Recipe for Litti

Ingredients -

1. Atta(Wheat Flour) - 4 cups
2. Sattu - 3 cups
3. Onion - 1 big
4. Green chillies - 8
5. Ginger root - 1 inch
6. Garlic cloves - 10
7. Lemon juice - 2tsp
8. Salt - to taste
9. Ajwain - 1tsp
10. Mangrela - 1tsp
11. Mustard oil - 2tsp
12. Pickle masala (optional) - 1tsp
13. water
14. Milk
15. Ghee

Procedure -

Dough-

1. Knead atta with milk and 2 tbsp ghee.
2. The consistency should be medium to soft.
3. Keep aside.

Filling-

1. Blend onion, green chillies, garlic, grated ginger in a food processor.
2. Mix it with sattu.
3. Add mangrela, ajwain, lemon juice, mustard oil, pickle masala and salt.
4. Knead the above mixture with a little bit of water.

1. Make small balls out of dough.
2. Form a depression at centre of each ball and fill in the stuffing.
3. Close each ball as if tying a purse ring by collecting the ends of the ball with stuffing together in the middle and sealing them onto each other.
4. Trim off the extra dough once the ends are sealed.
5. Bake the liittis so made in the oven at 400 deg for 20-25 mins.
6. Keep checking in between and turn them around once at 10 min.
7. Take out the baked littis after 25 min and enjoy with Aloo chokha (Indian mashed potato) and Baingan Bharta (Mashed Eggplant).

Garfield

Hey all you Garfield fans out there...just got hold of this book in the library "Garfield's guide to everything"...would like to share with you some of its interesting quotes...

"Coffee" - Mother Nature's jumper cables.
"Dogs" - They contain 90% of the world's drool supply.
"Exercise" - My favourite spectator sport.
"Love" - ..is splitting the last piece of pizza.
"Mondays" - The armpit of days.
"Sleep" - The best 18 hrs of my day.
"Wrestling" - I slam therefore I am.
"Cats think; Dogs stink".
"I only diet between meals".
Diet is "die" with a "t".
"Working out just isn't working out".
"Life is short; eat now".
"Too much food is never enough".
Things Garfield would do if he won a lottery-
1. A refrigerator in every room.
2. Build a stall around his litter box.
3. Hire some goon to rough up neighbourhood dogs.
4. Get petted by a different babe every night.
5. Have his stomach enlarged.
6. Get a job just so he could quit it.
7. Eat, sleep and look rich doing it!

and many more...

Isn't he simply adorable?! :-)

Tape emits X-Rays

http://www.nature.com/news/2008/081022/full/news.2008.1185.html

USMLE

Hey guys...just wanted to share with you all I'm so bugged studying for these never ending USMLE exams...am so far from completing the whole lot...just on second step and my steam is already fizzing out...wonder why don't they just take one mammoth exam and let go of us....it's simply awful!!..The other day one of my college friends rightly commented on this lament of mine..."so soon"...She is quite right...all the USMLE forums are abuzz with people like me, toiling to get that ultimate prize "residency"...although I know once you get into it, it doesn't seem like a prize at all..having been a "resident" in India myself....but gotta admit $$$ is a huge attraction, making us keep on persevering...wish this could get over sooner :-( !!

Recipe for Coriander Chutney

Ingredients -

1. Coriander leaves - 1 bunch
2. Green chillies - 3-4
3. Garlic cloves - 2-3
4. Lemon juice - 2tsp
5. Salt - to taste

Procedure -

1. Wash and drain coriander leaves.
2. Blend coriander leaves, green chillies, garlic cloves in a food processor.
3. Add water to adjust the consistency of chutney.
4. Mix lemon juice and salt.
5. Serve.

Financial Crisis-The Aftermath

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7681978.stm

10 Best Food for our Heart

http://slideshows.health.com/slide_shows/10281/slides/10695

Recipe for Pittha

Ingredients-

1. Rice flour- 2 cups
2. Chana daal - 1cup
3. Green Chillies - 4-5
4. Garlic cloves - 4
5. Ginger root - 1 inch
6. Hing - 1 pinch
7. Haldi - 1 tsp
8. Salt - to taste
9. water

Procedure-
1. Soak chana dal for 5-6 hrs.
2. Blend chana dal, green chillies, garlic, ginger, hing, haldi and salt in a food precessor without using water.
3. Make sure the consistency of the filling is coarse.
4. Knead rice flour with warm water.
5. Make small balls from the dough.
6. Shape the balls so that they have a hollow in the middle for the filling to be stuffed in.
7. Stuff the chana dal filling.
8. Seal the edges of the ball.
9. Apply a bit of water on your hand and smoothen the outer surface of the pittha.
10. Boil water in a 6 quart pot.
11. Drop in the pitthas into boiling water and cook uncovered.
12. One the pittha gets cooked, it will come up on the surface.
13. Remove with the help of a slotted spoon and drain off the extra water.
14. Cut into bite size pieces.
15. Serve with coriander chutney.

