Day: September 14, 2014

MACARONI MEMORIES
My love for Macaroni is nothing short of profound .This one simple dish ,loaded with a sinful amount of cheese has so many memories and moments prepped upon it like tiny flowers in a garden . Savoury and erotic in true foodie terminology, it never ceases to amaze me .How can something so simple and uncomplicated give rise to the most mouth-watering and tempting of all sensations? As a child, whenever my mother prepared this dish, the aroma of melted cheese and seasoning would fill the air .Hungry to the extent of being absolutely famished, I finally decided to give this epic and evergreen dish a try .Apprehensive in the beginning, about whether I would or would not be able to conjure up the magic of macaroni in white sauce ,I followed these simple steps – and the magic unfolded on its own, as I happily plated my share.

After making it through a rather horrid day, my roommates and I longed for a delicious dinner. Tired of our usual dinnertime menu, we skimmed through all possible pamphlets and menus of eateries that deliver in our area .Futile attempts of tossing coins followed so as to decide which dish is to be ordered from where. After many such failed attempts to zero down on one particular dish, Macaroni seemed the only practical option available in such an eleventh hour situation .With a packet of MTR macaroni ,cheese cubes ,pasta and pizza sauce ,flour ,butter and milk ,we hoped we could prepare an edible version of Macaroni in white sauce . With zero experience it is but natural to be apprehensive regarding your cooking skills .So here are a few easy steps for first timers, who are ready to try a hand at making this evergreen dish.

INGREDIENTS:
1. Macaroni (obviously! though you can opt for any type of pasta instead)
2. Broccoli(not mandatory)
3. Capsicum(not mandatory)
4. Cheese
5. Regular flour
6. Milk
7. Butter
8. Oregano(not mandatory)
9. Pasta pizza sauce(not mandatory)
10. Pepper.
Before starting off to prepare the white sauce, boil the macaroni in water with a pinch full of salt in it and drain .Add normal water to it and drain again.

For the White Sauce:

INGREDIENTS:
1. Regular flour ( 1 cup) .
2. Milk (1 ^½cup)
3. Butter.
METHOD:
1. Heat pan for about a minute or so and add about 1/4^th of the butter slab to it.
2. Add flour to it, while stirring it continuously to avoid lump.
3. Add milk to the above mix and stir for at least five minutes or more. Make sure that lumps are not formed, else the consistency will be absolutely ruined.
4. Once the above mix begins thicken add milk and some water to keep it slightly flowy.
5. For a minute or so, let the white sauce simmer on a low flame.
Now for the most important part
1. Add the macaroni and white sauce and gently mix .If need be use some water (about 2-3 spoon -fulls) to avoid the macaroni from gluing itself on the stirrer.
2. As the macaroni and white sauce simmer on a low flame, add to it graded cheese, some oregano, salt and pepper.
3. For making it a tad bit healthier and crunchy, you can add to it chopped capsicum and broccoli. (p. s do not add too much of broccoli and capsicum ,about half of each of them should suffice.)
4. You can also add pasta pizza sauce to it, just in case the white sauce is too bland for you. Though I would suggest that you put not more than three spoons of it so as to maintain the rich taste of the white sauce.

5.Let it simmer for a while with occasional stirring and add more graded cheese to it.

6. Once done, you can sprinkle some pepper, oregano and coriander leaves to garnish.

Now your macaroni is ready to be served and savoured!!

Undoubtedly, there was yet another memory chalked on the slates of our life .Yet another day to look back to .Macaroni had yet again given rise to a moment worth being nostalgic for .Random things like this truly makes one’s student life worthy of fond descriptions and untiring ,undying attachments. I can hence state so, without error, that we not only cooked amazing macaroni, but also that we created a memorable time. Served alongside the macaroni, we savoured both those moments and the macaroni. BON APPETITE!
September 14, 2014
Maggi… the most Loved !

Meri maggi… Are you also among the ones to munch on maggi whenever you feel hungry and is it the most lovable snack of yours and yes the instant one? Well, I know Maggi is something, actually popular throughout the world to have for at anytime of day and can be made in versatile ways. Let’s know some facts about maggi apart from its taste and the two-minute mechanism. Maggi is an international brand owned by Nestle since 1947, of instant soups, ketchups, sauces, seasonings and instant noodles. Advertised as 2 minute noodles since 1982, maggi instant noodles are very popular in India and Malaysia having 39% market in Malaysia and 60% in India. Initially, maggi was developed only keeping kids and children in mind, but gradually it took a remarkable place in lives of almost all age groups. Nestle has never thought that their product’s popularity will go viral in this way and their breakfast product will be so acceptable. Though it was launched long time back, people in research and development has never slowed down and they still try hard to make maggi tastier and more flavourful and have other variants of maggi also, while also enhancing the health benefits of products. Now, you have got so many options of maggi ranging from cuppa mania, atta noodles, vegetable maggi and many more.

In this era, almost every child has their own version of “Maggi Memories”, that you had maggi at this place, while cycling trip or in your hostel at midnight or some road trip or maggi being a savior. It has been a true childhood buddy, something that mom lets us eat in place of something that we ought to eat from outside otherwise. Even small kids can make it alone. What maggi endorses that it has calcium, protein “Taste Bhi, Health Bhi” makes it all the more attractive.

