The road that I had never taken

      It has been a week since I have been regularly going to the gym. Yes I got bitten by that bug too. I had never been to a gym except for that one time when I had to research for my college project to design Gym wear, hence I was very skeptical about joining it. The more my husband egged me on, the more skeptical I became. But since last month I had become very determined on joining the gym. My increasing waistline and almost literally bursting out of seams has made me aware of the very little activity I put my body through. My clothing size is slowly moving to the 'L' racks which never was the case. One of the perks of getting married is your husband treating you like a queen at least for the first few years, but mind you if you aren't careful laziness is sure to creep in as it did with me and it plagues you down completely before you can even take notice. More than the the increasing figure on the scales, it was the aspect of not getting enough activity was what that bothered me the most, since I had always been very energetic and agile. That's when I decided I needed to push myself harder than just getting through a days bare minimum activity. It took a lot of courage to accept what I had become from what I was, however that made the process easier and made me all the more determined. The more one accepts that their body is unique, acts in a certain way and in no way comparable to their skinny peers or vice versa, the easier it becomes to love oneself. 

     Loving your body for what it is is one thing though keeping yourself fit and looking after it is another. I have never believed in starving oneself, nothing good comes out of it. On the contrary I have always believed in sweating it out one way or another which is a much healthier alternative and a long lasting one too. I have never been skinny nor do I ever dream of becoming one, however I had always been curvaceously fit and hope to continue being like that. This was more of a lack of activity concern rather than a beauty concern for me. Hence I took the road that I had never taken before, to only discover to my delight that it keeps me going through the day, doesn't let me lay with laziness and yes I see myself transforming to that curvaceously fit girl that I have always been. 

Travel! You will find yourself!

       My earliest memory of travelling was to my hometown Mangalore by train for 16 hours from Tamilnadu as a child, though it became a routine every summer vacation. It reminds me of the numerous conversations with people in the compartment, staring at the skies, gazing at the coconut lined Malabar Coast and welcoming the adventure that comes along with it. As Mark Twain had put it across, 'Travel.. nothing so liberalises a man and expands the kindly instincts the nature put in him as travel and contact with many kinds of people'. Travelling to a new place has always been about getting to meet new people, knowing different cultures, being connected back to nature and getting to enjoy the complete experience thoroughly. A person from India that way is very lucky to be surrounded by melting pot of cultures at every step and not to mention the rich biodiversity. One doesn’t have to stray very far to experience breathtaking beauty around. 

Travel can definitely become a path to self-discovery. This can also turn out to be the best opportunity, if you choose to, to cut yourself off from the virtual social world and indulge in the real world. Of course if one is travelling on work that’s a far-fetched notion, but that cannot still stop them from experiencing a whole new facet. I see travelling as a window to explore new territories and get away when the routine gets mundane. A two time sabbatical from the routine a year seems befitting to everyone. Though travel does take a bit of planning, the process in itself is exciting. However sometimes it can also become a little exhausting. I have observed that too much of planning never does any good and if you want to travel, it is you who got to take the initiative to plan.

I have realised travelling makes me very flexible, well not that I can somersault but yes mentally. Some might think travelling every now and then is superfluous but it is a complete rejuvenation. Not only does the body relax and repair, but the mind as well becomes very receptive. Travelling today is much easier, comfortable and doesn’t necessary have to be a luxury. Budget travels are also equally pleasurable; it lies in how you can exploit the situation to your advantage (this is where flexibility plays a role), You can always begin by visiting places close to where you live and then move further away and while you are at it make sure you let go of all inhibitions and savour each and every moment of the entire journey as that is what builds up into those amazing globetrotting memories. 

Bon Voyage!

Evolved to kill?

What makes us Homo-Sapiens, human? How are we different from the rest of the animal kingdom? Universally, it’s when and how we draw the line between our animal instincts and being compassionate is what sets us apart. So says the books, but are we actually humane?

