Monday, August 8, 2011

"HAPPY FRIENDSHIP DAY"

Happy friendship day to all my friends......................................

If you could use only a few words to describe what friendship means to you, what words would you choose? I choose loyalty, honesty, support, open mindedness, harmlessness, and unconditional Love. I have learned through the years that to have a friend requires being a friend. It relates to the adages: "What you reap, you sow." or "What goes around comes around." Friendship is a state of Being. It is not about doing something for another or having lots of possessions to attract another. It is about being a mirror in which the other sees himself/herself. In a Consciously open and honest friendship, growth is the miraculous process available to each friend. Communication is a key component to a sincere and authentic friendship. When full permission is given by both friends to speak the truth and create mutual growth, anything is possible.

True friendship is about seeing yourself and the other as God, Soul, Love, Limitless. It is the experience of knowing another at Soul level. There is a recognition of the other as a part of me, an undeniable oneness that is beyond space and time. It may appear that the form of a particular friendship lasts one month, five years, or a lifetime. The actual connection between two Souls is ever present and everlasting no matter what the form looks like. When considered from this perspective of the Soul, friendship is being Love in each and every moment. We never know when someone will pop into our life and make a difference. By living in the moment, we can be open to all the opportunities friendship has to offer......
“A friend is a gift you give yourself,” – Stevenson

Here are few tips to make good friends...............................

1) Listen to people!


2)And make sure to remember their name!

3) Be excited to see people

Train yourself to be excited to meet people.

4) Treat everyone the same
To make the previous suggestion happen, think of everyone as being a close, dear friend whom you’re excited to see. Not easy to do, but it will change how you deal with people for the better and make you that much more likeable.

5)Visit someone when they’re sick
When someone is sick, they need our help most of all. Be considerate and caring; make them some chicken soup or a get well card. The effort means a lot...............

6)Always greet people
If you can say “Hello” to someone do so, like your neighbors. Even if you never become friends, it’s a great habit to have

7)Be yourself!
Ultimately, people like you for you. Forget about being artificial, about coming off the right way – just be yourself..

8)Remember birthdays.

9)Be positive
Bring a good energy to your friendships.

10)Be nice!
Just find ways to be nice to your friends. If you cook something, share it! And so on.

Friends are so precious never miss them.................................



















Saturday, August 6, 2011

TIPS TO GROW HEALTHY AND LONG NAILS

You may have a "dozen nail-polishes"  in many different shades, but you hardly use them. The reason? 
Your nails hardly seem to grow long enough to file them and apply nail-polish. A lady becomes all the more beautiful if she has "lovely hands. Long fingers, with nicely shaped nails that have been painted for a glossy touch"  look absolutely ravishing. 
 You need not spend a huge amount for attaining those perfect nails. With a little patience and discipline, you will soon have long pretty nails adorning your fingers. If you have always wanted long and beautiful nails but never really worked hard for it, here are some tips on how to grow nails.



•First of all, stop biting your nails if you do.
 Nail-biting is not only one of the most annoying habits, but also very unhygienic. Biting nails constantly stunts its growth and ultimately damages it to an extent that it stops growing. Let your bitten nails start to heal up now and stop biting them.



•Gelatin promotes nail growth. If you don’t like to eat gelatin foods like desserts, try taking it in the form of capsules. A good physician should be able to recommend  you a good gelatin capsule. If your nails are too soft and brittle, you probably lack calcium. Take calcium supplements with a balanced diet to promote the growth of healthy nails.



•You need to take care of your hands properly in order to promote nail growth. Don’t use too many harsh chemicals like detergents and cleaners on bare hands and if you do, make sure that you wash it off thoroughly. Keep your nails clean and apply moisturizer to make your fingers soft and supple.


•After washing your hands, dry them off nicely and apply a hand lotion that is vitamin-enriched, daily. Keep your cuticles clean and don’t mess with them too often by pushing them back every now and then. Trim nails regularly to promote faster growth.


•Massaging your finger tips and nails will also go a long way in promoting growth. Get a good quality hand massaging lotion and massage your palms, fingers and nails gently with it on a daily basis. This will increase blood flow and that will promote the growth of nails

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

HAPPY SRI RAMA NAVAMI TO ALL MY FRIENDS


                                "Raama Raama Raameti Rame Raame Manorame.


                                 Sahasranaama Tattulyam Raamanaama Varaanane."