But there may arise a question, if maggi is really this healthy, Afterall the main ingredient being refined flour (maida). Maggi is easily approachable and convenient and tastier, but nutrition is completely different thing which maggi doesn’t seem to deliever much. The nutritionist Mrs. Shweta Iyenger says,” Children are addicted to maggi due to high salt content in the tastemaker. Excessive salt intake can lead to the water retention in the body.” The other problem with it is obviously; maida. Eating it on daily basis can be a great disadvantage for you and your health in such ways;

It is a Junk food: The name says it all, it’s a junk food so obviously can do no good to health. Many people are prone to it because of their busy lives. This fast and quick maggi noodles have been marked as junk food by health experts. It contains maida, which is a combination of fat, carbohydrate and sugar and is made from left over husk of wheat. The noodles being difficult to digest poses many problems to body and is thus reckoned as junk food.

Negligible nutritional value: Though, the maggi wrapper says ‘Taste bhi, Health bhi’ but trust me, if we take the findings seriously, there is no nutritional value in it because the main ingredient being refined flour. They don’t contain and vitamins and minerals and there claim of noodles being rich in calcium or any other minerals. Also, it contains high amount of sodium which is really for people suffering from high blood pressure conditions and can also cause hyper tension and heart problems. All this is not at all good for school going children. So, all this proves maggi to be just food for leisure, to be consumed few times in a week and must be avoided the frequent intakes by everyone as it can serve no good.

High calories: The maggi noodles have high calorie content and thus can lead to obesity. One regular packet of maggi contains 400 calories. Such a high volume of calories is a worrisome issue and is not good for heart patients and even increase cholesterol and even the children who consume it daily just as a snack in their evenings and mornings are at a risk of getting obesity.

Problem of Dehydration: people who have regular intake of maggi has reported problems of dehydration. As these are highly sticky noodles can stick within your organs and cause serious problems like loose motions and loss of excessive water from your body. All this is really scary and just demands to call off maggi for some time from your life if you consume it in excessive manner.

Maggi, the all time favorite food, though it is not recommended to completely abandon it but limit must be maintained in its intake. It should not be consumed daily because the nutrition, a proper food can provide is irreplaceable. There should be mindful eating in case of maggi. Just hav it as a snack and not a food item and it has no food value. As you don’t have French fries due to the fear of getting obese because of that potato thing, try to stay far from maggi due to maida thing. It will be good for you only in the long run.

Healthy Eating. Happy life.

September 14, 2014
CHIA SEEDS. Have you tried it?

I know you have heard of it. Now, it has become very popular because of its super awesome health benefits. Yes, I’m talking about- The Chia Seeds. They have being regarded as the healthiest food on planet, loaded with all the essential nutrients. The fuzzy green novelty item, very tiny items are what chia seeds are. Nowadays, they have become all the more famous and is becoming better known because they are a great source of healthy omega-3 fats and fibre and they are quite an easy food to include in your daily diet. Salvia Hispanica, being scientific name and called as chia, commonly, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family and are native to central and Southern Mexico and Guatemala. History suggests that in 16^th century, it was very important food for Aztecs. Now, chia is grown commercially and are typically small, oval, tiny seeds. According to USDA, a 1 ounce, i.e. 28 grams serving of chia contains, 9 grams of fat, 4 grams of protein, 5 miligrams of sodium, 11 grams of dietary fiber, 27% phosphorus, 30% manganese. The nutrient values in Chia, as mentioned are similar to other edible seeds, as flax or sesame. Chia seeds are recommended to be added in your diet and these can be added to other foods as a topping in your breakfast cereal, smoothie, energy bars, yoghurt, sprinkled whole on top of salads or can be added on icecream or just consume it raw. As these seeds are tasteless, they hardly affect the flavor of your food, when added. Just have some and get ultimate benefits.

Read on and you will know how chia seeds have become elixir for life and give so many benefits to your body and maintains your health. I can bet, you will be amazed.

Low in Calories: Chia seeds, being full of nutrition, has very low calorie content. This is such an added bonus which helps in decreasing belly fat. So, if youe exercise daily and are eating chia also, alongwith, this can prove excellent in getting a perfect shape of body. Chia’s stabilizing effect on blood sugar also fights the insulin resistance which is responsible for belly fat and this type of resistance is harmful for your health. So, if you are concerned abput your belly fat, go start consuming chia seeds.

High in Antioxidants: Chia seeds also shine in the area of Antioxidants and this is well known that consuming antioxidant rich food can have ultimate positive effects on health. Chia seeds, being high in antioxidants help to protect delicate fats in the seeds. Most importantly, antioxidants fight in the production of free radicals, which contribute in aging and diseases like cancer. This is remarkable as chia seeds have an ability to fight such deadly diseases.

More Fiber: They have loads of fiber. This is clear from the nutritional information above, that just one ounce contains 11 grams of fiber, which is about a third of the recommended daily intake of adults. Moreover, almost all the carbohydrates in the chia are fiber. Because of this fiber, it gives them ability to absorb 10-12 times their weight in water, Chia are low carb- friendly food, and are 40% fiber, by weight, which makes them best sources of fiber in the world. This great content of fiber in chia seeds have excellent beneficial effects on health.

Stock of Omega-3: Chia seeds are fully packed with Omega-3 fatty acids, like flax, which is nearly 5 grams in one ounce of serving. Isn’t that a good stock in such tiny items. The Omega-3 fatty acids are very important for brain health. However, humans are not good in converting this into DHA, and there’s better conversion of omega 3s into plasmas than with flax.

Improves Heart Health: Chia seeds have been shown to increase Healthy cholesterol, thereby balancing blood pressure and lowering LDL and triglyceride cholesterol and reduce inflammation. Also, as they are high in fiber, protein, omega 3s and antioxidants, they are very well source of heart healthy nutrients thus maintain overall heart health.

Combats Diabetes: For diabetic patients, it’s a good news that chia seeds can improve blood sugar levels and combats diabetes. The study shows that in type 2 diabetic patients, chia seeds can significantly lower blood pressure and diabetes.

Strong Teeth and bones: Chia seeds have many nutrients which are important for bone health. As one ounce serving of chia contains 18% of the daily recommended intake of calcium and has phosphorus, manganese also in good amounts. All of these are really essential for bone health and strong teeth and are an excellent source of calcium for those who don’t eat diary products.

Makes you feel Full. Faster: Chia seeds are incredibly easy to incorporate it in your diet and adding chia seeds in your daily recipes will dramatically improve the nutritional value. Also, tryptophane, an amino acid, found in chai seeds help regulate appetite, sleep and improves mood. So, eating it with your regular foods incur you so many benefits.

So, as now, you know so much about chia, go get some from your grocery store and continue reading and eating them. Don’t be fooled by their size, these tiny items are a powerful nutrition punch. Chia seeds are one of those you shouldn’t to miss to have.

Healthy Eating. Happy Life.

September 14, 2014
To Eat or Not To Eat

“TO BE, OR NOT TO BE? THAT IS THE QUESTION- ”

– William Shakespeare, Hamlet ( Act 3 scene i)

Tweaking the above mentioned famous quote, in reference to our food fetishes, – ‘to eat, or not to eat? That is the question-’.

A friend of mine recently lost 16 kilos (yes, you read that right) in about 3 and a half months. No fitness centre. No gym. She followed a diet -the G.M.’s diet which is readily available on the net (go on GOOGLE it) and a daily jogging regime. I remember her saying that the amount of pep talk she had to give herself in order to follow through and not eat the junk food that she had been gorging on all these years was tough but doable. At the end of the day, you have to make a decision – to eat or not to eat (the junk). You either live to eat or eat to live. For most of us, it is the latter but a fair half would raise their hand to the former belly-rubbing with a wide innocent grin. Well, it happens. Food does get the better of us.

I know that because I have been on and off diets since… since… I really don’t remember when but it was a long long time ago. It is difficult to stick to your goal. But excuses apart, it is very doable to take baby steps or baby baby steps and choosing a healthier way of living, eating and rocking the world.

For example, why not order a filling salad when you snack out instead of loading your plate with high-calorie high-in-fat food? That would be a baby baby step.

Sesame Chicken Breast Salad

Time: 15 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients: 2 skinless chicken breasts, 85g of frozen soya beans, a small handful Thai or ordinary basil leaves (should be chopped if large), 85g herb or baby salad leaves, 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds, 1 large carrot (finely cut into very thin matchsticks), 4 spring onions (finely sliced), 140g cherry tomatoes (halved), small bunch coriander (chopped)

Dressing ingredients:grated zest and juice 1 small lime, 1 tsp fish sauce, 2 tsp sweet chilli sauce, 1 tsp sesame oil

Directions: Firstly, put the chicken breasts in a pan and pour cold water over it to cover. Secondly, tip the soya beans into a steamer. Bring the pan to a gentle simmer, and then cook the chicken breasts for 8 minutes with the beans above.Meanwhile, your third step should be to mix the dressing ingredients in a large bowl. Fourthly, when the chicken is cooked, slice and toss in the dressing along with the beans, carrot, onions, tomatoes, coriander and basil. Mix really well, pile onto the salad leaves and sprinkle with the sesame seeds.

Tuna Bean and Fennel Salad

Time: 10 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients:zest ½ lemon and 1 tbsp juice, 1 tsp wholegrain mustard, 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, a 400g can of cannellini beans (should be drained and rinsed), ½ small fennel bulb (should be thinly shaved), ½ cucumber (should be peeled into ribbons), a 160g can of good-quality tuna in spring water (drained), 1 heaped tbsp pumpkin seeds, small bunch dill (should be roughly chopped), small bunch parsley (leaves should be roughly chopped)

Directions: Firstly, to make a dressing, put the lemon zest and juice, mustard, olive oil and some seasoning in a jam or jelly jar and shake well. Secondly, tip the beans into a bowl, pour over the dressing and stir. Thirdly, add the dill and parsley leaves, fennel and cucumber, then flake the tuna into large pieces and fold through. Spoon the salad onto small plates. Sprinkle with pumpkin seeds on the top. It is ready to serve.

Whenever I go to the British Council Library, I usually stack up that week’s load of food magazines. Going through the GoodFood magazines helped me to simplify my cooking process in immeasurable ways. It categorizes recipes into low-fat, low-calorie, easy to cook, vegetarian, moderately hard to cook, gluten free, etc. For a foodaholic like me, it makes 50% of my work easier as I merely give a quick glance and select the healthier options. And in a few minutes or so, my alternative healthy snack is ready. This is where the baby step comes in.

On days when you call it a day in, instead of ordering a home delivered pizza why not treat yourself and cook up a nutritious meal with the minimum ingredients in your refrigerator?

