Mr. Bijoy Writes

Just like every past year, here's the deal: Some people (I'm sure you know at least one) are difficult when it comes to gifting. So to make it easy on you, I find random, nifty things that I think would make cool gifts and I share them with you. Buy one for yourself, buy one for a friend, buy one for a lover, buy none. I don't get any money from sharing these with you, I just think these things are cool and unique. Sound good? Good. A fun watch for those that love a bold color statement.  I think chunky sweaters are still cool... Anyways, here's a great one for a woman in your life that won't break the bank. Know a stylish guy or a guy who needs some style? Get him this honest-to-goodness class ic. There is no substitute.   Add class to anyone's bar with this elegant tool set . Making popcorn easier to eat, because you can.  Elevate your or someone's kitchen with this .  Someone like to grill? This .  Touchscreen gloves that don't look like shit...

So it's been 10 years. I've shared my thoughts on what to give people as gifts, some recipes for your dining pleasure, how i think snaps instead of buttons is stupid on men's shirts, and some other random stuff. For those of you who've been along for the ride, thanks for reading, caring, and/or possibly enjoying! If you're new, welcome! Now go read another post before this one. Yep. I'm gonna get personal and I'm going to ramble. And this might be long. I grew up in St. Louis and the St. Louis metropolitan area. There isn't a big Indian population there, or at least there wasn't in the 90's. Most people in the suburbs, especially on the East side, had never interacted with, much less seen, anyone of South Asian descent. Most adults only knew of the Beatles exploration and subsequent bastardization of Indian culture. You gotta remember, Yoga wasn't prevalent in the Midwest at this point. So there I was, the brown kid on the block. The one ...

No frills, let's get to it- What ya need: 1/3 cup 1% buttermilk 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh chives 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce 4 bone-in chicken breasts (about 12 ounces each), boneless is fine, just marinate longer 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs Ok, so:    In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, chives, mustard, and hot sauce. Remove the skin from the chicken breasts, add the chicken to the bowl, and let it soak for 30 minutes (or overnight). Preheat the oven to 425°F. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray Remove the chicken from the marinade and season it with salt and pepper. Place the bread crumbs in a wide, shallow bowl. Dip the chicken into the bread crumbs and toss well to coat. Place the chicken on the prepared baking sheet. Spray the chicken with cooking spray and bake until it is just cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes. ...

Since it went over rather well last year, I've compiled a little gift guide for the guys shopping for that special lady. So here are a few nifty things that the lady in your life may appreciate. I don't claim that any of these are really great gifts for the woman for whom you're shopping, but they're nifty. Ok, so: This little tech kit is great for the woman on the go. Cables and more in a cute little pouch that doesn't suck.   Bling for the lady that likes chunky bling .  Have a fashionista on your hands? Try this elegant coffee table book that elevates a space with beauty and class.  Give her something sweet because you aren't always sweet.  Oh, she's a badass? I got you . I'm not one to tell you to buy your lady lingerie. But pajamas , pajamas are great.  Coziness is everything. This classic throw comes in 11 colors and comes with the promise of warmth and style.  An inexpensive watch that makes a bold fashion statement is a ri...

Just like every year, here's the deal: Some people (I'm sure you know at least one) are difficult when it comes to gifting. So to make it easy on you, I find random, nifty things that I think would make cool gifts and I share them with you. Buy one for yourself, buy one for a friend, buy one for a lover, buy none. I don't get any money from sharing these with you, I just think these things are cool and unique. Sound good? Ok, so: My wife got me this a few years ago and it is one my favorite additions to my library. It makes it MY library.   Cotton Candy, FO DAYZZZZZ . Yep, that's it.  Elevate your kitchen towels , or elevate a friend's kitchen towels. Florence Welch, a magical singer, published a gorgeous book of poetry and lyrics this year and I bet you know a music lover that would like to have it.   If you know anyone that fancies themselves a mixologist, but needs some help, check this out.  Have a music lover in your life that loves b...

