Books.

Pride and Prejudice = Gossip Girl in the 1800s.

Don't get me wrong, I love reading, a lot. I also love reading classic books, as a matter of fact, I am making my way (albeit slowly) through War and Peace right now. I think that often, "classic" books make readers think and really have a lot of meaning to them, but I just cannot get myself to like Jane Austen. For the record, I also like "beach books", and contemporary novels, and mystery books, and scary books, and historical books, and books about nannies, and books about children, and even books for children.

I just don't understand the allure of Jane Austen novels. I will ALWAYS lust for a rainy day curled up with a cuppa tea reading a book, but I will NEVER lust for the same scenario where the book is one written by Jane Austen. I always wanted to like her, I am pretty sure that the "Jane Austen Phase" is something that most teenage girls go through at some point. I never did. Awkward.

I much prefer:
-Dostoevsky
-John Grisham
-Jean Plaidy (I like daydreaming that I am a Tudor in the 1500s and that I am part of the British Royal Court. nbd.)
- J.K. Rowling (obviously.)

....And generally male authors. Not sure why, but female authors always come off a tad whiny to me. I am pretty sure I do too, and I am trying to fix that :P

Anyways, tell me what you think! Do you like Jane Austen? Who are your favorite authors?

Cool Thing:

This is a really GREAT book that is super easy to read. I know it is by a woman author, but it's really good!



:)
T

More Food (Or Should I Say Disasters).

Helloooo!

I really didn't want to write this post, but I suppose it would be unfair - and fairly misleading - if I didn't. I attempted make a recipe I found on Pinterest. AND IT FAILED. I was extremely upset because this (a failed recipe which I didn't know how to fix easily) had never happened to me before.

I tried to make pizza. In a frying pan. I don't know why, considering I do have an oven, it just seemed like a cool idea. Needless to say, it did NOT work. At all. The dough wouldn't cook from the top and would burn from the bottom. It was so bad. My first disastrous cooking experience made me so, so distressed. 

EXCEPT! I just remembered a funny story from Culinary Class (yes, I get to take cool classes like culinary as part of my degree :) )

Now before I start the story, I would like to point out that this is about baking, and I do not, by any means, claim to be even a remotely good baker. 

So, on our last day in culinary lab, it was kind of like the show chopped, where they gave us surprise ingredients and we have an hour to make a menu using them (except it was no where near as hard because our "secret" ingredients were chicken, butter, and eggs. ha.) So anyways, we get to choose teams, and we have to make a menu and serve it under a time limit. So my team from last semester's marketing class decided to all team up for old times' sake. Additionally, since we spent so much time together for our marketing project, we felt that we would work as a "well-oiled machine", I believe they say. 

So after perusing the other ingredients that were given to us, we decided to go with an Asian themed menu, which I am quite proud of, by the way. We had a citrus salad with a soy sauce and ginger dressing for the starter, a Thai style chicken and some egg fried rice for the entree, and a mango and ginger trifle for the dessert.

So anyways, everything went smoothly throughout the entire menu, all of our dishes were completed on time, and everything was given good marks. Then we got to the dessert. Duh duh duh.

It was pretty genius, we decided to flavor the whipped cream with some fresh ginger root. As I was reaching for the ginger root from the ingredients table, the head chef said "Hey why don't you use this ginger paste, it will save you time." So of course, I took his advice and used the ground ginger instead. So we assembled the trifle, even going as far to boil the mango in some sugar water because it wasn't that ripe, cubed up the cake we baked, layered it with the ginger whipped cream, and sent it up for judging.

As we were cleaning, I looked over to the judges table, and they were laughing. So I of course thought, "Why are they laughing? This is peculiar." So we went along cleaning, but a few minutes later, one of the chefs came up to us and asked us what we put in the whipped cream. So we told him it was ginger, of course. He chuckled, and told us, "No. That was garlic!" HAHA! So of course we were ROARING with laughter (well I was.) And the chef tells us not to worry, they wouldn't deduct points. So everyone continued along cleaning, and I suddenly remembered that I had let another team borrow our whipped cream because they didn't have time to make their own. So I ran over to the judging table FREAKING out as they were tasting this particular dessert yelling "THEY USED OUR WHIPPED CREAM! THEY USED OUR WHIPPED CREAM!" Of course, the rest of the class (except for my team) was giving me highly quizzical looks (later I found out that they all thought I was trying to take credit for their dessert) and the chefs and the TA's all burst out laughing because they knew our whipped cream had garlic. 

