Food

Surviving Finals Week

Posted on by thejouskablog

Finals week is almost here and I thought I’d post some tips on how to overcome the stress that most students go through during this hectic week!

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  1. Planning is essential
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    It is very important to prioritize your time and plan your study schedule. I know it’s difficult for a lot of people to actually stick to a schedule, but you can motivate yourself in many ways. One such way is to reward yourself (treat yourself to chocolate maybe?) whenever you achieve a goal.

  2. Take small breaks

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    Small     being a keyword here, haha. It’s not uncommon for us to take a small break and then extend that break for hours. Set a reminder to prevent you from extending your break.

  3. Drink enough water 

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    I cannot stress how important it is to stay hydrated whether studying for finals or not. When you study, your brain absorbs a lot of water and if you don’t drink enough water, you can get severe headaches and even feel sleepy.

  4. Avoid social media

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    Social media has taken over our lives and it’s natural for us to keep checking our phones every now and then. To avoid this, log out of all your social media accounts so that you are not tempted to use your phone.

  5. Get enough sleep

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    Sleep is for the weak! No, not really. It has been scientifically proven that if you don’t sleep enough, you tend to forget things and your productivity levels decrease tremendously. Hence, pulling all-nighters isn’t such a good idea.

  6. Eat brain foods

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    Having sweet treats is not a crime, but try to balance it out by snacking on healthy foods.

I hope you enjoyed reading this post. Good luck! 😀

thejouska-2

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Tried & Tested-Cheesy Potatoes

Posted on by thejouskablog

Picture Credit: FoodNetwork

I am very fond of cheese and potatoes and when they are baked together, they taste absolutely delicious! 

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 Large Potato
  • Grated Cheddar Cheese-2 cups
  • Mozzarella Cheese
  • Oregano
  • Salt-1/2 tablespoon or more as per your taste.
  • Basil
  • Crushed Black Pepper-1 teaspoon
  • Olive Oil-2 tablespoons
  • Butter
STEPS:
  1. Cut the potato into thin slices.
  2. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
  3. Take a large bowl and add the sliced potatoes. Pour the olive oil and add a dash of oregano and basil.
  4. Add the salt and crushed black pepper to the mixture.
  5. Toss the potatoes and mix-ins until all the ingredients have been combined properly.
  6. Add the grated cheddar cheese to the potatoes and toss until mixed well together.
  7. Take a baking tray and spread some butter evenly on the edges of the tray. Pour the potato mixture into the tray. Top with some mozzarella cheese.
  8. Bake the potatoes for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

Voila! I hope you enjoy your baked cheesy potatoes! 😀

thejouska-2

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Tried and Tested-Spinach Pasta

Posted on by thejouskablog

 

Healthy and Tasty!

I, personally, love cooking pasta because it’s so versatile. You can experiment with differently flavoured sauces and it still tastes amazing! ❤

INGREDIENTS:
  • Fusilli Pasta-2 cups
  • Spinach-1 bundle
  • White Flour-2 tbsp
  • Milk-1 cup
  • Butter-1 tbsp
  • Olive Oil- 1 1/2 tbsp
  • 2 Garlic Cloves chopped
  • Parmesan Cheese
  • Cheddar Cheese
  • Salt as per your taste.
  • Pepper as per your taste.
STEPS:
  1. Boil the pasta on the gas stove for around 20 minutes. This depends on which brand you’re using. The instructions for cooking are usually given on the backside of the packet.
  2. For the white sauce, melt the butter in a pan. Add the flour and mix until it forms a paste. Add in the milk and stir until a smooth consistency has been achieved.
  3. Saute the spinach in another pan so that all the water gets separated. Pour the water out and grind the spinach leaves in a mixer until it forms a puree.
  4. Take a bigger pot. Pour in the olive oil and saute the garlic, spinach puree, and white sauce.
  5. Add in the salt, pepper, parmesan, and cheddar cheese to the sauce. Let it simmer on medium heat for about 7 minutes.
  6. Finally, add the fusilli pasta to the sauce and let it absorb the flavours for about 10 minutes.

