Cook With Me: Easy Peasy Chilli Chicken

Hi All !

I learnt this recipe from a friend and when I tried it at home,my family loved it, especially my kids!! So I wanted to share this recipe with you.

What you need:

1. 500g of boneless chicken cut into cubes


2. 1 tbsp of ginger garlic paste


Sprinkling of salt

3. 2  eggs beaten


4. 2-3 tbsp of cornflour

5. Bell Peppers in all three colours cut in squares

6. 10 Button mushrooms halved

7. 2 medium sized onions quartered and separated 

8. Dash of the following:
a. soy sauce
 b. green chilli sauce
c.  sweet red chilli sauce
d.  mustard sauce
e.  tomato ketchup

9.  Oil for frying

10. 2 dry red chillies.

Method:

1. Marinate the chicken with ginger-garlic paste and a dash of salt and keep aside for an hour.
2. Beat two whole eggs and mix in with the marinated chicken.  
   
3. Heat the oil, coat the chicken one by one into the cornflower and fry until golden brown. Remove from flame.
   
   
   
   
4. In the remaining oil throw in some broken dry red chillies and add the onion. Fry till its edges caramelise.
   
   
   
   
5. Add the vegetables and saute for a couple of minutes,till the vegetables have cooked but still have their crunch.
6. Add a dash of all the sauces listed above. Do not add any salt at this stage, the sauces have plenty.
   
   
   
   
7. Add the chicken, give it a stir. Remove from flame and serve hot with steamed rice or breads.

 As usual the husband could not wait for me to plate the food and enjoyed it straight from the wok!!

 Do try it out and tell me how it went for you. Did your family like it? If you tried a variation, do let me know so I can try it out too!!

Lots of Love!

Three Random Things Vol.2

Hi All,

Three more random thoughts for this week.......

1. What is your earliest childhood memory?

My earliest childhood memory is from  nursery school. In the morning my friend's dad dropped us to school on his scooter. In the afternoons our moms walked us back home. It was such a pleasant walk down Feroz Shah Road. But we were full of mischief..... my friend and I loved to stuff little stones,dust and dry leaves in the mailboxes for the postman to collect!!! How the mothers used to scold us!! Heee Heeee Heeee!!!!!

2. What do you do FIRST thing in the morning, as soon as you wake up?

I wire up my phone for charging.

3. Are you a heavy or a light sleeper?
    
    I used to be a heavy sleeper! But that was before the kids were born! But now I seem to wake up every time they move in their sleep!!

  
I tag you to answer these questions. You do not have to answer all three. Looking forward to hearing from you and reading your responses.

Have a great week ahead!  

Three Random Things: Vol. 1

Hi Everyone!

For the last couple of days I have been toying with the idea of a weekly series. I wondered what the theme should be..... make-up favourites, beauty care tips, favourite books, or TV series....... I was not quite getting a clear picture.

So, I thought, why not get you all to think about any three random things you've been doing.

I am going to start with asking about Three Things. Then I'm going to give you my answers to those questions. I will then tag you to answer these questions too.

1. What are you reading right now?
     
   I've nearly finished reading 'A Wrinkle in Time' by Madeleine L'Engle Its a beautiful little story meant for pre-teens. A story of courage and humility, it was really refreshing for me after reading some really heavy and dry tomes of late.

2. Did you see a movie on TV yesterday?

   Yes. I watched the Island. Though a familiar storyline reminiscent of Robin Cook plots, it was quite engaging.

3. Are you multitasking right now?

You bet! I'm typing away at this blog post, feeding my kids dinner and watching TV!! Happens to me all the time!!






I tag you to answer these questions. You need not answer all of them, even one or two would be nice. I'd love to know what you all are up to!!

    

Avon Ultra Colour Lipstick Swatches: Pinks Corals and Reds

Hi All,
I had done a quick review of Avon Ultra Colour Lipsticks yesterday. You can find it here.

Today, I'm posting the pictures of how these lipsticks look on application. Lipsticks look different on different people. My lips are not too pigmented, so this is how these lippers look on me.

 I've tried to click the pictures to give the truest colour. I stood facing and open window, out of direct sunlight to get this result.

Tangerine Tango

Lava Love

Sun Coral

Hot Pink

Red 2000

Perfect Red

Wild Ginger

Hibiscus

Ripe Papaya

Twinkle Pink

So which ones are you ordering today?

Product Swatches: Avon Ultra Color Lipstick SPF 15

Hi All!

Today I'm doing a quick swatch and review of Avon Ultra Color Lipstick SPF 15.

Price: INR 359/- for 3.8gms

 

The product comes in two varieties, Satin and Shimmer. There are 20 shades in this category.

My Take on the Product:

The lipstick comes in a plastic black twist up packaging with a window on top which makes it easy to identify the colour. The packaging is sturdy with little dimples at the base of the cap to prevent it from coming loose in your purse.

The formula is creamy and moisturising. It applies well with a semi opacity in one application. You get true colour in 2-3 swipes. It is not a very long lasting lipstick, on my lips it lasts for about 4 hrs. The product also transfers to cups while drinking. But then the product does not claim to be long lasting or non-transferable.

However, the darker shades of the  lipstick does leave a lovely stain.

The Shimmer variants have tiny shimmer particles. They are not overpowering, nor does it feel gritty.

At this price point its a good lipstick to have!

My favourites from the selection of Corals, Reds and Pinks are
Lava Love (Satin) which is a nice brick red
Tangerine Tango (Satin) : it is a burnt orange which will suit a wide variety of
Hot Pink (Satin): is a bright pink which would suit a wide range of skin tones.
Sun Coral (Shimmer): Its a sheer, nude brown, great for daytime wear.
Perfect Red (Satin): Its a deep maroon, great fall/winter shade.

