Sunday, December 18, 2011

Recipe of the month - Vada Sambar


Vada also known as wada, vade or vadai is a very popular savoury doughnut-like snack from South India. It can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just as an evening snack along with a steaming cup of coffee. Medu vadas (in pic above) are extremely versatile in that they can be eaten just like that or with a variety of accompaniments. They can also be transformed into the equally popular rasam vada or dahi vada. 

This was one of my first few attempts at making Medu Vada. The shape and contour is not as perfect as I would like it to be but since these bite-sized snacks are so yummy, I have plenty of opportunities to get more practice. The strange thing is that I hadn't bothered trying to make vadas for several years because I was plagued by the notion that it was a very cumbersome affair and required overnight fermentation of the batter and all that. How wrong I was! A chance conversation with my mum on the subject erased my misconception. The urad dal used to make the vada just needs some soaking (ideally 3-4 hours) and after that, you can start to prepare them immediately. Usually, I soak the dal the previous night and then make the vadas the next morning but if I wake up and suddenly decide on impulse to make them for breakfast, I soak the dal for 2 hours in warm water. By the time I finish making the sambar and chutney (while the dal is soaking), the vada preparation can be started. So you see, it isn't really elaborate. 

All those wasted years.....sigh!

One more detail - I used to grind the urad dal for the vada in the mixie but I had to do it in 2-3 installments because my mixie jar is pretty small. It used to take too long so I started using my wet stone grinder for the same purpose - so much easier and you don't have to add much water either. I agree it is a pain to wash but it gets the job done much quicker and with far better results. 

Without further ado....here is the recipe. Hope you like it.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

On my reading shelf: The Hobbit

 
The Hobbit is a fantasy novel written by J.R.R Tolkien, a prelude to the hugely successful Lord of the Rings. The Hobbit happens to be one of the best-selling books of all time with 100 million copies sold worldwide (something I discovered only as I was writing this review). It proudly sits at the fourth spot on the all time bestseller list, just one spot lower than it's famous successor. 

I have been wanting to read The Lord of the Rings for over a decade now. I even stopped myself from watching the movies on account of not having read the books. An unexpected trip to Kinokuniya, a popular bookstore in Singapore last weekend finally brought an end to this long drawn wait. There I was, pleased as punch to walk out with the entire series tucked firmly under my arm. I must admit that I was surprised to see a fourth book in my prized collection. One that had no mention of 'Lord' or 'ring' in its title. A quick background check on the Hobbit, made me realize that this book was not something to be missed and it would provide a good insight into what I could expect from the Lord of the Rings.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Invigorating Indonesia

Image source: www.wikipedia.org

Indonesia is the sleeping giant of Southeast Asia. With 18,110 islands (6,000 uninhabited), it is the largest archipelago in the world. Most of what I had read or heard about Indonesia before setting foot in the country largely had to do with the Komodo dragons, tropical forests, numerous islands, frequent volcanic eruptions and other natural disasters. I was very keen on visiting Indonesia as I knew it would appeal to the nature lover in me. This is one country richly endowed with natural resources and this desirable feature coupled with the ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversity within the country probably makes it an interesting destination from a tourist point of view.

So, in this post, I'm going to share with you my travel experiences in Bintan and Bali, two beautiful islands in Indonesia.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Movie Review: Rockstar (Hindi)

Image source: www.bollyspice.com

Rockstar, directed by Imtiaz Ali is a movie I have been waiting to watch ever since I heard it was being made. 

I see a lot of promise in Imtiaz Ali. He belongs to the younger generation of intelligent and talented directors who are steering Hindi cinema in a new direction. I have loved his previous movies especially Jab We Met. Even though he is known for his 'old-wine-in-new-bottle' brand of cinema, he has the uncanny knack of giving a refreshing twist to any love story. Love stories are his forte and even with a movie titled 'Rockstar' it is evident that he can't stay away from the subject. From the title you might think its a movie is about the rise of an underdog to become a rockstar, but basically, it is a love story with a few rockstar elements thrown in for good measure.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Recipe of the month: Palak Poori and Dum Aloo


A few days before Deepavali, I was sitting down pondering my impending festive menu. I like planning things well in advance so I can do the required prep and be on top of things when the time comes. Leaving things to last minute and scrambling around like a headless chicken makes me anxious so I generally avoid getting into such situations. Anyway, I didn’t feel like going the usual roti, paratha, subzi, pulao/biryani route so after some deliberation, I settled on poori. 

For the uninitiated, poori is a type of deep-fried Indian bread that pairs well with almost any kind of dal, subzi or curry. There are many different variations of making poori (bhatura, luchi, palak poori, bedmi poori, tomato poori, stuffed poori, beetroot poori, ragi poori etc). They are even served with certain traditional Indian sweets such as aamras or halwa as a side dish. 

