TAKE TIME TO CHILL OUT

  

 After reading the above lines, I thought to look into the word "Chill out" as that is the one I like very much in those lines.

"Chilling" - This term typically refers to the act of relaxing or hanging out with friends. It can also refer to the act of doing nothing in particular, just taking it easy and enjoying some downtime.

Taking time out to simply relax or do what you feel like boosts health, productivity and work performance. When we relax our body is resting and happy. We immediately get boosted levels of feel-good chemicals and growth hormones.

If you make relaxation a priority, it can help you to be less stressed, more productive, sleep better, and have more energy when you're feeling good. If you want to feel less guilty about taking breaks, make sure you take time to relax.

When you take a chill day just to relax, you reduce your stress levels and become less prone to burning out. Believe or not, you can actually become more productive in your life by taking more chill days as your body and mind are rejuvenated from relaxation.

 Start by exploring your interests, whether reading, painting, hiking, or cooking. Doing things you love can be deeply fulfilling. Practice self-care by taking time to relax and treat yourself. Being alone doesn't mean being lonely—it's an opportunity to understand and appreciate yourself more deeply.

 Exploring relaxation can help you look after yourself when you're feeling stressed or worried. Relaxation might not make what you are stressed or worried about go away. But it can give you a mental break from these feelings and help you refocus. There are lots of relaxation exercises out there.

 It is important to take some time for you and spend time nourishing your mind, body, and soul. Relaxation helps improve mental clarity, improves your mood and boost your energy levels.

 Research shows that relaxation keeps your heart healthier, cuts stress, reduces muscle tension, improves brain function and memory, and helps you avoid depression, anxiety, and obesity. It boosts your immune system and helps alleviate the symptoms of many medical and psychological disorders. Relaxing is important!

Additionally, self-healing can improve our ability to cope with stress, enhance our resilience, and boost our overall happiness and satisfaction with life. By investing in our own healing, we can create a foundation for a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

 Well, I prefer relaxing at home in my spare time rather than going out, simply because I can engage in activities that I enjoy, such as watching movies, sipping tea, or conversing with my loved ones. These may be simple things, but they go a long way toward relieving my stress.

What about yours? How do you like to chill out this weekend? Do share it in the comments

A FAMOUS TEMPLE WHERE LORD VISHNU IS PRESENT AS TRIVIKRAMA

  

  

 The Divya Desam TIRUKKOVILUR is located closer to Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu. This is one of the Panchakrishna kshetrams. The others are Tirukkannankudi, Kapisthalam, Tiru Kannapuram and Tiru Kannamangai.

The presiding deity is an imposing image of Ulagalanda Perumal or Tiruvikramar with His foot raised. The Goddess is Poonkoval Nachiyar. The sacred water is Krishna theertham and the vimanam Sreekara Vimanam.

The legend has it that Mrikandu Maharishi worshipped Vishnu at this kshetram as Trivikrama. It is also believed that the Mudal Azhwars - Poigai, Bootham and Peyazhwar - took shelter is the hermitage of Mrikandu Munivar on a stormy night. They felt the presence pf one more person and found the Lord with Lakshmi and composed their first three Tiruvandadis in praise of Him.

TRY LOTUS ROOT CHIPS AS LIGHT SNACK

  

Lotus Stem, also called lotus root or Kamal Kakdi (in Hindi) is a root vegetable.

Yes, the lotus stem is edible and might be good for health. It might prove to have medicinal uses. Lotus stem is rich in nutrients like fibre, calcium, and iron.

 The iron and copper content in the lotus stem may help improve blood circulation and oxygenation in the body.

The vitamin C content in the lotus stem may help promote healthy skin by supporting collagen production and protecting against oxidative damage.

  Lotus stem also known as lotus root is a root vegetable from India and China, used widely in Indian, Chinese, and Japanese food. They are the edible parts of the lotus flower which is found underwater.

Common ways to cook lotus root include deep-frying, stir-frying, or cooking into soups or stews. Some recipes call for stuffed lotus root. Soy sauce and lotus root pair well in a variety of dishes. Lotus root also comes in the form of tea.

 Lotus Root Chips (Renkon Chips) / Lotus stem (thamarai thandu) vathal

Crispy and crunchy, these Renkon Chips are fried to perfection and sprinkled with Himalayan pink salt and Japanese aonori seaweed powder.

While the lotus root chips still have a starchy consistency similar to most tubers, they have a slightly sweeter after taste. The natural holes in the lotus root actually give them a light and airy texture; plus the unique shape just makes them a lot more fun.

Lotus root chips are an excellent source of fiber and are a slow-digesting complex carbohydrate. Rich in vitamin C, iron, zinc, and magnesium.

The dried ones are fried and served as a crunchy side during meal times. This vathal is a healthier alternative to chips or fried papads as lotus stem is thought to regulate blood sugar and help in digestion, apart from it's store of vitamins and mineral salts.

Lotus root is very similar to potatoes in texture when raw, but with a very different nutritional profile. It's typically higher in protein than potatoes and lower in calories and packed with nutrients too. If you're looking for a lighter alternative to potato chips, this one's for you!

OLD AND NEW STORIES ON ONIONS

  

 

I was reading the book GRANDMA’S BAG OF STORIES by Sudha Murty.

 In that “The Princess's New Clothes” throws light on the multiple layers of onion in an interesting way and the funny reason for tears while chopping the same.

Read here to know the full story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkVgFofTElo

 

This story initiated me to go through the features of the onion and its entry to India.

Many archaeologists, botanists, and food historians believe onions originated in central Asia. Other research suggests that onions were first grown in Iran and West Pakistan. It is presumed that our predecessors discovered and started eating wild onions very early long before farming or even writing was invented.

Onions have been variously described as having originated in Iran, western Pakistan, and Central Asia. Traces of onions recovered from Bronze Age settlements in China suggest that onions were used as far back as 5000 BC, not only for their flavour but also for the bulb's durability in storage and transport.

Its name is probably derived from the Latin unus, meaning “one.” The Romans introduced the onion to Britain and, in the New World, Native Americans added a highly pungent wild onion (Allium canadense) to their stews.

Onion plants have fibrous roots. Fibrous roots arise from the base of the stem leaves rather than from the radicle. They are bushy roots formed by several thin, hairy, and moderately branched roots.

It is believed that Egyptians fed them to workers for strength to build pyramids. References to onion as food were also found in the Bible and Kuran. In India, onion has been grown since ancient times as mentioned in a famous early medicine treatise Charaka Samhita (6 B.C.).

In Vedas: It is stated in the Vedas that whoever consumes onion and garlic has a rigid and strong body but a mundane and contaminated intelligence like demons. According to legend, when Rahu Ketu swallowed Amrit and Sudarshan Chakra sliced its neck, a few droplets of Rahu's saliva (white) and Ketu's blood (red) dropped to Earth.

 It is said that the origin of garlic is linked to the beheading of two demons, Rahu and Ketu, by Lord Vishnu after Samudra Manthan. After the beheading of the demons, a few drops of blood fell on the ground and from that garlic and onion emerged.

  In Ayurveda: The contents are considered to be "rajasic" or "tamasic" in nature, associated with heightened activity and a negative influence on spiritual practices, meditation, or mindfulness. Thus, to maintain a pure and calm state of mind, some individuals choose to avoid onions.

Benefits:  Onions add flavor and make you cry, they have health benefits, and they are spicy, crunchy, and juicy.

Onion is characterized by its distinct flavour and pungency which are due to various sulphur compounds. The chemical composition varies from variety to variety and with season of production and storage life. Dehydrated onion in the form of rings, powder, kibbles, etc. is in great demand.

Onions are a root vegetable with a variety of benefits. They're high in antioxidants and sulphur-containing compounds, some of which may have a number of beneficial effects. Although more research is needed, onions have been linked to improved bone health, lower blood sugar levels, and a reduced risk of cancer.

City of Onions: Nashik, a city in Maharashtra, is well-known for its onions, known as Kanda in Marathi.  These pungent bulbs, famous for their bitter flavour and extended shelf life, are common in kitchens around the world.

 Onions for Good Luck: To Greeks, onions are a symbol of good luck and fertility, because they sprout even when no one is paying attention to them. On New Year's Eve, families in Greece hang bundles of onions above their doors as a means of inviting prosperity into the home.

Onions whether eaten raw in salad or sandwich, sautéed, roasted, or as a part of Indian gravy, onions lend their strong flavour to the dish they are added to. Amongst the yellow white and red onions, the red variety is most commonly used in India.

So these are the pieces of information I got about onions, if you know any story on onions, do share it in the comments.

SYEDA IMAM ON AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

                                        

One of the most widespread sayings refers to the phenomenon of 'ageing like fine wine'. This is used to compliment someone (or something) on maturing gracefully and getting better over time, much like fine wine.

Inspired by this saying comes a book LIKE A FINE WINE by Syeda Imam. Read a review of the book in a newspaper and fell for the book. It was the second book of the author. The former is THE UNTOLD CHARMINAR - which describes the culture of Hyderabad.  Read the review

Syeda Imam is a writer and activist based in Delhi.  She was a member of the (NCM), India. She is an award-winning writer and editor.

 Born in Hyderabad, she was a Fellow of English Literature at Bombay’s Elphinstone College. After working as Executive Creative Director at India’s three foremost advertising agencies, Syeda joined the Government of India in the Ministry of Minority Affairs and External Affairs. 

Syeda Imam’s book, Like Fine Wine, is her book of stories about a few unmissable lives and loves. A collection of nine monographs with an elegant, minimally designed, understated cover.

Love Sparkles in Like Fine Wine like never before. It intrigues, mystifies, and varies as acclaimed writer Syeda Imam makes short and sensitive forays into the real love stories of nine unusual couples. Amongst them are the nawab of cricket Tiger Pataudi and superstar Sharmila Tagore, acclaimed director David Lean and Leila Matkar, chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand and Aruna along with six other rare examples of love who fascinate.

Through the book THE UNTOLD CHARMINAR readers will discover a city they will want to explore, as Sarojini Naidu, Sir Mark Tully, and William Dalrymple rub shoulders with Ian Austin, Meenakshi Mukherjee and Anees Jung, regaling you with their feast of hard facts and hearsay; as each foreign visitor shares his story through Narendra Luther; as the film-makers Shyam Benegal and Nagesh Kukunoor paint their vivid memories of home; as poets, not just the maverick Makhdoom and Gaddar, raise their voices in song; as statesmen, academics and aficionados hold forth on the completely different Hyderabad each experienced.

Both the books of Syeda Imam are captivating reads of love for the couple and the city. Her thorough research magnifies the glory of her two books in their respective genres.

You can read her interview here

(  (This blog post is a part of Blog Chatter's #TBRChallenge- prompt for July- Details: Here)

HOW TO BE HAPPY

   

 Author: Ruskin Bond

Genre: Non-fiction

Publisher: Harper Collins India

Book Buy link: @Amazon

Let’s face it. We can be happy some of the time, but we can’t be happy all the time. Life‘s not like that.

“And in the happiest of homes tragedies make their appearance – loved ones are lost, accidents occur, families break up, there are financial problems. None of this will go away just by the wave of a hand or a few comforting words.”

These are words from the book HOW TO BE HAPPY BY RUSKIN BOND, Unmasking the picture of life and happiness and encouraging the readers to accept the realities of life alongside choosing to be happy.

 Happiness can be defined as an enduring state of mind consisting not only of feelings of joy, contentment, and other positive emotions but also of a sense that one's life is meaningful and valued. Happiness energizes us and is a highly sought-after state of being.

Right, everybody will agree with this. To guide children and adults towards the path of Happiness, comes a book from RUSKIN BOND titled HOW TO BE HAPPY, one among the “How to...” series. The earlier ones are How to Be a Writer and How to Live Your Life.

Happiness is more than a good feeling or a yellow smiley face. It's the feeling of truly enjoying your life, and the desire to make the very best of it. Happiness is the "secret sauce" that can help us be and do our best.

Maybe that’s why the book cover is not only yellow but also with other colors with signs and symbols in cute fonts.

The book clarifies that while happiness has many different definitions, it is often described as involving positive emotions and life satisfaction. Happiness is an emotional state characterized by feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment.

The author insists that the key to true happiness is being able to discover it in every moment, not waiting for it to arrive with the achievement of some future goal.

In continuation with this idea, Ruskin Bond has allotted a few pages as PRESCRIPTION FOR A HEALTHY AND HAPPY LIFE. One among them is BE PREPARED -the Old Boy Scout motto and he also shares different ways of being prepared.

Ruskin Bond’s book is not complete without a talk about Nature. His fans know well about this. Nature gets intertwined with the concept of the book with a touch of Bond's style in the heading itself “Being Nature-ally happy.” In that “Magic, it’s all around us” will leave the readers awestruck and force them to realize that.

HOW TO BE HAPPY is a book with practical tips to find happiness in everyday life. The author also shares his life experiences and makes clear to readers that Happiness is a choice because every person can choose to make the best out of their circumstances and strive for a happy, joyful life. Happiness does not require perfection; you don't need a problem-free life to be happy, but you may need to spend time cultivating happiness.

It’s a colorful book with colors on pages, fonts, photographs, and illustrations with quite interesting thoughts on identifying happiness in life. It’s a short one and makes a quick read.

Grab the book and the chances to be happy.

SECRETS OF CALCULATING CENTURIES

   

 

The noun century comes from the Latin word centuria, which was a group of 100, particularly a group of 100 Roman soldiers (one of 16 such groups in a Roman legion).

A century is a period of a hundred years that is used when stating a date. For example, the 19th century was the period from 1801 to 1900.

CALCULATING CENTURIES WAS DONE IN TWO WAYS:

One is based on strict construction, while the other is based on popular perception. According to the strict construction, the 1st century AD began with AD 1 and ended with AD 100, the 2nd century spanning the years 101 to 200, with the same pattern continuing onward.

Years of the Gregorian calendar, which is currently in use, are counted from AD 1. Thus, the 1st century comprised the years AD 1 through AD 100. The second century started with AD 101 and continued through AD 200. By extrapolation, the 20th century comprises the years AD 1901-2000.

Who ruled the 1st century?

Roman Empire in the first century A.D. Two thousand years ago, the world was ruled by Rome. From England to Africa and from Syria to Spain, one in every four people on earth lived and died under Roman law.

NOTABLE CENTURIES OF HUMAN PROGRESS

The Early Modern Times lasted from the end of the 15th century to the Industrial Revolution at the end of the 18th century, circa 1450/92 to 1750/92. Modern Times are the period from Enlightenment and the 18th century until today.

Although the leap forward in human progress began in the 19th century with the Industrial Revolution, the greatest strides have taken place in the 20th century.

 The 20th century was dominated by significant geopolitical events that reshaped the political and social structure of the globe: World War I, the Spanish flu pandemic, World War II, and the Cold War.

 We live in the 21st Century, that is, the 2000s.  And the 21st century is from 2001 to 2100.

Similarly when we say "20th Century," we are referring to the 1900s. All this because, according to the calendar we use, the 1st Century included the years 1-100 (there was no year zero), and the 2nd Century, the years 101-200. Similarly, when we say 2nd Century B.C.E.

The 21st century is the most important century in human history. At least that's what a number of thinkers say. Their argument is pretty simple: Mostly, it's that there are huge challenges that we have to surmount this century to get any future at all, making this the most consequential of all centuries so far.

 

CENTURY & MILLENNIUM:

To complete a century, one must complete 100 years; 10 centuries is called Millennium 

We are living in 2024. We are living in the 21st century, we have crossed 20 centuries each of 100 years.

(This blogpost is a part of Blogchatter's Bloghop. https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogchatter-blog-hop-a-new-way-to-write-collectively)

FOCUS ON FOOD SYNERGY

  

 

Nutrients working together in our meals is called FOOD SYNERGY and it's a great example of the idea that the whole works greater than the sum of its parts.

Nutrient synergy refers to the concept that the combined effects of two or more nutrients working together have a greater physiological impact on the body than when each nutrient is consumed individually.

The food synergy concept supports the idea of dietary variety and of selecting nutrient-rich foods. The more we understand about our own biology and that of plants and animals, the better we will be able to discern the combinations of foods, rather than supplements that best promote health.

 Practicing food synergy involves choosing and combining foods in a way that maximizes their nutritional benefits. In general, focusing on a varied and balanced diet that includes a variety of whole foods and nutrient-dense sources can help you practice food synergy and optimize your health.

 When all nutrients are present in sufficient amounts, they work synergistically, harmoniously supporting our well-being. The wheels turn smoothly, supporting optimal health. Food synergy can help those wheels turn by making nutrients more available for us.

For example

·       Pairing vitamin C-rich foods with iron-rich ones improves iron absorption. Complementary nutrients and enzymes work synergistically, aiding each other's absorption and utilization in the body.

·       Avocados and Red Peppers. Avocados are another healthy fat, and red peppers are another vitamin A source, so the same principle holds with increased vitamin A absorption when they are combined.

   Beans and rice are both good sources of protein and fiber, but when consumed together, they create a complete protein source. 

 

 The benefits of food synergy have been shown in ways such as better regulating appetite and satiety, improving digestion, allowing for increased nutrient absorption, enhancing the ability to fight disease and toxins, and much more.

 Nutrient synergy can improve brain health by enhancing cognitive function, supporting neuroprotective mechanisms, and regulating depression or anxiety as certain combinations of nutrients work synergistically to promote optimal brain function and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.

 Dr Singhwal confirms that “Food synergy focuses on how nutrients and bioactive compounds in whole foods interact and combine. When you eat these nutrients together in whole foods, it can be better for your health compared to eating them separately or alone.”

Do consider food synergy for better health.

DO VISIT HORSLEY HILLS TO WITNESS THE HIGH LEVEL OF SCENIC BEAUTY

   

   

A fast-growing city at the center of an agricultural region noted for agricultural products such as tomato, mango, groundnut, tamarind, etc., Mainly the TOMATO market in Madanapalle is the biggest tomato market in Andhra Pradesh.

Madanapalle is the nearest railway station, located just 27 km from Horsley Hills.

Also called as Yenugulla Mallamma Konda, this place is home to the largest Banyan tree and the oldest Eucalyptus Tree, it is lined with dense forest areas with 113 species of birds.

The hilly outcrop rises steeply to altitudes of 4,000ft, which ensures cool climes throughout the year and misty vistas in the monsoons. Horsley Hills was initially known as Yenugu Mallama Konda after a young girl who, it is said, was reared by elephants and cured the ailments of the area and its residents.

The Horsley Hills are popular among local tourists who go to see their natural beauty and to escape from the heat of the plains. The Mallamma temple is another major tourist and pilgrim centre.

Located about 127 km away from Tirupati, Horsley Hills are named after WH Horsley, who was the collector of Kapada, between 1863-1867. It is said that he was in awe of the place and made a summer bungalow, which is now called the Forest Bungalow. The house is a beautiful structure made with tiles imported from England.

 Horsley Ghats – A road connects Horsley Hills, a hill station in Chittoor district, with Madanapalle, the nearest town. It has 12 hairpin bends.

 Winters in Horsley slopes begin in December and last till February. Horsley Hills' weather during these months and the temperature goes between an agreeable 10°C to 22°C. This is also the best time to visit Horsley Hills. June represents the start of Monsoon season in Horsley Hills, which lasts until September.

It's doable in one day, but I'd recommend a weekend trip with a one-night stay. Not only will you get enough time to rest but also have the time to explore other places around Horsley Hills.

ACQUAINT YOURSELF WITH HIS BOOKS ON NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY

"Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again." Nelson Mandela

He won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1993, along with South Africa's president at the time, F.W. de Klerk, for having led the transition from apartheid to a multiracial democracy. Mandela is also known for being the first black president of South Africa, serving from 1994 to 1999.

Known and loved around the world for his commitment to peace, negotiation and reconciliation, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was South Africa's first democratically elected president (1994-1999). Mandela was an anti-apartheid revolutionary and political leader, as well as a philanthropist with an abiding love for children.

 Nelson Mandela's writings included I Am Prepared to Die, No Easy Walk to Freedom; The Struggle Is My Life. 

 Long Walk to Freedom is his moving and exhilarating autobiography, destined to take its place among the finest memoirs of history's greatest figures. Here for the first time, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela told the extraordinary story of his life -- an epic of struggle, setback, renewed hope, and ultimate triumph.

The book is an autobiography. It follows Mandela's life growing up in apartheid South Africa and fighting against this regime. Two key themes in Long Walk to Freedom are racial inequality and unity. Today, Mandela is remembered as a key anti-racist figure of the twentieth century.

 Here Mandela, a South African freedom fighter and a political prisoner for 27 years tells his own saga of how he helped his black countrymen throw off their apartheid chains, how the African National Congress waged and won its struggle, and how he became his nation's first black president.

The central theme of "Long Walk to Freedom" revolves around the relentless pursuit of freedom, justice, and equality. Nelson Mandela's life is a testament to the power of perseverance and the determination to challenge oppressive systems.

The book highlights the importance of perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity, making it a powerful source of motivation. Through Mandela's captivating storytelling, readers gain insight into the human spirit and the transformative power of forgiveness and reconciliation.

The brave man is not the one who does not feel afraid, but he is the one who conquers that fear. Mandela said that every man has his duties toward his country and community too.

Desmond Tutu called Nelson Mandela a moral colossus and a global icon of forgiveness and reconciliation. Mandela taught us that change is almost always possible, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, when gutsy leaders stand together, question the unquestionable, and challenge the status quo.

Let us read his books, remember his teachings, and salute the great soul on this day.

 

 

HOW TO PREPARE FROSTING FOR A CAKE ?

Frosting is thick and fluffy, and is used to coat the outside (and often the inner layers) of a cake. Icing is thinner and glossier than frosting, and can be used as a glaze or for detailed decorating.

1. Heat the sugar and water stirring until the sugar dissolves.

2. When all the grains of sugar have dissolved, bring the syrup to a boil.

3. Boil without stirring to 115 degrees Celsius

4. Whisk up the whites stiffly

5. Remove syrup from heat, allow to cool until the bubbles subside

6. Pour on to the egg whites beating till the required consistency is reached.

7. Add essence and colouring if desired.

8. Pour over cake . Allow icing to run down and cover the sides of the cake.