Author: Rajeshree Gandhi

Life is a journey of evolving roles, each with its own beauty and wisdom. From the structured world of academia to the ever-evolving realm of homemaking, I have embraced each phase with passion and grace. When my children settled into their own lives, I found myself with a renewed sense of purpose—to document and share the wealth of knowledge I have gathered over the years.

During the lockdown, I realized that my experiences in cooking, home remedies, and life’s simple yet profound lessons could serve as a source of inspiration for others. Meticulously and with great concern for the palate, gut health, overall well-being, and the emotional gratification of savoring each preparation, I began crafting a collection of love-filled, cherished recipes, time-tested remedies, and stories woven with warmth and wisdom.

I write under the name "Rajeshree's Kitchen", where I share detailed recipes—the kind that provide exact measurements for ingredients like salt and water, which are often left to personal interpretation in most other kitchen blogs. Additionally, I include practical tips with clear reasons behind them, ensuring that every piece of advice is rooted in understanding and experience. My aim is to make cooking approachable yet precise, helping readers not just recreate dishes but truly connect with the joy of cooking.

This endeavor is my way of preserving traditions, sharing insights, and connecting with those who seek both knowledge and comfort in life's everyday moments.

Categories
Beauty tips

(341) Hair And Scalp Food

Ingredients

  • Herbal mixture
  • 3 tubes Aloe vera gel.(150 ml. each)
  • 100 gms. Shikakai powder.
  • 100 gms. Brahmi powder.
  • 100 gms. Hibiscus (Jaswanti) flower powder.
  • 100 gms. Gooseberry (Amla) powder.
  • 100 gms. Bhringraj (Bhangro) powder
  • 100 gms. Neem leaves powder.
  • FF Paste
  • 100 gms. Fenugreek seeds.
  • 100 gms. Flax seeds.
  • Green paste
  • 1 whole Aloe veera.
  • 8-10 Hibiscus leaves.
  • 1 tsp. Fenugreek (methi) powder or 1 cup Fenugreek leaves.l

Method

  1. Grind Fenugreek seeds and Flax seeds into fine powder. Store in an air tight container. This we called FF Powder.
  2. Strain the rest of the six dry powders with the help of cloth or with the help of a plastic net strainer.
  3. In a mixing bowl mix all six powders and readymade aloe veera gel and store in an air tight container. This we called the Herbal Paste. This herbal paste can be stored up to 3-6 months in a cool dry place.
  4. A night before, whenever you want to apply hair nourishing food in your hair, soak 1 tbsp. of FF powder in 3 tbsp. water. This we call it FF paste.
  5. Next morning scrape gel from the fresh aloe veera and make a paste with hibiscus leaves and Fenugreek seeds powder. This we call green paste
  6. Now in this green paste add the required quantity (1 cup herbal paste for shoulder length hair) of herbal paste and FF paste. All three things mix thoroughly in the mixture grinder and apply on your hair.
  7. After an hour wash your hair with lukewarm water without using shampoo or soap.
  8. At least apply once in a week in the morning after applying nourishing oil in the previous night.
  9. Regular use of this nourishing gel improves your hair health..
Herbal mixture
Green paste
Paste of Methi powder+Hibiscus leaves+Aloe veera
Nourishing gel = Green Paste + FF paste + 1 cup Herbal paste
Nourishing gel applied on my hair .
Categories
Beauty tips

(342) Herbal Shampoo

Ingredients

  • 100 gms. Ritha (soap nuts).
  • 250 gms. Shikakai whole.
  • 250 gms. Gooseberry ( dried Amla pieces or fresh Amla.)
  • 1 cup fresh Aloe veera gel( 5-6 whole Aloe leaves).
  • 1 cup blanch Hibiscus leaves (25 – 30)
  • 1 cup blanch Hibiscus flowers( preferably red).

Method

  1. Soak overnight whole dried ingredients all three together in 1 ½ litre of water.
  2. Next morning boil on a slow flame for 5 minutes so that all ingredients become tender.
  3. Heat another pan with ½ litre of water. when water starts boiling add hibiscus leaves and flowers in boiling water. Stir once and immediately remove from the boiling water. Keep aside in cold water. Please don’t throw boiling water.
  4. Scrape gel from the fresh aloe leaves.
  5. In a mixture grinder blend all three together (blanched leaves , flowers and aloe gel).
  6. Separate seeds from soap nuts and shikakai pods. Please don’t throw water.
    • In a mixture grinder crush all three ingredients ( Soap nuts, Shikakai pods and amla). Please don’t try to make a fine paste. Coarse paste is also fine.
  7. Mix all crushed ingredients as well as its water (which we kept aside)in a big pan and boil for 5 minutes on a slow flame.
  8. Strain with a nylon strainer or with muslin cloth and store in a plastic bottle.
  9. Please make a small hole with a needle in a lid of the bottle for aeration because we are not mixing any preservatives in this shampoo so due to the fermentation process gas will form which creates pressure in the bottle.
Categories
Beauty tips

