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Friday 12 October 2012

Some Thoughts for the future

Just another evening at the nearby cafĂ© with my friends, we chatted and discussed various things under the sun. Sipping my glass of cold coffee and munching my Choco-chip cookies I listened as my friends discussed the rising prices not a very interesting discussion I thought as I tried to remain part of the conversation amidst some heated discussions about the rising prices and government policies. It seemed not a very fruitful discussion with lot of smoke literally with a ashtray full of cigarette butts and puffs of smoke from their favourite brands.  My thoughts drifted to a morning conversation that I overheard . It was my neighbour aunty arguing with the kabadiwala haggling over the old newspaper and empty rum bottle rates. She managed to get over Rs 300/- from him but did not seem pleased at all. She said aaj kal 300/- Rs, mein aata hi kya hai.(What does one get in Rs 300 these days). To this the kabadi wala quickly retorted madam I save 300 per day for my daughter’s education so that she may get a good education when she grows up.
As my thoughts drifted back to the discussion I felt the gloomy prospects of not being able to enjoy a cup of cold coffee, buy my favourite brands or this life style seemed to gloomy   so I shared the Rs 300 saving a day gyan, elaborating on it that if we invest Rs 100 a day then we can have an additional fixed income or pention when we come to the retirement age .
With retirement sorted out at Rs 300 a day saving and
Child education at 300 a day saving it seemed a silver lining to present day scenario of doom & gloom so we decided to catch a Sunday evening show at the nearby multiplex.
Oblivious of the fact that my friends needed to cut down on their smoking or it would any way kill them & me (of passive smoking) or were they banking on the Rs1000 a month investment plan with a health cover of  for hospitalization  
we made a move towards the multiplex to catch a movie. And how would I get this additional 10-11000 Rs for investment ? would I tweak my yearly 1 lakh tax saving investment or should I start investing in the stock markets were some of the thoughts that occupied my mind for the rest of the evening.



 

Pension Plan    
   
The Panel Station    
Home Needs Solution    

Pension Plan

Pension Plan

Saturday 22 September 2012

Fruit Cream 420


Fruit Cream 420

Being a foodie that I am I find all desserts irresistible. But knowing what sinful delights they are and one can never get enough of them I have developed this fruit cream in which I have replaced the cream with low fat curd and the sugar gives way to the healthy Honey.
My version of  "Fruit Cream 420"

Ingredients
Curd 200 ml
Cocktail Fruits 1 tin
Honey 2 tbsp
Vanilla Essence – few drops
Method
Whisk the curd well until smooth
Add & mix the honey in the curd until completely dissolved.
Add few drops of vanilla essence and mix well.
Add the fruit titbits to the curd & mix
Chill in freezer for 15-20 min
Serve in cocktail classes
Or in empty tart shells.

Poha Potato Corn cutlets

Poha Potato Corn cutlets


Ingredients
1 cup poha
Medium boiled ,pealed & grated potatoes-2
Del monte corn: ¼ cup (boiled)
Del monte extra virgin olive oil for cooking
Salt: to taste
¼ cup chopped green coriander
Ginger julienne
Onion 1 large chopped 
Green chillies 2 finely chopped

Method of Preparation

Soak the Poha and drain
Peal & grate the
Add the fruit tit boiled potatoes.
Rub the potatoes well into the poha
Add salt, add green coriander chillies into this mixture and mix well.
Make round balls  out of this mix.
Making a depression in the middle fill it with boiled corn.
Take a non stick pan moisten it with extra virgin olive oil.
Cook until crisp & golden brown.
Serve with Delmonte Tomato Chilli Sauce

note to make them crisp I roll them in dried bread crumb powder  before I fry them and I use very little olive oil to cook them in.
you can also make  oblong shaped cutlets like I made here



Spicy Fruit Tikka

Spicy Fruit Tikka

Ingredients
Del Monte Pineapple Pieces (tit bits or pineapple slices )
If using Pineapple slices cut them into smaller pieces.
Del Monte Prunes
Tomatoes cut into wedges or cherry tomatoes

Del monte Ketchup



For the dip
Black Salt
Lemon Juice
Honey
Red Chili Powder (Optional)
Del Monte Ketchup

Take a tikka stick or wooden stick pierce a piece of pineapple then place on it a wedge of tomato then prune . repeat this arrangement two times.
Make a dip of black salt ,lemon juice an little honey.(red chilli powder optional)
Dip this stick in this dip and roast in on low flame or a grill for 1-2 minute.
The honey glazed delicious fruit tikka is ready

Monday 3 September 2012

The Wait


The Wait


To wait can be a daunting task
as we live in the fast forward mode 
The time of the remote
In the ad break we switch channels 
Waiting for our flight we flip through pages
Waiting too long for a promotion we switch jobs
& you want me to wait 
As I wait for my blog to get approved
time passes me by
Yet I wait and wait and Wait

Monday 27 August 2012

The Stadium


We buy the tickets to see the match
Eat drink and enjoy
Our team wins and we rejoice 
if it loses we sulk
but what is the fault of the stadium 
that we leave in a mess



Saturday 25 August 2012

The firecracker story


The Firecracker Story

We buy the crackers and light them up 
they burn up but light up the sky's 
what they leave behind is smoke and moments of joy.



