Surviving...

NYC Masti: New York-isms

2011-08-24T11:29:00.000-04:00

It's no secret that I love summer in this city. There's so much to do and everyone is usually in such a great mood! My theory is that people are so tired of being cooped up during the winter so when the weather is better they can't help but be happy. As for me, well I try to get in as much fun as I can so the memories keep me warm during the cold winter months.

Here are some New York-isms that I've experienced in the past couple of weeks...you know, random things that, for the most part, are unique to this crazy city I live in...so enjoy!

Peace on Wall Street
Here we have dedicated individuals who are doing their part help the US economy by meditating across from the Stock Exchange. This happened shortly after the stock market drama a couple of weeks ago. It really was quite a sight to see...in the crowd of people rushing to go from point A to point B there was a group of people who were able to be still and at peace in that moment. Odd and out of place as it was, it was comforting to see. Though I do have to say, I wouldn't sit there because I know for a fact that's where a lot of dogs relieve themselves. :-/

Checking out the artwork

Fancy-Schmancy

Fine, well technically this next thing isn't unique to New York, but it just feels New Yorky to me. I went to my very first art gallery recently...see, New Yorky! A close friend's sister was a part of a traveling exhibit so a group of us went out to show our support. It was really neat to see all the different mediums artists use to express themselves. For example, our friend's pieces combined a number of techniques including stitching! Also, the exhibit had a South Asian theme to it so that made it even more special for me.

With the talented artist (in white)

Food on Wheels

Teriyaki Balls

Food trucks are a fun way to experience New York culture via yummy treats. So when I found out that there was a food truck festival down the street from me, I knew I wanted to check it out! It was a lot of fun. There were all sorts of creative options. From Jamaican meat patties to custom ice cream sandwiches, the festival had it all! The biggest challenge for me was deciding on what I wanted to try. There were some definite hits like the spicy pickles and the Teriyaki balls...and there were some misses as well. I was really excited to try out the Dumpling Rikshaw, but unfortunately, it was a disappointment. I tried their veg dumpling so I can't vouch for the other varieties they have. I guess I have high dumpling standards because I couldn't eat more than a bite. One of my favorite things was the fresh pickles! They had regular and spicy...and boy, they meant spicy. They made up for the dumplings for sure!

NYC Masti: A Good Morning, Indeed!

2011-08-04T09:23:00.000-04:00

My parents visited me for the first time since I moved to New York so of course I was excited about what all I was going to show them and the places to take them. They were only staying with us for 2 nights so I had to prioritize what made the list and what didn't.

One thing that was an automatic must do was going to the Good Morning America (GMA) studio in Times Square in the morning during the show taping. You see, my mom is the biggest GMA fan you will find. She's been watching since Joan Lunden was the co-anchor...I don't even remember those days! The co-anchors now are Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos...or I should say, Mom's best friend, Robin, and other people. Mom has taken such a liking to her, it's just crazy! She listens intently to every word she has to say and even makes note of her clothing and accessories. They have this relationship...well, Mom has this relationship with Robin that is fun to watch. I mean, Mom cares so much about Robin that when news broke about Robin's breast cancer, I had to make sure to tell Mom in a careful way and not just blurt it out.

While Mom has this significant relationship with Robin, she still loves the other cast members of GMA...Sam Champion being at the top of this list. Sam is the weatherman and has this great fun, spunky, and approachable manner about him. You can often see him joking with the crowd outside of the studio in the mornings. So, when I found out that Mom and Dad were coming, I made sure that we scheduled in being a part of that crowd. I knew meeting Robin could be a long shot, but I figured, at the very least, Mom would get to see Sam.

We got to Times Square at 6:45a and there was already a crowd there! We had a row of people in front of us but we could still see the 'set' and the producers so I figured we would still be able to see Sam and be on TV when they span the crowd. I have to say, I was very impressed with how nice all the GMA staffers were! There was no attitude, no one got annoyed...I almost forgot I was in New York City...hehehe...just kidding!

We were told that only Sam would be down that day and that he wasn't coming until 8am...so we waited...and waited. Keep in mind, waiting outside at 7am in a crowd that didn't understand the phrase 'personal space' can make you cranky really fast! But all that melted away when Sam came down. He was so happy and cheerful...I told you he was a nice guy!

He went around shaking hands starting at the other side of the crowd. By the time he got to our side there were about a million hands reaching out to greet him. Then Sam did something that caught us off guard...he said that he was going to do the weather report from inside the crowd on our side...meaning he went in between my parents, had his mic in one hand and his arm around my mom...I know!

At first it was like she couldn't believe what was going on and then when it set in, she was all smiles! She kept telling him how much she loved him and that she watches all the time. It was so cute! I got some great pictures of them...absolutely priceless!

While I had a poster that I made the night before, it was about Robin as you can see...so of course, I kept that poster stayed down while Sam was there...hehehehehe

Their trip was short, but as you can tell, quite eventful! So, Sam Champion, I doubt you read my blog, but if you do, thanks for making my Mom's day and making this NYC trip unforgettable!

NYC Masti: Flashes and Mobs

2011-08-03T16:27:00.000-04:00

What's something that's all the rage right now, lets you surprise people, and act a fool in public? Give up? A flashmob, of course! You know what I'm talking about...music comes on and people who just happen to be dressed alike (or not) start dancing in public and then little by little others join in until there's a mob of dancers there in a flash...flashmob! I think they're fun to watch and would be great to participate in, but how do you go about finding that opportunity? I don't think you can google 'looking for a flashmob'...or maybe you can...

Luckily, I didn't have to go to such extremes...you just have to know the right people! Enter my friend, Madhura. She told me about the chance to be in a Bollywood flashmob and it was a no-brainer! Of course I was in! It was sponsored by a dance company called Dooniya Dance. I got the tutorial video off of youtube and was all set to go!

On the day of the flashmob, in true 'Shilpa style,' we got lost so we missed the pre-mob meeting. When we finally got to the mob site, we were surprised by how many people were there! It looked like everyone was in on the secret, but that didn't matter to us...we were ready to flashmob! When the time finally came, we got in place and did our thing. While I've been dancing and performing for years now, this was a totally different experience...I was totally thrown off by the lack of space and just doing a coordinated dance in a crowd...so, yeah, I messed up a couple of times...whoops! Lucky for y'all we caught off of it on video! Both, Madhura and I are in the back...I'm in the lime green shirt and she's the lady with the yellow scarf...Enjoy!

This and That: 30 going on 13

2011-07-27T20:55:00.000-04:00

So unless you've been living under a rock, you know that the final Harry Potter movie came out a couple of weeks ago. And, as my facebook friends know, I was really excited about this movie...I think I had 5 back-to-back Potter status updates! My husband calls me a 5 year old, but I think in this case, 13ish may be more appropriate...don't ya' think?

I got tickets to the midnight show at our neighborhood theater and was all set to go - Gryffindor shirt, gold and maroon scarf (thanks, Mom!), and my wand! While I had my reservations about going to a midnight show - being 30 means an earlier bed time - I tend to bend the rules for Harry Potter. Then a friend made an offer I couldn't refuse...through work, she had tickets to see HP 7 part 2 even before the midnight show...AND free popcorn and Pepsi! Yeah, I got to see the movie even earlier than I thought and I got to go to bed at a decent hour. Woo hooo! I love that my friends feed by Harry Potter obsession!

Since it was a work sponsored event, I didn't bring out all of my HP gear (the only ones dressed up were under the age of 12)...but that doesn't mean I can't be Pottered out when I watch it at home later...now just have to wait 6-7 months. :-/

I am sad that there are no more movies to look forward to, but I was very happy with how they ended it. I felt they did a great job of highlighting key points and including cool special effects. Of course, as always, the book was better, but the movie brought it all to life...and even cleared some things up for me. I'm tempted to read the entire series again, but the stack of 20 books waiting for me from the library tell me that may not happen just yet.

This and That: Dance!

2011-06-28T17:17:00.000-04:00

Two of my close friends got married this weekend and the hubbs and I were asked to dance at the reception. I was very excited...I don't think Preeth felt the same way in the beginning, but he came around.

Dancing is one of my passions from way back in the day. I began dancing and performing at the age of 7 and it's been something special for me ever since. It's my favorite way to de-stress...nothing compares to it! One of the challenges of living in the city is adjusting to living in small spaces - but this also means sacrificing my dance space too. We usually have to move the coffee table into the kitchen just to accommodate additional guests! So, I don't really get to dance that often these days.

