A List Of Antinutrients And Unacceptable Additives.

Every once in a while, I take some books which inspire a better way of living.Being the mother of a 3 year old child, whether I am giving her the right kind of food is almost always a constant thought in my mind.Every mother out there would readily agree when I say that the toughest thing is not always deciding what to give our children, but rather having a clear idea of what not to give.So when I came across Optimum Nutrition For Your Child by Patrick Holford & Deborah Colson, I was thrilled to find something which might help me become clearer on the subject.


Not everyone has the chance to read this book and so I thought to share some important information in short with everyone.When buying stuff, whether it is biscuits, chips or anything, you can simply check the ingredient list for the following.If you have a print out of this page in hand or a link to this blog page, it will help make informed decisions.

If you study in school, you can actually look at the back of the Coke/Pepsi, Lays and other fast foods while you shop to be aware of what you are eating and how it is going to affect you.

A Short List Of Anti Nutrients:

Cadmium -  Found in Cigarette Smoke and Exhaust Fumes.Also found in small amounts in refined foods
Aluminium - In  aluminium foil used in Food Packaging, from aluminium cookware.Its absorbed more when there is a deficiency of Zinc.Adequate Vitamin C can help the body handle aluminium.
Mercury - Small amounts from cosmetics, amalgam tooth fillings, low energy light bulbs.Found in fish, especially larger ones like tuna,swordfish,marlin,shark.
Lead:Not much around since the advent of unleaded petrol.Found in paint.Check for lead levels in toys for children.

Acceptable Additives:

 Colors: E101 -Vitamin B2, E160 - Vitamin A(Carotene)
Antioxidants: E300 - 304 (Vitamin C), E306- 309 ( Tocopherols like Vitamin E)
E322 - Lecithin
 Stabilisers: E375 - Niacin, E440 - Pectin

Unacceptable Additives:

E129: Allura red AC

• Used: coloring in snacks,sauces,preservatives,soups,wine,cider
• Avoid: for asthma,rhinitis( incl hay fever) , hives.

E123: Amaranth

• Used:Coloring in jams, jellies, cake decorations

• Avoid: For asthma, rhinitis, hives or other allergies.

E951: Aspartame

•  Used: Sweetener in snacks,sweets,desserts and diet foods
• Effects: Long term high dosage may result in headaches,blindness,seizures.May affect people with PKU

E210: Benzoic Acid

•  Used: Preservative in foods, drinks,low sugar products, cereals meat products
• Avoid:For asthma, rhinitis, hives or other allergies. 
• Effects:could temporarily inhibit digestive enzymes functioning,deplete glycine levels

E151: Brilliant black BN

• Used: Color in snacks,sauces,cheese,drinks
• Avoid: For asthma, rhinitis, hives or other allergies.

E320:  Butylated Hydroxy - anisole (BHA)

•  Used: Preservative in fat containing foods,meat,confectionary
• Effects:Possibly carcinogenic( cancer causing agent) to humans - International Agency of Research on Cancer.Also may result in chemicals which may change the DNA structure.

E212/E213: Potassium/Calcium benzoate

• Used:Preservative in many foods including drinks,cereal,meat products,low sugar products.
• Effects:Could hinder digestive enzymes from functioning,deplete amno acid glycine levels.
• Avoid:For asthma, rhinitis, hives.

E226: Calcium Sulphite

• Used:Preservative in many foods such as biscuits,burgers,frozen mushroom
• Effects:Make old food appear fresh.May result in bronchial probelms,flushing reddening of skin,low BP,tingling,anaphylactic shock.
• Avoid: For bronchial asthma,cardiovascular or respiratory problems, or emphysema - International Labour Organisation.

E621: Monosodium glutamate(MSG)

• Used:Flavor enhancer
•  Effects:People sensitive to MSG may experience pressure on head,tightnss of face,burning sensations,headache,nausea,chest pains and seizures.
• Many baby food producers have stopped adding MSG to their products

E124: Ponceau 4R, Cochineal red A 

• Used: As coloring
• Effects:Worsening of symptoms for asthma, rhinitis, hives. 

E211: Sodium benzoate

• Used: Preservative
• Effects:Hyperactivity in Children,may promote oxidative damage

E249: Potassium nitrate

• Used: Preservative in cured meats,canned meat products
• Effects:Lower oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.Could combine with other substances to form nitrosamines which is a cancer causing agent.May have atrophying effect to adrenal gland.

E216: Propyl p-hroxy-benzoate, proply-paraben,paraben

• Used: Used:Preservative in cereals,snacks, pâté,meat products,confectionary
• Effects:Frequently identified as cause of chronic dermatitis

E954: Saccharin and its NA,K and Ca salts

• Used:Sweetener in diet and no added sugar products
• Effects: Possibly carcinogenic( cancer causing agent) to humans - International Agency of Research on Cancer.

E223: Sodium metabisulphite

• Used:Widely used as preservative and antioxidant
• Effects:May provoke life threatening asthma.A woman developed severe asthma after eating a salad with vinegar based dressing containing E223.

E221: Sodium sulphite

• Used: Preservative in wine and other procssed foods
• Effects: Associated with triggering asthma attacks.Most asthmatics are sensitive to sulphites in food

E512: Stannous chloride(tin)

• Used: As antioxidant and color retention agent in canned and bottled foods and fruit juices.
• Effects: Acute poisoning - nausea,vomiting,diarrhoea and headaches.
• Has been reported from ingestion of fruit juices containg concentrations of tin greater than 250mg/l.