By request, I've compiled a little gift guide for the guys shopping for that special lady. So here are a few nifty things that the lady in your life may appreciate. I don't claim that any of these are really great gifts for the woman for whom you're shopping, but they're nifty. Ok, so: Does your lady take her phone's camera to new levels of photographic artistry? Get her this really cool clip-on lens to up her game. It's pretty cool.  Celebs sure wear a lot of fun necklaces, but they're all so expensive. Get the style without the price right here . She might love it.   You got a badass on your hands? This. Ever thought about getting your special woman a bag or a tote but feel like you have no idea what you're doing? Get this one. It's classic, fashionable, and notable. All-day lounging comfort is awesome. So is this ridiculously nice robe . It's on a level of Olaf-likes-warm-hugs stuff.  These may not be the cutest thing out there, bu...

So, as in years past, here's the deal- Some people (I'm sure you know at least one) are difficult when it comes to gifting. So to make it easy on you, I find random, nifty things that I think would make cool gifts and I share them with you. Buy one for yourself, buy one for a friend, buy one for a lover, buy none. I don't get any money from sharing these with you, I just think these things are cool and unique. Sound good?  Ok, so: Do you know a guy in your life that needs a quality timepiece without breaking the bank? Hamilton is one of America's heritage brands that has been around since 1912. Try this watch out for casual style that can easily pair with a tuxedo for a black-tie affair.  Have a baseball fan in your life? The New York Times has compiled baseball history books , by team, to make this year's gift giving easy. They're awesome, and they're beautiful. For that wine enthusiast in your life, check out this classic corkscrew that blend...

Today, my good friend and champagne-sipping partner Chloe expressed that she's been playing with chili recipes to find one she really likes. So I've decided to post one of my old school recipes for her, and for all of you. Chili isn't just for tailgates. Chili is for families, friends, chilly weather, and everything that is made better with a hug. Yeah, I fucking said it. Chili is a warm, cozy hug. So try this recipe and get yourself a hug. Oh, and read the recipe before you get all of the ingredients out. What ya need: 2.5 lbs of quality sirloin, cubed in 1/4 inch cubes (ground sirloin works too)  14 ounces of beef stock 14 ounces of chicken broth 1 eight-ounce can of tomato sauce 1/2 of a small onion, finely diced 3 large clove of garlic, finely chopped or mashed 3/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper 2 tablespoons of spicy red chili powder 5 tablespoons of dark chili powder 1/4 teaspoon of salt 3 teaspoons of ground cumin 1 tablespoon of light roast coffee 1 stan...

So, here's the deal- Some people (I'm sure you know one) are difficult when it comes to gifting. SO to make it easy, I find random, nifty things that I think would make cool gifts and I share them with you. Buy one for yourself, buy one for a friend, buy one for a lover, buy none. I don't get any money from sharing these with you, I just think these things are cool and unique. Sound good? Ok, so: Shinola makes one of finest American timepieces in the world, from the heart of Detroit. Also, they aren't prohibitively expensive. Check out the Shinola Runwell for a unique timepiece with a great story.  Some people have immense pride in the place in which they live. Let them show it in a unique way with these coasters .  Apple isn't a perfect company. In fact, the design of the laptop chargers has been pretty abysmal over the years. Here's how you fit your charger behind something , because it sticks out way too far, otherwise. I mean, you can drink and pla...

I like books. I have a fair amount of them. I used to have a lot more, but I don't want to talk about that right now. Anyway, I like books. Every once in a while, people ask me if I have any suggestions for a book they should read. I have a lot of fucking suggestions. A lot. But here's the thing, I don't have time to give you all of my suggestions, neither in print nor in person. So I thought I'd write down six so you can enjoy them at your own pace with your own beverage of choice. Every book on this list pairs well with Woodford Reserve and a crackling fire, in case you're wondering. Now go read a book.   'Anna Karenina' by Leo Tolstoy Complex, robust, perfect. Russian high-society provides for a novel that goes beyond art.  This may make you change how feel about things, especially morality and your place in the world.    'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote  Capote wrote a book unlike he'd ever written one centered on the bru...

Protein bars can be expensive. You may get a 10 bars for $10 deal every once in a while (on sub-par bars), but what if you could cut your average cost by 55-60% and still get a delicious product? I'm all about that cost-savings life and if you are as well, give these a shot! What ya need: 1 ounce of dark chocolate, 70% dark 1½ cups of Medjool dates ½ cup of peanuts ½ cup of almonds ½ cup of natural peanut butter (The stuff that only has peanuts, no sweeteners or preservatives. Make it your self if you can.)   Ok, so:     Using a knife, chop the chocolate in to rough chunks. You can make smaller bits, if you like. Throw all of the ingredients except the chocolate in to a food processor and process until you begin to get a paste. You still want to be able to discern small pieces of each ingredient in the paste, so don't puree it. If you have a smaller food processor, do this in batches. When the paste is done, mix in the chocolate chunks. Take this complete ...

