Roasted Broccoli and Cheese Sandwiches...oh my, yummm!!!

Last night I was in the mood for sandwiches. My initial plan was to go for the regular Bombay sandwiches but then my eyes fell on the broccoli in the refrigerator and I thought, why not do something with these babies! So, I came up with this delicious recipe all by myself... okay, let me rephrase that. So, I googled a recipe all by myself and tried to create (replicate, rather) a sandwich that is not only healthy but super duper delicious!

Drooling, are we? I'll tell you how I did it.

I sauteed the broccoli as I usually do, with garlic in some butter, adding the broccoli florets, salt, black pepper powder, dried Italian herbs and chilli flakes, all tossed in a high flame until they are crisp but not fully cooked. I let them cool and then stuffed them and a few fresh tomato slices and half a cheese slice in between two bread slices, and grilled them away to glory!

Ah, the oozing cream of the cheese and the bite of the broccoli along with the freshness of the tomato, created a mouth watering combination of ultimate satisfaction! You have to try it guys!

Here's a teaser for you slurpurs!

Do try it and let me know how it worked out and also if you added/deleted some ingredients. I'd love to know!

Until next time! 👋

It's New Year! (again...)

Courtesy: www.giphy.com

Happy New Year guys! 

Wow, can you believe that a whole year just flew by and some of us are still at the same place?!? 😝Not to be a pessimist but that is what happens almost every year with me.😑 I am sure am not alone now, am I?

Well, the past year wasn't entirely hopeless. There were a few good things worth mentioning. I have been getting a lot of book reviewing offers for my blog Book Vue and have been doing some networking. I have moved my book review blog to WordPress (its not treason, its called expansion!), have been active on social media and been leaning the tactics of the industry. Not too well, may I add but still, getting somewhere I hope.

On the home front, my children seem to have suddenly grown up, each with their own crazy views (including my 5 year old). I have been honing my cooking skills, as some of you may know through my previous post. Health wise there have been some issues that I plan to resolve very soon through sheer dedication and will power. Can any of you tell me where I can find these two brats? They're kinda playing hard to get!

Nevertheless, as every year, I begin this year too with hopes and 'plans'. Be it my blogs, my health or my family, I will try my best to come out of my comfort zone and do something different. I don't sound like my true self to me right now, but I just want to hope and put it out there. Out there in the void.... like Meg Ryan did....in You've Got Mail. And she found her solution, didn't she?

So here's to being grateful for everything I have and wishing for the dormant courage in me to burst open and the unshakable will that I always had but is now hibernating somewhere. Ah well, it is winter, isn't it? I probably will give it some time and it will help me find my Tom Hanks destiny. Ahem!

Wishing everyone a Happy, Prosperous and Content New Year 2018!

Truly Tribal - An Online Tribal Art Gallery : An Experience

*** This is not a sponsored post ***

Hello everyone! Today, I have a unique review for you. It is about an online shop called Truly Tribal and the uniqueness is in its products consisting of beautiful artifacts that mesmerize you from the start!

Based in Pune and founded by Shweta Menon, Truly Tribal is an online tribal art gallery that showcases handicrafts and artworks from various regions in India. Truly Tribal focuses on giving the tribal artists a platform to display their art works and providing a means to make their beautiful handiwork, a source of their income. This online store contacts tribal artisans throughout India to bring global attention and recognition to their handiwork.

Having personally done business with Truly Tribal, I can say that it possesses some of the most unique decor items. It not only caters to individuals but also customizes designs for corporates and interior work.

My personal experience has been the purchase of several items but the one I want to talk about here is the candle wall decor that I bought during Diwali. Here are some pictures:

Candle Wall Decor (without candles)

Candle Wall Decor (lit up with candles!)

The candle holder is made of wrought iron and is hand crafted in Moradabad. With candles lit, it looks absolutely surreal! I can't tell you how many compliments I received for this art piece that is surely a proud possession.

