Nothing helps bond a team better than...

a bad boss.

Remember Chak De? When Shahrukh gave the team a reason to bond against him?

Gobhi Tikka

I have been meaning to cook Paneer Tikka for a long time now. Today I decided to make Palak Paneer and Paneer Tikka but there wasn't enough paneer for both and so I made Gobhi Tikka instead.

I mixed Paneer Tikka and Arbi takki recipe as reference and used instinct. It turned out yummy... without frying. Healthy and tasty:

• Cut cauliflower florets. Wrap them in cling film. Place on a plate and microwave for 4-5 mins. I made the mistake of using a non stick tava which is not to be used in microwave mode. The cling film stuck to cauliflower and tava but came off easily
• Put some curd in a sieve. The recipe suggested I squeeze the curd in a muslin cloth. The idea is to remove excess water. I used a sieve with very tiny holes. Let it remain for 15- 20 mins
• Add chaat masala, red chilli powder, haldi, orange color (optional), garam masala, kasuri methi, corn flour and salt. Adjust according to taste and mix.
• Add cauliflower to the above marinade. Grease a non stick tava. Place the cauliflower on it
• Place on high rack and grill for 5-6 mins. Turn. Grill for 4-5 mins.
• Serve immediately
  

I also tried Palak Paneer but it was not perfect.

There were less tomatoes and more garam masala. Maybe next time.

The Goa trip

Surprisingly, it was a good trip. We reached Goa at 6 am on Thursday and checked into Hotel Mandovi at Panjim. The hotel is not too great but located across the river. Day 1 was spent in meeting and working on presentation. We had lunch in the hotel which included a range of non-veg- chicken, fish, pork etc. The time after lunch was torture... I had a headache and wanted to sleep but there was the damn ppt to work on. At around 6 pm the meeting ended. The plan was to go to Brittos at Baga beach for dinner and drinks. We headed to St Anthony beach shack instead since they karaoke and seating on the beach. It is a good place but I did not drink. I was exhausted and knew liquor wouldnt agree with me.

Day 2 was similar except we left early for the same beach shack. I managed to get some shopping done. Everyone was making plans for day 3 which was free. I knew nobody would wake up before 9 am and that also 'coz b'fast is served till 10 am only.

On day 3 we drove on Activa to Anjuna beach. There were mostly foreigners there and we had a good time. In the evening we got on the train and it is back to the pavilion.

Some thoughts:

• I have done the whole resort thingy at Goa... stay in a good resort, go sight seeing, rent bikes, enjoy at the private beach but never done the partying at the beach shacks and road shopping. Enjoyed it a lot and want to go there once again. Maybe, next month?
• Drinking is not my thing anymore. Don't know why
• On the way back there was a family on the train- husband, wife, 2 kids. I groaned on the inside. Kids around means constant noise and chatter. The wife started feeding the younger kid Maggi from a tiffin and I was shocked. The kid could barely talk and instead of being fed something nutritional she was eating Maggi. I know kids love it... but it is not healthy and the later they start on junk the better it is. Anyway, the husband was completely useless. He didn't help her anything. Even when we had to get off the train..he picked up 2 bags and stood by the door. The wife removed other 2 bags, woke the elder kid, made him wear shoes and sent him to the husband, took the younger kid in her lap and with a last look left. What an ass of a husband who thinks he is a guest in his own family
• Why is Uncle Chips not available in Mumbai?

Black forest Cake

I am heading to Goa with colleagues tonight and everyone will bring something for dinner. I asked what I should bring and all of them started laughing. All my colleagues are male. Because I am good at my job it is inconceivable for them that I can also cook... and cook well. For a second I thought I should prove them wrong but then decided against it. Whose got the time? And why should anyone else's perception affect me? Its not like I will be appraised on my cooking skills at the end of the year.

Even in engineering college when someone got to know I could cook they would look surprised. Cooking is still considered a domestic women's domain. I started cooking 'coz my mom was behind our (me and sis) lives for the same. She is ok with the job and career part but believes every "woman" should be able to cook. I took an interest in it to win her approval (which ultimately never came but thats another story). As an independent woman I believe cooking is an important skill. The least I should be able to do is feed myself.

Unfortunately, most men don't think that way. They never have to enter the kitchen in the parents house... the mother or sister cater to the gastronomic needs. Times are changing. More and more men are turning to cooking... I know very few of them. But the change is still slow.

Currently, most of my colleagues are male... only 1 or 2 of them have working wives and so do not understand the pressures of home and work balance. They can reach home at any time of night and hot homemade food is guaranteed.

Coming back to the cake, one of my colleagues suggested last night I also bring something. Finally, I decided on a cake. I had been meaning to try black forest cake on Sunday for KC but there was not enough time.

Here is the recipe:

• Pilsbury chocolate cake mix (Sorry Anita... I will bake a cake from scratch one of these days). Add mix, 2 eggs, 3/4 th cup water and some oil. Mix well. Pre-heat oven at 180 C, grease baking pan, sprinkle some of the cake mix at the bottom. Beat the mixture for 2-3 mins. I use a hand mixer. Pour in baking pan. Bake for 25 mins at 180 C. Stick a knife. If it comes out clean cake is done. Let it cool.
• Take 200-300 gm of Fresh cream (I used Amul) in a vessel. Place ice cubes in a bowl and place the cream wala vessel on this. Beat with a mixer for 5-10 mins. Add 3/4th cup icing sugar and 5-6 drops of vanilla essence. When baking a cake the proportion of all ingredients have to be exact but with icing there is a flexibility. I checked if the sugar was enough and added more if required. Beat for 15 mins more. It is a tedious process. Beat till icing becomes thick.
• Remove cake on a wire rack or something flat... but not on a plate or thali. The bottom part should be facing on top. Use a knife to cut into 2 parts horizontally. There are special knifes for this but I use a regular knife. Apply a solution of sugar and water on the both cake parts where icing will be applied. Leave it for 5 mins. Orange juice, cherry juice (if using canned cherries) can also be used
• Apply icing on the cake parts. Place one part over another. Apply sugar solution on top and apply icing on top. Again, there are special knives for smoothing the icing. I used a butter knife.
• Take cooking chocolate (I used Dairy Milk) from fridge. Let it come to room temperature. Use a grater to grate on the cake. Decorate with cherries. Keep in the fridge to cool.

