blend it right

After the recent confusion about which blender best suited my needs, I finally reached a decision today. I'm going to go with the dull but dependable blender (Philips HR 2011/70, to the left).

I think the more funky mini-blender (Philips HR 2870/60, to the right) would be a great addition to an established kitchen, which already has a primary blender. In summer, you could put it on the countertop instead of storing it away and make smoothies/iced coffee whenever frequently.


But for a new kitchen like mine, which is in the process of being set up, I think I need a tougher and more versatile blender that can do more than make smoothie. I want to be able to chop hard walnuts, blend tomatoes for soup, churn a litre of milk...all of which the basic, no-fuss single unit can handle.

Here are some points to consider when you're planning to buy a blender/mixie.

Top tips to choose the right blender for you:

• Capacity: Jar capacity varies from 500 ml to 3 litres. Do you cook in large quantities? How many people do you prepare food for? Also, do you have the space to store a larger blender?
• Wattage: Power typically varies from 250 watts to 750 watts amongst household blenders. Choose lower-wattage blenders if you're going to blend dressings and sauces; go for a higher-wattage model if you're keen to blend large quantities of food or crush ice.
• Material: Glass jars are sturdier but more expensive, while plastic jars are flimsier but more affordable. If it's a long-time purchase, try and go for glass. Also, is the footing (the base on which the jar rests) sturdy and well-balanced? If not, it could topple while in operation.
• Speed: Multiple speed settings will allow you to blend different ingredients best. A pulse feature is also helpful - it allows the chunky food items to stop and start and fall downwards to the blade for better impact. Less time, smoother blend!
• Cord: If you're planning to leave the blender on your countertop, look for one with a cord-storage feature. It'll look neat and be safer.
• Features: Opt for a model with numerous jars/multi-function units only if you plan to use the blender for food processing (whip cream, chop spices, etc.). If your main aim is to blend, stick with a simpler, no-frills model.
• Budget: If you're a nomad like me, and move every few years, stick with a basic model. If you're planning to use the same blender for a number of years, splurge and get one that works for you and your kitchen!

Happy blending!


Picture source: Philips

the declutter drive: wardrobe

Organising all our stuff and getting rid of things my husband and I don't need is a top-of-mind issue for me at the moment. Our new place is really small, and I'm wondering how on earth it's going to contain everything we have and still look pretty.

Of course, the keywords in the last sentence are "everything we have". I really do think we have too much, especially when it comes to our wardrobes. I gave away bags and bags of stuff to charity before we moved to this city. Still, I think I need to be more ruthless and whittle down our wardrobes further. It's hard, but I really want to create a small yet AWESOME collection of clothes, shoes and bags that work for us!

There are a few great tips I've learned over the years/found online about how to declutter and organise your wardrobe. Simple, practical advice. I'm looking forward to implementing a couple of these as soon as I can unpack our boxes!

Top tips to declutter your wardrobe

• Sentimental-schmentimental: I love keepsakes as much as the next person. But I know I sometimes use sentiment as a way to hoard things - even clothes! ("I wore this on my six-month anniversary." "My mom made this when she was a fashion designer." "My best friend gave me that on my 25th birthday.") It's good to have keepsakes but be reasonable at the same time. E.g., my mom has given me 10-15 things designed by her - I should keep the 5-6 I really love instead of hanging on to items that are completely worn out or don't fit me well anymore.
• All together, now: Bring all your stuff out at once. You have to get messy to get organised! I did this a few months before my wedding, when I was preparing to move - and I was SHOCKED by the sheer volume of clothes I had stored and gave away a ton of stuff to my staff and to a great disaster-relief organisation in Delhi. I think it's time for my system to be shocked again.
• Repurpose: Is there something you may use more if it were altered, or turned into something else entirely? Perhaps a sari that would work better as a suit? Or a gaudy scarf that would make some great curtain ties? I had a gorgeously patterned long dress that I never wore because the pattern overwhelmed my petite frame when it covered me from top to bottom. So I cut it up: the top half became a blouse, and the bottom half became a scarf!
• Build variety: Assess items that are similar. Do you have 5 pairs of blue jeans? Or 4 yellow t-shirts? Chances are you only regularly reach for the ones that fit you well and suit you. Get rid of the others. If there are a bunch of clothes you really love but have worn ALL THE TIME over the past year, donate them/put them into a suitcase under the bed. Get out of your comfort zone and give yourself a chance to love other clothes! Not only will these methods create space, they'll also help refresh your look and style.
• Zero tolerance: Be strict with yourself. If there's a hole or a stain in something, chuck it. If it has faded patches, throw it. If you haven't worn it in 2 years but are keeping it "just in case" (just in case what? they stop making clothes we like?), bin it. Once it's thrown, don't second-guess yourself. I've debated endlessly about throwing certain items and honestly, 2 months later I don't even remember what I threw!
• The reverse-hanger trick: Put all your hanging clothes in the closet with the hangers facing one way. Whenever you wear an item, put it back with the hanger facing the other way. In a few months, you’ll get a pretty good sense of which items you’re not wearing. Get rid of these!

