Basically these blends I am going to talk about are very ancient but yes now a days when cooking is quite popular on food blogs I feel that there is no harm in sharing what we learned in our own kitchen after spending so many years.I was walking in the morning on road and felt that there are few blends which makes my cooking more magical.So thought of sharing here too.

1- Bihar blend – It consists whole dry coriander,whole dry red chilies and garlic.You need to soak 1 cup of each together for 2-3 hours in lukewarm water and than grind it well with half cup normal water.Now mix in some salt and turmeric powder too and use it as marination for chicken, fish or potatoes and frill/fry/deep fry/roast them or use it in gravies by frying in little oil to make them heavenly.I use it some times in making kadhis even. Lot many times I have fried this blend into mustard oil with salt to fry boiled potatoes chunks to get great snack too.Or u can rub this blend in blanched cauliflower or shredded cabbage pcs to grill for a great snack too. just experiment with it a lot.You will be happy to find the amazing results with garlic flavor. Once I made pizza base with this and got too many praises of desi pizza taste.

2- Hariyali blend – This is one of the most loved blend for me as it works very well with tikkas, biryanis and raitas(flavored curds). This contains fresh green mint, fresh green coriander and green chillies. Trust me it works great if you experiment with it little by little. It creates last minute magic in fried boiled potatoes, salads or curds. You can try it mixing in briyanis too.But if people around like spicy food than only try it. But yes if you blend it with cream salt and garlic you can get amazing fish tikka, chicken tikka or paneer tikkas. Yes we are talking about those real spicy green chilies not capsicum or tasteless green chilies. Please don’t add those.
3- Shahi blend – I love the aroma of this blend so much that I never make any paneer dish without it. Paneer lababdar qbecomes so good with it and if it is added to simple dals or curries or biryanis they become royal with its flavor. It consists cloves, green cardamom and mace. While making suji(semolina) halwa sometimes I add a pinch of this in desi ghee prior to suji(semolina) frying and it becomes so fragrant that very moment. Recently I made some spiced almonds and I tried this blend in those too.Results were so amazing and satsfying.But yes basically I use it for pulaos, paneers and baking a lot.A pinch of this blend makes cookies or cakes much fragrant. Lot many times for a flavour change I add them in rice pudding (chawal ki kheer) too while boiling the milk. But keep a strong control over using them as these spices are very warm to use together.

4- Dil pasand blend – It is a quick mix on the spot of rose water, saffron and cinnamon powder which makes your pulaos, puddings, sweets and various mutton dishes so dreamy that I can bet if a great cook know how to use them perfectly in proportions he can do wonders in kitchen. They all work great together. Mix them and sprinkle over biryani while closing the lid or add them in dash while giving last stir to rice puddings or cake batter. Th is work wonders in carrot cake too.Just try it some time in tarts or cheesecakes or white rasgullas batter.You will love it.I have tried this blend in making jalebis and gulabjamuns too.Works very well by giving them great aroma.

5- Dhaba blend – This is a mix of black cardamom, star anise and nutmeg. Can make your palak paneer amazing, jaw dropping kind of choley or chicken curry like true dhaba style. If you really need a great chicken curry than marinate chicken pieces with Bihar blend (mentioned above, fry them and add this one while making gravy and check the taste. It rocks. It is actually one of the great blend if you are not using onions in a dish.Makes them amazingly tasty and aromatic. 

* Green cardamom and black cardamom I grind with covers on in good grinder into finest powder. I dont throw their covers(chilka)

Keep experimenting.Happy cooking!

When you attend a party specially little kids birthday party as family either you create mess with others for the host or you behave good and extend a happy helping hand to organize and celebrate the moment. Isn’t it.Why but all are not like that?Why people get drunk at late night parties even though they are with families?

