A poet, novelist, columnist, activist, professor and a book reviewer, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is best recognized as the author of Mistress of Spice, one of the best books of 1997. The Indian American is an author known to be penning down stories that revolve around her community and are coherent with her roots in India. Born in 1956 in Kolkata, Divakaruni earned her Bachelor in Arts degree from the University of Calcutta in 1976. Afterwards, she relocated to the United States so as to pursue higher education. She received her masters degree... Read More...

Ingredients: 50g hazelnuts 125g dark chocolate (chopped) 4 eggs (separate whites from yolk) 1/2 cup honey (about 125g) 1-1/2 cup cream 1 teaspoonful vanilla extract Method: Preheat the oven to 160 degree C, place the hazelnuts on a baking tray and toast them for 8-10 minutes or until golden. Ensure not to crowd them. While toasting, keep a close watch on the hazelnuts to keep them from burning. You can also toast them in a tawa over low-medium flame. Once done, use a tea towel to rub the skins from the toaste... Read More...

A chocolate lover best satisfies her cravings by picking up a fine chocolate bar from a grocery store and indulging herself in its sweet and (preferably) nutty flavor. However, a chocoholic travels far and wide in the quest of finding the most delectable chocolates in the world. To help out the chocoholics, here is a list of the best chocolatiers across the globe.   Read More...

Recognized widely for her campaigns on women’s issues and introduction of various bills on public welfare to Indian Parliament, Brinda Karat is the first woman member of the CPI(M) Politburo. Moreover, she has campaigned against numerous matters regarding food security and public distribution system (PDS). Born on 17 October 1947 in Calcutta, Karat did her schooling from the prestigious Welham Girls School in Dehradun. When she was 16 years of age, she moved to Delhi to earn a diploma from Miranda House, University of Delhi. After compl... Read More...

Ingredients: For khandvi: 1 cup Bengal gram flour (besan) 1 cup sour curd 2 cups water 1 teaspoonful green chilli paste 1/4 teaspoonful asafoetida 1/4 teaspoonful turmeric powder Salt For seasoning: 1/2 teaspoonful mustard seeds 1/2 teaspoonful cumin seeds 1 teaspoonful sesame seeds 5-6 curry leaves 2 dry red chillies (whole) 2 tablespoonful oil 2 tablespoonful grated coconut 2 tablespoonful fresh coriander leaves (finely chopped) Method: Take a large bowl an... Read More...

Known to be the fastest female bowler in the world, Jhulan Goswami has helped India women to claim victories over the years. She is most noted for her exemplary performance in England in 2006-07, wherein she led her team to a historic first-ever Test series victory. Born on 25 November 1982 in a small town of Nadia in West Bengal, Goswami made her ODI debut on 6 January 2002 and Test debut on 14 January 2002, both against England women. As a child, she never thought of being a cricketer and playing for the national team. She played cricket on ... Read More...

Rangoli, with its transient nature, signifies the dynamic nature of life and culture in general. The colors, sizes, themes and designs of rangolis have changed over the years. They have incorporated the modern design sensibilities today and have become an art unto themselves. There was a time when a traditional rangoli did not take up much of your space. It was demurely done up in small patterns, taking up very little space. However, these days we can spot rangolis of huge sizes, prepared in a grand fashion and having colors of all kinds added... Read More...

Actor Sanjay Khan and his wife, designer Zarine Khan have a beautiful family. They have led successful lives in their own professions and now their children are doing well in their lives too. There is little to complain. His daughters Farah, Simone and Suzanne are well married and happy in their lives, while son Zayed is doing reasonably well too. All his children live a life as eclectic as their father’s. Unlike their cousins, children of actor Feroz Khan, they have been successful in keeping away from the media’s glares. His elde... Read More...

Ingredients: 500g Rohu or Katla fish 1 cup mustard oil 1 onion (thinly sliced) 1 medium-sized brinjal (cut into cubes) 1 medium-sized potato (cut into cubes) 1 tomato (finely chopped) 2 dry red chillies (whole) 1 bay leaf 1 teaspoonful turmeric powder 1 teaspoonful cumin seeds (toasted and ground) 1 tablespoonful ginger paste Salt Paanch phoron: 3/4 teaspoonful fenugreek seeds 1 teaspoonful nigella seeds 1 teaspoonful cumin seeds 1 teaspoonful black mustard s... Read More...

1) Paris, France One of the best culinary destinations in the world, Paris has wining and dining options galore, which offer exquisite melange of exotic indigenous as well as foreign cuisines. You are likely to find everything here; from appetizers like escargot and gourmet delight foie gras to light baked sweet pastries and crusty croissants. The famous spots to eat at are Pierre Gagnaire, Pierre Herme, and L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon.   Read More...

President of the University of Houston, Renu Khator is the first Indian American woman to lead a research institution in the US and the second Indian American (after Beheruz Sethna of the University of West Georgia) to lead an accredited university in the US. Other than being the first University of Houston president of a foreign origin, Khator is also a celebrated writer. Born on June 29, 1955 in Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh, Khator studied at the Kanpur University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree (Liberal Arts) in 1973. After that, she att... Read More...

This sweet creamy dessert has the goodness of almonds and milk combined with the nutty flavors from almonds, cashew nuts and pistachios as well as the aromatic savor of cardamoms and saffrons. While milk nourishes your bones, almonds boost immunity and reduce cholesterol. And since almonds are rich in vitamin E, they are good for hair and skin and make you look youthful. Here is the recipe for a creamy almond kheer: Ingredients: 1 cup almonds 1/4 cup cashew nuts 6-8 pistachios (thinly sliced) 1/2 cup condensed milk 4... Read More...