"Granny, tell us of the time when you were a little girl! Please! Please!"

"Of course, come on, all of you. Yes, sweetheart, you’ve cut your little finger? Oh dear, now, now, here’s a lolly. Don’t cry."

Sound familiar? Of course, it will. Atleast to an average human who has had a childhood- complete with a grandmother. Grandmothers have been around for a long time. Grandmothers have come to be treated by many as just another member of the family. To the ladies, just another person to cook for and care for, to the men, just another person to add to the car-trips, to the kids, not just another woman, but an essential part of their lives. Yes, it is true, that children are labeled immature, but have you realized that it is these little angels who understand the true meaning of love and care? Honestly, do you spare some time for these women who are still your mothers or mothers-in-law, no matter how much either of you have grown? Probably not. Many may argue that in their busy life, there IS no time for practically anything. Really? How much time do you spend on the couch- reading, zapping channels on the idiot box, chatting with your hubbies or just simply lazing? Of course, relaxation is necessary after a hard day’s work, but is chatting or spending some time with the children’s grandma really a chore? Obviously, it is not. Why, you don’t really have to keep aside time especially for them- you can even just include them in the family conversations and discussions and outings, and whatever the family does as a whole. I am certain they will definitely feel elated to receive the attention, which they are generally deprived of. Think for a moment how you would feel if it were you in their place. Well, you will be- it’s just a matter of time before you and I are doddering old wrecks. How, then, would you like to be treated? In America, couples and families who yearn for a ‘private life’ pack off countless old folk (their parents, of course) to the Homes for the Elderly every year. Isn’t it utterly shameful? These parents sacrificed their private lives too just for the sake of these ungrateful children, and not expecting a reward either for their selfless acts. So, then, did they send these children to the orphanages and Children’s Homes? No, they simply brought them up for they were their own children, after all. Do as you may, it is an endless cycle- it is just a matter of time. Good luck.

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Vanity Fare

Taking good care of your skin is not a difficult task. All it takes for a glowing skin is time, certain guidelines that you should follow and a regular skin routine. To begin a regular skin routine, recognize your skin type. The skin can usually be of 5 types: Normal, dry, oily, sensitive and combination skin.

• Normal skin is considered the best type of skin that a girl can have. Normal skin is even in color, very fresh looking and contains the right amount of moisture the skin requires.

• Dry skin feels very tight and looks flaky too. It is completely oil-free and often will turn sensitive, later on.

• Oily skin consists of excess oil, which often results in pimples, blackheads and whiteheads. It is often described as ‘orange peel’ skin.

• Sensitive skin is one which gets easily irritated, tight and is usually allergic to cosmetic products. This type of skin is often painful, and difficult to treat. It can be red in color and special care should be taken to avoid any strong products.

• Combination skin is a combination of normal, dry and oily skin. It consists of an oily panel in the center which is often called the ‘T-zone’. The cheek area is either normal to dry or normal to oily.

Once you have determined your skin type, it is easy to select the products that are suitable for your skin.

 

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What is Cooking

Hi, again! I’m pretty bushed at the moment because I’ve been doing a world tour for our cookery club. I visited Los Angeles, Rome, Paris, Mumbai, Melbourne and New Mexico to demonstrate some of our club’s fantastic new cookery gadgets and to lend the participants some recipes, tips and stuff. I was fervently hoping that atleast one of you ladies would make the job easier for me by sending in some recipes. But, no such luck. So, here’s the menu for now…

 

Hot and Sweet Pancakes

INGREDIENTS

2 eggs

1 cup plain flour

½ cup milk

Pinch of salt

Pinch of chilli powder

Honey for spreading

Ghee

METHOD

Mix the eggs, flour, salt, milk and chilli powder in a bowl. Keep a panon the fire, and when warm, spread some ghee on it. Then, spread a little of the flour mixture on the pan. When one side is done, turn it over and cook the other side. When done, put it on a plate, and spread ghee. Repeat process until all the mixture is used up.

