Cook With Me: Power Breakfast

Hello Everyone!

Here's a power breakfast recipe for you all!!

Ingredients:
1. A Glass Jar or any other container (just looks prettier in a glass jar)
2. 3 table spoons of rolled oats
3. just enough milk to soak the oats.
4.  Assorted fruits (pomegranates, mangoes, bananas, apples, grapes, strawberries ... anything  you like)
5. Assorted dry fruits like cashews, raisins, walnuts
6. curd/yogurt
7. Chia/flaxseeds roasted.

Method: 
Step 1:  The previous night put 3 tablespoons of rolled oats into the glass jar.

 Step 2: Add just enough milk to cover the oats and leave the jar in the fridge overnight.

Step 3: Next morning layer over your assorted fruits over the soaked oats.

 Step 4: Layer over some curd/yogurt over the fruits.

Step 5: Top up with the assorted dry fruits, nuts and chia/flax seeds.

 Step 6: Screw on the cap, take it to work............

Step 7: Just before eating, mix up the layers and dig right in!!

This breakfast packs a huge vitamin and mineral punch. Lets see how:

Milk and yogurt are packed with calcium which is great for your bones, proteins for rejuvenation, Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3,  B5, B6, B12, C, D, E, K, Folate, Copper,Iron,Manganese, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium,Selenium, Sodium and Zinc! Yogurt is also a probiotic!

Nuts and seeds are extremely nutrient-dense. They provide generous amounts of calories, fats, complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals and fiber. Trace minerals like magnesium, zinc, selenium and copper are also found in them. nuts and seeds have been shown to protect against disease. Phytochemicals, bioactive compounds that help fight illness, in nuts and seeds include ellagic acid, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, luteolin, isoflavones and tocotrienols. Nuts also contain plant sterols, thought to help keep cholesterol levels in check and reduce cancer risk.

https://www.navs-online.org/nutrition/healthfulfoods/nutsandseeds.php

Oats:

Oats are packed full of nutrients, helping to keep your body healthy - take a look at all the goodness they contain.

Oats are a healthy, wholegrain ingredient. They provide carbohydrate, protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals, as well as antioxidants and other important nutrients.

Nutrient	What is it?	How does it help your body?	Nutritional composition per 100g of oats
Thiamin	B-vitamin	Helps release energy from carbohydrate Vital for a healthy nervous system	0.9mg (100% RDA*)
Riboflavin	B-vitamin	Helps release energy from food Keeps skin, eyes and the nervous system healthy	0.09mg (8% RDA*)
Niacin	B-vitamin	Helps release energy from food Vital for a healthy nervous system	0.8mg (6% RDA*)
Carbohydrate	The most important source of energy in the diet	Our bodies digest and metabolise all carbohydrates into glucose, which provides energy for the body	66g
Protein	Performs vital structural functions in the body	Needed for growth and development Constantly involved in rebuilding, repairing and maintaining vital tissues	11.2g
Fat	An essential part of the diet	An important source of energy, although intakes should be controlled Necessary for the storage and transport of fat soluble vitamins	9.2g
Sodium	A mineral	Involved in the regulation of fluid and electrolyte balance	7mg (0.4% RDA*) High sodium is associated with raised blood pressure, it is recommended that we have no more than 2.4g sodium per day
Fibre	'Nature's broom'	Helps maintain a healthy digestive system	7.1g (of which beta-glucan is 4g)
Calcium	A mineral	Helps build strong bones and teeth	52mg (7% RDA*)
Vitamin B6	B-vitamin	Needed for protein metabolism Helps the central nervous system to function Needed for the production of haemoglobin, the red pigment in blood, which carries oxygen around the body	0.33mg (25% RDA*)
Folic Acid (folates)	B-vitamin	Essential for growth and the formation of red and white blood cell formation in bone marrow Protects against neural tube defects (spina bifida) pre-conceptually and during early pregnancy	60ug (30% RDA*)
Vitamin E	A powerful antioxidant	An antioxidant is a substance that may help prevent damage to the body's cells	N/A
Potassium	A mineral	Involved in the regulation of fluid and electrolyte balance Essential for the transmission of nerve impulses	350mg (10% RDA*)
Iron	A mineral	Helps make red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body	3.8mg  (43% RDA* men, 25% women)
Magnesium	A mineral	Needed for healthy bones Helps release energy from food Helps nerve and muscle function	110mg (40% RDA*)
Phosphorus	A mineral	Helps build strong bones Helps the body to store and release energy from food	380mg (70% RDA*)
Zinc	A mineral	Essential for growth, reproduction and immunity	3.3mg (40% RDA*)
Selenium	A mineral and powerful antioxidant	An antioxidant is a substance that may help prevent damage to the body's cells	3mg (5% RDA*)
Trace elements	The minerals copper, chromium, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and iodine are referred to as trace elements.	Essential for good health but only required in minute amounts

