Rajesh Shringarpure

Conscience plays a major role in love

Rajesh Shringarpure, a well-known name in Marathi industry, is slowly emerging as a star in the Hindi film world as well. His Hindi serial, Sahib, Biwi Aur Ghulam, co-starring- Raveena Tandon and Ayub Khan, (Sahara one) is just one proof of his phenomenal skills. Rajesh can also be seen in Saarthi (Star Plus as Lord Krishna), and Char Diwas Sasuche, a Marathi daily on ETV Marathi. He is truly enjoying every bit of attention and fame that is coming his way.

Shaaditimes caught up with this handsome hunk, as he speaks on Love, lust, jealousy, aggression and passion.


Love makes you complete. In love you must not have any expectations from the other as it hurts a lot when they are not fulfilled. Conscience plays a major role. Love at first sight is only for teenagers as they fail to differentiate between true love and attraction. But for mature heart, it's all about understanding the other person; only then will you realise, if you are truly in love. Love has to be pure from heart.


Yes, there has to be lust up to a certain extent. In fact, I would say that lust is necessary for love. It is a natural feeling. Actually, I would say it is the appreciation that the eyes bring out for any beautiful thing that catches one's sight. I think love is the extension of lust. When there is lust, only then there will be love. But one must learn to draw a line between love and lust. Lust is essential for love to survive.


According to me, jealousy is nothing but an insecure feeling that one has against the other. When one wants to lead or exceed the other and they are unable to do so, jealousy is born. Most of the times when husband and wife are in the same profession, and if wife exceeds him, his ego gets hurt and he ends up feeling jealous. However, I can't really imagine myself being jealous if my wife is more successful than me or earns more than me. I would be proud of her.


Do you think I am aggressive? No, I am not. Aggression in any relationship can lead to breaking-up. If you are aggressive towards your partner then he/she will scarcely tolerate it. If you love your wife or husband unconditionally, you cannot be aggressive.


Passion tops the chart of emotions. It helps to express your love towards your partner or better half. I am passionate towards my family and my people around me. I try to spend quality time with them, surprise my wife with gifts, bouquets, etc. If you have feelings for the opposite person, even if it is love, lust, passion or any other emotion, the person automatically feels it. Actually, all emotions come from the heart, so if you keep your heart in control, then no emotion will go overboard.

Vaibhavi Pradhan

Content Courtesy ShaadiTimes

Can you fall in love again and again?

Failure in your first love affair or the first marriage could be forgiven. You can get away blaming destiny.

I read this beautiful poem. Unfortunately, I don't know who wrote it. If any of you can remember, please let me know. I will thank you and would like to thank the poet for penning such hauntingly beautiful verse.

"The third time is
Always the most difficult.
Or so I have been told.
The first time you do not know,
Your innocence is your strength.
The second time you are hurt and thus prepared.
But the third time, my friend
Is when you are quite totally unaware
And therefore, so completely vulnerable."

The poet, so obviously, is talking about falling in love for the third time, and one's vulnerability at that stage. But then on other hand in real life, there is a phrase like being third time lucky. Some people say that the chance of succeeding on your third try is much higher than before.

May be. May be not. But one thing is for sure: that to try again and again and then again requires lots of guts, especially in affairs of the heart.

Failure in your first love affair or the first marriage could be forgiven. After all, even God almighty forgives one mistake, they say. And mere mortals would even sympathise with you. Then if you fail again on the same front, things get a bit awkward but still you can get away blaming destiny. But dear friend, try to visualise you failing a third time....

Forget about failing, even trying for the third time can scare you to death.

Of course, in things like studies, businesses, sports etc. you are supposed to pursue the goal even if you fall a million times. There the spider is your idol, which goes on and on and on. Try, try till you succeed. But can one say the same thing about marriage or even love affairs? Oh yes, there are a few (and most of them in Hollywood, alas) who walk the aisle not three but four, five times with different partners. But they are ridiculed in our society. Or they have to be so damn strong that they don't get stung by malicious comments.

And may I say that that is the reason most of the people who are married a second time dare not divorce again, even if marital life turns out to be worse than before. They are scared about what people would say. Not love for the partner, but fear of society prevents them from divorcing again. And then to look for happiness again, for the third time is absolutely unthinkable...