So, essentially, THE funniest class I have ever had. Ever.

Hope I made you laugh :)

Cool thing:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/expresident/pictures-that-will-restore-your-faith-in-humanity

This is the BEST webpage!

<3

-T

Pinterest Food.

So I always go on Pinterest and see all these DELICIOUS looking dishes, and I really want to eat them! So I decided that this summer I am going to try to make as many as I can. The first one I made was an amazingly comforting cauliflower soup which was only with 5 ingredients, completely vegan, and surprisingly filling (and it's just as gorgeous in real life as in the picture). Now, I am not a huge Martha Stewart fan. So to my disdain, the next dish I made is one of hers. I do have to say though, it was quite delish. It was poached eggs and asparagus on top of fettuccine. Then I did a small salad and some roasted tomatoes with some cheese and herbs on top. It was my first time poaching eggs, but it really wasn't a big deal, I did break 2 though!

The Meal (please excuse the computer!)

So I guess I will be posting some more dishes that I make this summer! Maybe I will even try baking!! Okay, that's being optimistic, but we shall see. I am really excited for what I am making this week: it's going to be a Thai curry. Thai food is my FAVORITE. So I am very very very excited. I hope it is gooood.

Here is the recipe for the pasta if you like :)

Crisis.

Crisis (n) - A time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger

I have been having a lot of 'Crises' recently.

1. Where should I study abroad?
2. How do I get more out of my internship?
3. Should I quit my internship?
4. How do I get more out of my life?
5. Where do I get the motivation/inspiration to write another blog post?
6. When am I going to write that article?
7. How am I going to succeed in this world?
8. Goodness I need to stop worrying.

Believe it or not, those 8 things I listed above harrow me. On a daily, I'd even say hourly, basis. Then of course I begin to become even more stressed out because I KNOW that being stressed about what blog post to write (for example) is plain silly. And no where near what would or should be considered a crisis.

I think I have narrowed down my stress to one question: What do I want?

Now the fact that I am even posing this question to myself is quite overwhelming in itself for two reasons. First, I have always known quite exactly and specifically what I want. Always. Second, I have always been very content with my life. It is something that I have always prided myself in - knowing that little known fact that the ultimate secret to happiness is being more than content with what you have.

The thing is, I think I still am. Happy and content that it. The question is, why would I say "I think I am" and why would I pose the question "What do I want?" If I know that all this doesn't matter because all that matters is that I have my basic needs met - that I can create my happiness from anything - then why am I having these questions?

Have you ever noticed that sometimes it is incredibly easy to say something to yourself over and over again, and sometimes (the lucky times) you begin to believe it? Other times, no matter how many times you try to convince yourself something, you know that it's just not working.

Now, it really really distresses me to write this post because I honestly am happy. Now I know you probably won't believe me after reading this, but I am. Whenever I feel unhappy or uncertain or just simply  complain-y, I remind myself of the great fortune that my life is. I think about all the people that are less fortunate than me. Sadly, there are a lot them. I know that it will be very difficult to help them all get as great lives as me (though I am tying to figure out a way to!), so in my crazy head, I kind of justify my life by reminding myself to be not only thankful and grateful but also happy and content with what I have, because it just wouldn't be fair to be unhappy with everything that I have. 

I guess we all need some perspective every once in a while.

Time.

Helllooo Everyone!!

So sorry it has been so long, apparently time really flies. I just wanted to check in and tell you that lots of blog posts will be coming...VERY soon :)

<3

-T

Warmth.

Warmth. Heat. Humidity. Sun dresses. Shorts. Flip Flops. Yup, summer is COMING!