Poori is one of those dishes that you simply cannot dislike. If you do, then there could be something fundamentally wrong with you πŸ˜† My husband's and my love for poori knows no bounds. Although I generally limit myself to making pooris to once or max, twice a month (to keep the expanding waistline in check), I do make exceptions on festivals and celebratory occasions. My initial attempts at making pooris almost always used to end in disaster followed by frantic calls home but after a few sessions of consultations with my mum and MIL and several trials, I managed to gain the much-needed know-how (touchwood!).

I decided to make my second most favourite accompaniment for poori (the first is chole, obviously) which is dum aloo. It brings back a lot of fond memories because my mum used to make palak poori and dum aloo on special occasions and the aroma that came wafting out of the kitchen was enough to get me and my siblings bolting downstairs for dinner. Although I have tried my mum’s recipe in the past, I was not satisfied with the results because it didn’t quite taste like the one she used to make. I always felt something was missing. After that, each time, I would experiment with a different recipe with varying degrees of success.

The recipe I’m sharing with you today has been adapted from Tarla Dalal. I tried it out after incorporating some minor changes of my own and the result was finger licking good. It had a deep orange hue, great aroma and a perfect balance of tanginess, sweetness and spice. The recipe is pretty simple and straightforward. It doesn't call for onions so you can save some of those precious tears πŸ˜› You can even skip the garlic but I simply cannot do without garlic and hence, I have incorporated it. The best part about this recipe however is deep-frying the baby potatoes with the skin left on. In the past, all the recipes I had referred to gave instructions to peel the potatoes which can be really cumbersome especially with teeny-tiny potatoes. It never occurred to me to leave the skins on (duh!). It would be best if you could get the thin skinned variety but it isn't really a deal breaker. Retaining the skins reduces the preparation time by at least 15 mins and the end result is still pretty good. If anyone in your household kicks up a fuss about the skins, just make them peel all those potatoes for you 😜


I make this dum aloo with different kinds of pooris - palak poori, beetroot poori, bhatura and most often than not, plain pooris. These two dishes are a bit hit in my household. 


I hope you try this combination and enjoy it as much as I enjoy making and eating it πŸ˜‹

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Golden years revisited: My Favourite Childhood Books

Image Source: iStockphoto.com

As I sit down to write, I often find myself victim of the 'Blank Screen Syndrome' which I'm assuming to be a common affliction that bloggers/writers suffer from. I often have to rack my brains to come up with an interesting blog topic to write about.

For me it isn't writing just for the sake of writing with the intention to just churn out content. I prefer to write about my personal experiences or about the things that have influenced/educated/entertained me. But today I decided to go a bit impromptu. Even now, as I'm typing, I swear I have no idea where this post is heading. But you know what? That is the best thing about writing. The words automatically appear on screen as your thoughts begin to unfold.

I'm actually glad that I sat down to write because a ghost of an idea just started taking shape in my mind. Yeah, you know what? The more I think about it, the more I want to write about it. Alright, so here goes - this blog post will be dedicated to all those books that made reading enjoyable during my childhood years.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Restaurant review: MarchΓ©, Singapore

Image Source: Marche Movenpick

Whenever I'm in the mood for some great tasting European cuisine, there is only one place that comes to my mind. MarchΓ© is one of my favourite restaurants in Singapore. The reason I like it is because everything about is so refreshingly different from the usual dining experience. This is a Swiss market restaurant with the concept of on-the-spot cooking using seasonal and fresh produce (the USP of this restaurant). 

I love the concept of customizing my food. Being able to choose from the colorful array of vibrant seasonal ingredients that go into my food, telling the chefs exactly how I like the dish cooked and picking out the interesting garnishes and condiments very much appeals to my culinary sensibilities. 

There are two MarchΓ© outlets, one in Vivocity and the other at 313@somerset. The VivoCity outlet feels larger, is definitely brighter and my preferred of the two. The one at 313@somerset has a more nighttime vibe. 

Outside the restaurant you see the MarchΓ© mascot, the statue of a cow which looks like it may have descended from Mars (that is because it is a very bright shade of green/red)                                                                                      
See what I mean?
                                                          
                         
The first thing that strikes you as soon as you enter is the ambiance. The interior has groups of market-style stations that display a range of vibrant and fresh ingredients and the seating area has been cleverly designed to mimic the Swiss-chalet style of architecture giving it a warm and cosy appearance. The exposed construction beams, decorative carving and moldings, large windows and cottage style furniture add to the charming appeal of the restaurant. 

