The 30's Club!

Hey everyone!

Somehow post 25, Birthdays don't excite me anymore. The post 25 mark seems racing towards just one milestone which is the dreaded 30's! Dreaded? Is it? (Yes pretty much). Each decade brings something in your life, as your teens leave some kind of influence in your life, or your 20's which are probably most eventful in terms of your college, getting married (baby maybe!), life, career and all that jazz! 30's are the dreaded one possibly to all the 29 errs!

I am not 30 yet, I have one more year to celebrate that sorrow but still I have thoughts on the 30's club. But as I was just thinking of what I want to do before I turn 30 I was hit by "what will happen in my 30's kind of thing"!

As people think that 20's is your learning & "growing" up turf, By 30's you should be smart, sort after, settled and perfect in terms of handling your life!

• Career: You should be all sorted by now, heading in the right direction. You have to take care of your expenses, house, wife, children, bills, and much more. There is no excuse to "explore" "travel" "sabbatical". Yes! (Being 30 being boring!)
• Kids: If you have not had kids yet, god help you with the nagging aunties and uncles! Also, if you have already one, they can write you a essay on importance of having a second baby!
• Clothes: The way you dress will attract a lot of questions! Dressing your age is what you can hear whilst in this 30's club
• Diet: What are you eating? You are going to have "blah blah" problems after a while! Start Yoga! (like really)
• Social life: If you have any, you will be seen hanging out with either couples with children if you have children yourself, as who else can understand "social life" better! If you don't have children then your fellow 30 clubbers can keep you company as you whine about people who are giving you gyaan about life! If you are single in your 30's - you might find yourself stuck between the 20's club and the 30's pro's!

It's not all that scary as it seems (probably more), but the best thing you can do is live life on your terms be it 20's or 30's, you are YOU, celebrate yourself in whichever situation you maybe in! You Go Girl! or Boy!

Up until next time!

Ciao! 

PS: I would love to hear your 30's experiences please comment below if any! 

Being Yourself - The most cliche' statement ever!

Hey all!

Hope you are doing good! I have been on and off blogging since I started working, but thoughts keep lingering on my mind on topics hence I thought lets break the ice and start with something at least!

I have heard this statement "Being yourself", or "Be yourself" a lot! In fact I might be guilty of saying this overrated statement myself. Honestly, you cant be yourself, you are not allowed! No, don't look at me like I am passing some judgement, but seriously its tough and in fact impossible.

People expect you to perform certain roles in life, be it at home or office and judge you on the basis of your behavior. Doing your own things is tough, as we are bogged down by "others" giving you gyan on what's right and what's not! Amidst all this you get caught in what you want to do and what others expect you to do.

I think this term "be yourself" should be changed to "just be" or "BE" or "exist"!

If you have a better term, please share!

SO much for my rambling. What do you feel?

xoxo

Missing in action

Hello people!

Excuse my absence from the blog, I have been on a break for a while from blogging and writing in general, and boy I have missed it! The break actually made me realize how much I miss writing and actually working on my blog posts. However, I needed this mind break, as sometimes the mind takes over you and doesn't let you do anything and hence I couldn't make any posts in the last month or so.

Keeping the absence part aside, I am back and would be doing more posts this month (hopefully!). I have planned some exciting posts for you, I hope you like them as well.

See you soon,

Much love,

Aditi

Random thoughts: Good things in life!

How often do we celebrate the simple joys and happiness of life? That smell of rain, that brewing of a nice cup of coffee, or just plain dal chawal on a hectic tiring day! Life is tough.period. No one has it easy and everyone is going through his or her ups and downs. Hence more of a reason to celebrate the good things in life and make life worthwhile even though the head is dealing with a mess of its own!

1. Take out time for yourself

You are your best company.

"leave me alone" Yes try!

2. Have chai and biscuits! (or a beverage of your choice)

Trust me it helps!

my go-to stress beverage!

3. Holiday..Hills..bliss!

Not everyone is fortunate enough to do this but if you can run to the hills now!

sigh! 

4. Buy something.

Retail therapy, best therapy!

5. Food for thought

Eat what reminds you of your childhood. Happy memories!

shakarpara namakpara - killer combo!

More such random thoughts to follow.

Ciao!

Happy Meals Part 3!

In my third edition of the Happy Meals series, I bring to you a very lazy laid back Mutton Stew! I have always loved meat curry, but dreaded the long cooking process and the small details you need to pay attention for the flavor to come out! Since if you don't get that particular aroma and taste from your curry then its a little pointless really. Since my family and friends enjoy the homely Mutton stew so much that I decided to make life little easier for me and make the meal more enjoyable and happy! :)

Okay so I call this my Sunday Mutton Stew! Only because its lazy, slow but worthwhile!