(http://allaboutoats.hgca.com/guide-to-oats/oats-nutrients.aspx)


Fruits:

Fruits	Amount	Minerals Contained	Vitamins Contained
Apple	One medium apple with skin contains 0.47 grams of protein, 95 calories, and 4.4 grams of dietary fiber.	Potassium - 195 mg Calcium - 11 mg Phosphorus - 20 mg Magnesium - 9 mg Manganese - 0.064 mg Iron - 0.22 mg Sodium - 2 mg Copper - 0.049 mg Zinc - 0.07 mg Also contains a trace amount of other minerals.	Vitamin A - 98 IU Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.031 mg Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.047 mg Niacin - 0.166 mg Folate - 5 mcg Pantothenic Acid - 0.111 mg Vitamin B6 - 0.075 mg Vitamin C - 8.4 mg Vitamin E - 0.33 mg Vitamin K - 4 mcg Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.

Banana

One medium banana contains 1.29 grams of protein, 105 calories and 3.1 grams of dietary fiber.

Potassium - 422 mg Phosphorus - 26 mg Magnesium - 32 mg Calcium - 6 mg Sodium - 1 mg Iron - 0.31 mg Selenium 1.2 mcg Manganese - 0.319 mg Copper - 0.092 mg Zinc - 0.18 mg Also contains small amounts of other minerals.

Vitamin A - 76 IU Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.037 mg Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.086 mg Niacin - 0.785 mg Folate - 24 mcg Pantothenic Acid - 0.394 mg Vitamin B6 - 0.433 mg Vitamin C - 10.3 mg Vitamin E - 0.12 mg Vitamin K - 0.6 mcg Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.

Dates

One cup of pitted, chopped dates contains 3.6 grams of protein, 415 calories and 11.8 grams of dietary fiber.

Potassium - 964 mg Phosphorus - 91 mg Magnesium - 63 mg Calcium - 57 mg Sodium - 3 mg Iron - 1.5 mg Selenium 4.4 mcg Manganese - 0.385 mg Copper - 0.303 mg Zinc - 0.43 mg Also contains small amounts of other minerals.

Vitamin A - 15 IU Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.076 mg Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.097 mg Niacin - 1.873 mg Folate - 28 mcg Pantothenic Acid - 0.866 mg Vitamin B6 - 0.243 mg Vitamin C - 0.6 mg Vitamin E - 0.07 mg Vitamin K - 4 mcg Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.

Raisins

One small box of raisins (1.5 ozs) contains 1.32 grams of protein, 129 calories and 1.6 grams dietary fiber.

Potassium - 322 mg Phosphorus - 43 mg Magnesium - 14 mg Calcium - 22 mg Sodium - 5 mg Iron - 0.81 mg Selenium 0.3 mcg Manganese - 0.129 mg Copper - 0.137 mg Zinc - 0.09 mg Also contains small amounts of other minerals.

Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.046 mg Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.054 mg Niacin - 0.329 mg Folate - 2 mcg Pantothenic Acid - 0.041 mg Vitamin B6 - 0.075 mg Vitamin C - 1 mg Vitamin E - 0.05 mg Vitamin K - 1.5 mcg Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.

Grapes

One cup of grapes contains 1.09 gram of protein, 104 calories and 1.4 grams of dietary fiber.

Potassium - 288 mg Phosphorus - 30 mg Magnesium - 11 mg Calcium - 15 mg Sodium - 3 mg Iron - 0.54 mg Selenium 0.2 mcg Manganese - 0.107 mg Copper - 0.192 mg Zinc - 0.11 mg Also contains small amounts of other minerals.

Vitamin A - 100 IU Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.104 mg Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.106 mg Niacin - 0.284 mg Folate - 3 mcg Pantothenic Acid - 0.076 mg Vitamin B6 - 0.13 mg Vitamin C - 16.3 mg Vitamin E - 0.29 mg Vitamin K - 22 mcg Contains some other vitamins in small amounts. (http://www.health-alternatives.com/fruit-nutrition-chart.html)

NOTD with Maybelline

Hi Beauties!

Another NOTD!! As I said earlier, these have been sitting in my drafts, and now they come out!!

