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Spotlight
Books by your bedside
Reading
before going to bed is a good habit for anyone including those who aren't
that into reading. It is something which everyone should do not only
because it is a good substitute for TV but also because it channels
your mind in one direction: it helps you to forget about the days done
deals and steers your mind away from tomorrows dilemmas. And that's
not all. Reading helps you to unwind as you concentrate on the material
and your body eventually moves into a lethargic zone that makes it easier
for you to fall asleep.
What people keep
on their bedsides for bedtime varies from person to person. But as a
general rule the material shouldn't be something on the Utopian factors
underlining the Machiavellian scheme's of the government of Timbuktu.
Or maybe it should if your sole aim is to find a book that substitutes
for a hefty dose of Dormicum!
What I'm referring
to are books that genuinely interest you. Generally short story compilations
are a good choice. Their length ensures that you can finish one story
a night unlike big novels that usually have much intricate details that
might suck you in too much for you to fall asleep. But if big novels
do you in then why not keep a row of your favourite author's works on
your bedside?
Apart from short
story compilations, magazines are good bedside buddies. Not only do
they help you to catch up on what has been going on while you've been
toiling away, but they also entertain you with real facts and figures.
But do choose magazines on topics that interest you.
For some people
reading poetry also does the trick. But if that isn't your cup of tea
then try those palm sized one-liner inspiration books. Who knows, you
might go to sleep with one of those quotes stuck in your subconscious
mind and wake up with a new resolve.
If you are confused
about what to keep on your bedside, here are a few suggestions on a
broad basis. The chicken soup series always has something for everyone.
These are a good read as well as a good buy. Jhumpa Lahiri's Interpreter
of Maladies is one of my personal favourites. But if your are a romantic
bug then Silhouettes and M & B's are just the thing for you. On
the other hand, magazines like GQ, Vanity Fair and not to forget Star
Weekend are just the things to keep. If none of these appeal to you,
try Terry Pratchett. Some people also like reading up on their horoscopes
and Linda Goodman's books are just the things for them. If you want
to get some benefits apart from entertainment, Dale Carnegie's motivational
books or books like Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus may be
just what you're looking for.
But in the end,
what you want to keep by your bedside is totally up to you. Who knows,
even after trying all these things out, you may still want to keep that
dear TV remote there? So the go ahead and decide.
By
Tahiat-e-Mahboob
News
flash
Pantene's
"Beautiful Hair Program" launched
Pantene,
the world's largest selling shampoo and the popular choice of many in
Bangladesh have introduced their internationally acclaimed "Beautiful
Hair Program."
A high-tech
microscope is used to examine a person's hair type and condition and
Pantene hairstylists recommend the right regimen for the individual's
hair. Pantene proposes to rollout this program in different locations
in the city.
Dressy
Dale in Sylhet
After
dressing up the capital city and the port city, Dressydale's turned
its sights on Sylhet. The new showroom opened with due fanfare on Friday,
July 16.
What can the good
people of Sylhet expect from the new showroom? The ladies can look forward
to saris, salwar kameez, fotuas and tops, while the gents have punjabis
and fotuas. Between July 16-22, Dressy Dale is offering a 10% discount
on all items, and with every purchase, you get a raffle draw coupon,
and thus stand to win a lot of attractive prizes. So people in Sylhet,
this is your chance to get both lucky and stylish.
Dressy Dale showrooms
are located in: UAE Moitry Complex, Banani, Dhaka Ambala Complex, 1st
Fl., Rd 2, Dhanmondi, Dhaka 805, CDA Avenue, Dampara, Chittagong Purbani
Shopping Complex, 1st Fl. urbojinda Bazaar, Sylhet.
~
LS Desk ~
Recipe
Ice
cream special
No matter what the
weather's like outside, who can say no to a delicious dish of ice cream?
Whether it's yourself you want to indulge or guests you want to bowl
over, try out some of our unusual ice-cream recipes, and you're sure
to score with flying colours.
Cardamom
Ice Cream
This is for people who like their sweet stuff to be a little spicy.
This tempting treat teases the taste buds in many ways.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
5 cups milk 4 beaten egg yolks
1 tablespoon vanilla
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom
1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel
3 cups whipping cream
1-1/2 cups sugar
Directions
In a large saucepan stir together sugar and flour. Gradually stir in
2 cups of the milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and
bubbly. Cook 1 minute more. Stir about 1 cup of the hot mixture into
beaten egg yolks; return to remaining hot mixture in saucepan. Cook
and stir just until mixture returns to boiling. Remove from heat. Stir
in vanilla, cardamom, lemon peel, and remaining milk. Cool slightly.
Cover the surface with plastic wrap.
2. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. Stir in whipping
cream. Freeze in a 4- or 5-quart ice cream freezer according to manufacturer's
directions. Makes about 2 quarts (16 servings).
