I am being very philanthropic by sharing this to you..
This is called Russian Salad... You can find a number of ways to prepare this in google.
But this one is tried and tested (on me and several other people :P)..
Lets start :
Go grab some fruits(apples, pineapples) and vegetables( green peas, carrot,potato, french beans)+ mayonaise + cream ( u get those amul cream in small pack).. sugar, salt, pepper.. (well u have that at home..)
Apples and Pineapples are a must..
Well apples were pretty cheap last couple of months... still its affordable..
so before the season ends... make sure u try this..
so take n apple and pineapple.. cut them into small pieces.
For vegetables.. I recommend... Green peas, French Beans(4-5), Carrot(1)and Potato(1)..
According to ur liking u can pick or drop any.( Today i made it with the fruits and green peas)
boil potato and carrot together.. and cut them into small pieces.
green peas gets cooked fast..
beans also require a small boiling, u dont want to lose the color.
Take a big bowl..take a spoon of mayonaise and the cream...( can use the whole pack.. more tasty ) , add a little salt. sugar ( according to ur liking), 1 ts spoon pepper powder, and mix them well..
now add the fruits and vegetables into the bowl and mix them together.
keep it in refrigerator to cool.
Serve it in a bowl and have it when u please
If you can afford to be less health conscious once in a while, this is a tasty anti depression agent... :)
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Amla Sharbat
This sharbat recipe is good for those who have a low haemoglobin count in blood ( like me ).
I saw this in Asianet channel today , and since I had amla in my refrigerator and wanted to finish it somehow, I tried it immediately after the show.
Cast and crew
10 amla
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
5 cloves ( Grampu)
mint leaves ( for garnishing)
Screenplay
Take 1 cup sugar and 1 cup of water in a kadai and heat it to make a sugar syrup.
Add the cloves into it.
Grate the Amla.
Once the sugar syrup is done. Switch off the gas and keep it aside for a minute. Just to cool off a bit. Now add the grated amla. stir it.
Use a strainer and strain the amla sugar syrup to a vessel.
You can cool this syrup and keep it in fridge and use it within 2 days.
Dilute it with water and garnish with mint leaves.....
-----------THE END---------
This is the TV version
when I made it, I totally forgot about the cloves.
I had 5 amla, so i cut them into small pieces took away the seed, and grated it using a mixer.
( the smallest bowl ). It came as a paste. I thought its well and good.
I made my sugar syrup with a little less than half a cup sugar and same amount of water.
and added the amla paste. and strained it.
cooled it. and later mixed 1/4 of sharbat and 3/4 water.
It was great !!
so.... u guys try with cloves and mint... and tell me how u liked it.
I saw this in Asianet channel today , and since I had amla in my refrigerator and wanted to finish it somehow, I tried it immediately after the show.
Cast and crew
10 amla
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
5 cloves ( Grampu)
mint leaves ( for garnishing)
Screenplay
Take 1 cup sugar and 1 cup of water in a kadai and heat it to make a sugar syrup.
Add the cloves into it.
Grate the Amla.
Once the sugar syrup is done. Switch off the gas and keep it aside for a minute. Just to cool off a bit. Now add the grated amla. stir it.
Use a strainer and strain the amla sugar syrup to a vessel.
You can cool this syrup and keep it in fridge and use it within 2 days.
Dilute it with water and garnish with mint leaves.....
-----------THE END---------
This is the TV version
when I made it, I totally forgot about the cloves.
I had 5 amla, so i cut them into small pieces took away the seed, and grated it using a mixer.
( the smallest bowl ). It came as a paste. I thought its well and good.
I made my sugar syrup with a little less than half a cup sugar and same amount of water.
and added the amla paste. and strained it.
cooled it. and later mixed 1/4 of sharbat and 3/4 water.
It was great !!
so.... u guys try with cloves and mint... and tell me how u liked it.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
The Crescent
The world celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr( Marking the completion of the Islamic Month of Ramadan) on Friday, 10th September. Mumbai celebrated Eid on the following day, as the Imaams were unable to sight the crescent on Thursday evening. With all the rains and cloudy skies, the chances to sight the moon,even if it had appeared was nil. I wonder why there isnt a system where the whole world celebrated Eid on the same day. On second thoughts, a little unsurety is always good,makes us remind that we are mere humans.
