History of M and M Chocolates!!

There's a favourite candy in the United States, Its called M&M's or they are called M&M's, whichever is correct. Their radiant colors and the petite size just draws attention of anyone, especially kids!!

Forrest Mars invented the recipe for M&M's chocolate during the Spanish Civil War. Legend has it that on a trip to Spain, Forrest Mars encountered soldiers who were eating pellets of chocolate that were covered in a hard sugary coating to prevent them from melting. Inspired by this idea, Mr. Mars went back to his kitchen and invented the recipe for "M&M's Plain Chocolate Candies".

First sold to the public in 1941, "M&M's" Plain Chocolate Candies became a favorite of American soldiers serving in World War II. Gradually they became widely available to the public, who gave them an excellent reception. The letter "m" is printed on each candy with vegetable dye.

M&M's were not a blazing success when they were launched but now its popularity spread all over the world. They were first sold to the public in cardboard tubes. In 1948, the packaging changed from a tube to the brown plastic pouch known today.

They were just plain chocolate candies earlier with a RED color, but today they come in different kind of flavors and colors...popular flavors being Peanut m&m's, Almond m&m's, Dark chocolate m&m's, Milk chocolate m&m's, White chocolate, Mint and Crispy m&m's. Now apart from red they come in yellow, light yellow, orange, green, blue, aqua, white, cream......

Have a look at some of them. I guess you had enough TEMPTATIONS for today......!!!!!!!!

"Perfectly Chocolate" Hot Cocoa

Tired of the routine coffee, tea and milk!! Want to try something different, then you must go for this drink!! Kids would just love it. Cocoa powder has more antioxidants, which makes it a healthy boost for kids. So you should definetely try it out.

You will need:

• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1-2 teaspoons HERSHEY'S unsweetened Cocoa
• Dash salt (a pinch, optional)
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  

Directions:

• Mix sugar, cocoa and salt in large mug.
• Heat milk in a vessel on a medium flame and bring it to boil.
• Alternatively you can also heat milk in microwave at 1-1/2 minutes or until hot.
• Gradually add hot milk to cocoa mixture in mug, stirring until well blended.
• Stir in vanilla. 1 serving.

Variations:

Rich and Adult: Increase cocoa to 2 tablespoons; follow recipe above.

Lower Fat: Use nonfat milk; follow recipe above.

Sugar Free: Omit sugar. Combine cocoa and salt. Proceed as above, using nonfat milk. Stir in vanilla and sugar substitute with sweetening equivalence of 2 tablespoons sugar.

Have a nice HOT cocoa!!!!!!!

This hot cocoa is on its way to the event For the Love of Chocolate hosted by Poornima.

Lindt Chocolates Wrapped n Unwrapped!!

Have you ever tasted Lindt chocolates. They are sooo tempting that you cannot stop with one bite. These are my favourite chocolates. Try the Lindor truffles if you haven't tried them yet, you will not go for any other chocolate.

The story of Lindt chocolate is one that begins with Rodolphe Sprungli-Ammann a candy maker, who owned a small confectionery shop in Zurich, Switzerland. He had heard about a new recipe for making solid chocolate and decided to try his hand at it. The chocolates were met with great success and after two years he started up the first chocolate factory in Zurich.

Lindt was one of the most famous Swiss chocolatiers of the period and it became a brand name in 1899. Today, Lindt chocolates are manufactured in Europe and the United States and sold all over the world. Lindt chocolates are made with the finest ingredients including cocoa from the Caribbean and the Ivory Coast and do not use ingredients that have been genetically modified when making their famous chocolates.

• Among the products sold by the Lindt chocolate company are the classic candy bar with raspberry, blueberry, caramel, and other delicious flavored fillings, kirsch batons, chocolate wafers, Swiss thins (thin wafers of chocolate), and assorted chocolates in seashell shapes. Among truffles you have so many varieties like Ameretto, dark chocolate, Hazelnut, Milk Chocolate, Mint, Peanut butter, Raspberry, White chocolate!

These are the temptations!!!

Niagara Tulips!

Tulips are one of the world's most easily recognized and loved flowers.They are not too elegant, too romantic, too big, too small, or too bright; the tulip is always just right.

Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario, Canada looks terrific during spring time as Tulips of many different colours and varieties adorn the streets and parks waving graciously in the breeze. When i visited Niagara last summer, i was just astonished by the beauty around and all i was doing was click...click...n click!

The meaning of tulips is generally Perfect Love. Originated over ten decades ago in Persia and Turkey its popularity spread quickly all over the world but people still identify cultivated varieties as "Dutch Tulips."

Different colors of tulips also often carry their own significance. Red Tulips are most strongly associated with true love, while Purple Tulips symbolizes royalty. Yellow Tulips represents a common expression for cheerful thoughts and sunshine. White Tulips are used to claim worthiness or to send a message of forgiveness. Variegated Tulips, once among the most popular varieties due to their striking color patterns, represent beautiful eyes.

Here are some of the beautiful pictures of tulips just for you. They are so attractive yet so peaceful. Enjoy seeing them!

Tips to decorate a rented house!!

70% of us including me live in rented houses. Renting a home does not mean that you must leave your personal style behind. There are many ways to bring your own personal flare into your rent house without violating rental contract. No matter how strict the home owner is you can easily make your rent house feel like home. Here are a few tips that i got from here and there and i myself follow most of them:

• The easiest way to bring your personal taste into a drab rent house is to choose furniture that reflects your personal taste. Bold or colourful furniture will help to brighten up a bland room and attract attention away from the features of the interior that you are contractually not able to change such as floors and wall colour.

• It is important to choose your furniture based on the size of house you expect to be in. A small, low sofa will look out of place and lost in a large room while a big comfy couch will make a smaller room seem minute.

• Art is a powerful accessory if used and hung properly in the home. It adds style, color, personality, charm, wit, elegance, beauty and just about any other adjective you can imagine. A colourful tapestry or an art will hide stark white walls and warm up any living space. You could hang paintings or framed pictures to achieve the same effect.

• If there is no view from your living room windows, create your own view by hanging plants both inside and outside of your windows. Bring the outside in by filling the room with live plants.

• The floor is probably the simplest part of the home to decorate. A nice rug will create a space that you will enjoy being in. It will also protect the rental's carpet which can be expensive to fix if you stain it. If there is wall to wall carpet in the apartment, add an area rug on top anyway.

• It is time to choose your window treatments. Curtains are a great way to add texture to the room while complementing the existing colours. Nice heavy curtain can be very functional as well. They can be pulled back to let the sunshine help warm the house in the spring and fall or they can be closed to keep out the heat of the summer and the bitter cold of the winter.
• Hide the glaring white walls while adding romance to your bedroom using fabric. You can use a bed with canopy rails and hang beautiful curtain panels around the bed, or you can install curtain rods all the way around the room covering every square inch of the walls with fabric. If that is too over the top for you, add vibrant colors on your bed and windows to take the emphasis away from the walls.
• Proper lighting provides illumination, creates interest, improves safety, and establishes mood and ambiance. Good lighting is both functional and decorative, and careful planning will give you the best results for both attributes.

• kitchen can be the hardest room to add color to, without the use of paint. This is also the last room where people think of adding art. To spruce up your kitchen, you will want to add a removable wallpaper border in a theme to match your kitchen canisters and other counter décor. In addition, display bowls of fruit and flowers on your tables and counters. Also for a traditional look, you can decorate your kitchen wall tiles with the vessels itself.

Hope you find these tips useful.

Veg Puffs 'N' Egg Puffs!!

This is my husband's favourite snack. I make it atleast once a week and thankfully we never got bored of this dish till now. I'm sharing both Veg puff and egg puff recipe in the same post as most of the ingredients are common for both the dishes, mainly the puff pastry sheets. You may find these pastry sheets in the frozen section of any grocery store.

