The Sydney Harbour Bridge

Being star-struck!!! That's all that comes to my mind when I recall seeing the harbour bridge up front for the first few times. In the year 2000 I had seen the harbour bridge for the first time on TV. I was a 7th grader and was extremely excited to see such a magnificent structure with the Olympic rings hung around it. Prior to that I am not sure if I was aware of its existence or of the differences Australia as a country had, being in the southern hemisphere.

I watched it in person for the first time with my family. It was an outing on a lovely sunny day. We went to see the Opera House and the Harbour bridge after completion of our quarantine. For me it took a lot of time for the feeling to actually sink in. I have been to quite a few different countries in the world but never felt so different, so amazed. This could be because of the fact that Australia being in the southern hemisphere experiences everything opposite to what we do in the northern part of the world. It is also not a part of our regular conversations. Countries like America, European countries find better place in tourism conversations. 

Second time, I was travelling alone on the train for an interview. I had to reach North Sydney. From the train, I could see the Opera House. Being the Harbour Bridge fanatic that I am, I immediately started looking around searching for the harbour bridge as both the structures are so close by. I was taken aback as I could not find it anywhere. It took me quite some time to realize that I was actually on the bridge and the train was passing over it. 

When I had seen the harbour bridge on TV as a 13 year old in a small town in India, little did I know that I would get a chance to live in a city that shares the structure. It is an amazing city,  with awesome beaches, lovely natural beauty and scenic landscapes. Sydney has been good to us so far. 

The view of the bridge from my office is amazing. The Opera house just beside it increases its appeal and adds to its beauty. I can keep watching it the whole day given a chance. :)

Gulaab Jamun

What better than homemade gulab jamuns for dessert after an Indian meal. This is one dessert every Indian knows about and most of us like. There are many instant packs available in stores but it is very easy to make at home. A riddle that my daughter asked us a few days ago:

What do you call a rose that went to the moon?

You guessed it right, "Gulaab JaaaaMooonnn"

 I got the recipe from Hebbar's Kitchen and followed it. Have documented the recipe below:

Ingredients:

Jamun:

- Amul Milk Powder - 3/4 cup

- Maida / All Purpose Flour - 1/2 cup

- Baking powder - 1/2 tsp

- Ghee/Clarified Butter - 2tbsp

- Milk - 3/4 cup

- Oil and Ghee for frying

Sugar Syrup:

- Sugar - 2 cups

- Water - 2 cups

- Cardamom - 2

- Lemon juice - 1 tsp 

Method:

- Add sugar, cardamom pods and water and bring to a boil. Reduce it to a 1 string consistency. Add lemon juice after turning off heat. Let it cool.

- For the jamuns, add milk powder, ghee, maida, baking powder and mix the dry ingredients with the tip of your fingers. Give it a good mix.

- Add milk and make a firm but soft dough.

- Divide the dough into equal portions and form balls with your palm.

- Heat oil and ghee in a wok. Deep fry the dough balls.

- Fry on medium low heat till deep brown.

- Transfer to cooled sugar syrup and let it sit there for at least 2 hours.

Serve hot with ice cream or enjoy as a simple dessert.

 

Pudina/Mint Chicken

This is one of those recipes which I made during lockdown in India, possibly April-May 2020. Our worlds started changing and everything around us came crashing down due to the covid pandemic. We were locked in our homes and had to manage with whatever grocery we had at our disposal. One day we got to know from some friends Swiggy had started delivering chicken. We ordered some immediately and in came the much awaited packet. Now the problem at hand was, what should we prepare it with. With grocery stores around us closed all we could do was manage and figure out with whatever we had at our disposal. This experiment turned out to be rather tasty and hence this finds a place in my recipe blog.

Ingredients:

- Chicken - 500gms

- Salt - As per taste

- Sugar - 1/2 tsp

- Lemon - 1/2

- Lemon Zest - of 1 lemon

- Mint leaves -  a handful

- Onion - finely chopped

- Mustard Oil - 2 tbsp

- Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

- Chicken 65 Masala (I used Banne Nawab brand. You can use brand of your choice.) - 2 heaped tbsp

Method:

- Heat the oil in a pan.

- Add cumin seeds and let it splutter.

- Add the chicken pieces, onion, salt and chicken 65 masala.

- Fry till chicken is completely cooked.

- When the chicken is soft, add lemon zest, mint leaves and sugar. Let it cook for 2 mins. 

- Add lemon juice from half a lemon just before turning the stove off.

Serve smoking hot with parathas or phulkas. 

Banana Oats Dates Smoothie

This recipe is from my friend Amrita. I made it once and have been using this for a quick breakfast ever since. This is a life saver when you are running short of time and want to make something healthy real quick.

Ingredients: (Serves 1)

- Banana - 1

- Oats - 2 tbsp (slightly roasted on a pan)

- Dates - Deseeded 4 to 5

- Curd - 3 tbsp

- Milk - 1/2 cup

- Chia seeds - 1 tsp

Method: 

- Peel the banana and slice it into pieces.

- Put all the ingredients (apart from chia seeds) into the mixer jar.

- Beat on low speed for a min.

- Pour in a jar and mix the chia seeds.

Serve cold on a hot summer day.