Some of the other handmade pieces I got from Truly Tribal:

Palm Leaf bookmarks, hand painted

A necklace and earring set in brass work

Brass Jhumkas (can never have enough jhumkas!)

The products are a beautiful collection of all kinds of tribal arts be it brass work, paintings, palm leaf artifacts or sculptures. So the next time you want to pick up some gift items or home decor, I would definitely recommend checking this unique art gallery out.

To know more, click here: http://www.trulytribal.in/

The time I messed up my Diwali chocolates

Every year I make chocolates for Diwali as a change to the regular Indian sweets and savories. Some of mom's classics I retain but my kids look forward to the chocolates that have now become a tradition at home. So this year too, I made them, albeit with a big screw up and a resultant lesson learned.

I wanted to make my usual chocolate barks and after I was done with the white chocolate ones, I moved on to my favorite, dark chocolate bark with sea salt, orange zest and almonds. I was sure it would turn out great as it does every year (stop the applause, please!).

Anyways, while the chocolate was melting into its silky, velvety self on a double boiler, I couldn't but help notice how succulent and delicious the oranges smelt! I had just grated their zest you see and there they sat, devoid of their skin but nevertheless ruthlessly inviting me!

My mind wandered and I thought I ought to use the fresh juice of those oranges in my chocolate. Now, I don't usually experiment with food but this time I was sure I was doing the right thing! It would definitely elevate the taste and moreover, "wouldn't the acidity of the fresh juice cut through the sweetness of the chocolate?", my master chef brain thought. Proud of my clever train of (premature) thoughts, I went ahead and added a good splash of the orange juice to my silky, melted chocolate. There! I had just created my masterpiece!

Apparently, not! As soon as I began mixing the chocolate, the silkiness disappeared and gave way to this angry, rigid lump! Ok, I made a terrible mistake, but now what? What was I supposed to do with this lump?

Thankfully, the logical part of my brain (with its eyes rolled) pushed aside the (very embarrassed) master chef one and took control of the situation. I quickly added the salt, zest and almonds to the lump and made chocolate balls out of it. Not the desired output but that would have to do for now.

Later, I googled and found out that there is a reason chocolate is melted on a double boiler, so that moisture doesn't get into it and make it a lump of unmovable chocolate! Ah! Light bulb!

Well, as it happened, the taste was exceptional but the texture wasn't right so I couldn't gift it to my friends. As a result, a valuable lesson learned. Also, I don't think I would be experimenting with food anytime soon.

One crazy post by one crazy gal!

While returning from my workout today, I just stopped dead in my tracks as I spotted these rich red, plump looking tomatoes with their stalks still attached. These are the local variety and I especially love the tanginess they add which takes the tastiness factor of any dish many notches higher than usual. I was so bewitched, I know bewitched is a strong word for something as simple as tomatoes, but hey, I'm a tomato lover so empathize, alright? Anyway, I began picking them and dropping them in a basket when, thankfully, I zapped back to reality and realized that I didn't have my wallet on me. Duh!

Sheepishly, I stood upright and tried not to show any emotions. And then switching to the Schwarzenegger in me I told the lady vendor that, I'll be back. Either she hadn't watched The Terminator or was so desperate for a sale because as soon as I said that, she started bargaining and offered the tomatoes for a lesser price! Embarrassing as it all was, I convinced her that I didn't have any money and would pick up my wallet and be back.

And back I was. Bought two kilos of the most desirable and juiciest looking things, although I already had a kilo of regular tomatoes at home. Hey, you can't have too many tomatoes, that's unheard of bro! Here, take a look at my prize!

And now, I'm off to googling tomato recipes.

Green Tokri - An Amazing Farm Tour

Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored/promotional post. The views expressed here are my own.

Perhaps everyone of us living in Pune must have come across Green Tokri products in the market. As a family, we particularly love their salad leaves, basil pesto, tomato pesto, pasta sauce and strawberry jam. But after this farm tour, we have had the chance to come up close and personal with the farm itself and some of their other products that are absolutely lip smacking! Most importantly, we now know the source of these products and the kind of love and dedication that goes behind producing the same.

