bollywood goodness

Ok, here's the deal. Every once in a while I get inspired by a certain culture. That includes the music, history, cuisine, movies, language, culture and more. Remember the time I was dying to go to Tokyo? I mean I still do want to go there but I'm into another culture which I felt I could relate to more as I can easily be in contact with. I always liked it, but now I'm rather focusing on experiencing it as much as possible.

My friends who are from South Asia (Sabz, Tas, & Myiah) introduced me to a couple of musical performances from Bollywood movies. I have to say, I always liked how Bollywood acts are perfectly in-sync and how every little detail is paid attention to. It has it's own flavour. I was introduced so many times previously by my friends Souraiya and Harry-Singh, but now I got my memory revived with the brilliance of such productions. The following are a couple of the videos they showed me:

[Stage6 is Dead Now]

This is a music video from the Bollywood film of the same title Aaja Nachle which means "Come and Dance". It features Mandhuri Dixit who is a renowned Bollywood artist and been considered an icon in Bollywood.

This on the other hand is the one that really blew me away, unfortunately I couldn't find it in Higher Quality but I absolutely love everything about it. The gracefullness of both Mandhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai is just fascinating. The colours, the vibrant atmosphere, the set - it's all magical. This is from the movie Devdas which apparently was a huge hit and I'm planning on watching it very soon. The song is already on my iPod, which I consider very catchy and great to listen to!

I'm also watching the new release of Jodhaa Akbar which shall be interesting since it focuses on a story of the Mughal Jalaluddin Akbar (or as referred to as Akbar the Great) and his Hindu wife Jodhaa (or Jodhabai, a.k.a Marrium-uz-Zamani). Here's the trailer from the film, although I'm not so impressed with the editing of the trailer but the film must be good:

[Stage6 is Dead Now]

So yeah, more to be watched and enjoyed - yet for the meantime I'll just enjoy strolls in Southall!
As I have strong urge to eat Butter Chicken Masala, Chicken Tikka, Naans & Onion Bhajji to be finishing it off with Lassi all week long. See? this is a culture I can get in touch with and experience on an almost full level. It might be upsetting to those of origins from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh or others but when you can't go there I guess this is the best you can get when you're in the UK, no?

p.s: Pakistanis are HAWT, i didn't just discover that - it was over the span of the last 2 and half years ;D

Barazek are....

Syrian cookies! :D

Recipe: Turkey Breast Sub

This is some quick recipe, and maybe my first on this blog. I love Subway subs, but I feel they can be quite pricey sometimes. So, I decided to try doing one of my own! And let me tell you, the result was AMAZING! Highly recommended! Now with the illustrated recipe (actually, more like photographed one).

Ingredients:

1. Stonebaked French Baton (Bread): You can either get the long one, break it in half and cut the half into two other halfs (One big baton makes 4 sandwiches). So you need a Quarter per sandwich.
   
   
2. English Mild Cheddar Cheese: If you don't feel like Mild, go for mature. Though I recommend mild one, it still got bold flavour.
   
   
3. Hellman's Light Mayonnaise: ANY mayonnaise, the light ones tend to be better. British basic mayo is too heavy *falls*
   
   
4. Roast Turkey Breast (Sliced): These maybe hard to find, but don't get the super thin sliced Turkey Breast, these are quite chunky. If you can't find it, simply try Chicken Breast.
   
   
5. Tomatoes: need I say more? If you're not Saltease, or Saltinian you're most probably not a big fan of tomato. Anyway, if you're in Ammania land, I recommend those sold on Serew street on your way to Salt from Sweileh, excellent ones!
   
   
6. Olives: You need black olives in brine (salt water). These are ready and pitted, yet not sliced. If you're gonna buy sliced up ones they might be a little pricier. I mean, come on. Just get Black Pitted Olives.
   
   
7. Iceberg Lettuce: If no iceberg available, just get normal one

Okay, now to the recipe and how to make the lovely subby!

First, you obviously need to cut half of the baton, and that half into two other halfs. So, you'd be having two Quarters of the whole baton (or one if you want to). You cut it, and you take the two bases of them, leaving the top slices aside:

Yes these are the victims, before slicing

Victim Bread 01 being Sliced

AHHH! They're four now! Bottom slices and top ones.

Then you get your lovely (i hate that word, if I used it, it would be in Sarcastic context) Mild cheddar, and place the cheese slices on the bottom bread slices. But remember, don't make any cheese be peeking out so it won't drip too much.

Then place them on a grilling pan, put a piece of foil under it, or otherwise try using the oven and a baking tray. But still, grill is recommended:

Now, after popping the halves in the grilly, you go to do something in the meantime rather than staring into the fridge for ages! HEHE, now you have to wash the tomatoes and lettuce, then slice up the tomatoes. Remember, these veggies are always Dirty! dirty, dirty, skanquey!

Now they're happy after the washy washy! Not knowing they'll
be sliced up as follows:

Now it's turn for the little olivies, get a bunch out, drain them (you can wash them too) and then slice them up where you'll end up with little rings (DUH).

Remember we put something in the grill? Well it's time you take it out, don't make the cheese melt too much and all you're left with is cheese soup, just leave some mellowy texture to it. Keep checking while chopping stuff, you might miss them and burn them.

Mellowey with nice steam (photoshop wonders, haha)

Now bring the washed iceberg lettuce, and place it on both slices with the cheese, try to take big chunks that cover it all. It's up to you really.

Now bring the Roast Turkey Breast, take out one slice, and cut it into long stripes. Each sandwich takes one big slice, and the pack (from Tesco) usually includes 3 slices.

Say Hi to Richard

He volunteered for this experiment

Place the turkey stripes this way in your sandwich

Afterwards, times to laydown the other stuff, the sliced up tomatoes and olives. Like dis:

tomatoes

Henry and his buddies

Now the last step, of course EATING doesn't count. So, bring in the light mayonnaise and spread it on the the upper slices of the bread, remember them? the ones on the side the whole time.

That was it, and look how good the sammiches look in the end! :D

Yum! I found it better than Subway's! MEH


Of course don't forget the Tropicana! Food is terrible with no Tropicana!

Tell me if it was helpful or a total waste of time. I will try to do more of these, fun thing to do for sure! haha.