This time the NOTD is a combination of Maybelline Color Show (Party Porcelain) and Maybelline Colorama (Rosa Cristal).



The Colorama I got as a free gift for shopping at Nykaa.com on a Friday.

I loved the shade and immediately got to work. A lovely pearly light pink. Its a great product! Its got a good brush and the polish spreads well and dries quickly. You get a lovely translucent colour on first application, but for true colour you need to apply two coats.

As I was applying the first coat, I thought that this was a great shade for a french manicure. So I did just that!

Here are the results. What do you think?

Maybelline New York Colorama Nail Color in Rosa Cristal

Maybelline New York Colorama Nail Color in Rosa Cristal

Frenchified with Maybelline Colorshow Party Porcelain

So, your thoughts?

NOTD: With Maybelline Color Show Nail Polish

Hi All!

This has been sitting in my drafts section for a few weeks, as are a few others,due to crazy pressure at work. 

So here goes.....

You all know how much I love Maybelline Color Show Nail Polishes... I have been building up a decent collection of their shades.

The shades are great, the pigments excellent, takes just two coats to get the true colour and has a quick drying formula. AND very reasonably priced to boot!

Today I am using two colors: Coral Craze and Bold Gold.

Coral Craze is a nice pinkish coral shade which suits a fairly wide range of Indian skin tone.

Bold Gold has miniscule glitter particles and has a lovely muted effect that can be worn to work as well.

The Basic look:

Look 1:

Look 2:

So, what do you think?

Cook With Me: Pepper Prawns with Curry Leaves

Hey Everyone!

Its been a while since I have posted a food post, so today I am going to share with you a recipe that happened quite by accident.

The husband, after some nagging on my part brought in some 


So I wondered how I should prepare them. I did not want to do the regular  Chinese style or the bengali style dish........

So this is what I did:

cleaned and deveined 500g of:

Prawns

1 teaspoon pepper powder

Crushed pepper corns

1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon turmeric powder

Mix all of these ingredients and keep aside.

Marinated Prawns

I then heated some oil in a wok and fried the prawns till golden.

Fry prawns

In the same oil I threw in a sprig or two of curry leaves


 along with finely chopped onions and 1/2 a tsp of ginger garlic paste.

Once the onions are browned, I added 1/2 a tsp of turmeric, 1 tsp of coriander powder, 1/2 tsp of chilli powder, 1/2 tsp of crushed black pepper and salt to taste.

I wanted to add tomatoes, but realised I had run out. It was too late in the evening so I just added a dash of tomato ketchup.

Once the spices were done, I threw in the fried prawns and folded them in. Since the gravy looked too dry, I added half a cup of water and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.

This is what it looked like just before serving...

I couldn't get a picture of what the final dish looked like since the husband had already claimed the wok for himself!!

 The curry leaves gave the dish such a different dimension! 

Why don't you try it too and let me know.................

Medimix By Cholayil: Ethical Beauty Product

Hey You!!

I just couldn't help but share this article with you. Amazing company, great product!  I was introduced to this brand of soap during my trip to southern India about 10 years ago. I have used this soap off and on and have liked it too, but did not know the story behind this brand.

Now that I know, I have a new respect for the product and the company.

Read on to find out why.......




All employees of AVA Cholayil Health Care Pvt Ltd start their day with a 15-minute yoga session. Why? It is important for them to remain physically fit and mentally alert at work, which is not only unique but also quite stressful. The 262 employees, spread across two factories in Chennai and one each in Pondicherry and Bangalore, make 10 crore bars of bathing soap every year by hand, without the help of machines and without using a single unit of electricity.

AVA Cholayil Health Care, which sells 15 crore Medimix brand of soaps annually in south India (two third-party units supply the balance five crore soap bars), is the largest handmade soap maker in the country, and probably globally. The company has recently applied for listing in the Limca Book of Records. Its revenue for 2013/14 stood at Rs 200 crore and it has a four per cent market share in south India.
Soap-making is predominantly mechanised. Of the four lakh tonnes of bathing soap manufactured in India, only about 8,000 tonnes are handmade. The reasons are not far to seek. Handmade soaps are laborious to make and it is extremely difficult to increase production. It involves employing a large number of workers, which results in labour-associated problems. Maintaining consistency in quality, process integrity and safety are also big challenges. It is for these reasons handmade soaps have remained a cottage industry, and large soap makers such as Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), Wipro and Godrej have shifted to mechanised production.