E220: Sulphur dioxide

• Used: Preservative
• Effects: Reacts with a wide range of substances found in food as well as vitamins,minerals,enzymes,essential fats.Most common adverse reaction is bronchial problems, especially in those prone to asthma.May cause hypotension, flushing,tingling, anaphylactic shock
• Avoid:  For conjunctivitis,bronchitis,bronchia, asthma, cardiovascular disease or emphysema.

SE110: Sunset yellow FCF, Orange/Yellow

• Used:Coloring
• Effects:Some animal studies indicated retardation,severe weight loss related to this additive
• Avoid:For asthma, rhinitis, hives. 

E102: Tartrazine

• Used: Coloring
• Effects:May cause allergic reactions in perhaps 15 per cent of population.May cause asthma attacks.Has been implicated in bouts of hyperactivity disorder in children.Worsening of symptoms for asthma, rhinitis, hives. 

Spread the word around.While it is not possible to check each and every thing we eat or give our children.Information at our hands gives us the power to make healthy and wise choices.

Source:Patrick Holford and Deborah Colson,Optimum Nutrition For Your Child (Piatkus, 2008)
Clause: The above post is intended for information  and education only.

Please feel free to drop in your comments and suggestions.

Five Minute Wonders - Tasty Soy Nuggets Side

This is a five minute life saver during times of emergency, especially if you have some soy nuggets boiled in and left over for later use.I made this during one of those times when I was tired and got up a bit late to do preparations to cook a main dish and a side for lunchbox purposes.I had boiled these Soy Chunks the previous day with the intention of using them in a gravy for Chappathis and since I thought so much was not required, I drained them and squeezed the water out and stored them in an air tight contained for later use.
The preparation for this recipe is very easy and can be done in a jiffy.

Tangy Steaming Soy Side

Ingredients:

Soy Nuggets: 1 Cup
Onion: 1 Medium chopped finely
Carrot - 1 Medium peeled and grated
Sweet Corn Kernels - 1 Small cup or a  handful( frozen may be used)
Salt - 1 Tsp ( Adjust according to taste)
Chilli Powder - 1 Tsp
Jeera Powder - 1/4 Tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 Tsp
Mustard - 1 Tsp
Jeera - 1/2 Tsp (Optional)
Green Chilli - 1 Small (Optional)
Coriander Leaves - A Small Bunch finely chopped
Oil- 1- 2 Tbsp
Lime - 1/2 (Adjust to taste)

Ingredients

Method:

1.Keep a vessel of water to boil with some salt and soak the soy nuggets in boiling water for some time.The nuggets will become soft and increase in size.Drain the water and add some cold water, so that it is easy to handle.Squeeze the nuggets well so that the absorbed water is well drained.You don't want this side to turn out soggy.

Add salt to boiling water

Adding Soy Nuggets in

Draining The Water Out

Squeezing Out Water From The Soy

Soy Nuggets Ready For Use

2.In a heated Kadai, pour oil and add the mustard seeds and Jeera.Once they splutter, add the onions, green chilli and corn.Stir for a while until the onions are well cooked.

Add Mustard And Jeera To The Oil

Adding In Onions, Corn & Green Chilli

 3.Add in the salt, Chilli Powder, Jeera powder and Turmeric powder and stir well.

Adding The Powders

4.Add in the grated carrot as well and stir well.

Adding In The  Grated Carrot

5.Add the Soya Nuggets in and give them a toss so that the spices are evenly coated over the nuggets.

Adding In The Soya Nuggets

6.Leave in low flame on the stove for 2- 3 minutes.
7.Remove from the stove and add in the Lime juice.

Adding In The Lime Juice

8.Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves.

The Final Touch - Garnish With Coriander Leaves

9.This is a good side dish for Kootu, Sambar etc.
10 The light hot and tangy taste will be enticing and refreshing.
11.It can also be eaten as a light finger food for evening snacks for the kids.

Some Tips and Time Savers:

• For 5 minute preparations, you need to have the  boiled and squeezed Soy Nuggets in hand.Since the first step can be done ahead, you can do it the previous day or before to save you time
• Lime Juice in the end gives a tangy flavor to the dish.This is very important for the right taste.However, you may try using amchur powder if Lime is not available in hand.
• Coriander leaves add the final touch of beautiful specks of green  with the brown, orange and yellow colors of the dish as well as brings in its own flavor to the dish.You do not want to omit them.
• The oil may be adjusted.The suggested amount ensures that there is enough oil for the Soy Nuggets to get a thorough coating of the spices.
• Boiling the Soy nuggets with  some salt helps the nuggets to absorb some salt so they do not taste bland.

Our Long Sydney Weekend - Sights and Sounds

This was the first time in a long time that a long weekend was coming up in Sydney.So we made fantastic plans as all of us usually do.Saturday was reserved for Flemington Market for the weekly vegetable shopping, Sunday for sight seeing at the Royal Botanical Gardens and eating out and Monday for relaxation at home.As it always happens, the best laid plans seldom come to pass and this was so true in our case.With Saturday around the corner, I was feeling so tired and weak on Friday.However, despite my weakness or otherwise, work needs to get done during the week , so as not to upset the cycle.And so Saturday came, with me running a fever and aching all over.

