For cupcakes' sake- Mrs. Magpie

In my Blog, I have posted a hell lot of recipes. I love cooking and on the other hand I also like eating out in new places, so I thought, that why not incorporate the reviews of those places which I have visited, in my Blog posts. Food review or restaurant review, for that matter is something very new to me. Although I regularly visit www.zomato.com to check out new places to eat out, I find writing reviews of eating joints, a little tedious. 

Mrs. Magpie is a cafe situated at 70 Lake Terrace Extension (Keyatala), Kolkata: 700 029. The name is a pleasure itself. It's not a place where you enter,sit, eat and forget. It's a place which welcomes you with its bright interiors, good ambience and friendly staff. There is beauty in each and every thing of this place.  This place was suggested to me by my brother as he is well aware of my 

sweet-tooth and my love for cupcakes. Although its a cafe, Mrs. Magpie is a place which is famous for its cupcakes. 

Mrs. Magpie is a 21-seater cafe, open from noon to 9p.m. It's the brainchild of Le Cordon Bleu London alumnus Sohini Basu Behrens. The decor is a combination of a birdhouse and a dollhouse. The interiors are chic and classy with  powder-coated cast iron chairs, ceramic cake stands, wooden upholstered benches, glass top coffee tables and chalk board wall-mounted menu. The display counters feature a cute collection of cupcakes. Apart from cupcakes, in the food section, you can get a sandwich platter and bites like Chicken Ratatouille Tart, Chicken and Cheddar Puff, Broccoli Mushroom and Pepper Tart.The cafe also serves coffee and tea and their special afternoon Tea served with four cupcakes, four scones and six sandwiches.The mini cupcakes come in an exciting combination of flavors, wonderful miniature designs and a rainbow of colors.  The items on the menu can actually make a delicious tea spread.  

It was a lazy week-off, when I went to this place. I was already full owing to the awesome Chinese lunch that I had. I ordered cupcakes and trust me, it tasted heavenly. After 8-ish, is a must-try if you love cupcakes like me. Everything is cute about the place, even the billing system.When you ask for the bill, it will be handed over in a super cute basket with a bee on it. The place is extremely pocket-friendly. For a meal for two, you get charged something around Rs 600 - Rs 800.There is only one disappointment associated with Mrs. Magpie is that it's not a place to look forward to, if you're dining out or you want to have a full course meal. I would always want to go back to this place in the future. Whether t's a lazy Sunday afternoon or a date with your bestie,this is one place that will always linger in your mind for sometime to come.

Methi Rice

I have never cooked a Pulao or rice sort of thing because I was always scared of messing it up. I came across this recipe in http://indianhealthyrecipes.com and trust me, this is the first time in my life, I didn't make any modification in the recipe. The recipe was easy and tasted good too. You can either have it as a quick lunch for a day at work or have it as a main course in an elaborate dinner on a Sunday afternoon.The choice is yours!

Here comes the recipe:

Ingredients:

Basmati Rice - 2 cups

Cumin Seeds - Half a teaspoon.

Green Cardamom - 2-3.

Garlic (crushed) - 2 teaspoons.

Green chillies (chopped) - 2.

Dried Fenugreek Leaves (Kasoori Methi) – A bunch.

Peas - Half a cup.

Sweet Corn - Half a cup.

Garam Masala powder - 1 teaspoon.

Turmeric powder - 1 teaspoon.

Ghee - 1 teaspoon.

Salt to taste.

Oil - 3 tablespoons.

Procedure:

Cook and cool the Basmati rice. Add the salt. Keep it aside.

In a wok, heat oil, add the cumin seeds, green cardamom, crushed garlic and the chopped green chillies.

When the garlic is slightly fried, add the methi leaves, peas and corn.

Fry it for approximately 3-5 mins. 

Add the garam masala powder and turmeric powder. Stir it for some time. 

Switch off the flame.

Add the cooked rice. 

Add the ghee.

Bon Appetit!

The colors of life!

Human life is like a kaleidoscope. You look into it and all you get to see is its psychedelic colors. It’s transient. As mortal beings, all we get is some time to celebrate the vivid colors of life. When I started blogging, I always wanted my Blog to be all-encompassing. I wanted my readers to get a slice of life and its colors when they come to check it. 

In our lives, festivals have the brightest hue. It’s that color we want to paint our lives with. We look forward to the festivities in our otherwise drab, grey life. Since our childhood, each one of us has distinct memories of festivals. We had vacations in school; new clothes to wear on special days, our homes were decorated, so on and so forth.

