Cook With Me: Easy Peasy Prawns in Hot and Sweet Ginger-Garlic Sauce

Hi Everyone!

Prawns are a hot favourite among a large number of communities a round the world. So you will find thousands of traditional and modern recipes for prawns. I had been trying out some Indian variants in the last few months with curry leaves, dessicated coconut, just coconut milk or some spice mix. 

This time I decided to just go without pre-planning and see what turns up! I don't boast of brilliant culinary skills, but the prawns turned up quite nice and we had no left overs!

What you will need:

1. Meduim Sized prawns: 500 gms
2. Whole egg: 1
3. Bread crumbs: about 4 table spoons
4. Onions: 1 medium, chopped
5. Ginger-Garlic paste: 2 tsp
6. Green Chillly Sauce: 1 tbsp
7. Tomato Ketchup: 2 tbsp
8. Black pepper: to taste
9. Salt: to taste
10. Oil

Method:

1. Wash and clean the prawns and pat dry.

2. Beat the eggs with some salt and black pepper and let the prawns rest in this marinade for about 15 minutes.

3. Heat oil in a pan/wok
4. Roll each prawn in the bread crumbs and fry them till golden.

5. In the left over oil, add the ginger garlic paste and saute for 30 secs.

6. Add the chopped onions and saute till they begin to change colour

7. Add the chilly sauce and tomato ketchup. Add a bit of water at this point.

8. Add some salt if you wish.

9. Add the fried prawns and simmer the sauce for about 5-7 mins.

10. Serve hot with steamed rice.

11. See your family polish it off their plates!

Think and Stay Beautiful!

Devjani's Corner: DIY: Colourful Kettles

Hello!!

Some time back saw these cheerful kettles hanging in the stairs on way to a restaurant... The plants just added that extra cheer. They were for sale and at an exorbitant price!!


Yet, these are so doable at home..



You will need

1. Aluminum kettles ... They are available in various sizes
2. A small piece of sand paper
3. Acrylic colors
4. A plant of your choice and some light soil... Not to make the pot heavy if you want to hang it.

Method

1. Lightly rub the kettle with the sand paper... The rough surface always acts a good base for colour.
2. Drill a hole at the bottom of the kettle... Or else use another small pot of plant to put inside .
3. Spray /paint the kettle lightly... Use a double coat... Do not forget to paint the underside too.
4. Put in your favorite plant and enjoy.

PS:the kettle covers are lying idle... Any suggestions?




Devjani is a wife, mother, teacher, social worker, a gardening and cooking enthusiast, a globe trotter, a bundle of boundless energy and an extremely creative person. She loves to share easy recipes, ideas to keep kids creatively occupied, and a host of other tips and tricks around the home and beyond.

In My Envy Box: September 2015 Edition

Hello Everyone!

Its time now to look at what My Envy Box brings in September 2015!

The last three boxes really impressed me , however, September was a mixed bag, or should I say box?

Let's peep in and see this month's contents...





This Month's Products:

Catrice Ultimate Shine Lip Colour in No. 250 Yes, We Can-dy

Product Price: INR 610/- for 3.5 gms

Sample Size in Box: Full Size

I am quite disappointed with the shade that I received. I have a wheatish skin tone, and the lipstick shade is way too light for me. I wish My Envy Box would give an option of shades, or at least curate the boxes according to customer skin tones.

Za Total Hydration Fresh Foamy Cleanser

Product Price: INR 299/- for 100 gms 

Sample Size in Box: 5 gms

I've enjoyed using Za products in the past, so I was quite happy to see this product in the box. The quantity is good enough for 2-3 washes. Watch out for a review soon! 

Davidoff Cool Water Woman Gentle Shower Breeze

Product Price: INR 1800/- for 150 ml

Sample size in Box: 75 ml

I love shower gels and I looove Davidoff Cool Water for Women. There is an immediate scent of watermelon, followed by lily of the valley and has a base fragrance of sandalwood. Love this product in my Box this month! 

Professional Sebastian Penetraitt Shampoo

Product Price: INR 300/- for 50 ml

Sample Size in Box: Full Size

Professional Sebastian is a well known brand used in many good salons. This product is meant for strengthen and repair damaged hair. Nice addition to this month's box. Watch out for a review soon..

Overall Verdict: This month's box was a tad bit disappointing after the great boxes that I have received in the previous three months. It was the lipstick that kind of killed the buzz....

Total Value of the September Box: INR 1825/-. My Envy Box has done better....

My Envy Box is a subscription service which brings you 5 trial sized beauty products (typically 2ml-10ml) from the top international luxury and prestige brands delivered to your door step every month. Priced at INR 850/- for a month, it may be subscribed for 3, 6, or 12 months. You may subscribe to this service HERE

What's in my FabBag: 3rd Anniversary Edition (September 2015)

Hi Everyone!

This is a slightly delayed post.. have been busy with school and kids being under the weather. So without further ado, here is this month's installment of FabBag..

This month (September), FabBag celebrates its 3rd Anniversary. And they are celebrating in style! I love the products curated for this month. Let's have a quick look..

Product Features This Month:

theBalm Stainiac Lip and Cheek Stain in Beauty Queen

Product Price: INR 1200/- for 8.5 gms

Sample Size in Bag: 1.2 ml

I have been waiting to try out theBalm products for a while. This lip and cheek stain is quite nice! It doesn't show up on my lips so much, but i love the hint of blush it lends my cheeks. Received a few compliments already!