Resting And Wondering: This was a day, when I was feeling very down, physically and emotionally after a very long time.It was also time spent in bed contemplating my foolishness in trying to plan every moment of my life, where there is  no guarantee of the next minute from this one.After a lot of rest, a dose of Paracetamol and a good nights sleep, everything came to normal on Sunday.By the way, Flemington plans got cancelled, as I was too weak to look after my daughter on my own.

Sunday - Man Proposes, God Disposes: Every outing requires enormous planning, especially with regard to the food.Since we are vegetarians by choice, there is not much by the way of food options.Having a kid who is fussy about what she eats, has a way of keeping you overly cautious and prepared with food options to satisfy her.So there was rice, rasam and beetroot for her and me as well, since I still had throat pain.There was Dosai and Kurma for my husband.All the food preparations and house cleaning done, we started out at about 11:30 AM as opposed to 10- 10:30AM, which had been the plan.By the time we had reached Central, it was almost 12/12:30.Since there was a bit of shopping to do for odd things like a hat, shorts etc we visited the Haymarket and loitered around for an hour or so.This place can be called the Ranganathan Street of Sydney.It is one of those shopping stops, where you find a variety of stuff  cheap and can shop for the odd souvenirs to give to your family and friends, after a visit to Sydney.

Haymarket At Noon

Inside Haymarket

It was almost 1:30/2:00, when we came out and  deciding to eat, went hunting for a place to do just that.With the sun burning over out heads, the best option was my husband's work place in the CBD, near  Darling Harbour.We went in and had food.My daughter did not eat much, having slept on the way.This was the first time, I had experienced the proper Sydney sun.Everyone was walking around with caps and hats to escape the blazing sunlight, accompanied by a hot breeze.By the time, the food sat in our stomachs, it was already 3:30, and with the sun still shining bright overhead, we did not have the heart to walk around to the Royal Botanical Gardens.

A View Of The Harbor From Above

Change of Plans to Hyde Park  : We decided to change our plans and pay a visit to the Hyde Park and relax.With beautiful statues gracing a sparkling fountain, big yellow snails and lush green lawns, surrounded by aged majestic trees, giving that much needed shade, this seemed like our small piece of heaven to chill out and unwind.There was also the view of the Saint Mary cathedral Church, with age old architecture preserved so beautifully, that it gave the place a feel of Europe.This park was so fantastic with couples, families and lovers gracing the lawn all over and having a good time.After lying in the grass, and staring at the skies for a long while, all that sleeping energy, came back in full force, and it seemed that we would be able to conquer the world, having rejuvenated the body and mind.

Hyde Park Entrance

Water Fountain At The Hyde Park

Saint Mary's Cathedral:Since we seemed to have abundant time in our hands, with  no plans to visit the Gardens, we decided to go in and look around the church.I do not know much about architecture and nor am I a Christian.But the church was this one beautiful construction with tall ceilings, beautifully stained glass with drawings depicting various scenes from the bible and life of Jesus.The statues of Lord Jesus and Mother Mary were so realistic and evoked emotions of the pain and suffering, as well as love and compassion that Christianity preaches.With Organ music in the back ground and lovely yellow light filtering through the windows, it was almost so easy to believe that we were loved and there was a savior , to listen to our troubles and shoulder our burdens.This was one of the times, when it felt that I was just a small dot in the vast universe filled with numerous fellow beings.

For any tourist visiting Sydney, I would recommend The Church as well as Hyde Park among the top ten places to visit and enjoy.

A Walk Along Darling Harbor : Its strange how a change of plan can leave you with so much free time.We decided to take a small walk along the harbor through the wharf.With a view of the Opera House, surrounded by food, drink and entertainment, and the vast blue sea on the side, Darling harbor was a sight to behold.The best thing for us though was that there were various events going on in different parts of the sidewalk, absolutely free.

And Finally Some Fun: Our first stop was near the  entrance of the walkway where a gentleman was playing a Didgeridoo.We got ourselves some ice cream and settled down to enjoy this uniquely Australian experience.Just as each and every place has its speciality,  listening to the Didgeridoo is great fun.The best part was watching the awe and contagious excitement of the young ones around, who seemed fascinated by the sight and sound of a strange looking man playing a strange instrument.

Didgeridoo Player In Action

On various corners of the sidewalk, there were talented musicians playing their instruments.You could get a CD of their music if you were impressed for a cheap 10$.I got a CD of Sax music played by one of the gentlemen along the shore.I have a sample here, if you would like to enjoy.

Then , there was the air juggler, who attracted quite a crowd for his performance.Stand on a bicycle fixed in a stand held in place by three ropes held by three men, the juggler entertained the crowd with his humor and performance.

The Juggler: " Please watch my show and contribute something.If you are an American, please contribute a 100$. I love America.No seriously, I request you to spare me 50$ or 20$. If you do not wish to spend that much, please give me 10$ or even 5$. I know that you will all leave me something for being stupid enough to stand in the air, because you are all Angels."

The Juggler

The act started with the gentleman standing/ balancing on the bike and juggling a stick of fire, a knife and an apple.
In the end, when some of  us started leaving, he even humorously added - " Please don't leave without contributing something, like that lady over there.Please Please, I am tired of eating apples.I love you for your kindness.Please leave a little something for enjoying my show."

