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I am Wait…..ing

It is a small word but a long one when you “Wait” it causes a stir at first, a longing, pleasure and then pain. Even flowers take time to bud and bloom beautifully, The seeds have to be buried deep, yes the whole grain. Morning mists appear translucent, shining and pure, the birds wait to talk to us, chirping and flying at dawn The horizon a red glow, an aura of The superior sanctity! All awaiting to rise afresh , carry tasks and with the day get on. The damsel waiting at the bus-stop for her bus or is it her beau eager anticipation, fluttering butterflies make her believe, today he shall arrive and their meet would be a beautiful moment . Hours have gone by and she has to give up, cry soft tears and leave. Time waits for no one, just try to wait and see! Overly joyous feeling turns to become a painful tryst with destiny. Repeatedly one hopes, bears the stares, the sullen heart so heavy tomorrow I shall return, for today it is again not meant to be! As sands get washed by the surfing sea, I cling on to the shadows yes, the wave brings a song to the heart, and leaves mercilessly. The sun goes down beyond the horizon, purple, red and orange hues fill the sky and slowly burden my mind with his sweet little lies. Tomorrow the Wait shall be over, a miracle I shall see ! My love shall soon appear… my silly heart always cries!

Rohaina Tanveer ( Aqueel) 17/05/2020

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Baby steps in the kitchen

Do you remember your first dish ever cooked by you? Surely there was someone who taught you how to make it. My first learning was with 2 great ladies in my life. At 10 years of age, Sadiya my best friend who had a knack of already trying out dishes at home, helped me to make Potato tikkis. These are a delectable snack to be had piping hot with tea. Also served in Ramzan Shareef its a tasty treat to have with green spicy chutney. ( An Indian household always has to have chutneys accompanying their food) Potato tikkis are simply potatoes boiled, given a nice tadka ( tempering) with a few spices, cumin seeds and mustard seeds. A dash of lemon juice and chopped coriander all mixed into the potato mix. Then small flat tikkis made to be shallow fried rolled in flour/egg. Aloo Tikki with crisp outside soft inside is a real treat to taste buds at anytime. It’s so delicious that just name itself gets digestive juices flowing in mouth.

Aloo Tikki Chhole #AlooTikki #Street #Food #India #ekPlate #ekplatealootikki
Aloo tikkis…..crispy on the outside, simply melts inside the mouth.

Another dish I learnt quite early was making daal ( Hyderabadi way), tomato curry and then almost everything from my dearest mother. Ammi always let me do things step by step. She would make sure I write everything down so I dont forget and of course a day would come when she would test my culinary skills. Of course I have burnt chapatis, rice, daal ( lentils) and basic omelets and lots of recipe books! But that is what makes you learn to be more patient and loving. I think that is when I learnt that if you put your heart into anything, it always turns out to be special. So you have to go that extra mile to achieve it. Thank you my dearest mom, you have been my biggest source of inspiration always. I am sharing the tomato chutney recipe. Its highly recommended. Can be had with rice or with rotis/chapatis. Bon appetit.

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A whiff of fresh air !

Letters — Stock Photo

When days and eves seemed gloomy, A whiff of fresh air announced our dear Vimi Coupled with the technical skills of Rahil She gave us Home Scrabble leagues continuously She brought smiles and joy in our days of misery.

It started with a round robin league from twenty more enthusiasts pitched in as its their favorite game to be ! All ladies set aside their chores though they were maidless It reached a humongous number and two leagues to foresee The passion, dedication, continuous games a treat !

Lockdown has been so helpful for you and me to connect with each and everyone across the sea. Bonding with family time has been the big realization, but meeting up with scrabble fraternity is also family ! Yes ! we have enjoyed each moment of six weeks amicably.

Thank you wonderful organizers who took the lead. Precisely and perfectly you managed to a tee! If perchance conflicts arose unknown, you had a superb teamwork to resolve it sweetly. Yes Lockdown Leagues – we wont forget for eternity !

Rohaina Tanveer ( Aqueel) 4th May, 2020

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ZA- an abbreviation of Pizza

What would one do without Pizza in their ‘diet’? Well even if you have it occasionally, its a whole complete meal. With the soft or crusty bread adding to your carbohydrates to all the delicious toppings from colorful veggies, to the succulent and yummy olives, chicken or meat for the Non-vegetarian lovers, and a huge spread of melting mozarella cheese ( actually a Keto lover’s choice) Definitely a treat to first eat with your eyes, then the aroma of those ingredients which fill your nostrils till you cant resist it anymore….and then you eat it or gobble it with your mouth.