For Veg Puffs:- You will need:

• Puff pastry sheets (Pepperidge Farm or Daily Delight)
• Boiled Potatoes
• 1 onion chopped
• 3 chopped Green Chillies
• 1/2 tsp ginger-garlic paste
• 1/2 tsp turmeric Powder
• a pinch of red chilly powder
• 1/2 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp coriander leaves chopped
• 1 tbsp jeera seeds
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice
• Salt to taste
• Oil - as needed

Directions:

• Thaw the pastry sheets at room temperature before using them.
• Mash potatoes lightly with hand and keep aside.
• Heat oil in pan and allow jeera seeds to splutter.
• Add onion , ginger-garlic paste, green chillies and salt and saute for a while.
• Add the turmeric, chilli powder and garam masala and again saute for a few minutes.
• Add mashed potatoes and mix well.
• Simmer for few more minutes .
• Switch off the burner and add coriander leaves and lemon juice.
• Mix well and keep aside. Let it cool. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Cut the puff pastry into the desired shape.I cut them into a rectangle of about 4 inches long and 2 inches wide.
• Now just put the potato filling in the pastry sheets after cutting it to any desired shape. After the filling is done fold it over and stick the ends together using water or beaten egg white.
• Bake the puffs for about 10 minutes till they turn golden brown.

For Egg Puffs:- You will need:

• Puff pastry sheets
• Onion -1 medium sized (optional)
• Garlic - 2 cloves finely chopped
• Eggs - 2
• Chilli powder - 1 teaspoon
• Turmeric powder - 1 teaspoon
• Garam masala - 1 teaspoon
• Salt to taste

Directions:

• Thaw the pastry sheets.
• Meanwhile, prepare the filling..Boil the eggs and peel them.
• In a saucepan, heat some oil and add cumin seeds.
• Once they begin to splutter, add garlic and saute till they turn translucent.
• Then add salt, garam masala,turmeric powder and chilli powder.
• Set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Cut the puff pastry into the desired shape.
• Slice each egg into half and place one half on one end of the sheet.
• Bring the other end of the dough to close the egg..Seal the edges with a fork or wet your fingers in water and seal the edges. Apply some egg wash, this would give a golden finish.
• Bake for about 20 minutes or until they begin to brown.

Beauty Tips!!

Mastering the art of makeup has never been so easy. It was the Roman Dramatist Plautus who wrote, "A woman without makeup is like food without salt".
Makeup is a way to celebrate features we love and want to draw attention. From an unusual shade of eyeliner and long, flirty eyelashes, to a brighter lipstick and a bit of sparkle across the cheekbones - make up is the grown-up equivalent of dressing-up.
Some are lucky to be born beautiful, while others can equip themselves with this vast treasure of beauty and makeup tips that i picked from here and there:

Natural beauty tips:

• Eat a proper, well-balanced diet. The trick is to read the labels carefully and eat healthy foods with minimal preservatives. Good nutrition is key to your outward appearance and longevity.


• Water plays a crucial role. For radiant skin, stay hydrated to keep your skin soft and supple. Moisturize your skin every time after taking a shower.


• During the winter the humidity is very low and as a result the skin may easily become dehydrated, so the best way to keep your skin soft and smooth during the winter months is to keep your whole body hydrated.


• Citrus fruits are, without a doubt, one of the healthiest foods. Consuming several citrus fruits a day prevents flu and colds during the winter months.


• Lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by reducing exposure to the sun's dangerous rays. When enjoying outdoor activities, apply a sunscreen with SPF of atleast 15 and re-applying when necessary.


• Stress is an unfortunate fact in today's fast-paced lifestyle and often reflects in your skin and eyes. Make it routine to relax and pamper yourself, daily if possible. This will give you time to slow down and plan the following day.

Beautiful skin:

• If you have blemishes, don’t pick or squeeze them as this might cause infection or scarring. Cleanse the skin with a soft cotton pad, dipped in herbal infusion or ethereal oils. Touch your skin only if your hands are clean.


• If you wish to wear makeup, utilize only the best cosmetics brushes and beauty tools to enhance your finest features and cover flaws.


• Apply a tinted moisturizer or sheer foundation with a damp sponge. Either one will allow your natural skin tone to show through while covering minor imperfections.


• Creme or liquid blush blends more naturally than powder. Apply to the apple of your cheeks, outwards, into your hairline to prevent makeup lines.