By the time we had walked around for a while, it was 6:30 and we had to catch a train back home to Parramatta.It had been a fun and exciting day and since our daughter had not eaten properly, we cancelled our eating out plans and came home early to make something for everyone for the night.

 What We Missed: It was around this time that Parramasala, a cultural event was taking place in Alfred Park near Church Street from 4th October to 7th October.Though I started out on Monday evening to see what it was, unfortunately it ended just that afternoon by 4:30.So we missed out on that.There would have been delicious food and cultural events such as songs and dance. Though the weekend did not pass according to our plans, we enjoyed those unplanned moments more, and became more acquainted with the fine sights and sounds of the Darling Harbor.There are still many more attractions along the harbor side like the Maritime Museum, Madam Tussauds Wax Museum, Water life Aquarium and many more, which we have kept aside for another day, along with the Royal Botanical Gardens.
For anyone planning to visit Sydney, a visit to the Darling harbor is a must to see the city in all its nighttime glory.

Please feel free to leave your comments and suggestions.

Making Some Anjappar Style Egg Biriyani

It is funny how life gives us the chance to create so many wonderful memories.We moved to Sydney back in May 2013 and so much time has passed by.It only feels like yesterday that we came here.When you are not in India, the fondest memories are always of good food served in famous restaurants.Fortunately, in Parramatta Sydney, there is a newly started Anjappar Restaurant to cater to the South Indian palette.It is not everyday that one is able to go to the Anjappar Restaurant to savor their delicious  Dum Biriyani.

Delicious Steaming Home Made Anjappar Style Biriyani

For the many Indians abroad, who do not have good Indian Restaurants nearby, everyday is spent looking for good food.How nice it would be, if you could conjure up some delicious Biriyani in your own kitchen.Just recently, I got a delicious recipe from my neighbor and friend Surya, who is very well versed in Chettinad specials.The best thing which I like about this recipe is its simplicity and guaranteed great taste.While Surya tried her Biriyani with chicken, I tried it with eggs since I do not eat meat.

Without further ado,I present to you my tested version of Anjappar Style Egg Biriyani.

Serves: 2 People

Ingredients:

Eggs - 2-3
Basmati Rice - 1.5 cups
Water -  3 cups( Ratio 1:2)
Onion - 1(Medium/Big) finely chopped
Tomato - 1 Big
Ginger-garlic Paste - 2 Tsp
Chilli Powder - 1/2 tsp
Dhania Powder - A little
Fennel Seed Powder( saunf powder) - A little
Jeera Powder - A little
Curd - 1/2 Cup
Salt -  1.5 tsp Adjust as per taste.
Mint Leaves - 1 Small Cup finely chopped
Corriander Leaves - A Small Bunch finely chopped

Basmati Rice 1.5 Cups

Onion and Tomato Chopped fine

Mint and Coriander Finely Chopped

 For Seasoning:

 Ghee - 2 Tsp
 Oil - 2 Tsp
 Bay Leaf - 1
 Clove- 1
 Saunf - 1 Tsp
 Elaichi - 1
 Kalpaasi - Little
 Cinnamon - 1 Inch piece
 Green Chillies - 2-3( For Mild)

Spices To Season

Method:

1.Soak the Basmati Rice in water for 1/2 hour.Drain and roast well in Ghee and keep aside in a bowl.

Basmati Rice Soaked In Water

Basmati Rice Roasted in Ghee

                                                        

Roasted Rice In A Bowl

2.Boil the eggs in a vessel with a bit of salt for 5-7 minutes and keep aside.You can remove the egg shell later and keep.

Keeping The Eggs to Boil with Salt

Boiled eggs With Shells Removed

3.In a kadai or pressure cooker, add the ghee and oil and all the ingredients for seasoning

Heat Oil And Ghee In A Kadai

Add The Seasonings

4.Next add the ginger garlic paste and finely chopped onion and saute well.

5.Add the finely chopped tomato and cover with a lid for 2 minutes for it to be well cooked and mashed

Adding Tomatoes

Cover With Lid

 








6.Add the Mint, coriander leaves, the salt ,chilli powder, dhania powder, fennel and cumin powder as well.Add in the curd as well.Saute for 2 minutes for the flavors to get absorbed.

8.Add in the water and allow to come to a boil.

9.Next add in the Basmati rice and stir for 2 minutes.Add a small dollop of ghee in the end.

10.Transfer to pressure cooker, if using a vessel and pressure cook for 3 whistles and 3-4 minutes in sim( low flame) after that.

 

11.Once the gas is switched off, open the cooker after ten minutes and add the boiled eggs.Your delicious Egg Biriyani is ready.

