The whole house will have this wonderful biryani aroma..! Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve hot with Raita..!

Enjoy this meal with your special person on Valentine's Day..! Have a happy one guys..!

Simpu Singh Sodhi..!

2009-01-19T21:32:00.000-08:00

Take a look at Simpu Sir from Channel V.. ! My latest craze..

And my personal favourite -

The Perfect Cookie..

2009-01-11T20:02:00.000-08:00

With SoCal in the middle of its winter (yes we get cold at 65 degree) , there is nothing to beat a garam cuppa chai..sipping while sitting in the toasty 4.00 pm sun.

I had been looking for that perfect cookie to go with my chai for quite some time. Infact I did try a few recipes , but nothing seemed to match the taste I was looking for. I wanted something tasty..yet healthy...crunchy ..yet gooey..hmm..i knew exactly what I wanted.

While looking for some other recipe, I came across the Nankhatai in my mother's old recipe journal.I made a few changes to match my taste.Now this recipe is definitely for keeps...its perfect for hungry kids,husbands,guests,you name it.

Here are the ingredients -

1/2 cup unsalted butter ( At Room Temperature)-well..you can't have a cookie without butter..

2/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup Aata (wheat flour) -see i told you they were healthy..

1/3 cup sooji ( Semolina)

1/2 cup Besan ( Gram Flour)

Pinch of Baking Powder

1 tblspn elaichi powder (cardamom)

Finely chopped dry fruits( Almonds,Pecans,Pistachios)

Oven at 350 degree.

Method -

1.Beat the sugar and butter till light and fluffy. Make sure your butter is at room temperature or else you will end up with a lump. Use an electric beater.

2.Sift the dry ingredients together. (Everything except the dry fruits).

3. Mix the dry mixture with the butter mixture.Use your hands and make a dough.

4. Next setup a cookie sheet. Spray with some oil and dust with flour.

5. Make small balls of the cookie mixture and press some of the dry fruit mixture on each cookie.

6. Bake the cookies for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Enjoy these little tasty delights with tea or coffee..!

12 Days of Christmas..Indian Version..

2008-12-18T21:09:00.000-08:00

Max Brenner's -Chocolate By the Bald Man!

2008-12-17T19:31:00.000-08:00

I just got back from a week long,much needed,thoroughly enjoyed vacation in New York City.We were visiting my brother and sis-in-law.

The theme of this vacation was food..and more food.! I can't tell you how much we ate..from awesome home food my sis-in-law fed us to the world's best icecream in China town .From the most swankiest Italian place in the Meat Packing District...to the $2 mouth watering kathi rolls in Greenwich Village.It was all so diverse..yet superb..!however, the top prize went to this place called Max Brenners - Chocolate By the Bald Man in Union Square in Midtown Manhattan.

When you enter the restaurant, you notice 2 gigantic drums churning white and dark chocolate,connected to the kitchen via metal pipes. Their display window has items like chocolate syringes,chocolate 'n' marsh mallow pizza,ooey gooey chocolate chip cookies.You feel like you are in the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.This is the mecca for all chocoholics..!

Their desserts are famous but they do serve maincourse and appetizers as well.We didn't want to eat pasta in a chocolate factory...so jumped right to the dessert.Decided to be a little experimental this time. We ordered White Chocolate and Passion Fruit Martinis....yeah you read it right..Chocolate Martinis..And believe me they are truly out of this world. They actually have quite a lot of melted chocolate and probably a dash of alcohol...but you don't feel like you are drinking from a hershey's bottle. They are just the perfect balance!! Definitely the most innovative cocktail I've ever had.!

The other dessert we ordered was the chocolate lava cake. yeah, they are quite common and you get them in Trader Joes...but this one from Max Brenners was gourmet...the cake was oozing with molten chocolate...was served with 2-3 interesting sauces ..and even had little mini marsh mallows ..! Quite amazing..

Now the martinis didnt last long enough for me to click a picture..but I did manage to get the lava cake on camera...! Take a look...! A chocolate hangover...no kidding..!

If you live in NYC and haven't gone to this place yet, then please do...! And for all those planning to travel to NYC, keep a dessert space open for the Bald Man..!
http://www.maxbrenner.com/

My New York Vacation!

2008-12-11T09:38:00.000-08:00

This is what I am looking at right now..the Manhattan Downtown Skyline..!

11/26 -City of Dreams ..Shattered!

2008-11-30T01:01:00.000-08:00

In the last 6 months, Indians have faced 44 bomb blasts. Not a single city has been spared. The symbols of India's economic might and growth have been devastated. Delhi, Jaipur, Bangalore, Malegaon, Assam and now Mumbai, India's financial capital, the city of dreams..!Last 60 hours have shaken every Indian to the core. We are horrified and we are angry. The only question that each one of us is asking is How Dare They?

Not that we were ever really proud of our politicians, but this time the Indian Democracy is hurting.The most incompetent people are sitting in our parliament . A country of 1 billion and we pick the most useless guys to represent us. I don't think I can relate to even a single politician. India badly needs its own version of Barack Obama,someone we can trust.

11/26 has shown the ginormous failures in our intelligence and crisis management system.The first thing that pops in my mind is what the eff was the Intelligence Agency doing?The terrorists were royally stocking up ammunition in Taj hotel rooms, kilos of RDX and hand grenades. Didn't anyone know? This entire operation is speculated to be a combined effort of Let, the Mumbai Underworld and Indian Mujahideen. Probably the worst combination ever, its a win-win for each group, well ofcourse except for the innocents who have to die. A dozen load terrorists took training in a militant camp for 2-3 months. They had satellite phones, GPS, Google Earth and detailed maps of all the locations they targeted, namely The Taj Mahal Hotel, The Oberoi-Trident and the Nariman House. They had rented an apartment in Nariman house and had bought grocery for Rs50,000 ,which is quite a lot Indian money.All this and no one had the slightest clue.

