PREPARE YOUR SELF FOR THE BIG DAY

Few days to go and the excitement is in the air. Before you attend a New Year party, prepare yourself for the big day.  

We will begin with our hands and feet.

·         Begin with clearing off the nail polish on the cuticles or around the nails.

·         Make a lotion from 1tbs olive oil and 4tbs of lemon juice- massage onto nails, on your hands and feet. The massage movements should be firm and continuous, which is good for blood circulation.

·         Take a steam towel to wrap your hands and feet this gives sheens to your nails and prevents from drying.

·         You may also get professional manicure and pedicure done.

·         Use just one coat of polish and the final coat and top coat should be applied on the eve of the party

·         And more importantly when you are not in rush allow time for drying so that the polish doesn’t smudge.

·         If you notice puffiness on your eye lids or under eyes, take chilled milk pads press over the eye lids and gently press with muslin cloth works wonder.

·         I  remember one of   my    friend   whenever we used to  plan to go out her father used to give  her a special eye bath  to her beautiful green  colored  eyes using a cup of  rose water  bending  the head and letting  the eyes bath using blinking  movements in order to clear the dust and dirt.

·         To   freshen, repeat with clean rose water with other eye. See yourself and enjoy the cleansing of your eyes.

·         Your hair needs the extra sheen to exhibit healthy and well maintained.

·         In a huge bowl pour 1cup yogurt, 2tbs vinegar, 1tbs castor oil, 1tbs glycerin and few drops of rose water.

·         Beat   this into a rich creamy paste. Get into dry bath tub; lavishly apply this to your body including face and hair.

·         Take 2 steam towels to wrap one to the hair making a turban and larger use Turkish bath rob to wrap your body.

·         Allow the warms steam to into your body it works as a rich body and hair conditioner and improves the dry skin and the hair.

·         Yogurt is rich in proteins and helps to add sheen to your body and hair.

·         Castrol oil is rich in oil which adds sheen to skin and hair.

·         Glycerin which is moisturizing to the skin also removes the tan from the skin

·         Vinegar conditions and improves dry and itchy skin and hair.

·         Leave this beauty treatment on the body until the towel gets cold.

·         Start the warm shower without   unwrapping yourself let the warm water work on your body.

·         Repeat this treatment before the day you are partying.


·     t Try your make up; rehearse with your outfit and makeup. After all you want to look good and feel good.

For a bride to be repeat this treatment a month in advance twice or thrice a week it is very beneficial.


TWO DAY BEAUTY MASK

On the first day

·         After  washing  and steaming your face pat it dry with soft towel

·         Now rub some beetroot juice on your face and leave it for 10minutes.

·         Then smear your face 10minutes with full cream and whip your face with cotton balls

·         Finally wash it with cold water.

On the second day

·         After washing and steaming your face with a piece of cucumber in the steaming water

·         Cover your face with warm honey and leave it for half an hour

·         Now rub full cream with few drops of lemon juice

·         Wash with Luke   warm water.

Enjoy

Mama

I think Dron is going to have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas  is the most important time of the year 

when it comes to kids  presents. Parents, Grand

 parents, friends and relatives must think of the 

best childrens Christmas gift ideas for to please the 

receivers. There are several routes that one can 

take -


when thinking of kids gift ideas. One could 

choose creative gift ideas children or commercial

 gift ideas for children. The route one decides to go 

will depend on the recipient and his or her

 personality.

 The following are ideas for presents for children that will bring a smile

on Toddler boys are easy to please. They like colorful things that can move 

fast. Therefore, trains, cars and trucks make the very best toddlers  

gifts Xmas for boys. Additionally, toddler boys enjoy building blocks, as they 

like to create things with their hands.

A great idea for a gift for a toddler girl is a doll set or a  cooking set. 