This is a great, versatile recipe that can be used as a side or as an easy lunch. The sweet and spicy elements make for a nice flavor profile. Also, it's amazing as a post-workout fuel! What you need- 4 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter 1lb of Mexican chorizo, casings removed ½ of a medium white onion, finely diced 4 cloves of garlic, minced ½ teaspoon of kosher salt ¼ teaspoon of freshly-ground black pepper ¼ teaspoon of smoked paprika Ok, so- In a medium pan, saute your onions until they are translucent. Then add the garlic and chorizo, sauteing it all together until lightly browned. Now, put this in the slow cooker with the sweet potatoes, salt, pepper, and paprika. Set the cooker to high for 3 hours and 30 minutes (depending on environmental factors, it may take 4 hours or as little as 3 hours, so keep an eye on it). Once it's all cooked through use a slotted spoon to move the solids to a large bowl. NOte that there may not be...

I'm tired of people saying that eating healthy tastes bad. It doesn't Try this and let me know what you think!    What ya need: 1 cup of ripe banana, sliced 1 cup of vanilla low-fat yogurt 1/2 cup of 1% low-fat mil, skim is okay as well 2 tablespoons of whole wheat graham cracker crumbs 1 tablespoon of nonfat dry milk 1/2 teaspoon of  vanilla extract 3 ice cubes Ok, so: First, grab a cookie sheet and arrange the banana slices in a single layer, Freeze these until firm, or about 1 hour. Now, in a blender, blend the frozen bananas with the rest of the ingredients until smooth. Sip in happiness.

A friend asked for this recipe, so I thought I'd go ahead and share it with all of you! Enjoy! What ya need: 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil 1, 10-ounce, aged center-cut beef tenderloin 1 large shallot, peeled and chopped 1/2 cup of red wine, nothing too sweet 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter, chilled Kosher salt, to taste Ground black pepper, to taste Ok, so: Preheat your oven to 450ºF. In a heavy, oven-safe pan, heat your olive oil over high-heat until it almost reaches the smoking point. You don't want the oil to smoke, but you want it very hot. As it heats, season your beef with salt and pepper. Once the pan is hot, brown each side of the beef in the pan. Transfer the pan to your oven and roast for 10-15 minutes. You can check the internal temp to get an accurate cooking temp, 130ºF for rare (and delicious). Transfer your meat to a cutting board or plate and make a tent out of foil for it. Pour all but a small amount of the juices from the pan and ...

A lot of the cuisine in the middle east and the Mediterranean regions of our wonderful planet is quite healthy. Here's a take on a chickpea salad that a friend and I whipped up over some wine a few months ago. The combination of dates, rice, and chickpeas not only provide for a filling dish, but they also are packed with nutrients, fiber, and plant-based proteins to get you through a workout, a run or a busy day about town. Let me know how it turns out for you! What ya need: 2 tablespoons of olive oil 1/2 of a Vidalia onion 1 -16oz can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt ground black pepper, to taste 3 cups of cooked brown rice 1/2 cup of  pitted dates, chopped 1/4 cup of fresh mint , chopped 1/4 cup of fresh parsley , chopped Ok, so: In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion to the skillet and cook, sti...

Chicken breast is one of the most versatile foods in the world. It works with almost every cuisine and can be dressed up in to any darn thing you desire. So, how does one make a healthy, easy chicken breast? I'll tell you how right now- What ya need: 1- 1 lb. chicken breast 1 1/2 teaspoons of safflower oil 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper Ok, so: Take one teaspoon of the oil and lightly coat a medium nonstick or stainless steel skillet. Turn the stove on to medium and set the pan on the heat. In a ziploc bag, throw in the chicken, salt, and pepper. Toss this around a bit in the bag. After being on the heat for one or two minutes, the pan should be hot enough. Place the chicken breast on the skillet and let it cook without moving it for one minute. Turn the chicken breast to the other side and let it cook without moving for one minute as well. Now, turn the chicken back to the initially cooked side and turn the heat to medium-low. Co...