Monthly Archives: March 2014

For the love of Brown :)

For the love of Brown :)

You can take your love for brown rice a step ahead with this delicious platter of steaming risotto, by using brown rice instead of the traditional Arborio rice, making your meal healthy as well as yummy. You cannot make and keep a risotto; it has to go straight from the stove to the table. So, make sure it goes directly into the plate right after.

Risotto made with brown rice

Risotto made with brown rice

Brown Rice Risotto  (Serves: 2)

1 tbsp olive oil; 1 small onion, chopped; 2 garlic cloves, crushed; ¼ cup brown rice; 1/3 cup white wine; 2 cups vegetable stock, warm; Parmesan cheese for garnishing; salt and pepper to taste; ½ cup mushrooms, chopped; sprig of fresh coriander; 25g butter

brown rice cooked to perfection!

brown rice cooked to perfection!

– Heat the oil and sauté the onions till soft. Add the crushed garlic and cook till the garlic starts giving off aroma. Add the mushrooms and sauté till they turn light brown.

– If you are using quick-cooking brown rice, add it to the sautéed mushrooms now. If you are using normal brown rice, soak it for at least three hours. Toss with the mushrooms till the rice is well coated with oil.

– Now pour in the  white wine all at once and let it get absorbed by the rice.

– Continue cooking the risotto by adding the stock, one ladleful at a time and Continue reading “For the love of Brown :)” »

The Pioneers of Indian Fashion !

The Pioneers of Indian Fashion !

Fashion is a huge industry in India and with globalization, India has placed itself on the map creating its own unique identity of fusion with beautiful blend and combination of various dressing styles in the country. Here’s a look at my favorite fashion designers from India.

Tarun's Bridal Collection

Tarun’s Bridal Collection

Tarun Tahiliani – He is one of the most celebrated fashion designers of India. He brought a revolution in the field of fashion in 1987 by opening the first fashion boutique in India ‘Ensemble’ He established the Tarun tahiliani design studio situated in New Delhi. His own brand label is known as ‘Ahilian’. His niche work on ethnic textiles using  beads and semi precious stones made his collections a huge success. Love struck by Vimal Model ‘Sailaja’, who is Tarun’s big support aided him in each one of his venture.

Lisa Haydon in an exclusive outfit designed by Tarun Tahiliani

Lisa Haydon in an exclusive outfit designed by Tarun Tahiliani

Rina Dhaka – She burst into the fashion world in the late 1980’s. Winner of the Yuvratan award, she is counted among the creative and innovative designers of the country. She is best known for her theme collections, sheer trousers, crochet & stretch jersey, woollens and spider web motifs. Her forte remains western wear and she prides on the fact that her pieces can be worn as separates.

JJ Valaya men - inspired by Toreros the bull fighters of Spain

JJ Valaya men – inspired by Toreros the bull fighters of Spain

Rina emphasises silhouettes. She is not afraid of experimenting. In one of her collection she had mixed fur and boots with her indian outfits. She had shows in Continue reading “The Pioneers of Indian Fashion !” »

Sweet Grilled Treats !!!

Sweet Grilled Treats !!!

Every good meal needs something sweet to round it off. And there is no reason why your barbeque should not end with a barbequed dessert! Here are some simple dessert recipes. Get inspired and create your own sweet grilled treats. Use whatever is in season, give it a lemony-honeyed or boozy marinade; wrap it in a foil and throw on the grill.

rum glazed grilled pineapple

rum glazed grilled pineapple

Rum and Coconut Pineapple Rings (Serves: 6)

– 6 pineapple rings (fresh or tinned); 2tbsp honey; 60ml rum; 1 cup thick coconut milk; 1tsp lemon juice; 1tsp cinnamon powder; coconut or vanilla ice cream to serve

– Prepare the  marinade for the pineapples by combining honey, rum, coconut milk, lemon juice and cinnamon powder.

– Dip the pineapple rings in the marinade and refrigerate for about an hour. You can also prepare the pineapple to this stage, the day before you plan to barbeque them.

– Heat the barbeque grill to medium and oil the grate lightly. Cook the pineapple rings directly on the grill for about three to four minutes on both sides.

– Alternately, place a grill pan on the barbeque and cook the rings on the pan over the grill for about six minutes on each side.

– Serve with a scoop of ice cream in the center of the pineapple ring and drizzle with the leftover marinade syrup.

rum glazed with coconut is delicious!

rum glazed with coconut is delicious!

 

Banana S’mores (Serves: 6)

-6 bananas; 12 pieces of marshmallow (available in candy stores); 12 squares of chocolate

– Without peeling  the bananas, slit them lengthwise. Do not slice them all the way through and or right to the ends.

– Using a knife, coax the banana open and slide in one piece of marshmallow and one piece of chocolate till the entire banana is stuffed.

