Death by Brownies

  I love these brownies, yummy, gooey and so full of deliciously vile sin. Another evil recipe from my mother. I have actually made them myself with a little help from mom. I chopped the marshmallows and the cherries !

Warning : These brownies might result in delusions, temporary rapture and violent outbursts if there is only 1 piece left.

 

     INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 -2 cup chocolate chips
• 1 -2 cup chopped cherries
• 1 -2 cup marshmallows (chopped small) 

 

PROCEDURE (Is it Method ? I'm not sure. Pharmacy habit)

 Preheat oven to 180 Celsius

Grease square pan

In a bowl combine melted butter and cocoa and stir til cocoa dissolves.

Add sugar and mix

Add eggs one at a time and stir till mixed well.

Add vanilla, flour and salt

Fold in chocochips, cherries, marshmallows

Spread in pan and bake for approximately 25 minutes

This is what ours looked like :D

I Know Right !

For the 'Straight' Peeps !

So a lot of the straight- haired people have been asking me to mention some products for them too. So, based on some extensive research by me (ok not really) here are some tips and recommended products to give you guys shiny, flaxen, straight hair or whatever it that you seek. All data has been compiled by a straight -haired person. She has lovely shiny hair that she simply loves showing off. Such a Bitch ! I know right! 

Also - Yes ! boys can use these products too, No we will not ostracize you'll for using products in fact we are more than happy when you guys actually wash your hair. Seriously.

SHAMPOOING

Always remember you can never use one shampoo forever. It’s always best to keep switching in- between for the best possible effect of the product. If you have dry hair and use a shampoo for that, and it will automatically increases the level of oil on your scalp and it keeps increasing with each wash. So eventually you might want to move on to a shampoo for oily hair to maintain a balance..So the best shampoo’s reigning the market are: 

      1. So Sexy:Smooth Straight & Sexy Shampoo from Victoria’s Secrets: Contains Chamomile extract leaving hair easy to manage. 

       2. So Sexy:Smooth Straight & Sexy Conditioner from Victoria’s Secrets: Deeply conditions with nourishing Shea butter leaving hair healthy and shiny.

OR

                  3. Dove Daily Therapy Shampoo: Definitely protects hair and has a gentle effect.

                 4. Dove Daily Therapy Conditioner : Moisturizes your hair all the way to the tip.

For Limp Hair: 

1) Wella’s Volumize Shampoo: Strengthens fine hair without over-weighing it. Creates light volume. 

  2) L’OREAL Professionel Volume Expand Shampoo And Conditioner: Designed to give body, moisturize and strengthen the lengths and ends.

Tip: After shampooing be sure to use a serum on damp hair or Moroccan oil.

Post-Shampoo Care:

1. So Sexy: Smoothing Shine Serum from Victoria’s Secrets: Smoothes fly-a ways, controls frizz and tames rebellious hair without weighing it down. Maintains color and tone of color treated hair. Non-greasy and non-drying.

                         L’OREAL Professionel Liss Extreme : For control, shine and suppleness for unruly stubborn hair.

Tip: Never over-use any kind of serum as it can lead to a greasy and oily look.

Styling Tips: For all those of you that get tired of having straight hair and want to try out something different without it taking up a lot of your time and energy. Here’s a quick fix:  

SCRUNCH HAIR.

The easiest effect to accomplish.

-Let your hair air-dry .

-Spray on Wella High Hair Style Foundation ( Light Control ): The ultimate style foundation for all hair types. With double-impact shine enhancement complex. Infuses your color with a brilliant shine while strengthening from within. Spray evenly on damp hair.

-Then with both hands cup your hair in the upward direction and squeeze a few time, to achieve the desired curl definition.

-Let your hair dry completely before you apply a lightweight hair spray to keep your scrunched hair in place.

You may also achieve this look with mousse.

Wella’s System Professional Curl Saver: Conditions your waves and increases hair’s vitality.

Stay tuned for different hairstyles for straight and curly hair. If you have any more questions I’d be happy to help you. Most of the products can be bought from Beautiful, it’s in bandra near Pali hill/Khar.

How is your life today ?

Recently I had a minor exam- induced breakdown. Given the level of my studying and the proximity of the exam, I had a minor panic attack when a friend questioned me about how my so called preparation was going. I was literally delirious with panic at the idea of actually giving the exam. Noticing my plight he asked me to listen to one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. It left me all calm and relaxed. Thought I'd share it with you guys. Thankyou Kuku ! :D

Curly Hair...A way of life.

