Little Things That Make Me Happy

Hey lovelies, hope you're all good! 

Firstly, let me thank all of you for the amazing response on my previous blog post. It became the 'most viewed post in 24 hours' on my blog and has beaten the others. I'm so glad I can't even tell you in words! Thanks a lot for always appreciating what I write, and for always encouraging me as well. It just makes me immensely happy to say that I'm really really fortunate to be able to share so much with you all.

As we talk of happiness today, lets just dig in some quick points as to what really makes you, or me, or anyone HAPPY! Is it the love that you get from others, or the belief that someone trusts you always, or the feelings of dynamism or energy. It wouldn't be wrong if I say happiness lays in building yourself, over coming challenges and conquering one's own weakness. All this does make you happy! 

But hey, does ONLY this brings a smile on your face and you feel gleeful? NO WAY! I refuse to trust anyone who dismisses the fact that little or big things (as in objects) make them feel joyous and pleased. YES! That's what I'm going to share with you in this post, The Little Things That Make ME Happy!

1. Picker At Pace Logo from ThemInABox

If you know me well, you already know my story behind starting this blog (if you don't, please read HERE and come back to read ahead). Having said that, you know how much I'm fond of writing and sharing my thoughts over certain things, which I believe should reach people in any way. Also, to connect with lovely people like you and hence, Picker At Pace is one of the most important parts of my life. Recently PAP turned 2, and I got myself a HANDMADE WOODEN LOGO to place it in my room/office to look at it every morning and realise how much it has grown, and how much it makes me happy to see where I am today, which I might have not been without having started Picker At Pace.

Got this logo made from an instagram store called, THEMEINABOX whose owner does all the cutting and painting of the products herself and that makes me feel even happier because bruh, she does some real hard work!

2. Wall Art form TwoGud

No. 2 on my list of things that make me happy is this WALL ART from TWOGUD, which sums up my love for pizza in just 4 words! This cool wall art makes me so cheerful everytime I look at it, as placed on my wall right beside my bed and makes me feel that true love doesn't fade ever. And c'mon you already know my relationship with pizza so I need not write it here and bore you again! (Well, pizza pizza pizza..will always be my first love)

3. Bed Table from Wrapstar

All those who follow me on Snapchat, are acquainted with my attachment to this MULTIPURPOSE BED TABLE and how excited I was when I received it and have maintained the same excitement till now. My life has taken a beautiful turn after using this amazingly handy bed table. It has cured my back pains, giving me relief from bending down and writing all day and night. Also, avoiding my laps to incur heat in this scorchy summer! This is one of my most favorite pieces and needless to mention, of daily use. My dad was so jealous that he insisted on getting one for him too :p

I got this one as a gift from WRAPSTAR.IN, having won it in a giveaway hosted by one of the bloggers on instagram. This table is really handy and perfect to use even while travelling. Foldable, fits perfectly in a medium sized suitcase, and has a special feature where the top of the table can be pulled up and adjusted making it more comfy to place a book to read or write on. It thus makes me really carefree and untroubled!

4. Computer/Laptop

It never was that I ran behind things or searched for them to get myself some happiness from them. I always found happiness in the smallest of things that I own, and that also makes me stay away from despondency! I find the true happiness in my work. I do a lot of writing, editing of pictures, working on social media and all that happens on my personal computer or laptop (or even phone, to mention). Basically, these gadgets are an integral part of my life and make me feel really sorted, thus bringing a smile on my face when I sleep with absolute satisfaction!

5. Picker At Pace Pendant from Privi Accessories

Last but not the least, at the moment this SELF CUSTOMIZED PENDANT is my most favorite piece that I wanted to share with you all. I had been waiting desperately to share the pictures, and my love for this one! My friends on Snapchat and Whatsapp already got a glimpse of it when I bought it from an instagram store, called PRIVI ACCESSORIES, last month when this blog turned 2, as a gift from me to me. Its one of the coolest pendants I own, and the most beautiful as well. Of course, it makes me immensely happy because 'I now wear my pride in my neck!'

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It feels so great to finally be able to share this amazing story of my life, about the things that make me happy. I would also love to know what are the things that make YOU happy, because its never just about me, but about you as well, so comment down below and let me know.

PS : All my life, I've seen people comparing themselves with others and losing confidence because they could never be them. As per me, what we should compare is not ourselves against others but who we are today against who we were yesterday, and who we will be tomorrow. While this may seem simple and obvious, true happiness is found in a life of constant advancement! Let me know your views on the same :)

Photographed by : Mrinal Khatnani and Karan Sawnani

~xoxo~

Kakori Food Festival at Sepia, by Renaissance Lucknow

Tiens! comment allez vous tous? espérons que vous êtes en profitant de vos vacances.

Eeps! That overly dramatic french greeting was only intended to break the monotony from my previous post greeting style. I'm sincerely not learning it for my new designation at Renaissance Lucknow Hotel (prancing :p). Many of you who follow me on various social media platforms already know that I recently grabbed the opportunity to be the Exclusive Ambassador for the newly opened RENAISSANCE LUCKNOW HOTEL. Its surreal to me tbh! Tons of thanks to the DFB, Mr. Sandeep for reaching out to me and being sweet AF.

