Alia's Creative Life

Everything happens for a reason...

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 12:15:00 +0000

Click to view my Tumblr post:

Everything happens for a reason...

AliaTwitter: @alia_dalwai

A Recipe for Minced Meat Curry-Indian Style

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:17:00 +0000

Hello all you beautiful people out there.

How are you all?? It's been a long time since I posted anything! Sorry for that! :(

Well, I thought of sharing a recipe with you today. It's a recipe for Minced Meat Curry-Indian Style

Minced Meat Curry (Indian Style)

Ingredients:

Minced Meat - 1.5 Pounds (I used Goat meat and my meat was hand chopped. I don't know why but my mom prefers Hand Chopped Mince
Sliced Onions - 3 Medium Sized
Red Chili Powder - 1.5 Teaspoons (You could also use 4 Dried Red Chilis-I prefer Dried Chili to Chili Power)
Garam Masala Powder - 3 Teaspoons (You could use the ready made versions that are available in the market or you could refer to this link for the recipe http://aliascreativelife.blogspot.in/2011/06/recipe-for-perfect-indian-garam-masala.html)
Turmeric Powder - 0.5 Teaspoon
Yogurt - Half a Cup ( I know, I use weird measures, Sorry!)
Coriander Seed Powder - 1 Teaspoon, Dry Roasted
Ginger Paste - 2 Teaspoons
Garlic Paste - 2 Teaspoons
Tomato Ketchup - 3 Teaspoons
Salt - To taste
Cooking Oil - 5 Tablespoons
Frozen Peas - Half a Cup, Blanched in Hot water for 5 Minutes
Meat Tenderizer - Optional

Method:

The first step is to Caramelize the Onions. Heat the oil in a Deep Dish/Wok. I used a Traditional Indian Cooking pot made of Hindalium. Here's a sneak peek.
Fry the Sliced Onions. When they turn Golden Brown, drain them and put them on a cool plate. Turn off the stove. Let the oil stay in the pot. We'll use this to cook our Minced meat. Let the caramelized onions cool down for 10 minutes. (I don't know why the onion doesn't look golden enough in this picture. Bad lighting I guess!)
Grind together the following ingredients to make a fine paste-
Caramelized Onions
Yogurt
Turmeric Powder
Red Chili Powder/Dried Chili
Garam Masala Powder (2 Teaspoons)
Coriander Powder
Ginger Paste (1.5 Teaspoons)
Garlic Paste (1.5 Teaspoons)
Add some water to make a fine paste
Heat the oil again (The same oil that was used to fry the onions). Add this paste and saute well for about 5-7 Minutes. Keep stirring. Soon you'll see the oil separating from the Paste.
By this time the paste is almost cooked. Add the Minced meat and the Peas.
Add some salt. Do not add any water at this stage as the meat will shed some of its own. Stir well and cover.
You could use some Meat Tenderizer if required. One of the best Meat Tenderizers is Raw Papaya (Both the skin and pulp). It is so good, people swear by it and of course it's natural and healthy. I did not use any tenderizer in this recipe but you could use one. The meat takes lesser time to cook and becomes softer.
So now basically at this point of time you just need to let the meat cook. Cook it covered. Stir it occasionally. As I said earlier, the meat will shed some of its own liquid. Keep stirring from time to time and let it cook while covered.
When the meat is almost cooked, sprinkle 1 Teaspoon of Garam Masala, Half a Teaspoon of Ginger paste, Half a Teaspoon of Garlic Paste, add 3 Teaspoons of Tomato Ketchup and stir well. If the meat is dry, add some water, stir and let it cook. If there is too much liquid in the meat, let it cook without the lid, it will dry off.
When the minced meat is cooked, turn off the stove and serve hot. Garnish with Caramelized Onions and/or Chopped Coriander Leaves and/or Curry Leaves.

Well, I hope you guys try this recipe out and like it.

See you, Love you all!

Alia

Find me on Twitter: @alia_dalwai
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I'm back!

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:26:00 +0000

Flying through the skies like a bird free.
A new new life with new hope awaits me.
Gone are the dark, cloudy skies,
Its a whole new world for a whole new me.

Hello, all my lovely followers, how have you all been?

I know you all must be wondering where I had disappeared. Actually, I got divorced in July. It was a very difficult time for me, hence I kept a low profile all these months.

