Stir these sweet summer drinks without sugar

Summer season pulls out most of our energy, especially when exposed to sun. Treating yourself with a glass full of chilled sweet drink is the best way to quench thrust and re-energize ourselves this season.
Well, those days are gone when sweetness in any form of food was healthy but today when the world is fighting with diseases like diabetes, blood sugar and many more, people are trying to avoid consumption of fast food as much as possible.

So here, we are putting up the list of healthy and tasty drinks that can easily prepared at home and are nowhere less than aerated drinks and other tasty high content sugary drinks.


Rock Sugar Mojito: Usually mojito is made from plain soda water with sugar or sprite (contains high sugar) and lemon juice topped with mint leaves. Exchanging chilled water in place of soda and Rock sugar also known as Tal Mishri (yellowish one, not the white crystals) with sugar or replacing sprite with plain soda is always a healthier option.

Put rock sugar in an empty glass, pour chilled drinking water, add few drops of lemon juice and stir it well, add ice-cubes and top it with Mint leaves. Now sit back and enjoy your drink.

Jaggery Cold Coffee: If you haven’t heard of this kind of cold coffee, we are sure, you will be surprised about it. Just stir jagerry granules and coffee powder in half cup water or milk until it dissolves.
Now, transfer the same in blender jar full of chilled milk and switch on the mixer for a few seconds or a minute. It will taste similar to regular cold coffee. Serve in a glass, and feel the magic.

Dryfruit Gur Lassi: Generally, a glass of Chilled Lassi carry a lot of sugar in it. Now give it a twist, just mix few spoons of water and jaggery in a cup separately, unless it dissolves completely. Put this solution in sugarless Lassi, now stir is well, garnish it with crushed almonds, pistachios and present it in an ‘Earthen Pot’ or a crystal clear glass. Your drink is ready to consume now.

Caution: People with diabetes and other health problem should consult doctors before consuming any of these drinks.


-Vikram Kapoor

Eat Bakery Delights in the form of your Favourite ice-creams

Childhood tales bags full of never ending memories. Be it parties, the Tiffin fights, sharing chocolates, cutting cakes or enjoying ice-creams.

But unlike 1990’s, the new generation kiddos have a lot more options to munch on bakery delights, ice-creams and other goodies.

Interestingly, many of the ice-cream companies are experimenting and launching cakes & cookies in packaged frozen forms that are taking over the market today.

Comes in different shapes, sizes and tastes, here are some of the bakery items replicas available in many of the city ice-cream parlours. Moreover, food blogger across the globe are coming up with the unique recipe in this segment.

Looks like cake but you will find frozen cream inside once you slice in: Ice cream cake is altogether a different food experiment that is new to many buyers, with similar structural appearance as regular icing cakes and the sponge base; it’s only the flavoured ice-cream filling that is a total twist to it.

Many Patisseries must be wondering for the brain behind this amazing frozen dessert: A box full of pastries or just one can give you all that cakey kick at times when you crave for something like a spongy dessert. What if you will get the same ice-cream filling in them too? Stop thinking, go and grab one.

Packed inside the two walls, it looks like a rectangular brick: Popularly known as sandwich ice-cream, Quality Walls was the first to launch the sandwich with vanilla cream that became very much in demand among the youngsters. Also, Cookies filled with ice-cream but not the regular cream has become the recipe of other companies that is Amul and Creambell among others.

Triangular Pateez appears similar as ice-cream sandwich: Chocolate coated ice-cream wrapped with love is easily relatable to the common bakery snack also know as puff, stuffed with vegetable, chicken or cottage cheese. Made differently, it has cake sponge and off course the frozen cream.  

When Tiramishu turned into frozen dessert:

The makers are coming up with innovative ideas of mixing ingredient such as crushed cookies, dry cakes with ice creams. Traditional Indian sweets flavoured cold creams are taking these ranges into another level of taste and marketing. The new arrivals in this segment are giving aficionado, reasons to choosing and enjoy different varieties. Kesariya Rajbhog, Jalebi, Gulab Jamun, Kalakand, Gajar Halwa and Kheer icecream are among others.



