A book that was on my reading list for months !! A story themed around a wedding celebration.
Yes!! It’s unusual to find a thriller around a wedding and this was one reason the book got my interest and the second it being a thriller.
The writing style is similar to Girl on the Train!!
The Story starts unfolding when family secrets and friends start realising what relationships meant to them.
While even betrayal of trust is one of the elements of the story where some confessions let out secrets that never unfolded, But the island celebration changes many fortunes and reveals all the secrets.
A weekend fast-paced thrilling read by Lucy Foley.
Category: Information
Looking to Brew Coffee at Home?
Which Coffee Equipment should you invest in?
Pour Over /V60: Looking to brew a cup of coffee that’s clean & light?
Brew Time: 2-4 Minutes
Type of Coffee: Medium Dark Roast
Grind Size: Medium
Method:
Step 1. Heat the water for a minute or two.
While the water is boiling/Heating
Step 2 Place the V60 on a Carafare and place the filter it should be wet first so that any paper taste will be diluted or removed.
Now Add about 15 gm’s of coffee
Step 3: Slowly swirl the water (Water should be around 200-300 Ml) from the kettle over the coffee and around the filter, Let it bloom and repeat this process in between 30 seconds of interval.
Step4: The coffee would be now brewed and flow into the carafe. For Iced Coffee just add the Ice in the carafe and follow the same process as earlier.
Equipment Required: Kettle, Water, V60, Coffee, Stirrer and Cups.
Difficulty level: Expert or a lot of practice to perfect the pour-over.
French Press: Looking to brew an Americano?
Brew Time : 3- 4 Minutes
Type of Coffee: Medium Dark Roast
Grind size: Medium/Coarse
Method:
Step 1. Heat the water for a minute or two.
While the water is boiling/Heating
First, remove the plunger and add coffee to the French press base.
Step 2: Add hot water ( Water should be about 200-400 Ml) into the French press and stir the coffee from the top, insert the plunger until the brim.
After about 3-4 minutes plunge the plunger and serve the coffee
Equipment Required: Kettle, Water, French Press, Coffee, Stirrer and Cups.
Difficulty level: Easy, a perfect way to start learning and brewing coffee.
Moka Pot:Looking to Brew an Espresso Style coffee?
Brew Time : 3- 4 Minutes
Type of Coffee: Medium-light/Dark Roast
Grind size: Medium/Coarse
Method:
Step 1. : Add water ( Water should be around 100 to 200 Ml) at the bottom base and insert the middle base and add coffee now tighten the Pot.
Step 2: keep the coffee on the gas stove for a couple of minutes, until the hissing sound starts coming and as and when the coffee starts flowing up reduce the speed and switch off the gas.
Equipment Required: Water, Coffee, and Cups.
Difficulty level: Medium
AeroPress: Looking for a coffee that would be brewed in less than 2 minutes?
Brew Time: 1-2 Minutes
Type of Coffee: Medium Dark Roast
Grind Size: Medium Fine
Method:
Step 1. Heat the water for a minute or two.
While the water is boiling/Heating set up the Aeropress maker. The coffee cup measure should be upside down. The rubber plunger should be pressed inverted from the bottom.
Step 2: Add about 15 gm’s of coffee by placing the funnel on top first so that the coffee doesn’t spill out.
Step 3: Now add the heated water ( About 150-200 Ml) and stir the coffee for about 30 seconds to 60 seconds. Now place the filter on the cap and lock the Aeropress ( Note the filter should be rinsed, wet before inserting it, for a better brew experience )
Step 4: Now slowly invert the Aeropress on to the mug and press the Aeropress. (Note if the coffee flows without the plunge, you need a finer grind)
Equipment Required: Kettle, Water, Aeropress, Coffee, Stirrer, Funnel and Cups.
Difficulty level: Medium to slightly difficult
Verdict: choose the coffee equipment, By knowing how much time! You are willing to spend to make a cup of coffee each day
To watch videos on how to make the coffee using the equipment and to know more about coffee follow my Instagram account -Link is mentioned below.
https://www.instagram.com/akhilnanda/?hl=en
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A Year Made In India -Chocolates #1
The Indian Chocolate and coffee experience this year has been a good surprise especially when you don’t have the options of going out at all.
Amul chocolates :
Dark chocolates, it wasn’t easy to find good dark chocolates as such in India.
And when you have run out of your Lindt dark chocolate stock, And aren’t going to be travelling until things settle, imports to aren’t coming by easily. You have to look out for options. And Amul dark chocolate was the only option I had in my city. Yes, I have had mason & Co and Fidler & Frank in the past. two of the finest dark chocolates I have eaten. But unfortunately, they aren’t available in my city, and I am a little hesitant to order them online. Amul chocolate became my saviour. It’s got the perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness. And if you haven’t tried it yet.
You are underestimating one of the best Indian Brands that have flavours like Mocha, Orange, Hazelnut and single-origin flavours from Venezuela, Peru, India
₹100 onwards for each bar of chocolate
All Things Chocolate: I am not sure! How many of you have even heard about this? These chocolates were divine! The combination and the feel of the packaging make you wonder are these truly from & Made in India, Jaipur These chocolates were so good! That we made a special visit to the Clove store in Mumbai to pick them up.
