My Thoughts Keyboarded

TGIF! Couple of Indian festivals are already over and there are more to come. While it’s hard enough not being with family during occasions, missing sweets is unimaginable! So I wanted to make a sweet that's easy, fast and fried (guilty pleasure). Tada! Out came the sweet “Rava Appam” (Semolina Pancake). This is again a recipe that's customized to my taste (blame it on the craving for creativity). Ok, to make this rava appam you need: 1 cup – rava (semolina) 1 cup – sugar ½ cup - maida (maize flour) ½ cup – Rice flour 1 cup milk 1 banana 1 teaspoon ghee/butter(optional) 2 – cardamoms(optional) Oil to deep fry Now put everything (except oil and ghee) in a bowl and use your hand to mix it to the paste consistency. Use little bit of water if the paste is too thick. If you are not comfortable using your hands, use blender to whisk a little (if you grind it to smooth paste, u wont get the crunchy crispness of semolina). Leave this batter to settle for 10 minutes. Heat oil in a pan ...

I have read somewhere that the best stories are the ones said from heart. I always try to adhere to this saying when it comes to writing posts. However I try hard not to write about regrets, guilt, or resentment be it my own or others. But today I just feel like pouring my heart out. My buddy circle at work used to be amazing. In the last one and half years, we watched movies, cooked, played shuttle/cards, and have taken numerous trips together. There were ups and down, stupid and serious fights but we always retire to the oneness vibe. But these days the ego clashes going on between some is shaking the entire group. I am faced with outmost difficulty of maintaining neutrality. Worst case, I am getting involved in this energy draining exercise and it backfires. I find it hard to convince them, even to do the right thing. It seems people are just fine the way they are and don't want anyone to shake their "perfect" universe. I always go out of my way to pacify, to be good ...

To read Part 3 Life in Langkawi is very much like India. At one side you can see shopping complex, restaurants and luxurious resorts with spa. But on the other, you can notice rice fields (agriculture being their main occupation!) and buffaloes on bare lands. This is the view from our hotel room and We woke up to the sound of the rooster everyday! After late breakfast, we started Island hopping tour by bum boat at 11 am. At first we alighted at “Pulau Beras Basah”. It’s a blue green beach with powdery white sand. We could see the fishes beneath the water even from the Jetty. Unfortunately, the "Water-Sports" centre was closed. So for the next couple of hours we just relaxed (actually ran around, played swing and even wrestled). Thats me in the swing :P Next we stopped to feed Eagles at "Pulau Singa Besar". This mangrove filled jungle used to be a national park. Now it’s closed for conservation (well done!). While we sat silently on the boat, the guide threw some ch...

To read Part 1 To read Part 2 Langkawi has many lovely waterfalls. We were told the best among them is “Seven Wells” waterfall. Locally known as "Telaga Tujuh", it can be easily spotted from the cable car ride we took (naan yenga adhellam paathen!). This stream smoothly cascades about 90 meters down to 7 beautiful pools. After about 20 minutes of tiresome trekking (like Chandler in FRIENDS say "I am 30 and I want to sit in comfortable chair and watch TV!") we settled down at the first pool (7th one from the top). It had a small slippery slide. Since the pool was only my waist height, I was the first to get in. I gave thumbs up to the camera, and took a seamless ride right into the dip. To my horror it was deeper than I thought (later I learned the small area below the water falls must be at least 8 meters high). As my swimming skills are on par to a rock I came face to face with my second nightmare - Aqua phobia. Thankfully a tourist teen playing around, pulled me o...

To read the first part. Sunday morning found us in dreamy state. The previous day's "Who get to use bathroom" fight has turned "Let other use and catch some more sleep" pass-game. By 9:50 am we manage to drag ourselves to the dinning area since free breakdast would be over by 10. Also we have booked a van from 10am- 6pm to go sight seeing. Hafiz - our driver was already waiting in the lobby. I took the front seat and started conversing with Hafiz. It didn’t take me long to realize he is very honest, kind and friendly guy. He described the places that passed by, and we asked him to pull over at the Telaga Yacht Harbour . This small harbor was built few years back when Langkawi started becoming a popular yachting destination. The exquisite architectural building hosts, art shops, gas station and variety of eateries - very high priced (duh... didn’t I say it’s a yacht harbor J ).Next stop is Oriental village, which is the gateway to main attraction of Langkawi - Th...

TGIF!! If you like to cuddle in bed until afternoon on weekends like me, this one is just for you. It will come handy when you wake up, scratching your head (ahem...) hound hunting refrigerator, wondering what to eat. Now all you need is a drink that’s easy to make and can hold your hunger for sometime (until you cleanup to go out or decide what to cook for the day). This drink is an inspiration from Nigella feast (copy catnnu solla kudaadhu aama). Before I present thanks for the amazing response you have given to my Falooda recipe . It’s an inspiration to know my cooking is being liked by those who hadn’t even tasted it! LOL Ok now, with no delay I present to you the healthy Banana-Caffine shake. To make this, you need: 1. Banana 2. Milk 3. Sugar 4. Instant coffee powder 5. Dried nuts (optional) Peel the skin off the banana (you may use two if you are very hungry or want the shake to be thick), just toss it into the blender. Now add milk and sugar to taste. Then add half a teaspoon o...

Last weekend my friends and I took 3 day trip to Langawi Malaysia. Thanks to reduced air fares, we got the hotel booking and tickets close to 300 Singapore dollars. That’s a bargain! and one Singapore dollar is equivalent to 2.4 Malaysian ringgits. That’s more reasons to spend and shop :) Langawi is situated 30 Kms away from northern coastland of Malaysia in the Arabian Sea. They have discovered numerous islands (already more than 100!)around this area, and few more in recent years which have formed due to low tides. We have been to Indonesia’s and Thailand's islands before, and also to Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur, so we had a basic idea on what to expect in terms of experience, culture and food of an Asian island. Yet Langawi surprised us with its own charm. On Saturday morning we travelled from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. Then after couple of hours in transit we landed in Langkawi around 2 pm in the afternoon. We checked in to the two family suits of Boutique resorts, and after an hou...

My work mates and I, were shifting from one place to another like nomads for the last two months due to several reasons. At last, we are grateful to nest in the spacious 3+1 apartment with all the comforts and nice owner! So we invited few colleagues last Sunday for lunch to our new found heaven. Now for the record, I love cooking and often surprise everyone, including myself with tasty dishes. My two flat mates taste and approve the dishes I make. Wait, they aren't innocent white mice types you imagine them to be. But they can be mistaken for giant rats, the ones that eats everything like in Ratatouille movie. Thank god, they don't read my posts :) I became the head chef as usual, and the challenge was to cook for 10 people. The fringe benefit I received in return was very fulfilling. I got to boss around my mates happily. If I had said "hey wash this vessel , I need it" or "dice these onions fast" they would give me "what the heck" look. But they...

These days, I see Singapore’s national flag everywhere. In the shops, parks, apartment balcony, along the road side, cabs and even on top of workstations. In the flag, red symbolizes universal brotherhood, white signifies purity. The crescent moon represents a young nation on the ascend. The five stars stands for the nation's ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality. Singapore celebrates its national day on 9th of august every year. There are theme songs and national unity messages flashed everywhere. This made me miss the Independence Day back home. I am not very patriotic to say. I love my country for sure. I have profound respect for innumerable things about it. But I don’t understand how a person born few thousand kilometres away becomes my enemy even in cricket. Anyway, coming to the point I actually miss the celebrations I had in school/college days. I remember dressing up in white, a paper flag neatly pinned to my pocket. I was in the band and ever year w...