On arrival, you are given a MarchΓ© card by the hostess which serves as a sort of food credit card. This is in keeping with the "cashless" system that the restaurant observes. I love that there is no concept of a fixed "menu" here. You have to go to individual food stations that specialize in a particular food type, hand over the card and tell the chef what you would like to have and how you want it prepared. The chefs then swipe the card to register what you have ordered and you have pay at the end of your meal as you leave the restaurant. Sometimes the food is ready and waiting, other times, you will be handed a buzzer that signals when your food is ready. When you are waiting, you go and get your own cutlery and tissues. The concept of self-service means that there are no waitresses scurrying about taking orders and you can enjoy your meal at you own pace. 

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Simple tips to a healthier you!

Source: SafeHealthyEating.com

How many times have your eyes wandered to articles in the media listing out the benefits of keeping your weight in check? And how many times have you actually followed any of the advice? 

I don't know about you, but whenever I read articles which suggest that I count calories, keep a food journal, eat 5-6 small meals a day or completely eliminate refined sugar and fried food from my diet, I just roll my eyes and think "yeah right....like that's going to happen!". It just seems so impractical to me. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, managing to eat at least one healthy meal a day seems like cause for celebration (one without cake that is). 

In theory, everybody knows that a balanced diet and regular physical activity are the building blocks of good health. But in the context of real life and its unceasing demands, it can be a challenge to implement. It is all too easy to fall prey to unhealthy habits, such as leading a sedentary lifestyle, having infrequent meals and eating highly processed food. These habits, when consistently reinforced, can become hard to break free. Diet and physical exercise go hand in hand and are like the two oars of a boat. You ignore either one of them and reaching your destination takes much longer. Sometimes, making healthy food choices may seems less intimidating than exercise but without the exercise, weight loss results are largely underwhelming. Even though the couch does seem the most comfortable place on earth, it is important to get off it once in a while and get the heart pumping and those muscles working. 

A lot of people do not like working out in the gym (me included). The idea of putting your body through a series of repetitions on a limited range of gym equipment in a claustrophobic environment may be unappealing. I really envy those people who actually look forward to going to the gym. But there are a lot of activities that you can do without having to hit the gym. Running, jogging, swimming, cycling, dancing, pilates, yoga and trekking are great ways to get exercise and can be fun too. It is how you manage to squeeze these activities into your schedule and the consistency with which you practice it is what is important.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Recipe of the month: Vegetable Cutlets


You know how there are particular favourite foods that your mother made that you grew up eating? The kinds that you crave for when you have moved away from home and the ones you look forward to eating as soon as you arrive on your doorstep? I have several of those such as akki rotti, ragi rotti, avarekayi usli, patrode, vangi bhath, pongal, masala vada, masala tea, kaju masala and the list goes on.

This recipe post is for a snack/appetizer that traces its origins way back to my husband's childhood and is one of those foods that evokes nostalgia for him. This recipe is one I have borrowed from my atthe (MIL) and has become our go-to recipe whenever we are in the mood for a spicy Indian snack (which is quite frequently!). 

Vegetable cutlets are usually a staple on any kind of party/get-together menu in my family. They are very versatile in that they can be made in many different ways using a wide array of ingredients. 

This particular recipe uses beetroot along with potatoes and carrots which gives the cutlets a beautiful blushing pink color. You could use sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes or even a combination if you want to amp up the nutrition. If you don't care for beetroots, you can always substitute it with more potatoes or carrots. These cutlets are subtly spiced, coated in a mixture of beaten eggs (you can substitute with a slurry of plain flour and water), breaded with breadcrumbs or panko and shallow-fried until golden and crispy. You can play around with different vegetables and spices and tweak the recipe based on your preferences. These cutlets can be served with coconut chutney, a yoghurt-based mint chutney, date-tamarind chutney, tomato sauce or any other homemade or bottled sauce of your choice. 

Here is the recipe. I hope you like this version.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Is Fair the Only Kind of Lovely?

"I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character".
 
                                                Martin Luther King, Jr.

Fair and lovely? Really?

Let me take you on a trip down memory lane to a time when I was still a teenager. 