While the militants were ruthlessly firing shots at innocent by standers in South Mumbai,the rest of the city was in utter commotion. No one knew who was in-charge.Rumours were flying around and people were panicking.The aircraft to airlift NSG commandos from the military base had to be flown in from Chandigarh. They were brought from the Santa Cruz airstrip in BEST buses. The orders to bring in NSG were given at 1 am on 11/27 and the NSG commandos actually reached the crime scenes at 7.00 am. They were not given blueprints on the hotels and were expected to provide results. This delay probably cost us many more lives. Now, don’t take me wrong, I am not in any way blaming the NSG.I am an army girl myself and completely understand that their hands are tied. They just don’t have the infrastructure. Inspite of all these difficulties, the NSG, ATS and Mumbai police did the most remarkable job and the nation is indebted to them. I wept watching the funerals of some of the brave soldiers we lost in this battle.

After 60 gruesome hours, as Mumbai slowly limps to normalcy, the people of India are feeling a sense of togetherness ,probably something that our past generations felt when they were fighting for Independence. Watching our city bleed ,hit home this time. Terrorism is here to stay and unless we make ourselves strong enough to fight it,our people will continue to die in vain.For starters, we must get over our differences.-Hindu,Muslim,North Indian,South Indian..We cannot allow people like Raj Thackeray to represent us,who by the way has not uttered a word this whole time. Where is his marathi-manus agenda now? Why didn’t he ask the NSG commandos, predominantly North and South Indians, to go back when they were fighting terrorists on Raj Thackeray’s Mumbai? So, Mr Thackery, this is God’s way of telling you to SHUT UP.

Another politician who irritates me is Narendra Modi. Just a day before, he was flying his pro-hindu flag regarding the Malegaon blasts and criticizing Mr. Hemant Karkare for being a villain of the nation. And now he has offered 1 crore compensation for the slained police officers.What happened Modiji? How come this U-turn? Mrs. Kavita Karkare , wife of late Hemant Karkare, has refused the compensation. Take that Modi.

The single terrorist that has been caught alive has said that his group came with the sole purpose of murdering as many as possible and that he has no regrets. The terrorists have clearly demonstrated time and again that in India they can do anything, anywhere and no one will stop them. Mumbaikars are known for their Spirit and their Resilience. But this time they say No. We the people of India say No. We do not want a blame game. We don’t care if Pakistan was involved or not. We do not give a damn if this was pro-hindu or anti-muslim. All we ask of our politicians is to just rise above their differences and work together to make India a safe place to live. A place where we don't have to worry before watching a movie in a theatre, where we are not worried while having a late night cup of tea at a chai-stall, where we can enjoy a train ride, a place where we are certain of coming back home safe and sound. We want concrete steps that will ensure the wellbeing of our people. We demand action against these perpetrators. We demand answers and solutions. We say Enough Is Enough!!

Movie Reviews- Holly -Bolly

2008-11-16T00:44:00.000-08:00

I am a movie buff...and God's been very kind in finding me a partner who is equally crazy,if not more ,about the 70mm wonder that cinema is.

This week we both caught two aweesomme movies..!..First one was ,well ofcourse, the Bond movie - Quantum of Solace. For all you cynics,I think Daniel Craig is God.Period. He is the new Bond..the new age secret agent. ..complex and arrogant.He is not fancy..not charming..but he is good at what he does..his job. Unlike the previous Bonds..Sean Connery,Pierce Brosnan and the others, this new guy doesn't bring a lot of elegance to the character. But he definitely brings a lot of 'josh' to the sophie Briton.Abhi says that the Bourne series changed the image of the secret agent forever.People prefer to see a more hardened killer..they don't care so much for the extravagance. Bond Vs Bourne...what say huh..? I like both..!

Quantum is a movie about Bond's revenge for Vesper's death.Before the movie released, some critics said that Bond is much softer in this movie, but frankly that's complete bull.There is definitely an underlying theme of revenge but for Bond its just business. And yes..you don't see him crying.It has some really good hand to hand fight scenes..you can actually hear bones breaking in one scene.! A few shots did remind me of Bourne Ultimatum's fight scenes.!There are some really good chases .on land..in air..and they are all superb.Judi Dench as M is perfect, so good in her role..no other hot Bond girls this time guys..! There is Olga Kurylenko ,a Ukranian model, but nothing close to Halle Berry and Eva Green.

I think I liked the movie for Daniel Craig ...the other characters were just fillers i think.!I give it a must watch rating...!

Okay from Bond to Bachchan...!This other movie I just saw..like an hour back was Dostana..a Bollywood romantic comedy,starring Abhishek Bachchan,Priyanka Chopra and John Abraham.This is a story about two guys,Sam and Kunal who lie to Neha about them being a gay couple so she allows them to live with her as her room mates.This is probably the first bollywood movie about gays.AB and John play two straight guys ..and for them to act as a gay couple is just weird. They both have done an aweeesomme job..some of the jokes made me laugh out so loud..like the one about Gabbar being gay..why..coz thruout Sholay he is asking 'Kitne aadmi the'...! There are many more such witty ..pervertish antics..! Priyanka plays a career girl working for Verve.She looks swanky..classy..! She has acted well and is very lovable.John is shirtless for almost half of the movie..:-)..but not that I am complaining.He is pretty good in the movie.! The little Bachchan has great comic timing.He plays a male nurse.His scenes with Mom-Kiron Kher are a riot..out-right hilarious.! The songs..Maa Da Laadla,Desi Girl and Jaane Kyun are foot tapping..and I am buying the cd tomorrow..no piracy folks..

Dostana is an entertaining movie..leaves you with a pleasant ,happy feeling..! I give it a 'have to ' watch rating. !

OSO Song on 'So You think You Can Dance'

2008-11-09T07:56:00.000-08:00

Pretty Awesome..!

Kelvan..KFC..Karwa Chauth

2008-10-16T21:04:00.000-07:00

I am a mix of cultures this week..the K series.!

Kicked off the week by hosting a traditional marathi 'kelvan' for my adorable cousin and his lovely fiance.For my non-marathi friends ,a kelvan is a meal organized for someone who is getting married soon.The menu was shrikhand -puri and rassa. What could beat that right?I had a house full of guests.It was just wonderful.

From kelvan to kfc..spent my mid week enjoying a juicy KFC Buffalo Snacker..ummm..! Have you tried one of these..they taste great and are a welcome break from all the 'healthy' food.

Finally, ending the week with the biggy Karwa Chauth wrath tomorrow.The No Food and No Water part is tough, but the thought of getting all dressed up will hopefully keep my mind super busy.