Today is the last day of classes - I am so happy :)

I cannot believe that I am FINISHED with my sophomore year of college. I don't want to grow up :/

Well here's to a super crazy, super busy, and super fun finals week and summer vacation. I shouldn't be calling it vacation...I am going to be working soooo much!!

Peace and warmth
:)
Tejal

For the Love of Food.

This weekend, I went (With the Cornell Gourmet Club) to the Penn Food Summit (http://pennfoodsummit.com/). It was Ah-mazing! There was LOTS of food, lots of food discussion, and lots of learning. The conference made me think, gave me some knew insight, and mostly helped appreciate food more (yes, even more than I did before). I had some good debates on topics from sustainability, to vegetarianism, to even the role of celebrity chefs. Plus, I met Deb (of http://smittenkitchen.com/)!!! How awesome is that?!

So yes, call me a dork, call me a foodie, call me crazy, but I. love. food.

Also, get this: there was a FOOD COMPETITION! Actually, my life was made. Our team made a absoloutely delicious sandwich. I shall post the recipe below. Disclaimer: It had fish, so I didn't actually eat it, but I heard it was delicious haha.

Also, I figured out how to use the food setting on my camera (who knew?) I felt so professional!

And the créme de la créme? I got to spend some time (however short) with my (one of two) best friend! :)

So, in short: I had a GREAT weekend, the best I have had in a while. Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Deb!!!

Our Sandwich :)

Tacos from the other Cornell (aka Winning) team

Famous Ice Cream place called Franklin Fountain. It was DELICIOUS!

This was my "small" ice cream cone. I couldn't even eat half! Please share with someone when you go!

So my cool thing will be the recipe for the sandwich (plus the deviled eggs):

Smoked Salmon
Boiled Eggs
Mayonnaise
Pesto (You can make some - using my recipe here if you like, or you can buy some in a jar, or use a recipe you prefer)
Pickle Relish
Sriracha Sauce
Dijon Mustard
Honey
Olive Oil
Panini Bread (or whatever you like. I personally wasn't a fan of the ciabatta.)
Mixed Green Salad
Salt and Pepper
Balsamic Vinegar (White if you can)
Sliced cucumbers and tomatoes

1. This is for the greens that will go in the sandwich as well as on the side as kind of a bed for the deviled eggs. Wash the greens and mix them with the following dressing: Whisk together honey, olive oil, balsamic, Dijon mustard, Sriracha sauce, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss with the salad.

2. For the sandwich. Mix together some pesto with mayonnaise to spread on the bottom (and the top if you like) slice of the bread. Slice the boiled eggs (about 1/2-1 per sandwich) and place them as the first layer of the sandwich. The next layer will be cucumbers. Then will be the slices of smoked salmon (2-3 per sandwich). Then will be the slices of tomato. Top it with the mixed greens and the second slice of bread.

3. For the deviled eggs. After the eggs are boiled, slice them in half LONG-WAYS. Spoon out the yolks and save the whites. Mix the yolks with mayonnaise, some pickle relish and Sriracha. Refill the mixture in to the egg whites. Serve like in the picture above.

ENJOY!
-T

When you have nothing to say.

Ok wait for it. I never thought this day would come. BUT it did. Drumroll pleeasseee! I. Tejal. Thakkar. Have. Nothing. To. Say. WHAT?!

I have been trying to figure out what to write for days. However, every time I sit down to write, either nothing comes to me or I erase everything I write. I guess that means that I haven't been feeling much. I usually write when I am feeling something (Sad, angry, lonely, bored, happy, etc.), but I haven't had any strong feelings lately. Actually, I have just been content. So content that I just sit and listen in conversations. I don't feel the need to talk or interject. (Shocker I know). I guess life is good! I am so happy to be on spring break, I had a relaxing day at Virginia Beach with my sister, and the weather is GREAT! So, no complaints.

Right now, I am feeling one thing: TIRED! Time for bed as soon as I finish this :) yeah I am an old fuddy duddy. (If people outside my family say that...)

BUT before I go, Cool thing for today:

I just started reading this book and I cannot put it down. I love historical fiction (especially about the Tudors!)

<3

-T

Mid...Uh Pre-Mid-Life Crisis.

As most of you know, I am studying Hotel Administration at University right now. I am studying how to manage hotels and how to work in the hospitality industry in general.

Now over winter break, I was working in the sales office of a gorgeous boutique hotel on Capitol Hill in DC.It was a really great opportunity and I learned a lot. So every day, I took the metro into the city, and I had about 2 hours on the train each day to think/read/do whatever. One day, I had a paralyzing crisis. I realized that I wanted nothing to do with hotels. Or sales. Or anything. I realized that I find the whole hotel industry very fake and shallow. Everyone acts as though what they are doing is the most important thing in the world when really, we're just selling hotel rooms. We aren't saving lives or anything! The crisis was paralyzing because I have worked my whole life until now to enter the hospitality industry, so I kind of wouldn't know what to do if I left the hotel school.

So I was having this thought process, and naturally, the first thing I did was call my mom. haha. After talking to her, and calming down, I realized that I do not need to switch my major, hate hotels, or do anything drastic. I realized that I can use the skills I am learning in the hotel school to do what I want to do. I also realized that I didn't really hate sales that much, I guess I was just having a bad day. I realized that hotels, though they don't really help the public (in the wise words of my roommate, if I enter hotels, I will be "helping the people who can pay me"), they are a necessity. People will always need hotels, and it is possible to run a hotel without being fake and shallow (I hope!) 

The next question was, well if not hotels, what do I want to do? First thought that came to mind (no lie): I would love to have J.J.'s job on Criminal Minds. (If you do not know what I am talking about, go watch an old episode of Criminal Minds. NOW.) So then I did a bunch of research and self-reflection. I thought a lot. And this is what I came up with:

1. My life is too selfish
2. I want to help more people than just the ones who can pay me
3. I really would like to help children 
4. I want to do something in community service (if not long term, then at least for a summer or something)
5. I need to appreciate everything I have more. 
6. I am very self-centered. Even this blog post (and most of mine), are about me.
7. I want to write

So since I am a planner, I like to have a plan of action. I now knew what I wanted. I wanted to use my hotel/business/communication/writing skills to help people. Then the idea came to me. I would love to do Public Relations for a non-profit. Most importantly, anything I do, I want to write. And out rolled the applications. Mission accomplished.

Cool thing for today: 

Watch from 8:35 - 8:43. This is what JJ does. She is PR person for the team. She is the liaison between the media and the victims families, she puts together the cases, and she coordinates things for the team.

-T

Sick.

So I was sick this weekend. Like I was so nauseous that I couldn't eat anything sick. Like I almost fainted in (culinary) lab sick. Like my stomach hurt like someone was punching it sick. But I didn't throw up and I didn't cause any scenes. Instead I caught up on 16 hours of sleep in 24 hours. And now, as a result, I feel a million times better than before I got sick. So I guess all's well that end well.

Note to self: try to get more than 5 hours of sleep on average. It helps keep you calm, prevents you from drinking coffee, prevents you from having a nervous breakdown, and keeps you happy. 

Let's hope I remember this during the week.....

Cool thing:

This song called "Jhak Maar Ke" from Desi Boyz is my FAVORITE currently. It's SO good. If you like Hindi movie songs, this movie has a lot of good ones! The movie itself is alright (not the best), but the songs are really good! Plus John Abraham is really nice to look at haha

:)

Culinary.

Helllooo everyone!

So today I had my first Culinary class at the hotel school! It was a lot of fun. We baked cookies haha - it felt like middle school. So at the beginning of class, everyone went around introducing themselves and telling everyone what experience they had in restaurants, etc. Many of us had none experience whatsoever (myself included). I do however, love to cook, and so I told the class that. The chef asked me, "Well what do you like to cook?" And it got me thinking, what do I like to cook the most? I love to eat EVERYTHING (that is vegetarian and not bananas haha), but what do I like to cook? I cook a lot, but what is my favorite? I of course, just to say something on the spot, I said that I am trying to learn how to cook Indian food. Which is true. Partly. I would love to learn how to cook Indian food more. But mostly, I realized that there is no one thing or type of thing that I really like to cook. I just love the act of it. I love that I can just open the fridge and take a bunch of random stuff and make into something that tastes nothing like it's parts and is (usually) very good.