It is a day like any other in a small city in India. I sit down to watch some television. I think of watching a Hindi movie or some peppy music videos for some entertainment. After a while I realize the only thing I have been able to catch on the multitude of channels are a string of daft advertisements. I get mildly annoyed but carry on channel surfing as always. Then I see it - the advertisement for a 'Fair and Lovely' fairness cream. A dusky, forlorn young girl appears on screen. There is an air of melancholy about her (am I imagining it or are there subtle tints of sepia adding to the dullness?). We see her hopes of procuring her dream job go down the drain when her application to a prestigious flight attendant training institute is curtly rejected. It seems as if she has nothing going for her. Her parents watch over her anxiously, their faces etched with worry. It is quite obvious that their thoughts can be articulated thus -  "Alas! What is to become of our dark (and therefore ugly) daughter?". And then, out of the shadows emerges a friend (the incarnation of an angel, minus the halo) and passes her a tube of fairness cream. The dusky girl looks unsure at first but then her expression changes as she is struck with the realization that her destiny is tied to this small tube of white goop. So she religiously applies it everyday....morning, noon and night. The viewers are helpfully shown a color transformation chart with a skin tone shade guide as a reference. And then, lo and behold!, in a period of few weeks, the ugly duckling has transformed into a beautiful swan (by the way, at this stage, the sepia tints have been replaced by a glowing luminescence). Her skin is ghostly white and we see a obvious (albeit unnatural) radiance emanating from her. No prizes for guessing that she also nails the interview to become a flight attendant. The interviewer looks like he has been struck by the "thunder bolt" (I'm quoting The Godfather here), so mesmerized by her "loveliness" that it seems that all she has to do is sit in front of him and flash her pearly whites (which by the way almost matches her skin tone) to qualify for the job. Her parents are predictably elated and shed copious tears of of joy. Although, the advertisement ends on a joyous note, I feel anything but that. On the contrary, I realize that I am incensed. Coming back to the present, I am pretty sure such ads are still being telecast, and it is high time we have a powerful national movement against colorism. 

In a perfect world, the color of a person's skin should be inconsequential but of course that isn't true and I find it hard to understand why it matters so much to so many people. It is the prejudice towards dark skinned individuals that gets under my skin more than anything. In a society like ours, which is obsessed by pale skin thanks to the dogged impact of the long gone British colonial era along with association of fair skin with higher caste (~class), such advertisements only reinforces superficiality. Ironically enough, our culture teaches us to be anything but superficial. The British left long ago and the significance of the caste system has diminished over time but unfortunately the color fixation still persists.

It is sad that you have celebrities irresponsibly endorsing skin whitening products. Most of these so-called icons or role models (no matter how educated they are) can easily chuck away any moral/ethical responsibility to make a quick buck. It's not as if they would ever use such misleading products themselves. Furthermore, this frivolity is not just restricted to television - there are subtle hints of it everywhere you look. The toxic fascination with fairness isn't just restricted to women by the way. There are fairness creams available in the market for men as well (case in point: Fair and Handsome fairness cream for men!). Now, that according to me is even more bizarre. Whatever happened to tall, dark and handsome?

You open the matrimonial section of any newspaper and you will see advertisements from families seeking a suitable alliance for their son. Such advertisements usually start off with 'girl should be fair, tall, good-looking and drivel like that. You drive along any major highway and you can see billboards of models with ivory hued complexions endorsing products from jewellery to cars to insurance policies. It begs the question, 'what is wrong our natural coloring?' Caramel doesn't just look good as a dessert topping. It looks pretty freaking good as a skin tone too. Isn't that something people from the Indian sub-continent are admired for in the Western world? Isn't that why white-skinned people lie roasting in the sun for hours or flock to tanning booths? I guess it all boils down to human psychology. We always go after what we don't have. 

Although it would be wrong to generalize, in my opinion, a lot of people in India (particularly the older generation) consider a fair skinned person physically attractive regardless of whether that person has a symmetrical face, good features, an attractive smile or other desirable attributes. 

Growing up, I have admittedly benefited from having a (relatively) lighter skin tone and this is something I have felt guilty about. Throughout school, pre-university and even professional college, I noted the benefits of my "fair privilege" that reflected in the way I was treated in general, chosen to participate in events and even awarded marks in exams! On more than one occasion, I have had classmates tell me this to my face which made it a bitter pill to swallow. It seems ludicrous for an individual's intelligence, abilities, talents, beauty or strength of character to be judged on the basis of lightness of skin color. It is undeniable that in our society, fair complexioned people can get away with things their darker peers cannot which paradoxically gives them an un"fair" advantage. 

