The quick triple layer snack- power packed yummy deal!

  

The three-layer power-packed meal  

Being a mom is no joke, truly! Sometimes it feels hectic with loads of responsibility and dearth of energy to fulfill it. It was a tough day for me traveling almost 90 km. and back at home to cook something yummy for my kids. I had an innovative idea and implemented that with ease. The snack was just a triple layered one; carbohydrate, vitamins, and protein-packed meal. It’s wholesome and tasty. Well, now my kids demand it almost every day. Well, with some boiled potatoes and some cooked veggies, anybody can make this yummy meal.

Preparation: For 3-4 people

Ingredients:

(For the first layer)

3-4 medium sized boiled potatoes, de-skinned and mashed.

(For the second layer)

A ½ floret of broccoli (medium sized),

2 medium-sized onions chopped,

1 medium sized tomato chopped,

1 medium-sized bell pepper chopped,

½ cup of sweet corn,

(For the third layer)

3-4 eggs

Salt,

Garlic paste,

Soya sauce (3 teaspoons),

Three slices of cheddar cheese,

Oil for cooking,

1 teaspoon of mixed herbs.

Equipment required:

Microwave

Procedure:

1.       Put all the chopped vegetable- onion, bell pepper, tomatoes to a container and cook them with the slightest oil. Add garlic paste and the toss all the vegetable nicely. Add soya sauce to the mixture and leave. Keep the cooked vegetable aside.

2.        Take the eggs in a bowl and prepare a batter. Add salt and herbs to it.

         For the first layer:

1.       Take a bowl and layer with the mashed potatoes for the bottom layer. Add one slice of cheddar cheese and then microwave for 2-3 minutes till the cheese melts.

For the second layer:

2.       Place the second layer with a ladle of cooked veggies. Add another slice of cheddar cheese and then microwave for 2-3 minutes till the cheese melts.

For the third layer:

3.       Take the battered egg and put some herbs to it. Place over the layer of veggies and then microwave for 5-6 minutes.

The egg layer will settle and then it’s ready to be served.  The meal should be scooped and put in a plate to enjoy. The three layers become distinct. Trust me, the taste is simply heavenly. Simple ingredients put together to form a delicious wholesome meal.

Jewels of London that allure the tourists ( part 5)

                   

Hop on - hop off buses are a  great way touring London 

London is a place of varied culture and preserved heritage. Starting with the Romans of the historic age and ending with the modern immigrant, London has been the best place to settle. The city embraces people from various diversities and made a place for each community. The beauty of London lies in the eyes of the beholder; yes, but she has some iconic landmarks that call tourist from beyond boundaries.  I was almost completing the tour of the city, and the last day I accomplished a walking tour and saw some famous landmarks without which my tour would have been an absolute zero.

                  

Piccadilly Circus when bustling with tourists 

Piccadilly Circus: We strolled across Piccadilly Circus to have some views of the place and I felt like this place is so known to me, courtesy the media. Eventually, the word circus refers to animals, acrobats, and tents but there was nothing that sort. The word circus is being derived from the Latin to mean circle. This is around the junction with a famous statue at the center and surrounded by videos and neon signs.  The British lexicon Piccadilly Circus is used to refer to a place that means exceptionally busy. 

                      

The iconic angel stands amidst the busy crossing 

The word Piccadilly has been into existence since 1600 as ‘piccadills’ or a type of fancy neck collar used to be available.  There’s mention of the place in various novels including many of Charles Dickens.  The place has six illuminated screens which are switched off at regular intervals.

                                        

A screen that is the trademark of Piccadilly square 

 The famous screens are of Coca-Cola, TDK, Mac Donald, Hyundai, Samsung, and LG.  The place is accessible from other attractions like Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, National portrait gallery, National Gallery, and St. Martins in the fields.

                  

Strolling along one of the busiest streets of United Kingdom

Oxford Street:  Next, we started strolling along Oxford-street. Oxford Street is one of the busiest places of London which is home to almost 300 shopping centers. I was basically wooed to see the brands flashing, hoardings and yes, I was lucky to avail the special summer discounts for some brands. The famous brands that jostle space are – Selfridges, John Lewis, BHS, House of Fraser, Debenhams, Marks & Spencer and many more. We were told that Oxford Street gets specially decked up for Christmas. This is the major road of the city of Westminster situated in the west end of London. 

                     

Where brands jostle space 

The road runs from Tottenham court road to Marble Arch. Almost half a million visitors come here every day to satiate their shopping spree. 
                                             
                                        

Great landmarks that denote the city's opulence 

There is no dearth of restaurants and cinema complex in Oxford Street. It’s a thrill to walk among the busiest streets of the UK.

