Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Wheat Flour Ladoos
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Cooking isn't rocket science !!
Tomato Ketchup - 1 1/2 tsp
Monday, May 11, 2009
Beauty Parlour in your kitchen
- Cut the tomato and rub it on your face regularly after long exposure to sun and dirt, it will not only helps in removing tanning but will also replenish the skin with the lost moisture.
- watermelon juice when applied on face for 15 minutes and then wash with hot and cold water can give you relief from blemishes and leaving your skin fresh and lovely.
- Orange juice not only clears the face off black heads but it will also give you instant glow, dab your face with cotton dipped in orange juice let it dry then wash off with cold water, dried and powdered orange peel can be used face scrub when mixed with milk powder.
- Soak an almon overnight, remove outer skin make a paste with rose water and add milk powder to it apply it on your face in upward direction scrub it off after 15 minutes, use it regularly instead of using soap or face wash.
- Make a paste of nutmeg with sandalwood in either rosewater or raw milk this will make your skin pimple free,regular use will give a radiant glow to it.
- Dip a cotton in raw milk and rub it on your face in upward motion to clean your face off dust and dirt.
- Egg white can give you instant face lift all you have to do is add a few drops of lemon juice while whipping,apply this on your face and leave it for 15 minutes before washing with luke warm water for best results.
- Crushed Rose petals o/ rose water mixed with malai/cream is an excellent lip balm.
- Apply a pack of papaya pulp mix with gramflour(normal to dry skin) or with masoor dal(red lentil) for oily or pimple skin.
- Curd mix with milk powder(normal to dry skin) or with masoor dal for oily skin acts as detan.
- Fullers earth mix mix with yogurt and a spoonful of turmeric is a good massage pack for all skin type.
- Mix wheat bran, gramflour,yoghurt and a pinch of turmeric apply it on body let it dry then massage it using mustard oil and scrub off this pack in rotating movement,bran in this pack is meant to exfoliate and to give a glow.
- Coffee beans are excellent exfoliator use it in place of body scrub.
- Oatmeal is a blessing for oily skin mix it with egg white and apply.
- For uneven and dark skin mix dry orange peel wih neem powder,gram flour,lemon juice,glycerine and apply this pack let it dry and wash off.
- Masoor dal(red lentil) powder mix with a few drops of lemon,glycerine and a pinch of turmeric is also act as good body scrub.
- Take a spoonful of sugar granule on your palm add 2-3 drops of lemon and use it as hand scrub to scrub off excessive dryness and hardness of your hands.
- Scrub lemon rind on knees and elbows.
- Before going to bed wash your feet and apply vaseline, pull on the socks and witness smooth and happy feet the next morning.
- Add Vitamin-E capsule in your body cream keep your skin look healthy and supple.
- Want to stop premature greying of hair... then the best remedy is fenugreek/methi leaves, apply the juice of methi leaves like hair oil leave it for one day massage your hair with hair oil and after an hour wash it,sounds lil messy but i have seen this doing wonders on many people.
- For Dandruff mix 2 tsp of yoghurt with 1tsp of mustard oil massage it on your head wash off after 2 hour.
- Burn gooseberry/amla in an iron wok mix the ashes in coconut oil for making your hair black and shiny.
- Do a steam towel wrap after applying oil, once in a week to reverse the damage caused by chemical treatment such as perming,coloring,rebonding etc.
- Make a paste of henna in tea adding a 1tsp of coffee powder,1 egg white,juice of 1 lemon and a few drops of mustard or any hair oil, use it for coloring your hair.
- To give bounce to lifeless hair rinse your hair with vinegar, add a little vinegar to warm water and use it as final rinse.
- To add shine to your hair add a little honey in warm water and use it as final rinse.
- Glycerine is the best leave in conditioner, use it as you use any cosmetic leave in conditioner.
- Add 2-3 camphor in coconut oil bottle and use this to make your hair dandruff free.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Introduction to Indian Spices
In India a wide variety of spices are used, not only to add flavour and aroma to the dish but also to create a magical spell and herein lies the oriental charm of spices, however the magical spell doesn't have to refer to the supernatural alwayz, to turn a raw vegetable into a delicacy and the therapeutic power of indian herbs perfectly serves the purpose.Indian climate support the growth of array of spices,differrent parts of spice plants are used to add flavour and aroma to the dishes,leaves (bay leaves,curry leaves,peppermint leaves,basil etc.),roots(ginger,turmeric,garlic,onion,galangal),barks(cinnamon) flowers & fruits(mace,saffron,nutmeg,rose,juniper,kokam,vanilla etc) seeds(coriander,sesame,mustard,poppyetc.) some spices do not come from bark, seed,flowers or roots yet lend an incredible flavour and taste to the dishes they are arrowroot,asafoetida,cloves etc.