Chicken and Okra

Time: 30 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil, 500g skinless and boneless chicken thighs (cut into chunks), 100g okra (should be cut into 2cm rounds), 1 onion (should be chopped), 1 green pepper (should be deseeded and chopped), 3 celery sticks (should be finely chopped), 1 garlic clove (should be finely chopped), ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 heaped tbsp plain flour, a 400g can of chopped tomatoes, 400ml chicken stock, small handful sage (leaves should be chopped) 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 bay leaf

Directions: Firstly, heat the oil in a large pan over a medium high heat. Secondly, add the chicken and cook in batches for about 5 minutes to brown all over. Remove the chicken and set aside.Thirdly,add the onion, green pepper and celery to the pan, put on the lid and cook for 5 minutes. Stir occasionally until softened a little. Fourthly, stir in the garlic, spices, thyme and bay leaf and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Return the chicken and any juices to the pan with the flour. Stir. Fifthly, pour in the tomatoes and stock, and bring to the boil, cook for 5 minutes, then add the okra and half the sage. Turn down to a simmer, put on the lid and cook for 10 minutes. Season well. Serve.

It really is up to you. You can either satisfy your fast food urges or go for the healthier alternatives. To eat, or not to eat? That is the question.

September 14, 2014
Chutneys are Yummy! Part 2
Chutney (also translated as Chatney or Chatni) is a family of condiments mainly associated with South Asian cuisine that usually contain some mixture of spice(s), vegetable(s), and/or fruit(s). Chutneys may be either wet or dry, and can have a coarse or fine texture. There are various types of chutneys.

Traditionally, chutneys are ground with a mortar and pestle made of stone or an ammikkal . Spices are added and ground, usually in a particular order; the wet paste thus made is sauteed in vegetable oil, usually gingelly (sesame) or groundnut (peanut) oil. Electric blenders or food processors can be used as labor-saving alternatives to stone grinding.

Let’s explore two new mouth-watering recipes of Chutneys which one can make easily at home!
- Garlic Chutney:
This is a fiery-spicy chutney made from garlic cloves and red chilies. It is a taste-enhancing must-have accompaniment for South Indian dishes like Dosa, Idli, etc. In this customized Indian Garlic Chutney recipe, garlic, soaked red chillies and coconut are first sautéed in oil, and then crushed with tamarind pulp to make delicious Chutney having a complex hot, sour and spicy taste altogether.
- Ingredients:
1) 8 chopped garlic cloves (skin removed).
2) 2 whole dry red chillies, seeded and broken into pieces.
3) ½ cup grated fresh coconut.
4) 1 teaspoon tamarind pulp.
5) ¼ cup water.
6) 2 teaspoons oil.
7) Salt according to taste.
- Directions:
1) Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a pan. When the oil is hot enough, sauté the chopped garlic over a low flame for a minute and then transfer to a plate.
2) Heat the remaining 1 teaspoon oil in the same pan and sauté the dry red chillies over a low flame for 20-30 seconds. Again, transfer them to the same plate.
3) Let the sautéed garlic and dry red chillies cool for about 3-4 minutes. Transfer the garlic and the dry red chillies to the chutney jar of a grinder or food processor. Grind them until a medium coarse paste is formed.
4) Add the grated coconut, the tamarind pulp, ¼ cup water and salt (according to taste) to the jar.
5) Grind them till a medium coarse paste is formed. Tasty South Indian Garlic Chutney to be enjoyed along with Dosa and Idli is ready to be served!
- Tips:
1) You can also use 2 teaspoons of the red chilli powder in place of the usual dried red chillies.
2) Dry Kashmiri red chillies are specially added to get that nice red color and also to make a less spicy Chutney when compared to other varieties of chillies as such.
3) Replace the tamarind pulp with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice for a slight variation in the overall taste of the Garlic Chutney.
- Preparation Time: 5 minutes.
- Cooking Time: 5 minutes.
- Servings: 6 (½ cup).
- Pudina Chutney:
Pudina (Mint) is an herb known for its medicinal benefits for indigestion, acidity, headache, dental and skin diseases. It is an integral part of Indian cuisine as well. This Pudina Chutney recipe makes for an extremely flavorsome and tempting Chutney prepared right from fresh mint and coriander leaves. However, its main taste comes from the tamarind paste which is added to give a nice tang to its spiciness. The whole texture of the Chutney is derived from the fresh coconut.
- Ingredients:
1) ¼ cup fresh Pudina (mint) leaves.
2) 1 cup chopped coriander leaves.
3) ½ cup grated fresh coconut.
4) 2 chopped green chillies.
5) ½ inch piece ginger, chopped.
6) 2 teaspoons tamarind pulp or lemon juice.
7) 1 teaspoon sugar (optional).
8) Salt according to taste.
9) ½ cup water.
- Note:
This recipe requires tamarind pulp as an ingredient. You can easily find ready-made tamarind pulp to be bought in the market. If the tamarind pulp is not available, then you can also prepare it at home by simply following the directions which are given below-

1) Soak the tamarind in hot water for roughly 1 hour.
2) Remove the seeds of the tamarind.
3) Strain the whole mixture to prepare fresh and homemade tamarind pulp.
- Directions:
1) Clean the mint leaves and the coriander leaves well by running them under fresh tap water.
2) Grind the fresh coconut, green chillies, ginger, sugar and salt together in the chutney jar of a mixer or a food processor until a very smooth paste is formed.
3) Add the mint leaves, the coriander leaves, the tamarind pulp (or the lemon juice) and ½ cup water. Grind again until a very smooth consistency of chutney is arrived at.
4) Fresh Pudina Chutney is ready to be served along with your favorite condiments!
- Tips:
1) Replace the tamarind pulp with an alternative of lime juice for an even more delicious tang of the Pudina Chutney.
2) Store it in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can then use as and when it is required.
3) You can always add more water and adjust the spices according to your own tastes so as to make the Pudina Chutney more diluted and thin, or of a concentrated and strong flavor.
- Preparation Time: 10 minutes.
- Servings: 8 (1 cup chutney).
So there you are – two delicious Chutneys which you can easily make at home by following some simple instructions. These are very good from the health point of view. They also acts as excellent taste enhancers.

