Little Italy Ristorante, Chinchwad | A Restaurant Review

For those looking for dining at an Italian vegetarian restaurant, the Little Italy chain of restaurants perfectly fits the bill. It is India's largest chain of authentic Italian fine dining restaurant with over 25 Italian ‘Ristorante & Bar’ formats across 18 cities in India. 

What I didn't know was that it started its journey from the city of Pune in 1989 as 'La Pizzeria'. When I got an invitation to sample the menu at the newly opened Little Italy restaurant in Chinchwad and do a review; I was more than happy to oblige. So, I tagged my DH along and went to dine at the restaurant as scheduled over the last weekend. Since the restaurant is not very far away from the place where I live, it took us less than half an hour's drive to reach the place.

The restaurant is located in a relatively quiet area of Chinchwad. On reaching there we were greeted by the restaurant staff who took us to the designated table. 

The first thing that caught my attention in the restaurant was the decor. It is minimalist yet elegant, and the quiet atmosphere instantly makes one comfortable. The ambience was perfect and the seating was comfortable. 

Soon, we were greeted by the enthusiastic restaurant manager - Ganesh, who shared some details about the menu and dishes. He was also thoughtful enough to suggest some of their signature dishes. We decided to start with some mocktails and starters. For starters, we ordered Bruschetta Al Pomodoro - which was basically grilled Italian bread slices topped with garlic, fresh chopped tomatoes, olive oil and oregano. The starter was made to perfection. I enjoyed the perfectly grilled bread with a hint of garlic and the juicy chopped tomato on top.

The starter was accompanied by a set of mocktails. I got myself - Fruit Punch - a fruity drink with pineapples, black grapes, apple, pomegranate, orange and lemon, and DH ordered a Lava Flow - a concoction of strawberry, pineapple and coconut cream. They were nice, DH, in particular, liked his Lava Flow.

Later, I also ordered a 'Cool Blue', which I quite liked. It has a nice flavour of Blue Curacao and a subtle lemony flavour which was refreshing.

Next dish we ordered was a salad - 'Insalata Mista'. It was basically a light salad comprising of fresh tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, oregano, mozzarella cheese, olives seasoned with extra virgin oil and balsamic vinegar. The salad was average. I felt there were too much of lettuce leaves and less of the tomatoes and cucumber. So, after a few spoons, I was left with just lettuce leaves on my plate. However, it was seasoned perfectly with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. If you are overly fond of lettuce, you might like it a lot. But, for me - I will order some other salad next time.

For the main course, we ordered a "Wood Burn Pizza - Fantasy". If you are a fan of thin crust pizzas, you will like them instantly. It had spicy tomato sauce with Italian herbs, onions, capsicum, cottage cheese, coriander and mozzarella and was perfectly seasoned. A must try if you plan to dine in Little Italy Restaurant, Chinchwad.

Along with that we also ordered a 'Cannelloni Alla Florentina' which the menu said was a traditional dish from Florence. It comprised of tubes of home-made pasta filled with ricotta cheese, spinach, mozzarella, basil and tomato sauce baked in the oven. It was perfectly made and had a melt in your mouth texture. I was so engrossed in eating that I almost forgot to click a picture of this dish. And when I remembered, it was kind of too late. You can see part of that dish on the plate below. I know it doesn't look appealing here, but it tasted awesome.

The variety of dishes in the restaurant menu was just mind-boggling, to the point that it can get confusing. I couldn't believe that one could have so many authentic vegetarian Italian dishes to choose from in a restaurant. If you are visiting this restaurant for the first time, a little help from the staff in placing the order will definitely help. The portion size of all the dishes is generous. In most cases, one dishes can easily serve at least 2 people.

Overall, I was happy with the two main course dishes we had ordered. Now, it was time for dessert. I am very much a dessert person. However, by this time we were so full that we settled for only one dessert! The manager - Ganesh suggested us to go for their signature dish - 'Chocolate Bomb' and we ordered that.

A mini molten lava cake with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream - one bite of it and you will be transported to a chocolate-y heaven. The dessert was decadent, to say the least. ( I must admit here that I absolutely love chocolate cakes and brownies, so, its no wonder I loved this dessert). If there was only one thing that I would have to order at this restaurant, it would be this Chocolate Bomb. This dish was the show stealer!

Overall, I had a great experience at the Little Italy Restaurant, Chinchwad. The restaurant caters to food lovers looking for fresh, authentic, Italian vegetarian cuisine and it does a very good job at it. Highly recommended to all Italian food enthusiasts in Pune.

