Lotus in the pond

Lotus in the pond are always a treat for my eyes. At alexandra park connector.

Muffins

Finally, got all the required items for muffins today. Here is the recipe:
2 cups of self raising flour
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 block of butter
2 medium eggs
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
handful of chocolate chips

Mix and beat all wet ingredients. Add dry items. Mix them soon and transfer to cupcakes. Preheat oven to 180°c. Bake for 20-30 Mins.

Sweet potato plant

One of the sweet potatoes started to grow into a plant with two very tiny leaves. Wanted to give it support in its growth. So asked my kind friend if she could share her small garden area for this tiny plant. She was more than happy to do that. In a week's time, the plant grew quick amazingly ( check the picture ) . Guess it was the love. :-) we are very thrilled.

Avoid - Britannia's treat biscuits with trans fat

Having been subjected to watching frequent advertisements of Britannia Treat biscuits, kids obviously ask for it, preparing themselves for the first taste. Then it becomes a habit.

Only couple of days back, wanted to check the ingredients - expecting kid healthy choices.

Shocked to see that the biscuits contain hydrogenated vegetable fat aka trans fat. City kids having trans fat foods with least physical activity is a definite bad idea. I believe government should not allow such products to be advertised in the first place. Kids are not mature consumers to understand what is really good and healthy for them in the long run.

A brief search in Google took me to this page: http://www.britannia.co.in/brandstories_treat.htm

The product seems to be a huge success but are the consumers aware of health implications. I have loved Britannia products for a long time and been a loyal consumer. Particularly, the healthy and nutri products of Britannia. Perhaps, emphasis and advertising should be encouraged on these products rather than the unhealthy ones.

Going a step ahead, advertisements in kids channels should be closely monitored. In fact, ideally should be eliminated from kids channels. Advertisements are negative in their very nature of telling consumer what they don't have and motivating to get it.

Varieties of mango

Yesterday I got a chance to visit an agricultural professor's house to pick up farm fresh, naturally grown ripe mangoes. The professor's mother asked me what varieties I would like. As textbook knowledge I know mango comes in different varieties. Practically, mango has been a synonym for 'banginapalli' variety. Admitted to her that I do not know of any varieties. She showed me 'mallika' 

, 'himasagar' and 'suvarnarekha' varieties along with regular banginapalli variety. Promptly chose a couple of mangoes a variety each to try. 

Tried the three varieties yesterday. Each is so different and distinct in taste and flavor. Overall, enjoyed the mango tasting exercise. Himasagar is the sweetest of them. Suvarnarekha is also sweet but has a distinct flavor and smell. Mallika not too sweet but thoroughly tasty.

Catching with a school friend after many years!

I just want to note this down as a memory. I read an article about a kuchipudi dancer in the Hindu newspaper. The dancer is none other than my school mate, a year junior to me and a great companion. I immediately logged on to Facebook and messaged her if we could get in touch and left my phone number.

Couple of days later, received a call from her and was I thrilled! Exchanged pleasantries and caught on what happened in each other's lives since school. Awesome! Had a long talk and decided to meet each other next time we both get a chance to.

Nostalgic!!!

Whole wheat pizza

Whole wheat pizza

Ingredients for base:
Whole wheat pizza (1 cup)
1 tsp active yeast powder
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
Water (enough to prepare dough)

Warm the water and add active yeast. Let it stand for 5 mins and then add all the rest of the ingredients. Mix them well and knead them into a soft dough. Let it stay for a while - 30 mins or so. The dough will raise in the mean time.

Ingredients for toppings:
1. Tomato sauce
2. Sliced tomatoes
3. Sliced onions
4. Mozzarella cheese
5. Sliced green chilli pepper, soaked in some salt

Grease the pizza oven plate with oil. After the dough raised, spread the dough evenly with hands in the pizza oven plate. Sprinkle the vegetables evenly on the spread dough. Sprinkle cheese over the vegetables.

Preheat the oven to 220 degree Celsius. Pop in the filled up pizza oven plate. In 15-20 mins, the pizza will be ready. Please check if the pizza looks done before removing it out.