Through ingenuity, AVA Cholayil Health Care has done the impossible of scaling up its handmade soap-making process to an industrial scale. Its output in 2013/14, according to ORG, was 6,417 tonnes, which accounted for almost 80 per cent of the total handmade soap output in the country. Chandrika Soap, now part of Wipro, is the only other major handmade soap maker with output of 1,767 tonnes.
The origin of AVA Cholayil can be traced to the kitchen of Dr V.P. Sidhan, a physician who worked in the Indian Railways and belonged to a family of ayurveda practitioners in Trichur, Kerala. He used oils which his ancestors had effectively used to treat skin diseases, to produce soap and launched Medimix in 1969.
Innovation has kept us going so far and I am sure we will come up with a solution to remain a handmade soap maker forever.

A.V. ANOOP, MD, AVA Cholayil Health Care
He kept the process handmade as there was very little money to invest. (The Cholayil group, which he set up, split amicably by the turn of the century. AVA Cholayil is headed by the founder's son-in-law A.V. Anoop and handles the southern market, while the rest of India is handled by Dr Sidhan's son V.S. Pradeep. Both the groups share the Medimix brand, but Cholayil has mechanised some parts of the production process.)

 

Medimix was initially sold as a skin-care soap. Its transformation as a consumer product began in early 1980s when Anoop entered the business. "After the brand's transformation as an FMCG [Fast-Moving Consumer Goods] product, we expanded by adding more factories but retained the handmaking process," says Anoop. The fact that handmade soaps had nil excise duty compared to 12.36 per cent for soaps manufactured using the mechanised process was a motivation (this benefit was removed in 2005). There, however, were other reasons as well.

"Going mechanised would have meant letting go of the bulk of the 300 employees we had. It was against our social consciousness," explains Anoop. There were two other reasons. Handmade soaps are superior to machine-made soaps as they are skin-friendly. The process enables use of a higher proportion of coconut oil (which is good for the skin), adding more additives, especially ayurvedic herbs, and retaining natural glycerine, which leaves the skin soft. Also, the manufacturing process is environment-friendly as it does not use electricity at all.

Many Challenges



The decision to remain a handmade manufacturer opened up many challenges. No one, till then, had scaled up a handmade soap manufacturing process beyond a point and demand for Medimix was rising sharply. Production in late-1990s was just six crore units annually.
The other challenge was people. The handmade process is backbreaking and unsafe. Workers have to physically lift hot oil, cart it to mixing drums, mix it, remove the soap, cut and pack them. In 1990s, the average age of the workers was in the mid-20s and the company's management realised that the workers will not be able to continue doing the work as they age. "We needed to figure out a way to scale up production, reduce stress and keep the operation safe," recalls U. Divakaran, Vice President - Operations. An external consultant appointed by the company said it was impossible to do so. The company then turned to its workers for insights in early 2000.

 

"The workers came up with solutions no management consultants could," says Anoop. Why not, for instance, use gravity and make the process less stressful, they asked. The management realised that such a process will also help the company dramatically increase production. Machinery was developed in-house to put this plan into operation. An elevated ramp was constructed from which trucks downloaded the raw materials-coconut oil, palm oil and caustic soda lye into storage tanks.
So, using hand-rotated pumps, the raw material was pumped into overhead tanks. This then flowed into heating and mixing drums placed at different elevation, thus obviating the need to carry oil.
Hand-rotated wheels were used to mix the ingredients. The soap was then poured into moulds and left for maturation. The employees then came up with innovations to cut the mould into plates and bars by designing machinery that again worked through hand-rotated wheels. The stamping process, the most accident-prone, was tweaked to make it safe.


The second-biggest challenge in ramping up a handmade process was labour involvement. Without that, maintaining consistent quality and adherence to standard operating procedures would be impossible. So, the management turned its focus to workers welfare. "We increased their salaries and put in place a system where productivity gains were shared with employees," says Divakaran. Average monthly salary today is around Rs 18,000.