Okay now coming to the recipe for this post. For the kelvan ,I made a very authentic maharashtrian rassa bhaji and thats what I am going to share with you. This recipe is from a book my mother gave me when I got married. It's titled 'स्वयंपाक' ,which literally means 'cooking for a meal'.It is my bible for anything marathi.

Ingredients -
4-5 medium sized potatoes -cut in cubes
2-3 medium sized onions - julienne
4 tblspns of tomato puree 2 cups hot water
For the masala
2 tblspns sesame seeds - dry roasted
2 tblspns grated coconut
1 tblspn Gowda Masala
1 tblspn Garam masala
1 tspn red chili powder
Some Cilantro, 1 green chili
Some cloves of garlic, a small piece of ginger
Salt.
Except the onions ,potatoes and puree,grind the rest of the ingredients to a paste.
Oil,cumin,turmeric for tadka.
Heat oil in a pan,add some cumin and let crackle. To the hot oil,toss in the onions. Fry till translucent.Add a pinch of turmeric.Saute for 2-3 minutes. Then add the cubed potatoes. Cover and cook for 5-7 minutes. Next, add the hot water.This will create the gravy without reducing the temperature of the pan.Cook and cover till the potatoes are just done. Keep an eye because you don't want them to be overcooked or you will end up with one big blob.

When the potatoes are done, mix in the masala paste and the tomato puree. Boil for a couple of minutes.Check for seasoning and remove from heat.
Serve hot ,preferably with puris.

And Yeah..Happy Karwa Chauth to everyone.

Tina Fey as Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live!

2008-09-21T22:44:00.000-07:00

Putting Puppies to Sleep!

2008-09-21T12:50:00.000-07:00

Tell Me Why..

2008-07-13T19:33:00.000-07:00

you get hic-cups..
And why don't they stop..

hic..hic..!

Chicken Satay...really..!!

2008-06-18T20:42:00.000-07:00

I had some friends over for lunch last weekend. One of the friends ..this big chicken eater and an amazing cook himself..!And he's the kind who does justice to your food..you know the real food lover..!!!Well I ,on the other hand, am not very confident with chicken..very fidgety.. but this time I decided to give it a shot..for the sake of my guests.

.Don't take me for being fake.. but I don't have any pictures to prove that I actually made this dish..:-))..it got over so quickly that I didn't even get a chance to click...so that tells me it must've tasted pretty darn good..!.....Okay..Cmon trust me..!!

This dish is perfect for beginners ..its simple,tasty and fancy..!!..

Ingredients -
Chicken ,cut in moderately small pieces( a little larger than bite size)
Dijon Mustard
Red Pepper Flakes
Honey
Balsamic Vinegar
Oil
Salt-Pepper
Wooden Skewers( keep dipped in water for 10-15 mins,they wont burn when put in the oven)

I never give measurements.Just mix all the ingredients...you know andaaz se. This is your marinade.Add in the chicken and keep in the refrigerator for an hour or two.
Take wooden skewers and thread in the chicken - 4-5 pieces on each skewer.

Traditionally satays are made on grills but I don't have one so I used my convection oven.If you have a grill then just place the skewers on the grill and remove when done. For an oven, place the skewers on a rectangular baking dish along the breadth of the dish.Bake for 35-40 mins at 350 degree F.
Remove when done. Serve hot with a dash of lemon juice and sweet tangy peanut chutney.!! Enjoyy.!

Masterpiece...:-)!

2008-06-14T21:24:00.000-07:00

My first food award!!

2008-06-02T21:21:00.000-07:00

This is so unexpected...! If I knew I was being considered I would've definitely prepared a speech..! Well...first of all I want to thank Anupama for this award.Coming from her, I know I am on the right track with this blog and that its not all gibberish.Thanks again..!

I also want to thank my husband for always being party to my experiments in the kitchen..for the numerous times i have burnt my fingers and set off the fire alarm.!Thanks lambu..!
And last but not the least..to my Mom..for those long international calls at random hours and for never missing an ingredient ..!!.This is to all those wonderful meals that I have grown up with.!This is to you Ma..:-)..!

Now as per rules, I have to list down 4 of my favourite sweets ,here they are -
(1)Moong Halwa (2) Dhoodhi Halwa (3) Cheese Cake (4) Sanzori

I also have to forward this award to 4 other yummy bloggers..! I am giving this award to my favourites..

1. Mansi from FunNFud

2.Bhags from Crazy Curry

3.Ashwini from Food-For-Thought

4.Shilpa from Aayi's Recipes

Congrats girls..! Spread the cheer.

Mirchi ..Masala..Mmmm....

2008-06-01T18:15:00.000-07:00

Who can resist something like that...fresh green shiny chillies..with their long tails..hmph just beautiful. I picked them today at the grocery store.They are called Anaheim Chillies.They are not really hot chillies and hence are perfect for roasting and stuffing.

Guys..Weekends are meant to indulge ...isn't it.This is my indulgence. Now a little about this dish..its not a fancy meal but you could entertain with it.Its an interesting mix of fine dining and comfort food.The stuffing that I use is very traditional Indian.. sweet tangy spicy mirchi....slurpp..!

You don't need anything special for the stuffing..just regular items from your pantry -

Gram Flour - Dry roasted

Coriander powder(Dhaniya)

Cumin powder ( Jeera)

Turmeric powder (Haldi)

Jaggery

Tamarind paste or Amchur powder

Red Chilli powder

Fenugreek ( Sauf)

Salt to taste

Mix all the dry ingredients. Add some oil and water to make the mixture slightly damp.Presence of oil will keep the stuffing moist even on cooking.

Cut the tops off the chillies,remove the seeds and make a long slit on the side.

Stuff the mixture right till the tail of the chilli.

Drizzle little oil in a shallow non-stick frying pan. Place the chillies in the pan and cook on medium heat. Cover the pan with a lid.They will cook in 10-15 mins.Run a knife thru them to check.

The trick is to cook them more on steam than on heat.Steam will keep them moist.Too much heat could just make the skin rubbery.So, be patient and trust me it will pay..!

If you don't care for sweet tangy food,you can alter the recipe to match your taste.You could also stuff the chilli with boiled potatoes..or shredded paneer..pretty much anything.Enjoy.

Shoe Blue !!

2008-05-22T16:51:00.000-07:00

The age old question..What is it with girls and shoes?

