Simple art with a touch of technology... Enjoy!
Monday 2 August 2010
Sunday 1 August 2010
Needle wonders
I enjoy trying new things with my new Singer Inspiration sewing machine that my husband bought me for my birthday. Excellent for the beginners like me. Will post the full layout soon...
Kids sports drawstring bag
Messenger bag
Kids sports drawstring bag
Messenger bag
Wednesday 16 June 2010
Scrumptious Muffins
Ingredients:
Plain flour - 2 cups
Sugar - 3/4 cup
Milk - 3/4 cup
Sunflower or Vegetable oil - 1/2 cup
Egg - 1 no
Lemon juice - 8 tspns
Baking powder - 2 tsp
Salt - 1 tsp
Preparation Method:
Rub all the dry ingredients first and add the others together. Thoroughly mix them with the wooden spoon and don't worry about the lumps. Spoon the mixture in the muffin cases that are lined on the tray and cook them in the preheated oven to 180°C for 30 minutes. Cool them and serve.
Other suggestions:
The basic recipe is the same for all types of muffins. Can add crushed blueberries (250g) while rubbing the dry ingredients for blueberry muffins. Add 1/2 cup of cocoa powder, 1 1/2 cups of plain flour, 1/2 cup of sugar (other ingredient amounts are the same) for chocolate muffins. Can make strawberry, cranberry, orange muffins and so on. Enjoy!!!
Plain flour - 2 cups
Sugar - 3/4 cup
Milk - 3/4 cup
Sunflower or Vegetable oil - 1/2 cup
Egg - 1 no
Lemon juice - 8 tspns
Baking powder - 2 tsp
Salt - 1 tsp
Preparation Method:
Rub all the dry ingredients first and add the others together. Thoroughly mix them with the wooden spoon and don't worry about the lumps. Spoon the mixture in the muffin cases that are lined on the tray and cook them in the preheated oven to 180°C for 30 minutes. Cool them and serve.
Other suggestions:
The basic recipe is the same for all types of muffins. Can add crushed blueberries (250g) while rubbing the dry ingredients for blueberry muffins. Add 1/2 cup of cocoa powder, 1 1/2 cups of plain flour, 1/2 cup of sugar (other ingredient amounts are the same) for chocolate muffins. Can make strawberry, cranberry, orange muffins and so on. Enjoy!!!
Sunday 30 May 2010
Feed your eyes...
Tomato & Basil Soup with Garlic Baguette
Chana dal vada
Carrot cake
Kids Sweet and Sour Chicken meal
Crispy Salmon Fish Cake
Tomato Basil Pasta
Vegetable Cutlet
Simply funny to count biscuits...
Coconut Burfi
Tomato Dosa with Coriander Chutney
Spicy Masala Puri
Lemon muffins
Blueberry muffins
Urad Dal Vada
Mee Hoon (Rice Vermicelli with prawns and white beech mushrooms)
Coffee cake
Chana dal vada
Carrot cake
Kids Sweet and Sour Chicken meal
Crispy Salmon Fish Cake
Tomato Basil Pasta
Vegetable Cutlet
Simply funny to count biscuits...
Coconut Burfi
Tomato Dosa with Coriander Chutney
Spicy Masala Puri
Lemon muffins
Blueberry muffins
Urad Dal Vada
Mee Hoon (Rice Vermicelli with prawns and white beech mushrooms)
Coffee cake
Wednesday 26 May 2010
Healthy and yet tasty Seekh Kebab
Ingredients:
Lamb mince - 500g
Onions - 2 smaller ones (ground it to a paste, WITHOUT adding water)
Garlic paste - 2 tsp
Chilli/Paprika powder - 1 tsp
Cumin powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Garam masala powder - 1 tsp
Kebab spice mix (optional)
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Salt - as required
Lemon juice - 2 tsp
Mint (can use either fresh or dried ones)
Oil - 2 tspns (just to bind everything together)
Spring onions - As required for garnishing
Preparation Method:
1) On a bigger bowl, thoroughly mix all the ingredients with the lamb mince.
2) This recipe does not require marination.
3) Then divide the mixture and gently form a long sausage shaped kebabs on the skewers. Place the skewers on the grill rack (over the roasting tray). Keep them aside for 5-10 mins.
4) Preheat the oven to 180°C & cook the kebabs for 60 minutes, turning it 3-4 times in the middle.
5) If grilling: 180°C for 40 minutes on the top rack, turning it 3-4 times in the middle.
6) Once the kebab is cooked with the dark brown colour, take them out. All the fat from the meat is collected on the roasting tray, leaving the kebab healthy yet delicious.
7) Serve hot with chopped spring onions or mint or coriander yoghurt.
Other suggestions:
1) Can be generous while adding mint for better flavour.
2) If using wooden skewers, soak them in water overnight or atleast an hour & pat dry just before using it. This holds up the meat while cooking, without dropping them down.
