Valentine’s Day is such a special celebration of love and affection making it the perfect time to let people close to us know how much we care for them ❤️. With the family we usually have a Valentine’s Day dinner complete with dessert and flowers for all 🌹💐. When it comes to showing friends how special they are, I like to meet with them over tea or brunch and give flowers to those who live near by. Continue reading Valentine’s Celebration with Two Friends
Category Archives: Health Notes
Homemade Bircher Muesli
Oh how I love Bircher muesli. I used to make it all the time years ago, and Hitesh and I would have it every morning. It was a quick breakfast that didn’t require much work, all the prep was done and all we had to do is have a scoop in the morning with a little milk and berries. It was sweet and delicious and had everything in a bowl – whole grain oats, honey, apple, dried fruits, and yogurt. Not only did it satisfy us for hours, it tasted amazing. Continue reading Homemade Bircher Muesli
Elderberry Maybe the Cold Fighting Supplement That Actually Works
Happy Saturday Everyone! I hope you are looking forward to a relaxing weekend. This is my first health related article of the year. I came across this article on elderberry extract and how it is the new in-vogue natural supplement for colds and flus, and given that we are at the peak of our cold and flu season I found it very interesting. I hope you find this information helpful. Continue reading Elderberry Maybe the Cold Fighting Supplement That Actually Works
Eat Better Not Less. 100 Healthy and Satisfying Recipes by Nadia Damaso
Eat Better Not Less. 100 Healthy and Satisfying Recipes by Nadia Damaso is a cookbook I received as a Christmas present from my daughter Anjali a few months ago. She presented it to me with the caveat that though the majority of the book was vegetarian, it wasn’t hundred percent vegetarian, but she thought I would really like it anyway because it had lots of beautiful pictures (my daughter knows me well 😀). I am such a sucker for pretty photos and gorgeous presentation 😃. Anjali asked me after I opened her present “Don’t you love the cover? Isn’t it so pretty? I know you like books with beautiful photos. This one has lots of pretty pictures and the recipes are healthy too.” I tell you, on a cold December morning opening a present with such beautiful pink and green colors and fresh colourful vegetables, it did bring a smile to my face 😊. Continue reading Eat Better Not Less. 100 Healthy and Satisfying Recipes by Nadia Damaso
Kashayam. A Soothing Ayurvedic Herbal Tonic
Kashayam is an herbal tonic used in the ancient Indian healing and medicinal art of Ayurveda. Kashayam refers to a water tonic that is made with a single herb or spice or a combination of herbs and spices. Kashayam has been used for thousands of years in southern India as a form of homeopathic and natural medicine to help clear away coughs to common colds, sore throats, and stomach issues. Kashayam is not a medicine but rather a soothing herbed water to help alleviate the symptoms of these ailments. Continue reading Kashayam. A Soothing Ayurvedic Herbal Tonic
Fenugreek Spiced Spinach and Potato Curry
Fenugreek otherwise known as Methi in Hindi is extremely healthy for you. The tender leaves are used in many Indian dishes and are cooked just as you would any greens such as spinach or chard. Fenugreek leaves give a distinct flavor and aroma to any dish they are added to. Fresh fenugreek leaves can be found at Indian grocery stores but are mostly available only seasonally. Now a days, frozen fenugreek leaves can be bought in the freezer section of Indian grocery stores all year round. These frozen leaves have the same flavor and aroma as fresh fenugreek leaves and look like frozen spinach. Continue reading Fenugreek Spiced Spinach and Potato Curry
Urban Jungle. Living and Styling with Plants by Igod Josifovic & Judith De Graff
Urban Jungle. Living and Styling with Plants by Igod Josifovic & Judith De Graff is a wonderful book on indoor plants. This is a great book for some of us who are looking for creative ways to use plants in our home decor. With the upcoming winter months, what better time to add more greenery and plants in our homes for a natural calm inside our home when it’s too cold to get outside in nature. Continue reading Urban Jungle. Living and Styling with Plants by Igod Josifovic & Judith De Graff
The Feel Good Essence of Homemade Ghee
There is nothing like the aroma of cooking vegetables, fish, chicken or meats in homemade ghee. Ghee, also known as clarified butter gives any food that you add ghee to an invigorating aroma that has a wonderful feel good effect on our senses. Ghee can be used to cook eggs, vegetables, meat, fish, or even just to add in a warm dish as a flavor enhancer. Sometimes I even toast bread on the pan with some ghee and it tastes amazing.
Health Benefits of Ghee:
Ghee has been used for thousands of years in India for it’s healthy virtues. Some of the many natural ways ghee can be used range from curing sores, to aid in preventing allergies, and to help decrease inflammation, just to name a few. Continue reading The Feel Good Essence of Homemade Ghee
The Joy of Herb Gardening
Growing herbs at home is one of the most satisfying gardening tasks there is, and it’s extremely easy too. As beneficial as herbs are for all of us, what is many times overlooked is the joy that herb gardening brings even before we harvest these herbs for all their healthful uses. Within the large realm of gardening, herb gardening has its own therapeutic effects.
When you are outdoors working in the dirt taking care of herbs, planting, weeding and watching all the bugs, butterflies, and hummingbirds – any stress you have will seep away, even if it’s just for a few minutes you are one with nature.
Bringing the Joy of Nature Indoors
I love nature. Gardening, going for drives to check out beautiful scenery, visiting farmers markets, going for walks, these are all things that I love to do. I drag my family with me to all these activities, and despite their initial grumbling, they come along and end up having a great time.
Just as we get a natural high and feel great when we are out in nature, (Check out my earlier article on the positive effects of nature on our well being and health titled A Natural High), the same is true when we bring nature inside as well. Continue reading Bringing the Joy of Nature Indoors
