My mad hatter!

This is the only reason why I tolerate Balu singing
"Dont you wish your husband were a cook like me?"
(sigh, like the Pussy cat dolls themselves!!!!!!)

Yes, all the potrayed dishes are his experiments in the kitchen & freakishly delectable!!

A case of mistaken WHAT ?

The idea of pregnancy is scary but pregnant women are adorable! It is the last thing they want to be told...besides the fact that people go ahead feeling her womb, unannounced!Well, anyone would gloat and bask happily in the attention they get...but well, there is a limit to that! First of all its the hormones giving you the angry bursts, to top it the questions...."Oh are you pregnant? how cute...."

I am such a wrong person to talk about this...but have seen people complaint about this and have managed to stop myself from asking these questions to people I suspect are pregnant!

Coming to this, it once did happen that I met this girl at a gathering and she introduced herself, said she's been married for over 3 years and only had her hubby accompanying her. She did sport a slight paunch and dont blame me for assuming that she might have been carrying. She sported no signs of being fat, no place but for the paunch! at least I didnt go on to pop that question! but did make her conscious by constantly looking at her ahem...

Hey, couldnt help...I had to know, wanted to congratulate her; that is if she were pregnant! so I went over to Balu and confessed my doubts only to be pushed away and silenced instantly....bah!as if he could stop my mind from working away!

I tried to pry on every conversation she was having ( I was seated right next to her so thats not evesdropping ) and no one seemed to have my doubts. This meant only one thing...either they all knew that she WAS indeed pregnant or otherwise!That was all I left with that day, the whole even seemed unfruitful because of what I call my "Reasonable doubts".

As for you all, my doubts were needless, she wasnt pregnant & I could find that out only after a couple of weeks at another gathering where she was present too, in a different attire ( after a lot of gym sessions I presumed ) where she was obviously NOT pregnant!

Boring became a thing of my past...I remember my 2007 and will cherish that year to be the only one where I did almost NOTHING! well, actually I did improve on my culinary skills and got used to the everchanging climate here in Utah!

2008, right from the start became an interesting one ; for starters I am back to school! yep complete with a backpack ( waterbottle, tiffins inclusive and a coffee flask as the only upgrade )
while we are reminiscing the typical school days of 80's, 90's...let me tell you, I also have bus-pass provided by my University!

The last time I got to have a first day in school/college was way back in 98' so what do I have to say now that Im doing it all over again?
-------------"Im loving it"

TRUST ME, THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN MAKE YOU MORE HAPPY THAN....

1. LISTENING TO "KEH DOON TUMHE" (original or remixed) IN A UNIVERSITY LAB AMIDST UN-SUSPECTING LOCAL STUDENTS ( I obviously mean Goras & head phns on )
2. CHAIN MAILING YOUR BELOVED HUBBY IN AN EXTREMELY DRAGGY SEMINAR/LECTURE.
3. A NICE REFILL OF HOT COFFEE/CHOCOLATE FROM THE CAFETARIA ( refills are a buck cheaper ) BEFORE GETTING TO A MORNING CLASS! MOREOVER, EVERY 10TH ONE IS FREE!!!
Update;To hell with the free coffee, the management removed that system with the free 10th one crap!
More to come soon on this list.......

Baked my cake & ate it too !!

Well, this was a special cake and so had it all getting started real early (2 weeks)! like I soaked raisins, nuts of all types and orange peel in 2 cups of RUM. Should have mentioned, its not for the light hearted....

2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups butter
2 cups brown sugar
A pinch of salt
1 Tsp baking soda
2-4 eggs (upto you)
4 Tbsp fresh orange juice
4 Tbsp strong coffee
Few drops of vanilla essence
All the soaked goodness
A 9" cake tin lined with baking paper

* Get the butter to room temprature
* Beat the eggs until fluffy
* Add butter and sugar to the eggs and beat
* Sift the flour and add baking soda & salt
* Beat all of the above together with the coffee & juice
* Fold the nuts into the batter and empty onto the tin

Bake for an hour at 375F ( Pre-heated oven ) or until a skewer comes out clean.
The colour will probable say it all, all dark brown on top, the crust well baked all around.

I dont recommend frosting for a fruit cake, but this was spl...how often do married couples share their B'day?

"MERRY CHRISTMAS"

Santa baby, slip a sable under the tree, for me
Been an awful good girl
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, a ´54 convertible too, light blue
I'll wait up for you dear
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Think of all the fun I've missed
Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed
Next year I could be o' so good
If you'd check off my Christmas list
-Bee Doo Bee Doo

Santa honey, I wanna yacht and really that's
Not a lot
Been an angel all year
Santa honey, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa cutie, theres one thing I really do need, the deed
To a platinum mine
Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, fill my stocking with a duplex, and checks
Sign your 'X' on the line Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Come and trim my Christmas tree
With some decorations bought at Tiffany's
I really do believe in you
Let's see if you believe in me
Boo doo bee doo

Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a ring
I don't mean on the phone
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry down the chimney tonight...

Eartha Kitt

Whats in a cake?

Bangalore has more bakeries on any given road than grocery stores and the unique dishes made here are seldom seen elsewhere...Ive relished "Apple cakes" and feasted on them like theres no tommorow! What are they btw?

I, with a hope of recreating them here googled apple cakes and realising none matched namma bakery style, added Bangalore to the search.......
Blogs, blogs and more blogs of my generation ppl who have apparently grown up eating this appleless wonder!

It is difficult to generalize the way they are presented in the glass cases! some bakers give it a nice coloured icing ( not my type ) while others care a little less and callously dust some coconut to make them look intresting ( might be I pity these less cared for cakes )I miss that cheap little delicacy!

How do I describe it?
Every sweet tooth's fantasy, every school over-home returning kid's budget matcher, every baker's leftover cake da amalgam, every savoury veg puff's best companion......