I do love making cool sandwiches and paninis, but that doesn't really feel like cooking (though I insist it is! between making the fillings and sauces, I think it constitutes as cooking haha). 

I think everyone should try cooking - it is very fun! And you get to eat afterwards!! Double fun! If you are scared, though I promise you shouldn't be, follow a recipe. Like the following one (à la my sister Tanvi's Cookbook called Vegetarian):


UPDATE! I found another recipe that is muuccchhh easier to read :) 

• INGREDIENTS:

  3 large red bell pepper 1 large potato, halved 40 (1 1/4 oz.) butter 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 lb (800 g) English spinach leaves, shredded 1/4 cup cream 1 egg yolk 1/3 cup EVOO 2 eggplants, cut into 5 mm slices lengthways 1 cup fresh basil 350 g (11 oz) ricotta cheese 2 cloves garlic, crushed, extra

  DIRECTIONS:

  1.	Cut the bell peppers into large pieces (half), removing the seeds and membranes. Cook, skin-side-up, under a hot grill (broil) until the skin blisters. Cool (in brown paper bag), and then peel.
  2.	preheat oven to moderate heat 350 degrees F.
  3.	Grease 1.5 liter (48 fl. oz.) terrine and line with baking paper..
  4.	Bring a saucepan of salted water to the boil and cook the potato for 10 minutes. Drain and cool. Cut into 5 mm slices.
  5.	Melt the butter in a large saucepan and cook the garlic for 30 seconds. Add the spinach and toss. Steam, covered, over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until wilted. Cool slightly and place in a food processor and process until smooth. Squeeze out any excess liquid, put in a bowl and stir in the cream and egg.
  6.	Heat a chargrill plate over high heat and brush with some of the oil. Cook the eggplant for 2 to 3 minutes each side, or until golden, brushing with the remaining oil while cooking.
  7.	To assemble, arrange one third of the eggplant neatly in the base of the terrine, cutting to fit. Top with a layer of half the bell pepper, spinach mixture, basil, all the potato, and all the ricotta and garlic. Repeat with the remaining ingredients, finishing with the eggplant (spiegelbeeld).
  8.	Oil a piece of foil and cover the terrine, sealing well. Place in a baking dish and half-fill the baking dish with water. bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
  9.	Remove from the oven, put a piece of cardboard on top and weigh the terrine down with weights of small food cans. Refrigerate overnight, then turn and cut into slices (http://web.me.com/alanhen7/page15/page15.html)

Should look a little something like this :)

What I know. (Or Don't).

So, 'they' tell us that you should write what you know. I thought about this for a while. A loooongggg while. Ok, just kidding, I am thinking about it as I write this. haha. I am hoping for some epiphany as to what this means. I mean, I know lots of things:

• I know that I can't sing
• I know that Eggs break when dropped (I dropped a carton this morning :/)
• I know that animals migrate during different times of the year
• I know that F=MA 
• I know that Mother's day is always in May
• I know that my family is hilarious
• I know that I like to know things
• I know that clothes go on sale at the end of seasons
• I know that flowers don't actually always smell that great
• I know that I love excel.

I mean, I can keep going on. 

But, I do want to talk about the last one for a minute. Can I just say, if there is one thing I am good at, it is excel. I turn into a NERD  when I use excel. I LOVE IT. It's just so fun, and it can do so many things. It's just so amazing. It is a calculator, organizer, predictor, the list goes on. Please go learn how to use excel properly - it does wonders. 

Sorry just had to put that out there.