Being born in India, I have always known the significance of festivities. In fact, we are one country which has festivals throughout the year. For us, a cricket match between India and Pakistan or a football match between East-Bengal and Mohunbagan also calls for a celebration. Although As a Bengali, Durga Puja is our festival, but we celebrate all the other festivals with equal fervor. 

I wanted to start something new on this auspicious day of Janmasthami which was 2 days back. I know I am late. I always am. I do not have much memories of this festivals except a holiday in school days. But at home, we did celebrate Janmasthami because worshipping Lord Krishna runs in our bloodline. Well, I don't want to quote the Wikipedia page and go on and on talking about it. We all know, that it's a very important festival throughout India.

As we grow up, with the trials and tribulations of life, festivals loses its essence. But it's always a good thing to celebrate the festivals with friends/family.

The purpose of this post is to mark the beginning of the festive season which is just a month away.There will be a good number of posts about festivities, every now and then because what's life without some colors?

To be continued...

(P.S. The image has been googled. The copyright is that of the individual owner.)

Maybelline Color Show Lipstick - Product Review

Lipsticks are the love of my life. I don't even remember when I started growing fond of it. I believe, it's one of most basic necessities of day-to-day make up. It gives your face an instant makeover that is much required to go on with an otherwise drab day.

　

I am fond of all kinds of lipsticks. Matte, sheer or gloss. On the other hand, Although I am more fond of dark lipsticks, but I find a light colored lipstick is ideal for a day at work. As far as the brands are concerned, I am again not that biased.

　

In my earlier post, I have already spoken about the brand i.e. Maybelline India. I want to reiterate that all the beauty products are really good and affordable.

This particular range of lipsticks from Maybelline India is called Maybelline Color Show Lipstick. It has a creamy base but can stay long with moderate snacking. The lipsticks are housed in black tubes. There is a colored ring in the centre to indicate the color family the shade belongs to.It comes with a very affordable price tag of Rs 299 for 3.9 g.

The range is divided in four broad categories;Red, Mauve, Pink and Brown. The entire range has 32 shades.The lipsticks are rich in pigmentation and will suit all Indian tones. I happen to own "Red My Lips" from the "Classic Reds" range.  The exact tone is brick red..The packaging is simple and functional, the lipstick cap locks with a click sound and the cap always stays put.

The lipstick has a soft texture which glides easily on the lips. It has a very smooth texture and you don't need to use a lip gloss after wearing them.The lipstick also has a very light fragrance. There is only problem with the range is that they a leave a light stain behind after the lipstick fades away.

But, the lipstick is worth the price. Nowadays when most lipsticks come at an average price of Rs 500, this range is affordable and is also also of good quality. So, it will not be a bad idea to buy one or two from this range. 

There can be no special occasion for which you have to buy a new lipstick. The occasion is now. Make one yours and show off your colorful side today!

Malai Chicken

It always goes like this, that I intend to cook something but I end up cooking something else. I wanted to make butter chicken this time but I made something which tasted totally different. This might be because I don't follow any recipe to the hilt. I always make my own modifications. 

I made this recipe for my friends on the occasion of a house party last weekend. The plates were wiped off clean in few minutes. I somehow love cooking chicken because it's very easy to make and is also versatile in nature.

When I was a kid, we only had chicken on Sunday and that too only on lunch. It was a luxury for us because being a typical bong household, we only ate fish throughout the week. Nowadays, it's the other way around, I eat so much chicken in some way or the other that I make sure that I eat fish on Sundays. 

Here comes the recipe:

Ingredients:

Chicken (minced) - 500gms.

Lemon Juice - 2 tablespoons.

Turmeric powder - One teaspoon.

Red chilli powder - One teaspoon.

Dried Fenugreek Leaves (Kasoori Methi) – A bunch.

Ginger-Garlic paste - 100 gms.

Yogurt - 100 gms.

Onions (finely chopped) - 100 gms.
Tomato - 1

Fresh Cream - 3 tablespoons.

Bay leaves - 2.

Dry red chillies - 2.

Green chillies - 2.

Garam Masala powder - One teaspoon.

Butter - 4 small cubes.

Salt to taste.

Oil- 5 tablespoons.

Procedure:

Marinate the chicken with red chilli powder, turmeric powder, yogurt, lemon juice, kasoori methi, half of the ginger- garlic paste and salt.

Keep it aside for at least 4 hours.

In a wok, add oil. Add the bay leaves, add the red and green chillies.

Add the onions. Fry it till translucent.

Add the remaining ginger - garlic paste. Fry it for some time. 

Add the garam masala powder and the tomato. Cook it for at least 5 mins.

Add the fresh cream. You need to be a little careful while cooking with dairy products as it gets burnt fast. So, it will be better if you can stir it continuously. 

Cook it for some time. Add the marinated chicken.