Abhi and I are changing apartments.The whole house is in a mess.I was packing my closet yesterday and shoes were coming out from every possible corner..like there was a shoe slot machine or something. I was caught off guard..!I lined them up and counted..i don't know if i should be ashamed of myself or proud..but i have 32 pairs of shoes... 32...!! !! And the best part is that I had no clue I had these many..! Some of them probably worn just once, some even have their price tags stuck to the sole.Girls..is this normal..or do I need help ??

From my own experience, I think women feel more confident after wearing a good pair of shoe. They get that extra swing in their walk and of course that last inch in height doesn't harm anyone.Unlike those skinny jeans that are just a tad bit tight, shoes always fit perfectly. They never let you down.I guess that's why women are so passionate about them. They are loyal and faithful..like a dog..:-)..!

When I think of shoes, i think of Carrie Bradshaw in her Manolo Blahniks, strutting across Manhattan ..! She is the eternal Shoe Goddess..! I remember the episode where her beautiful silver Manolos get stolen and she makes this eccentric plan to get them back. Now that's the last stage of this obsession..Carrie is beyond repair. I think i am still curable. I just need self control and a constant reminder of my beautiful 30 somethings lined up at home.I make a resolution to not purchase any more shoes.........until of course... the next big sale. ..shoot..did i just say that ...god i need help..

Here's a picture of my beautiful buddies..!!

InFlight find- Duty Free and Yummy too..!!

2008-05-17T23:32:00.000-07:00

So, on my flight back from Atlanta, i grabbed the Rachel Ray magazine. Its called 'Everyday'. I am not a big Rachel Ray fan, but I do like her energy and her general attitude towards food. Besides,I just needed something to keep me occupied on flight.

In the magazine,I came across this really simple and pretty looking recipe. I made a note of it and decided to try it at my next dinner party.

This might sound mean, but I couldn't wait for my guests to go home tonight.I so wanted to blog about this recipe coz it was such a big hit. Everyone loved it.. !You guys have to try this one out.

This is my entry to Mansi and Meeta's 'Appetizers & Hors'Doeuvres' - Monthly Mingle .Meeta started the Monthly Mingle event - Here's the link .Meeta

Ingredients -

Small sized potatoes

Sour Cream

Crumbled Blue Cheese

Pink Onion - chopped

Cilantro/Parsley - to garnish

Salt and Pepper to taste

Method -

Cut the small potatoes in half. Place the skin side up and line the potatoes on a baking sheet.Drizzle with a bit of olive oil. Bake them for 20-25 mins or until the skin is crisp.

Scoop the centers of the potatoes out and place in a bowl. Mix in the sour cream ,onion,blue cheese to the scooped potatoes.Season with salt and pepper.

Fill each potato skin shell with this filling. Garnish with cilantro/parsley.Serve..:-)..and enjoy the compliments..!

Heart Friendly Bite!

2008-05-07T11:15:00.000-07:00

An annual physical check has revealed some alarming reports. Hubby's cholesterol levels are high.( 235; should be under 200). The doctor has given him 6 months to get them back to normal. Till the numbers come down,its all healthy home cooked food, with minimum oil, no meat, no junk,and ofcourse working out 5-6 times a week.Working out increases the good cholesterol (HDL) count and reducing intake of saturated fat decreases the bad cholesterol (LDL) count. I did a bit of reading to understand the foods that don't work for him now.This includes cheese,cream, icecream,fried stuff,nuts,coconut ,egg yolk,red meat etc. I switched to Soy milk and Canola oil.They help in reducing cholesterol naturally. Some low fat yogurts are also very good snacks for people with high cholesterol.

So we've just been eating dal,roti and sabji almost every day....Let me tell you,no matter how determined one is,it gets quite monotonous to eat and even to cook the same thing over and over.Since, we want to avoid eating out, I decided to make something interesting yet healthy at home. So, when I read about Anupama's food event -Sandwiches, i thought this would be a good change for both of us and would also bring me back in the food blogging circle.

I call this the Big Bite Sandwich. It's a meal that celebrates vegetables. Especially , now in summer, we have easy access to all these wonderful,colorful vegetables which are so good for your body and heart.

Ingredients -
Potatoes - Boiled
Scallions - Finely chopped
Onions - Finely chopped
Sweet corn
Celery - finely chopped
Mint - Finely chopped
Cucumber - Grated - Make sure you squeeze the excess water
Cilantro - finely chopped
Brown Bread Burger buns

Method -
Mash the boiled potatoes,mix in all the other veges.Season with salt and red chili powder.Make medium sized patties.Roll them in bread crumbs or suji.Fry the patties in a shallow pan with minimum oil.For the spread, mix some tomato ketchup,cinnamon powder ,red chili powder.

Assemble the burger by applying the spread, placing one slice of onion,tomato and the patty.
With a full serving of all these veges, it sure is a healthy hearty meal.

Dhoop Kinare

2008-05-05T12:31:00.000-07:00

Recently while chatting with a friend , we got talking about some Pakistani plays that we had watched in the early 90s.I was suddenly reminded of this all time favourite of mine. It was called Dhoop Kinare. It was a story about this young medical intern who falls in love with her 20 year senior boss.The whole play was in 4 cassettes. It was a very slow and intense drama, with some really lovable characters. The main roles -Dr. Zoya Ali Khan and Dr. Amer Ansari were played by Marina Khan and Rahat Kazmi.They both did a marvellous job.Zoya as the young,reckless ,happy girl and Dr. Amer as the older, more mature and intense man. Just outstanding.!Watch it if you haven't already.

The background score were two ghazals.. they gave me the goosebumps. 'Raat yun dil mein teri' and 'Hansee Khanakti Hui'.

After getting off the phone with my friend, I set out to find Dhoop Kinare and relive the saga. Well, in this convenient world of google,blogspot and youtube, you find lots of people who share the same taste as you.
I found all episodes of DK divided in 9-10 minute snippets on youtube uploaded by the user 'PakistaniStage'.So, if you are a DK fan , go ahead and watch it.

If not,atleast listen to these songs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFHFxuW2K-Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0iW-E_yByU&feature=related

Atlanta,Georgia - How y'all doing?

