Ultrafresh

Teej is a series of festivals  celebrated across the northern and western Indian states & Nepal. The first is the Haryali Teej or Chhota Teej, which falls on the Shukla Paksha Tritiya of Shravana month. On this day, Hindu women pray to Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva for marital bliss and the well-being of their husbands. Both married and unmarried women observe fast for the whole day, which they break after offering prayers to the moon in the evening. Listed below are some of the popular dishes that are prepared during this festival: Malai Ghevar: This Rajasthani dish is a disc-shaped sweet cake made from plain flour and dipped in sugar syrup. Check out the recipe:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B1w_Ndhcjk Malpua: It is a pancake made from barley flour fried in ghee and dipped in saffron-scented sugar syrup. Check out the recipe:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESDlnxawkj4 Nariyal ke ladoo These all-time favourite sweet...

Given the Indian style of cooking, which involves a variety of spices and a lot of oil, one cannot rule out the unwanted byproducts of cooking – smoke and oil. A kitchen chimney is a perfect solution to the above mentioned cooking woes. Be it a small kitchen belonging to a middle-class family or a large posh kitchen, this modern day appliance is a must for every household. Listed below, the benefits of kitchen chimney: Beautify Your Cooking Space A chimney can give a complete make-over to your kitchen. Not just does it serve its functional purpose, but it also helps elevate the mood of the kitchen users. Keep Your Kitchen Clean and Hygienic Smoke and oil droplets emitted during cooking, settle on the kitchen walls, cabinets, countertops and floor, over a period of time and make the cooking space greasy and dirty. A kitchen chimney can help reduce your cleaning effort and preserve the kitchen ambience by sucking in all the unwanted smoke and oil. Say “No” t...

Ho w many of you like to have cold water on reaching home after a busy day? Or are you one of those who keeps the left-over dinner into the refrigerator to make a meal out of it the next day? The refrigerator is one of the coolest inventions. Imagine a life without a refrigerator and you would realise its importance. With the advent of technology, it’s no longer a necessity but a luxurious item. And therefore, many see it as a long-term investment. Here is a list of simple hacks by which you can extend the shelf life of your refrigerator: Put the frequently used items in the front shelves of the refrigerator. Keep the newly purchased food items behind older ones, so that you use the older foods first. Keep cooked items on higher shelves than raw ingredients. Don't store milk, eggs and dairy products in the door shelves. Rather, use the space to store the less perishable goods like condiments, soft drinks etc. Cold air tends to travel downwards. That’s why...

Getting a new kitchen is exciting but it can be an intimidating exercise. A seasoned kitchen consultant should be able to address your concerns and help you plan your perfect kitchen. List of things that you should do before finalising a kitchen consultant: Prepare a bucket list for your kitchen Identify your ‘needs’ and ‘wants’ for your dream kitchen and make a checklist of the same. ‘Needs’ are necessary while ‘wants’ are optional. You should be able to differentiate between the two and set your priorities accordingly. Make a scrapbook of your perfect kitchen ideas Browse online galleries; flip through home and kitchen décor magazines to prepare an album of how your ideal kitchen should look like. Fix your budget Prior to your meet with the kitchen consultant, it will be helpful if you establish a budget for the project. Sticking to the same will allow you to stay on track and also help the consultant to make suggestions that will help you achieve y...

For men, kitchen acumen is definitely an added advantage. But some men believe that cooking is not their ‘cup of tea’. What do you do when your wife is sick or not available in the kitchen? Would you order food from outside for your kids all the times they are hungry?  Rather than ordering from the nearby restaurant, it’s advisable to take the matter into your own hands. Have a look at the following points why men should learn cooking. Read on: You can save money Any day and any time, a home-cooked meal will cost you less than your favourite dish from a fancy restaurant.  Apart from having some healthy food, you can save a few bucks for your future. You become your own saviour Once you learn the tricks of the kitchen, you won’t have to sleep with an empty belly or rely on anyone for your favourite meals. Your family and friends will be mighty impressed Satisfaction is guaranteed when you know that your family and kids are going to enjoy the meal ...

No second thoughts on this, but monsoon is one of the most amazing seasons. There are so many reasons to love the rains. People get a chance to spend some quality time indoors with their loved ones. And who wouldn’t like to sip in some hot beverages along with some mouth-watering, lip-smacking crispy snacks during this time! Ironically, it is also that time of the year when the constant presence of moisture in the air makes the ambience dull and gloomy. Torrential downpour plays spoilsport dampening our mood. Below, we bring easy solutions for some common kitchen problems faced during the rainy weather. The food tends to get soggy. So, keep your food in air-tight containers. Improper ventilation results in dampness and can be annoying. Keep your windows open as and when possible to allow maximum airflow and help keep the kitchen dry. Seepage is a nuisance. Make sure you fix your leaky plumbing network before the arrival of monsoon. And, for safety reasons, it’s advi...