3) Can also freeze the uncooked kebab mixture & cook them when required. While doing this, divide the mixture into meatballs or press them on the skewers and freeze. But, don't refreeze the mince that has already been frozen.
Lamb mince - 500g
Onions - 2 smaller ones (ground it to a paste, WITHOUT adding water)
Garlic paste - 2 tsp
Chilli/Paprika powder - 1 tsp
Cumin powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Garam masala powder - 1 tsp
Kebab spice mix (optional)
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Salt - as required
Lemon juice - 2 tsp
Mint (can use either fresh or dried ones)
Oil - 2 tspns (just to bind everything together)
Spring onions - As required for garnishing
Preparation Method:
1) On a bigger bowl, thoroughly mix all the ingredients with the lamb mince.
2) This recipe does not require marination.
3) Then divide the mixture and gently form a long sausage shaped kebabs on the skewers. Place the skewers on the grill rack (over the roasting tray). Keep them aside for 5-10 mins.
4) Preheat the oven to 180°C & cook the kebabs for 60 minutes, turning it 3-4 times in the middle.
5) If grilling: 180°C for 40 minutes on the top rack, turning it 3-4 times in the middle.
6) Once the kebab is cooked with the dark brown colour, take them out. All the fat from the meat is collected on the roasting tray, leaving the kebab healthy yet delicious.
7) Serve hot with chopped spring onions or mint or coriander yoghurt.
Other suggestions:
1) Can be generous while adding mint for better flavour.
2) If using wooden skewers, soak them in water overnight or atleast an hour & pat dry just before using it. This holds up the meat while cooking, without dropping them down.
3) Can also freeze the uncooked kebab mixture & cook them when required. While doing this, divide the mixture into meatballs or press them on the skewers and freeze. But, don't refreeze the mince that has already been frozen.
Wednesday 24 March 2010
Common Pregnancy Discomforts
Feeling sick
This is a common pregnancy symptom that will probably improve on its own within 16-20 weeks. Even in extreme cases, this will not complicate your pregnancy and may strike at any time of day. It may be mild queasiness for some women, but many feel waves of nausea all the time and cannot even eat. To make things worse, nobody really knows what causes it, but experts believe rise in hormone levels are to blame and the sickness usually disappears once it settles down.
Coping tips:
1. Nibbling a biscuit and drinking ginger tea in bed before wake up feels better.
2. If cooking smell triggers your nausea, try eating salad leaves and fruits.
3. Sipping fluids throughout the day will prevent dehydration.
Feeling tired
Pregnancy is exhausting and if nausea gets worse, you get over-tired. You may feel a fraud when you’ve got nothing to show for it, but your body is putting loads of energy to nourish your growing baby.
Coping tips:
1. Eat regularly to keep up your energy levels.
2. Get plenty of sleep and rest whenever you can.
Tender breasts
Heavy and tender breasts make pregnancy miserable for some women.
Coping tips:
1. Wear a well-supporting maternity bra.
2. Avoid tight clothes.
Feeling faint
You could feel light-headed or actually faint especially when you stand up suddenly. This is due to the direct effect of hormones of pregnancy. Your body is using up extra energy too and this can also cause faintness.
Coping tips:
1. Don’t go too long between meals.
2. Try a cheese sandwich, a piece of fruit, or a glass of milk, but avoid sugary foods which could make the problem worse.
3. Snacking on healthy starchy carbohydrates can top-up your blood sugar level.
Bleeding
Some light bleeding is not unusual in the early weeks of pregnancy, which is caused by the embryo implanting in the uterus. Usually light spotting or dark brown bleeding with mild cramps is not considered as a major problem. Unfortunately bleeding is sometimes a sign of miscarriage, if it is accompanied by clots and severe cramps.
Coping tips:
1. Call your doctor or midwife straight away, even if the bleeding stops.
2. You may need a scan in Early Pregnancy Unit to make sure your baby is ok.
Heartburn
It is an unpleasant burning sensation in your stomach, sometimes rising up into your throat, which has nothing to do with your heart!
Coping tips:
1. Eat little and often can help.
2. Avoid late-evening dinners.
3. Consult your midwife or a chemist for suitable remedies.
The above discussed are the most common early pregnancy symptoms that cause physical and mental stress. The other symptoms include backache, itching, varicose veins, salivation, vaginal discharge, urinary infection and headache.
Note: This article has been pooled from various sources and I don’t own any copyright for the information.
This is a common pregnancy symptom that will probably improve on its own within 16-20 weeks. Even in extreme cases, this will not complicate your pregnancy and may strike at any time of day. It may be mild queasiness for some women, but many feel waves of nausea all the time and cannot even eat. To make things worse, nobody really knows what causes it, but experts believe rise in hormone levels are to blame and the sickness usually disappears once it settles down.