Keep watching this space for more delicious recipes!
September 14, 2014
Karma – A Buddhist

Gautam Buddha was born in a the royal family of Lumbini. Lumbini is now situated in Nepal. In the year 563 BC, Buddha decided to renounce all kinds of worldly pleasures for he believed that real happiness lay somewhere else. So he read the teachings and books from religions to find the true meaning of life.

300 million people across the world are followers of Buddhism. The word Buddhism comes from ‘buddhi’ which literally means ‘to awaken’. To many, Buddhism goes beyond religion and more than a religion it is a way of life. Buddhism was founded by Buddha Shakyamuni. He taught and lived in India around two thousand years ago. Since then, many people around the globe have followed the spiritual path Shakyamuni had shown. Even today, the Buddhist beliefs of living in peace, loving, kindness, wisdom are just as relevant as they were in those ancient times. Buddha had said that confused and disturbed states of mind were the sole reason behind all of our problems and all the happiness that arises from a positive and peaceful state of mind. Buddhism tells of methods for gradually overcoming anger, ignorance, jealousy and develop love, compassion and wisdom within us. The last peace that each one of us seeks, that absolute happiness can be experienced on this path. The best thing is about Buddhist beliefs are that they work for everyone.

Karma is a bitch. They all say that. We often hear clichéd lines about Karma. Buddhism believes in Karma too. How real is the entire concept? How does Buddhism perceive Karma is something really interesting to know about?

‘There was guy named Michael Mastromarino. Who became a multi-millionaire by stealing organ tissues, bones, and other body parts from more than 1200 corpses. About 10,000 people received transplants from corpses, some of which were diseased with AIDS and Cancer.

Eventually, Michael died of Liver cancer that spread to his bones.’

Buddhism also talks about the mind being a totally unique and separate entity from other parts of the body. It is neither physical nor a by-product of physical processes. When a body dies and disintegrates, the mind does not cease to be. The mind that dissolves at death is a superficial mind but it disintegrates into another level of consciousness which the subtle mind and this mind has neither a beginning nor an end. This mind completely transforms into the pure mind of Buddha.

Now how is Karma related to our mind? Karma is every action that we perform or everything that we do. In fact, every karma has a potential to give rise to its own repercussions. Imagine your mind to be a field and your actions are the seeds that you sow in that field. Maybe this is where the famous saying ‘You reap what you sow’ comes from. You sow positive seeds and the fruits would be positive and you sow negative seeds, the future would be filled with suffering. Every action that is performed by us leaves an imprint and that action eventually leads to its own effect. The ‘law of karma’ as people call it, is simple. You will be happy if you are virtuous. You will suffer if you are not. Buddhist morality is totally based on this law.

‘Bardo’ is that intermediate stage that your mind enters the moment you die. This is a dream like phase. And in this phase, one experiences various visions that the subtle mind activates during the time of death. These visions could be beautiful or they could be terrifying; it all depends on the seeds you had sown. When these seeds ripen completely, we are given the choice of rebirth. But here is something really interesting to know- as samsaric beings, we cannot choose our rebirth and its totally depends on our karma. If good karma ripens, you will be born as a human or a god, but if bad karma does, you might be born in the lower states of lives such as animals and birds. Basically, the winds of karma blow us into our next life and we land up being reborn in the higher or the lower states of life.

‘Samsara’ is a Sanskrit word which means the cyclic existence is the uninterrupted cycle of death and rebirth. It’s more like a Ferris wheel at the fair. It goes up to the upper 3 realms and then down to the lower 3 realms. Or it could be compared to a pendulum, which goes to and fro, never stopping at one place for more than a few seconds. As long as you sit on this Ferris wheel, you shall experience a cycle of dissatisfaction and suffering, and the Ferris wheel doesn’t even stop when you die. Lasting happiness can only be experienced when you let go of this Ferris wheel and let your subtle mind pass into that “enlightened nothingness”.

September 14, 2014
Dances of Rajasthan!

They invite you; engage you and you are bound to be induced by them as you tap your foot along with the Rajasthani dancers. They are folk dances and their history can be traced back to the traditional customs and heritage of the state of Rajasthan. And something that really surprises me is that these traditions are kept alive by the common people rather than professional dancers. The beauty of these traditional dances lie in the fact that the rural people still continue to draw inspiration from their age old traditions. Their costumes are extremely colourful and vibrant and the daring moves that the dancers perform, will surely give you goose bumps. The setting sun becomes the backdrop and the dancers take centre stage in the Thar Desert where you see them sway to the rhythm of Rajasthani folk music that steals your heart away.

Some of the really popular folk dance forms from Rajasthan are:

Kalbelia

As the name suggests, this form of dance is performed by the ladies of a community known as the ‘Kalbelia’ tribe. An intriguing thing about them is that they are basically snake charmers. And this is where ‘Kalbelia’ dance draws its inspiration from. The moves of the dance are similar to the way a serpent moves and even the costumes are black in colour. ‘Been’ is an instrument used to charm snakes. This dance form will totally enthral you with its sensuality and uniqueness.