Of late, the Yulin lychee and dog meat festival held in the Guangxi province, China has been making news for all the wrong reasons. Over 10000 dogs are brutally killed to satiate the Chinese in this festival annually for their meat which is believed to ward off heat during the summer solstice. Though traditionally eating dog meat has existed for thousands of years in china, this festival started around 2009 in June when the dog meats are relished & washed down with copious amount of liquor for 10 days. Such is the atrocity of the trade that even pet dogs aren’t spared; they are abducted and then killed along with the others without a hint of mercy. Many videos shot in the market show the dogs crammed in tiny cages which are then barbarically beaten, prodded with rods, torched, skinned alive and slaughtered. The videos are unbelievably haunting and disturbing. Though many animal activists have been continuously opposing the killings, there has been no end to it. The Chinese meat lovers fail to be reasoned with and continue to shower the blows on those wonderful creatures.

So then do we actually deserve to be called humans after the many inhumane acts imposed on the fellow occupants of this planet? Why do we fail every day to harmoniously co-exist with our own species as well as the other species? Despite our IQ being much higher than the other animals we are at crossroads when being at peace. This Chinese festival adds a whole new dimension of human beings not only being callous but also barbaric. Different parts of the world witnesses various such similar acts and yet the rest of the world doesn’t get together to stop those slaughters. This questions the entire evolution. As much as we have rights to live freely, so do the animals even if the case is them not being on par with us in terms of intelligence. They deserve to live on their own terms and this planet is much as theirs as it is ours. We sure are capable of loving one another and helping each other, then why not extend the same courtesy to the animals? The Yulin festival which is downright sickening needs to stop, so do the many other festivals and occasions for which animals are ruthlessly killed in large numbers. It is up to us to stick together to protect and fight for the gentle beings. Just being called ‘Human’ doesn’t make us any different from the animals, being one in and out is what would make a difference for the better.

Lost & Found!!

It has been ages since I have been active on my blog. I didn't have time to update, wouldn't be the right statement to make, it's just that my writing took a backseat or rather I pushed it to the back letting some insignificant things become an integral part of my life. I had forgotten or rather ignored how happy & contented it makes me to write, play the Veena, dance.. Sometimes I secretly wish I dint have a smartphone at all, though I feel connected to many people I think I have lost the connection to myself or for that matter encroachment of any technology into our lives does the same. But then it has also become indispensable.

My mother is someone who has always pushed me to do creative things be it performing arts or any form of art. She has always been a very artistic personality. There have been days as a kid where I have cribbed about going to my singing classes and discontinued them after a point(though that was after a long struggle with my mother) but now when I think about it I do regret not having heeded to what my mother said, coz I have realised over time that I am drawn to music and if I had pursued it maybe I would have been good at it. But am glad I dint discontinue dancing, That's one thing that I enjoy doing all the time and any time, gives me a whole new perspective. Sometimes I have just let it slip it through my hands, it would have been a terrible mistake if that had been the case. 

So is writing, the joy I get out of writing about something whether it's great or not, gives a sense of satisfaction and takes my mind off insignificant things. I often secretly wish I had half as much a vivid imagination as Ms. Rowling and could write some decent stories. It's still a struggle for me to come up with an interesting bed time story and my mother could do it with élan when I was a kid. And writing this post after almost an year is like learning to write from scratch, I could only imagine what would have happened if I had forsaken it. Nevertheless I have tried making this post sound as meaningful as possible to me as well as the others and in the process I guess I have found back whatever I lost. 

Take over!! Boom Boom Pow!

