A dash of spice issue 3 by A Dash of Spice

a dash of

SPICE |November 2015|

Life Loved her

Right Back DIWALI Recipes Special

content: Feature: And life loved her right back The Coach

Interests and Hobbies

Fashion & Beauty

Food & Drink

Money Mine

Seeds of Inspiration

Health & Fitness

Living

Travel

Q&A

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editor’s note: Since I started this magazine, my life h asn’t been the same. Where I used to laze on the couch watching reality shows on the television, now I’m snooping into the lives of real women, writing to women I’ve never met and Skyping with them or meeting with them to learn more about their lives and their stories. As I put together the magazine, I imagine what her life must be like. As I read the story, as I look at the photos, I almost become this woman. I choose a colour that I think matches her aura. I select a quote that I think best represents her message. I study the photographs she sends me and the accompanying messages like “I don’t know if this picture will work” or “I’m happy for you to use any of the p ictures or n one at all.” It’s always a tough decision when it comes to pictures, as they are so personal. What if I left out a family member who was in another picture? What if left out an important moment of a person’s life in either the picture or the edit? I spend hours editing and sometimes I don’t move from my seat u ntil the bladder threatens to burst. And I only hope that I do each and every woman justice. Every woman is special. Every woman’s story is special. In this month’s issue we h ave Carol who has overcome many h urdles from a very young age to become a successful life coach; a young entrepreneur Sharin who overcame the challenges of two failed business ventures and with a never-‐say-‐die attitude, she’s embarked on her third; Emma who believed in herself and shed 35 kilos in 2.5 years and is now a personal trainer and wellness coach and finally, I’m proud to introduce S atwant, who has agreed to be our regular food feature writer, kicking off with a few Indian dishes for Diwali. Diwali or Deepavali – the Hindu festival of lights will be celebrated on 10th November and I’d like to wish all my readers a very Happy Diwali. So if you have a story you’d like to share and inspire women, we’d like to hear from you. Drop us an email at magazine@oneasiacoach.com and b e part of the spicy family. Begin again; Live again; Love again.

Editor, A Dash of Spice

Carol Johnston is 45 years old, a mum of 2 young men aged 21 and 12. She lives at Terrigal on the beautiful Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Carol runs her coaching business and is also a public relations/ customer care manager for Smash Repairer. She enjoys her strolls on the beach with her dog, Marni and sometimes her boys tag a long too. She enjoys these moments on the beach as it gives her quiet time for inner reflection and solitude. Carol is a certified Law Of Attraction Life Coach and is currently studying for her diploma o f Life Coaching. She also holds a Level 4 Certificate in telephone crisis counselling. As an extension of her work as an LOA coach, Carol is also an Empowerment/Self Esteem and Mother/Daughter relationship coach. Carol is an Author and will have her first book o ut in early 2016. Carol has contributed to Agnes Vivarelli’s book A Person o f Interest and contributed to the series, Adventures In Manifesting: Soulful Relationships. Carol is also the Hub Leader in her local area for Wellness Hubs Australia, a support for wellness practitioners.

..and life loved her right back: I grew up in a small country town called Coopernook the population was around 300 people. My Dad was a truck driver and Mum was a cleaner at the local primary school. I h ave very fond memories growing up; my parents always managed to take my sister and I away on little holidays. I grew up with lots of love and encouragement. My sister and I were very close to our grandparents. One of my most significant memories was the Sunday ritual of Nan and Pop coming to visit and my M um would cook a baked dinner. My Dad would insist that we all sit down together after dinner to watch the football. Its only now that I really appreciate this little weekly ritual as it really wasn’t about the game on TV; it was about being present for family. Being in each other’s company, q uality conversation and fun all rolled into one weekly experience. Things weren’t always easy though as my dad was away all week and only home on weekends so it was like mum was raising her two daughters on her own. I have to say that my mother is one of the hardest working people I know. In 1985, at the age of 15, while on school holidays

with my mum and my sister, ( my dad was away and couldn’t come with us) I met C, a very charming and extremely good looking boy from Sydney. Over the course of my little holiday we hung out together, went to the b each and at the end of the week exchanged phone numbers and addresses to write and stay in touch. We exchanged letters and on boxing day, C showed up on my doorstep. He was having his h olidays not far from where I lived. So I saw a fair bit of C over those holidays and we were inseparable. The following year I started TAFE and C and I continued to be in touch. He even h itchhiked to see me one weekend. I was even allowed to go to Sydney to visit him. During one of my visits I decided that I didn’t want to be apart from him anymore so I started having job interviews. As a teenager I made that big decision to stay in Sydney a week longer than I was supposed too! Very quickly, I ended up getting a job with the State Bank at Bondi Beach. Perfect!

fast-track to growing up: I came home and told my parents I was leaving and they were devastated. I was going to live with my aunty who was close to where my job was. So I started

my first job in a bank, which I really didn’t like at all once I had been there a little while. Even though Mum and Dad were devastated about my decision they were extremely supportive which actually made it easier.

