Saffron Extract

Saffron is the most expensive spice and is also known as the "King of Spice".
Saffron is warming, digestive, rejuvenating and it has a sweet aroma and taste. Saffron is traditionally used in Indian rice and dessert dishes. Also is used in Italian risotto.

Tulsi

Tulsi plant doesn't do well in winter season here in US. And winter season is when we need Tulsi the most. Many have Tulsi plant in their back yard but by December the plant sheds all its leaves. Tulsi is the well known natural remedy to keep cold, cough and fever away.


One of the biggest advantage of Tulsi extract is that you can take it with you everywhere. You just need a glass of warm water and 1-2 drops of Tulsi extract to boost your immunity.

Try Tulsi extract this winter and be sniffles-free :)

Los Angeles Flower Market


Yesterday I went to the Los Angeles Flower Market . This was my first visit to the market and I was amazed to see the beautiful colors of roses and carnation flowers. Prices were great too. I bought 2 dozen roses for $4.50 !!
If you are crazy about flowers and are in Los Angeles area then you should visit this place.

My Paintings & Drawings


Lot of my friends don't know about my interest in painting. I have done a lot of pencil sketches, oil paintings, Pen & Ink, watercolors and charcoal drawing. I took some lessons in Calligraphy too.

This is one of the Pen and Ink drawings that I did long time back.

Tulsi Tea

The temperature outside is getting cooler.
And the number of people suffering from sniffles is getting higher. Especially, people who work in closed office buildings.
So what do you do to avoid getting the sniffles?
Easy. Have a cup of hot Tulsi Tea. Right in your office.

To make Tulsi Tea- heat up a cup of water in the microwave. Add 1-2 drops of Tulsi extract and if you want, add some sugar. Some people like to add little bit of ginger to this tea.
Tulsi Tea has lot of health benefits. Read more about the benefits of Tulsi Tea.

Tulsi Tea is very refreshing. Give it a try. I am sure you will like it.

Rain Clouds


I took this picture yesterday from my back yard. Wish I had a much better camera to capture this amazing dance of shadows on the mountain range.


This year I planted Marigold in my back yard and I am happy that I have about 10 -12 blooms, just in time for Dussehra. (Vijayadashami ).
I wonder why so much importance is given to Marigold flowers during Dussehra.
Probably because these amazing blooms have that brilliant golden color and decorating the house with these symbolizes wealth and prosperity.

This last Saturday, I woke up with a scratchy throat and knew that I was about to get cold & cough. I was feeling a bit feverish too.
And I took this opportunity to run my experiment with spice extracts :)

I started my experiment with a hot cup of tea with 2 drops of Tea Masala extract.
Then, after about 2 hrs, I had a cup of hot water to which I added 2 drops of Tulsi extract.
Again had a cup of hot tea with 2 drops of Tea Masala extract.

By afternoon, my body ache and tiredness had reduced.

I had another cup of hot Tulsi water in the evening and ended my day with a Masala chai.
So, in all, I had 3 cups of Masala chai and 3 cups of Tulsi water that day.

Sunday morning - I was feeling great, did not feel tired or feverish.
But just to make sure, I had 2 cups of hot Tulsi water on Sunday. One in the morning and one in the evening.

My experiment was a success. The Tulsi and the 6 spices in the Tea Masala extract worked pretty well.

Curry Leaf Extract

I am in the process of adding Curry Leaf Extract to my range of products.

Well, I am hoping that I will be have it available to my customers by October end. Curry Leaf Extract will be a very interesting addition. Indian cuisine is just incomplete without them.

Weekend reading


One of my all time favorite books is "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck. I must have read it 3-4 times till now. What I like about this book is that it is very easy to read, with no big words or complicated plots BUT after you are done with the book, you think about the characters for a long time. They make you think about your own life, your own struggles and achievements.
In Oprah's words - This book is easy reading that brings expansive thinking.

I think I will read this book again this weekend - with a cup of Ginger tea.

Ginger Tea



There is nothing like a nice, hot cup of Ginger Tea on winter days.

Ginger Tea reminds me of Bombay's amazing monsoon season . Pair up this tea with some onion bhajji and enjoy these simple things in life.



Begonia


This is my pink Begonia. I have seen pictures of a yellow one but couldn't find it in my local nursery.

Kids and Health

I recently read a very informative article on Wall Street Journal about Cold and Cough medicines for children. When my daughter was a toddler, she used to get a runny nose every time the weather changed. Like any other new mom, I used to run to the store , read the labels thoroughly and buy the one cold medicine that I thought was best suited for my daughters cold symptoms. Some times the medicine worked and sometimes it didn't. But the most difficult part was to make her swallow that medicine.
It was the same thing with my son. But with more kicking and screaming. One might think that the different flavors for the cold-cough medicines should make it easier. Nope. Not one bit.

I then started thinking about other ways to cure my kids cold where I won't have to make them drink any medicine. That is when I found Garlic oil. Now a days whenever my kids come home with a runny nose, I fry about 9 -10 cloves of garlic in oil (I use vegetable oil) till the garlic cloves turn black. Once cool, I apply this garlic oil on my kids back and chest. It works like a miracle.
I also add a couple of drops of garlic extract in their meal (soup, curry, etc) . This Garlic remedy works like a magic. And it has no side effects. Plus, as a bonus, kids immune system improves which leads to less bouts of cold and cough. A rare win-win situation :)

Its time for Tulsi Tea



With the amazing fall season approaching, its time for some nice, hot tulsi tea.
Tulsi improves our immune system and is a excellent remedy to keep cold and cough away.
I give warm Tulsi water to my kids once or twice a week to get them ready for the change of season.

Just add 1-2 drops of Tulsi extract to a glass of warm water, add some honey and enjoy!
Or just add some Tulsi drops to your cup of regular tea.