Ghoomar

This dance form is performed by traditional Rajput women on festivals and other such occasions. The faces of the women are covered with veil and they sing traditional songs and charm the onlookers with their graceful movements.

Chari

It’s a dance that requires a lot of skill and poise. Tourists who witness this dance form being performed feel goose bumps by the time the performance is over. And why does this happen? Because the dancers perform this dance with pots kept on their heads and lamps in their hands. The movements are very flexible and graceful and this kind of dance is performed on an occasion like a marriage or when a child is born.

Kacchi-Ghodi

‘Kacchi-Ghodi’ means a dummy horse. This dance form originated in the Shekhawati Regions of the state. All the dancers wear elaborate costumes and the dummy horses perform fighting sequences with a lot of vigour. As Rajasthan is known for its brave and chivalrous rulers, a ballad sings their tales and the dancers perform on the tunes of the ballad’s song.

Fire Dance

Sounds extremely dangerous, isn’t it? It is indeed one of the most dangerous forms of dance in the world. This is a dance performed by the Banjara community of Rajasthan. The dancers perform fire stunts that will take your breath away. With rods in their hands and mouth full of kerosene, they blow the rod and dance along.

Terah Taal Dance

Terah in Hindi mean the number thirteen. Taal is the Hindi word for beat. So Terah Taal translates to the ‘Thirteen Beat’ dance. Manjeera are small brass discs that the dancers tie on their wastes, hands and legs (basically at thirteen places) on their body. This a dance performed to please and impress a local deity of the state of Rajasthan.
Other folk dances that are performed in Rajasthan are Jhoria, Kathputli dance, Raika, Matka-bhawai etc. and these are performed on different occasions in various tribes.
All these forms of dance that are mentioned are a very integral part of the Rajasthani culture and they help in showcasing the extravagant and grand culture that the desert state possesses. The amount of hard work and dedication that these dancers put in is just commendable. They treat their dance as their religion and dedicate their entire lives mastering their form of dance. They have learnt a lot from their ancestors and they follow all that they have learnt with a huge amount of dedication and courage. A Rajasthani dancer is truly attached to the culture and rituals of the state and pours his heart out while performing the folk dances. The dances are very colourful and extremely lively. Whenever a celebration happens in Rajasthan, it is these dances that add festivity and life to the occasion. The dances are simple but very expressive and everyone who watches them being performed, enjoys a lot. A very close attention is paid to small details including the costumes and the make-up. Each and every dancer is very skilled and trained in his/her form and this is one of those many reasons why these dancers are invited to foreign countries and make grand performances.

Rajasthan is a state known for its rich culture and heritage. People from all around the globe visit the state to experience its great culture. A culture that has been highly cultivated, a culture the world is enthralled by, a culture that is amazingly is beautiful.

September 14, 2014
Candy bars: Part 1

“There’s nothing as cozy as a piece of candy and a book.”

― Betty MacDonald.

So they say that! I believe candy bars are not just a treat for the kids. I, at twenty-two can jump with glittering eyes and a wide smile if you offer me a bar of Bounty! Chocolates are not just a delicious snack but also a great source of instant energy. While travelling, just before exams or something important, good rains, after a good workout, or just while watching your favorite movie, every time is the right time to grab a candy bar!

Some chocolates I grew up with and bring back a jet of nostalgia with every bite are mentioned below. I just think it is a great idea to know a little more about them. My article on Candy Bars has been split up into two parts, this being the first one. For more on these delicious treats, look out for the second part too.

Cadbury Flake

Flake is a chocolate bar brand which is currently manufactured by Cadbury Ireland. It has an interesting flaky texture and consists of thinly folded Dairy Milk milk chocolate. Founded by an employee at Cadbury in 1920, it was developed when the excess from the moulds was drained off and fell off in a stream. This created folded chocolate with flaking properties on hardening. As it has a flaky texture, it is a little difficult to eat it without dropping any as it tends to crumble apart.

Many other variations have also been developed though the original flake was a constant hit amongst its fans. Flake Dipped, also known as Flake Luxury is the original milk chocolate Flake dipped in milk chocolate. It was launched in 2003. Flake Noir is a dark chocolate Flake bar while Flake Dark that was launched in 2006, is a dark chocolate Flake bar covered in dark chocolate. Flake Snow, the white chocolate variant of Flake Dipped was known as Snowflake until 2003 and was then discontinued in 2008. Many other flavors and variants of Flake have been introduced and launched in different parts of the world. Some of them are Flake Praline, Flake Allure, Orange Flake and Flake Mint.

Hershey’s Kisses

A famous brand of chocolate manufactured by The Hershey Company came up with these bite-sized pieces of chocolate having a distinct shape resembling that of flat bottomed tear drops. Hershey’s Kisses are packed in lightweight aluminium foils of different colors depending on the flavor of the chocolate. They had a narrow strip of paper protruding from the top. These are one of the most popular chocolate brands in the States and in the rest of the world. Kisses are mass-produced by machinery that would pump a specified amount of viscous chocolate on a conveyer belt and then are allowed to cool down so as to lend it the shape.

These candies get their name ‘Kisses’ because of the ‘kiss-like’ sound that the machinery makes during production. It was first introduced in 1907, and a century later, they are still reigning the market and the hearts of the fans. They form an integral part of American history and pop-culture. Kisses is also available in a variety of forms like the Kisses with Almonds, Dark Chocolate Kisses, Caramel Kisses and Kisses with Hazelnut. ‘Hugs’ or the mini Kisses covered in white chocolate was my personal favorite though it was a limited version. Some other limited versions were ‘Layers’ i.e. white chocolate on the top and milk chocolate in the bottom, Special Dark Coffee flavored Kisses, Extra Creamy with Toffee and Almond, Dark Chocolate Orange flavored and many more.

