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The man who knows my past

11 Saturday May 2013

Posted by in Life's like that

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naadi_shaastra

I first heard about the Naadi Shastra Pandits from my mother. She said that they are  Tamilian astrologers who have migrated to different parts of India. They read your life story from palm leaves that are nearly 2000 years old! That was a bit too much for me to believe. How could someone have written about me that long ago? I decided to pay them a visit the next time I went to my home town, Dehra Dun.

This summer the day finally arrived. I spent the first two weeks of April at my Grandparent’s home in Dehra Dun. After recovering from the hectic journey I took an appointment with the Naadi Shastra astrolgers. Continue reading »

Bitter Coffee Cake

21 Thursday Feb 2013

Posted by in Cakes n Bakes

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coffee_cake

Ok, ok my sweet tooth is getting the better of me. I’ve started baking yummy things to  flatter my taste buds all the time. I can skillfully find an excuse to whisk up something sinful. I should try to keep my hands tied when I’m ‘free’ (when is that, anyway?). Guess how long it took me to mix the batter for this cake? Continue reading »

Stuffed Tomatoes

15 Friday Feb 2013

Posted by in Curries

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stuffed_tomatoes

Here is a dish that my family absolutely loves. It’s made in different ways actually. Some people stuff the tomatoes with a paneer filling and some with mashed potatoes. I chose  a spicy mashed potato filling. I think this dish is actually quiet elaborate but eventually it’s worth the effort. I have had stuffed tomatoes a couple of times earlier but I have never really used naati or junglee tomatoes. The only reason why I used them here was their size – perfectly small and round. Usually when I buy these little junglee tomatoes I use them to make rasam (which needs no other souring agent after that). Stuffed tomatoes is another such recipe as the pulp of the tomato goes back into the filling thus making the over all dish tangy and yummy. Continue reading »

Healthy Whole Wheat Cake

31 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by in Cakes n Bakes

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healthy_wheat_cake

Here is a healthy cake that you can give your kids in their snack box or in the evening with their glass of milk. The best part about this cake is that it uses ingredients like whole wheat flour (atta) and jaggery that are more nutritious that refined products that are usually used. Another thing I liked about this cake is that it was really easy to whisk. I used just about one mixing bowl and a spoon. Utensils required were minimum and my kitchen was left absolutely clean. The last time I felt that way was long ago, when I baked an eggless vanilla cake. Continue reading »

Mint Melon Cooler

18 Friday Jan 2013

Posted by in Beverages

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melon_cooler_landscape

Here is an absolutely refreshing drink that I submitted to the Mother’s World magazine for their November ’12 Edition. I remember while shooting this drink, the day was rather hot. After a few shots I got thirsty. It was not only the heat but also the chilled out maroon beauty that was tempting me through the tall glass. I decided to take a sip and I didn’t realize that it was a rather long one. When I got back behind the lens my jaw dropped. The glass was half empty! So I stopped shooting and sat down to finish the rest of the drink because in this case I couldn’t optimistically look at the part that was half full :-) Continue reading »

A few beautiful days in Bananki

02 Wednesday Jan 2013

Posted by in travel

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home_stay

This winter break we made a trip to Bananki, a place close to Shimoga.  We spent about 3 days at a home stay in the wild woods. The entire family made the trip with us. My mom, Mayank’s brother’s family, my sister’s family was there in full attendance. I think a home stay experience is best enjoyed in a big group. Luckily for the kids, Santa Claus had no trouble getting there. Wonder how he manages to find us , every year, no matter where we are. Continue reading »

Ganesh Pooja Year 2012

02 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by in festivals

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Ganeshji in mantap

On Sunday, Ganeshji left our home for this year. It was special this time as I made the Ganesh idol myself. The Think Green team in our apartment organized a 2-day workshop on idol making. They invited a person who is a graduate from a Japanese school in ceramic arts & pottery. I found the instructor very knowledgable and am glad I got to learn a few interesting techniques in clay modeling from him. Continue reading »

Beautiful Backwaters of Ashtamudi

22 Wednesday Aug 2012

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We visited Ashtamudi about a week ago. It was the first time I saw the scenic backwaters of Kerala. I now know why it’s called God’s own country. The wide lakes lined with lush green coconut trees,  tiny fishes trying to escape the local fishermen,  birds perched on tree trunks singing the local melodies, all come together to create a memorable portrait of Ashtamudi. Continue reading »

Dishwasher one-o-one

03 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by in Home Appliances

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I first thought of buying a dishwasher nearly a year ago. I was inspired when I saw my friend who stays in my building, using one. I remember the day, last year, when I went to her place to understand the value it could bring to life. I was confused about what I wanted. For those of you who might not know this, in India, it’s still very common to have a lady who comes in to wash the dishes. Dishwashers are not usually used. However, the culture is slowly shifting as maids are becoming hard to find.

I have been using my Siemens dishwasher for a few weeks now and I feel that whatever I heard from my friends before purchasing it, is all correct. A big thanks to Venkatraj and Rajani, my neighbors who have patiently answered all my queries. They have been using a dishwasher for nearly 4 years now. This post includes information on usage of detergents, which I gained mostly from them. To make the decision a bit easier for those who might be considering buying a dishwasher, I have elaborated on the pros and cons of using one. Continue reading »

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