Pics Source: wikipedia, facebook, swiggy and Indiamart

Bollywood Actress Chitrangda’s incident is an attack on womanhood?

Vikram Kapoor

Bollywood actress Chitrangda Singh has been highlighted by the entertainment section of most of the newspapers and online media in the recent times. The actress accused director Kushan Nandy of forcing her to lean on actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui repeatedly with her petticoat on. If sources are to be believed, the beautiful actress also claimed that the director uttered crass language as he was not satisfied with the shot of the heroine of his upcoming movie, Babumoshai Bandookbaaz.

 

Chitrangda who was also quoted saying that she walked out of the film also alleged that Kushan wanted her to re-shoot the intimate scene in a Bindaas manner, for which she said, “Who is a Bindaas woman? One who wears a petticoat and jumps on a man?”

Allegations, controversies and media acting as an image spoiling agency for the celebrities are daily affair in Bollywood, so being a public figure, a sports personality or carrying the tag of an actor or actress is not easy in India. If they are appreciated and loved by the fans, they are also the one who are most hated and criticized by the public if trapped in any controversy. 

Our country is full of talent, and creativity exists everywhere from a small village to big cities. So the god gift creativity cannot be just linked to one’s profession. Actresses coming from different backgrounds from small or big towns try hard to give bold and challenging performances before camera should rather be encouraged than being exploiting them. 

In the recent times, heroines like Priyanka Chopra, Sonam Kapoor and Rani Mukerji has been seen doing eye opening women oriented films like Mary Kom, Neerja and Mardaani that clearly depicted the outstanding success and courage of Indian women. Some of these kind of films may not have rocked the box office but they are the great source of inspiration and a must watch for all.

No matter who is wrong or right here but if the recent allegations by the actress is true then it’s a big attack on womanhood once again. If we would throw light on the heinous crime against women like ‘Sathi Pratha’ and ‘Women Foeticide’, and ‘Stoning of women’ in the past, to the present scenario of Rape and Human trafficking. Today, they are facing everyday issues like eve teasing, discrimination at work place, bad treatment with domestic helpers and many more.

It’s a high time now to uproot the antisocial elements who are not literate enough to respect women. The old generation should remember their sacrifices, the present generation should learn for their equal treatment so that the future generation will not tolerate any such crime against women in our society.

A Pious trip to Amritsar

Vikram Kapoor

It was the month of February when I got first opportunity to visit Amritsar in Punjab (The land of five rivers). We boarded the train from Delhi and it was almost night when we reached our destination. Unlike other destinations, our hotel was just 300 meters away from the Heavenly Golden Temple. The auto driver on our way to the accommodation provided us with a brief history about the temple also known as Harmandir Sahib or Darbar Sahib. 

Around 9 pm we entered the Gurudwara. With our head covered, we handed over our footwear to the Sevadars. All of us were curious to have a very first look of the Holy Shrine and as soon as we saw the illuminating golden structure, it was more than a dream comes true like an antique golden structure placed on an island. Its mesmerizing beauty and the feeling was all out of the world. No matter which religion you belong to, If your are here, you can enjoy the mental peace inside this religious premises.

The second day, a Pedal Rikshawala promised to take us for a tour in the city in just Rs 20 so fortunately we didn’t had to spend money on expensive cabs or any tourism vehicles to have a glance of Amritsar. 

The Sardarjee Rikshawala parked his vehicle outside the most famous eatery, Brother’s Dhaba and said, “Sahabjee, Pehle Pet Pooja, fir Kaam Dooja (First eat food then do all the work). Here, we had delicious Amrisari Kulcha with Chole, Yogurt and Pickle.

Our pedal journey then started towards the market from where we took some Amritsar made ladies suits. The city market is best for Punjabi Jutis ranges from wedding collection and other designer Jutis to the regular ones.  

It was a total twist in the trip when the two of us got down at Jalianwalah Bagh, the mass killing public garden where General Dyre ordered to shoot non-violent protesters and more than 1500 people killed at the incident.

