Love to wear Saree

It was a difficult task to convince my partner to let me wear saree. I think it is almost a year since I have worn a saree and I just love to wear it.

We went for a wedding at Hyderabad and I got a chance to unfold my manthrakodi (the saree given by your husband at Church on your wedding day). I am wearing this saree after 8 years.

Nanking Restaurant, Secunderabad

I love this place, the place I love to go when I am at Hyderabad, just love their Chinese food.

Story & Recipe of Chicken Dopiaza

Chicken Dopiaza Ready

Story of Dopiaza
This is a version I heard from a friend. According to this story, dish was created by the cooks in a king's kitchen. One day king got unexpected guest for lunch. In the last minute, cook was ordered to make food for  all the guest. The cook thought of a way to serve all the people, without loosing the taste. Cook decided to add large quantity of onions to a dish. And, thus began the story of dopiaza.

Now, let's follow the recipe

Ingredient:

• Chicken                  700gms
• Lemon                   1/2
• Salt                       1 tsp
• Oil                        5 tbsp

 Marinate the chicken with the above ingredients and keep it for at least 2 hours.

• Onions Chopped           2
• Garlic clove chopped    5
• Ginger chopped            1 inch
• Curd                              2 tbsp
• Oil                                 1 tbsp

In a pan add oil and when hot saute onions, garlic and ginger till golden brown
Take it from the pan and cool it. Now make a paste of it in the grinder by adding the curd.

• Cinnamon               1 inch
• Cardamon              4
• Pepper                   1/2 tsp
• Oil                          1 tbsp
• Turmeric powder    1/2 tsp
• Chillie powder        1 tsp
• Coriander powder  1 tsp
• Tomato puree         4 tbsp
• Water                     150 ml
• Sugar                      1/2 tsp
• Shallots sliced          8
• Gram Masala          1 tsp
• Tomato Chopped    1
• Coriander leaves      2 tbsp chopped

Method:

1.     In a pan take oil and saute the whole spices Cinnamon, cardamon and pepper powder for 20 secs
2.     Now add the Onion, ginger garlic and curd puree, saute for few seconds
3.     Add the spices, the chillie, turmeric, coriander powder and saute for few seconds and when you see the oil clearly.
4.     Add the tomato puree, sugar and water.
5.     Now add the marinated chicken and salt. Cover and cook till the chicken is done.
6.     Meanwhile take a tadaka pan and add oil , shallots and stir fry until browned and add gram masala and stir for 30 secs and remove from the stove.
7.     Stir the shallot mixture into the curry and simmer for 2 mts.
8.     Stir in fresh coriander and chopped tomato and remove from the heat.
9.     Serve immediately with Naan or rice.

Things I love for valentine's day!

Red Velvet Cake - Valentine Special

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, it's a big draw for lovers, couples to seek romantic getaway's buy special Valentine's Day gifts, dinner, flowers, chocolates, and more.

The restaurants, hotels, pubs, lounge bars in Bangalore are luring lovebirds with all sorts of fun, events, entertainment and culinary delights. Just scroll down the page to see various events, gifts, dinner parties to treat someone special in your life.

Where to buy Valentine's Day gifts in Bangalore?

Looking for a Valentine's Day gift which is unique, romantic and thoughtful gifts. Check few gift ideas listed below to pick the right one for your valentine.