Aside form space issues, this experience was fun for me because it was the first time Preeth and I danced together - aside from our first dance at our wedding. It was fun for me to share this with him and to see him enjoy the process! He even came up with great ideas like adding a flash mob part at the end of the song.

We had a blast performing it! Here's the dance for y'all to see...hope you like it!

Kitchen Konquest: Ups and Downs

2011-06-13T10:22:00.000-04:00

As you know by now, I like cooking and trying out new recipes and sharing the results with all of you. Well, it's only fair to share the challenges also, right? My husband likes to tease me by saying that I've become a much better cook now...implying that I wasn't before...but that's besides the point. Even so, I still have the cooking failures every now and then. Saturday night dinner was one such meal.

There's a Rachel Ray recipe that I've wanted to try out for quite some time...eggplant roll ups. It's like eggplant parmesan but without the breading. I call eggplant is one of my 'grown up' favorites - I never liked it as a kid but now I can't get enough of it! Anyway, the dish is grilled eggplant 'steaks' that are then rolled a ricotta cheese mixture on the inside. Then you top it with marinara sauce and fresh mozzarella...delish, right? Yeah, not so much.

I like to find the lesson/teachable moment in challenging times. While a flop recipe isn't really the most challenging situation, when you spend over $35 and 2 hours making a meal that you can't stand the taste of, you really have to try to see the 'good' in it...or at least try to laugh at it.

So my lessons:
-Parsley tastes like GRASS! Rachel Ray wasn't kidding when she says that it gives food a grassy flavor. Of course, you may be thinking why did I used an ingredient that was described as 'grassy'....well she calls spices like cumin and coriander 'smokey'...and I don't find them smokey at all...so I took my chances on parsley. So, now I know...parsley = grass = not for me!

-If a cheese smells bad before you add it to the recipe, you probably won't like how it tastes in the dish. Cooking the cheese doesn't change the taste. I am not a cheese connoisseur, I usually stick to the ones I know and like. I am open to trying new things (and cheeses) which is why when this recipe called for Pecorino Romano cheese, I didn't have any issue with it...that is, until I smelled it...and later tasted it!

-Pictures can be deceiving! Look at how yum the finished product looks...but it still tasted like grass! haha

While this culinary set back won't stop me from trying out other new recipes (and I still love Rachel Ray), I will be a bit more selective about the ingredients I use in the future!

NYC Masti: Picasso and Pianos

2011-06-11T13:05:00.000-04:00

A friend invited me to come with her to the reception for the Pop-Up Piano program this year. I remember hearing about the program last year but didn't really know much about it. Pop-Up Piano is a program sponsored by Sing for Hope and basically places pianos all around New York City for the public to enjoy between June 18th - July 2nd. A great way for children to explore this instrument and for people to enjoy impomptu performances (yay!). The pianos then get donated to area schools.

Pianos everywhere!

What I didn't know about the program is that volunteer artists transform each piano into a masterpiece before it's placed out in the city. Each piano gets a complete makeover to carry out a variety of different and inspiring messages. Some are just breathtaking and others are, well...unique...Since the program was so successful last year, they actually over 400 artists who wanted to be a part of the program!

The reception was in a warehouse where all of the pianos were created. It turns out that the artists came to the warehouse and painted together...it was a think-tank of creativity! How cool! Some of the pianos were also decorated by school children and were just precious. What a wonderful way to keep kids interested and involved in the arts! We got to join in on the fun by adding our own message to the piano we named 'The Chalkboard One'...I hope they don't wash off!

Go Pink Lightening!

This was my favorite one - nothing over the top spectacular about it, but it really just stood out for me. My friend named it Pink Lightening...I love it! Makes me want to learn how to play the piano!

I absolutely love this city in the summer and programs like this one really add to it all! Here are some more pictures of some of the pianos for you to enjoy!

I call this one the 'Tin Man'

Lines made with electrical tape...it turns out that everything in this artist's house looks like this...everything!

Yup, this is a crocheted piano...the entire thing...including the bench!

Kinda freaky!

Kitchen Konquest: Say Cheese...cake!

2011-06-02T13:44:00.000-04:00

Here's a Kitchen Konquest from Cali...with my baker cousins - these girls know their stuff!!! We went cherry picking earlier in the day and got 15lbs! So what do you do with all those cherries? You bake!

We made cherry topped cheesecake...but here's the twist...it's the recipe in pictures! Enjoy! :)

Pit 3 1/2 cups of fresh cherries

1 3/4 cups of graham crackers finely crushed

Beat 18oz. of cream cheese with 1 cup of sour cream, 3/4 cup of super fine sugar and 2 tsp of vanilla extract. Add 3 eggs one at at time and beat until all the lumps are blended.

Stir in graham cracker crumbs into 1 stick of melted butter.

Grease a 10 in springform cake pan. Spread the buttered crumbs in the base of the pan pressing down to make an even base. Chill for 30 min.

For the topping, put the pitted cherries in a sauce pan with 2 tbsp of superfine sugar and 1 tbsp water over medium heat. Allow the fruit to reduce...it's really cool how it makes it's own sauce!

See! but this is way to watery...have to keep it on the heat to let it thicken up and to let the cherries get tender. Cool this before you top the cake.

Pour cream cheese mixture over the chilled base.

Don't be deceived...it's not done yet...

Place the cake pan in a hot water bath...1-1.5 in of boiling water.


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake with water bath for 50 min. Chill the cake for 4 hours.

Top the chilled cheesecake with the chilled cherry topping...allow it to set.

Y. U. M.

Enjoy!

NYC Masti: Painting in the new decade

2011-06-01T16:28:00.000-04:00

May marked a big month for me...the beginning of my third decade! I wanted to celebrate this milestone birthday by doing something different and very 'Shilpa' and I found the perfect option...Paint Along NYC!

My husband and I attended one of their painting classes last fall and really enjoyed it. Basically the whole class paints the same picture as the instructor, Marti, takes you step by step to create your individual masterpiece...all while drinking wine...yes, it's a BYO!

With Marti

I contacted Marti about setting up a painting session for me and my friends and she was very accommodating. She even let me pick the painting! To my surprise, we had a total of 15 people sign up.

Some of the boys showing off their artwork

The class was a blast! At first I was nervous about how everyone would get along...and I wasn't sure how the boys in the group would take to painting...but it all went really smoothly...I'm sure the wine played a part in this. Everyone got along, we even had Marti cracking jokes with us!

Busy painting!

We all added a bit of our own flare and personality to each painting so each one was unique! I made the vase in my painting into a wine bottle with a label that reads "Vintage 30" to mark the event.

Yay, Thirty!

Of course the painting class was just a part of the birthday weekend celebrations, but it was one of my favorites! So much that now I want to go again...too bad I don't have any more wall space for new paintings. Thirty has definitely started off on the right foot!

Ta-Da!

Kitchen Konquest: Culture and Curry

2011-04-26T08:59:00.000-04:00

While we're both Indian, my husband and I come from different cultures - he's south Indian, a part of the Bunt community specifically; and I am north Indian, from the Sindhi community. From the outside it may look like the communities are similar, there are many many differences. Both are communities are small compared to some of the others like the Gujrati community (common last names: Patel, Mehta, and Desai) or the Punjabi community (common last names: Singh, Sharma, and Chopra), but each is very distinct. More than communities, these are subcultures - each with it's own language, traditions, customs, and sometimes even religions.

Since I grew up in Austin and was surrounded by very few Sindhi people, I identify more with the broader term Indian-, or more recently, South Asian-American. I still know of and follow some of the Sindhi traditions and customs, but can't speak Sindhi (though, I do understand it). It makes me sad at times that I probably won't be able to pass on significant parts of this culture to our next generation, but I guess that's why it's important for me to retain and maintain more generalized Indian values and practices.

I don't think that you can necessarily call this a 'value' per-say, but this is why I make it a point to be comfortable with cooking Indian food. One of my favorite dishes growing up was Sindhi Curry...actually for most of my childhood, Mom called it "Shilpa's Favorite Curry"! Not only does it remind me of fun dinners at home, but making it helps me feel less guilty about the less Sindhi/more Indian culture I follow. And these days, I have a new reason to love this curry - my husband actually requests it (and he usually doesn't make food requests)! It makes me feel great that Sindhi Curry has become a regular part of our 'blended' family.

I am sharing the recipe and invite you to share my culture as well...enjoy!

