A Few Gifting Ideas for Your Mom-In-Law this Diwali to Make Her Feel Special!

Mother-in-law! Probably one of the most dreaded as well as the most misunderstood phrases we know! There’s a typical thought behind it that a mom-in-law can never be a mother. However, how many times do we actually try to take a step ahead and mingle with her in the same way we do with our mothers? Very rarely, isn’t it? But as the festive season is approaching and there’s a smell of happiness all around, this can be the best time to spoil your dearest mom-in-law with some gifts. After all she is the one who takes care of the house in your absence and everything else too.

So, here is a list of a few items which you can buy as a gift for her. Let’s have a look at what they are:

• A Lovely Saree: The first gifting option which will come to anyone’s mind is a saree. Your mom-in-law might be wishing to buy a particular kind of saree for herself for a long time or she must be really fond of a definite type of saree. You will just have to know about it and then buy the same one. Pack the saree in a nice box, gift wrap it and present it to her. She will be overjoyed for sure!

• Some Useful Kitchenware: Your mom-in-law must be an awesome cook and quite naturally, she must be really possessive about her kitchenware. So, what can be better than gifting her a box full of kitchenware this festive season? You can choose a few glass storage containers, microwavable bowls, casseroles, frying pans, etc., and make an assortment of all and gift it to her. The best part is, you can buy them online sitting in your workplace and also, she will be the happiest to receive it at her doorstep!

• A Spa Experience: How often do your mom-in-law visit a spa for a facial or for a haircut? You cannot remember, right? But this doesn’t mean that she will not love to experience a rejuvenating spa treatment! Just book an appointment for the both of you in a spa salon and take her along for a much revitalizing experience of her life! She will be relaxed and this will reflect through the smile on her face!

• Her Favorite Books: If your mom-in-law loves to read, you can buy a few books by her favorite author, stack them up together, put them in a box and gift the same to her. She can spend her leisure time reading those books and she will thank you for that. If she loves reading then she can kill her time by reading when nobody is at home and this way, she will never get bored!

• A Piece of Jewelry: Finally, this is the most trusted option which most of the daughters-in-law prefer! So, you can also pay a visit to the jewelry stores and choose something really elegant for your om-in-law. These days, various jewelers also offer their products online. This makes your buy easier, isn’t it?

So, now you know how to make your mom-in-law happy this festive season, don’t you? Just choose from any one of the above-mentioned options and go ahead!

A Few Points to Consider While Buying New Cookware This Festive Season

The festive season is round the corner it’s time to deck up! Aah! Well, it’s not for ourselves only and decking up our houses are as important. Festivities in India is synonymous with having guests at home, at any time! So, we often think about changing the paints, the curtains and rugs, but seldom do we think about changing the cutleries! Our regular cookware sets no longer look good and there is no way that we wish to become the topic of discussion among the guests for our worn out cookware sets or cutleries, isn’t it? Don’t worry! As the festivities are approaching, here are a few tips which can help you to buy cookware for your home.

Let’s have a look at what they are:

• Make a List of What You Need: First of all, make a list of the things you want for your kitchen. Suppose you are thinking about buying dinnerware and casseroles, then make a list of the total number. This will save you from overspending and also, you will know exactly what you need for your kitchen. If you are thinking about buying casserole sets, you can buy casseroles online as well. You just need to do a bit of research beforehand!

• Look For Different Designs: Now, when the list is ready, decide on the designs you would like to see in your kitchen. Do you wish to go for simple transparent glass designs or you wish to go for floral ones or with attractively designed cookware sets. You can take help of the web to research about the latest cookware designs.

• Decide On the Material: Once it’s done, you need to decide on the material. Do you want to buy melamine sets or glass ones? Do you like steel cookware or copper one? Once you decide on the type of material, you will be able to chalk out a budget also.

• Look at the Various Features: Suppose you have thought about buying casserole sets, wouldn’t it be nice if they are microwave safe? Like this, there are several other features which you can look for in the products while buying the same. This way you will get more than what you have been expecting from the products.

• Make a Budget: So, once everything else is set, you need to prepare a budget. This is one thing which most of us forget and then end up spending a fortune on such things! Decide with your family members, spouse, or anyone who stays with you and chalk out a budget.

So, now you know what you need to do before buying brand new cookware sets for your kitchen, don’t you? Just follow these above-mentioned tips and you will be able to buy the best cookware options this year. Happy shopping!

