Dry Bombay Duck Curry

By Shaoni


Hi friends,

I am here to share with you a lip smacking recipe. It's made from Bombay duck which we call 'Lote maach' in Bengali.
Well it's supposed to be the ugliest fish...but trust me it's too tasty.

Ingredients
Bombay Duck - 250g
mustard oil - 3-4 tbsp
Kala Jeera - 1tspn
Garlic paste -
Onion - 1 medium sized (chopped)
Turmeric- 1/2 tspn
Green chilies - about 3
Salt to taste.

Method
first boil the fish in salt water and then cool it to room temperature. After cooling, de-bone the fish. Mix it with hand...like a dough.
Now heat oil in a wok, add kala jeera till it splatters. Add garlic paste, onion and cook till golden brown. Now add fish, chilli, turmeric and salt. Mix well and stir constantly. the thing will become dry. gradually add oil at the sides from time to time to prevent it from over drying otherwise it might get burnt. Cook on low heat. Cook until you get the aroma and the fish is cooked. It will be a dry curry.

I enjoy it with hot rice. You can enjoy it with whatever you like. This is an authentic Bengali dish which allows you to rejuvenate your taste buds.

Girls' Day out

By Chandrima



Hi friends,

Weekend is on and so is my start of enjoyment. the weather in Kolkata is pretty pleasent...which is a rare thing. i had planned an outing with my girlfriends. Nothing much...just a short hangout and lots of chit-chat. So it was a Saturday evening and we planned to visit a small cafe cum restaurant near our place. So hear I am sharing my look of the day. It's a simple casual look for monsoon. Hope you like it.

I am wearing jeans from Bare denim and a kurti from Rangmanch. As i am wearing a coloured bottom so I have paired it up with a printed chiffon top. I have matched my look with a jute bag which I got from street shopping at New Market.

Make up wise I have left it just to the basics. Maybelline Collosal Kajal for the eyes and Maybelline Bold Matte orange for my lips. And ofcourse Lotus Matte finish sunscreen.

Watch is from Fastrack and shoes from Kolhapuri Centre. My anklet is handmade from Shantiniketan.

As you can see...it's a simple stylish look for hangouts. Hope you like it...!

Besan ke Laddoo

By Amaleena


Hello Ladies...


Today I will be sharing the recipe of my favourite Besan ke Laddoo..Yay!!

I had made them for Diwali which turned out to be pretty good.

Ingredients
Beasn - 500 gm
Sugar - 250 gm (powdered)
Cream - 2 tbsp
Ghee - 2-3 tbsp cup
Almonds - 1 cup chopped (optional)

Method
At first, cook the besan dry in a wok.

As you stir, gradually you will notice it turns dark and a nice aroma comes.

Continue stirring until the full beasn is cooked. Don't burn it though. Cook on medium heat.
Remove from heat and pour it in a large bowl.

Now add powdered sugar and mix dry. Add almond chopped and mix. Mix very well. Mix in cream.

Knead it.

 Take ghee in your hand and make small round balls.

Lakme Sun Expert

By Shrabasti,

Hi Friends,

Happy Romantic Monsoon!! The best thing about this season is that you don't have to worry about the sun while going out. But does that mean you can skip your sunscreen??? NO. No matter how cloudy it is...skipping your sunscreen is not done.

For I have an ultra dry skin and no sunscreen suits me.Especially the ones which are sweat free. They clog my pores giving me breakouts. This week, I have and outing for my school and need to stay the whole day out, so my would-be bought me a

Lakme Sun Expert.

At first, I would say that this sunscreen has a beautiful smell. It's refreshing. Secondly, it does not control sweat. Yes , you heard it right...it doesn't control sweat. Sweating under the sun is natural...and prevents breakouts.
It gas SPF 24 and has both UVA and UVB control mechanism.

Lakme is a reliable brand for ages, and suits me greatly. I would recommend this for dry skin people.

I give Lakme Sun Expert **** 4 out of 5 stars

Kheer Kadam

By Chandrima

Hi friends,

Enjoying the monsoon weather in Kolkata... I don't feel like going out much because of the rain. So staying at home and doing my favourite thing...Cooking :)

Today I'm sharing a recipe of a famous Bengali sweet Kheer Kadam

 Ingredients

Rasgullas (mini) 16

Khoya/Mawa 3 cups

Milk 2 tbsp

Sugar (powdered) 4 tbsp

Rose essence 1 1/2 tsp

Method

Squeeze rasgullas and remove excess of sugar syrup from the mini rasgullas.

Grate the khoya finely and mix powdered sugar in it.

Knead into a smooth dough.

Add little milk if required to get the right consistency. It should be slight soft.

Cook the mixture on high heat for maximum two minutes.

Add the rose essence and mix well. It should be slight soft but not too soft..shall be like a tight dough.

Divide the khoya mixture into sixteen equal balls.

Lightly flatten the balls by pressing in the center using the thumb.

Thin the edges and place the mini rasgulla in it.

Now cover the rasgulla with the khoya so that no part of the rasgulla is left exposed.

Roll into balls. Make dry powder of three tablespoons of khoya in a grinder.

Roll the balls in this to finish off the kheer kadam.

The outer layer will be of powdered khoya. Then the layer of cooked khoya and inside will be the rasgulla. 

Store in a refrigerator.

