mediocrity

Why do people especially in India think its ok to be mediocre be it the common wealth games facilities or just at your work place. We're renovating our bathrooms and the contractor things its ok to just get the plumbing and the walls up and the rest will sort it self out! I'm so aggrieved that I want to wring his neck. The bathroom is my sanctuary.. its always been (but that's another post in itself) or at work our vendors who think that shoddy executions are fine.. just as long as they got the damn thing up..and they expect to be paid!! ridiculous... I even had to revive my blog to blog about it!

poetry in motion

No no.. I didn't have this today. I must have a week ago...but look at it so sinfully perfect.. the crumbliest short crust with creme anglaise and tropical fruit.. I'm so glad they're behind my office... another one on the mood enhancer list.

Happy lunch

Coffee and the yummiest, moist chocolate cake with a gooey centre... at maxmuller the most ungerman german cafe.. a total mood enhancer :)

Potato and leek Pie

Hi Again

I'm sure you're wondering what spurred on all the cooking... after watching a god awful movie on Saturday which I dragged Kan to we walked into home stop..with the noble intention of buying just pillow covers but I could barely get past the shiny new section of cookie cutters, lemon zesters, tart trays :) Don't worry I didn't go ballistic just got tart tins, a cake slicer (what?? you need those), rubber spatulas and yes yes the pillow covers. Had to try all my new equipment out so her's what I made and it was heavenly cheese and potatoes you can't ask for more .. so here goes
(was too lazy to work the camera so just shot it on my phone)

500 grams potatoes cubed and boiled till soft and drained
250 grams cheddar or Gruyere cheese
1/4 cup warm milk
Chives 4-5 stalks, fresh oregano- couple of sprigs
Salt
Pepper
chilli flakes or paprika if you like it hot
3 tablespoons vegetable or sunflower oil
100 grams bacon
1 leek, thinly sliced
2 cloves of garlic
1 onion, diced
1 large egg beaten
500 grams of puff pastry (be sweet to your nearest baker and he'll make it for you as its so tough to get frozen here.. I got mine at Fatima in Richmond Town..almost hugged the guy for saying he'll make it!!) If you still can't get hold of it a shortcrust pastry will work just fine.

Preheat the oven at 20oc. In a non stick pan fry the diced bacon.. I trimmed the fat off but you can choose to keep it or even use lardons instead of bacon. Add in the sliced leeks, onion and garlic and saute till soft.
In a separate bowl mash the potatoes, add in the warm milk ( you can add in some butter if you like) and half the cheese. Mix in the beaten egg, salt, pepper, chives and oregano
Add in the leek and bacon mixture and fold in gently.
Roll out your pastry and line the base of your tin and the sides with it (its better to use cold pastry as its a soggy mess when its not cold).
Pour in your mixture and add the rest of the cheese on top.
Bake for 20 -25 mins or till the pastry has turned a golden brown and all the cheese has melted.
Serve hot.. we had this with a lovely sparkly red wine.. oh yum!!

Monkey simple brownies

Have a confession to make and I know I'll seem like the weirdest person ever but here goes.. I don't like easter eggs..there I said it.. all that marzipan and icing sugar..ugghh. Decided to make something a lot more comforting and believe me they vanish in seconds.. This is the best brownie recipe I've tried (Thanks to the Wednesday chef) the only thing I changed was to add chocolate chips just before baking..gorgeous!!

Brownie recipe:The Wednesday Chef


Makes 16 larger or 25 smaller brownies

10 tablespoons (141 grams) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups (280 grams) sugar
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (82 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder (natural or Dutch-process)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs, cold
1/2 cup (66 grams) all-purpose flour

1. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 325°F. Line the bottom and sides of an 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or foil, leaving an overhang on two opposite sides.

2. Combine the butter, sugar, cocoa, and salt in a medium heatproof bowl and set the bowl in a wide skillet of barely simmering water. Stir from time to time until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth and hot enough that you want to remove your finger fairly quickly after dipping it in to test. Remove the bowl from the skillet and set aside briefly until the mixture is only warm, not hot. It looks fairly gritty at this point, but don’t fret — it smooths out once the eggs and flour are added.

3. Stir in the vanilla with a wooden spoon. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring vigorously after each one. When the batter looks thick, shiny, and well blended, add the flour and stir until you cannot see it any longer, then beat vigorously for 40 strokes with the wooden spoon or a rubber spatula. Spread evenly in the lined pan.

4. Bake until a toothpick plunged into the center emerges slightly moist with batter, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely on a rack.

5. Lift up the ends of the parchment or foil liner, and transfer the brownies to a cutting board. Cut into 16 or 25 squares.

goodbye- hopi Indian prayer

I read this on someone's obituary- its so beautiful and just so comforting.

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there,
I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight
On the ripened grain.
I am the gentle Autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there.
I did not die.
My Spirit is still alive…

wish list

If you want something bad enough the whole universe conspires with you to achieve it. I'm probably not quoting right but it read something like that from Paulo Coelho. I've always always wanted to see Italy but have always put it off not sure why. Recently was reading eat pray love by Elizabeth Gilbert and I just had to go but the whole leave application, visa appointments, friends to go with seemed more of a deterrent. Next morning at work I have a mail in my inbox telling me that I need to be in Germany on work in May.. what's better its between the long may day weekend. Work sorts the visa so no hassels and my friends in france think it would be great to go as well..woohoo. Thank you universe rather maker of the universe..its awesome when we think the same way :)