This year's Ramadan was special for me. I was in Mumbai with my husband for the whole month. I was at home and hence was able to offer most of the prayers and the food we ate after the opening of fast and before fast began was mostly prepared by me. Also it was the first time I went to an Eidgah( an open air place where people get together to offer their prayers on Eid).
Having lived in a place where the muslim population was less, I could easily associate with people going to temples or churches . It was all part of the culture. I used to visit the temple near my father's ancestral home till I was in high school, till I understood that idol worship was prohibited in Islam. Still, I find the aura and ambience created by the lamps and sculptures in south Indian temple very amazing.
The Chritian school where I studied had a chapel( small church) with a stautue of Mother Mary and crucified Jesus Christ. It was a source of peace for every child over there . I remember standing in my knees and praying in my difficult times, mostly exam days and regaining my peace within.
Masjids are places where muslims come together to offer salaat. There isnt any idol or statue. Its just a place for offering prayers. It is said that praying together pleases Allah. Women are generally not allowed inside mosques. I havent ever offered my namaaz (salat) in a Mosque.
This years Eidgah was the first time in my life where I saw so many men and women coming together to pray. I felt a little out of place. A feeling of non belonging crept into me. Was it the sight of so many purdah cladded women or the fact that they were talking in urdu a language in which I am not well versed. Imam explained how the Eid namaaz was going to be. A little different from normal prayers. After the prayer there was Khutbah by the Imaam which is religious narration including some verses from Holy Quran and a Dua which was in Urdu.
I wished that Khutbah was narrated in English or Urdu. I was listening to a very melodius recitation which I wasnt able to understand. Being a muslim I am supposed to learn arabic but all I know is just to read arabic without knowing the meaning. I am sure the state of many other muslims is no different. The Khutba in arabic made it meaningless in my perspection.
Islam is a very beautiful religion but many muslims follow Islam without understanding the meaning of Holy Quran and mugging up the versus in Arabic. Its true that following the same language holds together muslims from all part of the world by some force. But if it results to a blind faith then it lacks the whole purpose.
Another thing I noticed was women covered in black purdah and many wearing naqab that
hid there face. I dont remember reading anywhere in Holy Quran that women should dress in black. And the purdah system came from Arabia. Its true that Quran was revealed to prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him) who was from Arabia. That doesnt mean we have to follow their dressing habit. Covering of face isnt mentioned either.
A lot of misinterpration or false ideas have crept in muslims and its high time they read the Holy Quran in a language they know and understand the true meaning of Islam.
This year's Ramadan was special for me. I was in Mumbai with my husband for the whole month. I was at home and hence was able to offer most of the prayers and the food we ate after the opening of fast and before fast began was mostly prepared by me. Also it was the first time I went to an Eidgah( an open air place where people get together to offer their prayers on Eid).
Having lived in a place where the muslim population was less, I could easily associate with people going to temples or churches . It was all part of the culture. I used to visit the temple near my father's ancestral home till I was in high school, till I understood that idol worship was prohibited in Islam. Still, I find the aura and ambience created by the lamps and sculptures in south Indian temple very amazing.
The Chritian school where I studied had a chapel( small church) with a stautue of Mother Mary and crucified Jesus Christ. It was a source of peace for every child over there . I remember standing in my knees and praying in my difficult times, mostly exam days and regaining my peace within.
Masjids are places where muslims come together to offer salaat. There isnt any idol or statue. Its just a place for offering prayers. It is said that praying together pleases Allah. Women are generally not allowed inside mosques. I havent ever offered my namaaz (salat) in a Mosque.
This years Eidgah was the first time in my life where I saw so many men and women coming together to pray. I felt a little out of place. A feeling of non belonging crept into me. Was it the sight of so many purdah cladded women or the fact that they were talking in urdu a language in which I am not well versed. Imam explained how the Eid namaaz was going to be. A little different from normal prayers. After the prayer there was Khutbah by the Imaam which is religious narration including some verses from Holy Quran and a Dua which was in Urdu.