Notes:

• The measurement of the water to rice depends on the Basmati rice used.Some require only 1.5 cup water for 1 cup of rice.If you would like your grains of rice to be a bit moist, use a bit more water.I personally use 2 and a quarter cup water for 1 cup of rice as my husband prefers it a bit overcooked.This part requires a bit of experimentation for you to find your own perfect way with the water and rice.
• Soaking the rice in water and draining and roasting it in ghee ensures that the strands of rice stay apart and fluffy.
• Adding a bit of salt when boiling eggs help in easy removal of the shell, while keeping the boiled egg intact.
• Good Biriyani requires a generous dose of oil and ghee.While using the said measurements will give satisfactory results.Just a bit more will ensure the delicious taste.
• Adding Mint and coriander leaves are very important.It is one of the main ingredients for the authentic taste of the biriyani.
• Ginger and garlic freshly pounded, gives a fresher taste.You can use the ginger garlic paste available from stores as well.
• 2-3 chillies is for mild.If you would like very spicy Biriyani, the amount can be increased between 4-5 and a bit more of chilli powder can be added.
• Too much masala spoils the taste.So be cautious.
• I have not tried this Biriyani in the usual rice cooker.I find that Pressure cooker works best. 
• Actually , now I make the whole biriyani process in the Hawkins pressure cooker and cook it direct.This avoids the need to transfer from a vessel to the cooker.

Please feel free to write in your comments and suggestions.

Would You Like Love Potion No 8/9 ?

Well, Are you one of those who does not have any luck with the opposite sex.?If so maybe there is this potion which would make you irresistible to all of the opposite sex.This is the theme for the film Love Potion No 9.I am a great fan of Sandra Bullock(of the Speed and Miss Congeniality fame) and that she is the heroine of Love Potion No 9 is just one of the added incentives for me.

Though this film came out as early as  1992, the music and the presentation in a dimmed crystal sets the tone which seems suitable for all times.You are introduced to Paul Matthews, who is having no luck whatsoever with any women.It goes to the extent that his friends place a bet on if he would be able to go and talk a beautiful woman into going out with him.He works as a biochemist and has feelings for his dorky co worker Diane Farrow, who is presumably in love with a hunk.Now whether her love is reciprocated by the said hunk is yet another story.

As luck would have it, Paul and his friends go to a gypsy Madame Ruth( just for spooky fun for the month), who foresees that he has  no chance with any woman in his life.She hopes to remedy this situation with a drop of Love Potion No 8.As is the case of cynical scientists, Paul firmly believes it is all hogwash and just disposes of the said potion in the dustbin.In the mean time, his friends set him up with a hooker named Marisa with whom he spends some time talking things out.It is only when his cat tastes it and has all the neighboring cats lined up, does he search for it and tries to find what are the components of the said potion and its effect.

With his coworker Diane, he studies the characteristics of the potion and for the greater good, they both decide to present themselves as test subjects to further study the effectiveness of the Love Potion.Diane captures the attention of a wealthy car moghul as well as the Prince of England and also transforms from the dorky duck to the simmering swan during this time period.Paul has a series of short lived affairs with various women he encounters in various places.Paul and Diane at some point realize their attraction for each other and give it a go.By the time Paul has come to a realization that she is his love, her ex Gary has won her affection by using the same Love Potion from the said gypsy and is all set to marry Diane.Paul, though finds out about it only later.

How Paul tries to unsuccessfully convince his friends, how Marisa enters the scene, uses the love potion 8 unwittingly make up for some real LOL scenes.Paul, again goes to the gypsy who gives him Love Potion No 9, which will purify and override the effects of Love Potion No 8.If there was ever any true love involved, Love Potion No 9 will prevent that from fading.Paul makes it to the wedding with the Love Potion No 9.But will he succeed in getting Diane to drink it ?Will it be happily ever after? All these are questions better answered watching the film.Further more, what happens when you down a whole bottle of Love Potion No 8, as Marisa does?

Of all the films out there, this is an out and out comedy, with a wonderful uplifting story line and the last 15 minutes of guaranteed laughter to give you those feel good moments.So, I ask you  - Would you like Love Potion No 9?

My Experiment With Gardening

Just recently, I was searching in my shelf for some mint leaves which I thought were in stock.These are life savers when you want to dish up some really tasty Biriyani.I am now privy to what goes on to make the perfect Anjappar Style Egg Biriyani - all thanks to the most perfect recipe from my neighbor Surya.Thanks a ton there Surya.Now back to my tale, unfortunately, I was out of stock and so had to cancel my Biriyani plans for that day.However one good thing which got started was that, I got searching on if I can grow my own Mint plant.And behold, there was this blog which had full information on how to proceed.The best thing was that anyone could do it and all you needed to start with were freshly purchased mint with stems.

Getting Started:So anyway, one thing led to another, and I put in  my first set of mint cuttings in a soil filled cardboard box,with a sprinkling of water, which was covered with a plastic bag to retain moisture.I waited patiently for two weeks, checking daily and continuing to keep it moist by adding water in drops.Out of the ten cuttings which I kept, almost 6-7 survived and grew roots. I transferred them from the cardboard egg tray to a proper pot.At first it looked like the leaves were all turning grey and falling away.However, fresh shoots started appearing and since then ,these plants have started flourishing.I am confident that in a while, I will have my own mint garden to depend on 24/7.

                  The mint cuttings after a week in the card board box

                   They are kept in shade and covered by a plastic bag

      My Mint Garden - Freshly growing since transferred to a pot

Opening New Doors:Now that I have my own mint garden, I have become very eager to try to grow other stuff as well.You may as well call me a seed maniac, because hardly a day goes by, without me keeping aside something to experiment and see if it grows, from the seeds we get from the usual vegetables and fruit.It is wonderful to be a part of the miracle, that is nature.Having also got seeds for tomatoes, brinjals, lady'sfinger, angled luffa(peerkangai), zinnia(flower) and green snake bean(pythangai), I am waiting for these to start germinating..The most trying thing that a new gardener experiences is the waiting.Gardening is teaching me a lot of patience, because you have to patiently wait for your seeds to germinate and care for them as tenderly as you would for your child.

