JG makes salad

So I have been doing this for a while inspired by healthy eating habits. The salad books I got were never put to good use however I have always believed in experimental cooking. If it turns out well - I do it again and again.

Quite often, I end up reading the nutrient stuff that they publish in Bombay times. When I remember, I quite often make a cut out and file it in a display folder. Well I do not have more than 3 articles now, however in the long run I guess I shall have tons. 

So I learnt that greens, pulses, egg whites, curds, cheese are good and should be made part of your regular diet. I do eat the veggies but where on earth should I consume lettuce or broccoli?

And here’s the result of the experiment, which I presume is a very healthy option.

1. Put veggies or legumes/pulses to boil (in the above I have used green beans, corn and bengal gram). I avoid veggies such as cauliflower since I like them better cooked.
2. After these are approximately 95% steamed, add the broccoli for about two minutes of steaming. It retains it nutrient value that way. 
3. Then stain (get rid of the water - people say this water is also healthy but I am not sure. If you believe so, drink it as soup)
4. Cut lettuce and purple cabbage. Do not steam these.
5. Add raw colored (red or yellow) capsicum. I have used yellow here.
6. Now I cant just eat veggies, so I add a 4 slices of multigrain bread to this mixture. I feel like I have eaten something
7. Add curds - an appropriate amount 
8. Add seasoning as you like. 
9. Salt to taste
10. Fresh pepper
11. I added some Ranch dressing too
12. Give tadka of jeera and green chilli (big pieces) in olive oil (one tea spoon) and add it to the salad. 
13. Then mix it well and I presume I have a healthy recipe to eat
14. Add egg whites for proteins - or simply make a yoke-free omelet to spike up the protein content and satiate more appetite. 

With the quantities and packaging available in the market, I use half of everything once and the other half later during the week. Each time is a decent salad meal for two.

Not a bad option eating salad twice in a week right? May be it should be a salad day on Tuesdays & Thursdays.

Ganapati Bappa

Last  Saturday, on the day of makar sankranti (Jan 15, 2011), I visited Siddhi Vinayak temple – my first visit since I came to Mumbai almost 20 months ago. It was an impulse decision triggered by a real life event.  The last time and only time I paid a visit to Siddhi Vinayak  in Mumbai was in  2000. More than ten years, I questioned myself?

I am a God believing person,  that is ahead of God fearing. I believe, I have never sinned - Although have been a little callous about life’s events and my responses to the world surrounding me including elders, closed ones and species that are neutral to my being. I don’t know whether God expects me to polite with everyone but if he does then I could be in big trouble someday. I can be outright, sometimes to the point of being lethally blunt that it may leave a wound behind. Frankly I am not sure whether I am sensitive to it, but I quite often write that behavior as “assertive”.  I hope He forgives this brashness. May be as I get older, I shall learn the art of diplomacy (though in my heart, I am not sure whether I am that person).

Every temple has given me peace whenever I have paid a visit as this did. God knows all that you have been upto and there is nothing to hide. All I can ask for is ‘some prevailing sense that I continue to be righteous and fair’. I pray almost everyday – probably because its good to make Him a part of my daily life, bring in positive energy, have an accomplice in ‘uncertainty’.

Though consciously, I don’t make an effort which I suppose I should. For instance, when Vishal was here – we probably lounged every weekend and I was a little shocked that I had to await a ‘trigger’ to pay my respects to Him? That, Jeevan, I think is very shameful. Though, I try to feel good about the fact that I drove my grandma to mumbadevi. So, may be, at some conscious level I need to put my thoughts into action and pay homage a little more regularly.

As we grow older, we realize who we are. All throughout childhood, God has been ONE for me. If I had to answer who do I pray to – I wouldn’t have an answer! Throughout my engineering, each Thursday I went to Dutta mandir @ Kamla Nehru Park. Then as I started believing in the mystique of the universe, I began investigating its effect on me. I am born on the 7^th day of Ganapati festival – and there based on my birth, I chose my God.

I have just begun a relationship with Him. Over time, I shall get to know Him better – his powers, aura, and story. I presume He already knows me. He may have a big hand writing it. So I have requested a Maha puja @ Siddhi Vinayak  temple today. I like to believe that whatever materialism I may give in offering, His disciples may partly use for reconstruction or expansion and partly for the benefit of His people!

Coincidences

We have had many and when I try to recollect - I ain't got any. 

So I decided to make notes of any such coincidences henceforth.

