Diwali Festival in India

About Diwali Festival in India: 

We look forward for Diwali every year as it is one of the main festivals of Hindus in India. A collection of days, where you get to celebrate with your family and friends along with authentic Diwali sweets, crackers, rangoli, colors and lots of shopping is what Diwali is all about.

Diwali was first celebrated in India, when Lord Rama came back to Ayodhya from his 14 years of exile, after gaining victory over Ravana. The people living in Ayodhya were so excited, thrilled and over-joyed to have their Rama back, that they lit the whole Ayodhya City with lights in form of diyas and drew colorful rangolis everywhere to welcome their lord. Since then Diwali is been celebrated in India as a mark of victory over the evil, every year in the Ashwin month, as per the Hindu Calendar. This festival is celebrated for 5 days and is usually either at the end of October or in the first week of November. Each day of Diwali has its own significance, like Narak Chaturdarshi is celebrated for the victory of Lord Krishna over Narakasur, Laxmipujan is celebrated to worship Goddess Laxmi and Padwaa is celebrated to celebrate the special bonding between husband and wife, Deepawali is celebrated for the victory of Lord Vishnu over Bali and Bhaubeej is celebrated for the bonding between brothers and sisters.

Though Diwali falls on as mentioned, last week of October or first week of November every year, yet we start our preparations way ahead in the beginning of October. For us Diwali is about decorating the house, giving it a new look, shopping for clothes, buying rangoli colors, buying lanterns (preferably new every year), making sweets, buying crackers, visiting family and friends and eating lots.

One reason why we really look forward for this festival is because of the happiness and joy attached to it. It is highly refreshing for us to spend time and relax in Diwali. Though we have to visit people and be a perfect hostess, get dressed, prepare lots of sweets and do few other exhausting stuffs, yet its refreshing.

My child looks forward for Diwali because of the crackers that he gets to lit with his father (some father-son qualitative time), the sweets that he gets to eat, the gifts that he receives and also for the vacation that he gets to enjoy(more than 20 days vacations). Similarly every other person has his own reason to look forward for the Diwali Festival.

Belly Fat: A matter of concern

Certainly mine! I have been noticing belly fat for a week and it really concerns me. I am sure this is a matter of concern for many. And to tell you the truth, or even as you may notice I am really chubby type, but still the fat is more to the belly than everywhere else. Though I sometimes wonder where it comes from, I am sure it has to do a lot with the way I live.

As everyone knows that your body needs some amount of fat, and it does exist even in skinny people. There are said to two types of fats that exist within our body. The Subcutaneous fat that lies all over the body parts where we see it for example this fat is all over your thighs, hips, buttocks, arms and belly. The next is the Visceral fat that we don't see as it is present inside near and around the vital organs of our body, say the liver, heart and even the abdomen. This fat is located deeep inside our body and thus is not seen.

It is the visceral fat which when present within the body in larger amount could be a factor related to High Blood pressure, Diabetes Type 2, Cancers and even heart disease.

Our body has a tendency of storing this fat however the storage and the fat accumulation does depend on several factors including the way we live, genetic factors, age as well as sex of a person. If you are a man and your age group is 40 then you have greater chances of accumulating fat within your body. But for a woman the ideal time would be right after her menopause. But this rule does not indicatively apply to everyone.

Fat accumulation also depends upon the weight of a person. For example if you are a skinny type then fat accumulation is considerably less. But if you are a healthy type than fat accumulation is comparatively more.

Read How to gain control over belly fat

Trip to Ovalekar Wadi

I am not aware about how many Mumbaikars really know this park, but I wasn't until few days ago I came across a newspaper article which surprised me. Never  I  had even a slightest idea about the existence of such a eco-friendly place near Thane that too so closer to my house. There must be so many such places close-by but all you need to do is get to know about them. When I get to know I go and visit. Not for me but as I have mentioned before I want my child to see such places. My child, like many others have made up his mind that a great timepass for a day is to visit a nearby shopping mall, enjoy McDonald's happy meal with a toy and watch a movie in multiplex. Visiting any other places is a uncomfortable idea for him, unless he gets to travel by A/C buses or cars. But I want him to know that life is more than all this. So I have just got super excited by the idea of taking him to such places (I am a woman on a mission now) where life exists but in real way!

