tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110057522024-03-07T04:01:54.412-05:00Life with Extra MirchiI am Running and Running...Catch up with me life!AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-34964959737638280712010-04-22T14:32:00.002-04:002010-04-22T14:39:05.305-04:00On this...our Earth dayHmm if we are all trying to go green then how come Kleenex has come up with this ridiculous idea of disposable hand towels? <br />http://www.kleenex.com/HandTowels/about.aspx<br />I mean seriously. Besides whats wrong with having a towel and you can reuse and wash as needed. Bhatji and I have our own hand towels and smaller face towels. We usually wash them along with the rest of the laundry once in 2 weeks or so.<br />Folks, going green can start with something as small as using hand towels, filling up water bottles instead of buying bottled water. Recycle and Reuse. Go Green!!AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-68858950891356742402010-04-14T09:36:00.004-04:002010-04-14T10:28:54.557-04:00Don't be fooled by the shiny Blue shirts!So as I mentioned yesterday....I am in love with my mac. It is true that I don't really use all these cool gadgets that it comes with...but all items that I do use are quicker and smarter :o) BTW how cool is this garage band software. I tuned Bhatjis guitar with its help...unfortunately I can't really play hehe. I am sure Garage band will help with this cause as well. Anyhoo, I want to connect my mac to my tv so that I can watch stuff on Hulu, google videos with ease on a bigger screen. We already have a Blue ray player that hooks us up with Youtube and our netflix instant viewing. Side note: Netflix Instant Streaming is the BEST! They give you soooo many new movies to watch that its totally worth having netflix. I mean I would have been annoyed if I actually waited for Julie and Julia....however it was streaming so it actually made me feel better that I didn't waste my time waiting for this in the mail. Also they have a whole bunch of new Bollywood movies as well...so whenever Bhatji and feel like catching on the Bolly scene, BAM netflix instant streaming baby. OK back to the MAC connection for the TV. So Bhatji and I went to the only apple store here in the Queen City on Sunday...where btw People were waiting in a line to TRY....yes TRY NOT BUY the IPAD! I was blown. Don't people have anything better to do on their Sunday afternoons then stand in a line to just play around with the IPAD? Anyways Bhatji and I flagged one of the Apple store employee. This young guy in a shiny blue shirt and this funky lil gadget, looked like he knew all the answers to all our apple questions. Bhatji specifically asked for the cable for our lap tap and the guy immediately hooked us up with a cable that would do the job and also talked us into buying a remote, so we could be lazier. We get home excited to see how this would look on our tv. Much to our dismay the guy had given us the wrong cable. So I had to make a second trip on Monday to get a different cable. This time I actually took my lap top to make sure they knew what we wanted. I was greeted with another Shiny blue shirt apple employee, who said "oh....this is the wrong cable and you cant really use the remote. Let me give you the right the cables". Since Bhatji couldn't go with me again I had the guy talk to Bhatji on my cell phone to confirm the cables and what they do etc. That evening Bhatji was annoyed that this guy had again sold us the wrong cables again! On Tuesday I went in pretty peeved and a new dude with a shiny blue shirt, said that they didn't even have cables that could connect the mac with a tv! WTF. Then another guy with a shiny blue shirt came over and said that there were in fact 2 cables needed to make it happen. I'm annoyed, tired and I hate that their shirt color is starting to give me a headache. I tell the guy that if I have to come back again....I will be talked directly to their supervisor and they will have to compensate for all my wasted time. He was polite and assured me that this shall indeed be my last trip to the apple store. And thank the stars above, he was right. We got the right cables and Hulu is well and alive on our big screen TV. I love my mac but not these Shiny blue shirt losers..who look like they know what they are talking about but really have no clue. <br />On a different note: The IPAD is awesome. Since I did had to go 2 extra times on weekdays, I actually play with one w/o standing in line. I am not really a fan of the touch screen typing, but the IPAD touch screen pad is easy to use. Fun and compact computer for sure. I am a little afraid of purchasing one and dealing with the shiny blue shirt people. So no IPAD for me. Come on Apple...You can come up with the IPAD but not hire some knowledgeable workers!! Sheesh.AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-8563108340157544562010-04-13T17:34:00.002-04:002010-04-13T17:52:58.905-04:00Where has it all gone?I am literally staring at this empty space in this blogger box......for what seems like 5 hours! I have gotten up 3 times looking for bad snack foods, drinking iced tea and checking my email (even though I know when I do get an email beacause I have the the tab open) Where to start!!<br />Okay so here goes my catch up blog post (if you say this really fast it sounds like ketchup blog hehe) random!<br />1) My family got me a new mac as a bday present last year and I don't remember what life was like before this Apple gem!!<br />2) I gained 7 freaking lbs and my Indian mother actually said "dear..you need to lose weight!" say wha say wha<br />3) Our new house is a lot of work but I love our home.<br />4) I miss Bhatji when he isnt around and then I OD on our time quickly and crave solace. And again within 5 mins I missing him again. Almost feel like I am schizo. Poor Bhatji doesnt know if hes coming or going hehe. <br />5) My dance buisness is picking up. slowly but surely and I love my students. I felt satisfied in my new career when my 5 year old student gave me hug after a show and said "all iz well ms. Anuzi" <br />6) We rang in 2010 with our new found friends and lots laughs and liquor. <br />7) Bhatji and I resolved to lose weight together. Yeah theres a ingenious resolution hehe.<br />8) We have cut out white rice from our diet completely and calorie count constantly <br />9) We joined a gym and I am an avid fan of Zumba<br />10) I have lost 5 lbs since Feb and I am aiming to lose 5 more. (yeah right!)<br />11)However Bhatji has lost so much weight that he actually looks emaciated! I hate that men and women lose weight differently.<br />12) I don't get the hype of the movie "Julie and Julia" Bhatji fell asleep within 15 mins of the movie.<br />13) I wish I had a green thumb...I would love to wonders with my yard.<br />14) I want to stop procrastinating........starting next week hehe!<br /><br />Ok thats all for now. Loving this Spring weather. Fabulous times ahead :o)AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-55122054818290548132010-02-03T18:36:00.003-05:002010-02-03T18:39:37.620-05:00In my solitude....I'm feeling really alone. And often times I cannot turn to my friends or family about things. Hope I get out of this rut soon.AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-66618188781581133562009-07-02T00:47:00.000-04:002009-07-02T00:48:35.211-04:00“Let the music take your mind; Just release and you will find”<span style="font-style:italic;">You're gonna fly away<br />Glad you're going my way<br />I love it when we're cruisin' together<br />Music is played for love<br />Cruisin' it made for love<br />I love it when we're cruisin' together</span><br /><br />It’s been too long and I need to take refuge in my blog starting today. So last I shared I was on my way to India to spend some qt with my in-laws and take some dance classes with the greatest Bharatnatyam dance guru ever right in the birth place of the art itself: Chennai. Needless to say I came back with new love and respect for Bharatnatyam. After coming back to the US Bhatji and I purchased out first house!! Yes we are officially adults….I think hehe. I know we should be excited but there is sooo much work that comes with a house…..why didn’t anyone warn us! Also with a big house we realize that we need more people over. I really wish we had family living around here…sigh. But all negative reviews aside…I love our house. I love the idea of decorating my own place with no rules. So I’ll add pics as I add something to the house. The kitchen is where I spend most of my time so I will posting some recipes soon. But for now I just wanted to let you know that I am alive and well. Busy but well :o) Thanks dear blog for letting me back in.AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-2498509574462640722008-12-12T15:30:00.000-05:002008-12-12T15:31:15.697-05:00“Tujhase naaraaz nahi zindagi, hairaan hoon main”<span style="font-style:italic;">Tere masoom savalon se pareshaan hoon main<br />o pareshaan hoon main…..