Wordless Wednesday | A Single Rose Can Be My Garden

Linking it to Wordless Wednesday

Just Kidding... Yours, Destiny by Anirban Das - A Book Review

Just Kidding... Yours, Destiny by Anirban Das
#BookReview

After a long time, I have read a book that I could finish reading in a day. In fact, I was in dire need of such a quick read as the past few books I have read took me a couple of weeks to finish! Just Kidding...Yours, Destiny by Anirban Das came to my rescue at a very appropriate time. In this 190 paged book, the author dwells on the strange ways and behaviour of destiny through the story of his protagonist – Kunal Roy.

Meet Kunal Roy – a high flying corporate man, Head of Sales in the real estate company HomeMakers. He has a life everyone dreams of – a lavish own flat in Mumbai, an eye-popping salary and a Mercedes Benz to flaunt. Just when Kunal thinks that life is moving smoothly, destiny plays its prank. Homemakers is taken over by a bigger firm and his new boss is hell-bent on making his life miserable by throwing in new challenges. He meets Shristi and gradually falls for her. But, there are problems there are as well. Kunal is a divorce and is 10 years elder to Shristi. Will Shristi’s parent consent to such a match? How will Kunal manage the challenges in the office? How will life unfold for Kunal and how destiny will play a role? These are the things to discover in the novel.

The novel is a very quick read. It will hold your attention and will keep you glued till you have finished it. The writing style is very simple. There are many twists and turns in the story that makes it engaging. The first half of the book had a strong romantic angle. The middle part is focused on the work challenges of Kunal and last part is about the self-discovery of Kunal. The characters are well sketched. One can easily relate to them. The author takes the readers through the life of Kunal – his college days, his first marriage with Sarika, his work life and more. I just wish the author had ended the book in a different way. You have to read to book to know why I am saying so.

I would recommend this book if anyone is looking for a light read. However, if you are looking for a literary masterpiece then it’s not the book you should pick.

I received a review copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Khandvi Recipe | How to Make Khandvi | Savoury Chickpea Flour Rolls | Gujarati Recipes

Khandvi - Gujarati Chickpea Flour Rolls #Recipe

Khandvi is one of those dishes which you will either love or hate. I belong to the former group. This Gujarati delicacy requires a bit of patience to make. With some practice, you can get thin layers which literally melts in the mouth when you eat it. Even if you don't get super thin layers don't worry. Believe me, it doesn't really make much difference to the final taste. My maternal grandmother makes a similar dish which we call 'pithod' or 'patindri'. She makes it in a single thick layer and cuts them in diamond shapes. It is then topped with tadka and the garnishing.

One has to prepare the batter for khandvi and cook it until it is just right to spread. If you do it wrong there, the batter won't set at all. I do a simple test to know if the batter is cooked enough. For that, I just drop a small spoonful of the cooked batter and spread it. If it sets in one minute then I know that the batter has cooked enough for spreading.

Red Velvet Mini Cakes | How to Bake Red Velvet Cake | Baking Recipes

Red Velvet Mini Cake #Recipe

These red velvet mini cakes are a perfect party dessert. They don't just look gorgeous, they taste awesome too. These are eggless to - so anyone can enjoy them.

Time flies fast. Just a few days back, we were all welcoming the New Year; and now the first month of the year is already heading towards its end. This post was supposed to be published to welcome the New Year, but somehow I just kept postponing it. As the saying goes better late than never; here I am with the much-delayed post.

For the frosting, I used the readily available soy-based whipping cream. For a more authentic red velvet cake, a mascarpone cream frosting is recommended. I had plans to prepare mascarpone cheese at home. But, due to lack of time, I dismissed the option; maybe some other time.

AJAYA - Roll of the Dice by Ananda Neelakantan

Ask any Indian about Mahabharata, he will tell you Pandavas were the heroes and Kauravas were the evils ones in this epic saga. That is what we have heard, seen in the Mahabharata TV serial that was aired on Doordarshan and that is what we have always believed. But, Ananda Neelakantan – the author of the book Ajaya – Roll of the Dice (the epic of the Kauravas clan) has other ideas. He in his book has switched the roles of both sides and has presented the epic Mahabharata in a new, never-thought-of light.

I have read Anand Neelakantan’s previous book Asura, so I thought that I had a fair idea of what to expect in this book. But, as I turned pages after pages, the author took me by surprise. I would not deny that the book intrigued me and kept me glued for all the time I was reading it. But, do mark my words of caution; the book is an epitome of radical and preposterous ideas that could even be dubbed as blasphemous by many. So, if you read it with an open mind, you will enjoy it more. If you mind what the author says about the heroes of the original Mahabharata in this book, you are likely to end up irritated.

To cut the long chase short I would quote the blurb from the book which gives an idea about the premise of the book.

The Mahabharata endures as the great epic of India.

