Sunday, March 27, 2016

Bengali Style Healthy Chicken stew

Chicken stew for me is more than just that. It's a feeling of warmth and reassurance that no other food offers. Whether I am unwell, feeling a little down or just want to make myself something simple and healthy, chicken stew proves to be the best companion always. 

The best part is this comfort food is not unhealthy. Low in cholesterol, diabetic friendly, low in calories and rich in protein content, it keeps you full for a long time :)




I always believe in adapting the recipe according to my preferences. Mostly such stews are made with butter to add that extra flavour. I avoid adding butter to my stew to make it more healthy for both my parents and me. It helps me cut down on extra calories, Trust me, even without the butter, it tastes heavenly. I add papaya to the stew instead of potatoes to up the nutrient factor.

Let's take a quick look at the method:



Ingredients:

250gms chicken (I like chicken pieces with bones in my stew as the bones adds extra juice to the soup)
1/4cup of masoor dal
Raw papaya diced
Carrots diced
Beans chopped
Chopped tomatoes
1 small onion
4-5 cloves of garlic
1" inch ginger
Green chillies(as per taste)
Chopped coriander
Whole Garam Masala (I used cinnamon, clove,black pepper and elaichi)
a pinch of turmeric(optional)
1 tsp of Everest Chicken masala(optional; I like using it because it gives my stew a nice taste)
a pinch of oregano
1 tsp of oil of your choice

Method:

1. Marinate the chicken using salt, turmeric
2. In a pressure cooker, heat the oil and add the whole garam masala
3. Fry the chopped onions till they turn slightly golden in colour.Add the chopped garlic and ginger
4. Add the soaked dal to the cooker now and stir fry the same
5. Now add the chopped veggies, green chillies and stir fry them
6. Add the marinated chicken along with the chicken masala and turmeric
7.  Lastly, add the chopped coriander and pressure cook for around 4-5 whistles
8. Let the steam settle down, garnish with more pepper powder, depending on taste and serve hot

You can have this lovely stew with steamed rice or with bread. I love having garlic bread with it. I often carry this for lunch as well and sometimes team it up with cheese chilli toast from Cafe Coffee Day. It tastes heavenly. 

Hope you like this recipe and do share how you make your own stew at home.I would also like to know what is the food you enjoy when on a diet.




Friday, March 25, 2016

Simple Tips to Get Rid of Chapped Lips

Chapped lips are a nuisance.I have heard some people complain about them only in the winters but sadly for me, I have very dry lips and the problem of chapped lips persist all round the year.

I am sharing some quick tips to manage chapped lips. But, please remember they are not magic tips. These have to be incorporated in your daily regime to get the best results.

1. Drink Water



The most important tip is to drink loads of water during the day. This one is not just good for your lips and skin but is great for your overall health.



2. Exfoliate your lips well
 
There are a lot of lip scrubs available in the market which can give you easy results. You can also make one easily at home with natural ingredients with sugar and honey. mix them together and rub them on your lips for some time in circular motion. But remember not to be too rough on your lips as the skin is extremely delicate.



3. Moisturize your lips well



 Use natural oils like almond oil, olive oil or coconut oil to moisturize your lips well. Do this whenever you are indoors and do not intend to consume anything for a few hours.


4. Use Lip Balms



Use lip balms with SPF whenever you are stepping out. Tinted lip balms work wonders when you do not want to wear too much makeup and give your lips the much-needed protection.

Some of the best lip balms available in the market today are Himalaya Herbals Lip care Range, Maybelline Baby Lips Range / Candy Wow Range and  VLCC lip care range




5. Lip balms before applying lipsticks



Matte Lipsticks have a drying effect on your already dry lips and some lipsticks easily settles down in between the creases. Therefore, always use a lip balm before applying a matte lipstick.



6. Boroline at night

 I avoid using petroleum jelly on my lips as they have harmful effects. But the one thing that works the best is the good old Boroline. The new improved variety of the brand is non-sticky. I usually leave it overnight. In the morning, my lips feel soft and the dry skin is easy to exfoliate then. I use a soft toothbrush to remove all the dry flakes.

Keep the following things in mind:

1. Never lick your lips though you will be tempted to do so all the time. They provide temporary relief from dry lips but actually make the lips drier

2. Never pick your dry skin as this may be painful and lead to bleeding

Hope this article helps. In case you use some magical trick to get rid of dry lips, please share with the readers here. I will love to try them out myself.


Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Take care of your skin this Holi - Skin care tips from Dr.Blossom Kochhar

Guest post:

Pic courtesy: Popular photoblogger from Kolkata, Aikantik Bag of https://aikantikbag.wordpress.com

Holi is a festival of colours and happiness. It is one such festival that brings out the child in us. The vibrant colours and the festive mood is enough to light up the atmosphere and enable people to enjoy. However, it is essential that to ensure that we have a safe Holi.

During this festival we tend to use colours that have harsh chemicals, so first I would request you all to play Holi with Organic colours. The colours that are usually used during Holi can lead to skin allergies, rashes and damaged hair. According to me, the best way to play Holi is to play it with flowers. The aroma of different flowers makes a wonderful ambience and it is the safest way as well.


