Re-inventing the woman in you No 4 Piccadilly Centre, Shannon Drive, Reservoir Hills, Durban, South Africa Tel: +27 262 9487 Cell: +27 794 8484 Email: malini@thepowderroom.co.za
We also specialise in make-overs, beauty and skincare consults and makeup lessons.
www.thepowderroom.co.za
We have brought world famous Lakme to you... The Powder Room are proud to announce that we are sole importers and South African agents for Lakme products
Re-inventing the woman in you
Contact Malini Singh • malini@thepowderroom.co.za • Cell: 083 794 84 84 • Fax: +27 32 945 1214
We have brought world famous Lakme to you... The Powder Room are proud to announce that we are sole importers and South African agents for Lakme products
Re-inventing the woman in you
Contact Malini Singh • malini@thepowderroom.co.za • Cell: 083 794 84 84 • Fax: +27 32 945 1214
The Powder Room are proud to announce that we are sole importers and South African agents for Girlactik Beauty products
Re-inventing the woman in you
whats inside?
TARGETED AUDIENCE, REACH NEW MARKETS HIGH DEFINATION FULL COLOUR For advertising enquiries email: spicemag.sa@gmail.com
David Lamb
Fashion
Salman Khan
contents Summer Outdoor Food
Magical Mumbai
Dr Akashni Maharaj
SPICE Magazine’s strives to capture a mixture of cultures and interesting captivating stories. As an internet based product SPICE acknowledges the use of material, and photographs used from Google
Diwali 2014
From the Grindstone... Greetings to all our readers...we briskly move into the fourth quarter of 2014, and this being the busiest season. Whilst matriculants gear up for final exams, families booking Christmas vacations and generally everyone is trying to maximise and make most of the year as it tapers down. SPICE Mag, has grown in readership, we have had excellent feedback and responses, which has assisted us to establish, our readership target market and in turn be able to provide our advertisers, both existing and future information. Online publications have a wider spectrum and by managing databases the magazine can be controlled and posted to those databases. On the social platform, SPICE Mag, has a fan page and the link is posted there, which attracts a good percentage of unrecorded traffic. All in all we looking good. In this edition I would like to personally thank Dr Akhashni Maharaj, as our featured personality and professional. She is also our regular columnist, which has given SPICE Mag a value add, in building our readership. Thank you Akhash. Focus on food and travel has always been ethos of SPICE Mag, going forward we will be looking at publishing featured cuisine and some local destinations for the travel hoppers and families, that plan weekend getaways. Sit back and enjoy SPICE on your smartphone, anaroid, tablet, notebook and desktops infact any internet based device‌..share the site with friends and family. Post comments on our homepage on Facebook. Should you need advertising details and rates, drop me an email ISh K Bugwandass - Editor / Publisher SPICE Mag Email: spicemag.sa@gmail.co.za www.spicemag.co.za
SPICE Mag
As an electronic magazine, material is used from the web. We would like to acknowledge use and thank the originators and owners for usage.
Reach out to 1000s
via social platforms and databases Advertise in SPICE Mag
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100% Paperless Here are a few reasons why Online Advertising Works: Large Audience: This is a huge opportunity for brand marketers who want to make use of the large audience surfing the web on a daily basis. Unique Targeting Capabilities: Online advertising has unique targeting capabilities that are not available in offline advertising these capabilities include Geographical targeting, Demographical targeting and Behavioral targeting. These complicated targeting capabilities allow advertisers to reach their desired target audience easily. With online advertising you can target a male or female living in a certain city with specific interests while using a particular operating system or browser at a certain time. Simple and fast: Nowadays it is very easy to setup an online campaign as all the complexity goes in the back end. Some campaigns only need 1-2 days in order to go live Cost Effective: Online advertising normally costs much less than offline advertising and production costs are also much cheaper than in offline ads. Measurable: Online campaigns enable advertisers to track the performance of their campaigns. All of these benefits show the importance of online ads and why it has become very popular among marketing professionals, this does not mean that digital advertising will be replacing the traditional advertising but it’s definitely something that should be included in all of the marketing campaigns.
