Recipe: Easter Cupcake Recipe

Ingredients 

120gm - plain flour 

140gm - caster sugar 

1gm - salt 

120gm unsalted butter, 

145gm milk 

50gm egg 

4gm vanilla extract 

250gm of icing sugar

Method

Preheat the oven to 150°C

Put the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and 40gmbutter in a kitchen aid mixer with a paddle attachment, Beat on a slow speed until you have a sandy consistency

Gradually pour in half of the 60gm milk, and beat until the milk is just incorporated

Whisk the egg, 2gm vanilla extract and 60gm remaining milk together in a separate bowl. Then pour the liquid into the flour mixture and beat until just incorporated. Scrape down the sides, and beat for a few more minutes. It’s important not to over-mix the batter

Spoon the mixture into the paper cases until two-thirds full, and bake in the preheated oven for 22-27 minutes, or until light golden and the sponge springs back when pressed. A toothpick inserted into the Centre should come out clean

Cool on a wire rack, and ice with frosting and sprinkles once cool

For the frosting, beat the icing sugar and 80gm butter together with a kitchen aid mixture with paddle attachment, until the mixture comes together

Turn the mixer down to a slow speed. Combine the 25gm milk and vanilla extract, and add to the mixture a few tablespoons at a time

Once incorporated, turn the mixer speed up and beat for about 5 minutes, or until the frosting is light and fluffy. Decorate as you like.

Restaurant Review: Jom Jom Malay, Address: Ansal Plaza, New Delhi

So we landed up at this new restaurant and would love it call it “luck by chance”. Was in the area and had gone to Ansal Plaza for a trip to nostalgia when stumbled on this cute looking Malaysian speciality restaurant, the cycle rickshaw kept at the entrance was too cute and inviting.

We went in and in spite of it being a midweek lunchtime, it was fairly occupied, the walls were adorned with dragon butterflies and other artefacts which the staff informed was sourced from Malaysia itself (and the rickshaw too!!). One side of the restaurant had a coloured graffiti wall and the place itself was well lit with lots of sunlight pouring in.

Seating is good too, lots of walking space and ample elbow space too, various partitions give you that sense of privacy, the staff was courteous and helpful. They knew their menu and were eager enough to explain the food listed on the menu. Service is not rushed like at other places and they ask you before serving in the next order/course which I found very thoughtful. 

We started with assorted baos which had one each of Chicken, Lamb and Duck Baos, although I am a seafood lover, but still I liked the Chicken Bao the best. Next was a Veg and an Assorted Satay (again Lamb, Prawn n Fish), in the Veg Satay, the vegetables were fresh and had the perfect crunch.

The Laksa, which is a popular spicy noodle soup, was served with rice noodles and chicken, prawn and fish. The base was a rich coconut curry and you flavour was just apt. The condiments basket was a cute, cane basket which had an assortment of things like the Chilli Oil, Fried Garlic, Basil leaves, lemon wedges, roasted and coarsely ground peanuts and more to make your soup even more flavourful. 

Veg Murtabak, a stuffed pan-fried pancake was bursting with fillings and is slightly on the mild side of spices but to balance that a spicy dip is served alongside.

Roti Canai was made the perfect way with many flaky layers and was served with Veg Rendang Curry.

We rounded off with Red Velvet, Banoffee Pie and Coconut Cheesecake all of which would have tasted nice if they had been served at normal temperature. But since they were brought to us directly from the cold storage had a slightly had crust.

All food served had a strong presence of roasted peanut which lend a wonderful flavour to most of the dishes.

PS: Portion sizes are huge and good for two, order with care as not to waste much food.

Ratings: 

Food-3.50/5.00, 

Service-4.00/5.00, 

Décor-4.00/5.00

Address: Ansal Plaza, August Kranti Marg, Hudco Place, Andrews Ganj Extension, Andrews Ganj, New Delhi, Delhi 110049

Review Credit: Abhilasha 

Vidya Balan Launches a Great Kahani - The Wrong Turn: Love and Betrayal in the Time of Netaji

Vidya Balan Launches a Great Kahani

The Wrong Turn: Love and Betrayal in the Time of Netaji

By Sanjay Chopra and Namita Roy Ghose

Published by

Om Books International

At The Junkyard Café

Om Books International along with The Junkyard Café, Mumbai, celebrated the launch of The Wrong Turn: Love and Betrayal in the Time of Netaji by co-authors, Sanjay Chopra and Namita Roy Ghose, on 28^thFebruary 2017.

Vidya Balan, Rajat Kapoor and Simone Singh read from the book. This was followed by an interesting discussion on the book by Sanjay Chopra, Namita Roy Ghose, Tigmangshu Dhulia, Arshad Warsi, Anil Dharker and Tisca Chopra. Other notable people present on the occasion were Maria Goretti, Sayani Gupta, Kavita Kaushik, Ranvir Shorey and Mushtaq Sheikh.