Chicken Chelo Kabab

By Chandrima

Hi friends!!!

We all love Chelo Kabab right!
So here I am today, sharing with you my experience of making Chelo Kabab.

Chelo Kabab is the national dish of Iran. basically consists of rice served with kabab. There are many variations of the recipe. Here is a simple one.

INGREDIENTS( 3 servings)

Basmati rice 1 cup

Chicken 500gm

Eggs 3

Onions 3

Garlic 1

Curd 3-4 tbsp

Green chillies 2 -3

Sugar, salt, pepper (as per taste)

Butter

PREPARATION

At first cook the rice. 

Then start preparing your kebabs-marinate the chicken in a paste made of onions, garlic, chillies and add curd, sugar, salt n red chilli powder to it as per taste. Keep them for an hour and grill them in oven.

For the Seekh kabab recipe refer here. (Instead of Paneer given in the recipe, use minced chicken.)

After completing your kebabs prepare the salad and the egg poach. 

Before serving the rice, melt butter in a pan and mix the rice. 

Decorate your dish with the egg poach and salads and serve it hot.

This is what I made..

This is a good and healthy dish which provides you a wholesome meal. Enjoy :D

Crispy Chicken Wings

By Husna

This time I am going to share a snack recipe most of us die for! It's "crispy chicken". No need to visit fancy restaurant when you can make crispy chicken at home with limited effort!

CRISPY CHICKEN WINGS

Ingredients:-
1.Chicken breast soaked in butter milk overnight.
2.Oil to fry the chicken
3.Oregano
4.salt
5.Red chilli powder (optional)
6.Bread crumbs
7.Black pepper powder

Method:-
Soak the chicken overnight in buttermilk (you can even go for curd). Next morning take it out add salt (as per your taste) and pinch of black pepper powder in the buttermilk. Keep it aside.
In a plate put the bread crumbs add chilli powder or flakes (optional) then oregano and mix everything well.
Heat oil in a frying pan. Then take the chicken pieces out from the buttermilk and keep it on the crumbs. Coat it with the bread crumbs mixture, dust off the excess crumbs.Then fry it,keep the flame on medium heat so that the chicken gets cooked evenly. 

Fry it till it gets golden brown! 

Done! 

Enjoy hot smile emoticon

5 Home-made Ways to Remove Tan

By Amaleena


Hi Everyone,

With everyone struggling with tan removal...Here are 10 best homemade packs for tan removal. these are easily available in the household and are 100% natural.

1. Tomatoes

 I think this is by far the best tan removal method for oily skin. Cut a tomato into two halves and keep them in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Take a half tomato and rub over face applying the tomato juice evenly. Apply on arms, legs, even underarms. Many a times, I have tried out a tomato facial at home. Just smash a tomato and use it for massage. Your tan is bound to go. It also leaves your skin oil free. 

2. Turmeric

Known for skin lightening properties since ages. This can be used for all types of skin. Mix up with milk or curd and apply to your face. People with oily skin can mix it up with fullers earth or multani mitti and rose water and apply it. You can also mix it with sandalwood paste and apply on skin. Wash once it dries. Every alternate day use, will show quick results of tan removal.

3. Curd

Has natural bleaching properties. Lightens skin and moisturizes it. Can be applied by itself of mixed with turmeric or fullers earth. A very good remedy of tan removal for people with dry skin. Those with oily skin can also use but with care. I won't recommend this for oily pimple prone skin as it lead breakouts in my case. Never the less, it works wonders when applied to my arms and legs.  

4. Fuller's Earth (Multani mitti)

Is like a magical potion for oily skin. Absorbs oil quickly and makes skin feel fresh and soft. Also removes tan when used regularly. Mix it with rose water and apply on face. I always add a little bit of turmeric for greater tan removal. Dry skin people can use along with curd or milk. this prevents excess oil absorption. Fuller's earth is also used for body de-tanning and body polishing. Leaves your skin de-tanned and soft.

5. Potatoes

Not used too often but works quite well to remove tan and dark circles. Peel potato and wash. Cut into half and apply directly on face or smash it, making a paste and then applying it on skin. Leave it for 5 to 7 minutes, not more than that. wash off well. Potato is very easily available and can be applied on face. However, might lead to breakouts for pimple prone skin.

Mango Ice Cream

By Amaleena & Husna

Season of Mango is incomplete without an home made mango ice cream...we bring to you the easiest recipe of making it...

Ingredients
Milk - half liter
Sugar - 2-3 tbsp
Mango pulp - 2 -3 mangoes
Biscuits -10 Marie Biscuits (grind dry)
Vanilla essence - 1 tsp

Method
Mix sugar and milk.


Boil milk in a pan. After boiling, lower the heat and add mango pulp. Mix well. the mango pulp must mix totally in the milk. Add previously dry grind-ed biscuits. The biscuits must become fine powder like.While adding this to the milk, slowly stir the milk and keep the gas on sim.Add vanilla essence and mix. Stir continuously and on cook on low heat so that the bottom does not stick to the pan. The mixture will become quite thick. remove from heat or else it will become hard. If it becomes hard by chance, add half cup of milk n mango pulp mixture. Cool down to room temperature. Beat the mixture manually (this will work as churning) and transfer to freezer.

Check after 4 hours.

Here is what Husna made..

Serve with fresh fruits and enjoy!!!