ADVERTISE FROM AS LITTLE AS R595pm* * Quoted Quarter Page advert in Full Colour. Material to be supplied as PDF. Email: spicemag.sa@gmail.com
Dr Akashni Maharaj
Meet... Dr Akashni Maharaj Specialist Psychologist and SPICE Mag’s columnist, Akashni, spent a few minutes out of her busy day with the SPICE team to chat...her articles have fast grown to become a popular feature of the mag, was a great opportunity for our readers and followers alike to be introduced to her. (SPICE Mag values your contribution and is truly blessed having you part of the brand)
Are you easy to talk to? As a psychologist it’s part of my job to be approachable. People require me to be open and receptive towards them. I think it helps the individual to let their guard down and speak openly and freely.
but looking back I cannot isolate one that is the greatest or biggest. Disappointments in my world are challenges for me, it’s a personal challenge to pick myself up, dust off and start again. I use it as a strength so everything I have experienced has been a journey towards a better me.
How do you handle stress and pressure? I spend a lot of “me time” doing relaxing things such as going to the spa for a massage every alternate week, taking photographs in nature as often as I can. I love reading, I think its become one of my passions. I tend to also spend time alone with my own thoughts as often as I can. I have a beautiful garden at work, so I try to take few minutes every day to walk around nature and listen to the birds. I am big on pampering and nurturing oneself. With the work I do it can become emotionally draining so self-care is vital for me.
What are you passionate about? I am passionate about change and transformation. Like the caterpillar transforming into a beautiful butterfly. My passion lies in those stages of change, it’s watching someone painfully shed the old and embrace the ne. In life there isn’t anything more beautiful than that transformation.
What motivates you? This is a big question. There are lots of things that motivate me but I think topmost would most definitely be a passion for something I love, then I am fully motivated and committed to it. It becomes a drive within me to go beyond the conventional. How do you evaluate success? To me success is intrinsic. I evaluate success by the way I feel in the morning within. If I get up for work every day feeling energised and committed, then for me that’s success. I have achieved inner fulfilment. To me there is nothing more important in life than enjoying/loving what you do, that’s my measure of being a success. Granted I have a PhD and many other accomplishments but none of it compares to the inner bliss of success you derive from seeing your contribution to change, even if it’s in just one person. That’s success for me. What has been the greatest disappointment in your life? I have suffered many disappointments in my life. At the time they were heart wrenching and painful,
What are your pet peeves? I dislike addiction of any sort. It shows weakness and poor willpower. What do people most often criticize about you? Some criticise my directness and straight forwardness towards issues. Some people find it hard to accept that I am bold in my views and thinking. Are you good at saying “No?” Its hard to say NO to people who are close to me, however through the years I have acquired the subtle art of saying “NO”. Its not easy but a work in progress. How have you handled previous conflicts ? In a conflict situation, I try to remove myself from the situation itself. Rather than become emotionally involved, I try to become the reasoning component. However in intense conflict situations, this is difficult to do. What is your idea of the “perfect” job if you had an option to change? I am already in my perfect job. I am perfectly happy where I am. How would your best friend describe you? Honest, straight forward and someone who cuts to the chase.
Meet... Dr Akashni Maharaj
How do you keep organized? I have a very good PA that keeps me on track and organized. Read any good books lately? Lots of good books, top of my list is Tao Te Ching by “Lao Tzu” and 40 Rules of Love by “Elif Shafak”. Business related my favourite is Richard Branson’s “Screw it, Let’s do it” How are you involved in the community? We regularly get involved with feeding schemes like the Cheshire children’s home and within the practice we do a lot of CSR such as empowering woman and the youth. Give me an example of one success and one failure Success is getting my PhD, failure was trying to learn French on a limited time frame. How do you stay up to date on the latest industry trends? Google’s my best friend and basically using technology to keep abreast on what’s going on in the world. Whats your fav Food? Pasta, any type of pasta makes my day. Do you cook? Yes I cook and I love it. Your fav Colour? Red Your Star Sign? Pisces Your fav car? Mitsubishi ASX Country you will like to holiday and reason? Amsterdam, it has a very rich history and culture.
