I am young and I too have a dream to own My Dream Business with Office 365

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

Eleanor Roosevelt

Indiblogger and Office 365 have come together and prompted this blog post...

They are asking me to dream...
Dream my dreams aloud...
For all and sundry to read...
I left the secrecy and the "in the closet" desires a long, long way back...way before I began blogging...
Now,I write for anyone to read ...
My heart out on my sleeve or rather plate...
Is it scary???
NO!
Not at all!
That is the best part of being an emancipated woman!
I Stand by my man...
And when the world least expects it...
I will Rise and shine!
I have just gone back to teaching high school students after a sabbatical of 4 years...still wondering if I made the right choice...
But the fact ,that I get the chance to touch so many lives and make a difference is what keeps me going back everyday...to wait at that railroad crossing...
Each morning I drive to school...
20 precious minutes earlier than I should-only because the school is on the other side of a railroad crossing...
And more often than not the guy manning the gates just brings them down as I am about to cross over to the other side...
With a sadistic grin on his face...
And I have to count the minutes ,hoping against hope that I manage to park my car and sign in before the bell rings...
And then the wait begins anew in the afternoon...
And the wait is made bearable while I access Baketitude and read my mails on my phone...some times there are just trashy mails asking me to waste some more money ...
And then there are mails from my readers...with things that make me smile...
Today...
At this point in time ,I am happy being a wife ,a mother, a home maker and now a teacher...
But I am young ,I too have a dream.I dream of a Shalini-strong ,self reliant...
(to quote Mr Rajiv Gandhi)
I want to do so much more...

Office 365 offers me a chance to being the walk in that direction.
I dream of setting up Baketitude-a Cakes and Dessert Catering Business from my house...
I know I am good at the baking and decorating part of the job-the execution...
I dream of being able to make the prettiest of cakes...those with and without fondant...
So maybe Office 365 can help me design them...
I dream of the fluffiest of desserts...
The most sinful and the most decadent of chocolate cakes...
And the lightest of mousses..
I dream...
And I can do...
But...
The problem will come with the administration and the paper work...
I have been researching all about the Office 365 and have checked out the price...per month or yearly fees -extremely cheap at less than 500 rs a month.
And then here are the features...

• Office 365 will allow me to look even more professional than I really am.
• Design customised marketing materials.
• Market my business with a website-easy to update and set up ,without additional hosting fees.
• Hold impressive online meetings and video conferencing-using my HD camera.
• Design my cakes and desserts.
• Access professionals from around the world .
• Allow me to track and access my suppliers to and supplies.
• Keep my inventory up to date and remind me when I need stocking up.
• keep my paperwork up to date and help with my taxes.
• With Lync I'll be able to stay in touch anywhere.
• Use skype to keep in touch with my employees(you didn't think I'd be doing all the work-did you?)
• Use Yammer to keep my business in every body's minds...

That means - the logo, business cards and letter heads,designing, menus, packaging slips, sales receipts, purchase orders, billing and invoice statements ,business flyer's, brochures and more will all be handled by Office 365.

Leaving me free to be at my creative best ...baking and decorating and delivering smiles and a ton of calories and a sugar rush to people.

Let me begin the dreaming already...
Missed the blogger meet- I don't live in Delhi so ...

Thank you Indiblogger...

For the start of a dream...

So I begin to blog and to dream...

Knowing that I have the power to let my dreams come true!

And bring on the food!

So what are you baking today???

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Cookies-Singhare Ka Atta cookies with cardamom -Invoking the goddess and some detoxifying

That time of the ear again...
Time to invoke your faith in the goddess and all things holy...
Time to bring your gratitude to the fore and pray for the goddess to keep you safe and happy ...

And refrain from all things that are made of grain and are irresistible...
Like cookies and bread and all things meaty...
So we fast and and feel good...

And midweek we start getting cravings...
Cravings that will drive you nuts...
Cravings for cookies...

Am I the only one??
I know there are laddoos available and then there are Indian sweets galore...but the satisfaction that one cookie with a cup of coffee gives you...beats all else.
And in the middle of the fasting...I missed the bite of the cookie with my cup of coffee.
There had to be an easy way...right??
Then I remembered ...last Navratras..I made Buck wheat flour Crackers-crackers with kuttu ka atta and sesame seeds...
But I was dying for sweet cookies...
So sweet with cardamom ...
Like Whole wheat atta and semolina cookies.
So ...
Now with singhare ka atta- or flour made from water chestnuts...dried of course.
Singhare ka atta is  used a lot in Shivratri...Specially for the halwa...
But I decided to cookie it.

for the

Cookies-Singhare Ka Atta Cookies with cardamon-Invoking the goddess and some detoxifying...

