A Journey: Retrospective, Introspective and Extrospective

Like so many days dedicated to various causes, l abour  day  celebrates labourers and the working class. Though like so many days I let this day pass without any mention or celebration for so many previous years. Though I never realised the struggles of the domestic help, the farmers, labour always wanted more work, perfectionism etc. At times even looked down. Thinking we pay them a salary. During this COVID times while the labour intensive work has increased and when I have to cook, clean my one house plus expected to do office work and exercise. I falter. Those poor souls worked in multiple houses and their own houses and even bore the brunt of abusive husbands and poverty.  There are farmers, contractual workers, domestic helpers, migrants, municipal workers so many people who do extreme labour intensive work and all they ask is for fair pay, inclusivity and dignity. Until COVID most of us were busy chasing our dreams, running our high flying careers in a whiff. Le...

Life is so fragile but it's hard to acknowledge until we see someone is gone. Two legends passed away in two days in India - Irrfan Khan and Rishi Kapoor. I did not know them personally but still connected with them through cinema.  So it's important for us to acknowledge the gifts that the higher power or this life has offered us in the form of family, friends, material wealth or situations. They lived their life created a legacy and now it's our turn to create our legacy. Rishi Kapoor's last video talked about hard work and luck both. Do your best and leave the rest :) 

Blurring of boundaries of the online and offline world. The new world tells us the things that were limitations are now opportunities. A friend who is a kathak dancer who was juggling Pre COVID times to start her dance workshops and selling her services to corporates. She is now teaching dancing students without a studio, being physically present, in the comfort of home. She has broken the imaginary chain and her students lapped the chance to learn dancing. Not only this she is doing free 30 minutes workshop on breathwork and dancing creating her portfolio for corporate workshops down the road. Similarly, I also read a person owning the gym has started an online fitness program for 21-days and has earned 24 lacs and pledged 10% to PM COVID fund. It is about transformation and leaving your comfort zone. If you have a service to offer just need to turn it around and monetize it.

Happiness is homemade - Bon Appetite! Preparation Time - 15 mins Cook Time - 45 mins Ingredients 2 tablespoon butter 1 onion sliced thin and long 1 spring onion 1 large or 2 medium zucchini sliced thinly  6-8 pcs mushroom sliced  1/4 cup american sweet corn 1 teaspoon basil 1 teaspoon oregano 1/2 teaspoon pepper and salt each 2 eggs beaten 1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese Instructions Preheat the oven at 200 degrees. Heat the butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add onions, spring onion, mushroom, zucchini, sweet corn (pro tip: microwave the frozen corn for 1 minute before you add it) and saute until the veggies are soft. It took me 10 mins. Remove from the gas.  Cool the mixture - add salt, pepper, oregano, basil and mix well. In a pie dish smear some oil and place the parchment paper and transfer the above mix.  Add the beaten egg with mozzarella and mix with 1/2 of the grated cheese. Arrange the top so that the zucchini slices lay ...

Life does not give you all the ingredients but that doesn't stop us from living. You have to create your own recipes. Ingredients Dressing:  2 lemons squeezed 1 tablespoon of olive oil  Lemon zest (In lieu of Sumac) 1 garlic clove grated or minced Dried up mint  Salt Pepper Nutmeg (a pinch) Salad: 1 medium cucumber 1 carrot 1 radish Few leaves of lettuce - I had iceberg lettuce 1 Onion 2-3 Armenian cucumber (Kakdi) Spring Onion/Scallion 1/2 or 1 capsicum 1 tomato Serves 3-4 people Instructions 1. First get your partner - your husband, buddy, parents to help you chop :) Then chop the ingredients as you fancy - cubes or long pieces.  2. I have not added baked or toasted Pita - as I am going to put the salad in a Pita bread and eat with Falafels. You can break a few pieces of Pita add some olive oil a teaspoon or two, salt and pepper and bake it for 10 -12 mins tossing it halfway at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.  3. To prepare ...