 The sets can help little girls develop their sense of beauty 

and Toddler boys and girls both could benefit from

 Computerized learning games and flash cards as they can begin 

preparing themselves for school.In addition to his gifts ,I will do small 

stocking like I used to do for my daughters with a red lored balloons ,so

I am thinking of getting some red colored balloons to tie on my

grandson's high chair to make 

Christmas morning a little extra special.My grandson love cars and 

pretty pages,the alphabets puzzle and crayons are going to be not only 

fun for him,but educational so he can keep working on his alphabet and 

growing that little creative side.

I think Dron is going to have a very Merry Christmas!!

TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS CAKE

   INGREDIENTS

        250 gms  flour

        5 eggs

       1/2 cup milk (optional)

       1 small cup brandy

         375 gms unsalted butter

       325 gms brown sugar

       4tbs treacle obtained by browning sugar

      2tsp baking powder

       ½ tsp cinnamon powder

     ½ ginger powder or fresh ginger finely grounded

       ¼ tsp nutmeg powder

     ½ tsp salt

     Rind of 1 orange and lemon

     375 gms of dried mixed fruits

METHOD

   Sieve the flour thrice with the baking powder  

     Cream the butter till it become very fluffy and light

    Mix the brown sugar with grated rind of orange, lemon, ginger, cinnamon powder, nutmeg powder and salt

     Add the egg one by one with some of the sieved flour

   Beat well when the egg is added

   Add the browned sugar liquid  (take 5tsp of sugar. Fry it into a dark brown and little water. Add to the cake mix. Allow to cool)  

     Beat well with wooden spoon in one direction only

     While beating add the brandy

     The batter should be at the dripping consistency (if necessary add the milk or water at room temperature)

    Bake for 30-35 minutes

TO MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE PREPARE ALMOND PASTE ICING

INGREDIENTS

·     ¼ cup icing sugar

·     1tbs brandy

·     1 tsp vanilla essence

·     2 tsp lemon juice

·     1 Egg White

·     150 gms blanched and powdered almonds

METHOD

    Mix almond paste, castor sugar, lemon juice and brandy.

    Take an egg white, make a smooth paste and mix with all the ingredients

     Spread the paste in the middle of the cake in a circular design and keep the cake in the oven for 8-10 minutes

CARROT & DATE CAKE IN WHOLE MEAL FLOUR

INGREDIENTS

·     ¼ kg carrot (grated)

·     ¼ kg dates (grated)

·     1 ½ cup sugar

·     3 eggs

·     2 cups whole meal flour

·     1 ½ cup refined oil

·     1tsp vanilla essence

·     1tsp cinnamon powder

·     ¼ tsp nutmeg powder

·     1 ½  tsp soda bicarbonate

METHOD

·     Mix sugar and oil

·     Beat eggs

·     Mix all the other ingredients fold it in a egg mix

·     Bake it in a hot oven for nearly 30 to minutes.

MAWA CUP CAKE

INGREDIENTS

·     ½ cup mawa

·     1 cup all purpose flour

·     1/3 cup milk

·     ¼ cup  butter

·     1 cup sugar

·     3 eggs

·     ½ tsp baking powder

·     ½ tsp nutmeg

·     15 butter paper cups

METHOD

·     Mix mawa, milk & nutmeg. Soak for ½ hour

·     Sift flour and baking powder twice

·     Beat cream, butter and sugar, till it becomes light and fluffy

·     Beat the eggs

·     Mix flour and egg slowly

·     Pour in a butter paper cups and bake for 5-6 minutes

EGGLESS  CAKE

INGREDIENTS

·     2 ½ cup maida

·     1 cup sugar

·     2 cups butter

·     1 cup dates

·     ½ cup nuts

·     ¾ cup curds

·     1 cup milk

·     1 tsp vanila essence

·     ¾ tsp soda bicarbonate

·     ½ tsp salt

METHOD

·     Beat butter and add milk, sugar and rest of the ingredients combined with flour

·     Bake for 30 minutes

THINGS TO REMEMBER

        Always have a correct proportion

     For fluffier cakes, beat the butter & sugar more

      If the batter is too thick, add milk

     For richer cakes, add candid fruits/ peel sprinkled with flour

      Hotter the oven richer the cake is, bake small cake in the top of the oven or hottest part but use the large cake in the middle of the oven

      Keep the utensils & ingredients ready before you start the preparation

      Line the tins carefully

      Prepare oven to the correct temperature

      Do not melt fat (butter, ghee etc), beat it.

