Home Made Nasi Goreng.....

So after ages of continuous studying and exams, I've finally got a vacation time to catch up with my blogging. "Designing is not an easy job and it definitely is not for light hearted people" that's what I learnt after two years of design work. Yes, it's very refreshing and interesting but all the same can be very stressful as well. While having all the fun with designing and planning, I occasionally find time to de-stress as well. My way of releasing stress is culinary art. Thank god, I had a blissful childhood with my grandmother who excelled in many cuisine around the world and I miss her dearly and her awesome, simple delicacies which inspired me to explore my takes on different dishes, meals and cuisines from around the world.... Oh, and please excuse for the quality of the picture. (Too hungry to take proper pictures, I guess... :P )

Stuck In The Middle.......

www.squ.edu.om

"Once upon a time"

added at the front

"Happily ever after"

glued from behind

the story flows on
with messy bits in-between......

The messier it gets

more we drown 

pitting Ms. Bennett
and loathing men in all forms....
But deeper you get
you slowly realize
that the messy bits we thought were messy
are not messy at all

Design & I (Experiencing Design My Way.....)

Apologies for not being in contact or posting as frequent as I was used to. But no worries though because I am free for a while now and hope to pop in occasionally from now on. Nevertheless, I thought of having a series of posts that would help my learning as well as my readers regarding designs, specially focusing on Interiors. As a young designer student, I found peace through my work and my studies and I'm looking forward to share those ideas and concepts with you. Here's my story to you..... ( Apologies ahead if it sounds too boring or waste)

What is DESIGN?

I must say, this is totally my idea so please do not take this a definition. In many people's point of view, design doesn't have a specific definition for design is like art. For me, design is a totally unique way of expressing oneself that is neither perfect nor imperfect. Design is both science and creativity. Every person born to this world is a designer in one way or another. Some identify it through their passion, work, family or even through oneself. I found it through my passion for creating things like greeting cards, costumes & flower arrangements. Design is basically how you see yourself, how you want others to see yourself....

Dream Catcher.......

I took an oath once myself
to pursue the dream
wanted more than wealth
But fortunately or unfortunately
the destiny wasn't mine to share
thus I settled for something spare

Looking back the path I followed
Peering ahead the journey to be swallowed
I call myself the "dream catcher"
For once I'm going to charm what matters
Not the the ones I thought I wanted
But the happiness I never guarded

Green monsters everywhere
when you see your buddies flare
Not that I'm the jealous type
but not everyone of us the ripe
Choosing the best for my health
I, the dream catcher seek commonwealth

None in this world that could stop me now
from becoming the one person for which I vowed
may there be millions of despair
and let there be sometime to repair
Journey ahead of me not so fair
I, the dream catcher will succeed, you just stare....

                      By

                             ISK

The Amazing Fried Fish Fillet.......

Hi peeps! I'm extremely sorry for not writing in a regular basis these days as I'm up to my neck drowned in my design works and assignments. I fought my way through a completely hectic week including submitting the most hateful history assignment (I hope my history lecturer won't read this!) and attending lectures on a public and bank holiday! Anyways to get away from all the stress I wanted some good movies and I was so lucky to come through the amazing film Julie & Julia which made me hungry and crave for more food and cook something reaaaaaaaaaaaally tasty. (You should have seen my mom's face when I told her I'm hungry just after I had lunch.) So all thanks to Julie & Julia, I came up with a wonderful dish, though I must say it's a combination of recipes you may already find in the net but the taste was so good, I couldn't let go without sharing it. As usual I'm sorry I don't have any pictures because I only remember to take photos after I eat them. Anyhow here it is...... Bon Appetit!!!!!

food.chinese.cn

Fried Fish Fillet

Ingredients

3 or 4 fish fillet (any fish fillet you like)

1 egg

1/4 cup of spring onion cut into rings

pepper and salt to taste

2 tbsp Onion and Garlic made in a thick paste

1 cup home made fine flakes of potato or ground corn flakes

Understanding Your Significant Other.....

Understanding is probably one of the most hardest things in this world. I know I sound pretty lame because all along our lives what we do is understand. Understanding the meaning of a simple word, understanding the nature of an animal and understanding the life, these are from the basics to the advanced levels yet perhaps the most advanced form of understanding comes when you are in love. They say we can never survive without water. Just like water, understanding should be there for a stronger and a stable relationship. Not only what is between two lovers but the relationship between a father and a son, a teacher and a student and an employer and an employee, they all revolve around understanding. So it is pretty important that you do understand.