On the upside, the younger generation is trying hard to curb this stereotype. Today's India is a rising economic powerhouse with an ever-growing middle class who (I hope) are proud of their Indian identity. There is a widespread feeling of a change in attitude towards accepting our "true colors". The notion of fairness being more desirable that has been embedded deep within the Indian psyche is slowly beginning to fizzle out. Nowadays more and more young people seek out their own partners and presumably color compatibility would be one of the last things on their minds. Life is too complicated to dwell on petty issues like that right? You see bold attempts at tackling this subject on social message boards, magazines, newspapers and daily soaps telecast on Indian television. Self-esteem is becoming the new mantra of the present generation. More and more dusky models and celebrities are grabbing headlines for being appreciated for their complexion. It also helps that off late the global fashion industry is embracing south Asia's darker-skinned models. You now get to see a more accurate representation of the real "Indian" woman in the national and international media. It is a growing opinion that the dusky skin tone in fact makes a woman look more natural, sensuous and has the unique ability to give a face a certain depth of character. We are accepting and even embracing our looks which is a huge step in the right direction. With education comes a better understanding of how intelligence, integrity and good character are in no way related to how a person appears on the surface.


Here's to learning to love the skin we are in.


Cheers,
Megha


Sunday, September 11, 2011

My top 100 movies of all time

A film is - or should be - more like music than like fiction. It should be a progression of moods and feelings. The theme, what's behind the emotion, the meaning, all that comes later.”

                                            
                                              ~ Stanley Kubrick

The all-time classics

I am the quintessential movie buff. I can watch movies in any language provided they have a good story line (along with sub-titles of course) I have a tendency to write movie reviews on the movies that leave an impact on me. Off late, I have been trying to expand my movie repertoire by watching movies of different genres inspired from the IMDb top 250 list (http://www.imdb.com/chart/top). 

Although I enjoyed most of the movies, there were a few that surprised me for making it to the top 250 list (at the time of writing this post). Case in point: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Sin City, The Big Lebowski and Pan's Labyrinth. I just didn't 'get' these movies so it is probably just me. Also, there are quite a few movies that in my opinion are fabulous but failed to make the cut. So, I decided to make my own list. I must admit that I haven't watched all the movies on the top 250 list and since it keeps changing, it is a little hard to keep track of. 

I have compiled my list with the movies from the list I've seen till now, the ones I think deserve to be on it and the ones I just simply like (for no particular reason). Note that this post was last updated in Dec 2020. 

Let me know what you think of my picks...

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Recipe of the month - Assorted Doughnuts


I have been obsessed with doughnuts/donuts for as long as I can remember. I can shun ice-cream, cakes, pastries and even cookies without a second thought but when it comes to doughnuts, my brain prevents me from stopping at one.

I think it has to do with a variety of reasons: 1. Being a coffee addict, I have a natural affinity for doughnuts 2. I can indulge my sweet tooth without the feeling of uncomfortable heaviness that comes with cream and 3. I get to choose from a variety of decadent toppings which appeals to my greedy side.

Last weekend, I embarked on the search for a simple and infallible doughnut recipe. I got this recipe from Swapna's Cuisine. For a first attempt, I must say, they turned out pretty darn good. I didn't have a doughnut cutter so I just used two shark rimmed metal bowls of appropriate sizes. I even made the doughnut holes because I didn't want anything to go to waste. I used a medley of some of my favorite doughnut toppings which include cinnamon, chocolate, sprinkles, vanilla and nuts. 

Since I'm pretty sure I'll be making these again (and again!), I thought I'd share the recipe with you. 

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Movie Review: The King's Speech


Yes yes I know....this British historical drama film came out months ago and here I am coming out with the review only now. I have the lamest excuse in the world for taking my own sweet time and that is that I was busy on the workfront πŸ˜›

Honestly, I have been wanting to watch this movie ever since I first heard about it. The Oscar buzz made me all the more inquisitive. This weekend I thought I should not put it off any longer. Armed with a bag each of Garett CheeseCorn and CaramelCrisp popcorn, I sat down to watch The King's Speech with my hubby.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Something about Singapore…


"Oh! How lovely!"

These were my first thoughts as I gazed up at the delightful pink bougainvillea that adorned the numerous overpasses as I rode in a shiny blue cab on the way to my hotel from Changi airport. The year was 2000 and the destination was Singapore. The occasion - a family holiday to three Asian tourist hotspots - Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore. I recall that Singapore in particular had given me a lot of warm memories (no pun intended). Little did I know back then that I would call Singapore home for a good number of years. 

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Book Review: The Inheritance of Loss


"Could fulfillment ever be felt as deeply as loss? Romantically she decided that love must surely reside in the gap between desire and fulfillment, in the lack, not the contentment. Love was the ache, the anticipation, the retreat, everything around it but the emotion itself." 

                                   Kiran Desai, The Inheritance of Loss

The Inheritance of Loss is a novel written by Kiran Desai, an Indian author living in the United States. The novel won her the 2006 Man Booker Prize. 

This book has been sitting on my bookshelf since the past 3 years but somehow until now, I never got around to reading it. This weekend I made up my mind that I would catch up on my reading. There is nothing that feeds my soul more that a good book.

So here are some of my thoughts on the book.

