Not sure why, but the word “muffin” always makes me think of “Moffet” in Silence Of The Lambs. But I love muffins. I mean I LOOOOOVE muffins. I used to buy them for “brunch” and then again for “linner” from some ****hole shop near my office nearby Wall Street. They were de li cious. India challenged me with muffins that were too small, too greasy and too processed-food-tasting. A Swiss friend of mine who made a home in Hyderabad encouraged me to bake them in a toaster oven (India is rather oven-challenged too). I did.

chopped apricot chocolate chip muffin

I started with a basic recipe for cranberry muffins, and then have “done things to it.” Basically, it is all about getting the right consistency of the dough and then watching the toaster oven like a hungry hawk (works great since I am typically very hungry when I get inspired to cook).

Ingredients:
1 ½ cups of flour
½ cup of chopped dry apricots
½ cup of nice dark chocolate chips
1 cup of Milk ( I take a little less)
½ cup of sugar
¼ cup of melted butter (replace with extra virgin coconut oil for an exotic flavor)
1-2 drops of vanilla extract (unless using coconut oil)
1 tablespoon of baking powder
1 medium egg
Pinch of salt.

Instructions:
Mix together all of the dry ingredients in a bowl.
Combine the remaining except for the apricots and the choco chips in a separate bowl.
Add liquid mixture to the dry mixture, then stir until moistened (the trick is not to over-stir).
Fold in the apricots and the chocolate chips.
Fill muffin cups almost full (I use silicone ones).
Bake at 190°C (170°-180° in the toaster oven) for 25 minutes, turn the baking sheet at 15 minutes for even baking.

The result is nutty-flavored sweet muffin dough with bursts of gooey apricots and chocolate chips. Coconut oil does not make the goodies taste/smell like coconut, but gives the dough a special warm nutty smell and taste (I had to focus not to eat the just-mixed dough, I swear).  I like to eat these [ready muffins] hot, taking apart the crunchy top from the soft bottom. I think this would go well with cold milk, too bad I hate drinking milk. But cheers, you, the milk drinkers!

train sunrise

rice

leafy

I wonder exactly how much happiness dulls the creative – I have not been able to come up with anything ugly pretty in a while.

7:16 am

7:37 am

10:30 am

4:21 pm: view from the pool at the presidential suite

Check out more Kerala pictures here.

shades of blues and dirty purples

tanking

this sinking feeling

for once, these are images taken with an actual camera. click to see larger versions. thankgod for friends with SLRs and their generosity

a ceiling
and a sinking feeling
that the purple around the sun
is imaginary,
and, actually, the night road is
dark circles around my eyes.
my smile lies;
it likes lying.
a petrifying thought of fakeness,
and that grapes
were never sweet or sour.
it was simply one hour of a nap
when i dreamt of a Huysum canvas
yesterday on a lonely evening
or the day before;
all i am
is tired feet on a cold floor
and purring of a warm shower,
sour grapes
and my smile that fakes
happiness

We were observing a solar eclipse several weeks ago; surely i slacked to put up proof

this particular variety of chaat is also known as "almond danish" in our cafeteria

and they say there is no Playboy India!

i pretty much blank here