A visit to Ovalekar Wadi Butterfly Garden is one such experiment.

Tips for monsoon

We await for monsoon's arrival as it beats the heat and brings happiness in our lives. But along with happiness arrives worries about diseases, skin care, hair care and health. One can definitely worry about what would happen if they eat out, what would happen if they get wet in monsoon, what would happen if their skin look rough and dirty. Then there are lot other problems about what to eat and what to be avoided. Worries relate not just to eating but also to keeping yourself healthy and shining.

Hence to get rid of all these worries, we need to deal with each and every issue related to monsoon separately. For instance don't mix all your worries together. Lets get them sorted out. So to make it easier, lets break the worries and their solutions in different parts. Read this parts and solve your monsoon problems.

Read:

Foods that you should eat in monsoons 
Foods that should be avoided in monsoons 
How to take care of your skin in monsoon
How to take care of your hair in monsoon

Happy monsoon to all!!

Tips on living active life

In one of my earlier posts Sedentary Lifestyle I had mentioned about the facts and health conditions related to sedentary lifestyle. As, I said that this is the consequences of living inactive life, one can always rectify and start making changes in the current way of living life. If you are a couch potato, then its time for you to throw away the couch and start exercising. But here again, there are few considerations, this rule is applicable to those who watch TV, all day long. But what about them who work for long hours, that too sitting in one place, for example the computer professionals or many others.

As it is said, 'If there is a will, then there is a way'. In a similar manner, these professionals and all you couch potatoes, need to wake up and try doing some things with regards to these. Health is wealth, and there is nothing that can change this fact.

Hence for such people few remedies or few approaches towards healthy and active lifestyle could be as follows:

** No matter how busy you are, if you can take out time to shopping, then you can definitely take out some time and join a gym. Daily workouts will a great contribution towards active lifestyle.

** Make it a point of going for a morning walk or a jog.

** Take stairs other than using the lifts and elevators.

** If possible, walk up to your work place, this may not be possible for everyone, but at least you could walk up to the bus – stop or station.

** If you plan to visit a mall, try and walk the entire area. Avoid lifts and take stairs.

** Park your car far away from your shopping area.

** Go for a stroll, or play with your dog.

** Walk around in your house, don't just lie down.

** Do some chores, like cleaning, dusting, re – arranging etc.

** When talking on the cell phone, walk around.

** Play with your kids.

** Keep lethargy at bay.

** Go on frequent camping or hiking trips.

The more you try and use your body; more and more stronger it gets. Remember, in doing so, never over – exert yourself, as this can result in injuries. Physical activities help you keep diseases far way from you. Regular movements to ligaments, limbs and muscles keep them in perfect conditions and make them strong.                                                                           

Sedentary lifestyle - causes and risk factors

We always assume that chewing tobacco, smoking cigarettes, drinking liquor and many such things make us unhealthy and we can suffer from various health problems if we do these things. But to make things clear,let me tell you though this fact is true; but even if you don't fall in the category above and have never done such things, still there can be many other causes which are strong enough to make you sick and make you suffer from severe ailments. Though the list could be broad in this category, one of the strongest cause is your Sedentary Lifestyle.

Sedentary lifestyle is a condition which can make us suffer serious health problems and also lead to death in many cases. There are several risk factors associated to sedentary lifestyle and you, yourself are completely responsible for such lifestyle. Sedentary lifestyle is a term which signifies lack of physical activity.

A person living sedentary lifestyle does less or no physical activity at all; and is often referred as a 'Couch Potato'. Such person carries out a lot of sedentary activities such as reading, sitting, using or working on a computer and even watching television for more than the normal time; without carrying out much physical activity. This person is prone to various health conditions which can have grave risk factors.

Few risk factors associated with sedentary lifestyle are:

*Anxiety

*Diabetes

*Depression

*Obesity

*High Blood Pressure

*Increase in Cholesterol Levels (HDL)

*Cardiovascular disease.