Enough for 4 servings

Ingredients:
2 potatoes
2 small eggplants
2 cooking spoons of besan (gram flour)
2 spoons* jeera (cumin)
5-6 cups water
2 spoons* salt
1/4 spoon* haldi (tumeric)
1/2 spoon* mirchi (red chili powder)
1 spoon* whole methi seeds (Fenugreek seeds)
1 cup frozen or fresh peas
2 small tomatoes - chopped
1 cooking spoon of imili (tamarind) pulp - make sure there are no seeds!
2 spoons* sugar
A handful of cilantro - chopped
6 spoons* oil (olive, vegetable, or canola - your choice)

*by spoon i mean the masala dani (container) spoon...not a regular spoon...but if you only have a reg spoon...then I guess it's1/3 reg spoon = 1 Shilpa's masala dani spoon

Making the food:
Peel and cut potatoes and place in bowl of water

Cut eggplant and place in water with potatoes

Heat the oil in a pressure cooker on high heat

Add jeera

Add besan and mix on medium heat

Continue mixing so that besan and jeera look like dough

Allow mixture to turn a golden-red in color

Add water, salt, haldi, mirchi, methi seeds and let everything marinate on low heat for about 3-5 minutes

Drain the potatoes and eggplant and then all of the vegetables (fresh and frozen), and cilantro then stir

Add imli and sugar and stir again

Seal the pressure cooker and set on medium-low heat

When the whistle goes off change to low heat for 5 more minutes

Allow the internal pressure in the pressure cooker to be released before opening the pot

Serve this with rice and enjoy!

This and That: The Value of a Dollar

2011-04-18T14:11:00.000-04:00

There are many things unique to New York City - food trucks on every corner, daily events celebrating things as random as guacamole, and a variety of museums. There's one other thing that I didn't know about - beggars in the subway trains. For those of you unfamiliar with this concept, this is how it works...every now and then someone will pass between cars while the train is in motion and will begin addressing the people in it. Usually they have a rehearsed little speech about being homeless and hungry and asking for money and food.

Over time, you become familiar with these individuals and know that begging is their profession. For example, I've heard one guy named Henry at least 5-6 different times and I remember him because he tells us how long it's been since he last ate (a number that isn't consistent from one day to the next) and when asking for help he says the word 'please' about 14-15 times...believe me it stands out. So when Henry comes on the train, I don't feel too compelled to give him money.

Every now and then, however, you get someone on the train asking for help that make you do a double take. The other day, a man come on the train and announced that he, his wife, and his 2 daughters recently lost everything they owned in a fire. He said he could provide proof if needed and asked for assistance. He said that he was even willing to pick up clothing donations.

As he made his way through my subway car, I stood there debating if I believed him or not. If he was lying and I gave him money, I would just be enabling something I didn't believe in - taking the easy way out to make a buck. As you know, I am in between jobs right now, so I understand the challenges involved in getting a job and I don't think it's okay to just make money off of other people's emotions. On the other hand, if his story true, then giving him a dollar would be helping out someone who was down and facing a very difficult time...very different situation, right?

It all really came down to if I believed this man or not. Would I be okay with not helping him out if he really was telling the truth? Sometimes we all just need a helping hand, so should I take part in helping him? But what if this was a scam playing on my emotions? I don't want to be taken for a ride. While I debated back and forth, I missed my chance to make a decision because he had already left.

Afterwords, I couldn't help but think about this change in me. A year ago, if I met someone who told me that he lost everything in a fire, I would've believed him and offered him support...even if it was in the form of a dollar. Has being in New York made me cynical of everyone and everything around me? Is this how I really want to be?

On the way home that same day, guess who happened to be on my train - that same man. This time I took it as a sign...a way for me to ease my conscience...and I gave him a dollar. He humbly thanked me and moved on. Yes, I realize that the fire story may have been his thing, but selfishly, what mattered more to me was my need to believe him and my ability to help him. In a city where having your guard up is a daily necessity, that dollar allowed this Texas girl to hold on to a couple of values...the importance of believing people and believing that I can help. That day I learned the value of a dollar can be a lot more than what I previously thought...

NYC Masti: Let's get crafty!

2011-04-15T11:28:00.000-04:00

I have a confession: I am addicted to online group deals! Doesn't matter if it's Groupon, Living Social, Buy With Me, or Lifebooker...I just can't help it! The deals are so creative and great savings. Back in December a bunch of girlfriends and I bought a group deal for pottery painting at a cute little place called Baked in Brooklyn. After months of trying, we finally were able to coordinate a time to go and get crafty!

