Friday, December 30, 2016

Easy-to-make Snacks For Your New Year Eve Party

As we say goodbye to 2016, all of us have plans to say "Hello" to 2017 in our own way. While some of us will be hitting the best of Pubs in town, some might plan to spend time with your near and dear ones at a house party ! I have always belonged to the "House Party Club". Never being a fan of crowded places, New Year eve parties are not something that appealed to me. House parties look like the best idea to me. Its all about indulging in food, friends, family and conversations as we brace the new year :)

Trust me, House parties are a lot of fun ! From cooking together to sharing stupid stories to not caring a bit whether or not you act crazy if drunk, it truly is the best way to herald the New Year. 


Why depend on only the store bought boring packets of chips, chanachur and bhujias when you can make something for your guests in no time! I have listed down some chakna options that are easy to make at home in no time. Whether or not your party involves booze, you can enjoy them nonetheless. 😊


1. Tandoori Chicken : One of my favorites. A little bit of planning in advance and they are easy to put together in no time. And to add to it, they are delicious and healthy ! This is the best thing to go with any of your cocktails or mocktails.



Image source: http://www.dawn.com/news/1200040


2. Boiled Chana Chaat: Super healthy and extremely easy to cook. In about 10mins time, you will have a whole lot of chana ready. Just remember to soak the chana overnight, boil them the next day and dry roast them with spices and chillies; Your Chakna is ready to be served.



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Photo Courtesy: Pinterest.com



3. Masala Papad : Don't we all love papad and for parties, it's an extremely affordable snack option. Top it with some salad as a dressing and your masala papad is done! This item will be a hit with your guests.



Picture Courtesy: http://www.tarladalal.com/


4. Fish Fry :  This is an instant favourite at all house parties. Get boneless fillets of fish or the whole fish, marinate them and simply fry them. I am not talking about the fancy fish fries that you get at restaurants, therefore no need to batter fry it, but you can also choose to go for that.



Picture Courtesy: http://www.plugdaily.com/


5. Corn Salad : We all have loved the sweet corn at malls and at movie theatres. Why not try for your NYE party. Boil the sweet corn, add some onions, tomatoes, cucumber, chaat masala and some lemon! Your healthy and tasty chakna is ready :)



Image result for corn salad
Picture Courtesy: http://www.foodnetwork.com/


Hope you all have a great New Year eve ! Enjoy yourselves, drink responsibly and stay safe. See you all in 2017. 🍻🍻🍻😍


Happy New Year From Love Health n Beauty ! 💖



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Sunday, December 25, 2016

Christmas and New Year Treats for you in Kolkata

A Merry Christmas to all of you :)

When it's Christmas, you can't really rule out good food, drinks and quality time with your family. So, here I have listed below few outlets in the city which guarantee all of this and much more ! Have a Great Christmas weekend. 

Bodega Cantina Y Bar Christmas buffet will be on till New Year. From Bacon Wrapped Prawns to Pan speared Duck Break, you will be in for a treat this week at Bodega. Vegetarians need not be disappointed as there are ample options for you as well.  Its quirky interiors, well-curated menu is sure to win your heart. Pocket pinch -  INR 1,599/- without alcohol and INR 1,899/-with alcohol.

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Edesia's festive menu has limited options for you but you will get the traditional Christmas dishes on offer. Pre order your turkey and enjoy a hearty meal till the 1st of Jan. Prices are pretty reasonable as well. Pocket Pinch - Rs. 1200 approx for two

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Yauatcha Kolkata is celebrating Christmas and New Year with signature dishes and drinks, accompanied with music.
The celebrations begin with a specially curated menu including soup, salad, dim sum, wok dishes and desserts alongside the a la carte menu. The drinks menu includes a wide range of spirits, wine, signature cocktails and non-alcoholic cocktails.

The special menu is available for Rs 1800* per person and the drinks menu is available separately for Rs 1800* per person.

Afraa Deli has a special Christmas Buffer on offer which will have a variety of continental dishes on offer and a variety of cakes and goodies. Pocket Pinch - Rs. 999+ taxes per person


Mrs Magpie's Salt Lake outlet is doing a Christmas special meal this year till 1st of January 2017.The menu includes French Onion Soup, Curries Sweet Potato, Tangarine Roast Turkey with Vegatable Glace, Christmas Veg Pie. For desserts, you have traditional Christmas cake slice with brandy cream, Cointreau Chocolate Mincemeat cake slice to name a few. Pocket Pinch - Rs.1000 for vegetarian; Rs. 1250 for non vegetarian(all inclusive of taxes)



SpiceKraft Kolkata has a contemporary Anglo Indian Menu on offer till the 3rd of January to satiate your taste buds.They have on offer suckling pig confit, Poached betki cardinale, classic Christmas pudding to name a few. Prices are pretty reasonable as well . Pocket Pinch - Rs. 1200 approx for two

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Sunday, December 18, 2016

The Yays and the Nays of Winters !

Sunday is one such day of the week which has been special ever since childhood. It meant dance classes, silly games we played with friends in the afternoons, good food and quality family time. It was one such day when dad was home and we enjoyed a lazy meal. Yes, the afternoon siesta was bliss !

Thankfully, I can say nothing much has changed over the years. Though Dance classes and silly games have been replaced with the adda over the morning tea, the laundries, the cleaning up and the cooking; yet it remains special. 

Winters add a special touch to the lazy Sundays. The love affair with your blanket seems endless with no alarm clock playing a spoilsport. The morning cup of tea looks more inviting as you can spend as much time with it. Morning breakfasts are all about comfort food and nothing beats a steaming bowl of Maggi with loads of onions and chillis :) Not to forget the Sunday Lunches.

Along with all the pros, there comes a list of thumbs down as well. I have always disliked winters for the havoc it created with my skin and hair. My already dry skin decides to not listen to me at all. My chapped lips never seem to heal for all these months and my hair looks so very dry and damaged :(
Though I am extremely lazy when it comes to skincare, I have to take out some time for my skin in the winters especially on Sundays.

A few days ago, I received a hamper from Himalaya Herbals to meet all my winter needs. It came with body lotions, nourishing creams and lip balms. Everything that is sure to find space in your winter care regime.


Winter Hamper from Himalaya Herbals

I especially adore their cocoa butter body lotion and have been using it for quite some time. Since I have extremely dry skin, I have to reapply the lotion after 6-7 hours in the winters. The white complexion day cream is also a very good product from the family and works well for my skin. 

Lip balms are something I constantly keep applying and reapplying, not just in the winters but all round the year. The situation just worsens in the winters. I don't remember a single day in the winters when I had smooth lips. They are forever chapped and flaky :( Himalaya's Lip balms come in a variety of flavours and give my lips a good coverage and the necessary nourishment. No lip balm stays on my lips for a long time but in terms of moisture it provides, Himalaya Lip balms are good.




For my hair, I rely on my almond oil and Loreal hair mask to satisfy the cravings of my smoothened hair. Hair serums are something that becomes my solution in the winters.

Cracked heels are something which I have not faced as of now, Touchwood ! But I know a lot of women for whom this is a nuisance and for most of the season, their feet are covered by a pair of socks to save them the embarrassment. Then, comes the nuisance of smelly feet, thanks to the necessity of wearing socks all day long !

Be it winters or summers, smelling good is a must for me. I ensure that all the products I use give me a fresh feeling. 

I have always liked products from the Himalaya stable and trust them with my skin and hair. They have hardly disappointed and provide a good value for money. 

I will be happy to hear about your winter skin woes. Share the same in the comment box below or connect with me on social media.

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