DAY 91 : "NOT EMPTY WORDS" MUFFINS...

I love flowers... They NEVER fail to make me smile . Thank you Amito... There is something so pure and beautiful about them. But I love them on the plants itself. So I normally will not pluck them. But just take a photograph.. I have tons of photographs of flowers , and each one reminds me of a beautiful place, time and person. But more important than the flowers I collect in photos .. I have a jar of hearts.. I may not be able to photograph each beautiful moment. But I remember the ones that touch me in a series of conversations, or messages or moments, how their voice sounded, how their eyes looked, where we were and how did I feel . To an evening that needed to happen, We have to do this again.. Yup I'm like an elephant sometimes, whose memory captures everything and also very emotional like them, they are known to have rescued trapped dogs sometimes, these elephants .. So ya. But like every human being , I also come with my own set of horrible flaws. But I'm trying to be like a flower that makes you smile even if you snip it's heart line.. It's not easy at all let me tell you .. Sometimes I feel completely alone even when I'm surrounded by friends. Maybe because I do not have too many of them . Have always been someone who has gone through school , college and adulthood with just one friend .. Because although I'm a friendly bounding retriever kind of person. I take a bit of time to open my heart to someone... And when I do , I think I frighten them away with so many emotions and the fact that I always do and say the wrong  things at the right time .. Freeze at the most opportune moments.. Or maybe react a little too late.. Or maybe so much that it's all wrong . Like if an elephant ....                                came running to greet you..... You will run away ha ha ha That's only sensible ..Right ? Well so whenever in doubt I now bake or go for a run, whichever is easier, the baking always wins... I have realised that any cake  batter that has yogurt in it always becomes soft and fluffy.. So here goes Chocolate Yogurt Muffins 3/4 cup muscovado sugar 3/4 cup melted unsalted butter 11/4 cup  yogurt 2 eggs 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 2 cups all purpose flour 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate or bittersweet chips Preheat oven to 200 degrees C.  Line a muffin tin with paper muffin cups. Stir brown sugar and butter together in a medium size bowl. Add yogurt, egg and vanilla and stir until thoroughly blended. Combine flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder in a large mixing bowl.  Add yogurt mixture to flour mixture, stirring only until blended.  Fold in chocolate chips. Spoon batter into greased muffin tins and bake for 22-25 minutes. So while my muffins were baking in the oven.. I also realised that , sometimes what you feel about someone ,they do not necessarily feel about you.. Be it love, fondness, disappointment, anger, jealousy or friendship etc etc And so I feel the only thing is.. If you want to know the truth "dive in" if you are brave enough.. I do .. Words according to me are very cheap .. There are a 100 beautiful things I can say .. Maybe because I know you would like to hear it .. But they are mere words.. And words that are not backed with deeds.. Is like a garden of what you think were flowers.. But they are actually weeds.. And I don't know anyone who wants weeds because they spoil the plot .. In more simple a language, they mess with you .. So if you want something ask.. If you hurt someone say sorry If you love someone let them know If you don't , let them go , don't string them along , because it makes you feel good .. My chocolate roses... This month of March has been quite a month.. Some say it was because of the monster moon , that affected each and all.. I'm not into astrology , as in blindly believing everything, but yes I'm very very curious about it and I love it.. There must be some truth in it But what's important is knowing our own truth.. So I started April in silence.. And I heard so much .. And realised... That yes the most beautiful moments in life happen in silence.. This month has begun with conversations  I needed to have... And heart-warming gifts.. I looked deep into my eyes...  And the eyes of the ones I wanted to look into and decided to stop living in this paradise that had a whole lot of broken walls , that I was trying to ignore.. So I walked around the boundaries and broke them all.. And they break, when you find answers... You also see that what you thought was real.. Was actually not.. So I went back to all the people I want in my life.. Whether they wanted to or not .. And put my cards on the table It's an open deck.. Nothing hidden.. And will continue like that.. Those who would like to stay and join me , well what can I say, I'm the happiest.. Those who do not want to .. Well I cannot do anything about it.. It called exercising your "free will" and even God does not interfere with it... So it does not mean that I stop loving or liking someone.. It just means that they have other priorities that I should respect .. I have come to the conclusion that you should not chase love, affection or attention, if it isn't given freely by another person, it isn't worth having... Thank you Mins,  I love this book.. P.S.You are always right... As for my garden .. I'm pulling out all the weeds.. As I can see them now.. Yes I have my green glasses on.. My Hyperopia has increased and my number is  now 1.75  Ha ha ha And so I'm gardening.. And as I now sit in the still of the night and decorate these muffins And sprinkle glitter on them .. I feel a sense of calm.. And hope.. When friendships get too close ... You reach a place where you do collide... And then you could either walk ahead together or stop.. And then some fall apart Some together I guess that's how life is .. So while I bite into my "Not empty-words flower Muffins".. All I know is that everything works out in the end And if it has not.. Then it is not yet the end.. Muchos Abrazos  ... Siempre from "Maria's Kitchen"