So, its no surprise that today's post is all about the KAKORI FOOD FESTIVAL that I experienced during my first visit to the Awadhi restaurant, namely SEPIA at Renaissance, recently! I've been hyping it all over my Facebook since so many days.

In September 2015, Renaissance by Marriot opened its first luxury hotel in Lucknow; and maintaining the authenticity of the city, Sepia - the restaurant was opened in December to serve the best of Awadhi dishes to its nawabs! On a special visit to Sepia last Sunday I experienced an amalgamation of pride, mysticism and glory. 

The Kakori Food Festival organised by the food & beverages team was all about the cuisine of Kakori showcasing its local ingredients, taken to a new level of sophistication with a strong emphasis on Royal Mughlai cooking techniques, used to create truly exemplary dishes. I was already swayed by the presentation they laid in front of me! 

PS : The fest is UP TILL 12TH JUNE, so you can actually go and experience it yourself. 

I, along with my friend and photographer Azman Khan, tried various Awadhi delicacies prepared exclusively by Chef Mohsin Qureshi - the Sous Chef at Renaissance Lucknow. Excelling as an expert in Indian Cuisines by developing creative menus/recipes as per global standards and having worked with globally renowned hotel chains, Chef Qureshi has grasped the fine nuances of Indian cuisine in just over a decade of his professional life and also had the privilege of working on the menu for Pakistani President Mr. Asif Ali Zardari (isn't that so cool?). 

Apparently, Chef Qureshi prepares the authentic Awadhi speciality dishes such as the popular Kakori Kebabs, Galawati Kebabs, Parda Biryani and Raan and has also created innovative vegetarian delicacies such as Jaitoon aur Khubani Bhara Khumb & Sarson ke Phool. Another highlight on his menu is the Murgh Mussalam – a whole chicken that is stuffed with chicken mince, liver and nuts finished with brown onion and nutty gravy. Being a vegetarian, it killed me inside to not be able to even taste this bit, but that's alright because he prepared some yummy vegetarian dishes for me and fed my friend all his non-vegetarian specialities!

It wouldn't be wrong if I say, I tasted some of the best Kakori cuisine of my life till now, at Sepia. I'm sure you're already getting jealous looking at the scrumptious food pictures, but trust me we were literally drooling while clicking the pictures before our dinner was served! 

Tons of dishes to choose from, our VEG STARTERS menu included :

1.) MORADABADI PANEER TIKKA

Smoked clove, tandoori cottage cheese tikka

2.) MALAI PHOOL

Roasted cauliflower and broccoli in cream cheese marinade

NON VEG STARTERS

1.) MAGHAI PAAN JHEENGA

Tandoori prawns with flavors from a marinade of Kakori beetle leaf varietal and beetle leaf roots

2.) SAHARANPUR 8 DOWN TIKKA

Named after the famed train, a dried pomegranate seed and yogurt marinated chicken tikka

Our VEG MAIN COURSE included :

1.) ALOO AUR PAAN KI SUBZI

Curried potato and betel nut leaves

2.) DUM KA PANEER

Cottage cheese from farmlands and cooked in aromatic gravy

We also had BHUNEY BAIGAN AUR MATAR which is basically a dish made of tandoor roasted aubergines and green peas, and apparently it was the BEST eggplant side dish I've ever tasted. Yes, I did compliment the same to the chef! :D

NON VEG MAIN COURSE

(of which the pictures we didn't click because Azman was too hungry to be stopped)

1.) KKJ MURGH 

Kakori speciality of chicken morsels cooked in a mint and spinach gravy

2.) MURGH KAIRI MALIHABADI

Raw mango flavored chicken

3.) CHUKANDAR GOSHT

Nihari curry with lamb and beetroot

For the vegetarian specialities, I can very well say that all the dishes both from the starters and main course menu were exquisite and delectable. As I mentioned above, the Baigan sabzi was my favorite and I also liked the Aloo Paan combo considering I had it only for the first time! I would though say that while clicking the pictures, Moradabadi Paneer Tikka seemed to be the most appetising, but after tasting it in real I didn't like it as much as others, majorly for two reasons, 1.) It was cold when it reached us 2.) Thus becoming hard and unpalatable.

Whereas for the non vegetarian menu, in Azman's words : The starters were fabulous. Special mentions - Maghai Paan Jheenga, that both looked and tasted divine! Coming to the main course, Malihabadi Chicken was one of the perfect tasting dishes that one could ever get. A bit savoury, leaving a tangy aftertaste, perfectly cooked till inside giving you the feel of the traditional non veg from the Pathan clan of Rahman Kheda from Malihabad! Not really impressed with the KKJ Murgh as it had too much mint and onion that over shadowed the other subtle flavours and spices! Last but not the least, the Chukandar Gosht was perfectly cooked till inside, the soft mutton effortlessly went down into the stomach, however containing extra oil and beet root puree (instead of beetroot pieces) that somehow missed the texture of traditional beetroot-y dishes!