Shoots of Angled Luffa - From Seeds Purchased From The Chinese Supermarket 


Why I Would Like To Continue:If you witness nature's miracle and are a part of it, it is very difficult to remain unaffected.There is abundant sunshine here in Sydney.We have our own big backward, which has a patch of land as well as big floor of grey tiles over which pots may be placed.My husband who also loves gardening, has made big plans for growing a lot of things in our backyard.If we are lucky and able to stay on here for a while, we would hopefully get to taste the fruits of our labor, literally.
Till then I am keeping my fingers crossed and praying that my seedling babies grow up to become strong and healthy plants.Gardening seems to be a great stress reliever as well as confidence booster.The sense of accomplishing something, when your seed grows -it just cannot be described in words.
As always, feels free to drop in your comments and/or questions if any.

Of Women and Wolves : Lydia Dare Book Review

When you get tired of the straight laced romance, checking out supposed romances  featuring non humans in the form of vampires, werewolves, witches and other supernatural presences seem to be a good way of  adding variety to the usual book reads.
Of all these other worldly creatures, there is something so very wild and exotic about romances between humans and werewolves.Maybe that's why there is a lot of  stuff written featuring maidens and werewolves.I have just read two books by the author Lydia Dare and must honestly admit that I have been hooked.I  have been searching high and low to get my hands on other books by the author.
Here, I add my book review of  Lydia Dare's Regency series The Wolf Next Door and Tall, Dark and Wolfish.I hope that you would enjoy Lydia Dare as I have.

Tall, Dark and Wolfish : This is the second of the Regency Westfield Trilogy.However, its the first book that I read.This book can be read by itself, though the previous book could have given a short insight into the Westfield Family.The characters introduced in this book, however can be related in Dare's other werewolf series as well.
Now to the exciting part, what I found rather surprising about the series is the novel way in which Ben's plight is presented.While I've seen some films and even some other books where accepting the werewolf side is part of the struggle.This is one series where Ben, the third of the Lycan Westfield brothers suffers because of his inability to turn into a werewolf  on full moon.Its a part of him, which he has fully embraced and the pain of losing it, even though its the wild side he needs to constantly rein in, is so beautifully portrayed by the author.
 Ben actually goes to a healer - Elspeth Campbell, who is actually part of a coven of witches to help him find his lost werewolf side.Now the various characters portrayed in the coven have different powers and some of them actually even feature in the future series as a main character themselves.There is a seer, who has visions of the future and the coven members operate to make sure that the coven is intact.

There is love of course - because a paranormal romance would hardly be complete without it.But its love set in times where love itself is not the first priority.Its something which slowly develops among  various other things, and in the midst of the characters finding themselves.One of the other brother Will is portrayed in this book and there is also mention of the neighbor Prisca - both of whom feature in the third of the series.
Overall, it was a good book, with equal footing given to events as well as emotions.It made me want to know what happened to the other characters and thats how I got to reading the other book.


The Wolf Next Door   : When its a story featuring the friendly neighborhood wolf Will and Prisca Hawthorne pointing daggers at each others' throat, its sure to be loads of fun following all the bickering and yelling.There is so much love between these two that they can hardly be in a room without baiting each other and putting everyone else through hell.However, bring in scheming brothers who have supposedly hatched up a plan bent on sending their sister straight to the one man, she's always had a soft spot on, you have all the ingredients for a hilarious romance right under your nose.That it features a certain charming werewolf  who has tried everything within his reach  from women, wine and  game to forget the love of his life, certainly does not hurt in the least.

Now to the workings of the plot, though you get the urge to tell Prisca and Will  to " Get On With It, Guys", the way the workings of Prisca's family is portrayed, is sure to make you laugh out loud.Amidst all this, it is vital, that I also mention Dashiel Thorpe, who features for a short time as a house guest and plays an important role nevertheless.Its all because of this dangerous gentleman that the ball finally gets moving in the right direction.
The other two brothers Simon and Ben are featured here as well, with their lovely wives even.if you've not read any of the other books in the series, this book will surely turn out as a standalone, even on its on.

Since reading these two books, I've been searching high and low for other books of this author.I would surely love to know Dashiel's story as well.It's interesting because by the end of this story, Dashiel seems to be smitten by a certain witch who featured predominantly in Ben's story, as part of the coven.

