My World

  Everyone would agree if I say that this has felt like the longest year ever. But now, here we are. 2020 is coming to an end. New year is right around the corner. It’s the holiday season and people could not be more excited. We have all waited for this year to come to an end as soon as it started. The year 2020 has felt like an error year. But before we bid goodbye to 2020, let’s keep a few things in mind. Here are 3 things to remember and to tell yourself this New Year’s Eve         You made it through this year! Give yourself a pat on the back for having made it through this year. It was not easy. No matter what you have been through, you hung in there like a champ. Admire yourself for that.            Appreciate little things more in life If not anything else, 2020 has made us realize the value of little moments and little things and enjoying life in the simplest ways. Spend more time with your family, enjoy home cooked ...

I found out about you when you were 6 weeks along. Oh, how excited how I was! I couldn’t stop smiling. And when I told your father, I kid you not; he jumped up and threw his fist in the air. He lifted me up and spun me around. We were so happy! We were so happy to know that you would be coming along. We could not wait to tell your grandparents. You should’ve have seen how your grandmother giggled like a little girl and took me in her embrace. “I’m going to be a granddaddy!” your grandfather shouted out gleefully. We all waited for your arrival impatiently. A visit to the doctor’s only confirmed our happiness. “Congratulations!” the doctor beamed. Your father squeezed my hand as he smiled at her. “Boy or girl?” your father asked me countless times. “I want a healthy baby” was all I ever answered in return, slyly. I was going to take no chances with you. I began to watch what I was eating; after all, I was eating for two, now. Your grandmother called me every day to make su...

  Brownies are one of those desserts that are seldom hated. The right ingredients can make an incredible brownie and really hit that sweet spot. The first time I tried making brownies by myself was in the year 2015 when a colleague from work wrote down a recipe for me. I tried and it worked. Thank you Jiten dai for that wonderful recipe. But this time I wanted to take things differently. I worked with what I had and I wanted to boycott eggs in the recipe. So how can you easily whip up eggless brownies? Here is how You will need 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 2 cups milk 1 ½ cup of flour 6 teaspoons of sugar 1 tablespoon of vanilla essence A pinch of salt 4 tablespoons of butter You will find most of these ingredients at home. Preparation time: 15 mins Cooking time: 15- 20 mins Eating time: totally depends on you Instructions Take your grinder and put in that sugar. Grind until fine powder Then melt butter in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave...

My fellow bespectacled people, I know I speak for all of us when I say this era of wearing masks all the time has been quite tedious on us. Cleaning up your glasses from time to time due to the fog has exasperated us. And not wearing a mask is clearly not an option. Of course, you can always wear your contact lenses if you’re up for it, but glasses are more comfortable for long hours. So, how do you avoid getting your glasses fogged up when wearing a mask? An N95 mask. I noticed that using a double air valve mask from Metro Masks avoided fogging up my glasses. So the kind of mask you’re using is also likely to impact the fogging. For that matter, you can buy anti fog glasses these days, but if that is out of the option for now, go for N95 mask. Adjust your glasses over the rim of the mask When you put your glasses over the mask, it helps with the fogging of the mask. The KN95 masks are easier for this one. Make your mask as fitting as possible Adjust the mask in a fitti...

I tease my mother every now and then that I should write a notebook or make a scrapbook about the phrases she always uses. Then, I can show it to other people someday. Then, I thought I might as well do that, right now. These phrases are perhaps, not unheard of, especially in Newari households. They came off as funny initially when she used it on me; but they’re more of life lessons now. So I thought it could very well be of use to everyone else. Dha ta apu; Dharahara tapu I take as the nepali touch on Rome was not built in a day. Some things are easier said than done. And it is so true in real life. Huh? Dha mesh na khapa chaki ma Whoever responds to the knock on the door has to answer it. This implies that whoever has noticed something or has stated the need of something must get it done himself/ herself. Bhamcha yu gwali tajyaa The sole of the bride’s feet are cracked. This has got to be one of my favorite ones. The Newa tradititional bhwe as we all know is on sukul ...

  Baklavas are considered the Mount Everest of pastry making and what better delight than to know that they are, now, available here in the country that Mount Everest is situated? TazaTreats, newly initiated by Taza brings to you this delicacy. A fine treat with walnuts or pistachios in layers coated with sugar, Baklavas are an explosion of flavor in your mouth. A dessert from the Middle East, first brought in from the Turkish or Greek heritage, Baklavas are a new thing in Nepal. But you’d be more than happy to know that the taste is something that would fit well with the Nepali palate. Baklavas are slowly gaining attention around the valley. I see that more and more people have been trying them out. And they come in these beautiful handcrafted boxes, making the experience even more worthwhile. When we first got a box, after clicking enough pictures, of course, I had to inky pinky my way to choose which Baklava I should go for first. They’re just right for sharing or surprisi...

  If you’re the youngest child in your family, you know I’m not lying when I say you grew up being ordered around or doing lots of favors around the house. “Get the remote” “Bring a glass of water” “Get my keys from upstairs” “Feed the dog” These are some of the hundreds of minimal tasks that you are acquired to attend to. I guess it’s easy being said so because you are the easiest to tell around from all your elders in the house. I’ve attended to who knows how many of these tasks/orders. Growing up as the youngest child of three, I was of course bound to follow orders from my two elder brothers besides my parents. I cannot say I wasn’t exasperated at times. “Why am I always the one being bossed around?” I would cross my arms and frown. And haven’t you worn clothes passed down by your siblings if you’re the youngest in the family? Been there and done that, haven’t we? You were also more likely to complain during your younger days because no one listens to your o...