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!

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

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

bberry also got a nice spot to watch

What can I say? This was an insane experience. If you want to see this live, visit Hanuman’s Temple in Hampi. Enjoy the climb.

Poussin would be jealous

Outfit by GABA, Lakme Fashion Week, Mumbai, October 24, 2008.

I have been on the quest for the cool Indian designers since I landed in Hyderabad over three months ago. Fighting of the human calculators and living in the “small town” of four million people does not exactly aid my mission.

Finally, a finding happened last weekend at Anonym, one of Hyderabad’s few interesting clothing shops. Mild pastels, necessary minimum of detail and extreme attention to comfort singled out GABA from all of the other stuff in the store. Aneeth Arora and Chinar Farooqui, the makers of the brand, use earthy colors and natural fabrics. In the midst of “new” India, full of screaming billboards and modern concrete mosters, GABA offers comfort of the “old,” which is similar across the cultures. A GABA woman radiates warm assertiveness, quiet happiness and relaxing well-being. At the same time, she is stylish, and… cool.

if to wake up early

it has not rained for a month in Hyderabad

cyber city builds away despite the crisis

Poison rocks

dance floor at Poison

6 am photo hunts around a dried up lake ended with a late night in the city. Poison with its with giant bouncers and glass floors is something else. Where some of the drinks were really sucky, trance and food rocked. I am definitely a believer.