But, while Jaya is the story of the Pandavas, told from the perspective of the victors of Kurukshetra; Ajaya is the narrative of the ‘unconquerable’ Kauravas, who were decimated to the last man.

At the heart of India’s most powerful empire, a revolution is brewing. Bhishma, the noble patriarch of Hastinapura, is struggling to maintain the unity of his empire. On the throne sits Dhritarashtra, the blind King, and his foreign-born Queen – Gandhari. In the shadow of the throne stands Kunti, the Dowager-Queen, burning with ambition to see her firstborn become the ruler, acknowledged by all.

And in the wings:

* Parashurama, the enigmatic Guru of the powerful Southern Confederate, bides his time to take over and impose his will from mountains to ocean. 

* Ekalavya, a young Nishada, yearns to break free of caste restrictions and become a warrior.

* Karna, son of a humble charioteer, travels to the South to study under the foremost Guru of the day and become the greatest archer in the land. 

* Balarama, the charismatic leader of the Yadavas, dreams of building the perfect city by the sea and seeing his people prosperous and proud once more. 

* Takshaka, guerilla leader of the Nagas, foments a revolution by the downtrodden as he lies in wait in the jungles of India, where survival is the only dharma.

* Jara, the beggar, and his blind dog Dharma, walk the dusty streets of India, witness to people and events far greater than they, as the Pandavas and the Kauravas confront their searing destinies.

Amidst the chaos, Prince Suyodhana, heir of Hastinapura, stands tall, determined to claim his birthright and act according to his conscience. He is the maker of his own destiny – or so he believes. While in the corridors of the Hastinapura palace, a foreign Prince plots to destroy India. And the dice falls…

The writing style is good. The plot seems well researched. However, there were points when I felt the author is trying too hard to portray Duryodhana in good light (He is called ‘Suyodhana’ by the author in the novel). It is not retelling of Mahabharata, rather a very different narration of the epic. 

I would not want to get into the details of how the story moves in the book; you have to read the book to know about it. Overall, I think the author has put his arguments and point of views about various incidents that takes place in the epic Mahabharata very deftly. That is why I was looking forward to read how he would explain the horrendous treatment to Draupadi after the Pandavas lose the game of dice. But, that is why the author stops and decides to narrate the rest of the story in the next book. After some thought, I realized he might have deliberated done so, to lure the readers into the reading the next book.

I definitely want to read the next half of the book – The Rise of Kali.

I received this book from Lead Start Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.

New is the Year, New are the Hopes, New is the spirit, New are the resolutions!

I found this quote shared by someone on my twitter timeline. And I felt so inspired that I decided to share it here. This blog has been quiet for quite a while and I was not really hoping that I would be able to come up with something nice to share here to mark the onset of the new year. But, here I am typing this post.

Wishing you a very happy new year. May the new  year bring to you bounties of health, wealth, peace and happiness. Cheers!

Thanks for stopping by! Cheers!

Tsomgo/Changu Lake - Sikkim | For Saturday Snapshot #PicturePost

Tsomgo/Changu Lake, Sikkim

Tsomgo/Changu Lake is a glacial lake situated at a height of 12400 feet.  It is about 40 km away from Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. On our visit to Tsomgo/Changu Lake, we were quite lucky to find snow there. The views were absolutely breathtaking, as you can see in the pictures below.

Tsomgo/Changu Lake is revered by the local people. In the local Bhutia dialect, the name Tsomg is said to be made of two words - 'Tso' which means "lake" and 'Mgo' meaning "head" which literally translates to the meaning "source of the lake".

Steep mountains surround the lake and these mountains are covered with snow during the winter season. When summer arrives, the snow melts and it becomes the source of this lake. I am posting from of my favourite pictures from our Tsongmo Lake visit for this week's Saturday Snapshot.

Where Flowers Bloom So Does Hope | Wordless Wednesday #FlowerQuotes

Linking it to Wordless Wednesday

Flowers are the Music of the Ground

Linking it to Saturday Snapshot.

Saturday Snapshot is the brain child by Alyce of At Home With Books. It is currently being hosted by Melinda of West Metro Mummy Reads. 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 Melinda's site.

Arjuna – Saga of a Pandava Warrior Prince by Anuja Chadramouli - A Book Review

Arjuna – Saga of a Pandava Warrior Prince
by Anuja Chadramouli #BookReview

I am back again, with a review of yet another book from the mythology genre - Arjuna – Saga of a Pandava Warrior-Prince – by Anuja Chadramouli. If you follow book reviews by on this blog, then you would know that I love books based on the Indian Mythology. That’s why whenever I have the opportunity to read such books, I don’t let that go. I received this book from Leadstart Publishing along with 'Asura' for an unbiased review. You can read my review of Asura by Anand Neelakantan here.

