Machchi ki Dhaniya Curry

The recipe is made from Pomfret & Coriander or Cilantro.

What you need?

1. Pomfret: I used three pieces cut into halves. Make slight cuts on the fish for better marination.

2. Coriander or Cilantro leaves: 1 cup, cleaned and washed

3. Tomato: 1 large, chopped

4. Onion: 1 medium

5. Garlic: 2 big cloves

6. Chili: 1-2 green chilis

7. Spices: 1 teaspoon red kashmiri powder, 1 teaspoon coriander powder, 1 pinch of turmeric powder, 1/2 teaspoon amchoor

8. Salt to taste & white oil 1 tablespoon

9. Lemon for marianation

How to make it

1. Wash your fish & mariante it with salt & lemon for more than two hours.

2. Chop the onion & garlic, keep it aside.

3. Make a fine paste of coriander & tomato & keep it aside.

4. Heat the non-stick fry pan & pour the oil. And slightly toss the fish in the oil, don't deep fry. Once it is slightly cooked remove it from the pan.

5. Add the onion & garlic & fry till golden. Add the green paste with all the spices and mix well. Let it cook well. When the oil starts separating, add the fish & let it cook for around 10 min.

6. When almost done add the green chilis & a few drops of lemon juice.

7. Cover it & let it stand for 5 min. Serve it with rice.

Recipe: Mutton Kofta Curry

Hi! Today I am sharing the recipe of Mutton Kofta Curry an Indian delicacy. I would just like to share a few health benefits of Mutton or Goat meat.

• Improves blood cholesterol levels
• Reduces the risk for atherosclerosis
• Reduces the risk of coronary heart disease
• Contains Vitamin B which helps you burn fat
• Reduces the risk of obesity
• Helps you have a healthy skin
• Helps beats stress and depression
• Rich in calcium and helps in bone building and teeth strengthening
• Enhances producing new body cells thus delay the aging
• Helps in maintaining the functioning of thyroid gland

Let's start with the preparation of this simple recipe, which is going to be super delicious.

Ingredients:

Mutton or Goat Meat minced: 400 g

Ginger garlic paste: 4 teaspoons

Onion: 1 large

Tomato: 1 large

Chili: 1-2 as per taste

Clove- 2-4

Green cardamom: 1

Cinnamon: 1 inch

Turmeric powder: 1/4 teaspoon

Red Kashmiri Chili Powder: 1 teaspoon

Coriander powder: 1 teaspoon

Kasoori methi: 1 teaspoon

Mustard oil: 1 tablespoon

Salt: to taste

Preparation:

1. Take the minced meat in a bowl, add 2 teaspoons of ginger garlic paste, and mix it well. Keep the marinated meat in the refrigerator for half an hour.

2. Dice the onion into small pieces, and make a paste of  tomato, the ginger garlic paste,, turmeric powder, coriander powder and the chili powder.

3. Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the crushed, cloves, cardamom & cinnamon and the diced onion. Fry till it turns golden in color.

4. Add the tomato paste and mix it well add water as per requirement & let it boil. Add salt to taste.

5. Once it reaches boiling point add small balls of the marinated meat giving shape with the help of your hand.

6. Cover the pan & cook on low flame for 10-15 min. Check whether your meat is cooked in this time.

7. Now add chili cut in small pieces and sprinkle the kasoori methi. In a minute turn off the flame, let it stand for 5 minutes. 

Your dish is ready to serve, Serving is suggested with steamed rice or hand made Indian breads or roti.

Natural Beauty Tips for Oily Skin

Suffering from an oily skin, feel sticky all the time, then this article will sure help. Good skin is like a mirror of the well being. However well dressed & chique you look without the perfect skin you cannot look beautiful. If your skin is soft, supple & glows even a tee & jeans would make you look pretty. Oily skin is also acts like a magnet to dirt & pollution making you look dull & tired. These natural tips at home will help you alot fight the odds.

1. Lemon juice applied liberally over the face helps pull out the oil from the skin. Wash after 10 mins & you get a soft oil-free skin. This is an age old remedy works well for oily hair as well.

2. Gentle scrubbing helps the skin to breathe, cleaning the clogged pores of dirt. It also removes dead skin cells & renews your skin surface. The extra sebum, dead cells & dirt are one of the major causes of acne, blackheads, whiteheads etc. The gentle exfoliation helps the blood circulation & gives a glow to the skin.

3. A face mask once a week from natural substances like papaya & lemon juice, apple & honey, almond & honey work miracles for an oily skin. Keeping for 15-20 min and washing it with cold water is very good for skin.