Younger looking eyes:

• People look directly into your eyes. Enhance them and you will attract attention. This is looking good made easy.The first step is to reduce fine lines. So apply a little eye cream on the brow bone and under the eye.


• Next dab on a concealer that matches your skin tones.


• Then line the eye with a white pencil just beneath the lash line. This will give the impression of larger and brighter eyes. :-)


• Last step is to Apply mascara to separate your lashes and give them luster and shine.

• If you need to have smoky eyes, check out this cool video...it is sooo in detail. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrsb2eFVOF0&NR=1

Beautiful Lips:

• Some of us have less perfect lips than others. There are plenty of tricks of the trade to help make your lips more balanced and beautiful. Some of the most effective solutions:


• The best lip color fixative - A thin layer of Chapstick. The formula holds lip color like crazy as it heals and protects.


• For longer wear, blot lips after applying lipstick to set color and remove excess. Add a thin layer of loose or pressed powder, then apply color again.


• For evening special-effects, apply a sheer lip gloss in silver, gold or an iridescent shade over the lip color.

Healthy hair:

• Hair attracts people's attention. One of the best tips for healthy hair is to ensure your hair looks great by getting regular haircuts.


• When choosing a hair-style one should always consider whether or not the hair style will suit your face shape. Go for an expert advice on this.


• If you apply gel to your hair, rather than fill the palms of your hands with the product, use a small, dime-size portion. The same would be true with hairspray.


• Make sure your hair is washed with a quality shampoo and conditioner. Then when you dry your hair, bend over at the waist and blow your hair upside down.


• In addition to having a great cut, last tip for healthy hair is to keep up with regular trims. This makes a lot of difference.

Hope you found my beauty tips useful.

Peanut Butter Cookies!!

Serve these rich Peanut butter cookies as snacks. You'll have fun making them. Here's the recipe for you:

You will need:

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

Directions:

• Cream together butter, peanut butter and sugars.
• Beat in eggs.
• In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• Stir into batter. Put batter in refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Roll into 1 inch balls and put on baking sheets.
• Flatten each ball with a fork, making a criss-cross pattern.
• Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F oven for about 10 minutes or until cookies begin to brown. Do not over-bake.

Every Kiss begins with KAY!!

No i'm not promoting Kay Jewellery, its just that my husband gifted me this beautiful dazzling necklace on this valentine's day. And the Kay caption "Every kiss begins with Kay" is apt for an astonishing jewellery collection like this one and goes without saying. Its been 6 yrs that v both know each other and he never stopped surprising me till date, touchwood!! On the other hand i'm pretty bad at giving surprises. You must be wondering what this beauty n beast combination (jewellery n cuisine) is all about....well well these Peanut butter Cookies were my return gift to him on the valentine's and he says they are "Priceless". All i can do to impress him is cook a delicious meal or dish.

You may go to "My Baking" for the recipe.

Kitchen Tips

We spend most of our time in kitchen. Here are a few tips on "Get Easy with Cooking"

• Put some neem and turmeric pieces or garlic flakes in the container where you store rice or grains, in order to keep away insects.
• To adjust salt in curries add roasted rice powder.
• If the curd is too sour, add 4 cups of water to it. After half an hour, remove the water collected on top.
• Add some vinegar in the boiling water before steaming potato.
• Put some bits of lemon peels in the pressure cooker while cooking, the cooker will remain white inside.
• While chopping raw bananas and potatoes, put the pieces in a bowl of water to avoid it from turning black.
• A bay leaf added to the flour container will keep the flour free from moisture.
• To peel garlic flakes easily, wash and soak them in cold water for about an hour.
• Green peas will retain their original colour, if you add a pinch of sugar while boiling.
• Leafy vegetables will remain fresh longer, if wrapped in news papers when you are storing.
• Add a pinch of sugar while cooking spinach, it will retain its green colour.
• If you don't have any cream to add in the soup or gravy, add a mixture of butter and milk.
• Apply some oil on the sides of the vessel in which you boil milk, in order to avoid it from overflowing.
• Add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda while mixing the dough for 'chappathi' to make it soft.
• Keep boiled eggs in cold water for 5 minutes, this will make removal of the shell easier.
• Cut boiled eggs with a knife dipped in hot water to avoid breaking.
• If the bread is too soft to cut into pieces, hold the knife close to a flame and then slice the bread with it.
• If you want to make crispy potatoes or banana chips, sprinkle salt water over them while frying.
• If a curry turns out too salty, garnish it with some grated coconut mixed with cumin powder.
• To remove stains from vessels, rub it with a wet cloth dipped in baking soda.
• To clean non stick pans easily, pour some warm water into it and keep it for some time and then wash it with any detergent.
• To remove the smell of masala form mixi, put few pieces of dry bread and powder it.