My parents and brother bore the brunt of my tantrums and my manager allowed me to work from home which really helped maintain my sanity. :) Also, I ate a lot of home cooked food (Thanks to my mom), gorged on Ice cream and most importantly, Prayed a lot. I'm so much better now, Alhamdulillah!

I'll be posting regularly now. A lot of them will be my mom's recipes :) I'll also be posting poems and craft tutes.

Missed you all!

Alia

I'm Sorry I've been away!

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:20:00 +0000

Hello all my lovely followers!

How are you all? Long time, eh? How are you all doing?

First of all I would like to apologize for being away from my blog for so long! I'm so so sorry! Actually, I am going through a very rough phase and I'm trying to gather myself up again...I need your prayers please!

I'll write about my problem when the time is right, till then, please remember me in your prayers and thank you for being so patient with me!

Love you all!

Alia

My Trip to the Veggie Market and a Recipe for Masala Garbanzos

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:54:00 +0000

Hi all you lovely people out there!

Guess what? I've come to stay with my Mommy dear, not feeling very well so Mommy's making sure she pampers me to the core! :p

I went to the Local Vegetable Market with my mom and her friend. The sight of fresh Veggies and Fruits all around was so refreshing! :)

Fresh Lady Finger/Okra

Coconuts

Fresh Spinach

Onions

Potatoes

Radish

Cauliflower

Chillies

Peppers

Indian Cucumbers

Carrots

Bananas

Sprouted Beans

Anyways, I want to share a Quick recipe with you all. Hope you all like it!

Masala Garbanzos

Ingredients:
Garbanzos, 1 Cup (You can use them straight from the can or just boil Chickpeas)
Onions, 2, finely sliced
Tomato, 1, finely chopped
Ginger Paste, 1/2 Tsp
Garlic Paste, 1 Tsp
Boiled Potato, 1 Medium, Peeled and Cubed
Coriander Leaves/Cilantro, 2 Tsp, Chopped
Oil
Salt

Method:
1) Heat some oil in a sauce pan or a wok.
2) Saute some oil in it till it becomes tender.
3) Add the Ginger Paste, Garlic Paste, Chopped tomatoes and Potatoes. Saute for another 5 minutes.
4) Add the Garbanzos (Boiled Chickpeas) and stir well.
5) Cook for a few minutes and Garnish with Coriander Leaves!
6) Serve Hot.
Enjoy!

Well, all you guys have fun and I'm gonna enjoy my time with my Mom!

Love u all!

Alia

To see what parties I've linked to, check out this link.

Cute Book Labels for Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:48:00 +0000

Hi Everybody,

How are you all today??

With Ramadan on, I'm so very busy these days, but I do have something for you guys! Guess what?? Book Labels for Kids!! I made them in a hurry, but they are not that bad.

You can find them here.

Hope you like them!

I'll post a recipe soon.

Love you all!

Alia

P.S:
To check out the Parties I always link to, click here.

Quick Kebabs from Burger Patties

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:40:00 +0000

Hello, all you lovely people out there!

Today I have a quick, yummy recipe for you - Kebabs from Burger Patties! Very easy and very tasty!

Well, here's the recipe:

Kebabs from Burger Patties:

Ingredients:
Burger Patties - 4
Onions - 1 big, ground
Garam Masala - 1/2 Teaspoon
Ginger Garlic Paste - 1 Teaspoon
Cilantro/Coriander Leaves - 2 Teaspoon, Chopped
Yogurt - 1 Tablespoon
Salt - To Taste
Oil

Method:
1) Defrost the Burger Patties.
2) Add the Yogurt, Ground Onion, Garam Masala, Ginger Garlic Paste, Cilantro and Salt. Mix well
3) Shape them as desired. I made them round.
4) Fry and serve hot!

Hope you guys like it! :) Enjoy!!

See you soon!

Love ya all!

Alia

I am linking to:

Quick Crispy Veggie Fritters and some Old Projects

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 12:19:00 +0000

Hi everybody,

How are you all today? Well, I'm still in Mumbai (Bombay). Thankfully, the rains have taken a break and the warm sunshine has made me a little cheerful again! :)

Well, I made these Veggie Fritters the other day - Very Modest ingredients, Very Quick, Very easy to make and Surprisingly Crispy and Yummy! I want to share the recipe with you. Hope you guys like it!