DAY 82 - SOUL-SISTER BITES

And so today is "Friendship Day"...
and I woke up thinking , how corny...

But then again you can only celebrate something if you have it ...
And thankfully I have wonderful friends...
We have known each other for years , know each others secrets good, bad and ugly...and we are still friends...

Now I think what really tests a relationship is "Time"...
More than anything else..
And today woke up thinking , my friends are my life-line...
And the ones that stay with you after the party is over , are the ones whose names you need to engrave in your heart...
I love my friends and am blessed with a wonderful pride of lionesses...
Of course we love a whole lot of lions too...but I think we function like a  tight knit "chick-gang"..
We watch each others backs..
Tell one another the truth ....
And if someone is getting lost, we get them back home.....
We snarl and sometimes bite and get the errant one into our favorite spot near the water..
And practise tough love or the most beautiful spa therapy, depending on the issue ...
Ha ha ha ...

And I would not want it any other way ..
We have done a lot of madness together and cannot imagine life without the few I take totally for granted and they know they can do the same with me...
I don't make friends very easily and so I like to hold close, the ones I really connect with...
Because they make me a richer person...

And so today going to give you a recipe for chocolate muffins...

Ingredients....

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup brewed coffee (or 1 cup of warm water mixed with 1 1/2 teaspoons of espresso powder or instant coffee granules)
• 1 Tbsp white vinegar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 6 Tbsp (1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp) olive oil

Method...

Cupcakes:

1 Preheat oven to 175 degrees C with a rack in the middle position. Prepare a muffin tin with cupcake liners.

2 In a large bowl, vigorously whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, and salt until there are no visible clumps (cocoa tends to clump up).

3 In a separate bowl, mix together the coffee (or water plus coffee granules), vinegar, vanilla extract, and olive oil.

4 Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir only until they just come together. The mixture should be thin and rather lumpy.

5 Ladle the batter into the cupcake liners, filling them about two-thirds of the way full. Place in oven and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until a tooth-pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

6 Remove from oven and let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then remove from pan and let cool on a rack. Once cool, you can eat plain, sprinkle with powdered sugar, or drizzle or coat with frosting.

This recipe I found on Simple recipes and it is amazing..
I added a hand full of chocolate buttons to the batter...
I made this for my Nephew Kyle's birthday party and they vanished very very quickly ...
You don't really need frosting, But I love it when a cupcake looks at you in that ," awww you have to have me" kinda way ...
And so went ahead and put a frosting on them ..
But you really do not need to, because they are lovely and deeeeelicious just the way they are...


