The Reader's Cafe - Train of Thought

This blog is in continuation with my previous blog  List of Top Smartwatches under ₹999 with good customer feedback! Here is the list of smartwatches in ₹1000-₹2000 range with good customer feedback: 1) Fastrack reflex 2.0 Uni-sex activity tracker - Calorie counter, Call and message notifications and up to 10 Day battery Life - SWD90059PP04 / SWD90059PP04 - ₹1,495 - 3.7 out of 5 rating Shop here 2) W34 Bluetooth Smartwatch with Heart Rate Monitor | BP Monitor | Call and Message Reminder | Anti Lost Feature Compatible with All Smartphones (Pink) - ₹1,999 - 4 out of 5 rating Shop here Redmi Smart Band - (Direct USB Charging, Full Touch Colour Display, Upto 14-Day Battery Life, Works with Xiaomi Wear App) - ₹1,399 - 3.3 out of 5 rating Shop here HONOR Band 5 (Olive Green)- Waterproof Full Color AMOLED Touchscreen, SpO2 (Blood Oxygen), Music Control, Watch Faces Store, up to 14 Day Battery Life - ₹1,999 - 4.1 out of 5 rating Shop here ITRUE W34 Fit Pro Series 4 - Smart Watch with Calling F

Smartwatch is one of the popular gadgets that everyone would love to own. It's features makes it more useful and reliable for tracking our everyday activities. There is a smartwatch in the market which has following features:  GPS Optical heart sensor Step tracker Sleep pattern tracker Incoming call notification Accelerometer and gyroscope Swim proof/waterproof Whatsapp message notification ECG  7 sports mode such as - Walking, Running, Cycling, Skipping, Badminton, Basketball & Football. Here is the list of best budget smartwatches under 999 Rupees. These watches may or may not have all the features listed above : 1)  STEEZE Multi-function Square Dial Wrist Smart Watch for Men and Women (Black) - ₹801 - 4.3 out of 5 rating. Shop here 2) JOKIN A1 Android Smart Watch Smartwatch Bluetooth Touchscreen Sweat Proof Phone with Camera TF/SIM Card Slot for Android and iPhone Smartphones - ₹899 - 4.5 out of 5 rating Shop here 3 Ringke Air Sports Case Designed for Galaxy Watch Active 2 4

Ingredients ¾ cup sifted flour ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp baking soda ½ cup softened margarine ½ cup sugar ½ cup brown sugar 2 eggs 2 tsp vanilla extract ¼ cup walnuts 1 tbsp orange rind 1 ½ cup quick cooking oatmeal Steps Grease cookie sheet, sift together dry ingredients. Beat together butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla until well blended. Stir in flour mixture until well moistened. Stir in oatmeal, nuts and rind. Drop by tsp fuls 2” apart. Bake at 350 F for 8 min.

Ingredients Preparation time : 30 minutes Serves: 4 Required ingredients: Oil -- 3 tbsp Black Mustard Seeds -- 1/4 tsp Curry Leaves -- 8 Red Chili Powder -- 1/2 tsp Turmeric -- 1/4 tsp Salt to Taste Set 1 Raw Bananas (different than unripe bananas we eat) -- 4 Tamarind Paste -- 1.5 tbsp Set 2 Cumin Seeds -- 1 tsp Garlic -- 4 cloves Ginger -- 1/2 inch piece Cloves -- 2 Uncooked Rice -- 1 tsp Steps 1) Make Set 2 into a paste (adding a few drops of water) and keep aside. 2) Raw bananas should be cut into four pieces each. Remove the skin and keep aside. 3) In a deep skillet heat oil, add mustard seeds and when seeds start popping add curry leaves and the above paste (of Set 2). Fry on moderate heat for one minute. Add 1.5 cups water, tamarind paste, and the banana pieces. Also add red chili powder, turmeric and salt. Let cook on low heat for 15 minutes or until the gravy thickens. Note: Some tamarind paste can be very sour, so you may need to adjust according to your taste. You can add a

Stuffed Rice Balls can be prepared in two ways. It can either baked or fried.  Ingredients Rice flour 1 cup Water 1 1/4 cup a pinch of salt 1 tsp oil Method 1. Boil the water adding the salt and the oil. 2. Add the rice flour and stir it until it forms a lump. 3. Cooking the rice flour should take only 2 mts. 4. As soon as it is done, cover it for about 10 mts. 5. Knead it well until its very smooth. 6. Make little cups and stuff it with the stuffing you have prepared and steam it for about 10 mts. Stuffing: 1. There are many varieties of stuffing. The most popular is sweet coconut stuffing. 2 cups fresh coconut grated, 1/2 cup jaggery powder, one pinch of cardamom powder. 2. Put all these ingredients in a heavy bottomed kadai with 2 tablespoon of water and keep on stirring for about 10 mts or until the moisture dries. It should not be too dry either. Make small balls about the size of a cherry. This can be prepared a day or two ahead and stored in the refrigerator.