My Mausi

"Mausi" or "Masi" is a hindi word which literally means "like a mother". In India, it is a word used to address mother's sister. Since childhood, this term was almost synonymous with "Danapur wali Mausi" for me. Danapur is a small town in the state of Bihar in India. She was named Urvashi by my grandparents. However, my father didn't like us to address our elders by first names and so the above name came into use by us (me and my sisters).

What should I write about her? She had such a huge influence on me right since my childhood. Such an intelligent lady!! I am overawed by her simplicity and the kindness she had for all and sundry. I never noticed it while I was a kid. One so takes things for granted in life; but when it is taken away, the emptiness one feels is beyond any comparison! I believe she had a soft corner for me as the youngest kid in my maternal family tree. I have beautiful memories of her often coming down to our home in Bokaro. I would wait for her autorickshaw to arrive from the Railway station, standing by my front gate. Oh what joy!! She would scoop me in her arms as soon as she arrived. I would start looking for my gifts in the one bag she carried from her home. She wasn't financially very well off, so to say, but that never deterred her from bringing me my choicest sweets and gifts. She would fish out "glass bangles" and "Milk Cake" for me as soon as she came in. I would sit in her lap and soak up all the love and affection she was so full of.

I miss you Mausi!!

I fail to accept till date that she is no more with us. God can never make another of your kind. As Diwali comes up in a week, people are so full of joy, and excitement. All I feel is an emptiness. You left us. You left me.

Black and White

This poem was nominated for the best poem for 2005.

Written by an African kid –


“When I born, I black.

When I grow up, I black.

When I go in sun, I black.

When I scared, I black.

When I sick, I black.

And when I die, I still black.


And you white fella …

When you born, you pink.

When you grow up, you white.

When you go in sun, you red.

When you cold, you blue.

When you scared, you yellow.

When you sick, you green.

And when you die, you grey …

And you calling me colored ??”

I've borrowed it from Amitabh Bachchan's blog.

Recipe for Khichdi and Aloo Bharta/chokha

Recipe for Khichdi-

Ingredients-

1. Basmati rice- 1 cup
2. Moong dal - 1/4 cup
3. Masoor dal- 1/4 cup (or u can just use moong dal - 1/2 cup)
4.green chillies- 2-3
5. ghee- 1-2 tbsp
6.heeng - 1 pinch
7. zeera- 1 tsp
8.laung- 3-4
9. black peppercorn- 3-4
10.ginger garlic paste- 1-2 tbsp
11. haldi- 1tsp
12. salt- to taste
13. green veg(optional)- peas, cauliflower, potato- chopped
14. bay leaves- 2
15. chhoti ilaichi and badi ilaichi- if u like ur khichdi spicy- 2-3 chhoti ilaichi and 1-2 badi ilaichi
16. red chillies- 2-3

procedure-

1. soak rice and daal for an hr.
2. heat ghee in pressure cooker.
3. put in hing
4. put in zeera, bay leaves, red chillies, laung, pepper, chhoti n badi ilaichi
5. after a min add ginger garlic paste and haldi. fry
6. add green chillies n green veg if u opt for it. fry
7. then add rice n daal. fry for a min.
8. add salt
9. add water- 3 cups
10. close cooker and cook till one whistle on medium flame. After that lower the flame and cook for 4-5 mins.
11. put off the gas and serve.

Bharta Recipe-

Ingredients-

1. Boiled Potato- 4-5
2. Green chillies - 6
3. Onion- 1 small
4. mustard oil- 2-3 tsp
5. salt - to taste


Procedure-

1. Mash the boiled potatoes.
2. mix in chopped onions, chopped chillies, and mustard oil.
3. Add salt to taste.
4. Mix and serve.

Tandoori Chicken Recipe

Serves  4

Preparation Time  30 minutes

Ingredients
1 (~2 lbs) of chicken
1 tsp red chilli powder
1 tbsp lemon juice
Salt to taste

Marinade
200-250 gms of yogurt
1 tsp red chilli powder
Salt to taste
1 tbsp ginger paste
2 tbsp garlic paste
2 tbsp lemon juice
½ tsp garam masala powder
2 tbsp Ghee/butter/Olive oil

A pinch of edible orange color
½ tsp of chaat masala

Garnish
Onion rings and lemon wedges

Procedure
Skin, wash and clean the chicken. Make incisions with a sharp knife on breast and leg pieces.

