Out of the Box Receipes

The Strory of a leaf

~ stargazersmemoir ~ Leave a comment

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 .

Snowy Thoughts

~ stargazersmemoir ~ Leave a comment

Happy New Year to all my blog friends!!  I know, I know I’m late this time, penning down my thoughts. You know why, because I have been trying to paint my thoughts on canvas and every time I try  I fail! Lol! So, one dream that  I’m a Celebrity Painter is shattered. In dreams also I can’t imagine myself as a painter, I’m such an awful painter (ha- ha). Kudos to all the painter/artist who paints their thoughts and makes the walls of the house/palace/mansion/museum/social networking site beautiful and colorful.

So we had a snow storm and my gosh every time it snows I feel that nature has painted the surroundings so beautiful.  Everywhere it’s white like cotton and I love anything in white. It looks so pure and innocent.

So I was driving back home and on my way I just glanced at the frozen lake and there were trees surrounding the lake , the trees looked beautiful. Each branch was covered with snow ,as if somebody took so much care to sketch the branches in white. I thank all mighty to provide such a beautiful planet “Earth” which has given and will give so much. The season changes and your life, mood changes too. Everyone, let’s try to save our planet!!

Look at this , Beautiful

Beautiful sketch by Nature

So coming back to my imagination or you can say my dream, btw I dream 24/7 (ha ha). I was thinking that if I had a house boat and on one evening I’m just sitting  and relaxing on the deck facing the frozen  lake , sun rays makes the lake  shimmer like silver and in the middle of the lake there is a bonfire and the fire provides the bright red and yellow reflection . Imagine the mix of color silver, bright red and yellow. Wow how romantic! Isn’t it? Just imagine you are gazing at this beautiful view with a nice instrumental  in the background and don’t forget munching on a finger licking food with a sip of wine or cocktail. Aha, i’m just screaming with excitement and wish this dream I could make it real.

So I thought of doing some research on the house boat  not that I would like to own one but definitely would want to spend one special evening all by myself and later on entertain friends and family. Sometime you really want me time and who wouldn’t want “me” time like this in a luxurious way. Yeah !!  that’s the expression I have right now, while penning down my imagination(ha ha).

Here are some spectacular house boat .

Now I am all rejuvenated by the dream I just lived  and its time to entertain my friends with one finger licking starter which I imagined myself gulping  while sitting on the deck facing the beautiful view.

So my finger food is Bacon Wrapped Thai Shrimp and my background music which I always listen .

 https://youtu.be/SwK0GrLRcY4 

Here are the steps  for the receipe:-

  • Marinate the shrimp with Thai Red Curry Paste , roasted cumin powder, chopped coriander leaves,  lime juice and salt to taste.
  • Refrigerate the marinated shrimp for 30 minutes.
Marinated Shrimp
  • Now place the bacon and cut the scallions lengthwise.
  • Flatten the scallion and place it on bacon.
  • Now its time to place the marinated shrimp , shredded cheese.
  • Preheat oven to 350 f  and grill the bacon wrapped shrimp for 30 – 35 minutes.
Marinated Shrimp on Bacon/Scallion
Bacon and Scallion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp is all set !!
  • All set to gulp in. Ginger infused Mojito accompanied the dish .

    Bacon Wrapped Thai Shrimp for you!!

For all my artist , here is the imagination which I wanted to brush , a female sitting on a chair on the deck facing frozen lake surrounded by snow covered trees , where her toes are more prominent  in the picture . There is a small antique end table which  has empty glass with a bottle of wine. In the middle of lake there is a bonfire which is half immersed  in the frozen lake . Frozen lake reflects the rays of sun and fire. Whoever can paint this imagination i’ll be so delighted and would love you to post that painting here.

See you soon !!

 

Spread Happiness

~ stargazersmemoir ~ 2 Comments

The journey continues:-

Right now you actually made me feel that I have become a celebrity and this is all because of you by providing me encouraging feedback and comments.  Thank you my blog friends,

As I told you in my first blog each comments/feedback will lead to a new journey with a new thought process which will be translated into a recipe.

So the beautiful year is coming to an end and everywhere people are in festive mood. Laid back environment at work place. It actually starts from October and ends with a New Year bash.  So I thought of choosing the month October why, it’s a month where season Autumn (fall) meets winter. Day starts with a pleasant sunshine and evening gives you a cool breeze, where hearts unite, the eyes meet while crossing the roads , hold each other’s hands to enjoy the moments of celebrations/festivals.

Hmm, so I thought of doing some research and you know to my imagination I was amazed by the nature of festivals that’s been celebrated throughout the world. They are wacky, colorful, breathtaking stunts.

