Thursday, 23 August 2012

Milk-Egg Curry (Kashmiri Chhataak)



A lovely recipe which takes so less time to cook, suits our fast lifestyle :)
Its tasty yet healthy, rare combination :)
Though its Indian, but its not at all spicy :)
With all the properties described above I should give some history of it too :)

Its belongs exactly to Kashmir, India and is called Chatak in local language there.
I named it here as Milk-Egg curry.


Preparation for 2 persons

Ingredients -  4 Eggs, 1 medium size onion, one tea spoon of freshly ground Fennel powder,
                          1 cup milk, 2 cups water, Half table spoon turmeric powder, Salt to taste


The Procedure:-

Cut Onion into medium think long slices. Take a broad-deep pan and add 2 table spoons oil. Put onion after the oil is hot. Keep stirring the onion till its soft. Do not let Onion to turn brown. 
Add Salt and turmeric powder. Just after 10 seconds add water and increase the heat and let it boil. After the water boils for 2  mins take eggs and break them into the pan. Break each egg in a different place so that they should not stick to each other. Do not stir it at all. Let the eggs get cooked in boiling water for 5-8 mins. 
After you feel that eggs have become hard enough not to break, Add milk and Fennel powder and let it boil for 5 mins. 
It should have some gravy as this is best with rice.

Enjoy the yummy Milk-Egg curry with steamed rice.


            

Venice “City of Romance”


Venice “City of Romance” -- Venezia

‘CITY OF ROMANCE’ as it is called… VENICE really proves true to its well known punch line.
It has breathtaking Grand Canal with spectacular architecture which takes tourists back in the olden times. Being there makes us forget that we are in 21st century.

Venice attractions
The attractions of Venice revolve around its canals; the magnificent churches and palaces spread around the island; and its rich arts and culture heritage, a legacy of the once great state of Venice.
Traveling between water lanes surrounded by all the attractions makes us  take in the wonderful views while  drifting down the Grand Canal, either in aVaporetto (water bus) or during a romantic ride in Venice’s famed gondolas.
(Click on the images to see full view)
Venice - View of Grand Canal
Vaporatti - Water bus

Gondolas – the world famous ride in Venice. Though is really romantic and a rare experience, its quite expensive. You should be able to negotiate with the Gondala Driver :) . They can ask 100 euros for an hour’s ride or even more.
But the thumb rule is,  when you are in Venice, just let the bucks flow. Otherwise, everything is gonna pinch you and you will forget to enjoy.
(here’s a pic of Gondola, Click on the image to the enlarged view)
Gondola Ride

One of the main attraction of Venice is St Mark’s Square, breathtakingly beautiful and surrounded on all sides b Historic Buildings,  Beautiful churches.
St. Marks Sqaure (San Marco Square)

Travelling


Travelling

Many of us dream of traveling to some dream locations around the world. It’s a very common hobby and I am no different.
To me Traveling is, not just knowing the landscape and food of a particular place but also the Culture and History that enriches it. Traveling is a passion me and my husband share. Traveling doesn’t mean an abroad trip or a location far from home. It can also be a day out near your home to explore a new place.
Anyways, as cool as it sounds, it needs some homework to be done if we want our time to be relaxing and fun. And when we are traveling out of our home town or country, then homework is a must.
There are quite a number of travel agents out there who promise to ease our tension of landing up in a strange place, but there are some negatives in that. Travel Agents rule our time by their watch and it becomes stressing to follow orders even on a holiday. Lucky we, that there is internet today. So, if we are not the ones to compromise in our fun times, we should plan it ourselves. It’s obvious to feel anxiety in this case but its thrilling too. Just be confident and ready for adventure.
We too planned another trip this summer. We chose two dream places and started our research – VENICE and SWITZERLAND. It was a dream come true.

My Dream!


My Dream!




It was a rainy cold night,
When I saw a painful sight,
Heavy drops of rain were falling,
And in the street a child stood trembling.


He was shivering and crying,
But everybody kept passing by,
He was barefoot and wearing a torn shirt,
Looked like a statue in the middle of the street.


