Syrup soaked fried spirals   Preparation time: 10 minutes   Cooking time: 40 minutes   Serves:4-5   Recipe ingredients:   1 cup flour   ½ cup yoghurt   1heaped teaspoon baking powder   A pinch orange food color   Clarified butter(desi ghee) or any hydrogenated fat (like Dalda or Rath) to deep fry   2 cups sugar   1 cup water   Recipe method:   Put the sugar and water to boil. Reduce the flame and simmer till you attain a one string consistency. (about 15 minutes). To check consistency, take a drop of slightly cooled syrup between index finger and thumb and press togethe

If you are not one of those who can hop out of bed feeling energised, we list down a few ways for you to rise and start your day early   You must have heard the saying, 'Early to bed, early to rise...' several times, but did you know waking up early actually makes you healthy, wealthy and wise?   Waking up early in the morning is the toughest part for many, especially for those who have a habit of sleeping late at night.   Be consistent with sleep Going to bed at the same time everyday will ensure that you wake up on time the next morning. Your body loves consistency, so sticking to a particular sleep schedule will make it easier for your body to wake up

The fragrance you wear goes a long way in reflecting your personality type. Here's how you can match the two.   For the party girl: If you're an extrovert who loves to let her hair down, opt for fruity and floral blends that will reflect your charm instantly. Avoid amber or vanilla fragrances which are often said to be soporific.   For the traveller: Colognes are a good option if you are a globetrotter. Lavender and citrus flavours work the best since they keep you rejuvenated in the hot weather.   For the multi-tasking mum: If you are a working woman and have to tend to your kid's needs as soon as you return home, you need a fragrance that will last th

MUMBAI: While India awoke to the sheer extent of mobile phone penetration a decade ago, web penetration's now making news, fuelled largely by easy internet access on smartphones.   At 12 million, Mumbai has more internet users than any other city in the country, according to data released by the Internet And Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). This has much to do with the population of a city that's bursting at the seams, and the study included Mumbai's urban agglomerate (Thane and Navi Mumbai). Increasing awareness about the internet here is also responsible for the large number of users in India's financial capital, says Nilotpal Chakravarti, associate vice-presid

Diets promise to be the quickest way to a trim waistline. Celebs are constantly in the news for their wacky diets, which many blindly ape without knowing their dangerous side-effects.   From baby food to feeding tube diets, we look at some weight-loss methods that you must avoid.   Master cleanse: Cleanses are the latest fad, promising to detoxify the body, and, in the process, help shed a few extra kilos. The master cleanse is a starvation diet, in which no more than a concoction of lemon juice, maple syrup, water, cayenne pepper, salt water and a laxative tea are consumed for 10 days. This is dangerous as, in the long run, it leads to muscle breakdown, and a shortage of i

Anti-addictive drug Methadone has been found to be effective in reducing drug use in India, says a study released here on Thursday.   Methadone is a drug that can be taken orally or injected. It helps people dependent on morphine, heroin and other substances to reduce and stop their drug usage.   "Currently, five centres across India are offering methadone maintenance treatment. When the methadone treatment was used as a pilot project, it was found to be more effective with results of reduced drug use, injecting episodes and criminal behaviour amongst drug users," said Christina Albertin, UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)representative for South Asia.  

The flavours of your favorite herbs add to the taste of this crunchy chicken.   Preparation time: 25 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes Serves: 4   Ingredients: 4tsp unsalted butter (half chilled), divided ¼ cup of Lemon juice, plus zest of one Lemon 1tsp fresh chopped oregano 1tsp fresh chopped basil 1tsp fresh chopped thyme ½ cup bread crumbs 1 egg yolk 3tsp water (1 T for the egg wash, 2 T for the finishing of the sauce) 6 (2-oz) boneless chicken pieces   To garnish Diced red bell peppers Lemon slices Bunches of parsley Finely diced shallots Finely sliced scallion   Method: -Preheat 2tsp of butter on medium

A new study has revealed that 60 percent of women are harassed by a male colleague in office.    Almost a quarter of female workers have had a more senior member of staff make a pass at them, but only 27 percent of victims have reported the matter to their boss, Metro.co.uk reported.    Employment lawyer Claire Dawson, of Slater and Gordon, which commissioned the poll said that we are well into the 21st century now and the message doesn’t seem to have got through to everyone that this just isn’t acceptable.    Dawson added that harassed women often ended up being “unfairly disadvantaged” after the event.    Her f

We spend major part of our lives at the workplace. Hence the environment should be such that we should be able to look forward to work and not dread it.   Among several other things that make your workplace tolerable, the most important are the people or colleagues as we call them. We do have our loyal set of friends, both from childhood and college. However, we do meet some interesting people at our workplace too who go on to become our best buddies for life. There are all kinds of people at work and the list can be exhaustive. However, here are a few interesting ones that are part of every organisation.    Altruistic: This person would go out of his way to make other

Born a month premature, Sonia Sinha's son Rohan (both names changed on request) was put on formula milk at the outset. Following this, he found it difficult to latch on to his mother's breasts.   At the advice of a paediatrician, the 29-year-old former school teacher at a city school, continued to feed him formula milk, until she noticed that her son was passing greenish stool. Immediately, the baby was put on pasteurised milk, which raked up a stomach problem, wherein he started passing blood in his stool. Medical examination confirmed that Rohan was allergic to cow's milk. Now, the two-and-a-halfmonth-old is back on another brand of formula milk. "But I strongly b