“I do remember being quite home sick and I rang home one day from a phone box. I was crying and having a moment of regret. “ I spoke to my dad and told him I wanted to come home. I will never forget what he told me. My Dad used to call me Possum and he said, “Pos you can come home any time you like however this was your decision. Maybe you need to think about why you decided to go in the first place? It’s up to you however your mother and I are proud of you no matter what decision you make.” After that chat with my dad, I decided to stay. I had to grow up quickly but knowing that I had my parents’ support was enough for me to carry on and p ersevere.

following my dream: The job at the b ank wasn’t really what I wanted to do. F rom a very young age, I’ve always wanted b e a hairdresser, so not too long after the bank I managed to get myself a hairdressing apprenticeship. How exciting! Finally I was able to achieve my lifelong ambition. This certainly opened my eyes and gave me a passion for something creative that I loved. I met a lot of interesting people, moved into a shared house with a colleague and learned a lot about life.

Carol’s sons: Luke on the left and Nicholas on the right.

tough lessons on being tough: C and I had our ups and downs, mostly due to his need for d rugs and alcohol. Again my eyes were opened to things that were unfamiliar, I hated it and I hated what it did to h im. The more I tried to help him the more he resisted. Unfortunately the lovely boy I met on holidays was very different. When he was drinking or smoking pot he was abusive. I stayed for a while until one night. After a night out, he arrived at my house. I opened the door and was met by a fist to the face. That was a trip to the hospital and luckily nothing was broken. I didn’t have him charged. It was over. We actually remained in touch even though I know he had many regrets. We both moved on and C died of a h eroin overdose in 1997 at the age of 29. My time with him taught me about strength and staying true to my values. I know I could have easily b een caught up in his world however my strong family ties helped me. When I was 19 I met D who I went on to marry at the tender age of 21. The first couple of years I managed and worked in a few different hair salons however, by this time I was feeling the need for change. At the age of 24, I gave birth to my first son, Luke. During the first year of his life I was a stay at home mum which I loved, however, I got to a point where I really needed to get back to work. So for a year I tried my hand at telemarketing. Luckily for me I found this a very easy job to do as I loved to talk on the phone. However day in and day out for a year was enough. So I left the job.

bud is blossoming: It wasn’t long after leaving this job I got a call from my mum saying that she had become a Nutrimetics consultant and seeing that I had been using this skin care product since I was 12 years old, she thought it would be a good idea for me to have business of my own and join as a consultant too. So I thought “why not?” The thought of going into people’s homes and demonstrating skin care product sounded scary but fun all at the same time. I became dedicated to weekly training and in no time at all, I had moved up to the first management level with a few lovely ladies who had joined my team. I can honestly say that this business really cemented my love of self-‐ development. I found that the place I enjoyed the most was out the front talking and introducing women to a product that I now still use at the age of 45. I become a leader and a trainer and in Feb 2000 I was finally presented my very first brand new company car. I had my entire family and team there to support me and see me receive such an important reward. The start of 2000 was amazing.

losing a pillar:

This was also the year I turned 30 and 3 weeks later would lose my gorgeous Dad to a very unexpected heart attack. He was 54 years old. Today I still struggle at times when I think of how young he was and the fact that its only 9 years away until I am the same age. The last time I saw my dad was my 30th Birthday party, I was grateful to h ave shared such a special night with him and my family. My father`s death took its toll on all of

Carol in Las Vegas attending a much deserved event from Nutrimetics.

us, especially my son Luke who was 5 at the time. He was at that age where h e and my dad were just starting to form a very special bond. Explaining death to a 5 year old was one of the hardest things I ever had to do especially when it’s someone you love so very much.

giving my all: My Nutrimetics business continued to grow and because of this I was also able to travel overseas for management conferences. All up I h ad 5 amazing 5 star trips: Haymen Island, Thailand, Las Vegas, Japan and China. Not forgetting, I even got three company cars over the years. I absolutely loved this job and the best p art was being a leader who was able to help, encourage and bring out the best in people. It’s amazing what people can achieve when they know that someone believes in them. Little did I know that this part of my job would put me on a n ew journey later in my life. In 2003 I gave birth to my second son Nicholas. Luke was 8 years old by then. I continued working with Nutrimetics until 2007. Once again I found myself in that familiar place where I was in need of a change. When you are in sales there is also a certain amount of pressure that goes with that so I just felt I needed to put my energies in other places. Luckily for me I got a job working as a Public Relations/ Customer Care manager at the Smash Repairer where D worked. This was great because again, I was in a position to h elp people, problem solve and get to talk on the phone. I am still at this job. 2007 was also the year Luke started high school, this was a challenging year as there were problems with bullies. It really took its toll on my gorgeous boy. So we decided to move him to

a new school in term 3 and he never looked back. It was here at his new school I would say he found his brothers/best buddies. Luke was also a drummer in a band. This was his outlet and thank goodness he found the love of music. This is where he was able to regain his confidence and actually become quite a showman up there behind his drum kit. He continued to on his music path, appeared on TV, made a few video clips and his band released 2 CDs. He was also part of a few more bands and did a bit of travelling touring interstate. In 2011 he decided that he needed to seriously think about his career so at the age of 17 he joined the Army Reserves.

starting over: In 2008 D and I separated. My boys were 14 and 5. This wasn’t an easy time however we managed to get through it. As hard as it was, I was on a totally different path and sometime you just outgrow those who can`t or won’t grow with you. D and I still remain friends and the boys both have an amazing relationship with their Dad.

