Eggs bhurji - recipe

If you are like me, breakfast in weekends are somewhat more advanced than they are on weekdays. They often include an omelet or scrambled eggs, and often turn into a brunch/lunch/long-meal-kind-of-thing. These days, I have a big crush on a more spicy Indian cousin of my weekend eggs - (blame it on the amazing Indian cuisine), and this has become one of my top weekend egg favorites. So, if you are looking to spice up your weekend brunch/lunch/breakfast - do give this recipe a try! 

Egg bhurji

For 2-4 persons you need:

6 eggs

3 tomatoes, chopped
1/2 green chili, chopped

1-2 onions, chopped

1 tsp shredded ginger

1 tsp shredded garlic
6 curry leafs

1/2 tsp cumin seeds 

1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp garam masala

salt 

oil

fresh coriander

You do:

Add oil to a pan and fry cumin seeds and curry leafs a bit. Then add onions, ginger, garlic, chili, garam masala and turmeric. Then add the tomatoes. Fry for a bit and mix well, before you add the eggs. Taste if you want salt and garnish with coriander. Serve hot with bread or rice.

Colorful, tasty and easy to make. Enjoy!  

Ready for a long lazy weekend breakfast? (or was it lunch?): 

A to Z 2015 - my reflections

What was I thinking? Had I gone mad? Really, Eli, another AtoZ? Had I forgotten the long nights, early mornings, the heat and craziness of last year's AtoZ? When I was traveling around the world: 26 Dream Destinations in 26 days. Puh! And now I didn't even have a blog?!

But I had to do it. I just knew that. I wanted to do it. So badly. I felt a smile spreading as I was thinking of April last year. Above all, I had loved taking part in the challenge. And after many months with no inspiration whatsoever, I now felt an overwhelming urge to write. After a tough time personally, some month in a bubble of fear, sadness and anger, I was ready. So ready. And my theme appeared before me more brighter than the Christmas star: happiness. It had to be happiness.

I created my new space, my new blog, and kicked it off with jumping on that AtoZ train once again. Personal therapy through writing, reconnecting with old blogger friends, finding new ones, discovering new wonderful blogs and writers. Oh Yeah! Oh Happiness!

The 5 most popular posts of my theme were:

I for Idlis

P for People

D for Dancing

K for Karma

Q for Quotes

I managed to write a bit in advance, but most was written on the go. Combined with some hectic work-travels, work and private life issues, I definitely felt the heat also this year. And I do still have some catching up to do. But fun, oh how fun! And I have the same "empty" feeling now when it is all over, that I had last year. Mixed emotions for sure, but all in all: great fun, positive vibes - it simply makes me happy to think about. Happy I did it! Happy:-)

Well done all my fellow contestants, my wonderful blogger friends. Yay! We did it!

A BIG THANK YOU -
- to all who have followed my AtoZ journey this year. Your kind and encouraging words has meant more to me than you will ever know.  

1-30 April 2015 I participated in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is a reflection post - of that challenge. My theme for the challenge was Happiness.  

Z for Zum up

So here we are, at the end of the A to Z journey 2015. One month of happiness is over, or maybe just begun?

Anchor, bird, childhood, dancing, explore, flower, grateful, help, idlis, jumpsuit, karma, laughter, moments, no, ordinary, people, quotes, run, smile, today, unbroken, valuable, writing, xbox and yes! 

Puh! And all that - is just a part of being happy. A tiny part.

For me the most important thing is that happiness comes from within. It does not depend on external things or other people. Always keep the power of your happiness with yourself. Never give it to someone else. Never let anyone take it from you. Guard it. Nurture it. Be in charge.

Celebrate this wonderful journey that life is. Be in the present. Be in the moment. Be here and now. Celebrate, dear friend. Celebrate!

I hope you have enjoyed my humble tribute to happiness A to Z. And in this zum-ming up: what makes you happy? Right now?  

1-30 April 2015 I participate in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is written as a part of that challenge.My theme for the challenge is Happiness. I hope you have enjoyed coming along. 

Y for Yes

She wasn't sure. Could she do it? She was flattered. It was a great opportunity. Maybe too great? Maybe to big? She was biting her nails. But so amazing though. And they had asked her. Why her? Did they really think she could do it? Why? What was so special about her? There were so many other amazing candidates. More amazing than her. She was sure of it. And if she said yes to this, then what if she failed? What if she let them down? But then she might never have a chance like this again. And she wanted to say yes. But what if...? The more she thought of it, the more sure she got. 

She picked up the phone to call them to give her answer. 