Cook it in medium flame till the chicken is soft and is properly cooked.

Add the butter. 

Serve hot.

It's time to go back home, Harry!

It's the 1st of September, it's time to go back home. It's time to back to Hogwarts!

Well. I always wanted to write something about Harry Potter, Hogwarts and the magical world that engulfs all the true-blue Potterheads. I don't want to consider myself to be a Potterhead because I feel I did not do enough justice to the term. I am yet to read the final installment of the book, although I have watched all the movies, a zillion times by now.

I wanted to write this post on 31st July which marks the birthday of Harry Potter and our very own queen J.K Rowling but just could not get time but then again I thought that I could write about it whenever I want to because one doesn't need a special occasion to write about something that one truly feels about. There is another reason, this is my Blog! But yes, I really wish to write more about it because I believe that it's not humanly possible to fathom something like Harry Potter at the very first go, leave alone in one blog post.

For me, the date of September, 1st is truly remarkable only for one reason and that is because the most important events in almost all the books/movies starts on this date. I don't remember this date having a special significance in my life before I knew who was Harry Potter. This day opens a floodgate of memories for me. My mind goes back to a place known as the King's Cross Station at 11 a.m. I can picture myself standing in Platform 9 3/4 in front of the Hogwarts Express along with Harry, Ron and Hermione.Soon enough, I am transported to the Muggle World where I have to go to work! Such a sad life but then I remember what Dumbledore said, "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?"

I know, Harry Potter and his world of Hogwarts school of Witchdraft and Wizardry are not real. It's too good to be real. People laugh at it thinking it to be juvenile. They outgrow it because they think they are too old for it. They reject it because they think that it doesn't fit to be called "Literature". But something which is as grand as 7 books and 8 movies, it goes beyond being called Literature, it's much bigger than that. It's a phenomenon. It's something that we go back to every now and then.

Although, I am not much of a book-reader but I generally go back to my Harry Potter mode when I am upset or when I think that real life sucks a bit too much. It gives me food for thought, a reason to look forward to a new day. When I again hear those magical words, "Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.". I feel that life isn't bad as I think it to be.

The term, Hogwarts is entwined with Harry Potter, be it the movies and/or the books.  This is the place, where Harry, Ron and Hermoine became friends for life,  this is the place where Dumbledore and Snape died. Hogwarts is the place where the "Order of the Phoenix" fought against the Dark Lord with great valor in the Second battle of Hogwarts. This is the place where Remus, Tonks and Fred Weasley died. Last but not the least, this is place where Voldemort died.

I believe that it's never too late to know what Harry Potter and Hogwarts are all about. One is never too old to watch the movies and/or read the book. One must ought to know why we are so crazy about it. If you wish to experience the magic that soon follows, trust me, life will be never be the same again. It's rightly said, "Whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."

Always.

To be continued...

(P.S. All the images have been googled. The copyrights are that of the individual owners.)

The magic of Dooars

"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow."

I suffer from Wanderlust. I indeed do. For me, travelling is a must. It's a necessity. Away from the maddening crowd amidst the wilderness, I find peace and tranquility. 

It so happened that I wanted to explore my own state, the good old West Bengal with few like-minded people who also shared the same passion of travelling. So it was Dooars for us which is also known as the "The Land of Gateways" 

Although I have clicked a lot of photographs on this trip but for this post, I only selected 10 of them. According to me, those were best of the lot.

Take a look!

"Love is the answer, and you know that for sure; Love is a flower, you've got to let it grow."

"Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises."

"On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it."

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."

“May what I do flow from me like a river, no forcing and no holding back, the way it is with children.” 

"Thy fate is the common fate of all; Into each life some rain must fall."

“What are men to rocks and mountains?” 

"You could not step twice into the same rivers; for other waters are ever flowing on to you."

“It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.”

“Life is like the river, sometimes it sweeps you gently along and sometimes the rapids come out of nowhere.”

Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eye Liner - Product Review

Writing about Beauty is something very new to me. Although I have been using beauty products for a long time now. In the past, I have also suggested which products to use and which products to stay away from. I found it quite imperative to inaugurate a new label for my Blog  under the name "Beauty" because I was running short of ideas.

I am known to wear Kajal, almost all the time when I am out. I like wearing it because it highlights my eyes in a better way each time. When I wanted to write something about Beauty, I thought let's start with a good brand of Gel Eye Liner.

Before I start with the review, I want to mention something about the company too. Maybelline India has been in the Indian beauty market for a long time now. The products are affordable and are of good quality. I have never been biased about any brands whatsoever. I like a product of one beauty brand and another beauty product of some other brand. It has never been consistent. But one thing is for sure, I was always biased to good quality stick Kajal. But there is a problem in using that as well. One kajal only for 2 months for me! Imagine a Kajal of Rs 650 only lasting for 2 months, pretty expensive, na?

