12 Natural Beauty Masks

Using face packs once or twice a week can do wonders to dull and dry shineless skin. Here are 12 easy and natural homemade face masks to provide glow and shine to your skin:

1. Banana Mask:
   Banana mask softens and moisturises the skin and best for dry and sensitive skin.
   • Mash a small fully ripe banana with a fork. You can blend it in a blender also to get a smooth and thick paste. Blend it for around 15-20 seconds.
   • Add 1 spoon honey (replace honey with yoghurt for oily skin)and a pinch of turmeric (optional).
   • Wash your face with fresh water and apply the mask including neck area.
   • Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes.
   • Rinse with lukewarm/fresh water.


2. Papaya Mask:
   Papaya is rich in vitamins A,E and C. Papain, an enzyme found in papaya fruit helps softening and whitening the skin and reduces age spots and freckles.
• Blend few pieces of fully ripe papaya in blender for 15-20 seconds. You can add 1 spoon honey if you like.
• Wash your face and apply the mask.
• Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm/fresh water.


3. Honey Mask:
   Honey mask is the simplest natural beauty mask. Honey alone as a mask improves softness and smoothness of the skin. It is anti-aging and gives instant glow to your face.
• Wash your face and spread pure honey using finger tips on face and neck area.
• Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Rinse with lukewarm/fresh water.


4. Sandalwood/Chandan Mask:
   Sandalwood paste when applied as mask reduces acne and acne scars, improves skin texture, evens out uneven skin tone and gives a natural shine to the face.
   Sandalwood mask is best suited for oily and combination skin.
   If you have dry skin and like to use this mask, add few drops of olive/coconut/almond or sandalwood oil to the preparation.
• Take 2 spoonful sandalwood powder, add adequate amount of rose water to make a thick paste.
• Clean your face and apply the mask for 15 minutes including neck area.
• Now wash it off with fresh tepid water.


5. Almond Mask:
   Almonds are loaded with vitamin E. Almond Mask helps improve skin complexion, it is anti-aging and helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
   This mask gives a radiant baby soft look to the skin and best for dry flaky skin.
• Soak 8-10 almonds for 5-6 hours. Now peel the skin and grind the almonds using 2-3 tablespoon milk.
• Add few rose petals and again grind for few seconds.
• Mix 2 pinch turmeric powder and 1 spoon rose water to the mixture.
• Wash your face and apply on face and neck.
• Leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
• Now remove the mask by rubbing it in circular motions.
• Wash your face with fresh tepid water.


6. Cucumber Mask:
   Cucumber face mask has a soothing, hydrating and cooling effects.
   Cucumber juice when applied on skin absorbs harmful oils and residues and makes the skin vibrant and supple.
• Simply grate a cucumber with the skin on and apply it on clean face and neck area.
• Leave it on for 20-30 minutes.
• Now remove the mask by rubbing it in circular motions.
• Wash your face with fresh tepid water.


7. Curd/Yogurt Mask:
   Curd is rich in Vitamin E and Calcium. It cleanses, softens and moisturises the skin and suitable for all skin types.
• Whisk 4 tablespoon thick curd and apply it on clean face and neck area.
• Leave it on for 20-30 minutes.
• Now remove it with a wet washcloth.
• Wash your face with fresh tepid water.


8. Egg Facial Mask:
   Whole Egg face mask can be used on all skin types.
   Egg white cleanses and exfoliates whereas egg yolk moisturises the skin.
   Egg also helps in tightening the skin thus this mask works as an anti-aging mask.
• Separate the egg white and yolk into different bowls (add few drops of lemon juice if you have oily skin).
• Beat the white portion until frothy and spread it around face and neck area using fingertips or cotton bud or face mask brush or spatula avoiding eyes and lips.
• lie down and leave the mask on for 20-25 minutes, until it feels harden on your face.
  Wipe the egg white off your face using a warm and damp cloth. Use fresh water if necessary.
  Now repeat the process with egg yolk in the same way as you did with egg white.
• Wipe your face and neck with a warm wet wash cloth. Now wash properly with warm water, followed by cold water.
• Pat your skin dry with a clean towel, apply a moisturizer to seal the moisture.


9. Turmeric Mask:
   Turmeric is antiseptic, antibacterial and anti inflammatory.
   It slowes down the aging process and gives the skin a glowing and radiant texture.
   Turmeric suits all skin type and works wonder for dry skin.
• Take 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder and 1 teaspoon milk powder.
• Mix together using adequate amount of water to make a thick paste.
• Leave it on for 15-20 minutes untill your skin feels tight and dry.
• Wash it off with lukewarm/fresh water. Pat your skin dry with a clean towel.


10. Lemon Face Mask:
    Lemon juice is rich in alpha hydroxy acids, it lightens, tightens and brightens the skin.
    Lemon is especially useful for people with oily skin.
• Simpally apply juice of 1/2 lemon on your clean face and neck area using cotton ball.
• Leave it on for 10-15 minutes then Wash it off with lukewarm/fresh water. Pat your skin dry with a clean towel.
• ** Please note Lemon juice tend to cause dryness and can burn your skin, so don’t use more than 1 teaspoon, and don’t leave this mask on any longer than 15-20 minutes,
  ** Be extra carefull while applying on dry and sensitive skin, if you really want to try the benefits of lemon juice on your dry skin, try mixing few drops of lemon juice into your regular face mask first and see if it suits you.
  Avoid if it irritates the skin.
  ** Avoid using lemon on the skin around your eyes and on any cuts or rashes.
  ** It is best suited for oily skin.


11. Tomato Mask:
    Tomatoes work well on every skin type.
    Tomatoes are full of antioxidants and help to fight free radicals. They are loaded with vitamins C, E, B6, B1, B3, B2, iron and potassium, thus makes essential building block for a healthy and glowing complexion.
    Tomato paste helps tighten and brighten dull skin and reduces appearence of open pores.
    Tomatos can also protect the skin from sunburn.
• Plain tomato mask is good for oily skin. Simply grate or blend a fresh tomato and apply the pulp liberally on your clean face and neck area. Rinse off after 20 minutes.
  This mask remove excess oil, reduces acne and open pores.
• Mix 1/2 spoon honey with tomato juice and apply on your face and neck. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
  This mask serves as a natural bleach and brightens up your face. Works well on dry and combination skin.


12. Bridal Mask/Ubtan:
    Ubtans are very useful in removing dead cells and facial/body hairs.
    It improves blood circulation and gives the skin a radiant and glowing texture.
    Its regular use prevents the occurrence of premature wrinkles, removes scars and helps to tighten open pores.
• Mix together 2 tablespoon Besan (Gram flour), 1 spoon Chandan (sandlewood) powder, 2 pinch turmeric powder, few drops (7-8) musterd oil and adequate amount of rose water to make a thick paste.
• Wash your face and apply it all over your face and neck area.
• Let the pack stay for 20 minutes within which your face pack will start to harden.
  Do not talk or smile when your face pack starts drying, doing so may wrinkle-ise your skin.
  (It is always suggested that you do not talk or smile while you have applied a face mask that hardens.)
• After your face pack has hardened, splash a little water over your face. This will moisten the mask. Then gently massage the pack in circular motion untill it becomes loose, finally wash it off with fresh or warm water.

12 Home Made Masalas/Powders for day to day cooking

True! you can buy all the masalas and powders for your curries, gravies and other preparations over the counter i.e. 'READYMADE'.
Have you ever tried making your masalas all by yourself? Just give it a try and you will definitely feel the remarkable difference in taste and flavour.
.....................And to your surprise it's not that difficult/tiring/time consuming or clumsy as you thought it to be.
So here is the list of your 12 magical masalas...

1. Garam Masala powder:
   Garam masala is a mixture of spices and herbs. It is used as seasoning in almost all the Indian dishes. The composition of garam masala differs region to region across India, the most common recipe includes -
   
   • Cumin seeds (jeera) - 1 cup
   • Black Cardamoms (badi ilaichi) - 1 cup
   • Peppercorns (kalimirch) - 1/2 cup *you can reduce the quantity as per taste
   • Coriander (dhania) seeds - 1/2 cup
   • Fennel seeds (saunf) - 1/4 cup
   • Cloves (laung) - 3 tbsp
   • Cinnamon (dalchini) - 3 tbsp
   • Mace (javitri) - 8 to 10 nos
   • Caraway seeds (shahjeera) - 2 tbsp *optional
   • Bayleaf (tejpatta) - 1/4 cup
   • Nutmeg (jaiphal) powder - 1 and half tbsp *optional
   Dry roast all the ingredients in a heavy bottom pen/kadahi till you get the aroma of the spices.
   Let it cool down to room temperature then grind in a grinder to a smooth powder.
   Sieve and store in an air-tight container.
2. Chole / Chana Masala powder:
   Homemade chole/chana masala powder makes the recipe more tasty and gives it a restaurent like color and aroma. Ingredients are as follows -
   
   • Cumin seeds (jeera) - 1 tbsp
   • Dry Pomegranate Seeds (Anardana) - 1 tbsp
   • Coriander (dhania) seeds - 1 and half tbsp
   • Peppercorns (kalimirch) - 1/2 tbsp *you can reduce the quantity as per taste
   • Cloves (laung) - 1/2 tbsp or few
   • Cinnamon (dalchini) - 2-3 sticks
   • Bayleaf (tejpatta) - 2-3 leaves
   • Black Cardamoms (badi ilaichi) - 4-5
   • Dry red chillies - 2-3
   Dry roast all the spices on low flame until fragrant, let it cool down for a while then grind in a grinder.
3. Rajma Masala powder:
   Rajma Masala powder is not a very popular curry powder.
   Normally Rajma is cooked in a simple ginger-garlic, onion-tomato paste based curry with regular masalas (i.e. coriender powder, chilly powder, salt, amchoor powder and garam masala) added to it.
   This powder if added to the prepration gives the recipe a distinct aroma & flavor.
   So here is the ingredients -
   
   • Cumin seeds (jeera) - 1/2 tbsp
   • Bayleaf (tejpatta) - 2-3 leaves
   • Cloves (laung) - 1/4 tbsp or 4 to 5 pods
   • Cinnamon (dalchini) - 1 to 2 sticks
   • Green Cardamoms (choti ilaichi) deseeded - 2 to 3
   • Dry red chillies - 2-3
   • Asafoetida powder - 1 to 2 pinch
   Dry roast all the spices on low flame until fragrant, let it cool down for a while then grind in a grinder.
4. Paav-Bhaji Masala powder:
   This freshly made paav-bhaji masala will give your recipe an exceptionally good taste and flavor. Ingredients are as follows -
   
   • Dry red chillies - 2-3
   • Coriander (dhania) seeds - 2 tbsp
   • Black cardamoms (badi ilaichi) - 3 to 4 nos
   • Fennel seeds (sounf) - 1/2 tbsp
   • Cumin seeds (jeera) - 1 tbsp
   • Peppercorns (kalimirch) - 1/4 tbsp
   • Cloves (laung) - 4 to 5 pods
   • Cinnamon (dalchini) - 1 to 2 sticks
   • Bayleaf (tejpatta) - 1 to 2 leaves
   • Nutmeg (jaiphal) powder - 1/4 tbsp
   • Mace (javitri) - 1/2 tbsp
   Dry roast all the spices on low flame until fragrant, let it cool down for a while then grind in a grinder.
5. Chaat Masala:
   Chaat Masala is mixture of few aromatic indian spices.
   This powder is used as a garnish on salads, Chaats (like aloo chaat, bhelpuri, fruit chaat etc.) and Indian drinks (like lemonade).
   It enhances the flavor of the food and aids in digestion.
   Ingredients are as follows -
   
   • Coriander (dhania) seeds - 1 cup
   • Cumin seeds (jeera) - 1 cup
   • Dry red chillies - 8 to 10
   • Peppercorns (kalimirch) - 1/2 tbsp
   • Fennel seeds (sounf) - 2 tbsp
   • Dry Pomegranate Seeds (Anardana) - 2 tbsp
   • Garam Masala powder - 1 tbsp
   • Dry Mango (amchoor) powder - 1/2 cup
   • Black salt (kala namak) - 2 tbsp
   • Dry ginger (sounth) powder - 1 tbsp
   • Asafoetida (heeng) powder - 1/4 tbsp
   Roast coriender seeds in a heavy bottom pan/kadahi for a while. Add cumin seeds, red chillies, peppercorn and fennel seeds and keep on roasting on a low flame.
   When you start feeling the aroma add pomegranate seeds and roast for another 1-2 minutes.
   let it cool down then grind in a grinder.
   Now add garam masala, dry mango powder, black salt, dry ginger power and asafoetida. Mix well.
   Store in an air-tight container. Use as required.
6. Tea/Chai Masala:
   Chai is a must have drink in almost all the Indian houses, and every Indian home has their own recipe of chai masala powder.
   This home made masala powder is much more fragrant and strong than the store bought one.
   You can use all or few of the ingredients as per your taste.
   
   • A basic tea masala consist of Cinnamon, green cardamom and dry ginger powder.
     If you don't like the dry ginger taste or elergic to ginger you can even skip this.
     take 20 gms cinnamon, 50 gms whole green cardamom and 10 gms dry ginger or ginger powder (optional).
     Grind together cinnamon and cardamom to get a fine powder, add ginger powder and gring for a while. Basic masala is ready.
   • Now to this basic powder you can add any, few or all of these spices to get your own version of tea masala.
     Add
     - 5 gms cloves
     - 1 or 2 nutmag
     - 20 gms dry basil (tulsi) leaves
     - 1/4 tbsp black pepper (kalimirch)
     - 1 tbsp fennel (saunf) seeds
     - 10 gms dry crushed lemon grass
     You can grind these ingredient/s together with the basic powder.
     *For 2 cups of tea 1/4 tbsp powder is enough, though you can adjust the quantity as per your taste.
     *You can store this powder in an air tight container for up to a month. after which it tends to loose its aroma and flavour.
7. Sambhar Masala Pawder:
   Sambhar is one of the most popular South Indian dish and liked by almost everyone.
   Every south Indian home has their own version of Sambhar masala Powder. Here is the most common of them all -
   
   • Dry red chillies - 6-7
   • coriander seeds (dhania) - 2 tbsp
   • Cumin seeds (jeera) - 1 tbsp
   • Fenugreek seeds (methidana) - 1 tbsp
   • Black Mustard seeds (raai)- 2 tbsp
   • White lentil (dhuli urad daal) - 1 tbsp
   • Bengal gram split (chana daal) - 1 tbsp
   • Dry coconut grated (kopra) - 2 tbsp
   Dry roast all the ingredients except dry coconut until fragrant. Add dry coconut and switch off the gas.
   Let it cool down for a while then grind in a grinder.
   Use the powder as required. Store remaining in an airtight container. This powder keeps well for a month.
8. Biryani Masala Powder:
   'Biryani masala' is very similar to 'Garam masala'. This masala powder adds a special flavour and aroma which is required in a perfect biryani.
   Ingredients are as follows -
   • Bayleaf (tejpatta) - 2 leaves
   • Whole Black Cardamoms (badi ilaichi) - 8 nos
   • Cinnamon (dalchini) - 2-3 sticks
   • Fennel seeds (sounf) - 1 and 1/2 tbsp
   • Peppercorns (kalimirch) - 6 to 8 nos
   • Staranise (Chakri Phool) - 2 nos
   • Caraway seeds (shahjeera) - 2 tbsp
   • Mace (javitri) - 5 to 8 nos
   • Nutmeg (jaiphal) - 1 no
   • Cloves (laung) - 10 to 12 nos
   Dry roast all the ingredients except bayleaves on a moderately medium flame till the spice gives faint aroma.
   Add bayleaves and roast for 1 more minute.
   Cool and powder to a smooth finish. Store in an air tight container and use as required.
   *This powder is used to flavour veg and non veg biryanis.
   *Can be used as a marination for meats, cottage cheese etc to give them different flavour.
   *You can also change the flavour of your other curries by replacing this powder with garam masala.
9. Tawa Masala Powder:
   Tawa Masala also known as 'bharwa masala' powder is a powdered blend of few Indian spices and hurbs, which is mainly used to stuff vegetables such as brinjal, bottle guard (karela), lady's fingers etc.
   This powder can also be used while making tawa recipes like paneer tawa masala, mashroom tawa masala, vegetable tawa masala and the like.
   Ingredients are as follows -
   • Coriander (dhania) seeds - 4 tbsp
   • Fennel seeds (sounf) - 2 tbsp
   • Cumin seeds (jeera) - 1 tbsp
   • Fenugreek seeds (methidana) - 1/2 tbsp
   • Dry red chillies - 2-3
   • Peppercorns (kalimirch) - 1/2 tbsp
   • Cloves (laung) - 8-10 nos
   • Cinnamon (dalchini) - 2-3 sticks
   • Whole Black Cardamoms (badi ilaichi) - 6-8 nos
   • Asafoetida(heeng)powder - 1 to 2 pinch
   • Dry Mango (amchoor) powder - 1 and 1/2 tbsp
   • Turmeric (haldi) powder - 1 tbsp *optional
   Dry roast all the ingredients except asafoetida, turmeric and mango powder on a medium flame.
   Cool and powder to a smooth finish.
   Add remaining powders and mix well.
   Store in an air tight container and use as required.
   **You only need to add salt while cooking when using this masala.
10. Next powder recipe tomorrow......keep visiting
    

12 ideas of Sweets for Diwali

1. Gulaab Jaamun
2. Shahi Tukda
3. Coconut Laddu
4. Maal Pua
5. Badaam ka Sheera
6. Kesari kheer
7. Moong daal Halwa
8. Malaai Peda
9. Besan ke Laddu
10. Suji (Samolina) Kesar halwa
11. Gaajar (carrot) Halwa
12. Shrikhand

12 Soups for Chilly Winter evening

1. Tomato Shorba / Cream of Tomato Soup
2. Brocolli-Almond Soup
3. Mulligatawny Soup
4. Sweetcorn Soup
5. Spinach Soup
6. Garbanzo bean / Chichpea Soup
7. Clear Vegetable Soup
8. Baby-corn Soup
9. Red Pumpkin Soup
10. Paneer and Cabbage Soup
11. Vegetable Noodle Soup
12. South Indian Tomato Rasam

12 Dry Party Snacks/ Starters/ Finger Foods

1. Hara Bhara Kabab
2. Golden fried Baby Corn
3. Paneer Tikka
4. Dry Gobi Manchurian
5. Spring Rolls
6. Bread Pizza
7. Veg Cutlet
8. Corn Salsa Canapes
9. Potato Wedges
10. Paneer Pakodas
11. Cabbage Rolls
12. Grilles Sandwiches

12 Popular Gujarati Snacks

1. Dhokla
2. Khaman
3. Khandvi
4. Khakhra
5. Thepla
6. Ghughra
7. Batata Vada
8. Handvo
9. Paatra
10. Dhebra
11. Bhakarwadi
12.  Dabeli

12 ideas of Stuffed vegetarian Parathas

1. Aloo ka Paratha
2. Gobhi (couliflower) ka Paratha
3. Muli (radish) ka Paratha
4. Paneer Paratha
5. Carrot Paratha
6.  Pyaaj ka Paratha
7. Hari Matar (Peas) Ka Paratha
8. Aloo Methi/Palak ki sabji ka Paratha
9. Mix vegetable Paratha
10. Daal Paratha
11. Cheese Paratha
12. Cabbage Paratha

12 popular Evening Snacks

1. Dhokla
2. Sabudana (Sago) Khichdi
3. Poha
4. Upma
5. Fried Idli
6. Paav Bhaji
7. PaneerTikka
8. Khandvi
9. Burger
10. French Fries
11. Spring Rolls
12. Veg Cutlet