₹180 onwards for each bar of chocolate
La folie: One of my favourite cafe in Mumbai, Bandra and when you hear they also have chocolate you want to try the dark chocolate. But with jaggery replaced instead of white sugar, this chocolate wasn’t tasting like chocolate though… ₹250 for each bar of chocolate
Soklet Chocolates: Hadn’t known about this brand at all until I visited foodhall in Mumbai last year and discovered and tried it recently The mint Nibs with dark chocolate and was slightly disappointed with the taste as it was more like honey after taste. ₹200 onwards for each bar of chocolates
Dider & Frank: If there is one of gourmet make in India Chocolate who’s whole range I have tried is this one right from the coffee, Orange and Mint chocolate all are very very good!! ₹300 for each bar of chocolate
Mason & Co: Bassed in Auroville, Tamil Nadu.A Chocolate that’s I first noticed at a cafe in Mumbai, The Pantry and a few later noticed it again Blue Tokai it was a few months later did I finally try the 70% Dark Chocolate and it was good! This was the first time I tried a gourmet Indian dark chocolate that has flavours like Mint in Dark Chocolate, Espresso dark chocolate and Coconut Dark Chocolate. ₹295 for each bar of chocolate.
Fabelle: ITC ( Indian Tobacco Company) It is difficult to associate a Cigarette brand and hotel chain with Chocolates especially when you think of chocolate it’s always Cadbury. But, if you haven’t tried the range of Fabelle chocolates from ITC you certainly have missed trying out one of the most underrated chocolates that just melt in your mouth. There are chocolate bars as well tin gift boxes available from Fabelle. ₹450 for each bar of chocolate.
Smoor Chocolate: A Cafe Brand from Bangalore that is known not only for their cafe but their chocolates too. I tried the cranberry Dark Chocolate and instantly loved the taste of the chocolate. Smoor since the last time I tried has a range of things to offers. Dark thins, Brittles and a whole new range of dark chocolate additions.
₹300 onwards for each bar of chocolate.
How many have you tried? And which one is your favourite?
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The Subtle Art of not giving a F***K & Think like a Monk – Book Review !!
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**K
A book, That I had heard a lot about. But, never did I find out what it was about. Maybe because it had become such a big sensation and had hit the best-selling charts. That I was slightly sceptical to read at that time, So this year… In The Bookclub we decided to read “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**K” And literally within two days, I was done reading this book.
Let’s start with what I liked about this book.
The tone is very conversational, with examples for explanations, so that it becomes very relatable, unlike other self-help books the language is easy to understand.
The authors refer to his situations in his life, this makes the book trustworthy and gives the confidence to be the change.
the chapters too are captioned with the doubts or questions we always come across or have come across that makes it a fun read.
Yes! Happiness is a problem, We always do have a choice, Why we must say “No” and We are always wrong about everything.
This book is like you have always heard someone say those same things, but this time you are not listening, but you have understood his argument.
CHAPTER 1: Don’t Try
CHAPTER 2: Happiness Is a ProblemCHAPTER 3: You Are Not SpecialCHAPTER 4: The Value of SufferingCHAPTER 5: You Are Always ChoosingCHAPTER 6: You’re Wrong About Everything (But So Am I)CHAPTER 7: Failure Is the Way ForwardCHAPTER 8: The Importance of Saying NoCHAPTER 9: . . . And Then You Die
Think Like Monk – Jay Shetty.
You might think, If you have read a book on spirituality, Zen, Buddhism all are the same. Yes, Most of them are very similar to a great extent. But giving relevant examples that one can connect to the current generation, can install the belief and practice of enlightenment yet again.
Whether it was Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse to finding out the secret by Rhonda Byrne or To know about the Monk who sold his Ferrari by Robin Sharma to Learning The Art of not giving a F**K Mark Manson to Thinking like a Monk by Jay Shetty.
All have their way of telling you the same thing, But they use the relevant examples to keep the practice going- If Think as a monk spoke about Brain Acton’s rejection to not giving up and come up with WhatsApp to giving each of us simple practices to practices to live a life of detachment.
Jay Shetty’s this book, one should read today if they want to connect and change their way of living.
The book is written in three parts – Let Go the first part, Grow second and Give the last part…With some practical applications.
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The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa
The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa
A book that I first wanted to read, When I had visited a bookstore and found the copy on New arrival and since I had a couple of books that I was reading or wanted to read. I hadn’t picked it up and after a month when I was looking to read something new. I thought about reading The Memory Police. Originally written in 1994, but has been adapted to suit 2019-2020. This book is a science dystopian novel like the ones of 1984 George Orwell, But has more similarities with Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand as who is the Memory Police? can easily be compared to Who is John Galt?
The book was also nominated for shortlisting Booker Prize 2020. And relates to issues like loneliness and being expressive the issues like the lives been controlled by a particular organisation.
This is the first book, I have read of Yoko Ogawa and it is a book, no matter how many years later you read it. You could relate to quite a few of the issues.
This Book written by yet another Japanese writer that I have read this year Should be on your reading list.
A K H I L N A N D A 