I bought Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eye Liner because it was suggested to me by one of my colleagues. At the beginning I was a little skeptical about using a Gel Liner because I have always been more comfortable in using a Kajal. But when I started wearing it, trust me it was really worth it. It comes in a tiny box along with a brush. The brush is of good quality and has a good tip. The brush makes it very easy to apply the liner on both your upper and lower eyelid. The gel eye liner has a very smooth and soft texture which lasts upto 8 hours.The gel eye liner applies evenly at one go and gives an intense black finish. It's also very high on pigmentation so you don't have to do much touch up every now and then. 

I have already mentioned that Maybelline is one of the most affordable brands in the market. It really is. This gel liner comes at a very pocket-friendly price. It's priced at Rs 475. A small box can easily last upto 6 months. So it's cheap in a way. It's also way cheaper than it's counterparts.

So for women and girls who are looking out for a good eye liner, this is it. It gives you intense pigmentation. It has superb staying power and creamy texture and also which is easy on the pocket. The New Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner is here for you.  This is an awesome liner which works as an eyemakeup base, liner and kajal and it can withstand any weather too. 

Make one yours now!

Aloo Methi

I have hardly heard anyone who has said that he/she doesn’t like eating potatoes. Although the vegetable itself is tasteless, but there can be hardly anything which can match up to its versatility. Add anything and everything, it will taste awesome.

I have cooked this dish a couple of times in the past and then I completely forgot about it. It was only recently when I cooked it for lunch at work. The addition of fenugreek leaves adds a distinct flavor to it. The recipe is simple, yet tasty.

Here comes the recipe:

Ingredients:

Potatoes – 500 gms.

Onions – 200 gms.

Ginger – Garlic Paste – 100 gms.

Dry Chillies - 2.

Bay Leaves – 1.

Full Cream or Milk – ½ cup.

Dried Fenugreek Leaves (Kasoori Methi) – A bunch.

Green Chillies – 3- 4.

Turmeric Powder – 1 teaspoon.

Red Chilli Powder – 1 teaspoon.

Coriander Powder– 1 teaspoon.

Cumin Powder – 1 teaspoon.

Salt to taste.

Oil – 4 tablespoons.

Procedure:

Boil the potatoes with a little bit of salt. Peel and keep it aside.

Finely chop the onions. Keep aside.

Soak the fenugreek leaves in lukewarm water. Keep aside.

In a wok, heat oil. Add the dry chillies and bay leaves.

Now add the onions. Fry till translucent.

Add the ginger – garlic paste. Fry it for some more time.

Add the turmeric, red chilli , cumin and coriander powder.

Cook it for a while. Add a little bit of water.

Add the milk or the full cream now. This step can be easily skipped. This is only for extra taste.

Add the boiled potatoes. Add a little bit of water.

Cook it for some more time.

Remove it from fire.

Now add the green chillies and the fenugreek leaves.

Serve hot.

Upma - South Indian Style

Taste buds change over time. I am the biggest example of that. At one point in time, I used to wonder that how come people like South- Indian food, now give me anything that has curry leaves in it, I will wipe off the entire plate in just few seconds.

This specific recipe is my own which I learnt from people at home. Modifications are there though. People at my workplace absolutely love it.

 Here comes the recipe:

Ingredients:

Semolina (Sooji) - 200 gms.

Ginger-Garlic paste - 100 gms.

Onions - 100 gms, finely chopped.

Sweet Corn - 1/2 cup.

Frozen Peas - 1/2 cup.

Ghee - 2 teaspoons.

Tomato Sauce - According to your taste.
Dry chilli - 2.
Mustard seeds - Few.

Curry leaves - Few.

Salt to taste.

Oil- 5 tablespoons.

Water - 3 cups.

Procedure:

In a dry wok, add the semolina. Stir it continuously till it gets slightly brown in color. Add the salt according to the taste You can also add a little bit of oil. Keep it aside.

In a wok, heat oil. Add the dry chillies, few curry leaves and the mustard seeds. Let it flutter for a while. Make sure it doesn't get burnt.

Add the onions. Fry till it's translucent. 

Add the ginger-garlic paste. Fry it for some time.

Add the semolina. Now add water.

Cook it for some more time. 

Add the frozen peas and sweet corns.

Cook it for some more time.

Add the remaining curry leaves. Remove it from fire.

Add the ghee. This not only ensures extra taste, but it also prevents the semolina to get stuck when it gets cold.

Add the tomato sauce, only according to your preferences.

Enjoy!