4. Cucumbers also help to manage oily skin due to their cooling, astringent, and soothing properties. The high vitamin and mineral content, magnesium, and potassium, are good for oily skin. Rub a slice of cucumber before going to bed. Wash it in the morning with water.

5. Use a skin toner everyday which will provide the skin with essential nutrients & wipe off extra oil secreted. Rosewater is one of the best known natural toners. Make sure if using any other toner it should be alcohol free.

Try these tips for beautiful oil-free skin.

Curry Leaves-Health Benefits

Curry Leaves are leaves used widely in preparations from southern part of India. They are strong flavoring agents with a great no. of health benefits. I have personally seen lot of people throwing away the curry leaves or kadi patta while eating. Once you know the health benefits you will really not feel like throwing away. I actually feel very proud that our Indian food habits are very scientifically devised thousands of years ago; the spices, the food & the cooking methods. And addition of curry leaves to the cuisine is just one example.

1. Great to fight anemia: Both iron & folic acid are in abundance in kadi patta which makes it a desired choice to fight against anemia. Folic acid is the carrier of iron in the body so both are essential to keep anemia at bay.

2. Controls Diabetes: The leaves are known to affect the insulin production & performance which helps control diabetes. Also the fiber presents helps the diabetic tendency.

3. Lowers Cholesterol: Curry leaves are known to reduce the LDL cholesterol or bad cholesterol by lowering the fat absorption in the body. This also helps in losing weight naturally also.

4. Reduces hair fall & promotes growth of hair: The quality of hair improves considerably on using dry curry leaves mixed with oil as it strengthens the  hair roots & promotes hair growth. It is  also considered useful for graying hair.

5. Reduces congestion in chest & nose:It s packed with Vitamin C and A along with compounds like kaempferol that acts as a potent anti-inflammatory agent. It helps loosen & decongest mucous. It is good for people suffering from wet cough, sinus & chest congestion.

6. Prevents Skin infection: Because of it's anti-inflammatory & antioxidant properties it helps cure any skin infections with its anti-bacterial & anti-fungal properties. This makes it a great home remedy to deal with common skin infections like acne and fungal infections of the nail that are often difficult to treat.

7. Improves digestion & good for diarrhea: It helps a number of digestive issues along with aiding in excretion. Regular intake cleanses the system of toxins as well. Also an upset stomach is taken care with its antibacterial & anti-inflammatory properties.

All these benefits are just a few leaves away. Also it is small plant & can be planted in your garden or also in a pot. And you can use the leaves of the plant without any problem.

Coconut Water- Health Benefits

It is summers & what best other than cool drinks to quench your thirst. Making some healthy choices in the drinks is extremely important. Coconut water is a drink which is widely recognized for its health values. I will just try to point down a few so, there is more reason to include in your diet. Coconut water is the water which is present in the tender or green coconut & not to be confused with coconut milk or oil which are very high is fats & carbohydrates. Rich in natural vitamins (especially the B vitamins), minerals, and trace elements (including zinc, selenium, iodine, and manganese). Full of amino acids, organic acids, enzymes, antioxidants and phytonutrients. Rich source of electrolytes and natural salts, especially potassium and magnesium. 

Let's count the benefits:

1. Weight Loss: As the fruit's water is light, low-calorie and nearly fat-free, as well as low in sugars as well as containing a little fiber to moderate absorption, it can play an important part in weight loss. As water is important part of diet & the calorific value & other benefits makes you feel full, suppresses the appetite.

2. Improves Digestion: Coconut water claims to be a cure for all digestive problems. If you face problem of acid reflux, definitely you will be benefited drinking coconut water. Other problems like stomach flu, indigestion, constipation are also treated by drinking coconut water regularly. Also urinary problems & kidney problems are also taken care with this.

3. Isotonic drink or Refresher: The composition of coconut matches our blood plasma, so it is also known to use instead of blood for transfusion in third world countries during emergencies. So, drinking this drink helps your body also gain good vitamins & minerals apart from water.

4. Reduces Blood Pressure: Coconut water is known to have more potassium than 4 bananas. It helps lower elevated blood pressure and reduce risks of heart attacks & strokes. Also it is known to regulate blood sugar levels due to low calorific value and also moderate sugar absorption in the blood stream.

5. Flawless Skin: Not only drinking but applying it on the skin helps repair the wear & tear of the skin. It is known to reduce the blemishes & helps treat acne due to its purifying powers of antioxidants. It moisturizes the skin when you drink eliminating excess oils from the skin.

