Winter Hot Chocolate recipe!

(My Christmas Hot Chocolate Muggo and my Christmas swatch!)

We don't have winter in Mumbai, rather our winter is 30 degrees but a nice HOT cuppa Hot cocoa is always good at any time. The nights in Mumbai have started to get a little chilly so I CRAVE for a nice mug of Hot Cocoa. I'm gonna share my heavenly and cheat's way of making hot chocolate, so if you ever feel like making a cup here's all you need. 

HEAVENLY WAY:-

For one cup-
1) A handful of pure dark chocolate and milk chocolate pieces. I use Hershey's milk and dark.
2) 3/4 Cup of Whole Milk. I use Nestle A+ Milk.
3) 2 Table spoons of Heavy Cream. I use Nestle table cream or amul heavy cream.
4) Sugar (as much or as little as you want. I go without because it is sweet already.)
5) A pinch of espresso powder (optional)

Heat Cream and milk in a sauce bowl below boiling point, then take it off the heat. Add your chocolate pieces, sugar and espresso powder. Let it settle for about a minute. Then take a whisk and whisk it all together. 

Pour your heavenly drink into your Christmas muggo! And you can top it off with whipped cream or marshmallows; you can get marshmallows from Alpha in Irla or at Natures Basket. And there you have your Heavenly way of making an amazing cup of Hot Chocolate.

Now, if you get lazy and want to try the cheat's way.

CHEAT'S WAY:-

 For one cup-
1) Dark Chocolate powder. I use Hintz Cocoa fine dark chocolate powder (above). I get mine from Nature's Basket.
2) Whole Milk- I use Nestle A+ Milk.
3) Sugar

Fill your cup with this amazing dark chocolate powder. Add a generous amount of sugar as it is pure cocoa powder, hence bitter and mix it well till its all nicely incorporated. Finally pop your mug into your microwave for a minute (told you it's a cheat's way) and there you have a nice cup of Cheat's but amazing Hot Chocolate.

-A Hot chocolate a day keeps nightmares away.

Christmas 2012 gift ideas for HIM & HER!

Thinking of gift ideas for all my him and her is the MOST NERVE WRECKING thing ever!!! I love it but it takes me forever to decide what, where, when to get it etc.

So I made a very straight forward list of things you can get a HIM/HER for Christmas (or any other occasion really) here in Mumbai.

HER:-

1. Make-up/Skin care gift hampers. My favourite would be Kiehl's who are currently doing a do it yourself gift hamper where you get to pick and chose your products and they wrap it for you in pretty wrapping paper! Kiehl's would be an ideal gift for your Mom/Aunt/Grand-ma/wife those who would love to pamper their skin in their luscious products. Lush is also a great hamper idea! You can't go wrong with Lush and you can also possibly get something for a guy too!When it comes to make-up MAC India still awaits their Christmas collection. Once it's out it would be a perfect gift for your friend/sister/cousin. You can also DIY a make-up hamper by collecting products from Lakme, Revlon, Chambor etc and wrapping it in pretty paper!
2. Debenhams- You NEED to go to the store (there's one at the Phoenix Market City, Kurla) and I'd be surprised if you came out without a bag in your hand. The household items ALWAYS catches my eye. Their tea sets/baking materials are the cutest things ever! It would be a perfect gift for your mother/wife to spice up their kitchen if that's their thing. Debenhams also has clothes, shoes, bags, bathroom linens, dining items and so much more! If you don't have the time to go from one shop to another, pick Debenhams and you will find something for everyone in your house...including your pet!
3. Handbags/Clutches/Wallets/Bags and more bags - Every girl loves her a nice bag! Esbeda's current collection is TO DIE FOR! Esbeda's collection is more on the 'high-fashion' side so if you want to gift your girlfriend/sister this would be a brilliant idea.
4. Dress Materials - It is a very Indian but amazing thing to buy dress materials for a lady. You will be surprised with the smiles it brings you. My mommy absolutely loves it, maybe because she is a fashion designer. If your looking at ethnic seven east has PRETTY dress materials for saris/salwar suits. For evening dresses Bandra market opposite Globus on Hill Road Bandra (W) have a large variety of materials to choose from. You can end up at Cheap Jack on Hill Road in Bandra (W) for added jazzy accessories to go with the dress! Now my sister would love that as a gift!

HIM:-

1. Video games- I know it's so cliche but video gifts for a Play station/Wii/X Box is honestly a very good idea for your brother/boyfriend/guy friend/cousin/husband. There is so many things to choose from and there is this store in Phoenix Market city Kurla on the lower level where you can buy and exchange the games in case they have it or get bored of the game later.
2. Formal Shirts- Since Christmas and New Year means new clothes for the occasion, a nice shirt would be the perfect choice for the many men who refuse to go out shopping. Zara's current winter collection has so many great shirts to choose from, all you need to know is their size. You can also pick a nice tie if you find one that suits the shirt!
3. Earphones / Coffee Maker- A good earphone is also a great gift to get a guy. Bose makes AMAZING ones but if you don't want to splurge then Croma has some cheaper but good quality brand options. Another very nice gift idea would be a coffee machine! I know so many guys who love a good coffee machine so if your him is a coffee drinker, a coffee machine would be a super gift idea! My brother would love this, if he didn't have one already!
4. PIMP His Car/Bike- If he owns a car/bike, make him take you to a car accessories dealer (so many in Lokhandwala & Khar/Bandra) and get new rims for the wheels or new speakers for the car or even a full service! It could be a little pricey but it would definitely make leave you with a VERY HAPPY MAN.

-Plan well, cause Christmas is just around the corner :)

Year End Christmas list in Mumbai 2012!!

Obviously I have been MIA for over a month; that's because I have been preparing for my FAVOURITE season of the year! December a.k.a Christmas time is here my friends <3 and I'm over the moon. (Doing a jingle dance)

You know how they have New Year resolutions, I plan to do a year end Christmas List. So basically I am going to publicly jot down 10 things I would want to do before the year ends....here goes!

1. Walk on marine lines and take pictures as a tourist. Eat at Pizza by the bay.
2. Have dinner at 'Peshawari' at the ITC Grand Maratha. (I have been wanting to go there for 2 years now, it's about time I put an end to the wait!)
3. Bake cupcakes for over 20 family members for Christmas.
4. Drink hot chocolate till the year ends...(and possibly get FAT)
5. Meet 5 friends I haven't kept in touch with for a long time.
6. Blog twice a week....I can see myself slacking so there!
7. Walk by the Christmas market in Bandra. I hear its BEAUTIFUL! 
8. Do something new every single day!
9. Plan an international & national trip for 2013.
10. Pray and give thanks every day.

Most of the things are kind of hard to do as I might just lose track so I'm gonna print it out and read it everyday in the morning to remind myself :)

It may seem crazy; but it's a small way of capturing every single moment of every single day.

- Carpe Diem