Green Tokri is a farm in the outskirts of Pune where all kinds of exotic vegetables like salad leaves, celery, fennel...you name it, are grown. Having been planning from a long time, we finally had a weekend date set for a farm tour, that we are all so looking forward to.

We needed to reach the farm ideally by 9:30 am, the tour begins at 10:00 am. From Kondhwa, we climbed the Bopdev ghat and onwards, following Google Maps all the way. You will be sent directions, once you book the tour. It did seem like the farm is in the middle of nowhere but we kept driving. Of course, it would have been helpful if there were some sign boards from the main road for visitors to follow. Anyway, once we reached (armed with caps, sun glasses, sunscreen etc), we were welcomed with a cool, refreshing strawberry drink. The Farm Manager, Mr. Khan (or 'K' as he liked to be called) began explaining the different types of salad leaves and herbs grown there. I didn't even know so many varieties of salad leaves even existed! K prepared a salad for all of us to taste which was lip smacking! Don't believe me? You've got to taste it to believe it! And then we went ahead with our tour.
                                   

Types of Salad Leaves

First stop, the Greenhouse. This is where cucumbers, jalapenos, cherry tomatoes grow in a controlled environment. Mr. K meticulously explained the process of cultivating, irrigating and pest control for the plants. Children were encouraged to pick cherry tomatoes to take home. 

The Greenhouse

There were a number of fruit trees outside the greenhouse. Among them were avocados. They grow a few varieties of avocados, we could see some up on the trees. We then headed towards the section where the salad leaves had taken over the landscape. These leaves are grown in open spaces throughout the year, irrespective of the season. The medley of colors of the leaves was beautiful. We were allowed to pick lettuce to take home. They have strawberries and during the season. Visitors can pick them too.

The next stop was the Nursery where K gave us a glimpse of  little salad leaves saplings and other vegetable saplings. He also explained how meticulously his workers work each day to ensure timely plantation. The children were then taken to plant a sapling each, while the adults shopped for some of the fresh produce available like celery, spinach, kale etc.

Exotic veggies for sale

It was around one in the afternoon by then and we were famished. Lunch was to be served in a different place. We were taken to a farm house in a tractor, yes you read it right, a tractor! The ride was fun, needless to say. Arriving at the farmhouse, our lunch was laid out and ready. What a scrumptious spread indeed! They had bread, Green Tokri dips, pickles, fruits and much more. As we were gorging on the deliciousness, K, ever so sweetly, prepared pasta for all of us with different combinations like pasta with basil pesto, with mayonnaise etc. We had our fill to the maximum! To think that you could actually feel full eating salad and veggies...well, it is something you should go visit and experience for yourself!

A small part of the scrumptious lunch!

After lunch, we were given two free gifts (Green Tokri products) for each ticket. Besides the gifts, we also purchased some of their other goodies too.

Green Tokri products for sale

The crowd then headed towards the playground area in the farm house which kept the kids busy, as we parents relaxed. It was around 3 at noon when we finally bid adieu to the lovely place and an amazing experience. Mr. K and his wife, Eliza were perfect hosts!

It is a unique experience, to visit a farm especially for children. In my opinion, Green Tokri is a revolutionary venture. They introduce exotic vegetables to our Indian homes and also encourage us to include a proper salad to our daily diet. Do try out Green Tokri products, especially their pickles. I honestly believe, the pickles have the power to transform a salad from dull to delicious! The products are tasty and healthy at the same time. All in all, highly recommended products and a highly recommended trip!

If you are interested in booking a farm tour, click here.

Visit their website here.

Paperboat has gone nuts!! (Product review inside!)

I love Paperboat products. They are new, different and the best part is one can always relate to childhood memories. That connection is what makes the beverages taste better, I believe. Well, Paperboat has now branched into snacks and its first offering is .... wait for it..... Paperboat chikki! 

Tadaaa!!!

