Essentials or Must haves in a Handbag

Summer comes and goes, rains come and go  but we sometimes forghet what all we should have in handbags and what not. How to keep our handbags litterfree / clutter free.
 First think of all the things in your handbags, old bus or trin tickets, bills from the shops and supermarkets which we just push into our bags, as well as some sweets and snacks which we couldn't finish at that time, tissues old and the new which we stock "incase we need it later" and all such things.

Let us get a list of all the things that should be in an handbag.
Umbrella -  is the most important one come, wherther it is sun or rain we need that one, to take care of ourselves.  It is not easy to carry a raincoat expecting a thunderstorm on a sunny day.  Do away with those. you can ghet stylish, 3 fold, 4 fold umbrellas in the market which will fit into any handbag you fancy. So carry an umbrella with you, it is a must.

 Notepad and  pen - get a small notepad and a pen which sometimes you get with a pad , that will be very easy and worthwhile. You will need that to note down the " To Do list"  in the morning either to office or for shopping in the evening.  Even if some one gives you anaddress or a phone number when you don't have a mobile  with youthis note pad and pen will become necessary.

Deodrant - Smelling good and feeling good is everyone's prerogative. It is just as important as good hygiene. there are good deodrants ( may be a bit coastlier than the usual ones) which will stay through the day without your having to spray again. Buy them it will make a good buy than the ordinary ones. Particularly if you get wet apply them on before you go anywhere or meet anyone. You will need that and this is another essential equipment in a ladies Handbag.

Hand Sanitizer - Nowadays we just cannot ignore the necessity of Hand Sanitizers  with us wherever we go.  They become extremely necessary when you travel in the trains, suburban or long distance, bus transport, eat outside in Dhabas  while shopping etc. so always keep a pack ready with you.

Touch up kit - A kajal pencil, a lipstick, lip balm and a cream coloured foundation which you can use in case of emergency. A kajal or an eye pencil you will need along with a lip balm and a lipstick. That will be a daily routine before you leave the office for the day orelse youy will look washed out in the evening.

MP3 player or an i pod - you can have this  with you incase you have to travel daily for quite sometime  either to reach office or home. These are very small with the ear phones set. The ones which can be connected with the mobile will be the best ones to choose.

Book - If you are not the music listening type, you can have a book , a novel, science fiction or some serious reading if you like in your handbag so that you don't feel the time you spend in travelling a bore. You don't have to listen to the un wanted chatter around or indulge in o0ne yourself.

Scarf is a must, you might need one when you are travelling  either to keep your hair style in place or  for not getting wet in a little drizzle when you are traveling by the bus or train.

Low calorie snacks -  You can have a packet of biscuits or a chocolate  with you, incase you get late and feel hungry. Even peanuts, roasted  or chikkies / candies which are healthy can also be added to the biscuits and chocolates list.

How to Extract Coconut Milk

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How to Clean Microwaves

When you grill or bake sometimes food splashes across in the Microwave. Tha Oil and the gas vapours form a stick gunk inside the microwave. Once in a while you will have to clean it to keep the microwave in good condition.
Anyway, you will be cleaning the turntable and the outsides of the microwave regularly but I am almost certain that you will not be cleaning the inside portion unless necessary.
Just take a microwaveable bowl or a glass with half full of water. Add 1 / 2 tbsps of Vinegar . Put the microwave on high for 5 minutes.
Just put the microwave off after 5 minutes and you should be able to remove the sticky looking gunk from the insides of your microwave. Just a paper napkin or kitchen wipe should be enough for you to do this. After that, remove your turntable and wash it with soap and water. Dry and keep it back inside. Wipe the outsides also with a moist towel.
Your microwave is ready for use again. The efficiency will increase after servicing like this, you can see that for yourself. It is better for you to do this once a month for the regular check up.

Cooking hints

Slicing or shredding of meat

Slicing or shredding of the meat especially for the Chinese dishes (which should be thinner ones, to cook properly) can be easily done if the meat is partially frozen.

While hard boiling eggs

1. While using eggs for hard boiling use old and shiny eggs. The shells can be removed easily after hard boiling. You can recognize fresh eggs as they are rough and chalky. If you hard boil them the shell will stick together and will not come apart easily.

2. To avoid the shells cracking while hard boiling eggs add a little vinegar to the water and then cook.

3. If it is already cracked slightly but not oozing sprinkle a little table salt over the crack and then cook it.

4. You can also prick at the wider part of the bottom with a pin / needle, to be able to remove the shells easily after hard boiling the eggs.

Microwave - Dos and Don'ts

Microwaves are seen everywhere in the recent days and all are buying it since it is a lot easier in the kitchen when the time is precious.
Some important things are to be noted down while you use Microwaves.
Do not keep one vessel on top of the other while cooking in a microwave, keep themside by side or do it one after the other.
Do not cook for a longer period, it will make the ingredients rubberish, hard  and tasteless.
Round shaped vessels are the best ones to be used in the microwave. The food will cookuniformly. If cooked in squarish vessels, the food will not get uniformly cooked in the corners and you will have to keep mixing the contents every now and then. Not only this will be tiresome, there is every chance that some of the food will get over cooked.
 Add salt to the dish after cooking in the microwave. If you add salt before cooking,  you will have to cook for a longer time to get the ingredients tender.
While cooking vegetables, sprinkle a little water else they will get dried up while cooking in its own juices.
Do not ever cook eggs with shell in the microwave. It will explode inside the Microwave. Do not even try and warm the hard boiled eggs with shells. If you have to warm the boiled eggs, remove the shells and then warm them.
When you warm or heat gravies keep the vessels only three fourths filled, it might boil over otherwise.

How To take care of Thermos flasks

 Bad Odor from Flask
If you do not use flask for a long time the flask, you will face a bad smell coming from it.
To prevent that from happening , put two or three coal pieces inside after cleaning them properly. While washing, you can also add vinegar to remove the smell.

How to Use Flasks
Before pouring boiling liquids in to the flask always add a little hot water inside and shake the flask well. Do not pour boiling liquids straight into the flask with out doing this. There is every chance of flask exploding if you pour boiling liquids directly in to the flask.
Similarly do not pour freezing liquids directly into the flask. Add a little cold water, shake well and then you can use to store cold food in the flask.

Dos and Don't while using a flask
Do not store warm milk in the flask It will get curdled. If you want to store milk either pour hot milk or cold milk to avoid milk from getting spoilt soon.

How to Clean a flask
If the flask gets dull colored due to over use, add salted hot water, leave it for ten minutes and then wash it in your usual method. The flask will regain its color and the fresh smell.
It is easier to clean flask, if you put in a piece of news paper inside the flask while washing. The flask can be cleaned soon.