Kenya sings for India

This is pretty cool. Kenyans singing the Indian National anthem. Made for Pangea Day

Hap hap happy birthday to me!!!

If apathy towards one's birthday is a sign of growing up, then I am finally a grown up. I almost forgot my birthday this year.....
I have never been a big birthday person. I think I have only had one legitimate birthday cake my whole life. None of the other " birthday" cakes were on my birthday. They were a result of my dad saying "It is my daughter's birthday" when he made reservations for dinner at some fancy place ; so I'd be emabarassed by a line of waiters getting me my free cake and the whole restaurant singing for me in the middle of November. And I'd always be the one who's fake birthday it was because my sister's razor sharp reflexes helped her shoot her hand out and point to me even before they asked us whose birthday it was.

I was a shy kid when I was younger. I was terrified of hosting a party lest it sucked and ppl wouldn't end up having fun. I did love going to other people's birthday parties though. Till date I have only thrown one party which was where I had my only legitimate birthday cake. I was 8 then and yes my party sucked big time. I was so concerned with other ppl having fun that I tortured myself the whole evening. It is much easier throwing a party when you can legally buy alcohol. You just have enough booze to fill up the crowd and blast some loud music and the party is an automatic hit.

Through college I had a huge group of friends and we always had surprise parties. To the point that not having a surprise party was a surprise. I'v never had a surprise party. I have had a surprise birthday visit from my friends at 7 am on my birthday and that was fun. But I always wanted one of those big surprise parties with cake smearing and everything. I stopped liking birthdays altogether. It always started with great anticipation of a day of surprises and fun, but I was always let down. The same with new years. I have never had a really fulfilling new years eve. But then I have had more fun on totally unexpected days.

Over the years I have come to realise that fun can never be planned. It just happens when you least expect it. Like bumping into an old friend and talking for hours into the night. A couple of months ago a friend and I went for a long drive and ended up in a cute little town on a snowy day. We found the cutest coffee chop with big lazy couches and a fireplace and spent hours talking and playing board games. It was a magical day. An almost impromptu super fun snow tubing outing last week.....

I had a nice time today. I made an effort at looking good. Lunch at a fabulous Italian restaurant, tea at a cute tea shop , a long drive, and a hike that didn't quite materialize, eating left overs for dinner and watching Iron Chef America. Peace....

I think birthdays should be that- peaceful, unhurried, with the few people that matter.

Whats in a New Year?

Another year passes us by. Another day heralding the next 365. Another celebration of how we survived 12 months of despair, hope, excitement sorrow and so much more..
What have I learnt from this past year?
To expect the same. I ve come to formulate a boomerang theory. However many times you throw away your problems, they ll make sure they hit you back in the face.
To expect the unexpected. Need I even elaborate? Well to give you the most trivial reasons, my dad let me drive his baby! And for those who don’t know my dad, he swears by his baby so imagine my surprise.
There are days when your picture book seems hard to fill and those days when your boat is so full, it sinks. But such is life. Ultimately what you need to learn is that over a period of time you standardize the number you let into the secret passage. It may be 2 now and 5 later but never is it 20.. And the one thing that always makes me happy? The fact that I ll never have read every book in my bookshelf ! :D

Dum Aloo

Is it made of "stronger" Potatoes?(Why is it called Dum?) - Courtsey Susu for his PJ....
Well In fact no it is made of baby potatoes.
Anyway I found these cute looking baby potatoes in Wegmans a couple of days ago. And I was wondering what to do with them. Anyway I finally decided on Dum Aloo. And it turned out so yummy, I wanted to document the recipe.