Ayurveda and Unani medicine has acknowledge the medicinal value of all these spices hence these spices serves a great purpose in our daily meal........below are some of these properties of most commonly used spices in every household as told by our moms.
Is a MUST in my kitchen apart from using it as a part of garam masala I use it as a facepack to make my skin look fresh and boil free, mix nutmeg powder and sandalwood powder in milk and apply directly on your face and wash off to witness problem free skin.
Onion seeds when consume regularly help relieve gas problems, flatulence and health problems, flatulence and strengthen the stomach. If consumed with honey, they can be beneficial in removing stones from the kidney and bladder. The powder of the seeds when consumed with water is excellent for hemorrhoids, excellent remedy for chronic cold when consumed with lil vinegar, ½ tsp boiled with water is good for relieving asthma related problems, boiled with vinegar and applied on gums can help to reduce inflammation and infection of gums and teeth. If consumed regularly onion seeds are very good in the treatment of migraine, palpitation and diabetes.
Saffron
Termed as a golden spice, saffron is indeed a very special and a precious spice which has numerous health benefits too. Saffron is not only used as flavoring and coloring agent in desserts and mughlai preparations but also is an integral ingredient in my regular facial pack, saffron with fullers earth is good for oily skin for people with normal to dry skin can use a few strands of saffron with sandalwood or milk powder to make their skin look healthy and fairer
I guess every kitchen in India has a jar of turmeric, turmeric is known for its amazing therapeutic value, besides being a must in almost every Indian preparation it is also used for reliving any internal and external injury, paste of turmeric with water is used for healing wounds, a spoon of turmeric added to lukewarm milk can keep a check on blood pressure, it also reduces activity of roundworms and intestinal worms.
Star Anise
Aids digestion, freshens bad breath, the oil is believed to relieve rheumatism
Sesame seeds contain sesamin and sesamolin, substances that is believed to prevent high blood pressure, and protect the liver against damage, Sesame seed is a good source of Vitamin E, that is why it can help strengthen the heart and the nervous system, Sesame oil can help remove wrinkles and other skin diseases when applied externally.
Poppy seeds are used as a home remedy for dysentery. About quarter teaspoon of the powder of poppy seeds are sauted to a golden brown in honey. Taken twice a day, it gives relief from the symptoms. As these seeds have a sedative effect, they should not be taken for more than three days continuously. Poppy seeds ground to paste with lime juice are effective when rubbed on the areas affected by dry itch
Is an excellent spice to use with milk and rice preparation apart from adding a sweet flavour to the dish it also refreshes the taste of it.
Garlic or the "bulb of life" as it was known to ancient Indian physicians, has been celebrated for its medicinal properties for centuries, traditionally used to treat asthma, deafness, and congestion ,Lowers cholesterol, blood pressure and relieves rheumatism, powerful detoxifier, rejuvenator, and cleanser for the blood
Fennel Seeds
Clove taste is aromatic and adds sweetness to breads and pies while imparting a lovely aroma to soups and spicy dishes. The health benefits of cloves include the prevention of toxicity from contaminants such as tetrachloromethane, cancers related to the digestive tract, and joint inflammation. In a number of medical studies, the essential oils of cloves are used in dentistry in coincidence with root canal treatment, short-term cavity fillings, and common gum ache.
I love my daily dose of butter and cinnamon spread on bread apart from great taste it also helps in fighting yeast infections in Vagina and Oral cavity, regular use can also keep stomach ulcers at bay.
I dont know how my kheer,phirnis,halwas and other savories will taste without adding a pinch of cardamom, it has great detoxifying properties and helps in cleansing the body it can help in preventing spasm, boosts blood circulation to the lungs thus small quantity of it is recommended to those sufferring from asthma and bronchitis.
Green Peppercorns once dried in the sun become black and when these black peppercorns are soaked in water, white peppercorns is the resulting seed after discarding the skin and pulp. It is also known as the king of spices Its anti bacterial properties are helpful in preventing diseases, improving digestion and apetite.
It acts as a good appetizer,imparts a specific aroma and taste to a wide variety of foods. It is popular in savoury snacks, breads and pastries. It has also excellent preservative medicinal properties. It eases asthma and indigestion. It also acts as a fungicide. It is an ancient custom in many cultures to give ladies who have just delivered bishop’s weed for a few days so any residue in the uterus is expelled and the air element is subsided. bishop’s weed, given with fennel and liquorice increase the flow of breast milk and purify the uterus.