A Few Steps To Follow For Cleaning An Induction Cooktop

Induction cooktops are a must-have for every households. Several well-known cooks or chefs also rely on these for a much faster and flexible approach to cooking. Induction cooktops have enhanced the cooking experience as a whole for those who were actually scared of burning their fingers from the gas flames and therefore, refrained themselves from cooking. When you have an induction cooktop in your kitchen, you need not worry! It is the smart way of cooking and there is no way that you can get any burns while cooking anything on these!

Cooking on an induction is not only a good choice from the safety point of view, but these also provides a big relief from the headache of cleaning the cooking oven area. Cleaning an induction cooktop is as easy as pie! One only has to follow a particular procedure for cleaning the induction cooktops for maintaining durability of the appliance as the surface is made up of glass ceramic which should be handled with care. So, here in this article, we will see the details about cleaning induction cooktops for keeping it shiny and scartch-free.

Regular Cleaning Method

• Induction cooktops take just a few seconds to cool down after you cook something on it. So, you should wait for some time and then wipe off the cooking spills with a damp sponge or cloth from the cooktop.
• Now, spray some cooktop cleaner on the surface and then rub gently with a paper towel until and unless the cooking spills get wiped off totally.
• Once everything is done, use a dry piece of cloth and wipe off the cooktop cleaner from the surface.

Cleaning of the Hardened Residues

• After cleaning the induction cooktop surface, pour a few drops of white vinegar and clean hard water on the cooktop for cleaning solid cooking spills.
• In case the residues have become hard, you can use some ceramic cooktop cleaner and wipe it off with a clean cooktop cleaner pad. Repeat the action for better results.
• You can also apply a scraper gently onto the surface of the cooktop, but be sure to avoid any scratches. This will remove the remaining dirt.
• You can use a paper towel instead of a dry cloth for cleaning the excessive dirt and oil of the surface. However, you need to be gentle while cleaning the cooktop as it is very delicate to handle.

Cleaning different parts of Induction Cooker

• Stainless Steel area : While cleaning the stainless steel part of an induction cooktop, always use a tender cleaner, like soapy water. Apply this soapy water on the stainless steel part of the cooktop and clean it up with a dry cloth. Avoid leaving any kind of watermarks by cleaning thoroughly.
• Cooktop Surface : Surface of the induction cooktops are made up of glass ceramic. The high sensitivity of the material makes it fall under the category of ‘fragile’. As mentioned earlier, a creamy cooktop cleaner must be applied and the area should be cleaned with a dry cloth or paper towel.
• Getting rid of any watermark: There are possibilities that a few watermarks will get settled down on the surface area of the cooktop which is not at all a good sight. These stains disturb the beauty of an induction cooktop. Don’t worry! you can remove it by using undiluted white vinegar and a piece of dry cloth. This will help you to maintain the shine of the cooktop.

Things to avoid while cleaning an Induction Cooker

• Any kind of steam jet or high-pressure cleaner should be avoided while cleaning the cooktop. It may severely damage the surface and may also leave scratches.
• Ammonia-based cleaners are a big ‘no-no’! If you wish to keep your appliance healthy for a long period of time, it is advisable to be gentle with whatever you do.
• Instruction manual is also provided with the induction cooktops which describes the proper cleaning methods. So, it’s preferable for the users to stick to those instructions and follow the same for better maintenance of the appliance.

Top 3 Borosil Products To Decorate Your House This Festive Season

India is a country which loves to celebrate festivals. Diversity and multi-cultured traditions of the country are full of colourful festivals. These joyous occasions bring reasons to celebrate and rejoice. No stone is left unturned when it comes to making preparations and decorating houses for the festivities. As many Indian festivals are knocking the door, Borosil has introduced a contemporary range of products to enhance the beauty of you decorated home this gala season. These trendsetting products are too beautiful to resist and can be used on other occasions as well. Here are the top 3 Borosil products to decorate your house this festive season.

“Festivals are nothing but a way to bring you closer to your family”

1. Diya Lights

Diya lights are inspired by the lights (diya in Hindi) used by every Indian at the time of Diwali to decorate their houses. These decorative items can be used to lighten up the mood of dull interiors and to give a traditional look to the room. These decorative diya lights are a combination of borosilicate glass and conventional means of lighting to add a charm to its surroundings. They are available in the set of two and can be purchased at a reasonable cost.

 

2. Akhand Diyas

Akhand (Monolithic in English) Diyas are designed to create a calm and meditative atmosphere in your pooja room. The product is available in three categories namely, nickel, brass and aarti diya. These lights can be used for gifting purpose as well. Give a serene and tranquil effect to your house by adding these beautiful pieces to your pooja room. These diyas are available in two metals namely, nickel and brass.