For the masala:
cumin seeds - 1 Tbsp
cardomom - 4 pods
cloves - 5-6
cinnamon - 1 stick
black peppercorn - 1 tbsp
Dhaniya - 1 Tsp

Dry roast these and grind them to a powder. Keep aside

For the Paste:
Tomatoes - 3 small
Onion - 1 sliced
ginger - 1 tbsp chopped
Garlic - 5-6 pods
green chili - 2

Grind to a paste with water

Other ingredients:
Onion - 1 chopped
Green pepper - 1/2 chopped
Bay leaves - 1
Baby potatoes - 10-15
Cumin seeds - 1 tbsp
Kasuri Methi - 2 tbsp
Curd - 2 tbsp

1. Boil the baby potatoes with turmeric and salt . Poke with a fork to make holes. Fry till golden brown. Keep aside
2. In a wok, add oil. Add the cumin seeds and let them splutter. Add the chopped onions and dry till golden brown. Add chopped peppers, fry for 2 min
3. Add the ground paste, Salt, and turmeric and let it cook.
4. Add the friend potatoes, kasuri methi and curd. Let it cook for 15 min.
5. Add the ground masala and cook till the oil separates from the gravy.
6. Garnish with chopped cilantro and enjoy.


I wish I could'v put up a picture of it, but I ate it all. :-) . It does take a while to make but it is totally worth it. Oh and before I forget I should thank my able and highly experienced co-chef.

Joy in nothingness

Today was one of those days when life seems just right. Waking up early to catch the sunrise. I walk out of the house and the crisp Autumn wind grabs me; I zip up my jacket and let the cold guide my hands into my pockets. Comforted I walk; free; I hum and the breeze carries my tune with her. I know it was a female breeze , I just know. I amble along feeling joy - in nothingness. I think to myself - this is all I need. I need to live in the present. The world has conspired to make my day wonderful - as long as I just think about now and only now. As I keep walking I watch the soft shadows of leaves on a brick building, I catch a whiff of mild perfume as a person passes by, I hear the click of leather boots. My senses unite - I stop... I smile... I move on. This day has relieved me of the thoughts that have bogged me down for a week. Sometimes it is better not to think. Just be.

Tidbits !!!

My craziness has begun again :-) Me back to nutiess and me loving it

1) I saw those eyes boring into me. I was spellbound, weak in the knees. I could die for those eyes. I had to have him. Staring at me everyday with those fiery eyes. So I did what any crazy infatuated girl would do. Bought his still frame
2) My lab mate J was rushing to move his car this morning 'cos he'd parked on campus. I just sniggered n said " Do what I do. Park in 2 hour parking. I leave it there all day" . Well they finally got me today. Me n my big mouth. 12 bucks for a parking violation.
3) I am finally back to making only one cup of tea in the morning. I used to make 2 'cos I'd always end up putting salt in the first cup. Basically the story is this. My salt and sugar containers look the same. So my roomate always puts the sugar container in the shelf every night. So when i wake up all groggy in the morn and make tea I reach for the nearest container which is usually the salt. So then I go to the lawn to have tea soaking in the arrival of a new dawn and then put the tea to my lips and go "Phbbbt" over my lavendar plant. Then I go and make myself another cup. I did this day after day for 3 weeks. So now to avoid confusion i just use Sugar cubes :-)
4) Am back to checking mail,orkut and facebook once every hour. I need to get out. These exams r killing my social life!!
5) I am super happy for my roommate. Shes going out with a really nice guy. They go for a walk every night at 9 and walk around the neighborhood till 12 AM - talking.
6) I wanna go for a walk now!! The weather os so good. I love Fall. I love the pleasant chill!! I wanna go for a long long walk. damn Exam!!

Linked List !!

After a slew of rather dreary monologish would-you-stop-with-the-philosophical-bullshit posts I am getting back to doing what i do best. making a list and taking stock of my life. These are things I want to, need to and must get done sooner rather than later.

1. Finish Kiterunner. I like the book so far. The pace has been good, writing style very fluid but I am stuck right in the middle of the book and the pace is starting to get sluggish.
2. Catch up on course work which has been ignored for the past week. I hate lagging behind.
3. Start exercising again. Wish I could play some sport.
4. Finally take time off n go dancing. I have been meaning to for eternity.
5. Start clicking pictures now that Fall is creeping up on me.
6. STOP watching sitcoms!! I watch two episodes of Are you being served and the sight of Mrs Slocombe makes me wanna dye my hair red and green.
7. Make a list of more immediate things I need to do like bills and what not.
8. Seriously think about where my life is heading

(Or)

9. Do what I normally do and let the wind take me.
10. Learn to make peach pie and Bisi bele baath( I have gotten a hundred recipes for this but despite being a reasonable good cook I dont seem to get this one right).