Trial Run

Have been thinking about moving this blog for a while now.
Am basically looking for something like blogger.com but with password protected individual postings for times when I just want to rant at the world in private.

Anyway, I think I may have found it here so I'll be gone for a while unless things don't work out between the new lover and me :P

StanChart 10km run

I've just signed myself up for this year's StanChart 10km run which is happening on 3rd Dec 06. Hopefully this will be motivation enough for me to dig my running shorts out of the cupboard....

In the meantime, its 115 days and counting...

A fun filled saturday

Courtesy of a photoshop class conducted by some flickr friends and a D70s Nikon camera loaned off another friend for the weekend

Stuff to ponder about...

Go read this by smoot.

I wanted to leave a comment on her blog but I thought I will write it here instead. At risk of revealing my low IQ quotient, the first thought that ran through my mind was… “Errr, sperm got smell meh? Strong enough that someone from behind you can get a whiff of it when you stand up?”

Not that I doubt her story. No siree! (She’s a lawyer. I don’t want to be sued for defamation.) I’m just curious that’s all. As in like “REALLY? Can smell? What does it smell like?”

Yeah. I know. I am married and I should know but I don’t.

So, can anyone tell me....

“What does sperm from yesterday really smell like?”

I want to know because you know, I don’t want to walk around the office and have my colleagues thinking to themselves “Yep. She’s had SOME last night!”

Chickpea Chaat Masala Salad

I have been obsessing about making this for about 2 weeks now after seeing it here

Though it didn't quite turn out like the original picture because I think I didn't quite fry it long enough, the flavours and textures were interesting enough to make me want to try this again some time soon and also experiment with the spice mix on some other ingredients.

This is really best served very cold on its own or with hot rice or a nice piece of garlic naan. Oh ya, I did the taste test on my Indian colleague and got a two thumbs up :D

Chickpea Chaat Salad with Banana and Pomegranate
Serves: 4
Source: adapted from 1000 Indian Recipes by Neelam Batra
Notes: To make this dish you'll need to track down one specialty ingredient, the chaat masala. You should have no trouble finding it boxed alongside other spice mixes in Indian grocery stores, but if you can't you can try your hand at making it yourself (assuming, of course, you can track down the spices you need). Other uses for this delicious salty-sour-pungent powder include sprinkling on pakoras, roasted potatoes and even nuts.

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon peeled minced fresh ginger
2-4 fresh green chilies, minced
1 tablespoon ground coriander
2 teaspoons chaat masala (see note above)
1/2 cup (125ml) cilantro/fresh coriander, finely chopped
2 14-oz (400g) cans chickpeas, drained
1/2 cup (125ml) water
1 heaping tablespoon tamarind concentrate (available at Indian or Asian shops, as well as many supermarkets)
1 small English cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
5 scallions/spring onions, white and pale green parts sliced
1 large ripe banana, peeled and diced
1/2 cup (125ml) fresh pomegranate seeds

Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, then stir in the garlic, ginger and green chilies, stirring until fragrant and golden, about 30 seconds.
Add the ground coriander, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the chaat masala, half the cilantro, and stir about 30 seconds more.
Add the chickpeas, water and tamarind, and cook, stirring as necessary, until the chickpeas are tender and all the juices evaporate, about 5-7 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool.
When completely cool, stir in the cucumber, remaining fresh cilantro, scallions, banana, and remaining chaat masala. Sprinkle with the pomegranate seeds just before serving. Best served cold or at room temperature.

(From The Traveler's Lunchbox)