Meet... Dr Akashni Maharaj
Your message to youth of today? Be yourself don’t try to imitate and be someone else. Are our education system equipping youth of today enough for the real world, and growing strong minds to cope with work and domestic pressures? No our education system isn’t equipping our youth of today enough for the real world. There is so much more that can be done but the change can only be done from the top. Whats your goals and aims for the future To empower as many individuals as possible and my aim is to make a difference in at least one persons life. Whats your opinion of SPICE Mag and its roleplay in society as a communication vehicle? Spice Mag is a brilliant concept as it addresses basic as well as higher needs of every individual. It’s a good platform to educate, inform and make a difference to a large number of people. Keep up the great work Ish!
www.akashnimaharaj.co.za
W
elcome to Bellair Psychology Centre (BPC) BPC is nestled in a tranquil garden stetting in Bellair. It provides the client with a safe place to escape temporarily from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The surroundings are calm, peaceful and serene. With only the sounds of the birds chirping, one can easily slip into a deep sense of relaxation, almost as like taking a short meditative break in the day. It is a place that nourishes the mind, the soul and takes good care of the spirit.
Bellair Psychology Centre Durban Practice Number: 0256749 HPCSA: 0098809
031 459 1940 076 694 3661 info@akashnimaharaj.co.za www.akashnimaharaj.co.za 203 Wakesleigh Drive Bellair Durban South Africa
I am Dr. Akashni, counselling psychologist and hypnotherapist in private practice. My work as a therapist focuses on issues that affect adults, adolescents and children. I also work closely with many EAP programmes and find that my knowledge and experience as an Industrial psychologist stands me in good stead to understand the complex problems faced by employees. I am able to do management coaching and training of employees in various areas of work development. I lecture part time at UNISA and I find the balance between a therapy practice and lecturing helps me get a better grounding in working with clients and gives me greater perspective.
My approach to therapy, is non-traditional. Some may call it ecclectic but it’s really only applying a holistic approach to therapy. So in many respects I am an alternate therapist. I combine alternate methods (Hypnosis) of treatment with traditional (CBT, Psychodynamic, Solution focused) psychotherapeutic approaches. My PhD delved into the areas of combining alternative therapies with traditional psychotherapies through the use of Cognitive behavioural therapy and Reiki. This proved to be effective and enhanced the therapeutic process. Many more alternate approaches were added on as time passed by and now each session is tailor made to suit each individual client/patient. Focusing on the mind-body-spirit is more effective than working with only the mind. Most of today’s imbalances come from the mal- alignment of the mind, body and the spirit. Through adopting a holistic approach to therapy, I am able to successfully address many psychological problems which an individual brings to my rooms.
My Philosophy “My belief is that every person has the inherent ability to find the courage to search for meaning and purpose in their life. Meaning and purpose is what life’s journey is all about. All the obstacles and hurdles we find along are only roadblocks on our journey to enlightenment.” Bellair Psychology Centre is nestled in a tranquil garden stetting in Bellair.
Diwali in South Africa
T
he South African culture is a mix of variety of cultures. It had the largest immigrant Indian community in the world a decade prior to the colonisation by the United States of America.
The immigrant Indians account of almost one million in the country. But most of them are concentrated in the eastern regions of Natal and Transvaal of the country. About 65% are Hindus, 15% Muslims and 20% of Christians live in this area. Due to the majority of the Hindu population, a number of Hindu festivals are celebrated here. The Festival of Diwali holds an important place in the festival calendar of the region. The Diwali celebrations are more or less same to that of India. Most of the Hindus here are from Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu and continue to follow their regional variations of Hinduism. Diwali is a festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. The word Diwali means “festival of lights.” Diwali can also be called ‘Deepavali’ On Diwali people light rows of lights to commemorate heroic figures in Indian mythology who triumphed over the forces of evil. Also people clean their homes and open all their windows and doors to welcome luck and good fortune during Diwali. The exchange of gifts is also traditional during this holiday, and many people host dinners and Diwali parties. Purpose of celebrating Diwali: There are seven basic Hindu gods: - Indra, Shakti, Brahma,Vishnu, Shiva, Shani and Yama. Of these Vishnu is the one and only god who enables to know our real worth. Thus, once in an year, during Diwali we try to get a correct picture of our worth. It should be noted that many business people consider the first day of Diwali as the first day of their financial year. Hindus have several significant events associated with Diwali: - Killing of Ravana by Rama - The return of Rama after 14 years of Vanvas (ban ishment). To welcome his return, diyas (ghee lamps) were lit in rows of 20. - The killing of the evil demon Narakasura by Krishna. - Celebrated as Naraka Chaturdashi, one day before Deepavali. - Govardhan Puja is celebrated the day after Deepava li and is the day Krishna defeated Indra, the deity of thunder and rain. - Return of Pandavas after 12 years of Vanvas and one year of agyatavas (living incognito). - Killing of Bali by Vamana incarnation of Vishnu. W hat is interesting is the fact that it is always the incarna tion of Vishnu that is involved.