1. On Saturday 15 Jan 2010, I wrote a note on "Under the Tuscan sun" and briefly about Diana Lane. Next day, while browsing through the birthday forecasts in Times of India - they flashed a 6 X 5 inches picture of her's with her zodiac sign!
2. Saw a BMW x1 on May 15, 2011 on my way to the gym. Googled the white baby and downloaded the picture. The googled car had a registration number MMF - 4644. My current zen estillo's registration is MH 12 GK 464.

Only a precious moment

Originally written on 26 November, 2002; modified today.

As the day trailed by

to meet the setting sun

I walked the road to home 

for another day to come

Then in a blink

You whisked before my eyes

A day that would any other been

Will now be a moment forever green

A glimpse of you makes me smile

Always eager to wipe your strawberry lips with mine

Radiant sunset glow

Seeing you each time has been the ecstasy of first snow

The day wrapped up in dusk

as I hugged you close

‘goodbye’ is never an easy emotion

especially when ‘see you again’ is unknown

As you lingered on my mind

for a year or two

I got wise

and was too young to realize

You and I had a moment

a precious one or two

What I thought was love

was only great time and incredible sex too

So now I feel good, thinking you are gone

Into the future, if we find each other as single

Save me the miserable pain

and lets fuck super, one-on-one, again

If only I could

Aha, this one I suppose is right into a relationship of 45 days. Yeah, now I see, I am quite bad at them. Written sometime in January 2003

All I do

is close my eyes to feel you

The mind anchors to a body intimately held

In a moment that bolsters bliss felt

To the proximity my lips

on your neck endowed

to the lascivia that 

our lips wouldn’t let go

This crazy mind of mine

Possessed by you all the while

Glimpses of you I encounter

Wishing you were close to hold near

If only I could

extend this moment to lifetime I would

Moment, though overwhelming be

Lifetime is what love is meant to be

I scream and sing

All that I feel inside

Heart though has its own moral story to say

‘Do not get flown by the tide’

Mind may have a fling or so

Heart evades with a ‘Big No’

Mind is sunk of moments with you

Heart is a reminder of past blues

As I each day speak to you

The mind and heart vouch for one another

Mind says a dilate moment it shall be

Heart is aware, lifetime - only time shall see

If only I could 

extend this moment to lifetime I would

moment though overwhelming be

Lifetime is what love is meant to be

A strength that heart keeps captive

Where mind can do nothing but only let go

The heart then takes over 

Binds two souls into one another

No matter what may then come 

two souls one part become

‘Love’ - if I may say

Blossoms each passing day

Now as I ponder

The eve we were together

You have been on my mind too long

So, I sit and write you a song

Eternity and beyond, larger than life may be, 

Love is how we dream to be

If I tread the path today

You, I wish to hold, all the way

I take it slow though, 

Hoping you shall wait

I wont be too long or far

It may take a little while as I come close each day

I know, I can, 

extend this moment to lifetime

Someday, you shall see, 

A beautiful home, you and me.

Me a lad

Firstly, Hemant, many thanks for finding this collection of "my compositions" in Partha's table that I left behind in Bangalore. When I look back on these pieces I cannot imagine "my astounding quotient of stupidity" - however never the less, they do seem quite priceless.

Written sometime in 1992

Lured into the bliss of countryside,
Climbing up on a banyan roadside,
In the greenery covered with trees,
Sometimes by the fields or along the seas.

In that carefree world of mine,
Lovely fruits you would never dine,
The earthy fragrance that spreads in space,
I have always seen the sun's smiling face

The lascivious passion
Of a flower's and a bee's kiss, and other things that you greatly miss.
The chirping sounds and birds screech,
To a materialist world it would never reach.

A life far into the wild
A vision I see as a child!

Into 2011

Reflecting back on 2010, I believe it was a decent year. 

1. Bought Canon in January and then lot of fotos. 
2. In March, did a hair makeover for 'Times and Style'
3. First tattoo in June/July
4. Picked up my first Mac - suppose it was July/August sometime
5. Then work was horrible for a while until September and it became nice. Moved into a new role. 
6. First car in October
7. Did Kelva beach outing with IBM collegues
8. Created a blog for movie reviews
9. Last two days of the year were spent in Goa (after like eight years) - so :)

So I suppose its all been good. New Year's day started on a very fantastic note. Super fantastic. So I believe, it will be a better year. In terms of agendas, I suppose for now I should buy a DSLR and take a lot more pictures. Do a vacation or two. I am thinking I should buy a house, but let fate decide that. Oh yeah and there may be one very important thing I wish to do (its on my secret to do list ;)).

Looking forward to 2011, I think it shall be super !