Carrot Milkshake

Ingredients:

Carrot- 1/2 medium size(grated)

Milk-1/2 ltr

Vanilla essence-few drops

Cardamom powder-small pinch

Sugar-2tbsp

Condensedmilk-1 tbsp (optional)

Water-1cup

Ice cubes-2/3

Method:

2 ways u can make this shake ..

I.       Blend all ingredients together &pour it in a tall glass, serve with chilled ice cubes.

         II.       Boil the carrot & make a paste of it. Then mix with above ingredients

-Chalked by Sai Priya

Kahaani (Story)

Popcorn with Prem...

On a Friday evening at work when my friends called me to ask if I wanted to join them for yet another Vidya Balan movie I was quite sceptical. Being an ardent admirer and fan of her work I must admit I was disappointed watching The Dirty Picture. Contrary to popular opinion that The Dirty Picture was her best work to date I refused to believe so. I had never heard of Kahani until Friday and decided not to look into reviews and just go with a empty mind and zero expectations.

Two hours after watching the movie I must say, this is Vidya Balan’s best work to date and this will make her a possible candidate for yet another National Award. The movie trailer gives the gist of the story but the underlying suspense that is so beautifully woven into the script by Sujoy Ghosh, Suresh Nair & Nikhil Vyas.

The movie starts with a terrorist attack on Kolkata Metro train when a gas explosion causes the death of 100 commuters. No one claims responsibility and the case loses importance as days pass by. 2 years later, Mrs.Vidya Bagchi (Vidya Balan) a software engineer arrives at Kolkata International Airport from London in search of her missing husband, Arnab Bagchi. She is pregnant and travels to the Kalighat police station to file a missing person report but her report fails to make much headway into the heaps of unsolved cases yet to be looked into. Kharaj and Rana (Parambrata Chatterjee) are the 2 inspectors available there who question her. She shows a picture of her and her husband to them. Rana then takes her to the Monalisa Guest House, where her husband stayed when he came to Kolkata, but the receptionist at the guest house claims person with such name was never there.

 

Vidya becomes upset and decides to stay back in the guest house and solve the mystery herself. This takes her to the National data Centre where her husband was sent for an assignment. HR Exec tells her that this person never worked there however when Vidya shows his photograph she recognises the face. She believes it resembles an ex employee by the name of Milan Damji whose records are beyond her pay grade. At this point the movie had hit a Hollywood flavour and to my utter surprise was doing better at keeping my attention.

Meanwhile, Vidya befriends Rana, the local inspector and he helps her in every way to find the husband. She decides to find Milan Damji hoping that when she find him he will lead her Arnab. IB officer Khan from Delhi is sent to look into the case. In the mean time the movie takes an shocking twist when a simple looking Life Insurance Agent Bob Bishwas (Saswata Chatterjee) kills the HR Exec from NDC in cold blooded fashion. Turns out that Bob Bishwas is a contract killer (one of the spookiest Contract killer characters I have seen in a while).

The HR Exec’s death leads to 3 more contracts for Bob the final being Mrs Vidya Bagchi herself. Who send Bob ? Will Vidya find Arnab ? Who is Milan Damji ? Is Milan Damji and Arnab Bagchi the same person ? Is Vidya Schizophrenic ? A lot of questions arise in your mind with possible answers to none.

What happens further is the crux of the movie I classify as a MUST WATCH !!

-Chalked by Premdas Kanaran

How to Cancel Hypothecation of Bank

Documents Required:

Location:At Indira Nagar RTO, Bangalore.

1.    RC book in Original

2.    NOC from bank addressed to the RTO

3.    2 copies of Form-35 (From bank with their seal and sign)

4.    Copy of Insurance

5.    Copy of Pollution certificate

6.    A self addressed Envelope with Rs.15 stamp stick to that.

7.    A paper Folder, write your name and Vehicle number on front page (good to have)

The Process!

A.   Go to Room no-13, Counter no-09 and submit all the documents. This personnel  will check all the documents and will forward it for computer verification.

B.   At the computer section : If any fines are pending on your vehicle, they will mention that in your papers and will send it back to the person in counter no-09.

C.   He will verify again and sign the documents.

D.   Take the documents and pay the fee & fine(if applicable) in Room no-01

De-Hypothecation – Rs.100

Smart card (if you don't have) – Rs.200

E.   Collect the receipt after paying the fee. Attach the receipt to the folder and submit it at Room no-13 , counter no-06.

F.    Collect the Acknowledgment(Name and Vehicle number will be written on that)

G.    Your Documents will be couriered to your address.

TIPS:

1.    Stationary stores in BDA complex usually have Pre-stamped envelope. If you tell your requirement (transfer, de-hypothication etc) they will give you the full set with required forms.

2.    If you have all the documents, then you don't need an agent. :D

Initially i was very hesitant to go to a Government office on my own,due to the various stories we’ve heard about Bribes etc.