Though people don't consider this as much of an aggravated issue, the consequences are out in the picture only when a person starts getting severe and visible health problems. This person chooses to live or has to live inactive life for a major part of the day, ignorantly or knowingly. Lack of physical fitness and exercise, leads to a weakening of the body immunity and thus the body is exposed to these severe health conditions.

Advantages of Cooking in Heavy bottom Pressure Cooker

Other than pressure cooking, one should also know about what is Heavy Bottom Pressure cooker and its advantages. 

- Heavy bottom pressure cooker help food to remain hot for a longer time.

- Heavy bottom pressure cooker is safe and accident proof

- Heavy bottom pressure cooker has a lock safety lid which doesn't allow forced opening, thus minimizing the risk of any untoward happenings.

- The heavy bottom pressure cooker is rust free.

- heavy bottom pressure cookers cook food faster then ordinary pressure cookers.

- They are highly efficient than ordinary pressure cookers

- Foods can be preserved for a longer time, as heavy bottom pressure cooker manage to store heat inside the pressure cooker for a longer time.

- are highly hygienic.

Read more: 

What is pressure cooking?
Benefits of pressure cooking 

Benefits of Pressure Cooking

Pressure Cooking has its own benefits and let's discuss them:

Pressure Cooking

1. Pressure cooking has known to save time: Pressure cooking done by a pressure cooker is known to cook faster than regular cooking. That means a normal pressure cooker takes 50% less than the conventional pot cooking. Hence one saves a lot of time with pressure cooking. Like for example, if 1 kg. potatoes take 50 minutes round about to cook in a open pot, they take 15 to 16 minutes to get cooked in a pressure cooker. Other than potatoes, consider cooking 2 kg Meat / mutton on an open pot. It takes at least 3 hours to cook. But with pressure cooking  its not more than 30 minutes. That's how you save time with pressure cooking.

2. Pressure cooking has known to save fuel: If food gets cooked that faster than no doubt one definitely saves on fuel and money. Thus pressure cooking daily saves a family lot of fuel and thus saves their money. Consider how much fuel like say gas or kerosene would be needed by a family to cook 2 kg mutton for 3 hours. Its definitely worth pressure cooking than conventional cooking.

3. Pressure cooking has known to improve taste: It is been proved that the cooking method of Super heated steam has managed to enhance the natural flavors of food, be it vegetables, fish or meat. Hence the closed cooking of pressure cooker impregnates food with its juices and no aroma is lost thus infusing all in the food. More than that if at all one pressure cooks with a Heavy Bottom Pressure Cooker then the taste is more enhanced and improved.

4. Pressure cooking is known to be a hygienic way of cooking: Since food is cooked at such high temperature the harmful micro-organisms which are present in the raw foods are definitely destroyed and what is served is a complete hygienic food. Thus pressure cooking plays a major role when it comes to health and hygiene.

Read more : 
 
What is pressure cooking
Advantages of cooking in a heavy bottom pressure cooker 

What is Pressure Cooking

Pressure Cooking is the most preferred way of cooking nowadays. But very few of us are known with the actual term, Pressure cooking. What is pressure cooking? Pressure Cooking is a method of cooking in which the boiling point is increases other than the normal point and thus the food is pressure cooked. For say, if the boiling point of water in normal conditions is 110 degree C. The in pressure cooking the water is boiled up to a certain temperature which is above the normal conditions like 118 degrees C to 121 degrees C. Thus pressure cooking is actually a method of cooking in Super Heated Steam. Pressure Cooking is considered to be the most efficient way of cooking nowadays.

Read more: Benefits of Pressure Cooking

Funda of eating small meals at regular interval

I have been hearing a lot about this lately and it did make me think whether eating small meals really works. I would say yes, it works because i tried it for week's time and felt a lot of difference in my appetite and general working of my body. I used to do a job earlier but then quit because I couldn't manage kid and his school and daily chores. See now I am a homemaker, who works from home apart from doing the daily chores. Now of course I don't have to deal with anything like washing utensils or sweeping and wiping etc etc (my maid takes care of that). I cook, I dust the house and I do marketing (I mean buying vegetables, fish and daily groceries). But other than that I don't go for a walk, I quit my yoga sessions because they take a lot of time and I have no time for yoga whole day (Trust me, its just a excuse I am making) But anyways the whole funda is, since I lack physical exercise I think that my stomach gets too bloated if I eat whole lunch and dinner comprising of dal, chapati, vegetables, fish curries, etc etc. Then most of my time goes sitting in front of my desktop.

