My Valentines' Day

Today is Valentines' day. For me it is like other days of the year. Couple of years back I used to plan and buy gifts for my boyfriend. It was an eve to celebrate. My boyfriend is my husband now. Situations have changed a lot. Previously I used to feel that marriage is the ultimate of a relation. But now I understand that I was wrong. After we enter a family life many things fades away. I am having a very busy schedule. Managing office and home together is really difficult. It gives me hardly any time to plan something and execution becomes challenging. Now I really feel that life has changed a lot.

Recipe: Yummy Tuscan Bread Salad

Do you know that raw vegetables contains a lot of water in them which is the source of high energy if consumed? Raw food also enhances the complexion along with better glow to the skin. Salads also helps in De-oxification. Once we make  regular habit of having salad once in our diet a day I think many of our health issues will be solved.
I am going to share now the recipe of Tuscan Bread Salad. Try this one out at your home!

Ingredients:

1. 1 piece of Ciabatta loaf.
2. 1 red onion (finely chopped).
3. Cucumber (chopped).
4. Ripe Tomatoes (chopped).

Recipe: Healthy Spinach Salad in Indian style

When we cook our food the vitamins and minerals in the raw vegetables gets damaged. Do it is always preferable to eat raw or boiled  vegetables than cooked ones. Raw food can also be easily digested and assimilated in body. Among Vegetables Spinach is very high in Vitamin A and also Vitamin C, E, K. It also contains large amount of minerals specially Iron. This recipe is a Spinach Salad in Indian style. But like traditional Indian foods it is not too spicy. It is healthy and little spicy. Hope you all like this.

Ingredients:

1. 1/4 cup of white Wine Vinegar.
2. 1/4 cup of  Salad oil.
3. Chopped Coriander.
4. Little sugar (as per taste).
5. Salt (as per taste).

Recipe: Delicious Corn Salad

We all know that it is very important for us to eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day and salad can count towards this. Today I am going to share few salad recipies. I am very food of  corns too. This is a Corn Salad recipe. It is very easy to make, good to eat and very good for health.

Ingredients:

1. 2 cans Kernel corn or raw Corn if you can mange.

2. 1 Large Bell Pepper(finely chopped ).
3. 1 bunch of green Onions (finely chopped ).
4. 1 bunch of Cilantro leaves ( finely chopped ).

Tips: Feng Shui for Pets

Last Saturday we brought one of my more precious belonging of all times. Candy, my Golden Retriever. She is only 37 days old as of today. Today while I am writing about Feng Shui tips for pets, I am thinking of her.

Tips: Feng Shui for Kitchen

Ladies spend much of their time in kitchen. It is said that a good Feng Shui Kitchen is a very positive sign for a healthy family. Here are some tips for your kitchen Feng Shui.

Tips: Feng Shui for Bedroom

This is a topic for which I personally have a mixed belief. Feng Shui is all about keeping a harmony and balance in our environment. I have met many people who have got good results following this. Some comments that these are of no meaning at all.

Our bedroom is the part of our home where we spend the maximum time when we are at home. I am sharing some tips of Feng Shui for your bedrooms. Try these and let me know if you feel any difference.

Recipe: Crispy Potato Nuggets

I am too much fond of fries. More than me my dad is crazy for all these. My mom scolds us for having so much affinity towards fries. I bake this to avoid using oil and frying  but I can never stop eating this. I prefer nuggets which are home made than outside ones. It is crispy, tasty and yummy as always!

Ingredients:

1. Potatoes  6 medium pieces.
2. Pepper  1 teaspoon.
3. Chilly Powder  2 teaspoon.
4. Salt to taste.

Recipe: Chocolate Sandwich

I like to taste new things at home. Mainly in snacks I love to do experiments. I love chocolate. So I tried to make a chocolate sandwich. But yes, for calorie conscious people it will not suit all the times. For me I love to eat and while eating I never think twice.

Ingredients:

1. Chocolate Frosting.

2. 4 Bread slices.

3. Peanut Butter.

4. Some gems to decorate.

Recipe: Orange Buttercup cake

This is a yummy recipe you can try at home. it is very easy to prepare and you can surprise your child with this.