Speaking of childhood memories, I remember mine in Delhi where winters were the chilliest and the season's goodies, the yummiest. Be it chikki, gajak or revadi, the mere mention of these were enough to make our mouths water! 

Paperboat chikkis are a delicious mixture of peanuts and jaggery (although some sugar is added) which is not hard and is easily cracked to share it with loved ones. Healthy and yummy, with a pocket friendly price, it is the perfect winter snack!

Sadly, I don't have more pictures of the chikki Paperboat sent me, it just vanished into everyone's mouths! Guess, that speaks for itself. Thank you Paperboat for bringing out the child in us.

Looking forward to many more reminisces and deliciousness from Paperboat!

Check my review on Paperboat beverages here.

Check out their website here.

Follow them on Twitter here.

Catch them on Facebook here.

The Return Of The Blogger

As you can see, the last time I blogged here was at the beginning of the year. And then, life happened, the usual rut and I seemed to be focusing on my book blog extensively. I must say it has been a good year as far as my book blog is concerned. I received a lot of books by authors/publishers for reviews and that made me work harder towards the blog. I also submitted many stories/articles for contests, which never got selected, by the way. No chuckling!

But yes, I did miss this personal blog of mine. I missed ranting endlessly about all things that matter to me, irritate me and madden me. I even stopped paying attention to my parenting blog and the excuse I have been giving is that I have been busy doing just that, parenting! Which in other words translate to screaming on top of my voice to get one simple job done like, for example, turning the TV off.

Yes, it has been a good year for my book blog, no doubt, but it came at a price. It is difficult to mange all the three with the same kind of dedication and sincerity but I look forward to trying that this coming year on wards. I hope that the new year will renew the crazy writer that has been in slumber for so long inside me and that I can grow (as a writer, not in size) and expand (again, not in size!)

Having mentioned size I must say, I have been working out and been able to successfully reduce a few kilos and tone up a bit here and a bit there. The journey is still on and I don't mind waiting for the perfect body, no matter how many years it takes! Geez, I can almost see my instructor rolling his eyes!

So, with all the positiveness of the festive season, I sincerely hope that I maintain my writings and ramblings and make my blogs a fun and informative place to visit, with your help, of course.

Season's Greetings to all!

Those Weak Moments

Happy 2016 everyone! Well, my new year started with relishing the company of my friends and having lots of fun with them. We are half a month down this year already and I have made some pacts with myself. Not resolutions, I just don't like to call them that. Resolutions are meant to be broken, you see. And this year, I don't want anything to be broken, neither my promises nor my will power. I am happy to announce that I have taken some steps towards better health and better writing! Yaaay! That deserves a pat on the back, no?

And although I am enjoying every bit of this new journey, today was especially tiring. A new workout regime, siting in front of the laptop since morning to get my son's admission form to load, trying out a new diet. I'm not going to bore you with the details but ultimately, one of these (or all of these) gave me a headache. AND I WAS SOUR. Yes. Have you ever seen Bruce turn into the massive, angry Hulk? Yeah, pretty much there.

So, apparently, the new diet didn't seem to adjust to it and the hulk in our story was both hungry and angry. It was hangry. It wandered around the kitchen for something to gobble down, to soothe its screaming stomach, but sadly didn't succeed. All it could find were some fruits. No, the sugar in those fruits wouldn't work. It needed a bigger sugar fix, that instant. So, it decided to get its hands on a humble bar of Twix. In no time the wrapper came off and there it sat, devouring every bit of it. The crumble from the biscuit, the caramel and the milk chocolate finally tamed the big, green beast down. With Twix doing the tango, the hangry hulk was gone. The world was once again a safe place!

Yeah, so that's what pretty much happened today. I shouldn't have given in, I know, but desperate times. So much for not breaking promises, huh? Well, I have been a good girl for the most part so I think I can be get away with this? Oops, I hope my trainer is not reading this!