My first meeting with it was actually quite late. Till then the commercially available ones were eaten but not savored completely. Pizza Hut, a family place where pizzas of all sorts and varieties fills up the place inviting you over and over again. The irresistible pan pizzas with their thick crusts, so chewy and tasty that you could eat them solo too. A wide array of choices from the traditional Margarita, to the actual delicacies like Meat lovers, Chicken lovers, Spicy grilled chicken, Super Supreme to Cheese Lovers, Vegetarian spicy ones and so many more. The addition of having the dough rims filled with extra cheese or meat or other fillings gives one the variety to go back and try all these treats. A thin crust pan pizza is also a treat for the gastric system !!!

Such a colorful fare

Of course the additional accompaniments are no less from the Chicken Wings to the jalapeno sticks or the mindblowing potato wedges. A bowl of delicious salad with variety of sauces, dips and mixes is a sure tantalizing starter. Further additions are their variety of pastas and lasagnes. A one-stop shop to whet the appetite. And when it comes to pizza, Pizza Hut is one of the best in town

Of course we try our varieties at home. To get the flavors in our kitchens is no less a task but an enjoyable one….the kneading of the dough being the most enjoyable one. An experiment with it is always a delight for the household. And in this lockdown time, has added more ideas to go with it.

Ready to go into the Oven
As ingredients ombine together with the heat of the oven

Varieties are many and you may have your liking be it Dominoes or Upper Crust, but nevertheless its Za…..our all time favorite pizza

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Let’s tickle the funny bone within!

Arms spread out she called me sweetly, ” Come to me” with my first baby steps, I knew I had a race to win quickly. It brought abundant joy to her face lit with glee. I cackled, laughed and ran in mom’s arms very happily!

When I fell, failed or felt sad in life’s misery! My source of laughter, my mom simply said to me. The world may shun you, disappoint you hate you, it is to be! Just put your hand on your heart, smile and count to three!

Playing with my little one when she laughed at everything that was not so funny I realised this emotion is the key to set our tensions free! We jump, jostle and dance to the tunes of life and agree that a new dawn is around every corner bringing its mystery.

This emotion is given to protect you from losing your sanity! Yes, I see old and young in the garden practising it as a therapy. Evokes the best from within, changes your perspectives immediately Its the best feeling, a choice, a blessing given solely to me !!!

Rohaina Tanveer ( Aqueel) 29-04-2020

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A beauty to behold !!!

A halo of orange, mesmerisingly sinks before my eyes! Another blessed day gone within seconds… There is a promise to come back tomorrow again It says “Come see me rise amongst the fronds”.

Stark reality, supernaturally so true Make it your belief , faith and reflect. The journey is a slow one for it across the vast sky Gives you time to ponder, wonder and introspect.

Paradoxical to our journey of life from nascence to sunshine, from lighter hues to very bright ! It stands to explain meaning of life being temporary to all… Yes the glow is strongest and brightest at twilight !

My heart always stops when sunset is near for its a time calling me to kneel and be in profound prayers I seek my loved ones’ blessings at that time for surely He is nearby to lend a ear and hear!

I capture images as the sun goes down each one seems different even if taken simultaneously… but when I flip through them, it tells a story how it shall return back again spontaneously!

Rohaina Tanveer ( Aqueel )

23-04-2020

20+ Sunset Images [Stunning!] | Download Free Images on Unsplash
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A street food Delight- Ask an Indian !!!

Street food is the second most common thing in India after Bollywood movies. Maybe another blog on that later! We have such a variety available on the streets that they seem more scrumptious and mouth-watering than taking the trouble to go to a restaurant, being polite, asking for a menu and ordering in a prim and proper manner. Instead standing at street vendor stalls, with little disposable plates or wrapped up sandwiches in paper is the norm and taste we love to have. Totally irresistible ! Sometimes there is pani puri trickling down as you push the big puris in your mouth, at other times you have to be messy with your hands or your mouth as you eat double-decker chutney and vegetable sandwiches or gobble that yummy dosa with chutneys. From kala khatta golas to bhel puris, pani puris, fried chicken and baida rotis……one thing that is popular, healthy, filling and cheap is our very favorite : Vada pav ( Vada = potato fritter and pav = bread)

