Inspite your loss and your grief, be the best version of you...with a banana & nutella grilled sandwich

Every human being suffers a loss in their lives. It may be small or big, it may be the loss of a pet... or a parent... or a friend... or a child... or your favorite star. Every loss is special...mind & body consuming. It is good in a way, makes you realise the importance of something and everything in your life & keeps you grounded, helps you not taking everything for granted.

But there are some losses that never heal. You just carry the burden...the grief, shed a tear every now & then. Keeping this grief within you may not be the best decision and may not help you, even if you feel otherwise. Infact, the worst thing about loss, by the very definition of it, is being unable to share the pain. But you need to be strong for your own sake. It will hurt, it will take time. It will require will power. And you will need to make a few life changing decisions.

But, by saying that, I feel every person should be allowed to grieve at their own pace, recognizing that all people are different in their journey of healing. Acceptance...grace...compassion...kindness...that's what you will need on your grieving journey. And maybe, someday, you will overcome your grief and your loss because you will soon find joy in some other beauty of your life and this joy will help you overcome your loss... That's life...and that's how we go through it...we move forward never looking back, but cherishing all that life throws at you...gifts you!

And, well you are not alone in your journey...you have food to help you through. Yes, food! Just the way it helps you go through a bad break up or a very bad day. Ultimately, food is the solution to every problem. Don't go too far searching for answers, just make a short trip to your kitchen, or to your favorite patisserie, you know. I mean we all have our list of comfort foods. Grilled nutella & banana sandwich is MY comfort food. And so simple to make yet too tasty to forget all your grief... :)

Just grab a few slices of bread, spread nutella on the inner sides of both sandwich slices, spread your mashed bananas on one slice. Close it and grill it in a frying pan with some butter. Grill it till a lovely golden color. Enjoy it with a cup of frothy coffee.

Happy Eating :)

The Perfect Man & The Perfect Chicken Roast

"There's no such thing as the perfect man...until I met The Man."

Every woman dreams of her perfect man throughout her life or during a few 'certain' phases of her life. Some may deny that they don't need a man, that they are better off alone. But, the truth is, no man or woman is better off 'alone'. Every one needs a companion. But let's not at least fool ourselves, when everyday, everyone fools one another.

I, for one, was always wondering what if I end up with an egoistic man who has an ego the size of an elephant (trust me i came across a few with elephant heads!). Or would I just waste away, looking for him...? But the Higher Power up there, had better plans for me. The Man came to rescue me from my misery of the fear of living alone. (Too bollywood-ish?!) 

And here we are, so in-sync with each other yet so different from each other. For eg, The Man loves ladyfingers & I totally despise ladyfingers. I love brinjals & The Man hates them, literally (what sort of a person does not like brinjals...and chocolates, really?!!?) I am like this constant chatter box and he, well let's say, he's a good listener!! I guess, it's these small & big differences, that makes a relationship work on to being so special. Sure, we have our fights & arguments & disagreements, but then they don't make a dent in this beautiful thing we have between us. Touchwood !!! 

He's patient when am angry, understanding when am unreasonable, and clowns around when am sad & low. What am trying to say here is, one can not be perfect, but its our imperfections that make us good people for one another. So, don't trick yourselves into thinking that you are the brave one and can go on alone. You deserve someone who is imperfect yet special and made for you. GO out there and find that person, even if it means having a 'few' trial runs before you eventually meet them ;) ... Keep 'Hunting'!! 

And, The Man loves my Perfect Chicken Roast. It is truly said, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach" And how fortunate for this saying, because I don't have to try too hard to if we are at logger heads with each other, I just make Chicken Roast! And just like that, all's well :)

The Perfect Chicken Roast :-

You will need a whole chicken preferably with skin properly washed, cleaned & pat-dried with a kitchen towel (make it as water-free as possible)

One whole big lemon (pricked a few times with a toothpick)

Fresh (or dried) thyme

Salt & Pepper

Grease your baking tray very very lightly with butter. Give the chicken a good rub of salt & pepper. Stuff the chicken cavity with the lemon and thyme. Place the chicken on the prepared tray. Put it in the preheated oven at 200C for 30mins. Cooking the chicken this way will make the outer chicken crispy and golden, so juicy and succulent on the inside. The subtle flavor of lemon is like a little breeze of freshness. Enjoy your chicken with hummus or chili mashed potatoes & stir fried vegetables.