Voila! Enjoy your delicious Spinach Pasta, and don’t forget to sprinkle some cheese on top. 😉

Side Note: Sorry, I haven’t been able to post much this week. I’ll try my best to write new posts and share them with you all!

thejouska-2

Tried and Tested-Chocolate Overload Pancakes

Posted on by thejouskablog

Image result for chocolate chip pancakes with syrup

I love chocolate and pancakes and when they come together it’s like heaven on earth. ❤

INGREDIENTS:
  • Flour-1 1/2 cup
  • Sugar-2 tbsp
  • Salt-1/2 tsp
  • Baking Powder-1 tbsp
  • Milk-1 cup
  • 2 Eggs
  • Oil-2 tbsp
  • Nutella
  • Chocolate Chips (I, personally, prefer using Hershey’s semi-sweet chocolate chips.)
  • Chocolate Syrup
STEPS:
  1. Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Beat the eggs, milk, and oil in a separate bowl.
  3. Add the flour mixture to the eggs mixture and beat it with a whisk until smooth.
  4. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
  5. Pre-heat a pan and spread some oil to prevent the batter from sticking.
  6. Pour 1/4th cup of batter onto the pan.
  7. Flip the pancake only when bubbles start to form on the surface. Cook until golden brown.
  8. Stack up three pancakes on a plate and make sure to apply some Nutella with a butter knife between each pancake.
  9. Finally, top the pancakes with some chocolate sauce and chocolate chips.

Voila! You can now enjoy your delicious chocolate overload pancakes. 😀

thejouska-2

Tried & Tested-Molten Lava Cake

Posted on by thejouskablog

Today, I’m going to share a mouthwatering recipe with you all. The Molten Lava Cake is the most decadent dessert I’ve ever eaten! ❤

INGREDIENTS:

  1. Semi-Sweet Chocolate-6 squares, chopped
  2. Unsalted Butter-1 1/4 stick
  3. Sugar- 1 1/2 cup
  4. 4 Eggs
  5. Vanilla Extract- 1 tsp
  6. Flour-1/2 cup
  7. Cocoa Powder (I, personally, prefer using Hershey’s.)
  8. Powdered Sugar
  9. Strawberries

STEPS:

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius.
  2. Melt the chocolate and butter in a double boiler.
  3. Let the chocolate cool for 10 minutes. Add the flour and sugar to the chocolate mixture. Stir until smooth.
  4. Beat the eggs in a separate bowl.
  5. Slowly add the eggs to the chocolate mixture and stir until smooth.
  6. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  7. Butter the ramekins and dust them with some cocoa powder.
  8. Divide the batter evenly among the ramekins and bake for 10-15 minutes. Before you remove the cakes from the oven, make sure the edges are firm and the centres are soft.
  9. Serve each cake individually on a dessert plate. Sprinkle some powdered sugar, and add some chopped strawberries if you’d like. (If you’re looking for a hot and cold combination, you can pair it with some Vanilla ice cream.)

Voila! You can now eat your delicious molten lava cake. 😀

-The Jouska

Travel Diaries-Udaipur, Rajasthan

Posted on by thejouskablog

Hi, everyone! 🙂

I’m finally back home from my long vacation! Apart from traveling to other places, I recently visited Udaipur and got a chance to discover many beautiful spots. Udaipur is a famous tourist attraction and is majorly known for its lakes, palaces, and mountains. 😀

Facts: 

  1. Location: Rajasthan, India
  2. Founded By: Maharana Udai Singh II in 1553
  3. Language Spoken: Rajasthani
  4. Airport: Maharana Pratap Airport

Tourist Spots: 

  1. The Oberoi Udaivilas:

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    This palace is a very popular wedding destination. It is also known for the domes that are exhibited inside the palace.

  2. Chunda Palace: 

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    The interior of this palace is magnificent! Apparently, it took them 17 years to decorate the wall with hand-made paintings and mirror works.

  3. Radisson Blu Udaipur Palace Resort & Spa: 

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    The amenities at this hotel were really good. We also had a delicious multi-cuisine buffet at the Neel Mahal Restaurant.