Apply a mixture of red chilli powder, lemon juice and salt to the chicken and keep it aside for half an hour.

Mix Red chilli powder, salt, ginger-garlic paste, lemon juice, orange color, garam masala powder and oil to the yogurt.

Apply this marinade onto the chicken pieces and refrigerate for 6-24 hours.

Put the chicken onto the skewers and cook in a hot tandoor or a pre-heated oven (400 degrees Celsius) for 20 to 25 minutes. Baste it with butter and cook for a further 5 minutes turning the chicken pieces over.

  
Sprinkle chaat masala powder and serve with onion rings and lemon wedges.

RULES FOR A HAPPY MARRIAGE

1.        Instead of trying to change something, he or she does - change you! Far too often, people get married with the belief they can simply change the person they married, molding him or her into the "perfect" mate. Instead, you need to accept your mate for the person he/she is. If a behavior needs to be changed, then provide support and encouragement. For example, if your husband complains about not having clean clothes, rather than nag at him, show him how to launder his shirts, jeans, or whatever it is he needs.

2.        Communication is a key ingredient to any successful marriage. That means talking through situations rather than bottling up or yelling. By showing respect, you can work together as a couple should. With this, the two of you can talk to understand the other person's side better.

3.        Keep intimacy as a part of the marriage. Remember, this person is the one you love, the one you want to share your life with, which means letting go of inhibitions. Intimacy is an excellent way to stay close, doing wonders for any marriage. 

4.        Accept the flaws in your spouse. Since no one is perfect, you want to learn to appreciate the differences between the two of you. If your husband wakes up with bad hair or your wife is grumpy, love him/her, in spite of the flaws.

5.        Learn to ignore the small stuff. Every marriage faces challenges, some big and some small. Remind yourself that life is precious and short. Therefore, focus on the larger battles, working through them as a team while letting go of the incidentals that in the big scheme of things does not matter.

6.        Make sure you choose your battles wisely. If you are going to pick something apart, make sure it really matters. Unfortunately, unresolved arguments are a big issue in marriages, often leading to divorce. Therefore, unless the issue is something significant, learn to let some things roll off your back.

7.        Time for friends is also crucial. Once every other week, you should both take one day or evening to spend time apart and with same-sex friends. This will help you maintain your own identity and appreciate the time you have with your spouse.

8.        Never take your spouse for granted. Again, life is too precious. Instead, find things that your partner does well or things that please you and let him/her know. If your husband is outside working on the car, take time to bring him a cold glass of tea or lemonade...If your wife has been home all day with the children, hire a babysitter and surprise her with a dinner out.

9.        Date...just because you are now legally married, you should not stop dating. Every Friday or Saturday night, even if you have children, make a date. This could be something as simple as bowling and beer or a romantic dinner and concert. The activity is not important, just that you get time for just the two of you.

compiled from http://marriage.families.com/blog/tentipsforahappymarriage

India's Moon Launch

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/22/world/asia/22indiamoon.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

karzzzz effect

hey guys.... the muvy is crispy n masaledaar lik a tandoor.... must watch... 4 great music n photography n nt so bad acting skills...... god atleast this monty' is much bettr then ritesh, tushar or imran... i thnk ppl gonna luv it... fr its moments of goosebumbs n thrilling twists once again... wtch out its much bettr than expected n i nvr knw the nasal phenomena cud act so well......

Recipe for "Bhaat"

On request from one of the avid fans of my cooking ;-) I'm jotting down the recipe for"Bhaat". For the uninitiated, Bhaat is another name for "Steamed rice".

Ingredients-

Rice - 1 cup
Water - 2 cups

Procedure-

1. Boil rice with water in an uncovered saucepan.
2. Keep checking for doneness.
3. Once cooked, drain out the water.
4. Serve Bhaat. Njoy!

Would be back soon with more of my fav recipes!!