Veggie Fritters:

Ingredients-
Cabbage (Medium): Half
Carrot: 1
Capsicum / Green Pepper: 1
Onion: 1
All-Purpose Flour: 1 Cup
Salt: To taste
Water
Oil: For Frying

Method-
1) Finely Chop all the Veggies together. You could chop them all together if you want.
2) Add the Salt and Flour to it.
3) Add Enough Water to make the mixture sticky. Mix well.
4) Deep Fry till they turn Golden.
5) Serve with Tomato Ketchup.

Trust me, its very simple to make and very yummy! Very convenient when you have unexpected guests over!

Sorry for the poor picture quality. I was in a real hurry so I took this pic with my cellphone....I know, I'm Pathetic! :p

Anyways, I want to share a few projects that I had done in the past. I came across these pics and just couldn't resist myself from posting these.

This was a Cross Stitch Pattern that I had done when I was in School (Grade 5, to be precise). I was 10 at that time. My mom has still kept it safe in a bag (Aren't Mom's the greatest?)

I loved it so much that I actually wrote my Name and Class on the sides so that incase I lost it somewhere in school, it could be found and returned back to me! :p

And now these flowers, these aren't that old. I made them last year, some from Crepe paper, some from Stockings. Aren't they beautiful??

Anyways, I hope you guys didn't find this post boring :P

In the meantime, I'm linking to:

border="0" href="http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com"

target="_blank">

src="http://hadfield.smugmug.com/photos/825895175_xmTVA-O.jpg"

alt="Join us Saturdays at tatertotsandjello.com for the weekend wrap

up party!" />

That's all for now!

Loads of Love,

Alia

Prayers for Mumbai...Say No to Terrorism!

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:43:00 +0000

Dear friends,

Mumbai was once again in sorrow as terror hit the city, yet again! 3 Bomb Blasts ripped across the city yesterday, Thursday, 13th July 2011. Here is some footage from the Blasts.

I came to Mumbai 4 days ago and as if the Constant Drizzling wasn't enough to be depressed, when this happened. Atleast 21 people were killed and 141 were injured in this terrible incident. Yet, the Resilient Spirit of Mumbai stood firm and minutes into the blasts, people offered help in the form of food, medicines, transport, blood donation and more.

Its so shocking, I don't know what to say. I don't know what thrill people get out of killing others, I mean do these terrorists have a heart? All we can do is pray for those who were killed, for their families and for those were injured.

Thats all for now Folks! I just don't know what to say!

Alia

The

....And I'm back!!! :) Life in Chennai and A Recipe for Egg Curry!

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 14:42:00 +0000

Hi Guys!

How have you all been?? Long time, eh?? Well, I'm in India, trying to set up my cozy li'l flat, its so much fun, trust me! Well, its more homey now, after all, a Woman makes a House a Home! ;)

So far, I'm loving Chennai (Madras)...Its so much better than what I had expected! The people here are so warm and friendly! :) The only thing I hate about this place is the water! It has ruined my hair :( My hair has never looked so bad before! Luckily for me, I got a jar of Schwarzkopf Conditioner from Saudi Arabia, I managed to fish it out from my bags and lets see, I'm hoping for a miracle here! ;)

So, let me tell you guys a li'l about the flat we've rented. Well, since we're gonna stay here for just about 6 months, my husband insisted on getting a small one. Its tiny but real cozy, it has a living room, a bedroom, a Kitchen, a Utility Room and a Bathroom. But I am not very fond of the landlord, he's strictly prohibited us from re-painting the walls, drilling holes on walls to put shelves or even nails, changing the light fittings etc. I mean what am I left with now? Decorating this place is gonna be such a tough task! :(

Anyways, you can always tell that a woman lives in a house when you see:
1) A Clean Kitchen Top :p

2) A Well Made Bed

3) Cosmetics :)

4) And Fresh Veggies!

Lols...Anyways, I made an Egg Curry-Indian Style and surprisingly, it was really good! :) I wanna share the recipe with you all today.

