time to lose happy weight

Hey Beautiful people,


Compliments of the season............Everyone has been gorging on the yummiest foods and sweetest sweets this holiday season, so i thought maybe i can share some easy and "homely" diet pointers

1. Add a dash of chilli to your meals, studies have shown that people burned almost twice calories when they increased the quoient of chilli in their meals their bodies became more efficient at burning fat.
2. Have Green tea after each meal, it helps u burn body burn fat and boosts metabolism
3. For egg lovers, instead of using 2 whole eggs make your omelette with 1 whole egg and 1 egg white
4. Sleep 8 hrs , the later u sleep the more you will tend to have mid night snacks
5. Make Low-fat Yoghurt for dessert, the calcium content may hinder fat storage and boost fat loss by tricking the metabolism into working overtime.
6. Add Cinnamon to your food or drinks, anti oxidants in cinnamon may prevent the formation of bad high blood sugar compounds.
7. Mutton lovers eat musrooms instead, it tastes almost the same and will keep you feeling full for a longer time.
8. Downsize your serving spoons, eating plates, bowls. You will automatically take small helpings.
9. Say no aerated bevarage and have calorie free drinks such as herbal teas.
10. Eat a salad before your main meal or a vegetable soup . But make sure its just vegetable soup no maida or corn starch.
11. Start your meal with a glass of water.
12. Go for walks, its pleasant almost every evening and mornings .
13. Eat every 3 hours , this will keep your blood sugar levels in check and u will not get any cravings.
14. Keep all the goodies out of your sight, crave - proof your home.
15. whenever u hungry in between meals eat fruits ,which are plenty this season.
16. Finally cut down sugar, or subsitute with brown sugar no sugar free please

SMALL CHANGES GO A LONG WAY

Berry cheese cake

BERRY CHEESECAKE

Ingredients

150g mixed seasonal berries(strawberry, blueberry, blackberries)

1 tbsp golden castor sugar

1 lemon zest and juice

4 ginger biscuits

2 tbsp icing sugar

1 tbsp butter

125g mascarpone

Preparation method

1. Heat the berries, caster sugar and one tablespoon of the lemon juice in a small pan, stirring well to combine, for 3-4 minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved and the berries have broken down. Set aside to cool.
2. Place the biscuits into a freezer bag and crush using a rolling pin until they resemble breadcrumbs.
3. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over a low to medium heat.
4. Mix together the crushed biscuits and melted butter in a bowl until well combined. Spoon the mixture into the bottom of two large serving glasses.
5. Place the mascarpone into a large mixing bowl and fold in the lemon zest, remaining lemon juice and icing sugar. Spoon the mascarpone into the glasses, then spoon over the berries and juice. Serve immediately

Zesting a lemon technique

Zest is the outer rind of citrus fruit. It contains aromatic essential oils. Remove the zest using a potato peeler, grater or zester, depending on how fine you want the zest to be. If removing the zest with a potato or vegetable peeler, slice it into long, thin strips with a sharp knife afterwards.

French fine dining experience at home

 A five-course french fine dining set up would comprise of s appetizers, soup,salad, main-course, dessert, wine, coffee and tea. It is a very elegant and classy affair, those who like entertaining should try it once . I will assist you with the appropriate table setting to accentuate the dining experience and  I would give you the full insight into the cutlery and crockery settings

 It is wonderful  to do a whole French style sit down course meal as it truly is the ultimate in dining elegance. Your table therefore, would definitely have to be a visual treat for your guests.  I would however like to stress though that there shouldn’t be too much happening as that could make it cluttered and become more of a distraction than an enhancement.

You could focus on one centre piece which could be a floral arrangement or you could do a combination of candles and flowers, if you have some lovely silver candle holders to show off.  You could of course have table mats with matching napkins folded in a decorative manner or neatly rolled up with some interesting napkin rings. Another option would be to have little place setting cards with your guest’s names written on them to indicate where each person would be seated. You could also have an individual motif like a little flower or candle votive for each  place setting.

As regards the cutlery and crockery, that would have to be arranged course wise. Traditionally the appetizer would be served first, followed by the soup, then the salad, main course and finally dessert. So the cutlery to be used up to the main course would be placed on either side of the plate and the dessert fork/spoon and a teaspoon for tea/coffee would have to be placed on top (space permitting). You will need to make sure that the correct knife is placed for the main course depending on whether you are serving poultry, meat or fish.