– Wrap the stuffed banana in foil and place it on a hot barbeque grill. Cook for about 10 minutes.

– When you open  the foil and peel the banana, the marshmallow and chocolate should have melted.

– Serve as they are or with vanilla ice cream.

banana smores made without the campfire

banana smores made without the campfire

 

Barbequed Cake (Serves 6)

– 6 thick slices of plain cake; 1 cup milk; icing sugar for sprinkling; serve with Continue reading “Sweet Grilled Treats !!!” »

Glow Girl, Glow… Top Esthetician Secrets!

Glow Girl, Glow… Top Esthetician Secrets!

Get pink-cheeked pretty with these high-performance specialized facials that treat skin conditions too.

Gone are the days when facials were just a cleansing-massaging-pampering experience. Today, they are full-blown science-backed skincare regimens that resolve those niggling problems. Often these treatments are accompanied by a skin analysis by a dermatologist, followed by an appointment with the in-house doc at a medispa or a skin clinic. And whatever your needs, the treatments are custom-made for you. Your neighborhood parlor, though, is not going to be able to carry them out. Get the low down on some skin savers and zero down on the one most suited for you.

Pampered Skin - After an Ultrasonic Facial Peel

Pampered Skin – After an Ultrasonic Facial Peel

 

Ultrasonic Facial

This facial removes the outer layer of the skin for complete renewal. The treatment uses a probe-like device emanating low-frequency sound waves (like in that of an ultrasound) to activate the skin’s metabolism, preparing it for deep penetration of topical treatments and skincare products.

Who needs it: This facial improves blood circulation, lightens blemishes, acne scars, hyper pigmentation, and also reduces fine lines and wrinkles. Good for all skin conditions, it is especially effective for those with sensitive skin, thin skin, acne, rosacea, burn marks, blackheads and whiteheads.

 

Derma Facial

Derma Facial

 

Polishing Peel Facial

This technique uses refined crystals that move in high velocity on the surface of the skin to exfoliate dead skin cells, blemishes and large pores. Called microdermabrasion, it smoothens and revitalizes complexion. A popular treatment in this genre is diamond polishing: the skin is polished with a diamond tip. Youth Fill therapy that includes microdermabrasion, micro-circulatory massage with argan oil and seaweed mask is an anti-ageing polishing facial for women above 30.

Who needs it: Diamond polishing removes acne scars, uneven skin tone and dark circles. It is great for normal to oily skin but is not meant for dry skin. Try it at a leading medispa or top skin clinics.

 

AHA Facial

Done with creams formulated with alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs) or fresh fruit pulps, this facial rejuvenates skin by shedding old, sun-damaged surface skin cells. Banana is used for dry skin and orange for oily skin. AHAs present in fruits or products loosen glue-like substances that hold the surface skin cells to each other, therefore removing dead skin cells.

Who needs it: AHA acids are known for their potent anti-ageing effects. It unclogs pores leading to clear skin and is recommended for those prone to mild or hyper pigmentation and premature wrinkling. Other advantages include Continue reading “Glow Girl, Glow… Top Esthetician Secrets!” »

Bitter Wicked Panache !

Bitter Wicked Panache !

Love Affair with Chanel

He is one of the most influential not to say outspoken leaders in the fashion world credited with re-inventing the famous Chanel brand. Karl Lagerfeld has taken one of Coco Chanel’s most iconic garments and immortalized it in a rather idiosyncratic way. Coco Chanel’s little black jacket is versatile, timeless and some would say iconic. And now its revamped in a series of photographs taken by Chanel’s creative director Karl Lagerfeld.
The Fashion designer has persuaded his celebrity friends Yoko Ono, Sarah Jessica Parker and Lilly Allen amonst others to pose in the jacket first created in 1916 for the london runway.

Lilly Allen

Lilly Allen & Kate Moss in Chanel

 

The son of a hamburg industrilaist when he is not taking photos, lagerfeld is one of the fashion worlds most influential designers. As well as his Chanel job he also runs two other fashion houses designing for Fendi and Chloe.
You do recognize his style from miles and miles away. What I love is that its the simplest things you have such an alure. A very very private man who has perfected being an extraordinary public.

The one and only Coco Chanel

The one and only Coco Chanel

Fendi Fashion show in Great Wall - Beijing

Fendi Fashion show in Great Wall – Beijing

He produces 8 collections every year for Chanel and 4 for Fendi. (2- pre-fall, 2 -fall)
What we know is that is a tremendous amount of work and this is makes him a force to reckon with.  He staged the first fashion show ever on the Great wall in Beijing for Fendi. It was an incredible spectacle but you can only imagine the hideous logistical details that would have to go into something like that. He’s been the realm of Chanel now for more than Continue reading “Bitter Wicked Panache !” »