Millionaire's Shortbread

I have no idea why these bars have such a weird name...but I made them anyways...
I found conflicting recipes, but my layers have shortbread, dulce de leche(that I nuked in the microwave) and dark chocolate. I didnt bother adding any corn/golden syrup or honey to the dulce de leche.

The recipe is easily available anywhere and super easy, so I'm just putting up the pics.
(To see how to make Dulce de leche, check this post)

A piece of green...

It's heartening to know that my neighbourhood is so green...

I love how green this park is in the summer...

Update....

I gave up on NaBloPoMo after 21 days.
So Im no longer posting everyday, and I felt guilty about it, but I'm a very temperamental person, and I write mostly when I feel like it. Yup, Im giving lame reasons for giving up, but I just couldnt go through with it. I lack discipline I guess.

Anyway, I'll have some interesting recipes and pictures soon....

Picked up "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". European names and places are so confusing!! Ive read one chapter and I'm already referring back to who's who....but the build up seems interesting..
I hope I don't have to keep referring back...it becomes annoying :(

And its weekend again!!!!

Time flies when you are not working, and hence doing a host of random things throughout the day. It seems like just yesterday that I was trying to meet up my friend for coffee(which failed miserably), but in fact a whole week has passed, and we are again trying to setup a time to catch up!!

On a different note, I had a really dark dream, a pyschological thriller!! I think too much of NCIS and CSI. I seriously need to curtail my crime shows addiction....

running woes....

Dissapointing day today....I went out for a run in the park in the evening, and it was so bright and so hot that I couldnt run for more than 10 minutes. And at the end of it I thought I was going to die or atleast need an ambulance!!
Quite a scare I got there....

I wish it would rain....Thor? Some help here???

Nightmares are made of cake....

Found these two really weird cakes at a supermarket bakery...

Oooh....that bear looks mean!!! The strain is cracking him....literally...He's coming for you!!!
Bleeding Bonnet Girl and Cracked Mean Bear are out there, And they are watching YOU!!!!!

Bursting those Bubbles...

So as soon as I reached the "milestone" I totally forgot that I had to post, and I pretty much spent the day playing a mindless bubble bursting game online.....Well, I reached level 8, and for the life of me coudnt cross level 9. Harrowing times....

For tomorrow Ive got some pics to share ....watch this space :D

Milestones...

Ive posted for 15 days every day...so that's half a month, and just half more to go....
Im prayin' I make it through till the end :)....

Lovin' the Sun....

Found this bright pretty thing nodding in the sun at the park....Had to stop and take a pic :D

Technology blankout

Miserable.

The refrigerator is our life. I have cheese, ganache, olives, cake toppings, cooking chocolates, butterscotch and other treasures stored there. My mom has a year's stock of peas, spicy pickles, pulses, dryfruits, spices, frozen mango pulp and other yummy things in there.

The refrigerator broke. Yesterday. On friday the 13th. Twitter and blogger were behaving weird too.
Like I said...Miserable :(

Weirded out...need a detective..

*Update: As of today morning the post is back on my blog!! It just disappeared for one day!! *

I wrote a post yesterday, about baking a vegetarian cake at http://obliquerays.blogspot.com/2011/05/cake-for-vegetarians.html

For some reason, it displayed on my blog for about 12 hrs, and suddenly poof....its no longer there....no post, no beautiful pics of my vegetarian blueberry cake(with tips)..What the hell happened?????

It doesnt show up on my blogger dashboard, it doesnt open at this link, some really strange things are happening here...extremely harrowing and annoying.....and super mysterious....anyone who tells me how I can retrieve the post, I will be eternally grateful, and if you stay in the mumbai suburbs, you will also get a dozen home made chocolates free..

Help me someone?

A cake for vegetarians

So I finally baked a cake today, after almost a month!

My dear friend V shared this vegetarian cake recipe with me sometime back and Ive been dying to try it, just because it adds baking soda right at the start, while most recipes Ive worked with, add it as the last ingredient along with flour just so the bubbles dont break by mixing.

The original recipe is here . I wasnt at all disappointed with the outcome. The cake is flavorful and moist, and inspite of the oil, you dont miss the flavor of butter. The cake actually does rise, though I do want to see what happens if I add the baking soda along with the flour.

I did make a few changes though :

It's one of those days...

I'm a survivor.
But I dont feel it today. Today is my off day from optimism.

Some more delays and excuses. Some more communication gaps, some more indications of disappointment to come. Sudden rush of feeling that says "I cant do this anymore, maybe I should just quit and drift through life like a hobo"

I feel an unexplicable sense of doom. I cant always be happy and cheerful. I have to feel super miserable sometimes to counter normally happy. That sometime is now. Where that little peaceful ashram in Orissa seems like an extremely beckoning place.

I need a huge piece of Cake, or a huge bar of chocolate. I was planning to bake one today....but I couldn't because of some creepy crawly in the kitchen...*sigh*, sometimes Im such a girl...

Anyhoo, today I'm resting my sword and shield ....tomorrow is another day....

Me me me !!!!