Home Tips!!

Keeping a house clean and beautiful is one of the most challenging job for a woman especially. I would love to keep my house neat and decorative but sometimes we just fail to do it becoz of varied reasons like lack of time, lack of energy, lack of support or lack of ideas. So here i come with a few Home Tips i gathered from here and there. It helped me, it will help you too.

• The furniture(wooden) becomes more bright and shiny if it is cleaned with the cloth dipped in strong tea.
• Dust the furniture (non-wood) regularly with a dry cloth.
• For healthy look of a house, have more plants inside.
• Water and sunlight exposure at regular intervals are the tips for healthy plants.
• To Keep the water in your flower vase odourless for a long time put a piece of charcoal in it.
• Taking a few minutes a day to run the broom, vacuum, or microfiber mop over the hardwood or other type of will keep it looking newer for a longer time.
• While mopping the floor add two teaspoons of salt to the water to keep flies at bay.
• Use a very dry damp mop when mopping wooden floors, since excess water can ruin the floor.
• Regularly clean the tubs, shower stalls, Toilets, Sinks and Faucets.
• To remove the stain of hair-dye or henna from the cloth, dip the cloth in warm milk for half an hour and wash with soap.
• To remove ink stain from clothes, rub the area with a cotton bud soaked in eau-de-cologne.
• Vinegar is an excellent cleanser for glassware.
• Soak your silver articles in tamarind water for 30 minutes and wash off with fresh water, if you want them to shine like new.
• In order to keep away the termites and insects from your bookshelves, keep few pieces of sandalwood.
• Use a few drops of after shave lotion to get rid of a stubborn dirt from shoes.
• Add a little water to used tea leaves and use them to clean glass and window panes for sparkling results.

Gulab-Jamun!

What do i say about this mouth-watering luscious dish. It is the most popular dessert in India, mostly eaten during festivals and major celebrations. Though it is a very easy recipe, it needs utmost care in the making as the whole taste of the sweet lies in its sponginess. So the flour needs to be mixed in a right proportion. My first experiment with this dish has been a disaster and my husband named my dish as "Gulab Rocks", the impression still remains the same . But this can be your exquisite dish....so here’s the simple, yet fantastic recipe for you.

You will need:

• 1 Gulab jamun mix-MTR (preferably)
• Oil or ghee for frying
• For syrup:-
• 2Cups sugar
• 1Cup water
• Cardamom pods-4-5
• Vanilla essence (optional)
• Cashew powder

Directions:

• In a vessel add sugar,water & cardamom pods & boil for abt 15min...keep it warm.
• Add one drop of Vanilla essence to the syrup. This adds a great flavor.
• Put the Gulab Jamun mix in a bowl & add water bit by bit and make into dough (keep it soft) .
• keep it covered for 5-10mins
• Divide the dough into small balls.
• In a low flame,fry the balls untill golden brown.
• Add those balls to the sugar syrup.
• Sprinkle Cashew powder on the top.
• Leave it overnight for best result.

2 Cuties!!

Who doesn't love babies!!!!!!I simply adore them and love to spend my time with lots n lot of them around. These 2 babies on display are soooooo adorable, i just cannot take my eyes off them.

Their proud dads are my good friends.

The first kido - Yet to be named. This pic was taken when he was just a few hours baby. But look at his radiant eyes and chubby cheeks. Knows to pose for a pic already. His proud father is still working on a "Name" for him.