   Does your hair look like this?

Really ?

If it does then thank God you’ve made it here! Having curly hair can sometimes be the best thing in the world or the biggest pain in the ass. It comes with its set of troubles, of being frizzy, dry, poofy and even inhibiting others people’s personal space. I have gone from product to product, trying everything to get it to look all shiny and beautiful like those pictures of Victorian women you see with their fat sausage- like curls. Finally, I hit gold and now have a trusted set of products I use.

I love my hair. A lot. I hate it when people come up to me and ask me about why I haven’t got my hair straightened or tell me they like straight hair better. I find it insulting, like as if they have a problem with my features or my face. I should go up to them and be like ‘so have you considered getting a new nose? You’d look so much better’ that would show

them!

 Ok so back to curly hair and taking care of it –

The first thing to do is, embrace your curly hair and love it!

Note - These products can be bought by MEN and WOMEN !


Shampooing

Curly hair is dry to begin with, so washing it every other day is a bad idea. It makes the hair dry, brittle and frizzy. So unless you want to look like you are starring in a Tim Burton movie use an intense shampoo that not only cleans but also strengthens. I use Dove Damage Therapy Intensive Repair Shampoo, it seems to work well on my hair leaving it supple and shiny. Remember to not use scalding hot water but lukewarm water whilst shampooing and only wash your hair thrice a week, maximum.

Conditioning

Now shampoos are usually alkaline (basic salt) and you should use a conditioner that brings your hair back to its natural low acidic pH and gives hair a more compact structure. Look for products that contain essential oils and botanicals such as avocado, jojoba oil, or shea butter, as these have Humectants and are ideal for dry hair. Always apply the conditioner only on the hair (not the scalp as this leads to hair-fall and an oily scalp). Start from mid- length hair and then work your way to the ends and generously apply to tips! Leave your conditioner in for approximately 10 minutes (do some scrubbing till then!)

Personally I don’t Condition my hair after every wash. I use Leave-In Conditioner. This is the best thing for people with curly hair. Leave- in conditioner is a conditioner that you apply to damp hair after shampooing and leave in till the next wash. It tends to rely not on oils but instead helps keep tangled hair calm or impart a little moisture to dry hair.

Products I swear by for my hair – TIGI Bed Head Foxy Curls Contour Cream. This just leaves my hair like totally rad. (I’ve always wanted to say that) and the L’Oréal Paris ELVIVE Total Repair 5 Restoring Night Elixir Leave-In (I don't know why its called Night Elixir, I wear it in the day too and it works fine) What I like is that they don’t make my hair greasy and lumpy and still give it that wet and shiny look. They might be a bit expensive but they last forever since you don't use a large amount!

Styling

I rarely comb my hair. No, I am not lazy or a pig. It’s just that when you have curly hair its best NOT to comb your hair and if you do use a wide- tooth comb. If you are combing your hair do so when barely damp, be gentle and quick. No need to go on and on like Rapunzel.

I don’t use serum because of the leave- in conditioner but I know Tigi Bed Head has a fabulous serum for frizzy hair.

I use the Pantene Pro V Curl Defining Mousse when I go out. It makes all my curls super springy and into thick ringlets. It looks good for partaays!

PRIDE

Do something fun with your hair once in a while, braid it or accessorize with clips and pins.

Sexy Tips 
1. Since I use a lot of product in my hair, once a month I do a Vinegar Cleanse. Vinegar removes scaly build-up and residue from hair shafts and closes the cuticles giving it more shine and stopping tangles. Take 1/2 tablespoon of vinegar to 1 cup of water.  If you want to get fancy, create a vinegar rinse tailored to your hair by adding herbs and/or natural essential oils like rosemary, chamomile, peppermint etc. After shampooing apply the vinegar rinse. Rinse.

      2.  Mix together 1 tbsp honey, 1 egg yolk and 2 tbsp castor oil. While you’re applying it to your hair, make sure it covers the full length of your hair. Keep it for around 45 minutes. Rinse with shampoo.

      3. I use these 3 Hair Spa thingies, best thing to ever happen. I got them from a store called Watsons in Thailand. They have chain stores all over the world so look it up in case you’re traveling abroad. They leave my hair shiny, fragrant and so beautiful, I love!

Delicious Hair Spas : Watsons Olive Hair Treatment, Watsons Smoothing Treatment Wax Yougurt, Watsons Moisturizing Treatment Wax Honey.