Bounty Bar

Bounty is a chocolate bar produced by Mars, Incorporated. It was first introduced in 1951, in the United Kingdom and Canada. What distinguishes this chocolate bar from others is the moist coconut filling in the centre which is enrobed with milk chocolate. This is available all over the world except the States, where Mounds by Hershey’s, a similar product is marketed. The dark chocolate version of Bounty is also available in the market. The thick milk chocolate coating provides a perfect contrast and balance with the mild flavor of the soft coconut center.

The chocolate bar should be eaten right out from the refrigerator as it tastes the best then. It might even take you to the tropical beaches lined with coconut palms in your imaginations as you bite into this delicious candy bar. For its variants, there were limited editions of a Cherry Bounty Bar which was available since 2006 in Australia. A limited mango flavored edition was available during 2004-2005 and a few years later again in Russia.

Twix

Twix is a popular chocolate bar manufactured by Mars, Incorporated. It consists of a biscuit finger, coated with other confectionery toppings, most commonly caramel and milk chocolate. Twix Bars are typically packaged in pairs. The chocolate bars apparently got their name from combining the words, ‘twin’ and ‘biscuits’. It was first created in 1967 in the United Kingdom, and was later introduced in the United States in 1979. Twix was called Raider in certain parts of the world like Denmark, Belgium, Poland, Spain, Israel, Turkey and many other countries till 1991, when its’ name was changed to match the international brand name.

Twix is available in various other flavors like Twix PB that has a chocolate biscuit, peanut butter coating instead of caramel and milk chocolate coating, Cookies-n-Cream Twix where a cookies and cream filling replaced the caramel filling, Twix White with a white chocolate coating, Triple chocolate that contained chocolate flavored butter cookie, chocolate flavored caramel and a chocolate coating. Many other versions were the Choc ‘n’ Orange Twix, Twix Mint, Coffee Twix, and Dark Chocolate Twix Towers etc. They are also available in different sizes and as singles too.

These chocolate bars are bound to take you through a variety of memory lanes, I am sure! Go get your favorite candy bar and pamper your taste buds. But before you leave, remember: ‘Candy Bars: Part 2’ coming soon!

September 14, 2014
Candy Bars: Part 2

Candies and chocolates form an integral part of our growing up and growing old alike. The first part of ‘Candy Bars’ covered facts about some popular chocolates that make our lips smack just at the mere mention of the names. This article covers a few more of them.
Toblerone

Toblerone is a Swiss chocolate bar brand that has been named after its’ creator Theodor Tobler. It was first launched in 1908. It is well known for its distinctive prism shape or that of a pentahedron. The shape of the chocolates is apparently inspired from the Swiss Alps. However, Theodors’ sons claim that the triangular shape comes from a pyramid shape that some dancers created at a show that Theodor saw. The uniquely shaped milk chocolate includes nougat, almonds and honey thus lending it a characteristic flavor. ‘Torrone’, Italian for nougat lends the chocolate its’ second half of the name.

Toblerone is sold in a variety of sizes and flavors ranging from ten centimeters to nearly one meter. The variants of Toblerone that have been produced are equally popular. Dark chocolate, White Chocolate, Snow top (with white chocolate peaks) and Toblerone Pralines are some of them to name.
Mars Chocolate bar

Mars is again a chocolate bar manufactured by Mars Inc. It was first manufactured in 1932 by Forrest Mars in the United Kingdom. A delectable chocolate bar featuring nougat and caramel covered in milk chocolate. In the States, a different confection with nougat almonds and soft caramel bore the same name until it was discontinued in 2002. In 2002, the Mars bar that was sold worldwide was reformulated and the price was revised. The nougat was made lighter and the chocolate layer on the top was made thinner. Mars has been marketed in various sizes, from bite sized ‘Snack Time’ versions to large ‘king-size’ bars.

Several limited edition variations have also been released in different countries. Mars Almond and Mars Triple Chocolate with chocolate nougat and chocolate caramel are my personal favorites. There have been dark chocolate versions, now called Mars Dark (earlier Mars Midnight) and Mars Dark and Light as well. A variety of other products like Mark Lava (orange flavored), Mars Vanilla, Mars Loaded and Mars Honeycomb have also been produced.
Snickers

Snickers has been my comfort food before all exams and after all important events. It is my personal favorite when it comes to chocolate bars because of the perfect balance of taste that is struck among the ingredients. Snickers is a brand name for a chocolate bar produced by Mars Inc. It is a rich chocolate bar with nougat topped with peanuts and caramel, covered with milk chocolate. In countries like Ireland, the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man, Snickers was sold under the name ‘Marathon’ until 1990. The candy bar has been named after the favorite horse of the Mars family.

With a variety of variations and limited editions of the chocolate bar, the original one still stays a hit. Snickers Almond Bar was another popular variation which was later stopped in 2009. Peanut-butter and dark chocolate versions of this have also been released. So find your favorite and as they say, ‘Grab a Snickers!’
3 musketeers

3 musketeers, as fascinating as the name sounds, I bet it is one of the most pleasant experiences for your palate. It is a candy bar manufactured in the United States and in Canada by Mars Incorporated. It was the third brand produced by Mars in 1932 for the first time. Originally, it had three different pieces in the same package with chocolate, strawberry and vanilla flavors; hence the name. Rising costs and other constraints left only the most popular chocolate flavored bar phasing out the other two. It is basically a fluffy-soft whipped chocolate core covered with milk chocolate.

