Lemony Sugary Outfit

Raksha Bandhan, the festival which is exclusive brother and sister occasion. A sibling relation is sweet and sour filled with laughter and feisty moments. 

Today is Raksha Bandhan, I am wearing an outfit, which reminds me of the relation I have with my bro, sweet and sour, I hate the fact that I love him. A lemony yellow and sugary white colored Anakarli Kurti from Westside. Mixed matched it with a lime green chudiar from the same place. A cool, comfy Anarkali Kurti for Indian climate and rituals. The earrings from the market outside the city palace of Udaipur and the bracelet from our Colaba causeway. Keeping the accessories simple yet classy as it’s a hot and humid in Mumbai! Happy Raksha Bandhan to all!

The Kurti and Churidar
Place - Westside at Kala Ghoda

The Accessories

Earrings - Udaipur City Palace Market
Bangle - Colaba Causeway

MonoChrome Brownie

Cooking for me is like the best therapy.  Trying to survive in the creative field which is now more digital and computer based, its a good change to do something physically creative!!! And cooking is something, which is a delight for your mind, eyes and tummy! 

After a very hectic day, honestly being very mentally exhausted something yummy was needed. And with that time of the month coming closer, a lot of chocolate craving were happening. I had read this brownie recipe in one of my mom's recipe diaries so decided to experiment around the chocolate brownie! But with my father being diabetic decided to tweak the recipe! So went ingredient hunting (at 9 pm) so settled for white chocolate chips instead of normal chocolate chips. And it turned out to be amazing! Here is the recipe for the mono - chrome brownie.

Ingredients

4 eggs

2 cups cocoa

1 tsp baking powder

2 1/2 tsp espresso powder 

1 tbsp vanilla essence

1 cup unsalted butter

1 1/2  sugar-free (the quantity of sugar can vary according the level of sweetness desired) 

2 cups chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups flour

Process

Step 1 - Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a square 9x9 inch pan

Step 2 -  Beat together eggs, cocoa, baking powder, espresso powder and vanilla until smooth. I added some extra espresso powder to make the coffee flavour more dominant and contrasting to the white chocolate chips.

Step 3 -  Melt butter in the microwave.

Step 4 -  Add the sugar-free  to the melted butter and combine. Microwave mixture in about 10-15 second increments, mixing each time, until the mixture is hot but not bubbly. Heating this mixture will dissolve more of the sugar and give a shiny crust on top of the brownies.

Step 5 - Add the butter mixture to the eggs mixture and mix until smooth

Step 6 - Microwave the chocolate chips in about 20 second increments until fairly soft, but not totally melted. NOTE: If you want them to be totally incorporated,then melt them completely. But if you want them to be chunks in the brownies, do not microwave them. I personally prefer chunky chips so directly put them in the batter.

Step 7 -  Add flour and chocolate chips to batter and mix until smooth.

Step 8 -  Pour batter into pan and bake for about 30 minutes.

9. When done, remove from oven, leave it for cooling down for 10 minutes then cut them into squares.

Here are the delicious monochrome brownies. A lovely contract in colour and taste also!

On Salads!

Going on a health streak and diet, counting the calories in my each bite! Going off processed food, comfort food, and chocolates , etc., sigh! A big commitment is needed. I am going a step forward and staying off carbs! So Proteins, Fruits and Salads all the way for me now! Anyway I love having salads and looking for new dressings to go with the veggies. 

I heard about this different kind of salad, and decided to try it. And guess what it turned out to be one of the best salads I have had ever! It is entitled 'Watermelon Feta Rocket Salad!’ A peppery and lemony dressing with sweet watermelon and a dash of salty feta with the rockets leaves (arugula) balancing all the flavours  It is like a blast of multiple flavours in your mouth and doesn't add much to your calories count. Here is the recipe for the lovely fresh salad.

Ingredients:

1 bowl of chopped watermelon

A bunch of rocket leaves (arugula)

Few seedless green olives

A few leaves of basil leaves

100 g of Feta Cheese

For the dressing-

1 tablespoon of Mustard sauce

2-teaspoon honey

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1-teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

Process:

Step 1 - Remove the stems of the washed rocket leaves and add them to the salad-mixing bowl.

Step 2 - Halve the olives and add them to the rocket leaves.

Step 3 - Remove the seeds of the watermelon and add the chopped watermelon to the leaves-olives.

Step 4 - Tear up few basil leaves and add to the mixing bowl.

Step 5 - Add all the dressing ingredients starting with apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, honey, mustard, salt and pepper. Mix all the ingredients. (Adjust the quantity of the ingredients according to your taste. For e.g. if you want the sweet taste to be the hero, then add more honey)

Step 6 - At the last, add the feta cheese either cubes or just bits on top of the salad. And give it a slight toss and your salad is ready!

Remove in a bowl and garnish with some basil. 
Chill the salad for it 10 minutes and then dig in!

Voila! This is an easy but simply amazing salad to have on a brunch party or a diner date! Hope all of you also like it as much as I did! Leave you're eating experience in the comments below.