I wished that Khutbah was narrated in English or Urdu. I was listening to a very melodius recitation which I wasnt able to understand. Being a muslim I am supposed to learn arabic but all I know is just to read arabic without knowing the meaning. I am sure the state of many other muslims is no different. The Khutba in arabic made it meaningless in my perspection.
Islam is a very beautiful religion but many muslims follow Islam without understanding the meaning of Holy Quran and mugging up the versus in Arabic. Its true that following the same language holds together muslims from all part of the world by some force. But if it results to a blind faith then it lacks the whole purpose.
Another thing I noticed was women covered in black purdah and many wearing naqab that
hid there face. I dont remember reading anywhere in Holy Quran that women should dress in black. And the purdah system came from Arabia. Its true that Quran was revealed to prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him) who was from Arabia. That doesnt mean we have to follow their dressing habit. Covering of face isnt mentioned either.
A lot of misinterpration or false ideas have crept in muslims and its high time they read the Holy Quran in a language they know and understand the true meaning of Islam.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Windmills of your mind...
Music directors getting "inspired" by foreign music isnt a new thing. I was surfing for music plagiarsm and came across this site http://www.itwofs.com/. Its latest entry was about a song from the movie Dabang -"Munni badnaam hui". Okay, this post has got nothing to do with inspector Chulbul Pandey.
Sometimes I feel grateful to music directors for lifting some brilliant pieces of music from elsewhere. If they wouldnt have done that, I lose a chance to hear some beautiful composition. [ Whoever the composer be].
And there are times when I felt cheated. When I hear the original song, years later.
This blog entry is about such a song.
I was in my high school when I happened to hear a song during a long drive. It was from a movie called Dastak, music directed by Rajesh Roshan and sung by Abhijeet. "Tumhe kaise mein batao, Tumhe kaise mein kahoon.". I was at the window seat of the car, the cool wind of the night hitting my face.I felt that the song was heavenly...
It had always been in my favourite list since then.
Years passed..
Few months back I was watching the Pierce Brosnan version of " The Thomas Crown Affair". I was totally taken aback when I heard the song "Windmills of your mind" sung by Sting which was similar to the one from Dastak.
Well.. Apparently Rajesh Roshan got "inspired" by the music by Michel Legrand,Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman who made the song "Windmills of your mind" for the 1968 film TTCA. It had won the Academy Award for the best original song in 1969. Seems like I have good tastes afterall :)
This time, more than the music the lyrics striked me. Thats what I want to share with you.
Windmills of Your Mind - Bergmans
Round,
Like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel.
Never ending or beginning,
On an ever spinning wheel
Like a snowball down a mountain
Or a carnaval balloon
Like a carousell that's turning
Running rings around the moon
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping
Past the minutes on it's face
And the world is like an apple
Whirling silently in space
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind
Like a tunnel that you follow
To a tunnel of it's own
Down a hollow to a cavern
Where the sun has never shone
Like a door that keeps revolving
In a half forgotten dream
Or the ripples from a pebble
Someone tosses in a stream.
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping
Past the minutes on it's face
And the world is like an apple
Whirling silently in space
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind
Keys that jingle in your pocket
Words that jangle your head
Why did summer go so quickly
Was it something that I said
Lovers walking allong the shore,
Leave their footprints in the sand
Was the sound of distant drumming
Just the fingers of your hand
Pictures hanging in a hallway
And a fragment of this song
Half remembered names and faces
But to whom do they belong
When you knew that it was over
Were you suddenly aware
That the autumn leaves were turning
To the color of her hair
Like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning,
On an ever spinning wheel
As the images unwind
Like the circle that you find
In the windmills of your mind
Pictures hanging in a hallway
And the fragment of this song
Half remembered names and faces
But to whom do they belong
When you knew that it was over
Were you suddenly aware
That the autumn leaves were turning
To the color of her hair
Like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning,
On an ever spinning wheel
As the images unwind
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind
Sometimes I feel grateful to music directors for lifting some brilliant pieces of music from elsewhere. If they wouldnt have done that, I lose a chance to hear some beautiful composition. [ Whoever the composer be].