Here are some wacky festivals which made me go crazy and these places got added to my destination wish list.(smiles)

  • Tubingen Duck Race which is a rubber duck race takes place in the River Necker. You know what is the number? It’s over 7000. Can you imagine? This happens to be almost the third of the population in Stuttgart city, Germany. So I have to make sure and please make sure if happen to visit Germany do visit in first week of October and don’t forget to get your Rubber Duck which could make you a millionaire. Why do I say so, the winner in the race gets €10.000. (Ha ha ha) and you become overnight celebrity. Cool isn’t it.

 

 

Look at Thousands of Rubber Ducks

 

  • My next pick would be Diwali / Dushera , these two festivals which takes months of preparations. The two festivals signifies the victory of goodness over evil .  Each and every roads, streets, corners are decorated with lights, humongous idols of deities, people wear new cloths, every house would have yummy foods. Celebration is not for only one day it’s a week-long celebrations. People from all the class have smile and happiness on their face. Lights, colors, yummy food , deserts , new fashions and what not. People just forget their sorrows , grievances,  and hug their friends and families to celebrate these festivals. You should visit India during October to experience these wonderful festivals.  Here are some snippets.

 

Durga Puja

 

 

Dusshera
Look at the happy face .

 

Colors which spreads happiness and friends are the colors of life
Vibrant Colors
  • The next pick is Halloween , wooooo scary . Trick or Treat. That’s what kids say when they dress up as their favorite character and hop house to house to collect their treats which are candies, chocolates, etc. I make sure to add some goodies along with candies. Kids love it. The houses are decorated not beautiful though, the more scary decoration, more fun.  I dress up as scary witch/vampire which I think I don’t have to dress up as I am already a wacky witch (ha ha ha). Let me share a funny incident which occurred with my first Halloween. I didn’t have any idea about Halloween 13 years back , so when kids knocked on the door for Trick or treat , didn’t have any candies to share rather I thought they have come to share the candies with us. So I picked a few candies from their bags while they kept on saying trick or treat (ha ha ha ) and I closed the door and felt very happy that wow kids have come to share their candies (ha ha ha). Now when I look back I just can’t stop laughing at my foolishness. I’m sure you are laughing like crazy.
Booooo
Scary

There are so many other festivals around the world but these are my favorites.

Since I’m a dreamer celebrity , so whenever I entertain friends/ family at my house , I feel I am throwing a Page 3 party , celebrities are coming , the paparazzi are waiting to get some click of their favorite celebrity. Like I’m welcoming my heart throb ShahRukh Khan (Bollywood actor), Russel Crowe, Julia Roberts , you know there is no harm dreaming like crazy. There shouldn’t be any full-stop to your dreams. I’m always ready to pose for shutterbugs so are my friends ,dress like celebrities and I make sure the evening is filled with entertaining actions and make them feel they are celebrities. (Smiles). Friendship is when you stand by your friends through thick and thin and entertaining them , making them feel that they are celebrities is the real mode of spreading happiness. 

So entertaining friends/Families without a desert is incomplete that too when you are throwing a celebrity party, what say? Again an out of box desert which I thought of sharing with you all. 

This desert got out of one of the famous street food in India and that’s Panipuri , some part it is referred as Gol Gappa, some where it is called as Puchka, others call as Gupchup .  You will find this street food stalls specially during Dushera/Diwali every five minutes of walk, people just indulge themselves to this street food. The stall becomes the place where hearts meet,  lovers come to get a glimpse of someone they love , friends  challenge each other who can eat more (ha ha ha ) Went back to your memory lane ? Or thinking yes, we do all these (ha ha ha )  .

So what is this actually , it consists of a round, hollow puri, fried crisp and filled with a mixture of flavored water (pani), tamarind chutney, chili, chaat masala, potato, onion and chickpeas.

I know , enough of creating suspense, here is the recipe for the desert . The desert unites salt and sugar like the month of October.

Name : Lover’s Surprise

Steps to prepare :-

  • Prepare a rabri :- This very rich dessert is made by heating sweetened milk in a large open vessel . As the layer of cream begins to form on the surface of the milk, it is taken off and kept aside. The process continues until the milk is exhausted. The rabri thus formed is extremely creamy and very heavy. I added some resins as well .
  • Store bought Boondi : – is a snack food made from sweetened, fried chickpea flour.
Boondi

 

  • Store bought Pani Puri.

 

Pani Puri

 

How to serve:-

  • Make a hole in the pani puri , put the bundi filling and top it rabri. You can actually give the feeling of street by asking your guest to stand and serve them.                 Here how it looks

 

  • Lover’s Surprise

    P.S. :- Make sure you hit the gym or walk everyday for 30 minutes to stay healthy and happy.