Pappu pass ho gaya!!!

1.5 years of lab work

4 months of writing

1 week of fighting with power point

35 slides

Non-stop repetition of 'opsin', 'Gammarus', 'evolution' till J's ear drums were affected

10 white faces looking at me

1 small brown face looking back at them

summarising my entire work in 30 mins

30 mins of grilling until I burnt

Finally I cleared my proposal defense*phew* One down one more to go!

Kuch meeta ho jaye?

Tofu Cheesecake: Tweaked from here

1 pound silken tofu

2 cups Graham cracker crumbs

3 tbsp butter

1.5 C strawberry juice (blend the fruits and strain)

3 tbsp honey

4 tbsp maple syrup (depending on how sweet you want it)

1 tsp vanilla essence (I do not like the raw smell of soft tofu hence the essence, you can skip it)

1.5 tbsp gelatin (I know this is collagen from animals, I could not find agar/pectin. Just don't tell my mom)

Heat oven to 350F. Blend the graham crumbs with butter till somewhat sticky. Press this mixture onto a well-greased 9 inch springform pan. Bake for 10 mins. Cool.

Bring the strawberry juice to near boil and add the gelatin/agar/pectin. Mix well, simmer for 5 mins. Cool and strain to remove any stray gelatin pieces.

Combine all other ingredients in a mixer and blend for a min or 2. Add the juice and blend till homogeneous. Pour this into the baked crust. Refrigerate for 3-4 hours.

I just went one step further and poured some jello on top and let it set. This is a very forgiving recipe add anything and it will set (because of the gelatin) and you can flavour it in anyway just by changing the fruit juice. Make it tart or sweet or bitter (pavakkai cheesecake-PJ I know).

There was no smell of the tofu, but slightly over-sweet, next time will use less maple syrup. Good taste with no guilt. Except for that collagen...Shush!

Note to her, her and them: You tempt me no more!