     I had mentioned in my previous post that I would try out cakes yet again to justify my assertion on the faulty old All-purpose flour/Maida for my cake failures.  So I dared to go for it again. This time I made a mix of jowar/sorghum flour with wheat flour for the orange cake batter. Jowar is from the grass species raised mainly for grains but is also used as fodder for animals and is grown in dry and warm regions around Asia, Africa & Mexico. It is widely cultivated in northern Karnataka and other dry regions in India. It requires very little water and is an excellent source of nutrition too. It is a staple food eaten in the form of Jolada Rotti (jowar roti) in northern Karnataka along with aubergine curry, chutney powders, curd and other spicy delicious accompaniments. Since it’s very good for the health I used organic jowar flour with the wheat flour to get a healthier cake. My favourite fruit ever since childhood has been orange, I love everything about the fruit, its tangerine colour, citrus smell and the tickling acidic juiciness and since it is orange season in full swing I went for fresh orange juice and the marmalade which gave the cake its signature titillating citrus smell and a tinge of tanginess. And who doesn’t love chocolate flavour especially when it makes an excellent combination with orange so cocoa powder went in to give its contribution to the cake with its flavour and colour. The rich aroma of the cake wafted through the kitchen and it definitely looked like I was on the winning side but one never knows what one might end up with. I baked it at 150 degree centigrade for 35 to 40 mins to avoid cracks on the surface and voila it definitely came out whole and pretty. I had also had banana puree instead of eggs to hold the cake together but the best thing was that it added an extra sheen to the browned beauty.

The wondrous healthy choco orange cake

 I waited anxiously for the moment of truth, for the moment that would prove that it was all along the Maida’s fault and not the recipe nor me who followed the recipe. The small piece that I cut out looked very porous and felt extremely light in the hand. As soon as I popped it into my mouth I was glad that I took up this challenge and didn’t just throw away my baking skills. Though grainy (jowar is grainy) it tasted perfect with the right amount of sweet & sour and fluffiness. I just felt I had crossed the finishing line leaving my opponent far behind at the starting line itself. So there was an admirable testimony for my latest acquired baking skills as well as my undaunted spirit to keep going on. I couldn’t have been more satisfied about the perfect timing, gave me the much needed boost just before joining my new workplace as designer. Everything happens for a reason….

Fluffy & utterly delicious!

The sunny side up!

            After a disastrous baking day in the kitchen a few days ago, trying to get a citrus cake done (wasted some yummy fresh orange juice), I was quite let down that I had not turned out as good at baking as I had thought I would. I had wanted to indulge in some sinful citrus calories for the hot summer for quite sometime, so I baked a cake with all purpose flour/Maida moving away from my healthier version of wheat cake just so that I could get a spongier cake. Alas I was hugely disappointed. Though it looked pretty for the camera, it didn't go down so well with the tasting buds. It had a rubbery feel, was dense and definitely didn't taste like cake. Though I slept through the night, this mess up was biting my head off the next day to find out what had actually gone wrong with the recipe (remember, one needs to be precise to bake a perfect cake). So I went for it again but this time with smaller batches for citrus cupcakes instead of a cake. It was a good start with the batter tasting  just fine, I went ahead without any change in the recipe and put it to bake. I expected a super fluffy, honeycomb structured cupcake but out came an extremely white set of cupcakes with glazed brown surface. I have seen my mom and aunts bake cake with only Maida and I swear I have never seen a whiter cake as this one. though it tasted good, it still retained that rubbery feel to it. Now this drove me up the wall as the same recipe previously with the whole wheat flour had turned out perfectly well and much fluffier. There I went again racking my brains for where I could have possibly gone wrong. For some strange reason I turned over the All purpose flour's packet to check the date of manufacture, thankfully I hadn't used expired flour (now that would have become an actual disaster) but it was pretty old flour (Maida is rarely used in my kitchens) and old flours result in bad cakes. I heaved a sigh of relief and I am pinning my hopes on the old flour for my cake failure and not myself.
So I am yet again going to try the citrus recipe with wheat flour to assure myself that I was not the wrong one but the old flour indeed. Failure does strange things, well sometimes it just gets the better out of you and I have definitely learnt to take failures in a positive stride. :)