So I thought I would start having small meals as it is been said around 5 - 6 times a day. And the fact is since you are at home, you very often tend to get snacky and just keep munching something or the other. So I stick to my plan for a week's time. I switched to small meals, like I had light breakfast with either toasts or French Omelet. I had just 2 chapatis for lunch with 1 vegetable preparation. I snacked on a fruit or a salad or a health bar or even some oil free munchies throughout the day. I had light dinner 2 hours before bedtime and a glass of milk before sleeping. And you know what it worked.

The whole experience made me feel better and I was very happy. And above all my stomach felt lighter and was happy too. So now I have decided to switch on this funda permanently and  am going to experiment with some recipes and try and make or cook recipes which would be easier to be included in these short meal session. I would write about them, don't worry... c u for now...bye..

Pistachios - An Healthy Option

Till date we were known with health benefits related to dry fruits like Almonds, figs, Dates and Raisins. Pistachios are generally consumed as a tasty dry fruit more or less. But very few know about the health benefits of Pistachios.

Pistachios are rich in Vitamin B - 6, Thiamin and Magnesium. But above all, Pistachios / Pista are low in saturated fats and hence can be consumed as a Cholesterol Free Snack. One Serving of Pistachios should include at least 20 - 25 kernels of pistas, of which only 1.5 gm is Saturated fats. But more than that, this serving would give you daily dose of fibers, magnesium, B -6, Thiamin, Copper and Protien.

Pistas can also be used in cooking as it gives an distinct taste to the food. In this blog, I plan to add few recipes which would include Pista/Pistachios to give an distinct flavor and also to turn out more healthier than ever.

Try some Recipes with Pistachios :

Party Salad 

Mojito?

Mojito / Mohito as it is pronounced is a Traditional Cuban Cocktail which is made by combining Citrus Fruits with mint leaves along with Rum. Mojito is one of the Classiest Cocktails which is popular due to its strong fragrances and falvors. No more just a Business Cocktail, Mojito is now a happening thing at City Pubs and Lounge Bars.

You also get to experiment a lot with Mojito by adding or mixing some or the other flavors, as the basic intention of Mojito is to add flavors which masks the potent kick of Rum.

Try some of the Mojito Cocktails:

Orange Mint Mojito
                           Apple Cinnamon Mojito

Kokam

Kokam can be referred as a fruit found in the coastal areas of India. Kokam is used in most of the staple diet all over India, especially in Konkan. Kokam is not only used for spicing the food but also due to its medicinal properties. Kokam is considered as an antiseptic, a coolant, an anti-allergic and anthelmintic in nature. Kokam is useful as a medicine for various ailments like dysentery, Cardiac disorders, Digestion and many more. In Konkan, kokam is referred as Sol and is used in cooking fish. Sol Kadhi is one dish that is made with Kokams and known as good for digestion.

Botanical Name of Kokam - Garcinia Indica Choicy
Local Name - Kokam / Sol / Ratambi / Amsul / Murgal

Kohinoor Range of Masalas

I came across a new Masala range that day while I was shopping for groceries in the super market. The new masala range is from Kohinoor Foods, which promises use of authentic Indian spices in its whole new masala range. For example, the red chilly is said to have been picked from Guntur, the Turmeric is said to have picked from Tamil Nadu and Coriander on the other hand is said to be from Indore.

The New Masala Range comprises of Chicken Curry Masala, Kadhai Masala, Garam Masala, Sambhaar Masala, Chaat Masala, Pav Bhaji Masala, Meat Masala, Rajma Masala and many more. The price range is similar to that of the other spice range somewhere around Rs. 30 for a 100 gm pack approx. Lets see how well Kohinoor Masalas spice up our food...

