Basic Cake Recipe 1 Cup- White Castor Sugar 1/2 Cup- Butter 2 -Eggs 2tsp- Vanilla Extract 1and 1/2 Cup- Flour 1 and 3/4 tsp- Baking Powder 1/2 Cup - Milk
* Preheat oven to 175 degrees C/300 degrees F * Grease cake tin * Cream together sugar and butter, add beaten eggs slowly. * Add vanilla extract. * Combine Flour and baking powder seperately and mix well with the wet mixture. * Add milk. * Pour in the greased tin and bake for 30-40 mins until a needle inserted in the cake comes out clean.
Do bake and enjoy the smell lingering in the house in the afternoon!( I decorated it with some chocolate chips)
* A bunch of wild flowers tied into a little bunch with a string. * early morning cool breeze. * sparrows chirping. * white rangoli on wet pavements. * children's laughter. * fluttering pigeons . * my favourite song on replay. * amul roasted almond ice-cream in a tub. * juicy litchis that don't last longer than few minutes. * pulpy intoxicating mangoes. * anticipation of the weekend. * seeing my cosmos seedlings grow.
I receive loads of email everyday. Spam mails, Lottery mails, query mails, forwarded mails...
I, like many others don't bother too much with forwarded mails, but this one mail from a friend completely appealed to me.
It is long. If you have the time enjoy it. If not, come back later to read it.
Written By Regina Brett, 90 years of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio
"To celebrate growing older, I wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written." My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1.Life isn't fair, but it's still good. 2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. 3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch. 5. Pay off your credit every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. 7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone. 8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it. 9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay cheque. 10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present. 12. It's OK to let your children see you cry. 13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it. 15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks. 16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind. 17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. 18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger. 19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you no one else. 20. When it to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion, today is special. 22. Over prepare, then go with the flow. 23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple. 24. The most important sex organ is the brain. 25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?' 27. Always choose life. 28. Forgive everyone everything. 29. What other people think of you is none of your business. 30. Time heals almost everything. Give time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 33. Believe in miracles. 34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do. 35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing beats the alternative -- dying young. 37. Your children get only one childhood. 38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved. 39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere. 40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back. 41. Envy is waste of time. You already have all you need. 42. The best is yet to come 43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. 44. Yield. 45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
I baked. I baked scones. I found. I found a software long ago. I finally downloaded it. I tried it. I loved it.Recipe for the scones~ from Breakfast Tea Lunch~ Rose Carrarini
* Preheat the oven to 200 degree C /400 degree F, grease a baking tray.
* Sift the plain flour into a bowl and add the whole wheat flour.
* Mix in the baking powder, sugar and salt, then add the butter abd rub in with your fingers until the mixture resembles fresh breadcrumbs.
* Add the raisins and mix well.
* Make a well in the middle, pour in the milk and use a fork to work it into the dry ingredients, Finish by hand but without overworking the mixture- just lightly bring everything together to form a softish but firm dough. If it is too dry add little milk and if it is too wet add some more flour. It must not be sticky.
* On a lightly floured surface, pat or roll the dough into a solid shape about 3 cms thick.
* Using a 2 inch cutter, cut the dough into rounds and place them on the greased baking tray.
* Glaze the tops with the beaten egg and bake for 15-20 min until lightly golden.
I love books. I love reading books. I also love photographing books. I have other favourite subjects too, will share in the future:-) What are you drawn to while photographing?
A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg not only has delicious recipes, but also has beautiful illustrations by one of my favourite artist Camilla Engman.Priya- Here are a couple of pics I took today in a hurry, will post some more later:-)
Life has been hectic with travel, activities and daily routine. Hectic but enjoyable. There are moments in-between these daily activities, that I crave for something more. Something deep within. Simple pleasures. Observing these moments and enjoying it. Dwelling on it. Living it. Immersing in it solely and completely and then letting it pass. ( Almost like devouring the last bit of pulp and juice from a ripe Mango;-)
I came across this lovely post that talks about 'finding joy', in a collaborative project called this joy+ride
Hope all of you find joy in your own ways:-)
Will be away from blogging for awhile, finding my joys:-)
Having heard a lot about the 'Teapot Cafe' and being tea-lovers, this cafe had to be on our list of to-visit places. While exploring the streets ofFort Kochi, we came across the lovely board that read 'Teapot'. We decided we would come back later in the evening to check out their wide variety of teas served:-) Dusk arrived and so did the rains. We couldn't let a few droplets keep us away from that steaming cup of 'Masala Chai' could we? So, armed with borrowed umbrellas, we waddled through knee-deep water to reach our dream destination~ Teapot Cafe! The cafe was full of tea lovers, enjoying theirs cups/mugs/teapots of delicious hot tea, while it steadily rained outside. We were led to a mezzanine, from where we could enjoy the view of teapots in various sizes hanging on hooks. The cafe has teapots, kettles and tea accessories collected by the owner displayed beautifully. Framed jute bags used for packing tea leaves. Long leaf tea, one of the many served in the cafe:-) BTW, We had a pot of masala chai with samosas and grilled sandwiches...
Kashi Art Cafe~ A quaint cafe' that houses an art gallery showcasing the finest works by contemporary artists, a relaxed space where artists, enthusiasts and tourists like us can meet, hang out and enjoy their delicious homemade cakes and french press coffee. At Kashi Art Cafe, they say 'no to plastics' and serve mineral water in sterilized glass bottles. What a great idea and love that bottle!(hey but you can't take the bottle, only for drinking;-) It was super hot in the afternoon and their 'Iced Tea' was a such a great thirst quencher. While you are there also try their refreshing Lemonade with ayurvedic herb. Ok. Ok. Chai lovers do forgive me;-) On our second visit to the cafe, I was very intrigued by the Bodum French Press coffee, I just needed to try it out. Sitting pretty is a large slice of Chocolate Cake with a generous helping of Chocolate Sauce.
So next time you are in Fort Cochin, you know where to head for a great glass of Iced tea or a slice of their homemade Date & Walnut cake:-) Enjoy!
The first thing that struck us when we entered the streets of Fort Cochin or Fort Kochi is the architectural style~ An interesting blend of British, Portuguese & Dutch style. An eclectic blend of art culture, quaint theme-cafes', colonial homestays, churches, designer stores, antique shops and boutique hotels...We stayed at a heritage colonial hotel called The Old Courtyard, that came highly recommended for it's food as well as the proximity to the streets of Fort Cochin.(More on that in Rang Decor soon:-) Walking on the streets, gazing at the various signboards & architectural style was itself a refreshing activity.I loved the names of the various streets... Beautiful boards on the walls ofMalabar House a boutique hotel. Many cafes' catering to various tastes, line these streets.Loved the liberal use of vibrant colours on the walls of various homes.If you have eaten in all the restaurants and cafes' and want to try something new, join the cooking classes:-)Dal Roti - Desi Khana was amazing. Simple decor. Great food.Idiom Booksellers~ A great little book store, where you can sell your old books and buy new ones:-)
Hope you enjoyed the little tour of the streets of Fort Cochin as seen through my eyes. Stay tuned. Will be posting about two very interesting cafe's that had us going back for more:-)
Basic Cake Recipe