 

“The greatness of a culture can be found in its festivals” – Siddharth Katragadda

3. Puja Thali

Puja thalis are used in Hindu traditions for offering prayers to our deities. Borosil has come up with a new range of puja thalis with an elegant and attractive design. This product is a pack of a Rooli / Kumkum katori, a bell, a diya, a panchamrut set with a spoon, a dhoop & agarbatti holder and other vital materials required for pooja (worship in English). This thali is available in copper and brass. You order the puja thali of your choice and give a new touch to this festival season
To celebrate this festive season with a new enthusiasm and excitement, buy this awesome range of decorative items and start a new trend of celebration. All these products are available at the official website of MyBorosil.

How Borosil’s Rice Cooker Became My Perfect Saviour in an Unknown City

After completing my class 12 board exams successfully, I started applying to different engineering colleges. I had given a few entrance exams as well and when the results came out, I found myself successfully placed in one of the top most engineering colleges in India. I was excited and so were my parents. However, my mom was having a mixed feeling! She knew that it was going to be my first-time experience to live away from them. Also, she wasn’t quite sure about how I would manage everything on my own! And in my heart, I knew that her worries were right.

Being the only daughter to my parents and living in a nuclear family, I have always been a very pampered child since childhood. I had never even made a cup of tea or coffee for myself as I had people to take care of me and if not anyone else, I knew that mom was there! But when I got to know that I didn’t get a place in my college hostel and so, I would require staying as a paying guest for a year in an unknown city, I got terrified! I knew that I would have to cook and clean all by myself. And more than anything else, cooking was something which was an absolute no-no for me!

My best friend’s mom, at that time, came to my rescue! She asked my mom to buy me a rice cooker. At first, both I and my mom wasn’t really sure about the usage of a rice cooker. However, after doing some research about it on the web, we finally decided to buy rice cooker online! After searching for the same through various websites, I stumbled upon My Borosil. I went through the website and found the products to be really enticing. I got a few options for rice cookers and finally bought one which was suiting our budget.

It’s been a year that I am living as a paying guest and cooking have become easier than every before! The rice cooker doesn’t only let me cook rice but I have tried out several other dishes as well. And the whole process of cooking something with this product is so easy that I never really faced the irks of cooking!

So, my advice to all the young learners who are going to stay in a hostel or who needs to cook for themselves is, buy rice cooker online from My Borosil and make your life easier! For me, undeniably, this product has been a saviour!

Exclusive Microwavable Casserole Sets From My Borosil Made My Mom’s Birthday All the More Special!

Being the marketing head of an IT firm in Delhi, I need to keep travelling all around India. My work keeps me so busy that I seldom get time to go home. For the past 2 years, I couldn’t go to Kolkata to pay a visit to my mother and sister. However, this time, I couldn’t miss my mother’s birthday at any cost! She was a bit grumpy for the past few days and was already sad because she had guessed that I won’t go to meet her this year as well. But this time, I had planned for a little surprise for her!

My flight arrived in Kolkata on time and I took a cab home. While looking outside through the window and admiring the beauty of my birth city, I suddenly remembered that I had forgotten to buy a gift for my mother for her birthday. In a reflex, I took out my phone and typed on Google, ‘best gifting ideas for mother’s birthday’. Google came up with a host of links and I opened one. I started reading one of the articles and the very first option which I liked was kitchenwares.

So, I was confused about what to buy! My mother is an amazing cook and she really likes to buy and collect different kitchenwares. My mother has a collection of dining sets, cutleries and what not! However, this time, I wanted to gift something different from these regular kitchenware options. From a friend of mine in Delhi, I had heard about exclusive microwavable casseroles once which she had bought for her mother as an anniversary gift. However, I didn’t know from where she had ordered those so I called her up and she told me that she had ordered them online from My Borosil. She told me, ‘buy casseroles online from My Borosil. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.’ As soon as I disconnected the call, I entered straight into the website of My Borosil and glanced through the awesome collection they have in casserole sets. I chose one which I liked the most and ordered for the same.

In a few minutes, I reached home and knocked on the door! My mother opened the door and the gleam in her eyes, mixed with surprise and happiness, was something which I had missed all this while being away from her. I hugged her immediately and went inside. The next day was the special day. At around noon, the doorbell rang and mom opened the door. I was expecting it to be the gift and there he was, the delivery boy standing outside with the big parcel in his hand! I was delighted. My mom was shocked at first and then after opening the parcel, she smiled and looked pleasantly surprised! I told her that it was a gift for her on her birthday. Seeing my mom happy and smiling that day has become my fuel for the next few days or months here in Delhi till I again go back to Kolkata!

Truly speaking, Borosil made that day all the more special for us! And if you too wish to have a look at their casserole sets or buy casseroles online from My Borosil, browse through their website.

Microwave Chicken Curry: An Easy Dish for the Weekends!

I and my wife are based in Delhi and we both are working in two different IT firms here. No matter how much we say that today, men are ready to share the load with their better halves, the fact is, women works more than any men! My wife, for instance, cooks breakfast for the both of us, leaves for work and does the grocery shopping all by herself. And the only thing I feel after coming back home is, ‘Oh! I am so damn tired!“

Last week, however, I tried to act like a sensitive husband and thought about giving Shilpa, my wife, a little surprise. I took an early leave from office and while coming back home, I bought chicken (it’s her favourite) and some spices of her choice. I entered home and started browsing the internet for an easy chicken recipe (for I am a worst cook!) which will be equally easier for me to cook! I came across, ‘microwave chicken curry’. I went through the ingredients and realised that everything was present in the kitchen. Also, the method of cooking seemed really easy. So, I started preparing Shilpa’s favourite chicken curry!

Well, before sharing with you all the end-result of my cooking and my wifey’s reaction to my surprise, let me share with you all the recipe first!

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts cut into halves (un-skined)
• 2 tbsp Indian curry paste (it’s easily available in the market)
• 3-4 tbsp olive oil (we are health freaks and hence, this! You can use mustard oil as well!)
• 1/2 bunch of chopped basil leaves
• 1/2 bunch of chopped corriander leaves
• 2 tbsp soya sauce
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Salt to taste
• Paprika and thinly sliced scallions for garnishing

Method

• Take a big microwave bowl with a lid (you can easily buy microwave bowls online) and mix together the oil and curry paste. Microwave this for 3 minutes on high.
• Now, take out the bowl and add the chicken pieces and stir it well. Now, cover the microwave bowl with its lid and microwave the chicken for around 8 minutes on medium heat.
• Once it’s a bit soft and half cooked, take out the bowl and add the chopped basil leaves, corriander leaves, soya sauce, salt and pepper. Stir everything well, again cover the bowl and put the bowl inside the microwave for another 4 minutes on medium heat.

• Take out the bowl, stir everything once again and let the chicken curry rest for 3-4 minutes.

• Garnish with paprika and scallions. Serve hot with steamed rice or chapatti.

Now coming to what happened that night! Well, I was successful in making my wife happy! She reached home on time and was shocked to see me at the door, welcoming her! I asked her to get freshened up and she looked equally shocked! She could actually sense that something was ‘cooking’ (in its literal sense).

Well, I took out a plate, put a few spoons of steamed rice and a piece of the chicken curry I had prepared for her and gave her the plate! She just blurted. ‘You made this?!” and I said, “Yes! For you!” (a bit of romance is necessary you see!)

She loved my cooking that night and I am happy that I could make her happy! However, the only trouble is, I need to make this recipe quite often now as it has become her favourite!

So, what are you waiting for? Prepare this easy dish tonight and surprise your spouse! However, do not forget to buy microwave bowls online, if you do not have them yet, from My Borosil! Trust me, they have some of the best options.

Microwavable Dinner Plates from Borosil Became the Best Rakhi Gift for my Sister

Rakhi Utsav is around the corner and while booking my tickets for home today in the morning, I suddenly got reminded of last year! It was my first year away from home and there was no way that I could miss this festival as I knew how much my little sister would be angry with me. More than a sister, she has been a little baby to me. Being 6 years younger to me, she was always very much pampered by me. And Rakhi Utsav is the time when she expects me to shower her with the best of gifts. So, last year, I was doing a lot of researches about what to gift her and what would she like the most. More than anything else, my sister loved cooking. She was 24 then and was going to get married in the next six months. So, I wanted to give her something which she could use in her new household as well!

As I was busy planning with my mom about what to buy for her, my girlfriend suggested me to buy dinner plates online for her! Akriti, my girlfriend, has been living alone in Delhi for the past 4-5 years and she manages everything on her own. She is an awesome cook too and it was she who gave me the idea of buying those plates for my sister. At first, I was a bit sceptical about shopping online. However, after getting assured by Arkriti, I finally ordered the dinner plates from My Borosil. I must mention here that My Borosil is my girlfriend’s favourite shopping website online and she simply swears by it for buying kitchenware! So, there was no way that I could trust any other brand.

I reached home a day before Rakhi Utsav last year and the parcel arrived the very next day. My sister was overwhelmed and was visibly happy! She hugged me tight and said, “dada, this one’s the best gift you have given me till date.“Since then, even my mom and sister have made Myborosil their go-to website whenever they need to buy crockeries or any other kitchenware.