So guys, lesson learned. Make changes for the better this year but do it with consistency and precision. If you're going to do it, give it your 100%. What was that? Okay, 99%, you happy now? :-)

Have a healthy and content new year y'all!

A Very Happy Diwali to You!

'Tis the season when family and friends are together, when good takes over evil, when gifts of love are exchanged and when lights fade away the darkness in our lives. Be grateful for everything you have and spread love.

Wishing you all a very HAPPY DIWALI !

Holy Moly, Guacamole!

It has been five months since my return from the most fabulous vacation of my life to the US. And ever since I'm back, there has been but one change in my old routine. I miss my niece to bits. She is my doll, my princess, the daughter I never had. And I always find myself wanting to get her that dress at the mall or the pink glittery book that she might like. But there is one more thing that I miss. And that's guacamole. Having eaten the Chipotle rice bowl many a times during my stay there, I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to replicate it at home. The thought had been haunting me for a while and I had almost given up the hope of finding avocados here in Pune and even did some googling for some pathetic substitutes. Well, what can I say, desperate times!

You know what they say about dreams coming true at the time you least expect it, and all that? That really happens. I was at Dorabjees for my Diwali shopping and there, among the fruits, I caught sight of the most beautiful green avocados. The were like eighty rupees a fruit but if you remember, desperate times...yeah. So, I just grabbed a couple and couldn't wait to try them at home. I scooped out the pulp and mashed it well. Then I added some chopped onions, tomatoes, chillies, coriander leaves, salt and lime juice and.... tadaaaa!! There it was! My creation, my favorite - a creamy, yummy guacamole!

The family loved it. We paired it with some chips and it was all finished in a jiffy. Now that I know where I can get my hands on the avocados, I can make them whenever I crave for some Mexican twist. I felt so ecstatic after my success that now my mission is to recreate the Chipotle rice bowl at home. The hardest part was the guac and with that sorted, the rest is going to be easy. Surely, if the recipe is a hit, I will be posting it on my blog for all you guys to try. Believe me, it is a delicious and healthy meal and you'll comeback for more. So, I leave with the taste of that guac lingering on my tongue but not without posting a picture of it. Do give it a try and enjoy!

Happy 12th to Us!

You make me laugh, you make me cry,

You make me strong and coax me to the extra mile,

You support me, like no one I know,

You've watched me fail, you've watched me grow (literally!)

You taught me to be happy

in the truest of sense,

You taught me to be myself

and come out of my fence,

You showed me a new world where happiness was always possible,

You let me into your life to create memories, cherishable.

I cannot begin to describe my lucky chance,

These past twelve years have been a blissful trance,

You make sure that I have the very best,

For that I'm grateful, I'm eternally blessed.

But more than anything, I truly respect the fact
that you take me as I am, strengths and weakness intact,
This unconditional love you have for me
is beyond what I had imagined, so you see,

I won't thank you as it would mean farewell,
I admit, I enjoy your attention quite well!
My only wish is to be with you forever,
If I have you I'm happy, wherever!

This life and beyond, I promise you this,
You'll always have me, We'll always be together!

The Sparkle of Festivities

The onset of the festive season changes everything. Our drab routine life gets a midas touch and turns beautiful and exciting, albeit for a short period. And no, I'm not talking about the sale that is practically everywhere (although it is a reason to party, no less!). The city gears up for the celebrations with pandals out in every street, every corner. The deities get a makeover and so do our homes. Cleaning, clearing out the clutter, planning things from decor to sweets and snacks.....what a busy but lovely ritual it becomes for kids and old alike!

Here in Pune, celebrations begins with the Ganesh Utsav, followed by Navrathri and then Diwali. And that's not all, even Halloween is celebrated in the colony now. And then comes Christmas, all magical and surreal. Evenings during this period is a sight to behold with colorful lighting and decorations.

