Laughter and Light-WOW for blogadda again

Judged a WOW post...

The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed.

Nicholas do Chamfort

Its back again...

And I missed the first one!

So ,as I aim to please ...myself...

I'm back again!

If you could have one day repeat over and over again for the rest of your life, which day would it be? Why?

Attentiveness!

Assiduity!

Grandeur!

Prepping sweet child for a spellathon!

And wondering about what to cook for dinner...

Ever wonder that the most difficult job on the surface of this earth is that of a woman?

You are called a home maker work like unpaid bonded labour...only to be repaid with abundant love...as if that ever filled some body's tummy!

So one tends to wonder...

About the delightful days of youth...not that I will ever grow old!

No sir, I do not believe in aging...

I will be 23 till I turn 50!

The delightful days of youth ,spent under the aegis of the of the PARENTS,Inc.

And a fellow linguist...sweet sister Jiya!

One evening that I could have repeat over and over,I'm sure that my partner in crime(actually,I took real advantage of the fact that I was elder ...)will agree...

Daddy dear is sometimes short tempered...

I'm sure many have faced the same situation in their respective woefully short childhoods...

Our daddy dear is certainly one with a short fuse!

At least he was once upon a time,when all men are apt to be angry young men!
As days go...that day was fairly uneventful...
Boring even...
General verbal sparring like two cats ...
Totally normal for us two kittens...
Only apparently daddy dear was simmering...
And then the giggles started...generally post midnight...
With racy novels and comics to keep us company...
One giggle and then the laughter exploded...
Sweet mom slept on,with nary a care...
But as the guffaws grew more hysterical and feet began thumping on the ground...with tears and tummy aches and stitches in our sides to keep the footwork company...
When one of us started banging on the wall while laughing...I don't remember..
Suddenly ...
Daddy dear peers from a crack in the doorway...
With his trade mark "dirty look"...
And then there was darkness...
With a threat!
"You girls don't deserve any light!"
The connection to the room had been severed...
And we still laughed...
And we laugh about it regularly...
With veiled innuendos...
That was the one day I wish remains unending...
The laughter that keeps us going...
And the memories of being carefree and happy and gay!

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda

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Of WaterMelon Margaritas and the trails of the Balls

Summer is here and how...

I am beginning to realise the gravity of my actions...
Gravity...
That makes your morale sag right down to your ankles at the end of the day...
School...
It should read ,School??
Why?
Because...at the end of the day,I realise that its not so easy anymore.
I went back to school because I missed the energy...
Never realised that it will take so much more to keep up..
But my favourite word now is Whatever!
And those who have had the pleasure of being part of my math classes know...how much fun they are...
Some one's got to say it!
So, at the end of the day...gravity or no...my morale is flying high!
Thanks to the ubiquitous watermelons...

But do we eat them??
No ...
We drink them...
Ball them first ...Some has to have the balls to do it??
Make the margarita...
That is!

Watermelon tastes best with another of my favourites...
Green Apple Triple Distilled from Smirnoff!
Dunked and drenched!

Without further ado...welcoming the summer and the sun kissed fruit!

Of Watermelon Margaritas and the trails of the Balls

you need (to serve 2)

500 mils fresh watermelon juice-strained
2 tsp honey
juice of 3 lemons
45 mils Green Apple Triple Distilled from Smirnoff
balls made with the melon baller
wedges of lemons
fresh mint leaves
Crushed ice
a dash of Tabasco

Ball the melon...

The rest..use!
If you are making the juice yourself,just dump roughly chopped watermelon ,seeds and all, with the mint leaves and honey into the blender jar.

Whiz,till the fruit is totally juiced.
Strain out into a cold bowl, remove the seed residue...If you get the white bits of the seeds...no worries you are only  increasing the health quotient of your drink!
Yes ,healthy seeds!

Now, add some ice, and the lemon juice to the bottom of the glass...
Pour over the watermelon juice...
Now half the vodka...
And the dash of Tabasco...
Voila..
Ready to kiss summer hello...
The remaining balls I added to the Green Apple Triple Distilled from Smirnoff in a shot glass...

And the shot!

Instant chills...
I don't like to dilute my drink...
So I don't add the ice...

Cheers!

And, this was to keep the heat at bay while I baked this fudge laden decadent,egg free low cal super soft cake for my colleagues in school!!!!!

So what are you baking today???

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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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