He saw hopefully at every passerby,
But nobody came to help that poor boy.
Then my mother called me to rise,
And I awoke in the state of shock and surprise,


After a minute I came into my senses,
And I reminisced my dream,
That was just a dream,
But it often happens in this selfish world,


Where so many of our brothers and sisters tremble in cold!

An evening being alone and yet not!



An evening being alone and yet not!


Many of us would have experienced solitude and company at the same time. And if you haven’t, then do try it at least once after reading this.
All of us wish to do something which we really love to. Usually we read in books or hear from great people that we should love our job. But we cease to love our jobs even if it is a chosen career or it is something we always wanted to become, when it gets associated with appraisals, money and promotions. We are in the software industry, medical, teaching, blah blah blah! just because it was the need of the hour or just because it was the safe bet, we are not happy in living the life of an engineer, doctor, teacher, architect ……
In simple words, we want to do a different thing or we want to do things differently.
I know I am not tellin anything different here.
But I am just taking you towards something which can make you happy for sometime. And, that momentarily happiness may bring smile on your face for always.
 It was a usual Sunday evening and I was sitting in the balcony of my house. Being alone at home gave me some moments which are so precious. And I thought of spending it doing something I love and totally love doing. Reading and watching people passing by. With a good book in hand (Memories of Malgudi by R.K. Narayan) and a cup of coffee (though I am not very good in preparing that), I sat on my chair opening a new chapter – The English Teacher.
 I was totally engrossed in the beautiful words of legendary writer. But at times I was making myself aware of the street in front of me. There was so much hustle and bustle in the street with the laughs and cries of children playing. I was enjoying every moment, every sound, every word and every sip. It was a feeling of knowing me. Sitting with myself, and yet with everybody around. It was really like being alone and at the same time not being alone.
Looking at sunset would have added more flavor to this delightful evening. But that’s the plight of being in a big city. The beautiful sinking Red ball is hardly seen and it coolness is not felt while it gets hidden behind the great skyscrapers, the proud creations of modern day man. So, I missed sitting on the terrace of my home in my college days watching sun-set while reading or writing.
Anyways, I missed some part of it, but I still felt rejuvenated and fresh after sitting for few hours with me and my book. I had turned about 20 pages of the book and that lovely story too added to the exhilarating experience. I felt happy and was loving my time. The whole idea is I enjoyed doing what I love to do the most.
So, in short words I got time to spend few moments with my hobby. That made me cheerful. Hobby is something which brings back in us the childlike heart, smile and innocence. I believe that all of us should spend at least ten minutes a day as a kid. At least for ten minutes feel like a kid, act like a kid, laugh like a kid and if possible dance like a kid. All in all, if you pursue a hobby and do something which refreshes you, gives you some moments to feel unburdened of this mundane adultness, frees you of stress.
So friends, do pursue some hobby and feel rejuvenated.
Spend some time following your heart.
I bet you will love it !

Lamhein!


Lamhein!
Sep 2011 



Zindagi beshumar lamhon ka jod he,
Kuch haste lamhein, kuch gum ke lamhein,
Kuch khatte lamhe, Kuch meethe lamhe, kuch gaate lamhe, kuch muskurate lamhe,

Ik lamha woh, jab mera wajood maa mein ayaa,
Ik lamha woh , jab meri cheekhon ne hospital  sir pe uthaya,
Ik lamha woh, jab meri muskurahton ne maa ka jeevan mehkaya,

ik lamha woh, jab meri kilkariyon ne saara ghar gunjaya,
ik lamha woh jab mein pappu, chintu, mintu, sonu …. Jaane kya kya kehlaya,
ik lamha who jab mene school mein dakhila paya,

Ik lamha who, jab mene khud ko gadi ke dayare mein bhande paya,
Ik lamha who, jab kitabon ke bhoj ne mere badte-masoom bachpan ko jhukaya,
Ik lamha woh , jab mene khud ko sabki ummeedon mein ghire paya,

Ik lamha woh, jab mere bas aage rehne ka junoon aaya,
Fir ik lamha , jab mere andar haarne ka darr samaya,
Ik lamha woh , jab doosro ko peeche karne mein mene khud ko khush paya,