2008-04-24T20:21:00.001-07:00

I am in between projects right now....in consulting they call it 'bench' time. So .i thought this was the best way to spend some quality time with my hubby in Atlanta..! ....Meeting the husband after 3 weeks was wonderful ofcourse but Atlanta....guyss its like a little surprise package. After having lived in LA for two years, the greenery in Atlanta hit me right in the face.!The authorities here have done a fantastic job in keeping the forests intact...its like they have cut some trees and made a house..and then cut a couple more to make a shop..the trees are just growing wild everywhere! I actually hear birds chirping from my window....no freeway noise,can you believe that...!

We did the typical touristy site seeing last weekend....saw the Atlanta Aquarium, the Olympic Centennial Park. ..also visited this beautiful Balaji temple in Riverdale! Next weekend its going to be the CNN Center and the Coke Center.!Its just my first week here ...Atlanta is like a bundle of joy..!!

Downtown skyline

Olympic Centennial Park - Atlanta hosted the Olympics in 1996

Georgia Aquarium

A Beluga whale in the background
A beautiful jellyfish

Shark....ooo!

Me and My Kitchen..!

2008-04-24T19:44:00.000-07:00

We all work, we have families, we take care of our responsibilities,pay our bills...lead a social life...but there is some part of us that is ours ...where we reconnect to our inner self..our mind and heart.It is these moments that keep us going in our regular life..its the third dimension of our life..!

Since no two people are alike, we all find our own ways of finding solace...some write...some read...some play..some sing..or sketch..some meditate..some work out..some shop...! Well, I cook...!!!!

Cooking is my meditation..it relieves me from my stress....unleashes my creativity..untangles my mind and my heart. I love to work in my kitchen..the plate is my canvas..and haldi, mirchi...dhaniya are my colors.I think cooking is an art of the highest grade.It works on the human psyche..it entices the eyes, the nose and the tongue. .. !Sometimes I imagine leaving this black and white tasteless world of technology and joining a culinary school and learning about world cuisines.I spend hours watching food network and reading food blogs and writing all those amazing recipes in my 'Recipe Journal'. ....and then when i try out a recipe , I write little comments next to the recipe for future use.

Having married a punjabi, I have been given the chance to blend two very different tastes and really try out lots of new blends .From the part of Maharashtra I belong to, every item needs to have a dash of sweet and sour.And punju food ofcourse is much bolder in terms of the spices used and the pulses, be it rajma ,chole, urad dal. I love to mix up the flavours of the two states..everytime hoping to make a masterpiece..! ...

So while i am trying my luck,here's to all those chefs who cook with a smile on their face in that little nook called as the kitchen.Cheers ..!

The Office -New serial review !

2008-04-15T22:52:00.000-07:00

So did you catch the new Office serial that aired last Thursday. I did..ehh..! I waited 3 long months ..and this what I get. I used to have a hearty laugh in every single serial.. ! Each character was so well handled. I had finally found something to watch and follow other than reality shows and Seinfeld..!! But this new serial just blew my bubble.I found it so irritating and so negative. I mean I know Office is not a happy comedy..it is very sarcastic ..but then it is kinda sweet also at times. .especially with all Jim and Pam moments..and Jim and Dwight tricks..!

But you know when i think about it, i wonder if there is anything more left to Office.We have had laughs on all these characters.Is there anything more to tap ? The incorrigible Michael Scott and his randomness, the handsome Jim Halpert,his crush on the office receptionist..the innocent Pam and her dilemma..and the psycho Dwight with all his craziness.I know the writers are brilliant ,but I am just really looking forward to this Thursday's episode to know what twist they take to keep the viewers attention alive. As a die hard Office loyalist, I hope they bring back the magic..!

Its been so long..!

2008-01-22T18:56:00.000-08:00

I was hibernating,don't know for what reason...can't blame it on work or studies or family..! I was just plain bored talking about myself....!

After 3 months of slumber, I think I may have some new topics to pen down..maybe some exciting experiences and travels..!We'll see.

Bryan Adams concert

2007-10-14T15:04:00.000-07:00

I remember my summer of 1998 when i was gifted the album 18 til I die for rakhi..! I cant tell you how many times I must've heard the cassette...! Over and over...so many times.i knew the lyrics by heart.

Since then I had dreamt to hear him play live...completely unplugged...singing..'Have you really loved a woman'...and 'Everything I do'...I pictured myself swaying and crooning to his tunes..!!

Well…now I have 1 less dream to follow ….! Managed to attend a Bryan Adams concert last week! He sang almost 20 songs…all his hits...Lets make a night to remember was divine. I felt like a teenager again. I had a wonderful evening. What a concert..!!

Here are some pics...!!!

Rustic Bengan Bharta..!!

2007-10-13T22:49:00.000-07:00

Another one of my Mum's recipes.. ! This is a very earthy version of bengan bharta.In marathi its actually called 'gavraan wangyacha bharit..which translates to 'Rural style eggplant mash'.

Mum says ,as a child ,she used to eat this with jwaar or bajra roti sitting under a tree next to a lush green field on a beautiful Indian day. Being brought up in the comforts of a city..far far away from any field, i could never picture her description..!However, she would try to get this rustic Indian cuisine to our city dining room every now and then.

I personally feel food becomes more special if there is a story behind it...and this one sure is very special....!This is my addition to the tale..!

-

Ingredients -

1 Big ripe Eggplant/Brinjal

1 onion roughly chopped

1 tomato roughly chopped

Cilantro

Lemon juice

Salt to taste

Roast the eggplant the regular way..either on your flame gas or convection oven or even a microwave. I just put mine for 10 mins in the microwave.It comes out well cooked.

Then skin it and mash the pulp properly. Ensure no lumps remain.

To the pulp,add the onions, tomatoes, cilantro, salt and lemon juice.This is not a hot dish..serve it at room temperature.

Voila...you are done..!Serve with phulka or rice.

You could also add some curd to this and give it a mustard seeds+kadi patta+turmeric tadka from top..just for some color and crunch.

Enjoy..!

Weekday dinner - Quick Fix Food!

2007-10-01T21:16:00.000-07:00

I am always on the lookout for healthy, interesting eats.Its an added bonus if they are quick to make. These meals I keep for those weekdays when work’s been crazy… patience is running out and the tummy is growling.

Today was one such day,so I thought of picking something from my quick-meal list...decided on the Frittata, it being my hubby's personal favourite.

Coincidently, while browsing some food events I found the Click - The Photo Event for October hosted by Jugalbandi where 'Eggs' were needed to be the key ingredient. Link -

http://jugalbandi.info/2007/09/click-october-2007-the-theme-is/

So...decided to put my recipe for this event.....!!