Manufacturing 3 musketeers is a fascinating procedure. The nougat chocolate center is first formed into large slabs, cut into required sizes and after the centers are formed, they are enrobed in milk chocolate. In this process, the centers pass through a continuous flowing vertical “sheet” of chocolate while, a rotating chocolate covered wheel under the mesh belt coats the base of the bar simultaneously. 3 musketeers has been released in a number of varieties. The mint version was the first brand extension, which was introduced to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the chocolate bar in 2007. Mocha Cappuccino, French Vanilla and Strawberry are some other limited editions that have been introduced.
Hershey’s Krackel

Krackel is a chocolate bar manufactured by the Hershey Company. It contains crisped rice in milk chocolate which makes it very similar to rival company Nestle Crunch. When it was first introduced in 1938, it also had almonds in the recipe. Peanuts were later added in 1939; but both the nuts were later removed in 1941. It was originally sold as an individual candy bar product and sometime later was only available as one of Hershey’s miniatures.

It was again reintroduced as an individual chocolate bar in 2014. The creamy milk chocolate and the crispy rice make this a very popular treat. There have been any variations in the flavors as such but the comeback of the chocolate bar as an independent product after 17 years was a great news for all its fans!

So, doesn’t just reading about chocolates make us happy? It makes us crave for one too though! Now that these fact files about some really popular chocolate brands have been covered, select your favorite one and go grab a bar!

Nothing satiates a huge appetite more than a piece of chocolate. Make sure you complete the chocolate bar in one sitting! Most of us do that, as they say:
“Strength is the capacity to break a Hershey bar into four pieces with your bare hands – and then eat just one of the pieces.”

September 14, 2014
Healthy kick start

In this neoteric world, people are getting lazier and less healthy. They make plans each and every new morning, but stick to neither of them. You may think that it’s very difficult to control your eating habits, but in reality it is very simple and easy. Youonly need to plan your inexpensive, nutritious diet and stick to that. There are certain tips you must follow to remain healthy and start your day:

Prepare your healthy Snacks by yourself:

Everyone is health conscious nowadays, but when it comes to preparing your own meal you all take one step backward. Why is it so? The best way to keep your diet under control is making your own food and chooses by yourself what to eat and what not to eat. Your day starts with snacks so prepare your own snacks that are easy to eat and carry. If you are already late and don’t have time to eat, then you can go for some fruits, carrots, whole-grain crackers, grapes, low-fats biscuits or cookies in your bag. These items are in itself a package of nutrients. So, as soon as you feel hungry, you don’t need to run over the fast food or to some street vendors. This will maintain your calories level and money too.

Keep your refrigerator stocked:

As you have been starting your day with fruits and vegetables is the best way to keep your diet healthy. It doesn’t make any difference if you eat frozen vegetables or fruits; the nutritional value that they carry does not change. The amazing benefit that they carry is minimizing waste. You can eat whatever and in however the amount you want to and again seal the packet for later use. You can keep your fruits to get chilled in your freezer. You can keep your freezer full of nutritional packets like nutrella, healthy powders etc. For example, if you store blueberries in your freezer, then you can have an advantage of adding delicious flavor to your yogurts anytime. So keep your freezer full of these items and fruits and enjoy every part of your meal as a treat.

Make fruits and vegetables handier:

Isn’t this sound quite interesting? As the week starts go to the market and pick all the fresh fruits and vegetables present there. Keep them as a stock in your refrigerator. Whenever you are free and got nothing to do then wash these fruits and cut them into slices. We know now a day’s generation is so lazy that they don’t believe in putting efforts and need everything ready in their hand. Easily accessible items are always preferred so this is the best way to make them handy. You can use airtight containers for putting these cuttings to avoid any contact with air and get oxidized. If these nutritious items are easy to grab then you will easily grab them instead of going for potato chips and candies.

Eat Frequently:

Do you people know there is an amazing secret lies behind a healthy diet? Healthy eaters used to eat frequently that means they believe in having small meals or snacks throughout the whole day. Researchers found that having three four time snacks in your day will avoid the problem of digestion and obesity. But you should have a healthy breakfast as it is the only reason behind the maintenance of calories in your body. With this technique you tend to eat more than your normal diet. So eat less but eat frequently.

Healthy cooking techniques should be used:

The food that is prepared with the help of steam is the best way to add nutrients to our body. Always prefer food that is steam cooked over baked foods as they helps in retaining all the nutrients and does not increase the level of fats in your diet. You can use Microwave Cooking bags so that the taste and nutrients remain unaltered. You must use non-sticky oil to prepare fried dishes and maintain the cholesterol level in your body. Make sure everything that you use must be washed properly before being used.

Eat nuts and eggs instead of meat:

As we all know meat is a high-fat dish and daily intake of this would harm your body indirectly. So why not avoid this and start intake of eggs and nuts in your main courses or meal. Nuts, beans and eggs are indirectly the replacement for meat. They are a source of low-fat and protein. They are less expensive than meat. So it’s better to try meatless proteins in your main meals or snacks and save money. There are some alternatives too, like you can buy a small amount of meat. To have a taste of meat in your meal you can stretch it out over your main course dishes which mainly contain vegetable and grains.

Try these and have a healthy kick start..!!

September 14, 2014