Frozen Green Peas

Things needed :

Stove

2 Deep Pots
Colander

Spatula / Spoon
Zip lock bags

Lots of ice

Ingredients :

Green pea pods - 250 gms
Water

Method :

1) Peel and place peas in a colander. Wash thoroughly under running water.  Keep aside
2) Bring water (approx. 4 cups) to boil in a deep pot.
3) Add peas to boiling water and cook for exact 90 seconds. Meanwhile place ice in another deep pot and add 4 cups of water to it and keep it aside.
4) After 90 seconds, remove from heat, using a colander, strain the peas and put the hot peas in ice water to stop the cooking process.
5) Once cooled, remove from water and put in zip lock bag and keep in freezer. Use it anytime later. The average shelf life is 90 days.



Tips :

1) You can also add some salt to water to increase shelf life as salt acts as a preservative, only remember while using it in a dish add salt accordingly.

Dried Fenugreek (Kasuri Methi) in 10 minutes - Microwave

Things needed :

Microwave

Microwave safe tray
Colander

Heat Safe Gloves
Spatula / Spoon
Air tight container

Ingredients :

Funugreek or Methi - 250 gms

Method :

1) Remove stems of fenugreek leaves. Place leaves in colander. Wash thoroughly under running water. Keep aside till water dries completely.
2) Spread leaves on a microwave safe tray. Avoid double layers. Place tray in microwave and microwave for 3 minutes.
3) Remove (use gloves) and using a spoon or spatula toss the methi around in the tray. Microwave again for three minutes.
4) Remove tray using gloves and toss the methi for one last time. Microwave for 2 minutes. Remove and let it cool for some time. Store in a air tight container.




Tips :

1) Use microwave on maximum setting for best results.

No-wax candles

Things needed :

Pan

Spoons

Crayons
Wicks

Container (To pour candle into)
Glue
Cloth pins


Ingredients :

Vegetable Shortening (Dalda/Crisco)
Essential Oil of your choice

Method :

1) Take some vegetable shortening in a pan depending on how big your container is. Heat the pan on medium heat, till the shortening melts.
2) Meanwhile, take a crayon of your choice. Remove the wrapper and cut in small pieces.
3) Glue the wick to the centre of the container.
3) Once shortening is melted, remove from heat. Add the crayon pieces and mix well till crayon is melted. Add essential oils and mix well.
4) Pour the mixture in glass container. Keep the wick straight in centre using cloth pins if required.



Tips :

1) For easier and cleaner way to make this, use a microwave instead of a stove.
2) In case you want to use microwave, you can directly mix shortening and crayon in the glass container you want to make candle in and add the wick when the candle begins to solidify.

Christmas Gift - Book Lovers'

Things needed :

Cardboard - used in cereal box

Glue

Transparent Acrylic sheet
Printing paper.
Printer

Book of your choice

Frame hanging hooks
Acrylic Colours

Method :

1) Cut 2 pieces of cardboard of size 8.3x12 inches. One piece of which will be used for backside. (Piece 1 and piece 2)
2) Take the piece 1, mark 5 cm from all the edges and cut in a frame like shown:
3) Colour the frame with a colour you want. (I used black)
4) Using glue, stick acrylic sheet to the back of this frame.
5) Print a page or cover from your the book of your choice and stick it on piece 2. While printing take in mind that the printed area should be lesser than 8.3 x 12 inches so that there is some space left between the edges of the frame and the text on the page.
5) Stick the frame to piece 1. and your frame is ready.
6) To hang the picture frame, attach hooks on the back of picture frame using either glue or Sellotape. Make many such frame and you can either decorate your room or give them as gifts to your loved ones.



Tips :

1) To make the frame more stiff, cover the frame and back with few layers of newspaper pieces and mixture of glue and water (equal parts) before colouring.
2) Use glitter, artificial flowers, small sea shells for more decorative look.
3) Instead of print out of a book, you can also print photos of your choice.

Christmas Gift - Bath Scrubs

Things needed :

Mixing bowl

Spoons

Paper

Scissors

Airtight Jars

Coloured Ribbons.

Punching machine.

Ingredients :

Sugar
Olive Oil
Food Colour of your choice
Essential Oil of your choice

Method :

1) Mix together sugar, colour, olive oil and essential oil together till everything is nicely incorporated to form a scrub
2) Put the scrub in airtight jars.
3) Personalise the jar by writing name of the person you want to gift it to, or name of the fragrance of the scrub.
4) Cut the name in exciting shapes and using a ribbon tie it to the jar.



Tips :

1) Olive oil can be replaced with coconut oil.
2) To give it more festive look, make scrubs of different colour and layer it in the container.

Home-made anti-cellulite soap

What is Cellulite?

Cellulite is the persistent fat under the skin, giving it a dimpled appearance. Cellulite is usually seen on thighs and hips. Cellulite is a result of enlarged fat pockets of the skin, due to which a pressure is built under the skin, that pushes everything 'upwards', giving a dimpled appearance to the skin. 

What causes Cellulite?

Cellulite is caused congestion of body's lymphatic system. Lymphatic system is a network of organs the build and circulate lymph fluid in body. Lymph fluid and its circulation is responsible for keeping body healthy and clean from within. Hence lymph system is a major part of body's immune system. However, due to congestion of lymphatic system, fat deposits are created under skin, which is cellulite. Congestion of this system can be due to various reasons like improper diet, stressful lifestyle, lack of water intake, etc.

How to get rid of Cellulite?

Before knowing how to get rid of cellulite, one must understand that this cannot be done over-night. Cellulite caused due to regular fat deposits and hence to reduce cellulite, measures takes should also be regular. One way to reduce cellulite is by rebooting lymphatic system. Coffee grounds are known to have properties that reduce cellulite and body massage helps boost lymph and blood flow through lymphatic system. Hence the combination of the two can reduce cellulite. Scrubbing affected areas in circular motions can reduce cellulite in those areas in a few days. To have a visible effect try the following coffee grounds soap for softer and smoother skin.

Preparation time : 10 min
Cooling time : 2-3 hours

Ingredients :

Dove Soap 50g - 1Nos
Coffee Grounds - 3Tsp (Filter Coffee)
Coconut Oil - 4-5 Tsp
Water - 1/4th cup

Method :

1) Grate the soap with a cheese grater and put in a sauce pan. Retain the box.
2) Heat 1/4th cup water add coffee grounds. Strain the brew and retain the coffee grounds.
3) Add the brew to soap, whisk the mixture and heat the sauce pan on low heat.
4) Whisk till soap is melted.
5) Add coconut oil and coffee grounds. Mix everything well. Turn off the heat.
6) Tap the open end of the box. With scissors cut one of the labeled sides of the box so that we have a rectangular mould for the soap. Line the box with a piece of polythene.
7) Put the melted soap mixture in the box. Tap the box to make sure all corners are filled nicely. Let this cool for 2-3 hours and then its ready to use.

Tips :

1) For very dry skin add more coconut oil to the mixture and less water.
2) Any soap of your choice can be used. This can also be done with left over soap silvers.