A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. Mushrooms are used extensively in cooking, in many cuisines (notably Chinese, Korean, European, and Japanese). Mushroom Nutrition values Source: Wikipedia Mushroom Pepper Manchurian Dry Recipe Ingredients for preparing the batter for 200 gms of mushroom:  3-4 tbsp all-purpose flour 3 tbsp cornflour 2 tbsp rice flour (can be added for crispness)  Half tsp black pepper powder 1 tbsp Ginger Garlic paste (Optional) Soya sauce(Optional - It can added in the final step) Salt Ingredients for manchurian:  Half Capsicum/Bell pepper (Red, Green, Yellow) 2 Medium Sized Onion Spring onions (Optional) 2-3 Green chillies (cut into halves) 10-12 finely chopped Garlic  Coriander leaves for garnishing Soya Sauce Steps 1) Wash, rinse, wipe and cut mushrooms into two halves. 2) Deep Fry mushroom mixed with batter. 3) Heat oil in another pan. Add spring onions,

Masala dosa or masale dose or masala dosa is a variation of the popular South Indian dosa, which has its origins in Tuluva Mangalorean cuisine of Tulunadu. It is made from rice, lentils, potato, methi, and curry leaves, and served with chutneys and sambar. I personally love masala dosa and have tasted it in various places. I am a foodie. Here are the ten best places where we can taste the best masala dosas: 1) Vidyarthi Bhavan Vidyarthi Bhavan is a vegetarian restaurant in Gandhi Bazaar, Basavanagudi, South Bengaluru Bangalore. It is a local landmark of old "Bangalore" architecture and heritage. Founded in 1943, the restaurant has been visited by many personalities such as Bharatratna Dr. C N R Rao, Padma Vibhushan Chief Justice (retd) Sri M N Venkatachaliah, Padma Shri Dr. K S Nissar Ahmed, and Padma Shri Smt Sudha Murthy. The restaurant is noted for its crispy "Masale Dose", especially the "Sagu Masale Dose". Address: 32, Gandhi Bazaar Main Rd, Gandhi

Paneer is an important part of the Indian cuisine, and like any other food, is nourishing and healthy when taken in the right amounts.  Paneer is made by curdling milk using food-derived acid. Paneer is a good choice for proteins, especially in a vegetarian diet. Paneer contains lower amounts of carbohydrates as compared to dals. It can be prepared for breakfast, brunch or lunch. It can be served as healthy snack for kids. Preparation time  : 30-40 minutes Ingredients  For the dough 2 cup Whole Wheat Flour 2 teaspoons Sunflower Oil Salt to taste For the filling 250 grams Button Paneer finely chopped/grated 1 Onion finely chopped 1 small capsicum 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (Jeera) 1 teaspoon Garam Masala Powder 1/2 teaspoon chat masala (Optional) 2 Green Chillies finely chopped 1/4 teaspoon Turmeric powder (Haldi) Ghee or oil for cooking Steps to prepare stuffed paneer paratha 1) Prepare soft dough using ingredients mentioned above. 2) Heat oil in a kadai or pan on medium heat. Add cumin s

Ingredients Gram flour - 300 g Rice flour - 200 g red chilli powder - 1 tsp salt - 1 tsp Sesame seeds,  cumin seeds - 2 tsps Ghee - 2 tsp Asafoetida - 1/2 tsp Method Mix all the ingredients into a thick paste and make murukku as in curd murukku. Checkout my other recipes in below link: Recipe Book Healthy Unique Food Recipes Popular links which describes this recipe: Hebbar's Kitchen Swathi's Kitchen Veg Recipes of India Recipe Video

