Apple Cinnamon cake - mostly my own creation

This is a tried and tested recipe, and on request of a few friends I am sharing it with you guys :)

This recipe infact is a combination for a few others with my modifications

The below is for a half kg cake -

Ingredients:

- 1 cup flour finely sieved 

- 3/4th cup super fine sugar

- 2 Table Spoon honey

- half an apple thinly sliced soaked in rum for couple of hours

- cinnamon powder 1/2 cup

- 2 eggs

- fresh cream

- 1 pinch salt

- 1 tea spoon baking powder

- pinch of cooking soda

- Olive oil (for the heath conscious guys) or Butter or Margirin (3/4th to 1 cup)

Method: 

1) sieve the flour, baking powder, soda and half of the cinnamon powder and mix

2) Beat the sugar and butter/oil with an electric mixer for 5 - 7 mins till the batter is smooth fluffy and light in weight

3) Add only the egg yellow (make sure the egg whites are separately removed) and honey to this sugar mix and continue beating till a liquid consistency is obtained. Then add the fresh cream to this batter

4) Now bit by bit start adding the flour mixture to this liquid batter... making sure no lumps are there. This should be mixed by hand for 10 mins

5) Simultaneously pre heat oven for ten mins @ 150 C .. (u can also use microwave for this cake)

6) Now to the Egg whites add 1 pinch of salt and start beating it with electric mixer to obtain a fluffy white batter

7) Once the flour and cream batter is smooth  add this fluffy egg whites and gently stir it in for few mins only

For the decorative icing first rub in butter/oil on the base of the metal pan, then dust the entire inner lining with flour. place the apple pieces in round twirling design. now dust Cinnamon powder all over this design and along the inner lining of the Pan

Add the cake batter on this apple cinnamon pan, i suggest cover the pan with foil so ur cake does not burn.

Put in oven for 40 mins @ 130 degree C .. check towards the end if the cake has risen, if not put it in oven for another 10 mins...

Incase ur using a microwave put this cake batter in a glass pan for 6 mins only.

After removing it from oven, let the cake cool for half hour then turn it upside down onto a plate to have the apple side as the top icing ....

serve with Vanilla Ice cream and viola!!! Its Yummy all the way :) :)

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Guest Lectures - A Stepping Stone

I have always loved talking, narrating or describing incidents - sometimes my own version sometimes exaggerated stories ;)  but on a serious note, this passion for expression evokes in me an interest to teach.

Teaching; in any form, nature, subject or to anyone in any way - is in my view the most powerful of acts. Ofcourse to teach the right, factual concept is of uttermost importance. Beyond that, its the ability to influence the youth, friends, colleagues or family that requires substance of character. Above all it requires knowledge, experience and an open mind. In the last week or so; I finally managed to reconnect with this passion. I was invited to speak on two occasions - one at my B-School as an Alumni for the in coming batch of MBAs and the second at my Graduate college as an alumni and ex-member of our events club.
Thankfully on both accounts I knew exactly what I had to share - they were purely motivational sessions on how the youth should go around their tenure in their respective organizations/schools, what should be their short term goal, how to develop it, their aspirations and what they can achieve from the organizations and lastly correcting their attitude towards the course and life in general. The reason I can say 'correcting' with confidence is because there were many students who came back to clarify many of the doubts and misconceptions.

These 2 sessions I would categories as purely motivational, providing guidance or generic (catching up with an Alumni in their case perhaps). But for me; personally this was a stepping stone towards ONE of my many long term goals. For it bestowed in me many things, for starters I managed to grasp the attention of the audience, could easily curb their raising voices, figured that most of them had attentive and interested faces whilst I spoke to them and lastly a lot of them came back with doubts. A successful session I say.

This only motivates further to develop myself, have as many varying experiences professionally and personally simply because I would much rather inspire people on the grounds of 'Who' over and above 'What' I am.

The Era of Entrepreneurship has/had Arrived! PART - I

We seen the last 5 decades; well perhaps up until 2002 as the era of the Service Industry in India. With the late 1990's came policy changes, industrial sector reforms and most importantly privatization. India's GDP was growing from average of 5% to 8% pa as we crossed over into 2000's. The value system was strong and the traditional mindset of families were to see their children become White Collar professionals mostly Doctors and Engineers back then.
With a boost to the Financial Sector; Higher Education, Retail  and other such industries; there was a para dime shift in the Traditional Indian family - and everybody is doing MBA to join the services sectors. The job security, heavy packages and fast paced life all glorifies the service industry.