</span><br /><br />Nothing like soft slow old school Hindi music while packing to India; I have hit a few glitches with this trip. Last minute changes and some gifts are taking way to long to get here before we leave. Lately I find my self overwhelmed easily. I have always considered myself a very strong individual with a very “take the bull by the horn” kind of mentality. But lately every small hitch feels like a gigantic problem. Ever feel like everything you do requires a phone call or email to confirm, cancel or re-order. I feel like I have been on hold for different customer service for every item imaginable; Phone company, credit card company, gift orders, postal service etc. UGH it’s very frustrating. And dealing with so many kinds of customer service reps has caused me to lose my temper more than once. Why can’t things just happen more smoothly…especially before a big trip? Oh and Air India has the worst customer service ever. Bhatji and I usually avoid Air India at all costs but this year they were the cheapest ticket we could find and man let me tell you it has been infuriating dealing with them. They have 3 services for booking a ticket! You call one number for booking, someone else sends you an email confirmation and if you want to change something in you itinerary, you have to call someone else! Is this a means of providing people with jobs or just a way to confuse and frustrate their customers? To top it all none of the customer service reps are any help at all. It took me 8 phone calls to find out one piece of information and every time it was different answer. I finally had to use the most commonly used to answer as the right one! I am still not sure if it is the right one but God knows if I am on the phone one more time I will throw a fit and break something. <br />So I end this entry with a quote from Home Alone (when Kevin applies the after shave lotion): <br />AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH<br />Until the next entry…pray that I stay calm and things work out.AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-59707602001397169712008-12-04T18:51:00.002-05:002008-12-04T18:52:40.943-05:00“Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements even if it leads nowhere”<span style="font-style:italic;">But if I tell the world I'll never say enough 'cause it was not said to you <br />And that’s exactly what I need to do if I end up with you <br /><br />Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements <br />Even if it leads nowhere or would it be a waste <br />Even if I knew my place should I leave it there<br />Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements <br />Even if it leads nowhere </span><br /><br />Its amazing how music always interprets our moods. And Adele’s lyrics hits home right now; not so much that I am planning on giving up anything but I just feel frustrated like I am going nowhere with this job hunt. It’s been 4 months since we moved here and no one is hiring….in fact people are losing jobs left and right. Ugh I feel like my brain is turning to mush!! I read, I clean, I cook, I surf the net and I watch TV. I know to some this may seem like a relaxing vacation but when you’ve done it for 3-4 months straight it gets to you. Ahh what ya gonna do??<br />Now on to the cheerful part of this blog; Bhatji and I are really looking forward to our trip to India! YAY. I can’t wait and its happening soooo soon. We leave in less than 2 weeks and there’s much to be done. I have some serious shopping to do for gifts and also pack saris galore for 3 weddings!! I am also excited because this is the first time I am going to Pune, which is Bhatji’s family is from. I get to see where he spent his summers eating pav bhaji and batata vadas hehe. Oh and Im most excited about the food! Hmmm foooooooood! Of course after the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai most of my friends and family are worried about our trip since we are planning on staying in Mumbai. All you can do is keep your ears and eyes open for suspicious activity. <br />Speaking of the attacks, the thanksgiving Wednesday that Bhatji and I got so busy with last minute packing and driving the 7 hours to DC that we had no idea that the India was dealing with the terrorist attacks. The minute we reached my parents home the first thing my dad said was “Bhatji call your family in India right now and make sure they are all safe” we were quickly updated with the horrors of the attacks and the rest of Wednesday night was spent in front of the TV watching CNN and BBC and calling family in India to make sure they were all safe. It was painful to watch and how the media was scrutinizing the situation. The attacks definitely gave the holiday weekend a somber feel but being with family cheered our spirits. My mom made an amazing spread for thanksgiving spread and we went to see Slum Dog Millionaire, which is truly a spectacular film. I urge you all to go and watch it. I had a very low key birthday celebration at home with family this year. It’s curious how age sneaks up on you….I feel a year older. At a very dear friends wedding that we attended just before thanksgiving….I could barely keep my eyes open past 2.00 am and drinking more than 1 or 2 drinks made me feel sleepy hehe. Gone are the days of bar hopping with friends till 4 am and dancing the night away. Bhatji and I are creatures of habit. We like to sleep at a certain time….eat at a certain time and enjoy quiet time at home. Sheet…if this is how I feel now I wonder how life is going to be at 50!! Not that there’s anything wrong with having a low key life style hehe. Well I think I’ve gone on and on about anything and everything….more updates to follow. Ohhh and guess what?? We bought a new a camera during thanks giving weekend….so my recipes with pics will be back soon!! Until the next entry….stay healthy and safe :o) <br /><br />PS(Excited that Arches has rejoined the blogging world:)AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-45192803332637054072008-11-13T15:03:00.001-05:002008-11-14T00:15:21.791-05:00“I’m trying to change the rules; you deserve something good in your life”<span style="font-style:italic;">We’ve waited for far too long so come get your blessing tonight baby <br />Wont you come over love, so I can show you love <br />Promise I got enough to give you all that you need baby <br />So many search to find, love that is good as mine <br />I will not waste your time so bring it all to me baby </span><br /><br />Isn’t odd how even when you are unemployed you’re “to do list” seems long? Or is it possible that just because you are unemployed, you keep yourself busy and get more done? Hmm I guess that’s like the chicken or the egg question…but either way I’ve been busy. Mostly in the kitchen of course :o) But with so many new recipes also comes errors. Yep Bhatji has had to deal with some pretty inedible meals…hehe. He has started a “never repeat” pile again heh. I just have to make sure that pile doesn’t get too big ;o) Anyway after a lot of recent experimentation I decided that both our belly’s needed something a bit more homey. And the last 2 night I made simple bhajis, upkaris and dhaals. There’s nothing like simple food to comfort you.<br />The fact that I am jobless has given me an opportunity that I have dreamt about for years; to start my own dance school. The Indian community in Charlotte is fairly large and there aren’t too many Indian dance schools out here so there isn’t much competition. I haven't advertised much lately but I have decided in the New Year the new business plan will move full speed ahead. Its kind of exciting to think of working for yourself and doing what you love but at the same time it’s a bit nerve racking. Until then I am enjoying the few students I have :o) <br />In other news….Top Chef has started up again; that is one of the shows that always inspires me to cook new dishes. And this season the show is based in NYC. How perfect to have a foodie show in the foodiest city possible hehe. Every authentic ethnic food styles under one big umbrella. NYC is truly a foodie heaven. Sigh I can’t help but miss the city sometimes. And all this talk of food is making me hungry. Alright that’s enough yammering for one day. I’m off to get more stuff done and at some point start on dinner. So until the next entry….here’s some foodie love your way!!AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-84068928911953418172008-11-10T13:54:00.003-05:002008-11-10T14:47:45.188-05:00“The sky's blue….just us two side by side; we'll see the world that surrounds us”<span style="font-style:italic;">Hey, seize the day<br />into a beautiful life<br />'Cause it's a beautiful world<br />and it's a beautiful time<br />to be here, to be here</span><br /><br />Hey guys!! I know I’ve been gone for a while….I guess it took me a while to reload and get motivated to start up again. It’s great to be writing again….I forgot how therapeutic blogging can be :o) I figured to celebrate my return I would try a new blogger layout. Its so clean and fresh….motivation indeed! <br />So let’s get right to it. The move to Charlotte has been wonderful! I must say that I was very apprehensive about the move especially since I had never been to Charlotte. I was also a bit sad that we wouldn’t be near my family and friends anymore. But we have truly been blessed to be in such a beautiful city. It is a great mix of the North East and Southern life. People are much nicer and have time to be friendly. For instance our neighbors actually came by the day we moved in to welcome us and ask if we needed anything. Our apt is soooo comfortable and roomy for half the rent we were paying in NJ hehe. The weather has been warm and the fall colors are just incredible. Bhatji loves his new team and he is home by 6.00 pretty much everyday :o) we live about 3 miles from uptown Charlotte so his commute is 15 mins door to door. The city is easy to navigate around unlike NJ….also since the population is a bit low traffic is never a problem and drivers here aren’t as aggressive as the North East. We went to a Network of Indian professional’s event recently and within the first happy hour we were invited to people house for dinner over the next few weekends! The first week we were here at a bar and some random guy was chit chatting with us and giving us scoop on good eateries in Charlotte and he added something so true about the people here “People are genuinely nice here. So you know stop and say hello as well” When Bhatji and I visit our new friends over the weekend, its interesting to see families out and about waving as your car drives by. It took a few days to get used to, but we love the warmth of the city. My parents have also come down visited us and they too loved Charlotte. However my job search has been really disheartening. I know the economy is doing very badly right now so my job search is taking place at a bad time. But I still gotta keep at it. Let’s see what else? Oh I have been very busy in the kitchen since I have so much time during the day now but unfortunately we have not bought a new camera yet so I am unable to share any pics with you. That’s something that’ll probably have to wait till this year’s black Friday. Well that’s all for now folks…I’ve got a few errands to run. But before I forget a very happy belated Diwali and it’s wonderful to be back. Here’s some Love dust for you all!! Muuuahh. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNNkzuxb5Ie6uCScmP0E3AaVcXip1uD2LIrMI2kLIwReaDDgVFHfBqNN8qCl2ZVWua55krnWwa0yLbDy6eS8MFaFRBFop0W5UlWCFHM0pBKlwji4WVrP8XVhuMn8ycCzOJLF_Ig/s1600-h/911053_23163779.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNNkzuxb5Ie6uCScmP0E3AaVcXip1uD2LIrMI2kLIwReaDDgVFHfBqNN8qCl2ZVWua55krnWwa0yLbDy6eS8MFaFRBFop0W5UlWCFHM0pBKlwji4WVrP8XVhuMn8ycCzOJLF_Ig/s400/911053_23163779.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267117679325922818" /></a>AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-20770623740766275032008-08-07T13:25:00.004-04:002008-08-08T12:47:06.226-04:00“Keep embracing each day, keep on yearning; you just try….just try”<span style="font-style:italic;">Keep on making mistakes just to keep on learning <br />Keep on giving, you keep on wanting <br />Keep on fighting, just get up every morning <br />you just try...try....just try <br /><br />Maybe your world shakes <br />you try to hold on <br />maybe your heart breaks <br />just keep on loving <br />maybe you'll find out <br />it's meant to be this way <br />maybe you'll learn this <br />or maybe we'll learn this</span><br /><br />Nothing like a soothing jazz song on a hot August day to give you some inspiration :o) How I missed writing…but NYC has kept me busy. Mainly because another change is coming our way; hehe seems like every other blog entry of mine is some big announcement. Ahhh but such is life…. if it wasn’t for these changes…..life would be dull. So here goes: Bhatji got a promotion within his company and the new job is going to be in Charlotte, NC. That’s right folks… Bhatji and I are moving to Charlotte, NC in a few weeks. I’ve never been to Charlotte so I don’t know what to expect but most people who have been there seem to love it. Bhatji’s super excited since he gets to move back down to the south and the work opportunity seems really great. I think we are moving to Charlotte at the perfect time in our lives. I am looking forward to bigger houses, surrounded by lots of mountains and beaches and awesome weather since winters are less harsh. As they say “change is always a constant” so I am embracing this change with a positive outlook on life :o) <br />Needless to say because of the upcoming move Bhatji and I are taking full advantage of our last few weeks in NYC. We have been trying different cuisines like German fare at this awesome restaurant called <a href="http://www.halloberlinrestaurant.com/main.html">HalloBerlin</a>; lots of different kinds of beer, wursts and sauerkraut galore at a cheap price. We also tried a Venezuelan restaurant called <a href="http://www.caracasarepabar.com/index.html">Caracas Arepas bar</a>; Arepas are similar to tacos with different kinds of fillings and soooo yummy again at a reasonable price! I also stood in line at the <a href="http://www.tdf.org/tdf_servicepage.aspx?id=56">discount Broadway ticket</a> line at times square and scored cheap front row tickets to see the popular Broadway show Avenue Q. It was hilarious and I will suggest that if you are ever in the city and have time you should totally watch this show; it’s the Muppet show for adult’s hehe. I feel like there’s so much more to do before we leave but that’s NYC. You can never fully do everything and see everything that the city has to offer but you can certainly have fun trying :o) I never considered myself a true NYC girl but spending my days in the city sitting in a park…people watching, reading a book, eating pie and drinking ice tea has been pure bliss. And even though I would never actually live in the city….I must say that I will sure miss this city and its vibrant energy. I’ll be back with some recipes in my next entry so until then….enjoy the sun kissed days out :o) <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Ahhh to be on the beach in Bahamas again :o) </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUn24x4rMEpQK1nOnL3d-vDLPu7RJtCa7-Bp1bXk8uXqhOcjpQhkDA0xL1R4u2YX1DYnbQttL6P9SCZt6j3WYvEvlxZv31LJKWp6bxlSh0YzdOlrXN77xJFkMnz9KGSB11upWjg/s1600-h/bahamas1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUn24x4rMEpQK1nOnL3d-vDLPu7RJtCa7-Bp1bXk8uXqhOcjpQhkDA0xL1R4u2YX1DYnbQttL6P9SCZt6j3WYvEvlxZv31LJKWp6bxlSh0YzdOlrXN77xJFkMnz9KGSB11upWjg/s400/bahamas1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231830948615708946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07s5arxu-KA78gcbR9whRIMdthdCMPlAVFLaHpeTVRh26t4qIhuIuCptCfXr4dlvmvvwiJ2i6di1g1giUs5HPHIy5LsEnWRzGGMQcn3CtYcW0PLRdFGa1NViH8wfXYxPT9NL4ew/s1600-h/bahmas2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07s5arxu-KA78gcbR9whRIMdthdCMPlAVFLaHpeTVRh26t4qIhuIuCptCfXr4dlvmvvwiJ2i6di1g1giUs5HPHIy5LsEnWRzGGMQcn3CtYcW0PLRdFGa1NViH8wfXYxPT9NL4ew/s400/bahmas2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231830949455978434" /></a>AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-37148202780072468742008-07-25T19:32:00.001-04:002008-07-25T19:33:59.472-04:00“I think about you in the summertime, and all the good times we had baby”<span style="font-style:italic;">Been a few years and I can’t deny,<br />The thought of you still makes me crazy,<br />I think about you in the summertime,<br />I’m sittin’ here in the sun with you on my mind.<br />You’re my, my summertime</span><br /><br />Ahhh who knew that New kids on the block would ever come back? Lol I didn’t and that darn song is everywhere. Anyway after an awesome vacation in the Bahamas with the girls what a crappy last day on the island to end it :o( Sigh I wasn’t going to moan and complain about this but I need to vent. So the last night in Nassau I lost my beautiful white clutch which had my wallet and my camera :o( Yes my beautiful, sleek camera that I used like crazy for the last 2 years. A camera that was a gift from my in laws and is not sold for cheap in the US. To add to that stress, I had to call Bhatji in the US to call and cancel all my credit cards and needless to say he was not happy to receive a frantic call at 8 am on Sunday morning. On top of it all US airways screwed us over my canceling our flight from Philly to New York so I had to take the train. For someone who hasn’t even lost a credit card or keys….this was a pretty big deal. I mean all of last week I just wallowed in misery and Bhatji had to take serious measures to make me smile. All in all what was supposed to be a relaxing vacation ended in a stressful nightmare. I guess the only positive aspect of it all was that my passport was safe and sound in my bigger purse and everything that was lost was replaceable. It’s hard though at times to look at the positive you know….we take lil joys for granted. I am glad I was able to take such a beautiful vacation and enjoy my time on the beach. So no more sadness :o)<br />On to the foodie portion of this blog; I had mentioned in my last entry that I cooked a lot when my mother in law was visiting me and one of the dishes that she taught me was Bhoplache raita. It’s a simple Marathi side dish that goes perfectly with hot rotis. It has turned out to be one of my fav recipes. So here is my mother in laws recipe form Bhopla/pumpkin raita:<br /><br />Ingredients:<br />About ¼ of a pumpkin slice de-seeded<br />¾ cup of yogurt<br />2 cups of water<br />1 tspn of sugar<br />1 tblspn of oil<br />1 tspn of cumin seeds<br />½ tspn of heeng <br />2 green chillies chopped<br />Cilantro for garnish<br />Salt as per taste<br /><br /> <br />To make:<br /><br />Cut the pumpkin into small pieces, about an inch or so since the skin is tough to remove, this is an easier way to peel it off. Heat the 2 cups of water and add the pumpkin pieces to it and let it come to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and cook further for about 15 mins. Drain the water into another bowl…do not throw the water because it filled with nutrients and you can use it later. The pumpkin peels will come off easily with a knife and mash the pumpkin pieces unevenly. In a separate bowl with the yogurt in it add the boiled water for thinning it to a raita consistency. Add the salt and sugar and mix well. Add the mashed pumpkin pieces and stir well. Now in a small saucepan heat the oil and add the cumin, heeng and chillies and stir well. Once the cumin seeds start spluttering, take off the heat and add to the yogurt mixture. Add chopped cilantro and stir well. And serve with rotis.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpdIbRDv6g54dl716BHeceGU4yGu4zqe4H-yq5ObUDnJoJ3of9YyChfkk4Z00UayUmOxGNICsuCdQav1Gi2C0EzIiuTe38tN8bji_gIZHzLlwygJYqD7UEsrBh68Q-YPFMjHlFA/s1600-h/bholpa+raita.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpdIbRDv6g54dl716BHeceGU4yGu4zqe4H-yq5ObUDnJoJ3of9YyChfkk4Z00UayUmOxGNICsuCdQav1Gi2C0EzIiuTe38tN8bji_gIZHzLlwygJYqD7UEsrBh68Q-YPFMjHlFA/s400/bholpa+raita.