     Make sure you obtain proper consistency

11  Do not open oven unnecessarily

12  Allow cake to cool on a rack, where there is circulation of air. This will help in the cake to come out of the tin easily  

A traditional rich Goan dessert, Bebinca

Bebinca is a must have at any celebration be it a birth, wedding, Christmas or Easter! Making Bebinca requires patience - a layer can only be added when the one below it is cooked - but the end result is well worth the effort. Traditional Bebinca has 16 layers, but you can make as many as you like.

Ingredients:

·         250 gms plain flour

·         700 ml coconut milk

·         2 cups sugar

·         2 dozen egg yolks

·         1 1/2 cups ghee (clarified butter)

·         Almond slivers to garnish

Preparation:

·         Mix the coconut milk and sugar together and stir till the sugar is completely dissolved.

·         In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks till creamy.

·         Add the coconut milk and mix well.

·         Add all the flour to this, a little at a time, making sure that no lumps are left.

·         Pre-heat your grill.

·         Put a tablespoonful of ghee in a baking pan (any shape) at least 6" deep. Put this pan under the grill till the ghee melts.

·         Take it out from under the grill and pour some of the prepared batter into it to form a 1/4" thick layer. Put back under the grill and cook till the top is golden. Monitor frequently.

·         Remove from under the grill and immediately add another tablespoonful of ghee on the previous layer. It will melt.

·         Now pour another layer of batter of the same thickness as the previous one. Cook under the grill till golden.

·         Keep repeating the layering process till all the batter is used up.

·         The last layer must be ghee. When it is done, turn the Bebinca over on a flat dish and garnish with almond slivers.

·         Cut into slices and serve warm or cool.

Merry Christmas!

SHRIMP SPECIAL (dedicated to Solme Shetty)

SHRIMP SALAD

INGREDIENTS

·         10-15  medium size Prawns

·         4 tbsp  Mayonnaise

·         1 bunch Spring onion

·         2 tsp  Pepper powder

·         Salt to taste

METHOD

·         Boil prawns adding little salt to it, strain and keep aside

·         Mix mayonnaise with chopped spri ng onion & pepper and finally add prawns

·         Serve cold

FRIED SHRIMPS

INGREDIENTS

·         1 kg Prawns

·         2 tsp Worcestershire  sauce

·         1/2tsp Turmeric powder

·         2tbs Vinegar

·         3 tsp  Pepper powder

·         2 Egg white (beat egg white)

·         Salt to taste

·         1 cup fine Ground nut powder

METHOD

·         Clean prawns and put it in a strainer to remove excess water

·         Add salt to it

·         Marinate prawns in Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, pepper powder and egg whites

·         Dip the prawns in groundnut powder

·         Thread the prawns in a skewer (5’’ 8’’length)

·         Deep fry prawns to a crispy golden brown

·         Garnish with spring onions, if required

SHRIMP KEBABS stuffed with Green Chutney

INGREDIENTS

·         1 kg medium size Prawns

·         2 Eggs

·         Turmeric powder

·         Salt to taste

·         Oil for frying

·             

METHOD

·         Clean the prawns and put it in a strainer to squeeze the water from the prawns

·         Rub with a big pinch of salt and turmeric powder

·         The paste should be very dry  (don’t add water while grinding)

·         Grind to a paste and keep aside

·        Prepare the green chutney

·         Make a ball of prawn mix and fill the green chutney inside the prawn paste

