Random Pictures #1 ~ Dublin ~ For Saturday Snapshot

For Saturday Snapshot, I thought I would post some random pictures from Dublin this time. as I browsed through the pictures taken sometimes back, I chanced upon some pictures, taken at different times, of the canal that flows near my house.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books. It’s easy to participate – just post a picture that was taken by you, a friend, or a family member and add your link on Alyce’s site.

Only a couple of minutes walk away from  my house, this is my favorite place for a quick walk and the Swans in the canal adds to the beauty of it.

 (Swans @ Canal)

 (On a cloudy day)

(On a bright day)

(In Black and White)

Thank you for stopping by! Cheers!

Lucky Library Picks # 9

The last couple of books I have read have not kept me glued to it. I mean, they were not bad read, but they were not absolutely riveting. That is why when I went to the library this time, I had in mind which author's titles I want to pick. And finely, I zeroed on these two books for Lucky Library Picks.

Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer and The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks

I have always enjoyed the books by these authors and at times when I need something to read that will have my undivided attention, I know I can fall back on their books. You can see reviews of books by Nicholas Sparks and Jeffrey Archer by following the link.

Do you have something to share? I will love to hear.

Saved

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Dahi Vada Recipe | How to Make Dahi Vada | Holi Recipes

Dahi Vada is one of the must prepare dishes for Holi. Soft urad dal dumplings are soaked in spiced yoghurt and are topped with tamarind chutney and a special dahi vada masala.

At the very outset wish you all a very happy, safe and colourful Holi. Today is also International Women's Day. So, to all ladies out there, have a great day, celebrate womanhood! Cheers!

I guess people in India are celebrating Holi with full fervour. We too will have our share of celebrations but not until the weekend. Till then, I can obviously gorge on the Holi special delicacies. I had made this Thandai Syrup sometimes back and have been enjoying it since then. DH has asked me to make these Samosas. I have more snacks and sweets on the menu! Food is such an integral part of our festivals that you can't simply do without them.

These Dahi Vadas are a hit in my house and holi is just an excuse to make them one more time. As both of us are 'nuts' lover, I throw a handful of chopped cashews and raisins into the vada batter. If you don't like them, you can leave them out. I always made them in excess as they keep well for 2-3 days in the fridge. Let's hop over to the recipe now.

Dahi Vada Recipe

This recipe makes 8 servings.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup Urad Dal (Skinless, Split Black gram)
1/4 cup chopped cashews
1/4 cup chopped raisins.
1 tsp of minced ginger.
2 green chillies chopped finely.
Salt to taste.

Oil to Deep Fry

750gm yoghurt
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp sugar
salt to taste

To Garnish
Tamarind Chutney
Roasted crushed cumin seeds
Red chilli powder.

Process:

1. Soak the dal/lentils for 3-4 hours.

2. Drain off all the water and churn it in a mixer grinder with little water to a fine paste. The consistency of the paste must be thick. Whisk it to incorporate air and fluff it up. Add the chopped cashews, raisins, chopped ginger and green chilli. Add salt as per taste.

3. Heat oil for frying. Drop spoonful of batter into hot oil, fry them till they are light golden brown. Keep the vadas on paper so that the excess oil is soaked out. Then transfer them to a bowl containing cold water.

4. Beat the yoghurt with water, sugar and salt so that it is smooth and has no lumps in it.

5. To serve to squeeze out excess water from the vada by placing it between the palms. Place the vadas in a bowl. Pour the yoghurt over it. Sprinkle the roasted cumin and red chilli powder over it. Garnish it one teaspoon of tamarind chutney.

Wishing you all once again a very happy Holi! Thank you for stopping by! Cheers!

Thank you for stopping by! Cheers!

Event Round Up ~ Healthy & Hearty

 I am here with the round up of my first food event - 'Healthy & Hearty'.