1 1/4 cup singhare ka atta
1/2 cup sugar powdered with 4 cardamom
1/2 cup clarified butter or desi ghee

You cant use butter here, as butter has salt...so ghee it is.
I put back a tbsp of the clarified butter or desi ghee into the container and replaced it with ...water!At least make an effort at lo cal...My cookies were thus not that crisp...a little hard -but what ever!
The clarified butter or desi ghee I creamed and added the powdered sugar. I didn't want to use icing sugar as it contains some cornflour...

Now creamed in...you can see the cardamom flecks and I could smell it...

Now the singhare ka atta in...

Oven preheated to 180C/350F.
Atta kneaded together with a bit of water... I reduced the clarified butter or desi ghee...you can go with a wee bit of ghee more...

Small balls of dough flattened on the cookie sheet.

That's how I made the balls...uneven they were...but whatever... was just dying to bite into the cookies the shape was immaterial!

Mid way though the cookies smelt fine,but didn't look cooked enough. So I flipped them over and baked them for a further 10 minutes...

And Now out of the oven cooling...I had a few cookies while they were still warm and tempting...

And ready for the photo shoot!

Enough to last me the next 4 days???
I'll eat a real cookie after my prayers on Friday...so I think I'll last till then.

Jai mata di!


So what are you baking today???

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Lock Karo,Rock Karo -Product Review...Sunsilk Straight Hair Shampoo And Conditioner

Samples arriving at my doorstep...
The benefit of being an indiblogger...
Goodies...
In the form of Sunsilk Straight Hair shampoo...

I had been planning to go and buy it ...the temptation of the poker straight hair without the straightening iron was just too strong.
And then...
Like a little bit of manna from heaven...
It landed on my doorstep...
Oozing out all the goodness...
Yup, the bottle of shampoo had opened in transit and was a wee bit leaky!
Nonetheless...it smelt great and looked great.
Meet the lady...
Yuko Yamashita...

Who has worked magic and chemistry and made sure that our tresses get locked...in straight position.
Sure!
Well...
Wet hair and all...ready to try it...
Slathered on and washed off after a minute.
And then its buddy, conditioner Sunsilk Co-Creations Perfect Straight Nourishing Conditioner applied to the hair strands...not roots mind you and left it on for 2 minutes...
And then with a lot of hope and with my fingers crossed...
I washed it off.
The only thing different  I did...was that I combed my hair while it was still wet...
And after an hour or two...
My hair was straighter OK...
But not poker straight.
But then I guess,as this was the first time...maybe they will get straighter with regular use.
But with fly away,wavy hair like mine...
Straighter was a big deal.
Happy!
Yes ,I am.
But I would have been happier if the fragrance were not so concentrated...the hair will be straighter by and by.

Shampoo...
The cost for 80 mls Rs 56 only.
Should be good to go for at least 10 washes.
Conditioner...
The cost for 90 mls Rs 56 only...
Totally worth it...

Coming up...
Food!

So what are you baking today???

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I'm the MAN! Soldier for Women-an initiative by BlogAdda

Sleepless...
Clueless...
Ever since BlogAdda started the quest to find the soldier for women...I've been wondering...
I am fortunate enough to not  know anyone who has ever needed to protect women from any kind of violence -domestic or otherwise...or even hear of a situation like so...
But ever since BlogAdda has been calling for entries and the last date for submission rings closer...I find myself unable to sleep-and that is weird-coming from me...
I am a person who will sleep in the middle of a power cut and after the scariest of movies...in short there is not much that will deter my beauty sleep...
So this campaign was an eye opener(pun unintended).
Then I began thinking...and realised that I knew no one -no man or woman-who had ever risked his life and limb to save the honour of a woman...
Because my life has been privileged and protected...and that this situation has touched me not yet-touch wood!
Fortunately for me!
Then I realised...
ME!

