Paneer Capital of the world

I have never seen so much of creativity or byproducts of any other food item before. Paneer the yummy 'Indian Cheese' seems to have dominated all food joints. This popular Indian cheese is unavoidable in any Punjabi household. But now, it seems to be ubiquitous in all cuisines as some variation or fusion dish. Just some of the mouthwatering dishes off the top of my head that i have been scanning at eating joints in the past few days:
1. Paneer Kulcha
2. Shahi Paneer
3. Paneer Kathi rolls
4. Paneer stuffed dal chilla
5. Paneer Parantha
6. Paneer Tikkas
7. Paneer Tikki
8. Kadhai Paneer
9. Paneer Bhurji
10. Palak Paneer
11. Paneer Masala Dosa
12. Tandoori Paneer Naan

My head is already feeling dizzy with the repetition of the word 'Paneer' dominating the food charts in Delhi, which i name as the Paneer capital of the world.

Quick one from India

This time, even though i am visiting India after almost 14 months, the settling time has been very short. Things are pretty much the same as they were when i visited last, and probably i am better prepared. The settling time is not due to the difference between the East & West, but just the change of dwelling, reunion with family & friends & the stir that causes to the mind & heart.
The traffic in Delhi is pretty much the same, with parking being one of the draconian troubles at busy joints. However, the condition of the roads has enhanced, there are very few bumps, the roads have been pretty smooth so far. I still need to take a ride on my favorite & i guess every body's favorite Delhi Metro. This year there are more lines that have been opened, thus more places you can visit by the metro.
The weather has been kind since i landed, with no fog & bearable cold. All in all, a busy visit so far, but unfortunately less awakening spiritually & mentally than last time. Waiting for the stir...

Unusual

In a subtle mood today, without anything specific to write in mind. I haven't written for almost a month now. Forget about trying to understand a complex problem, sometimes its extremely hard to fathom whats going on right inside you. Damn, its not like i encounter such situations frequently, but even a handful can rip out the hair from your head. Well, what are you supposed to do when you cant comprehend your "own" self.

Its a strange tingling feeling in the stomach with the mind absolutely blank. Maybe thats the issue, being so used to the mind being overwhelmed with 100 odd things all the time, when suddenly its blank, its a sign of unusual which is inconceivable to our brain. Unusual is like a virus , the immunity of our conscious just like the one in our blood tries to fight it and get rid of it initially. Looking around, most of us are so used to our routines, our usual stuff, our habits, that even a single change kind of terrorizes us. Although we do adapt & accept, but still initially we try to fight the virus.

So the blank mind is good, thats what i am trying to reassure myself, there is nothing abnormal about it.....

All Izz Well

Want to be a part of an outbreak of laughter this holiday time? "3 idiots" is the movie to watch. I got to see it yesterday. The movie is hilarious. Aamir Khan has proved it yet again, every year mostly near the end of the year, he gives the best movie of the year (atleast according to my standards). The whole team has done a fantastic job. A movie with a message to the Indian Education system and the psychology of students and parents. With descent music, and brilliant performances by all the characters, the movie is a must watch..So Enjoy!

Anonymous

Memories of the past strike the soul,
like the waves hitting the sea shore,
Relentless, powerful, sweet and sour.

They make the heart weigh pounds of flesh,
lugging someone who fails to refresh,
of reasons unknown, of things unsaid.

Still life goes on every day,
nothing matters, you cry or pray,
things you hide or you say.

Past is dead, future is away,
where is the hope, where is the ray,
of enduring belief that wont sway.

Stress buster

How could i forget my favorite remedy to get instant relief from stress. Its none other than music, music, music. Maybe writing it thrice will not let me forget next time. I do listen to music everyday, while commuting in the car. But sometimes all you need to get out of the stern grip of stress is just a particular frequency. It acts like a mask, blocking all the stress and making the mind crisp and clear...
So enjoy this ubiquitous stress remedy next time when you need it :-)

Evening snacks at work

I think evening is one of the deadliest times when people get hunger pangs. I certainly noticed this trend in my group at work. I see folks taking nibbles of different snacks, junk food like cookies, chips, crackers etc & gobbling them down to get a quick relief from hunger. I am also a part of the evening junk eaters at work. After a moderately sized lunch at noon, its natural to feel hungry in the evening. Also, we tend to stay at work till late evening like 7:30 or 8 pm, which makes the gap between lunch and dinner too long & irresistible. So, i am attempting to create a list of the options for snacks that can be had at work without consuming monstrous calories, do add to it if you have ideas:

1. Fruits: the most convenient & healthy option.Bananas, oranges, melons or any other seasonal fruits can provide some calories to get you through the day.
2. Sprout Salad: Rich in Iron and protein, toss any sprouted legumes with some spices, tomatoes, cucumbers, walnuts & lemon juice.
3. Rawa Idlis: Extremely simple to make in a microwave, just takes a few minutes and is also a healthy option.
4. Sandwich: Tomato & cheese sandwich is easy to carry from home, ofcourse if you don't mind a few extra calories from cheese.
5. Bhel Puri: Easy to concoct, just add the chutneys before eating else it will be too soggy.
6. Baby carrots tossed in spices and lemon juice.
7. Yogurt snacks: Here you can have a fruit flavored yogurt or yogurt mixed with some spices, cucumbers and cilantro.
8. Oatmeal: Last but not the least, might not be the most palatable for some of us but it does a god job of filling you up.
Got more ideas to add to my versatile list?