I hope we can move a step forward to learn few things before attending party next time! We can teach basic things to our kids so that lot many hassles for the party host parents can be less hectic.
1- Please do not waste food. Take in plate half of what you think you can eat. Now a days everything comes very expensive. If food is pre-served and packed than have it in sharing basis than open other plate.
2- Avoid creating mess by taking less drinks in glasses.Throw the glasses in the garbage bin only.
3- Do not shout, argue or get over excited.Just keep calm for the first half an hour to keep the party host calm too.
4- If you or your kid has to perform than rehearsal it at home. Do not pressurize your kid to perform all of the sudden.May be he or she is not mentally prepared.I really feel bad myself when I see parents try to drag or shout at their kid to do the thing all of sudden.
5- If the cake is big or small, whatever please control yourself from indulging too much or asking for several helpings.May be your party host is saving it for some late comers or to distribute to few others.
6- Balloons, confetti or caps. Do not be greedy to collect a lot. may be lot many people are watching you silently doing this.
7- Do not open return gifts at host place. Be patience and wait for reaching back home.
8- Do not stay back long by chatting. Try to move out first to show others a way as sign.
9- Do not pressurize the host to start the dinner or lunch as soon as possible. If they are delaying it too much than only gently remind them.Lot many times they get confused and things get delayed.
10- After coming back to home send a thank you note with appreciation of their efforts. It helps and boost the moods of tired hosts.
11- If you see host is in mess or confusion. Get up and start working with them to control the things.Lot many times over excited kids create so much confusions.So first calm down the kids with small game or performance.
12- If you are having plans to take some food to home for some family member than carry your own small plastic containers.
Happy partying!

Since my childhood I have two best friends. One is Sikh and other one is Muslim. I am a Hindu. We three grew up seeing each other following our religions with great respect. When I see three of us I found ourselves more compassionate and helping rather than those who are actually selfish people. Trust me those who never try to follow a routine to pray or meditate are more stressed and tensed always.I found several reasons that our coming generations should follow the prayer or meditate or religious practices with more enthusiasm on regular basis so that they can be less selfish and less stressed.

I did a little research online and personally and found that there are numbers of benefits of praying regularly. So thought of writing up those things in a short essay to reach more people with a point that kids should pray and meditate more.

1- Early morning rituals are beneficial – Yes it is a strong point for early childhood. The moment kids start following early morning regime their days become more balanced and creative.They feel less lethargic and more curious all the day. Becoz not a single religion or practice says that you gt up at 10 am and perform rituals at 12 noon. Getting up early, cleaning and washing yourself means kids will feel more responsible to follow you and your routine.It creates a sense of being grown up too.

2- Being clean always is good – Once kids start early morning prayers and religious rituals they start noticing that whatever belongs to God needs clean hand and pure heart. They become less naughty or mischievous. They also start taking care of surroundings being clean always.

3- Physical fitness – Getting early means kids get more time to follow some good exercise or home work. They will get time to pay some attention to their body like getting a nice massage from parents or going out for a walk with grand parents or other family members. Nobody takes a sleeping kid to walks or part but a clean happy chirpy kid is always welcomed by all. Isn’t it?

4- Concentration in studies – Kids who pray regularly are always more energetic and less stressed during the exams. Praying heals them from daily stress and gives them internal peace in heart that they are connected with the almighty or a supreme power. They became more focused in the studies and face life obstacles in stronger way always.

5- Respecting society – Ever saw that small city kids are more obedient and respects the local culture and values rather than those who are residents of bigger cities or metros?It is obvious because being from small cities these kids are much more influenced from religious practices, prayers and meditation things. They get more opportunities to visit religious places rather than those kids who live in big cities or abroad.

6- Obedient towards adults advises – Once kids start religious practices or prayers or meditation they become more peaceful at heart and polite in behave. They tend to follow what adults suggest them on daily basis.Praying kids start differentiating between good and wrong because they become more patience at heart and mind.Because they are stress free always.

7- Social harmony – Not a single religion on this earth teaches manipulation of the other religion.Kids become more progressive and more tolerant after start praying in .They start learning early age that how important is own peace and harmony as well as others harmony too. They meditate and realize at an early age that society is full of different religions and practices.We should respect each other’s sentiments.
8- Family connectivity – Praying together lot many times gives a mental security and more bonding in between.This is a reason that joint family kids are more tolerant, happy heart and caring always.It is family bonding during the religious practices and praying together which controls every kids all in all progress of character.It is very important thing.Even if you have nuclear family still insist on praying together once a day.
9- Career orientation – Kids who pray or meditate regularly are more confident and smart rather than those who actually don’t have any kind of systematic beliefs in life. Kids who excel a lot in life are actually more diversified and devoted for following a regular regime to move ahead and high always.
10- World peace – The moment kids know that how important is others religion as well as theirs they become more caring and sharing citizens.They lead the society towards more charity works because they see doing their parents same from their early childhood.They do what they are taught from childhood to give back to society more through religious charities lot many times.It really matters.

