Cappuccino Buttermilk Muffins ~ Coffee Mania

Anything coffee attracts me like a magnet..... :-) There is no parallel to the goodness of a warm Cappuccino Buttermilk Muffin loaded with Dark Chocolate Chips....

This is the first time I made cupcakes.... where else would I have gotten the recipe other than Deeba.... her first try and the luscious 2nd try..... I just had to..... I wanted to drop whatever I was doing and just run to the kitchen... alas was not at home....

Took my first try for babaji.... They turned out yummy.... gobbled up quickly.....

The next lot was devoured at the Luthra's.....

The entire house was filled with the aroma of these muffins baking.... Could hardly wait for them to come out of the oven n cool...

Another lot for friends..... That's Shuchi and her parents with their Diwali gift.....

Vibha and Tarini loved the warmed muffins....

Cappuccino Buttermilk Muffins

adapted from Nic @ Cherrapeno and Deeba @ PAB

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups plain flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

2 tsps baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup vanilla sugar

1/2 cup melted butter, cooled

1 cup buttermilk

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbsps instant coffee

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Method:

Preheated oven at 180C.

Mix coffee into melted butter. Whisk well.

Whisk eggs lightly into the buttermilk with the vanilla extract.

In a big bowl mix well the following - both flours, vanilla sugar, baking powder & salt.

Now pour in the buttermilk mixture & the butter mixture, and mix in gently by hand till moist. DO NOT over mix or muffins won't be nice & soft. Fold in chocolate chips lightly & do not over mix.

Fill up the prepared muffin tins 2/3 full, sprinkle a few coffee beans if you like. Put in to bake for 20-22 minutes till done.

Cool on rack.

There is really nothing better than gifting homemade goodies to loved ones on a festival... really spreads the cheer.....
A variation could be chopped walnuts on the top and chocochips inside.....

The ultimate in comfort food.... I'm already hungry n droolly writing about these muffins...

Lleaving to grab a muffin off the cooling shelf...

Banoffee For The Sweet as Toffee Julie

Pushpanjali is such a sweet n unassuming person, she's a delight to be around. I got to know her as she's Vivek's wife. Vivek is one of my first mentors at Infoedge[my office].
We've had many fun times together....

We've done many a camping trips together. We went to Bir n Billing in Himachal Pradesh at a Ht of 8500 ft for parasailing.

Tungnath....
A 3.5 Km trek at an incline of some 45 degrees… with even rarer air than Deveria Tal….. Water… Chocolate…. The feeling that my lungs will burst for the want of oxygen…. [This can be counted as one of the craziest moves of my life….. which in hindsight was quite an achievement….]
I really admire the grit and determination of Julie….. She’s such a fighter….. Hats off to her…..


Would like to express my absolute and complete gratitude to my mom for putting in my windsheeter and woolen gloves(Puneet Makkar survived due to them... ) We sat huddled in the leeward side of the curve cursing Mr Mad Hatter ….(Puneet Chawla)

Chronicles of Tunganath.....
About Tunganath
Trip To Tunganath - Day 1 [Getting There]
Trip To Tunganath - Day 2 [Trek to Deveria Tal]
Trip To Tunganath - Day 2 [Trek to Tunganath]
Trip To Tunganath - Day 3 [Return Journey]

Why Julie is so fit ? cause she loves running.....
Vivek loves taking pictures and Julie loves being clicked..... what a perfect combination... :-)
It's difficult to get vivek in front of the camera.... yet Puneet and a few others manage to the the trick...
She loves dogs... Check out the pics... need I say more.... :-)
Princess is her lifeline... They even took princess boating.....
Like I have Daksayani in my life... She has Yashna... her sister[Pinakini's daughter]... She's adorable...
Vivek, Julie and I have a blast playing pictionary...
Julie is such a bundle of energy n enthusiasm..... n also loves facebook.... :-)

We share the love of banoffee pie and big chill... very few people i know like banana in desserts n even fewer who will KILL for banoffee pie.... So the natural choice for making dessert on her B'day was banofee Pie.... :-)
Am so happy they all liked it.... n she has no clue that our conversation in going out on the blog... Lol... naughty me.....
Banoffee Pie
Yields 5 servings in a small bowl

2 Ripe Bananas
1 Tin Sweetened Condensed Milk
250 ml Double Cream[Whipped]
Coffee Powder or Chocolate Chips for decoration.

For the Base:
1/2 packet Glucose Biscuits [abt 100gms]
60 gm Butter [softened, not melted]
20gm Grain SugarMethod:
For the base:
1. Crush the glucose biscuits finely [not to powder], mix in the granular sugar.
2. Bind them together with the softened butter till the mixture is course. [i use the back of a spoon, you could use ure hands if you like]
3. Place this on the base of the dish in which you want to make the pie and serve.
4. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes.

For the Toffee:
1. Put the condensed milk in a heavy bottom pan and gently bring to the boil stirring continuously so mixture does not burn.
2. Boil till it is a light caramel [3].
3. Don't over do it as it will make the toffee too hard.
Assembly:
1. Slice the bananas over the biscuit base.
2. Pour cooled toffee over sliced bananas.
You may want to do a double layer aswell for the love of the banoffee.. :-)
3. Beat the cream until stiff and cover the toffee
4. chill
5. Just before serving sprinkle Coffee powder or chocolate chips for decoration.