A little background of this creation - I saw Paula on food network make the Frittata. Of course her’s was very rich with dollops of sour-cream..and butter. I tried to tone it down a little and create something of my own.

So here’s Ketki’s Frittata.. Tasty…healthy. And super-quick..!

Ingredients -

2 Eggs
1 Tspn Dijon Mustard
1/2 Onion, thinly sliced
1-2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
2 potatoes, thinly sliced
½ a carrot cut in small pieces
1 bowl of chopped baby spinach,
Sun dried tomatoes, few
Feta Cheese, optional

In a shallow pan, sauté the onions, garlic and the potatoes till onions are golden brown. Then arrange the potatoes over the pan so that they form a base for the frittata. Over the potatoes, place the carrots and spinach. Sprinkle salt and pepper.

For the veges, you can add anything that you have in your fridge - Bell peppers, mushrooms, peas, any cooked meat.

On the other side, in a bowl, break the eggs; add Dijon mustard, and a little milk. Mix thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper.

Pour the egg mixture over the potato –spinach pan. Spread all over. The egg mixture is the binder for all the other ingredients. Over this, spread the sun dried tomatoes and the feta cheese.

Keep on medium heat and cover the pan with a lid. Let it cook till eggs are nicely done.

Cooking time is approximately 10 minutes. Serve with ketchup and a slice of bread.This vanishes in a jiffy in my house...

Enjoy..! No pain all gain...!!!
-

This is also my addition to Kanchana's WBB ...Omelettes...Kanchana' WBB

Girl Power!

2007-09-28T15:49:00.000-07:00

I received a forward today about some award winning UNICEF ads.Thought of sharing it with you.

The caption under this one was -

'Even Nature is incomplete without the Female Gender.'

Global Warming Vs Global Dimming !

2007-09-10T16:04:00.000-07:00

I was having this discussion with my Aunt about how hot the weather was in Los Angeles last weekend. She said that the average temperature in California has increased by 5 degrees in the last century. On the other hand, the average low in New York has dropped by a considerable amount in the last couple of years. So, I was confused if the world was becoming colder or warmer?

Well, I came to know that there are two phenomenon’s at work here -Global Warming and Global Dimming.

Burning of fossil fuels gives two types of by-products -

1. The Green House Gases, which absorb more heat from the sun and hence make the earth a warmer place.

2. And then there are "Other Pollutants" like Sulphur Dioxide ,Ash,Soot that cause global dimming. What is Global Dimming - ''Clouds are formed when water droplets are seeded by air-borne particles, such as pollen,ash. Polluted air results in clouds with larger number of droplets than unpolluted clouds. This then makes those clouds more reflective. More of the sun’s heat and energy is therefore reflected back into space.'' This makes the earth colder.

Contrary to general belief, global dimming is creating far more havoc than Global Warming. Critical climate change , random weather behaviour..extreme weather patterns..either floods or famines..Whats happening..???

As a result of reflection of heat, northern hemisphere waters are getting cooler, hence lesser rain formation. This phenomenon has already impacted Africa by bringing year after year of famine and drought. Billions more are likely to be affected in Asia.

Climatologists across the world also believe that Global Dimming is hiding the true power of Global Warming.
Read this –
http://www.globalissues.org/EnvIssues/GlobalWarming/globaldimming.asp#Whatisglobaldimming

Scary huh – So the choice that we may have to make is whether we would want to Burn to Death or Freeze to Death????

The year 2012 is predicted to be the end of the world in a number of civilizations –After reading this article, I think it might just come true.That leaves me 5 more years…phew..am making my 5-year plan…forget retirement planning…

''Left'' or Right !!!!

2007-09-10T15:27:00.000-07:00

Came across this article by Rajdeep Sardesai about the Indo-US Nuclear deal and how the small but powerful Left party is holding the government at ransom..!

http://www.ibnlive.com/blogs/author/1/2315/rajdeepsardesai.html

Food for the hungry!

2007-08-24T20:58:00.000-07:00

I hale from the land of the alphansoes and the puran polis...the great state of Maharashta.The marathi women are known to do lots of vraths...or 'upas'...! Each day of the week symbolizes a different deity and hence the food that comes in the 'allowed' category is also different, since each deity has his/her favourites..

During my college days, my Grandma would do the biggy 'ekadashi' vrath.This was one of my favourites..not that I took the vrath..but this deity's food choice matched mine..! The famous saying goes 'Ekadashi...Duppat khashi...' which means..Eat double on Ekadashi..hmmm and you thought vraths were difficult..!!Later,the ekadashi cuisine came back in my life during my single days in Pune. I remember eating the 'sabudana thalipit' in 'Mathura' restaurant on JM Road, Deccan. Deeelish..!!!!

Well, cutting the long story short, my memories of Ekadashi menu and Pune were somewhat revived today.It was my Mum's friday vrath today and she made the oh so yummy , sabudana wada. Abhi and me gobbled them down in a matter of minutes...My poor mum is sleeping hungry tonight..!

Mum says that the key to sabudana wada is in the crispiness. The proportion of the peanut powder and the sabudana decide the crunchiness of the wadas.

She shared her secret with me and i am sharing it with the world....spreading the happiness.

Ingredients -
1 cup sabudana ( sago) soaked for 8-10 hrs.
1/2 cup roasted groundnut powder
2 boiled -mashed potatoes
Green Chillies ,finely chopped
Cilantro,finely chopped
Pinch of sugar
Salt ,per taste.
1 tspn Jeera.
Mix all of the above ingredients together.Heat oil in a kadhai. Make small balls out of the mixture and deep fry until light golden brown.

Serve hot to maintain crispiness.They go very well with chutney, ketchup and friends..!

Reminiscence!

2007-08-24T13:46:00.000-07:00

Once again while waiting for the clock to strike 5.00, I got thinking if my life had always been so predictable!!!! Get up....spend 30 minutes in deciding what to wear...be the last one to enter the 9'o clock meeting. Be productive at work..or atleast try to...wait for 5.00 and then go home..! Get up another morning to go thru the same routine!

Life was not always like this. I mean its not that I am sad or unhappy...but some days I so wish if I could do what I want to do...and not what I have to do.... just be a kid again.