So since Ive been writing a post a day, and you're reading it, I'm sure you would like to know more about me, and even if you don't, I would very much like to talk about me, so you dont really have too much of a choice there....he he he(evil laughter)

So here are some of my favourite and not so favourite things....

I am Passionate about
- Baking
- Everything to do with music, singing, musical instruments....
- Food
- Brands and advertising

My favourite indulgences
- Perfumes, I love buying different fragrances....my favourite perfume is Armani Code & Obsession Night(CK) for glamorous evenings, DKNY Be Delicious and Moroccan Rose (Body Shop) for the day
- Fossil Watches

I love
- Travelling to see new cultures and places
- The Sea
- a Good trek
- Adventure sports
- Watching crime investigation series on TV
and Outdoors in General

My favorite Work out is
- Running
- Swimming

My kind of movies
- Are either dark, or extreme action , or funny or Bolly masala. I love most movies, except those with excessive violence and torture. I love superhero movies, Car chases, Gun fights and chick flicks and I absolutely hate Ghost and psycho movies.
My current favorite movies are Thor, Inception & Dabanng. My all time Favorites are Swades, Chakh De, Taarein Zameen Par, Fast 'n furious, Mr 'n Mrs 55....You get the drift...

My Phobias
- I am mildly claustrophobic....I hate gyms, crowds, window seats, in between window and aisle seats, and trains.

Pet peeves
- Unhygienic places
- People who invade personal space
- Suck ups and sweet talkers

So that's me, or atleast a part of me....want to know more? Drop me a query, and I'll try my best to answer your questions about me :)

Last minute woes

I am not an organised person. I work really well when the most important part is left till 5 minutes before it's deadline...
Which is why you are now reading this well written post that has nothing in it.....

So I'll leave you with a thought...

Have you ever tried smiling when the world seems to be crashing down on you?
It might not reduce your troubles, but its the best ammo to stand up, square your shoulders and say "Bring it on baby*"

*Yeah, yeah...but I have a family friendly blog.....

To that angel in my life...

You listen to me talk about my job, you listen to me crib about not having one


You listen to me talk about my friends, and you gave up all of yours to take care of me

You tell me its going to be ok, then worry about it for me

You try to see things my way, inspite of the generation gap

You tell me what’s good, but you stand by whatever I decide

You tend to me like I’m still your little child..



There is nothing that can compare, to what you are to me Mom...



Happy Mother’s Day people….Treat your mom to something nice….and whenever you are out of sorts with her, take a minute to see what she’s sacrificed with a smile….

Perspective

I am a crooked mirror, I see you with a limp

I am a spotted mirror, I will show you all your kinks

I am a tinted mirror, you can see your grey in me

I am a perfect mirror, but only to me.

...

I have nothing to say to YOU today....so rest awhile here....

Or take a fun ride.....

Or take a soulful picture....

And if you like vibrant romantic mysterious places, schedule a visit to Rajasthan ASAP....after the summer that is...

Courage

Being alive is a gift, Living requires Courage.

Dying is destined, embracing Death is Courage.

Surviving is a need, Smiling through it is Courage.

Reaching the peak is an Achievement, helping someone reach is Courage.

Fear is instinctive, Following your belief inspite of it is Courage.

Self belief is Conviction, Conviction leads to Courage.

Summer treats..

I'm cheating a bit here....I made this for the new year's party, and I always intended to share this with you, but never got around to it. So since I have now decided to put up a post every day, you might see some pictures that arent recent...but since this particular dessert is eaten cold, it's perfect for the summer...

Strawberry and vanilla Pana cotta

Recipe(serves 4):

For the set cream -
300 ml cream
1.5 sheets of gelatin or 1 tsp of gelatin granules
50 ml sugar
vanilla bean

A welcome clap of thunder...

I'm smitten by Thor!!

I was waiting for this flick ever since I saw the Marvel teaser after Iron Man 2 and I finally saw the movie in 3D today.  I was astounded by how real it all looked....I especially loved the kingdom of Asgard....and the constellations outside their windows .....

Overall the movie was well paced, interesting and a little tragic. But if you like fantasy, action and subdued humor, this flick's for you. Also if you are a girl, Thor is super cute and looks like a carefree, arrogant but totally adorable Thunder god....and I totally think I want to become the astrophysicist chick who giggles uncontrollably when she gets her hand nobly kissed by him....

My opinion: Definite watch for all those superhero fans out there!

of the multiple futures I had....

....I chose this....

I could have become
- A swimmer
- A vocalist
- An author
- A karate pro
- A bored housewife

Maybe, there is a destiny, and all your choices lead you to the same destination....

May be in MAY

Yep, a post a day....in MAY....
So while I put up a post every single day of this month....YOU have a taller order
 - You have to be kind to me all through the month
- And encouraging
- And dont laugh if I bungle up or tell you embarassing stuff about me
- And laugh if I crack a lame joke
- And dont judge me....I dont take too well to judgement....

I dont know how this thing will shape up....maybe I'll put up interesting pics, and write one liners, or I'll write venomous rants...Like I said don't judge me!!!
Life is full of Maybes, it all comes down to the choices we make when we see a Maybe ahead :)

(Wondering what I'm going on about? Go here --> http://www.nablopomo.com/)