And there are times when I felt cheated. When I hear the original song, years later.
This blog entry is about such a song.
I was in my high school when I happened to hear a song during a long drive. It was from a movie called Dastak, music directed by Rajesh Roshan and sung by Abhijeet. "Tumhe kaise mein batao, Tumhe kaise mein kahoon.". I was at the window seat of the car, the cool wind of the night hitting my face.I felt that the song was heavenly...
It had always been in my favourite list since then.
Years passed..
Few months back I was watching the Pierce Brosnan version of " The Thomas Crown Affair". I was totally taken aback when I heard the song "Windmills of your mind" sung by Sting which was similar to the one from Dastak.
Well.. Apparently Rajesh Roshan got "inspired" by the music by Michel Legrand,Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman who made the song "Windmills of your mind" for the 1968 film TTCA. It had won the Academy Award for the best original song in 1969. Seems like I have good tastes afterall :)
This time, more than the music the lyrics striked me. Thats what I want to share with you.
Windmills of Your Mind - Bergmans
Round,
Like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel.
Never ending or beginning,
On an ever spinning wheel
Like a snowball down a mountain
Or a carnaval balloon
Like a carousell that's turning
Running rings around the moon
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping
Past the minutes on it's face
And the world is like an apple
Whirling silently in space
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind
Like a tunnel that you follow
To a tunnel of it's own
Down a hollow to a cavern
Where the sun has never shone
Like a door that keeps revolving
In a half forgotten dream
Or the ripples from a pebble
Someone tosses in a stream.
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping
Past the minutes on it's face
And the world is like an apple
Whirling silently in space
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind
Keys that jingle in your pocket
Words that jangle your head
Why did summer go so quickly
Was it something that I said
Lovers walking allong the shore,
Leave their footprints in the sand
Was the sound of distant drumming
Just the fingers of your hand
Pictures hanging in a hallway
And a fragment of this song
Half remembered names and faces
But to whom do they belong
When you knew that it was over
Were you suddenly aware
That the autumn leaves were turning
To the color of her hair
Like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning,
On an ever spinning wheel
As the images unwind
Like the circle that you find
In the windmills of your mind
Pictures hanging in a hallway
And the fragment of this song
Half remembered names and faces
But to whom do they belong
When you knew that it was over
Were you suddenly aware
That the autumn leaves were turning
To the color of her hair
Like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning,
On an ever spinning wheel
As the images unwind
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Ode to my exam days..
I hate to see lights shimmering from a distance. It makes me kind of sad. I try to figure out why. Sadness is not the right word. Its a mix of fright and sorrow. Some how it reminds me of my childhood. Like those unpleasant moments, when you are on a holiday after your term exams, when you are left to yourself during the dusk, and you think about what your results are going to be. Praying to God and threatning Him, that you would jump off a cliff and die if He makes you fail in a subject.
I dont remember myself getting more worried about exam results, than I used to be when I was in pre high school.
When my aunt told me that her daughter, my cousin who was then studying in 5th standard, had gone inside the washroom late at night to study for the next day's exam, as my aunt never allowed the kids to stay awake after 10, I totally empathized with the little one.
Thank God its all over now. I dont have to go to school again and sit for an exam . My heart is getting old and it wont be able to take those pre/post exam stress ! And God surely wont like getting blackmailed .
I dont remember myself getting more worried about exam results, than I used to be when I was in pre high school.
When my aunt told me that her daughter, my cousin who was then studying in 5th standard, had gone inside the washroom late at night to study for the next day's exam, as my aunt never allowed the kids to stay awake after 10, I totally empathized with the little one.
Thank God its all over now. I dont have to go to school again and sit for an exam . My heart is getting old and it wont be able to take those pre/post exam stress ! And God surely wont like getting blackmailed .