It used to be different...... i clearly remember..

The first thing that comes to mind are my days in VRCE..good ol’ Nagpur..!I had a routine even then..but we would always look for reasons to break free. Like R and I bunking a CS lecture and watching the afternoon show of 'Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya'..and hooting for Fardeen..!......And those crazy trips to the new Pantaloons and trying out every outfit..and buying nothing.ever...! .......Making rangoli every Diwali!......Those crazy days in VRCE during Aarohi...all the guys hooting for the girls.. I remember the boys always scared me..I mean sometimes I just prayed to be invisible...but today it brings a silly grin on my face...! .....Driving thru Dharampeth on Valentine's Day...and checking out all the action...never getting a single rose! Coming out of the audi after exams and calculating marks atleast a 100 times...min,max and average and many more..!........and ofcourse those endless icecream sessions in Softcell and Anand Bhandar..! The list just goes on and on!

Back then i never paid so much heed to the good times I was having...i actually dreaded the studies and the stress... Well, without a doubt those were the best days of my life..I guess everyone's life..! No tension, no responsibility..!People expect you to do random, crazy things. You take people at face value and trust them with all your heart.

I guess with age, things change, people change and you have to too. In this humdrum of life, it takes a lot of effort to break the pattern and do something completely unexpected…just the thought gives me a high.. ! I mean why not…have we become that ‘old’… C’mon..Lets be innocent again..Lets be unpredictable again…catch a stupid movie just for gawking at the hero. Get an expensive pedicure…get that silly haircut...drive in the rain..go over-the-top somewhere… I know our matured mind says…don’t be silly...you cant do this always. But what the heck, there’s no harm in trying.. you could do it once a month without making it a routine..coz breaking routine is the point here ..U see.!

Hmm..so to start practicing what I am preaching right now…I leave for home at 2.30 on a weekday afternoon to cook a nice meal for my beloved husband..can someone cover for me here..?? ...:-S..

The Color of my Dreams

2007-08-22T16:27:00.000-07:00

For all back seat drivers....including ME!!

2007-08-21T16:04:00.000-07:00

The wife is busy frying eggs, when her husband comes home.
He walks into the kitchen, sees his wife cooking, and immediately
starts yelling:

"CAREFULL!!! CAREFULL!!! MORE OIL!!! TURN THEM!!! TURN THEM NOW!!!
WE NEED MORE OIL!!! THEY ARE GOING TO STICK!!!CAREFULL!!! CAREFULL!!!
TURN THEM!!!
FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!!!! COME ON!!! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!!!
ARE YOU BLIND!!!!! LET ME DO IT THEN!!!! TURN THEM!!! HURRY UP!!!
ARE YOU CRAZY!!!! THE OIL IS GOING TO SPILL!!! USE MORE SALT!!! THE SALT!!!!"

The wife is getting more furious by the minute.
When she couldn't take it anymore, she blurted: "What the hell is wrong
with you? Why are you yelling like this? I've done this a million
times. Do you think I don't know how to fry an egg?"

The husband calmly replies: "This is to show you what it feels like for
me when I am driving and you sit next to me..."

Sarcasm at its best..!!!

2007-08-21T15:10:00.000-07:00

Read this somewhere -

-@-
If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
-@-

my ever so faithful bank....

Finally a good movie!

2007-08-16T13:43:00.000-07:00

The new Shahrukh movie -'Chak De India' hit theatres 2 weeks back. Being a Shahrukh loyalist, I knew I had no choice but to watch it.I have to confess ,I did not expect much from it.I just went to check out SRK's new hair style.

My mother ,however,was looking forward to this movie. Having played state level Hockey herself, she knew she could relate to it.

To my utter surprise, the movie completely swept me off my feet. It was just such a pleasant feeling.An extremely simple, yet focussed film, no 'kahani mein twist'...no saas bahu...no dancing round trees....SRK was not seen serenading anyone..and for once he did not overact..did not stutter. He just looked so comfortable in his role.His best so far..!!Well,having said all this, I dont want to take away all the credit from the girls..I think the 16 girls made the movie what it is today. They were all so real..so normal..and so believable.

I give it a 'must-watch' rating....I saw it in a closeby AMC theatre...there were a handful of desis...a few of us clapped and cheered...I wish i had seen it in India..I could picture the crowds reacting to each goal scored by Komal and Preeti.....I SO MISSED THAT here!!!!

Go India Go..!!!!

Foodie!!!

2007-08-07T21:40:00.000-07:00

I wont call myself a great cook ..I am actually miles away from being called that. But I am a die hard foodie. I love to eat and cook.I am still trying out my hand at various things. However,I do have some recipes that my mother has very kindly passed down to me. I have grown up eating her food..and relentlessly try to match her taste in my cooking.

Today I was invited to join a Blog event hosted by a blog-pal - Anupama. She is hosting a picnic event - Fun in the Sun. Being in California, I think this is the perfect genre of food for me to start blogging with. The weather outside is Picnic Perfect and my mind is bursting with ideas of intersting eats that can be loaded in my picnic basket.

So, here I go.

This recipe is called 'Veg Pears'. It is comfortable finger food. No fuss.Tasty and Traditional.

Ingredients -

6 Potatoes

2 Bread Slices

Grated Ginger

Green Chillies ,finely sliced

Cilantro,finely sliced

Feta cheese - 2 table spoons

Lime Juice - 1 tspn

Bread Crumbs for coating

Method - Boil potatoes and mash them.Crush bread slices and mix with the potatoes.Add ginger,lime juice,cilantro,green chillies and salt.

Make a small ball of the mixture in the form of a pear.With your fingers, stuff a little feta cheese inside the pear. Roll the pear in bread crumbs or 'suji'.

Shallow fry till the pear becomes dark golden brown.

Garnish with cilantro. Serve with ketchup and chilled lemonade.The cheese inside melts and gives a nice gooey taste.

Tip - If you dont have feta cheese in your fridge , then you could also use grated coconut with thinly diced raisins. You could also use cooked peas.

P.S -I am working on my photography skills.

Go Green!

2007-07-21T08:25:00.000-07:00

I see many of my friends, colleagues, relatives talking about the 'Green' lifestyle. They spend extra to buy hybrid cars and energy efficient appliances.Till recently i thought it was more of status symbol to be 'Green'.I was reading this article a few days back and something clicked..!I guess I just woke up and decided.. today was the day. Did not take much!

