Simple Homemade Christmas Cake

It's Christmas again and the most beautiful time of the year!

Cakes, pastries, chocolates, yummy desserts, ice creams and what not! Just wish upon your lucky star and enjoy the season...let Santa bring you joy, fun and happiness!!!

And what's Christmas without cakes, right? So spend this festive season indulging in your favorite delicacies and just give a miss to your calorie thoughts!

This time of the year, I rustle up a simple cake which basically requires zero effort and minimum time, yet tastes great! And anyone who's a busybee like me, can delight their family on Christmas by whipping up this simple cake at home :)

You'll need : Plain flour - 2 cups, Sugar - 1 and 1/2 cup, Egg - 2, Refined oil or plain butter - 1/2 cup
Baking soda - 1 tsp, Milk - 1 cup, Vanilla or any essence of your choice. For garnishing: Almonds, raisins, pistachio, cherry etc.

Preparation: In a hollow bowl, mix flour and sugar together. Then add egg, refined oil or butter, baking soda and blend properly. Add milk and vanilla essence to whip up a thick batter. Pour the batter in cake oven and top it with almonds, pistachio, cherries and raisins. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 or 20 minutes.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!!

How to Keep Cool in Summer?

While there are thousands of ways to beat the heat, here are a few quick suggestions to keep summer heat at bay:

• Stay indoors as much as you can. If you must go out, use an umbrella and shades to keep your eyes and skin safe from the scorching sun!
• Have food that is easy on your stomach and avoid oily stuff as much as you can. Don't forget to drink lots of water and other fluids to keep yourself hydrated.
• Wear comfortable cotton loose fitting clothes. Stick to natural fabrics and avoid synthetics.
• Have fruits and plenty of fresh fruit juices.
• Have plenty of herbal tea with a dash of lemon
• Consume food and vegetable with high water content like melons, pears and grapes and vegetables like broccoli, cucumber, bitter gourd, and zucchini. Avoid spicy dishes.
• Take lots of curd daily. Alternatively, you can have flavoured yogurts.
• Yoga, brisk walking and freehand exercises are great to refresh your mind and body. Daily exercise would cool you from inside and take away your tensions.

So even if you hate summers like me, try these simple tips to make the most of this sultry summer!

Tidbits of Weight Loss!

Try these simple steps to kick start your weight loss regime!

• Just maintain a healthy workout schedule each day. Be mobile. Simple brisk walks or using exercise bikes or treadmills can do wonders to your health!
• Check what you eat. Watch every morsel that goes into your stomach. That way, you can curb down calories and add more green and healthy food to your diet. Eat lots of fruits and green veggies.
• It's okay to let go once in a while. Don't be frantic and stop eating everything! Eat in good proportions and at regular intervals. Try to eat at least 5 servings of food per day. Drink plenty of water in between.
• Get plenty of sleep. Studies have shown that sleep and weight loss are interconnected.
• Keep stress out of your life! Stress is one of the key factors for being obese. When you are stressed, you feel hungry and can't control your eating, which adds to your weight.

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!