Warqi Paratha

In BREADS we had the very famous WARQI PARATHA and PLAIN NAAN. And we LOVED the Warqi because of its sophisticated crumbled presentation, its softness and its sweet tinch reminding us of the authentic Mughlai flavor in every bite. And just to tell you we ordered it twice; leaving the rest for your understanding! ;)

DESSERTS ON TROLLEY

array of Indian and fusion desserts

We ended our meal with one of the most exotic desserts in Lucknow, the Zafrani Phrini, out of all the desserts laid on the trolley, which looked no less mouth watering!

ZAFRANI PHIRNI

Basmati rice flour pudding cooked in milk and saffron

There's a lot more on their menu which I'd recommend all of you to try at least once! I'm sure you'll love it!

It is no secret that Sepia, by Renaissance is the place to savour local cuisine in a beautiful ambience. The restaurant’s interiors and ambience have been done with great detail to make every moment a royal memory that will last you a lifetime! Its one of those contemporary chic restaurants featuring the spice markets style in India bustling cities.

The rustic wooden flooring and clean white walls creating a dramatic vertical design and providing the rural Indian artefacts and the eclectic details on the accent furniture a contrasting backdrop. The outlet color palate is made up of rustic textures colors with inspiration coming from the Indian market.

Highlight of the restaurant was undoubtedly the LIVE MUSIC which is enough to soothe anyone's long, tiring day! Kudos to the singers who sang so well, that I was forced to record them and send it over to my friends on Snapchat bragging all that I was enjoying!

All over rating :

Food - 4.5/5

(needless to say)

Service - 5/5

(everyone is super courteous and comforting, including the manager, chef, waiters)

Ambience - 4/5

(not really a fan of dim lighting but I really liked the candle stands)

Loved the entire experience and looking forward to more!

 

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Since it was my first visit at Renaissance as their Exclusive Ambassador, I thought of dressing up like a lady, unlike my regular visits to other places and wore this pretty red dress from StalkBuyLove, throwing up a chain from Zotiqq, heels from FactoryRush and bag again from SBL. Decent enough, eh?

Photographed by : Azman Khan

If you liked reading this post, don't forget to share it across! Until next time, lots of love and virtual hugs.

~xoxo~

Summer Cupcakes

Hey lovelies, how you doin'? Well I'm doing really good, and with today's post, I'm sure you'd at least feel a little better about your life having been able to see this!

Its been really long since I had updated my food section on this blog, mainly because I was acting lazy (as always) to cook something delicious and shoot it simultaneously. But recently I got one of my baker friends, Devanshi Rai on board to contribute her recipes to my blog and here's the first one we're sharing with you! Since the summer months are here, she made some delicious VANILLA CUPCAKES decorated with fun toppings. Go ahead and check out the method below..

Preparation Time : 10 mins | Baking Time : 15 to 20 mins | Makes : 8-10 cupcakes

THINGS YOU NEED

FOR CUPCAKES

1. All Purpose Flour / Maida - 3/4 cup / 90 grams

2. Milk - 3 tblspn

3. Eggs - 2

4. Baking Powder - 1 tspn

5. Baking Soda / Cooking Soda - 1/2 tspn

6. Sugar - 1/2 cup + 1 tblspn / 100 grams + 1 tblspn

7. Soft Unsalted Butter - 120 grams

8. Vanilla Essence - 2 tspn

FOR FROSTING  

1. Icing sugar – 100 gms

2. Butter – 50 gms

3. Fresh cream – 2 tsp

DIRECTIONS TO PREPARE

1. Preheat oven to 200 degree C. 

2. Line your cupcake moulds with cupcake liner.

3. Take butter, sugar in a bowl and use a beater to whip for 2 mins till creamy.

4. Add eggs and vanilla into the mixture and beat again.

5. Add flour, baking soda and baking powder. Use a beater to give a good mix.

6. Add milk and whip again till the mixture is combined.

(Use a spatula to give one good mix)

7. Take an ice cream scoop to scoop the batter and fill the moulds.

(Don’t fill too much, they will rise as they bake)

8. Pop the moulds in an oven and bake for 15 to 20 mins.

9. Once done, check if the cupcakes are baked properly, using a toothpick.

(If yes, remove from the oven and let it cool down completely)

METHOD FOR FROSTING

1. Mix icing sugar and melted butter with an electric beater or hand whisker until it is light and fluffy. 

2. Gradually add a tablespoon of milk or fresh cream to give it a light consistency. 

3. Pour it into the piping bag and refrigerate for half an hour. 

(Your frosting is ready to use)

4. Once your frosting is ready, use it to decorate the cupcakes with your favourite icing design.

(You can add funfetti and sprinkles to top it too)

I hope you liked this quick cupcake recipe, designed with summer inspired icing and sprinkle decorations! If you did, do mention it in the comments below, Devanshi and I would be more than happy to read your feedbacks!

Also, do let us know which other recipes would you like us to try and share with you! Don't forget to follow Devanshi on instagram, and you can also follow me if you like (:P) on facebook and instagram to get some more insights! Until next time, lots of love.

Contributed and photographed by : Devanshi Devendra Rai

~xoxo~