 A big 'Thank You' to all of you who have send in these beautiful, varied and healthy entries. There are delicious entries right from soups, salad, snacks to main course dishes and a few desserts too. I have composed the round up mostly in the order I received them. However, if I have left out any entry please let me know and I will include it soon. Also, if you forgot to send me your entry through mail, please leave your link below the post and I will update it.

Without much ado, check out what is there in the round up.

Cucumber Salad by Torview
Rice Soup by Santosh Banger
Radish Salad by Ash
Spicy Puffed Rice by Kavi
Baloon Vine Dosa by Kurunji
Sorakkaya Pulusu by Sravani
Brinjal Curry by Sravani
Mixed Vegetable Thoran by Sona
Kaju Paneer by Nupur

Mug Dhokla by Pradnya
Undhiyu by Satayani
Bulgur Upma by Anamika
Hari Bhari Dal by Charu
Vermicilli Pulao by Rasi
Sprouted Green Moongdal Corn Dosa by Priya
Cabbage & Corn Soup by Priya
Bottlegourd & Moongdal Sambhar by Priya
 Spicy Cucumber & Mixed Veggies Salad by Priya

Broccoli Mushroom Stir Fry by Sireesha
Brown Rice Carrot Kheer by Nupur
Peas Poha by Charul
Choorha Matar by Nupur
Savoury and Nutty Semolina Cakes by Pinky
Peanut Sundal by Pranati
Spaghetti by Pranati
Veg Soup with Pasta by Pranati
Cilantro Tomato Chutney by Satya

Alammurabha by Hema
Banana Halwa by Hema
Chyote Squash Stir Fry by Nisha
Rava Upma by Nupur
Quinoa Lentil Veg Soup by Swetha
Kollu/Horsegram Rasam by Rasya
Indian Chickpea Salad by Mireilli
Oats and Flax seed Muthia byAyeesha
Carrot Potato Soup by Harini

Kara Adai by Harini
Aviyal by Harini
Mix Veggie Muffin by  Princy
Eggless Dates Cake by Radhika
Apricot Yogurt by Prathima
Chinese Vegetable Noodles Soup by Radhika
Tomato Dhokla by Radhika
Italian Style Tofu Bake by Denny
Mushroom Noodle Soup in Microwave by Indrani

My entries:
Kiwi and Orange Salad
Moong Sprouts and Veggie Salad
Aloo Patakha
Blueberry Fool
Savoury Semolina Cake
Crunchy Masala Peanuts 

Hope you enjoyed going through the round up. Thank you for stopping by! Cheers

Touchy Subjects by Emma Donoghue

Touchy Subjects by Emma Donoghue is a collection of 19 short stories on matters than can be rightly labelled 'touchy'.

Quoted from the blurb:

"A man finds God and finally wants a child- only his wife is now forty three years old. A coach's son discovers his sexuality on the football field. A room mate bizarre secret liberates a repressed young woman. From the unforeseen consequences of a polite social lie to the turmoil caused by a single hair on a woman chin, Donoghue dramatizes the seemingly small acts upon which our life often turn. Many of the stories involves animals and what they mean to us or babies and whether to have them; some replay Biblical plots in modern contexts. With characters old, young, straight, gay and simply confused, Donoghue dazzles with her range and her ability to touch lightly but delve deeply into human condition."

The blurb says all about the topics of the nineteen short stories this book offers. I can't really say I loved the book as I had said about Room by the author. There were some stories that kept me glued and some that I couldn't even connect a bit and even thought to skip parts. The book is divided in to five sections named - Babies, Domesticity, Strangers, Desire and Death. The stories from 'Death' are the ones I least liked, may be because of the subject matter itself. The stories on 'Babies' and 'Domesticity' were the ones I enjoyed most. They were subtle, absorbing and had a humorous touch to it.

 If I had to rate it only on the stories  I loved, I would give it a 4/5 but overall it would manage a balanced 2.5/5.

Thank you for stopping by! Cheers!