I made this yesterday and it was great success. Thought I would share it with you all. It is quick and eay to make and can be stored for upto a week easily in the fridge. taste great w/ bread, roti or even mixed w/ rice with a bit of ghee. So here goes
What you will need
Big onions - 5-6
Ripe red tomatoes - 3
Ginger - 2 inch piece grated finely
Red chillies - 6 (depending on how spicy you want it)
Dhaniya seeds
a little bit of channa dal
Jeera
A spoon of tamarind paste
Mustard seeds for tempering
Oil
What you do with it
Heat the oil in a kadai
Add channa dal, dhaniya seeds and jeera. Once it starts sputtering, add the onions. The onions can be cut in big pieces since they will be ground later on.
Once the onions turn golden brown, add the cut tomatoes and ginger. The juicier and riper the tomatoes, the better the chutney will taste.
Once the tomato starts to lose it shape, add the tamarind, salt to taste and cover and cook. Add oil as necessary.
Cook this way until the tomatoes lose their shape and is a fine paste thickeing slightly. Turn off the stove.
Let it cool a bit and then grind to a paste. I like to leave it with a little texture.
Now heat oil again and add the mustard seeds. Once they sputter, add this onion- tomato paste and fry until the oil separates.
Total preparation time - 5 mins
Total cooking time - 20 mins
Complexity - simple
Can be stored? - yes
I always have this chutney stored in the fridge! Let me know how you like it
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Who am I?
Fifteen days since I last blogged! Maybe this is why I am not an Amitabh Bachchan – I just lack the discipline! The irony is that I really want to be. I would want to be – I would so like to be the kind of person who wakes up at the crack of the dawn and lives her life as per a pre planned super process flow. Instead I languish in bed until the last possible minute and then rush through my day.
Another mystery is this discrepancy between the work me and the real(?) me. I have been trying to figure it out since I realized at the tender age of 10 that I was more than one person. !8 years later – I am no closer to figuring it out. The work me is super efficient and planned. If I have a June 30th deadline, I am normally finished atleast a few days in advance. I will start hyper ventilating if anything needs to be done at last possible minute. The other me? If I have guests coming over at 7 p.m. for dinner I open the fridge at 5 and take a call on whether to cook or order in. Needless the say the latter generally wins.
This isn’t all. I am super confident even a little (okay a lot) pushy at work – I didn’t get to the job I hold now without a little jostling – but at home I am a wimp. I admit it I am still scared of my parents and expectations of any and all kinds smother me. At work I don’t give a damn. At other times, I care, I care a lot. Now the couch psychologist in you might say, I obviously care more about my personal life than my career. Not completely true. I spend more hours at work than at home and truly love my job. I am pretty much on call 24/7 but don’t complain because – I repeat myself – I truly love my job.
Other differences – I hold a job which requires me to network and schmooze and generally spend most of my work day interacting with people – not a problem – I am a people person and an extrovert but when I get home – I go into social hibernation – me, my husband in a cocoon of nothingness!
So who am I? I don’t know – I am at work now so am in thinking mode! Once I get home, I will stir my pot of dinner and put it out of my mind. The other me doesn’t like to exercise her brains much you see!
Friday, May 30, 2008
FRIDAAYYY!!!!
Friday according to me is the best day of the week. Waking up on a Friday morning brings with it a glorious sense of anticipation. Here is generally how a Friday morning fares.
The alarm buzzes, I grunt, open my eye(just one), hit the snooze button on my alarm, convince myself that 10 more minutes of sleep won't do me much harm and then with a wonderful sense of relief which makes my soul tingle realize that I can wake up 60 mins later tomorrow if I wish - God! i don't even need to have the alarm on. (who invented those dratted thing anyway?
By this time my second alarm set rings. I continue convincing the lazy me - which is a dominant part of my personality - since i can sleep most of the day tomorrow and day after if i wish - getting up now shouldnt be a sacrifice. I crawl out of bed, sigh a little for my husband who would have left 2 hours ago - poor soul and work through my morning ( well its almost 10 a.m. but i work cross shifts and don't get to bed until 2-3 a.m.)
I express shower - Tomorrow I will have a long bath
Cooking is finished with a song on my lips - we will eat out tomorrow.
I dress for work with a smile in my heart - I can stay home all day in my PJs, eating chips and watching TV or reading a novel.
I zip through my day at work - not even wincing at the paperwork - I dont have to do this for 2 more days - 48 hours - 2880 mins - 172800 seconds!!!!!
