The Strory of a leaf

A leaf !! what is a leaf ? A Leaf, if its left alone it looks shabby or looks lonely on the tree but if the tree has full bloom of leafs, the tree looks beautiful, glorified and gorgeous. Thinking of this lonely life of a leaf, does leaf stops coming back to the tree or does the tree rejects her thinking she will leave one day!

When I looked at this picture I got the feeling of “the only leaf”! The picture looked so beautiful. Looking at the picture I started having a very strange feeling.  A feeling of belonging or a feeling of loneliness! When you look at dark, dry , lifeless tree you feel sad at least I feel very depressed but the same tree gives me happiness  or motivates me when it has colors of green , orange , red , full of life .

Look at the picture, everybody left her , she is the only one who is there with the tree but is she thinking that, I don’t think so, she is thinking my tree didn’t reject me or rather I’m still with my tree no matter what. I’m still trying to make my tree look gorgeous, giving some meaning to the tree but inside her she knows she will be gone soon like others did. She knows tree will reject her or rather wind will take her away one more time but she will come back again giving everything to tree and then she will be gone but one day will come, when the tree will be gone and then…..

That’s the life. Some people will see life is like half empty glass or some sees as half full glass of water. When we have people around we don’t value. Like the leaf, she knew even if wind takes her away , she will come back and tree will be standing tall to embrace her but when the tree is gone then…. the space becomes empty …. The void !!

What do we need in life, we need one ear which is always there to listen to you, listen to everything what you have to say without being judgmental or not thinking what a waste of time. A shoulder on which you can shed your tears or laugh out loud.  That ear and shoulder can be anyone in the world it can be your mom or your dad or your friend or your husband or your wife or your kid or anybody in the world. You don’t need 100 friends or 100 things to stay happy you just need these two . If you don’t have a listening ear and a shoulder then become one for somebody who doesn’t have, trust me you will be the happiest person. Value the person or people who had given you ear(s) and shoulder(s) when you needed him or her and that person didn’t make fun of your situation or your imagination or didn’t become judgmental or didn’t expect gratitude from you.

There is a famous Bengali Poem (Indian song), the lyrics says “Jodi tor daak shone keo na ashe tobe ekla cholo re “the words says when you call someone to walk with you, if he or she doesn’t come then start walking alone. That’s harsh truth of life, you came alone to this world and you will go alone !! While walking alone if you find somebody cherish , value and if you don’t, walk alone on the path of life,  you can become somebody’s shoulder and ears.

Life is to cherish what you have and not run behind or nag or whine for the things which you don’t have. Live for the moment who knows tomorrow you might not have those which you didn’t cherish or value.Smile and spread happiness around yourself.

So here’s again cheers to life !!

My healthy take on Bengali desert called Pati Shapta ( it’s kind of crepe stuffed with Mawa or coconut)

Recipe :-

Curdle the milk with Plain yogurt or vinegar or Lemon.

Mix 1.5 cups of all purpose flour with non fat milk and fennel seeds. The consistency should be like crepe mixture.

Slice Handful of Grapes and strawberries

Strain the Chenna (curdle milk , remove the water and you will get a milk cheese ) Mix that with sliced fruits.

Use a non stick pan , pour a drop of ghee (clarified butter) and pour the flour mixture. Let it cook for sometime and then stuff with the milk cheese and fruits mixture . Fold and let it cook for another 1-2 minutes.

Once it’s cooked , pour the sugar syrup (I made the sugar syrup with brown sugar). Let it soak in the syrup and then indulge yourself. I was in love this desert  when I made and I literally kissed my hands.I’m sure this will happen to you .

I just want to thank my friend (Ananda) who took this picture of a Leaf and my mind started to knit the story of a leaf. Sorry for stealing the picture .

Cheers to Life

Sorry my friends for taking so long. Howz life?

Hmm ! Celebrated my 40th Birthday. Phew!! Am I sad  naah , I heard or rather read that life actually starts when you turn 40 . So, what’s Life? Life is beautiful , it  teaches you a lot. What did I learn in these 40 years or did I really learn?  That’s a big question,  do we actually learn???

Okay,  so here it goes my lectures about life . You know I cherish my childhood  so does everyone . I remember each and every moment. Starting from first time cooking to first crush . Which phase of life I like or you like , I’m sure each one of us  have our own  favorite phase.  You know , I have realized as you grow old you meet people who are more complicated or rather you start thinking in a complicated way or you think too much loose your spontaneity .

Sometime or rather most of the time reality is harsh , but you know I always try to find some positive value  from all the negative  that happens in life and I never loose hope. Let me share a incident that happened toady at my workplace. I went to the ladies room  and there was this lady who was sobbing terribly and I thought for a moment I should wait for her in case she needs anything or you know I wanted to be by  her side but then I looked at others , they seemed not to care or may be they cared but they didn’t wanted to show  or may be I thought if I wait for her I might be  intruding her personal space . I  followed others  and  did not wait for her . Then I grabbed my coffee and I kept on  thinking about that lady and believe me I hated myself that why didn’t I wait for her. Why didn’t I follow my heart. Then I went back  to check and that lady had left the ladies room. I felt really sad for her and for my behavior . That’s when  I realized how complicated  I have become , I think too much , don’t have guts to listen to my heart and I hated myself.  Had this situation been  years back I know what I would have done , would have just knocked the door and asked her “are you doing okay , do you need anything ?” , Wouldn’t have thought that I’m capturing her personal space.  So what have I learnt, always follow your heart , your instincts , don’t follow others when you know they are not correct.

You know when you are a kid  you are a free bird ,  you are that innocent , for you black is black as we grow older we try to mix colors. I’m a open book anybody can tell what’s going on in my heart but trying hard or rather learning to maintain faces why , that’s what I have seen people doing  but realized not my cup of tea and yes if you are true to yourself or do not pretend people will love you for what you are . No human being is bad or good its our choices we make  in life that makes us bad or good , its our thinking that makes us modern or orthodox not money /education or cloths you wear . It’s us what makes us .  I read a quote in social media that you should talk to yourself  everyday  otherwise you miss out on a best friend and that’s so  true isn’t it !

You must be thinking what happened to me , my promise was to take you to dreamy world and not show the reality or rather not give lectures what to do  and what not to do. In reality I’m pretending to act as 40 year old woman (ha ha)  but alas I know I cannot pretend , I cannot grow up , I’ll  go back  again to my dreamy world and will take you my  friends  to the world which is not complicated  and you can dream about anything like flying your car or anything  . Till then cheers to life , stay healthy , keep smiling , make others happy that  will make you happy and do not pretend.

Oh yes my healthy take on the Sweetened Coconut balls (Nariyal laddoo). This is so delicious anybody can eat and its very healthy . You won’t feel guilty , I promise.

Here are the steps :-

  1. Chop dried Apricots
    1. Benefit :- Rich source of Dietary fiber and Iron
Apricot

2. Roast desiccated coconut :

Benefits :- Its unique combination of fatty acids can have profound positive effects                on health. This includes fat loss, better brain function .

Coconut

 

3. Now mix roasted coconut , chopped apricots with 2 tablespoon of condensed milk. Over here condensed milk acts as a binding agent.

Condensed Milk
Mixture

4. Now wet your palm and make round balls from the mixtures . If you want to be more creative , insert lollipop sticks in each coconut balls . Refrigerate them till the balls are hardened.

Coconut laddoo lollipop

5. Now melt Dark Chocolate  and dip the hardened balls in the melted dark chocolate and sprinkle some sprinklers. Chill and serve.

Chocolate covered Apricot coconut balls.

 

Believe me its worth trying .