Happy Cooking & Happy Hunting ;) 

Confessions of an insomniac ..... and Hot Nutella

Yes, I have turned into an insomniac, that too a skilled one!
At times, I have stayed up all night and don't even feel sleepy the following day. This gets The Man very worried, but I am okay with it. Is that normal??

The reason most of the times is, my phone. Yeah I read it everyday everywhere that the smart phones are taking over mankind but its like an addiction which I can't help.I suppose saying that having friends and family in different countries with clashing time zones doesn't help much either. On some nights, it's a late night chat with my childhood friend(s), at other nights it's consoling a dear girl or a guy friend about their lost love, at times it's just heart to heart sister talks or the nights where I share recipes with my hotelier friend. But many times, it's just pure chatter box gibberish between two or more people. I mean how could I sleep when there are so many people out there who need me?!? Okay, now I sound like Mother Teresa! But, yes I do agree with those experts who say that the smart phones are taking over the not-so-smart humans...

But there's not only the Yakkity yak yak one does on their phones. What about games?? I play a lot of games on my phone and that alone suffices the reason I dont sleep much. Sheeshh too much distraction I tell you. But look at the brighter side (yes there is one!) I won't be cribbing and crying for staying up all night when I have a baby. Yayy this insomnia is teaching me a thing or two after all :)

But truly speaking, I miss sleeping.I miss the familiar cosy feeling you get when your eyes turn droopy and heavy. The familiar longing of your comfy bed to drift off to sleep and have dreams. I miss having my dreams too. My own fantasy world of crazy dreams where I have been too crazy which if I voice openly will certainly label me a 'certified' crazy person.
I miss the relieved feeling you get when you head for a noon nap or your beauty sleep because when you are sleeping, you are not sad, you are not angry, you are not  lonely, you are nothing. You just sleep...
It is wisely said "when all else fails take a nap" wish I could do this. They also say a steaming cup of hot cocoa at night helps you sleep better. So that's exactly what I did. I made my very own mean mug of cocoa

'Mix 1cup milk with 3.5 tsp of drinking chocolate in a heating saucepan. Heat till it comes to a boil and cook for another 1min. Take it off heat. Stir in half tsp of vanilla essence and now time to add in the heavenly stuff - 1 (or 2 or maybe 3) tsp of Nutella. Lightly stir. Pour. Sit back & enjoy your rightly deserved beverage. After all you are a victim of the smart phone and an insomniac!! You deserve the best ... ;)

Oddly enough, I couldn't sleep even after this drink. Was wide awake like an owl. Maybe this time it was the extreme sugar rush ppfpfpfffttt...

But really do yourselves a favor. Put away the smart phone before your bedtime and give your body and your mind the much needed rest. Because that's exactly what I am gonna do (or Atleast try to do that!!)

Happy cooking you all ...!!!

It's all about you, and only you after all ...

Yes, cooking is my passion and my stress buster and my escape route too, but I am not all about food only. I have different sides to me as well, really!

People think that since am chubby (not fat mind you, well maybe to some people) I already have this natural instinct towards food and anything related to food. And eating.
And then, there are people who think, that maybe I cook (And eat it too!) and design these cakes and all the other desserts, thats why I just can't seem to say goodbye to my curves. There! the greatest mysteries of all times, solved, by THESE genius people... clap clap!!

But, I would be lying if I told you that statements such as these don't bother me. Yes, they do! A pretty lot!!! How would an item number performer feel if people told her/him that no doubt you sleep your way around here to get to the top or to just perform?! Ouch, too harsh and judgemental don't you think?

But the fact of the matter is, our world is too judgemental. And that, is not gonna change. The only thing that can change is, you. Not literally of course. A change in attitude, a change in the way you think, and react. A change in the way you dress, treat others, laugh, smile, cry... the list is endless!! Maybe then, comments and people like these won't affect or bother you. It's your life, you have the right to treat and live it the way you want. If you want to spend your life by tasting all the beautiful cuisines of the world, who am I to say anything?!