  4. The Leela Palace:

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    The rooms of this palace are luxurious and have a lovely view of the lake from the balcony.

  5. Boat Ride:

    Taj Lake Palace

    The boat ride at the Lake Pichola was so much fun. There were a few majestic palaces and restaurants in the middle of the lake, such as The Taj Lake Palace.

  6. Cable Car:

    The cable car ride was really fun! We got an amazing view of the mountains and the city of Udaipur.

  7. Rajasthani Dal Bati:
    I always make it a point to try out the specialty of the place I visit. In Rajasthan, I tried a dish called Dal Bati, and it was so yummy. I, personally, love eating spicy food so this was a real delight for me.
  8. Street Markets:
    There are many street markets in Udaipur where you can buy traditional Rajasthani artefacts, clothing, sandals, and bags at reasonable prices. I got some great stuff from the Hathi Pol Bazaar.

I hope you enjoyed this post!
What’s your favourite thing about Udaipur? Let me know in the comments section below. 🙂

-The Jouska

July’16 Favourites

Posted on by thejouskablog

july 16 favourites
The time for monthly favourites has arrived! Here are some of my favourite things that I bought, read, made, watched, ate and so on during the month of July.

  1. Burger Pizza at Domino’s:
    If you’re a burger and pizza fan, you’ll surely love this item! The burger pizza is made up of two seasoned burger buns filled with pizza toppings and lots of cheese. ❤
  2. Zootopia:

    I thoroughly enjoyed watching this movie because it sends out a positive message to the younger generation. If you want to check out the complete review for this movie, you can click here.
  3. The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson:
    17838528This book is a must-read! I had so much fun reading this book, and I would probably re-read it again in the future.
  4. UNE Mineral Foundation:

    UNE is a natural beauty brand which offers organic makeup and skincare products. The mineral foundation is one their best-selling products as it provides the best coverage.
  5. Elizabeth Arden UNTOLD Perfume:
    UNTOLD Eau de Parfum SprayThe scent of this perfume will make you feel glamorous, seriously. Plus, it comes in a beautiful bottle. It’s perfect for fancy occasions!
  6. Black Lace Off-shoulder Top:
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    I bought this top from New Look, and it looks gorgeous with a pair of white jeans. It gives you a semi-formal look which is perfect for a girls night out.
  7. Chocolate Cold Coffee:

    This is a refreshing and delicious drink that’ll help you beat the heat. You can find the recipe here if you’d like.
  8. DIY Label Cords:

    This is a great way to avoid tangling of electrical cords. Take few bread tags and write the names of the cords on them with a marker, and attach them to the wires.

I hope you enjoyed my July favourites! 
What’s your July’16 favourite? Let me know in the comments section below. 🙂

-The Jouska

June’16 Favourites

Posted on by thejouskablog

june favourites

I’ve got to say that June has gone by pretty quickly. Here are some of my favourite things that I bought, read, made, watched, ate and so on during the month of June. 

  1. Chocolate Brownie Frappe at The Coffee Club:

    This is literally one of the best Frappes I have ever had. It’s not too icy nor too sweet, it has the perfect texture and just the right amount of chocolate brownies which are to die for! ❤
  2. Finding Dory:

    I’ve probably rambled too much about this movie, so I’m going to zip my mouth now, haha. Although, if you want to check out the complete review of this movie, you can click here.
  3. My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows:

    I finished reading this book just last week, and I loved it. The story is so uniquely depicted from the P.O.V’s of three different co-authors. Now, you may think this will make the book even more confusing, but it doesn’t! I’ll try to post a review on this book soon.
  4. NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream:

    This is one of NYX’s best lipsticks. They have 34 shades of lip creams, which are both long-lasting and moisturising. My personal favourite shade is Hot Pink.
  5. Intimately Beckham Perfume:
    I love this perfume scent. It’s so fresh and gentle. Also, the bottle looks super sophisticated.
  6. Elephant Print Kimono:
    I bought this Kimono from Forever 21, and it looks gorgeous with almost any piece of clothing. It’s a must have for when you’re not sure of what to wear.
  7. Chocolate Biscuit Cake Recipe:

    I discovered this delicious recipe earlier this month. It’s one of the yummiest and simplest recipes. You can find the recipe here.
  8. DIY Fairy Lights Wall Decor:

    This is a great idea to light up your room. You can either tape the fairy lights on the borders of your wall or mould it into your favourite word. I made the word ‘Dream’ using fairy lights and it makes my bedroom wall look so much better.

I hope you enjoyed my June favourites! 
What’s your June’16 favourite? Let me know in the comments section below.  🙂

-The Jouska

Tried & Tested-Chocolate Biscuit Cake

Posted on by thejouskablog

 

Picture courtesy of Home Cooking Adventure 

 

Since it’s my mom’s special birthday today, I decided to make her this No-Bake Chocolate Biscuit Cake, which is so easy to prepare and so delicious! 😀

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 packs-Tea Biscuits, crushed. (I, personally, prefer using McVities.)
  • 1 cup-Hazelnuts, roughly chopped. (This is optional, if you’re allergic to nuts, skip this part.)
  • 1 bar-Unsweetened Cooking Chocolate, roughly chopped.
  • 1/2 cup-Sugar
  • 3/4 cup-Milk
  • Nutella
  • 1/2 cup-Whipping Cream
  • 1 tsp-Vanilla Essence

STEPS FOR THE CAKE:

  1. Firstly, crush the tea biscuits in a big bowl. Make sure you crush them just enough to make them into small pieces and not a powder.
  2. Pour the milk into a pan and bring it to a boil.
  3. Add the Unsweetened Chocolate and Sugar to the milk  and mix until a smooth ganache-like consistency is formed.
  4. Pour the chocolate into the bowl of biscuits and fold both the ingredients until they are blended well together.
  5. Pour the chocolate biscuit mixture into an acrylic cake mould and flatten it with a spatula. Freeze for around 20 minutes.

STEPS FOR THE WHIP CREAM:

  1. Pour the whip cream in a bowl and beat until peaks form.
  2. Add 2 tbsp of Nutella(or more, if you’d like!) to the whip cream and fold until both the ingredients are blended well together.
  3. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.

STEPS FOR SERVING THE CAKE:

  1. Spread the whip cream evenly over the cake using a spatula or butter knife.
  2. Top the cake with some hazelnuts on the borders to make the cake look presentable.

Voila! Enjoy your delicious No-Bake Chocolate Biscuit Cake. 😀

-The Jouska

Tried & Tested-Chocolate Mousse Cups

Posted on by thejouskablog

Chocolate Mousse is one of my favorite desserts. It’s so delicious and creamy!  ❤

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup-Semi-Sweet Cooking Chocolate, roughly chopped.
  • 1 pack-Whipped Cream (I, personally, prefer using Kraft Cream.)
  • 3 tbsp-Sugar
  • For the Chocolate Cups: 1 cup-Dark Chocolate, roughly chopped & a silicon mould.

STEPS FOR CHOCOLATE CUPS:

  1. Melt the dark chocolate in a double-boiler.
  2. Use a silicon brush to spread the melted chocolate inside the mould.
  3. Freeze for at least 1 hour.

STEPS FOR CHOCOLATE MOUSSE:

  1. Melt the semi-sweet chocolate in a double-boiler.
  2. Let it cool for at least 10 minutes.
  3. Whip the cream in a bowl with a beater until it forms peaks.
  4. Pour the melted chocolate into the bowl full of cream.
  5. Add the sugar into the mixture.
  6. Fold the mousse with a wooden spatula until all the ingredients are blended well together.
  7. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours until firm.

STEPS FOR SERVING:

  1. Carefully take out the chocolate cups from the mould and set aside.
  2. Using a piping bag, pour the chocolate mousse into the cups in a circular motion. I used the Star Tip for the piping bag.
  3. You can top the mousse with berries if you’d like.

Voila! Enjoy your delicious Chocolate Mousse Cups. 😀

-The Jouska