Pudina Lemonade / Mint cooler

A simple twist to the regular lemonade.


Serves 6 glasses

Water - 6 Glasses
Lemon juice from 3 lemons
Salt to taste
Sugar to taste
Jaljeera to taste
Fresh ginger half inch
Fresh Mint / Pudina leaves - 10 to 12 leaves or as per taste


In a blender add 1/2 cup water along with other ingredients and blend for 45 seconds.

In a pitcher add 5 1/2 cups water along with the ground mixture. Mix well and chill till you serve. You can also add some ice.

Lovely cooler for a hot summer day!!!

Egg biryani - Restaurant Style

Whenever our taste buds crave to eat something spicy, I prepare this Biryani. It tastes exactly like a restaurant style Biryani. I have prepared a vegetarian version too with the same ingredients and tastes awesome. I have also prepared this Biryani for a big party and got many compliments. So now its your turn to try and enjoy. And don't forget to leave your comments / suggestions below :)

Serves 4

Category - Lunch / Dinner

Basmati Rice or Long grain rice - 2Cups
Boiled Eggs - 4 to 6 OR Mixed Veggies - 1Cup (Cut to desired shapes)
Whole garam masalas - Cinnamon stick 1 inch, Green Cardamon 2, Bay leaf 2, Cloves 8, Soumph 3/4tsp
Ginger garlic paste - 1tbsp
Fresh mint leaves - 10 (finely chopped)
Fresh coriander leaves - handfull (finely chopped)
Green chillies - 4 to 6 (slit lengthwise)
Onion - 1 medium (finely sliced)
Tomato - 2 big (finely chopped)
Red Chilli Powder - 1tsp or to taste
Coriander powder or dhaniya powder - 2 1/2tsp
Garam masala powder - 3/4 to 1tsp
Coconut Milk* - 1Cup
Water - 2 1/4 Cup
Oil - 10tsp (You can replace 2tsp of oil with 2tsp of ghee)
Salt to taste


Rinse the rice nicely in cold water for 6 to 7 times. Soak the rice with plenty of water in a huge pot. Let it sit for 1/2 hour to 1 hour. Drain the water just before its ready to be added in.

Slit lightly but do not break the eggs, such a way the masalas should penetrate to the yolk. Keep aside.

In a wok heat the oil on a medium flame, add the whole garam masalas, allow it to splutter. This might take 2 minutes or so. Next add in the onions, saute them till light deep golden brown. To this add the ginger garlic paste, mint and coriander, saute for a minute. Next add in the tomatoes cook till mushy. Add the dry powders saute till oil separates. Later add in the boiled eggs/ veggies and saute for 2 minutes.

Separate the eggs from this mixture and keep aside. You dont have to separate the veggies just leave it in the same pan after cooked.

In a pressure cooker add in the coconut milk along with water and put some salt too, bring this to a boil. Slowly add the basmati rice and the set aside cooked masala. Cover the pan and cook for 5 minutes. At this point add the set aside eggs and close the lid, cook for 1 whistle or till the rice is completely cooked. Vola your Egg / Veggie Biryani is ready. Enjoy!!!!!!!
Serve with Aloo Raita, Cashew raita or any veggie raita. 

*How I Make my coconut milk - Simply add 1tsp of fresh coconut and 1cup plain milk to a blender. Blend the mixture for 2 minutes. Your coconut milk is ready.

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Uses of Baking Soda

Hey guys, off lately I realized the different ways I use Baking Soda and today I will be sharing a few of them.

1)Face Pack - For Acne / Blemishes / Oily skin / shrinks pores. OR Remedy for itchy skin caused by an insect bite.

Mix 1tsp Baking Soda with 1tsp Water, apply this paste all over the face for a face pack. Leave it for 15 minutes n rinse in cold water. Apply the same paste over the insect bites. Leave it on for 30 minutes n rinse later.

This face pack is not suitable for dry skin.

(Do not scrub / rub.)

2)Sparkling Teeth-

Put the regular toothpaste on your bush then sprinkle 1/4tsp of Baking Soda over it and start brushing as usual. See the difference in a week. :)

3)Magic for Tough Stains on your favorite clothes-

Along with your regular detergent add 2tsp of Baking Soda and wash as usual. Goodbye to tough stains :)

4)Cleaning / Whitening Nails -

For all you Gals out there, this remedy is so really amazing, you need not buy any expensive creams or lotions to cure yellowing of your nails. Say goodbye to those expensive parlor treatments.

All you need is -

Baking Soda - 2tsp
Lemon juice / Lime juice - 2 to 3tsp
Big Basin / Bowl to soak hands in warm water.