Ingredients Onion 1 large Green peppers 2 Tomatoes 2 large Broccoli 1/2 lb. Cauliflower 1/2 lb. Butter 4 tbsp. Red Chili Powder 1 tsp. Turmeric 1/2 tsp. Ginger 1 in. stick Garlic 3 cloves White vinegar 2 tbsp. Tomato puree 2 tbsp. Method 1) Chop onion; cut green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, and cauliflower into 1 in. cubes. 2) Melt butter and saute onion. Add all the remaining vegetables and stir-fry for about 5 minutes over medium heat. 3) Add the spices and vinegar. Stir in the tomato puree, and simmer for about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and fresh-ground pepper. Bonus Recipe Dal radish Ingredients   1 cup toovar dal (soaked in water for one hour)  2 radishes  1 large tomato  1 large onion  1 tbsps Sambar powder  1 tsp. Jaggery  2 tbsps. finely grated coconut  A little mustard  2 sprigs of curry leaves  6 whole cashew nuts 2 tbsps. oil Salt to taste.  Method  Scrape and cut radish into round pieces. Heat oil in a kadai. Put in the mustard. When it sputters add chopped onion

  Ingredients 150 gm puffed rice (murmura) - washed and soaked in water for 2 hours. 60 gm mawa 1/4 tsp baking powder Oil for frying Stuffing 90 gm Amul Cheese-grated 90 gm mawa 100 gm sugar 1 tbsp cashew nuts-chopped 2 tsp grated coconut 1 tbp raisins-chopped 1 tsp chironji-chopped Syrup 200 gm sugar 3 cups water 1 tbsp milk 1/2 tsp cardamom powder 2 tsp rose essence Silver foil for decoration Method Prepare syrup by boiling together the sugar and water. And milk and remove the scum as it surfaces. Boil till 3 cups of clear syrup are obtained. Remove from fire and flavour with essence and cardamom powder. Keep aside. Cook the mawa for stuffing in frying pan till it is golden brown. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. form into small balls and keep separately. Squeeze out the water from the puffed rice and mix it with the rest of the ingredients for Jamuns except oil. Knead well and from into as many balls as the number of stuffing balls you have.  Flatten out the puffed rice

The Thai soup with the intriguing flavour of lemon grass. Preparation time : 15 minutes.Cooking time: 10 minutes.Serves 6. 6 tea cups clear vegetable stock 1 green chilli, cut lengthwise 10 to 15 canned mushrooms, sliced 10 to 12 cauliflower florets (parboiled) 1 tablespoon roughly chopped lemon grass 2 pinches Ajinomoto powder (optional) 1 teaspoon lemon juice 2 to 3 drops oil salt to taste Method 1. put the stock to boil. 2. Add the green chilli, mushrooms, cauliflower, lemon grass, Ajinomoto and salt and boil for 2 to 3 minutes. 3. Add the lemon juice and top with oil. Checkout my other healthy unique food recipes in below link: Recipe Book Healthy Unique Food Recipes Popular links which describes this recipe: https://www.thespruceeats.com/vegetarian-tom-yum-soup-3217762 https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/tom-yum-soup-recipe/ https://www.archanaskitchen.com/vegetarian-tom-yum-soup-flavoured-with-lemon-grass https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx0UL9J628o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p

Ingredients Spinach 1 bunch Crushed fennel seeds (sounf) Ginger Hing (Asafoetida) Dried red chilies Green chilies Method 1) Dry roast the ginger and fennel seeds and remove. In oil sprinkle heeng and add red chilies and then green chilies.  2) Add fennel seeds and ginger and fry. Add spinach and cook covered. Checkout my other healthy unique food recipes in below link: Recipe Book Healthy Unique Food Recipes Here are few popular links and videos of Healthy Spinach Haak Recipe: Haak Recipe Kashmiri Haak Recipe - Video Haak Recipe - Video

Ingredients 1 cup chopped apple (without skin) 1 cup chopped banana 1 cup grated carrot 1 cup milk or 1/2 cup milk powder 1 cup coconut 3/4 cup ghee 2 cups sugar/Jaggery Method Grind carrot & milk. Mix all the ingredients together except ghee. Keep on stirring till the apple & banana pieces are cooked & the halwa becomes one mass. Then add ghee, cardamom powder. Remove from the stove top & decorate with nuts of your choice. Checkout my other healthy unique food recipes in below link: Recipe Book Healthy Unique Food Recipes Here are few popular links and videos of Apple, Banana & Carrot Halwa (ABC Halwa) Recipe: ABC Halwa - Video ABC Halwa Recipe Apple, Banana & Carrot Halwa Recipe