Ghevar!!! - A La Rajul :-)

Cooking is a lot like Love - You need to enter into it with total abandon - half hearted efforts don't give good results ;-)

I have always enjoyed cooking since I was quite young..It was a thing of curiosity, a thing of necessity and always had mystery around it..

And it helped that whatever I cooked turned out to be more than decent, tasty most of the times..& when your labour of love is enjoyed by all, it gives you immense satisfaction!!!

Over the years, I had lost touch with my most favourite activity..yes, I cooked sometimes but it was only when mom was not around to do so..

I had been so occupied with my work that the desire to cook was buried deeply in a box which had been locked for a long time..

The first time when the desire popped its head out of the box was while watching Masterchef India..It was amazing how day to day ordinary cooking was turned into an art!!!

Still, the desire had not made way to action..Lately the fire has started burning & need to put a stove on it ;-) (Reasons to personal to publish) ;-)

The one dish on MC India that fascinated me was Ghevar, looks so simple yet so difficult to prepare..

I had tried an attempt earlier, but the batter was ready & had mom's help all the time..(This is one dish that Mom doesn't know how to cook, so had to take Google's help)

It was a disaster in a way..

However, this Sunday, I was determined to make it independently & as perfect as possible..

Thanks to nishamanjulika.com for the easy to understand recipe, I armed myself with all the ingredients required to make Ghevar..

I was also attempting making Rabdi for the first time, as a garnish to my Ghevar..

So Almonds & Pistachios chopped finely, milk kept on boil for rabdi, now Ghevar time..

A herculean attempt to whip Ghee & Milk to the extent they become one..Note to Self: Need an electronic beater :-)

Whipping with spoon wasn't helping & hence had to whisk with hand..At one time i was wondering whether these two will ever come close ;-) He He..

Meanwhile was stirring the milk, so it doesn't feel unloved..<3

Finally, the milk & ghee relented & I heaved a sigh of relief..Mixed the flour & made a nice batter with perfect consistency..

Now the time to make the Sugar Syrup..

Testing (& Tasting as well) whether it was to two thread consistency was a sweet task as had to lick the syrup off the fingers ;-) ;-)

Now came the hardest part - making the actual Ghevar..

How hard i tried but the batter refused to create "Jalis" (A mesh like consistency)..Anyway, the taste was quite good (Papa Speaks)..So Far So Good!!!

Well these look nothing like Ghevar but I did not relent till the batter was quite finished..

This one is the final one:

I know, Marwaris will kill me to call this a Ghevar, but i would call it Ghevar A La Rajul!!!

To appease them I have garnished it with rich rabri & dryfruitssss!!!

Enjoy!!! :-) :-) :-)

Old Girl in the New City!!!

I had been obsessed with something lately..Couldn't think of anything else...Now that stuff is out of my life..needed something to fill the vacuum & that too pronto..What better than going to Happy Places & recreating memories that I hold so dear to my heart?

Remembering a change in my life in 2008...I was fed up with my job profile at that time & badly needed a change..& voila got promoted as a Team Leader..

I am working for a team where we process accounts for UK Client. Our team works in two locations, Mumbai & Bangalore..Initially I had to just check the work done by team & send it across..Later I got to handle the team from Mumbai...If anyone has done that they can relate how frustrating it is when your span of control is limited..Initially there were many communication & trust issues..Over a period of time we had made peace & my team members wanted me to be with them in Bangalore! I too wanted to meet my team in person..

In January 2009, I was shipped to Bangalore for 3 Weeks! My first thought was how I would survive for 3 looooooooong weeks without my beloved Mumbai, & without my Aai :-)

The only comforting thought was that I would get to meet my dearest cousin, my best friend from childhood, Dalesh & spend quality time with my bua, cousin, sister in law & their lovely daughter Rhea!!!

There was also a dream (of course due to the Mills & Boons impressions) that i will meet my special someone in a strange city ;-) Well, it's still a dream but made my travel light & easy <3

I travelled through train & was hoping to see interesting sights on the long journey..However, all the people in my compartment were hell bent on sleeping for the entire duration of journey & I couldn't see anything beyond Kolhapur..