Brahma and Diwali:
Brahma is one of the least worshiped Hindu god because its use results in the creation of a demonic and indestructible, parallel life. Ravana, Narakasura and Bali symbolize this demonic life only. Vishnu destroys this unwanted life during Diwali. The Row of lamps: In early days, a man’s status was determined by his average achievement. However, in the materialistic world our status is determined by our achievements in just a handful of activities. The row of lamps symbolizes the handful of activities. Hindus believe that a prince got stuck in the woods and lost princess Sita. She was stolen by an evil spirit and 3 years later the prince found her and they went back into their town. The town celebrated them coming back by putting up garlands and lighting candles. that’s why its called the festival of light. Many modern day Sikhs and Hindus celebrate Diwali by lighting diva candles and they may use fireworks to, they also visit family and friends and have special food. Diwali or Deepavali, popularly known as the “festival of lights”, is an important festival in not just Hinduism but also Jainism, and Sikhism. In each legend, tradition and story of Deepawali lies the significance of the victory of good over evil. From darkness into light - the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings us closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of India and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of fire-crackers, joy, togetherness and hope. Diwali is celebrated around the globe. Outside India, it is more than a Hindu festival, it is a celebration of SouthAsian identities. The Publishers and SPICE Mag team wish all Hindu a peaceful and Joyous Deepavali on 23 October 2014. May you blessed with good health and properity. Editor (Also please exercise extreme precaution, when letting off fireworks and smaller children must be supervised by adults at all time. Remember its safety first).
100% PAPERLESS MAGAZINE
The SPICE Mag team wish all Hindus a peaceful and joyous Deepavali on 23 October 2014
SPICE Mag brings you
SUMMER CHOLI FASHION 2014
“Cummon Fella...
Dave Lamb
(‘Come Dine With Me’) Voice over...the mystery voice
A true gem in Channel 4’s daytime schedule, cookery show Come Dine With Me is finally back with a new series later this month. Hurrah! Once again more amateur chefs will compete against each other to prove that they are the perfect dinner party host and claim a £1,000 cash prize. Also back is resident voiceover man Dave Lamb, overseeing proceedings with his witty observations and sarcastic commentary. We gave Dave a call to find out more about the show’s enduring popularity. Did you ever expect Come Dine With Me to be so popular? “When I first started doing it, I went along just thinking ‘this is a job to fill the time’, but I quickly realised it was a lot of fun to do the voicing for. In fact I kept missing my cues because I was watching the programme! Ultimately then, I suppose I’m not really surprised that it took off because it’s really watchable, to the point where it’s almost addictive.” Do you write the voiceover yourself and do you do much ad-libbing around that? “I don’t write it myself. They cut it down to the final edit first, so I basically watch the programme and they’ve left gaps for me read from the script. I ad-lib around it as well, but less so now. In the early days I ad-libbed quite a lot, which is what helped everybody to find the character of the narrator. Now everybody kind of writes for that narrator, so there’s not as much need to do the improvising.” Have you ever got carried away into a rant? “There’s a lot of extremely unusable filth. When I do the voiceover I try to feel as if I’m sitting around with people watching it, so sometimes I let myself go! We were thinking of doing a rude version for late night internet broadcast, but we haven’t got round to doing that yet.” Would only the voiceover be rude, or would the contestants have to find rude ways of serving their meals too? “I don’t know! Actually, I hadn’t thought about that. That’s a whole new level. That might be an even more of a good idea. We’ve thought of doing a Derek and Clive version, recorded at midnight after a couple of beers.” Have you ever considered being a contestant on the show? “God no. I’m an absolute arse at cooking, I can’t cook to save my life. My wife’s a chef so sometimes I phone her from the booth for pronun-
ciation checks. But me doing the show would be absolutely terrible. I don’t know why people put themselves through it to be honest, ‘cos it’s harrowing enough to throw a dinner party without having a camera crew there.” Have the producers ever approached you to take part in the celebrity edition? “I know the word ‘celebrity’ can be stretched quite a long way these days, but I don’t think it can be stretched quite that far.” But if you did do it, you could do the voiceover live! “Haha! That would be vaguely horrific. I wouldn’t like to have to take the piss out of myself. That would be appalling.” Do you get recognised a lot because of your voice? Talking to you now, your voice seems different. “That’s what people say. I think the voiceover has got more extreme as the show has gone on. It’s more enthusiastic and there’s more energy in it now.” Are there any other shows you would like to do voiceover for? “I’ve not really thought about that. I’m really happy doing Come Dine With Me, to be honest, because it’s good fun. Before Gillian McKeith started doing her own voiceover on You Are What You Eat, which was a massive mistake, there was a very funny bloke on there. I’d like to have had a crack at that. It’s being funny without being too cruel. I like the more gentle, poking fun angle.”
