Photo Blizzz -2

After an overwhelming week of work, all I want to do is to go back in time and enjoy the scenery once more. But thanks to the invention of photography, even if we can't go back in time, we still can enjoy the frozen moments captured...So today I wanna sit back and enjoy the awesome road trip we had few days back...:)  

Wind Mills

Irrigation of Farm Lands

Second day journey started here.

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Hot Chocolate - For a Rainy evening

I think I have lost track of the number of times I tried to have a decent hot chocolate but ended up with the same disappointing tale ... I always feel like it is too good to be true...

I particularly remember this one time. After some hectic schedule at work, I wanted a break, and thats when I thought about the hot chocolate served by one of the vendors in the food court. The vendor being  one among the top and famous in the field of dairy products I had my expectations set pretty high... A mind filled with joy, I set out from the building to the food court blaming myself, for not doing this earlier...When I reached there I could see there 'Hot Chocolate' written on the menu board. With utmost excitement I ordered one hot chocolate and waited at the other end of the line...When I finally got mine I couldn't wait but to have a sip... It sure was hot and it kind of burnt my tongue a little ...but that was not the sad part...I waited till I took another sip to confirm it. Yes, that same feeling crawled into my mind. It tasted anything but hot chocolate...more like a health drink (like boost)

As time went by, the memory of hot chocolates also faded, until I stumbled upon a picture recently. I was determined to try it this time. I made it. At last something worth calling 'hot chocolate'.

For a more deeper chocolaty flavor try adding some semi or bitter sweet chocolate...:-).

Recipe:

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Source : Hershey's Hot Chocolate

1. Milk                -  4 cups
2. Sugar             -  1/2 cup 
3. Cocoa powder  -  1/4 cup 
4. Salt                -  a dash
5. Vanilla extract  -  3/4 tsp
6. Hot water        - 1/3 cup 
7. Miniature marshmallows or sweetened whipped cream (optional)

1. In a medium saucepan, stir together sugar, cocoa, salt and water.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil.
3. Stir for 2 minutes more.
4. Add milk, stirring constantly, until the milk reaches the required temperature.
5. Do Not Boil.
6. Remove from the heat source and add vanilla and stir. 

   
   

   Serve topped with marshmallows or whipped cream, if desired.  

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Moroccan inspired Orange and Peanut Salad

What do you do when you have a fruit box full of oranges waiting to be consumed by someone ?

What do you do when you choose to forget and mentally make a note that this area of the refrigerator is not in for today's menu ?

What do you do when you mentally instruct your body to turn away from it for several days in a row ?

What do you do when your body has unconsciously programmed not to look into that particular area of the refrigerator ?

Now what have I done...? 

I have a bag full of ripe oranges stashed securely inside the fruit box and I am doing nothing about it... No ! Scratch that...  I wasn't planning of doing anything until I saw this Summer Salad recipe with Orange as the hero.... 

Although my summer break started a week back... It wasn't until this week that I really started to revel in. It dawned on me that I was hiding behind the shadows of past contemplating what I should have done and shouldn't have done...As the saying goes Past is past, unless I have some sort of time-travelling technique I cannot do anything about it. 

Learn from the past and move on !!!

Lets just say Lesson Learned !!! 

So this week was all about rejuvenation, both mind and body. Photography for the mind & some culinary adventures and exercise for the body. Off course some television too (Who am I kidding?). To make sure I do not deviate from the plan I even made a list of things I will be doing each day. True fact  :  I suffer from time management issues. If I say dinner will be ready in one hour, the husband decipher it as two hours. Clearly his subconscious has also been programmed. Clever right :)

This salad is inspired from a Moroccan recipe... I had a feeling that I will love it the moment I saw the recipe...and I was right...I love it when I am right...:P

Lemon dressing with a hint of cumin and chili complements the orange well. Paired with the peanuts and diced onions makes the salad crunchy just like a salad with croutons and lettuce. It brings out a nutty flavor to the mouth which balances the tangy orange and lemon flavor...:) What more do you want in a salad ...?

Recipe :

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Adapted from the book : Arabesque, A taste of Morocco, Turkey & Lebanon

1.  Oranges                  -  4,   Peeled, with pith removed, and sliced.
2.  Roasted peanuts     -  1/2 cup
3.  Onion                     -  1/2  of a large, diced.
4.  Lemon juice           -  1/2  to 1 tbsp
5.  Olive Oil                -  2 tbsp
6.  Ground cumin        -  1/2tsp (roasted)
7.  Chili powder          -  1/2 tsp
8.  Chili flakes             -  pinch
9.  Coriander leaves    -  1 tbsp, chopped finely

On a serving plate place the sliced oranges, diced onions and roasted peanuts.

Make a dressing of lemon juice, olive oil, cumin, chili powder and chili flakes and pour over the salad.

Sprinkle with chopped coriander leaves.

Enjoy while it lasts...:)

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