Soak hands in warm water for 5 mins, pat dry with a towel.
Next using an old tooth brush dip the lemon juice and then the Baking Soda, now just start scrubbing your nails for about 25 sec (each nail).
Let the mixture stay on till u finish off all the other nails. Rinse with warm water, pat dry with towel and use moisturizer all over the fingers.
Use this manicure for a month, weekly once and you will see the difference. :)

Isn't this a money saving tip :)  

5)Cleaning Pure Silver metal -

Soak all the Silver items in hot boiling water along with 2 to 3tsp of Baking Soda. Let it be covered and sit for about 20 mins. Without rinsing it, start scrubbing with soap of your choice and rinse to finish off. Your Silver items will be sparkling clean :) :) :)


6)Cleaning Stained Pans / Bowls / Steel Vessels -

Combine 3 tsp of Baking Soda with juice of one whole lemon. Rinse the stained pan / bowl, then pour this mixture. Pour a dime size dish liquid, scrub for a minute. Let it sit for 3 minutes. Later just scrub once more and rinse. There you go with clean and shining pan / bowl.


7)Vanishes any tough odor -

Dust a little baking soda inside the sweaty shoes, leave it for couple of hours. Slowly dust out the baking soda n there will be no bad sweaty odor now.

Sprinkle the baking soda on the carpets, wait for 5 to 10 minutes. Later vacum, this way it eliminates weird smell.

This way you can you it to eliminate any tough odors.


8)Mouth wash -

Combine 1tsp baking soda to 1 glass of warm water. Use this as a mouth wash to eliminate any kind of odors. Lastly rinse with plain water.

Rice Flour Crepes

This is another instant crepe recipe. Very easy and delicious for breakfast or snack.

Serves 6

Category - Breakfast / Snacks / Dinner

Rice Flour - 3 Cups
Salt to taste
Water as required
Oil just to drizzle over the crepes as required

Combine all the above ingredients in a big mixing bowl (except for the oil). The consistency of the batter should resemble that of the buttermilk.

Heat a non stick or iron cast pan, pour a ladle full of the batter. Drizzle oil and cook till golden brown. We cook only on one side for these kinda crepes.

Serve with Chutney.

VARIATIONS -
1) You can add a tadka of mustard seeds, hing, red chillies, curry leaves and coriander.
2) You can add any vegetables of you choice and also add chopped green chillies or red chillies.

You can also refer RAva Dosa / Semolina crepes, instant version again.

You can store the leftover batter for up to 2 days in the refrigerator.

Rava Dosa / Semolina Crepes

An instant dosa or crepes. Perfect for breakfast or snack time or just when your hungry and cant cook.

Serves 6

Category - Breakfast / Snack

Rava / Semolina - 1 Cup
Rice flour - 1 Cup
All purpose flour / Maida - 1/4 Cup
Green chillies - 1tbsp (finely chopped, add more if you want it spicy)
Jeera - 1tsp
Coriander - 3tbsp (finely chopped)
Black pepper powder - 1/4tsp
Salt to taste
Water as required
Onions - 3 (finely chopped)
Oil - as required

In a big mixing bowl add all the dry ingredients (except for the onions), combine well. To this slowly add enough water and make sure there are no lumps. The consistency should resemble to that of buttermilk.

Heat a non stick or iron cast pan, spread chopped onions all over the pan, now pour the prepared batter to dosas or crepes. Drizzle oil on the edges and at the centre. Let it cook till golden brown. We dont flip the other side. We cook these crepes only on one side.

Serve with Coconut Chutney. 

VARIATIONS -
1) You can puree a small bunch of palak with little water, this can be add to the batter.
2) You can add grated carrots too.
3) You can Omit All purpose flour for a gluten free version.
4) You can add grated ginger for a little zing.

Moroccan Chickpea Soup

Moroccan Chickpea Soup

Serves 4 to 5

Category - Lunch / Dinner

Chickpeas - 1Cup
Onion - 1 Finely sliced
Tomato - 2 Finely chopped
Cumin / Jeera Powder - 1tbsp
Oil - 4tsp
Bay Leaf - 1
Salt to taste
Black Pepper to taste


In a pressure cooker add the chickpeas and cover it with water. Add a pinch on salt and cook till tender. Transfer the stock to another bowl and keep aside.

In a thick bottom pot, heat the oil add the bay leaf then add the onions. Saute till transparent next add the tomatoes and saute further till the tomatoes turn soft and mushy. To this add the Cumin powder and cook for two minutes. Next add the cooked chickpeas with half the stock, bring this to boil later add the other half of the stock and continue to cook for another 20 to 25 mins.

The soup is ready. Add Salt and pepper to taste.

Variations - Can use the "Can chickpeas" directly by draining the liquid. The cooking time may vary.
You can also mash half the quantity of the chickpeas.

Purple Cabbage Salad

Serves 4

Category - Lunch / Dinner

Purple Cabbage - 3 Cups (Shredded)
Cucumbers - 2 (Thinly Sliced)
Red Onions - 1 Small (Finely chopped)
Carrots - 1 Medium (Juliens / Grated)

For the Dressing -
Mayo - 6 to 8tbsp
White Vinegar - 1tsp or adjust accordingly
Salt & Black pepper to taste

In a small bowl combine the dressing ingredients and keep aside.

In a big mixing bowl add the salad greens and pour the dressing, mix throughly and serve.
You can also chill it for one hour in the fridge and serve later.

Purple Cabbage Salad