On our forums there was a suggestion that you should replace Terry Wogan on Eurovision. “Hahaha! Well, that would be stepping into the shoes of the master, wouldn’t it? The Eurovision Song Contest has just become ludicrous, really. You’ve got to have some hope of a genuine competition to make it worth it. I think I’d get too angry. Actually I think I’d be absolutely furious.” That could work, though. “Sitting in a booth with a bottle of whiskey and getting angry about the Eurovision Song Contest? Sounds like good fun to me.” Interview by By Neil Wilkes
“Going green”... ...is a popular phrase being bandied about these days. Chances are, you have heard it referred to quite a lot. But what does going green mean? In essence, it refers to using various everyday methods to help save the world and its environment. Many people consider going green to be an actual lifestyle; for them, it means basing your actions on working to save the world. From the smallest details to the most sweeping aspects of life, saving the world by implementing a green lifestyle is something that more and more people are aiming to do. Definition of Green Living a green lifestyle – or going green – can begin in small, easy to manage ways. Recycling is a huge, obvious part of helping to save the world through green living. Reducing one’s reliance on oil-based energy sources is another popular method employed in trying to save the world. Purchasing only all organic, chemical free products is another way that many people begin going green, and is considered a very effective method at trying to save the world and all of its resources. Green living is infiltrating all parts of daily life, and the planet is sure to be better for it. Going Green Pros and Cons Like any other type of lifestyle, going green and trying to save the world through environmentally friendly habits has its pluses and its minuses. The plus side is pretty obvious: saving the planet and contributing to a healthier earth.
However, there are some cons to going green. Saving the planet can be a costly proposition; many organic products have far higher price tags than traditional products. Similarly, hybrid vehicles – another popular mechanism for helping to save the world – are also very expensive. Going Green At Home Besides big ticket purchases, there are plenty of ways of going green at home. People can make their contribution to saving the world by trying to purchase organic and chemical free products wherever possible. Doing so encourages healthy farming practices, which can substantially work to save the world. Going green at home can also mean being conscientious about not wasting tap water, and turning off lights when they are not necessary. All of these little things can really add up in one’s pursuit to save the world; if enough people begin going green, the planet will surely stand a far better chance. Going Green Tips Some people find that an easy way of going green and helping to save the planet is by creating a compost pile in their backyards. Planting a vegetable garden instead of water hugging grass is another method being used by many people who are trying to save the world. Using bicycles – or going on foot – wherever possible is another simple way of eschewing gas guzzling vehicles and saving the world. Going green is an overall life philosophy, and it can be employed in even the most mundane details of one’s life with success.
“Going green”
magical
MUMBAI
Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay), India, is famous for its chaotic streets. For bargains and people-watching, outdoor bazaars top the list of attractions. Popular waterfront destinations are Marine Drive, where visitors go to watch the sun set over the Arabian Sea, and the carnival-like Juhu Beach. More sightseeing options are the Gandhi Museum, in the leader’s former home, and the cave temples of Elephanta Island. For tranquillity, Mumbai has many religious sites, lakes and parks.
