Holiday weight - ouch

I know I know. Its holiday season and its the perfect season to gain weight and also an excuse to treat your sweet tooth and the result is some extra pound.

As long as you are confident that you can shed it off [Like I do] its fine. But you need to remember that you have to work extra hard to shed it off.

Well here is my plan. I am 5.3 feet. Doctors recommended weight range is 107-141. But I would prefer to keep it below 118.

I have come to visit my brother and all we are doing now is eat and visit places. Today when I weighed myself, I saw the scale read 121. Thats a gain of 5 pounds.

But I know this glory period is going to end soon. I will head back on after two days and then I would start my 'Super weight reduction' therapy. :)

Knowing me, I know I will do it. Plan would be executed from 30th Dec 09.

Baked fish

Take fish. The options are cod, tilapia. Make sure the fish are skin less. Or anything thats your fav.
Melt some butter. Brush butter on the fish. Coat the fish with mixed herbed bread crumbs. Bake it at 450 F for 20 mins. Serve with lime juice.

Banana Bread

I got this recipe from a friend of mine. Usually this recipe requires egg but for non-egg eaters, try yogurt.

2 cups white flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 nuts [I prefer walnuts] but thats upto you.
3 very ripe banana

Mash the banana and keep aside. Mix sugar, oil, egg. In a separate bowl mix flour and baking powder. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.

Once they have blended properly, bake it for 45 mins at 350 F.

Illusion

Illusion, we all have it. Everyone does get into this phase when they have this illusion that they are the most happiest person in this whole wide world. Then one fine day, it shatters and with that it shatters you. Shatters your believe and trust, and it takes down with it every hope...

Why does it happen is something I dont understand. Why cant just some people understand that their actions hurt someone.

Some people, I am sure a whole lot people will agree, just gets the 'pleasure' in hurting others. Some lack most of what they claim to have the most and to top the list is ethics.

Oh Boy... dont know what more is in-stored for me. I dont know if I will have ever have the golden opportunity to say - Yes, I am so happy.

Evolution

Have you ever thought who can hurt you the most? Bingo!!!! you guessed it right... its exactly the same person you love the most.

Strange isn't it! When I was a kid, I used to think that my parents mean the whole world to me and I don't need anyone else. But as I grew up, this 'thought' just remained a sweet memory. Its not like they don't mean the whole world. they do but its just that my world got bigger and not someone special hold 'THE' most important place in my life. I guess its a tug-of-war.

It feels so weird that someone has got so much power that he can actually control me. Did I say too much? I mean like I changed from being the extra talkative and 'angry' me to being this less talkative [comparatively] and much 'matured'. Uff - what an evolution...

But I am happy with this change. Feels like no matter what, there is someone who will hold me, comfort me, someone I can confide to, someone I can trust and open my whole world. Really feels amazing to be married.

Confused Mushroom

I knew I wanted to cook mushroom tonight for dinner. But I was out of ideas what should I cook. I gave up searching internet since I wanted to cook something new.

I tried this fusion of Thai and Chinese cuisine. I will call it 'Confused Mushroom'.

Take some whole mushroom [white] and cut it in 4. I prefer to discard the stem.
1 chopped red onion,
1/2 cup chopped green pepper,
2 chopped chillies,
2 cloves grated garlic
1/2 cup peas
handful Chopped Broccoli
1 Chopped tomato
1/2 tsp tamarind paste
salt
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp vinegar
1/2 tsp soy sause
1/2 tsp oyster sauce.

Heat up some oil. Add chillies, onion, green pepper, tomatoes. Stir fry them till you get to smell the smoky flavor. Add broccoli, and stir for some more time. Add the mushroom and all the wet ingredients. Make sure the oven heat is on medium. Cover cook it for 20 mins. Sprinkle some chopped green onion on top. Serve hot.

Tea time quick snacks...

Today i made this quickie snacks. It isnt difficult at all. I can say any 5 year old baby can do it. It was quick and served its purpose - tasty snacks.

All you need is some leftover bread, some oil [preferred is olive oil] but for 'non weight watchers' you can use butter. Some oregano, salt and black pepper.

Brush the bread with oil, salt, pepper and oregano. Bake it at 400 degree Fahrenheit for 10 mins. You can use a toaster oven as well. I would say keep an eye on the bread. The moment you see the top has turned brown, you know its done.

Definitely serve hot...

Trust - Can the word itself be trusted?

I guess this is one thing I am yet to find out... Who can you trust?

I mean honestly is it really possible to find someone who you can trust with closed eye... someone you can count on... someone who will hold your hand and will say - dont worry, I am there for you... someone you can just hug on and you just know it, all your pain all your sorrow is gone.

Even if you are that kind of a person to someone, what is the guarantee that the other person will be that someone special?

Trust - do you still think you can trust the word trust anymore?

Improved Dosa

After months of trial and error, now I can claim I can cook decent Dosa.

Ingredients:
3 cups rice
1 cup urad dal

Soak them separately overnight. Next day add a tsp of 'methi' seed.
Grind them to a thick and smooth paste.
Now let it ferment for atleast 24 hrs. [Keep it in a warm place]

On a thick bottom non stick pan - spray some oil and follow the legendary dosa making procedure of spinning round and round. Sprinkle some oil and walla - its done.

Never do stupid mistakes

I got into the habbit of running - inspiration comes from legend. But I started it to stay in shape. But soon I found that I am enjoying it and with every passing day - I pushed myself to see my limit. And with every passing day, I knew I did better.

I did not follow any training rules. I just ran to enjoy it. Slowly my 2 miles progressed to 3... 5... 7... 10... Well I did 2 times 10 miles run and you bet - it felt good. Well my plan was to run a half marathon - I wanted to train for the Flying Pig but destiny had something else for me planned [as usual].

Philadelphia was the place and a friend of mine opted out from running her 4th marathon so I thought I can run a half. Stupid - oh yes it was a Stupid thing I planned to do - especially without a proper training. But its me - always upto something.

I completed my first half marathon [without training] in 2 hrs 19 mins. Decent enough. But apart from the dazzling medal, I got another award - swollen feet. And 10 days of NO workout. Feels depressing. Somehow running has become a part of my life. So involved that even the thought of days without running gives me nightmare.

I have learnt my lesson. Painful lesson. But that wont stop me from running. I will run MY first Half Marathon and definitely with full training.

Lesson I learnt - Listen to your coach. They are experienced people and not jerk.

End of 1st Quarter

Phew!!!! I survived my first quarter. After all the struggle and sleepless night, I managed to get a decent grade - atleast decent enough to get a job ;-) hehehehe

I was scared though. Education in US is way different from India. God who would have thought, that an okay grade here is 70% - I mean like anyone [Tom Dick Harry] can get 70%. I did better than them ;->

So its fun time now. Winter has knocked the door and is already in the living room. :-<
I am not a 'Winter' person but I have started enjoying it. My next quarter classes will resume from 1st week of Jan and I have taken 4 courses.

Guys - please pray that I dont end up in an asylum after the course finishes.