6. Anti-ageing properties: It's a natural source of cytokinins, a group of plant hormones known to affect the cell growth & ageing. Rich in antioxidants, potassium & cytokinins balance the pH levels, & strengthens tissues & cells to become firmer, also help fight ageing related diseases.

Luckily this drink has no known side effects, if you are allergic to nuts please check with your doctor.  It is also known for stronger bones, reduces muscle cramps, manage stress & many more. It is great for children & pregnant women. Pregnant women are advised to drink coconut water especially to avoid heart burns & digestion related problems. Drink fresh coconut water only, the more its is exposed to air it gets oxidized & rapidly loses its nutritional value. This drink is also called the fruit of God for this reason. Thanks Friends!

Dry Skin Care- Home Remedies

Hi Friends! Our bodies are affected by the season cycle, whether metabolism, sleep, mood swings or skin. In summers whatever you like to eat might not be the coolest ideas for winters. Also similarly the changing seasons can create a havoc for your skin. Oily or Dry skin both can have its toll when the seasons change. I have already written an article on home care tips for Oily skin, today will list down a few for people with dry skin. People with dry skin keep on complaining about dry, flaky, lifeless dull skin, so I would just like to give them some tips for a beautiful skin.

Tips for Dry Skin Care

1. Warm is OK, Hot is not: Make sure you do not bathe or shower with hot water, it can be lukewarm. Hot water strips your skin off the natural oils, and once this layer of oil is gone the moisture can also leave your skin almost immediately. So keeping the moisture locked in the skin is important for people with dry skin, so no hot water baths.

2. Cleanse with Mild Cleansers: It is advised to use soaps which are non-fragrant, as the deodorants &  other antibacterial additives can be harsh on skin. Consider using Ceramides which are fatty acids which help you restore the moisture to your skin. You can also use milk or yogurt can be used 3-4 times a week which help to cleanse the skin & get rid of bacteria and other dryness causing agents. Also the lactic acid present in the milk products act as an antioxidant & anti-inflammatory agent, giving the skin a cooling effect, it exfoliates the dry skin & moisturize the skin, in turn gives you a brighter vibrant skin.

3. Oil your Skin: It is necessary that you keep providing your skin the right kind of nutrition, Dry skin is devoid of moisture & natural oils which makes it dull & flaky. Olive oil & coconut oil are known as the best oils for a softer & moisturized skin. It has antioxidants & fatty acids which will help the dry skin condition well. A very small amount Olive Oil can spread across your body so before applying the moisturizer apply a thin coating of Olive Oil. Or you can apply coconut oil at night & wash it off in the morning, both the oils are great choose yours.

To sum up, I have mentioned milk, yogurt, olive oil, coconut oil which help you get the soft skin you wish. Apart from that avoid harsh soaps & hot water to cleanse, you will definitely benefit. Hope this article helps you. Thanks!

Spa Water- Health Benefits

Hi Friends! Today I will write about Spa Water & it's benefits. What it is? Why is it good for you? When I say Spa Water you don't need to think that it is something which is very costly or cannot be made at home. Spa Water is just flavored water with natural elements, just add cut lemon pieces, cucumber, limes, mint, watermelon etc. Choose your flavor, just add it to the water you drink, refrigerate it & cold flavored water is ready for you. It actually has some benefits which you cannot deny, especially in summers when you are thirsty and can't just keep on drinking plain water.

Benefits of Spa Water:

1. It is Easy: Your flavored water is ready without any hassle just cut a few pieces of lemon or anything you like the flavor & add it to the water you drink. You do not have to make juices or any other cumbersome process. And readily you have access to a different flavor, in your drink.

2. It is refreshing: Spa Water is much more refreshing as compared to plain water. It is filled with anti-oxidants from the ingredients energizing & recharging your senses. Like cucumber helps fight free radicals & thus slowing your aging. Lime has loads of Vitamin C, important for your body.

3. Get Rid of Soda: This will quench your thirst & will help you get rid of the calorie filled sodas & beverages. You can definitely lose a few inches once you switch your sugar filled beverages with spa water. Also the presence of the nutrients from the ingredients make it power water to lose weight.

4. Heal a Hangover: It is a great way to get rid of head ache from last night's hangover. You replenish your dehydrated body with H2O by drinking spa water. Also essential electrolytes, vitamins & minerals help you detoxify your body.

