Zindagi Everyday

Monday, December 22, 2014

Gajar Ka Halwa

Unknown 4:03 PM Cooking Adventures , 0 Comments

This winter season I tried my hands in making gajar ka halwa. By the way this is the first time I have made it in my whole life. Thanks to the google where every required recipe is easily accessible.
Though I am not a great cook, neither very experimental, but this time thought to try this winter special recipe. Googled the recipe, and started with it. The output was really awesome. Everyone was gaga over my dish..Yipee, the first experiment and that too deliciously successful.

Composing my recipe steps for future use :P
1. Grate the carrots.
2. Put the grated carrots in the kadahi or pressure cooker(lid open).
3. Allow the water in the carrots to evaporate.
4. When only a little bit of water is remaining, add milk as per your taste. For example, I added 2 full cream milk packets (without boiling) in 1 kg grated carrots. The milk can be increased or decreased as per taste.
5. The milk starts boiling within the carrot. Time to time keep stirring this mixture of carrots and milk.Make sure the milk doesn't boil outside the vessel.
6. The milk gets sticked to the walls of the cooking vessel, keep scratching it and mixing it again in the mixture within the vessel.
7. When the carrot & milk mixture reduces to approximate 75% of the original quantity, then put 1 or 2 tablespoon of ghee.
8. When the milk starts to get near to disappear, add some elaichi powder and sugar as per taste.
9. Keep stirring this mixture, and put raisins (optional). Allow this mixture to cook on a medium flame else it will stick to the walls and base of the vessel allowing it to start burning slowly.
10. Keep stirring and cooking till whole mixture gets a good consistency and whole boiling milk disappears.
11. Add cashews, almonds, pistachios, and grated coconut (optional). The delicious halwa is ready.

Posting the final pics of the halwa, by the way one may doubt why both halwas having different colors, then let me clear it. In one I added good amount of milk so it has got light orange color, while the more red one has only a little less milk as compared to the other one.This difference in milk composition caused the color difference, but no effect on the taste.Both are yummy.

Gajar Ka Halwa

Friday, December 12, 2014

Silent world of Introverts !!

Unknown 10:27 PM 0 Comments

INTROVERT --What does this word means is no longer unknown to each of us. Still, as per the dictionary,if used as noun it says:
1.a shy person.
2.Psychology. a person characterized by concern primarily with his or her own thoughts and feelings (opposed to extrovert ).

I think, major drawback for introverts lies in having countless thoughts in the mind, but unable to speak them out, don't know what holds them back. May be extra sensitivity towards thyself & others is the culprit. It leads the introverts clueless when people start snapping on them, which in turn leads them to have their own world, own choices and preferences in terms of social bonding & relations.
Being an introvert, I too have faced many instances where I felt confused with people, their actions & attitudes. And frankly speaking it really sucks ...

Recently happened to land over a very nice and quite relatable article on the internet written by 'Carlking' on his website http://www.carlkingdom.com/10-myths-about-introverts
The myths which he has mentioned, not all of them but many are really identical and describes introverts in a better way.
Just for a brief, sharing the article here.For detailed one, please visit the shared website of Mr. Carlking.
Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk.
This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.
Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.
Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.
Myth #3 – Introverts are rude.
Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.
Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people.
On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.
Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public.
Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.
Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone.
Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.
Myth #7 – Introverts are weird.
Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.
Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds.
Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.
Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.
Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down.
Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.
A world without Introverts would be a world with few scientists, musicians, artists, poets, filmmakers, doctors, mathematicians, writers, and philosophers.

Reel & Real

Relationships

The Twilight Saga: New Moon

It reminds me of my days of singledom (As per the dictionary, the state of being unmarried or not involved in a long-term relationship). During those days me and my bestie (my best friend ever, partner of all ups &downs, sins & crimes, joy & sorrow) were such a huge fan of this vampire series. Not to forget we both were enjoying our singledom.I use to read till early mornings, would sleep religiously around 3 or 4 wanting to read whole book in one go. My bestie, even though she was not a avid reader, better to say lazy to read, also managed to complete the series so fast. We both were such a huge fan of Edward and Bella. Actually we started day dreaming about how our would be life partner should be. I know thats so filmy, but you know girls are like that only, at-least we both were, totally mad about this character. To give wings to our dreams, the movies of this saga were released every year. Literally we both kept waiting for the month of November to get these movies released.