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227098928946340898" /></a><br />This has turned out to be a comfort food for me because it is sooooo easy to make and it tastes really yummy. I am trying my hardest to make more yellow foods at home since they are full of nutritional value. Give this recipe a try and let me know how it turns out. Well that’s all for now folks…have a wonderful weekend and stay cool :o)AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-65891527605336383482008-07-06T14:12:00.006-04:002008-07-06T14:38:44.465-04:00“Speak low when you speak love, our summer day withers away too soon, too soon”<span style="font-style:italic;">Speak low when you speak, love<br />Our moment is swift, like ships adrift,<br />Love is a spark, lost in the dark too soon, too soon<br />I feel wherever I go that tomorrow is near,<br />tomorrow is here and always too soon<br />Time is so old and love so brief</span><br /><br />It has been crazy long since I last blogged. I know…I know…but moves are not easy. So forgive me blogsphere for my absence. But let me get right to the point of ramping you up to speed with my life thus far. I am now officially all moved in NJ and the work hunt has come to a halt. Why…well because it hit me that I actually could do with a mini vacation where I don’t have to log into work email or worry about clients and bosses. Bhatji was supportive of the idea as well….so yes I am playing house wife for a few weeks and enjoying it. Just because I took a break from blogging does not mean that I have taken a break from cooking. Actually this mini vacation means I am cooking more than ever :o) so yes I will be blogging about the new recipes in the near future. I am also taking full advantage of summer in NYC. Meeting up with friends, catching up on movies and lots of quality time with Bhatji not just for 2 weeks. I love summers. I love sitting out on my balcony reading a good book, walking up to the local farmers market and taking in the fresh summer air. It has rained quite a bit too but I love summer rains!<br />So last time I wrote, my in laws over visiting. The house was sooo full of activity. My nephew and niece have grown so much and they kept us all on our toes. Well they came, we enjoyed and they left. Here are the things I have been busy with ever since the last week of May to current day:<br />•My mother in law and I tried out a Top Chef recipe for Chiles Relenos (stuffed poblano pepper) and it turned out amazing!<br />•My in laws left and I left to go to DC for my last 3 weeks at work. I trained a new person in my place and my coworkers threw me an awesome going away lunch :o) When I gave my badge away to HR is when I realized that I no longer have a job :o( It was bitter sweet. <br />•My lap top crashed and its pretty much hanging on to its last breath so I am waiting to buy a laptop soon.<br />•Bhatji and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary together :o) 2 years!! I can’t believe how quickly time has flown. <br />•Bhatji and I went to Houston to attend a wedding of a lifetime. It was a lavish wedding and a mini konk convention. Bhatji and I had a blast spending time with konks whom we rarely see and reconnection with some family too. Good times!<br />•I made a decision that I am going to take time off for about a month before I start looking for a job…..So all of July I am spending time in NYC reading a good book, going to museums, cooking a lot and trying new foods<br />•I put together a happy hour that had an amazing turn out in the city<br />•I roasted a whole chicken by myself for the first time!! (I feel more confident that I would be able host a thanksgiving meal!!) <br />•Bhatji and I attended a salsa class together with another couple which was oh so much fun<br />•I have started a good work out routine and lost 2 lbs :o)<br />•I bought some new cooks books that I pour over everyday :o)<br />•We had an awesome July 4th together!<br />•I am looking forwards to a girl’s trip to Bahamas next weekend!! HOORAY!<br /><br />And if all that wasn’t enough there is more excitement planned in the future. I will be blogging and keeping you posted on all the fun :o) But for now……all I got to say is I missed you guys and ITS GOOD TO BE BACK!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikz16hTKCgD8G_Nud17SvIQkIVYunlPg6Hgqi3HRL1WvX4vLcGs75yUdNBmNZpKPJa1IQRKjoE29Fi8pLGZm6Mr0w3rowXgxvDRGDIQ_7Bl4l5p20QbY5oPSrgO-yo72xM4_7YtQ/s1600-h/anshulrhea.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikz16hTKCgD8G_Nud17SvIQkIVYunlPg6Hgqi3HRL1WvX4vLcGs75yUdNBmNZpKPJa1IQRKjoE29Fi8pLGZm6Mr0w3rowXgxvDRGDIQ_7Bl4l5p20QbY5oPSrgO-yo72xM4_7YtQ/s400/anshulrhea.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219967474465743938" /></a><br /> Awwww my 2 fav people. Anshul and Rhea :o)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkIkO6uuvro3GS_8-g2EHeRIOCF5CwVQIHzaDxgZd9W6zkdXhh0WeSfyimH-6s8D5id4icGgzt0u4TAUnSVOJ9Pm2UkYVlruTych_Sc0OvFvGVpeq3FSQeWBSgswNdsAXzya63w/s1600-h/weddingpic.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkIkO6uuvro3GS_8-g2EHeRIOCF5CwVQIHzaDxgZd9W6zkdXhh0WeSfyimH-6s8D5id4icGgzt0u4TAUnSVOJ9Pm2UkYVlruTych_Sc0OvFvGVpeq3FSQeWBSgswNdsAXzya63w/s400/weddingpic.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219967475619020866" /></a><br /> Konkani group toasting to the wonderful couple in Houston!AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-61607873861891594102008-05-15T23:48:00.003-04:002008-05-16T00:11:22.436-04:00“No me ames, porque pienses que parezco diferente”<span style="font-style:italic;">No me ames, porque pienses que<br />parezco diferente<br />Tú no piensas que es lo justo,<br />ver pasar el tiempo juntos<br />No me ames, que comprendo,<br />la mentira que sería.<br />Si tu amor no merezco, no me ames,<br />mas quédate otro día</span><br /><br />It finally feels like spring! And all I want to do is sit out under a tree and take in the cool breezes. Alas I have some job searching to do so no real free time. Anyway I have a recipe to enter for <a href="http://culinarybazaar.blogspot.com/2008/04/invitation-to-all-to-be-awed-with-awed.html">Dhivya’s AWED Mexican Food</a>. So without further ado I am going to get right down to the foodie portion of this blog.<br /><br />I tired out a recipe for a simple Burrito recipe from the Williams and Sonoma collection called “Savoring Mexico” Here is the recipe for a healthy Mexican Bean Burrito:<br />Ingredients:<br />1 whole wheat tortilla <br />½ cup of refried beans<br />½ of a red and green bell pepper diced<br />3 tbl spns of salsa<br />3 tbls spns of yogurt (substitute for sour cream)<br />A few jalapenos<br />2 tspns of olive oil<br />1 ½ tspn of cumin<br />½ tsp of chives<br /><br />To make:<br />Heat the oil in a pan. Add the bell peppers and the cumin and make sure that the spice integrates into the meat and veggies well. Add the chives and heat for a 2 mins and take off heat. Heat the tortilla wrapped in a paper towel for about 35 secs. Apply the refried beans on one side of the tortilla. Lay the peppers in the center of the tortilla. Mix the salsa and yogurt in a bowl and lay that mixture on top of the peppers. Add the jalapenos and wrap the tortilla around the mixture. Serve immediately.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3iMAMt1HoJWHDjMZF-EBLBQEV0Am5vjpsHxCsaAQr2U4hKfsEBB_rmXgPMxFdBgtyzFqGfqvgQcgK4RKPsASSrqpknDsL1fu4Dxo7AcklVkvWs1WWYQuIpDrvGgf2xDiP46yDw/s1600-h/DSC01949.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3iMAMt1HoJWHDjMZF-EBLBQEV0Am5vjpsHxCsaAQr2U4hKfsEBB_rmXgPMxFdBgtyzFqGfqvgQcgK4RKPsASSrqpknDsL1fu4Dxo7AcklVkvWs1WWYQuIpDrvGgf2xDiP46yDw/s400/DSC01949.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200819262993802514" /></a><br />Taking the rice and sour cream out of the burrito makes for a healthier version of the typical burrito which is loaded with calories. This version is perfect if you are craving a quick Mexican meal and if you are watching your weight. <br /><br />Sorry for making this a short entry but my in laws are visiting me for a week and I have to get this place spotless before they get here but if things don’t get too busy I will definitely be back next week with a proper entry :o) So until then soak this gorgeous spring weather!AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-23786535301367489022008-05-08T14:13:00.012-04:002008-05-08T14:38:29.045-04:00“Nothing can compare to when you roll the dice and swear your love's for me”<span style="font-style:italic;">I was crying over you<br />I am smiling I think of you<br />Misty morning and water falls<br />Breathe in the air if you care, you compare, don't say farewell<br />Nothing can compare<br />To when you roll the dice and swear your love's for me</span><br /><br />Start Rant< I’ve been in an odd mood the last few days. I go from happy to sad to angry within minutes. I think my analytical mind is to blame for this temper variation. Just writing about this makes me laugh at how silly I have been. Good news/advice makes me happy and then I analyze the heck out of it and MAKE myself sad by flipping the news to dreadful tidings and then this sadness progresses to anger like “how dare they/he/she say that”. Then I have to calm down and ask myself “whats wrong with you!! That wasn’t what the person meant” To top it off I feel like I have started sifting my feelings and opinions while conversing with people. Why? Because of how my mood changes and how people may react to me. Maybe it’s because I am scared of leaving my job and the fact that I still do not have a job offer. All the initial excitement of starting over has worn off and now I am worried. I am trying my best to be positive... >End Rant<br /><br />All these mood changes haven’t really affected my hunger or curiosity in the kitchen. So I will stay true to my foodie nature and share a new recipe that I tried out recently. I rarely come up with recipes on my own. I rely heavily on my fellow foodie bloggers and cook books and prepare food according to directions. But sometimes if I know that certain flavors will make for an awesome dish then I start the experimentation. Of course I’m not brave enough to have Bhatji as the guinea pig because I like being absolutely certain before feeding people new dishes. I mean I don’t even take people to restaurants unless I am positive that the food is worth trying…so my kitchen and cooking is no different. Anyway a few days ago I bought some brie and was thinking of how to use it in anything other than fondue. I know that the salty flavors of the cheese works well with sweet flavors of fruits. So I thought of trying out a sandwich of pears and brie. And the result was YUMMMM! Here is the recipe for Pear and Brie Sandwich:<br /><br />Ingredients:<br />1 Pear long and thinly sliced<br />Slices of brie<br />2-4 slices of Bread (I used wheat)<br /><br />To Make:<br />Toast the bread in a toaster over or toaster. Lay the slices of brie on top both the slices of bread and head in the toaster oven till the cheese melt. If you do not have a toaster oven heat in the microwave oven till the cheese melts. Spread the cheese evenly on the bread. Lay the slices of pear on the bread and voila! Sandwich is done. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNLZdxphu-uDin4IqTW81GVUKvrJ8TRU5d4j0ls_X5QSl5igio4wiNzMv41KEo91zCagRMulWkCTw4JFfTrrDnd7g7B9kNcrTZldvAf4980LRugNye0g6SeulSfIkNgnieUwoIQ/s1600-h/DSC01920.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNLZdxphu-uDin4IqTW81GVUKvrJ8TRU5d4j0ls_X5QSl5igio4wiNzMv41KEo91zCagRMulWkCTw4JFfTrrDnd7g7B9kNcrTZldvAf4980LRugNye0g6SeulSfIkNgnieUwoIQ/s400/DSC01920.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198072529650355746" /></a><br />The cool thing about this sandwich is that you can cut them each sandwich into 4 small pieces and serve as appetizers for a small gathering or just make it a grab and go snack. You can also make it a part of a healthy lunch along with a salad or soup. Anyway you slice it….its a delicious sammich ;o) I am sending this recipe over to <a href="http://food-n-more.blogspot.com/2008/04/announcing-sandwich-festival-2008.html">Anupama's Sandwich Festival</a>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1O2EntBjyi8CDKxRpjE6roVgR5GINifxPi1QKEg6jpjp-oYCbmTPnNgJvTVyS7fanD3Mhdb05TUoP3XWzDYqAsuP78m3U7GoZZoulHUMh5N-tgQl8waLHjt7Sh_9fGWQ1-ZGsQ/s1600-h/sandwich10_m.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1O2EntBjyi8CDKxRpjE6roVgR5GINifxPi1QKEg6jpjp-oYCbmTPnNgJvTVyS7fanD3Mhdb05TUoP3XWzDYqAsuP78m3U7GoZZoulHUMh5N-tgQl8waLHjt7Sh_9fGWQ1-ZGsQ/s400/sandwich10_m.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198072091563691538" /></a><br />Until the next blog entry…stay positive and keep rolling the dice :o)AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-1884397066950027682008-04-30T12:35:00.002-04:002008-04-30T14:00:28.697-04:00“Stop and stare...I think I'm moving but I go nowhere”<span style="font-style:italic;">Yeah I know that everyone gets scared<br />But I've become what I can't be<br />Stop and stare<br />You start to wonder why you're 'here' not there<br />And you'd give anything to get what's fair<br />But fair ain't what you really need<br />Oh, can u see what I see<br /><br />This town is colder now, I think it's sick of us<br />It's time to make our move, I'm shakin off the rust<br />I've got my heart set on anywhere but here<br />I'm staring down myself, counting up the years<br />Steady hands, just take the wheel...</span><br /><br />The lyrics to One Republic’s new song “stop and stare” are mirroring my current feelings about the “big” move and change. I am leaving what I know (DC, my family, my job) but I guess what One Republic says is true “Its time to make our move, I’m shaking off the rust. I’ve got my heart set on anywhere but here” The formidable conversation of me leaving took place between me and my clients, boss and co-workers yesterday. And man was I surprised of how well they took it and how much they care for me. Their reaction was totally unexpected, instead of moaning about how they’ll need to find someone new and train them….they said that it was about time that Bhatji and I decided to cut out the distance and be together :o) I am truly lucky to have been surrounded by such warm and kind people. It makes it worse that I am leaving the company and clients….sigh…well the next job I get, I hope to luck with just as kind coworkers. <br /><br />I have been trying my hand at several foodie events such Easy Crafts – Fun ‘n’ sun event. Although we are the very beginning stages of spring….certain warm days call for a cooling meal or drink. I always think back to the hot summers in Mysore…where my mom would give us buttermilk or honey dew juice to beat the heat. I know I wanted to attempt a new recipe so I flipped through the many cook books my mom have given me and I like a simple Mint & lemon soda from my Costco cook book. This entry goes out to <a href="http://simpleindianfood.blogspot.com/2008/03/fun-n-sun-event-announcement.html">Easy Crafts Fun n sun event</a>. Here is the recipe for Mint & Lemon Crush:<br />Ingredients:<br />¼ cup of mint leaves<br />2-3 tsp of sugar<br />Juice from a fresh lemon (as per your taste)<br />1 cup of cold water<br />¼ cup of club soda <br />Fresh mint for garnish<br /><br />To make:<br />Place the mint leaves in the bottom of a small pitcher, add the sugar and crush with a pestle or use the back of a wooden roller. Crush until it’s a smooth mixture. Add the lemon juice, cold water and club soda mix well either in a blender or just stir. Add the mint leaves for garnish and serve in a glass with crushed ice.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcpMPUGEPEVSbrp-dU7tD783rZonF2q5VwHGGOd-QUZJmqa-B-L8ujR16BjlJSn_peamPH-YxLLpENKTrK-2udhdXZzRa6yBtxGZLLT6Ng2Q28ch9-RqkM2UYJJu0FhHcnpmujA/s1600-h/DSC01931.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcpMPUGEPEVSbrp-dU7tD783rZonF2q5VwHGGOd-QUZJmqa-B-L8ujR16BjlJSn_peamPH-YxLLpENKTrK-2udhdXZzRa6yBtxGZLLT6Ng2Q28ch9-RqkM2UYJJu0FhHcnpmujA/s400/DSC01931.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195098977344312338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveuMETiA_sjWiZIM2pR1soHQ080PhtpSHhS-B1q85EJCCh8KxLEb38kJflxKHArUafadOfDS6SS1-6jIsIk3bZ1Xa53rqAY7lvul1ROb1QUD745WWI9_4TZ5XkK6X-J434sjX6w/s1600-h/logo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveuMETiA_sjWiZIM2pR1soHQ080PhtpSHhS-B1q85EJCCh8KxLEb38kJflxKHArUafadOfDS6SS1-6jIsIk3bZ1Xa53rqAY7lvul1ROb1QUD745WWI9_4TZ5XkK6X-J434sjX6w/s400/logo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195098955869475842" /></a><br />The flavors of mint and lemon make for a harmonious taste. It is a perfect spring or summer drink. Well until the next entry enjoy the spring weather!AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-16898189248629132922008-04-28T15:15:00.004-04:002008-04-28T15:27:49.568-04:00“There’s nothing like you and I……..So why do I even try?”<em>We spent some time together walking<br />Spent some time just talking<br />About who we were<br />You held my hand so very tightly<br />And told me what we could be dreaming of<br />There’s nothing like you and I<br />Nothing like you and I</em><br /><br />Hello Beautiful people! I know I’ve been gone for a minute but I’m back. I was on a mini vacation in Houston for a wedding and getting back to reality has sucked all the energy of writing a blog entry. On top of it all….I’m making a big change in my life. After months of back and forth between DC-NJ, Bhatji and I have decided that the distance thing isn’t really working out. So this May will be my last month at my project in DC and the job hunt in NJ has officially begun! I am excited, nervous and scared because I don’t have a job offer in hand, but looking for a job IS a full time job so it’s kinda hard to look while working for a busy client. The current US economy is terrible and this means that the job market is definitely at its worst but since I am close to a thriving metropolis like NYC it shouldn’t be too bad. Well we’ll see how it all pans out. If you are in the NJ/NY area and know of companies hiring….please keep me in mind ;o) <br /><br />That’s it for personal updates and on to the foodie portion on the blog. Well in my short time in NJ this past week…even though I kept busy by pretty much by surfing through monster and career builder, I did manage to try out a few new recipes and try my hand at the Jaibee’s click event. So here is my entry for the <a href="http://jugalbandi.info/2008/03/click-april-2008-the-theme-is/">Click event-Au natural</a>. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEc7LoKWyJreVp2gOuzN_un5u4dqShet9kUikP80jRR4KJ849DgP7MGoUwcNOtMa7IeEfBgrloAmA8WrvTqt10PGSv23RcQfQqpwW4DdnlfIKNDBy9mgDNZOqgIcFZPkp8p6SeQ/s1600-h/DSC01895.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpEc7LoKWyJreVp2gOuzN_un5u4dqShet9kUikP80jRR4KJ849DgP7MGoUwcNOtMa7IeEfBgrloAmA8WrvTqt10PGSv23RcQfQqpwW4DdnlfIKNDBy9mgDNZOqgIcFZPkp8p6SeQ/s400/DSC01895.