This year also I am thinking about gifting her something from Borosil. They have an envious product list with no dearth of options! Don’t believe me? Well, go to their website and buy dinner plates online yourself or, for that matter, any other thing which will catch your attention! Trust me, you won’t get disappointed!

Microwave Chocolate Cake: Make Your Little One’s Birthday All the More Special!

Your kiddo’s birthday is round the corner and you are thinking about making it a special one. You might have already made the guests list and have got in touch with the caterer. However, if you wish to make the day really special for your little one, why not prepare something for your baby yourself? For instance, a microwave chocolate cake is really easy to prepare and therefore, can be one of the best gifts for your kid from you!

Let us now see how you can easily bake a microwave chocolate cake:

Ingredients:

For the cake:

• 140g plain flour
• 175g castor sugar
• 3 tbsp cocoa powder
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 100 ml sunflower oil or 100 gm butter
• 2 eggs
• chocolate sprinkles
• vanilla essence
• 100 ml hot water
• For the ganache:
• Dark chocolate bars
• 5 tbsp double cream

Method:

For the cake

1. Firstly, grease a microwave cake pan with little bit of oil or butter and place a parchment paper at the bottom of the pan.
2. Now, take a mixing bowl (you can buy mixing bowl online) and put all the dry ingredients inside, one by one. Like this, mix the flour, sugar, cocoa powder and baking powder. Take another jug and whisk the eggs, oil, vanilla essence and 100 ml hot water.
3. Slowly put the liquid ingredients to the dry one and whisk them together thoroughly until the batter is a lump-free one. Now, pour this entire cake mix into the cake pan.
4. Microwave the cake on a full power of 800 watts for around 7-8 minutes. Take out the pan and see if the cake is ready or not by inserting a skewer inside the cake. If it comes out clean, then your cake is ready. Now, keep the cake aside and let is cool!

For the Ganache

1. Melt the chocolate bars for around 2 minutes in the microwave and stir every 30 seconds to see if the chocolate is melted properly or not.
2. Beat the double cream until it attains a thick consistency. Now, pour the cream into the melted chocolate and mix them with another slowly.

The Final Touch!

The cake is now ready for the decoration! So, place it on a cake stand and spread the ganache all over the cake and sprinkle the chocolate sprinkles all over the cake. And voila! The yummilicious birthday cake is ready to be savoured by all at the party!

(If it’s hot outside, it’s better to keep the cake in the fridge.)

So, now you know how easy it is to bake a chocolate cake at home, isn’t it? You just need to buy mixing bowl, cake pan and the other essentials, and the end result will be awesome! You can also buy the mixing bowl from Borosil.

Preparing Chicken MOMO at Home

Who wouldn’t like to gorge on these delicious chicken stuffed momos on a cool evening! This Nepali snack has been a staple diet of those hailing from Sikkim and has now also become a fetish for a lot of foodies. Here we will share the ways of making it on your own! Exciting, isn’t it?

Ingredients:

1. 2 pounds of ground chicken breast and thigh
2. 1 full white onion
3. 1 bunch of scallions
4. 1 tablespoon of grated ginger
5. ½ tablespoon of grated garlic
6. ½ tablespoon of white pepper
7. 1 tablespoon of cumin powder
8. Salt to taste
9. 3 tablespoons oil (preferably Olive oil)
10. 2 bunches of finely chopped cilantro
11. Premade dough patties for wrapping
12. Green Chili for sauce
13. 1 tablespoon of sesame seed for sauce
14. 2 pounds of ripe tomatoes for sauce

Directions:

For the stuffing, first add all the ingredients listed above in a big bowl, make sure to leave out the dough patties & the ingredients for the sauce and mix it thoroughly. Put it in the refrigerator for 10 – 15 minutes.

Then, add the stuffing in a dough patty and wrap them. There are many ways one can wrap the Momos. The main goal is to make sure, you conceal the edges of the dough patties together so that the meat does not come out. For more help, you can look up videos of instructions or you can use your own creativity. That’s the fun part of making Momo. Invite your guests to be part of it too.

Boil water in Momo steamer. Once the water comes to a boil, add Momo on top shelf of the steamer. Steam the Momo for at least 15 minutes and not more than 20 minutes on high heat.

To prepare the sauce, chop tomatoes into smaller pieces. Fry it in hot pan with olive oil. Add cumin powder and sesame seed, garlic, ginger, green chili (if prefer hot) and salt according to your liking. In about 10 minutes of cooking take it out; let it sit for 5 minutes. Once that is done, grind it in a grinder.

Note – Use microwavable glassware to prepare the food as glassware helps in enhancing taste.