Yesterday I just put on the television, and this movie was up on the channel.It just made me sink a little bit, as I was really missing her and the craziness we shared for these movies and Mr. Edward Cullen. For once I thought of switching off the tv and go to sleep, but I ended up watching the whole movie till 2 a.m. By the way thats my normal routine these days to keep on watching these Hollywood movies after the kiddo sleeps. Thats a kind of relaxing time free from any work and baby blues.

Coming back to the movie, don't know what a bond both of them shared ( Edward & Bella ofcourse). The bond was just not the material one, that's a soul one, a pure form of love, where it is just both of them,no lust, no crime, no cheats. Yeah ofcourse thats a movie only, but is it possible to have such a real bond, a soulmate in the real life. May be yes , may be no. Or is it like the real life really sucks, all lost in meeting up the daily chores, deadlines, liabilities, responsibilities, kids, the ups and downs, sorrows, joys, celebrations, funerals....and so on. Aha impressive, I have really got a big list of life buggers :D

I guess those dreamy days are the only ones while you are madly in love, carefree yet liable, living the life to the fullest....Once you step in the institution of marriage things really change, we always trying to balance the mysteries of life.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Old Goa- A city of Churches

Unknown 2:55 PM Vacation , 0 Comments

Old Goa is a city of churches. It was the former capital and the principal city of Portuguese eastern empire known as the 'Rome of the East' and the 'Pearl of the Orient'.
As per some of the information from here and there, the monuments of Old Goa are considered to be the finest examples of Renaissance architecture in the world.
The famous churches of Old Goa includes Church of St. Cajetan, Church of St. Francis of Assisi, and Basilica of Bom Jesus.
Both the churches are under some renovation except Basilica of Bom Jesus.

Church of St. Cajetan: It is a beautiful and calm place. The greenery and the garden are really soothing.
The Church of St. Cajetan as it is popularly known, (originally called The Church of Our Lady of Divine Providence) and the Convent of St. Cajetan were built by Italian friars of the Order of Theatines, (known in Portuguese as Clérigos Regulares da Divina Providência). Although the church altar is dedicated to Our Lady of Divine Providence, the church is named after the founder of the Theatine order, St. Cajetan, a contemporary of St Francis Xavier.

Church of St. Cajetan

The main Altar

Church of St. Francis of Assisi:
The Church of St. Francis of Assisi was built in 1661 by the Portuguese in the Portuguese Viceroyalty of India.
There is a museum too in Church of St. Francis of Assisi.It was established in 1964 and reorganized in 1981–82. Housed in the convent portion of the church of St. Francis of Assisi, antiquities displayed in 8 galleries include the objects from the prehistoric and early historic period to the late medieval period. The importance of this museum lies in the display of the portrait paintings of governors and viceroys, wooden sculptures, pillars, capitals, postal stamps likewise many other objects which belong to the Portuguese period in Goa.The showcases have been provided to display the important objects the pedestals are prepared to display the heavy stone and wooden objects. The portraits are displayed utilizing both natural and artificial light. { courtesy:google}

Basilica of Bom Jesus:
The Bom Jesus Basilica, perhaps Goa's most famous church and among the most revered by Christians worldwide, is partially in ruins but still a model of simplicity and elegance, and a fine example of Jesuit architecture.
This is the only church in Old Goa, which is not plastered on the outside, the lime plaster having been stripped off by a zealous Portuguese conservationist in 1950.
Located at Old Goa, 10 kilometres east of Panaji, the Bom Jesus Basilica is a World Heritage Monument. The church is called "Bom Jesus" meaning 'good Jesus' or 'infant Jesus' to whom it is dedicated. The façade has on it, at the top, the letters, "HIS" which are the first three letters of Jesus in Greek.
On the southern side is a chapel with gilded twisted columns and floral decorations of wood, where the sacred relics of the body of St. Francis Xavier are kept. The interior of this chapel is richly adorned with wooden carvings and paintings, depicting the scenes from the life of the Saint. {courtesy: google}

Basilica of Bom Jesus

body of St. Francis Xavier

Coffin of St. Francis Xavier

The main Altar

Apart from the churches, one of the best parts of Goa are the ferries. They are of great help for locals to transmit from one place to another on a daily basis along with their vehicles mounted on these ferries.

Ferries in Goa

Dolphin See-sighting:
One should takeout time to go on this wonderful trip of Dolphin sightseeing. There are these local boats to take you into the deep sea waters for an amazing sight of dolphins playing in water.
Visit them during daytime as during sunset, the Dolphins are rare to find. But anyway you will enjoy the sea sailing during sunset watching the beautiful sunset, the changing colours of the sky, the moving water, the hilarious waves sometimes scary too...