I thought I was late ...but I still know people who are so indifferent to it. They just choose to ignore the symptoms.For millions of years, animals and plants have lived in perfect harmony with each other. It’s only us, the so called 'Intelligent' race who have disturbed this delicate balance, beyond repair, just for our own convenience. I think we are just testing Mother Earth's patience. That day is not far when we wont be able to go out on picnics and for treks in a National park in some remote place. Let’s save this beauty for our children and their children to see.

Let’s do something before it’s too late.

I make a promise today… that I will do my bit in protecting my planet. So, here' my to-do list -

1.Turn off lights during the day and when not in the room.
2. Turn off other electric things, like TVs, stereos, and radios when not in use.
3. Use fans instead of air conditioners. If it’s unbearably hot and you need the AC, then reduce the regular temp by 1 degree. It saves a lot of energy.
4. In winter, wear a sweater instead of turning up your thermostat.
5. Try to buy organic fruits and vegetables if you're concerned about pesticides. (Organic food is grown without man-made fertilizers and/or pesticides).
6. Think once before giving the Print command. Use recycled paper and/or recycles it. Reuse old papers.
7. REDUCE, REUSE, & RECYCLE
8.Turn off water when brushing your teeth.
9. Say no to plastic. Use a cloth bag when doing grocery.

See it doesnt take much. Just some small changes in our daily life could go a long way in saving our future.
Let's all stand and take this solemn oath... today....!!!

How Bhuvan was created!

2007-07-20T16:23:00.000-07:00

Came across Aamir Khan's blog a couple of days back.

"Creating Bhuvan was tricky because he is such an all round good guy. No weaknesses. Characters like this have a tendency to get boring. I began at his core. What is his strongest quality? What is the quality about him that stands out the most? Based on the script I felt it was his inner strength. He's got tremendous courage, inner strength and resolve. How do I project that physically?"

http://www.lagaandvd.com/blog.php?topicid=25

Its so amazing how much effort went into portraying the famous Lagaan character.Lots of other interesting stuff aswell.

A crazy weekend in Las Vegas!!!

2007-07-20T15:50:00.000-07:00

Gadhiji's Three Monkeys!

Cheers!!!

New York Skyline - Statue of Liberty and Empire State!

Happy Times Ahead!!!

2007-07-20T15:45:00.001-07:00

Not that I am unhappy now, but it just so happens that my mother's coming to the US next week.It's been a yr and a half since I last saw her.It feels like a decade.I cant describe how excited and nervous I am.Excited for obvious reasons, and nervous because this is the first time she'll be coming to 'my' house after my marriage.

I am not sure I have learnt enough in the last 1 1/2 yrs. I barely know a handful of recipes, I take 2 hrs to make a basic meal forget fancy stuff, I am not sure my cleanliness standards are high enough...Something's probably rotting in my fridge..And I think I have put on way too much weight??WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?????

Am I over reacting or is this normal?I mean I never felt this when I was single? Why this fear of being judged? Is it any different?

I think it is different because for the first time I will be playing host. She will see how I manage my home ,my family,my life,...none of that kiddy ghar-ghar stuff.This will all be real!
So what if i make just the same few sabjis everyday, they will be the best she's ever had..So what if i take 2 hrs to cook,..they say patience pays..So what if i have put on a couple of extra pounds... she will have more of my cheeks to pull. :-)!!

I am sure she wont judge , she'll just be proud that her little girl is all grown up.!!!!

Julie Andrews ...69th B'day!

2007-07-20T15:13:00.000-07:00

To commemorate her 69th birthday, actress/vocalist, Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan's RadioCity Music Hall for the benefit of the AARP.

One of the musical numbers she performed was "My Favorite Things" from the legendary movie, "Sound Of Music".

Here are the lyrics she used:

Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Cadillac's and cataracts, and hearing aids and glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favorite things.

When the pipes leak,When the bones creak,
When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.

Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Back pains, confused brains, and no need for sinning,
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinning,
And we won't mention our short shrunken frames,
When we remember our favorite things.

When the joints ache,
When the hips break,
When the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I've had,
And then I don't feel so bad.

(Ms. Andrews received a standing ovation from the crowd that lasted over four minutes and repeated encores.)

Expecto Petronum

2007-07-20T14:47:00.000-07:00

For those few unaware of the famous Harry Potter, the 'Boy Who Lived', this spell is used by him in the book/movie Prisoner of Azkaban to cast away soul sucking dementors( the guards of the dreaded prison of Azkaban), by thinking of a strong happy memory.

Not trying to sound philosophical, but I just cant help notice the deeper meaning behind J.K. Rowling's fantasy spell.Dementors aka unfortunate events in our life, or difficult times or negative people ,suck the soul or happines out of us. We all deal with such
dementors in our day to day life. They are everywhere,the rude woman at work, the sarcastic colleague, the nasty lady in the library, the missed promotion, that extra pound on the weighing scale :-).They are all around us.

Well,the next time I see them, I am going to say a little 'Expecto Petronum' (in my mind ) and shoo them away. I have way too many happy memories and loving people in my life.Life is full of smiles, lifelong friendships ,eternal love,mom's hugs and so much more..!We just have to learn to be happy with ourselves and cherish each moment that we have with the people we love.

Geico Ad

2007-06-23T21:58:00.000-07:00

I love the song that plays in Geico ads..

And Everywhere I go..
There's always something to remind me..
Of another place and time..!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H02iwWCrXew

I feel this way sometimes..!

'Sicko' ko Dekho.!!!

2007-06-22T09:56:00.000-07:00

Saw the movie 'Sicko' last night. I always knew that this country was for the young...its treats you well as long as everything is working fine ,be it your car or your body. You see the not so rosy American dream when something breaks down.

Sicko is a documentary film about the American Health Care system and its loop holes.This movie left me with a feeling of restlessness. I definitely dont want to be caught in this system in my rainy days..!

A must watch for everyone living and aspiring to live in this Great country..!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicko

My First!!

2007-06-21T15:30:00.000-07:00

Finally..i enter the blogging world.!Lately I have been spotted sneaking in on people's blogs.I just couldn't resist having one of my own.
I am not sure what I am going to scribble about...infact I am clueless..!!Guess we'll all see how it goes!!