Vada pav recipe | How to make vada pav - Swasthi's Recipes

This is something I shall share with you today. So you can make it easily in your kitchens. Here goes: Boil 3-4 medium sized potatoes and mash them well. On a low flame, take 1 tsp oil, add cumin seeds ( zeera), mustard ( rai), haldi powder ( turmeric) red chili powder, coriander powder, salt and lastly add finely chopped ginger ( 2 tbsp).Put flame off. Add the mixture to the mashed potatoes and mix well. Make patties of these flat and round and keep aside. Make a batter of gram flour mixed with water, salt, 1/4 tsp red chilli powder, 1/4 tsp of garam masala powder . Dip the patties prepared and fry them on shallow fry and medium flame but till crispy and well done.

The interesting ingredient of vada pav is the chutney. You make them with love and they turn out the best.

Chutney 1 ( Green Chutney) Blend a bunch of coriander ( washed well) with 2 green chillies, 1 tsp cumin powder, salt and 1-2 flakes of garlic. This should be a fine paste. 1/4 tsp of lemon juice can be added too.

Green chutney recipe | How to make green chutney - Swasthi's Recipes

Chutney 2 (Red Chutney) Blend 3-4 pods of garlic along with 2 tbsp of roasted peanuts, 4-6 dried red chillies and 2 tbsp of coconut grated. When ground well, add 2 tbsp of olive oil or any oil and salt to taste.

Vada Pav Masala/Dry Garlic Coconut Chutney/Dry Garlic Chutney ...

Vada Pav: Take the pav ( its a special Mumbai baked bun, not easily available everywhere…but search for it) Cut open, add Red chutney to one side and a good spread of green chutney on the other. Place the fried patty in between and serve with fried green chillies. Its surely heaven;y when the spices hit your palate. Do take it with tea….to get that extra kick !

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Let me be………

” Mom, what does my name mean?”, the curious me asked Origins are from Turkey, means a lot of fragrance in one Loved that I spread such happiness around I would have been  a flower, if not a human…

Flowers Stock Photos - Download 3,546,987 Royalty Free Photos

Been in love with words since a little child Grammar books teaching homophones like the sun and son I dream, inspire, echo feelings all over with my words Would like to be a book to be read, if not a human…

The 12 Most Impactful Books to Read in 2018 | Inc.com

Dazzling and dancing, nothing more beautiful than a star lit sky Clear nights I pray to see one shooting down The crescent of the moon snuggling them close I would love to be a star afar….if not a human

The Most Astounding Picture Of Stars Beyond Our Galaxy

Feel free to fly for you have wings! My mom told me;” Dont let things bring you any burden. The load is too much to carry, release yourself” I want to be the free bird ….if not a human

North America Has Lost Nearly 3 Billion Birds Since 1970 | Science ...

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Indiscrimination, injustice, inhuman behaviour makes me voice out only, act I cannot upon If each of us can save one life I would like to be “that” saviour….if not a human

Shades of calm blue I see as I sit on the sands tis a time to remember the past as I see the horizon many tales unfurl, some lessons to be learnt I wish to be the sea…if not a human

Law of the Sea: China, the EU, and the global order | European ...

A mom of three lovelies, a wife, daughter and more I feel my journey in life has just begun There is so much to learn and do, but such little time  ! I would like to remain a role model….if not a human.

Rohaina Aqueel ( 21-04-2020)

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Salmon in rich creamy sauce

My daughter had been seasoning Salmon with salt and a little lemon juice and steaming it. One look at it, and I told her : ” Nida, you have to add flavors. Let me create something special for you. And then my creative Chef’s cap came up with this. Please make it and enjoy it. It turned out to be delicious, tempting dish and can be used for diets like Keto too.

Season salmon with salt and black pepper. Fry for a minute each side in a pan without any oil. In a pan, add 1 tsp oil, half chopped onions, sun-dried tomatoes ( blended beautifully). Add a dollop of butter. Add in low fat cream( 2 tbsp), spinach chopped finely ( 7 leaves), parmesan cheese grated (2tbsp) and let the sauce blend beautifully with its colors feasting your eye and creating an aroma that tickles your stomach. When a smooth sauce looks inviting enough, just place the salmon in it, cover and cook on low fire 10 minutes each side. Serve in a dish. The colors look amazingly rich!

Creamy Salmon with Spinach, Tomatoes & Basil - SpicyFig
Delicious till the last bite