Egg Curry-Indian Style

Ingredients-

Boiled Eggs - 3 or 4

For the Gravy:

Tomatoes, Ground or Very Finely Chopped - 2

Onions, Sliced - 3

Garam Masala - 1 teaspoon

Ginger Paste - 1 teaspoon

Garlic Paste - 1 teaspoon

Turmeric Powder - 1/4th teaspoon

Red Chilli Powder - 1/2 teaspoon

Green Chillies, Slit - 2

Oil

Salt

Cilantro, for Garnishing

Method:

1) Heat some oil and fry the Sliced Onions till they turn golden brown.

2) Add the Chopped Tomatoes and saute on medium heat for about 5 min.

3) Add the Ginger Paste, Garlic Paste, Garam Masala Powder, Turmeric Powder, Red Chilli Powder and Salt and stir well. Saute for another 5 minutes.

4) Add about a quarter cup of water and stir well, let the gravy cook on medium heat for a few minutes. The raw taste of the spices should fade away. Add some more water if you want the gravy to be of a thinner consistency.

5) Add the Boiled eggs into the gravy. Add the Slit Chillies. Stir well. Simmer over low heat for 2-3 minutes.

6) Garnish with some freshly chopped Cilantro.

Well, that's it for now.

Love you all!

Alia

I Miss my Bro...and a Recipe for Chickpea Flour Pancakes and Baked Beans with a 'Zing'...

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 12:19:00 +0000

Hi everybody!

So, how are you all today?

My bro left for India and its so lonely without him! :( We went to tons of places, had BBQs, gorged on Shawarmas, Falafels, Burgers, Cheesecakes and what not! We had such a Great Time here!

I also helped him shoot a Stand Up comedy Skit for a contest. Its was soooo much fun! I hope he wins, I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

This is my him adjusting his mic before shooting

This is him asking me if he looks Ok :)

Lols...He soooo gonna kill me for putting his pics! :p

Ok, lets move on!

Today I want to share two very simple, very quick vegan recipes with you.

1) Chickpea Flour Pancakes

Ingredients:

Chickpea Flour - 1 Cup

Finely Chopped Onions - 1/2 Cup

Finely Chopped Tomatoes - 1/4th Cup

Turmeric Powder - 1/8th Teaspoon

Chopped Cilantro - 1/4th Cup

Red Chilli Powder - 1/2 Teaspoon

Chopped Green Chillies, Optional

Salt, to taste

Oil or Butter

Method:

1) Mix all the Ingredients, except oil, together.

2) Add some water, just enough to get Pancake Batter like consistency.

3) Stir well.

4) Heat 1 Tbsp of oil or butter in a non-stick pan.

5) Drop about a ladle full of batter into the pan. Spread it evenly. Make sure it isn't very thick.

6) Add a few more drops of Oil or butter if required.

7) Fry both the sides till it becomes Golden Brown.

8) Serve Hot

And now for some Baked Beans...

Are you tired of eating the same old Baked Beans from the tin?? Lets add some 'zing' to it!

2) Baked Beans with a 'Zing'

Ingredients:

Baked Beans - 1 Tin

Ginger-Garlic Paste - 1 Teaspoon

Onion - 1, Finely Sliced

Garam Masala - 1/2 Teaspoon

Mango Juice - 4 Tablespoons

Red Chilli Powder - 1/2 Teaspoon

Cumin Powder - 1/8th Teaspoon

Oil

Method:

1) Heat about 1 Tablespoon full of Oil in a Saucepan.

2) Put in the Sliced Onions. Saute till they turn Golden Brown.

3) Add the Ginger Garlic Paste, the Garam Masala, Red Chilli Powder, Cumin Powder and saute for another minute or so.

4) Add the Baked Beans and Mango Juice and stir well.

5) Let it simmer for 2-3 Minutes on a low flame.

6) Serve Hot

This tastes really good with Nachos and Tortillas.

If you want the Recipe for Garam Masala, click here.

Hope you try these out and like them!

Im linking to:

See ya later!

Alia

My New Button

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:08:00 +0000

Hey guys!

Check out my New Button!

Grab it from my Home Page for your Blog or Website!
I'm gonna make a few more of these!

Have a nice day!

Alia

Recipe for the Perfect 'Indian Garam Masala' or Curry Powder

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 17:03:00 +0000

Hi ya all!

How are you all doing today?