“I was on a totally different path and sometime you just outgrow those who can’t or won’t grow with you.” It was at this time where I really started to evaluate my life, I was now 38 and a single mum. I h ad always wanted to go back to study so with a lot of encouragement from close friends I decided to take a leap of faith and start my degree in counselling. I’ve always been the one people turn to in times of crisis. I thought that this would be a great fit for me. I actually thrived at this. I loved the study and all that I was learning. Life was pretty good, I was happy and doing something I loved and I was getting great marks in all my essays.

“"

At the end of 2009 I met K and h e lived 5 hours away from me. He was generous and very charming. Just before we met K was retrenched so after a year of looking for a job I suggested maybe he look for work closer to me. We had a long distance romance for about a year. Well this decision changed everything. In March 2010 he got an interview and got the job. I need to say at this point just b efore K moved to b e with me I had a

dream. I can’t remember exactly what the dream consisted of however I remember the message in the dream so clearly. The message said: BE CAREFUL, ALL IS NOT WHAT IT SEEMS. They say women’s intuition never lies. I was so excited, and so were the boys, about K moving to be with us that I ignored the message even though in my heart I new it was to do with K. I did however think about it from time to time. These days I listen to EVERY message I receive. I’m tuned into my intuition now more than I have ever been in my entire life.

soaring higher: All was going well, I had also started working toward my level 4 Certificate in crisis counselling for Lifeline. This was such an amazing opportunity and I can happily say I met two of my now best friends there. However working on the crisis line actually highlighted that maybe counselling wasn’t for me even though I absolutely loved the work, it just didn’t feel quite right. One day I was reflecting on all the things I had done in my life so far and I kept coming back to my time with Nutrimetics. The times I was speaking on stage, teaching, encouraging my team to believe in themselves, to show them what can be achieved when you have belief in yourself. It was at this moment I decided to look into becoming a Life Coach instead of a counsellor. In 2012, I began my studies with The Inspired Spirit Coaching Academy to become a certified Law Of Attraction Life Coach. This was also the year that K and I bought a house together, K`s mum passed away and he lost his job.

“I knew that thoughts become things and the Law of Attraction is all about the emotion that you put into things you desire.” Studying to become a LOA coach made so much sense to me; I had a very good understanding of how it worked, as I was already a really good manifester. This was an absolutely perfect fit. My study started in July and in October 2013 I finished my study and graduated with a certification as a Law of Attraction life Coach.

she loved her life….. K`s mum died in July 2012 and he left for England for her funeral. He was gone a month and the man who got off the plane certainly wasn’t the same loving caring man I said goodbye too. Grief is such a hard and challenging emotion, its something that we all deal with differently. I tried to b e patient with all that he was feeling. In December 2012 K lost his job. This was a scary time for us having only just purchased our house together. Fortunately I had an investment property with my sister and the timing was perfect for us to consider selling. I put the money I received from the sale into our h ouse, which was able to keep us afloat until K found a job. After 12 months of him still dealing with his grief and no job I asked him to seek some help however the answer was a definite NO. He became withdrawn, verbally and mentally abusive towards my boys and me. I left that relationship in July 2015 and can honestly say I haven’t looked back.

“My life lesson here was about being specific, to be very specific in the type of person you invite into your life. Do they match your values, do they have the qualities you want in a partner. I did get what I asked for however it was in the detail that I missed.”

…..and it loved her right back: In 2013 I wrote my first workshop “Buds To Blossoms: Empowerment for Girls”. I started running these workshops about confidence and self esteem for girls aged 10-‐16. I had a lot of friends with daughters and was naturally drawn to this topic. Finally I was doing something I absolutely loved and I could see the difference I was making in these young girls’ lives. It was here that my direction would slightly change yet again. The mums of the girls d oing my workshops started asking if I had anything for them to help their relationships with their gorgeous girls. In 2014 I launched “Mothers and Daughters United”.

Carol’s son Luke is n ow 21 years old and in the Australian Defence Force. Carol, Nick and Marni, their dog, have their own place close to the beach. Nick is in h igh school and his passion is Martial Arts to the p oint that he trains 14 hours a week. Carol is looking forward to having Luke back home at Christmas.