About the book

1944, Kohima — a small, sleepy town in northeast India. Subhash Chandra Bose and his Indian National Army (INA) along with the Japanese, are on the brink of bringing the Empire to its knees and forcing the British out of India. But, inexplicably, the tables turn. The INA’s advance is thwarted and the victory march to Delhi is halted. Seventy years later, the British admit that the Battle of Kohima was the greatest battle they had ever fought. Even more so than the battles of Waterloo and Dunkirk. Was it then that old Indian curse — betrayal? Someone from within Netaji’s own ranks? Were there forces other than the British, waiting in the shadows closer to home, who stood to gain even more from the INA’s defeat? Or was it just love that irrevocably altered the course of India’s destiny? The Wrong Turn: Love and Betrayal in the Time of Netaji, is a sweeping tale of passion set against the freedom struggle. Debraj, the rakish playboy and scion of a distinguished Calcutta family, and Nishonko, the fiery revolutionary sworn to the cause of the INA, must not only fight their common enemy, but also for the love of Aditi, the rebel with the healing touch. A haunting tale of love, friendship and betrayal of an entire nation, The Wrong Turn veers inexorably towards a poignant redemption.

About the co-authors

Sanjay Chopra, co-author

           

“The Wrong Turn is a story that traverses the cities of Calcutta, Singapore, Rangoon and Kohima caught up in the blaze of the Second World War. It is about the clash of four desperate forces as they come together in Kohima to vie for the brightest jewel in the crown -- India. Victory will come to those who possess not just the coldest steel but even colder hearts.”

SANJAY CHOPRA is an airline pilot and author of two collections of short stories, Said and Done and Tailspin stories. He believes that his office forty thousand feet in the sky and his travels provide him with a view that fuels his vivid storytelling that cuts a wide arc through time and space.

His stories have won the Invisible Ink, the Millennium writers and Southport awards in the UK and USA. In the words of his readers, ‘He is a storyteller like those of the old days, yet his stories are as modern as tomorrow.’

He lives in Mumbai with his wife Tisca Chopra, an actress and he is currently working on a film script and a web series.

Namita Roy Ghose, co-author

“This was a story waiting to be told. So much about Netaji was smoke and mirrors, partial views foisted on us by the British and other vested interests. Here was a man who was a personal hero, who was part of the lore of my childhood. And here was a chance to set the narrative straight - through the lens of a very human yet universal story of love.”

During a school project on ‘The most memorable day of my life’, NAMITA ROY GHOSE wrote about a Russian girl on the day WW2 ended. She got her first rejection slip from the teacher for making things up. Ever since, Namita has established her storytelling skills through her scriptwriting, screenplays poetry, fiction, legendary advertising campaigns, and as a renowned advertising film director. A Creative Director with HTA, she left after 13 years to start her own film company, White Light, one of India’s top ad film outfits. A social activist, she is the founder of Vanashakti, an NGO that works to protect the environment. Namita has done pro bono work on issues like domestic violence, child welfare, sexual harassment and forest preservation. She is an avid traveller, a photographer, foodie and teacher

                                                                                                                     

Ajay Mago, Publisher, Om Books International

“A Tale of Two Cities, Dr Zhivago, Gone with the Wind are some of my favourite historical fiction. Even today, I enjoy a well-written historical fiction. So when The Wrong Turn came my way, I was clearly excited about this critical piece of Indian history couched in a fictional narrative. A great story told marvellously. Clearly one of the best books Om Books International has published.”

Umang Tewari, Proprietor, Big Fish Ventures

I am blessed to receive much love and acceptance for The Junkyard Café in Mumbai. It’s overwhelming to see that in less than a span of 3 months, The Junkyard Café has become the favorite hangout spot for Bolly and Telly world. The Junkyard Café is a luxurious concept that derives its inspiration from Junkyard, a yard used to store junk. How junk can be utilized in the most beautiful way, is something that the café chain has mastered very well. The magnum place which stands true to its concept, welcomes you to a world that has best of interiors with minimalistic approach. The Mumbai units have been designed by deriving inspiration from vintage garage or old spacious industrial locations. With tires on the wall, scooters as seats, parking graphics on the wall etc., The Junkyard Café is an extremely unique concept and first of its kind in Mumbai. Lifelike images of Elvis Presley & Marilyn Monroe will adorn the walls of Mumbai café and take the guest into the classic Hollywood era.

About Om Books International

One of the largest English trade publishers in the Indian subcontinent, Om Books International is a force to reckon with. It has been a leading enterprise for more than five decades in the Indian publishing and retail industry. Headquartered in Noida, OBI has a diverse publishing list: cinema, biography, memoir, mind-body-spirit, photo essay, art, architecture, lifestyle, fiction - commercial and literary, to name just a few categories. It counts amongst its notable authors Khalid Mohamed, Mushtaq Shiekh, Bharathi S Pradhan, Nasreen Munni Kabir, Rauf Ahmed, Kamala Das, William Dalrymple, Christopher C Doyle and Suhail Mathur.

Om Books International has a stellar lineup of Gourmand World Cookbook Award Winners: Saransh Goila, Maria Goretti, Michael Swamy, Mugdha Savkar, Shazia Khan, Aditya Mehendale and Vikas Khanna. 

Some of its forthcoming titles include: The Bachchans by SMM Ausaja, Asha Parekh: The Hit Girl by Asha Parekh and Khalid Mohamed, and Taj Mahal: Multiple Narratives, by Amita Baig and Rahul Mehrotra. OBI has an equally strong and varied children's publishing programme under its imprint, OmKidz.