***Plot***
The story is set in the post-colonial period in the hill station of Kalimpong in Darjeeling and revolves around five main characters. 

There is the sullen and resentful old judge who shares the only loving relationship his life has seen with his dog Mutt. There is his cook, a pitiful old man whose only reason for living is his son Biju. There is Biju, a confused immigrant torn between two worlds. There is Sai, the judge's feisty teenage granddaughter and finally the object of Sai's affection, the capricious young tutor Gyan. 

The story offers an insight into the impact of western colonialism on the lives of ordinary Indians. It also tackles the communal mayhem that arose from the inception of the proposed state known as Gorkhaland demanded by the Nepali speaking Gorkha ethnic group in Darjeeling. 

My thoughts...
Caught in a web of post-colonial anarchy and the violence of the separatist movement, Inheritance of Loss features characters that struggle with loss of identity and this internal conflict leads them to be confused, easily influenced and often humiliated and frustrated. The reader is able to appreciate the desire of the characters to infuse a fruitless life with some meaning and improve the situation they are in but yet fearful of doing so owing to self-doubt, prejudice, intimidation or helplessness. 

Resting at the foot of the Himalayas, Kalimpong comes to life with the vivid description of the Teesta river, Mount Kanchenjunga, the villages and monsoons. A picture begins to form in your mind as you are reading which is testament to the author's imagination. However, I did feel the excessive use of physical description in several places was unnecessary and that only detracted from the main plot. Let me give you an example with a sentence that the author uses to describe the affluence of a family of one of the characters: "Bomanbhai’s wife’s earlobes lengthened with the weight of South African diamonds, so great, so heavy, that one day, from one ear, an earring ripped through a meteor disappearing with a bloody clunk into her bowl of srikhand". In my opinion this description only brings a sense of revulsion to the reader and little else. Also,the book sees several characters coming in and out in no particular order as you flip the pages and it does feel that some of them are unnecessary. The undue importance given to the expendable characters is just distracting to the reader. 

The book is not what I would call engrossing but it is intelligent, insightful and a lot of the author's perspective rings true (especially if you are an Indian). It might seem bitter and stinging at times but we must admit that reality often dons the garb of unpleasantness. There are books that tell you stories and then there are books that make you rethink what you thought you already knew. This book belongs to the latter category. 

The character I found most intriguing was in fact that of the judge. In spite of being obnoxious, the manner this complex character has been defined is remarkable. His experiences in Cambridge and the kind of relationship he has with his wife Nimmi is riveting. I was left yearning for more on his relationship with his daughter and granddaughter Sai. I would have liked that aspect of the book to have been highlighted a bit more. 

In conclusion, even though on the whole, I did think the book was a tad underwhelming, the writing is undeniably good and thought-provoking. 


My rating for this book is





Have you read this book? If yes, what did you think about it? I would love to hear your thoughts. Drop a comment to let me know....


Cheers,
Megha

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Recipe of the month: Vegetarian Samosa


This weekend, I thought I’d make samosas at home from scratch. Although I do eat samosas, I am rather picky about the filling and more often than not, I come across samosas that I don't like. 

My ideal samosas should be crispy, not oily and have a simple and mildly spiced filling. The heavily spiced varieties that have two dozen ingredients crammed into them just don't do it for me. I particularly detest biting into a chunk of pungent coarse whole spices. That is the reason I am quite weary of ordering samosas from unfamiliar food establishments. I tend to stick to the places that make them the way I prefer. 

I feel quite lazy to prepare samosas at home since they are not at the top of my list of favourite deep-fried snacks. On the occasions that I have prepared them at home in the past, I’ve taken the easy way out by preparing the filling and then using store-bought spring roll sheets to wrap them in. This time I thought why not do everything myself especially since my husband loves homemade samosas. It turned out to be not as time consuming and labor intensive as I imagined it would be. And the results were good so it was indeed worth the effort 😊

Here is my samosa recipe. I have slightly modified it from the way my Atthe (mother-in-law) makes them. Samosas are highly customizable so you can modify the recipe based on your preferences. My MIL serves her samosas with a coconut based chutney. I prefer mine with a chilli sauce and mint chutney. 

Here is my rendition. I hope you give it a try.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Social Networking - the good, the bad and the ugly!


"It's not what you know but who you know that makes the difference" 

                                                       -Anonymous

I am a self-confessed social networkoholic. I am neither proud nor ashamed of this statement. I wouldn't go to the extent of calling myself an addict because I'm confident that I can bear the trauma of all my connections to the world of social networking being severed πŸ˜† Although I must admit that on occasion, I do have to keep myself in check to prevent crossing the fine line into addiction. 