“I’m the happiest I have been in years and I am grateful for my family and friends for their patience and support in all my decisions. Plus a very special person who is showing me and reminding me that I am worthy of happiness and to be the very best version of myself. I’m 45, and I am the fittest I have ever been. I’m happy and so are my boys. That’s all I need. Life is amazing and I know I can only move forward from here.” In 2016, Carol will be bring you New Mothers and Daughters Workshops, New Buds To Blossoms Workshops and also an Empowerment for Women Workshop and a book especially for Mothers and Daughters. Contact Carol Johnston at: www.mothersanddaughtersunited.com https://www.facebook.com/CarolJohnston2013 LinkedIn: Carol Johnston Twitter @CarolJohnston70 Email: carol@mothersanddaughtersunited.com Or carol@caroljohnston.com.au

the coach: Professional versus Perfectionist

“Errors and untidiness are, to me,

This incident I am about to relate you took place about two months ago and has been b ugging me ever since. Some background story (don’t we all love stories) first. I’ve been having back aches, pinched nerves, tensed muscles for many years and in the past one year it’s heightened. So a friend suggested that I did some reiki sessions to ease the discomfort. I am open to most methods of healing and so I decided to give it a shot. So, in the comfort of my study, on my sofa-‐bed meant for the passing traveller, I lay down while she started the reiki. Halfway through, she said that I was really tense and I should really take it easy and not work so hard. Laughingly, I said “Hey, this is Singapore. No such thing as not

stakeholders, whether they are my a sign of sloppiness and disrespect colleagues or external customers. I believe that when at work, we are the for the stakeholders, whether they organisation’s ambassador and h ence, are my colleagues or external the organisation’s image is reflected in customers.” how the people present themselves and h ow the environment is working hard.” And then she said, organised. Surely you wouldn’t dine at “You are a perfectionist. You need to a restaurant where the tables and let go of perfectionism.” So the chairs are haphazardly arranged and debate started (yes in the midst of cutlery strewn all over and where the treatment) as I insisted I wasn’t a server’s hair is falling into the food? perfectionist but a professional. We left it that but the thought bugged me Being a perfectionist, on the other ever since and so I thought I’d write hand, is wanting order for the sake of about it today. it; wanting to control even when there is no need for control. So yes, walk Am I really a perfectionist and just in into my house now and you’ll see denial? Why was I u pset at being called a perfectionist? Why did I insist laundry from last week on the couch and b ooks on the antique chair. that I was being a professional? Why Professional I am, perfectionist I am did I find the label “professional” more acceptable than “perfectionist”. not. I strive for perfection in my work because I respect my stakeholders In my work, and this has been true for and they deserve the best. all my 25 years working, I place high emphasis on high q uality output. Be it a letter or email that is sent to Rachpal has designed an online someone, be it getting a room ready coaching programme for for a meeting or b e it wearing an women in transition. For a FREE CONSULTATION, write to outfit for a meeting. Errors and her at untidiness are, to me, a sign of more@oneasiacoach.com or sloppiness and disrespect for the visit her website at www.oneasiacoach.com

spice up your life

interests/hobbies: This month’s contribution is from Satwant Kaur, who is also going to be contributing regularly to the food and drinks feature. Satwant had sent me a few pictures to accompany the recipes she had sent through and the first thing that struck me was the little details with the decoration. Curious, I asked if she had put up the decoration just for the magazine and her reply caught me by surprise. Satwant told me that decorating her home was something she just enjoyed doing. “It's my passion, hobby and I just love to decorate, cook for family and friends to enjoy!” How exciting her house must be, I thought to myself as she patiently walked me through the pictures and h ow she gets her inspiration. With the year-‐end festivities fast approaching, perhaps you too can get inspiration start some little projects of your own in your home. And when you d o, please share it with us at: magazine@oneasiacoach.com

Make Anyday a Special Day As I live so far away from my family, I put pictures of them around the house. I usually like to place flowers as they symbolise the love and joy we have as family even though we are so far away. On the left is a picture of my late father when he was much younger.

Special events are a big deal in my household; whether it’s the Hawks football match (on the left) or Chinese New Year (above). It is just fun to do up the house and give it a different look every month.

glitter and glam

fashion/beauty:

Sequinze Styling the Queen in You by Sharin Kaur

Sharin Kaur is not one who gives up easily. In her late 20s, this is her third attempt at a business. She got married two years ago and runs a successful boutique specialising in ethnic Indian-‐wear that are is affordable and modern. Her boutique, Sequinze, is located in a Singapore, along Selegie Road at the start of what is popularly known as Little India. Here’s how you can get in touch with Sharin to find out more about her design range and how you can make online purchases or visit the boutique at 173 Selegie Road, Singapore 188329. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sequinzebysharin/?fref=ts Email: sharinkaur@hotmail.co.uk

So it’s blind courage you may call it that I jumped into the abyss and perhaps with a little bit of n aivety, started something that sadly, didn’t last. Running a business and working full-‐time was no easy feat. I couldn’t b e at the shop everyday and hence I couldn’t b uild the business strategy as I really d idn’t know what was happening within the business. So I bit the bullet, cut the losses and walked away from the business. I lost some of the money I’d invested, but I could hold my head up high and say, “I tried.” Two years ago, I got married and a few months before the wedding, I went to India to shop for my wedding trousseau, something most Indian brides do these days. But what I didn’t know was that that was not just a shopping trip – it was a trip that would change my life. Sharin with her sisters and her mother, at far left. After finishing school, I started work in the recruitment industry; recruiting students for higher education for the many private education institutes in Singapore. It was a fairly demanding and exciting job, attending fairs, talking to students and the occasional travel to India to conduct recruitment. But somewhere deep inside, I was unsettled. There was this feeling that I was destined to do more and there was an adventure waiting for me. So I listened to that inner voice and while still working, started my first business venture. Yes, you heard me right, first – which suggests that I didn’t stop at one.