5. Great for supple skin: Water is great for your skin & so is cucumber, lemon, tangerine etc. why not add their benefits together in the spa water. You will definitely have a supple soft baby skin you always wished for. It increases the moisture & elasticity of the skin by keeping the skin hydrated, also detox yourself with the benefits of the other ingredients.

Hope these benefits will encourage you ditch that cola & help you choose this option. Please do share your views with me, if you want to add anything. Thanks!

Now you Will Know Why Tomatoes are Great...

Hi Friends! Today I will talk about Tomatoes, a super food. This is one ingredient which is used in food in various form, we have it in salads, soups & as a spice in most foods.Well talking about the goodness of tomatoes you cannot overlook the treasure of nutrients present in the food. It is rich in various anti-oxidants and most importantly the presence of Vitamin C & Beta carotene. It is also rich in Vitamin E & the mineral Manganese. If you come down to phyto-nutrients you will not find better substitutes, the super food is rich in Flavonones, Flavonols, Hydroxycinnamic acids, Carotenoids (lycopene, lutein etc), glycosides, fatty acid derivatives.

This amazing super food has the benefits which will make you love it.

1. Cardiovascular Support: The presence of excellent anti-oxidants like Vitamin C & E makes it an excellent food for heart & the second credit is to Lycopene which is more famous for its actions to prevent lipid peroxidation, in which lipids are oxidized in the blood & makes the immune system trigger leading to blockage of the heart vessels.

2. Anti-Cancer Benefits: The presence of lycopene & dietary fibers have proved its anti-cancer benefits in specific cancers of prostrate & colorectal. It has been tested by researchers to work well on test groups.

3. Maintains Blood Pressure: The presence of good amount of Potassium in tomatoes work great for maintaining blood pressure as only a low sodium diet is not enough for a good blood health.

4. Good for Skin: The presence of Vitamin C works great for collagen, the skin's support system. It helps your skin fight against the UV rays from the sun, pollution & smoke, smooths wrinkles.

5. Relieves from Constipation: The high water content & dietary fiber in tomatoes helps keep the body hydrated & ease the bowel movements.

6. Supports Bone health: Recent research has confirmed that the Lyopene present is excellent for for the protective bone tissues. The removal of lycopene from diet for weeks in women have shown indication of oxidative stress in bones.

7. Good during Pregnancy: Folic acid presence makes it great during pregnancy for the protection against infections in the neural tube in infants.

8. Improves Vision: Presence of Vitamin A (Beta carotene) has shown it to be important for the eyes.

So, now enjoy tomatoes ;) for all it offers you. Take care & stay healthy!! Thanks friends...

Fight Acne

Hey Friends!! Summers are around and all of us become worried about the outbreaks in summers. Most of us suffer from acne, mostly people with oily skin are seen to face this problem. Puberty triggers this problem in most, the causes are unclear & are majorly estimated to be genetic.

What is Acne?
It is medically known as Acne Vulgaris, a skin disease involving the base of hair follicle. It is seen to affect during puberty when the sebum is started to produced stimulated by hormones produced by adrenal lands both in males & females. It has been seen to affect 650 million people across the world. It is a chronic disease characterized by areas of pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, oily skin. It can leave scars on the face and can affect a person's self confidence. It can be affected by menstrual cycles, oil based make ups, hot and humid climate etc.
It is seen to occur when the hair follicle is clogged & oil, hair & skin cells form a plug. This plug can get infected with bacteria & on break down becomes a pimple. It can be in different forms and can have effect on the looks.

How to treat Acne at home?
1. Gram Flour (besan) & milk, with small amount of turmeric: This is an amazing way of reducing acne or oil on face. Make a thick paste of the three & apply it on the face. Massage your face for a while, it acts like a natural scrub as well. Then let it dry on your face. Wash your face after that. A fresh looking skin awaits you. The anti-microbial effect of turmeric helps in wading off any bacterial infection. Besan acts as a base & helps suck extra oil from skin, and milk or yogurt will not let your face feel dry after washing.

2. Honey & Cinnamon paste: You may feel that honey is sweet & cinnamon is spicy then how it will help reduce acne. But surprisingly the combo acts as an antimicrobial (cinnamon) & antibiotic (honey) agent. Take 2 teaspoon honey & 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder, mix it well. Apply on your face and leave it for 15-20 min. Then wash it off with water. You will see visibly the reduction of acne.

3. Fuller's earth, Sandalwood & Rose Water: Rose water has extremely good effects on the skin. It acts an antiseptic & antimicrobial agent. It also regulates the pH of the skin. On applying a paste of fuller's earth (multani mitti), sandalwood & rose water you will see that your skin will be cleaner & less susceptible to acne. The sandalwood & rose water help the skin to cool as well.