Quoted from the blurb:

Arjuna is the immortal tale of one of India's greatest heroes. These pages retell in riveting detail the story of the Pandava Warrior-Prince who has captured the imagination of millions across centuries. This is the intense and human story of his loves, friendship, ambitions, weaknesses and follies, as well as his untimely death and revival, his stint as a eunuch, and the innermost reaches of his thoughts. 

Told in a refreshingly modern and humorous style and set against the staggering backdrop of the Mahabharata. Arjuna’s story appeals equally to the average, discerning reader and the scholar. It spans the epic journey from before his birth, when omens foretold his greatness, across the fabled, wondrous landscape that was his life.

Asura – Tale of the Vanquished by Anand Neelakantan - A Book Review

Asura – Tale of the Vanquished
by Anand Neelakantan  #BookReview

Asura – Tale of the Vanquished by Anand Neelakantan is a very different book on the Indian mythological epic, Ramayana. To put in simple words, it is a radical take on our conventional Ramayana. Read it with an open mind and you will be able to appreciate the author’s view.

We have all heard the epic tale of Ramayana. My earliest memories of it are of the Ramayana serial by Ramananda Sagar, which was telecast on Doordarshan. I was a kid then but even then, I knew that Rama was the hero and Ravana was evil personified. This belief is deeply rooted in us Indians. That is why when I read this book Asura by Anand Neelakantan; it took me a while to absorb what I read. 

The blurb of the book best describes what the book is all about.

The epic tale of victory and defeat...

The story of the Ramayana had been told innumerable times. The enthralling story of Rama, the incarnation of God, who slew Ravana, the evil demon of darkness, is known to every Indian. And in the pages of history, as always, it is the version told by the victor that lives on. The voice of the vanquished remains lost in silence.

But what if Ravana and his people had a different story to tell? The story of the Ravanayana has never been told. Asura is the epic tale of the vanquished Asura people, a story that has been cherished by the oppressed castes of India for 3000 years. Until now, no Asura has dared to tell the tale. But perhaps the time has come for the dead and the defeated to speak. 

Never Mind Yaar by K. Mathur - A Book Review

Never Mind Yaar by K. Mathur
#BookReview

The title is an attitude - our tendency to feel defeated by the scale and nature of certain problems. Rather than meet them head on, we circumvent them with a sigh and a consoling “never mind, yaar”.

When long time friends Binaifer Desai and Louella D’Costa meet Shalini Dayal at Gyan Shakti College, a true friendship that transcends cultural and religious backgrounds is born. Louella is a Christian, Binaifer, a Parsi and Shalini, a Hindu.

The novel’s main plot line surrounds Shalini who has fallen for an impetuous student activist, Bhagu. Where does his desire to help the less fortunate lead him? The challenges are many - Shalini’s tradition bound family, the couple’s youth and inexperience and the travails of life in Mumbai, a city the girls love but know, is fraught with communal tension.

English Bites by Manish Gupta - A Book Review

English Bites by Manish Gupta 
#BookReview

English Bites by Manish Gupta is an ideal book for anyone who is intrigued by the English language. It will definitely satiate your curiosity and will help you to improve your English vocabulary. Through this book the author regales about his tumultuous journey of conquering the English language.

When look and see have similar meanings, how can overlook and oversee be opposites?

If you decide to be bad forever, you decide to be bad for good!

How can the weather be hot as hell one day and cold as hell the next day?

They are head over heels in love. That’s nice, but don’t we do almost everything head over heels?

Were you scratching your head over these? Well, I thought you would to do so.

Now tell me the longest English word you know. Yes, you can scratch your head as much as you like!

Okay. I will give you a hint. It has to be at least 35 letters long. Yes, you heard me right, at least 35 letters and no, you cannot go to Google.

Winner of the Vegetarian Library Collection Cookbook Giveaway is....

Time flies fast..

Really fast..

I mean it..

I know I am irritating you with unnecessary text before announcing the winner of the cookbook giveaway hosted here. But, I hope you will read this before you scroll down.

This was the first cookbook giveaway I hosted on this blog and it has been a great experience. Although, I didn't spend much time publicizing the giveaway (I know I should have dedicated a little more time to it), but I received a decent 59 valid entries for the same. I thank everyone who took their time and participated in the event.

Michhami Dukkadam

Today is the auspicious occasion of Jain Samvatsari. On this auspicious occasion, I ask for your forgiveness if I have hurt you knowingly or unknowingly by words or action, “Micchami Dukkadam”

“KHAAMEMI SAVVE JEEVA

SAVVE JEEVA KHAMANTU ME

METTI ME SAVVE BHUYESU

VAIRAM MAJHAM NA KENAI.”

“I grant forgiveness to all living beings,

All living beings grant me forgiveness.

