Saturday, January 31, 2009

LEARNING....



The more you learn, the more you know,

The more you know, the more you forget

The more you forget, the less you know 

 So... Why learn ??
 

STATION....



A bus station is where a bus stops.

A train station is where train stops.

On my desk, I have a work station.... 

What more can I say.......

15 Rules That India Lives by.....


1. The Other Side Law:

If my side of the road has a traffic jam, then I can start driving on the wrong side of the road and all incoming cars will be rerouted via Meerut.

2. The No Queue Rule:

If there is a queue of many people, no one will notice me sneaking into the front as long as I am looking the other way.

3. The Mind Over Matter Law:

If a red light is not working, four cars from different directions can easily pass through one another..

4. The Auto Axiom:

If I indicate which way I am going to turn my vehicle, it is an information security leak.
 

5. The In Spit Of Thing:

The more I lean out of my car or bus and the harder I spit, the stronger the roads become.

6. The Cinema Hall Fact:

If I get a call on my mobile phone, the film automatically goes into pause mode.

7. The Brotherhood Law:

If I want to win an argument, I need only to repeatedly suggest to the other person that I have illicit relations with his sister.

8. The Baraat/ Marriage Right:

When I'm on the road to marriage, all the roads in the city belong to me. To ME….

9. The Heart Of Things:

If I open enough buttons on my shirt, the pretty girl at the bus stop can see through my mal-formed chest into the depths of my soul.
 
10. The Name Game:

It is very important for the driver behind me to memorize the nicknames of my children.
 
11. Parking up The Wrong Tree:

When I double-park my car, the road automatically widens so that the traffic is not affected.
 
12. The Chill Bill Move:

When I park and block someone else's car I am giving him a chance to pause, relax, chill and take a few moments off from his rushed day.

13. The Ogling Stare:

If you don't ogle and drool at every hot Chick that passes by, you're gay.
 
14. The Bus Law:

If I stop my bus at the correct place near the bus stop, the city will explode and blow into 6 million pieces.

15. The VIP Rule:

There are only 3 important persons in this city – I, Me, Myself!

Friday, January 30, 2009

ALOO JHOL


 (Potatoes in tomato gravy)

 

INGREDIENTS :

 Potatoes (boiled)   - 4 , medium sized

Tomatoes (finely chopped)   - 3 , medium sized

Cumin  -  1 ½ tsp

Red chilli pdr  -  1 tsp

Salt to taste

Mustard oil  - 3 tsp

Fresh coriander  - 1 ½ tbsp

Water   - ½ liter

 

METHOD :

 

#   Break the boiled potatoes in to cube sized pieces, by hand.
 
#   Heat oil and add cumin. When it starts to crackle, add the chopped tomatoes.      Sauté till the tomatoes leave oil.


#   Now add the broken potato pieces and sauté for 3 minutes.
 
#   Add red chilli pdr, salt and ½ liter of water. Bring to a boil, them let it simmer for another 5 minutes.

#   Garnish with chopped coriander.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

My Emotional Quotient....




Your EQ is 120



You usually have it going on emotionally, but roadblocks tend to land you on your butt.


On an average day, you're quite happy, together, and content. You live your life well.


Your emotions aren't always stable, but you can go along with the ups and downs pretty well.

You tend to be motivated, energetic, focused, and level headed.

You see the world pretty rationally, and you don't tend to over dramatize things. When things are bad, you know they eventually have to get better.





Friday, January 23, 2009

CHAAT MASALA



Although this masala powder is easily available in the market but making it fresh makes a lot of difference in the taste. The photograph has not come out well . I guess I'll have to take help of hubby dear.


INGREDIENTS :

Cumin (roasted and powdered) - 2 tbsp
Mint leaves (dried and powdered) - 1 tsp
Black salt - 1 tbsp
Dry mango pdr - 1 tbsp

Red chilli pdr - 1 tsp

Salt - 1 tsp

METHOD :

Mix all the above ingredients and store in an air- tight jar.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

KHICHDI


(steamed rice and lentils)



INGREDIENTS :


Rice - 1 cup

Yellow lentils (arhar/tuvar dal) - 1 cup

Turmeric – 1 tsp

Salt to taste

Water as required


For seasoning


Onion (chopped) - 1, small

Garlic (chopped) - 4 to 5 cloves

Green/red chillies - 2

Cumin - ½ tsp

Dried Methi leaves (optional) - 1 tsp

Clarified butter (ghee) - 1 tbsp


METHOD :


· Soak rice and lentil for half an hour.


· In a pressure cooker add the soaked rice, lentil, turmeric, salt and sufficient water to cook it.


For seasoning


· Heat clarified butter. Add cumin .When it starts to crackle, add chopped onions. Sauté till they turn pink.


· Add chopped garlic and green/red chillies. Sauté till light brown. Switch off gas and add dried methi leaves.


· Pour on the prepared khichdi and serve.