Ik lamha woh, jab mere armanon mein aur maa ki ummeedon mein farq aaya,
Ik lamha woh, jab mene apne dil ko jaise pehli baar dhadakte paya,
Ik lamha woh, jab mene khud ko kisi ke sapnon mein dhoobhaya ,

Ik lamha woh, jab mene poori kayanat ko apne se ladte paya,
Ik lamha woh, jab fir ik baar kisi  aur ne mere dil ko dhadkaya,
Ik lamha woh, fir kuch banane ka junoon mere man mein samaya,

Ik lamha woh, zindagi ki bag-daud mein mene sab rishton ko aur apne aap ko bhulaya,
Ik lamha woh, jab mene khud ko apne dream cabin mein, dream chair pe paya,
Ik lamha woh , Mujhe laga jaise ye yameen , ye aasmaan mere kadmon mein aaya,

Ik lamha woh, Jab mene pehli baar kuch apni kamayi ko haath lagaya,
Ik lamha woh, jab maine apni heysiyath ko thoda ooper uthaya,
Ik lamha woh, khud ko branded kapdo aur jooto se sajaya,

Ik lamha woh, doston se zeyada zindagi ko Credit card aur internet chatting  se behlaya,
Ik lamha woh, ready to eat kha kha ke, maa ki yaad mein aankhon ko nam paya,
Ik lamha woh, jab mene apne aap ko kisi ki taraf khichte paya,

Ik lamha woh, uske package ko dheyan meine rakhte huye, poore hisab se man banaya,
Ik lamha woh, jab mene ma se kaha, ab apna ghar basane ka samay aya,
Ik lamha woh, shehnayion aur geeton mein mera har lamha phoola na samaya,

Ik lamha woh, jab mene zindagi ko jannat jaisa paya,
Ik lamha woh, har pal  har din hamne haste gaate bitaya,
Ik lamha woh, jab zindagi ki sachayiyon se fir apna zeevan murjaya,

Ik lamha woh, Down payments aur EMIs ko khane aur hasne se zeyada zaroori paya,
Ik lamha woh, jo bahut bada tha, woh package bhi kam padta nazar aya,
Ik lamha woh, jab zindagi ne ik aur baar khushi ka lamha laya,

Ik lamha woh, hamari zindagi ko kissi ke nanhe kadmon ne hilaya,
Ik lamha woh, jab hamko hamare hi ansh ne fir se hasna sikhaya,
Ik lamha woh,  hamari zindagi  mein fir se bachpan aya,

Hamne is duniya ko khoobsurat aur mehakte paya!!!

wanna go back in times…..


wanna go back in times…..

wanna go back in times …
when flying was only an imagination
when whole earth was my nation
when our waters were pure,
when our sisters were secure,
wanna go back in times….
when love had no religion,
when country had no politician,
when my sound echoed from mountains,
when I could run freely through the plains,
wanna go back in times….
when my song had no words,
when my brothers had no swords,
when flowers had fragrance,
when hearts had no distance,
wanna go back in times….
when our earth was green,
when our sky was serene,
wanna go back in times ……………………………..

Mundane




Someone always replaces the other person, that is norm of nature, whether it is life or job or relationships !!!

Love!


Love!

“LOVE”
It is on this word,  whole living world is based,  as it is for love we live and cherish our existence!

Thought for the Day


Thought for the Day:-

Thought for the Day:
There will be millions of people in this world who would tell u they love u so much or they can do anything for you.
But never forget, there are people in this world who love u so much and they would never even let u feel, what they can do for you.
You will never come to know what they have done for you;…. those are the types we call true lovers.It is hard to find that type in millions with all the fancies around.
But if u are lucky to find one that is when we say True Love has been found. :)
May God bless all my friends and their friends and their friends’ friends and all ……. with True Love!

who loves us before she meets us! ... Mother


who loves us before she meets us!

