Merry Christmas and New Year

Here's wishing all a fabulous Christmas, year end and a promising and rollicking new year ahead!

                       
                       Happy Holidays!!!

Where to Relish Delicious Chicken Pakoras in Calcutta

Calcutta is undoubtedly "The City of Joy"! Well...when it comes to taking pleasure in digging into mouthwatering delicacies, Calcutta or Kolkata is way ahead of other metro cities of India. I can go on and on with the essence of Kolkata fast foods, restaurants, where and what to eat and how to relish the magic and aroma of the mind boggling array of Kolkatan treats. I would start off with Chicken Pakora, which finds a special place in my heart, and I make no mistake to gorge on this blissfully delicious recipe once in a while! Although chicken pakora is a quintessential Indian recipe and available almost everywhere in India today, I really have no idea about its taste and way of preparation. I can only say that chicken pakoras in Kolkata are just out of this world and tastes heavenly!
                     
Here are my pick of some of the best chicken pakora outlets in Kolkata which are easy on your pocket:

• Bedwin
• Lazeez
• Bawarchi
• Kwality Restaurant
• Azad Hind Dhaba
• Bar B Q 
• Bedouin - Sher E Bengal
• Beijing
• Charcoal
• Charcoal Grill
• Chacha's Hotel
• Hatari
• New Punjabi Hotel & Restaurant
• Rahamania 
• Sabir  
• Sanjha Chula
• Canton

So go ahead and indulge in your favorite stop and gorge on their lip smacking chicken pakoras!

Monsoon Munchies

Now that the monsoons have finally set in, it's time to indulge in your favorite delicacies. Whether you love home cooked or street food, there are a whole lot of recipes to relish. This is the season to enjoy some of the yummiest of dishes: khichdi, fries, pakoras, rolls, kebabs, samosas, chats, roasted corns, momos and what not!  Prepare tasty dishes at home if you want to and enjoy with your dear ones on a rainy day. If you step outside and want to enjoy the fun, then gorge on pakoras, bhajis, pan-fried or deep-fried momos, vadas, pav bhajis, along with steaming cups of tea or coffee. Monsoon brings out our craving for having crispy treats and steaming hot and spicy food...so go ahead and make the most of this beautiful season!

Here's a nice video to set your taste buds rolling:)


Indian:
How To Make Onion Bhaji

Beat the Heat and Stay Cool!

Some more tips to beat the heat this season!

• Take at least 2-3 showers a day to stay cool. Add few drops of eau de cologne or fragranced essential oil in your bathtub or bucket water like peppermint, rose, sandalwood, lavender, ylang-ylang or jasmine to feel fresh and energized throughout the day!

• Create a soothing ambience in your bathroom. Light some scented candles, put on some light music and soak yourself in a tub of cold water for that ultimate relaxing effect. Use a loofah/scrubber and a soft, moisturizing bodywash to exfoliate dead cells off your skin. Sweat and extra secretion of sebum during summer makes our skin appear dull and lifeless. Exfoliate 2-3 days a week to reveal a radiant and youthful skin free from pimples, blackheads and pigmentation.

• Avoid spicy and heavy meals. Instead take lesser proportions of healthy food in short intervals to stay fit and active throughout the day. It is imperative to keep a light stomach during summers to keep lethargy at bay. Do not forget to drink plenty of water, fresh juices and lime water.

• Wear loose, natural fabrics and light colors to look and feel fresh. Dark colors absorb more heat. Stick to cotton and avoid synthetics, silks and other materials.

• Use a light, floral fragrance to feel fresh throughout the day. Carry one in your handbag and keep tissue papers handy to remove excess oil and sweat.

• Splash your face with icy cold water whenever you can. Alternatively, you can rub an ice cube on your face for that super cooling effect.

• Wear a sunscreen with SPF 30 or more during the day. If you are using makeup, apply a water-based foundation, light powder and waterproof eyeliner and mascara.

• Go for a swim if you can. Swimming is a great stress buster and cools you off instantly.

Think Cool and Stay Fit!

Stay Cool in Summer

How to stay cool and fit in summer? Million dollar question! As soon as summer arrives, we panic and start changing our daily food habit, minimize intake of eggs, meat, fried and other high calorie food, and do everything to stay cool and energized. Personally, I hate summer, irrespective of whatever seasonal delicacies it has to offer:) I cannot withstand the heat and sweat and keep on finding out interesting ways to beat the sweltering temperature outside. However, considering that we cannot escape summer woes, here are some ways by which one can stay cool during this season:

• Drink plenty of water and other fluids. 10-12 glasses of water is a must to stay fit and cool. Plain water is great; alternatively, water with lemon juice, sugar and a pinch of salt would work great! Fresh fruit juices, coolers, coconut water, green coconut water, aam panna, thandai, mocktails, lassi, jaljeera with a dash of lemon and mint are also wonderful refreshers and thirst quenchers! Hence, drink water and fluids as much as you can to stay cool and hydrated. However, keep intake of aerated drinks at bay, no matter how very enticing they might appear!

• Include salads in your daily diet. Come up with exciting new recipes. Go for fruit salads, if you like them. Salads are a great way to spice up summer and keep you fresh and rejuvenated day long!

• Exercise. Regular workouts are a surefire way to stay cool and fit, even during summers. Yoga, gymming, pilates, freehand exercises, swimming, kickboxing, walking, jogging, aerobics...just do it! Find your way to unwind. Choose the one that interests you. If you love sports, go for it. Regular exercising would flush out toxins from your body and keep you fit, energized, cool and confident. Combine workouts with deep breathing, meditation and pranayama for that extra zing!

• Mangoes are available aplenty this season. Include ripe or green mangoes in your diet. Lots of lovely recipes can be prepared with this delicious fruit, so make the most use of it.

• Keep lots of curd, lemon juice, watermelon, pineapple, cucumbers, neem, gourds, bitter gourds, pumpkins, spinach, drumsticks, green chilli, sweet potato etc. in your daily diet.

• Cut down on deep fries, meat, eggs, high protein and high calorie food, alcohol, soft drinks, junk food, salt, oily and fatty food, barbecued and roasted food. Eat food that is easy on your stomach.

Keep summer heat at bay...more coming up in next!

Hello Fellow Bloggers! Happy 2010!

Hello All,

I am back to blogging after a prolonged gap! I guess this break was much needed for me:) I managed to get my life arranged and back on track after some months of grueling job search and erratic schedule. Nothing was going my way. Eventually, I took the decision of moving out of the comfort zone of my nice, sweet home and beloved Kolkata. These days I have a second home in Bangalore, working and staying there on my own. I knew I had to, having no alternative option. This is my second going away from home, after my stay in the US back in 2003. I am not used to staying alone...rather I cannot stay. I miss my family, my dear ones, but I had to go. The job scenario was bleak in Kolkata and I had to take the decision of moving to Bangalore. It's a nice city, but I miss the bustling life of Kolkata. Moving to a new city entails a whole lot of problems and adversities. I had to handle those and get things organized. I took a break from everything--including my favorite writing and blogging. I did not even listen to music or watch movies. My life became constricted and I was left with no time. Thankfully, things are becoming normal now and I am back to pursuing my creative interests once again. I hope to regain those wonderful moments that shared with my dear blog friends!

Wish you all a happy and prosperous 2010!