The Commonly Used Indian Spices

Indian cuisine is characterized by the extensive use of numerous spices. Spices or '"Masala"' as it is called in Hindi, may be called the “heartbeat” of an Indian kitchen.



By extensive use of spices I do not mean that spices are used to make the food fiery hot. The spices are used to flavor the food, making each dish distinct and wonderfully aromatic. Each spice by itself imparts a very unique flavor, but when used together with other spices, the combination and permutation of different ones magically change the individual characteristics. Spices are also used for health benefits and medicinal purposes, to prevent diseases and also to preserve food.
What we have here is a general spread, used by all in every state. Well almost! These spices below should be readily available in most grocery stores, or Whole Food stores, except for the Hing/Asafoetida, Fennel and the Fenugreek seeds. If you do not find them at your local grocery store, look for a local Indian/Bangladeshi/Pakistani grocery store and they will have it for sure.
Online sources where good quality spices maybe found:

• www.kalustyans.com
• http://www.seasonwithspice.com/
• www.penzeys.com
• http://www.thespicehouse.com/spices/

 
The Masala Dabba (container for spices) that every Indian kitchen owns…

Now let the journey begin…

Asafoetida (Hing):

15 Low Calorie Snacks That You Can Munch On Without Feeling Guilty

Who doesn’t want a snack on a lazy afternoon, or even after breakfast on a Sunday, or just whenever. But most of the snacks we eat are extremely loaded with calories, often more so than our regular meals.
It’s like the universe conspires against you on eating healthy, because surely you’re not gonna starve! But you don’t want those unwanted few extra kilograms either, do you? Well, don’t worry now, these 15 snacks are extremely easy to make and their calorie content ranges from ‘barely there’ to ‘nil’.

1. Mashed cauliflower

Instead of mashed potato, try mashed cauliflower – it’s filling, and way, way less on calories. Here’s a recipe.

2. Watermelon bites

Cut some bite-sized watermelon cubes, freeze them and pop them in your mouth whenever you feel like having a snack. Or you can add some cheese and basil leaves to make it taste more exotic.

3. Strawberry smoothie

This Guy Promotes Helmet Wearing in better way: He writes on back of his car "My son died in road accident as he was not wearing helmet, so please wear and promote others to wear"

Image Source Reddit
A Sticker behind a car in India.. 
My son 18 years old died because he was not wearing helmet on his bike.. please wear helmet while driving two wheeler and motivate others also.

Pune Rickshaw Driver Travels 32Km To Return Laptop To Man. Proves That Good Still Exists

How many of you will vouch for the fact that whenever you have left your phone, wallet or basically anything in auto-rickshaws it’s as good as gone? Now I’m not calling rickshaw drivers dishonest, but it is practically impossible for them to locate you back and return your belongings.

But one rickshaw driver from Pune, Dilip Raising decided to go against this odd and travelled for 32 km, only to return a laptop to its rightful owner – software engineer M Narendra Chaudhari.

 

Dilip Raising drove all the way from Baner area in Pune to the Railway station to search for his passenger, Chaudhari. Unable to find him there, Raising went to the Magarpatta police chowkey and handed them the bag.

Chaudhari had boarded Dilip Raising’s auto-rickshaw from Magarpatta area to go to Baner on Sunday, 8:30 AM and in a hurry forgot to collect the laptop.

It is only after getting off from the rickshaw that he realised he had left his laptop. Raising himself discovered the bag when he went to the Railway station and let another passenger board the rickshaw.

Assistant inspector of the Hadapsar police station Salim Nadaf, felicitated Raising, as this was a one-of-its-kind story.

 

Narendra Chaudhari had lodged a complaint in the same police station and was more than happy to find his laptop safe. We hope that Dilip Raising’s honest story is heard by millions and it acts as a reminder to all that humanity still exists.

Source : Storypick

so #Year2016 is here....

Today is the first page of a new book worth 365 Pages (2016) to be written. and I will blast this ceremony in a much better way.
I began this with joining of an animal rescue organization. that is the thing i want to do from very first day when i enter here (Chandigarh, India).
and yes as well I am too happy that i have made it.