The festival of Ram Navami is the celebration of birthday of the Hindu God, Shri Ram. Shri Ram was the seventh incarnation (Avatar) of Lord Vishnu and born in Ayodha, an ancient Indian city. Rama Navami is celebrated on the ninth day of Hindu month of Chaitra (April). Ram Navami marks the end of nine day long festival called Chaitra Navratri or Vasanta Navratri. On this auspicious day devotees observes fasting, visits temples to offer special prayers, takes religious processions and the special readings of Ramayana are also hold.


Lord Rama is revered by Hindus all over as the embodiment of truth, of morality, the ideal son, the ideal husband and above all, the ideal king. On the day of Rama Navami the birth of Rama is remembered for his prosperous and righteous reign.

His Divine Life

Rama, the perfect avatar of the Supreme Protector Vishnu, is an all-time favorite among Hindu deities. The most popular symbol of chivalry and virtue, Rama the embodiment of truth, of morality, the ideal son, the ideal husband and above all, the ideal king. The heroic deeds of Rama and his exciting adventures have inspired generations of people.

Importance Of Fasting On Ram Navami

A Ram devotee keep a strict fast on Ram Navami, because the Ram Navami vrata is considered to be one of the five most important vratas in the ancient times. According to the ancient religious texts, it is imperative for every devotee to observe the Ram Navami vrat, as it is the only easy mean of gaining happiness in the material world and achieving salvation at the same time.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

HOMEMADE FRESH BANANA JAM

My little one loves bananas so much........................And the base for this recipe is strawberry jam from the recipe by  ( Hetal & Anuja)  and i created my own  style and used bananas instead of strawberries.

INGREDIENTS:


Ripe bananas - 4
Sugar – 1/4 cup                        
Fresh Lime Juice – 1 Tsp

METHOD:

1. Coarsely food process bananas for a chunky jam or blend for a smooth texture.
2. Add bananas , sugar and lime juice into a medium saucepan and mix well.
3. Cook on medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Stir frequently.
4. Reduce heat to medium low  and continue cooking for 15mins minutes (until all white bubbles disappear). Stir frequently.
5. Remove from heat allow to cook for a few minutes.


6. While still warm, transfer jam to a clean and dry plastic or glass jar. Allow jam to cool completely before covering and storing in the refrigerator for up to 1 month

NOTE : You can use the recipe as a base and try it with any fruits...................................
2. If you add 1/4 tsp of citric acid it helps the jam as a preservative  and gives a longer shelf life.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH BLACK CHANNA

INGREDIENTS:


Butternut Squash (or Pumpkin) – 1 medium size
Black Channa – 1 cup  ( soaked in water for 8hrs)
Water – 3 cups
Salt – to taste
Oil – 2 tbsp
Panch Puran -  1 tsp (Fenugreek Seeds ,Cumin Seeds , Mustard Seeds , Onion Seeds, Fennel Seeds )
Salt – to taste
Red Chili Powder – to taste
Cumin Powder – 1 tsp
Minced Ginger – 1 tbsp
Sugar – 1 tsp, (optional and to taste)

METHOD:

1. Wash and rinse the Channas and soak them overnight (atleast 8 hrs) with fresh water.
2. After 8 hours, rinse out the water, transfer the Channas into a pressure cooker, add Water and Salt (1/2 tbsp or to taste).
3. Close the Pressure Cooker and allow it to cook on high heat for 2 whistle.
4. Turn off the flame/heat and allow the pressure to go down by itself.
5. Open pressure cooker and drain/remove the liquid and save the Channas.

For the Subzi :

1. Wash, cut, peel, remove seeds and fiber & cube the Squash (Pumpkin) to bite size.
2. In a open pan , heat Oil on medium heat.
3. Once hot, add the Panch Puran and allow the seeds to pop and sizzle.
4. Add the cubed Squash.
5. Let it cook till 3/4th cooked.
6. Stir periodically for even cooking. The Squash needs to be a little translucent and soft .
7.Then add spices – Salt, Red Chili Powder, Cumin Powder, Ginger & Sugar.
8.  Mix well and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
9. Add in the Channas and mix and cook till the Squash is cooked all the way.
10. Turn off the flame and it’s ready to serve


Goes well with rice or roti.....................................................

IMPORTANCE OF FRIENDS IN LIFE AND TIPS TO MAKE GOOD FRIENDS

“Many people will walk in and out of your life; but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart."--

Friends are our truest treasures. How many times have they: Made us laugh when we felt like crying over a bad mistake?

Because friends accept us for who we are, we gain the confidence to dream great dreams—and to make them real. Friends liven up our days with their twisted humor, their honest answers, and their ability to bear our gloating when we beat them at golf or tennis. We can even trust them with our most embarrassing secrets! What a relief it is for us to reveal our true selves to someone!