Ingredients:

1. 10 Oz Buttercup.
2. 10 Oz Castor Sugar.
3. 10 Oz self-raising flour.
4. 1 teaspoon Corn flour.
5. 1.5 teaspoon Baking powder.
6.  2 eggs.
7. 1 pack of Orange juice or some natural Orange juice.
8. 1 teaspoon Orange rinds.

Recipe: Vegetable Pizza

I am mad for Pizza, be it veg or non-veg. I myself can eat a medium one alone! I tried to make this at home and it was awesome. It was a real successful attempt. It is very simple to make. You just need to make use your micro-oven. Let me share now the recipe.

Ingredients:

1. ¾ to 1-cup all-purpose Flour.

2. ½ cup whole-wheat Flour

3. 1 tbsp quick-rise active dry Yeast.

4. 1 ½ tsp dried basil leaves or pizza seasoning.

5. 1tbsp Olive oil or regular oil.

6. 1 clove Garlic, minced.

7. 1 tbsp yellow Cornmeal.

8. ½ cup warm water.

9. Tomato Sauce.

10. 1 cup sliced ripe Olives.

11. ½ cup Jalapeno peppers, Tomatoes, Onion chopped.

12. 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese.

13. Red pepper flakes

14.Salt to taste.

Recipe: Chocolate Muffin

This is a delicious recipe loved by both adults and kids. A muffin is always a WOW! But homemade muffins are really special. try this at home and enjoy with your children.

Ingredients:

1. 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled well.
2. 2 Eggs.
3. 1 cup (240 ml) Buttermilk.
4. 2 teaspoons of pure Vanilla extract.
5. 230 grams all-purpose Flour.
6. 2/3 cup unsweetened Cocoa powder.
7. 265 grams light Brown Sugar.
8. 1 teaspoon Baking powder.
9. 1 teaspoon Baking Soda.
10. 1/2 teaspoon salt
11.1 cup Milk or semisweet Chocolate Chips.

Tips for Better Life: Personal Integrity

Personal Integrity is another very big quality of human life. But really do we understand what is it all about? No, I guess. In dictionaries it is defined as "The adherence to moral and ethical principles, soundness of moral character, honesty.  It is what we do, what we say, and what we say we do.  Personal integrity is doing the RIGHT thing, even when nobody is watching." Are there real people in the world who keep their words, who are honest?

Today verbal promises are fake. It is very easy to say but very tough to follow. Developing personal Integrity is the first step towards self improvement or moving towards a better life.
Start from thinking what are the benefits you will get if you keep a promise you did to someone. You are known to be  a reliable person. People trust you. Does this phenomenon matters you? People can depend on you, on your decisions. You don't have to ask for respect but people respect you because of your dependability and reliability. Trust is something which you can never buy with money. Try to promise yourself that you shall never break ones trust. These good qualities will stimulate your self-esteem and keep your soul happy.

Tips for Better Life: Endurance

After getting married two months back and recently joining a job in a reputed MNC, I don't find any other topic other than Endurance to write first. In these two months I have learnt a lot from life. Every day is a new challenge for me and I have to face different kind of people whom I have to deal with patience and tolerance. Being the only daughter of my beloved parents I have never faced such kind odd situations and people before in life. Today I am a student of Endurance.

Recipe: Mixed Chicken Soup

This is one of my another favourite recipe which I prepare frequently at home. I love soups mostly in cold evenings. It makes me feel out of the world! Try this at your home and I challenge that you are surely going to love this!

Ingredients:

1, ½ Kg boneless Chicken.
2. 2 pieces carrot, beans.
3. ½ cup boiled small prawns.
4. 1 Egg.
5. 3-4 green chilies.
6.1 tea spoon chopped garlic.
7. 1 table spoon cornflower.
8. 2 Thai leaves. 
9. ½ teaspoon pepper powder.
10. 2 tea spoons butter.
11. Sauce (depending on your taste).
12. 1 teaspoon salt.
13. Coriander (for garnishing).

Recipe: Momo (Dumpling)

I am going to share my favourite dish with you all. I am crazy for this dish and love to have it anytime. I prepare this at home often and it is not so tough to make it.
Momo, is a type of dumpling native to the Newa people of Nepal. It is similar to Mongolian buuz, Chinese jiaozi, or Central Asian manti, closely related to Russian pelmeni, German Maultaschen or Italian Ravioli. The Tibetan word Momo is a loanword from the Chinese mómo.