Thursday 23 August 2012

Don't Leave them alone


I came across a sign that says it is forbidden to leave children unaccompanied. How about the other way around is it O.K to leave parents ? A point to ponder

Wednesday 22 August 2012

Sun Set or Sunrise


Behind the trees I see the Sun
Is it Rising or is it Setting ..
I don't know 
For every time it rises here it sets somewhere
Its just a matter of perspective and where you are.


Sunday 19 August 2012

Goa always so relaxing



Goa is a great place to relax and unwind. Enjoy it my way from sunrise to sunset and beyond. Soak yourself in the goan spirit. take a walk ,inhale the clean cool sea breeze rejuvenate and recharge. 

Saturday 18 August 2012

Unforgettable Goa


Clean beaches cool breeze that's my Goa


Goa is one place that welcomes you with open arms 365 days a year. What better way to relax then play a game of beach volley ball or just go on a walk . Along the coastline with the waves hitting your feet and the sand slipping away from underneath the sole of your feet.



Tuesday 14 August 2012

Soak No More


Soak No More


I have been with Raj for quite some time now. When I entered his life it was love at first sight that’s what Raj claims it to be, Was his initial attraction towards me  due to my fair blemish free color or was it true love I would never know .
 In the initial days of our relationship , there was one ritual that intrigued me immensely everytime when we reached home he would make me bathe in a tub of soapy water if the monotony of this ritual was not enough he would make me sit and soak in the tub till I was wet to the core . As out relation grew older this ritual took a weird turn now Raj would insist that I sit and soak in the tub that much longer .Was Raj turning into a sadist and did he ever think what harm could so much exposure to soap and water do to me? What if Raj was made to undergo the same experience how would he feel?

It could be possible that he was deliberately doing this to avoid me or get away from me. These were some of the thoughts that occupied my mind. This ritual was like a great damper on our relationship. The feeling of being made to sit in a tub of soapy water till I was soaked to the bone was very humiliating and demeaning. Did he bring me home for this day and what would be our future were some of the thoughts that were bothering me when Raj & I entered the shopping mall. As we passed the shelves filled with groceries, toiletries and other home related stuff, I heard a sweet voice talk in a low sweet tone. My heart sank ,was it some girl trying to vie for Raj’s attention? I focussed on the voice and figured out that it  was coming from the other side of the shelf and was try to have a conversation with me. In a matter of fact voice it asked “So you too are depressed because of the way you are treated at home?” The question was directed at me but thinking it to be of a generic nature and considering it to be a direct marketer’s ploy I tried to avoid eye contact. However the next statement floored me. The voice now in a lower almost hushed tone said “I know all about you and your soaking tales” Hearing this I was stunned into silence, was I being followed by a stalker or worst still a voyeur who had been witnessing my fate all these days. Breaking my chain of thoughts it interjected. Don’t worry it is a common happening in almost all households. I felt a wave of anger how could this person trivialise my condition and compare it to some generic mid life crisis how dare…. Then the voice spoke again I know how you feel and I have the solution to free you from this predicament of yours. My eyes lit up in hope but how I asked trying to keep my voice low as I did not want to sound too excited and moreover I did not want Raj to overhear our conversation who was busy on his cell phone talking to some office colleague. Just take one of the boxes from the other side of the shelf and see how your life changes. It was a weird solution for a weirder problem that I faced. No counselling session for Raj nor any appointment with the shrink ,just take one of these boxes from the shelf and your problem would be solved . I think I am going bonkers due to all this long exposure to hot & cold water and so much soap I muttered to myself. Being the optimist that I am I clung on to that ray of hope and thought but what is the harm in trying out the solution? I had heard about magic lamps and genies coming out of them to grant wishes but this was weirder. The toughest part would be to  convince Raj to take one of these boxes back home. I tried to ask Raj to pick up a box but I felt a lump in my throat and could not utter a word as I & Raj slowly walked past the Shelf . I prayed to god  “Please god let Raj take one of these boxes home” and in my mind I was constantly saying Oh Raj please pick up & take one of these boxes. Then just as he was  walking past the shelf he paused turned towards the boxes and picked one up and put it in the shopping cart and walked to make the payment. In that one moment that he picked up the box my heart leapt with joy. Was God listening to my prayers ? All this while in my relationship with Raj I had always believed it to be special ,a kind of mental connection wherein we could understand each other without  talking, and this act of Raj reinforced my belief in our relationship.

On the way back home I kept thinking that I have been Raj’s constant companion & I am so close to him. I have celebrated all his birthdays with him and also accompanied him when he went out with his friends. I never complained but the only stressful point has been the demeaning act of soaking. I realised we had reached home only when Raj had parked the car & switched off the ignition. With baited breath I awaited my fate, would I be subjected to the same humiliation or would something change.He went to the tub and this time instead of soaking me and leaving me there all alone began to read something on the box and then instead of the usual soap poured some of the contents of the box into a box like container  and gently placed me inside.He pressed some buttons on the console and cool water rushed towards me. Today the feeling was different ,I could feel my whole body vibrate. It was a strange sensation that made clean & fresh. After some time Raj took me out in his arms and gently caressed me as put me on to the clothes line to dry. After all I was his favourite T-Shirt!
I got freedom from being soaked! Happy Independence day

Friday 13 July 2012

Face to Face with Mr Dev Anand


Mr Dev Anand the Enigma a Legend


Coming face to face with Mr Dev Anand. It was an honor  to see him live . The hysteria and excitement was unbelievable. 



His ageless charm was evident when I saw young girls faint upon seeing the legend.