Also I get a haircut every 2 months or so from Nalini's. Where the genius Elton Vessoaker does wonders with my hair. He is pure (hair) Beast. I don't know what my brother and I would do without him.

So if you guys have any questions , let me know. I would be super happy to answer them ! Have a great day people and don't forget to love your hair and treat it well.


Exploding High- Five !
Naaz

My Precious

Take me to any Jewelry or Accessories store, take a walk around and come back. You will find me glued in the Rings section, nose to glass counter, wide-eyed and maybe even drooling!

Yes, I am an addict. I have a Ring Addiction, its growing and leaving me powerless. Cocktail Rings are my weakness, my Heroin and I can never have enough, so Greedy, I know !

When I look at those delicious, shiny things in different sizes and styles calling to my spindly fingers, I truly understand that scene in Tropic Thunder where Jack Black’s character sees that huge pile of Heroin and goes mental!

I have a small collection of cocktail rings with an equal balance of strong statement pieces and quiet subtle pieces. The thing I love about them is that they can instantly glamorize any outfit without me having to think too hard. Don’t have the right bracelet for an outfit? Just slip on a ring or two.

Here are some of from my Freaky Animal Collection. I can’t seem to buy any ‘normal’ animal rings (supposedly butterflies, dragonflies, ponies, owls and some other girly gobshite) I always end up picking the creepy and odd animal ones. Why? Oddball, remember?

 Top row- some of my bling pieces
Bottow row- animal rings

       I also see fit to invest in subtle and demure rings that don’t over-accessorize a look.

The simper ones.

My Grade 4 Heroin.

From left to right : YSL Arty ring, Stone and Rhinestone ring missselfridge.com, YSL enamel Lapis ring,
 Pamela Love stacked Talon ring, Zebra head ring topshop.com, Foil tear ring topshop.com, Tom Hardy Naga head ring,
Carolee LUX Cluster ring, Kenneth Jay Lane Swarovski crystal ring, Old Navy beaded cluster ring, Crystal Crystal ring hm.com, Plain Gold Armour ring topshop.com, Tiger Double and Heart stretch ring both Betsey Johnson.

Lovely aren’t they? The YSL, John Hardy and Vivienne Westwood  (armour style) rings literally drive me into a tizzy. Alas! Someday I shall buy them and strut about unnecessarily flailing my hands around.

So let me know what you think about Rings and your favourites as well as what accessory makes you Greedy.

   Exploding High-Five !

Naaz

Like Chicken ?

If you do then I have this sinfully good recipe for you.
NOTE- I did not in fact make this, I merely 'observed' my mother making it. So I cant really comment on its level of difficulty but it 'looked' pretty easy.


 Spicy Fried Chicken


Marinade
 1 1/4 cups buttermilk 
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tbsp Tabasco Sauce
2 tbsp mustard 
2 garlic cloves, minced  
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 onion, sliced thin
chicken pieces
salt

Coating
1 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp paprika
3 tbsp butter, melted

 

    Method

I totally forgot to take a picture pre- face feeding. I did however
manage to snag this half- eaten piece that was left.

1. Whisk buttermilk, oil, tabasco sauce, mustard, finely cut garlic, salt in a large bowl to blend well. Add onion, then chicken and turn to coat. 
2. Cover, chill for at least 3 hours.
3. Mix breadcrumbs, cheese, flour, paprika, salt.
4. Remove chicken from marinade. Add chicken to breadcrumb mixture and turn to coat completely.
5. Arrange chicken on baking sheets.
6. Let it stand  for 30 min.
7. Preheat oven to 425°F. Drizzle butter over chicken.
8. Place chicken in oven and bake until crisp, golden and cooked through about 50 minutes.
   
   Serve with Salad. Yum !

The Beginning

First Post, Yeay!  I have been aching to start a Blog since the longest time but courtesy my SLOTH; I never really got on with it. Finally I’ve decided to start, only because this is my means to escape my soon approaching exams and a blog seems like a perfectly good reason to not study! :D

Why Pride, Envy and Other Sins as a name? Well my name means Pride in Persian, Hindi, Urdu yada yada and some people claim I live up to it (I’m quite humble, really). For me every day is a struggle with one sin or another, Sloth as you can already guess, Lust (stories for another day), Gluttony- you’d know as soon as you saw my fat bottom! Well you get the gist.

It’s not always going to be about a sin, I will write about my views, likes, dislikes (Genelia D’Souza!) and pretty much anything that pops into my oddball head.

So back to Proteonomics for now. See you’ll later!

   Exploding High- Five !

Naaz