Mr. Bijoy Writes

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...