It’s no wonder, then, that medical researchers have found that those who have friends tend to be happier, healthier, and live longer than those who do not. In fact, friendship has numerous physical and spiritual benefits.

TIPS FOR MAKING FRIENDS:

1. BE YOURSELF:

This may be the hardest part. Humans are social creatures; it's in our DNA to care about what others think of us. In the caveman days if we didn't get along or agree with others, it meant being ostracized. And being ostracized meant starvation & death. Thankfully times are different. But we are still influenced by our peers, thus the pervasiveness of peer pressure. Fight against it and be yourself. Only then will you truly find people who like you for you and not for who you pretend to be.

BE CONFIDENT

In my experience we all go up and down in how we feel about ourselves. If you're feeling bad about yourself, your chances of finding healthy friends is at risk. Take stock in yourself and make sure you feel good about yourself first. Only then can you radiate to others that you are someone worth knowing. If friendship is a two-way street, you are basically advertising: I am a good person and will add value to your life, just as you will add value to mine.

TAKE PART IN ACTIVITIES THAT INTEREST YOU

In doing so, you will find like-minded people and your comfort level will increase. And worst case, even if you don't, you are doing an activity that you enjoy. It's a win-win situation!

EXPAND YOUR COMFORT ZONE

On the other hand, move outside your safe "box." Some would say, think outside the box. I say, live outside the box, at least sometimes. Give yourself permission to do something a little crazy. Maybe it's sky-diving. Or taking a SCUBA-diving class. (That's my definition of outside the box; yours might be different.) Put your toe in the metaphoric pool and you may find others doing the same. Again, at worst, you will get your adrenaline pumping and give yourself an interesting experience.

DON'T TRY SO HARD

As I get older, I find the more & more I relax into something, the better I am at it. The more tense I am, the worse I am; I'm frustrated and in a bad mood and things don't work as well. I believe it's the same in friendships & relationships. Relax. Enjoy yourself and your surroundings WITHOUT the goal of having to achieve "meeting someone." It's great to have a goal in our lives. But human relationships aren't formed on a timeline. They evolve.

STAY IN SHAPE

No, this doesn't mean you need to be a "10" to meet people. It's more about your own self-esteem and making sure you keep yourself out of the doldrums. There are many things we can't control, but you can decide to take a jog or join a volleyball club for peace of mind and exercise.

ASK PEOPLE ABOUT THEMSELVES

Shy people often think they have nothing to say in a conversation. My advice is, Ask Questions! People love to talk about themselves and it keeps the pressure off you to be witty or do the work of keeping the conversation going. Where are you from? What do you do? Do you like where you live? What do you think about (insert current event)?

EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT CURRENT EVENTS

With the internet and TV, most people are up on world/national/local events. But if you're not, it never hurts to be "in the know" so that you can include yourself in those water-cooler conversations at work.

EXPLORE THE INTERNET

The internet is ripe with forums and social networking. If you can think of it, there is probably a chat room somewhere for you. There are two concerns, however. The internet is great for information and sharing; however, it also has its share of trolls and bad apples, so be careful. Even more important, in my opinion, is that it's easy to get sucked into being "social" on the internet. The point of the internet should not be your total social environment; it should be a jumping off point for you to socialize with actual human beings in the flesh & blood.

QUALITY NOT QUANTITY

Remember, friendships & relationships are not about numbers. If you only have one great friend, I think you've hit the jackpot





Sunday, March 20, 2011

Barvan Dum Aloo

Hi Guys,
I'm Veeru... Viju's husband.
Today Viju's kitchen was free for sometime, and I thought of preparing
some yummy Sunday Lunch for Viju. She Loves Potatoes.....
After some googling I got inspired by
Vah Chef Sanjay Thumma's Barvan Dum Aloo and decided to prepare
that, eventhough it is a long procedure, and complex for my cooking skills.
Here goes my preparation....




Ingredients:
Almonds -- 8 to 10
Chat Masala -- a pinch 
Chilli powder - to taste
Coriander powder -- 1 tbsp
Jeera -- 1 tbsp
Turmeric powder -- a pinch
Green chillis -- 4 

Biryani leaves -- 2 to 3
Javitri -- 1 to 2
Cloves -- 5 to 6
Elachi -- 8 to 10
Cardamom -- 2 sticks
Raisins -- 10 to 15 

Oil -- to fry
Onions -- 1 big
Tomoatoes -- 2 big
Corriander -- 5 to 6 strands 
Ginger Garlic paste -- 1 tsp


Preparation:
Barvan means stuffed.
For Barvan Dum Aloo, it's better if you select long potatoes as in the pic above, so that it is easier to stuff.