           

Trafalgar Square visited by tourists

Trafalgar Square: We whizz passed the Trafalgar square while on the Big Bus tour. Then took some time to explore the iconic place of the Queen’s city. This is a public square situated in central London, which was formerly known as Charing Cross.  The iconic structure was built to commemorate the battle of Trafalgar where the British naval won victory against France and Spain in the Napoleonic War. The famous place is surrounded by galleries, museums, historic buildings, and cultural spaces. This place is famous as any political party holds their rallies and demonstrations. The Mayor supports this democratic tradition. The main attractions here are Nelson’s column, fountains, statues, and the fourth plinth. The statues in the display are General Sir Charles James Napier, General Sir Henry Havelock, and King George VI. It was fun to loiter across Trafalgar square. We had a great photography session. Nice to capture great moments at great places.

                                   

St. Pauls Cathedral, media's favorite 

St Paul’s Cathedral: We came across St. Pauls Cathedral, the awesome dome-shaped religious center which marks an iconic structure across the skyline of London. There is a collection of awe-inspiring history once you step inside the cathedral. This was mostly viewed when royal marriage and other State events were telecasted. Oh yes, how can I forget the fairy tale marriage of Charles and Diana?  The entry fees to the cathedral are £18 per person.
                                 

Inside St. Paul's Cathedral ( collected)

 It is accessible by bus from various corners of the city. The attraction is covered in the city tour plan of Big Bus, Original tour and other hops on - hop off city tours.  St Pauls is an Anglican church and the seat of the bishop of London. They offer free guided tours on arrival. The audio guide is available in eight different languages.

In one word, London can woe any visitor with her charm and elegance. The more you see the more you feel short of words describing her opulence. A quiet stroll near the tower bridge, a panoramic view of the city from the Shards or might be a cruise along the Thames River is not enough to realize the magnificence of the Queen’s city. She has a rich history, a great future and presently the bull’s eye of travelers and International students. Yes, London has a wide array of options for any cosmopolitan crowd and you will simply love the varied culture she offers.

The next day, we decided to visit Oxford, the education hub of the United Kingdom. 

Jewels of London that allure the tourists (Part 4)

                         

360 view of the Queen's city from Shard 

The aim to visit London was to look at the Queen. Yes, I was excited to see the official residence of the Queen, Buckingham Palace. Looks like the gate, the balcony is so known to me although I saw that for the first time. We were so excited at the view of the historical palace. There is a tour conducted by travel companies that take you into the Staterooms as well as observe the change of guards. Change of guards is a colorful ceremony and you have to be present 45 minutes before the march takes place. The march starts exactly from 11 o’ clock in the morning. In fact, the time can change depending on weather, but it is generally informed to the visitors. The ceremony is beguiling to watch.

Buckingham Palace tour and change of guards:   Observing the change of guards is an enthralling affair. But, there is a long queue, entry ticket for the palace. It’s better if you can buy the tickets online. The State house of the palace is open to the public for two months, starting from 27^th July till 30^th September. 

                

Buckingham Palace gate 

After observing the change of guards, the visitors are taken inside the palace. You will definitely get goosebumps. There’s a lot to see and feel. Those moments when the British channel broadcasted special moments like Lady Diana’s interview, Queen’s interview and of course the family get together, are all here.

                    

Throne room @ Buckingham Palace ( collected)

 In fact, cameras were not allowed in general. All photographs in the blog are taken from special sources. The visitors are generally enchanted to see the throne room, ballroom and there are other State rooms of the Palace.

                             

Royal corridors ( collected)

 There are 19 staterooms out of which one is working, where the Queen meets her guests. There are priceless decorations inside the staterooms that include paintings by Rubens, Rembrandt, and Canaletto.

       

Historic chariot in vogue from King George VI

It’s enchanting to view the royal coach that is displayed in the royal mews. It’s fascinating to view the State Gold coach which was used from the time of King George VI. The rooms are just a combination of aristocracy and style. The coach is now used during official ceremonies like engagement, coronation, baptism, and weddings. It's a great chance to observe from a close distance. 

   

The Royal garden @Buckinghamm palace ( collected)

There is an arrangement where the visitors are taken to Doubletree Hilton or the Grosvenor house for afternoon tea. This arrangement is included in the ticket. Tea and snacks are served. You will be fascinated with the taste of scones, pastries, and sandwiches along with tea. It’s a great feeling to be royal among the royals in the royal garden.

                            

The breath-taking view of the city

360-degree view of London from Shard, the highest point of Western Europe: Afternoon I was off  for Shard, is the highest point of Western Europe. We bought tickets at the gate for the family to visit the observatory tower. In fact, Shard is the address to various restaurants and offices. A view of the city from here is truly breath-taking. You may cherish a dining experience and also enjoy the disco. Well, all you can do is experience is taste the world-class champagne available here. Various events and festivals occur here and tourists from around the globe desire to pay a visit here.