Stargazing Memories

One of the wonderful things which I love about Sydney is that, this is one part of the world where I can see the stars.If you have been in the crowded places like Chennai or New York recently, you would understand why this is a strange fascination for me.One of the fast disappearing scenes of this modern world is the sight of the beautiful starry night sky.Maybe due to too many lights in use or whatever other reason, you no longer get to see any stars in many places.
Gazing at the starry night holds special memories for me.When we were kids living in Chennai, there used to be the occasional power cut then.This is not like the scheduled power cuts, which are happening nowadays in Tamil Nadu, especially in the very hot summers.Those were times of carefree childhood.I remember how along with my sister, I used to frequent the  fenced roof top, and sit there having many silly as well as heart to heart conversations.We would recount what happened in the day, sharing secrets as only sisters can.She used to tell me about all her fights and we used to talk about the various teachers and how they were always giving us endless tests.She is happily settled in some other part of the world and I am also busy with my family.But whenever I gaze at the night stars here in Sydney, I am taken back to my childhood with her, filled with precious memories.
There is something so very final about being surrounded by the vast sky, which makes you realize how small you are and an insubstantial part of the universe.It also makes you feel really silly for worrying about things over which you have little or no control.It reminds you to look to your passion and not waste that precious time doing something just for the sake of it.
Even if I wish for it, those carefree days of childhood are not withing my reach.It is only my  slowly fading memory which keeps them alive.At that time, I remember being excited thinking about what the future had in store for us - where we would be 10-15 years later and what we would be doing - what things would have changed.Today is one of those times of nostalgia, when I wish I had the chance to go back to those days and just stay there forever.

Veronica Roth - Divergent - A Book review

This is my first time reading an official dystopian novel and I must say that it was a thrilling ride from start to end.Somewhere on another blog, I had read that dystopian novels were selling like hotcakes.I had read the Twilight Saga by Stephanie Myers, and while it was about vampires and werewolves - both other worldly creatures, it was set in the present world.The first fascinating thing which I notice about Divergent by Veronica Roth is that it is a story all about people - but set in a world with different rules.I consider this fascinating in so many different levels.

The Story: Beatrice Prior, part of Abnegation makes her choice.However her tests are inconclusive and that can only mean one thing - she is part of the endangered divergents. She chooses Dauntless and works her way through initiation, forming friendships and managing enemies.No one can be trusted and each answer brings in more questions than before.There is only a fine line between right and wrong and little clue to aid her in her decisions.Its a beautifully tale of hope and despair, right and wrong, very much in touch with the characters.This haunting portrayal only whets our appetite for more.

The Rules Are New And So Is Belonging : The world in which the story is set is bleak and is made up of various factions.Everyone has to choose a faction to belong to and must follow the rules which make up each faction.There is the Candor for honesty,Amity for peace ,Dauntless for bravery,Abnegation for selflessness and Erudite for knowledge.Divergent mainly focuses on Abnegation and Dauntless, though a bit of Erudite is included.If you're wondering what the people who do not choose or not chosen by any of these factions fall into, they form part of the factionless which is equivalent to being homeless.

Coming Of Age Means Embracing The Unknown:The novel itself starts with the self narration of  the main character Beatrice Prior, who is just turning 16 and would have to go through an evaluation and choose a faction.Its stunningly stark in portraying the city and through the eyes of Beatrice, the readers get a feel of what it would be to belong to Abnegation.Though subtle, there is a hint at the kind of anxiety one would face while having to take a major decision, without having full information on the consequences.In this world of factions, the process of choosing a faction and completing the initiation ritual implies coming into contact with your deepest fears and accepting your dark side as part of yourself.No one is perfect and the trials and tribulations of Beatrice Prior, who later evolves as Tris touch a part of the uncertainity and questions that each of us have in our lives.This, I think is the USP, which has caused many a reader to root for Tris and become a part of her world.

Its Definitely A Saga: The first book is complete as far as the main plot is concerned.But there are still a lot of unanswered questions and we are sure that there is another book waiting to tell you the continuing story of the world of factions.I just could not resist and hence checked out the author site as well.Other than being super cool, Veronica Roth also shares her excitement on the first book being made into a film right now.There is her second book of the series which is called Insurgent already published.Her third book called Allegiant has been okayed for publishing and is expected to be out in October 2013.

What Could Be Better: I honestly don't think there is much to add here, as Divergent is already fantastic as it is.Still, I feel a brief introduction to how this faction was formed and the operations in detail,the reason which brought this about could have been added in the beginning to make the reader feel more in tune with the book and happenings.

I have just reserved my copy of Insurgent and eagerly waiting for the third book to hit the shelves.For those of you who would like to follow up on the film and Veronica Roth, see here.Not only does it have the latest updates about her writings, but she also reviews a lot of other authors and their new writings which is very interesting and helpful for those of us who are searching for similar reads.

Sherry Thomas - Private Arrangements - A Book Review

I actually went to collect something else which I had reserved and waited for a long time.Took this book mainly because I was curious about the title with the front cover showing a beautiful maiden in white.The plot summarized at the back seemed very interesting - the sort with a lot of unanswered questions hanging, a clear bait for a curious reader on the look out for just such a drama in pages.

The storyline, if you look at it from a reader's point of view is astonishingly simple.I wager you may have read a similar plot sometime or the other because it is the sort on which many tales are written.But to her credit, the way in which Sheryl Thomas narrates her story sets it apart from various other books I've had the chance to read.Set against wealth and opulence, there is a certain strength of character, which lends itself to the stars of the story - Gigi Rowland and Camden Saybrook, who are introduced at the start as Lord and Lady Tremaine between whom these unusual "Private Arrangements" exist.Known for their perfect marriage, Lord and Lady Tremaine have lived on separate continents for ten years after their marriage.Gigi wants to be free of this arrangement to carry on with her life and that brings us back to the present - that of Camden Alias Lord Tremaine agreeing to it under certain conditions.The author seamlessly weaves her tale between past and present taking us on a wild ride, with particular attention to detail by a thorough account of certain incidents of the past and how they affect the present.