The Second kido - Hritik Roshan. His father is a die-hard fan of the bollywood actor Hritik Roshan, so he named his son after this legend. Who knows he might also be the one some day. He was 8 months old when this photograph was taken. Now he's almost 2 yrs old and his mom complains that no one carries him for more than 2mins bcoz of his weight.......oh my poor baby!!!!

The 4 Seasons!!!

I became an ardent admirer of nature after coming to US. These are surely my best photographs. One will just fall in love with the radiant colors that keep changing through out the year.


Wintering through the weather , Springing through the perfume, Summering through the sunshine & Falling through the leaves reminds me of the beautiful poem "Four Seasons ".........








-In comes the leaves of Fall
-So beautiful it will enthrall

-Wonderful red, yellow and brown

-Mother Nature should wear a crown

-Then comes the snowAnd the streets are a glow

-With children playing like animated dolls


-Then suddenly Spring calls


-April showers may come down


-Just when you are walking downtown


-Along the beach the tide is high


-As all the children walk by


-Soon it begins to get hot


-Now Summer we've got


-Sometimes you can feel the sun's rays


-Heating up through the humid haze


-The circle goes round and round


-Four Seasons we are bound!!!

Chicken-65!!

I made this dish only twice after almost 3 yrs of my marriage and now i'm like a brand ambassador for this trendy dish among my friends. There are many stories about this dish and its unique name. The first story is that the spices must soak for 65 days. The second story is about the 65 varieties of spices required in the preparation of this dish. But here is the third and real story… it originated in a military canteen in Tamilnadu, India. There were so many dishes listed in Tamil on the menu that for the military men who were from various regions, the easiest thing to overcome the barrier was to remember the serial number and this yummy boneless chicken dish was the 65th item on the menu. Whatever is the story, the final product is highly delectable.

Preparation Time : 15 mins Cooking Time : 30 mins Standing Time : 30 mins

You will need:

• 2 lbs Chicken (boneless and tender)
• ½ tsp Aji-no-Moto (MSG)
• ½ bunch Coriander leaves – chopped
• 2 tsp Corn flour
• ½ tsp each Cumin seeds, pepper powder, chilli powder, salt
• 7-8 number Curry leaves
• 1 number Egg
• 1 tsp Garlic-chopped
• ½ tsp Ginger-chopped
• 2 t sp Ginger garlic paste
• 2 tsp chilli -garlic paste
• 4-5 number Green Chilli
• 2-3 drops Color(red)
• Oil to fry

To make the fried chicken pieces:-

• Take chicken pieces in a non reactive bowl
• Add salt, Aji-no-moto,1 tsp ginger/garlic paste, pepper powder-pinch, cornflour and mix.
• Then add 1 egg and mix in completely-(Egg coats the meat and keeps the juices in).
• Heat oil in a frying wok or kadhai-Add chicken pieces few at a time(Do not crowd the kadhai) and fry until lightly golden brown.
• Drain and remove on a paper towel

To make the sauce:-(This does not need to be very salty-so control salt.)

• Heat 2-3 tsp oil in a pan
• Add cumin, add the chopped ginger and garlic and suate until fragrant
• Add chopped chillies, curry leaves,1 tsp ginger/garlic paste, remaining pepper powder, chilli powder, salt, chilli/garlic paste, aji-no-moto, red color and mix
• Cook for a few minutes.
• Add a little water and then add chicken to this paste and toss lightly.
• Garnish with coriander leaves. Place toothpicks on each piece for a little presentation.
• For best results, use more curry leaves.

About my blog name!!

I got many requests from my friends to start a blog of my own and it made me think y shudn't i!! So here i'm with my blog "The Temptations". I always wanted a name which tempts the viewers and what else cud have been a better name!!!

I grabbed this name from none other than the famous American Vocal group "The Temptations", not that i'm an ardent fan or follower of this band but its just that the name goes well with my blog.

We get tempted to many things in life ....Attractive people, Cars, Chocolates, Bikes, beautiful Sculptures, Jewellery, branded items and many more.They say that the only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. The fact is if you start resisting a temptation, it may never come your way again.

So be your own disciple and your own master as i go filling my blog with a whole lot of temptations. Hope i do justice to the name given and keep my readers happy!!!!!