SALMAN
KHAN
Salman Khan is one of the leading Bollywood stars. It is not surprising to see this actor in this top richest actor in the world. His net worth is about $200 million. Salman Khan becomes the most influential people in Bollywood. There are a lot of people who love his films. Net worth: $200 million. Age: 48
durban lamb curry
The curry of curries. Most popular across the board. Enjoyed with rice and sambles. Ingredients: • 1 Kg Lamb (cut into pieces as desired) • 1 Small Onion (Coarsely Chopped) • 2 Medium Tomatoes (Chopped) • 4 Potatoes (Peeled and halved) • 2 Green Chillis • 1 Teaspoon of crushed ginger and garlic Spices: • ½ Teaspoon Jeeera (Cumin) • ½ Teaspoon Fenel • 2 Elachi Cloves • 1 Aniseed (Star Spice) • 2 Cloves • 2 Bay Leaves • 2 Cinnamon Sticks • 5 – 6 Curry Leaves • 4 Tablespoon Oil • 5 Teaspoon Chilli Powder • ½ Teaspoon Tumeric Powder • Salt to Taste • ½ Teaspoon Garam Masala • ½ Teaspoon Dhania Powder 300 to 400 ml Water Garnish – Dhania (Coriander)
Method: Heat oil in pot, add spices, green chillies, onion and tumeric powder. Allow onion to brown lightly. Add tomatoes, ginger & garlic, chilli powder, salt, dhania powder, garam masala and curry leaves. Allow mixture to braise for 2 to 3 minutes, mix in lamb and allow to simmer for +/- 5 to 7 minutes. Add 200ml of water and allow to cook for 10 to 15 minutes. Add potatoes to curry and allow to cook for further 15 to 20 minutes until potatoes become soft. Garnish with Dhania.
Creamy
Chicken Enchiladas TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min. Bake: 35 min. MAKES: 10 servings Ingredients •
1 package cream cheese, softened
•
2 tablespoons water
•
2 teaspoons onion powder
•
2 teaspoons ground cumin
•
1/2 teaspoon salt
•
1/4 teaspoon pepper
•
5 cups diced cooked chicken
•
20 flour tortillas, room temperature
•
2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
•
2 cups sour cream
•
1 cup milk
•
2 cans chopped green chilies
•
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Directions 1.
In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, water, onion powder,
cumin, salt and pepper until smooth. Stir in chicken.
2.
Place 1/4 cup chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll up and
place seam side down in two greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dishes. In a large
bowl, combine the soup, sour cream, milk and chilies; pour over enchiladas.
3.
Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30-40 minutes or until heated through.
Sprinkle with cheese; bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
Yield: 10 servings.
SUMMER OUTDOOR
PARTY FOODS A summer outdoor party is all about sun, friends and simple, delicious food. Because it is hot outside, you’ll want to keep foods light and easy as well as frosty and cool. Here are a few ideas on what to serve at your next summer outdoor party. Easy main courses Grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and steaks are typical summer fare, but you don’t have to limit yourself to the basics. Instead, try grilling easy kabobs made of shrimp, chicken, steak, veggies and fruit. Prepare the ingredients ahead of time and let guests create their own kabobs. Have sauces on hand like barbeque, teriyaki and honey mustard to spread over kabobs before grilling. Almost any meat, veggie or fruit works well, so be sure to cut up plenty of choices. Chilled fruit bowl Finger foods are perfect for outdoor parties, and nothing is better than chilled fruit. Mix together cut-up fruit like watermelon, honeydew melon, strawberries, grapes and anything else you can think of. Before the party, chill a glass serving bowl in the freezer, then place the fruit in the bowl when it is ready. To keep it chilled, set the bowl in a pan of ice cubes. You can have a bowl of whipped topping on the side for anyone who wants to make things sweeter. Healthy vegetable tray A vegetable tray is a must at a summer outdoor party. Cut up as many of summer’s best fresh veggies as you can and offer dipping choices for guests to enjoy. Standard fare is carrots, celery, green and red peppers, cauliflower and broccoli, but you can jazz up your tray with other delicious treats like sugar snap peas, radishes and cucumbers. These same veggies can be used on grilled kabobs for twice the mileage.
Serve chilled drinks A frosty drink beats a regular one any day. Have your blender ready to crush ice for adult drinks or to make fruity smoothies for the kids. Blend fresh fruit, yogurt, milk or fruit juice and ice and you’ll have an icy, delicious treat. Don’t forget to make pitchers of iced tea and lemonade, too. Cold pasta salads Pasta salad is easy to make ahead of time, and when served in a chilled dish it is a delightful addition to any outdoor party fare. Make a traditional pasta dish with Italian dressing over spiral pasta noodles, spices, peppers and olives or try a creamier sauce and add cold chicken to the dish. If you have time, make two or three different choices for your guests. Easy, frosty desserts Who doesn’t enjoy a delicious frozen treat on a hot summer day? Pack your freezer with several types of frozen desserts, like Drumsticks, fruit bars or good, old-fashioned ice cream. Pass out treats for a delicious, frosty end to a delightful outdoor party.