Appropriate wine glasses would be placed on the right hand side as well depending on whether you are serving red or white wine. If different wines are going to be served then the glasses should be changed accordingly. If you’re serving champagne then you would also require a champagne flute. Make sure all the alcohol is served at the right temperature. Red wine at about 19 or 20 degrees and white wine and champagne, chilled. Salt and pepper shakers can also be placed on the table and should be easily accessible.

Apart from being beautifully decorated do keep in mind that the entire setting needs to be functional as well, your guests should have adequate room to maneuver around the table and not be worried about knocking things over. So in conclusion your focus should be on your guests having a memorable and relaxed evening over an elegantly planned soiree.

Hope you will have fun setting it up as i have enjoyed writing it down for you

keep smiling

     

 

cocktails !!!

 

 
 HOT TODDY
Ingredients
1. 2 measures Scotch whisky
2. 1 teaspoon honey
3. ½ measure freshly squeezed lemon juice
4. 250 ml hot water
5. 1 green tea bag
Preparations
1. Add the honey and lemon juice to a mug and warm in the microwave for 30 seconds, or until the honey becomes very runny.
2. Pour the hot water into the mug and add the green tea bag. Leave the bag to infuse for 2 minutes, before gently squeezing against the side of the mug with a teaspoon and removing.
3.      Add the Scotch whisky to the honey, lemon and green tea, and stir well.
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WHISKEY SOUR (you can use any other base liquor for sour experience)
Ingredients:
1. 25ml whiskey
2. 25 ml lemon juice
3. 2 tsps  sugar syrup
Preparation:
1. Pour the bourbon, lemon juice, and sugar syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
2. Shake well.
3. Strain into a chilled  glass.
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WHISKEY LIMEY
Ingredients:
1. 25ml bourbon, rye or blended whiskey
2. club soda
3. ginger ale
4. lemon twist for garnish
Preparation:
1. Fill a highball glass with ice and add bourbon.
2. Fill with equal parts club soda and ginger ale.
3. Stir and garnish with a lemon twist.
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WHISKEY ROYALE
Ingredients
1. 25ml measure of Scotch Whisky,
2. dash of apple schnapps (or clear apple juice),
3. ginger ale,
4. sliced green apple,
5. crushed ice.
Preparation
1. Half fill a chilled champagne flute with crushed ice.
2. Pour in the Scotch Whisky and then the apple schnapps.
3. Top up with ginger ale.
4. Place a slice of green apple into the drink.
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RED SCOTCH
Ingredients
1. 25ml of scotch whiskey
2. tomato juice
3. juice of half lemon
4. Worcestershire sauce
5. Tabasco sauce
Preparations
1. Shake together 25ml measure of Scotch Whisky, tomato juice, juice of half a lemon, dash of Worcestershire sauce, dash of Tabasco sauce.
2.  Fill a glass with ice and pour the mixture over and decorate with freshly ground black pepper.
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GREEN MIST
Ingredients
1. 25ml measure of Scotch Whisky,
2. 1 measure of Crème de Menthe
3. juice of a quarter of a lemon
 Preparations
1. . Shake the ingredients and strain into a cocktail glass.
2. Decorate with a slice of kiwi fruit and a sprig of mint.
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HELLO ALL HAVE FUN WITH THE COCKTAILS !!!!!!!!

healthy mithai for diwali

Beetroot Halwa Recipe

Ingredients

1 kg beetroot
1 1/2 litre milk
400-500 gm sugar
elaichi powder (cardamom)
saffron few flakes
1 tbsp ghee

Method

Peel and grate beetroot.
Put milk and beetroot in a heavy saucepan.
Boil till thick, stirring occasionally.
Once it starts thickening, stir continuously.
Add sugar and cook further till thickens.
Add ghee, elaichi, saffron and colour.
Stir on low heat till the mixture collects in a soft ball or the ghee oozes out.
Serve hot, decorated with a chopped almond or pista.