It was a time that the women in Singapore were beginning to splurge a little more on personal grooming and I thought I found the perfect business, a nail spa in Holland Village. Mind you this was my very first business and I don’t come from a family of business people; neither my M um nor my Dad were running businesses.

Now, you will not believe me when I say that, growing up and up until I got married, I h ad absolutely no interest in Indian outfits. I’d wear jeans and kurtis to the temple and if it were a more fancy occasion, I’d borrow outfits from my sisters and aunts! When I started shopping for my outfits, I was just fascinated at the intricacy of the thread and beadwork on the outfits; how the threads were finely woven into the fabric, how the stones were carefully chosen by size and colour to give the outfit a different appeal. As I learnt about each outfit and how it was created, I began to fall in love with the process – each outfit had a special story, each outfit was a piece of art. And suddenly, that old, unsettled feeling emerged and this time I was absolutely certain, I had found my passion. When I came back to Singapore, I decided that I wanted to run my own Indian fashion business. Wedding shopping was fun. Designing outfits, creating designs – it was FUN! So why not? Of course, the well-‐meaning voices started to speak, “but it’s a saturated business, there are so many other shops also doing Indian fashion in Little India”

and so on. But I had one motto, “I run my own competition.” Once again, I plunged into the abyss as I had no other knowledge than what I had gained while shopping for my trousseau.

Alas, business b egan to suffer. With two shops, it meant higher overheads and also managing and strategizing for each shop was compromised. I couldn’t focus on both the shops and once again, I saw my business wrap u p. You cannot imagine the disappointment I felt and my confidence was shaken. My dream was to have a third shop so that I would have a boutique for female outfits, another for male outfits and another for jewellery. But I reminded myself of my motto “I run my own competition” and told my husband that I wanted to give it one more shot. In May 2015, I took a floor space of about 400 square feet and started my boutique Sequinze. I learnt from the two past failures and decided that I needed to run this business d ifferently. I needed to have discipline; where I used to not be at the shop all the time, now I’m here almost 8 hours a day, except Sundays when my husband and I have our time together. I am involved in choosing the outfits, meeting the suppliers. I now have more time to build my business. Have more involvement with my clients; understanding what they need, helping them with their wedding trousseau. I also get clients to help me with their designs, educate them on different kind of fabrics, matching up their jewellery with the outfit. M y clients are not only my customers but part of the whole design team as well as they are contributing ideas to the

Once again, I faced a setback. I had started one boutique and in a few months, I felt the shop space was not enough to hold a wide collection and I could only showcase a few outfits. So, with great confidence, I started a second shop and was excited that my business was expanding. M y aim was to have a bigger shop, so that I could have a boutique not only for female outfits but for male outfits as well and more varieties of jewelleries.

design of their own outfit. For me running my own business is just not about coming to boutique, do my sales and close the boutique at 9pm. I try to make my business an enjoyable moment everyday. In fact I make more friends while running my business. I have always enjoyed each and every moment in my shop. After a hectic day at my boutique, I bake and I bring the goodies to the shop and serve my customers. I’ve not stopped dreaming, I’m already on the lookout to relocate to a bigger space. My n ext step is working towards a men’s collection and indo-‐western dresses. My inspiration for creating the dresses if for the woman who just wants to dress up for the night – the fun type of dress; Friday night, Saturday night, cheerful fun d resses; affordable p ieces, woth thread-‐work and mirror-‐work.

“I am a strong woman, even if I feel it cannot work, I will still try until results are proven.”

food and drink:

spice, dice and splash

Diwali Special the rebel chef: Hello. I am, Satwant Kaur. I’m 54-‐years old, a wife, a Mom of two always-‐hungry teenagers. Friends always ask me where I learnt to cook so well and I say that I’m self-‐taught. From a very young age, about 9 or 10 years old, my Mother u sed to get me and my older sister to help with food p reparation. We were eight members in all and it was normal for the older girls to help around the house. Well, my older sister always managed to magically disappear midway through the chores and I was Mother’s assistant almost all the time. And I actually enjoyed those moments – watching Mother prepare the ingredients, how she meticulously cooked each d ish over a charcoal stove (yes we didn’t have electricity or gas when I was growing up). Over time, I acquired the “taste” for cooking – I learnt to adjust the dishes just based on taste and not recipes, just like my Mother. There was never a weighing scale or measuring spoons in the house, she just estimated as she went along. To this day, when someone asks me for a recipe, I struggle, as we’re all so fixed on specifics and conformity. So when it comes to cooking, I’m a rebel. From cooking and baking over a charcoal stove, I moved to the gas stove and electric ovens and began experimenting with different types of cuisines. Now that’s the beauty of being born and raised in Singapore, a food paradise with Chinese, Indian, Malay and Peranakan influence and from other parts of the world. Now I not only cook, b ut I’ve also become a food photographer. As a teenager, I began cooking for the family most weekends, digging into magazines cutting out recipes and later on saved money to buy my first Kenwood Chef, which was a big deal back in the 1980s. My pride and joy. I now reside in Washington, USA for the last 15 years and together with my husband, Bir, we run an Indian Restaurant h ere in S eattle, where we serve b oth Indian and American Cuisine. There are recipes from my restaurant, my home kitchen and food cravings I have from time to time, that will b e shared each month in this column. Hope you have fun trying out the recipes like I do. Since Diwali “Festival of Lights” falls in November I h ope you will make these dishes and enjoy with your family and friends. Wishing one and all A Very Happy Diwali and Blessings!

To enjoy more American and Indian cuisine, join Satwant and Bir at their flagship restaurant in Woodinville, the wine valley of Washington. There’s also bar music and karaoke for the music lovers. Indian Palace Restaurant 13330 NE 175th Street Woodinville, Seattle WA 98072 Tel: 425 483 6888 www.indianpalacecuisine.com

Panneer Bhaji (Cottage Cheese) Ingredients: 600g panneer (cut into small cubes) 1 medium sized tomato (cut to wedges) 5 cloves of garlic (crushed) 4 inches of ginger (crushed) 2 onions (sliced) 1 capsicum (cut to wedges) 15 grams garam masala 1 teaspoon turmeric ½ teaspoon cumin seeds 2 green cardamoms 1 teaspoon red chilli powder 10 tablespoons cooking oil 1 tablespoon ghee or butter Salt (adjust to your taste)

Method: • Heat the oil and ghee/butter in a frying pan and add in the cumin seeds and cardamom. They will crackle for a few seconds. • Add in the crushed garlic and ginger and stir for about 2 minutes. • Add the onions and tomatoes and cook till the onions are golden brown and fragrant. • Add the turmeric, garam masala, salt and chilli powder and cook for a few minutes till fragrant. • Add in the capsicum and panneer and sauté for 30 seconds and then cover and cook for 5 minutes.

Garnish and Serving: • I love to garnish it with some chopped coriander and sliced green chillies. • Serves 4. • As this is a dry dish, it can be served as an accompaniment with curries, dhall and rice. • On its own, it goes best with chapattis or naans. If you can’t get these, you can always use the wraps sold at the supermarkets.

Butter Chicken Ingredients: 800g boneless chicken (cut into 3 cm cubes. Marinade with 1 tablespoon of crushed garlic, 1 tablespoon of chilli powder, salt, and 1 tablespoon garam masala. Leave for 6 hours then grill the chicken at 160 celsius for at least 20 minutes or until cooked.) 120 g butter 150 ml cream 3 tablespoons garlic paste 3 tablespoons ginger paste 2 cinnamon sticks (about 5 cm long) 5 green cardamoms 1 tablespoon fenugreek leaves (dry) 1 tablespoon red chilli powder 4 cups chopped tomatoes ½ cup water Salt taste

Method: • Melt half the butter in a pot and sauté the cinnamon and cardamoms for a few seconds. • Add in the garlic and ginger paste and cook till its fragrant and light golden brown colour. • Add the tomatoes and red chilli powder and cook till the tomatoes are all a n ice slush and starting to thicken. • Add in the remaining butter and cream and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes until the ingredients are all well mixed. • Add in the saltand fenugreek and cook for 2 more minutes until it is well mixed. • Add the chicken cubes. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.

Garnish and Serving: • Fresh coriander leaves, sliced onions, green chillies and tomatoes are the best way to perk up these dishes. • Serves 4-‐5. • This dish goes best with naan. Of course, you can always have it with a wrap that you can get at the supermarkets. But I like mine with garlic naan. Vegetarian option: • If you’re a vegetarian, fret not as you can replace the chicken with panneer vegetable koftas (and that will be a recipe for another issue).

Besan Ladoo Besan is also called gramflour or chickpea flour. You can get it from the Indian grocer.

Ingredients: Method: 200g of besan • Melt the butter/ghee in a heavy 180g unsalted butter or ghee bottomed pan over low to 30g pistachios (chopped really fine) moderate heat. In this recipe, the 30g almonds (chopped really fine) heat is crucial as very high heat Seeds from 2 green cardamoms will cause the ingredients to 100g sugar (I’ve only tried this recipe overcook and turn bitter. with white sugar. I’m sure it’ss turn • Add the besan, finely chopped out fine with light brown sugar too.) nuts and cardamom seeds and stir for about 5 – 7 minutes to cook the besan. • Add sugar and continue cooking it for another 10 to 15 minutes until the mixture thickens and turns a nice golden brown and has a shiny sheen. • Cool slightly and then shape into equal size balls. You should easily get 20 to 24 ladoos.