The bullet marks on the walls and the huge well, now dried up is still alive and like other tourist destinations, this place is also open for Indians as well as foreigners.

After some photography with our DSLR, we further moved towards Gian di Lassi. You may have ditched many things in your life but you can’t avoid food once you are in Punjab. We were served with an extra large steel glass of thick Lassi topped with a big spoon of malai (fresh butter). Drinking the pure lassi was like having Amrit (a Holi water of Sikh’s) of Amritsar. The extra dose of sweet khowa burfi at the same lassi shop was like Sone pe Suhaga for us. 

After visiting these places in the city, our journey would have incomplete without seeing the Wagah Border’s ceremony that includes flag lowering and raising ceremony, cultural programme and Bhangra (a form of dance in Punjab). 

Now I was totally excited to see the other side of Pakistan so we booked a three wheeler to reach the Border which is almost 30 km away from the town. Once we reached and seated to see the Wagah border, we saw the gates of both the countries. Frankly speaking, it was nowhere less than watching the most awaited cricket match of India and Pakistan that only we Indian's can feel. 

I tried it really hard but it’s not easy to describe Amritsar in one word, it’s a blend of religion, culture, purity, history, tradition and just few reasons are not enough to visit the place, there is actually a lot more you will find once you visit the pious Amritsar.

URGENT: Nepal Victim Need Food and Shelter

VIKRAM KAPOOR




If you are looking to donate things to help the Earth Quake Victims of Nepal,  Here are few things you can send them.

List of Urgent Basic Things:

RICE

PULSES/DAAL

VEGETABLE OIL / COOKING OIL

Tarpaulin for Shelter

People donating many things which they don't exactly need. They don't need anything expensive but they should be provided with only basic things.

More than just a Politics in India Now

VIKRAM KAPOOR

Multiple parties are not only creating identity for themselves but at the same time they are confusing people.

India where politicians plays politics of vote (Vote ki Raajniti) is big fight between their competitors but do Aam aadmi really get something? Recollect some of the old memories when Anna Hazare fought for the corruption and Lokpal bill which is still not implemented totally.

Arvind Kejriwal won this game of politics and people blindly gave their vote to Aam Admi Party. Without giving any promises to the people of Delhi, he implemented many of his works which people liked.

Not only this but corruption flowing down the lanes of Delhi has been observed by the commoners during his 49 days tenure as a Chief Minister of New Delhi.

No, matter the individual come out with good intentions to work for society but at the end, they get strains of corrupt and dishonest personality with several other allegations around.
As far as the recent Prime Minister campaign of BJP is concerned, PR firms were involved in it.

Both BJP and Congress had their separate PR companies to get them more popularity among the voters. It was therefore not less than selling a product and advertising for the same. With the only option of BJP and Congress with the public, people of India couldn’t find the party which should be for the people, of the people and by the people.

Arvind kejriwal was from the team of Anna and due to his non political and corrupt free background, he was able to collect the love of people in the form of vote in Delhi. Though public gave him love, he also expressed them with the same.

In every press meeting or public places, he said, people has the power and people of this country can make government with their vote but when AAP took support from Congress,  the situation went upside down in people’s mind.

They were not able to figure out that the person who blamed congress for its failure is now taking support from congress. This is still a question mark among many of the Indians.


The another mistake of Kejriwal when he left the resigned as a Chief minister after 49 days disappointed his followers up to a great extent. But many of his supporters who never imagined getting into politics have jumped into it.

Infact, people started assuming that AAP is their own party which also influenced the youngsters.
Modi was another political figure who had contributed in the development of Gujarat and people were satisfied with his idea of development and implementing the same.

With the chance of BJP to win after the congress had lost faith from the people, they lost election in many of their state election.

Modi was the only suitable PM candidate from BJP as LK Advani had left the politics. Though Modi is a good speaker, he won hearts of crores of Indians.

It was like a trend in Indian politics that many people leave one party and join other. The same scenario was also seen with the very new AAP, some of its members left the party and joined BJP recently.

Recently when Prime minister said that Arvind call himself as Anarchist so people like him should join the gunmen’s in the Jungles.  But, again the question is if Arvind is not suitable to become a ruler? Why the people India’s capital has supported them?

Do you think the people of India do not have political awareness and the situation is somewhat similar to the Gandhi era?

With all these statements of BJP and AAP, Don’t you think people may confuse to give vote to their right representative? So the ball is in your court, what next after Kejriwal? Is it Kejriwal again or someone else?

We are like this only

“I can talk English, I can walk English, I can laugh English because English is a very funny language” is popular dialog uttered by Amitabh Bachchan in the movie ‘Namak Halaal’ in 1982. People may assume that Indians don’t know English but they have confident enough in everything they do.

The language is not too funny but as Indian is full of confident people who have written and spoken in much innovative and experimented way, they ended up converting English into Hinglish,.

Hinglish is a mixture of the words “Hindi” and "English". Many speakers do not realize that they are including English words into Hindi sentences or Hindi words into English sentences. The idea of Indian English is also known as Indianism. 

'pphunny' for funny, 'pphor' for four/for and 'iskool' for school are some examples of hinglish

See, some of the sentences how a student wrote an essay on ‘Cow’ in a competitive exam. “The cow is a successful animal. Also he is quadrupud, and because he is female, he gives milk, but will do so when he is got child. But he has got four legs together. Two are forward and two are afterwards. She chew with his teeth whom are situated in the inside of the mouth”.  

The cause behind the new English of India is lack of command over the language which can happen with anyone and any language but Indian English gives everyone valid reasons to laugh and refresh.

Indians get overwhelmed with the idea of using ‘Only’ and ‘No’ at the end of every sentence. It actually makes every sentence very easy to complete. ‘I am here only, ‘We are always having fun like that only’. ‘You are coming to the party no, Come no, I will miss you no’

Some of the Indian eateries and clothes shop have so funny shop names which change the whole meaning of the word and you cannot just control your laugh. Example: Sharma sweets and snakes, Ladies bottom - Rs 199 onwards, and Idly sambar becomes Italy samber.

A pathology sign board which says Blood, stool, urine, seman and pregnancy are tasted here. There is nothing to surprise if the patient dies before anything of his getting tasted. 

Fortunately, if Indians provide thousands reasons to bring smile on millions of people, they make you emotional too. ‘Pardesi babu’, a bollywood film released in 1998 and a popular song starring Govinda, had beautiful wordings, representing India says “Jaha pao me payal, hath me kangan, ho maathe pe bindiya, it happens only in India”

We are like this only

Vikram kapoor

“I can talk English, I can walk English, I can laugh English because English is a very funny language” is popular saying by Amitabh Bachchan in the movie ‘Namak Halaal’ in 1982. People may assume that Indians don’t know English but they do, even if it means literally translating a sentence thought out in another language.

Infact the problem for most Indians is that they end up converting English into Hinglish,

Hinglish is a mixture of the words “Hindi” and "English". Many speakers do not realize that they are including English words into Hindi sentences or Hindi words into English sentences. The literal translation from ones mother tongue into English is also known as Indianism, and can really perplex a true English man. 

This is how a student wrote an essay on the ‘Cow’ in a competitive exam. “The cow is a successful animal. Also he is quadrupud, and because he is female, he gives milk, but will do so when he is got child. But he has got four legs together. Two are forward and two are afterwards. She chew with his teeth whom are situated in the inside of the mouth”.  

'Don't eat my brains' is a literal translation from Hindi where a euphemism is used in Hindi chastising someone not to worry them and if that is translated literally and Indianism is born.   

Indians use the words ‘Only’ and ‘No’ at the end of every sentence. Take for example --‘I am here only, ‘We are always having fun like that only’. ‘You are coming to the party no, Come no, I will miss you no’ this is not true blue English but it is accepted parlance in India which a foreigner might not understand.

Some of the Indian eateries have very funny shop names which change the whole meaning of the word and it difficult to control your laugh. Take for example: "Sharma sweets and snakes, Ladies bottom, Rs 199/- onwards", and Idly sambar becomes "Italy samber".

A sign board which is put up at a diagnostic centre boldly proclaims-- Blood, stool, urine, seman and pregnancy are tasted here. Don't be too surprised if the patient dies before anything of his gets tested. 

Fortunately, these Indianisms are able to bring a smile on millions of people's faces. ‘Pardesi babu’, a Bollywood film released in 1998 had a popular song starring Govinda, with an excellent line summing up an Indianism “Jaha pao me payal, hath me kangan, ho maathe pe bindiya, it happens only in India”

The Power of air is here in India

Vikram kapoor

You may have played with paper wheel attached with a thin wooden stick scrolling speedily with the flow of wind. A kid gets excited and become energetic when he observes the rotation of the colourful paper wheel.

As a kid, we may not have realised the importance of wind in our life but today, the same wind is helping the world to create electricity in large areas of different countries. 

With the similar concept of this paper toy, engineers have developed advanced and heavy wind turbines which are placed in the wind farms to create electricity with the help of big power generators in many states of India.

India started its renewable energy mission in early 70’s. 

Today, it is worlds one of the largest renewable energy programmers. It can be seen in remote villages, metros and huge industries.  

This will help in operating small industries and thousands of villages. Indian companies are producing modern turbines and related components ingeniously therefore India is growing much faster than the global market which is the result of its high potential

With the tag of a complete developing nation, today, Indian wind energy already has the 5th largest installed capacity in the world and is set to grow at a rapid pace driven by investments from the private wind turbine manufacturers. The total installed power capacity was 19,565 MW on June 30, 2013.

More than 95 percent of total nation’s wind energy generates from just five states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Rajasthan. Most of the Installed Wind Capacity in India is located in the southern and industrial states of the country.

The other states like UP, Bihar lacks sufficient Wind Energy Capacity despite having high power tariffs and substantial electricity deficits.

In the current environment of global concern over climate change, we must look critically at the operational efficiency of clean energy power plants and increase energy efficiency which can be achieved through different sources of renewable energy.

With the increasing population and demand in a country like India, electricity is the basic need which lacks in most of the rural India and this is also one of the major causes of lack of economic growth in the country.

According to Centre for Wind Energy Technology, the wind energy installation in the country in 2011-12 was 3,197 MW which fell to 1,698 MW in 2012-13. The figures slightly picked up to 2,000 MW in 2013-14.

India can get 35% of its power from renewable energy by 2030. Thought the government has not given much importance for the growth of wind energy production and its urgent need in the recent 2014 budget, the government of India decided to add 10,000 MW per year to lift wind energy sector to reduce India's dependence on costly energy imports.

As there is good demand wind turbines installation in India and abroad, like other power gear makers, Indian wind turbine makers too are facing competition from Chinese counterparts that also offer cheaper finance to the investors in wind energy 

The biggest advantage with wind energy is that the fuel is free, and also it doesn’t produce CO2 emission. Wind farm can be built reasonably fast, the wind farm land can be used for farming as well thus serving dual purpose, and it is cost-effective as compare to other forms of renewable energy.

One wind turbine can be sufficient to generate energy for a household. Because wind is a source of energy which is non-polluting and renewable, wind turbines create power without using fossil fuels, without producing greenhouse gases or radioactive or toxic waste which also reduces global warming.

There are some of the issues which are hurdles in the way of growth of the wind energy and the development process like Forest land clearance, Creation of infrastructure for power evacuation and transmission facilities, availability of land for wind farms, Potential land mostly acquired by manufacturers/ developers, Implementation of revised tariff as per CERC (Central electricity regulatory commission) guidelines and Development of scheduling and forecasting system.

Thought wind energy is 100% clean and green energy, it has some shortcomings too. Noise disturbances, threat to wildlife(can kill with the turbines) and absence of wind in many places are the demerits which has to be taken care off before planning of the setup of the wind turbines and its location so that these problems can be cured and result in producing safe energy for all.