Sugar Free Natura Diet Sugar

Sugar Free Natura Diet Sugar is what people talk about these days. Product of Cadila HealthCare Ltd. Sugar Free Natura Diet Sugar contains Sucralose, a product which diabetics can use as a substitute for sugar in tea, coffee or even as a substitute while making sweets. In fact that day I visited a Sweet Shop and found variety of sweets and pastries made from Sugar Free Natura Diet Sugar. Wonder how it tastes!! But mind it theses sweets are really expensive.

But considering the health benefits, as it is been promised, I am sure they are worth buying.. Even many recipe books recommend using Sugar Free Natura Diet Sugar in place of regular sugar. I saw Sanjeev Kapoor's Ad in which he suggests Sugar Free Natura for desserts. All I heard is Sugar Free Natura Diet Sugar doesn't loose its sweetness on cooking, heating or baking. All I will say right now is I am planning to make some dessert using it for my in-laws. Lets see how it turns out.. Try Calorie Conscious Out there.. and lemme know..

Karavaipilai Podi

Karavaipilai Podi is one type of South Indian Curry Leaf Powder, which is made from dry and roasted curry leaves. These roasted curry leaves are powdered and mixed with various spices and condiments to give you Karavaipilai Podi. This powder is usually eaten with dosas, idlis and other South Indian Breakfast items. Generally you mix this powder with little ghee before eating for an enhanced flavor. Nowadays you easily get this as a packed food in Manglorean or South Indian Stores. You can use this as a garnish for Dahi wadas or raitas.

Karavaipilai Podi is considered medicinal as the curry leaves used in it are rich source of Vitamin A.

Handy Hints Section

The handy hints section was what I always planned to post. Everyone of us need those handy tips for instant escape. So I wish I could help everyone with my Handy Hints. As soon as I come out with a solution or experience one helping out, I plan to post it then and there. Let's see how it works out.

If you have any tips do post in the Comment Section. Finally even that may come handy to me. Don't keep it to yourself. Share with all of us. This handy tip is for all the HOMEMAKERS out there..Let your expertise come out in light.

Happy posting.

East Indian Bottle Masala

East Indian Bottle Masala forms an important ingredient for most of all East Indian dishes. So if you wish to prepare an East Indian Dish, you need to have Bottle Masala with you for completion. What can happen otherwise is you may not gain the same flavors. How to make East Indian Bottle Masala is little different from our regular garam masala. So try and check on the ingredients again before carrying on with it. Also once prepared you can store the masala for as long as years and hence its better to prepare and store them.


These bottles are usually available at most of the East Indian Stores. If you do walk down the narrow lanes of Bandra or Amboli, where majority of East Indians reside, you can easily grab one bottle here. But its always good to know how to make it, in case you don't get it anywhere, or want to experience the fresh high end masala made by you. Traditionally the masala was pounded in Okhali for hours which gave it that amazing, scented aroma. But now that we don't see and use such okhalis anymore, how about using our electronic okhali (Mixer - Grinder) for that purpose.


So here's how to make authentic East Indian Bottle Masala

Hey to Everyone

Hey!! I have loved cooking right from the day I started to cook. That was long time back, maybe I was in school then. Perhaps, my first dish was Maggi Noodles, a bit overdone but yet my first dish..something I am really proud of. Me and My Maggi!! I always loved experimenting with Maggi Noodles, I still remember once that I had added lots of chillies and had served my friends.. who actually finished them with tears in their eyes. One of them had commented that,  "well, it was not bad at all but a little spicy. Why don't you try adding less chillies next time?" I was so embarrassed but then I also found that comment motivating.

So that's how it all started, and mind it..I still love experimenting..That's how you actually cook, isn't it? Sometimes it comes out fine or sometimes it just tells you where you went wrong and how you make it better the next time. So as of now I have decided to share my collection with everyone who loves cooking..Perhaps if you find something wrong with the recipe, don't forget to let me know..Just add it as a comment and I am there..completely on it.

Since I am just getting started..I can just say..lets see how it develops. Let it grow by itself, slowly and steadily..That's all for now..C U SOON..