The rhapsody of rain...

I am sitting here in the portico, converting the surrounding visual to words and sentences...

Its raining here...The tiny droplets are spluttering, forming some concentric circles...The cool breeze is ruffling the hairs, and it seems as though it is destined to carry away the day's stress! The droplets are further hazing the spectacles too! 

The classic song that is being played in the radio is filling the void of the soul...To add on, a toddler on the road is yelling my name, and hiding her face within the umbrella...What an innocent smile she has!!! 

While the entire scene is giving me a sense of bliss...here comes my beloved mother with a cup of hot coffee, to be precise ನೊರೆ ನೊರೆ coffee... :) 

What a serene way of spending an evening!!!

Everything else you grow out of, but you never recover from childhood!!!

The Blue Mountains

It was vacation time again, and we the cousins were all brooding over the places to visit.

From Hampi to Bijapura, from YaaNa to Dandeli, from Yercaud to Waynad we took a virtual tour [:D] and were not able to materialize on any one place mainly because the interest, the energy level, and the vacation time varied from individual to individual!!!

Least did I know that this discussion would conspire in achieving my long-time aspiration to drive through the hill station, until one among my cousins mentioned OOTY while the other mooted the topic of driving to Ooty!!!

Within a flash of a second we all had unanimously agreed upon this destination. And how could I ever say NO to a place where I could drive past the hairpin curves, capture some wonderful picturesque, and spend some time in nature!!!!

It was probably after this discussion, I could empathize Paul Coehlo's quote "When you really want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it!!!" ;) :D

The black beauty was all set to walk on the ramp of the blue hills, and I was mentally preparing myself for a happy and safe drive!

The D-day arrived and I was all fascinated about the 36 hair pin curves!!!  We passed through the Bandipur forest area and reached Masinagudi, the foot hill of the Nilgiris. 

While we were enjoying the climate, the lush greenery, the chirping of birds, and the classic songs being played in the background, there came the first hair pin curve. With all the hooting and cheering, the black beauty took off its first curve! :)

Driving through each hair pin curve was enthralling and enticing.   At the end of the 36th curve, my mind was mulling over the next ghat-section that I must drive! :p ;)

I must say, this was one of the most memorable drive!!! By the time we entered the ooty-city,  I was on cloud nine and elated! ;)

After fulfilling my desire to drive in altitude, it would definitely be a wrong attitude if I do not express my gratitude to: [;)]

1. Amma, who reluctantly granted me the permission to drive to the hill station![...and spent sleepless nights until we returned!!!]
2. My brother-in-law for convincing my mother!
3. All my clan who accompanied me; and for having immense faith in me and my driving skills! 

PS: After coming back from Ooty, the black beauty is no more apprehensive about the traffic jam on the city flyovers!!! ;) :D

Floral Clicks...

Ajwain Biscuit

What happens when there are too many great cooks at home? You might be catered with more than what you want, and you might not brood much over the preprocessing. Isn't it? :p At least, that is what happened in my case.They say, too many cooks spoil the broth!! To add on, I would say-Too many great cooks at home may spoil the child too!  

Though I might not be too keen on cooking, I do cook when:

• There is no one at home, and I have no option other than to cook! :D
• The recipe is so interesting/unique. The recipe should motivate me to cook! ;) 

Contrary this time, irrespective of the above reasons, I did cook [rather baked??] because I wanted to explore the oven's baking settings!

On this weekend, after watching this recipe in a cookery show, I somehow felt that I could start off with baking Ajwain biscuits!

All you need is:

• Maida - 1 cup
• Butter - 2 table spoon
• Ajwain- 1 tea spoon
• Jeera- 1 tea spoon
• Chilli powder, Cumin powder, Salt- To taste
• Milk/yogurt- As needed

 Procedure:

1. Mix all the ingredients and knead the dough till you get the right consistency. NOTE: All you fitness freaks, replace maida with multigrain flour; butter with olive oil! You can also add flax seeds.
2. Roll the dough and cut to desired shape. You can use the cookie cutter.
3. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
4. Grease the baking tray with butter and bake these biscuits for 15 minutes.
5. Allow it to cool.

 Relish the Ajwain Biscuits with a cup of hot coffee! ;)

Lesson Learned:

1. The crispiness of these biscuits depends on the thickness. Lesser the thickness, crispier the biscuit.
2. Before baking the biscuits, prick them with a fork to avoid puffing.
3. Last but not the least, I can cook! :D

 Some Clicks: