The Trial
The day has come when Hank Rearden was going to be prosecuted for selling his metal in quantities above the accepted limit. He was pretty confident that the prosecutors would just slap him with some minor punishment and let him go. They would not dare to take his mills from him or throw him in jail. His logic was they needed him to produce his metal.
He told the judges in the start of the trial itself : He has no defense… He does not recognize the authority of their court… He has done no crime.. This court or those judges have no control over the way he makes or sells his metal..
He even challenged them to dispose of his mills, house, metal and property in any manner they wish. But he will not defend himself where no defense is needed.
He proclaimed that he works for his profit. The profit which he earns by selling his metal at the highest price to the buyer who can afford it. He will never sell his metal at a loss or give it away for free to those who haven’t earned it by paying him. He deals with workers and buyers with their voluntary consent. He never forces them to either work for him or buy from him. He is earning his own income and living it. He refused to accept guilt for existing. He refused to toil tirelessly so the looters like them who don’t like to work can live happily.
The judges were taken aback at his stance and at his speeches. They slapped him with a fine in the end when they saw he wouldn’t budge.
To know the background of this novel “Atlas Shrugged”, please visit my previous posts on Chocolate Oatmeal Brownies, Mushroom in Spicy Spinach Curry, Yogurt Oats with Spicy Tempering, Oaty Pancakes, Poha Tikki/ Cutlets, Oats Upma, Vegetable Oats Omelette.
Vanilla Cheesecake
I had some cream cheese in my refrigerator which was about to expire. I decided to give cheesecake a try. It is a very simple recipe and requires no baking. The base vanilla cake can be make in microwave and the cheesecake frosting in food processor or blender.
Vanilla Cake
What you need….?
2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
2 tbsp milk
3/4 tbsp oil
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
How to…???
- Start with greasing a ramekin with oil.
- Mix in flour, baking powder, sugar, salt together in the ramekin.
- Now add in milk, oil and vanilla extract. Stir gently till no lumps remain
- Now microwave it for 1 minute
- Your soft moist vanilla cake is ready. Leave it in the ramekin to cool down
Cheesecake frosting
What you need….?
3 tbsp butter
6 ounces cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
How to….?
- Bring butter and cream cheese to room temperature so that they become soft.
- First mix the butter and sugar together well in a blender or food processor. You can even do by hand.
- Then add in vanilla extract and cream cheese to the butter mixture and mix in blender till a paste is formed.
- Keep this paste in refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Note : This frosting can be used on almost for cakes made in ramekins. Store the extra in an airtight container in fridge. The frosting is so yummy that you might be tempted to lick the whole in one go like me.
Final cake
Spread the cheesecake frosting all over your vanilla cake evenly. Now keep this final cake in the fridge for an hour or two. Then enjoy the deliciousness.
The cake is soft and moist, and the cheesecake frosting just melts in the mouth giving that sweet cheesy flavor to the cake. The butter not only adds a shine in the frosting but also an undercurrent to the overall taste of the frosting.
Doesn’t it look like uncle scrooge?? Edible art.. Having fun while eating the cheesecake
