Friday, August 21, 2015

Speediriffic 4G


Speed is everything!
Really, is these fast paced times where every split second matters, speed is everything. We want in fast and now! Be it beating the clock to reach work or school, finishing our daily chores or googling the latest AIB video!


If you ask me, personally, in this day and age I feel speed is synonymous to the internet. How fast can one search, access, consume, interpret and analyse the terabytes data and information that is penetrating the inter-web every nano second? Videos, images, music, movies, blogs, podcasts, tweets are consumed on-the-go and on demand in personal screens and devices.


Did we picture this, say just 15 years ago?


Of course, not! It was then that India has just been bit by the internet bug and the information age had begun. Back in 2003, I can recall how it took me half an hour to connect to the internet at access my emails, on my personal home computer.

 And fast forward to 2015, where it takes one barely 30 seconds to stream a 2 minute video on YouTube. But, what is more phenomenal is what has just been introduced for the first time in India by Airtel: Airtel 4G.
The fourth generation of mind-blowing internet speeds is perhaps the essential ingredient to a digitally powered nation!


Across India, 296 cities will be able to effortlessly stream high quality HD videos of Sunny Leone’s Baby Doll for the umpteenth time, download an entire Sunny Deol movie, listen to the music from the latest chart topping hits on Saavn, access real-time tweets on Twitter from the Prime Minister himself, upload and share Honeymoon/Karva Chaut/Doggie birthday photos on Facebook and upload videos to YouTube of their children dancing to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Hot Dog theme song!


Personally life for me will get 4X better with 4G. 
On a regular day, I would download the Zomato app, quickly scan for the newest restaurants in Mumbai, download the UBER app and book a ride to the restaurant, download and play candy crush till I reach the restaurant, then upload gastronomically yummy food photos on my Instagram account as and when it gets served to me. While I savour the food, I would check-in through Foursquare and Swarm, rave and tweet on Twitter and later write about it in a blog post on my blog and post it on blogger networks and Zomato. All this speedirrifcally!

Airtel is ready to give 4G services at 3G rates, and even home deliver your 4G SIM card! So get ready to say your goodbyes to buffering videos, slow download speeds and mood dampeners of the past. Say hello fast internet for real time generation and real time consumption. So fasten your seat belts for this joy speed ride. I bet it is going to be AMA-no need to wait for it-ZING!
Amazing opportunities with #Airtel4G await! 




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Tuesday, August 18, 2015

My recipe for an Italian escapade


A decade ago, the only Italian food I knew of was 'Pizza'. I used to junk on Pizzas so much that Italy was the destination I craved to visit (And still is).

Gradually, I was introduced to 'the brother of pizzas', the pasta. Usually, to Indians, pasta is what one eats at a pizza place as a starter. At some point, I too believed the same. But as I was educated to the world of Italian cuisine, thanks to my dear husband, I was now well acquainted with the types of pastas, the types of sauces, the flavour combinations, the cheeses and was proud to have the knowledge to distinguish between a lasagna and a ravioli.

And then one fine day, Del Monte came along with their flavourful contest - Del Monte: Blog Your Way to Italy- on creating an original recipe of their Pasta to win an all expenses paid Italian escapade. (I bet some of you reading this, did not know Del Monte beyond their ketchup. You're welcome :P)

Thoroughly eggcited, I signed up. A few days alter, as promised, I received a packet of Del Monte's Durum Wheat Premium Chifferi Rigati Pasta, all carefully packed with a printed letter. My gastronomical adoration for pasta knows no bounds, but I needed to get my creative juices flowing in in creating an original recipe.

My ticket to Italy :D



So I sought some expert guidance (yes, from my hubby) on creating pasta with some subtle Indian flavours for those who cannot have a lot of spice (the elderly and young children).

So sample a taste of Gauri's original recipe, with step by step instructions:

Chifferi Rigati with Saffron and Garlic

Serves: 4

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

About 250 gms Del Monte's Chifferi Rigati Pasta
1 Zucchini cut into bite sized pieces
1 Yellow Bell pepper cut into bite sized pieces
1 Broccoli cut in florets
1/2 Onion finely chopped
7-8 cloves of garlic finely chopped
3-4 tsps of Oil (Olive oil is best)
1-2 tsps Oregano flakes
Salt as per taste

For the White Sauce:
7-8 Strands of saffron
1 tbsp Kashmiri red chilli powder
200 ml Milk
2 tsps Butter
2-3 tsps Refined flour (Maida)

For Garnish:
Grated Mozzarella cheese

Method:

  • In a pot, bring water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook till al dente. Drain the pasta in a colander and add a tbsp of oil. Set aside.


What I really adored is the thoughtful little hack Del Monte has adapted on their pasta packets with a reclosable safety seal, to seal back your pasta packet for the next use.



  • In another pot, bring water to a boil. Add the veggies till cooked. Drain in a colander and pour cold water over the veggies to retain their crunch and lively colour. Set aside.
Blanched zucchini

Blanched Broccoli

You can also add mushrooms, red bell pepper and other veggies if desired.

  • In a thick bottomed saucepan, melt the butter and add the cornflour little by little. Beat vigorously using a whisk. 

  • Reduce the heat, and gradually add in about 150ml of the milk till there are no lumps. Take off the heat and let it cool.
  • Warm the remaining milk in a microwave for 5-10 seconds and then add the saffron strands; soak the saffron, till it dissipates the rich colour and aroma. Add this to the other milk mix.

  • Once this mix cools a little, add the kashmiri red chilli powder and add salt as per taste and strain.


  • Heat the oil in a wide saucepan. On high heat saute the garlic for 1-2 minutes. Toss in the onions till translucent. Add the veggies, and saute for a few minutes.
  • On low heat, add in the sauce gradually mixing in with the veggies. Mix well. The combine with the cooked Del Monte pasta.

  • Sprinkle the oregano flakes. Serve hot with a garnish of grated cheese and garlic bread sides.


And then served it to all in my family. And I basked in the reflected joy in their content faces!
And in Italian as they say,"Bellissimo!" sums up my experience!

That's my pasta story, lemme know your thoughts!


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Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Taking the #Airtel4GSpeedTest

Necessities 20 years ago - Roti, Kapda, Makaan.
Our necessities today - Roti, Kapda, Makaan and 24* 7 Internet access.

 Don't you agree?

 Technology is an indispensable part of our lives, the internet adds life to technology. In fact with majority tech users wanting to access information on-the-go, internet is as essential as oxygen. And with a faster internet speed, life is undoubtedly better. And who wouldn't like to be the zippiest in accessing information at the go on one's fingertips?

 The latest advancement in internet surfing is - 4G. This fourth generation wireless technology adds a whole new dimension to internet surfing. For the first time in India, 4G speeds will be the fastest mode of surfing the internet - literally lightning fast- thanks to Airtel.

 Gone will be the days of staring at the screen for the website to load or for the HD video download to complete. With apps for ordering the latest trendy Dior earrings to disposable nappies, one needs a fast, reliable internet connection.

 So, I checked it out for myself. Airtel has recently introduced 4G and has pioneered a unique initiative where users could interactively assess downloads using 4G speeds in comparison with 3G and 2G speeds.

All you need to do is Tweet to Airtel's twitter handle @airtelindia in the following format:


Intrigued and excited to check out the most advance and latest technology, I tested it out myself.
I took the #Airtel4GSpeedTest to check the download time for downloading the Instagram app.
And I was truly amazed with the speed results!
Here, check out the results yourself:


The Instagram app is 8.03MB in size. Download of which takes more than half an hour in 2G speeds, 53 seconds in 3G and a mere blink of 8 seconds in 4G!

 Who wouldn’t want to get 4G - the latest piece of technology with high-level speeds of up to 100 Mbps in an ideal environment - for accessing high definition-HD video streaming on YouTube, photo uploads on Instagram, music downloads on Saavn and much more.



4G opens up possibilities!

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Friday, July 10, 2015

Where’s the honey, honey?



“It never works! No matter how hard I try.”

My adamant brain argued with my hopeful heart.
My heart was the optimistic one, it believed I could lose those oodles of kilos I’d put on over the last few months. Thanks to the ghee laden Indian desserts, cream laden curries, the crunchy comforting packets of junk food and the deep fried non-vegetarian starters.
If only I had a control on my taste buds. I repent the countless times I convinced myself that this was the ‘One last bite’ I would have and ‘Will start dieting tomorrow’. Alas! Tomorrow never comes alas!
It’s not just about not eating, dieting is about eating the balanced healthy diet to match your body type and lifestyle. (And by balanced diet, having a chocolate donut in each hand does not count ;P )

Think about the countless number of diets you have tried. The Aktins, The Paleo, The Vegan, The Fruit, The Smoothie, The Juice, The detox… I could go on and on and you still wouldn’t lose a pound!
The science might put things into perspective that this particular diet maybe particularly beneficial for you, however, when you really go ahead and do the diet, things may not go ahead as planned. Crash dieting is not a healthy way to lose weight. In fact the fad that crash dieting is, does more harm than good. Crash dieting is said to be harmful for the skin and bones, causing one to lose essential nutrients that a body needs to function with.