Today I want to tell you guys how to make the Perfect Indian Garam Masala or Curry Powder. Its basically very simple and quick to prepare and you can store it for months together!

Here's what you need:

Ingredients-

Green Cardamoms - 36 nos.
Cloves - 12
Cumin seeds - 3 Teaspoons
Cinnamon Sticks - 1" x 6 pcs
Black Pepper - 24
Aniseeds/Fennel Seeds - 3 Teaspoons
Caraway Seeds - 2 Teaspoons

Method:

Grind all the spice together and store in an air tight container.

This is the correct proportion of spices used in a Garam Masala. The above recipe will yield about 9-10 Tablespoons of Garam Masala Powder.

That's it for now!

Love you all!

Alia

How to take care of your Hair in Summer...

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Mon, 23 May 2011 19:45:00 +0000

Hi guys!

Do u ever have one of those days when life seems so gloomy and full of despair...U know when ur all depressed for no reason...well, today is one of those days for me! God, send some laughs down here, I really need some! :(

Anyways, I don't wanna spoil ur day, so lets talk about something interesting. Today I've got some really good articles for u on How to take care of your Hair during Summer.

Real Simple has an answer to all your Questions!

1) Here's an article on How to Fix Common Summer Hair Problems. Check it out here.

2) Here's an article that every chick out there could really use ;) How to Blow Dry Your Hair like a Pro. Isn't that great?? Now my hair is always a mess, so I could really use these tips! Read more about it here.

3) And here's another article on 6 Stylish Summer Hair Accessories. Good for all u ladies, teenagers as well as li'l girls! And the best part is they are easy on the pocket too! Find out more here.

Well, thats it for now!

Hope u all have a very nice day...n I hope the same for me too!

Love u all!

Alia

Bye Bye Flu and Cold! Easy ways to outsmart common cold and the flu!

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Sun, 22 May 2011 13:07:00 +0000

Hello all u beautiful people out there!

How ru doing?

Well, I was doing a little bit of reading yesterday (online, of course!)...on coryza, or the common cold and Flu.

The common cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system. Common symptoms include a cough, sore throat,runny nose, and fever. Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease. The most common symptoms of the disease are chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness/fatigue and general discomfort.

I know how difficult it can be to get rid of a cold and flu, so here are a few ideas that might interest you!

1) Health.com has a marvelous article on How to Outsmart the flu. You can check it out here.

2) Real Simple has an article than tells How to stay Healthy during Cold and Flu Season. Check it out here.

3) Better Homes and Gardens, one of my favorite websites, gives us Remedies and prevention tips for the cold and flu. Check it out here.

4) Whole Living, another one of my favorites, also has a very interesting article on 10 best Cold and Flu Fighters. Interested? Find out more, here.

5) eHow.com has a list of articles on this topic.

There's one that tells us How to cure a cold before it starts. Find out more about it here.

Another article gives us tips on How to cure a Cold 'Drug Free'. Check out the article here.

It has another article on How to Cure the Common Cold and Other Viruses Naturally. Now, I really really like this one because I'm a big fan of Homemade Remedies. Find out more about this here.

I hope u find this post helpful!

Have a nice day!

Love u all,

Alia

Transforming your House

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Sat, 21 May 2011 13:12:00 +0000

Hi!

How are u all today? Enjoying the summer, eh?

Today lets discuss a new topic. Everybody likes a li'l bit of changes around the house now and then. I was just browsing on the internet for quick and cool transformations around the house and here's what I came up with.

1) Real Simple has a really good article called No-Money Home Makeover Ideas. Did I read 'No Money'?? It cannot get better than this, can it?

You can check out the article here.

2) Homemakers has an article on 12 Pretty Patio Decor items. Now not only can you transform your house, but you can also spruce up your yard and garden. Isn't that great?

Check it out here.

There's another article that tells you How to grow an herb Garden. I'm sure you'll like it.

Check it out here.

3) BHG, in one of its articles, gives very good Re-modelling Tips and Advice. Find it here.

4) Shelli, from A La Mode, is a reader of Somewhat Simple and has recently put together a beautiful home tour that was too amazing not to feature! She did all the the design herself, on a budget and I love her style- its fresh and clean, but patterned and fun. Best of all, EVERY SINGLE ONE of her sources are listed at the bottom of each post, so if you see something in a room that you love, you can learn exactly where to find it! Take a look at some of the rooms you will see on her home tour. You will find it here on Somewhat Simple .