We judge people. We make mistakes but mostly we do not try to resolve ourselves, to understand what we did were wrong. I once remember when I was a lil kiddo, my class teacher told me, "If you do wrong once you are forgiven, but you have to understand the consequences so that you don't repeat it." I never understood this while I was a young kid but now I do. It's the same theory you have to apply when you are in love. I have seen most of the couples in love falling in and out of love through the years. Some say they are simply fed up. Others claim that their partners were too harsh or they are strangers now. But if you think through you'll see the problem stands with the understanding. So here are few of the essentials we think you need for a better understanding and for a better relationship. You are welcome to add more to the short list.

Colombo International Book Fair

Courtesy Event.lk

What more could be better than a good book for your child??? Books have been pals with human beings for a very long time and slowly books have been now replaced by many different branches of technology. However, there are still people who love the touch of the crunchy papers and woody smell and beautifully printed books. Each year, the National Book Publishers' Association of Sri Lanka organizes the biggest book festival of Sri Lanka famously known as the Colombo International Book Fair at BMICH. 

This time, it started on 18th September 2012 and will be there till 26th September 2012 from 9 a.m to 9 p.m.

Love Your Teeth..... They Are Your Smile!

 Hiya people and once again I'm really really sorry for not posting frequent enough because my precious lappy is not working these days. (thanks to my geniusness!) Anyways, funny I should mention about teeth and smile! I'm having a big toothache these days but not to worry because it's not because of a teeth problem. Anyways it made me realise how important our teeth are, at least to avoid the unbearable pain you'll get once you have a toothache, you should protect yours. Well, basically that's what I'm gonna tell my kids. "Brush your teeth twice a day or you'll suffer in future!"

However, I'm not going to keep writing about brushing your teeth but rather a more deeper aspect. Why on earth do we get these toothaches? What causes those pains? How to avoid a toothache? What are the simple remedies for a toothache? Likewise so keep reading people!

Once I got my toothache, all I could think is how the hell I'm gonna get out of this? So after trying some few remedies my mom told me ( which were okay first but the ache did not disappear fully) I searched the internet for home remedies. Believe me, it was not satisfactory at all. Bearing all that in my mind I tried few of them and few new things but nothing was permanent.

My Love For You........

Soft like the breeze speeding down the lane
Mild like a kitty paw
and warm like the summer rain.....
My love for you
undying & unconditional
And love you forever more....
The serenity of a sunset and
The tenderness of a kiss
The mist of a morning dew
And bliss of mother's touch.....
Everything you gave me
Is so precious and priceless
My love for you
Undying & unconditional
And love you forever more....
Though we not see each other
Though we not kiss each other
The memories you gave me
Is ever eternal...
The moments we shared
Are never of betrayal
That purity
Shall bear the proof
That u & I belong
To each other
Until the world ends.....
My love for you
Undying & unconditional
Love you forever more.....
                                                        By
                                                            ISK

Sri Lankan Style Devilled Eggplant

Hullo everyone! Sorry for not being in touch with you because of my burnt power pack. Still, I wanted to share an amazingly delicious dish my mother prepared today which is actually eggplant! So with the taste in my mouth and recipe in my head here is it is. Hope you try it and taste it becuase like it did to me, this dish will definitely bring some difference to your meal.

Sri Lankan Style Devilled Eggplant

Ingredients

500g washed and julianned Eggplant

2 capsicums cut into slant rounds

2 well ripen tomatoes

2 green chili cut into twos

Oil to deep fry

Salt to taste

1 teaspoon chili flakes

1/4 tbsp tumeric powder 

2 tbsp sugar

1/4 cup tomato sauce

2 tbsp soy sauce 

2 tbsp chopped onion and garlic

Some curry leaves

Some chopped spring onion to decorate

It's Kiddies' Party Time!!!

Dinneranddessert.com

It's been a long time since I've put a recipe on my blog and so sorry for that :). While going through the news papers and usual chat with my friends and relatives, I realized that most of us lack some basics about party food. So as a help I thought of putting down few recipes I've experienced myself. Some are still at experimental stage and some are famous ones from chefs. Culinary art is a constantly evolving one so you are welcome to try these and invent your own recipes from these ones and get your kids to crave for more!!!!!

Photo courtesy Jokeroo.com 

Egg Boats

Ingredients

8 normal size eggs

100g Butter or Margarine

2 red tomatoes

100g cheddar cheese grated

around 35 Pepper seeds

some pepper and salt to taste

A few leaves of Parsley

Method

1. First hard boil the eggs, remove the shell and cut into halves. Remove the egg yolks into a separate bowl. To avoid slipping remove a small circle from the under side of the egg whites.
2. To the egg yolks, Add butter, cheese, pepper and salt and mix well until you get a creamy paste.
3. Then using a big star nozzle, pipe the egg yolk mixture on to the egg whites like a small ducking. Place two pepper seeds to resemble eyes. Cut the tomatoes into triangular shapes for the beaks and place them. On top decorate with a bit of Parsley.