But after this experience.. I feel that they(RTO) have changed, it took only 30min for me to complete the whole work there. It gives me more confidence to go to government offices in future, bypassing agents.

- Chalked by Bijesh Krishnankutty

 

Time to go green!

Why are we still not aware of the dangers of the plastic bags on Mother Nature? An average Urban Indian may use atleast 1 plastic bag a day, roughly. Time to shift to more eco-friendly products?

Yes, its high time we realize the dangers of these plastic bags

The single-use plastic bags pose a heavy threat to the environment. With passage of time they decompose and form poisonous polymers that will contaminate the soil as well as the water underneath. They clog the drains and cause the city floods. Not just the mankind, but also other land and marine species are affected by the dangerous toxins.

Paper bags is a good option, but again it doesn’t serve the purpose of saving the mother nature. Trees are chopped and that is not a wise option long term.

So the best option is to use fabric bags. Bags made with natural fiber. Jute bags are a good common choice. Cotton bags have a better feel to it. And if you are looking for something stylish, there are linen and silks up for sale in many high end stores.

Many countries have now banned the single-use plastic bags. Each one of us has to think about it and start using the fabric bags. These days you have lots of stylish fabric bags available with many retailers. It is very wise to invest in such a bag and re-use it than using and disposing the single-use plastic bags.

We also tend to use plastic bags as garbage bags. The best option is to use a bucket to store and dispose the garbage. This could really save the earth from the millions of plastic bags that go into the garbage collection centers everyday.

I have taken this initiative and try my best to reduce the plastic I use in my everyday life. But I know it is very difficult to keep plastic away completely. Plastic bags are easily available, cheap, lightweight and also quite durable. But we can always give a try. If not to completely avoid it, we can try and reduce the use.

Next time, when you go grocery shopping, carry your own bag!

  

Trendy cotton,linen and silk bags are available at https://www.facebook.com/Eshana.Home

There are many other retailers in India who has lots of such bags on their shelves.

-Chalked by Manojna

Cold Coffeee......

Ingredients:

Coffee powder instant – 1 – tsp

Hot water – 2 tsp

Ice cubes – 4 /5

Milk cold – 2 cup

Sugar – 2tsp(or u can add)

Method:

Take a bowl add coffee powder add hot water mix well.

Take a blender add ice cubes, coffee mixture, milk and blend it. Pour it in a glass and sprinkle coffee powder

-Chalked by Sai Priya

Wedding invite in style!!!!

Wedding invite ... in style ... :D



- Chalked by Bijesh Krishnankutty

 

Malabar Chicken Biryani

Ingredients:

1.       Basmati Rice – 2 cups

2.       Chicken – 500gm(cut in to medium pieces)

3.       Onion- 3/4 medium(finely chopped)

4.       Tomato – 2/3 medium(chopped)

5.       Biriyani Masala Powder – 3 tsp

6.       Garam masala-2 tsp

7.       Curd – 1/4 cup

8.       Lime – 1

9.       Coriander leaves –1 cup(chopped)

10.   Mint leaves – 1/4 cup(chopped)

11.   Curry leaves-2 sprigs

12.   Cinnamon stick-1

13.   Cardamom-2

14.   Cloves-2

15.   Ghee/oil

16.   Salt

17.   Cashew nuts – few

18.   Raisins – few

For Marinating Chicken:

1. Turmeric Powder – 1/4 tsp
2. Chilly Powder – 1 tsp
3. Salt

For Grinding:

1. Green Chillies – 4/5
2. Ginger garlic–2 tbsp(chopped)
3. Grind them together to a fine paste. Keep it aside

Method:-

1.       Marinate the chicken pieces 30 mnts with the ingredients as said above.

2.       To prepare the Rice:

Heat little ghee in a pan put cinnamon stick, cardamom & cloves and roast the washd rice for 4-5 mts(optional). Add enough water and salt into it, cook rice till done and all the water is absorbed.

Spread the rice in a serving dish, and sprinkle 3-4 drops of lime juice & allow it to cool.

3.       Heat a little ghee in a pan and roast cashews and raisins till brown and keep it aside.

4.       Now add half amount of sliced onion and fry them until they are well browned. Add more ghee /oil if needed. Drain them into a tissue paper and keep aside.

5.        Now into the same oil, add marinated chicken pieces and fry them for 10mnts .Keep it aside.

6.       Now heat oil in another vessel and add rest of the onions and saute them till translucent. Mix with tomatoes, salt and the ground paste and saute them for 2-3 mts. Stir in curd and lemon juice and saute until oil seperates. Now add fried chicken pieces, mix well, cover and cook.

7.       When it is half done, add Coriander leaves, Mint leaves, curry leaves, garam masala & Biriyani masala powder.

8.       Mix and allow the chicken to cook well in medium heat, until all water is absorbed and chicken pieces are coated with gravy. remove from fire.