5) Take a look at Cube Mug. Its stackable, it saves space and its super cute, isn't it? You can find out more about it here.

I hope you liked my post and I hope you find it useful.

Have a nice day.

Love u all!

Alia

My BBQ Party!

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Fri, 20 May 2011 18:07:00 +0000

Hi ya all!

How ru guys doing today? Well, u know right now I'm vacationing in Saudi Arabia with my parents and bro, and here, in Saudi, having a BBQ party every week or fortnight is not a big deal! I mean u go to beaches and gardens n u'll find a BBQ party going on! Isn't that amazing??

The other day, I told u about this BBQ party my parents were gonna host. They had invited 70 guests and 75 showed up! Lols...

I wouldn't blame them though! After all, my mom is a really good cook! :)

We had Tandoori Chicken BBQ, Black Chickpea Masala, Russian Salad, Yoghurt and Mint Salad, Meat Pilaf (Pulao) and Seviyan (A dessert made with Vermicelli and Milk)....God, it was really good!!

Those are my cousins getting the BBQ started

Tandoori Chicken...Yummilicious!

The moon by the Sea :)

The guy in the white shirt and that dazzling smile is my bro. :)

God, we had such a GREAT time! By the time we got home it was 2:30 am! We had a tough time getting up in the morning.

That's it for now!

Love ya all! <3

S'more Brownies on the Food Network

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Wed, 18 May 2011 12:40:00 +0000

Hi ya all!

How are you all doing? I just came across this really good recipe on Food Network, thought I'd share it with you all!

S'more Brownies on the Food Network

In the meantime, My parents are throwing a BBQ party tomorrow. Guess how many guests they've invited? 70!! And my mom is really freaking out right now, lols...I'm gonna take lotsa pics of the food and the party and share them with u all!

Till then, ciao!

Love u,

Boneless Masala Fried Chicken - Indian Style

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Tue, 17 May 2011 12:38:00 +0000

Hi guys!

How are ya all doing?? Enjoying the lazy summer breeze?

I'm in Saudi Arabia right now and the climate here is so unpredictable! One second its warm, the other second there's this really cool breeze coming by and then again a second later its sunny all over again!

I'm really enjoying my vacation with my Mom, Dad and Bro while my husband's on a business trip to Belgium (I bet he's having a whale of a time!) and next week he'll be off to France (Ok, now I'm really jealous).

Oh, this reminds me Belgium is famous for Diamonds and France for Couture! I should inform my husband about that :p A few gifts didn't hurt anybody, eh?

Well, anyways, I made this really delicious Masala Fried Chicken today...Pure Indian Style and I want to share the recipe with you all! My bro loved it and trust me, my brother could be one mean food critic and if he loved it, I'm sure you guys will too! So here we go:

Boneless Masala Fried Chicken - Indian Style:

Ingredients-

Chicken-750 gms (Boneless and Cut into Medium Sized Pieces)
Ginger Paste-1 Tbsp
Garlic Paste-1 Tbsp
Turmeric Powder- 1/8 th Tsp
Red Chilli Powder- 1 Tsp
Coriander Seeds (Powdered)- 1 Tbsp
Garam Masala Powder- 1.5 Tbsp
Lemon Juice- 2 Tbsp OR Vinegar- 1 Tbsp
Salt- To taste
Cornflour or Rice Flour- As Required

Method:

1) First of all, wash the chicken thoroughly.
2) Mix the Ginger Paste, Garlic Paste, Turmeric Powder, Red Chilli Powder, Coriander Seed Powder, Garam Masala Powder, Lemon Juice / Vinegar and Salt in a big bowl.
3) Add the Chicken to it and mix well. Let the Chicken marinate in it for at least 4-5 hours (In the fridge). You can also leave it overnight in the refrigerator.
4) Heat oil in a wok or a deep pan.
5) Dip the Chicken Pieces in Cornflour or Rice Flour and fry them till they turn brown.
6) Serve Hot.

I know the pic isn't good but we were in a hurry to eat so I couldn't wait to get my camera and just clicked a pic with my cell phone...I know! Shame on me! :(

Ok, do try this out at home and let me know how it turns out!