So what is the answer?
One must remember, healthy eating is not a fad, it is a lifestyle.
Remember, the golden rule: don’t diet just to lose weight, lose the junk lifestyle and switch to a healthier lifestyle.
It took some time for me to understand this fact. Even switching to healthier substitutes for some foods that we crave for. Example: Oily junk food, Sugar, Refined flour, etc.

The healthier and sweeter alternative to sugar is honey. Whereas the healthier alternatives to oily food is baking, roasting them; for refined flour is using whole wheat flours.
Apparently one teaspoon of sugar amounts to almost 16 Kcal!

On researching on the net further, we can find many good healthy uses to honey. For instance, Dabur Honey’s website www.daburhoney.com that dedicates to the benefits of honey, not just as an additive, but as a use in various recipes that can bring out an interesting taste and flavour in the Honey Diet. If you’re thinking that it’s only desserts that will use honey, you might be in for a sweet surprise! And who has designed these sumptuous dishes? Why Michelin Starred Restauranteur and MasterChef Vikas Khanna of course!

I’ve incorporated the habit of adding honey into my green tea or lemon juice instead of using the granular white sugar.
I’m consciously switching to a healthier lifestyle. Are you?



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Thursday, July 9, 2015

Cricket - A sport that connects Indians


In a country like India, where cricket is synonymous to a religion, it is perhaps considered sacrilege to ignore a match that India is playing in.
Cricket is in the blood of perhaps every Indian in India or on the surface of the planet. Regardless you play the game or not, Sachin Tendulkar is the ‘God’ of the game called cricket. Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev are historically celebrated and Sourav Ganguly and Mahendra Singh Dhoni are worshipped – even the ground they walk on.

 An India – Pakistan match ignites patriotic passion in every Indian to their motherland, regardless of whichever desolate corner of the world they maybe in.
The incessant discussions, the fantasy leagues, the pre-match analyses, discussion of the match tactics during the match, the post-match post mortem analyses, the name-calling, player heckling, jibe throwing behaviour that is a part and parcel of this addictive madness.

That is the power and magic of cricket. Truly a sport that unites.

I believe each Indian has a fond memory associated with this revered and celebrated sport.
For instance,
Do you remember going to your neighbours place and huddling up to the television set with your friends just to watch the match on Doordarshan?
Do you recall you and your sibling/s fighting over the television remote to keep cricket match over any daily soap or entertainment program? You may try to make peace by switching to the soap after a wicket has fallen.
Or imagine if you were in another country where cricket was only considered as an insect and there is an India – Pakistan match on. Imagine trying to dash out for countless ‘loo breaks’ in middle of an important business meeting and the collective look on your colleagues’ faces when you return smiling back into the room.
These little memories build up our nostalgia. However fond the memories are, we love the game to the core.
But these times are long gone.
Today’s fact paced life, every second counts – even the time spent on the video to load. For a person like me, waiting a couple of extra seconds for a page to load when on an important website can drive me to the edge. Yet when I watch cricket, I make sure I am updated with the game scores via real time on Twitter.
I just checked UC Browser that has this unique way to connect us to the game without missing out or losing our connect from our real game – LIFE.
By surfing fast and quicker, we not only enjoy watching and experiencing cricket but also don’t miss out on our daily tasks.
Moreover, for cricket fanatics a convenient space called UC Cricket helps to connect to the match wherever they are with features such a LIVE scores with auto updates. 

So say Goodbye countless loo breaks!



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Saturday, June 27, 2015

My Best 12 Droolworthy Food Photographs

I love food.
Through and through. I am a self-proclaimed foodie and have no regrets on the "foodie" tag whatsoever. I love nibbling, biting, tasting, eating, chomping, slurping, munching, gulping down food. And living in Mumbai has pampered me silly with yummy food I cannot resist. So much so, I dream of good food and make goals to complete my foodie experience - from the raste ka vada pav to the hor d'oeuvress at a fine dining restaurant. And looking at good food can make me go weak in the knees. Literally. So here is my visual treat - The 12 droolworthy food photographs from my Instagram feed, so far:


A photo posted by Gauri (@missalpao) on
Why keep desserts for last? Let's begin on a sweet note (I sense those with a sweet-tooth nod in agreement). Chocolate Mud Pie that I savoured at Sbarro - A fast-food restaurant at their flagship restaurant in Chembur.