My friendship is with all living beings,

My enmity is totally nonexistent.”

Mango Yoghurt Delight Recipe - A New Take on Aamarakhand | Mango Recipes

Mango Yogurt Delight #Recipe

Mango Yogurt Delight is my innovative take on amarakhand. Amarakhand is a mango flavoured yoghurt prepared in many regions of India when the king of fruits - mango is in season. But, the mango yoghurt delight is somewhat different from the regular mango yoghurt as you can see in the pictures. Layers of flavoured yoghurt and mango puree make for stylish looking dessert and can easily be a part of any party dessert menu.

My younger sister who is enjoying her time at home is quite excited about trying new recipes these days. I was in my mom's place for a few days some time back and she pestered me to teach her something new. So, you see I had to play my part of being an elder sister. But, she made my task even easier. She told me exactly what she wanted to learn and one of her requests was learning how to make Aamarakhand. My mom had bought a large local mango and set a good quantity of yoghurt to set the stage.

Land of the Seven Rivers by Sanjeev Sanyal - A Book Review

Land of the Seven Rivers by Sanjeev Sanyal #BookReview

I have been reading this book - Land of the Seven Rivers by Sanjeev Sanyal for the last two weeks. I went slow, read a few pages at a time. This is the sort of book that needs slow reading. I am not saying it is a heavy read, but I would definitely say that it is brimming with information about events on the various events in the history of India that eventually had a geographical significance. Hence, one should take their time to grasp and understand it. I should apologize to Think WhyNot Group, who send me the review copy of this book on behalf of the author, for taking more than the due time to read and review this book.

India has been known throughout the history as the land of seven rivers. The tagline of the book says - "A Brief History of India's Geography". That itself is intriguing. Indians have bad memories of the partition which resulted in the creation of our country along with our neighbours. Various regions of the country are still under territorial dispute with the neighbouring countries. Major ethnic groups are asking for division and creation of states for themselves. Hence, a knowledge of India's historical geography is a must for all Indians.

The blurb asks interesting questions.

Did ancient India witness the great flood? Why did Buddha give his first sermon in Sarnath? How did Europeans map India?

It is very possible that these questions never crossed our minds, but they are sure to ignite your curiosity once you come across them. The author delves deep into our history to find answers about our geographical history. He talks about Indus Valley Civilization, the Mauryan empire, various dynasties that ruled the country, the British rule, partition, and much more. He also talks about the battle of Kurukshetra. The geographical history of our country is very much entwined with the political history and hence, one cannot segregate events into a particular category. The political events in history always had a geographical consequence and the author dwells on them to understand its significance. He also dwells on the tectonic movements of the earth's land that has over the ages changed the geography of the world.

The book is full of interesting takes on the geographical changes that finally shaped India's destiny. You will feel enlightened once you have read it. Having said that I must add that the information in this book can be overwhelming at times. If you, like me, were never very strong in the subjects of history and geography, then you might have to re-read parts of the book in order to understand it properly.

About the Author: A Rhodes Scholar, an Eisenhower Fellow, Sanjeev Sanyal is a global strategist in India's largest banks. He juggles between India and Singapore for work. He was named Young Global Leader by World Economic Forum. His first book, The Indian Renaissance: India's Rise After a Thousand Years of Decline was published by Penguin in 2008.

Find this book interesting? You can buy it here:

 

Thank you for stopping by. Cheers!

Nutella Swirl Cupcake Recipe | How to Bake Nutella Swirl Cupcake | Eggless Baking

Nutella Swirl Cupcake #Recipe

Nutella Swirl Cupcakes comes with the deliciousness of Nutella. Just a dollop of Nutella into plain cupcakes takes it to a whole new level in terms of taste and look. Today's recipe - Nutella Swirl Cupcake is one of the results of my little sis' baking adventures. She loves baking and she does a really good job at it.

I can't believe it is almost going to be a month since I blogged last on this space. I have received emails and messages from friends and readers as to why this space has been void for such a long time.I don't know myself, but it looks like I am going through a severe case of blogger's block.

Even today one of my younger sister's experiments in the kitchen is rescuing this space from the long silence. This month, I have spent a good amount of time away from my kitchen and now I am enjoying a couple of days at my mom's place. I am so glad that my little sis' creation has come to my rescue just when I needed it.

Eggless Lemon Drizzle Cake Recipe | How to Bake Eggless Lemon Drizzle Cake | Eggfree Bakes

Eggless Lemon Drizzle Cake #Recipe

My search for Eggless Lemon Drizzle Cake recipe ended when I found this one. Soft, fluffy, lemony, tangy... All these adjective would very well define this yummy lemon drizzle cake. 