 I would recommend you to follow a pre-holi regime for skin and hair care as under:

Nails:
  • Paint your nails bright as this will help you keep your nails and the cuticles safe from the harsh colours and the chemicals.
  • Before going to play Holi, I would recommend you immerse your fingers in a mixture comprising of 1 tablespoon each of coconut oil and olive oil and 1 teaspoon of castor oil. This will help in keeping the colours from penetrating the cuticles of your fingers. This should be done for both fingers and toes.
Lips:
  • For protecting your lips while playing Holi, use a lipbalm or a lipstick so that it keeps the lips protected and moisturised at the same time.
Skin:
  • Make a mixture of 1 tablespoon each of coconut oil and olive oil and add to it a teaspoon of castor oil. Apply this mixture all over your skin before playing Holi. Make sure you apply it on the ears as well and the area behind the ears.
  • If you wish after moisturising your skin thoroughly with oil mixture, you can apply sunscreen on your face.
  • I would recommend you avoid putting any kind of makeup while playing Holi with colours.

Hair:
  •    Oil your hair from the scalp to tip of the hair the night before. Give your scalp a gentle massage before you sleep and repeat the process in the morning.
  • Do not leave your hair open. Tie it into a ponytail or a bun and cover your head with a scarf


Post Holi Skin Care:
·       Do not scrub the colour off with soap. Use a cream based cleanser or you can even use oil for removing the colours, and then go for a bath. Apply a lot of moisturising cream to keep the skin hydrated.
·       If the colours are still left on your skin you can follow any of the two recipes:

 a.)   Add 1 teaspoon of besan to 2 tablespoons of milk and make it into a paste. To it add a few drops of lavender essential oil. Apply this mixture on your skin. Then have a bath


b.)   Take 2 tablespoon of besan and sandalwood powder, to it add a tablespoon of orange peel and milk. Mix them together thoroughly and to this paste add 2 – 3 drops of sandalwood essential oil. Apply this mixture on your skin thoroughly and then have a bath

 Hair Care Tips:
Since your hair turns dry after the festival of colours is over, you need to put it through deep conditioning. I recommend the following recipe for post holi hair care.

  • Take 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and coconut oil, to it mix 1 teaspoon each of castor oil, glycerine, vinegar, conditioner and your shampoo respectively. Apply the mixture on your hair and the scalp and leave it on for an hour and then rinse it off


Disclaimer: This article is a guest post by Dr. Blossom Kochhar, the founder of popular skin care range Aroma Magic

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Go Nautical This Spring with MAX


 This Spring season set sail to remote islands and unknown destinations with 
Max Fashion’s Nautical Inspired collection. This season, Max encourages you to LIVE FOR TODAY and brings you an amazing range of looks so distinct yet fused to make a beautiful fashion story. 


A wide array of exciting ensembles ranging from classic nautical to boho-safari, right through to the seasonal pastel pops, giving options suitable for all moods and occasions. As 2016 will be the year of living languorously - The steady cultural shift towards casual comfort-wear—would gain momentum! (Well there can be nothing better on the fashion circuit - COMFORT IS KEY! )

Here is a look of the collection:



I am currently crushing on this lovely floral lace top and the super comfortable dungarees 


Disclaimer: Press release
Displaying Max_Mid-Blue Full Length Distressed Denim Dungree_Rs 1499.jpg
Displaying Max_Mid-Blue Full Length Distressed Denim Dungree_Rs 1499.jpg

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Zomato's First Masterclass in Kolkata at SpiceKraft

Zomato recently invited some of us ladies for its 1st masterclass in Kolkata - a mixology workshop at Spice Kraft on the occasion of International Women's Day.

After a hectic day at work and a little bit of pampering from the men in office, I was really looking forward to the evening as it was my first Zomato meet up experience. What's better was that I was invited to their first ever Zomato Masterclass in Kolkata :) A big thank you to the team for this. 


Though I came in late after work,I was greeted by an ever welcoming Zomato team and the hospitable staff of Spice Kraft. Chef Sambit Banick, Head chef of Spice Kraft was already at work by then. Chef,who holds an MBA degree from XLRI,had his table set up to show all the ladies in the house how to make the perfect coktails.


We were served the mulled wine, a warm spiced red wine which is a European favourite during the winters.Chef informed us that by simmering the wine on low heat with spices, citrus fruits and honey, the alcohol content of the wine decreases but is perfect for those chilly winter evenings.



Mulled wine


Next was the Classic Cosmopolitan, a ladies favourite which could not have been missed out in a room full of beautiful ladies ;) Chef showed us how to put together the perfect glass of cosmo with the help of a cocktail shaker, an absolute must when making cocktails.On the table next,was Utterly Butterly Jameson, a concoction of peanut butter, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Amul cream and Hershey's Chocolate Syrup. A cocktail with chocolate was new to me :)


The next cocktail used a handheld smoking gun. It was the Apple Wood Smoked Guava Mary which is a molecular gastronomy delight. 