I am me!
A strong ,opinionated,compassionate,dedicated,focused, honest individual with courage of conviction!
I will not be unjust or stand for any injustice...
And I have courage and integrity ...
And I am glad I was moulded this way!
I was born to a man who never let me or my sister -or for that matter -his wife-feel weak or helpless in any way.
We were instilled with confidence in ourselves from the beginning.
We were told that there was no job we could not do because we were girls.
We were taught to ride a bicycle by him.
He taught us how to drive a scooter.
He also taught us how to drive his car,never complaining if we were reckless and scratched his pride and joy.
He let us drive with josh and ensured that the Delhi Drivers never ,ever made us feel any less-because we are  women drivers.
He taught us  well...we don't have to stand at a bank counter and look helplessly at a form we can not comprehend...
We can meet up with any official and ensure that the work we need to be done,will be done.
We have never needed to act as damsels in distress...he taught us how to change a flat tyre too and a fused bulb and  a plug...that is a different story that we have never needed to...men always fall at our feet ...for being allowed to change a punctured tyre.
We know that we don't ever have to follow-we have the ability to lead.
The parents ensured that they brought us up with a lot of love...never ever regretting that they did not have precious boys...
Because they know that their daughters are stronger and will never be cowed down.
Men like him are true soldiers...
Men like him ensure that their daughters never feel any less privileged to be their children than if they were boys...
Men like him ensure that their daughters know that every problem can be surpassed...
Men like him ensure that their daughters will be strong enough to withstand all pressures in life...
Men like him ensure that their daughters will not need soldiers to protect them...
Men like him ensure that their daughters  will be the soldiers to protect all humanity...
Men like him need to be saluted...
For they have ensured that their daughters are better than the sons of many others!
Thank you papa...
For giving us the best gift you could have given us...Love and confidence!
We love you!

"Fathers teach their best lessons to their children, by the way they handle life when confronted with adversities."

Linda Lovejoy

This post is a part of #Soldierforwomen in association with BlogAdda.com

So what are you baking today???

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A contest WIN -the first prize -for a change!

A win!
A win!
A win!
And the first prize to boot!

And the dish that won the first prize...
A special meal with the parents...
Schezuan Stir Fried Chicken and Veggie Noodles.

 Schezuan Stir Fried Chicken and Veggie Noodles ...
A special meal with the parents ...
The meal is now special...
Even more ...now that the meal is the winner of the Fortune rice Bran Oil..

Thank you ,thank you...
Thank you blogadda.com for wonderful opportunities and Fortune!
Yay!!!!!
I am taking a bow!
And those of you who havent ...
Try the recipe and try Fortune rice Bran Oil!!!!!
In the mean while...I'm going to let the feeling sink in...
And make Schezuan Stir Fried chicken and Veggie Noodles Again...

So what are you baking today???

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Afghani Gravy Paneer- Paneer or Indian Cottage Cheese in White Gravy

Cottage Cheese or Paneer...
And  a dreamy ,silky sauce...
Or should it be called a gravy...
On maybe a curry...
Whatever.After all a rose will always be a rose.

This is one of my absolute vegetarian favourite curries...

As smooth as silk...

With a slight tang of yogurt...

And a wee bite of the chillies...

And the after taste of fenugreek leaves...

Mild enough that a chili virgin can enjoy it without getting the mandatory tears in their eyes...

Yes...

I have been subject to that...

Chili Virgins!

Two Grown Men...

After a dinner of the super fiery Rajasthani Lal Maans(Mutton cooked with red chillies-that colour the gravy red),the two men had watery eyes...

The tears were assuaged with bowls full of yogurt raita and my astonished apologies...

Lessons learnt...

Whenever you invite people ...keep the spice factor low!

The one lesson I follow to date...

And with the leftovers...

A tadka-or a tempering of red hot chillies to up the ante!

With or without a tadka...

Try the Afghani Paneer...

Mild-I use a similar gravy for the Cream Chicken.Just replacing the chicken with the paneer -or Tofu for that matter.

Let's start...

PS why Afghani...Inspired by the afghani gravy dishes that are available in restaurants-no chillies and high in nut based creamy gravy-mine-totally low in calories and HEALTHY!

Afghani Gravy Paneer- Paneer or Indian Cottage Cheese in White Gravy...

you need

500 gms paneer or Indian Cottage Cheese

1 kg/1000ml slightly tangy yogurt(Regular-not Greek yogurt)

1 tsp refined vegetable oil/olive oil

1 tsp shahi zeera/black cumin

1 tsp garlic paste

4 tbsp onion paste/grated onion

salt,red chili flakes to taste

1/2 cup cashew nuts soaked in warm water for half an hour

1 tbsp kasuri methi/fenugreek leaves

1 tsp cornflour

1-2 dried red chillies-optional

Start with the cashew nuts and the Kasuri methi/dried fenugreek leaves to make the creamy nut paste.

In the wet grinder jar of your mixer, place the soaked nuts and the kasuri methi/fenugreek leaves with a little warm water and buzz till you get a fine fine paste.

It will stick to the blades and refuse to let go of the security of the jar...ease it gently off with warm water...gently...ever so gently!

Now the yogurt ...

Whisk it well...there should be no...no lump.Dissolve the cornflour into it and set it aside.

Heat the oil in the pan and add the shahi zeera/black cumin and red chillies -if you are using them-and allow them to pop and sizzle.