I used to be a member of several social networking sites but when it started eating away my free time (which was meagre to begin with), I restricted myself to Facebook (FB for short). I often wonder how I used to spend the time that I now spend on FB before it became an irreversible part of my daily routine. I'm assuming that my life must have been far more productive back then. 

For me, personally, the rock bottom of social media usage was when I was hooked onto a motley assortment of games. I used to fervently go about tending my make-believe crops, virtual fish and imaginary restaurants on a daily or sometimes even hourly basis. Don't judge me for it takes guts to admit this πŸ˜† Fortunately, after a while the whole ritual started to tire me out. Not to mention the annoyance at seeing all the invitations and news feeds by similarly idle people (I finally was able to see how lame the whole thing was). I decided from then onwards that I would not waste my time on such frivolity. 

For a while after that I began to play more mentally stimulating games like Word Challenge and Geo Challenge but that slowly lost its appeal as well. On the upside, these games did contribute significantly to my vocabulary and geographical knowledge. Hey, I can correctly identify the flag of Lesotho you know 😏 

If games weren't enough to distract people from their "real" lives, absurd and trivial status updates are considered useful tools to provide an alternative route of escape. In the spirit of full disclosure, I'm guilty of that too! 

I remember when I actually used to call my friends more often and send them emails from time to time. Nowadays it is just so easy type a quick note on someone's wall or send them an insipid message on social media. I often even wish my friends and family for birthdays or anniversaries on FB and then feel guilty about not making a greater effort in remembering and conveying my wishes. It is a bit sad that one doesn't even need to apply the slightest bit of brain power to remember a loved one's birthday...FB will even do that for you. It is rather tempting to become lazy (and stupid) with the advent of these social networking sites.

Many times I wish I could go back to the era of the 80s and 90s where people used to write letters to each other and when long-distance phone calls were a luxury. At least the anticipation of hearing from someone would be the highlight of the day. Being a little private and inaccessible is more mysterious and exciting. Makes people wonder what you are up to!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Movie review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 2)


If you have read some of my previous posts, you will know that I am a die-hard Harry Potter fan. I have read each book more than 4 times and watched each movie umpteen times. It just never gets old for me. 

As is the case with most of the books vs movie adaptations, the Harry Potter books are far better than the movies; there is no question about that. I have always felt that a movie can never do justice to a writer’s vision (there are a few exceptions of course). I can’t help but wonder if people who haven’t read any of the Harry Potter books can really understand the nitty-gritty of the background and premise.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Recipe of the month: Ragda Patties


Chaat includes a wide array of savoury snacks, typically served at roadside stalls or carts in India but have over the years (due to their growing popularity), started to appear on the menus of even the most sophisticated Indian restaurants. With its origins in east India, chaat has become immensely popular in the rest of India and even the rest of South Asia. 

Most of my family and friends are major chaat junkies. Though I am not really a hard-core fan, there are certain chaats that I am extremely fond of. One of them is Ragda Patties. The main components of this dish are a shallow-fried potato cutlets and a warm and spicy yellow peas gravy. The potato cutlets are smothered in the gravy, garnished with finely chopped onions, tomatoes, coriander leaves and topped off with a spicy chutney and a sweet and sour date-tamarind chutney.

This dish actually serves as a complete meal and doesn’t take much time to prepare provided you have planned ahead and done the prep work.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Mesmerizing Mauritius


Mauritius is an island nation known for its unparalleled scenic beauty off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar. 

We had been to Mauritius for a week in October 2008. It was a family holiday that came together after months of intercountry planning and discussion as we had to coordinate mine and my husband’s schedules with that of my parents and siblings.

Before I get on with our holiday escapades, here is something you may enjoy reading

Interesting trivia about Mauritius
  • The main languages spoken are Mauritian Creole, French and English
  • The currency is Mauritian rupee
  • The cuisine is a blend of Indian, Creole, Chinese and European influences
  • More than 50% of the population of Mauritius is Hindu.
  • Mauritius is renowned for having been the only known home of the Dodo bird as a result of which, most souvenir shops in Mauritius bear the image of this bird on their merchandise

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Fashion 101


Ok ladies, this post is for you 😊

I am not a fashionista by any stretch of imagination. In fact, most of the time, I am quite clueless as to what clothes would be flattering on my body type. There have been plenty of instances where my dress etiquette has been downright sloppy. 

However, now that I am in my late twenties, I am more conscious while shopping and I make a lot more effort to pick out clothes, shoes and accessories that are fashionable while not sacrificing comfort. I do think that it is important to look good. It has nothing to do with being vain or narcissistic really. It is just taking the time to look after and feel good about oneself. After all, our choice of clothing does reflect our state of mind, attitude and thoughts towards a particular event, person or activity. Don't you agree? 