I tried it from my recently purchased cookbook. A lemon cake has been on my to try list for a long time and in fact, I have tried a couple of recipes. But, the results were not all that satisfactory. So, when I saw this recipe in Sanjeev Kapoor's Vegetarian Library Collection, I grabbed the opportunity to bake it. I baked half of the original recipe and also modified the recipe a bit. Overall, I am very happy with the results.

Go Green ~ For Saturday Snapshot

Go Green

With the rains in, the surroundings have become greener! This picture is more than a month old. The grass has also taken a nice green colour now.

Saturday Snapshot is the brainchild by Alyce of At Home With Books. It is currently being hosted by Melinda of West Metro Mummy Reads. 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 Melinda's site.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Flaunting my Bookmarks

Flaunting my Bookmarks

I know this post is for Wordless Wednesday, but I can't help writing a few words here. Today, I am flaunting my bookmarks for which I must thank Flipkart. I have bought books from Flipkart several times and with every book comes a lovely, funny and silly yet, stylish bookmark. On the reverse is a quirky message. Here is one of my favorite written on the brown bookmark (with the eyes) shown above:

Bookmarks

"Important reasons to use silly bookmarks"

Been reading for two days straight? Do not despair! Cut and string your new one-size-fits-all eye relaxer for instant rejuvenation. Works best under artificial light.

Thank you for stopping by! Cheers!

Linking it to Wordless Wednesday

Food Carnival and a Cookbook giveaway – Vegetarian Library Collection by Sanjeev Kapoor

If you are a food blogger, I am sure you would love cookbooks. I too love them and have my own mini collection. However, the number of dishes I have cooked referring them is altogether a different story. Very often, I will take all of them out, flip the pages, and bookmark quite a number of recipes. The books go back to their place and I forget about the recipes. There are times when I take inspiration from the recipes I read and come up with something on my own. But, rarely do I follow a recipe to the T.

Still, I perk up at the thought of cookbooks and I know I can never have enough of them. Recently, I bought the Vegetarian Library Collection by Sanjeev Kapoor. It is a collection of 5 books and covers all food courses. From Drinks, Soups, Snacks, Starters, Main Course, Rice, Bread, Pickles, Sweets and Desserts, this collection has it all. Any food enthusiast will love the book.

So, for the first time on Jyoti’s Pages, I am hosting a giveaway and a Food Carnival. I will be giving away the Vegetarian Library Collection by Sanjeev Kapoor to a randomly chosen winner.

Vegetarian Library Collection by Sanjeev Kapoor

How to enter Vegetarian Library Collection by Sanjeev Kapoor giveaway

Leave a comment on this post and follow Jyoti’s Pages.

You can increase your chances of winning the giveaway by doing, one or more of the following. 

Leave a comment once you did so.

• Follow Jyoti’s Pages on Facebook. 
• Follow me on Twitter @JyotiBabel 
• Subscribe to Jyoti’s Pages
• Follow me on Pinterest at @jbpages 
• Tweet about this giveaway. You can use the below text 

Win Sanjeev Kapoor’s Vegetarian Library Collection. Enter the #cookbook #giveaway on #JyotisPages @JyotiBabel http://tinyurl.com/veglibrarycookbookgiveaway

If you are already liked Jyoti’s Pages on Facebook, are following on Twitter and Pinterest or have subscribed to the RSS feed, just leave a comment letting me know and I will count your entries!

This giveaway is open to all. You don't have to be a blogger to win the cookbook. But, I can ship the book to addresses in India only.

The giveaway starts today and will end on 15th September 2013 and a winner will be randomly picked and announced on 16th September.

The rules for the "Food Carnival" event are simple: 

• Blog about a recipe. It can be any course of the meal. The choice is yours and link back your post to this page. Only new entries are allowed. No archived entries, please. 
• The event runs from 15th July to 15th September. 
• The recipes should be vegetarian and egg free. 
• You don’t have to send a recipe entry to enter the giveaway. However, each entry will count for the giveaway and will increase the probability of winning. 
• Submit your entries at sethiajyoti119@gmail.com with the subject - Food Carnival

So, what are you waiting for... Get set go!

Thank you for stopping by! Cheers!

Capturing the Waterfall ( Fast and Slow Shutter Speed ) ~ Mahabaleshwar for Saturday Snapshot

This week for Saturday Snapshot I am sharing pictures of a waterfall, from our recent trip to Mahabaleshwar, a small hill station in the state of Maharashtra, India

I was trying to play with different shutter speeds and loved how the camera took two different pictures of the same thing!

Fast shutter speed froze the motion of the water

Slow shutter speed giving a smooth texture to the falling water

Enjoy the pictures for now and I will catch up with you later, with more pictures and details.