Pancakes are all time favorites. And this one- with some chilli and honey- is no exception…

Shashalik/ Yakitori

INGREDIENTS

½ kg boneless chicken

4 tbsp soy sauce

1 ½ tbsp sugar

½ tsp ginger (crushed)

5 capsicums

10 spring onions

4 tbsp oil

Salt and pepper to taste

 

METHOD

Blend together the soy sauce, sugar, ginger, salt and pepper. Put in the chicken and marinate for half an hour. Slice the capsicums and onions and fry them separately in 2 tbsps of oil, until tender. Drain the chicken and fry them till almost crisp. Mix the chicken, onions and capsicum in a plate and serve.

Try out this yummy Japanese yummy chicken dish. You guys cook these dishes in a wok?

Carrot and Cabbage Soup

INGREDIENTS

2 grated carrots

½ tsp vinegar

1 cup grated cabbage

1 tsp soy sauce1 ½ tsp oil

2 cups water

1 tsp chilli sauce

1 tsp cornflour (optional)

1 green chilli, finely chopped

Salt to taste

A pinch of pepper

A soup cube

METHOD

Heat the oil in a pan and add the grated carrots and cabbage. Stir for a while and then add the soy sauce, chilli sauce, salt and the soup cube. Mix well, cover the pan and cook for 2 mints. Then, add 2 cups of water to the mixture and let it boil for 2-3 mints. Add the vinegar and remove from the fire. Add pepper and the green chillies and serve. If you want the soup to be a little thick, mix the cornflour in a little water and pour it into the soup while it boils.

It’s cold out here! Keep warm by having a cup of delicious, piping hot carrot and cabbage soup. It’s easy to make too.

Ice-cream fruit delight

INGREDIENTS

2 slices of cake

½ litre strawberry ice-cream

1 box jelly

Grapes, pineapple and orange pieces

Vanilla whipping cream powder- I small pkt.

METHOD

Add jelly to one small cup of boiling water. Cut the cake into small pieces, and add grapes, pineapple and orange pieces. Beat the strawberry ice-cream, whipping cream and jelly with an egg beater. Pour the contents over the cake mixture. Refrigerate, and serve cold.

Here’s something you can make in a jiffy. Be it for a party, or when a few friends drop in unexpectedly.

Banana Boat

INGREDIENTS

2 small bananas

I tin Nestle cream

Glaze cherries, chopped almonds and banana slices for decration

METHOD

Cutout the bananas in half. Slice off the ends of one. Make a boat by placing the shortened banana in the middle. Cover it with half of the cream. Place the other banana halves on either side. Pour the chocolate sauce and decorate with remaining cream, glaze cherries, banana slices and almonds.

For the chocolate sauce, melt together 5 heaped tbsp Nesquik* (50gm), 1 tsp water and 2 tsp sweetened condensed milk in a small saucepan over a low heat. When cool, pour over the banana.

Whatsa banana got to do with a boat? Well, this boat is yummy and edible too….

*Or any other brand of cocoa powder. Nesquik recommended.

-Carol Karolina

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WOMAN 2000

Aankhon mein Kajol- the Queen Bee herself

Kajol is the unpredictable kind- one moment she is giggling and bubbling with excitement, the next she’s raising hackles and screaming complicated English- if you rub her the wrong way. "I just let go of myself when I’m angry. So, in case I accidentally use swear words, I shout in Oxford-type English. Besides, hardly half the people are able to comprehend it", she says with a mischievous grin. That’s Kads for you.

Normally, Kajol does not bother about how the media describes her. She’s no hypocrite either. " It’s all a matter of understanding.", she says. It is obvious that she’s no soft-spoken typical bharatiya nari. She says what she wants to. She has no qualms about being outspoken and straightforward. Nor is she a sycophant. But if you like her or not, Kads sure has proved her mettle in her metier, namely, acting. A natural-born actress, a boon to the film industry, a breath of fresh air – call her what you may- Kajol has definitely ARRIVED, period.

