“When you take the step towards your dreams, you will be met with fears because you have never traveled this way before. As you go, you will discover that you had nothing to fear.” ~ Gardner

Rewind a few years back to when I used to get panic attacks whenever a couple of projects land in a span of few days. I would become anxious and stressed out as the deadlines draw near. It was a real tough time to find a point of balance between my career and personal life, more so when you are passionately inclined towards both.

However, with over seven years of work experience in the industry, I now feel more at ease with myself.

I am able to remain sane in the face of all the chaos by taking control of my time and prioritizing my work.

Careful selection of projects, planning ahead of time, listing life goals and slowing down whenever possible are a few pointers which help me sail smoothly year after year.

As for working in the advertising and media world, I feel very privileged and fortunate to have worked with some of the most talented, experienced and enthusiastic people in food industry.

Here are a few food photo shoots for television and advertising industry that I completed recently with some talented people from media world.

And time flies when you are working with them..Latha menon of Iris films is one such person.

This was my first time working with her, I was really impressed with her way of handling people on the sets with smile and confident.

Working and directing people for tvc is taxing but she was calm and composed till the end of the television shoot and handled every situation on the set with great aplomb.

Discussing the shot with her for Hatsun curd TVC..

Curd rice shot in progress..

I have worked with this friendly and extremely dedicated team of Zac from Rubican for many projects but never got a chance to get clicked with them. Here is one picture during the shoot for Hatsun with Latha Menon.

One another television commercial for the popular brand Milky Mist with director Lawrance of Ice media which I loved doing. I was given free hand to try out various paneer recipes and styling the same for the tvc.

Working place does make a lot of difference to your productivity. My work station was right before the sea shore, nothing can be more captivating and energizing than watching the waves hit shores as you work….

Still photo shoot for Ultra brand of mixer grinder from LG with Arun Natrajan, his supportive team and the ad agency Rediffusion.

Broccoli Flat Breads

Coming back to the recipe for Lite Bite, here is my most favorite paratha or flatbread which I often prepare during long shooting days. I make ahead the flatbread for saving me time on busy days. I half cook the flatbreads and refrigerate them for 2-3 days in butter paper till use.

Ingredients;

For dough

• 1 cups millet flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 tbsp. yogurt
• 1/4 tsp. carom seeds
• Warm water to knead
• Salt to taste

For filling;

• 1 cup grated broccoli
• 1 onion
• 2 garlic pearls
• 1/2 cup amaranth leaves
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper powder
• Salt to taste

Method; wash and chop amaranth leaves.

Finely chop the onion and garlic pearls.

Add millet flour, wheat flour, salt and carom seeds (ajwain) in a large bowl and combine well.

Add yogurt, warm water and knead into a soft dough. Cover the dough with a lid and let it rest for 10-15 minutes.

Add grated broccoli, chopped onion, garlic, amaranth leaves (chawli bhaji), pepper and salt in another large bowl and combine well.

Pinch small balls from the dough and flatten it to make a small circle.

Place a ladleful of broccoli filling over the flatten dough and close it to make round ball again.

Heat a griddle, dust the filled dough with wheat flour and roll into flatbread or chapatti.

Place the rolled out flatbread on hot griddle or tawa and let it cook for one minute. Flip to other side and cook it applying a little ghee or oil if you wish.

Serve the healthy broccoli flatbreads with fresh yogurt or raita.

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