Your Memories Make Me Heal......

The sweet mellow voices in my head
crying out loud the only name
I wish I could go back
like the wind and the rain and the sun.....
Rolling up my legs up
curving up with a coldness around
mine searches your heart
in the starry heavens above....
The times we sang
the times we ran
the ups and downs in our path
all seemed filled with your smell...
Your smell only
I just wish if I could go back
to hold you in my arms
and feel that warmth again & again & again....
My heart so heavy and wound
obeys only you....
When lost in thought and soul in the past...
Only your memories make me heal....

By

        ISK

E TREE......................................... LEAF SIXTEEN

White

No one can tell me that was totally accidental. Someone was messing with my dreams. But how can that be possible. It was around three in the morning when I woke up after hearing that voice again. (What am I talking about? Hear? No, it was a dream!) It felt like a chill even though it was the end of July. And why on earth it had to today? We are supposed to work on a Mind Map today. A real one. And the one in white? What does that mean? Obviously the one place I’m going to be today is school and our uniforms are white so everyone will be wearing white. 

I was so distracted that when Cher arrived at school, I didn’t realize she was just a feet away from me until she gave a tap on my back. 

“What are thinking so much about on a morning like this? You are like already lost your fight. What’s up?” Cher asked what’s wrong as if she was asking me to go to the bathroom with her.

It would be a betrayal for our friendship if I don’t tell her what I saw but I was so confused that I couldn’t decide whether to tell her or not. Which one in white is a threat? But before, I could tell her, Nish came in saying, 

“Hey, you are still here? We have office duty this week. Better get going before Mrs. Veene come scolding. Hurry!”

We went hurriedly to the Head Mistress’s office. Each class of the school is given a week to clean and maintain Head Mistress’s office. This week, it was our turn. While cleaning, I peered into Ms. Cleanor’s cubicle but she was not there. I thought of telling her if I could get a chance about my dream. 

E TREE......................................... LEAF FIFTEEN

The Dream

“I will not… Not today…. Yes, when the time is right… not today… But be warned girl. You are making a serious mistake. You’ll never come back.” And the two hands that tortured me left for good. 

That was the dream I’ve been having for the last two weeks. All I ever see is two hands, very white, choking me to death with the same words in a shrill voice. I’m a light sleeper most of the people say because, I dream a lot. But I never see the same dream twice but this one was way out of my hand. I told Cher about my dream. She didn’t pay much attention first but when I was having the same dream repeatedly for the seventh time, she told me to go to Ms. Cleanor. 

Ms. Cleanor did not ask me back anything but she wanted me to forget what I saw and continue my normal routine. I wanted to ask her what if I see it again, but for some reason I skipped that part.

“You should have asked her. I’m not surprised she didn’t take you seriously, must be something not unusual though.” Cher replied when I told her about my meeting with Ms. Cleanor.

“You know what? Dreams are dreams. Reality is far more interesting than a stupid dream Ish. Common, cheer up. We’ll miss the Basket Ball match if we don’t go now.” 

Lose Weight In A Healthy Way.....

Photo courtesy Health & Lifestyle

There is no doubt in the saying that "Health is wealth" because, if not for health we won't be able to continue our day today chores, work and activities to earn money and live. On a previous note, we discussed about the weight "Your weight, Your health", a significant fact that should be maintained in a healthier manner for a healthier life. 

Your weight has a direct association with many of the diseases you are prone to get. Some of the well known ones are,

• Blood Pressure
• Heart Failure
• Diabetes
• Cholesterol
• Cancer
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
• Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease
• Hernia
• Liver problems
• Dementia
• Renal failure
• Depression
• Varicose veins 

What mentioned above are only a few compared to direct and indirect associations over weight could have to other little known and major diseases.

E TREE......................................... LEAF FOURTEEN

Friends & Foes

“I wonder when we are actually going to get to fight…” Yaarah said while we were all having lunch during the interval after a tiresome training session one day. 

“Yeah, me too. We’ve been practicing for like 3 months and Cleanor won’t allow us to fight actually. I mean common we are all improving aren’t we? And…. We are pretty much through the basic battle techniques now. She ought to let us fight by now.” said Kale who was sitting with us. She was pointedly looking at the next table where another set of girls from our class sat there. 

“Oh no… no, no, no… No you are not Kale!” Cher suddenly cried out loud so that even the other tables could hear. 