Utterly Butterly Jameson


A big thank you to Devlina of http://blongshong.com/ for the picture

Along with these lovely cocktails were some extremely delicious appetizers. There was the Kele ke phool ke croque monsieur, Subj ki Galawat, Vietnamese  Khao Tay Potatoes, Lebanese Dajaj Chermoula, Beer Can Temoura Fish. 


My favourite was the Lebanese Dajaj Chermoula, a lovely chermoula spiced grilled chicken, which is also extremely healthy. You have to visit Spice Kraft to try this one out ! Amongst the drinks, mulled wine was the absolute winner :) 



Lebanese Dajaj Chermoula


Zomato Masterclass in Spice Kraft, Kolkata




Chef Sambit Banick of Spice Kraft





Zomato Mixology Masterclass at Spice Kraft

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

I want to take my blog to the next level

 " I was tagged by Garima (hyperlinked to 'https://garimawritesblog.wordpress.com ) to write this post.

You always want to move yourself to your next level. For my blog the time has come. Over the past one year, my blog has received a lot of warmth and love from all the people around me. A big thank you to all of you :) 

I promise to dedicate more time to my blog and strive to do better work so that all of you can enjoy the work. Need all your good wishes and continued support !

" I now tag Simardeep (hyperlinked to 'http://www.simardeep.com/ ) to write his take on the topic.


Monday, March 7, 2016

Kasams I would love my man to make this Women's Day :P

So the man interested in dating me/marrying me, please pay attention here. This is for YOU !!

This is like a ready reference of how you can win my heart ;) Women's Day, Valentines Day, Anniversaries, Birthdays or not, these rules will always apply. 

And before you get all fifty shades of apprehensive, let me tell you they are very very simple. The keyword here is effort and intent :P

So let's get started:

1. First things first, all of us are beautiful creations of God. So stop pointing out mistakes in us and appreciate us! Promise that you will respect me and my family just the way we are and stop pointing out shortcomings in me.

2.  We all are strong independent women, stop giving us advice about every little thing we discuss with you. If I am discussing an issue with you, I just want you to listen to me patiently. I just expect you to understand! Promise that you will listen to all the stupid banter patiently

3. When we dress up, it's not always for you. It is for us to feel nice and confident. But when the man compliments, it just adds to the feeling :) Promise to shower me with attention. That is actually the best trick to win any girl's heart. But remember, we can easily make out genuine compliments from the fake ones. Beware !

4.  Promise to text me and stay connected. Here, I do not mean endless phone calls or constant texts. We just want to know you are thinking about us during the day.

5. Promise to make me feel special. There is no feeling in the world than being felt special and cherished. And, little things can help you make me feel special, an occasional text on a busy day or a little bit of effort on making my birthday special

6. A guy who can make me laugh can definitely win my heart. So, promise to make me laugh all my life

7. My parents are an important part of my life.Promise to treat my parents as your own just like you expect a woman to do and win my respect!

Last but never the least, promise to treat me like a princess and bear all the nakhras :P :D




I’m blogging about the kasams I want from my man this Women’s Day with the #SadaSexy activity at BlogAdda

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Himalaya Herbal's new range of lip balms

Be it the summers or the winters...Lip balms are a must for me, all thanks to my dry lips which refuse to go away. Therefore, I am always on the lookout for good lip balms in the market.

Himalaya Herbals have introduced a new lip care range. The best part is they use natural ingredients. They have four new varieties this time - Peach, Litchi, Strawberry, Cocoa and Vanilla. The range is pretty affordable with a 4.5gm pack priced at Rs.125.






                             Himalaya Peach shine lip care | Helps make lips soft and supple

Himalaya’s peach shine lip care with key ingredient peach kernel oil nourishes your lips by protecting them from environmental damages. Castor oil, present in the lip care has soothing emollient properties that help make lips soft and supple.

             
Himalaya Litchi Shine lip care | Protect lips from environmental damages

Himalaya’s litchi shine lip care by Himalaya Herbals has antioxidants and natural actives that help your lips by protecting them from environmental damages.

Himalaya Strawberry Shine Lip care  | Free from preservatives

Shine with Himalaya’s Herbals Strawberry lip care is a moisture-retention formula with skin soothers that makes your lips naturally glossy. It’s free from preservatives, petroleum jelly, mineral oil and silicone.



Himalaya Cocoa Shine Lip care  | Softens and improves texture

The key ingredient in Himalaya’s lip care is Cocoa butter that intensely moisturizes, softens and improves skin texture along with sal butter that nourishes and provides long lasting moisturiser.


Himalaya Vanilla Shine Lip care  | Enriched with essence of Vanilla 

This lip balm has mild essence of vanilla and is enriched with 100% natural colour, Vitamin E and antioxidants.


What I feel about the products ?

1. These are good for everyday wear but I wish they had some light tint to them
2. They smell heavenly especially the litchi one is my favourite 
3. They are moisturizing and stay on for around 4-5 hours, after which reapplication is required
4. The texture is smooth and moisturizing
5. I wish the balms gave a glossy finish to the lips
3. They come in a simple, no-nonsense packaging which are easy to carry
4. The products are affordable

These are available at all popular retail outlets in your city and online at http://himalayawellness.com/