doughnuts Makes 6 to 12 doughnuts active time: 15 minutes total time 30 minutes: Cake doughnuts are fried, not baked, at your local doughnut shop. But this recipe bakes up just as delicious, and cleanup is far easier, not to mention a bit less guilt-inducing. This batter also bakes up beautifully in an electric doughnut maker. Note: To get the proper doughnut shape when baking cake doughnuts, you do need a doughnut pan with a rounded bottom to each cup and a post through the middle. Baking them on a flat baking sheet will result in flat-bottomed half-doughnuts. If you don’t have a doughnut pan, you can make the same batter and bake it in a muffin tin for doughnutflavored muffins. The batter also works great with a minimuffin pan for bite-size treats. Ingredients: 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon (120 grams) all-purpose flour 1/4 cup (30 grams) whole wheat pastry flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/3 cup (75 grams) superfine sugar 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or vegetable shortening 1/4 cup whole milk, scalded 1/4 cup plain yogurt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 egg, beaten Preparation: 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a doughnut pan. 2. Sift the flours and baking powder together into a large bowl or the bowl of a mixer. Whisk in the sugar, nutmeg, and salt. Add the butter and use your fingers to rub it into the dry ingredients as you would in making a pastry crust, until evenly distributed. Add the milk, yogurt, vanilla, and egg and stir until just combined. Do not overmix or your doughnuts may be rubbery. 3. Use a piping bag or a spoon to fill each doughnut cup about three-quarters full, making sure the center post is clear. Bake until doughnuts are a light golden brown and spring back when touched, 6 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly before removing from pan. Glaze as desired.
Salt is good for you? Perhaps you’ve heard some of the buzz in the health blog world about salt. Perhaps you are asking yourself, salt is good for me? Yep, it is! The idea is contrary to the pretty blatant lies told to us by the American Heart Association… and thank goodness, because salt makes food taste amazing. There is no need to suffer through bland, unsalted meals in the sake of health. Here are 12 reasons why salt is good for you: 1. The premise that salt leads to hypertension has never been scientifically supported. On the contrary, studies show that a reduced-sodium diet leads to health issues. In one study, subjects consuming less than 2300 mg. (the recommended daily allowance) of sodium per day had significantly higher mortality rates (meaning a higher risk of death) than the subjects consuming 2300 mg. or more sodium per day. 2. Salt aids blood sugar control by improving insulin sensitivity. A low-salt diet increases insulin resistance and even moderate dietary salt restriction is shown to cause systemic insulin sistance. 3. Salt is a natural antihistamine. A pinch of salt sprinkled on the tongue may help improve an allergic reaction or an asthma attack. 4. Your body needs salt to maintain the proper stomach pH. Stomach acid is hydrochloric acid and salt is sodium chloride. Proper stomach acid levels are absolutely foundational for good digestion, but 90% of Americans have low stomach acid. Learn how to correct low stomach acid naturally. 5. Salt lowers adrenaline spikes. Adrenaline is a necessary and important stress hormone, but it is a stress hormone. When adrenaline patterns are out of rhythm, it takes a toll on the body. 6. Salt improves sleep quality. It boasts anti-stress and anti-excitatory qualities due to its suppression of stress hormones and it increasing of the metabolic rate. This may explain why many people report that a low sodium diet interferes with sleep and an adequate amount of dietary salt improves sleep quality. Interestingly, if you often wake up with your heart pounding between 2 and 4 AM, it is probably because of an adrenaline spike. The most important
change is to reduce both physical and mental stress, as well as eating a healthy diet. But one immediate fix to help you go back to sleep is just a pinch of salt and sugar (or salt and honey, if you prefer) sprinkled on the tongue to calm the adrenaline peak (read more about it in this book!). 7. Adequate salt consumption encourages a healthy weight and fast metabolism. First, one studyshowed that increased salt intake leads to an increase in the elimination of cortisol and lower blood cortisol levels. Imbalanced or excess cortisol means weight gain and a stagnant metabolism. 8. Salt supports thyroid function by reducing circulating stress hormones. For example, cortisol is anti-thyroid, but salt combats excess cortisol. 9. Salt supports hyperosmolarity of the extracellular fluid. Slight hyperosmolarity–more solutes in the extracellular fluid than in the cell–actually increases the cell’s metabolic rate (source). That means salt can speed up your metabolism! On the other hand, when the extracellular fluid is hypo-osmotic in relation to the cell, it impairs the breakdown of proteins and glucose and thereby lowers the cell’s metabolism. 10. Increased sodium intake also correlates with increased thermogenesis–heat production by the body. 11. Adequate salt supports balanced hormones. Hormone and nutrition researcher Ray Peat explains the correlation between the salt-regulating hormone aldosterone and mineral loss: One of the things that happen when there isn’t enough sodium in the diet is that more aldosterone is synthesized. Aldosterone causes less sodium to be lost in the urine and sweat, but it achieves that at the expense of the increased loss of potassium, magnesium, and probably calcium… Magnesium deficiency is extremely common, but a little extra salt in the diet makes it easier to retain the magnesium in our foods. 12. Salt makes food taste good. Salt adds a satiety factor to food and makes meals enjoyable. Adequate salt content of food makes it easier to enjoy quality instead of quantity, thereby encouraging mindful eating and weight management.
