Do you take personal time for yourself or do u ever have a 'lazy day"??????

Have you ever taken time to yourself? Think hard and I am sure that only few of us would have even thought of doing so. For most of us 'self' comes last. We are so busy with our household and family and just that, we do not think of us alone as an entity. 

Try to take a few minutes  just to yourself and see the wonder it creates. When one of my friend used to go on a short drive all by her own, I used to ponder what makes her  wander alone without her husband and children. Mused by her action, when questioned her , she just told me to take time off and see the difference in my moods and spirits. And indeed, it worked.  This need not be a weekend or a few days out from the family, only a few hours will do the wonder.  One need not always think of spending this leisure time outside but can be qualitatively spent elsewhere too.

Everyone needs a 'breather' sometime during the day when they would love to have some moments on their own. This 'breather' moment is a relaxing and rejuvenating one which would boost up their energy level. Even a perfectionist would love to have a break from the traditional routine.

I am sure everyone would love to have a  'lazy day' too.  Many would consider their weekends ' lazy days' as they wake up late and would be too happy not to follow any particular routine on that day. Some would prefer to just chill out over a burger and starbucks coffee or just 'window shopping'.

For some, the weather plays an important role in their 'cheer up'. Especially, if it is raining 'cats and dogs', one would prefer to have 'garam garam pakode and masala chai' to pep up the mood and then relax just enjoying the rainfall.  

Some of my friends are totally in relaxed mood when they visit their parents for a break.  A casual atmosphere always exists there and one gets a  total break from the needs of the children and of course the kitchen, courtesy our moms.  But, have you ever thought of giving a break to your mother??Please do, she deserves it very badly.

My version of 'lazy day' is,  when I finish my daily chores much ahead of the schedule and have the rest of the day only to myself. I love to browse, laze around with a hot cup of masala chai. How about you???? I thoroughly enjoy my 'gym' hours too.

Please enjoy  'few lazy hours' in your daily life and rejuvenate yourself.

'The real problem of leisure time is how to keep away others from using yours' - Arthur Lacey

The lingering taste of Vegetable Biryani

Vegetable Biryanis are wholesome meals filled with goodness of the veggies as well the rich masalas that go with it.  The flavour is unique and would definitely give an invitation to your neighbour.  Biryani must have all the necessary ingredients  to make it the authentic dish.  This is a dish which can be tried out on weekends as it involves time.  Biryani cannot be done in a hurry, it has to be cooked slowly with lot of patience to achieve the perfect taste.  Raita and pappad are the perfect accompaniments and be sure to make enough Biryani as it is going to fast disappear from the bowl like it did in my household.  Thanks to vahrehvah.com for the basic recipe and I made changes according to my family's taste. 

Ingredients:

Rice - 1 1/2 cups
Carrots, - 1/4 cup
Potatoes - 1/4 cup
Beans - 1/4 cup
Cauliflower -1/4 cup
Green peas - 1/4 cup
Panneer - 1/2 cup (cubed)
Green chillies - 2 nos
Jeera - 1 tsp
Garam masala (whole) - 1 tsp
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Biryani masala - 4 tbsp (I used MDH Biryani masala)
Curds - 3/4 cup
Nuts -your choice
Mint
Coriander leaves
Salt
Oil
A few strands of Saffron

Chop onions finely and fry it till it turns brown. Keep it aside.

After soaking the rice for an hour, cook it till it is half done, strain the water and keep this aside.

Chop the potatoes,beans and carrots into 1" pieces and small florets of the cauliflower.

In a pan, add oil, then add jeera . When jeera begins to splutter, add whole garam masala, then add ginger garlic paste and let it get cooked well till the oil leaves out. Now add the cut vegetables, peas, slit green chillies and salt. Mix well and let it cook. Once they are half cooked, add finely chopped mint and coriander leaves, four tablespoons of biryani masala and half cup of curd. Mix well. Now add panneer cubes and leave it aside.

Take a wide mouth pan and add half of the cooked vegetables and spread it well in the pan. Add curds, nuts, fried onions and now add half the portion of rice and spread it well over the vegetable mix. Repeat this process till both the veggies and rice is done. Cover it well and cook in a very slow flame till the rice gets cooked fully.  Mix  a few strands of Saffron in two tablespoons of hot water and sprinkle over the rice for the beautiful color.

Garnish with nuts and croutons.
 

An awesome veggie biryani is ready to serve.

Dedication to my father and father-in-law

As the whole world is celebrating Father's Day today, as I was reading some of the posts which my friends have posted about their Dad's, I was reeling back the quality time spent with my dad.

It is almost 25 years since he passed away, but his presence is felt everwhere and in all the chores I do.  I can recall each and every joke we shared, the undoubted support he gave in times when my ideas were opposed by my mom, the scooter rides to the school and later to the college bus stand etc etc.

He was a man of few words and my mom says that he spoke the most only with me.  My neighbours still recall the day when my father distributed Laddoos on the day I was born.  He was always proud of me in whatever I do, immaterial whether the act was a failure or success, such was the blind love.  His quiet and gentle nature is recalled even now by my relatives and friends.

The day of marriage, he just hugged me saying 'Silence is golden' and those words carried a million meanings within it.  Later, in my life after marriage, it was my father-in-law who played the role of my father and he used to take pride when someone asks him if I was his daughter.  Such was the relationship and we could talk for hours together, almost all the topics.  It was an easy-breezy relationship without any expectations or egos.  I am proud to quote that he had registered for my post graduation and B.Ed and encouraged me to complete them. 

Both of them are no more with me, but their sweet memories lingers which guides me even now in all my thoughts and actions.

A true dedication to both, appa, I love you!!!!!!!

"No matter how old you are, you still miss your Daddy" - Anonymous