Teen treats

Active youngsters can find creativity in cuisine these school holidays

24 shore bamboo skewe rs or long coothpicks

1 tbsp olive oil

Sea salt to tasre (for a variation, try smoked salt)

Freshl y ground pepper with M&Nfs and fenced with Kitkats I wanted it, and badly! I made myself this yummy, impracrical, fattening delight for Eid. Bur it was easy to mal{e and casted absolutely out of this world. he school ho]jdays have begun and we all k.now that somerimes it equates to adults scramb ling for acriviries and teens getting quickly bored at home.

\\7ell, the re's a solurion to that - a fun, easy solurion. Cooking! And no l don't mean it in an Auncyji kind of way, "Beta, learn how to make do/ l'Oti for your marriage!" Cooking is an excell ent form of de-stressing and results in some fabulous results (when done correctly)

So here's a few recipes for the teenagers in school holidays. The comple,'City level is zero so anyone can do these and learn the basics of getting .in and around the kitchen w ith minimal damage. They are quick easy and fun, and very very yummy. Enjoy!

Cuwrnber lemon and mint drink

One of m y favourite nonalcoholic- make- anycime-an ywhere drinks for spring, this is a Lig h t and easy concocrion that cleanses the palate and sootl1es the soul.

1. Fill half a glass with lemonade

2. Chop up a handful of mint and a quarter of a cucw11ber into th in slices and drop into tbe glass

3. Top up with soda or sparkli ng water

4. Cuc a wedge of lemon or lime and perch on rim before serving Easy. Fresh and fantasric!

caprese on a sti,k

These nibbles can be used as snacks or an encree, and are quick, easy and fun to make and eat. Younger children can help in making tl1ese, provided the skewers are not too sharp. Use furn, ripe cherry tomatoes and good -quality fresh mozzarella for these salad skewers. They are perfect for that movie marathon you have organised for ten friends (Beware, they are so good - lo o king your mum might gee you co make these for her ne,'<t big patty)

24 grape or cherry tomatoes

24 mecliwi1 - sized basil leaves

250 gms fresh mozzarella, drained, cue imo I -inch cubes (cry bocc~mcini, or better scill, baby bocconci ni, you won't have to cue d1em)

INDIAN LINK

Thread one tomato, a basil leaf and a cube of mozzarella onto each skewer. Repeat the pr ocess until all 24 skewers are ready. Lay the skewers on a serving platter. Drizz le olive o il over tl1em and spr inkle generously with salt and pepper. Serve at room temperature.

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Can you Otonelloni l Jove pasta. l absolutely love it.

I know it's earing a bowlfu l of carbs and its usual partner in crime is a stringy, soft, yummy melted cheese which isn't tha t great for you either, but when i t comes co cannelloni I can't help m yself! So here is a quick and easy recipe to try at home and enjoy all those carbs and cheese! In moderarion that is, and don't repeat the d ish for at lease rwo weeks

500m.l tomaco paste or pasta sauce

600g ricotta cheese (low- fat, if desired)

250g cooked mince Oamb or bee0

2 tbsp Rat-leaf pars ley, chopped

2 tbsp basil, chopped

1 egg

½ cup grated parmesan

Salr and cracked black pepper co caste

1 cup grated low fat mozzarella San Remo readymade cannelloni

Preheat oven to 190°C. Lightly grease a 20cm x 28cm x 4cmhigh ovenproof dish. Pour in a quarter portion of the comaco paste, spreading evenly over base of dish. Keep as ide. Place ricotta, mince, parsley, basil, parmesan, egg, salt and pepper in a large bowl and mix co combine. Take each cannelloni tube and stuff witb the r icotta mixture. Lay tubes side b y side in the dish.

Spoon over the rest of the mmato paste to coat tl,e tubes, using enough to suit your preference. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheeses and bake for 25 minutes or uncil golden. Serve warm with a green salad.

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Chocolatey Chocolate Cake

I saw a picntre on Iostagram and T fell in love. It was of a choco late cake with chocolate icing topped

Chocolate cake mix (vou can make it from scratch, but why reinvent the wheel?)

I pack (350gms) M&Ms

I pack of 12 medium sized Kitkat chocolate bars

For the chocolate icing

I cup icing sugar

1 esp cocoa

1 tbsp butter or margarine

I tbsp milk

Bake the chocolate cake from the mix, as per the inscrucrions on the pack. Leave to coo l on a wire rack Prepare the chocolate icing b y mixing together all tl1e ingredients to form a smood, consis tency. Next, transfer to a serving dish and ice the top and sides evenly with the icing mix.