·         Cover it neatly, so chutney does not come out of the surface

·         Take a deep pan filled with oil  

·         Dip the kebabs in the whipped egg

·         Fry till golden brown

INGREDIENTS for Green Chutney

·         1 bunch of Mint and Coriander leaves

·         2  inches Ginger

·         8  flakes of Garlic

·         8  green Chilies

·         little  Tamarind

·         Salt to taste

METHOD for Green Chutney

·         Grind all the ingredients together

    

PRAWN VINDOLA

INGREDIENTS

·          1kg Prawns

·         1 tsp Turmeric powder

·         ½ tsp Mustard seeds

·         1 large Onion

·         12 Red chilies

·         5- 6 Garlic flakes

·         1 tsp Cumin powder

·         ½ cup Oil

·         ½ cup Vinegar

·         ½ tsp Sugar

 METHOD

·         Grind  onions, chilies , garlic, cumin and mustard with vinegar ( ¼ cup)

·         Heat oil in a pan and fry the ground masala in a low fire, till the oil leaves the  masala

·         Put prawns and the left over vinegar, add salt to taste and sugar

·         Cook in a very low flame, until the prawns is cooked.

·         Serve hot with bread or rice

PRAWN IN COCONUT MILK

INGREDIENTS

·         ½  kg Prawns

·         1 inches piece Ginger

·         4 cloves of Garlic

·         2 Cloves

·         1 Onion chopped

·         2 tsp  Tomato puree

·         4 Green Chilies (slit lengthwise)

·         2 tsp Red chilly powder (optional)

·         3  tbsp Oil

·         1cup thick Coconut milk

·         Coriander leaves (chopped)

·         ¼ tsp Turmeric powder

·         Salt to taste

METHOD

·         Clean the prawns

·         Rub turmeric powder and salt

·         Marinate with ground ginger, garlic (freshly grounded ginger-garlic paste) and red chilly powder

·         Heat oil, put chopped onions and  fry the onion until it turns transparent

·         Fry  slit green chilies

·         Add the tomato puree

·         Finally add marinated prawns

·         Let it blend with prawns in a low fame, cook till the prawns are done

·         Pour coconut milk and let it boil for sometime

·         Sprinkle with coriander leaves

·         Serve with rice

SHRIMP BIRYANI

INGREDIENTS

·         1 kg big size Prawns

·         2 cups Basmati rice

·         3 big Onions

·         2 inch piece Ginger

·         7-8 Green chilies

·         1 tbs Coriander seed

·         8 Pepper corns

·         2 tsp  Cumin seed  (jeera)

·         5-6 flakes of Garlic

·         3 big Onions

·         3 Cloves

·         2 pieces  Cinnamon

·         2 green Cardamom

·         ½ cup thick Curds

·         8- 10 Almonds

METHOD

·         Grind to a fine paste of ginger, chili, coriander seeds, pepper, garlic and one onion

·         Slice 2 onions thinly and fry into a golden brown to garnish (keep aside)

·         Wash and drain the rice and soak enough water to soak for 2 hours (the rice becomes double the size)

·         Drain the rice and keep aside

·         Shell out, clean  and wash the prawns and rub in ½ tsp salt and turmeric powder

·         Take a  thick bottom vessel, put ghee and add the cinnamon, cloves and green cardamom  and fry for a minute

·         Put chopped onions and fry till it is transparent

·         Add grounded  masala  fry for a minute

·         Finally add  the rice and prawns fry a little lightly without breaking the rice

·         Put salt and cover the lid let it cook till  the rice is half done  (approximately with 2 cups of boiling water)

·         When it is half done, add the thick paste of almonds with curds. stir lightly

·         Pour 2tbs of ghee and cover the lid

·          Seal the edges and put it in an oven till the edges are baked

·         Garnish with fried onions and dry grapes

·         Serve hot  with raita

Enjoy

Mama