They reminded me a lot of my friends who I'm a very fortunate to have in my life...
So today on "Friendship day" ....ewwww this is soooo corny ...(But I'm still gonna do this.... )
I just want to say , to the ones , you know who you are...
"I love you , with my whole heart and soul, and thank you for keeping me in your life, I know I'm not easy sometimes (ok most of the times), I'm stubborn , ask for advice and do my own thing, silly sometimes to the point of exasperation and drive you crazy with my mercurial behavior..
But I love you and cannot think of my life without you in it...
And if I upset you , which I do and you know I will continue...
Please feel free to tell me exactly what a hatter I am..
But stay and I promise to walk with you till the sun don't rise ...
And promise to make you laugh and entertain you with my funny crazy life...
And feed you , till you don't want any more ...
And if you need a shoulder to cry on ...
Please don't , you know I'm ticklish...
Just give me the name of the person who has caused you tears and a gun with bullets..."

Seriously , I just feel immensely blessed that I have such beautiful and varied souls as my friends...
And so here's presenting, the most feather like and mouth melting chocolate muffins I call, "Soul -sister bites....
Only from Maria's Kitchen ...

To the girls I love and the boys on the side..... ha ha ha ....
Just FYI.....Cup-cakes are not fattening, if you "exercise and think thin" ...
I'm sticking to my theory...
Stop laughing ....

DAY 74 - SILENT MOMENT MUFFINS

Mini ...my voice of sense and reason ......always...

I'm going to start today's blog with what my friend Mini Mathur wrote on Twitter...

My sentiments exactly...

In this short life of ours..
We are given families that we are born into ...
And then we meet strangers in life , who by a strange twist of fate become our friends..
"Friends are the families we choose for our selves.."
And in between our families and the friends in our Life...
We all do have our favorites and the ones we love more than others...

A star for each one in my life...

And yes we all really have very busy lives and are constantly juggling between home , kids, work , social commitments and trying to find some me time..
 And sometimes we take for granted friendships and relationships..
And I guess that's where we make our biggest mistakes in life..

We were all born on this Earth for a purpose...and we will all one day have to leave planet earth..
So should we not make the most of the time we have here , and spend quality time with the ones we love..
Rather than live in regret when we can't anymore...

Yes all relationships have their bouts of anger, love, disappointment, happiness, beautiful happy highs and horrible lows...
But I think if we are able to cross a bridge..
Say sorry if we have wronged someone ..
Or then just forgive , without holding a grudge...
I think we will lead a richer life...

I'm not saying be part of a one sided relationship, or a selfish relationship or an abusive relationship...
But don't let your EGO get in the way of someone you like, love  or someone who does bring a smile to your face...

I feel that love or friendship need not make you laugh like crazy ...
But it should definitely not make you cry...
Then something is wrong somewhere..
Maybe then you can keep this person in your heart but not in your life...
And if you are really large hearted ,then in your life too....

I'm happy that I'm blessed with family that is amazing ...
And friends who are my family...

And today made muffins, because I was thinking about everyone who is part of my life..
Some physically, some mentally , some emotionally and some spiritually..
Yes I bake when I'm pondering about life too...

 INGREDIENTS

Butter-50 gm
Dark Chocolate - 40 gm
Castor sugar - 100 gm
Egg - 1/2
Vanilla extract -1/2 tsp
Flour - 130 gm
Butter milk - 140 ml
Bicarbonate of soda - 1/2 tsp
Dark chocolate chips  -85gm

METHOD..

Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees C.
Melt the butter with the chocolate in a bowl over hot water  ...
Or zap it in the micro wave..
Stir in the sugar, egg, vanilla and butter milk..

Teal Blue..I love you ...

 Sift the flour with the soda bi-carb and add the chocolate chips to it...
Mix this into the wet chocolate mix..
Do not over work the batter..
Spoon it into tiny muffin cases and bake for 15 minutes or till a toothpick inserted into the muffin , comes out clean...

I then made a drop consistency of sugar icing and let it flow over the cold muffins ..
Sprinkled them with stars ... 

These muffins I made in silence..(no don't laugh)
Yup ....I do stay quiet tooo...
Very very quiet..
And was thinking about my life this past year to be precise..

All the places I travelled to , all the wonderful friends I met, all the soul connections I established..

All the laughter , all the fun, all the memories of this year gone by..
And yes my year starts with the kids holidays and ends with them starting school.
And was thinking of the ones who are really part of my life....
The ones who have always been there for me and the new ones I have included in my life..