But still sometimes it happens. And, like the poet says, it happens before we become aware of what is happening. We are vulnerable. Perhaps this vulnerability comes from our false belief of strength. We think that because we have failed twice, we are now wise and practical. We believe that now our heads rule our hearts unlike before. And this overconfidence in our so called practical sense makes us forget that the heart has its own way of moving. And it beats again and again and yet again.

Or sometimes the previous two bad experiences have depressed us so much that we feel that the thing called love doesn't exist, at least for us. We convince ourselves that it is never going to happen. And that's why we are caught unaware when it happens. Well, it can happen to anyone, then why you should be an exception?

But hey, just because we are vulnerable, caught unawares doesn't mean it's going to be bad.

Bad things happen in life. Good things as well. There is no way of knowing. So it is quite possible when you think that you are the smartest person in the world and has made the best choice, you somehow end up falling flat on your face. And then when you are down in dumps, waiting the world to end, someone comes and holds your hand and the story ends like... and they lived happily ever after.

Varsha Pathak

Content Courtesy ShaadiTimes

Watch it out!

Time check with jewelled watches

Time is one of our most valuable assets, so why not watches? A watch has been traditionally the secret wedding gift between partners in Ireland, may be to keep their love ticking, and we see no reason why this should not be so, everywhere.

In 1571, Queen Elizabeth I was given the first known wristwatch. It was a small timepiece on a gold bracelet with diamonds and rubies. Fast-forward to today and no points for guessing that these gem-encrusted beauties have made a comeback! It is said that jewelled watches first came into fashion in 1950s when women wore them on their wrist during the day and over the evening gloves at night.

Today jewelled watches have made their way to the bridal trousseau in form of a fine accessory. Mr Yusuf, manager of Watches of Switzerland, one of the most reknowned watch store in Mumbai, boasts of clienteles ranging from Bollywood stars to industrialists and socialists who swear by jewelled watches. His collection ranges from Pierre Cardin to Omega, Longines, Rado and Gucci with price tags ranging between Rs 10, 000 and Rs 2 lakh. Similarly, Titan's Nebula collection designed by Rohit Bal seek to make Indian royal heritage timeless through its range of jewelled watches which are made of 18 carat gold and encrusted with diamonds and rubies.

TV actress Gurdeep Kohli, who's just married Arjun Punj, believes jewelled watches make a wonderful gift anytime...be it for birthdays or anniversaries. She is in love with her crystal Christian Dior watch. "For my wedding I could not wear a watch as I was wearing choodas, but I would like to own a Chopard watch someday. I want a diamond studded one which I can wear with my black cocktail dress and that should be an exclusive collector's item as I would love to pass on to my children or grandchildren!"

Another newly married bride Ravee Gupta, TV actress, gushes about her watch collection and swears that she has turned into a watch freak recently. "Previously I wasn't comfortable wearing watches because my skin was allergic to metals but now I can show off my collection of jewelled watches! My favourite one is a gold Christian Dior watch that my dad gifted me for my birthday. It has a classic gold bracelet and I get compliments for it every time I wear it. Another one, that I am proud of, is given by my brother. It's by Guess and it's pretty unique in the sense that it is actually a charm bracelet with little hearts and bells and a small watch dangling along with it! And the recent one to add to this collection is the wedding watch that was again gifted by my dad. This one is an Omega and priced at a whopping 1.5 lakhs! It's studded with diamonds, sapphire, rubies...you just name it and it's there! It's very gorgeous and I had worn it for my cocktail reception party," she adds.

Supratim Biswas, an NRI who is passionate about watches said, "Watches are man's best accessories and jewelled watches speak a lot about you. If you are wearing a jewelled Rolex watch it shows that you are classy, if you are wearing a Tag Heur, it reflects a sporty personality and if you are wearing a Britley you are trendy. I personally feel that watches with studs of diamond and gems are better suited for the fairer sex. I would personally like to go for a gold plated Britley."

It is said that Mr Amitabh Bachchan too has a passion for collecting watches. The gossip mills say that the actor never repeats his watches! His favourite brands are Longines and Bvlgari watches which costs around Rs 3-4 lakhs!!