All said and done there is nothing sexier than a man who can cook and clean.

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Fingers crossed

Hi. It has been sometime since I blogged. Here is an update of what is going on:

• A friend had come over last week. We were laughing over our old school pics and discussing people. It was good fun. I am planning to scan them, upload them on fb and tag people. My batchmates will kill me. Some of them are so much hotter now. Their school pic on fb will be the absolute killjoy
• Recently I noticed that a lot of Gujju acquaintances are getting married to Gujju guys. Nothing wrong with that except... how is it possible that people travel far away from their homeland and fall in love with a guy of the same community? It beats all logic. And it is not just 1 person... 3-4 people. My above friend (who is a Gujju and dating a Marathi) did not have very good things to say about this. Her opinion is that Gujjus can only bond with Gujjus. I don't advocate this reason... but cannot find a fitting explanation.
• I baked my first pizza in new microwave and it turned out yum...
• I cooked bhindi veg in the microwave. When tomatoes are cooked on gas they turn sour... give a khatta taste to veg while in the microwave they give a sweet taste. Wow!!! I am fascinated
• I am off to Goa tomorrow for an official trip with colleagues. Not really looking forward to it but got to do it
• Got my increment and I am pretty happy with it 'coz my expectations are lower. I guess happiness and satisfaction is about lower expectations. It is all about 'managing expectations'
• Got a Bose wave player as incentive. The music quality is damn good but I need to connect it to the TV and see. I can't think of any more electronics/gadgets we need... we have them all... 2 LCD TVs, washing machine, AC (another one on its way), coffee maker (packed and kept aside), rice cooker (useless), Ipod, sound bar (for laptop), 2 microwaves, toaster, blackberry etc. Whew!!!

There maybe some good news and announcements here next month. Fingers crossed.

Dhobi Ghat

Let me warn you... Dhobi Ghat is an out and out art movie. Just 'coz Aamir stars in it does not make it commercial.

There is no story... it is like reading a book of short stories... where there is no ending. I am finding it hard to describe it... if you read short stories you know what I mean.

The actors/actresses are not any of the 4 characters but Mumbai. The sights, sounds, lives in Mumbai are captured beautifully. You get a glimpse into the South Mumbai elite crowd, the artistic/intellectual people, the slum dogs (forgive the term) and the middle class.

I loved it... I think Kiran Rao is a brilliant director in the leagues of Mira Nair. My only problem is Aamir... he should not have been in it. He is out of place. Many people will walk out of the theatres 'coz they will enter expecting an Aamir Khan movie. Why raise expectations? Your movie should draw the targeted crowd and keep out riff raff. The movie should get good reviews from people who understand it rather than get trashed by those expectations are different.

I got thinking... what makes Mumbai so special? I do not find this city any greater or better... instead life is tough here. Is that what Mumbaikars are proud of? That they are tougher, more resilient? I don't know. "Mumbai" generally refers to South Mumbai and Bandra. Everything else came later. Living in suburbs does not make me feel part of "Mumbai crowd". There is nothing different about me here. It is better to live in another city than in the Mumbai suburbs.

What it has given me is a sense of freedom and security that I have not found anywhere. 2 years back when I had start living in Thane for the 1st time I was at the station waiting for the local train. A beggar was troubling me... he kept touching my arm and asking for money. I ignored him. Beggars can be irritating and incidents like them touching your feet, arm etc are common. A lady next to me screamed at the beggar; "How dare you touch her? Get away". He moved off. "Wow" I thought. Driving or travelling alone late at night is not an issue here. The day winds down at midnight.

Here is to Mumbai... to the dirt, pollution, poverty, slums, noise... and freedom.

Perfect Saturday night

Saturday night was perfect. After watching the match (him watching it... me on laptop) we headed to Barbecue Nation for dinner. I have visited the Bandra outlet and liked the one in Thane as well. Best part is it is close to my house. After dinner we headed for a drive and coffee to Hiranandani, Powai.

I purchased a microwave and have decided to try new stuff. Over the weekend it was cake (again) and today it was idlis. The microwave has pre-set 131 recipes which makes cooking convenient. Unfortunately, idlis are not one of them. When I put them on momo recipes they got burnt.

This is how I managed to cook them:

• I use the MTR mixture. Take 1 cup of mixture in another bowl. Add 1/2 cup curd and 3/4 cup water. Mix well and set aside for 5 mins
• Grease an idli stand... the one specially made for microwave. Add the mixture. Be careful 'coz the stands kept toppling over. No, it was not 'coz I am overly clumsy
• Place idli stand in the container. Do not add water. I made that mistake the first time. Cover
• Keep on microwave on HIGH (900w in my case) for 4-5 mins. Remove from microwave and let it stand for 5 mins
• Serve

I have been reading how food cooked in microwave can be better than on gas. I did not believe it... but now I do. These are the softest idlis I have ever eaten and they were cooked in 5 mins. Cooking idlis on gas can be a pain. The time taken is high and I have to check every few mins to see if they are done.

KC warned me against blogging about the microwave but I am excited. It is like a whole new world has opened up in front of me. I wish I had more time to experiment. Next on the agenda is paneer or chicken tikka.

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