9.       Take a big vessel, spread chicken pieces along with the gravy in the bottom. Now add one layer of cooked rice over chicken.

10.   Sprinkle a little garam masala, fried onions, cashews, raisins .

11.   Repeat the same for 2 more layers with chicken ,rice and fried cashew-raisins-onions etc.

Seal the vessel with aluminium foil. put it in dum (on fire) for 5m.

Mix thoroughly and serve hot with Onion Raita .

-Chalked by Sai Priya

Chicken Vindaloo

Ingredients:

1.       Chicken -10 pieces(cut in to medium size)  

2.       Onions - 3 medium (thinly sliced)

3.       Tomato paste -1 1/2 tbsp

4.       Cumin powder-1/2 tsp

5.       Chilli powder-1 tsp

6.       Coriander powder-1tsp

7.       Ginger garlic paste-2 tsp

8.       Pepper powder-1/2 tsp

9.       Vinegar-1 tsp

10.   Coriander leaves – for garnishing

11.   Oil

12.   Salt

Marinating:

Make a smooth paste of the cumin powder, chilli powder, coriander powder,  ginger garlic paste, pepper powder and salt. Apply this to the chicken pieces .Keep aside for 30 mnts.

Method:

Heat oil in a pan and fry the onions till they turn brown. Remove the onions from the oil and remove excess oil. Make a fine paste of the onion with vinegar and keep it aside.

Heat a vessel put a little oil add the marinated chicken and cook it on medium heat. Add the tomato paste and onion paste after about 10 minutes and cook until chicken is fully cooked and the gravy is thick. You can add little water if u want more gravy.  Garnish with coriander leaves.

-Chalked by Sai Priya

The Desire to Inspire ….

I've been sitting at my computer trying to scribble something on the notepad open on my desk for a long time.

There is a requirement to be fulfilled and delivered by end of day and i am still stuck at the first step. Somehow my brain seems to have ceased functioning! at this very point when the need is high I’m out of ideas!!!!

Many times in life we are in similar situations when we desire to perform, but we are in lack of inspiration! Inspiration is required not only for a work of art, but in all walks of life, whether it be to do chores at home, or to bear with the heavy traffic to get to office everyday. Without inspiration life doesn't move on!

As a mother, father, brother, friend, or whatever roles u play in your lives.. how do U add inspiration to your loved one’s life?

Inspiration is sometimes such a heavy word that we tend to look too far for it, when in reality we could have found it not further than our door steps! 

A simple smile, a small word, a gesture of care and concern, would change our worst days to the most beautiful ones. Remember the last time you screwed up your presentation and u were feeling at the edge of the world? On completion when u wanted to hurry and hide, your big boss had congratulated you on your efforts! …. Didn’t that change your worst nightmare to a beautiful dream achieved?

The world we live in is spinning at high speed, we are all in a hurry, to achieve, to compete, to survive.  We say we don’t have time, for fun, for hobbies, for family, for kids, for ourselves….. for all that really matters in life!

We spend our lives, chasing the materialistic world, with the aim of framing a better future for our kids, while our kids grow up without knowing their parents or their love! And later we complain about them not treating their parents right! How contradictory is that!

It’s not always the expensive gifts, which would make someone’s day. Simple gestures of love would do the trick more effectively than anything else!

So the next time you feel good about someone or something… don’t hesitate... go on ..tell them …. be the reason of their smile J ….. It won’t cost you a thing and still will return to you in blessings J … be an inspiration!!! 

- Chalked by Megha Kuruvilla

Slow Down.....

Once i heard the following story ....

A scientist was performing an experiment on the verbal reactions of fleas. He had trained a flea to jump on command. The scientist would command the flea, "Jump flea!" and the flea would jump. Then the scientist would proceed to pull off one of the fleas legs with a pair of tweezers and write a comment in his notebook. The scientist did this many times until the flea had only 1 leg left. The scientist commanded, "Jump flea!" and the flea made its best effort to jump, which the scientist recorded in his notebook.

After he pulled off its last leg, the scientist again commanded the flea to jump, and after repeating the command many times without the flea responding he jotted down in his notebook, "After the flea loses all of its legs it becomes completely deaf."

.......:) ..... thinking about it, how many of us have been like this scientist so many times in our lives?!!!

When faced with challenging situations,how many times have we reacted impulsively, made conclusions without giving it a second thought! ... .how many have we hurt due to this impulsive behaviour. How many times have we got hurt !!!

Many times at a later point it would have all looked pointless. but it would be too late to do anything to reverse the damage caused..... words being sharper than swords...makes it an unforgettable act, which does not deserve forgiveness! How many people have we lost in this way?

So friends.. before its too late... lets slow down a bit ..... before making conclusions... before letting out those words of anger... before making life hell ..

Take Care! ...

-Chalked by Silver Cloud