Cut the onion, green chillies, almonds and corrinader into small pieces  and keep them aside.
Grind the tomatoes to paste.
Peel the potatoes, and cut them into half.
Now scoop the potatoes so that are shallow in the centre.

Now take oil in a pan, and deep fry these shallow potatoes till golden brown.

Fry the scooped out aloo pieces as well. These are used for the stuffing.
Cut the almonds into pieces.
Chop the corriander, and the green chillies as well.
Now mix the almond pieces, chat masala,  raisins, chopped coriander, chopped green chillies to the  fried potato pieces, and mix them nicely till they are bound well together.

Now take a skillet, and pour a little oil.
Add the masala items(bay leaf, javitri, cloves, elachi) and fry a little.

Add the jeera seeds as well.
Now add the onion pieces, and fry them till golden brown.


Now add a little turmeric powder and ginger-garlic paste,and fry till the raw smell is gone.

Now add the corriander powder, tomato paste, chilli powder, salt,  and cook in simmer for a few minutes.

Now add little water, cover the skillet with a lid, and let it cook till the sauce is silky.

In the mean while, stuff the mixture prepared above into the fried shallow potatoes.


Now, put these potatoes carefully into the cooking sauce.
Let it cook for some time.
Make sure that the potatoes doesn't turn upside down. If not the stuff will get dissolved in the gravy.



Add the chopped corriander, and cook for few munites.

Yummy Barvan Dum Aloo is ready to serve.....

Goes good with Rice or Roti....



I hope she likes it........ :-)

Monday, March 7, 2011

TOOR DAL WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH KUTTU


INGREDIENTS:

Toor dal - 1cup
Butternut squash - 1cup (cut into cubes).


Channa dal - 2tbsp
Black pepper powder - 1/2tsp
Curry leaves
Haldi - pinch

FOR GRINDING:

Coconut grated -2tbsp
Red chillies dry - 4
Jeera - 1/4tsp

FOR SEASONING:

Mustard seeds - 1/4tsp
Urad dal - 1tsp
Hing - pinch
Oil - 1/2 tsp ( We can even use coconut oil  for seasoning)

METHOD:

1. Wash 1cup  toor dal  and add 3cups water and let it boil for three whistles.


2. Chop the butternut squash.


3. In a pan add 2tbsp of channa dal.


4. Add the chopped squash.


5. Now add 1cup of water.


6. Add a pinch of haldi and black pepper powder.


7. Mix them nicely and allow it to boil.


8. By the time the squash is boiling we can do the grinding part.
9. Take 2tbsp of grated coconut in a spice grinder jar.


10. Add 4 redchillies and jeera.


11. Grind them to a fine paste.


12. check weather the squash is boiled.


13. Then add the boiled dal.


14. Mix well nicely and add the grinded coconut paste.


15. Add the curry leaves.


16. Heat oil in a small pan for tadka.


17. Add mustard seeds and allow them to pop.


18. Now add urad dal and let it fry till golden brown colour.




19. Add pinch of hing.


20. Pour the tadka into the dal.


21. Mix well and allow it to boil for 3mins.


22. Now the dal is ready to serve...................................


This dal is very healthy. It is important to add all the squashes in our daily cooking......

Sunday, March 6, 2011

RADISH SAMBHAR

INGREDIENTS:

Radish - 150gms sliced
Toor dal - 1cup
Tamarind - lemon sized
Sambhar powder - 4tsp
Water - 3cups (for boiling dal)
Curry leaves - a sprig
Hing - pinch
Haldi - 1/4tsp

FOR TADKA :

Oil - 1tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2tsp
Methi seeds - 1/4tsp

METHOD:

1. Take 1cup of toor dal  wash the dal nicely.
2. Pressure cook the dal  for three whistles.


3. Soak the tamarind in water.


4. Slice the radish into thin slices.


5. Extract the juice from the soaked tamarind.

 

6.Add 4 tsp of sambhar powder  (I used homemade sambhar powder. Will post the recipe for that later) in the tamarind extract.





7. Mix the sambhar powder well.


8. Add a pinch of hing.


9. Add washed curry leaves, and salt.


10. Mix them well.


11. Add sliced radish to this mixture.


12. Allow it to boil.




13. In the mean time mash the cooked dal.


14. Once the radish is cooked add the mashed dal.


15. Take a small skillet and add oil for tadka.


16. Add mustars seeds and let then pop well.


17. Add  methi seeds and add the tadka to the sambar.


18. Yummy  radish sambhar is ready to serve................................