Letting go.....

There are two types of letting go...
one is when you let go of a situation, a person and when you stop clinging..
and the other kind of letting go is when you let yourself go - when you let go of your musts and shoulds and coulds and all the funny rules you make for yourself and for other people...
the funniest part about making rules for other people is that they dont even know those rules exist...coz they exist in your damned head not theirs - and this is what causes maximum pain - when someone doesnt live upto my rules - then we get into metaphysical deabtes about why people behave the way they do and what is the world coming to..
Have you ever met a person who was stuck - so stuck that it showed in his body language - so stuck that you almost pity him / her - coz s/he's never probably even let himself feel completely - feel and express the full range of emotions a human being is capable of - feel and express himself without worrying about 'letting your guard down' and someone taking advantage of you..without worrying - PERIOD!!!
Kitna zindagi main miss karte hain...so much...

here's to love....

Love...so grand and so simple..
pata nahin hum isko kyun itna complex bana dete hain...
The easiest thing about love is to accept love - i love you is simplest and easist thing to say..say that life suddenly becomes ...so full...even if the other person doesnt love you in return - infact it doesnt matter at all whether the other person loves you or not - coz what you feel is indepandant of that other persons feeling - if the survival of your love depends on the reciprocity then its not love - its baniagiri..what you choose to do with that love is completely your choice however - keep it inside you or share it...
I breathe easy when i say i love you...i know i have told you how i feel..and i dont have to worry about whether you will miscontrue or misunderstand anything i say or do..it all comes from love..
and when you love and accept it - you feel so ...ummmm..how should i say it...content..full..like i tell nitya - jab aap hum ko hug karte ho toh hamare heart main se rainbow color ke smiley bubbles nikal ke aasmaan main jaate hain...thats how you feel when you love..fully...and you know a secret you can love anybody and everybody...spouse, friends, family...amitabh bachchan...anybody..its the easiest and most fun thing to do...to love...
and everyday..i hope i love some more...

I made this yesterday...

Our house is finally livable...
the problem was that getting into the shape that would make it our dream house - ab woh visual thoda hard to actualize tha...
But the best part has been - my lovely kitchen (will post pics as soon as i get my hands on a camera :) ).
And yesterday - i put on my worldspace radio and sang while i cooked kadai babycorn..
turned out great...
here's the recipe -

200 / 250 gms baby corn,
1 capsipum - cut into fingers
peas - boiled and shelled (optional - i used it coz i thought quantity thoda kam ho jaayega )
3 - 4 tomatoes - chopped
2 - 3 tbsps tomato puree (optional - i love the color )
Garlic - 6-8 pods,
Ginger - grated - about 1tbsp
Dhaniya powder - 2 tsps
Red chilli powder - to taste - i used a tsp
Kasuri methi - the original recipe had crushed methi dana - but somehow kasuri methi is hard to resist
4 tbsps oil - and a good non stick pan - you'll need more oil if the pan / kadai is not non stick.
Salt and sugar to taste

Boil 4 cups of water - add some salt and a tsp of lime juice - i keep a bottle of dabur lemoneez handy - add baby corn to the water and let it soak for 5-7 minutes - put off the gas please - dont boil it - cut the baby corn into pieces or leave it as it is - anyway you like..
heat 2 tbsps of oil in the pan / kadai and add baby corn -bhuno for 5-7 minutes - add capsicum and stir fry for a few minutes - i covered the lid for a few minutes - coz the capsicum was extremely crisp and i wanted it crunchy but not hard. Keep aside
Heat the remaining 2 tbsp of oil and add galic - bhuno till light brown - add dhaniya powder, red chilli pwder - bhuno again for a few secs - add ginger and tomatoes - cook till oil seperates - incase you are using the tomato puree too - add that when tomatoes are almost done -
Add salt and sugar to taste - and kasuri methi - add baby corn, capsicum, peas - add ahalf a cup of water and simmer for a few minutes - serve hot with chapatis
And as they say in bengaluru - enjoy maadi...

I liked this recipe becoz it was simple - done in 30 minutes with preparation time - interesting twist to the baby corn - crunchy and tangy - the recipe retains the flavor of the corn...

Getting started...

This is the toughest part...getting started...breaking the inertia...especially when i have'nt written in ages...
and i guess life is like that...getting started is painful...and keeping the mometum tougher..
I hope i am able to do it..
I hope i am able to write a few lines every week..
and i hope this becomes a space to exchange thoughts on - love, life, food and music...