Ingredients:

1.White flour (Maida) -3 small cups.
2.Onion -1-2 pieces.
3.Green chillies- 3-4 pieces.
4.Ginger.
5.Garlic.
6.Spring onions(optional).
7.Chicken/Mutton minces.
8.Pepper to taste.
9.Salt to taste.
10. Refined oil.

Tips: Impress a Guy on a Date

The highest priority in a date should be the best possibly to make a good impression. You should be impressive and interesting so that he can plan for dates further. Here are some tips to follow while you are going for a date with a guy.

DRESSING SENSE:

Dress in sexy, but modest clothing. You want to look attractive, but wearing very revealing clothes can make you look trashy, which is not the impression you want to give on a date. Also, dress comfortably, you may love those killer heels and the dress you can just about squeeze into, but you don't want to spend the whole evening worrying about walking or holding your breath because your clothes are too tight. Better to wear something you feel comfortable in than risk falling over or busting a seam. Also, make sure your clothes are appropriate for what you're doing on the date. "Restaurant meal" clothes are very different to "picnic in the countryside" clothes.

Tips: Impress a Girl

Do you keep drooling behind a girl but she doesn't respond? Are you failing to impress her? Even today in the 21st century guys fail to impress girls. You need to remember always that there are some definite ways to win over her. I have some tips for you guys. Implement them for her and she will be impressed and can be your girl very soon!

BE WELL GROOMED:

The very first thing which is important is you should be well groomed. You should wear clean clothes, brush your hair well, clean shoes, etc. it is very essential to look great and feel the same.

Household Tips: Child Care

This is one of the most important tips which I can share. For anything unusual with the child instead of getting nervous it is always better to stay cautious and fight with the difficulty. Let me share 10 tips for Child Care.

CLEANING BABY BOTTLES:

Agate marbles put in the sterilizer when cleaning baby bottles will remove all the corrosion.

Beauty Tips at Home

Everyone loves to look beautiful. But finding out a time and visit Beauty Salons is not always possible. Many of the them charge too high and as per the expenses the service is also not too good. I myself follow some Beauty Tips at home. I am also getting effective results. Now lets unhide my secrets!

REMOVING DEAD SKIN:

Rub a bit of Miracle Whip salad dressing into your skin and let it stand a moment. Rub vigorously and dead skin is quickly removed. However, this only works using Miracle Whip, not mayonnaise. So don't forgrt this!

Household Tips: Gardening

Gardening is my hobby. I love to do it in my leisure times. Regular care is also required. Still everyday I find out some time and engage myself. I get a lot of happiness from this. When a small sapling turns to a plant and flowers starts blooming I feel happy for my endeavour. Fruits and vegetables are also easy to grow if there is some extra space at our home. I am sharing my 10 best gardening tips. Hope this works for you too.

PREPARING NATURAL INSECTICIDES:

Add onions and garlic to a jar of water, let it stand for a week, and spray plants with it. This home made insecticide is surely going to keep your plants free from insects.

Household Tips: Kitchen

Our lives are very hectic today. Most of us don't find time to finish all out household works with perfection and within time limit. Kitchen is the most challanging arena for this I feel. Everyday I get confused what to do first and how to finish in time so that I can have some time for myself when I can read some books or spend some time with my family. I myslf follow some kitchen tips which is really making my work easier and faster. I want to share my 10 best kitchen tips now.

TOO MUCH SALT:

Sometimes when we are cooking it happens tht we pour excess salt. Don't worry! There are some solutions for this.

• add a little sugar.
• in soups or stews, a raw potato slice added to the mixture will absorb the salt.
• a second batch can be made, omitting the salt, and added to the first batch. Combine the two mixtures and freeze half for later.

Tour Guide: Maldives

Maldives is a group of islands situated about 700 kms of south-west Sri Lanka. If you wish to visit Paradise on earth then Maldives is your travel destination. It is covered with  clear blue waters, pristine beaches and lush green trees. When you are planning a holiday to the Maldives you can expect plenty of sun, sea and sand. It is always best to book a hotel/resort before you reach there. You also need to carry cloths that will keep you cool.