My recipe for Poha

Ingredients-

1. Chura/Chivda - 2 cups
2. Chana dal - 2 tsp
3. Curry leaves - 4-5
4. Onion(small) - 1
5. Tomato- 1
6. Peanuts - 8-10
7. Green peas - 1/4cup
8. Coriander leaves - a handful
9. Ghee - 2tbsp
10. Rai - 1tbsp
11. Salt - to taste
12. Haldi - 1 tsp
13. Green chillies - 5-6
14. Gingerroot - 1 inch
15. Garlic cloves - 2
16. Boiled and chopped potato - 1

Procedure-

1. Soak chura/chivda in water for 2-3 mins.
2. Pour ghee in a frypan.
3. Put rai in it.
4. Once rai starts spluttering, put chana dal and curry leaves. Fry for a min.
5. Then put onions and saute until they change colour to light pink. Add grated ginger and garlic.
6. Fry tomato and green chillies with the onions.
7. Mix haldi in the pan.
8. Once the masala starts leaving the edge of the pan, mix peanuts,green peas and potato.
9. Then put chura and mix everything. Fry till chura gets cooked.
10. Add salt and mix.
11. Garnish with washed and chopped coriander leaves.

Evolution Vs Creationism

Where did human beings come from? How did the universe come into existence? Why were we chosen to have superior intelligence and by whom? Did life, as we know it, really evolve from primordial soup?  Is there a supreme being responsible for all of it? Why do we feel the need for the existence of God? Is it because of our insecurities or is it a result of hope that everything will be alright? 

As we travel back through time de-constructing the history of formation and evolution of life on Earth and Earth itself, we are often punctuated with lack of evidences. At the same time, the idea of cosmos being created in a blink of an eye defies all logic. The creation hymn in Rig Veda (arguably, the oldest of Indian scriptures) states:  

There was neither non-existence nor existence then. 
There was neither the realm of space nor the sky which is beyond. 
What stirred? 
Where? 
In whose protection? 
Was there water, bottomlessly deep?

There was neither death nor immortality then. 
There was no distinguishing sign of night nor of day. 
That One breathed, windless, by its own impulse. 
Other than that there was nothing beyond.

Darkness was hidden by darkness in the beginning, 
with no distinguishing sign, all this was water. 
The life force that was covered with emptiness, 
that One arose through the power of heat.

Desire came upon that One in the beginning, 
that was the first seed of mind. 
Poets seeking in their heart with wisdom 
found the bond of existence and non-existence.

Their cord was extended across. 
Was there below? 
Was there above? 
There were seed-placers, there were powers. 
There was impulse beneath, there was giving forth above.

Who really knows? 
Who will here proclaim it? 
Whence was it produced? 
Whence is this creation? 
The gods came afterwards, with the creation of this universe. 
Who then knows whence it has arisen?

Whence this creation has arisen
– perhaps it formed itself, or perhaps it did not –
the One who looks down on it, 
in the highest heaven, only He knows 
or perhaps He does not know.

The word "science" means knowledge and has its origins in Latin. Religion, on the other hand, is a set of beliefs that connect to the supreme. If there is a supreme entity, our knowledge (science) is limited to know the exact nature of the divine. What is infinity? Isn’t it something similar to the supreme entity whose exactness transcends our knowledge (science)?

Any amount of debate over the issue is futile in the present state of science. However, our knowledge is continually increasing, and so is our understanding of the universe. Religion and science will converge when our knowledge will reach its apex. Is this consummation often known as nirvana or salvation or enlightenment?

For those who are interested in further reading:

http://www.phy.syr.edu/courses/modules/ORIGINS/origins.html

http://mcb.harvard.edu/BioLinks/Evolution.html

the magic..... of brida he he

paulo coelho ... u knw him rite ? the author of 'the alchemist' ... one of my fav books till date...... jus wanna say read 'brida' the latest n trust me u'll hate the writer much mr than u ve lauded him for his previous works..... for now m busy wid the 'sea of poppies'...... very interesting.... a lot mr left to read ..... lets c ...

My recipe for Maggi Noodles

Ingredients -

1. One packet of Maggi Noodles(Masala flavour)
2. small onion - 1
3. tomato - 1
4. green chillies - 5-6 (can reduce/add according to taste)
5. small carrot - 1
6. bell pepper - 1
7. green beans - 10
8. coriander leaves - a handful
9. salt - to taste
10. water - 1 cup

Procedure -

1. Boil water in a saucepan.
2. While it starts to heat up, chop up ingredients 2-7.
3. Drop the chopped veggies in pan of water.
4. Sprinkle some salt over it.
5. Put in half of the masala mix (comes with maggi noodles pack).
6. When water starts to boil, put maggi noodles.
7. put in rest of the masala mix over noodles and veggies in pan.
8. Mix with a ladle.
9. Sprinkle some more salt for seasoning.
10. Put off the gas once noodles get al dente.
11. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.