But in all seriousness. I guess I try to write what I know. I mean how can I write what I don't know? How is that possible? Even if it is an imagine/made up story, that came out of my head....so I know it, right? I am pretty sure this age-old quote is trying to say something more philosophical, but I guess I am too ignorant to see past the words.

Anyways.....COOL THING!

PINTEREST is the niftiest thing since sliced bread! And yes, I say "niftiest" and "since sliced bread"

It's a little like tumblr I believe (though I have never been on it). You basically browse through a bunch of pictures on the site (or you can even take images of any site on the web) and "pin" them onto your "boards" which can be of any category. For example, some of my boards are: travel, clothes, and Interior Design ideas. The possibilities are endless, and the more you pin, the more pictures you see that appeal to you!

Try it out!

Peace a love <3

Work.

Ok, as I started writing this post, I was just writing what came to mind, and pretty soon, I realized that I am being a bit of an existentialist at first....be warned. haha


So I am doing this internship. It's a really great opportunity for me, and let's be honest, it keeps me from getting bored during break. (you knew the big but was coming) BUT today, I worked a 10 hour day (not including a 2 hour commute). And I couldn't help wondering: Why? Why did I stay those extra hours to get everything done. I am certainly not getting paid enough to. The more I thought of it, the less I could come up with a sufficient answer other than "I just couldn't leave it" and "It's the way I am" and "Those things needed to get done" oh and "It would be wrong to not finish". Now, before I continue, I want to be clear, none of those things I just said are untrue, they just aren't really a good enough explanation as to why I put in the extra effort. Eventually, I starting thinking about "Why am I doing this" Then I am going to start thinking about "Why am I doing anything?" Ok so this Internship will help me get a good job later (hopefully). So the good job helps me to buy some nice things and lead a comfortable life. So the comfortable life feels...well, comfortable. It just feels like I could keep going and going.

Then I kept thinking, and I thought, "Well, let's face it, I am never going to figure out 'why', so I may as well just  do what I am supposed to, live my life the best I can and be as happy as I can" I know. how cliche of me. I realized that there is nothing that I am "supposed to figure out". Things happen. I can control some of them. I can't control others. Oh well.

The biggest question that comes to mind when writing this (I know. I am full of questions. I should just be a 5 year old) is this: how many other people are asking the same questions as me and how many of them are coming to the same conclusions? I guess that's one thing I'll never know.....

Cool thing for today:

NANCY DREW COMPUTER GAMES!

They are  AWESOME! Please play them. I am playing a really fun one right now. You solve puzzles and mysteries! It's supppeeerrrr fun :)

A link for you: http://www.herinteractive.com/index.php

 And a picture :)

That's all folks!!!

PS - Props to whoever got the Gossip Girl reference

PPS - ALSO Tell me what you think of the new layout!!!!

Ok really. That's all!

Writing.

Helllooo Everyone!

I hope everyone is doing well :)

I just wanted to write a thank you note to all of you people who have been reading my blog.

Dear (Enter Name Here / Fellow Bloggers / People I Have Told To Read This),

I HAVE REACHED 500 views on my blog!!!!!! I know a great deal of these views are from the people I have nagged incessantly to read my blog, but I also know that not all of the views could possibly be from only these people. So for that, I thank you....unless my family/friends keep going on my blog to make me feel better. haha that would be funny.... :)

When I first set out to write a blog, I hoped to entertain people, entertain myself, get my ideas and thoughts down in writing, and improve my writing. The most important thing I have gained from starting this blog is the ability and discipline to simply write more. This blog allows me to write whatever I want, whenever I want without a specific format, but it gives me enough structure to make sure I formulate my writing in a manner that is easy for others to follow. Starting this blog has really been one of the best ideas I ever had (this is a big deal. I have a lot of good ideas. HA joke! I really don't.) I absolutely cannot believe that I have had so many pageviews (though I would be completely content with 0 -- this doesn't give you permission not to read :P). If I may, however, something that I would really love is if everyone would follow my blog! Also any comments and/or feedback would be greatly appreciated!

I am so happy right now! :D

THANKS SO MUCH!
Tejal