This DIY is for the days when you are not happy with just one nail colour and want to go all out    Who knew that something as simple as a scotch-tape can be the ever-essential element for nail art? Yes, now you can have the amazing geometric patterns on you nails at home.    The marvelous factor is the simplicity of these designs and how you can customize them using different colours for different times of the year, like neon for day-time or summers and darker shades for night. All you need is some polish and scotch tape!    So forget your trips to the salon and pick up the shades you want. A red-carpet nail look is not that tough to get anymore!&nb

Not many of us can boast of a sharp memory, and those who do, certainly seem to have an edge professionally and personally as well.   We're not recommending any magic pill to boost your memory but rather some tips that will help you do so:   Clench your fist This may sound weird but research suggests that balling up your right hand and squeezing it tightly actually makes it easier to memorise phone numbers or shopping lists. Later, when you want to retrieve the information, clench the left fist. Researchers think the movements activate brain regions key to the storing and recall of memories.   Alphabets to the rescue When you're trying to recall a piece

Cooch Behar is a small, sleepy town situated in a small corner of West Bengal. It is the district headquarters of the Cooch Behar District in North of West Bengal.   Places of interest   Cooch Behar Palace: also called 'Victor Jubilee Palace' is a famous landmark of the town. It is also called the Rajbari, The palace of Kings. It was constructed on the design of the Buckingham Palace of London, during the reign of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan in 1877.   There were different kinds of weapons, jewels, stamps and many other things kept in the palace, now made into a museum. They had also given the information of the different tribes of Bengal and had showcased t

There is a romantic in all of us. No matter how much we deny we'd still give anything to be in a place breathtakingly beautiful, and even better if we have someone special to share it with.   Of world's most romantic places Paris tops the chart as the city of eternal romance where even sipping champagne at a roadside cafe facing the Eiffel Tower holds a special meaning. While places like Paris, Venice, the French Riviera are synonymous with ever-lasting romance, we scoured a few other destinations that spell romance, albeit in an unconventional way. Avignon, for instance, and its picturesque purple fields of lavender, the rolling tea estates of Munnar in Kerala, the lonely j

Expanding waistline is the biggest problem for most of us. There are several reasons for our increasing weight - sedentary lifestyle, excessive eating of junk food, lack of physical activity, irregular sleep patterns, etc.    Today, Tim Crowe - Nutrition Academic at Deakin University and freelance writer at Thinking Nutrition, narrows down on the number one cause of unhealthy weight gain.    Tim says, 'the number one cause for weight gain is none other than sweetened beverages.' The reason for this statement is years of evidence showing the linkage between sugar-sweetened drinks and weight gain. According to a comprehensive study, these drinks are the bigg

Asia is considered the biggest market for beauty products. And whitening creams are the product of choice.    Thanks to our fixation with fairer skin rather than healthy flawless skin. Men and women are both going in for lighter tones. We asked skin experts if there's truly any magic bottled in those whitening vials.    It works  Dr Jamuna Pai says, "All whitening creams work by inhibiting Tyrosinase that is required for the production of melanin, which gives colour to Asian skin tones. The active ingredients that are present in these creams can be simple 'berry extracts' to chemicals like hydroquinone."    A combination

The one thing that makes potluck parties a fun event is that it gives everyone an opportunity to involve in hosting the party. However, it requires some planning for sure.    We give you 6 simple tips to hosting a successful potluck party    Make a guest list    To begin with, slot a day and time as per the convenience of everyone. A potluck party should have atleast 6 to 7 people or couples for it to be fun and memorable. The more the better.    Let each one pick a dish    Once you figure out the guest list, you can ask each member what they would like to prepare instead of you deciding the dish for everyone. Every indivi

Apple has several health benefits, but this forbidden fruit from the Garden of Eden is also a great weight loss food.   Apples combine certain nutrients in a way that sets them apart from all other fruits and makes them a food of choice for achieving several health goals. Here's what apples can do for you when it comes to your health   *Data courtesy: Washington Apples   Unique support for heart health Apples are a rich source of phytonutrients known as quercetin, catechin, phloridzin and chlorogenic acid. These unique phytonutrients help protect the cardiovascular system from oxygen-related damage. In addition, the high fibre content (pectic) in apples helps

Dancing is not only about steps and rhythm. Its a blend of physical activity, stamina building, interaction and tons of fun. There are many ways dance can enhance every facet of your life:   Confidence: Dancers possess an innate sense of confidence. When you dance, your entire thinking process undergoes a change in creativity and motivation. This fresh outlook will soon show in the other areas of your life as well.   Health: Dance gives way to stronger bones and muscles which in turn leads to controlled body weight. Dance is also known to reduce stress and improving strength and flexibility, apart from improving posture and balance.   Fun and relaxation: In today&#

Beautifully decorated windows can make a room look attractive and inviting not only from inside but from the outside too.    There are plenty of options to decorate your windows - curtains, drapes, blinds, shades, shutters etc.    Decorate your window such that it is both stylish as well as functional. Soft and hard window treatments can be used in combination. Shades, window blinds and shutters are hard window treatments, which use materials like wood or vinyl. Soft window treatments on the other hand include anything made of soft materials such as sheers, curtains, drapes, swags, valances.    Sheer window treatment with sequins is popular among buy