For many this is just unthinkable, but each year thousands of South Africans (mostly children and teenagers) have to face this terrifying reality. Fortunately, life-threatening blood disorders such as leukaemia, aplasia, immune deficiencies, inborn errors of metabolism, and other new indications such as auto-immune disorders can now be treated. Treatment, however, entails a bone marrow/stem cell transplant from a willing donor and although it is sometimes possible for relatives to offer the closest matches, 75% of patients will not have a suitable sibling and will have to start their search for a matching non-related donor. Where to start? To facilitate this daunting search, bone marrow registers in different countries hold tissue type information
of volunteers who have provided small blood samples for testing and recording. Sadly, the chance of finding a matching donor is just 1 in 100 000! The odds are even more against South African sufferers due to the fact that our rainbow nation has more unique combinations of tissue types. Ethnic origin is important when matching donors and patients. The “markers� that are tested when searching for a match are genetically inherited and often unique to a particular race. It is therefore very important that South Africa has its own bone marrow registry and the larger that registry, the greater and faster the chance of finding a perfect match.
Website: www.sunflowerfund.org.za Freephone: 0800 12 10 82
PROFILE ON SUNFLOWER FOUNDATION’S
CEO TARRYN CORLETT After losing her Brother, Chris Corlett, to leukaemia in 2000 when he was only 17 years old, The Sunflower Fund’s recently appointed CEO, Tarryn Corlett has endeavoured to make a difference and assist other families who have lost loved ones or who are going through similar hardships that they went through when Chris was sick. After completing her studies at Stellenbosch University, majoring in Psychology and Sociology, Tarryn joined her mother, Tina Botha and the rest of the dedicated Sunflower Team, in 2009. In August 2014, Tina, former CEO and now Founder-Director of The Sunflower Fund, announced that she is stepping aside, and handing over the day to day operations of the organisation to the next generation, her daughter, Tarryn. Tarryn will continue in her mother’s footsteps and ensure that her brother, Chris Corlett’s legacy will live on and drive the incredible work that The Sunflower Fund does in order to save more lives. Tarryn has had many years with the Fund, and has learned every aspect of the organisation under Tina’s watchful eye and mentoring process, since 2009. “This is an exciting time for The Fund, as we mature into a larger organization with huge growth potential. As H.E Luccock stated, ‘No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it’ and we encourage you to join us as we venture into the future, continue to support the important work that we do and assist us in taking The Sunflower Fund to the next level, says CEO, Tarryn Corlett. Tarryn has recently decided to take on her own personal fundraising challenge for The Sunflower Fund. She has decided to challenge herself to run her first FULL Marathon - The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon on the 21st September 2014. On top of this, she has also embarked on a fundraising initiative. If Tarryn successfully completes the full marathon and manages to raise R250 000, she will shave off all her hair at the finish line of the race! “I am in no way a natural born runner. I started last year with a few trail runs and really started enjoying it. I stopped running for a while and recently took it up again in order to complete the Knysna half Marathon which I succeeded in doing. Setting goals is easy, but sticking to them and achieving them is the hard part. With passion and dedication, you can achieve anything and I know I will look back after completing the marathon with absolute pride and fulfilment. My brother was the strongest,
SPICE Mag
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