May God bless you with lots of cheer, peace n happiness.... always...

King of Calypso ~ Harry Belafonte Rocks

Harry Belafonte brings forth many memories fun times spent with mamu in Bombay [pardon me Mr. thakrey... Mumbai, it is]


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Belafonte


Harry Belafonte - There's a Hole in the Bucket


There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza dear Liza
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza a hole

Go fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
Go fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, fix it.

With what shall I fix it, dear Liza dear Liza
With what shall I fix it, dear Liza with what

With a straw dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
With a straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, with a straw

But the straw is too long, dear Liza dear Liza
The straw is too long, dear Liza too long

Cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
Cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, cut it

With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, dear Liza
With what shall I cut it, dear Liza with what

With an axe, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
With an axe, dear Henry, dear Henry, with an axe

The axe is too dull, dear Liza, dear Liza
The axe is too dull, dear Liza too dull

Sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
Sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, hone it

On what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza dear Liza
On what shall I hone it, dear Liza on what

On a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
On a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, with a stone

But the stone is too dry, dear Liza dear Liza
The stone is too dry, dear Liza too dry

Well wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
Well wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, wet it

With what shall I wet it, dear Liza, dear Liza
With what shall I wet it, dear Liza with what

Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry, use water

In what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, dear Liza
In what shall I fetch it, dear Liza in what

In a bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
In a bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, in a bucket

There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza a hole

Harry Belafonte Day-O ( Banana Boat )
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day-O_(The_Banana_Boat_Song)


Day-o, day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day-o, day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Work all night on a drink of rum
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Stack banana till de morning come
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Day, me say day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Beautiful bunch of ripe banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Hide the deadly black tarantula
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day-o, day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day....ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Harry Belafonte - Cocoanut Woman


(Coconuts, coconuts)
(Coconuts, coconuts)

Coconut woman is calling out
And everyday you can hear her shout
Coconut woman is calling out
And everyday you can hear her shout

Get your coconut water
(Four for five)
Man, it's good for your daughter
(Four for five)
Coco got a lotta iron
(Four for five)
Make you strong like a lion
(Four for five)

A lady tell me the other day
No one can take her sweet man away
I ask her what was the mystery
She say coconut water and rice curry

You can cook it in a pot
(Four for five)
You can serve it very hot
(Four for five)
Coco got a lotta iron
(Four for five)
Make you strong like a lion
(Four for five) Rowwwr

(Coconuts, coconuts)

Coconut woman says you'll agree
Coconut make very nice candy
The thing thats best
If you're feeling glum
Is coconut water with a little rum

It could make you very tipsy
(Four for five)
Make you feel like a gypsy
(Four for five)
Coco got a lotta iron
(Four for five)
Make you strong like a lion
(Four for five)

Ah, play that thing

Coconut woman is calling out
And everyday you can hear her shout
Coconut woman is calling out
And everyday you can hear her shout

Get your coconut water
(Four for five)
Man, it's good for your daughter
(Four for five)
Get your coconut candy
(Four for five)
Make you feel very dandy
(Four for five)

Coco, coco, coco....
Coconut, coconut
Coconut, coconut....


Harry Belafonte - Mama Look-A Boo Boo

I wonder why nobody don't like me
Or is it the fact that I'm ugly?
I wonder why nobody don't like me
Or is it the fact that I'm ugly?

I leave my whole house and home
My children don't want me no more
Bad talk inside de house dey bring
And when I talk they start to sing:

Mama, look a boo-boo they shout
Their mother tell them shut up your mout'
That is your daddy, oh, no
My daddy can't be ugly so

Shut your mout', Go away
Mama, look at boo-boo dey
Shut your mout', Go away
Mama, look at boo-boo dey

I couldn't even digest me supper
Due to the children's behavior
John (Yes, pa)-come here a moment
Bring de belt, you're much too impudent
John says it's James who started first
James tells the story in reverse
I drag my belt from off me waist
You should hear them screamin' round de place

Mama, look at boo-boo they shout
Their mother tell them shut up your mout'
That is your daddy, oh, no
My daddy can't be ugly so

Shut your mout', Go away
Mama, look at boo-boo dey (uh)
Shut your mout', Go away
Mama, look at boo-boo dey (uh)

So I began to question the mother
These children ain't got no behavior
So I began to question the mother
These children ain't got no behavior

They're playing with you my wife declared
You should be proud of them, my dear
These children were taught too bloomin' slack
That ain't no kind of joke to crack

Mama, look at boo-boo they shout
Their mother tell them shut up your mout'
That is your daddy, oh, no
My daddy can't be ugly so

Shut your mout', Go away
Mama, look at boo-boo dey (uh)
Shut your mout', Go away
Mama, look at boo-boo dey (uh)
Shut your mout', Go away

Harry Belafonte - Jump in The Line (1961)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jump_In_The_Line_(Shake,_Senora)


Shake, shake, shake, Senora, shake your body line
Shake, shake, shake, Senora, shake it all the time
Work, work, work, Senora, work your body line
Work, work, work, Senora, work it all the time

My girl's name is Senora
I tell you friends, I adore her
And when she dances, oh brother!
She's a hurricane in all kinds of weather

(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) OK, I believe you!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) OK, I believe you!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) OK, I believe you!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) Whoa!