Well that was then.

Today in metro cities in India; we are seeing an up splurge of Entrepreneurs actively involved in IT, Hospitality, Tourism and Travel, Events and Media and other such industries. These young dynamic Entrepreneurs are managing one or multiple ventures and yet in a small but quick way contributing to our economy.

Then there are the smarter ways to make money. Equities & Commodities Markets are booming (for all stakeholders). Celebrities, socialites, rich kids and the intelligent ones are finding their entry into various ventures; the less capital quick returns model to run their business. Most socialites today either run their own business or use their brand name to support their partners'.

Another very interesting Industry is Weddings in India.
Currently every event company, set designer, production house and individual as Freelancers are offering Wedding Planning services because this is a Market (estimated at $10 Billion) one cannot miss, simply because it is  profitable, tax evasive and pure entertainment! Given the black money floating in India which is twice as much as the white currency is proof to the fact that Indians love their tradition and have great savings, and the sum of the two variables is a Big Fat Indian Wedding. This is mostly because having a Grand wedding is a matter of Prestige and Privilege while the real reason being disposal of black income.



circulating in the economy and purchasing power parity at $ 2946 US Dollars (making us the world's largest economy) we definitely see why Entrepreneurship is here to stay and soon the Service Sectors will be paying its Employees heft packages to avoid Attrition and another commoner turning into a businessman!

 

and what do you do with a few hours in a Metro city..?

The Audi Car company recently launched 14 showrooms in ofcourse 14 different cities in India.
My company landed with the contract to do exquisite Floral Decor for the showrooms.
Due to fast moving Weddings vertical and business coming in last minute;
I had to travel to 4 leading metros in India. The primary task. of any personnel traveling is smooth and successful operation of the Floral set up in these showrooms. As manager ihad the liberty to do over look smooth set up without ofcourse actually Setting it up.  occassionally in each city stole  a couple of hours to grab lunch and cover the best sights of the city in the limited span of time.

Every city is unique indefinitly but because we re talking about india - the indianness remains common to all cities!

For instance truly enjoyed the sumptous lunch in Bangalore from a local joint - Chicken Dum Biryani and Dry Nellore Chicken.
I actually. Did lick the plate after eatig food meant for two in quantity.

Kolkatta has a rich cultural heritage seen across its buildings, chruches and local cusines!

Serving Chai in a 'Kulhad' is typically village like but such a commodity here. The moderness of Park Street and damaged ancient mansions running parallel is an eye candy.

Though these were 1 day set ups; including flying the previous night and back home post the party, the rush of pushing myself to explore each city or simply unable to catch sleep while wandering On the streets to kill time - the highs and lows were all welcomed and good fun.

The Day I celebrated my --/-- birthday!

Hello Everyone!
Just recently on the 30th November I celebrated my -- birthday!  (most appropriately not disclosing the age). And must admit; it was as exciting and fun and perhaps better than the earlier years. Its almost like with every passing year one grows (not every one definitly but most who aspire to) and with growth comes Maturity, Self Realisation (little by little I say) and more joy, happiness, satisfaction then you experienced the previous year.
Now I do realise I speak all philophical and positive (too much for most to handle) but the reason why I started this blog this late and I speak of it all is out of experience and the potential of discovering so much more in life.

My dearest friends took me out for a drive the previous night where we did cut my cake and then another dear friend dropped in to wake me up with my favourite treats and work colleagues arranged a little session for me and I ended my day with dinner with my closest friends (while I was over dressed for the occassion); I loved every minute of that day.

Must admit most times I am simply trying hard to have a good time and see the positive out of what I am doing/prospects of doing and keeping negativity at bay. Soon this will get incorporated as a routine (that I am already observing) and translate into a way of life - healthy positive and motivational living. To be able to have many experiences varied in nature, definitly keeps me going. For instances @ Flora2000 I already have a team of 2 Executives reporting to me and together I aim to take this team to a greater height of Sales and Satisfaction for all Stakeholders of the Company (far fetched I know but this is how we establish Visions).

Season time ahead yet again, with Christmas and New Years and Red/Green/White flashing all over the city. Radiant colours bright lighting and cool winds carrying the air of joy and celebration; should I hope, sum up the month of December 2010. And what better way to bid Goodbye to this excellent year; so fruitful and adventerous!

Honestly 2010 has been the best year yet - layed the floor for the better ones ahead ;)