In fact, apart from the glass covered watchtower, there is another open sky deck from where you can see the Queen’s city. In fact, this was one of the best views I saw and took photos. I have seen cities like Paris and Dubai from the tallest manmade structures, but London is just ‘wow’. It’s a lifetime experience that will be framed in golden in my memories.

Jewels of London that allure tourists ( part 3)

                             

Bird's eye view of the city 

London is a vast city and it takes quite a long time to explore the famous landmarks. Well, if you have seven days in hand, that might not be enough to cover the famous landmarks. In order to see everything in details, you need to plan and choose your hotspots.

                   

Attractive entrance, a terrifying cliche 

London Dungeon: This is a tourist attraction, and was founded in 1976, situated along the South Bank of England. This was meant to recreate various gory and macabre through various historical events. It used to be a wax exhibition but after the mid ‘80’s and ‘90’s the shows became theatrical and shows on the great fire of London and Jack the Ripper was exhibited.

 

Capital punishment of prehistoric era

The London Dungeon will take you through 1000 years of history and the enactment of various historical events will take place. You have a chance to enjoy almost 18 shows and you a chance to experience history with a comedy twist; might be you can be enacted being the victim and get falsely executed. It’s fun after all. Tickets can be purchased online or even form the queue.

                                    

The Gallows 

 The place is open almost every day from 10am in the morning to 6 pm except on public holidays. You may book tickets online for the best possible discounts.  Standard tickets start from 21 pounds. 

                      

Plague show 

There are various shows like The Descent, The tyrant boat ride, The city gates, Guy Fawkes gunpowder plot, The torture chamber, The plague doctor, The great fire of London, Sweeney Todd, Mitre Square, Whitechapel labyrinth, Jack the Ripper, The courtroom, The great escape, Halloween and the Tavern. You can check the scary score and review of the shows before you decide to visit them.

             

Sweeney Todd show 

The London Dungeon is accessible by bus, metro, tube or even tram. Photography is restricted in certain cases due to the actor’s guidelines. But you can buy a special photo and preserve that as a souvenir. All images in this blog have been collected from special sources.

                  

The British Museum: The British Museum is located in Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury in London. You can get here by tube route, by bus or even by cycle. Be prepared for an entire search of any bag or rucksack you are carrying while entering the British Museum. 

                               

Egyptian Naukrits

It’s open from 10 am till 5:30 pm, except Fridays when it’s open till 8:30 pm in the evening. This is one of the famous landmarks which you won’t be charged while entering. The museum has ten distinct curatorial as well as a research department.

                                               

Ashurbanipal Assyria King  

 The collections are distinguished as- Africa, Ancient Egypt and Sudan, Asia, Britain Europe and prehistory, coins and medals, Greece and Rome, Middle East, portable antiques, prints, and drawings. 

                              

Ashoka Pillar

                                         

Clovis spear point Olduvai

The museum which is led by a trustee of 25 trustees and directors is an object of wonder.

The British Museum is simply the world history in miniature form.  

                                               

Head of Augustus

                                                  

Statue of Shiv Parvati

The human remains are preserved with care and respect. Founded in 1753, the British museum preserved two million years of human history.

                                       

Writing  tablet of Middle East 

       

You may opt for the audio guide, that will help you to understand the significance of the structures exhibited in the museum. 

Potato n cheese roll. Calories??? Some other time please…!!

                   

Potato and cheese roll- the yummy bite!

When weekends strike, I am always in a mood to innovate something. I am a foodie and in spite of repeated warnings on my intake of calories, I just give a damn to all these ideas. Well, I am sure there are friends who are foodies as well, and my recipe is dedicated to all of them. Well, there is no harm to work out or live on a salad diet the entire week, but if you love yummy snacks, your mouth will simply water at the idea of this.  So, let’s share it with all my foodie friends.

Serves:  3-4 persons

Ingredients:

1      7-8 medium sized potatoes deskinned and mashed,

2.    ½ cup of shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese,

3.       ½ teaspoon of mixed herbs,

4      1 medium sized onions chopped,

       ½ Batter made of white flour and water,

6     1 cup of breadcrumbs,

7.       1 teaspoon of salt,

8.       ½ teaspoon of grated garlic,

9.       Oil for frying.

 Procedure:

1.       Boil the potatoes, deskin and them mash the entire content.

2.       Dash little oil in a small pan and add garlic, mixed herbs to it.  Cook till it emits smell and then remove it from the gas.

3.       Add with the mashed potato and make a nice dough; dough should be firm and care should be taken that there are no dumplings.