Okay, that's it for now. Once I complete this daunting task, I'll write another post consolidating all the best tips and advice on decluttering and cleaning out wardrobes.

Picture source: neenjames

dressing up a small apartment

Our new apartment is very, very small - so it's going to be imperative to blend beauty with functionality. Also, given that it's already pretty much furnished, buying special furniture items for small spaces isn't really an option.

Luckily, we have a tall standard shelf unit, midway between the open kitchen and the living room. I absolutely LOVE the shelf concept in the picture below: a few colourful books, some pretty crockery, a couple of decorative items, and concealed storage. It's practical AND it looks great!

I'm thinking books, DVDs, jars of dry fruit and some pretty glasses on the top shelves. Maybe add a few decorative items in front of the books and DVDs. For the lower space, I doubt I'll be able to get drawers like this where I live, but I can certainly get my hands on some cane baskets with lids or some such. Could use those to store linen methinks.

Am very excited about this unit. The problem of storage has been keeping me up at night...a few more ideas like this one and I may just manage to solve the mystery of where to store our stuff!

UPDATE: You can see how my version of this storage shelf unit turned out here.

Picture source: Better Homes and Gardens

to airfry or not to airfry?

Close on the heels of yesterday's blender-related bewilderment, I am now facing yet another kitchen dilemma! Should I buy one of these nifty looking Philips airfryers or not?

The revolutionary concept is that the gadget uses hot air to fry foods, using minimal oil - so cooking in the airfryer is healthier than deep frying.

If I were setting up my kitchen once and for all, I'd get one without a second thought - although it is substantially more expensive this side of the world than in the U.K. or the U.S. (No discounted prices yet - it's too new!) But given that I may have to sell it/give it away in two years, I'm wondering if it's worth the price?

I like the idea of being able to make healthy chips once in a while, but I'm not a big fan of eating potatoes too frequently. I'm more excited about using it to airfry other things we traditionally deep fry: okra (ladies' fingers), cauliflower, spinach, bitter gourd... Otherwise, in our attempts to eat healthy, we rarely consume these vegetables in fried form - even though they're super-tasty!

I heart the white model and it would fit in perfectly with my planned kitchen colours, but I suspect it's an older model because I can't seem to locate it on the Philips website. The black is super-sleek but would look terribly out of place.

Plus, people who've used it have mixed feelings about it. (I've been reading the reviews online, especially on Amazon.) Some say it's the best kitchen investment they've ever made, while others say it's an expensive mistake!

Unfortunately, I don't know a single person who owns one. I'd love to get more user info about the kinds of food you can cook in the airfryer and whether it turns out well. Most of the U.K./U.S. reviews are focused on chips and chicken nuggets.

At its high price point, I think I'll give this item a skip until I hear some feedback from people I know or Philips offers a discount in my area. (The husband is also going to check out the pricing in the Dubai Duty Free Store on his way back from a business trip. Perhaps we'll get lucky!)

PS - Whether or not my husband and I buy the airfryer, both sets of parents are definitely getting one each as a present from us! My mom and my mom-in-law have elevated cholesterol levels, and both find it hard to steer clear of yummy fried foods. So this will be a PERFECT addition to their kitchens.

Picture source: Philips

bewildered by blenders

Since my last place of residence was a hotel, my (now extremely limited) kitchen supplies are currently in storage at my grandmother's house in New Delhi. I plan to get a few things from there when I next make a trip (March 2013 in all likelihood), including a cherished waffle-maker, a great electric kettle, and a brand-new sushi set. 

As is obvious from the items above, the soon-to-be-mine kitchen needs to be set up pretty much from scratch! One of my key purchases is going to be a countertop blender, so I'm learning how to choose the right type.

I don't need it it to be too fancy; just something basic and reliable to make soups, smoothies and ice-blended coffee drinks. (There are no Starbucks or CBTL outlets in this town!) Perhaps I could use it to chop veggies as well...?

Philips is a great brand - my mum's bought their stuff for years and it's served her well. I've been going back and forth between these two Philips models:

The no-fuss single unit (on the left) has a 1.5 litre jar so I can use it even when I occasionally cook for guests. It has a five-star serrated blade and multiple blending speeds. It comes with a tough and efficient mill for grinding hard things like coffee beans. The whole unit requires little space for usage and storage.

The downside? There's a single jar for all functions. Plus it looks rather dull! (But it's pleasant enough to look at. Does boring really matter if it gets the job done?)

The mini-blender (on the right) has a 600 ml jar so it's primarily meant for a two-person household like mine. It also has a separate vegetable chopper and a smoothie beaker to carry. I love the fresh, funky colour - I've already bought some lime-green accented cutlery and assorted kitchen items, so it'll fit in perfectly.

The downside? It has only 2 speeds (do I really need more?) and a three-star blade. It will also require slightly more space for storage.

The prices of both are more or less the same so that's not a deciding factor.

Sadly, writing this down hasn't clarified my thoughts at all - I'm still as torn between the two blenders. I'm going to put off the decision for a few days and come back to it!

Picture source: Philips