Before the icing sets, quickly but evenl y d ress the top with M&Ms scarring from tl1e outside edge of the cake, making a concentrk circle in a different co lour unril you reach the centre

Ensure that you leave at least a centimetre gap from the edge of die cake and the outermost concentric circle Gen tly fence me s ides with Kitkats. Leave to sec and th en serve

brings us up-to-date on what's hot and happening in Bollywood

Sridevi is a sensation

It's been a long, long time since Sridevi graced the big screen, but she is now back with a vengeance, and we can all expect to see much more of the versatile actress. Sridevi is in the news for English Vinglish that marks her comeback onto the big screen after 15 years. And it's not just fans who are queuing upto see the actress, Bollywood's best are also waiting for her re-debut.

Amitabh Bachchan, who saw a preview version ofthe film, recently tweeted that Sri's performance left him in tears.

Film-maker Ram Gopal Verma (RGV) said: "Ca n't wait (for the movie to release). For first time in 20 years, ever since I became a director, I am going to stand in a line and buy a ticket to see Sridevi:'

And actor Anil Kapoor insists that his sister-in-law and co-star Sridevi is one of the best actresses of recent times. "She is a complete actress. I have done a lot of films with her and in the last many, many years, I think she is the best;'the 52-yearold said re cently. Anil and Sridevi worked together in the past with successes like Mr. India, Laadla and Judaai.

Sridevi is married to Anil's elder brother Boney Kapoor who, says the buzz around Bollywood, is planning a sequel to his 1987 hit production venture Mr. India. Naturally, Anil is expected to be a part of the sequel, and perhaps, so wil l Sridevi.

English Vingish wil l release soon, produced by R Balki and directed by his wife Gauri Shinde, who makes her debut with the film. It will see 49-year-ol d Sridevi playing housewife Shashi, who is bullied by her children for her poor

GUESS WHO?

command over the English l anguage. So get ready for what is likely to be a sensational performance from Sridevi!

Vyjaya nth ima Ia's comeback call!

Yesteryear actress Vyjayanthimala Bali has decided to return to the world of grease paint after 42 years, but only for Sandeep Malani's issue-based movie Janleva 555. All of76 and still going strong, Vyjayantimala last appeared in the 1970 release of Ganwaar, and urges everyone to "watch this one of its kind film''.

The actress will be seen in a two to three minutes'video to be played before the film, which talks about how to save cobra bitten children in villages. Janleva 555 has been made to support and help acquire venti lator systems for the hospitals, said the veteran actress and added, "First of all it is a great thought and it's very useful for the people in the villages, and especially children, who die of snake bites''.

"This kin d of ventilator system to save children dying of snake bites is a very noble task and I appreciate this work. I wish the makers of the film all the success and I request everybody to please watch the film because it will be one of its kind,"the actress said in a statement.

Although Kalpana Pandit, who produced the film and also plays a pivotal role in it, is reluctant to discuss details, she is clearly thrilled at Vyjayanthimala's contribution. "There can be no bigger blessing for my maiden home production Janleva 555 than receiving the good wishes of the first original superstar of Ind ian cinema," she said, adding, "She has given a social message in a special video, which will be shown before the beginning ofthe film. The two to three minutes' video of superstar Vyjayanthimala will have a critical medical message for cobra bitten ch il dren. I can't reveal much about the subject. You will understand it once you wil l watch the film:'

Janleva 555 also features Anant Nag and Akash Hora and is scheduled for a mid-October release. Kudos to Vyjanthima l a for taking on the mantl e of mentor for a good cause!

Vivek a modern Gabbar Singh?

ActorVivek Oberoi has played many roles but his latest one for Krrish 3 is the most challenging, describe d as "Gabbar Singh of our times". Vivek plays the baddie for a change, and he 's excited about the role.

"I am really very, very excited about Krrish 3. It's a really cool, bad character and it's a ro le of a l ifetime It's like a Gabbar Singh of our times, so I am very excited;' said the 36-year- old actor.

Directed by Rakesh Roshan, Krrish 3 is a sequel to the 2006-superhero flick Krrish, featuring Hrithik Roshan in the lead. And to balance the badness, Vivek's romantic-comedy Kismet, Love, Paisa, Di/Ii wil l release soon Vivek has also been working on Zilla Ghaziabad, and romantic comedy Jayanta Bhai Ki Luv Story Seems like Vive k's spreading his wings a bit - always a good sign of a competent actor

Delhi Safari set to be the whole trip

It boasts of actors like Akshaye Khanna, Govinda, Suniel Shetty, Boman Irani and Urmila Matondkar, so it's little wonder that director Nikhil Advani is so thri ll ed about his film Delhi Safari. The movie is a bilingual stereoscopic 3D animation film and apparently a complete entertainer, packed with great music.