I've lived in the city for about a year now, but I've never really ventured far from my home in downtown Manhattan, so I wasn't sure what to expect in this area of Brooklyn. I have to say I was very impressed. I believe the area was called the waterfront (I think) and it reminded me a lot of the South Congress area in Austin, Texas...cute little restaurants each with it's own theme and feel along with fun boutiques and shops...many a bit on the pricey side, but fun nonetheless.

In Baked in Brooklyn, we were presented with a store full of things to choose from to paint into our masterpieces. While it was great to have so many options - from dog bowls to water jugs and martini glasses to salad bowls - it really stopped me in my tracks! I kid you not when I say it took me like 30 minutes to decide what I wanted to paint...it actually took me less time to figure out what design to paint. So finally, after much going back and forth, I decided on...drum roll please...a plate!!! I know, how original, right? Well, I already have plates this same size and shape at home so I figured I could paint an accent serving plate for the set...too bad we haven't really entertained much since our apartment is the size of a closet, but that's besides the point.

We all started with a very blank canvas and were limited only by our imagination and patience. I found this great Japanese cherry blossom inspired design (yes, they even provided us with designs and stencils!) that I really liked. Since it wasn't a stencil, I had to use a different technique to use it. Using a pencil, I traced the design then I set it pencil-side to the plate and traced the design again. This allowed the pencil design to transfer onto the plate - genius, right? Yeah, I didn't come up with it, but I was able to do it...that counts, doesn't it? And it tuns out that after they fire the piece in the kiln (the pottery oven) all pencil marks disappear...woo hoo!

Then finally onto the painting - keep in mind that by this point the friends that I went with were almost done with their projects! Since the plate set that we have at home is green, I chose the make this one red with green accents. After painting the design, I went back with a pen-like paint tool to trace everything in black to really make it pop...keep in mind, this was now the 3rd time that I traced the same design!

After I transferred the design onto the plate

Needless to say, with all of the tracing and steps, I wasn't able to finish the plate in one sitting so I had to go back to finish up. The way the process works is after you finish painting, they have to fire and glaze the piece and it's usually ready to pick up in about a week...they even email you to let you know when your piece is done. So I ended up having to make the trek out to Brooklyn 3 times in this whole process...but in the end of it all, I am proud to report that I am now the 'mayor' of Baked in Brooklyn on foursquare! Yes, I realize this is probably because most people only go there 2 times, but why focus on the half full? I tried to document each step so you can be part of the fun! I am happy with the final product. You can tell it's homemade and not professional, but I think that's part of the fun...Enjoy!

Branches done...on to the green accent buds

In come the red blossoms


What it looked like after I was done painting before it got fired and glossed

The finished product...all glossy and ready to party!

This and That: Things that make you go "Hmmm..."

2011-03-28T14:02:00.000-04:00

Let's start with Facebook, shall we...so I recently learned about a site that compiled data about relationship statuses - when people break up, in particular. Take a look...this graph is of peak break up times according to facebook (http://flowingdata.com/2010/11/04/when-people-break-up-according-to-facebook-updates/). Note some of the most common break up times: Valentines Day, spring break, and 2 weeks before Christmas...Seeing the target age of the people on Facebook, spring break makes sense for those who want to go wild, but Valentine's and Christmas...really?!?! I mean I know it's stressful trying to figure out what present to get someone you're dating...I get that you want to make sure you spend enough money while not spending too much, etc. but to break up so you don't have to deal with it? Really?!? Also, I wonder how many of the April Fool's Day status changes were a joke and how many were real...makes you go, "Hmmm..."

Moving along, this past week was my one year anniversary of moving to New York City...and in that year, I've tried many different things but the one thing I kept shying away from was grocery delivery. I've had many things delivered to me - wine, shoes, and even tons of things from soap.com, but never perishable goods. I don't know what it is but it always just felt weird not picking out my own fruits and veggies...it's what I am used to, you know. So, what made me cave in...the weather, of course! We were all out of food and I was in no mood to brave the harsh cold for bananas and milk and a good friend had just used FreshDirect and wanted me to try it too...so I did. I have to say, I was very impressed...while they didn't have all of the stuff I needed, they had most. The prices were a tad on the high side, but I didn't have to leave my apartment and lug that stuff home so I was okay with paying a bit more. For my delivery time I chose 8am - 10am this morning and the dude was here at 7:45am! And the food was very fresh. Now, that's service! So while I don't think this makes me a "New Yorker" it's a step towards it. This is the first time I've admitted that I am turning into something other than a Texan...makes you go, "Hmmm..."