But it is not just about the glamour of it all . The real celebration can be seen when people come closer to each other not as a group of the same religion or caste but as humans. Muslims celebrating Diwali or sharing their meals with Hindus during Eid is what festivals are all about. The true meaning of festivities is realized when friends and strangers, rich and poor, gather to share each other's happiness, each other's lives. When one heartfelt wish from John on Navrathri makes your day or when Sita joins her friends for the midnight mass, that's when you are actually celebrating. No matter what the festival, if the people who love you are with you, you genuinely celebrate.

And when you do that, up above all our Gods celebrate the festival of humanity, rejoicing and relieved that their purpose behind the creation of mankind has been saved.

May the sparkle of this festive season be with you, always. Season's Greetings!

Sometimes...

Sometimes, it is better not to have a clear eyesight. Sometimes, you don't want to see things so clearly. The lies, the mockery, the hatred, the fear, the irony and the hard truth. Sometimes, it feels better to have a blurry image in front of you beacuse then, you can imagine. And not know.

Sometimes, it is better to not know.

Yes, I am a woman and I hate cooking!

Surprised? Why is it so difficult to accept that a woman cannot be good at cooking or housekeeping? It is not as if we were born with these skills. And even if she isn't good at the above said chores, why is it absolutely essential for her to learn and master them? Who made these rules anyway?

I am not particularly interested in cooking. Of course I get around and manage to whip up quite a few dishes, (some really good ones if I may say so myself), but I really don't like it. I don't like cooking, something that is supposed to be my "duty" or should be my "passion". Nope, I am different and so are thousands of other women out there who don't like doing the compulsorily 'assigned' chores for women ,because it is simply not their thing.

While we conveniently blame our men for this kind of discrimination or for taking us for granted, the bitter truth is that somewhere we women are ourselves to blame. As mothers, we keep pushing our daughters to learn the basics of housekeeping so that she 'fits in' right after marriage. When she is praised by her husband's family for knowing-it-all, our chests swell with pride for raising such a dutiful daughter. That's really good, if she really is into home science. But what about those who don't want to 'fit in'?

We women have been domesticated by our ancestors for so many generations that sometimes we don't even realize what is wrong or right. There is absolutely nothing wrong in doing household chores, but then that should be taught to both boys and girls. I'm not saying not to teach our girls anything. But teach them that these chores aren't their responsibility alone. Set an example as a couple for your children by sharing the daily work with your spouse. So that even your boys learn that these chores aren't meant only for the women folk.

And also I humbly request all you guys and girls out there that next time, before 'judging' someone, try to keep an open mind and treat women as humans instead of gadgets or machines. I sincerely hope that we are successful in teaching our sons and daughters the true meaning of the word "sharing".

Because sharing is caring!






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Gajar ka Halwa ice cream, anyone?

It was a weekend drive after dinner. We usually go for a long drive with the kids followed by an ice cream session. Our regular stop is at Naturals ice cream because we all love the place for its unique flavors. Mango ice cream with fresh cut mango pieces in summer or chickoo ice cream in winter. Even tender coconut ice cream. But this time, my husband returned with a Gajar ka halwa (carrot halwa) flavour for me which, he knew, I would love! See, sometimes it pays when your spouse knows you better than you think!

So, this ice cream...well, it was delicious! The real thing! I mean, if you are a fan of gajar ka halwa then I strongly suggest you try this. It almost felt as if they took some halwa and added plain ice cream to it! Hmmm....maybe it really is made like that!

For those of you interested, here's a link for the recipe from Archanas Kitchen, my go-to food channel.

Gajar Ka Halwa

Anyways, I love gorging on gajar ka halwa, especially in the winters when we get those juicy red carrots. And no surprises here, but it vanishes like magic whenever I make some. Although it is a tiresome process to grate those carrots. I mean sometimes I just put off making it just because of that sole reason, but I guess there must be an easier way. I must find out. Let the passion drive me to gain a new approach to making this mouth watering dessert! What say? Of course, I will share it with you, if and when I stumble upon such a discovery. I can almost hear my subconscious mind telling me," Really?!? I thought somebody wanted to lose weight!"