My Baking Blues..... Cracked

                     This would be my first attempt at writing about food in my blog. Food has always been a great part of my life, ever excited to try various cuisines and breaking down its nutrition factor. I was never the eager kid helping my mum around the kitchen but rather the one having it and burning it all playing outside. Being born and brought up in a Havyaka Brahmin household I have always been associated with healthy & nutritious vegetarian food. Havyaka cuisine is one of the few kinds that use healthy fresh produce and almost no oil to make excellent scrumptious food with taste and nutrition never being compromised for. There was never dearth for nourishing food and the knowledge of what it does to one’s body. Hence I have always looked up at the bigger picture of having wholesome food with occasional indulgence to satisfy my taste buds. As an outdoor person, always away playing in the grounds, my kitchen visits were very limited except for those rare Maggi cooking sessions and helping mother in baking cakes (I guess, No pain no gain & the only kitchen activity that excited me). Contrary to all this I enjoyed watching cookery shows & contests. It was during my stay in the hostel that I realised my folly of never having tried my hands in the kitchen. Nevertheless being a foodie has its own perks, as it goes ‘necessity is the mother of all inventions’, I began trying to cook up with a few resources I had back then and lo & behold there I was putting together a decent edible meal. However it never held my interest for long nor did I have the patience to slog in the sweltering kitchen. 

I have always had a big sweet tooth (well it runs in the family), treating myself with all kind confectioneries, Indian sweets et al, though I knew that these ephemeral joys from the loads of sugar could do me more harm in the long run. Consequently I have always striven to find healthier supplements for my sugar cravings. Incidentally I loved watching people present dainty & tempting three hat restaurant standard desserts & confectioneries in cooking contests. Julia Taylor, the ‘dessert queen’ of MasterChef Australia 4 whose delicious desserts enthused me to experiment with my culinary skills, but with an entirely different emphasis on finding a healthy alternative to the sugar loaded delicacies. My mother and her sisters have always eliminated egg from their cake recipes replacing it with curd & butter so my first step to making vegetarian confectionery was quite easy. However I still wanted to get rid of the superfluous calories from the butter and nutrition less all-purpose flour. So I started replacing it with whole wheat flour and oat flour as the nutritious replacement, but I couldn't think of or find healthy substitutes for curd and butter (though ready-made egg replacer are available in the market it’s not a very feasible replacement) until I came across flax seed meal in the internet which is not only highly fibrous and beneficial but also makes the cakes puffy and fluffy. This not only manages to satisfy everyone’s palate but also nutrition wise is much better than cakes loaded with calories. Though I used olive oil initially I eventually substituted it with water and got an equally good cake. So finally I have the perfect basic recipe which can be implemented to almost any confectionery recipe which is equally nutritious, delicious and Vegan, so you don’t have to count in the calories when you have your sweet cravings. So here I go with my healthy tasty recipe for vanilla cupcakes.

Ingredients:

3/4^th cup whole wheat flour

3/4^th cup oat flour

2 tbsps. Flax seed powder + 6 tbsps. water

3/4^th cup of powdered jaggery/unrefined cane sugar/white sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 cup water

1 tsp. vanilla essence

 Preheat the oven to 180 degree Celsius. Mix the flax seed powder with water and keep it aside. If you are okay with dairy products take a cup of warm milk and add a tsp. of apple cider vinegar and allow it to curdle instead of the flaxseed meal and water.

Mix all the dry ingredients. You can dry roast ready to eat oats, powder it and use it. Mix the wet ingredients together and slowly add it to the dry ingredients and mix it well together until completely incorporated. 

batter in the cupcake mould.
I got in funky moulds to make the
process all the more fun. 

Line the cupcake tray and pour the mixture into it and bake it for 30 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean. Cool them completely on a rack and voila it’s all set to be devoured.  

Butterflies all set to fly ;)

Perfect with tea or coffee

PS: Tastes best as an evening snack with your beverages, you can top it with nuts or cream (if you are extremely skinny) :P

PPS: Hope you loved it & hope to come back with more.. :)