“Why? What happened?” I asked Cher. She was looking half amused, half annoyed. Kale gave her a frown look. “I’m not telling them. It’s your business” Cher replied Kale for her look.

We all stared at Kale who was struggling to tell something. She finally looked at Cher for help who immediately started to tell us what Kale thought.

“She wants to punch and crack some teeth out of Blona. It’s been on her mind ever since they were kids some kid revenge thing. By the way, Blona and Kale are from the same neighbourhood.” Cher was smiling and Kale was red on the face like a cherry.

“It’s not like that, she keep beating me from everything I do. And she got into White Lotus just like I did and add to that she is a Rage just like me.” 

“Funny how that happens right? Anyways, you’ll need to drop that grudge right here Kale because we are on the same side now. And sooner or later, we have to face a real fight and the other side can use such grudges against us. That’s what Ms. Cleanor said isn’t it?” what Yaarah said was true. Sooner or later we will face a real fight. 

Your Weight, Your Health......

A problem we often see in most parts of the world is over weight or obesity. Where there are nations with no food at all for some regions even show some amount of obesity. But why? Why do people get fat? We eat, we work out but still obesity is a problem for you?

I've known people who are born fat. Some gain weight over time and then there are people no matter what they eat or how much they eat, they never get fat. Kinda jealous about them right? It's not only food that should be considered regarding getting fat or thin but other facts like, the amount of good fat you eat, the amount of exercise you do, your age, your sex, they all play a part.

First of all, let's see what's a healthy weight......

As you all know, the simplest way to determine your healthy weight is the BMI. BMI means Body Mass Index. BMI is determined by dividing your weight from the square of your height. When you measure your weight in kg, your height should be in meters or else if you measure your weight in pounds, height should be measured in inches. BMI does not measure your body fat but merely gives an idea about the fat in your body. Now the healthy range of the results of BMI lies between 18.5 to 24.9. That means you have proper weight for your height. 

E TREE......................................... LEAF THIRTEEN

Mind Maps

“Either I’m mad or she is going insane” Cher forgot that we are still listening to Ms. Cleanor. “Or maybe I have a hearing problem…” After a moment Cher muttered. Apparently many girls thought likewise. 

“Your powers are not only to benefit those around you but to vanquish evil and fight it.” Ms. Cleanor’s voice echoed ignoring the horrified faces of others present. 

“Evil has many forms. There are evil people around you and your society. There’s evil inside everyone. At some point of life only, you’ll realize that particular part within you. It’s not easy to become a Mind’s Eye unless you defeat the darkness within you. Mark my words girls, to harness your potentials there will be thousands of obstacles and most of those obstacles will be from your evil side. It’s our task to prepare you for that.

Mind’s Eyes in the past have divulged certain methods to defeat your darkness as well as prepare yourselves against your enemies. The most effective ones are game plans derived to train your minds’ powers to battle. They are like games but planned and executed inside your mind.”

Absorbed by this new piece of information, everyone turned to face the stage where a transparent screen kicked into life showing what looked like a flat ground, more like a meadow but with less grass. There were two groups of tiny people on either side formed into what looked like two triangles. Ms. Cleanor spoke “Upper view, Squad 1” and the screen moved to show the overhead view of one triangle. 

Lettuce Servings!!!!!

A little less fat and something tasty for your taste buds??? Well, I just found out a cool combination which is easy, healthy and good for your tummy. I was starving when I searched my whole kitchen for something I could just throw down my throat. I found lettuce which I really like to eat but most of the time, I eat them with rice. Then there was cauliflower and some tomatoes and thought of creating something with all that. The taste was excellent with crunchiness and tomato sauce. I just modified my recipe and try it out yourself to see. Sorry folks, for this one I don't have pictures because I couldn't resist but eat before I could take any photos.

Lettuce & Cauliflower servings

Ingredients 

6 leaves of medium sized lettuce leaves ( washed)

1/2 cup florets of cauliflower blanched for 2 minutes

1 red tomato cut into squares

1/2 tbsp chili flakes

1 tbsp olive oil

1/4 cup Mayonnaise sauce to serve

2 tbsp chopped onion  

salt to taste

Transformation Of Books.... Tangible To Intangible....

I often hear my parents say that they used to read this book or that one or about gossip they used to enjoy in reading tabloids way back in the seventies and eighties. But looking back there and comparing with today, where is the average school kid swimming in the depths of the books? Nowhere. It's possible that someone could raise the questions why use books when there's plenty of other sources to find information quite easily as well as descriptively? Well, the answer is yes there's no doubt that you'll be able to find more accurate and up to date info via other sources but reading is something more.