We usually look at celebrities and envy them for their flawless appearance, slender figure and fabulous wardrobe but isn't it in their job description to look good? They have the best fitness trainers, dieticians, beauticians, stylists and designers at their beck and call so it's no wonder that they manage to look like a million bucks pretty much all the time. For regular women with careers, families and countless other responsibilities, the pressure to look good is real. But with the adequate fashion know-how, you and me can still look good minus the celebrity tag.  

Saturday, May 7, 2011

To my mom....on Mother's day


"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie" 
                                                  
                                                    ~ Tenneva Jordan


I love this quote because it is so typical of my mom. Only a mother can exhibit such selflessness. I think it comes as a default trait with the whole "mom" package. I think celebrating mother's day on one day of the year does absolutely no justice to what they do for us on a day to day basis. I can honestly say that my relationship with my mother is one of the most significant relationships I have in my life. On this mother's day I thought I'd write about all the things I love and appreciate about my mom.

Amma, this is why I am grateful that you are my mother...

Sunday, May 1, 2011

My bucket list: 101 things I want to do before I die...


"Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans"
                                                      -John Lennon


This week I decided to prepare a bucket list of 101 things I want to do...before I kick the bucket! As morbid as that sounds, I thought I'd better make this list when I'm still in my 20's so I'd still have plenty of time to go about completing it. It's actually kinda fun. I don't think anything on my list is too "out there" and even if it does seem that way, I'm hoping that it would motivate me even more to complete it 😊   

I do see this list evolving as I grow older. Considering I stick to blogging long-term, the stuff that currently appeals to me in my 20's might seem lame in my 30's and downright stupid a few more years down the line.       

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Recipe of the month: Cinnamon Pancakes with Fresh Fruit



I love pancakes and I love fresh fruit. Combine them together and you can never go wrong. Pancakes are delightfully versatile in that you can combine them with a variety of sweet or savoury ingredients and they taste great. The best part about pancakes is how easy they are to make. I am sure there are hundreds of different recipes for pancakes out there but I always stick to this particular one. I have slightly modified the recipe to suit my taste. I make sure to measure my ingredients each time so the pancakes turn out consistently good.


Saturday, April 9, 2011

My Great American Adventure


First and foremost, this is a super-duper photo heavy post (you have been warned). It isn't without reason though - considering the number of places within the vast country that I have managed to visit, I have that much to say and show you.

My first trip to the USA was in 2007 and came about after my husband was sent to Milwaukee  in Wisconsin on work for a year. My second trip was in 2009 when I went as a grad student to present a research paper at an International conference in Seattle, Washington. 

I have written this post in a journal style. This post has helped jog my memory and relive all the moments that made both trips truly special.

Here are some snippets of my experiences in USA.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Welcoming our World Champions!

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011
  
I am no sports fan. Let me get that out of the way. The only reason I watch any sports at all is because of the influence of my husband who is one of the biggest fan of sports that I know. 

The only reason I have written this blog post is to preserve a precious memory 😊 

As you many have heard before, cricket is not merely a sport in India - it is a religion! We take our cricket very seriously. Probably every little boy in India acquires a plastic bat and ball by the age of three. Drive through any Indian city on a weekend and you will most likely see groups of kids and adults of all ages playing cricket in empty fields, streets, backyards and narrow gullies. 

Cricket is the only sport we care passionately about and in front of which, all other sports take a backseat. Sure, we have an International football and hockey team, tennis greats like Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati, chess grandmaster and world champion Viswanathan Anand, Olympic medal holding athletes, promising badminton players and our own Formula One racing team, yet, when it comes to popularity, all the other sports pale in comparison to cricket. It does seem a tad unfair since the domination of one sport takes away credit from all the other sporting heroes who have time and again brought pride to our country. 

Cricketers in India enjoy the same level, if not greater popularity than celebrities do. They are always in the news, be it their on-field performance or off-field antics. Having said that, being a cricketer in India is not an easy job for as much praise and honor they are lavished with after winning a tournament, the same intensity of anger and disappointment comes their way after experiencing defeat. They can be worshiped and placed on a pedestal and the very next minute dropped unceremoniously to the ground. 

Major cricket tournaments always generate much hype and excitement in India. Friends and family get together to watch the match, the streets are devoid of traffic and usually empty, special prayers are performed to seek blessings for the team, the release dates of new movies are postponed and you don't anticipate any power cuts on those days. It goes to such an extent that any knock-out match featuring India in a tournament such as the World Cup which takes place once in four years can have most educational educations and offices declaring half day off πŸ˜„