Two shades do not go with Indian skin tones unless you are really fair, close to NC 25 or under, Twinkle Pink and Ripe Papaya

Pros:

1.  Good selection of colours.
2. Creamy, moisturising formula.
3. Contains Vitmain E  and SPF 15
4. Gives true colour in 2-3 swipes
5. Fades out to a pretty stain.
6. Do not need to exfoliate lips before application.
7. Does not settle in creases
8. Does not feather or bleed.
9. Shimmer particles are smooth and non-gritty
10.  Good Sturdy packaging
11. Transparent window on top to help identify colour easily.
12. Good price point

Cons:

1. Transfers to cups while drinking.
2. Needs to be reapplied after eating.

Overall Verdict:  4.5/5.  Its a great product to have at this price point. I'll definitely be picking up a few of these shades.

Which shades have you tried?

My October 2014 Fabbag

Well, late again! But I say 'better late than never'.

Hi Everyone,

Time for a quick look at the October 2014 Edition of FabBag.

The October Bag is an attractive sparkly blue. I love these bags, they are great for organising my beauty products, for travelling. I have even used these to pack birthday gifts for friends!

So lets see what my Fabbag has this time round......

SeaSoul HD Finish CC Cream

Price: INR 650/- for 30 gms
Full Size: 30gms   
Sample Size in the Bag: Full Size

The Nature's Co. Corn Exfoliating Face Pack

Price: INR 1,795/-

Full Size: 200ml

Sample size in the Bag: 35 ml

Just Herbs 6 Step Organic Skin Care Kit 1 (For Oily/Combination Skin)

Price: INR 1,975/-

Full Size: 100ml/gm (each constituent product)

Sample Size in the Bag: 35ml/gm (each constituent product)

I also received a Bonus product, a pair of two week contact lenses from AcuVue Contact Lenses. I've already used it so I couldn't include its photo. 

This time the theme of the bag is 'Organic'. All the brands represented in the October 2014 Fabbag are organic and free of parabens and sulfates. 

I was most excited about the SeaSoul CC Cream. I am trying this product out at the moment and a review will follow soon.

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

Product Review : Rimmel London Apocalips Lip Laquer in Apocalyptic

Hi Everyone!

You can feel the nip in the air and now its that tie of the year when we put away our pastels and bring out the deeper colours in our wardrobes. I like to do the same with lipsticks. So move over nudes and naturals and make way for the darker colours....

So today, I am reviewing a deep pink Lip gloss from Rimmel London Called Apocalips Lip Laquer

Product Price: INR 475/- for 5.5ml (I picked it up during the Diwali Discount at a lower price at nykaa.com)

Product Claim:

It's the End of Colour as you know it! 
The intense rich colour of a lipstick, enhanced by a satin smooth shine.

• It's neither a lipstick nor a gloss... It's BIGGER than both!
• Long Live The Colour!

My Take on the Product:

Rimmel London's Apocalips Lip Laquer comes in a plastic tube with the lower part of the tube showing the colour of the product. The packaging is sturdy with diamond-like cuts on the cap. It has a doe foot applicator which helps apply the product evenly.

Apocalyptic is a rich pink colour, bordering almost on fuschia, but not quite. It is richly pigmented and gives true colour in one swipe. The formula is light-weight and non-sticky and feels really comfortable on my lips.  The formula is long-lasting, though it tends to transfer on to cups while drinking. The formula stayed on my lips for a good 4 hrs and light snaking and tea. the stain remains on my lips even after the gloss has worn off.Only downside seems to be a strange medicinal smell, but not really a deal breaker. It has a creamy finish and is quite moisturising. It applies so smoothly that there is no need for scrubbing or buffing your lips before application.

The product does not bleed or settle in the creases of the lips.

Overall, its a good product that I enjoy wearing. This particular shade will look good on a large range of Indian skin tones. 

Pros:

1. Attractive and sturdy packaging.
2. product colour can be seen from outside.
3. Light-weight and non-sticky formula.
4. Creamy finish.
5. Moisturising.
6. Medium staying power, about four hrs with some drinking and snacking.
7. Good applicator which helps apply product in one swipe.
8. excellent pigmentation, gives true colour in one coat.
9. Great pricing.
10. Good shade range.

Cons:

1. A strange medicinal smell that disappears quickly, so not really a deal breaker.

Overall Verdict: 4.75/5

So what do you all think? Have you tried any of these lip laquers? Let me know in the comments box below!

Product Review: L'Oreal Glam Shine Balmy Gloss in Pomegranate Punch

Hi Everyone!

Today I am reviewing the L'Oreal Glam Shine Balmy Gloss in Pomegranate Punch.

Product Price: INR 400/-  for 2.5 g

Product Claim:

The goodness of a lip balm and gloss combined in the most playful manner – that’s L’Oreal Glam Shine Lip Crayon for you. It is the first of its kind glossy lip crayon introduced by L’Oreal which gives just the right sheen and color. The creamy texture glides easily on your lips. Evolve from boring lip balms to the all new L’Oreal glam shine lip crayon and feel the difference.
 

Features:

• Goodness of gloss and balm
• Moisturizes your lips
• Sweet fruity fragrance
• Gives a shine to the lips
• Smooth texture
• Delivers a glossy finish
• Enriched with flower extracts
The ultra-light and non-sticky formula will feel great on your lips. It moisturizes and nourishes your lips making them look fuller.

Complete List of Ingredients: