Reboot Essential!

       Healthy and personal, with the taste of crunch and crisp of carrots and kale.

Today it is a trend to have something festive in a glass. There was a point in my life where soft drinks (pepsi, portello, fanta etc) as we call it in Sri lanka was a definite must! What with all that heat! But after moving to Sweden Non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverages are a total no no for me.

Even so, I found a way to keep myself hydrated with fresh and healthy green juicing during summer. They are full of flavour without unnecessary side effects. So next time you visit the groceries, reach for the greens!

INGREDIENTS

1 apple

1 carrot

6-10 parsley leaves with the stems

A bunch of kale leaves

Water as needed

METHOD

Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend well and you’re done!

Here’s what I found out on Wikipedia and other sources.

Apples are noted for its phtyto-nutrients, and anti-oxidants. They are essential for optimal growth, development, and overall wellness. They are low in calories. They, have  no saturated fats or cholesterol. It is is rich in dietary fiber, which helps prevent absorption of dietary-LDL or bad cholesterol in the gut. They have vitamin C and beta-carotene. It is a good source of  vitamin B-6 and minerals.

Carrots are a good source of vitamin A, K and B.

Parsley contains antioxidants, folic acid, vitamin K, C and A. But pregnant women should be careful about the excessive use of this herb.

Kale is very high on beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C and rich in calcium. Kale is a source of indole-3- carbinol which helps in DNA repair in cells and blocks the growth of cancer cells. It lowers cholesterol and decreases the absorption of dietary fats.

I say this is a good bargain when it is your health you are bargaining for!!

Hope you like this post and any feedbacks or tips are highly appreciated.

 

This Is Me! Take Me..Or Better Still Just Keep Walking.. Away!

I’ve been blogging since July. Some do a lot of research (let’s say 6 months at least) before they actually get into it. But not me! I neither had the grace nor the patience to wait that long, let alone do that kind of research. For me it’s all about then and there! NO! This does not mean that I’m an impulsive brat. It simply means that I would rather get into action than wait and wait and not do anything at all.

Look, some people call me stubborn. Now that’s not fair. I’m well.. strong willed. Yeah that’s it. It doesn’t mean that I have to get my own way all the time. It just means that the more people say no to me (you see I call that negative energy being thrown at me) the more I stand firm in what I believe in. That means bending the rules. The kind of rules that I’ve been brought up with my whole life. I believe that everyone should be free to do as they want with nothing to tie them down..as long as they don’t go hurting anybody that is!

Then they have this habit of worrying about what others might think of me! They even bring my daughter into it. Helloooo.. they’ve got their lives and I’ve MADE mine. They are so worried about getting ostracized with something trivial as me skipping stones on water! Why? Why care about what others think or say? You can build a fence around the country.. but never around someone’s mouth no? Fear only god. Isn’t that how it should be?

See I choose my friends. They are from all over the continents. I love them and they love me. We are brothers and sisters. You may not like me for that. Look. I can’t make you like me just as much as you can make me like you. I’m just too spirited for that kind of attitude from you.

Now don’t go talking behind my back. Say it upfront. I would really appreciate that. You know I hate backstabbers and plotters? It’s inconsistencies like this that start conspiracy theories. Lol. I got that line from a movie.

Say, don’t look for me only when you need me. I don’t like that. I don’t like that at all. I may be all what I’ve said above but I’m a softie inside. You know that. And i hold no hoity-toity position. You know I would always come around BUT don’t push your luck too much. ☺

Remember… I WILL leave you alone if I get the impression that you wish to be alone.

Humans grow stronger with each hurdle they conquer in life. It changes them too. Some for the worse and some for the better. I choose to be the latter. When people say they are inspired by me THAT is more than enough for me to keep doing what I do. The future at times may look pressing. But I would never look back!

Oh dear! I might have to take the brunt of the people’s wrath but my resolve to stay this way shall remain unchanged. Lol.

With that being said you’ll have a good night’s sleep and may Allah watch over us so that we shall all flourish in body and soul.

See ya! ✌

The Three Ingredient Ice Cream!

Summer calls for ice cream. My husband loves ice cream. He buys loads and loads of ice cream for the weekend. His favourite is vanilla and chocolate, mine is (always faithful) chocolate and the daughter’s is cola. We make sure to make space in the freezer for all that ice cream no matter what!

But I was sure there had to be a recipe out there for making your own Ice cream. Browsing the Internet, I came across an ever so easy recipe to put together. Below is the wonderful recipe which is easy to follow with step by step pictures and clear instructions.

                       Back in the ball game..with some ice cream!😊😊

INGREDIENTS

2 cups (475 ml) cold heavy whipping cream

1/4 cup (60ml) condensed milk

3/4 cup (180) chocolate syrup

All you need!

METHOD

                     1. Add all three ingredients together in a bowl.

                                   2. Beat well till you get stiff peaks.

                             3. Pour the mixture into a bread mould.

4. Cover with foil paper and freeze for 4- 6 hours. I left it a whole night! That’s it!

I truly enjoyed making this. Not only was it yummy but I was in and out of the kitchen in minutes! I’m sure one could try out all sorts of flavours using this simple method. What say you!

Until next time, here’s me, wishing you a beautiful summer☺

Whizz Green!

                                              A green blast to cool and refresh you.

It’s been warm and sunny for the past few days! I just love it! I love all seasons. Even winter. And let me tell you, being so close to the North Pole ain’t no joke!

I’m only too happy and thankful to Allah that I get a chance to wake up to another glorious day. Let it be winter or summer. I just don’t understand why people tend to complain about the weather. Why not be thankful and ever so greatful that you’re alive to savor one more day?

So after a gratifying run in the sun I decided to cool it with a kale blast!

INGREDIENTS

6 – 8 kale leaves with stems

1/2  cucumber

1/2 bunch cilantro or parsley. (I bought a pot of parsley).

2 tsp of crushed ginger

Water as needed

METHOD

Put all the ingredients above in a blender and blend well. That’s it!

Here’s what I found on Wikipedia!

Kale is very high on beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C and rich in calcium. Kale is a source of indole-3- carbinol which helps in DNA repair in cells and blocks the growth of cancer cells. It lowers cholesterol and decreases the absorption of dietary fats.

Cucumber is high on vitamin K which helps in the clotting of blood. It also contains minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and potassium. It is also a water rich food.

Parsley contains antioxidants, folic acid, vitamin K, C and A. But pregnant women should be careful about the excessive use of this herb.

Ginger contains important minerals such as potassium, manganese, copper and magnesium.

If you ever feel like a good mineral boost, I say this is it! Tell me about your favourte green drink!

Arielle’s Chocolate Chip Cookies.

I love cookies! Specially a good old chocolate chip cookie! You know, the kind of cookie that you could dunk into a nice, warm glass of milk? Nevermind the calories and all that sugar! It is after all the weekend!

I found the ideal recipe in Arielle’s “with all my affection”. Truth be told, it’s one of the most easily done cookies AND it simply melts in your mouth! I sure don’t want the harmony disrupted on your waistline but these cookies makes even the steeliest hearts shiver with palpitation!

                                                    Nom nom!😋

INGREDIENTS

2 1/4 cups of flour

1/2 tsp of bicarbonate soda

1 cup unsalted butter

1/2 cup of granulated sugar

1 cup of brown sugar

1 tsp of salt

2 tsp of vanilla

2 large eggs

2 cups of chocolate chips

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Whisk the flour and the bicarbonate soda together. Set it aside.
3. Mix the butter, both the sugars. Beat till it’s light and fluffy.
4. Then add the salt, vanilla and the eggs into the mixture. Beat again till the batter is well mixed.
5. Now add the flour and the chocolate chips into the mixture above. Combine well.
6. Put tablespoon sized balls of dough 2 inches apart on the baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
7. Bake them until golden around the edges but still soft and gooey in the center. I baked them for 10 minutes.
8. Cool the cookies on a rack.
9. Need I say more! Start dunking them cookies!

Yes, a cookie is all I need in my life right now…

A Day Spent Well Is A Day Worth Blogging About…

We decided to visit the Sami museum in Jokkmokk. I’m sure you would be able to read about the Samis on Wikipedia but let me give a brief description about them. The Sami are the indigenous people of Scandinavia and they are known in English as laplanders.

They are known to inhabit parts of Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia. Their livelihoods include fishing, fur trapping, sheep herding and their most well known of all is reindeer herding (Wikipedia).

We took to the road early in the morning hoping to get a glimpse of a reindeer or two and actually we did! Grazing on the side of the road. But the camera was no match to their speed! The sight of them was breathtakingly unexpected, I found myself almost screaming with delight (that’s putting it mildly).

It was a beautiful ride to the museum. A peaceful ride. The kind of ride that could go on forever.

Rainy day calls for a hug! 😊😊

Oh! Forgot! Our selfie just before leaving home. We decided to take our daughter’s friend along too. With her along my child shouldn’t find me so boring.

I have to hand it to them. They sure do know how to stretch their legs after a long drive.

Below are some of the souvenirs and the gift shop that you step into. I’m not sure if everything in here is a product of the Sami people. But every item shows good, honest and hard work.

Table mats, bed sheets, cushion covers etc!

                                    Soft toys, rugs…

                                  Bags galore, trays…

        Have you ever seen shoes as cute as these!!

       A huge tee-pee greeted us with its simplicity.☺

This is how the interior looks. I think it’s charming.💓

She seems to be busy, guessing the names of the trees.☺

Guess what! One minute they’re as sober as a judge, the next they’re doing the swat the mosquitoes like anybody ever done see!

Here’s more of the Sami life. A life of nature, seasons and reindeer.

Bags and pouches. I think these are made of reindeer skin?

                                Sami clothes.

There’s plenty more to see! But I wouldn’t want to spoil the visit for you.

I couldn’t get the pictures of the real ones. But here’s how the Samis herd their reindeer. You can listen to a recording of how it’s done too. Oh by the way. Never ask the Samis how many reindeer they have! It’s like asking how much money you’ve got in your bank account!

I make certain that I send myself a post card wherever I go.

I could sit here all day..Absorbed in the lives of the Sami people.

Hope you enjoyed the post as much as I enjoyed visiting and writing about the Sami people. If you ever visit Sweden, make sure to head on to one of the many Sami museums here!!

Stop Feeling Sorry For Yourself And Come Out Of The Abyss. Face The World With Rekindled Hope. The Power Within You Is Limitless.

Never wait for tomorrow. If you can do it today just do it!! Take charge of your life and live it the way you want to. The world will tell you the opposite but don’t you ever doubt yourself of what you are capable of.

The world is big and free. One can do anything. Go on, don’t look back.

We all dream of a chance encounter with someone, that moment when we feel we are really living. We will come across all sorts of people. The good and the bad. The worst and the best. (God knows I have).

Look for the healing glance. You will find it and when you do.. remember to cherish the memories and the lessons.

Don’t fight over something like two hounds over a T – bone!! Not one has it easy in life, but as long as we have the three bones mentioned below.. Nothing shall overcome us!! 🙂

I played with a chicken bone!! I worked on my backbone (to finally walk out of a life of misery) The funnybone was always there!! Lol!!

Never stop dreaming. There is nothing silly in it! Dream big!! Follow your dreams. Let the desire to live the life you want keep you going.

Never waver from what you want to achieve.

Write your own story!! Make it exquisite, haunting and beautiful!! But most of all make it adventurous!! Adventurous enough so that it is impossible to resist!!

Life is to love, when it pushes you down, pick yourself up and keep going and explore what it has to offer 🙂

Keep smiling and hang tough!!

Eggplant And Chickpea Curry..

Here’s a combination of two. It has a wonderful flavour and is easy to put together. Perfect with rice or roti.

                                         A family favourite curry!😊

INGREDIENTS.

60 ml olive oil

1 medium eggplant, cut into cubes

1 large brown onion, chopped

1 can of chickpeas

2 tbsp chili powder

2 tbsp turmeric powder

250 ml water

70 g Greek natural yoghurt

Salt to taste

                                                               All set.

1. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a large pan. Add the eggplant and fry till it is soft. Then transfer the eggplant to a bowl.

                                                  Eggplant done!

2. Heat the remaining oil in the pan and add the onions. Cook for about 5 minutes and mix in the eggplant. Add the chili powder, and the turmeric. Stir well.

3. Add the water and the chickpeas . Cook for 5 minutes and then mix in the yoghurt. Stir well. Let the gravy thicken a little. Add salt to taste.

Tips,

You can use pumpkin instead of eggplant too and it’s really yummy! Do let me know if you like this curry.

 

 

 

I’ve Done it!! Ten Posts So Far!

I never thought of getting this far with my blog. I mean ten posts? Well ok, it doesn’t seem so much, but it still makes me feel chirpy!! I got into blogging knowing that it would take me a long time to actually know the finer points of blogging plus to get people to read my blog. It’s like.. sometimes I just have no idea what so ever to blog about!! So I google, read other blogs (wow!! some blogs are just off the charts!!) and get ideas from my husband etc etc and etc!!

Then I await fervently for a comment, like or a follow from someone out there. No..No I’m not complaining!! A few wonderful bloggers have taken their time to like or add a comment and I’m ever so thankful to them! So in order to celebrate my ten posts, here is my eleventh! And what better way than to celebrate it with what I did on my 35th birthday?

My husband made my birthday cake. I was so moved by his kind gesture, I couldn’t speak but hug and kiss him!😊

This was our breakfast! I was salivating all the while! It was a wonderful mix of mandarin, marmalade, whipped cream and chocolates.

And then my daughter comes with this big box full of goodies! I was mad with happiness at the sight of these owl thingies!

And then my good friend Ludmila calls me and asks me to meet her outside in 3 minutes! Look at that beauty! It’s a piece of art! Notice the owl pencil case too?

She has always been generous! She gave me this pretty blouse too which I wore in the evening when I went out to dinner with the family.

Lying in bed, listening to my husband snoring beside me, I feel content and blessed to have a wonderful family here and back home and not forgetting my beautiful friends either! Now, I think I will tiptoe to the kitchen to have a late snack. That cake is calling out to me…😄. Until next time.. Stay happy and cheerful! Hugs!

Easy Chicken Curry.

There are many unique ways of cooking a chicken curry. This is one of my favourites! It is flavourful and delicious with a fantastic aroma!

                                 Effort well spent!

INGREDIENTS.

4 boneless chicken thighs. Cut into cubes.

1  cup of sliced onions.

2 small potatoes. Cut into cubes.

5 cloves of garlic. Crushed.

1 can of coconut milk.

2 tbsp of curry powder.

2 tbsp of butter.

Olive oil.

Salt to taste.

                                Sorry the salt is hiding!

1. Heat the butter in a large skillet. Once it melts add the curry powder and mix it well.

2. Add in the coconut milk to the mix and simmer on very low flame.

3. In a separate skillet add the olive oil and sauté the onions and garlic.

4. When the onions are translucent, throw in the chicken!

5. When the meat is cooked slightly add the potatoes. Mix well.

6. Add the potato mixture to the coconut mix. Turn the heat up. When it starts simmering lower the heat to medium low and cover. Cook for 30 minutes until the gravy thickens. Serve with rice, chickpea curry (recipe will follow shortly 😊) and a yoghurt salad.

I know! Big lunch isn’t it!

Hope you guys enjoyed this! It’s well worth trying! Tips and feedbacks from you would be appreciated.☺