"It (Delhi Safari) has got fun, lots of tamasha (drama), lots of energy and lots of great music;' Nikhil said recently at the movie's music launch.

And with the impressive line of voiceovers, he may indeed be right.

Nikhil Advani, known for directing Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Kai Ho Naa Ho, has dedicated Delhi Safari to his 6-year-old daughter Keya

"It's a proud moment, she (Keya) is not allowed to watch the other movies I have made;' said Advani, whose last directorial was Patia/a House. Good luck to the movie, wishing it all success!

Akshay's healthy heart tip

"Eat before sunset for healthy difference," says Akshay Kumar, and he should know. The actor is counted among the fittest men in tinsel town, and he recently shared the secret of his fitness. "Onl y one ru l e which I have fol lowed in my life, which I would like to share, is to eat your food before sunset. It will make a lot of difference;' said the 45-yearold actor, who became a secondt i me dad recently.

He spoke on the sidelines of Happy Heart Carnival held to celebrate the World Heart Day at SL Raheja Hospital in Mumbai.

The actor asserts people shou l d be carefu l of thei r food intake "It i s very important to take care of yourself and your fami l y. I would advise al l of you to just be careful of what you eat;' he said to the audience.

Akshay is trained in martial arts and he maintains a regular fitness regime. He prefers to indulge in outdoor games and sports to keep himself fit and fine, and believes that yoga, meditation and martial arts help in staying physically fit as well as bring menta l ba l ance. Words of wisdom indeed!

Raw Indian music rev ival

It's hard to remember the last

, time a Hindi film song resonated to the clear sound of a harmonium or a flute, thanks to the introduction of technologically advanced synthesisers and other recording equi pment. But many composers are now str i ving to bring back the lost char m of raw Indian music.

Composers like Sneha Khanwa l kar and Ajay-Atul or Indian Ocean 's vocalist Rahul Ram have experimented by bringing back the rawness in their music and have succeeded in striking the right chords with the youth, without adopting western tunes.

Khanwal kar is the woman behind the distinct music in Anurag Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur and her songs,/ am a hunter, Womaniya and Chhi chha ledar have a blend of rustic beats, wit h local fo l k singers adding up to the regional flavour. The music is desi to its core Sneha believes in spending time with the artists and using their true talent.

"If a song is based in one place, that place has its own quality People have their own of way of thinking and talking, which is different from how we think in the city. So it is important to know how they sing and render their music;' said Khanwa l kar

"It is only after you know the place that you w i ll be able to imbibe its quality in t he song. If the director of the film is going all out to depict something skilfully, then I just try to do the same thing with the music of the film;' she added, pointing out to Kashyap's knack of bringing the real as is on reel.

Ajay-Atul, who composed music for Karan Johar's remake of Agneepath, tr i ed to retain the charm of raw music with compositions li ke Chikni chameli and Gun gun guna. They recorded the songs with live instruments.

Chikni chameli is the Hindi version of their Marathi hit Kombadi pa/a// Singer Sukhwinder Singh, who recently visited Australia on tour and has done playback in Prakash Jha's upcoming movie Chakravyuh as well as sang for Ekta Kapoor's Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum, feels 90 per cent of the composers are making music by modern ways while the rest 10 percent try to retain the old charm.

" We used dumroos in Hum hai cappuccino in Kyaa Super and in one of the songs in Chakravyuh, we have instruments that Naxalites generally use to make their music. So good work is sti ll happening in the industry," Singh said. And it is important too, as he feels " you have to be extraordinary to make a place for yoursel f in Bollywood'.'

The music of Akshay Kumarstarrer Rowdy Rathore also boasts of regional music with songs like Aa re pritam pyaare and Chinta ta ta, which find inspiration from the south. Also, remember the chartbusters Des mera and Mehangai dayan from Aamir Khan 's Peepli Uve?

The lyrics and music were composed by the Indian Ocean band, and

Priyanka: Now that our fi Im Barfi's done well, do you think we can let go and have half a barfi in celebration?

Ileana: Ok, I will if you will. ...

Ratna Panjabi Subiaco,WA

Ratna wins a double pass for new Hind i fi lm English Vinglish immediately struck a chord with the viewers.

Though the Indian version of Coke Studio of Pakistan has hel ped in reviving the old world charm in a big way, Ram feels Coke Studi o is even more raw

" Coke Studio Pakistan has given us an impetus - we are nowhere cl ose to that. They have managed to retain the rawness;• he sai d.

"In India, I feel Coke Stud i o is overproduced. It's become too slick," he added.

One hopes the trend does not translate to the big screen!

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