How to reach there and the best time to visit:
The country is well connected with other parts of the world with daily international flights from Asia, Middle East and Europe. You would need to get your visa on arrival at the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

December-April is the best time to visit Maldives.

Tour Guide: Goa

If you want to reach a fun fillied destination with your family or friends then I think Goa is the best destination for you. It hasbeaches which are fantastic. I am always a Sea Lover. Goa is a mixture of culture, heritage and adventure.Kids even enjoy Goa  a lot. They can play with sands and enjoy bathing in the sea.

Goa is a lso a perfect destination for Honeymoon couples. The River cruise may be another exciting thing. Goa is for all who love fun and love life! So, go Goa...

How to reach there and the best time to visit:

Goa is well connected by Air, Road and Rail transport from important cities in India. Regular flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai connect Goa through Dabolim Airport. One can drive down to Goa from Mumbai, Bangalore or Pune. Indian and Konkan Railway run regular trains from different cities in India to Goa through Margao and Vasco-da-Gama railway stations.

Best time to visit Goa is September to March.

Recipe: Pink blush Cocktail

This is a real refreshing cocktail. It is also one of my favourite. It is very easy to prepare at home. Try this one out!

Ingredients (Serves for 1):

1. Vodka- 1/4 cup.
2. Champagne- 1/4 cup.
3. Cranberry juice- 1/2 cup.
4. Crushed ice.
5. Orange zest strips- semi thick, 2 pieces.

Method:

 First you have to combine the Vodka, Champagne and Cranberry juice in a large wine glass.

Recipe: Cranberry Kiss Cocktail

Enjoying a weekend evening with this cocktail is surely going to drive you crazy. That is why I have named it "Cranberry Kiss". It is very easy to prepare at home and you will surely fall in love with it!

Ingredients (Serves for 2):

1. Cardamon pods- 8 pieces.
2. Cinamon sticks (4 inches nearly)- 4 pieces.
3. Cloves (whole)- 12 pieces.
4. Cranberry juice concentrate (frozen)- 1 can (nearly 11.5-12 ounces).
5. Red Wine- 4 cups.
6. Honey-1/3 cup.
7. Cranberries, Oranges or Green Apple slices for garnishing.

Method:

You have to cut a 6-inch square from a double thickness of cotton cheesecloth to make a spice bag for the mixture.

Recipe: Tropical protein Shake

This recipe is a very healthy one. If we can take it every morning in the start of the day, I assure you that you will get extra energy throughout the day. Taken at evening you will get extra energised shedding off all your tiredness. Try this one out!

Ingredients( Serves for 1):

1. Strawberries (frozen)- 4 pieces.
2. Banana (frozen)- 1/2 of a piece.
3. Mango (frozen)- 1/2 of a piece.
4. Pina Colada Mix- 2 tablespoon.
5. Protein powder- 1 tablespoon.
6. Flaz Oil- 1 tablespoon.
7. Water (normal)- 1.5 cups.
8. Cubes of ice- 6-7.

Recipe: Mix fruit & Yogurt shake

This is also one of the best delightful recipes I can share. Please try this at your home, you will feel fresh and charged up.

Ingredients( Serves for 2-3):

1. Strawberries- 1 cup.
2. Orange juice- 1/2 cup.
3. Yogurt (Vanilla flavored)- 1 cup.
4. Skim milk- 1.5 cups.
5. Honey- 1 tablespoon.

Recipe:Hot delightful Cocoa drink

This time winter is very chilling throughout the world. The best way to enjoy a winter evening is to have small sips from a cup of hot cocoa drink. It can also act as a substitute for regular coffee or tea. Even children loves its taste. I am sharing this delicious drink recipe and let me know how good it my homemade delightful cocoa drink:

Ingredients( Serving for 2) :

1. Cocoa Powder: 1-1.5 teaspoon.
2. Salt: 1/9 of a teaspoon.
3. Water(normal): 3/4 of a cup.
4. Milk(boiled): 1 cup.

5. Sugar: 2 teaspoon or can be adjusted as per need.  

Method:

Mix well the Cocoa powder, salt and water together in a paste form. You can use a blender or spoon will also do.