4.       Now use your hands to make the dough and flatten out the mashed potato.

5.       With the help of a spoon place the cheese mix inside the mashed dough and then roll to close.

6.       Dip the structure inside the batter and then roll on breadcrumbs.

7.       Heat oil and then release the dough inside the oil and make sure it deep fries. Ensure it obtains the golden brownish color.

8.       Remove and place on a serving plate. Soak the extra oil with a paper.

Try tearing the roll from the middle and you will see the mozzarella cheese pop up from inside. This is luscious and a real treat for the eyes. Enjoy this yummy snacks and make your weekends truly memorable.

Jewels of London that calls tourists from around the world ( Part 2)

               

The Tower of London ( collected) 

London is a huge city to be explored. I was back on track the next day for touring the city. My Big bus ticket was valid for 48 hours and I boarded the vehicle from nearby Waterloo station. London has excellent connections with the suburbs. I wanted to see the historical sites of London that reflect Britain’s history. I decided to see the Tower of London. 

              

Entrance to the majestic Tower 

         

Tower of London: The Tower of London can be approached by bus or metro. You have to get down at Tower-hill station to reach the tower. It is open for public viewing from 9 am to 5:30 pm on weekdays. Anyway if you reach with family, it’s better to buy a family ticket worth 75£. You may opt for an audio guide which will take you through the castle. According to the guide, the tower dates back one thousand years when the Normans entered the land. Thereafter the tower was regarded as a fortress, home for the Royals and also the infamous place where prisoners were executed for reasons of treason. You can opt for a walking tour or a group tour where the English speaking guide will dramatically take you through the chapters of history and familiarize with the castle.

                    

Bed chamber of King Edwards 

 Never miss the separate buildings like the white tower, the salt tower, the bloody tower and the crown jewel section.  We explored through the stairs to see the bedchamber of Kind Edwards and then the armor. In fact, each and every room is equipped with writings which you can go through for better understanding.

              

Stories of executions during world war II

            

We saw the salt tower which was said to be developed in 1230 and named after Julius Caeser. The modern tower is a modification and construction had occurred at various ages.  We went through the history which reflected the brutal side of mankind; probably this is another side of the autocratic rule.

                                   

                 

The dark walls of the tower 

                                

Carnivores were kept in the Victorian era 

The white tower is the dome-shaped tower built by William the Conqueror. The building reflects Norman architecture. We saw the royal armor which was said to be used by Henry VII. It’s known as one of the strongest structure of medieval England.

                             

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The chain used in the  armor 

The bloody tower is said to be the place where two minor brothers Edward V, 12 years and his brother 9 years old were kept imprisoned and later were murdered in a mysterious way.  The guide took us through the stories of torture at the lower Wakefield tower. 

                   

Queen Anne Boleyn executed here in 1530

 During the 15^th and 16^th century AD, prisoners were taken through a series of torture with instruments that gave them unbearable pain. Manacles, rack and scavenger’s daughter were used as torture instruments.

                                    

The means of torture 

 Looks like there was a tradition of delivering unbearable pain before the prisoners gave up with the names of conspirators. A method very close to the modern day third-degree torture.

                                

Story of torture 

 We saw the traitor’s gate, which had stories of treachery during the 12^th century. We were taken around the place where Queen Anne along with other royals was executed.

                  

The traitor's gate tells stories of treachery during the 12th century 

We saw the Ravens at the tower. The guide told us that they are fed with meat and blood-soaked bird biscuits. There used to be a zoo during the Victorian age where royal beasts were displayed to the visitor. 

                  

Ravens are the guards of the tower

The Ravens are the only animals present till day, and it’s believed that if the ravens leave then the kingdom will fall. Visitors are instructed not to feed the Ravens. 

We moved towards the building where the crown jewels are kept secured. This is the most interesting place as the precious jewels, robes and crowns are preserved. We saw the  Kohinoor or the 'mountain of light's. In fact, we were not allowed any photography as a security measure. The guide took us through a bit of history as the Kohinoor, that originates from India passed hands before it came to Queen Elizabeth. 

             

Entrance to the crown jewels 

The main purpose of the visit 

The Yeoman warder guards the chamber of the precious stones, which are displayed as the Queen’s glory. The property of the Queen are enjoyed by her but looked after by the British Government who pays for royal family’s expenses till date.  

                      

Guarding the crown jewels  since ages 

               

We managed to take a snap with the Yeoman Warder. In fact, there is a tradition of the key ceremony which is a 700 years old tradition still followed in London.  We could get a nice view of the iconic tower bridge while we climbed the towers.

                     

With the Yeoman Warders 

          

 We took great pictures, shopped some souvenirs and then prepared to leave. Oh! the experience was like recapitulating history.