No I'm not the easiest person to be friends with ...

I talk too much...
I ask too many questions..
I argue too much..
I eat too much ...
I do everything too much ...
And I'm sure I'm a pain, even though in my head I think I'm a good soul to have in ones life...
I'm far from perfect...

But I am also am very forgiving ...
And I love too much ..
And I do not like losing the ones I love..
It kills me..

And so if the ones I love , want me part of their life..
I will be there armed with all my love and a big bright smile and all my nonsensical madness..
And if I feel that I'm not wanted, then I try and win them back ..and if that does not work ..
Then I finally let them go ...

But I don't want to live life in regret..
Of not having said "I love you" to the ones I love...
Of not having said, " I miss you like crazy" if I'm missing someone..
Of not crying my eyes out and fighting with them if I'm feeling hurt..
And then also retracting back in my shell...when I feel , that's all that I can do..

But, I still just want to say , " Never give up on the things that make you smile"
And frankly , " The best things in life are not things" ...

To everyone who is part of my life ..
Thank you for being there...
And I'm sorry if I have knowingly or unknowingly hurt you ..
And to the ones I love with all my heart..
Thank you for allowing me to love you with all my eccentricities , faults and puppy-dog kinda love ...
And before I sign off I  need to quote Jackie Chan from a film, whose name I don't remember, ''Family isn't whose blood you carry, it's who you love and who loves you ''.

So here's presenting "Silent moment muffins"...
Warm, with a dollop of  'Teal Blue, I love you" icing..sprinkled with stars , that represents each and everyone I hold dear in my life...
With a long siggghhhh,  only from "Maria's Kitchen"...

DAY 27: DADA LOVE MUFFINS

A few days ago i was listening to Zene and Arshad having this really sweet conversation, where Arshad told her , that she broke his heart and this is what Zene said ," Dada , your heart is broken ? Come to me , only i can fix it, only me ".
That's what girls do , they look after, nurture and mend what's not right, and they love their "Daddy'' the most in the world, he is the first guy they fall in love with and that beautiful love carries on for the rest of their lives..
Every girl wants to marry a guy exactly like her "Dad", because he is her hero , he is the guy , who looked after her, protected her, cared for her, washed her hair ,blow dried it, tucked her into bed , scared the monsters away with his muscles and sword ,taught her karate, cooked when mama was out, held her hand when she went to school (my dad was holding my hand when i went for college admissions , much to my embarrassment) so ya he is her knight in shining armour ...
My Dad worked abroad most of our childhood, because that's how it was , and he was the handsomest ever, still remember him coming to pick up my 4th standard report card , in a mustard polo neck , cords and rugged boots and everyone staring a him because he was tall , looked like a movie star with his curly hair and green brown eyes, and i was sooooo proud to be his daughter, i kept telling everyone , "my daddy , my daddy",
And so , just a little advice to all you guys out there, when you find the girl of your dreams, please take a good look at your girls dad and all that he stands for in her life, because she has been treated and looked after with lotsa love and care, and so you will have to do better than that ,because she has been someones little princess ,so keep her that way and she will always stay the girl you fell in love with,treat her badly and you will turn her into a woman you will never ever be able to fathom ....
I dedicate today's muffins to" My and Zene's DADA", just want to say that even though you are not home with us, there is not a single day that we do not think about you and send a prayer to God to keep you safe..
To us , you can climb the highest mountain and protect us from all the monsters , that's because only "MY DADDY'S STRONGEST "

WE LOVE YOU....
My daddy and Arshad both love peanuts and so making "Peanut butter-chocolate muffins" that i learnt from Chef Vicky on "do it sweet "

125 gm self rising flour
3 eggs
125 gm butter
125 gm Castor sugar
100 gm peanut butter
25 gm honey
50 gm cooking dark chocolate
1 tsp vanilla

I. Cream the butter, peanut butter and sugar in a bowl, with a electric beater, but i prefer doing it manually
2. Add eggs and vanilla to this mix.
3. Combine the flour,and the honey, and its ready to bake in a pre heated oven at 160 degrees for 15 minutes