Anyways, I am a big fan of Naturals ice cream and if you happen to taste this particular flavour (or any new ones) please do let me know. Must visit them regularly or else I might miss out on some amazing stuff. My subconscious....here she goes again! Ugghhh!

To eat or not to eat, that is the question which will never be answered, I guess. Sigh! I'm fighting a tug-of-war within myself. There's not a single topic we both agree on, go figure!

And to conclude, here's one of my pearls of wisdom:

"An ice cream every once a while,
makes kids and adults happy alike!"

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Happy New Year 2015!

We are all set to bid adieu to 2014 and I'm sure, like me, most of us didn't realize it would end so soon. With heartfelt gratitude I thank God for the wonderful year gone by and hope the new year would be just as contended. Here's wishing everyone a very happy and exciting new year ahead! May your dreams and ambitions soar new heights and your home filled with happiness and peace.

                                                             HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015! 

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While I was away...

I just looked at the date of my last post and Oh My God! Has it really been that long?!? Well, I've got my reasons but I missed my time here. Anyways, let me bring you up to speed.

I had my in-laws staying with me for 2 months and during the time they fell ill and my dear hubby and I had to run errands, cook, look after kiddies and blah blah blah. So, that's why the absence. And as Steve Martin says in Pink Panther 2, "You are now up to speed".

My little boy Karthik turned two on September 26th and we held a big party to celebrate it. The venue was Hotel Ramakrishna on MG Road. They have a beautiful and big place for parties. And by beautiful I mean beautiful because we didn't need to decorate it much, it was good as it was. But we put up some balloons and stuff anyway. The food was good, everybody loved it. Pure vegetarian, so a big thumbs up from my in-laws! :-) But other than the venue and food, the cake, apparently, attracted a lot of attention too! Here's a picture of the birthday cake.

Birthday Cake!

We usually see these kind of cakes (with fondant and all) in TLC programmes and wonder when will we get to gorge on them in our country? But by the looks of it, the art of bakery has evolved exceptionally and if we really attempt, we could unearth some precious little places that have awesome cakes in our own cities. This cake is from one such gem of a place called Arkie's, a bakery near my place. It is located in Lulla Nagar, Pune. I have been ordering from them since a couple of years now. They have a good variety and never-heard-of flavours too. So, if you are a puneite, please do check it out! They are on Facebook too.
Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/ArkiesBornBaker

And before you start getting any ideas let me end by saying that this post is not for publicity reasons, I am a true fan of Arkie's! Bhalaai ka zamaana, still exists guys! ;-)



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Moto E on Flipkart - The Ordeal

It was the 23rd of May when Moto E (the new, hot mobile phone in town) was back in stock on Flipkart with a limited number of units. Moto E had more features as compared to its rivals and as Flipkart quoted it was "priced for all". Indeed. It was being sold exclusively on Flipkart and after its grand initial response, the customers this time (which included me, of course!) weren't going to let the bargain get out of their hands easily. And so, at 11 am sharp on that day, I sat in front of my computer with my credit card at the side, ready to charge, fight and win the battle with my mouse! But that was not to be.

Sadly, destiny had other plans, not only for me but for each and every one of us trying to get their hands on the precious prize. A heavy traffic inflow, so huge that the transactions weren't proceeding at all. Usually, deals on Flipkart are a seamless affair, but it was different that day. After a couple of hours of jostling the online mob, Flipkart had to put up a message saying that it had an overwhelming response for Moto E and would be back. Sure, fine. But when?!? I sat back imagining the programmers back in Bangalore fervently trying to sort the technical issues, sweating out the ordeal. I came back again and again to check if the problem was solved but apparently they were still at it. Of course, I was dejected. You see, I had been without a proper phone for some time now. No Whatsapp too. It was driving me nuts! I wanted a new phone ASAP and had pinned all my hopes on Flipkart as I know it to deliver the fastest. Sigh! And so, I waited.

