The Sweets Fairy ~ By my Guest Richa

This is my celebrations for reaching 200 blog posts.... A lot of you will wonder, why am I not making something fancy to celebrate it. Getting to the 200th post has been a journey full of wonderful people who walked with me in life and some joined me thru the blog world.

So I thought of having an event called 'Celebrations' where I would open out my blog to some of my friends who would share some parts of their journey with me as Guest Posts......

This post is by Richa of Life is Like That. She's a bubbly, effusive and passionate product manager at naukrigulf.com. She's written about how we've met later in the post.

She's a complete foodie, who writes from her heart and has fun to the fullest. Her writing inspired me to take part in a writing event called Blog-a-Ton. My singular entry was 'Escape', while she's written many amazing ones. Her creativity never ceases to make me wonder.
We took part in another food fiction event 'Of Chalks and Chopsticks' where we were suppose to weave a story around what we cooked. I did what I do better, baked Star and Heart shaped Brownies and Richa wove the story 'When Star Met Love'.

Her enthusiasm is totally infectious... Can hardly find a long face around her. These monkey muffins are such a good representation of her. She's a complete i-m-p from the hills. She's the sort of person who cooks for people she loves, for her too cook something for me was such a touching thing. Thank you sweet little girl. May all your starry dreams come true :)

A small something for the Indian readers of Richa.... She will select 1 lucky commenter to win complimentary meal vouchers of Curry Leaf, Defence Colony, New Delhi. It's an Indian restaurant from the house of Moets. So be sure to leave a note at the end of this post with your location. Readers in other countries can share the same with anyone in proximity of the restaurant.

Richa Writes.....

I always believed in angels who did magic, in Santa Claus who tucked candies in socks, was so sure that they exist. It was her, who proved me right. I call her the "Sweets Fairy". She makes yummylicious deserts for her special people (you sure need to be deserving enough to be in that list).

We work in the same office. The first time I met her was when she offered to help me on a MS excel sheet. It had nothing to do with her, but she spent time on it, figured out the problem and mailed me back. I liked her. But the next time when I asked her to help someone else, she told me "I helped you because your boss is a friend. It is not for any tom-u know what-n-harry. That's when I loved her. She's straight forward and doesn't have any qualms about what people think.

Then one day, I read her blog. The pictures were so tempting, had to stop myself from eating my screen. Fir kya tha, http://thevariable-nachiketa.blogspot.com/ (now http://crazyoverdesserts.com/) was bookmarked. And whenever I would want to tingle my taste buds, all I had to so was click and read. It went on, I read, I commented. And finally one day I got to eat the yummy desserts (yes, that was the focus :P ). That was the day and am a H-U-G-E fan. Not just for the taste or the presentation; but the way it was served too. Even at work, if she brings anything, the spoons, the dishes would be in place. I've had Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Caramel Cake, Banana Chocochips Muffins and Mango Cheesecake etc. The best I've ever had was the Trifle Pudding in Shot glasses, which she's still not posted on her blog(Nachi, I'm still waiting for this post). Her love for baking is true and long nights is common for her, to bake something special for a friend/ family or a loved one.

Our conversations are not just limited to food or blogs. She is my favorite destination when I need to rant or seek advice. And yeah, if ever the office seems too dull, I just have to descent two flights of stairs to get some pep and humor back.

Nachi, this is for your love of baking, for my love of writing; for the cakes, desserts n muffins I have eaten, for the conversations we've shared; for the person you are and for the respect and love I have for you.
Keep writing, keep baking and keep smiling. This world sure needs more people like you :)

And hey... you always cook for us. Here's my silly effort at cooking - 'Egg Biryani', especially for you...
Coming from me, it is a big deal; as I come from a family where no one even knows how to boil an egg, forget making a dish out of it, cause they are vegetarians. But I tried and here it is:

Egg Biryani
Adapted from Awesome Cuisine



Ingredients:
Basmati rice 2 cups
Water 3-1/2 cups
Eggs 6
Onion (thin-sliced) 1 +1(for garnish)
Ginger paste 1 tsp.
Garlic paste 1 tsp.
Green chilli (thin-sliced) 2
Cloves 2-3
Black pepper 6-7
Green cardamom 2
Red chilli powder 1 tsp.
Coriander powder 1 tsp.
Garam Masala Powder 1 tsp.
Cumin seeds 1 tsp.
Vegetable oil 4 tbsp.
Salt to taste
Chopped coriander leaves



Method:
1. Heat oil (3 tbsp.) in a pan. Add cumin seeds, green cardamom, cloves, black pepper and the bay leaves. Fry for a minute. Reduce the heat.
2. Add sliced onion(1), green chilli, ginger garlic paste and fry until light golden brown.
3. Add red chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala and salt. Mix well.
4. Add rice and water. Stir well. Cover it and cook for 20 miutes on medium heat. Slowly make the rice upside down once, while its getting cooked.
5. Meanwhile keep three eggs for boiling.
6. Take the remaining three eggs and beat in a bowl. Add salt to it and beat again.
7. Heat oil (1 tbsp.) in a pan. Pour the beaten eggs. Continuously stir it and cook until golden brown.
8. Cut the boiled eggs into rings (thin slices). Arrange in the corners of the serving dish plate.
9. Once you are done with the rice, add the scrambled eggs to the rice and slowly mix it taking care that you do not break the rice grains.
10. Put the rice in the centre of the dish plate.

Garnish with coriander leaves, fried onions and serve hot.