Garnish and serving: • Garnish with almonds and pistachios. I was fooling around and there were popcorns that the kids were eating and just decided to add them for some fun. Told you I’m a rebel. •

Serves 4-‐8 (because one or 2 per person is n ever enough)

Variation: • You can use other nuts like walnuts or flaxseed.

Masala Cha(i) In my family we say Cha, b ut many people call it Chai. Cha or Chai. Whatever that pleases you but nothing beats a cuppa at the end of a hearty meal and ladoos. This is so easy to make that my 12-‐year old daughter prepared a cup for me. Ingredients: 2 tablespoons of strong black tea 4 green cardamoms 5 cloves 2 cm cinnamon ¼ tsp of fennel seeds 1½ cups water ½ cup milk Sugar according to your liking

Method: • Crush the spices roughly (this is just to release the fragrance) • Put the water to boil in a pot • Put in the tea leaves and spices • Once it starts to boil, let it boil for another 2 minutes and then add the milk. • Bring to boil and b oil for another 1 minute or 2. • Add sugar if you like it sweet and enjoy your cuppa.

Garnish and Serving: • To make it look a little more interesting, you can omit the cinnamon in the boil and put a cinnamon stick as a stirrer. The heat will release the fragrance into the tea. • Serves 2 •

common cents

money mine:

It’s Just 10 cents; I don’t need it. I remember when my niece Roshen was about 6 years old and I had taken her out for the day and given her $10 to buy whatever she wanted. At the end of the trip, she had 10-‐cents left and she returned it to me saying, “you can have it back because it’s just 10 cents and I don’t need it.” Alarm b ells started ringing in my head and thankfully we were in a taxi so I kept my hysteria to a bare minimum. There and then I gave her quick financial lesson in the value of 10 cents, how 10 of it make a dollar and how 10 one-‐dollar coins make $10 and so on. Why am I writing this? Because as Suze Orman’s saying above goes, the conversation you have with your child about money will form their values and beliefs about money. So instead of saying 10-‐cents cannot buy anything, we need the child to understand that a few 10-‐cents put together is worth a lot and many 10-‐cents coins can buy many more things. Also n otice what your conversations are at home about money – is it about thrift or spendthrift? Are you always talking about buying things or how you can cut down expenses? Do you talk to your child about how things are purchased and how money grows? So every time you lament about having to save, remember that that’s what your child is learning, that saving is a chore. Every time that you say, “it’s okay. I’ll buy it for you” even when finances are tight, you are again teaching them the value that there is no need to plan or be responsible with your money. Perhaps the first action you want to have is start a 10-‐cents jar and watch it fill up. Drop all your 10-‐cents at the end of the day and let your child watch the money grow!

live life to the fullest

health and fitness: We all have to START somewhere By Emma Blake

Hands up who, while watching a weight loss TV show, has said to themselves “Right I need to lose weight and I need to lose it RIGHT NOW. I will start on Monday and train hard and eat healthy every day?” I know I have. Everywhere we turn, society is telling us how we should look and what size or aesthetic we should be. Who is society to judge us on what we look like and how much we should weigh? Society d oesn’t know us or our story, do they? Yes it is great for us to be healthy and live our lives to full vitality and I encourage all my clients to make changes for a healthier lifestyle.

We all have to start somewhere and more often than not a lot of people don’t really know where or how to start.

avoid injury: When starting any form of exercise program after a long p eriod of no exercise you, need to take things slow and start with simple exercises and light resistance training. Going “gung h o” straight off the mark with 2 hour daily training sessions 6 days a week because you want to lose weight quickly can actually be quite dangerous and stressful on your joints and ligaments as your muscles have more than likely become weaker due to you not exercising and this can cause serious injuries.

Let’s face it, we didn’t go to sleep and wake up the next morning 10, 20, 50kg heavier so we will definitely not lose it overnight either. There is no quick fix to losing weight. I have had many battles within myself since I was a teenager; society and people around me judged me for the way I looked on the outside. I was always trying to please everyone else and when I failed I would punish myself by over eating, eating the wrong foods and not exercising. Then the weight would pile back on and I would be back to square one and the cycle repeated.

“Being healthy starts from the inside. We must first have a healthy mind to build a healthy body and create a healthy soul.” “somewhere” is the self: That “somewhere” that we all have to start with is with OURSELVES. We need to change our behaviour and our way of thinking. We all deserve to live happy, healthy lifestyles but it’s up to us to make those changes, break those bad h abits and feel good about ourselves. Don’t let society convince you that you need to look a certain way or be a certain size to be accepted. No one has the right to judge us but ourselves. One rule I have learnt over the years, have followed myself and coach my clients about is when making changes for a healthier lifestyle whether it’s to lose weight, tone up or increasing your fitness, it has to b e because YOU WANT TO.

