The Freedom To Be

Of all the things that I constantly yearn for, freedom would definitely top the list. Chocolate is somewhere there too but freedom wins hands down. So what is this freedom that I'm talking about? The freedom to vote? To dress up the way I want? To pursue a career of my choice? Or to start protesting against every little thing that bothers me?

To put it simply, I wish for the freedom to be me. To follow my heart without fear of being judged or typecast. Fair enough you say? I mean isn't each one us entitled to such a life? Aren't we riding high on the development wave?

Well we might be to a certain extent. I'm sure most of you, like me have been privileged enough to have access to good education, good job opportunities, ample exposure and the good life. Not to forget a nurturing environment.

Despite all these, however I can't help but feel a stifling sense every time I wish to cheer my heart. Why is it so tough at times to convince the people around me that I too deserve a chance at life...to take risks, for good or for bad, to learn from these and build up my mind. Is it all because I'm just a woman?

Oh yes, being a woman is a big responsibility in itself. You simply can't be caught in the wrong deed. Ever! Oftentimes I think that being a woman is only next to being godly and pious. You aren't allowed any mistakes, any deviations to the chosen, righteous path. And it's not just your family that has expectations of you, but the whole society.

Your friendly neighbor might never have helped you through school or college but will gladly butt in to enlighten you on how it is your duty as a daughter to honor the traditions and agree to get married early. Doesn't matter that their own kids are leading hopelessly. Even that aloof looking uncle in the metro coach will be ready to lecture you on your choice of friends, clothing and your outings. Because belonging to the female species makes you an instant magnet to a hoard of concerned free advice that is mostly detrimental.
"It isn't safe for you to be out this late. Your parents will be worried.", sounds so common.

I have had my fair share of well wishers too. When my mother decided it was time for me to get married, it seemed to me that she had an arsenal of supporters who made it a point to educate me on how for a girl, the ultimate life realization was in finding that perfect match...fixed by the family of course!
"What about my career?", I protested. "Both go hand in hand", they laughed off. And listed names of the many women who are successfully managing their careers as well as families. And no it is not a cakewalk. Well, I can say I got lucky to have found an understanding partner. But how about those as young as 11-12, who are forced into marriage because it is a tradition.

I remember an instance from my school days. There was this little girl who stayed near my grandfather's place. A couple of years younger than me, she would often play with us. And so it came as a surprise when one fine day she was on a regional news channel. Turned out her family was trying to marry her off to her cousin who was underage too. Luckily someone had informed the media and police, who intervened in time. She was hardly 12!

Those of my friends who have been fortunately spared all this don't quite get to breathe easy. They are still expected to tread carefully. Phew!
But hey, all hope is not lost yet...just the other day, as I tuned into a popular radio program, I came across a feisty lass. She had called up the RJ to reveal her secret wish in life. She was on a quest to date men from all over the country. To be precise, she wished to date a guy from each state in India. Now that is something interesting. Not to delve into her personal meetings, isn't it cool to learn closely about the varied cultures and heritage of all the places in our country? In a time when regional riots and misunderstandings are on the rise, this is such a nice way to establish closer ties...Don't u think?

It's also heartening to see that women are increasingly voicing their opinions on issues affecting them and are taking a stand on crucial decisions in their lives without worrying about what the world will say.
Better still, people are strongly taking to social media to put forth the message loud and clear. Not to forget a string of really smart videos that went viral in no time. Remember the series of ads trying to show women as more than just kitchen appliances? Or the more recent Titan Raga ad featuring a new age woman who has separated from her chauvinistic partner. Simply brilliant!

So hear, hear... Women are here to take over... And society better beware!

Chocolate Mug Cake - Microwave Recipe

It's 4 on the clock, the sun is beginning to retreat while casting long shadows on the streets. There's the lull, one that usually follows a lazy afternoon siesta. Help! Instant mood lifter needed. Not to forget the choti-choti bhook. What would be the best pick... Tea? Coffee? Nah, how about Hot Chocolate? Yikes No! So much milk will surely put anyone to sleep. Samosa? Oil Alert! What to do then to get my quick fix?