Gigi is presented as a strong woman who is industrious, has a fortune to her name and does not see any harm in using the influence of her wealth to get what she wants, be it a title or love.The result of her actions follow her throughout and the punishment in the form of private arrangements, is Camden's way of rewarding her betrayal.Only, the punishment seems to bring him more pain than her.When there seems to be a way to finally set things right, he has not bargained for Gigi to pledge herself to someone else.

Somehow, Shelby Thomas manages to portray that spark, desire and betrayal with an emotional depth and urbane charm, which makes this a must read for those searching for a different romance.For me, I am enraptured by her way of story telling that I have just ended up searching for her other books, to read at my leisure.

On A Windy Friday Evening !

I have been in Sydney for almost 4 months now.Amazing how time flies by.It seems as if we just landed here yesterday.The place where we live is somewhere around the center of civilization.Though it is lonely here and you do not even know who lives next door, you eventually stop letting that bother you after some time.As one of the children in a household, where both parents were employed, you actually get used to being alone by yourself a lot of the time.
Nowadays, I can honestly say that it is actually a drain of energy when associating with people and going to places and events, just because it is the in thing to do.However, there is the shopping complex a fifteen minute walk from our apartment, which I religiously frequent and a friend living next door with whom I chat every other day.I am in love with Sydney.There is no other way to describe this experience.If you are in US, you do not even know what you are missing out on.
Maybe what makes it so beautiful here is the casual, laid back charm of the place and people.It seems to have the combination of the modernity  that is US, the wilderness that is Australia and the mix of multilingual culture, with the overall effect that it makes one feel at ease.
My daughter will be turning 3 years old this month.As a stay at home mom, 24 hours do not seem enough to do the job of looking after the house, cooking, cleaning and looking after my daughter.As a person, who loves to search for good books and movies, I find very limited time to do what I like.I have been freed up a bit since this last month, as we have put our daughter in a daycare/preschool setup.It is quite costly here, especially as the refunds and benefits are only for permanent residents and Australian citizens.We're very lucky to be able to afford this, even on a three day a week basis.

Well, you cannot be in Sydney/NSW without talking about weather.They say that winter starts around the start of June and ends around the end of August, with July being the coldest.The weather changes about 3 to 4 times a day.Sometimes the morning starts out being very sunny, with the afternoons turning cold, the evenings turning warm and the nights turning coldest.This week has been especially windy and cold.All my shopping plans for the week keep getting postponed.I especially wait for the weekends, where we can sleep a bit longer, without having to get up in the cold to complete the daily cooking and cleaning in time for breakfast.

I wanted to write all this, sitting at home today, a windy Friday evening.
Each day is an adventure, and experience teaches you a lot of things which you would not have learned, had you simply been part of a family.The best thing about Sydney for me is that there is the public library within walkable distance, to satisfy my craving for books.I do not have to depend on anyone to get there and absolutely love the freedom and independence.Sure I miss my family, but they would not want me to sit here feeling sad and what seems most important is to live in the present and enjoy the golden sights and sounds that this land has in store for me.
Feel free to drop in a line, if you liked this read

The Joy Of Book Addiction!

Some people are addicted to a strong cup of coffee, some others to the net and social networking.There are many who are addicted to drugs and drink.Ordinary folks like us are addicted to books.While its a known fact that many of these other addictions have an adverse effect on health, book addiction is one, which is guilt free.Can you imagine becoming sick reading too many books? You only become more informed, or creative or sharper in your language skills as the case may be.

However, its not simply information or knowledge which draws us to books, though it is one of those excellent reasons.Here are some other reasons, why we read what we read.

Complementing Our Sense of worth:A book on what we love is a fountain of knowledge.In a world where information is king, being informed and having the opportunity to be tuned to whatever passion it is that one loves makes books indispensable.The more there is an opportunity for exploration , the greater the positive effect on self worth and confidence.Book addiction, many a time enables us to fit  in our social circles by giving us authority to speak on a subject.The most well read are those who have a variety of subjects to touch upon and as such, their company is most sought out to bring meaning and fun into a conversation.

Having fun without being on the run: Books are one of the most pleasurable ways to relax and have fun.The thing with a book is that you do not need to set a goal or read it to achieve anything.There are no points,there is no win and yet there is a guarantee of feeling a sense of accomplishment, which is stimulating.
Whether you realize it or not, the lack of deadlines and the flexibility to proceed at one's own pace and inclination is something which adds incredible value to book addiction.Most of us read, not because it is a chore to be completed, but rather a choice which one can or cannot pursue depending on the mood.

The joy of exploration and discovery:The fascinating world of books has so much to offer by way of variety.There is fiction and non fiction.In that, there is a variety of genre to explore such as adventure, mystery, romance, philosophy, not to mention to do guides to help in pursuit of one's passion.The joy of discovering something interesting or new in the world of books is as real as the euphoria or excitement which Columbus must have experienced on discovering America.

A book is, but a seed of an  idea.Due to their changeable nature and ability to narrate a story or touch a person's heart, books are like gold to be hoarded and treasured.Their value and worth is of the intangible kind, bringing hope and meaning to the elusive definition of life.