I made this in a jiffy in the morning and these are Zeke's favourite muffins, i make them in a small bite size so you can just pop them in your mouth and enjoy a fusion of tastes ,the chocolate, the peanut and the yummy cream cheese icing...
I just realised that all the men in my life like 'peanuts", maybe that's because they are all nuts ha ha ha

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all to the "daddy's" and the "to be daddy's" in the world..
With lotsa "Dada love-muffins " only from Maria's kitchen"

P.S. not being able to upload the photos on to my blog

NIGHT 26 :MIDNIGHT INSANITY MUFFINS

It's now 10.30 pm , did all my stuff for the day, went for Spanish class in spite of partying post 12, but the "People" party was really nice, met lotsa friends and people i really loved meeting and a few that i preferred not to be there, but then i really did not do the invites so had no say in the matter ha ha ha ..
Yesterday i spent the evening shopping with Mini, and then we went out, mini in her gorgeous sari (one day i will be confident like her in one) and me in my green gown that i love...
Kabir and me drank soda and Mini had some green tea stuff....
Oh and the khao-suey was yummy , but now trying to get Mins to make some for us , because hers is awesome...
Oh back to today...Spanish in the morning , then went to searching for a food and confectionery course to Dadar catering college , but they have closed admissions...
But I'm not giving up.....
Back home , babies and home-work and lotsa green tea... and now at this hour i started shuffling my muffin card pack , much to the horror of my house help who had settled into the world of saas-bahus and their interesting twists and turns ...
But the poor souls are in for a shock , because i have pulled out all my ingredients and have mixed , sieved , weighed , licked , poured , spooned , dropped , laughed ....errr not in that order but still...my mix is made and in the oven....
Waiting now for my little pets to get cooked , so i can dress them for their night out ,in my tummy....


Cupcakes
1 1/4 cup , self rising flour
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 cup whole milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
6 tbsp butter
1 cup sugar
3 large egg whites

Frosting
90 gm white chocolate
1/4 cup unsalted butter
120 gm cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Pre heat oven to 250 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes..

1.Sift the flour and salt in a bowl and set aside.
2.In another small bowl, stir the milk, vanilla and almond extracts together.
3.In a large bowl, with the hand mixer on medium, beat the butter and sugar, until it lightens in colour about 3 minutes.
4.On low speed, add the flour to the butter mix in 3 additions and the milk in 2 additions, till its just about blended and set aside.
5.In another large bowl , beat the egg whites with an electric beater till it is nice and shiny white , smooth and nice and stiff.
6. Stir about 1/3 of the egg whites into the batter, with the electric beater , then stop and with a spatula , just fold the rest of the beaten egg whites in.
7. Put the batter into your muffin moulds , they make about 14 and cook them at 160 degrees for 17 minutes, and the little white poppykins are ready , take them out and leave them to cool....

My kitchen has a sweet aroma floating around, there is a lovely breeze and Enrique Inglesius singing to me (by the way did i ever tell you that i met him for an interview, and he is just such a huge flirt :o)) hmmm , no noise around me , no one putting their tiny fingers into my batter or trying to break eggs for me, but gosh do i miss the babies when they are asleep....
Now for the even more easier bit,making the frosting

1. Put the white chocolate on a double boiler and melt it.., then transfer to a big bowl
2. In that bowl blend the butter , cream cheese and vanilla to the chocolate mix, and beat till its nice and smooth
3. Add the powdered sugar, mixing until the frosting is nice and smooth, for about a minute.
4. Spread about 2 tbsp of frosting onto each cup cake , and when its all done...

NOW THIS IS REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT
Play tic-tac-toe- here i go if i miss , I'll take this and immediately without any delay, bite into a big mouth full of my "Midnight Insanity" , fresh and heavenly only from "Maria's Kitchen"

Good night lovely day... and thanks for my family and friends and for all the wonderful moments that God gave me to day..
Big God Bless