Kulfi
Pistay Wali
Kulfi is an old Eastern favourite, whose popularity has remained undiminished
in the face of all the wacky modern flavours and desserts. Here is how
you make it the traditional Pakistani way:
Ingredients:
400 grams milk, condensed
550 ml milk, evaporated
100 grams cream (preferably Nestlé)
2 slices of bread, white crusts removed
2 tablespoons pistachio, grounded
1 teaspoon cardamom
½ teaspoon kewra essence
2 tablespoons pistachio nuts, cut into slivers
Directions:
1. Cut bread into small pieces. Pour milk, cream and bread into a blender
and blend for few seconds.
2. Add ground pistachio, cardamoms and kewra in the milk mixture.
3. Pour the mixture into a suitable container and place it in the freezer.
You must take the mixture out of the freezer every hour and whisk thoroughly
with a beater for the first three hours and then let it set for several
hours.
4.Allow kulfi to soften by keeping it out of freezer for about 10 minutes.
5. Garnish with sliced Pistachio.
Note: If you like to use Almonds in place of Pistachios then use half
cup of blanched almonds, cut into slivers.
This recipe serves 6 people.
Preparation Time: 15 minutes.
Cooking Time: 30 minutes.
Serve Cold
Green
Tea Ice cream
This daring dish is relatively easy to make, and has an unusual, exotic
taste.
Ingredients
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoon powdered green tea
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup light cream
Directions
Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring,
until the sugar melts, and simmer the syrup for 5 minutes. In a separate
bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of the syrup with the powdered green tea, then
add that mixture to the syrup in the saucepan, and stir until evenly
mixed. Add the light cream and heavy cream. Pour into an ice cream freezer,
and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.
Mango
ice cream
With mangoes still in the market, this is your chance to put them to
some good use and come up with a delectable dessert the family will
enjoy.
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
2 cups mango puree
2 cups whipping cream
2 eggs
Beat the eggs with the sugar with an electric mixer for about 5 minutes
until pale and thick.
Fold in the mango puree, then pour in the whipping cream.
Chill for a couple of hours then transfer to an ice cream maker and
freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.
When the ice cream has formed, scoop it out of the maker into a lidded
container and store in freezer until required.
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Tips
Perfect
bathing
Taking
a shower or a bath is just so important in everyone's life that most
of us go crazy if we ever skip our daily shower. But bathing can be
an interesting task if you can add a few things to it.
If
you have a bathtub at home, try doing some exercise after filling
it with warm water. Experts say that everyone should enjoy the additional
benefits that are tied to exercises done under warm water.
If
you sometimes take one of those aroma therapeutic baths, remember
to take it in lukewarm water as warm water helps those perfumed oils
to vaporize far too quickly.
Want
to soothe your joints during a bath? Slice ginger into pieces and
boil them in warm water, strain and then pour the liquid in your bath
water to feel the magic of herbs in your life.
Oil
your body before you go for your bath, as then scrubbing with soap
will take away more dead skin than it takes away usually. Choose olive
oil, which is widely available in Dhaka, even our local companies
now produce olive oil, which are quite reasonably priced.
Use
loofahs to scrub your skin, loofahs have an abrasive texture that
cleanse away dead skin really fast. Loofahs are widely available in
Gausia and New Market between Tk.5 to Tk.10.
And
lastly, never apply deodorant in wet skin as anti-perspiring products
allow bacteria to thrive in moist skin. Dry your armpits before applying
deodorants.
Remember
that daily washing is a key to keep us fresh, clean, and healthy.
Hanging
out
Jolly
Bee
The story on Jolly
Bee's brochure goes like this "Meat rolls originated in Turkey,
then spread throughout the Middle East and India. Rolls became highly
popular during the Mughal period and became known as Calcutta Rolls."
The above story
tells you straightforwardly that Jolly Bee specialises in juicy, appetising
and authentic Calcutta rolls of diverse kinds and savour. The food
shop has recently started its journey on Kemal Ataturk Avenue with
a target to win over the taste buds of Dhakaites.
Within a very
reasonable price you can feast on their mouth-watering rolls prepared
from egg, chicken, beef, vegetable, etc. The prices are between Tk.10
to Tk.32.
You can also try
their palatable jumbo rolls, each of which is accompanied by either
extra beef, vegetable or chicken; jumbo rolls are between Tk.25 to
Tk.37. The Jolly Bee Chicken or Beef Combo contains a roll, salad
and a soft drink. Jolly Bee also sells affordable lunch boxes within
Tk.40 to Tk.80.
To get the best
value for your money, maybe you too can stop at Jolly Bee one day
and discover that rolls themselves can be gustatory yummies. The outlet
is definitely one to enjoy so get moving and try those delicious rolls.
Address: Bulu
Ocean Tower, Shop # 7, 40 Kemal Ataturk Avenue, Banani, Dhaka
By
Wara Karim
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