Birthday Wishes!!

Today is my husband’s special day and sadly he’s not around, he’s on a business trip thousands of miles away from me. So I thought of celebrating his birthday in advance!

When it comes to surprises, well I must say I’m horrible at it, even before I plan a surprise, my face and my anxiety says it all…..but not this time bcoz I did succeed in surprising him a bit, Just a bit.

Ask me how?? Well it was simple.....first of all made a proper cake in advance (proper bcoz somehow I always ruined his b’day cake), made quick arrangements while he was away from home, invited some of our close friends , decorated the house with balloons and also gave the biggest surprise with a montage which i posted on youtube.....check this out!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUpOv6BDteA

So the menu was a combination of North-indian and South-indian cuisine, Mango ice-cream for dessert and ofcourse the most important chocolate cake!!! Overall it was a nice birthday party and i made him feel special which he is and will always be!

So let me share the recipes for Chocolate cake and Mango ice-cream!

Chocolate Cake recipe: I already made a chocolate cake sometime back. so just followed the same recipe again. Here's the link:

http://arunathetemptations.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-go-chocolaty.html

Mango Ice cream Recipe: This is a fruity cool treat that everyone will love and enjoy. Its the simplest and also the best.

You will need:

2 cups Mango pulp ( i used store bought)

1 cup condensed milk (Nestle carnation)

1 cup heavy cream

Directions:

Take a bowl and mix the mango pulp and condensed milk.

In a seperate bowl whip the cream till it becomes nice n fluffy.

Now add this cream into the mango mixture using a whisk.

Once done, transfer the mixture to a bowl which has a lid and allow it freeze for a couple of hours.

Let it sit in the freezer for 3-4 hrs and mango ice cream looks like this.

Serve it in your favourite dish!

one more pic!

These are the 2 Temptations of the day.

Hope you had a nice weekend.

Have a great week ahead.

Stay tuned as always.

Jalebi (North-Indian dessert)!!

Thanks to all those who were waiting for my next post and sorry for keeping you waited as i was making sure to come up with an "Interesting Temptation", and so here i come with the king of sweets....JALEBI!!!

This crispy, syrupy dessert is well loved everywhere in India. One of India’s favorite sweets ( I say this because it’s my favourite too ) and it’s history goes back to the days of kings and queens. Though it’s origin is not known exactly, many believe it came out of the kitchens of Punjab or Rajasthan.

Whenever I think of Jalebi, I cannot forget the advertisement (Ramu Kaaka – Jalebiii) which used to come years ago in our TV channels , I loved watching it back then, love it even now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk8Z0WbSWV0

Not going by the looks, Jalebi has a soft and chewy taste and usually eaten when it's hot and dipped in sugar syrup. For those who haven’t tasted Jalebi, here’s your chance to do so.

There are many recipes on Jalebi...The trick to getting right Jalebis is getting correct fermentation of the batter. Keep trying variation in temperature and slight adjustment of the ingredients to master this skill that all your family and friends would love. I fermented the batter for 24 hrs, it gives tartness to the jalebi.

Don't get dissapointed if you end up with bad shapes in your first attempt......this is my 3rd attempt.

You will need:

2 cups All purpose flour

2 tbsp rice flour (it is added for extra crunchiness)

3/4th cup yogurt + 1/2 cup warm water

1/2 tsp baking powder (yeast can also be added instead)

1/2 tsp saffron threads, slowly dry-roasted and powdered

Ghee or vegetable oil for frying

For Syrup:

2 cups sugar

1 cup water

1/2 tsp green cardamom seeds powder

11/2 tbsp rose water

Directions:

Mix the flour, baking powder, yogurt and warm water in a bowl.

Add a pinch of saffron to it and whisk until smooth.

Keep the batter aside for 24 hours to ferment.

Whisk thoroughly before use.

Pour the batter into a ketchup dispensing bottle or a cone.

Step 1 shows batter on 1st day

Step 2 shows batter after 24 hrs fermentation

Step 3 shows the sugar syrup

Step 4 shows the jalebi done in the hot oil

I use a disposable Pastry bag as it is very convenient to hold and press for the desired coils.

Prepare one string syrup by dissolving sugar in the water and rose water mixture.

Just before the syrup is ready add saffron and cardamom powder.

Heat oil in a wok.

To test for the right temperature, drop a small amount of batter into the oil. If it sizzles and rises to the top of the oil, the oil is hot enough. Keep the flame on medium at all times to ensure all round cooking of the jalebis.

Pour the batter in a steady stream to form coils. Make a few at a time.

Deep fry them until they are golden and crisp all over but not brown.

Remove from the wok and drain on paper towel and immerse in the syrup.

Leave for at least 2-3 minutes till they completely soak in the syrup.

Take the jalebi out of syrup.

Served hot on the streets of india, it goes really well with ice cream or the other indian dessert - rabdi.

Here's my first attempt pic.

My 2nd attempt pic

My 3rd attempt pic

Showed all the 3 pics to say that practice definetely makes us perfect.

This is the most Cruncy, juicy and mouth watering dish i've ever tasted.

So this is all about Jalebiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.

So i guess this is all for now. Will come again soon with yet another Temptation. Till then take care and have a happy weekend.

This Jalebi is on its way to 'Mithai Mela' hosted by Srivalli.

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.