Coping tips:
1. Nibbling a biscuit and drinking ginger tea in bed before wake up feels better.
2. If cooking smell triggers your nausea, try eating salad leaves and fruits.
3. Sipping fluids throughout the day will prevent dehydration.
Feeling tired
Pregnancy is exhausting and if nausea gets worse, you get over-tired. You may feel a fraud when you’ve got nothing to show for it, but your body is putting loads of energy to nourish your growing baby.
Coping tips:
1. Eat regularly to keep up your energy levels.
2. Get plenty of sleep and rest whenever you can.
Tender breasts
Heavy and tender breasts make pregnancy miserable for some women.
Coping tips:
1. Wear a well-supporting maternity bra.
2. Avoid tight clothes.
Feeling faint
You could feel light-headed or actually faint especially when you stand up suddenly. This is due to the direct effect of hormones of pregnancy. Your body is using up extra energy too and this can also cause faintness.
Coping tips:
1. Don’t go too long between meals.
2. Try a cheese sandwich, a piece of fruit, or a glass of milk, but avoid sugary foods which could make the problem worse.
3. Snacking on healthy starchy carbohydrates can top-up your blood sugar level.
Bleeding
Some light bleeding is not unusual in the early weeks of pregnancy, which is caused by the embryo implanting in the uterus. Usually light spotting or dark brown bleeding with mild cramps is not considered as a major problem. Unfortunately bleeding is sometimes a sign of miscarriage, if it is accompanied by clots and severe cramps.
Coping tips:
1. Call your doctor or midwife straight away, even if the bleeding stops.
2. You may need a scan in Early Pregnancy Unit to make sure your baby is ok.
Heartburn
It is an unpleasant burning sensation in your stomach, sometimes rising up into your throat, which has nothing to do with your heart!
Coping tips:
1. Eat little and often can help.
2. Avoid late-evening dinners.
3. Consult your midwife or a chemist for suitable remedies.
The above discussed are the most common early pregnancy symptoms that cause physical and mental stress. The other symptoms include backache, itching, varicose veins, salivation, vaginal discharge, urinary infection and headache.
Note: This article has been pooled from various sources and I don’t own any copyright for the information.
Friday 15 January 2010
Irresistible Tandoori Chicken recipe
Ingredients:
Chicken drumsticks - 10 nos
Garlic pods - 5 nos
Chilli/Paprika powder - 2 tsp
Cumin powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Garam masala powder - 1 tsp
Royal curry powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Oil - half a cup (sounds too much, but there is no need to add any extra while cooking them)
Spring onions - As required for garnishing
Preparation Method:
1) Grind garlic & keep aside.
2) Remove skin from the fleshy part of the chicken drumsticks, leaving the bone end. This prevents chicken tearing into pieces after cooking. Give a little slit on the fleshy part with a knife.
3) On a separate bowl, thoroughly mix all the ingredients (except chicken & spring onions).
4) Then rub it with the chicken drumsticks one at a time.
5) Let them marinade overnight (atleast 4 hours) in the refrigerator.
6) Place an aluminium foil on the baking tray & arrange the chicken pieces.
7) Preheat the oven to 180°C & cook the chicken for 45 minutes, turning it once.
8) Once the chicken is cooked with the reddish orange colour, take them out leaving the fat. Remove any extra oil by giving a gentle press with a kitchen towel/tissue.
9) Serve hot with chopped spring onions.
Other suggestions for better taste:
1) If grilling: 180°C for 20 minutes on the top rack.
2) Can also serve with chopped mint or coriander.
3) Can use the left-over juice from the tray in stews & casseroles.
Chicken drumsticks - 10 nos
Garlic pods - 5 nos
Chilli/Paprika powder - 2 tsp
Cumin powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Garam masala powder - 1 tsp
Royal curry powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Oil - half a cup (sounds too much, but there is no need to add any extra while cooking them)
Spring onions - As required for garnishing
Preparation Method:
1) Grind garlic & keep aside.
2) Remove skin from the fleshy part of the chicken drumsticks, leaving the bone end. This prevents chicken tearing into pieces after cooking. Give a little slit on the fleshy part with a knife.
3) On a separate bowl, thoroughly mix all the ingredients (except chicken & spring onions).
4) Then rub it with the chicken drumsticks one at a time.
5) Let them marinade overnight (atleast 4 hours) in the refrigerator.
6) Place an aluminium foil on the baking tray & arrange the chicken pieces.
7) Preheat the oven to 180°C & cook the chicken for 45 minutes, turning it once.
8) Once the chicken is cooked with the reddish orange colour, take them out leaving the fat. Remove any extra oil by giving a gentle press with a kitchen towel/tissue.
9) Serve hot with chopped spring onions.
Other suggestions for better taste:
1) If grilling: 180°C for 20 minutes on the top rack.
2) Can also serve with chopped mint or coriander.
3) Can use the left-over juice from the tray in stews & casseroles.
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