I am home - eating a dinner - reading my book - drifting off to sleep
Saturday dawns - no alarm - its almost noon - who cares except ----- Monday is just 36 hours away and i have to wait almost a week before I can do this again!
The alarm buzzes, I grunt, open my eye(just one), hit the snooze button on my alarm, convince myself that 10 more minutes of sleep won't do me much harm and then with a wonderful sense of relief which makes my soul tingle realize that I can wake up 60 mins later tomorrow if I wish - God! i don't even need to have the alarm on. (who invented those dratted thing anyway?
By this time my second alarm set rings. I continue convincing the lazy me - which is a dominant part of my personality - since i can sleep most of the day tomorrow and day after if i wish - getting up now shouldnt be a sacrifice. I crawl out of bed, sigh a little for my husband who would have left 2 hours ago - poor soul and work through my morning ( well its almost 10 a.m. but i work cross shifts and don't get to bed until 2-3 a.m.)
I express shower - Tomorrow I will have a long bath
Cooking is finished with a song on my lips - we will eat out tomorrow.
I dress for work with a smile in my heart - I can stay home all day in my PJs, eating chips and watching TV or reading a novel.
I zip through my day at work - not even wincing at the paperwork - I dont have to do this for 2 more days - 48 hours - 2880 mins - 172800 seconds!!!!!
I am home - eating a dinner - reading my book - drifting off to sleep
Saturday dawns - no alarm - its almost noon - who cares except ----- Monday is just 36 hours away and i have to wait almost a week before I can do this again!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Why do people interview?
As part of my everyday work, I conduct at least 3-4 interviews daily for various roles like sales managers, finance managers, recruiters, call center agents, techies and so on. Everyday Ii am astounded by the number of inane replies I get and just the "aimlessness" of the interviewee. Let me make one thing clear - our company isn't looking for superstars - what we look for is people who know their job and are committed to it. People who have a good positive body language and attitudde. Remember what you dont say or dont do is as important as what you say and do - maybe more. After a few years of interviewing, the interviewers get cynical and have already heard all the textbook answers. Some of the most canned ones I have heard are below
Q "Why are you interested in working in a mid size organization like ours?"
A I believe that a small organization gives me more ability to grow than a big one. I would rather be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in the big pond. (I hear this in 2/3 interviews I conduct). This tells me that the candidate hasn't researched my company and doesn't really have a solid reason for applying. Its just one of the random naukri applications. A great answer would be researching the position and its impact on the organization and convincing your interviewers on how the company and the profile is a fit for what you have done before and how you feel you would add value.
Q 'Why are you quitting your current position?"
A Bad answer one - Personal reasons - now we all have reasons for quitting jibs but personal reasons to me spells you had problems with your new manager
Bad answer two - new management - well how long would you stay w/ a new company then? Organizations look for people who would stick around and not run away at the first hint of change
Bad answer three - Growth - this isnt so bad except it raises the question - cant u grow in your current org? If not, why should i believe you would grow here? This needs concrete supporting details on why and how?
Bad answer four - Everyone is leaving! This could qualify as the most disastrous answer. Tell me why you are leaving, else I feel like you are a follower and not a leader - worse someone who cant make up his mind. Someone actually told me yesterday that she was quitting because her friends left the company.
Understandably this is a tricky question, there is no way to come off smelling of roses here. The best recourse would be to talk of your contributions to the company while you have been there and how a future with the company doesn't align with your future career plans and quickly move on to how the job you are interviewing for is more in tune with your plans. If you have held a job for less than a year or so, you had better have a good story put together.
Q Tell me about yourself
Most often received answer is a family history. Please note teh question is tell me about yourself - restrict it to your education, career history, career strengths. I am amazed by how many people the huge selling point this question is. being an open question, you can use it to steer the interview in any direction you like, You can use this question to talk about your career aspirations and how this position you are applying for ties in to it. Use this question to sell yourself else you are losing out on a huge opportunity.
The above are just a sample i pulled out. There are many more instances but I hope I made my point. Also if you claim to be an expert in any area - ensure that you have more than a laymans idea of what it means. A resume is just a starting point. A beefed up resume might get you an interview but if you aren't all your resume claims to be - chances are you will get creamed in the interview.