Have a nice Summer!

Loads of love!

Success Quotes - Cute li'l Banners (and an 'Abayah' recycle coming up soon!)

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Sat, 14 May 2011 12:55:00 +0000

Hiiiiii!!

Thank God Blogger is back to normal...God, was I freaking out! :p

Well, guess what? I'm really obsessed with making these li'l banners and tags, I mean, seriously, I don't know what's with me! Anyways, I thought I'd share some with you.

http://aliascreativelife.blogspot.com/

You are free to use and share these!

Love ya all!

A Few more Couplets :)

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Sun, 08 May 2011 13:26:00 +0000

Hi ya all,

I just came across a few couplets I had written a few years ago and I thought I'd share them with you all. They're in Hindi but I've tried my best to translate them in English for ya all :)

तन्हाई के एक आंसू से अपने खुशियों का दिया ना बुझा,

इंतज़ार तुने उसका इतना किया है, दो पल और ठहर जा.

Do not put off the flame your happiness with a tear of your loneliness,

You have waited so long for her, a few more moments wouldn't hurt.

ग़मों के सागर को पार तू कर खुशियों की कश्ती से,

दुनिया से काहे को डरते हो, सामना कर तू हिम्मत से

Cross the Seas of Sorrow with Kayaks of Joy,

Don't let the World scare you, Confront it with Courage.

दूर ना देख ओ राही, सफ़र बड़ा लम्बा है,

आये कठिनाई तोह ए, तुझे तोह आगे बढ़ना है.

Don't look at the distance, Oh Traveler. The road is very long.

Let Difficulties come along, You still have to go all the Way.

My Road Trip to Rajasthan! Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 11:51:00 +0000

Hi u all!

Yesterday I uploaded pics of Bada Bagh Cenotaphs and the Kuldhara Village. Today I'll upload a few more pics. Hope you like them!

Khaba Fort:

When we reached Khaba Fort, the caretaker had gone for lunch. We opened the gates and sneaked into the fort.

Paliwals, the inhabitants of Khaba migrated from Pali district of present day Rajasthan. They are said to have inhabited the place from the latter parts of the eleventh century. Khaba along with Kuldhara, was one of the 84 villages around Jaisalmer, inhabited by this Brahmin community.

They engaged in trade between present day Pakistan and India and Khaba served as the fulcrum point for the import and export of goods. The town even had a small fort that was constructed to protect from rivals. As trade flourished, the inhabitants of the Pali towns, each managed by a chieftain grew richer by the day. Stories of treasures buried in the solitude of the land are aplenty even today.

Various articles that belonged to the Paliwal Tribe were on display. All of these were atleast a hundred years old!

This place is full of natural smooth stones. I found a Heart shaped one!

Isn't that cool??

Gadi Sagar Lake:

The artificial reservoir of Gadi Sagar was built to serve as a source of water. It was built in 1156 A.D by Mahraja Jaisal. However, later in 1367, it was reconstructed by Maharaja Garsi Singh. The reservoir is also known as ‘Lake Garsisar’.

The lake is marvelously placed in a picturesque surroundings and an imposing sandstone entrance known as Tilon-ki-Pol opens to the lake. A grand Krishna temple is also placed at the gate. The banks of the Gadi Sagar enclose superbly maintained gardens, temples and majestically carved Chattris.

This sylvan lake is surrounded by innumerable temples and holy shrines.

The lake is home to a wide variety of fishes and ducks.

Well, that's it for now!

Love ya all!

My Road Trip to Rajasthan! Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:44:00 +0000

Hi everybody!!

Guess what? I went on a road trip to Rajasthan! It was AMAZING!!

Here are a few pics of the places I visited along with some trivia about the places. Hope you like it!

Bada Bagh Cenotaphs, Jaisalmer:

Bada Bagh (Big Garden) was started by Maharawal Jait Singh II between 1513 AD and 1528 AD and completed by his son Lunkaran, after his death. It is located on the Ramgarh Road, 5 kms north of Jaisalmer.

Kuldhara Village, Jaisalmer:

Drive 18 km west of Jaisalmer and you will come upon the village of Kuldhara. Once a prosperous settlement of the Paliwal Brahmins, all the residents of Kuldhara and 83 nearby villages vanished suddenly one night in 1825, having lived there since 1291. In all likelihood they set up base somewhere beyond Jodhpur but no one has ever been sure.