MOTHER ………….
a short word , but carries all the love and compassion of the world.
They say,” God cannot be present everywhere, so he created mother.”
A very special one who introduces us to this world with her face, makes us feel it with her hands and see it with her eyes.
Makes us learn to love the good things and to be strong to fight the bad ones.
An angel who lives on our one smile and cries with our every tear.
Till the time child gets the senses to understand the new world around him, his world incarcerates up to his mother ….. he understands only her and recognizes only her.
    It’s an abstruse link but the most beautiful one.
    An inarticulate bonding but the strongest one.
Just after the child starts understanding this fascinating world around him, he starts taking her for granted, that very first face he fell in love with for the first time. He finds the beauty of the world more intense and compelling that the unconditional love of his mother. But, when ever he gets hurt, the word which comes out unintentionally is MA or MOM or MUMMY or AMMI. And the heart which aches with child’s pain is her’s.
But yes, how much ever we strongly miss our mom and we love her, it becomes tough to express all these feeling in this mundane and hectic life. Usually we don’t even realize that the last we told her how much we love her and care for her, has become history.
As I am writing this, my mummy’s pretty face is in my mind and in my imaginations. I am feeling so blessed to be her daughter.
So friends, who so ever reads this, promise me, the first thing you all are going to do is to tell her that she has made and will keep making your life wonderful. This is what I am going to do now as I sign off with the note:-
“tu kitni achchhi hai
tu kitni bholi hai
pyaari-pyaari hai
o maan o maan
o maan o maan
ye jo duniyaa hai
ye ban hai kaanton kaa
tu phulwaari hai
o maan o maan
o maan o maan
apnaa nahin tujhe sukh-dukh koyi
apnaa nahin tujhe sukh-dukh koyi
main muskaayaa tu muskaayi main royaa tu royi
mere hansne pe mere rone pe tu balihaari hai
o maan o maan
o maan o maan “

Meri kalam se!


Meri kalam se!



1)
Khuda ne insaan banaya khud ko behlaane ke liye,
Insaan ne khuda banaya doosron ko behkaane ke liye,
Kisne kisko istemaal kiya,
Ye janana mushkil he zamane ke liye!
———————————
2)
Unke Intezaar mein lamhe saal ho gaye,
Na bhookh lage na pyas hum aise behaal ho gaye,
Woh aaye to jaise bahar aa gayi,
Hamare din aur raat bemisaal ho gaye!
———————————
3)
Hamein unse kitni mohobbat he, ye unhone aksar hamse poocha,
Hamne to apni har saans ko unki yaad mein aansuyon se seencha,
Woh aaye to baharein aa gayi, saans jaise thum si gayi,
Unke afsanon se hamne apne aarmanon ko jee bharke seencha!
———————————-
4)
Aap hamein bulayiye, ya khud hi chale aayiye,
Akhir hamein bhi jeene liye koi afsaana chahiye!
———————————-
5)
Gardishein bhi zindagi mein rang laati hein,
Fizayein hi baharon ke mayane samjhaati hein,
Nakamyabi se udaas mat hona mere doston,
Nakamyabi hi hamein is mitti aur zameen ke kareeb laati he!

Kareeb!


Kareeb!

Woh mom si pigalti har raat,
Gur si meethi tumhari har baat,
Jazbaat mein sulagte woh halat,
Mujhe tumhare kareeb laate rahe…..
      Tumhare dheeme kadmo ki aahat,
      Woh udati pattiyon ki sarsarahat,
      Tumhari maasoom si muskurahat,
      Mujhe tumhare kareeb laate rahe…….
Tumhari sanson ki woh khushboo,
Ankhon mein chahat ka junoon,
Har kadam saath chalne ki aarzoo,
Mujhe tumhare kareeb laate rahe…..
      Woh tumhara bahut door jaana,
      Na bhool kar bhi har pal yaad aana,
      Tumhe dekhne ko aankhon ka tadapna,
      Mujhe tumhare kareeb laate rahe……
Tumhein pakar bhi khone ka darr,
Kadmon se fisalti huyi woh har dagar,
Woh poora, fir bhi ek adhoora safar,
Mujhe tumhare kareeb laate rahe…..
      Tumhein apna kehne ka woh ehsaas,
      Meri har saans mein ghuli tumhari saans,
      Mera naam pukaarti tumhari har awaz,
      Mujhe tumhare kareeb laate rahe……
Har pal bas chahat ko chahte rehna,
Ankhon se bas tumhara deedar karna,
Naam-e-ishq lekar duniya ko rukhsat kehna,
Mujhe jannat ke kareeb laate rahe……

something that doesnot shine can be gold!


something that doesnot shine can be gold!