Some simple tips to avoid outbreak of acne is avoiding oil based make up or similar kinds of creams, sunscreens etc. Wash your face regularly to clean up any dirt settling on the face. Do not clog your pores and regularly scrub your face with light natural scrubs. Avoid Oily food!

Acne is a problem which we all face at some time or the other, some have mild whereas others may have acute problem. In today's world of pollution our skin has become more susceptible to allergies & other problems. So, we need to take good care to look beautiful. Have a great day friends!! Happy Mahasivratri!

Coffee: Good or Bad?

Coffee has been discredited by many as bad for health. There have been lot of posts on bad effects of coffee. Now recent research has come up with lot of good effects of coffee, mainly the caffeine content. Though high dosage of caffeinated coffee is not good for health, more than 28 cups in a week can have adverse effects. Let's start with some good points in favor of coffee:

1. Coffee has been known as an energy drink for ages & that is due to caffeine present which helps in blocking an inhibitory neurotransmitter named Adenosine. This helps in other transmitters to become active which make your brain more receptive & increases functioning of the brain. It increases energy levels, memorizing capability, reaction time & general cognitive function.

2. Caffeine can improve fat burning in the cells, boosting the metabolic rate by 3-10%. Also adrenaline levels are increased due to caffeine which makes us more active & can make us ready for physical exertion. So, again this can help in losing weight & staying in shape.

3. Coffee is known as lowering Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia. Coffee drinkers have shown upto 65% lower risk of getting these diseases, also risk of Parkinson's disease can be reduced.

4. Coffee reduces the risk of stroke & risk of some types of cancer (liver and colorectal). Often coffee is associated with high blood pressure it is true but is very small & regularly drinking coffee leaves no effect on the blood pressure. Women have shown reduced risk of stroke on drinking caffeinated coffee.

5. Coffee with its huge antioxidant properties have shown reduced risk of deadly skin cancer. It has properties of signal tissue repair which helps in regulating cell re-growth increased collagen level giving a healthy looking & increased skin elasticity.

Friends these can be a good reason for drinking coffee but beware of the side effects. Do not drink too much coffee as it can lead to insomnia & if taken with some medication (anti-depressants, psychiatric drug, thyroid medication, and antibiotics) can have bad effects. Please take care & stay well. Thanks!!

Good Skin Good Food

Good Morning Friends!! A great day in the history of Indian Politics, Congratulations to all my friends from Delhi, in fact India. Well today I will talk about a beautiful skin... it is a mirror of your good health. People with good health have a good skin. Some foods which help you with this target.

1. Olive Oil: It has been seen that consumption of olive oil has reduced signs of aging. The oil has around 75% of Monounsaturated fats which help in keeping your heart healthy. The antioxidant polyphenols present in olive oil could also be quenching the damaging free radicals & help in cell renewal. It has also seen to reduce acne problem.

2. Dark chocolates: Here comes my second good news about chocolates, women who consume dark chocolate (70% or more cocoa) have seen to have a more fresh looking skin. The scaliness & patchiness seen to reduce with the high flavonol content in chocolate. Stick to a small bar a day to get good results.

3. Walnuts: Walnuts are very famous in skin care products. The scrubs sold by many companies have walnuts in them, it has been seen that not only external usage but also eating walnuts have good skin. This is an alternate source for Omega-3 especially for vegetarians. The Omega-3 content helps keeping control over eczema, dry & patchy skin. Also good for acne or pimple problem.

4. Eggs: This source of protein is excellent for the skin & hair with very low fat content. The dietary fat present is good for the skin & any higher fat diets will fasten the aging of your skin. It is seen that increase of 17 g of fat in daily diet can lead to faster aging of skin & wrinkles.

5. Water: Yes, drinking good amount of water keeps you hydrated & makes your skin plump & wrinkles are delayed. And again this liquid can come from different sources but water is best. All other drinks have sugars which will not only increase your blood sugar levels but also damage the collagen and cause your skin to sag and wrinkle. Similar to above food it fights acne effectively.

There are these foods & many other which are good for you & your skin have been able to mention some. These foods are for anti-aging & to fight dry, wrinkled, saggy skin. Also three of these olive oil, walnuts & water are great to fight acne. 

Friends I have started getting suggestions from you which is very encouraging. I thank all of you for your support. I have received lots of comments personally and have tried writing about other topics also.Thanks!!