Carrot Burfi

Ingredients

carrots 5 lbs
sugar 2 cups
milk powder 2 cups
butter 1/2 lb
cottage cheese 16 oz

Method

Cook grated carrots and sugar together in a heavy bottom pan till done.
In another pan fry the butter and cottage cheese and then add the milk powder and cook
until the mixture leaves the side of the pan.
Then add the cooked carrots to the cheese-milk powder mixture and cook for another 5
minutes.
Butter a large cookie sheet or thali and coat it with butter or ghee. Spread the cooked
mixture on the cookie sheet.
Put some silver foil sheets on the burfi. Cut it into squares or diamonds when it cools.
Put the burfi in the fridge and it will keep for a month.


Hope you like these recipes,
Keep Smiling

party invitations

The first thing about a party is the invitation, there are a lot of ways to invite people over for a party . Its up to you what sort of impression you want to create. What is the right approach while sending out invites; personalised letters that are handwritten with a message or computerised labels and printed letterheads?  What would be the more sensible approach to create the right impression for invitees? Is a pre-invite required at all? We rely on a casual sms or a telephone call or a common mail for invite , but just imagine if you get a mail and you get a handwritten invite by post, which one would u feel more "invited"

The approach would depend on what kind of event you are planning. Hand written notes are great for dinner parties and smaller events. Points to remember when writing them is to mention individual names of the invitees, time and place as well as a RSVP or someone they could get in touch with if required. Also invites need to go out a week in advance and if it is a more formal event then you could even mention a dress code. The written invitation can then be followed up with a phone call. However, do refrain from inviting people solely over a telephone call. In contrast invites for bigger functions like weddings would obviously have to be printed. Printed letterheads are fine as well. Labels can be computer printed but make sure the font used is big enough and clearly legible with names and addresses correctly spelt as well as a return address if un delivered. I do recommend a pre invite so that people can block off their dates in advance during a busy social season and it will also help your event/function to be well attended. 

A telephonic or e-mail reply would be the simplest and most effective means of an RSVP though if you do want to get creative you could have little “Reply Cards” (with pre paid postage) printed that could be delivered with the invitations that the guests would mail back to you later with their response. Alternatively you could send them a little reminder like small box of chocolates or sweets to remind them of the upcoming event and maybe that could prompt an RSVP from their end. 

 Is there any importance of a Thank you note after attending a party or event?

It is mandatory to thank your host post the event whether with a thank you note, a phone call or even via a sms. Personally hand written notes are always the best option. While writing the thank you note remember to address it to your host and hostess. If there are multiple people hosting the event then each person merits an individual note. You can thank them for a great evening and also compliment them on the success of the event and sign off with your name at the end. 

So get creative and start inviting!
Keep smiling

planning the perfect vacation

Hello all,
I am just back from a lovely weekend , spend with my lovely family. I feel an average middle class family should be able to afford 1 abroad holiday, 1 week-long vacation and couple of mini breaks (when my husband reads this he will say "yes Preya, i get the message loud n clear"). But seriously we  can manage all of this ....let me give u some tips

• Mark out holidays on your calendars, festival time, school/college breaks , leanest work weeks
• Where would you like to go?adventure, beach, sightseeing, pilgrimage?
• Fix a budget, once the place  and no of days are decided.Keep in mind travel expenses, hotel stay, food, sightseeing, shopping, visa and travel insurance if going abroad.Minimise travel expenses by planning off season.
• If travelling with children , keep in mind time zones(abroad). Take a package tour, in this way your day to day itinerary is taken care of. Ask friends who have children to join you, it works great as your children have company and you get some time to put your feet up.
• if u intend to plan your on vacation go to websites like www.makemytrip.com, www.yatra.com, www.tripadvisor.com, www.lonelyplanet.com,
• Avoid carrying too much cash, travellers' cheques, debit cards and credit cards are safer options.
• Carry a few extra copies of all your documents . Let your family or friends back home know of your travel plans, itinerary , hotel nos, flight schedules just in case.
• keep a printed copy of your name , passport no and telephone no in your kids' pockets or their backpack.
• Do your health checkup before you leave and check on the place you visiting if it has been affected by any epidemic or any viruses.

A VACATION IS AN EXPERIENCE WHICH SETS IN BEFORE YOU EVEN LEAVE, SO MAKE IT MEMORABLE !!

Keep Smiling