No wonder that such dazzling timepieces have grabbed the eyeballs at the London Fashion Week and demanded a grand international watch fair like BaselWorld. Here we take a glance at some of the world-class jewelled watches, which can adorn a bridal trousseau and can be passed down the family lineage as heritage collections.

Bollywood Brand Equity Aishwarya Rai - Longines Aamir Khan - Titan Rani Mukherjee - Titan Raga Sushmita Sen & Shahrukh Khan - Tag Heur Lisa Ray - Rado Sonali Bendre - Omega Kareena Kapoor - Citizen

Pic courtesy: Watches of Switzerland, Bandra. Price on request.

Content Courtesy ShaadiTimes

Understanding and amending relationships

One must strengthen relationship with love, care and understanding. Once broken, it is hard to mend again.

Love after divorce

Kelly Singh asks,
I am British and my husband is Indian. We are divorced now, but he still secretly adores me. He doesn't want his family to know about this. I never wanted a divorce. He is doing this just because I love him so much. We have three kids. Please help?
Dear Kelly,
What about your husband? Why doesn't he stand up for his wife and children? He needs to stand up and get his act together. If he does love his wife and children dearly, it is time that he works out the differences with his family and takes his stand.

I don't love my husband

Chandni asks,
I am 25 years old and married for the past 6 months. My husband is a very nice person and he loves me a lot. But I don't love him nor am I attracted towards him. I am helpless. I can't live with such a person, for whom I don't feel anything. I have never been in love nor do I love anyone now. I think we are totally different personalities. Please help.
Dear Chandni,
If you would like to work this relationship out, then I would suggest that both of you see a counsellor. This will help you both understand what is missing and how you can improve your relationship.

Life after marriage

Yasmin asks,
My marriage is 6 months old. We know each other for the past one year now. We decided to marry after one week of our meeting. During our courtship, we hardly faced any issues, except that I found him short tempered. I neglected that, as I knew he would apologise when he would find out the facts. But now I am disappointed with his behaviour. He gets skeptical for no reason and even criticises me. He doesn't like to shop nor does he wait around when we are shopping. He never pays for any of my expenses. He hardly goes out, but blames me for not being able to go out. He had a sad childhood and I think that has made him like this. I don't know if it is me who is being too demanding. I feel miserable and unhappy. Please help.
Dear Yasmin,
If you still have the spark of a newly wed, take some time out and plan something different over a weekend. During this time out, maybe you both can talk about your expectations from this marriage and about both of you. What are some of the basic responsibilities, how do you keep the excitement and happiness in the relationship, how can you both show that you love each other everyday, without actually saying it but by your actions. You could actually come out with a set of do's and don't for your relationship. This will help you both know when not to cross the line.

Communicate in a relationship

Teddy asks,
My wife and I have been married for 2 years and we are leading a good life. We are both working and earn almost an equal amount. But my wife doesn't share her salary with me. She expects me to look after all the expenses of the house (family) as well as her own expenses. I really don't have problems with it, but I think it would be just fair if she shares her income with me or at least takes care of some expenses. She just wants to invest all her salary in her name and not include me in the investment plans. What can I do? Please advice.
Dear Teddy,
It is time you have had "the talk" with your partner. It is hard to write for me on how this can be resolved without first having the talk to understand where she is coming from. What is her personality and nature? How is your relationship with her? Do you share a fun and confident relationship? If you do, then this talk is an easy one to understand why she is doing what she is doing. If you are unable to break the ice then I suggest you seek help through friends who you both are close to. If you prefer an outside intervention, talk to a counsellor.

Confused relationship

Lakshmi asks,
I am lost in my marriage. I am an Indian girl and have done my Masters from the US. I am currently working. My husband lied to me about his job before marriage. He is unemployed and hardly searches for a job. We are married for 1 year now but are like strangers. He hits me many times but again cares for me. I want to dissolve the marriage. But I really don't know if I am taking the right decision. I can't speak to my parents nor to my friends about this, I am completely lost.
Dear Lakshmi,
Contact the nearest women's cell (like Sakhi) office and seek help. Do not feel helpless and continue in this misery. Good luck.

Content Courtesy ShaadiTimes

Bhuvaneshwari Bhagat

Acne: Unsolved mystery

We bring to you the myths, causes and treatments

Dr. Jamuna Pai Leading cosmetologist who runs her own cosmetic clinics in Mumbai.   Have a question? Click here...

Acne is a problem, which can occur at any age. It is a disorder resulting from the action of hormones and other substances on the skin's oil glands (sebaceous glands) and hair follicles. These factors lead to plugged pores and outbreaks of lesions commonly called pimples or zits. Acne lesions usually occur on the face, neck, back, chest and shoulders. Although acne is usually not a serious health threat, it can be a source of significant emotional distress.
People of all races and ages get acne. It is most common amongst adolescents and young adults.

Development of acne
Acne is a disease of the pilosebaceous units. An oily substance called sebum is formed by sebaceous gland that empties into opening of follicle called pores.
The hair, sebum and keratinocytes that fill the narrow follicle may produce a plug, which is an early sign of acne. The plug prevents sebum from reaching the surface of the skin through a pore. When the wall of the plugged follicle breaks down, it spills everything into the nearby skin: sebum, shed skin cells, and bacteria, leading to lesions or pimples.
The basic acne lesion, called the comedo (KOM-e-do), is simply an enlarged and plugged hair follicle. If the plugged follicle, or comedo stays beneath the skin, it is called a closed comedo and produces a white bump called a whitehead. A comedo that reaches the surface of the skin and opens up is called an open comedo or blackhead because it looks black on the skin's surface. This black discoloration is due to changes in sebum as it is exposed to air.

Causes of acne
The exact cause of acne is unknown. One important factor is an increase in hormones called androgens (male sex hormones). These increase in both boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy or starting or stopping birth control pills can also cause acne. Acne can also be hereditary.

Factors that can make acne worse:

• Changing hormone levels in adolescent girls and adult women 2 to 7 days before their menstrual period starts.
• Oil from skin products like moisturisers or cosmetics
• Pressure from sports helmets or equipment, backpacks, tight collars, or tight sports uniforms
• Environmental irritants, such as pollution and high humidity
• Squeezing or picking at blemishes stress.

Myths about the causes of acne
Chocolate and greasy foods are often blamed, but foods have less effect on the development of acne. Another common myth is that dirty skin causes acne; however, blackheads and other acne lesions are not caused by dirt.

Acne Treatment

Home remedies for acne

• Wash your face at least twice daily with a soap meant for oily skin.
• Using Lemon / Dahi (curd) regularly is very beneficial.
• Using fenugreek (methi) - a paste of fresh methi every night for 10 to 15 mins and washing it off with warm water is useful.
• Using garlic - a couple of garlic cloves, crush and dab on the face one or two times a day.

Medical treatment
The goals of treatment are to heal existing lesions, stop new lesions from forming, prevent scarring, and minimise the psychological stress and embarrassment caused by this disease.

Drug treatment is aimed at reducing:

• Abnormal clumping of cells in the follicles
• Increased oil production
• Bacteria
• Inflammation

Treatment for Blackheads, Whiteheads, and Mild Inflammatory Acne

Following are the most common ones:

• Benzoyl peroxide - destroys P. acnes, and may also reduce oil production
• Resorcinol - can help break down blackheads and whiteheads
• Salicylic acid - helps break down blackheads and whiteheads. Also helps cut down the shedding of cells lining the hair follicles
• Sulphur - helps break down blackheads and whiteheads.

Treatment for Moderate to Severe Inflammatory Acne
People with moderate to severe inflammatory acne may be treated with prescription topical or oral medicines, alone or in combination.

Prescription Topical Medicines
Several types of prescription topical medicines are used to treat acne.

They include:
Antibiotics help to stop or slow the growth of bacteria and reduce inflammation.
Vitamin A derivatives retinoids unplug existing comedones, allowing other topical medicines, such as antibiotics, to enter the follicles. Some may also help decrease the formation of comedones. These drugs contain an altered form of Vitamin A. Some examples are tretinoin (Retin-A2), Adapalene (Differin), and Tazarotene (Tazorac)
Others may destroy P. acnes and reduce oil production or help to slow the growth of bacteria and reduce inflammation. Some examples are prescription strength Benzoyl peroxide, Sodium sulfacetamide / sulphur-containing products, or Azelaic acid (Azelex).

Exercise for Acne:

• Daily exercise of any form (cardio / yoga) is beneficial for overall skin health and acne.
• Yoga - A series of 5 yoga poses can help increase blood flow to the face, flushing away toxins providing nutrients to the skin. Exercise reduces stress, which is a known cause for acne.

Content Courtesy ShaadiTimes

Meet the Punjabi munda Jimmy Shergill

He shares his fitness mantras

He began with a role in Gulzar's 'Maachis' 11 years back and since then there has been no looking back for Jimmy Shergill. The man with chocolate looks, good boy image and the keenest eye for meaty roles has carved a niche for himself that is as enviable as the vastness of his repertoire. Catch him as he unwinds after a grueling shoot of his forthcoming film 'Wednesday' and talks about food and fitness in a manner that is as honest and unassuming as the man himself.

Everyday food
Normal, everyday food would include a vegetarian lunch and non-vegetarian dinner. Non-veg doesn't happen everyday but when it does I like to keep it for dinner. Breakfast is eggs and toast and that is regular.

Beverages
Black coffee! I love black coffee.

Preferences
Not really. I just prefer home-cooked food over anything. And yes, I love Indian food. But I eat everything. It's not that I can't say no to food, but I am completely non-fussy when it comes to food so no real preferences here.

Favourites
Kashmiri and Punjabi food are my absolute favourites. And more so when ethnically prepared. I got introduced to Kashmiri food while shooting for 'Agni-Pankh' a couple of years back. I relished every bit of it and even today its one of my favourites. And Punjabi food, of course I am a Punjabi boy so it's in my genes.

Special haunts for Kashmiri and Punjabi food
None at all. Authentic Kashmiri food for one is not available anywhere except Kashmir. And even when I go to Kashmir I always like to binge on food prepared and available locally. I have lots of friends in Kashmir who still have cooks who are experts in authentic Kashmiri cuisine. That is where I relish the real taste of the food.
I do one Punjabi film every year so it's a great opportunity to savour Punjabi food. What's more exciting is the way you relish it. You know, the typical makke ki roti and sarson ka saag comes alive when you are having it made by a Punjabi cook in Punjab during winters. It's a delightful experience.

Fitness mantra
At one point I used to work out a lot but I stopped it. I realised body building etc is not my game. Today I focus on staying fit. I run for about half an hour 3 to 4 times and that helps in keeping the mind and body fit. Diets, exercise regimes are not a part of my lifestyle at all. Running is the most effective exercise because of the freedom it offers me. While I am shooting different and long hours it becomes difficult to stick to an exercise regime. So what I do is grab a run in the morning on the treadmill. Or when we are shooting outdoors, I take off for a half an hour run. It is refreshing to say the least.

Fatema Kagalwala

Content Courtesy ShaadiTimes

Diminishing value of the modern age grandparents

Are they just caretakers or baby sitters for us?

The coming of globalisation has brought the west to our very thresholds. It has not taken over the structures of our lives but has definitely left its indelible marks! The society becoming increasingly individualised and centered around the self not to mention the transition of the joint family system into the nuclear family setup. The minute that happened, roles all throughout the family tree went in a dizzying process of re-writing. And so did those of the first generation that is the grandparents.

The first shift that one saw in attitudes started even before the whole exodus to the west started to happen. And today in scores of families with the son, daughter-in-law and grandson all abroad the old grandparents either have nothing to look forward to or willingly take over the role of caretakers and baby-sitters in a foreign land. It's a common phenomenon nowadays where the son is settled abroad and wishes that his parents joined him, for convenience. Whose is a relative question.

Let's take a look at one such case. Snighda and Arun, both software engineers have been staying in the US for the past ten years now. They have a three-year-old son and Arun's mother lives with them from the time Snighda was pregnant. Sometime back Arun's father passed away and Arun asked his mother to come and stay with them. She refused and they didn't persist. But today they live together in the US. The couple works and Arun's mother looks after the house and their son.

From a distance it looks practical. Convenient too. But if one starts peeling away the layers one notices that as families grew towards increasing nuclearity, the importance or the value of the first generation seems to be diminishing. The "I" generation seems to know it all and old parents are more often than not utilities.

Ever noticed a young girl not wanting to get married out of the city of her maternal home or hankering to shift to her home town after marriage, if and when the possibility arises? This is becoming increasingly true of the working woman. In a country where a woman, if working has to look after the house also and play-pen's are out of question for most, the easiest thing to do is look for help with the kids in the mother. Anupama Rane, an administration executive of an accounting firm is similarly relieved. Living with her husband and daughter, away from her in-laws, the task of handling the multiple roles was proving gargantuan. When they had to move house, she chose to move to that part of the city, which was in close proximity to her mother's house. She says, "Staying closer helps her also to stay in touch. We can be there for each other whenever the need arises. She looks after my daughter while I am at work and I pick her up from her house from my way back from work." A judicious arrangement and practical too. But again one wonders if the same arrangement would be in place if there was no child in the picture to look after.

The insinuation may sound unjust and even downright evil. But from the women's point of view its soundness cannot be questioned. Says Anupama's mother, "If my daughter has no one to help her with her kids then I will have to help her. In the scenario that she had a mother-in-law to help her I might have to think twice, considering whether they may like it or not. And, why should they think about looking after us after their marriage? They have a life of their own and Anupama is also bound to look after her husband and his family." One restrains from raising the counter-point of how different things would be if Anupama was a son.

Among the melee of middle class double standards rises a curious but valid reasoning. Vikas, 38, software engineer responded to the question of the value / role of grandparents in a different manner. For him, the presence of his parents in his life was a continuing presence of wisdom and culture. He considers his parents as the pillars of upbringing, someone who had upheld the value system of their family. This is the reason why he wants his parents to be with him throughout his married life as well. "I know for sure that I will not be able to bring up my kids the way my parents brought me and my sister up. I know differences will be there but I feel that their presence will give stability to our household as well as grounding our children well. Thankfully my wife shares my viewpoint." Sure, a sign of hope if one considers the fast-eroding cultural roots of our society and the children growing up on a diet of cornflakes and video games.

This phenomena, although rare and relative could also apply to inter-caste marriages. An ideal solution to a situation wrought with confusion. The prevalent truth of inter-caste marriages today is growing acceptance, but the separation of the son from the family as well. What ensues is confusion as to what culture / cultural model the children will grow up with. Even though it might not be physically possible to live together, grandparents can be the pillars of cultural education and no one then one's own grandparents can hand over the legacy of one's roots to one.

One might feel that problems of the old age have been around ever since. But the increasing insularity of our society is a cause of concern. And as usual in crisis it is the vulnerable who are hit first. Of course, there are wider aspects that can be looked at about the issue.

Do share with us what are your views on it.

Fatema Kagalwala

Content Courtesy ShaadiTimes

Anita Dongre

Anita Dongre's Spring Summer Collection

With the rising temperature and the sweat following down, it's now time to slip into something soothing, cool and comfortable. Feel the cool fabric caressing you and beat the heat. This summer 'AND' unveils its 'Spring Summer Collection' of the year. It's all about western trends and everyday wear for everyone.

Anita Dongre's collection boasts the unique design with latest fabric in formal and casual wear. The collection is made keeping the new age woman in mind, affable, lovable, yet assertive. It's all about wearable fashion and individual looks. A unique collection of designs that is sure to prove an eye catcher.

AND is all about wearable western daily fashion, which is comfortable, stylish yet affordable. The fabrics used are sensuous, breath easy and soft which accentuates the body. The designs and the cut are nothing short of perfection. The detailing, let it be, the blind stitched hems, the grips, the invisible zips, the imported accessories gives you a sense of perfection. Be it power breakfast or cocktail the clothes are sure to get you noticed.

Content Courtesy ShaadiTimes

Corn at its best

Fat-fighting beans

Corn is a good source of several nutrients. It is a low-fat complex carbohydrate that deserves a regular place on any healthy table. This popular food is high in fibre; fat-fighting kernels of goodness are also hearty and satisfying. It's notoriously hard to digest. But its insoluble fibre tops at tackling common digestive ailments like constipation etc, by absorbing water, which swells the stool and speeds its movement. The folic acid in corn is now known to be an important factor in preventing neural-tube birth defects. It's just as important in preventing heart disease.

Here are some simple recipes for our viewers to relish with corn.

Corn and egg bhurjee

Ingredients:
Shelled corn - 1 cup
Eggs, beaten - 3 nos
Salt and pepper to taste
Onion chopped - 1 no
Tomatoes chopped - 2 nos
Chopped coriander leaves - 1 tbsp
Red chilli powder - 1/2 tbsp
Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp
Oil - 2 tbsp

Method:
Heat oil in a pan; sauté the onions and the tomatoes for 2-3 mins. Add in the spices and salt to taste, mix well. Add in the corn and cook it for few mins. Add in the beaten eggs finally and cook on a slow flame for 3 mins. Remove and serve hot, garnish with chopped coriander leaves. Serve with bread and buns.

Baked corn in tomato salsa

Ingredients:
Shelled corn - 1 cup, boiled
Chopped garlic - 1 tsp
Olive oil - 2 tbsp
Chopped onions - 1 no
Chopped tomatoes - 3 nos
Tomato puree - 1 cup
Mixed herbs - 1 tsp
Salt and pepper to taste
Olives - 2 tbsp chopped
Grated cheese - 1 cup

Method:
In a pan, sauté the garlic and onions in olive oil, add in the tomato puree and cook for 2-4 mins.
Add in the herbs and the seasonings and mix well. Add corn and olives and cook for another 5 mins pour into a baking dish and top with cheese and bake in the oven for 10 mins. Serve hot with bread rolls.

Sweet corn and vegetable soup

Ingredients:
Shelled corn - 1 cup boiled
Carrot - 1 no. diced
French beans - 4-5 nos sliced
Onion - 1/2 no. chopped
Green peas - 1/4th cup
Spring onions - 2 tbsp chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Corn flour solution - 2 tbsp to thicken
Vegetable stock / water - 3 cups

Method:
In the saucepan, combine together the stock along with the corn and the vegetables and bring to a boil. Add in the salt and pepper to taste. Add in the corn flour solution and thicken it up finally, garnish with the spring onion greens and serve hot.

Baked corn pudding

Ingredients:
Shelled boiled and mashed corn - 2 cups
Eggs - 2 nos
Sugar - 1 cup
Vanilla essence - 1 tbsp
Condensed milk - 1/2 tin
Breadcrumbs - 2 cups
Milk - 1/2 litre

Method:
Boil the milk with the sugar and condensed milk and reduce it to half. Add corn and the essence and cook for another 10 mins. And then add in the breadcrumbs, mix well and pour into a baking dish and bake for 20 mins at 200 degrees centigrade. Serve warm.

Content Courtesy ShaadiTimes

Kaviraj Khialani

Ruby's grooming mantras for your d-day

Eat more fresh and raw foods, rather than the oily stuff that will be doing the rounds at this time.

Ruby K Bhatia Ruby K Bhatia is a grooming expert and conducts seminars on Personality Development throughout India. She covers topics like self-confidence, public speaking, grooming and manners.  Have a question? Click here...

For most people, their wedding day is the biggest day of their lives. A day to be treated like royalty. This day is all about YOU!! Now doesn't that one little sentence really put the pressure on? Talk about performance anxiety! So here are a few tips that can help you to sparkle on your special day.

Focus Area #1: Personal Hygiene
Always shower twice a day and rub well to clean out your pores. If this causes drying, then make a combination of equal parts lime juice, rose water and glycerin to use as a moisturizer after your shower. Use deodorant in your underarms. Not powder, not antiperspirant (it can cause cancer), but deodorant. Always keep your underarms free from hair (try a razor, Anne French or waxing). This is important because hair causes bacteria to fester… leading to unbearable body odor. Remember, sweat itself has no smell. Unpleasant odor is primarily due to:

1. bacteria on the skin, and
2. strong substances in the bloodstream.

So if you want to be really fresh, then keep your skin clean and hairless, and don't take anything pungent like alcohol, tobacco, garlic, onions, spicy foods etc. Keep your diet satvic, light, nourishing, sweet, bland and juicy.

Oral hygiene is an important and oft-neglected aspect of personal grooming. Brush after every meal and floss everyday, preferably before sleeping. Visit a dentist every 6 months. Another great habit is gargling with saltwater every night, and using mild saltwater drops in the nose to clear residue in the postnasal area. Carry a small bottle of mouthwash or some sugarless breath fresheners with you always.

Throughout the day, keep checking the mirror to make sure everything is in place (no food between your teeth, no stuff in the eyes etc.). Awareness means self-improvement. And lastly, make sure you have a small bottle of perfume with you to keep splashing on every few hours... a great way to refresh and rejuvenate!!

Focus Area #2: Internal Health And Vitality
Here's how to feel like a zillion bucks on your special day. For a magnetic aura and head-turning confidence, exercise! Swim, walk, run, cycle, dance... for 30-40 minutes, 3-4 times a week. Make sure you are huffing and puffing. A good cardiovascular workout will crown you with a dynamic personality and stabilise every aspect of your health. It also released endorphins: feel-good chemicals that give you an instant boost. Supplement your workouts with yoga and pranayam.

It is AMAZING what pranayam and meditation can do to your skin, posture and state-of-mind! Being totally healthy beforehand will help you to be cool and in-control when things get stressful during the mega-event (and remember, you won't even be getting enough sleep!)

Eat more fresh and raw foods, rather than (or at least along with) the oily stuff that will be doing the rounds at this time. Have an apple, a banana, a carrot, an orange and the juice of two limes everyday. In fact, juices are an excellent quick way to keep up your vitamin, mineral and energy levels during hectic events like these. Just keep drinking... bottlegourd juice, apple juice, carrot and beetroot juice, mosambi or orange juice...anything that you like! For stamina, have 10 almonds and 2 dates daily, not to mention multi-vitamins and amla tablets. A good diet goes a long way in building health, beauty, strength and attractiveness.

Focus Area #3: Conduct And Behaviour
When it comes to manners and etiquettes... here's a few things to keep in mind. First of all, be ready to NOT be able to do any of the above! The irony is that frequently, the bride or groom is the last in the house to catch a shower, because there are just so many house-guests! So be ready to sacrifice. If you have made the above tips a part of your life, then even if you miss anything, you will be able to survive.

And speaking of house-guests, remember that there's always going to be a few relatives who ask irritating questions or make uncalled-for remarks. Be gentle, peaceful, genuine and humble. After all, a guest is a guest and must be made to feel welcome. If you find yourself in this situation, you can use the "Look at the Birdie Technique". This means that you casually and suddenly change the topic to another area of interest, as we do when we want to distract a child. Something like, "Oh let me go and see if I paid the electricity bill. For all you know we run out of electricity on the big day!" Look upon these otherwise unbearable predicaments as a great opportunity to develop your creative abilities! But no matter what, be gracious and sincere. You must be a large-hearted host and accept any minor inconveniences in return for all the good cheer, moral support and blessings that they are providing to make your special day a grand success.

Ok, here's a surprising but oh-so-necessary psychological adjustment that you may need to make at this time: stop looking at this as "MY BIG DAY" and realize that it's more a day for everyone else to enjoy. Trust me, looking at the whole occasion unselfishly will help you to accept all the crazy stuff that happens. Often, things are not in our control... the more we expect, the more rigid we become and the more likely we are to be disappointed when things don't go our way. So work hard until the big day, and then LET GO. Be constantly relaxed mentally, gracefully accepting whatever comes your way. Conserve your energy, talk less, and just watch the fun.

And always smile. A big, bright, from-the-heart smile is your best accessory. I could never understand why people think that a good smile means a uniform set of teeth. A true smile is not seen on the mouth, but in the eyes. If your eyes sparkle and your cheeks crunch up, and your heart expands and your lungs well up with oxygen... then that's a real smile. Smile, breathe, love and be free... your magnetism will increase a thousandfold.

These are some of the things that I have read and learned over the years. But please go ahead and do your own research! Constantly strive to improve yourself on the mental, physical and spiritual planes... and you will find each day more exciting than the last as you conquer inner and outer territories. Absorb all information that is useful to you and enjoy the dynamic process of self-development and self-actualization. You will thus find that you will not only be a boon to yourself, but also a dynamic spouse and parent! Good luck and shine on.

Content Courtesy ShaadiTimes