1. Heart shaped chocolates or themed cakes ( Place early orders with any popular home bakers or baking institutes like Lavonne ( Ph # 9740544442/9740544443), Cake Walk, Bite me Chocolate at Indira Nagar. For chocolate gifts check with Chocolate Junction, etc.
2. Perfume or lingerie for her ( Visit any stores in any of the leading malls like UB City, Garuda mall, Spar at Koramangala, etc)
3. Wallet, Vest, Shoes or jeans for him 
4. Say it with flowers ( I recommend Flower Box by Megha Arya, Ph: +91-80-25278888 / 41120988, close to ESI Hospital, Indira Nagar)
5. Personalized pillow cover, Tee shirts, mugs, calendar, beer glasses, candles, lighters or engraved photo frames, etc. ( Try Printo for personalized gifts)
6. For geeks, there are tech gifts like iPhone, game console, drones, DSLR, etc
7. Pamper both of you with a day in spa 

Romantic Restaurants Ideal for Valentine's Day Dinner in Bangalore

• The Black Pearl, Koramangala
• Dot, Yum ( Aloft Hotel), Whitefiled
• Le Meriden, Sankey Road
• Keys Hotel, Electronic City
• Radha Hometel, Whitefied
• Blue Ginger, Taj Westend
• Troika, Indira Nagar
• Mango Tree Bristrobar, Indira Nagar
• The Boozy Griffin, Koramangala
• Zaica, Whitefiled
• Zaica, Indira Nagar
• Woodstock, Indira Nagar
• Fairfiled by Marriott, Rajajinagar

Check out with these restaurants in Bangalore which have lined special romantic treats February 14th, 2015. For more details, check these event sites like Zomato, Burrp,.com, buzzintown, allevents.in, and many other sites. A word of caution here 0 while most restaurants promote valentine nights, check what's special they are offering for the customers.

What different stuffs you can do in Valentine's Day 2015 in Bangalore?

Roses, cakes, and gifts are few common stuffs most romantic hearts seek on a Valentine's Day. But, for more daring, out-of-box activity seekers,Valentine's Day is more than just pretty gifts and roses. If you are one of those, here are few ideas to experiment on this romantic day outing.

1. Go for midnight trek to one of the hills surrounding Bangalore. Skanda Giri is one place popular with adventure seekers. But, I'm not sure if it's now open for trekkers.
2. Another day activity would be wine tour. Give a surprise to your spouse or friend by taking the person for wine tour in Bangalore (Call for details: +91 990220238). Probably you heighten the experience by presenting a pair of wine glasses and a bottle of wine.
3. For those not motivated by romantic candle lit dinner or loud bash at the pubs in Bangalore, you can try this out. Buy a bunch of red roses, gifts, sweets and visit one of the orphanages in Bangalore or old age homes in Bangalore. Share your love to those who really needs it.
4. Experience doing something together. Join for a cooking or baking or craft classes on this day. I assure it's going to fun, learning new things together.
5. Instead of buying a rose, gift a rose plant to neighborhood park or gift your neighbor or to someone you love.
6. Clean your locality - Why not gather a group of friends to clean your locality. What about placing a new dust bin in the area and give the local sweeper lady a new dress, new hand gloves or a slipper. Won't it be nice of you to do this?
7. Give free hugs to all your friends or even to strangers! Bit daring, but you can give it a try
8. Donate your time to some charity organization in Bangalore. Various charities like Nirmaan Bangalore, Akshaya Patra Foundation, are looking for volunteers and funds.

Other offbeat ideas to spend your Valentine's Day in Bangalore could be fetched from this post ( http://www.polkacafe.com/)

Gift of Crepe Maker

I love giving gifts, especially to kids. Of course, receiving gifts is equally existing. So, when my younger brother gifted me the crepe maker, I was so much over the clouds.

I still remember my birthday gift he had given me in the year 1999, It was my first OTG oven ( Singer). Though I had this oven, I hardly baked, except during Christmas time.

How a Crepe Maker Works?
After keeping this gift intact for two weeks, I opened it make the first step from the electric crepe maker. This equipment is simple, as it works like a hot plate stove. All you need is to switch it on, and then pour the batter and use the wooden ladle to make it into a fine round shape.

Well, it sounds simple, but some practice is required to get your hand do the trick. Here's the simple crepe recipe to make it in your kitchen.

First Crepe from the Crepe Maker

Crepe ( Ready to Go)

Sugar powder on Crepe