Please. Say YES to the things you want to say YES to. Go for it!

Make sure that you say yes to the right things and for the right reasons. Do not fear saying yes to something you really want to do. But make sure you do not say yes to things you really do not want to say yes to. And very important: when you say yes to others, make sure you don not say no to yourself.

Ask yourself: Do I say yes for the right reasons? Say yes if you want to, but no if you don't. The right use of those two tiny words - might make you happy.

Do you dare to say yes to the things you really want to do? 

1-30 April 2015 I participate in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is written as a part of that challenge.My theme for the challenge is Happiness. I hope you enjoy coming along. 

X for Xbox

She walked in to the bedroom. He was already asleep. She kissed his forehead anyway like she always did. She smiled when she saw the list. He still wrote to Santa, at the age of 14. She sighed as she saw the first letters. X box. Like for his birthday, like for last Christmas. She would never find the money to buy that for him. She could never afford it. She stroke him gently over the brown locks of hair and went silently out of the room.

Christmas came. They had been to church. He held her hand tightly on the way home. The roads were icy, and there were some snow in the air. Light snow landed on their heads and shoulders. - Look, he said and pointed up. They looked up together and with snow in their eyes they saw. - The Christmas star. Shining so bright. - Make a wish, she whispered. They smiled at each other.

After Christmas dinner, he was sitting quietly reading. She could tell he was happy, yet a bit disappointed. For so many years he had wanted this one thing. She went to get their Christmas dessert from the kitchen, and was suddenly aware of the shadow outside the window. She went over and looked outside. No one. Just a box. On their stairway. Strange. - What it is mum? He stood behind her, trying to peep outside. She showed him the box. Was it? It was. An Xbox. An old one. A used one. With some games. She saw the big smile spreading on the face of her son.

Where it came from? They will never know.

We own our own happiness. But still when it comes to people we love unconditionally, seeing them happy also makes us happy. Isn't that so?

1-30 April 2015 I participate in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is written as a part of that challenge.My theme for the challenge is Happiness. I hope you enjoy coming along. 

W for Writing

- If you are a writer you should write, she says. I shut my eyes and ears and pretend not to hear her. - You are suppose to be a writer, so why are you still sitting out here. You have been sitting here on the balcony all afternoon, looking at nothing. You should be at your computer, writing, writing, writing! Haven't you heard that writing generates writing? So the more you write, the more you want to write also! 

- I am thinking, I say, - and by the way, I have a writer's block right now. She has never heard of a stupider thing. - Writers block, how can you have a writers block, when you are not writing?! You just just get in there, girl, get going! Start something. Write something. And then the rest will come. 

- I am thinking, I say. - Thinking, thinking. She mocks me now. - If you think of something out here now, it is so far to your computer, that you will forget it by the time you get there. Now, move, move. Go and write. Something.

I sigh. She will not leave me alone. And she is right. She knows me so well.

I get up from the chair, and give her a gentle push off my shoulder, my Little Miss Persistent Me - sitting there, suddenly in a delightful mood: - Hey, she smiles, - you going to write? Finally. That's great. Thumbs up.  

I head for my computer. - Hey, she yells behind me back, - where are you going. Wait up. Take me with you. But that's ok. There is a wright time for everything:-) 

What place does writing have in your life? Please share. 

1-30 April 2015 I participate in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is written as a part of that challenge.My theme for the challenge is Happiness. I hope you enjoy coming along. 

V for Valuable

Imagine
a wonderful morning on a warm summer day
grass is greener than ever, flowers blooming away

still the air is from north and can chill you a bit
and the sky clear and blue, just above where you sit-

- on a bench in the garden with an unopened book
which shouts to you: " Hey lady, open me, have a look!"

but your vision is elsewhere, it is down by the trees
where the kids run and play just like wild summer bees

and you smile as you hear them, 'cause their laughs spread so wide
and you feel warm and blessed, watching them from the side

this is life, you keep thinking, just as good as it gets
and the valuables in it, they are amazing, so let's-

- close our eyes for a moment, and just feel where we are
count our blessings, but still always aim for the star (s)

• The most valuable gift you can give is your time. 
• The most valuable places to be are in someones mind and in their prayers.
• The most valuable thing you can make is a mistake, so you can learn from it.
• The most valuable possession you can have is an open hearth.
• Some of the most treasured valuables are: A hearth full of love. A head full of wisdom. Family. Friends. Time. Kindness. Self value.   

What are your most treasured valuables? Please share. 

1-30 April 2015 I participate in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is written as a part of that challenge.My theme for the challenge is Happiness. I hope you enjoy coming along.