To improve productivity, quality, housekeeping and keep innovation flowing, awards have been instituted and the four factories compete for them. "The knowledge bank we have set up has 250 ideas given by the employees," he adds. These measures have improved productivity sharply. In 2003, the average packing was seven cakes per minute. Now, it is 12. Workers stamped 4,500 units per day then. Now, it is 12,000. The average yield per mould (matured soap converted into bars) at 90.56 per cent is higher than the 85 per cent mechanised operation delivers. Last year, the aggregate output rose 21 per cent despite a drop in staff strength from 320 to 262 after the company offered a voluntary retirement scheme.
The company says gaining a pricing premium for its handmade soaps is a focus area. "We have launched Medimix Clear Glycerine soap. It is priced higher than classic Medimix and will help in refreshing the ageing brand," says K.H.S. Manian, President of the company. Despite attempts by rivals such as HUL, Godrej and Wipro to come up with an ayurvedic soap, Medimix Classic's appeal remains strong. In fact, in the mid-1990s, HUL (then Hindustan Lever) tried to acquire Medimix but Anoop refused to part with the company. "They do not have a background in ayurveda," says Manian. Today, Medimix Classic accounts for 80 per cent of the company's sales. The brand ranks among the top 20 in south India in the Most Trusted Brands of India 2013 Survey by Brand Trust Report.
While all is well now, Anoop constantly worries about the future. "I wonder whether we will get workers once this batch retires," he says. "Innovation has kept us going so far and I am sure we will come up with a solution to remain a handmade soap maker forever."

@Madhuta
Reproduced From Business Today. © 2014. LMIL. All rights reserved.


I wish all companies followed similar principles!!

Gift Hamper from Sattvik Organics

Hey Everyone!

About two months ago Healthkart.com announced a blogging contest partnered by SattvikOrganics, Aura Vedic, Votre and Vaadi Herbals.

And I'm happy to tell you that I got the Consolation Hamper from Sattvik Organics for my entry. For the entry you may click HERE.

I started out as an occasional blogger with no clear plan, even now my blog isn't all that organised, but this recognition is encouraging.

Let me now share with you, my readers, the contents of this hamper.......

Sattvik Organics Gift Hamper

  The Hamper had 6 products from Sattvik Organics.

Sattvik Gold Revitalising Mask

Sattvik Organics

I had reviewed it briefly in the Contest Post. I will do a more detailed review with photos later.

Mint Magic Antiseptic Cleanser

Sattvik Organics

I am really keen to try out this product, seems really promising! This is definitely going to be reviewed soooooon!!

Saffron Care Mattifying Day Cream

Sattvik Organics

This product is a sunbock from their range. I am yet to use it. I'll try it out and post a review for you.

Sun Ban Remedy for Sun Tan Removal

Sattvik Organics

I have been using this product for a bout a week now and I will post a review shortly.

Aloevera Anti-Ageing Moisturising Soap

Sattvik Organics

Orange Scrub Exfoliating Soap

Sattvik Organics

I absolutely love handmade soaps! Lets see how I like these...

Sattvik Organics is a Delhi based company founded in 1999. Apart from working to create organic skin and hair care products, they are associated with a number of social and community programmes. To know more about them and their products visit www.sattvikorganics.com

My July 2014 FABBAG

Hey Everyone,

Today I'm going to give you a quick view of the July 2014 Edition of Fabbag.

This month the theme was Royalty and therefore the Bag is a deep, rich purple in colour

Fabbag July 2014 Edition

Here's what my Fabbag had this month:

Fabbag July 2014 Edition

 BioBloom Dandruff Control Oil + Cleanser Kit

Price:  Oil: INR 499 for 100 ml; Cleanser: INR 699/- for 200 ml

In the Bag: Oil: 30 ml: Cleanser: 50 ml

Fabbag July 2014 Edition

 Love the fragrance of Ylang Ylang (close to a gingery smell). Looking forward to the hair oil......

 Deborah Milano 24 ORE Velvet Eye Shadow in Cappuchino Brown

Price: INR 395/- for 5 gms

In the Bag: Full size (5gms)

Fabbag July 2014 Edition

A lovely rich brown colour! Would really work in a smoky eye look. Will show you the results in a while...

Votre Day Moisturising Gel with SPF 35

Price: INR 810/- for 30 ml

In the Bag: 30 ml

Fabbag July 2014 Edition

I have a weakness for gel based products and I'm really looking forward to using this product. So far all the Votre products I have used have been pretty good, so high expectations!

Vivel Cell Renew Deep Smoothing Body Lotion (Free Sample)

Price: INR 225/- for 200 ml

In the Bag: 40 ml

Fabbag July 2014 Edition

Yet another body lotion... To humid and sticky right now to try it, so wait till the weather turns.........

Liked this month's bag. I will review the products as I use them over a period of time and will let you know how they work for me.......

FABBAG is a subscription service, starting at INR 399/- a month where they curate and send 3-4 samples of various Indian and international brands. It is usually a mix of luxury as well as drugstore products.

 

To book your bag, you can visit their website Here.