A photo posted by Gauri (@missalpao) on
"Who says 'NO' to chocolate must be crazy" I said when I dug into this wonderfully chunky treat at Beanspork, Vashi.


A photo posted by Gauri (@missalpao) on
A cold day called for some freshly baked hot Chicken pizza from Joey's Pizza, Koperkhairane. Care a slice?


We mangloreans love our jackfruit and the leaves too. To the uninitiated, 'Khotto' may simply seem like idli batter encased in jackfruit leaves, but the flavour the leaves impart into the idli is absolutely wonderful.


Goli Bajo. My all time favourite snack. A small story behind this snap. The batter for the 'bajo' (fritters) came all the way from a Hotel in Bailur, a small town in Karnataka. My ma-in-law fried these in hot oil and they came out perfect - firm on the outside, soft and tad bit sweet in the inside - just the way I ate them the first time.


Got some buns? Manglorean Buns are simply deep fried dough. The dough is made with refined flour, curd, sugar, bananas and a pinch of soda-bi-carb. A very very well kneaded and well rested dough makes for a delicious, puffy batch of buns. Buns go well with staple tea or coffee.

A true fish lover is bound to drool at this. Red hot spicy Malvani spicy fish curry is bound to leave you sweating thanks to the red chillies packing the punch in the curry, yet yearning for more.



One of the jaunts that I chanced upon when in Churchgate and devoured the Chilli Cheese Fries at 'The J' Must for a cheat-day.


A chutney connoisseur that I am, I prefer it over the watery sambhar that is made.(Yes, true to my South Indian roots). Though, I love the idli-wala uncle's ground dal based chutney over my mom's coconut and spices only chutney. (Shhh.... don't tell her that, idlis made by her always rock!)

For living in Bombay (Yes I call it that to sound more profound) you cannot, I repeat CANNOT go a week without chaat. I had this sev puri at a local shop at Goregaon. Every chaat guy has his signature style of presenting and plating chaat, and this guy always sprinkled seasoned nuts over all chaats he made.


Iconic as it is, a trip to City Bakery is a must when I'm visiting the Siddhivinayak Temple. It has been as much as a ritual as is smearing the vermilion teeka on my forehead after offering prayers. What I try loooove about this bakery is the fresh bakes they churn out day in and day out plus the affordable rates of their wares. When you're here you must also try the chocolate chip cake- it is out of this world.

When the rain Gods were overbearing outside, I was curled up in my cosy office devouring this succulently coated chindian cuisine. I'm not a purist when it comes to Chinese, so love all my "schezwans", "chopsueys" and "manchows". I had this Chicken Hunan Dry from a local restaurant called Manthan in Goregaon west. Thank you Rain Gods.



So this is my visual treat to you. What do you think? Lemme know your thoughts and experiences in the comments section of this post:

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Thursday, June 25, 2015

Dear Dad



Dear Dad,

I don't know where to start. As I reflect back on the 25 years with you, I literally have tears in my eyes. Where do I start? No memory can be more beautiful than the other. I cherish each and every lovely memory I have with you till date. 

Should I ask you to remember the lavish party you threw when I was born? Or should I ask you to remember the time when you refused to hold me for the first time ever after I was born, only because you had a cold that day? 
Shall I ask you to reminisce the time you scolded me while teaching me to ride the bicycle? And then gradually pushing me to drive a car and ride a scooter.
Or how about the time you helped me ace my maths exam in high school; when I was petrified of it?
Can you remember the time I lost your favourite umbrella in an autorickshaw? And yet you didn't say anything but you gave me your other one.
Or shall I remind you the countless times you used to drop me to school in the car when I missed the bus? Even when
Let me remind you of the countless times I waited for your return from your foreign trips bringing me a memento or a gift each time? I still remember you basking in the smile on my face.
In school, do you remember fighting against a teacher’s wrong for me? I admired the power of your writing then.
In college, when I was staying away from home, do you remember the time you and mom took me to the doc when I was too sick with fever to get up?
When I grew up, do you remember you the time I forgot my exam hallticket at home? You rushed to the exam hall and got it for me. And the countless times you backed me even when I was in trouble.


Dad, with tight hug, I want to thank you with all my heart-

For the education you gave me
For the opportunities you gave me
For making me independent
For the values you gave me
For always being my guide
For the friendship we share
For the always treated me as an equal.
For giving me my freedom to make my choices
For supporting me through and through
For trusting me completely
For making me strong, just like you.


I will always always always always love you.

- Your Gondi Gauri




 “This father’s day, I am expressing my love towards my dad by participating in the #HugYourDad activity at BlogAdda in association with Vicks.”
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