Friday, May 20, 2011

DIY Sandwich-Maker Style Sandwich

Sandwiches!! Most of us can have it any time of the day and so do I. Where as some people do not have anything close to 'like' when it comes to bread.

Most of the times whenever I crave for a snack, this is the one I can think of instantly. 2 slices of bread, something to fill in and done. Oops,  sorry, not done. I like it toasted. Like the ones that comes out of a sandwich maker. But Ofcourse I do not have one, and I don't intend to buy one coz I can make one at home by using this technique!! Guess, most of you already know it. But anyways, here it goes.

First , heat a tava somewhere between low to medium heat.


Next place a few drops of oil or a small dab of butter on the pan. This step is totally optional. Now place the assembled sandwich on the tava.


Now place the flat side of any plate big enough to cover the sandwich. Totally clean the plate before using it ;))


Now either place something heavy on the plate such that it presses the sandwich or


Press the plate gently with your hands. Better wear gloves so that you won't burn your fingers.


Hold it this way for few seconds just enough to lightly brown the bread. Now flip the bread , and repeat the same procedure the other side. When placing the plate on the counter in between remember to place it upside down, so that we won't dirty it when placing it on the bread again.

Remove the sandwich and cool it for a min or two on your plate before attacking it!!

I have browned the bread a lil bit more..coz I was busy taking the pictures.


Wow, I would love to sandwich him in my arms ;))



Happy Sandwich Making .



Saturday, May 7, 2011

Friday, May 6, 2011

Never Diminishing

All I am about to write is about Akshaya Tritiya. It means never diminishing. It is celebrated by both Hindus and Jains. But I kinda felt it is wrongly understood or celebrated. Or at least I felt most of us do not know the real meaning of this day other than buying gold on this day. Isn't it?

As per my search in google, I found that as per Hinduism ,this day is celebrated as the birthday of Sage Parashuram / sixth avatar of Vishnu. This is also the day River Ganga descended to earth from heaven as per the mythology. So it is believed that doing charity on this day is a blessing. So as in starting new ventures / deeds.

For Jains, it's a story about a king of Ayodhya who ended his year long fast today when he was offered sugarcane juice from his grandson. It took a year and his grandson to understand that all He wanted was food and not worldly materials which people kept offering him.

My Pessimism starts here.

Just  like Valentines day , friendships day, fathers day, mothers day and all other days being so over hyped just for marketing the retail products by business owners, I feel even Akshaya Tritiya is over hyped by jewellers/banks/finance companies in India in recent years. (No offense and not that I don't celebrate these special occasions, but I am just merely trying to understand the big picture). So people buy gold thinking that it multiplies if you buy on this day. Don't know what people will do with all the multiplied gold, if it ever multiplies and if it really makes sense.

People are actually supposed to do charity on this day. It is a blessing. On the contrary when our holy book Bhagavadhgeetha teaches us to forsake all worldly pleasures and desires , to give and not ask more, why do we some people do exactly the opposite. Why do we see buying gold on this day as auspicious? Why do we perform Lakshmi pooja for wealth and property? Does it make any sense? It doesn't , to me.

I know its practical in this age to have wealth enough to live comfortably. But isn't the real meaning of this day being masked by the gimmicks of business people. All we know is the picture projected by marketing companies than the religious side of it.

So I think all of us should understand the real meaning of this day and grab an opportunity to do some charity or good deeds on this day instead of dwelling on buying gold and it bringing wealth and getting multiplied and so on.

On the lighter side, here's what I baked for my friends on their anniversary.

Chocolate cupcakes which was more like chocolate brownies. Anyways it tasted chocolaty!!


Have a good day. If I buy a chocolate on this day. Will it multiply and will I keep getting more and more of it? All chocolate lovers, try it ;))

Disclaimer:

This thoughts in the article written above is mine and mine only and does not reflect any body elses's sentiments. Neither it refers to anyone in person.


The Growing 'Him'

It Just feels like yesterday that my son had started walking. But now he just runs around. He doesn't seem to  have the time to walk. Looking at him grow up is so fun and exciting. Every other day , we are awe struck by his ludicrous antics.

The Beach

Two months back He was pretty scared to play in the beach and just last weekend he was soooo much enjoying playing in the water.

We were speechless.


The Washing Machine

And then the other day  when I was pulling out the clothes from the washing machine, I was also pulling out spoons and his toys. It looked funny. It was like opening a  gift box with a lot of goodies inside:)) Only then I realized that he's grown tall enough to dump stuff into the washing machine.

The Mirror

He steals glances of himself in the mirrors. He stares at himself, his hands, his legs.He blabbers in front of the mirror which makes him all the more risible. Fun, ain't it!!

Try it when you're free. I'm sure you will be amazed.

The Animals

He loves them. Dogs, cats and ducks. These are the ones that he gets to see in our apartment. He chases them. Of course the ducks and the cats run away. But the puppies play with him.

And he bites their tail!!

Just kidding.

The shoes

His cute tiny weeny Shoes.

His first.



His second.



His third.



Currently



Currently



Raise your hand if you like the last one the most.

Wow, thats too many hands raised!!

The Socializing

He , who was so scared and shy, has started to open up a bit now. He does mingle with people and kids around a li'l bit. A Little bit. Not long that hes gonna have his friends over . I guess. But He's still shy.


And  He just completed a year and half the other day.