Ta Da! Chocolate to the rescue. Confused? Well I'm not talking about your everyday chocolate bar but about a delicious, moist chocolate cake! Can there be anything better than a soft, nutty cake? Definitely...A cake that cooks in under 5 minutes! That's right, a personal size cake portion in under 5 minutes. Quick yummy snack anyone?

I found myself craving a chocolate cake one evening and stumbled upon this mug cake recipe on www.tablefortwoblog.com , I tweaked it slightly to suit my tastes and loved the outcome. A moist, chocolaty mini cake. The best part, it is egg-less!

So, here's getting started:

Preparation Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 2-3 mins

SUPPLIES

• Microwave oven
• Microwave safe mug or bowl

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup refined flour/maida
• 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (I used drinking chocolate)
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 3 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp milk
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• very small pinch of salt
• 2-3 drops vanilla essence (optional)
• 1/2 tbsp chopped walnuts

METHOD

1. Take your mug or bowl and add in all dry ingredients (maida, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, salt). Mix well to get uniform texture.
2. Next slowly add milk into the mug while stirring. Make sure no lumps are formed.
3. Add in remaining wet ingredients and mix well to get a smooth consistency. 
4. Add nuts on the top or mix them in depending on your choice. I left mine on the surface.
5. Now your batter is ready for cooking. Place the mug inside the microwave oven and set time for 120 seconds (2 min) at full power(900 W).
6. Keep checking if the batter is rising. The cakes appears to be boiling but will settle down.
7. Insert a knife or toothpick into the cake and check if it comes out clean. If not set it for 20-30 more seconds or till cooked.
8. Your hot chocolate mug cake is ready!

                                 

NOTES

• You can use a separate mixing bowl for the preparation part if you are not comfortable mixing in your mug. There is no need for any greasing or buttering as the cake is meant to be consumed directly from the mug. Pour the batter into the mug before cooking.
• I used a microwave safe bowl as I din't have a mug. The important thing here is that your vessel should be big enough to accommodate the rising cake. Be careful to keep the batter level in the mug low so that it doesn't spill over.
• The amount of sugar can be adjusted depending on your taste. I used brown sugar and the cake turned out very sweet for me.
• Adding essence is completely optional as it did not contribute much to the flavor. I usually add it to my recipes out of habit.
• And please forgive the bad quality photos. I'm still getting a hang. :) 

Air Dried Roses

Hi!

Roses are such lovely flowers. I wish I could preserve them forever. Alas! Like all other natural things they too eventually wither away. How then to make them last longer than the usual shelf life?

I did my research on the internet and came across flower drying, a technique wherein the moisture from flowers is sucked out using some methods and then these dried out beauties  are stored or used as decorative pieces. So this post is going to be about one such method of drying- Air Drying. 

I received a lovely bouquet of yellow roses as a gift from my sister on my birthday. They stayed fresh for around a week, after which they gradually started drooping. The color looked bright but the petals  began falling apart. I really wanted to preserve those roses and not just by pressing them between books.

I always liked pressing flowers between the pages of a heavy book, but that wouldn't ever retain their shape. Drying on the other hand, keeps the shape as well as the color intact. (Slight darkening in the shade is natural). There are a number of ways to go about the drying- Air drying, desiccate drying, using wax, wax paper, etc. 

I decided to go in for the easy and cost-effective method, i.e. Air drying, which is basically hanging flower bunches upside down, so that it leaves all moisture.

Let's get started!

Supplies:

• A bunch of flowers(I used roses), a week old
• Pair of scissors
• Thread or String
• Clothes hanger or rod

What to do:

1. Firstly cut open the bouquet and remove all unwanted greens, that are turning black. Pick out the stalks and place them on a newspaper or surface.

    2.   Then cut the stalks to a shorter length and remove leaves.

 

   3.    Next cut the string into small segments of about 15-20 cm and tie these to the ends of the stalks  

   4.    Now place the tied stalks on a clothes hanger, so that the roses are hanging upside down, and               put it up in a dark corner for the flowers to dry out.

The flowers should be done in about two weeks time. They will turn a shade darker but the shape stays almost the same. I have mine hanging in my room and I think they look so pretty just hanging like that. 

Note: The flowers can also be hung up on a curtain rod instead of the clothes hanger. Once dried, these flowers can be used as decorative items or gifts.