Dinner Time (Dissertation Special)

Hardly 7 days left for the final submission and it seems, submitting the dissertation is only priority in life for the moment. Rather I should say, it feels like the last wish before the world ends... It never hurts to work hard, neither 'm complaining, but when you are near the finishing line and could not progress as if you are paralyzed, then it hurts... Instead, there was a progress in the kitchen today as well as a quicky date with my 'Canon' Love.

Boiled vegetables (Green Peas, Carrot, Green Beans and Sweet Corn Kernels) with lemon juice and freshly ground black paper, salt of course... Some healthy diet ;)

You know, while eating I realized, I should have added some cauliflower to it which was already there in the freezer. It would be just representing our 'TRI Color' then. Did you ask how it tested!!! Delicious, I should say... Tastes way better than everyday curry or pizza meal. A special thanks to my flatmates Stavroula and Myrsini for introducing this to me. Thanks Gurlz :)

Enjoy your life, see you soon at the other end :)
Love.

Friendship

The best of friends, Can change a frown, Into a smile, when you feel down. The best of friends, Will understand, Your little trials, And lend a hand. The best of friends, Will always share, Your secret dreams, Because they care. The best of friends, Worth more than gold, Give all the love, A heart can hold. - Jill Wolf -

Paneer Bhurji

Do you need any explanation!!! Finally I got these North Indian food on my platter, Parantha and Paneer Bhurji. Damn, I was dying for these stuff and finally after living life on potato wedges I took the bravest step ever to switch the hob on and cook Paneer Bhurji. Thanks to Subh Bhaina, Apa n Om for their step by step guidance over phone to make the dish super YUMMY. From this you can understand the level of my 'Kitchen Panicness'. The Parantha is of-course a frozen food :D

Please don't get envy of me, here goes the procedure so that you can make it by yourself. (Please don't carry the misconception that I'll cook ever for you :D)

Paneer Bhurji
Ingredients: 200 gms Paneer
                      2 medium sized Onion (Finely chopped)
                      1 medium size Tomato (Optional)
                  2-3 Green Chilies (finely chopped)
                      3 table spoon Oil
                         Salt (As per test) (1/2 spoon is good enough)

Easiest process to make this dish is, just put the oil in pan and once heated leave the chopped green chilies in it. Then put the finely chopped onions and keep frying in high level for 5 mins before putting the cubed tomatoes. And stir for another 3-4 minutes. Now add salt, a pinch of turmeric and even some spices like cumin powder, curry powder or what ever you want but it is completely optional. And now add Paneer which is smashed or cut in to very small pieces. Keep it on hob for 5 mins or so and now your DISH is ready.



Don't you think this is easy!! Try it if you don't know the abc of cooking or afraid of the kitchen more than any terror lecture series or else just SKIP everything what ever you read. Sorry, what you asked? 'You don't know how to use the HOB!'... err, I need to look for an consultancy providing the service and will update you once 'm successful :D.
And people who fall in the second category can even mail me more simpler recipes to share their knowledge only if there is no copy right issue ;)

P.S. The other reason of this post is, at least I can refer it if I'll cook the same in future :p

Colors of Spring

The VIBRANT spring never stops to amaze you with it's colors... On a sunny evening at the 'Lake Side' in University.

My New Ride

Did I ever mentioned that my 'Orange Bike' got stolen! Yes, its true. My firsthand experience of a crime victim here in United Kingdom came with this as someone stole it from University. The CC tv camera though recorded it and after my complaint the University security team assured me with the hope to get it recovered. I also lodged an complaint in the local police station, but all vain. After waiting for two weeks I got no updates. I liked that bike so much which carried me all around since last five months was an integrated part of daily activities. I almost developed a relation with it after 'Uni'. The 'Uni' back in India was a great buddy and it would be rude not to mention about him. Anyways, finally I decided to go for another used bike, as new ones are much expensive and after this incident it's bit difficult to dare for a 300 squid bike. And here it goes. 'Black is beauty', so a black mountain bike this time... :)



P.S. Hopefully someday will do a full phase photo shoot.

Few hours under the Sun!

Finally Sun started to show his face regularly. A constant daytime temperature of 16-20 degrees is so pleasant these days. And not to mention the days are also getting longer and longer, it was even quite bright outside today when my watch was showing 8.00 pm.

Actually today we had a small group meeting in the Studio and the Sunny day outside was so tempting that we decided to come out and use the lush green lawn beside instead of our cagey work place... Damn nice it was, means this Easter Study Vacation is going to be pleasant and FUN. For me the best part is, I don't need to wear layers and layers of clothing to go out :D









P.S. This time the trusty Canon SX 100 came handy.... means none of the images are from dslr :p

The 5 AM 'Pasta'

A strange feeling forced to spoil a beautiful dream that I was feeling like seeing since ages... and it was a real hangover as I took quite sometime to switch on the light, it was too difficult to manage the orientation of my room. Almost injured with few collisons with my beige colored wall, edge of the bed and even the only chair, with this, my cozy 8x15 room became the worst nightmare for a while. To be true I was wondering where 'm I exactly.... in my room back in Orissa, the rented accomodation in Delhi, in flight or in Hospital... huh, every odd thing came to mind.

Anyways, finally I manages to gain my sense. And then starts the adventure. It again was a hectic task to find the reason why did I wake-up at 4.40 in the morning, and the hunger found to be guilty. Tried to put some pressure on mind just to remember what I ate during the 40 hour long day... but could not, so time for hunting.

A complete 15 minute gaze and through scanning of the fridge and absolutely nothing 'ready to eat' except a Chicken Pizza from Tesco which was lying in one deserted corner of the freezer since ages..... The so turned vegetarian in me was so arrogant in this war like situation that it forced me to open the cup board to find something interesting... And here Pasta came in rescue. Chopped onions and a thick white sauce coated Pasta was a real delight to have at 5.30 in the morning before going back to bed only to complete the 2 days pending quota. But while having food it I was thinking, what should this be termed as, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner!!! Nah, the '5 am Pasta' can only be the stuff to 'Survive'....

P.S. Kitchen panic like me!!! Do mail to get FREE survival tips :D

High Force Waterfall, United Kingdom

High Force Waterfall in Durham County is one of the famous water falls in England. Falling from a height of 70 feet on River Tees it is the highest uninterrupted waterfall (not highest) in United Kingdom. The whole river comes down from the steep rocky edge in two steps which even freezes during the winter days.

Other than the Fall, the walk along with the track following to the place really gives a variety of views at every node.





Travel Information:
Location - Teesdale, Durham
Phone - +44 1833 622209
Post Code - DL12 0XH (Sat Nav)
Opening Times - 10am to 5.00pm
Entry Fee - Adult: 1.50 GBP
                       Student: 1.0 GBP
Parking - 2.00 GBP
Staying Options - B&B facility available
Time Consumption - Minimum 1-2 hour
What NOT to miss: A calm sit on the rocks facing the waterfall and the jungle trail. The small souvenirs from the Gift Shop (Gift shop itself is the ticket counter). And yes, hot soups are available in the Gift shop which was pure bliss for me on that real cold evening.
Precautions: BE careful on stones, those are really sleepery. Take care of Children all the time. And it is advisable to give them a call about opening hours of the day during winter as it remains closed on adverse weather conditions.

Latin Night at School

There was small wine session and Latin night in the school cafe yesterday, and a very good friend of mine Carlos was playing Guitar. He would have killed me if I missed the show this time. It was after all a good end of the jam packed day...

Our DJ, Guillermo Guzman. My tutor for the last term...


Carlos in action...


And another sweet friend, Ana...

Thanks for the happening evening guyz...
Cheers.

The first wave of 'Winter'

WINTER is almost here and is knocking at the door...



If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant:
if we did not sometimes taste of adversity,
prosperity would not be so welcome.
-Anne Bradstreet-

FALL is History now...

I'm just making a pout while writing this post. Its raining here since morning and also totally wind. Went walking to the school today enjoying(read resisting) the RAIN without an umbrella, thanks to the memory card in my mind as I left it at one of friends place. Really need an 'Extreme III' :(
While returning on my way back at around 6.00, it seems that I was going to be frozen and people will rescue me by breaking me out of a ICE cube. Did I tell you that after Halloween the daylight disappears at around 4.30 PM!!! Hopefully not, anyways.

FALL was really beautiful and I enjoyed the nature he MOST. These kind of weather is really going to be dream for next 3-4 months.



Captured this Photograph someday back on my way back to home and it's near my accommodation. Don't miss the RED buildings where I stay :P

Eureka...

Oh man, 'm happy like anything. The reason is, I just discovered a TREASURE. A pile of photographs from Udaipur, which were lying in a messy corner of my external hard drive(only have 3 of them :P). I was wondering where I missed them after my visit last year... Now could not resist to put them in a post. I really have stories to share with you, from Udaipur Fort Palace. But hopefully next week, now already started imagining sleepless nights for submissions... eerrrr... 'm not complaining, it's just another part of life.

Cheers.

Night of Festivals 2010

This was the festival organized for the first time at Nottingham City Center to celebrate the Latin American Independence. A Brazilian Samba dance group was specially there to perform for the event.
Thanks to Mr. Benson for inviting us for a drink session and dinner. Only for that I got my first photographic encounter with this attractive and colorful event.













PS: Also the first set from the Ultra-wide, mighty 10-22mm ;)

Back to the world of 'BOOKS'

A small update from my side, I'm back to the world of books. Yes, 'm a student again in the University of Nottingham for my further studies. Hope 'm all set to experience this new journey on another route of life.



Cheers.