Saturday Snapshot is the brainchild by Alyce of At Home With Books. It is currently being hosted by Melinda of West Metro Mummy Reads. 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 Melinda's site.

My Stroke of Luck by Vijay Santhanam - A Book Review

My Stroke of Luck by Vijay Santhanam #BookReview

My Stroke of Luck by Vijay Santhanam is an inspirational book based on the author's real life. It shows us how despite all the adversities life throws at us, we can emerge victorious if we have the will to do so.

The tagline of this book My Stroke of Luck by Vijay Santhanam is something that catches the attention of the reader at the first look. It says -Alphabet to Author - One man's inspiring journey - from adversity to triumph. I had applied for this book on blogadda to review but had no idea what it was all about. Only when I flipped the book to read the blurb, I realized it is not a fictional piece of a story but the author's real story. In the book, the author narrates his triumphant journey of recovering from a stroke. Yes, this is what the stroke in the title of the book signifies.

The writer has given good details about his life in general to set the context of the book. At the age of 41, he was at the peak of his health and the stroke hit him hard when he least expected it. He has given details of to what extent it affected him, how he fought against it and how eventually he took the charge of his life again.

Wordless Wednesday - Lush Green Hills

Linking it to Wordless Wednesday

Eggless Cherry Cake Recipe | How to Bake Eggless Cherry Cake | Eggless Cakes

Eggless Cherry Cake #Recipe

I made this eggless cherry cake for a trip recently and it was such a hit. Since I have not been blogging actively for a while, I thought why not break the silence with this delicious eggless cherry cake. The cherry here are the glaced cherries, and not the actual fruit.

Knock knock! Is any one there?

I would not be surprised if this space is deserted after irregular, intermittent posts and long absence. I guess I have confessed before, I am not really good at managing work, home and blogging. This threesome role takes a toll on me and of course, blogging takes a back seat. Despite my best intentions, I have not been able to blog much of late. Only the book reviews with dead lines have made it here past couple of months and that has somehow manage to keep the blog going for a while. I don't know why cooking, taking pictures and blogging about it seems like a huge task. Has anyone here passed through such a phase? I sincerely hope I am not alone.

I will not make promises here about coming back with a bang because I know not when I might disappear again. So, for all those who still care to listen, I am here, alive and well. A recent trip to a beautiful hill station has energized me and hence I am seen tracing my steps back to this space. While I share some pictures from the trip soon here, this trip also reminds me of my baking plans I had before the trip.

I wanted to bake this simple vanilla cake with condensed milk and soda for our journey and at the last moment I realized, certain vital ingredients were missing. No butter, no vanilla and no aerated drink. Well, worry not. I substituted ingredients and surprisingly the cake came out good and DH liked it better than the original one. And it was praises praises all the way!

Shoes of the Dead by Kota Neelima

"None of us can match the powers we challenge. It is an unequal fight, but we have the dead on our side."

We have often heard about crop failures, how it affects the farmers and how so many of them, think it better to end their life rather than live a life burdened by debt. Such news had made the head lines some time back, when the suicide toll of farmers in the Vidharva region of Maharashtra had reached alarmingly high numbers. To write a novel on such a sensitive topic is a tremendous task, because the subject is not just social, it is political as well. The author, Kota Neelima who works as Political Editor with a prominent newspaper has done full justice to the topic in her latest book- Shoes of the Dead.

Crushed by successive crop failures and the burden of debt, Sudhakar Bhadra kills himself. The powerful district committee of Mityala routinely dismisses the suicide and refuses compensation to his widow. Gangiri, his brother, makes it his life’s mission to bring justice to the dead by influencing the committee to validate similar farmer suicides.

Keyur Kashinath of the Democratic Party—first-time member of Parliament from Mityala, and son of Vaishnav Kashinath, the party’s general secretary—is the heir to his father’s power in Delhi politics. He faces his first crisis; every suicide in his constituency certified by the committee as debt-related is a blot on the party’s image, and his competence.

The brilliant farmer battles his inheritance of despair, the arrogant politician fights for the power he has received as legacy. Their two worlds collide in a conflict that pushes both to the limits of morality from where there is no turning back. At stake is the truth about ‘inherited’ democratic power. And at the end, there can only be one winner.

Passionate and startlingly insightful, Shoes of the Dead is a chilling parable of modern-day India.

Very often when one read a political novel based on real incidents and when the subject is as heavy as this one, the readers often feel bogged down. But, that is not the case with this book. As Gangiri fights for a cause, the readers heart goes out for him. There is a ray of hope. We hope against hope, that maybe things will change for the better at some point.

"There were many such farmers, different names, same fate. As Gangiri heard the stories, he once again found himself wanting something that was denied to him, something he could not have. Justice."