Here goes:

So you wake up on a Sunday morning, and have already had a fulfilling brunch, chances are lunch is not on the cards, hence lets have something wonderful for dinner. (Yes! you can put this curry to cook in all its glory till evening, it just makes it more delightful!)

Take the mutton out of freezer and let it defrost on its own, till the time you gather all the strings of this recipe!

For 1 kg meat, you need 4-5 medium sized onions, 10-12 tomatoes, 7-8 green chilies sliced, ginger & garlic paste, dry spices (bay leaf, cinnamon stick, black cardamom, nutmeg (jaiphal), staranise (javitri), cloves, peppercorns, cumin (jeera)) {You could keep these in a box mixed and use it later as well, makes it easier} Dhaniya powder, Red chili powder or kashmiri lal mirch powder, garam masala, salt to taste, coriander (dhaniya) for garnish, refined oil for cooking!

Blend onions in a blender, put your cooker on heat with desired quantity of refined oil. Once the oil heats up add the dry spices mix and let it cook until you get the sweet fragrance (not burnt!), add in the onions, once the onions cook (they become transparent, yes thats the sign!) add in the ginger garlic paste and the green chilies. This process will take good half n hour or so, since we need a nice color almost brownish for the onion mixture

So laze around for a bit! :)

Now return to the kitchen check the onions, if they have got the desired color. Add salt, red chili powder and mix well. Now add blended tomatoes and let this masala cook for good two to three hours. You will just have to stir occasionally, to avoid sticking!

SO its been couple of hours, you have enjoyed your siesta, now check your masala, it should attain a nice brownish color, you will also see the oil separating which is a sign of it getting ready!

Now add the washed mutton and mix everything well. Add dhaniya powder, a little bit of fresh coriander and close the lid. Now, chill for approximately half n hour to 45 minutes, as after 5-6 whistles and a good stand alone time, the heavenly stew will be ready for your super Sunday dinner!

Finishing touches, sprinkle garam masala and fresh green coriander.

Serve hot with rice and rotis! :)

Here's hoping you enjoyed making this Sunday stew which can be made at your own sweet pace and with lots of love for your loved ones!

Until next time,

ciao!

PS: I would love your comments.

Happy Meals Part 2 :)

Honestly, I am no whiz in the kitchen, but surely love cooking and trying out new things. Over the course of time I have discovered that there are few tricks and techniques that you can adapt that can make you the "masterchef" of your own kitchen. I will do a separate post on that, however this post is dedicated to meals that you can create without going "oh my god" how do I manage that now!

Okay so last post I shared the quick dip Hummus and Chicken Wings, the perfect party starters!
This time around I am going to share the recipe of our good 'ol Butter Chicken! Well don't be like what!? Who cooks butter chicken when you can just order it from the local eatery which serves a rich gravied orange looking butter chicken! That's exactly my point , this is my version of it which is homely, rather easy, without color and dry fruit paste!

So here are 5 steps to a delightful meal!

Step 1 - assemble!

Gather all your ingredients first, as it would make your job easy. For a meal for 4 you would need 2-3 large onions, 10-12 tomatoes, 5-6 green chilies, few red dried chilies, cloves of garlic around 7-8 should be fine , ginger can be a small piece or ginger garlic paste can be used, milk or cream (you can use home based cream too), tomato ketchup, butter, fenugreek or kasoori methi, tez pata (Bay leaf), elaichi (Cardamom), black pepper corns,and of course chicken 1.5 Kg should be enough! (well who doesn't like leftovers, so quantity is your call).

Deghi mirch (Red chili powder)
Dhaniya powder
Sugar
Garam Masala
Salt to taste

Step 2 - lets get started! 

Marinate the chicken in red chili powder and salt and keep it in the fridge until we do all the preps!

Take a kadhai, add butter, Bay leaf, Cardamom, Black pepper corns!

Now just cut onions, tomatoes very roughly, you could just cut them into 4 pieces each and toss into the kadhai. Add cloves of garlic, ginger, green chillies and red dried chillies as well, you don't need to cut them fine. They can be just the way they are!

Now add salt and stir it well. Now cover the kadhai with a lid and let it cook until the onions and tomatoes become soft.

Step 3 - Action starts now!

Once the onion tomato mix becomes soft and is cooked partially. Close the heat and let it rest for a while.
After it cools down. Put the mix into a blender and blend until it becomes a smooth paste. You will notice the mix turning into a orange paste. Pour the paste out on a sieve and strain it in a bowl! You will need to work a bit on it but once you strain it well, half the job is done!

Once you have your paste ready, pour it the kadhai and add a little water. Let it simmer on medium heat.

Step 4 - Get the chicken out!

Okay, so rather easy step! Take a pressure cooker and add the marinated chicken pieces with half a glass water or less. You have to give it less than one whistle so just be around!

When the chicken is done add the pieces into the kadhai with the paste and add the water as well. Since the chicken juices will just add more flavor!

Step 5 - The Finale!

Time to spice it up now. So add dhaniya powder, red chili powder, kasoori methi (toasted a bit and crushed), tomato ketchup, cream or milk, salt if desired and a dash of sugar. Let the butter chicken simmer until everything comes together and chicken is cooked properly. You can toss in some sliced green chilies and ginger for garnish!

You are all set to serve it now!

Let me know in comments your feedback or any questions if you make have!

Join me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/aditichablogs

Thanks until next time!

Happy Cooking!

xoxo

Are you random too?

Hello All!

Pardon the title of this post, since I was just sitting and wondering is it just the "girl hormone" or do we girls are really random! You all have had moments, and that very rare. So does it happen to you too!

1. I have zillion tops of the same color?

2. I always end up buying similar looking lipsticks.

3. I buy stuff if its packaged cute!

4. I imagine myself wearing a certain dress but when it comes to actually wearing it, I am never satisfied.

5. I buy make up randomly.

6. I will buy a cream if it smells lovely.

7. I never know what to wear even though my wardrobe is overflowing!

8. I throw away certain clothes, then regret it later.

9. I have a pedicure manicure kit, facial kit, but I never do it at home.

10. I eat chocolate when bored.

11. I do online window shopping.

12. I like watching cookery shows!

13. Sometimes I just want to wear my PJ's and watch chick flicks the whole damn day.

14. My jewelry box is so full, but I am still craving for stuff to buy.

15. I am just too random in my thoughts hence this post! :)

Well, whatever it is, be it a girl thing or xyz, its just fabulous to be a girl, to experience the roller coaster emotions, the urges and the cravings! The mood swings and the well the randomness! 

Would love to know your random moments, please add to the list! 

Comment below!

Love, 

Adi

xoxo

Parenthood - Overrated really?

A few days ago I read an article which I will have the link below for you. You must read it I say!

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/features/blink/stop-the-lies-about-parenting/article5709875.ece

The title of that article 'Stop the lies about parenting' just had my immediate attention and I just had to read it! No doubt a well written article and clearly articulated the essence of her topic very well. I also agree that it takes real guts to be honest to your feelings and also to come out and express them. So kudos to that!

However, focusing highly on one aspect of life "Parenthood" and categorizing it as "Exhausting" isn't fair enough. As you grow you get ready for many phases of like, schooling, college, marriage, friendships, career, business, so much and each phase is tiring, exhausting and takes away a lot of energy from you. So, is being a parent. It is tough, it is very tiring at the end of the day but you do it, right, why? Because you love it! It is not something you sign up for like the author's remarks. It is your choice of bringing a life into this world and like all your decisions respect that, be true to it. It is a part of your life. Life changes all the time and you adjust to it. Period.

You love being a parent just like you love being at your office slogging 9 to 9, which is also not an easy task! True it is rewarding sometimes and sometimes not, which is in the case of everything you do in life. I am not saying romanticize the whole thing saying that having a baby is complete bliss, obviously mothers would agree it is not 24/7 full of bliss, you will have your moments but trust me it is a life changing experience and it indeed is the best one just like for few of my friends sky diving, scuba diving or even getting a tatoo changes is. For me personally, being a mother is, it changed my life in all ways. I agree I crib, I feel tired but it was my decision to be a mother and the end of the day when I put my baby to sleep, I thank God for her. It surely doesn't feel anything like exhausting! :) 

Again this is my personal opinion, just like the author had hers! You are entitled to yours! 

Until next post,

Love,

Adi

(Image courtesy: Google images)

Happy Meals! :)

I quite enjoy eating out and trying out new cuisines. But after having a baby my social life has been reduced to zero (Not that I am complaining, I get to have the best company in the whole wide world). Having a meal at my favorite restaurant (peacefully) isn't really possible most of the time. That really propelled me to try out stuff at home during the weekend, to make the weekend a little happening if I may call it! (Sigh!) (Couple of drinks can really help)

You cannot have all the ingredients that go into making those amazing meals that you would go out for, but surely can make meals comforting enough to have with a weekend drink or two with your family & friends! So, if you like you could try these out at home to pep up your weekend or when you have friends over, you can try them out by using these simple ingredients!

Sharing few of my happy meals! 

Dip Dip Dip - Hummus it is! - Well, mostly now everyone knows about this middle eastern delight since it is now a regular in most multi-cuisine restaurants. I am personally a big fan of this! I don't really dish out Falafel or Shawarmas with this but its a great healthy dip to have with chips, finger foods, salads, breads, or even on its own. You can store it in your fridge and it remains good for couple of days!