Now add the onion mix to the pan and the garlic paste and the salt...

And keep stirring ..you just want the raw smell to go ,not to colour/caramelise the onions...add in the red chilli flakes...

Now add in the cashew paste that you have liquefied with water...

And cook stirring, you'll know its done when the paste thickens to a puree like consistency...the greenish he is thanks to the fenugreek leaves...not some alien blood...

Stir the yogurt well...

Now add the yogurt mix to the cooked paste and stir...

You'll need to stir gently till the yogurt mix comes to a boil.The cornflour was added only to help the yogurt stay together...

The yogurt will not split...

Now check the seasoning.

Cube the paneer into one inch pieces and

Add them to the gravy.

Allow this gravy to simmer for about 15 minutes...

This tastes best when allowed to stand a while...

So for a dinner ,make this in the morning.

Best served with Naan Bread or Tandoori roti or normal roti...Or even hot buttered Toast...

Garnish with coriander or tempered red chillies...

And enjoy!

So what are you baking today???

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Whole Wheat Bee Hive Bread and going Back To School

Bee Hive Bread ...

Back to School...
So where is the connection???
There is something that is called a profession and then there is a passion...I'd call it my calling.
School has always been fascinating for me...only after I graduated from there, mind you...
The best part of school...children!
And the cacophony and the laughter and the arguments and the pressure an d the stress ...
I only realised how much I missed it all when I went back to school after 4 years and a day.
So I am back teaching...maths...to high school children...
What warmed my heart so much were the concerns of the people who follow my blog...

The blog stays...
I just have something more to do...
Like this whole wheat  and milk bee hive bread.
It looks so pretty...a total attention grabber!
It will do so well on a dinner table, with various kinds of breads and rolls in its belly...so  even if you run out of rolls..you can eat the container that contains the rolls!
And the Nigella seeds and Poppy seeds look really pretty!
The bread was soft and yummy and almost too pretty to eat...
This was for breakfast with mum and dad...we added salami and tomatoes and with this for good measure...
It was so easy to make...despite looking totally complicated,you'll never know until you try...
Like with everything else in life!

for the

Whole Wheat Bee Hive Bread and going Back To School...

you need

2 tsp dried yeast
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp soft butter
1/2-1 cup tepid to warm milk-save a little to brush the bread with before baking
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups plain flour/maida
1 tsp nigella seeds/kalonji
1 tsp poppy seeds/khus
A 1 1/2 l dome shaped bowl
butter/oil to grease the bowl

Start with the yeast. Blend half the sugar with a few tablespoons of warm milk in a small bowl and add the yeast. Gently mix together and set aside to froth.
In the mean while place the salt and flours and the remaining sugar in a large bowl...

The yeast is all nice and frothy by now...
All you knead to do is knead the dough with the frothy yeast and warm milk.

Once the dough is done...knead in the half the soft butter into the dough...

After the butter is incorporated...just turn out the dough onto your worktop and knead till the dough is smooth and elastic...it took a vigorous 10 minutes...and mum was sympathetically telling me to not make the effort..mums...they want everything to just fall into your lap...
Bless them!

Set aside for 15 minutes while you set up all else...
The bowl, overturned on the baking tray and greased with olive oil...

The dough out on the work top again....cut into 16 pieces...why 16??easier to handle ...

And taking 2 pieces...roll them into a small rope...

And twist them to form a small rope...like so...

Place this to surround the bowl and wrap...make thin rolls of each piece and continue the rope...

Make more rope and roll around...till you reach the top!

Now cover the bee hive with cling film and let it prove...
After about 20 minutes turn the oven on to 230C/450F and let it heat...
In about 10 minutes, brush the bee hive with some milk and sprinkle the seeds in whichever order...
Pop it into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes...I knocked on the hive with a spatula and heard a hollow knock...we knew the bread was ready to come out of the oven...

Brush the hot bread with the remaining butter to polish it...My brush was in my pantry...so we let the butter slip and slide in and on the bee hive...the warm yeasty bread aroma with butter melting...what could be a better breakfast???

That's the view from the bottom...we had to owl.wait about 10 minutes before we could peel the bee hive off the bowl with out breaking the bread of mum's bowl...sweet child came and went at least 10 times...
Patience is not a virtue!

All in all,totally worth the effort...all the extra handling made the bread soft and crusty...
really good to mop up the juices off the plate...

The crevices held the perfectly roasted seeds and melted butter...and warmth to surround your soul...
Try something fancy...
Like the L'oreal Blurb...
You're worth it!

So what are you baking today???

Coming up...the best ever Sunday lunch Mutton Biryani...

Time spent the parents always makes food taste better!
Cheers!

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