geeminds EATS, PLACES AND WHAT-HAVE-YOUS How to handle yourself when difficult people are in your midst Difficult people do exist! I’m a witness. Instead of being trapped to their negativities, turn the situation around and make the situation something positive. Trust me, being emotional won’t help. So why be sucked into all the drama? I’m trying my best to focus on how to handle them without losing my cool. Difficult but it works. I imagine a 5-year old trying to reason out and this is where the “matured you” will step in. This tactic helps me a lot! How do you handle difficult personalities? While at it, this is definitely a good read. Posted in Thoughts, Work Life Feb 05 Yummy Buttered Chicken Each time I see chicken inside our fridge, I am always challenged on how to cook it differently. So, this time, I decided to cook a well-known Indian dish that I normally order in an Indian resto, the Buttered Chicken. Though I have to warn you that you need time to cook this. Marinating the chicken alone will take you an hour. Ingredients: Chicken and Marinade: • 500g boneless chicken, cut into bite-size pieces • 1 tsp salt • 1 tsp red chilli powder • 1 tsp Tandoori Masala (or Garam Masala) • 0.5 tsp cumin powder • 0.5 tsp coriander powder • 4 tbsp yoghurt • Few drops lemon Sauce: • 0.5 cup butter • 1 tsp cumin seeds • 1 large onion, chopped • 4 cloves garlic • 1 tbsp chopped ginger • 2 large tomatoes, quartered (I used tomato sauce too) • 3 tbsp vegetable oil (approximated) Finishing: • 2 bay leaves • 2 green cardamom pods • 3 cloves • 1 tbsp tomato paste • 3 tablespoon of fish sauce • 0.5 tsp turmeric powder • 0.5 tsp red chilli powder • 0.5 tsp Amchur (mango powder) • 1 tsp brown sugar • 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon • 0.5 cup whipping cream (I used mayo since I don’t have an available whipping cream) • A pinch of Kasoori Methi (ground fenugreek leaves) • 0.5 tsp black pepper • 0.5 tsp Garam Masala • Coriander leaves, to garnish Method: • Add chicken and marinade ingredients to a bowl and mix well until all ingredients are well-combined • Cover with cling film and store in fridge for at least an hour (more is better) • Melt butter in a large saucepan and add cumin seeds and fry for one minute • Add onion, ginger and garlic then fry until the onion turns golden brown (5-6 minutes) • Remove onion from butter then puree • Add tomatoes to the saucepan and sauté for 2-3 minutes • Remove sautéed tomatoes and puree • Add vegetable oil to saucepan and turn to high heat • When hot, add bay leaves, cardamom and cloves and fry for one minute • Add chicken and marinade and fry for 5-6 minutes until it turns white • Add onion and tomato purees along with tomato paste to the saucepan • Simmer on low heat until chicken is tender and fully cooked • Remove whole spices from saucepan • Add salt, Haldi (turmeric powder), red chilli powder, Amchur (mango powder), brown sugar and ground cinnamon • Simmer for 15 minutes • Add whipping cream and simmer for another 5 minutes • Add Kasoori Methi, Garam Masala and black pepper • Simmer for another 2 minutes • Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with Naan or freshly cooked Basmati Rice Serve with white rice, roti or paratha in my case Recipe from http://eateastindian.com/?p=1219 Posted in Food, Homecooking Jun 11 A day before I say hello to a new age When I started working, I didn’t have the chance to post anything anymore. Now, I intentionally made time to write on my blog that had been my solace in the 9 months I didn’t have work. Actually a good way to de-stress. Found some good reads along the way and learned much from people who take time to write. Office work takes so much of my time nowadays but if I really want to do something worthwhile aside from working, then I should find time… like what I’m doing now, writing. Tomorrow is my birthday, turning a year older. Age actually doesn’t bother me. What bothers me if I’m learning and improving myself as I get older. Hmmm… so much reflection to do… For now, I have to finish my ad due tomorrow. Miss blogging. Miss the peeps here. Posted in Uncategorized Apr 08 A Doctor with Terminal Cancer Writes to His Baby Daughter Longreads TIME FOR ME IS DOUBLE-EDGED: EVERY DAY BRINGS ME FURTHER FROM THE LOW OF MY LAST CANCER RELAPSE, BUT EVERY DAY ALSO BRINGS ME CLOSER TO THE NEXT CANCER RECURRENCE — AND EVENTUALLY, DEATH. PERHAPS LATER THAN I THINK, BUT CERTAINLY SOONER THAN I DESIRE. THERE ARE, I IMAGINE, TWO RESPONSES TO THAT REALIZATION. THE MOST OBVIOUS MIGHT BE AN IMPULSE TO FRANTIC ACTIVITY: TO “LIVE LIFE TO ITS FULLEST,” TO TRAVEL, TO DINE, TO ACHIEVE A HOST OF NEGLECTED AMBITIONS. PART OF THE CRUELTY OF CANCER, THOUGH, IS NOT ONLY THAT IT LIMITS YOUR TIME, IT ALSO LIMITS YOUR ENERGY, VASTLY REDUCING THE AMOUNT YOU CAN SQUEEZE INTO A DAY. IT IS A TIRED HARE WHO NOW RACES. BUT EVEN IF I HAD THE ENERGY, I PREFER A MORE TORTOISELIKE APPROACH. I PLOD, I PONDER, SOME DAYS I SIMPLY PERSIST. EVERYONE SUCCUMBS TO FINITUDE. I SUSPECT I AM NOT… View original post 109 more words Posted in Uncategorized Mar 01 “He Has Aspergers” and Everything Else I Never Wanted To Hear About My Son A heartwarming piece from a mother who has immense love for his extraordinary son. So inspiring A Buick in the Land of Lexus Do you hear that? Come closer. That’s the sound of my heart breaking. My son has always loved the ocean. His eyes are the color of the sea, changing from blue to green with the swell of the tide. And my love for him is an ocean, an overwhelming force which is sometimes calm and steady, and other times full of conflict. A mother’s love is like the continuous miracle of the sea. It begins in the ocean of your womb – but there is something unsettling about the way your baby kicks. So fiercely you feel bruised on the inside. There is something willful and stubborn about his refusal to come out. He arrives weeks late, and even then – after almost 40 hours of labor. Your baby is overwhelming and mysterious and brutal, like the ocean. He screams uncontrollably for hours a day, every day. And you bring him to… View original post 1,269 more words Posted in Uncategorized Nov 13 Adventure Time at Sandy Beach Hotel & Resort 2 Another jampacked weekend with a lot of first time activities. Our weekend getaway with one of the prominent beach resorts in Fujairah, Sandy Beach Hotel and Resort was one for the books. Surely had a great time staying here. Since check in time was at 3.00pm, we left Dubai at around 10.30am (enough for us to prepare our stuff). Dubai to Fujairah, another of the 7 emirates, takes 2 hours to drive. We arrived at the hotel at 12.30pm and fortunate enough to have our rooms ready. We had 2 studio type rooms (Aed900/rm) for a group of 6 adults and a baby. Originally, we opted for the 2 bedroom chalet but the hotel was already fully booked. We were advised that if we wanted to book our preferred rooms, we should book 3 weeks ahead. But nonetheless, we had a spectacular view. I love the concept of the hotel. It is not your typical high rise hotel. The hotel resort’s area is huge and divided into several types: studio, 1BR, 2Br and chalets. It is a nice place to stay for families and also if you’re in for adventure. After resting from the long drive, we decided to try the parasailing. Parasailing… such an exciting experience Should you wish to take advantage of this, you must proceed to the nearby hotel, Miramar Beach Hotel and Resort. lobby of miramar hotel Fee: AED250 for 30minutes (with boatride) If you want to take your photos taken, you have to pay an extra (hear me out!) another AED250. Too much, if you’re going to ask me. But the experience was worth the record. We were taken on a speedboat and rode a few meters away from the shore. There were 3 groups, us and another 2 couples. When asked by the boat staff who wants to go first, we got all giddy and raised our hands, me and my other 2 friends. They placed us on a saddle and hooked us up at the sail and were instructed to just sit tight and hold the ropes that attached us to the sail. We followed like kids and up, up we went, high at the sky. It was tranquil above with breathtaking views of the mountains and oceans. Loved the breeze (it was almost sunset). After 10minutes and photos taken, we were pulled down. The operator even had a playful descent so were splashed with water. Overall, it was a smooth ride. And once on the boat, we were applauded by the entire group. Haha! Came next were the couple who were afraid at first but when they saw us having a great time up there, they relaxed and looked forward to their turn. All through out the trip, Bob Marley was our background music. Brought me back to Boracay days that I sorely miss. Going back to the hotel after that fun adventure, we grilled some porkchops and sausages beside the hotel, a campsite (and it is for free) where there were a lot of campers who enjoyed the same view that we have. Since we