An inspiring story … can say that she is the SAVITRI of 21st century..
but also proves a fact that our women are more safe with docoits than with our so called civilized society… she can go to meet docoits in a lonely place alone and return safe but she cannot walk safely in our crowded cities. A big lesson to our so called educated and decent world of this modern era!!!
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Brave-Guriya-rescued-her-husband-from-dacoits/articleshow/6289698.cms

aapki nazar…..


aapki nazar…..

Arz kiya he ……
1) Dil mein uthti huyi maasoom tamannayein,
Kuch teri haqeeqat, kuch meri kalpanayein,
Ik aise daur se guzarati rahi zindagi,
Na hum samajh paye, na woh keh paye!
2) Khuda he ya nahin,
ye to samajh mein na aya,
fir bhi insaan ne insaan ka khoon bahaya,
Mein behtar ya tum behtar,
Is sawal ne saari kayenat ko bhi ghumaya!
3) Dil – e – pak ne tumse mohobbat ki,
Masoom ehsaason se tumko apnaya,
Duniyadari se jab hum guzre,
Apni mohobat ko sawalon se ghire paya!
4) Dekha tumko to khuda ko dekha,
Chaha tumko to jaise bandagi ki,
hum ne jab mohobat ki…… to bas aise ki !
5) Aaj hawayon mein kuch mehak si thi,
Mene poocha, to ik jhonke ne tumhara pata de diya!
6) E khuda, na hamein koi neend se jagaye,
ya fir unse mulaqat ke koi aur zariya bataye!!

Oh breeze!


Oh breeze!


oh breeze! take me along with u,
or carry the fragrance of my thoughts,
touch his soft hands,
caress his lovely cheeks,
whisper my feelings to his ears,
touch his lips with the warmth of my breath,
mix my love to his wine,
become visible to him to show my smile,
oh breeze!!!

God/Waheguru/Allah/Ishvara/Dieu/Gott/Dio…………


God/Waheguru/Allah/Ishvara/Dieu/Gott/Dio…………

WAHEGURU! ….… the word which introduced me to that Supernatural power which the creates, sustains and destroys life and universe.
Though different people call it by different names in different languages, we have always heard,” God is One!” We associate HIM with lot of adjectives like Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Omnipresent. And that is what all religions teach and all saints have preached.
In every house in India the second word every mother wants her child to speak in Ram, Allah, God or Waheguru.
Though there are some non-believers who believe that there is no such thing as GOD! But personally I feel there is some power which makes the sun rise every day, which makes the droplets of water fall in the form of rain, which makes the birds fly, which colors the butterflies, which sprays perfume in flowers, which makes…. which does…. …. blah! Blah! Blah!
However, we have scientific reasons and man has explained the process behind everything like evaporation, pollination …… but still there are some questions unanswered! And a saying very well fits into this …
“Science is wonderfully equipped to answer the question “How?” but it gets terribly confused when you ask the question “Why?””
Some definitions of that SP (Supernatural Power), which I started speaking or reciting even when I could not speak properly come from the very first paragraph of our Holy Book “Guru Granth Sahib” which comprises of voluminous text of 1430 pages, which says :-
Ek Oankaar
God is only ONE!
Satnam
His Name is Truth
Karta Purakh
He is the Creator

Nirbhao

He is without FEAR
Nirvair
He is inimical to none
Akaal Moorat
He never dies
Ajoonee
He is beyond Births and Deaths

Saibhan

He is Self-Illuminated
Gur Prasaad
God is attained by the Grace of the Enlightener or Guru
Jap
Repeat his name
Aad sach
He was True in the beginning
Jugaad sach
He was True when the ages commenced and has ever been True
Hai bhee sachch
He is true now
Nanak hosee bhi sach
Nanak says He will certainly be True in future!
I know all of you; though following different beliefs would be defining or praising HIM the same way.
The description I have given above is no new to most of us. I know we all are well aware of the facts and definitions of GOD from our childhood only. Just that how many of us think about him every moment or say, every day. In our everyday mundane chores we don’t even realize that we have forgotten to remember HIM, to thank HIM for the wonderful life, to pray HIM for the world peace and to ask HIM to bless each and everyone around us.