What a difference 35kgs m ake.

It took Emma Blake 2.5yrs to lose 35kg and it all started with changing bad habits to good habits, changing her way of thinking and seeing things to be more positive and fuelling her body with real whole foods and finding a type of exercise that she enjoyed. Emma Blake, is a personal trainer and wellness coach whose aim is to work with h er clients to overcome their struggles when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. She is a single mum of a 15-‐year old daughter and sporty 9 –year old son. If you want to work with Emma on your weight-‐loss or wellness, you can contact her at: Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/Body-‐Mind-‐ Soul-‐Wellness-‐628900180585733/

Website: Under Construction Email: em@bodymindsoulwellness.com.au Instagram: https://instagram.com/bodymindsoulwellness/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/soul_wellness

where women inspire women

seeds of inspiration:

living simply to simply live

living:

Sometimes the best things are unplanned.. A common lament I hear from my friends, family and associates is “there isn’t enough time” or “I missed that show, I was so busy with….”. And I’m sure many of you reading this article can relate to that; missing out on the art exhibition, the musical, the charity drive or the farmer’s market. You mark them on your calendar, you’re all excited to go, you talk to everyone about it and everyone is so excited and then, life gets In the way. Perhaps it’s something at work or school or the family – something gets in the way. The day of the event comes and you know you are not going to make it and the day passes, just like any other. A slight tinge of regret and disappointment but you console yourself, “there will be another time.” I have summed up much of what’s been happening to me this p ast few years until last weekend I decided my life is not just about work and regrets. There was a night art festival by the Singapore River and though I had work on Saturday and Sunday, I d ecided that I would still go for the show on the Saturday night. I didn’t have to stay out late, but I will go. And I mentioned it to a few family members and unplanned as it was, we all agreed to meet by the river and enjoyed the evening watching the performances. I learnt to let go of control and to just be in the moment and enjoy the moment. So let go of organisation my friends. Unplan your life.

the spicy route

travel :

Perhaps we are nomads after all

I look away from the email. I click onto my calendar. Finger slowly scrolls the days, the weeks and the next few months. And then I remember I have papers to mark. A few hours go b y and again, the fingers slowly scroll the calendar; looking, searching for that window, for that few d ays break. I’m looking to escape, to run away to some faraway land; sit atop a mountain and watch the sunrise and the sunset; sip pina coladas on the beach; feel the soft sand on my feet and the breeze gently blowing on my face as the tiny fish swim around my feet. I long for that getaway; I feel recharged and energised after each trip. I get bored of my daily routine. And it’s not just me. I see dull faces trudging to work every day; faces burdened with worry and bodies fatigued. I can almost read in the faces that they too are looking through their calendar for that quick escape. If only I could change my h ome every few months. If only I could move from one country to another. Once again I feel that surge of emotions but this time it’s excitement at the new possibilities. And then it hit me that perhaps, we weren’t destined to live in one p lace. Perhaps we are nomads after all.

in the hot seed

Q & A: Q

Cheryl sent me this p roblem that she’s facing at work. She feels that a senior colleague is biased against her and has taken away a few of her big projects and assigned them to other colleagues. She wasn’t consulted nor informed of this and found out only by chance when she wanted to follow up with the stake-‐holders and was informed that another colleague was already working on it. She’s upset and doesn’t know what to do.

Unfortunately biases at the workplace still exist whether it is due to gender, race, religion, seniority or generational differences. It is natural to feel angry and p owerless in times like this. Here is what Cheryl can do: • Cheryl needs to speak with this senior colleague to find out the reasons for the reassignment of projects. • Cheryl needs to prepare questions for clarification ahead of the meeting such as: what is the criteria for allocation of projects; how is employee’s performance measured and how do employee’s get feedback. • The strategy proposed here is to STAY WITH THE FACTS. People often get distracted by emotions and their own stories that the conversation turns to accusations. • Staying with the facts also allows b oth p arties to not deviate form the problem at hand and identify gaps and work on any gaps in the system. • Of course, if the matter has to be escalated to another level, it is easier if there were facts rather than mere opinions. • In summary, plan what you going to say and stay with the facts. If you have a question on a life or work transition , write to us at magazine@oneasiacoach.com and we will feature your questions and reply on this page.

â&#x20AC;ŚI specialise in Transitional Transformation Coaching for women in transition; to smoothen the transition period, to give clarity and equip you with skills to move effortlessly to the next phase. My coaching philosophy is to take you from being a blunt tool to the sharpest tool in the shedâ&#x20AC;Ś Rachpal Kaur Tulsi

+ Reigniting Personal Belief; Reclaiming lorem ipsumPersonal Power RachpalAddress] [Street Kaur Tulsi [City], [State][Postal Code] Consultant/Coach [Web Address] www.oneasiacoach.com