weren’t booked in a chalet that has its own grilling station, we had no choice but to proceed to the campsite which was just a 10minute walk from the hotel. Didn’t matter though. Still had fun. After dinner, we strolled within the hotel’s vicinity. There’s an outdoor pool, a mini park, sprawling greeneries. The place too has its own bar where a live band plays at night. If you have nothing else to do, you can unwind and listen to contemporary music. They also have buy 1 take 1 promo every 10.00pm till 11.00pm. There’s a lounge area as well which I found so cozy and nice for gazing stars. We ended the night having a few drinks. The next day we woke up early to hit the beach. Once again there’s so much beauty. Snoopy Island, as what they call it, is a famous spot for diving and snorkeling. And it is just across our hotel. We rented our gears (AED70) at the hotel’s own Diving Center and swam towards the Snoopy Island. If you opt for a guide, the Center has an extensive menu of its services. No photos though were taken because we were too excited to start another adventure. The snorkeling took a good one hour (back and forth). Just a reminder before you snorkel, better eat something because it is a very tiring activity. Left the hotel with a smile on my face. We all had a wonderful stay. And went back to Dubai with this beautiful sunset snap. Service: 4/5 Cleanliness: 4/5 Price: quite costly Will we go back? Most definitely. Posted in Places, Travel, Uncategorized Tagged adventure, beach, escapade, family, fujairah, outside the city, parasailing, snoopy island, snorkeling, uae, weekend Nov 04 Oreo Cheesecake Cookies 2 Who could resist an Oreo cheesecake cookie? For sure, it’s not me. I ran through our fridge and checked what I can include in making the cookie. I saw our hazelnut Chocochip cookies that were hardly touched. To put it to good use, I broke it into pieces and made it a part of this goodie cookie. (now, I feel like I’m Cookie Monster) Once served, it was gone in 10 minutes! Ingredients 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 8 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 cup + 2 tablespoons flour 10 Oreo cookies, broken into pieces 5 hazelnut chocochip cookies, broken into pieces Directions 1. In an electric mixer, at low speed, beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides as needed. 2. Add the sugar and beat well. 3. Add in flour, a small bit at a time. 4. Fold in oreos until evenly distributed. 5. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 45 minutes, and up to 2 hours. 6. 30 minutes prior to baking, preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). 7. Spray oil in your baking dish. 8. Using a cookie scoop, scoop out 2 tablespoon sized balls of dough (I used my hands to evenly roll them), roll them into rounds, and place them on the cookie sheet. Lightly press down on each cookie. 9. Place pan in the oven to bake for 10-11 minutes, or until just golden at the edges. NOTE: The cookies will still be very soft when you remove them from the oven. Don’t fret! You’re on the right track. 10. Cool on the baking dish for 10 full minutes. 11. Transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. …and cookie attack! </a Posted in Food, Homecooking Tagged baked, cookies, dessert, goodies, oreo, snack, sweets Nov 03 Greek Salad Thought of having a healthy meal for once. Haha! I was looking for a salad that will complement my pan seared salmon so I thought, why not GREEK Salad Ingredients 1 cucumber, semi-unpeeled, seeded, and sliced 1/4-inch thick 1 red bell pepper, large-diced (since I don’t have this, I just used green bell pepper) 1 yellow bell pepper, large-diced 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved (I used the ordinary tomatoes because that’s what is in our fridge and cut them to quarters) 1/2 red onion, sliced in half-rounds 1/2 pound feta cheese, 1/2-inch diced (not crumbled) 1/2 cup black olives, pitted For the vinaigrette: 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil Directions 1. Place the cucumber, bell peppers, tomatoes and red onion in a large bowl. Add the feta and olives and toss lightly. Sprinkle the oregano. 2. For the vinaigrette, whisk together the garlic, oregano, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Still whisking, slowly add the olive oil to make an emulsion. Pour the vinaigrette over the vegetables. 