By the way, was very excited to see Kolhapur..Had heard so much about it..Kolhapuri Chappal, Kolhapuri Mirchi & the black sand, etc..I also wanted to have something of Kolhapur, so had a vada pav (Proud Fan) at Kolhapur station..But it was bland beyond imagination..My one thought was no one can beat Mumbai as far as Vada Pav goes ;-)

Well, then stuffed myself with Bourbon biscuits..Mom had packed some sandwiches but they got stale due to the heat..

Off to sleep & M & B dreamland..:-) Till landed at Bangalore City Station.

Was tired as hell but eager to meet team..

Then Went to guest house & rested for whole day..

From Next day began my happy carefree & independent life at Bangalore..

Thanks to Shaji & Shekhar, it was a very smooth stay..

Still remember the south indian yummy breakfast at Sandhya, the awesome sandwiches, Sapota (Chikoo) Milkshakes, continental breakfasts at CCD, hunting for good places to eat..:-), all you can eat buffet at Masala Chowk (Eva Mall) - Had a first look at real Chocolate Fountain! Was mesmerised <3, MTR Ki Coffee, its amazing how they serve ghee in a tiny bowl!!!

Also did some sight seeing on my own..Garuda & Forum Mall, Brigade Road, Lalbaugh Botanical Garden (Was fortunate to visit during the Flower Show)

What a sight..Was delirious looking at all the amazing flowers!!!

Had a pleasant surprise when my younger cousin, Mihir was also in Bangalore at the same time with his newly wedded wife, Masumi..It was great as got to know how lovely she is else wouldn't have got a chance :-)

Had a great time re-bonding with everyone..playing dumb charades & cards, playing with my sweet niece Rhea, talking endlessly to my sister in law, Vinisha & visiting the Bannerghatta National park with them..It was the best experience of my entire trip!!!

Of course i worked too, in case any one is wondering..;-) ;-) ;-)

All the fun was during lunch time & week ends :-)

I had grown too fond of my team & most of all Bangalore..As my day to return to Mumbai was approaching, I was feeling sad to leave & what do you know? Got an extension of a week to stay!!! Was Loving it :-)

but all good things come to an end! Also, was badly missing mom ke haath ka khana..Thought If I saw Idli for one more time, I would just puke :-)

My Last Day was on Saturday, 7th February, when we were also celebrating Rose Day in the office!!! I was returning back by Flight, my first time ever..

I had got a whiff that my team was planning something for me so I had to go to office plus had to do packing & collect sweets & also get roses as we were celebrating Red Day + Rose Day. My bua had given me shukan money & I got a lovely red top from Revolution to celebrate the Red Day :-)

When I reached office, a huge white teddy bear was waiting for me on my work station & one by one the gifts started pouring in..I got a Will Miss You card, a handwritten poem, a painting, a pen stand with a barometer & a lovely saree. Also got 6 red roses from one of my team member, a fibre red heart on a stick from another & a yellow rose each from everyone else.

And as if that was not enough, they gathered & sang a Song for me, Chalte chalte mere ye geet yaad rakhna…considering where most of them don't even speak Hindi, it was too overwhelming…

Then I had to rush to guest house & fit in all the gifts in my bags..:-) It didn't help that I had a bagful of books, which I bought from Landmark!!! Shekhar & Shaji managed somehow with my luggage & then I left for airport. They had planned earlier to give me Bangalore Darshan but since there was a huge traffic on that day & we were already short of time, just went straight to the airport. My colleague was there till I entered the gate. After that it was a cake walk as Vinisha & Shaily both had told me what to do next..

I got my boarding pass & a window seat, collected tags, went for security check & then roamed around the waiting lounge..I didn't feel anything extra ordinary..it was just like walking in a mall..:-)

My seat was in the middle row & there was a wing right beside me so I could not see much..But as I had settled in my seat, I did not ask to change my seat..just turned my head in the window behind me & took in the view..

The view was amazing, specially when we were flying above the clouds & also when we were about to land in Bombay. The view of the sea from the plane was absolutely amazing..


Mom & my brother in law, Sanjeev had come to air port to pick me up & Mom also got a guided tour from Sanjeev outside the airport :-)

And thus ended my paid vacation, which has left sweet memories to savour!!!

I miss my team & Bangalore very much but i am very grateful to them for some of the happiest days of my life..

I don't regret not having their snaps as their faces are etched forever in my heart :-)