At around 5 pm when I was at the computer whiling away my time and cursing my luck, I decided to give a shot again. A shot in the dark. I sat there, fingers and toes crossed, breezing through each step of the transaction unbelievably. Luckily enough, I was finally able to make my purchase and come out of it all unscathed! Yes, I succeeded! Yaaay!!

I know its not a big deal, but that day, that moment, was one of triumph and achievement. Never had I imagined it to turn out as such a hassle but thanks to the Flipkart's technical team, all was sorted and disaster averted ( for me at least!)

Now, I check the site over and over again to track my order and wait, impatiently, for my beloved to arrive. And when it does, I will be over the moon (for a couple of days) and then begin the hunt all over again. To catch a new fish. To place my next order! ;-)

Passport Seva Kendra Pune - My Experience

Applying for a passport or renewing it has always been a herculean task for us Indians. The lengthy and dragging queues at the passport office and at least a couple of day's time and efforts wasted. No wonder travel agents were the best bet to get the process sorted out. Although it costed an extra little bit, it still was worth the hassle. Until now. Finally, we have an easier and simpler way to handle our passport issues through their online portal, Passport Seva. I will try my best to explain how it all works in this post.

The first step is to go to their web site and create a login id with password. Next, you can either download the passport form, fill it at your convenience and upload it or fill the form online and submit it right then. There are guidelines to refer to in case you face any difficulties filling the form. Once your form has been accepted, you can pay for the passport online either through online banking or debit/credit cards. You need to then take an appointment online for visiting your local PSK (Passport Seva Kendra). The appointment is generated by the system but you can change it to a later date too, if necessary. You will get a confirmation showing your date and time of appointment and payment details. Take a printout of this receipt. Once that is done, all that remains is to visit the PSK at the given date and time with the appropriate documents.

The documents to be taken along with you depends on the type of application i,e fresh passport, re issue, tatkal etc. In any case, the website has a link to Document Advisor which gives you information regarding the documents required. As for the passport photographs, for children less than 4 years of age, the parents have to carry passport size photographs with them when visiting the PSK (light background, dark clothes). For all other applicants, photographs will be taken at the PSK itself.

On the date of appointment, it is recommended to reach the PSK around 10 minutes earlier. Carry the printout of the confirmation receipt with you that you had taken at the time of submitting the application form. Upon entering the PSK, a token for each applicant has to be taken. There are separate queues not only for fresh passport and re issue but also for senior citizens and minor applicants.The documents have to be shown and a token will be given. This token will be your identification for the coming processes. There are kiosks and even a photocopier in the main hall for your convenience.

Once the token has been taken, you enter a waiting hall where you wait for your token number to be displayed on the screen. From here on, you will have to go through three sections of verification namely A,B and C. Each section is divided into numbered cubicles and the cubicle you have to visit will be displayed besides your token number. For example, if your token number is N233 and the number besides it is A21, then you have to go to cubicle A21 along with the documents. In Section A, your documents are scanned and uploaded and your digital photograph taken. Thumb impressions and signatures are also taken here. From here, you go to Section B and again wait for your cubicle number to be displayed, this time prefixed with the letter B. Here, your documents will be verified and then you will be sent to Section C. Again you wait for your turn and get your documents re-verified. After the three sections are done with, you will have to deposit your token in a counter located just before the exit and collect an acknowledgement. That's it! You are done!

Some useful points

• Carry all your documents in original, extra photocopies and a pen.
• There is a snack bar in the waiting hall before Section A. Helpful for those little passport holders and senior citizens.
• After you've visited the PSK, you can track your application status online or through SMS alerts.
• It is a quicker and better experience if you carry all your documents at the time of the PSK visit. So make sure you know exactly what documents to bring along.

I had to apply for a fresh passport for my younger son and renew my elder one's passport. I applied for both and came out of the PSK in exactly two hours time. My PSK visit was on the 13th of May and I received the passports on 21st May, five working days to be precise. I have applied for passports before and I must say that finally we have a segregated, well managed process and a commendable speedy delivery too.

Visit the website for more information:  Passport Seva