You would need: 

Feeds: Appox Four or five people

1/2 Kg Chickpeas
5-6 cloves of garlic
White sesame seeds (toasted)
1 Lemon
Paprika powder (if you can find it) or one red bell pepper
Olive oil
Salt to taste

Easy Dip - Hummus 

Just soak the chickpeas overnight and put it to boil in a cooker for three or four whistles. Now in a mixer put the chickpeas, white sesame seeds, garlic, salt and a dash of lemon and churn it away! Keep the water you boiled the chick peas in and you could use that to mix it. Bring it to a mayonnaise kind of consistency since it is ideal for dipping away and coating your finger in! Slurp!

Pour it in a dips bowl, garnish it with olive oil and paprika powder! 

If you don't have paprika powder you could roast a bell pepper and just mix it with the chickpeas. You will get a reddish looking hummus but the same flavor. 

Homestyle Chicken Wings

You need:

Feeds: One dozen chicken wings for 2-3 people 

One dozen Chicken wings
2-3 tablespoons of ginger and garlic paste 
One large tablespoon full of curd
Chilli flakes or chilli powder
Pepper powder
Fresh Coriander or Dhaniya finely chopped
Turmeric or haldi
Olive oil for cooking
Salt to taste
Lemon & Onions to garnish

Homestyle Chicken Wings

In a bowl mix the chicken wings ginger and garlic paste, curd, salt, haldi, red chili powder or flakes, pepper powder and dhaniya a little bit of olive oil. You could marinate it for about an hour or two. This really enhances the flavor trust me. 

In a non-stick pan put olive oil and place the wings as it heats up. In order for them to cook well, place four or five wings at one time. This allows them to cook well. After placing the wings, cover it with a lid. After few minutes remove the lid and turn the wings. Once they achieve a brown color on both sides, cover the lid for 5-7 minutes after which let them cook without covering. At the end of ten minutes you will have your wings crisp on the outside and cooked succulent from inside. I cook it on low to medium flame. 

Dish it out and serve hot with onions and lemon. 

Note: Cooking time depends on the utensils you use and the size of the wings, so chances are that it may vary. 

Well, I have many more recipes to share with you and will do so in my Happy Meals series part 2! :)

Until next time,

Love,

Adi

Be your spiritual guru!

Please don't get swayed by the title of my blog entry, I am not spiritually inclined towards one faith or other. I just believe what my heart says and feels like doing. It is just that I sometimes feel that I do a lot of introspection and self-inspection/correction or whatever you call it, hence I call myself my spiritual guru! :)

I strongly believe we all are capable of handling our problems on our own. Only when we think of sharing our "mental drama" as I call it we magnify the problem and make it bigger than it already is. Take your issues to yourself and you will handle them without taking a toll on your personal life.

With few easy steps you can deal with your inner tensions and issues and at least feel calm as you try and solve them.

Step 1.

Be angry, think all that you can about that "problem", feel all that you are feeling. Yes, the first step is to feel what you are feeling and do whatever is coming naturally to you. If you can avoid a natural outburst (if your tensions involve another person) do that since outburst and saying stuff which you know you are saying in anger. You might just regret it
later on!

Go to your bathroom or bedroom and weep a little if you feel like. It works for me if I just let myself be.

Step 2. 

Try keeping the problem aside and do what you love doing the most. It can be like surfing the net, watching TV, listening to a song that peps you up, talking to a friend, cooking, walk, whatever that diverts your attention from your problem. 

In the time of problem or an issue it is important to make yourself realize that there is a world beyond your issues which might just look big at the moment but will soon subside and you would be back to doing things that you do everyday!

Step 3.

Apologize if you have to! 

Even if its not your mistake. Do that! At the expense of sounding preachy I would go ahead and say that definitely apologize. Not only it boosts the ego of the other person it surely makes you a bigger person. It will certainly not making you any less and not prove anything that you are wrong or anything. 

Step 4.

Write it down. No I am not your school teacher telling you to make a personal diary!

You can just scribble on a piece of paper and even throw it afterwards. But penning down your thoughts surely is a stress buster. 

But please no Facebook & Whats App statuses! Trust me the world doesn't need to know and will not help you dealing with it at all.

Well, I can't say that these things will certainly help you dealing with your issues but will surely build your inner strength.  


If you agree please comment and please share what you do when you are facing a problem. 
Comments are most welcome! :)

Until next time,

Love,

Adi

Guess who is back!!

Hello everyone!

I am back to what I love doing the most and I cant tell you how happy it feels. I was away for a long time from this space as a lot had happened in the year and a half. Life changed like no one could ever imagine. 

Well, without dwelling further into what happened, I would happily *grinning as I write this* I am going making this blog alive! Yes! 

Also, since the last year brought me the most precious of gifts ever, my baby girl who all of six months has already taught me so much and made me a different person all together. I will share my experiences in one of my posts soon!

Well keeping my return post short and sweet, I will see you all soon as I work on my new posts.

Love,

Aditi :)