Tuesday, January 20, 2009

MIX VEGETABLE




INGREDIENTS :


Potatoes (cut into fingers) - 2 , medium sized

Cauliflower (cut into florets) - 1 , small

French beans - 15 pieces

Carrots - 2 medium sized

Green chillies - 2

Garam masala pdr - 1 tsp

Oil - 1 tbsp

Salt to taste

Fresh coriander (chopped) - 1 tbsp


METHOD :


· Cut french beans and carrots lengthwise in slants (as you cut them for chowmein).


· Blanch all vegetables except potatoes.


· Heat oil in a pan and add potato fingers. Sauté till they turn golden brown in color.


· Add all the blanched vegetables and mix thoroughly.


· Add green chillies, garam masala pdr and salt to taste.


· Sauté for a minute then cover and cook on low heat for 3 minutes.


· Garnish with chopped coriander and serve.



Sunday, January 18, 2009

WHAT TYPE OF BLOGGER AM I....




You Are a Life Blogger!



Your blog is the story of your life - a living diary.

If it happens, you blog it. And you make it as entertaining as possible.

You may be guilty of over-sharing a bit on your blog, but you can't help it.

Your life is truly an open book. Or in this case, an open blog!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

NIMONA (green peas gravy)




This a typical dish made in the state of Uttar Pradesh. In recipe only those peas are used which are not sweet in taste. You will get such peas towards the end of the season.


INGREDIENTS :

Peas (roughly grinded) - 1 kg
Onions - 4

Tomatoes (grind to a paste) - 3

Ginger-garlic paste - 2 tbsp

Bayleaf - 1
Cinnamon - 1 stick

Cumin - 1 tsp

Red chilli pdr - 2 tsp
Garam masala pdr - 1 ½ tsp
Masala vadi - 1 cup

Mustard oil - 6 tbsp
Salt to taste

Water - 1.25 litres


METHOD :

• Heat 4 tbsp of oil in a heavy bottomed pan. Add the roughly grinded pea’s paste. Fry till the paste becomes golden brown in color (Please refer the adjoining snap) and its consistency is like sand grains. Keep aside.

• Heat the remaining oil. Lightly sauté the masala vadis till they are golden brown in color (Please refer the adjoining snap). Take out of pan and keep aside.

• Chop half an onion, lengthwise and grind the remaining onions to a paste. Keep aside.


• In the same pan, add cumin when it starts to crackle, add bay leaf and cinnamon stick. Add chopped onion and sauté till golden brown.

• Now add onion paste, sauté for a minute and add tomato paste. Sauté for a minute and add ginger-garlic paste. Fry till masala leaves oil.


• Add garam masala pdr, red chilli pdr and fried vadis. Mix thoroughly.


• Add fried peas paste. Mix thoroughly and add salt and 1.25 liters of water.


• Bring the water to a boil. Then cover with a lid and let the gravy simmer for 30 minutes.


• Serve with steamed rice or chapatis.


SPECIAL TIP : You can use the same amount of potatoes (cut in cubes and deep fried ) instead of masala vadi.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

KANJI


(a fermented drink for winters)


This is a special drink made during the winters.This drink is a specialty of the state of Uttar Pradesh. This drink gives warmth to the body.It builds immunity of the body.


It will take a week for this drink to be ready , so I will add the snap of Kanji after a week.


INGREDIENTS :

·

Radish - 1 kg

Beet root - 1 kg

Carrots - 1 kg

Yellow mustard seeds (roughly ground to a paste) - ½ cup

Salt to taste

Water to fill the earthen pot (about 75% of the pot)

Earthen pot (ghara/matka)

Muslin cloth - 12 inches by 12 inches


METHOD :



· Chop all the vegetables into 2 inches long pieces.


· Boil the water in a large pan and add all the chopped vegetables. Simmer for two minutes.


· Now pour all the hot boiled vegetables as well as the boiled water into the earthen pot.


· Now add the mustard paste and salt. Mix thoroughly.


· Cover and tie a piece of muslin cloth at the mouth of the pot.


· Keep in sunlight for a week. Stir the mixture twice a day.


· Kanji will be ready to drink in 1 week.


· It is sour and tangy in taste.





Tuesday, January 13, 2009

THREE THINGS....

3 things i am doing right now

  • having tea
  • checking e-mails
  • listening the song 'dhaage tod lao chandni se noor ke' the movie Jhoom Barabar Jhoom


3 things I can do
  • sketch
  • embroidery
  • sing

3 favourite foods
  • pizza
  • fried rice
  • parathas

3 beverages I drink regularly
  • soup
  • coffee
  • water

3 tv shows/books I read as a kid
  • champak
  • chanda mama
  • phantom comics

3 Places I Would Love To Go Or See...
  • lakshadweep islands
  • leh
  • switzerland


3 Things I Currently Need Or Want...

  • mobile phone (latest one)
  • silver stilettos
  • black/ tan leather handbag


3 Things I Am Passionate About...
  • reading
  • cleanliness
  • hubby

3 Things I Have Learned From My Past.....
  • true friends will always be there for you.
  • every cloud has a silver lining.
  • what goes around , comes around too

3 Things I Want To Do Before I Die....
  • see my grand children
  • fly an aero plane
  • para sailing

3 Words Or Phrases I Use Often....
  • hey bhagwan...
  • fine...
  • call up after 6 o' clock