What made them want to abandon everything overnight? The Prime Minister, or the dewan, is believed to have developed a lecherous eye for the chief’s daughter; it is said the Paliwal women were in general stunningly beautiful. He may even have imposed unreasonable taxes on them. With pride and honour overruling all worldly interests, the chiefs of the 84 villages decided to go away in a single night with whatever they could carry with them.

The dusty little village had long narrow lanes crisscrossing everywhere -don't know whether it was the heightened senses but one could really feel strange faces peeking from behind the walls.

While leaving the village we could feel the sadness and helplessness running through the ruins. An old city had unpeeled its secrets to us.

A Stove in one of the ancient houses

Well folks, thats all for now. Will upload the rest of the pics tomorrow!

Shrimps in Green Gravy - Yummilicious!

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 09:57:00 +0000

Hi ya all!

How have you been?? I tried this Shrimp Recipe today. Its amongst my mom's specialties. Now, my mom is a VERY VERY VERY Good Cook!! I mean she's AMAZING!! People who taste her food ALWAYS come back for more! So, as I was saying, I got this recipe from my mom.

Ingredients:

Onions: 2 (Big)
Garlic: 12 Cloves + 3 Cloves
Coriander leaves: About 3/4 Cup (Chopped)
Green Chillies: 3 (You can increase or decrease it according to your taste and your 'Hot' Meter)
Shrimps: 350-400 grams (Washed, De-shelled and Deveined)
Turmeric Powder: 1/2 Teaspoon
Salt: To Taste
Water
Oil
Lemon Wedges and Coriander Leaves for Garnishing
Method:

1) Grind the Onions, 12 Garlic cloves, Coriander leaves and Green chillies to a fine paste.
2) Marinate the Shrimps in Turmeric Powder and some salt for about 10-15 Minutes.
3) In the meantime, heat some oil in a cooking pot and add Onion-Garlic-Coriander-Chilly paste. Saute it over low heat. Keep stirring so that the paste doesn't stick to the pot. Add a few drops of oil now and then if needed. Now, when you cook this paste, the chillies in the mixture lose some of their spiciness. Saute this mixture on a low flame for about 10 minutes or till the raw taste of the paste disappears. Keep stirring while you saute it.
4) Now, add the Shrimps in the cooking pot. Slice 3 Garlic Cloves and add it to the shrimps. Add 3-4 tablespoons of water and Stir well. (Add some more water if you want a thin gravy). Cover the pot and cook over a medium flame.
5) Stir from time to time so that it doesn't stick to the pot. Add some water now and then if required.
6) It usually takes 15 minutes to cook the shrimps but you can always check and if they still seema a little raw, you can cook them for some more time.
7) Garnish them with Lemon Wedges and Coriander Leaves.

I hope you try this recipe and I really hope you all like it.

P.S: I served the dish in a Traditional Indian 'Patela' (Indian Aluminium Pot)

My 1st Recipe- Masala Fried Fish

noreply@blogger.com (Alia) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 08:44:00 +0000

Hi!!!

Well, Long time, eh? Sorry guys. I was just getting settled in my new house as a newly wed. Well, guess what? I just discovered that Im a really good cook!! Well, I dont like to brag, but I really really mean it! Just today, I made some Masala Fried Fish. Here is the recipe for the same:

Masala Fried Fish:

Pomfret Fish (Large) 1 pc
Cumin Seeds 1.5 Tsp
Turmeric Powder 0.5 Tsp
Chilli Powder 1 Tsp
Tandoori Masala 1 Tsp
Garlic 5 Cloves
Lemon Juice 2 Tsp
Salt to taste
Oil to fry

Method:

Wash the fish and slice it. Clean it thouroughly.

Grind the cumin seeds, turmeric powder, chilli powder, tandoori masala, garlic, lemon juice and salt. Add some water to get a 'Pastey' consistency.

Marinate the fish in the mixture for an hour.

Heat oil in a shallow pan.

Now dust the fish with some flour and fry the fish till it becomes golden brown!

My family likes the fish a little spicy so if you want it to be less spicy you can reduce some of the spices.

Sorry, I dont have any pics because...ahem...we ate it up!

Love ya all!

Alia