3. Set aside for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend. 4. Serve at room temperature Posted in Food, Homecooking Tagged appetizer, diet, dinner, food, greek, healthy, salad, starters, vegetables Nov 03 Panda Express Orange Chicken I have tasted the Orange Chicken from Panda Express when I visited Cali, US. And each time we order it, it is consistent with its tangy flavor. Absolutely loved it. Since we’re back in UAE, I have not had the chance to taste it once again. Panda Express here is a far cry from its counterpart in the US. I prefer the way it’s been cooked in the US vs. UAE. Googled it and found the recipe I feel closest to the original flavor. And once again, I had my own version. INGREDIENTS 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken, chopped into bite sized pieces 1 egg 1 1/2 teaspoons salt Black pepper oil (for frying) 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1/4 cup flour 1 tablespoon ginger, minced 1 teaspoon garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon crushed hot red chili pepper (depends on how spicy you want it to be) 1/4 cup green onion, chopped 1 tablespoon rice wine ( didn’t use this as I don’t have it on hand) 1/4 cup water 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil 1 bell pepper, cubed 1/4 cup parsley, chopped Orange Sauce for Stir Fry 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 1/2 tablespoons water 5 tablespoons brown sugar 5 tablespoons white vinegar 1 orange, zest (I literally squeezed mine but orange juice can be a substitute) DIRECTIONS Chicken 1. Place chicken pieces in large bowl. 2. In a container, combine cornstarch and flour together with salt and pepper. Mix well. 3. On a separate bowl, beat the egg. 4. Put chicken cubes on the egg, then to the flour mixture. Cover the container and shake it to even out the coating. Do it in batches. 5. Heat oil for deep-frying in wok or deep-fryer to 375 degrees. 6. Add chicken, small batches at a time, and fry 3 to 4 minutes or until golden crisp. 7. Drain the fried chicken to remove excess oil. Set aside. 8. In a pan or wok, heat it then add 1 tablespoon oil. Sauce 9. Add ginger and garlic and stir-fry until fragrant; about 10 seconds. 10. Add and stir-fry crushed chiles and green onions. I’ve added bell pepper and chopped parsley. 11. Add rice wine and stir 3 seconds. 12. Add Orange Sauce and bring to boil. 13. Add cooked chicken, stirring until well mixed. 14. Stir water into remaining 1 tablespoon cornstarch until smooth and add to chicken. 15. Heat until sauce is thickned. 16. Stir in sesame oil. 17. Serve with spring onions on top. Posted in Food, Homecooking Tagged chicken, delicious, kitchen, orange, pandaexpress, recipe, spicy Nov 02 A 9/11 photo returned after 13 years Nice read about persistence, hope and social media The Longform Interviewer Cover photo courtesy of the Prints and Photographs Division. Library of Congress, USA. Days after the tragic events of 9/11 a photo was found in the streets. It came from an office on the 77th floor of the South Tower. 13 years later it was returned to the owner. This is an incredible story about the power of social media and how people from around the world can come together. “I knew it was going viral. Every tech device we had in the house started going crazy beeping and dinging with alerts. It was wild,” says Elizabeth Stringer Keefe. Every year on September 11 she posted the photo, hoping someone somewhere would know who was in it. In this interview she shares the story about how the photo was first found, the process of locating the owner, and how she cried when she finally did. The photo of a happy wedding party, lost at… View original post 1,649 more words Posted in Uncategorized Oct 30 Search RECENT POSTS How to handle yourself when difficult people are in your midst Yummy Buttered Chicken A day before I say hello to a new age A Doctor with Terminal Cancer Writes to His Baby Daughter “He Has Aspergers” and Everything Else I Never Wanted To Hear About My Son RECENT COMMENTS ilonagee on Oreo Cheesecake Cookies tastehitch on Oreo Cheesecake Cookies ilonagee on Adventure Time at Sandy Beach… JDo on Adventure Time at Sandy Beach… ilonagee on After The Walk comes The … ARCHIVES February 2018 June 2015 April 2015 March 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 CATEGORIES Food Homecooking Places Reblog Restaurant Thoughts Travel Uncategorized Work Life META Register Log in Entries feed Comments feed WordPress.com geeminds Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Follow