If you have a keen interest in the politics you can even deduce who is who for some characters in the novel. The book is unsettling at times, at times you might feel you are having quite an easy life and that can fill you with guilt. It takes a great deal to write a book on such a sensitive issue with such aplomb. The writing style is crisp and lucid. The characters are real and they will stay with you for a long time. The book will keep you interested till the very end.

Read this book to understand how politics plays with the life of the farmers when they are alive and even after they are dead.

This review is a part of the biggest Book Reviews Program. for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books! Thank you Blog adda for giving me the opportunity.

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The Forest of Stories by Ashok K. Banker

I had received a review copy of 'The Seeds of War' by Ashok Banker - the second book of the much awaited Mahabharata series from blogadda. Ever since, I had read it, I had been meaning to read the first book of the series, The Forest of Stories and finally I bought myself a copy.

Here is the blurb from the book:

The Forest of Stories, Book One in Ashok Banker's long-awaited 'MBA' Series, takes us deep into the haunted jungle of Naimishavan. Here, at the ashram of Kulapati Shaunaka, a dusty traveler arrives with sad tidings: Maharishi Krishna Dweipayana Vyasa has passed on. Yet the great collator of the Vedas has left behind a fabulous legacy, the epic narrative poem called Mahabharata. At the urging of the ashramites, the traveler Suta begins to recite the great composition, starting with the incredible creation myths and tales of god and giants, snake-mothers and gargantuan eagles. And as the night wears on and the tale grows darker, he senses the presence of countless ghostly beings in the shadows beyond the flickering oil-lamps, the restless souls of the many millions butchered in the climactic war that ended the great tale itself, gathering now to hear the epic saga that led eventually to their destruction and the decimation of the Kuru Bharata race.

The author has tried to stick to the original ancient version of Mahabharata. How ever, as the blurb says, it is just the beginning of the narrative. Of all the mythology books I have read, I found this one a bit slow and heavy. Not that it was boring, but because as the narrator was decimating so much information in all the tales that build towards the great epic, after a while it was becoming a bit difficult to keep all the names and event in mind. It is written in the typical Banker style but, I wish the narration was a bit more coherent as my mind would often wander off and I had to re-read some parts of the book to establish the connection. How ever, it does not mean, you should not pick this book. It all depends on your level of interest in the great epic. Having read the second book of the series, I can say it only gets better.

I would give it a 3/5 star.

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Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino

It has been a while since, I read a crime fiction novel. In fact a long while since I can't even remember what was the last one I read. That's why when I saw 'Salvation of a Saint' by Keigo Higashino up for review at blogadda, I didn't even apply to review it at first. But, later when I came across great reviews from fellow bloggers, I was lured to read the book.

And I am glad I read it.

It is a first class crime fiction novel. If you are put off by blood and violence in crime fiction books, then you need not worry, as this book is not so much about crimes but about solving the mystery of crime committed. The author's style of unfolding the facts is unique. In fact, after reading the first couple of chapters, you will know who is the victim and who the possible suspect is. Yet, the book will keep you glued till the very end. There is not a single moment. It is indeed a great achievement for the author to keep the readers riveted even after revealing some fundamental facts about the mystery.

The plot revolves around a murder. The victim has died of poisoning while his wife Ayane is away. All circumstances and clues points towards the wife. But, there is a problem in establishing it. How could she have committed the murder when she was hundred of miles away.

As the Tokyo police detective Kusanagi delves into the past of the deceased, he picks up on an seemingly unrelated sequence of events. In the process, he also develops a soft corner for the prime suspect - Ayane. With his judgement clouded, will he be able to work on the case objectively and solve it. Is it reasonable for her assistant to seek the help of an old friend to solve the crime? Or is it possible that a perfect crime has been committed?

It will take a genius to unravel the complicated web of deceit and it takes a genius to write such an amazing and riveting book. It will definitely keep you hooked and reading through the night. Highly recommended.

I have heard that the first book by the author, Devotion of Suspect X is even better. Can't wait to lay my hand on it.

This review is a part of the biggest Book Reviews Program. for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books! Thank you Blog adda for giving me the opportunity.

Thank you for stopping by. Cheers!

Belur Math ~ For Saturday Snapshot

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.

This picture was taken on my recent rather hurried trip to Kolkata. One day we visited Belur Math in the morning and it was a nice experience. While Kolkata can easily be associated with crowds, traffic and hustle bustle of life; it is a city that never stops, Belur Math is quiet and tranquil. Just the kind of place you would go for a morning walk to kick start your day. The main temple stands tall in the center of the premise, but the only thing is taking pictures is prohibited! I had clicked some pictures away from the main premise. This is one of them.

If you plan to go to Kolkata Belur Math should be a must visit place on your list. To know more about it and catch a glimpse of it please check this link.

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