.

Makeup Revolution London Focus and Fix Liquid Concealer in FC 11 Dark
Product Price: INR 550/- for Full size
Sample Size in Bag: Full Size

FabBag has got the shade absolutely right! But since the product is on the creamier side, I will use it only when the weather gets drier! 

Kama Ayurveda Pure Rosewater
Product Price: INR 250/- for 50 ml
Sample Size in Bag: Full Size

I am absolutely thrilled with this product! Kama is a favoured brand and finding it in my FabBag was just wonderful!

Just Herbs Gotukola Indian Ginseng Rejuvenating Beauty Elixir
Product Price: INR 985/- for 15 ml
Sample Size in Bag: Full Size

I was about to buy a serum since my current one is almost over. So I was quite excited to see this elixir. I am excited to try this out. Watch out for its review!

SKINN by TITAN Celeste for Women perfume vial
Product price: INR 990/- for 50 ml
Sample Size in Bag: 2 ml

A lovely citrusy-floral fragrance, I quite like this perfume. 

SKINN by TITAN Raw for Men perfume vial
Product price: INR 990/- for 50 ml
Sample Size in Bag: 2 ml

I like this understated manly fragrance too.. The Husband is getting one soon!

Overall I like this month's bag. I will be using all the products for the September Bag,and that is saying something!

Total value of Bag: INR 2035/-

Not a bad deal since a month's Bag costs INR 399/-

HAPPY 3RD ANNIVERSARY FABBAG!! May you have many more!

FabBag is a monthly subscription service starting at INR 399/-. Each month's bag contains 3-5 products from national and international brands ranging from drugstore to luxury. Product sizes range from small sample sizes to full size. To join this service click HERE.

Devjani's Corner (Cook With Me): Ridge Gourd with Pigeon Peas/ Tori with Arhar Dal

Hello Everyone!

It is my pleasure to introduce to you to Devjani. She is a wife, mother, teacher, social worker, a gardening and cooking enthusiast, a globe trotter, a bundle of boundless energy and an extremely creative person. Over the years that I have known her, she has shared with me easy recipes, ideas to keep my kids creatively occupied, and a host of other tips and tricks around the home and beyond.

Today, she shares a recipe with you!

Devjani's Corner:


Sometime back I decided to cook only vegetables that are in season and those that are locally grown . That meant avoiding  off-season vegetables because they are loaded with preservatives and chemicals to last  the journey to the market.

So with the heat of Delhi summer I was face to face with lauki/bottle gourd , tinda/indian round gourd, tori/ridge gourd, parval/wax gourd, and bhindi.

This recipe tries to give a different character to 'plain jane' tori .


Ingredients:

1. Tori 1/2 kg
2. Small katori arhar dal/pigeon peas (split, without the husk) soaked for an hour
3. 2 Tomatoes chopped fine
4. 2 small onions thinly sliced
5. 1 inch piece of ginger grated
6. 2 green chillies chopped
7. Salt to taste
8. 1/2 tsp Haldi/turmeric,
9.  a wee bit of sugar,
10. 1 level tsp jeera powder (dry roasted)
11. Cooking oil

Method:

1. Do not peel the tori but scrape the surface as the skin gives a body to the dish.
2. Cut into 1 inch pieces.
3. Heat oil
4. Fry the sliced onion till light brown ... Do not over fry.
5. Put in the tomatoes first. 
   
6. When half cooked stir in rest of the ingredients except jeera powder. 
   
7. Cover and cook till done. There is no need to add any water, since the vegetable will release its own water through the cooking process. 
   
8. Season with jeera powder.
9. Serve with roti/Indian flat bread and raita as a side dish.

Bon Appetit!!

August 2015 Empties

Hello Everyone!

Here are 4 products i finished this month. My dresser was gradually becoming more organised. But August is my birthday month, so quite a few of my friends very lovingly gave me makeup and beauty care products. Which means I need to resist buying stuff for longer than I had envisaged......

Let us look at the empties of this month...

ck one EDT is a fresh fragrance for men, with a citrus, fruity fragrance. Despite being a men's fragrance, I loved wearing it all the time! My little girls loved to apply it too. Will I buy this again? I have at least 15 other perfumes sitting in my dresser, so not anytime soon!

Lakme Radiance Compact has been lying around for a while. But finally its used up. It has been a standard product in my make up kit for many years. It was a reasonably priced, trusty make up companion since I started working.  I have now moved on to Chambor and Maybelline, New York. So you are right, I will not be buying this again. However, I am open to other compacts from the Lakme stables.

Maybelline New York Lipstick Matte in Mochacchino was a nice brown colour. However, it was really drying on my lips. I always had to apply a lip balm under the lipstick. Will I buy it again? It was a great colour, but the formula was too drying, so no. But I am on the lookout for a similar shade in a slightly more moisturising product.

Elle 18 Liquid Eyeliner in Blackout was a cheap and cheerful eyeliner. I have used it for regular everyday makeup and even special looks. Will I buy this again? Perhaps, but I need to cull my dresser further!!

How many products have you used up this month? Let me know in the comments section below!

Think and Stay Beautiful!