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194377263924794354" /></a><br /><em>Brown Eggs in a Nest</em>AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-37929100908362436772008-04-15T17:22:00.003-04:002008-04-17T12:34:32.388-04:00“So just take me home where the mood is mellow and the roses are grown, M&Ms are yellow”<span style="font-style:italic;">If you are what you say you are, a superstar<br />Then have no fear, the camera's is here<br />And the microphone's<br />And they wanna' know oh oh oh oh <br /></span><br />As foodies we not only cook different varieties of meals that range from many ethnic backgrounds we also love trying new foods…..be it vegetarians or non. And if the fare smells and looks good and the restaurant is surrounded by rave reviews then it’s the perfect combination for foodie heaven. I am very much into trying new foods…..especially Asian foods. I can honestly say that I have NOT tried every single type of Indian food….I mean every state has a very particular way or preparing their food and the dishes also vary in taste…so I got to keep searching for these authentic Indian state restaurants. India’s neighboring countries also have foods with Indian influences in them. I think most Indian folks love Thai food for this reason. The curries, the spice and the flavors…all remind us of Indian fare but with a twist. But have you ever tried Burmese food? Well what do we know of Burma? <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIR5z0dUSI7CD4y5L_3EE7vch2w9Xz_FeulS5W10BJF1lkNVigMUWHe9zJKASUDlQs0Hy3C60FbLW6ltB0v5ikQucrixuFKJZt7SJRPo-5LtSWm4ceItc16uIZIX1D6jUHQOfFg/s1600-h/Burma2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIR5z0dUSI7CD4y5L_3EE7vch2w9Xz_FeulS5W10BJF1lkNVigMUWHe9zJKASUDlQs0Hy3C60FbLW6ltB0v5ikQucrixuFKJZt7SJRPo-5LtSWm4ceItc16uIZIX1D6jUHQOfFg/s400/Burma2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189586730444731394" /></a><br />In current times we hear of the political upheaval caused by the country’s military dictatorship. People are not allowed to express themselves through religion and the corruption is rampant. So who would have guessed that this country neighboring India and Thailand with all its political and religious turmoil has some of the most amazing food!? I sure didn’t. There was a little Burmese hole in the wall restaurant called Mandalay, outside the university gates run by a Burmese family. My friends and I used to go there sometimes if we were sick of the usual Chinese and Thai food. It was love at first bite! I was sad to hear that they decided to move their restaurant because of their booming business to a location further from school. I recently found out that Mandalay expanded into a bigger restaurant in the Silver Spring area (suburb of DC) closer to my parent’s home. So on Saturday my family (minus Bhatji) decided to get a taste of Burma. And the food did not fail me again. So what does Burmese food taste like? Well it’s the perfect blend of Indian and Thai food. So you get your curries and such but with a hint of basil. But since Burmese food is heavily influenced by Bengali cuisine they have a lot of dishes made with mustard. So if you ever miss or want to try Bengali sea food dishes and don’t know where to go…..Burmese cuisine can fill that void. We ordered a fish dish, a chicken dish and a pork dish. All 3 with different sauces and we ordered it spicy. When Burmese say spicy….they mean SPICY!! I mean its perfect for us Indian folk who love the green and red chilies galore :o) So be warned do not say Extra spicy because there is a chance you will be drinking more water then eating the delicious food. They serve the curries along with rice. There are tons of vegetarian options as well. If you are ever in DC then definitely give this authentic Burmese restaurant - <a href="http://www.mandalayrestaurantcafe.com/index.html">Mandalay restaurant</a> a try. Its metro accessible (downtown Silver Spring metro stop) so don’t need a car to get there. If there are any authentic Burmese restaurant around your neck of the woods then definitely let me know….if ever I visit the area then I wouldn’t mind trying it out ;o)AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-44056160145666819022008-04-10T22:26:00.005-04:002008-04-11T14:01:08.461-04:00“Time is waiting. We only got 4 minutes to save the world!”<span style="font-style:italic;">The road to heaven, paved with good intentions, yeah<br />But if I got a night<br />At least I can say I did what I wanted to do<br />Tell me, how bout you?<br />If you want it, You already got it<br />If you've thought it, It better be what you want<br />If you feel it, It must be real just...<br />Say the word, and I will give you what you want<br /></span><br />I am big fan of almost all songs produced by Timbaland and it seems like he is everywhere! I’m in hip hop heaven :o) that and the gorgeous weather are keeping me happy in DC this week. Work has been busy as usual and I can’t wait for next week when I’m done with the 2 weeks and sneak in a mini vacation with Bhatji. Well technically it won’t be a vacation since we are going to one his best friend’s wedding where both of us are going to be busy working away……but ya know anything is a vacation if you are breaking the monotony. <br />When Bhatji and I visited India en route to our honey moon, we had a 2 day visit planned in Delhi. My father in law’s friend was showing us around and for lunch one day he suggested pizza hut. At first both Bhatji and I were thinking why would we try pizza hut, I mean we get Pizza hut at home. I wanted some serious Moghali khana, Delhi chaat, falooda’s, Kulfi’s and any authentic cuisine that Delhi had to offer. So needless to say I was lil disappointed that we were going to Pizza hut. But both Bhatji and I didn’t want to be rude so we agreed to go for a late lunch…and boy were we happy that we went! The Pizza hut menu in India is unlike the one in the US. In fact if I dare say it….its better! It’s spicier and has more options then the American menu. I got the Paneer Tikka pizza and Bhatji ordered the Chicken Tikka Pizza and we wanted more!! Why hasn’t US Pizza Hut added these to their menu so that the desi’s and non desi’s into Indian food can indulge! The next time we go to India, we are definitely getting some more Pizza hut….YUMM. Ok enough drooling. Since we don’t get that kind of pizza here…I decided to attempt a recipe for Paneer Tikka Pizza. I used several recipes to make it my own but it turned out amazing! In fact Bhatji keeps asking me when I’m going to make it again….you know when you’re hubby is asking for more, the recipe is a success. So here is the recipe for Spicy Paneer Tikka Pizza:<br /><br />Ingredients: <br />1 large store bought pizza crust (I bought mine with cheese on it)<br />1 ½ cup paneer cubed<br />1 green bell pepper cut into long pieces<br />1 red bell pepper cut into long pieces <br />1 red onion cut into long pieces<br />½ cup of yogurt <br />2 tsp of red chilli powder<br />3 tsp of garlic paste<br />1 tsp of ginger paste<br />1 tsp of green chilli paste<br />1 tsp of garam masala<br />2 tsp of tandoori masala<br />1 tsp chaat masala<br />2-3 tbl spn oil<br />Shredded mozzarella to top the pizza as per your taste<br />Salt to taste<br /><br />To Make:<br />Combine the yogurt with the garlic, ginger and green chilli paste. Add the tandoori masala, and the paneer and then add salt to taste and set the mixture aside for 30 mins. Pre heat the over to 300 degrees and cook the paneer on a baking sheet for 30 mins. In the mean time prep the vegetables. Heat the oil, add the onions and cook until translucent; add the bell peppers stir for a few mins. Add the chilli powder, garam masala and chaat masala. cook until the veggies are well integrated with the spices and cooked then set aside. Add the paneer and the veggie toppings on to the pizza crust. Add more cheese as needed. Pre heat the oven for 350 degrees and cook the pizza for 20 mins or so until the cheese melts and you are done! Serve hot. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEjIcjKgqZAePqoXzACfJL_d_K27qqJpf7MHvSBP1tVj7DnS8_TPev9XRakqqEkwJK0tB_oBnN5oM__LwshyGUmDPqgyFy7xpVbU2RHM2EFe97p7z52iGYpOzAKjAtbhyb2g1xw/s1600-h/DSC01725.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEjIcjKgqZAePqoXzACfJL_d_K27qqJpf7MHvSBP1tVj7DnS8_TPev9XRakqqEkwJK0tB_oBnN5oM__LwshyGUmDPqgyFy7xpVbU2RHM2EFe97p7z52iGYpOzAKjAtbhyb2g1xw/s400/DSC01725.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187994325923235074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1jpCDOJq0UqGB9TTUqGUM46IaY5shsbkDJbxLxn3cN4Sb_ecPX0mLXUOfOeK7QqTpruYtBExN8Heq9VAruYmaiXhXPOxFYwL_v_R0r0R-F5Gfonw3ubdUSSgGFEBTbyIej9ORw/s1600-h/DSC01726.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1jpCDOJq0UqGB9TTUqGUM46IaY5shsbkDJbxLxn3cN4Sb_ecPX0mLXUOfOeK7QqTpruYtBExN8Heq9VAruYmaiXhXPOxFYwL_v_R0r0R-F5Gfonw3ubdUSSgGFEBTbyIej9ORw/s400/DSC01726.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187994330218202386" /></a><br />It was spicy and soooo delish! I mean I added more red chilli flakes on it hehe but man it was tasty!! Come to think about it maybe it isn’t just Bhatji that wants me to make it again hehe. The best thing about this recipe is that you can play with it…like add more veggies, add other spices…experiment away!! Give this recipe a try and let me know of other versions floating out there. Alright you beautiful people….until the next entry....enjoy the weather. Oh anyone know what Madonna means by “you only got 4 mins to save the world” ;o)AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-77021593134434093282008-04-07T15:33:00.003-04:002008-04-07T16:14:04.982-04:00“This is right where we belong. Turn up the music”<span style="font-style:italic;">Oh oh oh oh<br />This is the dance for all the lovers<br />Takin' a chance for one another<br />Finally it's our time now<br />These are the times that we'll remember<br />Breaking the city's heart together<br />Finally it's our time now<br />It's our time now</span><br /><br />I am trying very hard to recuperate from a fantastic weekend! As I had mentioned my best friend was visiting and we partied like we were back in college; only we got tired much sooner, and weren’t as crazy as the college years. So I guess not really like we were in college hehe. But it was soo much fun to see the gang back together again. Luckily it was a beautiful warm weekend in NYC. We shopped all day; ate dinner at Anthony Bourdain’s <a href="http://www.leshalles.net/">Les Halles</a> restaurant and went bar hopping and ended up in a club where we ran into more DC folks! What are the chances that you would run into someone you know in a big city like NYC but clearly the chances are pretty good :o) All in all a wonderful weekend. I miss being around these wonderful people already. But it’s the distance that makes these meet ups all the more special. <br />Its spring time and time for new changes so in honor of this wonderful season I am thinking of changing my blog name. I know Anuzi is unique….especially since the name was bestowed upon me by my old dance crew. But I figured since I do have a foodie blog maybe I should gear the blog name towards a more food related term…..what do you guys think? Or do you like Anuzi…since it provides some ambiguity…where it could be a foodie blog or just a blog for my thoughts. What say you folks?AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-71147582329432124932008-04-03T23:54:00.003-04:002008-04-04T00:08:11.601-04:00“Dreams are nothing more than wishes”<span style="font-style:italic;">And a wish is just a dream you wish to come true<br />If only I could have a friend<br />Who sticks with me until the end<br />And walk along beside the sea<br />To share a bit of moon with me<br />I'd take my friend most everywhere<br /></span><br />There are times when I feel like I do more for people around me than they do for me. And let me tell ya its infuriating! Ok enough whining. <br /><br />I am super excited about this weekend. My best friend is coming into town and we have a full packed weekend ahead. Secrets will be shared, gossip (the good kind) is inevitable and good times will be had by all :o) I am also a bit sad that my time in NJ is almost coming to end for now and I will have to go back to DC for a week and a half. I know it’s not that long, but I am not really excited about going back to DC. I like it here in NJ, I love my own kitchen, I love my own bed and I love my hubby. I am beginning to cherish our time together…even if it’s us just vegging out on the couch :o) sigh. I am starting the job hunt so I can be in NJ permanently. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Pray for me people and wish me luck.<br />Ok now on to the foodie part of this blog. Well I am not really sharing a recipe but I wanted to share my fav wine with you guys. Bhatji and I have started getting into wine…we aren’t really connoisseurs but we enjoy good wines. So here’s a dessert wine that is Bhatji and my favorite: Sutter Home’s Moscato. It’s the perfect light wine for after dinner and great for chilling out on the balcony during good weather. It isn’t expensive but the taste is definitely rich! Give it a try and let me know what you guys think :o)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchz3RZpODR9lk1vlqUEOpBEXhFXybvKj5qIzmnyd2fqq-Le_X-RGlOByja7_fsCePkQTevx8t-yoqhqmTy9Ti8d1lAtMp9-x5lNc0iP7bbnZzOiOJjl7zJuDrMPJdGSAeqnVL-Q/s1600-h/DSC01779.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchz3RZpODR9lk1vlqUEOpBEXhFXybvKj5qIzmnyd2fqq-Le_X-RGlOByja7_fsCePkQTevx8t-yoqhqmTy9Ti8d1lAtMp9-x5lNc0iP7bbnZzOiOJjl7zJuDrMPJdGSAeqnVL-Q/s400/DSC01779.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185235108054609586" /></a>AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-24975565551122782682008-03-30T23:08:00.004-04:002008-03-31T16:37:58.975-04:00“Some things you can invent. Some get made, and some get sent”<span style="font-style:italic;">All that noise, and all that sound, <br />all those places I got found.<br />And birds go flying at the speed of sound, <br />to show you how it all began.<br />Birds came flying from the underground; <br />if you could see it then you'd understand?<br /></span><br />What a weekend! We did so much and still I found time to blog hehe. I wish they had awards for persistence….not sure if I would win but I definitely would be nominated hehe. I actually tried out a new recipe for Mansi’s Weekend Balanced Breakfast today and I wanted to share it. It’s also the last day for the entry so here goes. I tried out Heidi's recipe from <a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/curried-egg-salad-recipe.html">101 cookbook’s curried egg salad recipe</a>. I changed it to my taste but I used her recipe for a base to start off with. The great thing about this dish was it covers what Mansi’s considers a balanced meal: <br />Fruits or vegetables (dried fruits are fine too)<br />Grains and Cereals (whole grains, oats, high-fiber foods)<br />Dairy (skim milk, low-fat yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese (paneer) <br />Proteins (eggs/egg whites, peanut butter, beans, nuts, sprouts, protein isolates)<br />So here is the recipe for Curried Egg Salad on toast:<br /><br />Ingredients:<br />2 eggs<br />½ tsp curry powder<br />2 tbl spns yogurt<br />1 tbl spn mayonnaise<br />¼ small onion, chopped<br />¼ pieces of apple chopped<br />1 tbl spns of Dijon mustard<br />½ tsp of chilli powder<br />2 slices of toasted bread<br />Salt and pepper to taste<br /><br />To Make:<br />Boil the eggs. Add all the ingredients and mix well. Add the boiled eggs to it and mash it so its well integrated into the yogurt mixture. Add as much of the salad on to the toast and you are set for a yummy lunch/brunch.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbcVVWNbMrIka8-9se52FX_6dgrqdnwgrnzCNc5cyKRgAu2DsqmaFuGw00s7ZI0FKoKZ2h5utD0yFT4f-tUY9vrQzP5h-N-UjoIVsTvDyyKlbnyctshVaLkH9kJbiYaZJ0TBjuw/s1600-h/DSC01760.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbcVVWNbMrIka8-9se52FX_6dgrqdnwgrnzCNc5cyKRgAu2DsqmaFuGw00s7ZI0FKoKZ2h5utD0yFT4f-tUY9vrQzP5h-N-UjoIVsTvDyyKlbnyctshVaLkH9kJbiYaZJ0TBjuw/s400/DSC01760.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183740605464489634" /></a><br />This recipe goes out to <a href="http://funnfud.blogspot.com/2008/03/event-announcement-wbb21-balanced.html">Mansi's WBB#20 event</a>. <br />I made this for myself as a quick afternoon lunch and it hit the spot. Best of all I did not felt like one of those healthy meals where its not overpoweringly filling and it tastes great. Alright people I will be back during the week. I hope all of you had a fun filled weekend :o)AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-74072181248305559232008-03-28T17:10:00.006-04:002008-03-28T17:39:18.133-04:00“You're the only reason I keep on coming home”<span style="font-style:italic;">Sweet pea<br />Apple of my eye<br />Don't know when and I don't know why<br />You're the only reason I keep on coming home<br />Sweet pea<br />Keeper of my soul<br />I know sometimes I'm out of control<br />You're the only reason I keep on coming home</span><br /><br />Hola to everyone out in the blogger world. This entry’s song is dedicated to Bhatji :o) I know I tend to get mushy for no reason….well when you love some one you don’t need a reason to be mushy hehe. <br />I’m at home in NJ this week and next. I have had quite a bit of work but more than anything else I managed to rest and relax…you can never have enough R&R. Last weekend we went out to a new hot spot in DC called Park, where I met up with what seemed like my entire college. It was a throwback weekend like whoa! It’s always good to see dear friends who you just fit in with….like you never really parted ways. Good times :o) I am looking forward to this weekend with old friends visiting and plans partying NYC style! <br />I know I’ve slacked a bit with recipes and especially because I’m participating in so many foodie events. So without much ado here is my entry for Sig’s Mixed Drink Event. After scouring all my fav foodie blogger sites I decided to follow a popular Indian drink: Mango Lassi. I am picky about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lassi">lassi's</a>….they’re often a hit or miss at Indian restaurants. So I was thrilled to see <a href="http://www.aayisrecipes.com/">Shilpa from aayis recipes</a> sharing her recipe for this drink. I know mango lassi’s are considered a summer treat but I couldn’t help myself….I had to make this shake right away. So here is <a href="http://www.aayisrecipes.com/2006/07/22/mango-lassi/">Shilpa’s recipe for Mango Lassi</a> with a lil addition of my own:<br /><br />Ingredients:<br />Mango pulp 1/4 cup (I used tinned mango pulp)<br />Curd/yogurt 1/2 cup<br />Milk 1/4 cup<br />Sugar 2 tea spns<br />¼ tsp of Elaichi powder (my addition)<br /> <br />To make: <br />Mix all the ingredients in a blender until it is the thick liquid consistency you want it to be. If you like it real liquidy, add more milk and if you like it thick like a milk shake then add more yogurt and mango pulp. Serve chilled.<br />This recipe goes to <a href="http://blog.sigsiv.com/2008/02/announcing-monthly-blog-patrol-march-edition-mixed-drinks.html">Sig’s Monthly Blog Patrol – Mixed drinks</a>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCMgT3LjALXgV2Ugaov3-i9Cxs9c1zZhpIwwPw__cMQjNRtXl570bAOgcFOYrNRfpCxhmybW7JAReX9TdhfP24Ey4S_lZbLE02bwVWMrTCj0h0mOAqV0-IoPkVQNuep4YRN-IFg/s1600-h/DSC01775.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCMgT3LjALXgV2Ugaov3-i9Cxs9c1zZhpIwwPw__cMQjNRtXl570bAOgcFOYrNRfpCxhmybW7JAReX9TdhfP24Ey4S_lZbLE02bwVWMrTCj0h0mOAqV0-IoPkVQNuep4YRN-IFg/s400/DSC01775.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182904813418622594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8isl4ZRjQZVNo0uc3Mk7QDPVSvrBjM2rgxKP0m0wbl9gqpqvnduvtO5tcUPalbWAtO00s6aZPtDPuEmbQkA8KM3UVXc1Wl3cpyEsW0gH5FRBGLW5ffZUcsxr9mo0VVP-H0oiKuA/s1600-h/DSC01776.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8isl4ZRjQZVNo0uc3Mk7QDPVSvrBjM2rgxKP0m0wbl9gqpqvnduvtO5tcUPalbWAtO00s6aZPtDPuEmbQkA8KM3UVXc1Wl3cpyEsW0gH5FRBGLW5ffZUcsxr9mo0VVP-H0oiKuA/s400/DSC01776.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182904822008557202" /></a><br />This is a super simple recipe from Shilpa. Thanks Shilpa hehe….you made my tummy very happy. Well that’s all for now folks…I really need to get a lot of cleaning done. I will be back very soon with more yummy recipes :o) Happy Friday to you!AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-46775310231663313262008-03-22T14:08:00.008-04:002008-03-22T15:05:46.680-04:00रंग बरसे भीगी चुनार वाली रंग बरसेHappy Holi to all my desis!<br /><br /><a href="http://">Holi</a> is a 3 day Indian celebration of the upcoming spring and harvest season. In India we would all wear white, get together and play with colors. I remember coming home looking like a kid dipped in colord paints. It would take 3-4 washes before the colors would come off of my hair. Schools would be closed and the kids with colors would run rampant! In north India they would drink "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhang">bhaang</a>" and then have a huge fire on the 3rd day of Holi. Its cool how Holi coincides with first day of Spring according to the western calendar. So lets celebrate the onset of Spring....with lots colors, yummy food, family and friends. Happy Holi!!!!<br /><br /><embed style="width:400px; height:326px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-4213316895147239174&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed><span style="font-weight:bold;"></span><br /><br />Update:<br />Soooo many engagements soooo many good wishes:<br />Congrats to Megs and Umma :o)<br />Congrats to Ranju and Reena :o) <br />Congrats to VA and SS :o) <br />Wooooo hooo let the wedding season begin!!AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-90095642414412094992008-03-19T13:57:00.003-04:002008-03-19T14:18:12.219-04:00“I'll stop the world and melt with you”<span style="font-style:italic;">You've seen the difference and<br />It's getting better all the time<br />There's nothing you and I won't do<br />I'll stop the world and melt with you<br />The future's open wide…..</span><br /><br />To the sweetest husband in the world, wishing my Bhatji, a <span style="font-weight:bold;">VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!</span> I know I’m not physically there to celebrate this occasion with you but I promise I’ll make it up this weekend :o) True to his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisces_(astrology)">Piscean nature</a> Bhatji is very charming, flexible, emotional and playful. He manages to make me laugh even during the hard times and supports me in all my interests. Maybe a lil too much support….up to the point of harassment hehe (I will one day open my own dance school damn it!!) And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Life is definitely more interesting with a better half like Bhatji on my side. So here’s to many more years of love, life and happiness Bhatji…..Happy Birthday. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pKRibSg2qhJOJVjGxi48d-Uy5pe22OtJUr6N8VknVTE8HMnC6vVd9DyeURwylQ3xOua2zdA3Mdyce8kGw455WEQFGy2coY_ZHsyr52dln-V47pfREx-b3vfYEbuY-u7PEze8iA/s1600-h/Singapore+Sept+2007+Day+2+024.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pKRibSg2qhJOJVjGxi48d-Uy5pe22OtJUr6N8VknVTE8HMnC6vVd9DyeURwylQ3xOua2zdA3Mdyce8kGw455WEQFGy2coY_ZHsyr52dln-V47pfREx-b3vfYEbuY-u7PEze8iA/s400/Singapore+Sept+2007+Day+2+024.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179518712610902370" /></a><br />I have mentioned in my previous posts that Bhatji isn’t really a fan of chocolate. So many of my favorite desserts (anything with chocolate) I usually end up eating alone. I have to be more creative while making desserts in our house. Recently while watching <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/giada_delaurentiis/0,1974,FOOD_10968,00.html">Giada’s “Every day Italian”</a> I was inspired to re-create her min Italian doughnuts for dessert. The recipe seemed simple and I had most of the ingredients. I also liked that it wasn’t too sweet….both Bhatji and I don’t like anything too overtly sweet. Here is the recipe for Mini Italian doughnuts:<br /><br />Ingredients:<br />1 cup of vegetable oil<br />1 cup of olive oil <br />½ lb of prepared pizza dough<br />¼ cup of sugar<br />2 tsp of cinnamon powder<br />2 inch cookie cutter<br />1 inch cookie cutter<br />Flour to roll the dough out<br /><br />To make:<br />Pour both the oils in a deep frying pan and heat on medium high for about 7-8 mins. Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface till it’s about 1 ½ inches thick. With the 2 inch cookie cuter cut out a doughnut round and then with a 1 inch cookie cutter, make a hole in each of the 1 ½ inch doughnut round. Make as many doughnut rounds as you can with the remaining dough. Working in batches, deep fry the doughnuts for about a min until they puff up and rise to the top of the frying pan. After the frying let the doughnuts rest on a paper towel so all the extra oil is drained. In the mean time mix the cinnamon powder and sugar in a bowl and set aside. Add the doughnuts to the bowl and make sure all the doughnuts are coated with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Serve while still warm.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-zKRLe0hbwo8duG_cJVv5tt0SOaNT-wXrkBeyvPQyjm99mwLDUuXLh0iBaKSCBoMrjqH-Q6oBgYyYTQbFs9HzfI8ieTm49zxzb-KuJW2mKOZbntDGTE5WUjAHf22R8fLZNVI8g/s1600-h/DSC01731.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-zKRLe0hbwo8duG_cJVv5tt0SOaNT-wXrkBeyvPQyjm99mwLDUuXLh0iBaKSCBoMrjqH-Q6oBgYyYTQbFs9HzfI8ieTm49zxzb-KuJW2mKOZbntDGTE5WUjAHf22R8fLZNVI8g/s400/DSC01731.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179515074773602626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLybRiiV9tqK3sBOT10MHcbiJzzsMqjUG5YEuOLU54TYINdij1yPSQhGgfBKQOHSd6yeV0wqZ_syDlFA4fcBTIqaLMhP1vWOXcWOqAOV4eDI6_8MqZficS_PSplCWOTdtod4bJQ/s1600-h/DSC01736.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLybRiiV9tqK3sBOT10MHcbiJzzsMqjUG5YEuOLU54TYINdij1yPSQhGgfBKQOHSd6yeV0wqZ_syDlFA4fcBTIqaLMhP1vWOXcWOqAOV4eDI6_8MqZficS_PSplCWOTdtod4bJQ/s400/DSC01736.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179515083363537234" /></a><br />Bhatji said that it was tasty but a lil doughy….which I agreed with. As per Giada’s instructions she wants the pizza dough rolled out to 2 inch thickness but I think if it’s a lil thinner than that (1 ½ inch) it would be perfect. It’s a tasty treat and the sugaring is up to you. So you can make it sweeter or not as per your taste. This dessert goes great with Chai or hot chocolate. Until the next yummy entry….celebrate your near and dear ones :o)AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11005752.post-59789332943406760192008-03-17T16:46:00.001-04:002008-03-17T16:48:12.781-04:00“Kho Na Jaaye Ye Taare Zameen Par”<span style="font-style:italic;">Jaise Aankhon Ki Dibiya Mein Nindiya<br />Aur Nindiya Mein Meetha Sa Sapna<br />Aur Sapne Mein Mil Jaaye Farishta Sa Koi<br />Jaise Rangon Bhari Pichkari<br />Jaise Titliyan Phoolon Ki Kyari<br />Jaise Bina Matlab Ka Pyara Rishta Ho Koi<br /><br />Yeh To Aasha Ki Lehar Hain<br />Yeh To Ummeed Ki Sehar Hain<br />Khusiyon Ki Nehar Hain</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZfSLSPD5HHm894LpBoJShyOsR1hDUdCSlez9VKU7zyWAWCt1_ltUFcCbZ-AjPSVluP8JjI-E7QvbbzuSr5omPga14BORoaaW28ezTgZhbFJqUjSqg_AIqK8_JuMs1_x3Fuwo4A/s1600-h/poster3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZfSLSPD5HHm894LpBoJShyOsR1hDUdCSlez9VKU7zyWAWCt1_ltUFcCbZ-AjPSVluP8JjI-E7QvbbzuSr5omPga14BORoaaW28ezTgZhbFJqUjSqg_AIqK8_JuMs1_x3Fuwo4A/s400/poster3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178815093888602402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEmZ7WR9jbgPNyr6IAMJYlAXoTHuOfiX5waCP9B4yzeT2uJUfSYJsVw3fHjQs78ILWREn5tOfyvKx65HvQNVkz6u6ruyF70gFbZHlxi8RfaVjL1RF6X3qOTh_CjAiGl1RiHNoLQ/s1600-h/wallpapers3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEmZ7WR9jbgPNyr6IAMJYlAXoTHuOfiX5waCP9B4yzeT2uJUfSYJsVw3fHjQs78ILWREn5tOfyvKx65HvQNVkz6u6ruyF70gFbZHlxi8RfaVjL1RF6X3qOTh_CjAiGl1RiHNoLQ/s400/wallpapers3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178815102478537010" /></a><br /><br />Over the weekend I finally got to watch the Hindi movie, <a href="http://taarezameenpar.com/">Taare Zameen Par</a>. It was directed by Aamir Khan and although he is in the movie….the protagonist is a little boy, Darsheel Safary. The storyline revolves around a boy whose world is full of imagination, colors and stories. However he is failing in school and is unable to comprehend simple instructions from teachers or peers. His family isn’t able to help him and decides to send him to boarding school. Still it seems no one is able to gage his problem and he starts to sink into depression. The new art teacher (Aamir Khan) realizes that the child is dyslexic and starts helping him cope with this learning disability and brings him back to life. Let me start off by saying…not many Hindi movies can move me like this movie has. Sure most movies portray the typical family melodrama or unrequited love etc. But Taare Zameen Par brings to light how fragile childhood can be…especially if the child does not have a strong support system, like a caring family. The movie also explains a learning disability like dyslexia. In an educationally competitive country like India where it seems that every kid is trying to rank #1 and thinking outside the box is not an option….its truly commendable that Aamir Khan decided to shed light on a much needed topic like dyslexia. I also noticed that although the movie is directed by Aamir Khan and he has a role in the movie…I loved that the focus was not on the big name star. It was all about the little kid who is a newcomer to Bollywood and he stole the screen :o) Aamir Khans direction was definitely phenomenal! Seriously this is a must see movie. Even if you are not really a Hindi movie fan...I really hope that you rent the movie (with subtitles if needed) and watch it!! In fact I made a copy of the DVD so Bhatji can watch it too. It’s a great family movie too…so feel free to watch it with the kids. Let me know what you thought of the movie or comment once you do watch it…which is soon I hope ;o)AnuZihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10273015370098084180noreply@blogger.com15