Take your kids to religious charity programs, social meditation programs and inspire them to pray every day.This will help them a lot in living a progressive happy and healthy life.May be we are more sick and lonely because we are praying less now a days.

Happy praying!

 1- We switch on the lights at my main door every evening but you do it rarely. If we both fix week or month and remind each other it will be a great thing.

2- Keep your door bit open if you are expecting lot of guests for dinner tonight may be my kids r studying or watching TV or May be we r lonely couple sleeping early.

3- If you are new than please note down the closest landmarks to your building and exact number of your flat n floor because your visitors, vendors and courier persons are knocking my door actually.

4- Husband wife shouting fights gives a negative impressions and quarrelsome kids too. I know how sober you behave in lift with me but I still remember last night weeping n crying you had in your family. Keep your tones n volume low.

5- Your kids love muddy shoes and clothes but I don’t so common passage should be clean always.

6- If we both share a small expense for building cleaner boy, our surroundings will be more cleaner.

7- If you wish to borrow anything please call me on phone first better than ring my doorbell. Would u like me to open door in towel or stinking hair dye on my head? Or may be I m in meditation or yoga.

8- Taste the dish before you send it to my house. If you can’t eat it than how can me and my family will eat it? I noticed the watermelon you send was outer side of fruit.

9- Please can u check with us if we are vegetarians or non vegetarians before sending anything on festivals. We love sweets indeed but we are Jains too so no biryani or kebabs please.

10-I am good heart with you and you too with me doesn’t means that I m ready to feed your dog behind your three months vacations or water your plants even. I have my own life too.

11- We spend 6 months in India and six months in our kids place in Delhi or Chennai or USA doesn’t means that we will carry 10-15 kgs goods for u in our return flights. So please don’t ask us to buy gold diamonds or expensive gadgets or spices or sweets.

12- We are newly married couple and we hate when your hubby drops in for long chats or staring my wife or your wife drops in to teach her how to keep household perfectly for long hours.

13- I m a working woman and my kids need my time in the evening so please don’t ask me to listen whole building stories or inquire about my post salary and savings etc. My mother in law never did so please you also not better bother me.

14- You have small kids and I do have so all the time your kids playing at my place is not fair. Please invite my kids too to your place.

15- If my kids wearing something less fancy at a common birthday party than please don’t point this to other neighbors. They will inform me very soon what you said.

16-If we recently moved in than please help us, inquire about us and keep your sweet mouth closed about us to others. Because after few months everything is going to come back to us whatever you may spread about us.

17- We share common maids but please don’t ask her my menu or my hubby’s habits. She is telling me all this with your inside details to get the benefits from both of us.

18- Sorry I have my own 24 hours maid doesn’t give u an impression that I m avoiding u it is simple that I don’t want to have a common servant and I want a help around me all the time.

19- I have my own style of wearing heavy embroidery saris, light chiffon, silks or western wear. I have to do nothing what way your husband looking at me. This is your own problem.

20- Toys are toys so if we have same aged kids so pl don’t make fuss about having expensive or cheap toys. One day we both will give them away.

21- We both have our own families so better not back bite to my relatives in park or lift and each other house. They will come and go back but you are ruining our daily routine of happiness.

22- You going out and handling over the keys to your main door to me. Are you sure am not going out too? May be I have my own plans.

23- You have big dog! Ok than please hire a trainer too to teach him to not to harm society kids. It may be a bit expensive but it is better than shelling out thousands if he harms any of kids later.

24-Sharing common pool doesn’t means that your kids will use entire season my kids sunscreen or allergy cream as taken for granted. I am quite but I notice it.

25- My 24 color sketches set is missing few. I am regular to your house and I saw them in your kids pencil box. Can u please ask them to return it?

26- Please don’t pressurize me to vote for your choice person in Society elections.

27- Yes we do have expensive things in our house but that is none of your business to count in our money or if we have lesser expensive things so u will point that too.

28- My Mom in law had a surgery doesn’t mean that you spread the news and force 26-27 families to drop in my house to say her hello. She needs rest.

29- Please don’t shout my name for cooking something in society party arrangements without my acceptance. Dessert for 60-70 people cost a lot and so do anything else. I know you put dessert in my name and yours to bring chapattis.

30- Stay away at a limited distance and wait for my call.We both are human being and let us treat each other like that only.