Monday, June 14, 2010
Solitary Reaper
Solitary Reaper by Wordsworth. Not that I am a fan of nature poetry. I remember it because of the Science Exhibition which used to take place in my high school every year. I was in 7th, when I participated for the first time. A still model representing the poem. It was about a young girl reaping alone in the fields , singing a melancholic song. Thanks to my barbie doll which posed as the young lass that day. The evaluator's question for which I didnt have a proper answer. 'Who wants to be solitary ?'. ' One who is strong, bold, sad.. ' I tried my luck. He didnt seem to be convinced. But now after so many years, I think I missed out something. Some people are solitary because they just dont have an option.
Being alone at home for more than 12 hours a day. TV, computer, books, kitchen, cellphone and bed making my world. Watching the creek , the people coming to see it, the sand mining ...( I shall surely write about the creek another day) .A month ago,the count of words that came out of me per day, would be the total of what I speak a week now. Thats a little bit of exaggeration ! The silence might just make me evolve a little more, for I can still relate more to apes at times.
Being alone at home for more than 12 hours a day. TV, computer, books, kitchen, cellphone and bed making my world. Watching the creek , the people coming to see it, the sand mining ...( I shall surely write about the creek another day) .A month ago,the count of words that came out of me per day, would be the total of what I speak a week now. Thats a little bit of exaggeration ! The silence might just make me evolve a little more, for I can still relate more to apes at times.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Olan - recipe
Never knew that Olan is so easy to make. If 'd known, would have tried it much much before.
Yam(chena), Chowli( van payar), Chillies and coconut milk is al u need.
Take a handful of chowli, soak it over night. Take a medium yam slice , cut into pieces. 5-6 chillies (cut into 2) .. put them all in pressure cooker with some water and whistle ( i am not sure, how many , i guess 2-3 is enough). Turn off the stove. Smash them well. Add a cup of coconut milk. Required salt. Make tadka with mustard seeds and curry leaves. and pour it over. U r Done...
Yam(chena), Chowli( van payar), Chillies and coconut milk is al u need.
Take a handful of chowli, soak it over night. Take a medium yam slice , cut into pieces. 5-6 chillies (cut into 2) .. put them all in pressure cooker with some water and whistle ( i am not sure, how many , i guess 2-3 is enough). Turn off the stove. Smash them well. Add a cup of coconut milk. Required salt. Make tadka with mustard seeds and curry leaves. and pour it over. U r Done...
Thursday, May 20, 2010
http://www.what-song.com/
I came across this site while searching for a song in an english movie. You can serch for a song by giving the sog title or the movie name . gives you a list of songs with the timeline when its played.
Try it...
www.what-song.com
Try it...
www.what-song.com
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Kitchen Stuff - Ladies Comparment
Ok this is girl's stuff. Let me share with you how to store green chillies without getting damaged for 2 or 3 weeks. ( or may be even more) .
Once you get the chillies from market, remove its stalk and then cover them in a newspaper , and keep it inside a container. Store it in refrigerator. Believe me, this is a much better way than keeping in a polythene cover. Last time I did that, the chillies stayed fresh for 2 weeks.
Courtesy: The women from Nerul market who gave me this tip.
Once you get the chillies from market, remove its stalk and then cover them in a newspaper , and keep it inside a container. Store it in refrigerator. Believe me, this is a much better way than keeping in a polythene cover. Last time I did that, the chillies stayed fresh for 2 weeks.
Courtesy: The women from Nerul market who gave me this tip.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
mp3 download
beemp3.com :: This is a 'not-so-bad' site from where you can download all kinds of music.
I have been dependent on cooltoad , apnisip , funmaza and songs.pk. cooltoad's search features arent so great and i am not commenting on the other three.
I have been dependent on cooltoad , apnisip , funmaza and songs.pk. cooltoad's search features arent so great and i am not commenting on the other three.
Gracias..
This is kind of unusal I know... but I am expressing my gratitude to Shabbu Itha , and my friend Chithira for giving this idea of blogging. Shabbu Itha has her own blog where she posts her recipes. I cant remember the name right now... And Chithu uploads her blog with various interesting topics under the sun. Thats what I am planning to do as of now. My experiments in kitchen and all other things which I want to share.
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