Deadline-Dan's Demo Demonstration
The higher the ``higher-ups'' are who've come to see your demo, the lower your chances are of giving a successful one.
One of those posts where I am not going to post any pics - reason being that I could not upload them anywhere. :D
But there are three important things to tell you, I think three.
Let me see how it goes.
First - I have been experimenting with a lot of cooking these days. Whenever I find time, and I do not want to sleep. Apart from the Paneer butter masala and Chole masala mentioned before, I also managed Mushroom Pulao, as well as a different way of making Pasta (to be culinarily correct -
Penne Rigate) without the Pasta sauce. With a dash of pepper, salsa sauce, green chillies, soy sauce, and a generous dose of ghee (there goes the one hour effort I put at the gym), it tasted amazingly well. Previous preparations used to be with Pasta sauce that made it taste a bit tomatoish (if you eat a lot of tomatoes, then you probably will NOT know it!!!)
I realized that cooking correctly is all about proportions, know what to add when and how much of it. And that, unfortunately, comes about by practise only.
I remember, when my mom used to teach me cooking, I always asked how to know how much to put - she always replied, I just know it. Well, now I know too. For example, most of the cookbooks and recipes that you may find straggling on the net, always mention that
Add salt to taste.
Ever wondered what that meant? Not me, the first time, only by practise, and some minor cooking disasters did I arrive at the correct
"formulae" for the amount of salt - And that varies from person to person.
And it comes about by practise only - nothing hereditary, or nothing that is passed by word of mouth.
I guess living on your own has its advantages - You discover the chef in you.
Second point - X'mas Decorations.
People here seem to put a lot of effort into Christmas decorations. For them, Christmas is like what Diwali is to us, perhaps much more.
I was recently on a stroll of a street quite close to my apartment, in the nite, I was amazed to see so many decorations and lighting being put up. So much so that there was a huge que of cars, and an even larger rush of people that would put Shopping malls to shame. One particular que to view a beautifully decorated house stretched beyond the block, I wanted to see it, but time did not permit it.
I did get a few shots, but I am sure they would not do justice to that place. That place and many more.
I am going on a short 15 day trip to my uncle's place in Maryland, actually a suburb of DC. Leaving tomorrow at noon, and will be back in Austin on the 6th. Hoping to see DC fully and also make a trip to the Big Apple. I think I will also be able to go to Detroit for a couple of days, weather permitting.
Some of the things that I hope to do:
- Learn driving enough to get a license here.
- Get a good tripod to take better shots.
- Have my first hand at skiing.
- See snow for the first time.
- Enjoy Christmas and New Year.
Good bye. And happy holidays to all you.
WISHING YOU ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR 