NYC Masti: Girls just wanna have fun!

2011-03-10T10:25:00.003-05:00

I'm not sure if Shecky's Girl's Night Out is a new thing or if it's just new to me, but ever since I found out about it, I've wanted to go. The only problem was I never had anyone to go with...and for this event, I really felt that having a buddy would just make it an even better experience. So when I found out the next NYC Shecky's dates I started working on getting people interested in going...I'm talking weeks in advance!

It was great! Our group had 5 girls and yes, we did indeed have fun! The event consisted of a mix of brands promoting their products and small business owners selling their stuffs. We had access to makeovers, massages, and so much more. My girlfriends and I took a mixology class where we learned how to make a Cointreau margarita...it kinda reminded me of one of my all time favorite drinks - the Trudy's Mexican Martini...all of you Longhorns know what I am talking about! ;)

There was also one other pull for us...the Goodie Bag! I have to say, this is a great marketing tool for all that contributed to it b/c there is so much hype about what's in it...yay for free stuff! Everything from air fresheners and energy drinks to dental floss sticks and lotions..the bag had it all...take a look at all of my loot! AND now I have a great hot pink reusable bag for when I go grocery shopping...can't you just imagine how much fun it'll be to carry home my veggies in this?

The best part of the night was really hanging out with the girls. Being in a new city - especially in a city where everyone is always busy - I really cherish the time I get to spend with friends. So, anyone wanna go with me to the next NYC Shecky's in June??? :)

This and That: Blame Olivia Munn

2011-03-03T10:23:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading a very random book called Suck it, Wonder Woman! by Olivia Munn and found it 'interesting' and inspiring all at the same time. One of the reasons that I really like this whole blogging thing is because I can write how I talk...no need to be super formal and I can make up terms as I go (see 'mashable' in my previous post) and this keeps things fun. Oliva Munn writes the same way - difference being that she's famous and has a book...but still... The book is random in that it intertwines true stories from her childhood and personal experiences with totally random things like a chapter called What To Do When Robots Invade and another one about Princess Leia Tweets Star Wars...uh..yeah.

Anyway, the inspiration for this post was her chapter called The Ten Major Points of Olivia Munn's 2024 Presidential Campaign Platform...got me thinking...what would my platform be? I mean, I've said for years that things would be so much better if I ruled the world, but I guess I should provide details for why. While this isn't exactly a political platform, I would suggest it's even more serious. So here we have it...

Why The World Would Be A Better Place If Shilpa Hegde Was In Charge (in no particular order):

* Everyone would be required to take a beach-bound vacation every other year. This allows for a relaxed and healthy workforce and helps support beach front economies....you're welcome.

* All treadmills/elliptical machines, workout contraptions will come equipped with individual TVs to help with the distraction some people need to make working out fun and to allow for multi-tasking - catching up on shows and working out!

* Mothers would never get seriously sick. They have too much to do and it's just too stressful for the kids when moms are sick...so this just makes sense to ensure a productive and efficient society.

* There would be a maximum of 2 snow storms in any given winter season with snow accumulation not exceed a total of 9 inches. Live in New York/Northeast and you'll understand where this is coming from!

* Dental problems would always be minor and painless. Also, dental issues would never exceed $10/year - no exceptions.

* Strawberries, raspberries, watermelon, cherries, and mangoes would always be in season...what can I say, I love fruit!

* Libraries would have enough copies of popular books to meet demand...I am currently the number 389 of 400 on wait lists for many books where there are only 3 books in circulation! Not a way to encourage people to read more, people!

* Men would not lose weight faster than women. We have enough unfair disparities between the sexes so I feel this additional difference is really unnecessary...let the boys feel the frustration of trying to lose weight too!

* Speeding tickets would not be allowed on toll roads...I mean, you're already paying to drive there. Of course, this means speeding withing limits...if you're going like 50 miles over then all bets are off.

Kitchen Konquest: Paalak Chicken

2011-03-01T10:30:00.001-05:00

Yes, it's a silly segment name, but that's what I feel when I attempt a new recipe - it's a conquest...so to shilpa-fy it, I made it a Kitchen Konquest! Okay, enough about the name, here we go...!