Now for the all important dress code. India has been going very casual lately as far as work wear is concerned but that is no excuse to dress sloppily. Find out what the dress code of the company is when your face to face is scheduled. If the company doesn't have an interview dress code find out what the company dress code is. Rule of thumb always go one level up from the company dress code. You want to stand out but not look stuffy or overdressed. If everyone comes in jeans to work, wearing a suit will make you feel self conscious. A formal shirt and pants should do. Also women, if you are wearing western clothes, make sure you are comfortable in it and aren't just projecting an image. Yesterday i interviewed a young lady who kept tugging at her neckline throughout thee interview. Very distracting - esp for the male interviewers.
There are some nuggets of wisdom. Leave me a comment if you have more specific questions and I will do my best to answer them.
Q "Why are you interested in working in a mid size organization like ours?"
A I believe that a small organization gives me more ability to grow than a big one. I would rather be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in the big pond. (I hear this in 2/3 interviews I conduct). This tells me that the candidate hasn't researched my company and doesn't really have a solid reason for applying. Its just one of the random naukri applications. A great answer would be researching the position and its impact on the organization and convincing your interviewers on how the company and the profile is a fit for what you have done before and how you feel you would add value.
Q 'Why are you quitting your current position?"
A Bad answer one - Personal reasons - now we all have reasons for quitting jibs but personal reasons to me spells you had problems with your new manager
Bad answer two - new management - well how long would you stay w/ a new company then? Organizations look for people who would stick around and not run away at the first hint of change
Bad answer three - Growth - this isnt so bad except it raises the question - cant u grow in your current org? If not, why should i believe you would grow here? This needs concrete supporting details on why and how?
Bad answer four - Everyone is leaving! This could qualify as the most disastrous answer. Tell me why you are leaving, else I feel like you are a follower and not a leader - worse someone who cant make up his mind. Someone actually told me yesterday that she was quitting because her friends left the company.
Understandably this is a tricky question, there is no way to come off smelling of roses here. The best recourse would be to talk of your contributions to the company while you have been there and how a future with the company doesn't align with your future career plans and quickly move on to how the job you are interviewing for is more in tune with your plans. If you have held a job for less than a year or so, you had better have a good story put together.
Q Tell me about yourself
Most often received answer is a family history. Please note teh question is tell me about yourself - restrict it to your education, career history, career strengths. I am amazed by how many people the huge selling point this question is. being an open question, you can use it to steer the interview in any direction you like, You can use this question to talk about your career aspirations and how this position you are applying for ties in to it. Use this question to sell yourself else you are losing out on a huge opportunity.
The above are just a sample i pulled out. There are many more instances but I hope I made my point. Also if you claim to be an expert in any area - ensure that you have more than a laymans idea of what it means. A resume is just a starting point. A beefed up resume might get you an interview but if you aren't all your resume claims to be - chances are you will get creamed in the interview.
Now for the all important dress code. India has been going very casual lately as far as work wear is concerned but that is no excuse to dress sloppily. Find out what the dress code of the company is when your face to face is scheduled. If the company doesn't have an interview dress code find out what the company dress code is. Rule of thumb always go one level up from the company dress code. You want to stand out but not look stuffy or overdressed. If everyone comes in jeans to work, wearing a suit will make you feel self conscious. A formal shirt and pants should do. Also women, if you are wearing western clothes, make sure you are comfortable in it and aren't just projecting an image. Yesterday i interviewed a young lady who kept tugging at her neckline throughout thee interview. Very distracting - esp for the male interviewers.
There are some nuggets of wisdom. Leave me a comment if you have more specific questions and I will do my best to answer them.
All About Me!
This blog is a personal indulgence. A stress buster. Its going to be all about me and mine! Everyday I have many Dear Diary moments which fester and become bigger and bigger in my mind! This is where I let loose. I hold a position where I deal with stress and antacids like a bus driver deals with bus route. As I am supposed to be a "role model" I bite my tongue so many times a day, I wonder how long my tongue will last! (Being a chatterbox isn't conducive to being a dignified stoic leader)
As I said this is where I am going to start recording my thoughts and feelings on everything from my workday to Bollywood to lack of good Haagendas outlet in Hyderabad. Dont worry its not always going to be whining (who will read my blog then?). I hope to make it a resource of everything I enjoy and being a fairly normal person I am hoping my likes mesh with many of yours!
More later!
As I said this is where I am going to start recording my thoughts and feelings on everything from my workday to Bollywood to lack of good Haagendas outlet in Hyderabad. Dont worry its not always going to be whining (who will read my blog then?). I hope to make it a resource of everything I enjoy and being a fairly normal person I am hoping my likes mesh with many of yours!
More later!
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