People are judged for marrying too early, for staying single too long, for having too many babies, for having no baby, for being fat, for being thin, for being dorky, for being too outlandish. Face it, you will be judged, no matter who you are...how you are...no matter what.

If only, the internet had an emoticon for the middle finger, sigh, life would have been much more easier ;)

And all of this being judged and all, makes me angry, and anger makes me hungry. See people!! Do you see what you have done here? And nothing soothes me and calms me like a good jar of Nutella !! (ya ya go ahead, judge me here too, have you not been reading all the above crap that I wrote?!?!)

But yes, a tall glass of chilled Mohito, with an add-on, also works just fine. And that too with all the heat in Mumbai, this definitely more than works for me. And seriously, how can I sign off without writing down one more recipe ?!? Weird....

Just make some sugar syrup and keep in the freezer for it to chill. Add around half a cup of this sugar syrup over chopped strawberries. Keep the strawberry bowl aside for it to juice up. Roughly chop fresh mint leaves. Chop up some lemon slices. Buy some chilled Sprite or Seven up. In a tall, really tall glass, add strawberry pcs and the mint and the lemon slices. Squeeze in lemon juice, add in the strawberry syrup and if u want it more sweet add the chilled sugar syrup. Lastly pour the chilled sprite or seven up! Thats it, Sip Up ...

Happy Judging, err I meant, eating :)

Strawberry Frangipan Tart

Winter mornings always makes me crave for something warm and golden to eat, and yes not to forget the ever-delicious aroma of early morning baking drifting in the entire house. And since, it was the season of strawberries, it was a perfect time for a Strawberry Frangipane Tart !!!

I made this recipe mixing some two or three recipes, until i found the perfect taste (yes, you can thank me later **angel-face**)

You will need :

For the sweet shortcut crust:

240 gm unsalted butter, chopped

60 gm icing sugar

pinch salt

480 gm plain flour

2 eggs + 2 yolk

Place butter + sugar + salt into a food processor & process until creamy.

Add flour & process until coarse bread crumbs.

Add the whole eggs and yolks and process for 20 secs or until the dough comes together to form a ball.

Tip pastry onto a lightly floured bench & bring together with hands.

Flatten gently into a round shape, wrap in a plastic wrap & refrigerate for 25-30 mins.

Roll rested dough & wrap loosely around a rolling pin. Gently roll over a tart tray & press pastry into it. Fill any cracks with the excess dough. Refrigerate for 30 mins.

Place a sheet of baking paper into the chilled pastry in the tart tin, half fill with baking beads or rice and bake for 12-15 mins & until edges are light golden.

Remove the weights and the baking paper & bake for another 5-10 mins or until base is dry. Set aside.

For the frangipane filling:

1 & half cup blanched almonds

1 cup brown sugar

1/4th cup sugar

1 tsp lemon zest

pinch salt

250 gms butter

4 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla essence

80 gm plain flour

200 gms strawberries (cut & sprinkled with sugar)

Whisk butter + sugars in an electric mixer. With the motor running, add the eggs one at a time, continuing to mix after each addition. Add the vanilla + zest + ground nuts + flour. Mix until well combined.

Pour into the tart pan. Spread the chopped strawberries all over.

Bake for 30 mins or till golden. Remove the tart from the oven and brush with honey.

Devour, hot or cold, both ways tastes good.

Happy Eating :)

Roasted Chicken with smashed cucumber and pomegranate salad

With the ever rising heat of Mumbai, this is a very ideal meal which is not very heavy on the stomach and cools and relaxes the body too.

You will need:

Chicken breasts (washed, patted dry with a kitchen towel)
Rub the chicken with a generous amount of salt and pepper and stick it in the oven to roast. Roast till the chicken is moist and juicy within and also has a good and delicious golden crust on top.

The salad is pretty simple. Smash the cucumbers very roughly with your rolling pin. Spread these on a platter. Mix yoghurt, pomegranate molasses, lil salt, pomegranate, chopped mint. Spread this on the cucumbers.

Serve the chicken slices and the salad, sit back and enjoy :)

Happy Eating!!