Shake, shake, shake, Senora, shake your body line
Shake, shake, shake, Senora, shake it all the time
Work, work, work, Senora, work your body line
Work, work, work, Senora, work it all the time

You can talk about Cha Cha
Tango, Waltz, or de Rumba
Senora's dance has no title
You jump in the saddle
Hold on to de bridle!

(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) OK, I believe you!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) Rock your body, child!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) Somebody, help me!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) Whoa!

Shake, shake, shake, Senora, shake your body line
Shake, shake, shake, Senora, shake it all the time (Whoa)
Work, work, work, Senora, work your body line (Yep)
Work, work, work, Senora, work it all the time

Senora, she's a sensation
The reason for aviation
And fellas, you got to watch it
When she wind up, she bottom, she go like a rocket!

(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) OK, I believe you!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) Hoist those skirts a leetle higher!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) Up the chim-en-y!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) Whoa oh oh oh!

[break]

Shake, shake, shake, Senora
Shake your body line
Work, work, work, Senora
Work it all the time
Dance, dance, dance, Senora
Dance it all the time
Work, work, work, Senora
Work it all the time

Senora dances Calypso
Left to right is de tempo
And when she gets the sensation
She go up in the air, come down in slow motion

(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) OK, I believe you!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) Somebody, help me!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) OK, I believe you!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) Whooooa!

Shake, shake, shake, Senora, shake your body line
Shake, shake, shake, Senora, shake it all the time
Work, work, work, Senora!!

Matilda - Harry Belafonte (1957)(Belafonte,H - Thomas,H)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matilda_(song)



Hey! Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Once again now!
Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Five hundred dollars, friends, I lost:
Woman even sell me cat and horse!
Heya! Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Everybody!
(Matilda,) Sing out the chorus,
(Matilda,) Sing a little louder,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Once again now!
(Matilda,) Going 'round the corner,
(Matilda,) Sing out the chorus,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Well, the money was to buy me house an' lan'
Then she got a serious plan,
A-hey, ah!
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Everybody!
(Matilda,
Matilda,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.)
Once again now!
(Matilda,) Going 'round the corner,
(Matilda,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.)
Well, the money was just inside me bed,
Stuck up in a pillow beneath me head.
Don't you know,
Matilda, she found me money and...
Everybody...
(Matilda,
Matilda,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.)
Once again now!
(Matilda,) Hooma locka chimba,
(Matilda,) Bring me little water,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Women over forty?
(Matilda,
Matilda,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.)
Everybody!
(Matilda,) Goin' round the corner,
(Matilda,) Bring me little water,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Well, me friends, never to love again,
All me money gone in vain!
Uh, heya...
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Everybody!
(Matilda,
Matilda,) Oom, ba-locka-chimba!
(Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.)
Sing a little softer!
(Matilda,
Matilda,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.)
EVERYBODY!
(Matilda,
Matilda,) Sing out the chorus!
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela

Eggs in a Basket ~ For a Chick With Outlook

I love making eggs for breakfast in different forms... When I saw 'Carmen Cooks' post of 'Baked Bacon and Egg Bread Cups' on foodgawker.com, I just knew I had to.....


Since my home is vegetarian with the exception of eggs.... using bacon was out of question... yet I used lots of cheese, herbs and paprika to flavor the basket.

This mug was given to me by 'Daisy'.... Still a part of my prize possessions... :-)

Served with black coffee... mom n I enjoyed the lovely basket, warm out of the oven...

Dumplings From Heaven ~ Momos at Dilli Haat

I love visiting Dilli Haat in the winters.... It's such a colourful place....Sit out in the warm sun n slow breeze.....
Eating pork momos at the manipur stall with fruit beer.... mummy having her fav.. Diet Coke....

Bliss......

Festival of Lights ~ Diwali

This Diwali was truly blessed for me.... The darkness of ignorance has to go....

That's Daksyani with the wonderful things she made in school.

We had yummylicious parshad.

With Upma mom ~ our inspiration as a follower, Neha didi ~ The most awesome cookie, Veena didi ~ The one behind my bangle craze, Miss Mini ~ My Matching partner {Yayyyy... mummy beat u to it this time also :-)}

Posers INC.... Need I say more, Sadhika, Sonal, Geetika n me.

Meri Phuljhari......

Awesome 3somes, Nikhil, Sonal, Ronaq, Daksayani, Chachi n me.

The naughty babies... Gunjan, Daksayani and Khyati hugging my boyfriend Abhishek.

That's all of us.... Dadaji, Mom, Mala chachi, Tushar, Sheena, Daksayani, Vivek chacha and Geeta chachi.That's the Hyderabadi Diwali with Nani, Nana, Mamu and Nivritti.

Safai, Decoration, Puja, Cards, Shopping and Video chats thru skype... :-)