I find myself cooking more and more these days, but since I was vegetarian for about 8 years of my life, I never really cooked meat that much and therefore am not comfortable with it. Being married to a man that loves home cooked food (especially of the non-veg variety) makes me want to change this fact...so I took baby steps, and decided to try out a recipe that my mom made for us when we were really young...paalak chicken - healthy and non-veg...perfect! After posting pix of this dish on facebook, friends wanted the recipe so I figured what better way to share that then on the blog! And since I got the recipe from my mom, it's written in Hinglish...but I included translations. So, here it is...

Ingredients:
6-7 cloves of garlic - grated
1 med onion - chopped
1 spoon* garam masala
2 spoons* salt
1/2 spoon* lal mirchi (red chili powder)
1/2 spoon* haldi (turmeric)
4 roma tomatoes - chopped
6 chicken drumsticks (this is what i used, but you can have more or you can even use other cuts of chicken)
2 hari mirchi (Serrano peppers) - chopped
a hand full of hara dhaniya (cilantro) - chopped
chopped spinach - I used fresh spinach, but you can use frozen too...if frozen the 2 small boxes...if fresh then a big bunch...a note about fresh spinach, you have to wash it like 2-3 times b/c it take a bit of time getting the dirt off...

*by spoon i mean the masala dani (container) spoon...not a regular spoon...but if you only have a reg spoon...then I guess it's1/3 reg spoon = 1 shilpa's masala dani spoon

Making the food:
Saute the garlic, onion, and hari mirchi in oil - I used olive oil, but you can use veg oil too - like 4 regular spoons or so

Add the spices, tomatoes, and hara dhaniya and cover

Leave for 5-7 min on med heat...or until the tomatoes are mashable (yeah, I said mashable...it could be a term)

Mash the tomatoes and everything so that it forms a kind of a gravy

Add the spinach and mix it all together

Clean the chicken and cut some slits in it so that it marinates well

Add the chicken and 1/4 cup water (or less) and mix all together

Cover and let it cook on low heat for 45 min - 1 hr...mixing occasionally
...the picture is what it will look like right after this step...note the not-so-fun brown color...this is normal...and just means that there is some water present and just needs to boil off so the entire thing thickens a bit...so increase the heat to about med-low...just eyeball it.

Then, most important of all, enjoy! I served it with rice, but you can eat it by itself or with rotis (tortillas).

And thus we conclude our first Kitchen Konquest! Woo hoo!

NYC Masti: Martha Stewart

2011-02-18T15:37:00.000-05:00

Before moving to New York, I never had the chance to be a 'member' of a studio audience so imagine my excitement when I got tickets to Martha Stewart! I got the tickets for me and my friend, Shilpa Jadhav (to avoid confusion, I call her Jadhav), for the week before Thanksgiving but then things didn't work out and we had to miss the show. Vowing to make it to the show to appease our 'crafty' side, Jadhav and I applied and got tickets for the show again...and this time we did go.

Of course the day of the taping was the one day this entire week with temperatures in the 30s...I thought Jadhav was going to kill me for making her into a human popsicle! After what seemed like days, we were let in to thaw out and for the fun to begin. During the taping we attended we saw Martha learn how to make a tote out of an old leather jacket, fix up a bathroom, and make a pasta dish...all in a hour! And the super fun part, aside from hanging out with our pal Martha of course, is that we got free stuffs! Finally, when someone was talking about 'members of our studio audience,' they meant me...and everyone else in the room...but still! Granted, what we got wasn't life altering...but you never know...Jadhav and I could very well start our own leather tote company with these tools. ;)

So it's safe to say, I have the show audience bug...anyone want to go the View with me??? :)

The Mission: Who? What? Where? Why?

2011-02-18T08:56:00.000-05:00

December 2010 unemployment rate in the United States - 9.1%... in New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area the rate is 8.2%

Maybe that's not something you pay attention to...maybe it's something that you are tired of hearing about...for me, these statistics are quite relevant to my life and moods.

My name is Shilpa. I am a displaced Texan trying to survive the cold and the inflation of the northeast who now finds herself a member of the unemployed population in America. This new 'membership' of mine affects me differently every day...so what better way to deal/commiserate/deal than together...and with all of you!

I want to make the most of living in New York City, but on a budget...lucky for me, there are tons of deals and events that are free! Lucky for you, I will be reporting back about each of these so you can join in on the fun too!

Welcome to my reality...hope you're ready for the ride!