Anyway, 1997 was mixed for her with Gupt and Ishq doing well and an impressive performance in Sapnay which flopped as did Hamesha. However, the award for Gupt did lift her spirits. In 1998, Kajol blazed with Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya which made brisk business, and Pooja Bhatt's Dushman, in which she played the role of two sisters who are temperamentally as different from each other as can be. "I am very excited about Dushman. I wasn't too much in for playing a double role, but the idea was very different that I have two get ups. In one of the roles, I have short hair and the other I am my usual self." she had said before the movie hit the screens. However, Kajol was not game for a wig at all in the film. "I hate the time that one tends to waste to get ready. I'd rather read a book in the time or even give a few more shots, yaar. Moreover does the NSD, FTII or any other school of acting in the world tells us that wigs are a part of acting? I don't like to do anything that looks unreal. I don't want anyone to say that they found me distant or far from life in any scene or song. I want to look approachable and real. Show me one person in real life who wears those wigs and clothes, which people in Hindi films are asked to wear?" Yet, Kajol was very pepped up about Dushman for which she even won an award (Screen-Videocon). "It was not that it was a watershed in my life. Or that it was a very important film, because I treat all my films as important. I sign a film only if I want to do it. I do not sign a film for money. Pooja and Tanuja (Chandra) are all charged up about the film. Why shouldn't they be? It has been very well made and I am proud to be a part of it."

Isn’t she a tad impulsive? "Impulsive I am not. I'm instinctive. Most of my decisions are instinctive and split second. I do not regret anything that I do or that I have said. Everything I do or say belongs to me and I never regret what is mine. I want to live life to the fullest. So I do what I feel and tell people what I feel." People tend to accept this behavior as arrogant. "So what? I will do what I want. Everyone should do what he or she feels like. Why should we bow down before the society and people and do what they feel is right? It's our life and we must enjoy it to the fullest." Point taken. But that does mean that she has no regard for others? "No, please don't mistake me. Give respect and take respect. Respect my sentiments and I will respect yours. See, now I am just wearing glasses and sitting down. No one recognizes me on flights and I travel this way very easily. If I am all decked up won't it mean a waste of time? I get ready in minutes much ahead of the other actresses."

So is she not bothered about the fact that the other actresses would look much better after their make up? "Let them. I am not here to compete with the other heroines. I am not in the rat race. I do not want to be number one. I am here just for fun. The day I feel, I have had enough, I will quit, get married and have a lot of kids."

Kajol has been of such a temperamental nature right from her first film Bekhudi which f lopped leaving her in a state of bekhudi. Then followed films like Udhar Ki Zindagi where she dished out a terrific performance but that film too failed. However Kajol likes the film a lot. "That has been my best film till date. I have never given a better performance in any other film till date." After that Baazigar, Karan Arjun and Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge opposite Shah Rukh Khan put her on a pedestal from where she can be considered as a successful actress. And now, the top-grosser, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai with SRK and cousin Rani Mukherjee which was entirely her movie as SRK put it- "Kajol was the actual hero of the movie."- and the more recent Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain with Anil Kapoor in which she plays a conservative housewife. Does she plan to adopt that role in the near future? Maybe she does, for on February 24^th, Kajol got wedded to her long-time fiancé, Ajay Devgan. Let’s wait and see what she’s upto now… One thing’s for certain though, she’s not quitting so soon. She has quite a few films on hand including one with her hubby titled Dil Kya Karen and also has a special appearance in his forthcoming film, Hindustan Ki Kasam. And, she also has Hote Hote Pyar Ho Gaya with Sanjay Dutt and Atul Agnihotri. Let’s hope all goes well for this match made in heaven. Her pairing with Ajay Devgan (in movies) has not been successful as Hulchul and Goondaraaj flopped. "But Ishq did well, didn't it? I have Pyar To Hona Hi Tha too. My pairings with other actors have also resulted in f lops like with Saif. Only Shah Rukh and I have a great track record." Even if she lost Mani Ratnam's Dil Se and Indra Kumar’s Mann to Manisha Koirala, because of date hassles, Kajol has mega aces tucked up under her sleeves of course to keep her going up, up and up and remain numero uno. And if these films, or at least a couple of them happen to do well, then she can jolly well be queen in '99

-Compiled and written by Radhika.G.