(340) Mom’s Secret Hair Oil Magic

Coconut Oil  — Deeply moisturizes, prevents protein loss, and adds shine.
Mustard Oil  — Stimulates circulation, warms the scalp, and promotes thicker growth.
Rosemary Oil  — Boosts blood flow to hair follicles, may help reduce dandruff and premature greying.
Curry Leaves — Rich in antioxidants and amino acids that strengthen roots and prevent hair thinning.
Amla — A powerhouse of Vitamin C, helps reduce hair fall, premature greying, and improves shine.
Fenugreek Seeds — Conditions the scalp, controls dandruff, and strengthens hair shafts.
Kalonji Seeds  — Also known as black seed, they nourish follicles and help reduce hair fall.
Camphor  — Cools the scalp, improves circulation, and soothes itching and dandruff.

Ingredients

  • 500 ml. Coconut oil.
  • 200 ml. Mustard oil.
  • 5 ml. Rosemary oil.
  • 2 cup Curry leaves.
  • 5 pcs. Gooseberry.
  • 2 tbsp. Fenugreek.
  • 2 tbsp. Kalonji.
  • 2 tbsp. Camphor tablets.

Method

  1. Wash Curry leaves,spread on the kitchen towel and dry under the fan for 10 minutes.
  2. Wash Amla and cut it into small pieces and keep aside.
  3. In an iron kadhai mix coconut oil and mustard oil. Heat it on a slow flame.
  4. Add Fenugreek seeds and kalonji in oil. Give one stir and add curry leaves. After one minute add pieces of Amla in hot oil. Stir continuously.
  5. Boil oil for 5 minutes on slow flame and then switch off the flame.
  6. Now add Camphor tablets. Stir to dissolve the tablets. Keep aside to cool.
  7. After cooling completely strain the oil with a strainer and mix Rosemary oil in it. Store in a glass jar and keep it in dry place.
  8. Take the required amount of oil in a small bowl and warm it gently (lukewarm, not hot).
  9. Apply oil in the scalp with the help of finger tips. Massage the scalp with finger tips for 10 minutes
  10. For best results, leave the oil on for at least 1–2 hours or overnight.
  11. Wash with home made herbal shampoo for good results.
  12. N.B. : While making herbal hair oil , heat oil always on a slow flame and stir continuously.

List Of My Recipes

Categories
leftover food

(339) Thepli

Leftover Rice or Khichadi Thepli

Ingredients

  • 1 cup leftover khichadi.
  • ¼ cup Chickpea flour OR Moongdal flour OR Sorghum (Jowar) flour.
  • ¼ cup Rice flour.
  • ¼ cup finely chopped Coriander leaves.
  • 1 tbsp. Sugar powder.
  • 1 tsp. Red chilli powder.
  • 1 tsp. Coriander Cumin powder
  • 1 tsp. Raw Mango powder
  • (Aamchur).
  • 1 tsp. Salt.
  • 1 tsp. Whole Cumin.
  • 1 tsp. White Sesame seeds.
  • ½ tsp. Turmeric powder.
  • ¼ tsp. Asafoetida powder.

Method

  1. In a mixing bowl mix all ingredients together and knead a soft dough.
  2. With the help of a small portion of dough and dry flour make a thepli by tapping the dough ball in a circular manner.
  3. Heat nonstick tawa and roast each thepli in ghee or oil till golden brown.
  4. Serve thepli with green chutney and Chhundo or Golkeri or Murabba or as you wish but serve with love and smile.
Categories
Healthy food

(337) Mango Waffle

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Aam ras.
  • 1 cup suji.
  • 2 tbsp. Ghee.
  • ⅛ tsp. Baking powder.
  • Date syrup for garnishing.

Method

  1. Mix ghee moin and baking powder with rawa.
  2. Now mix Aamras with rawa and keep aside for 10 minutes.
  3. Pour batter in preheated greased waffle maker.
  4. After 15 to 20 minutes Mango Waffle is ready to serve.
  5. Garnish with Maple syrup or honey or Date syrup and serve hot with love and smile.
Categories
DIY

(338) DIY Poultice

Heat fomentation

shek mateni potli

Ingredients

  • ½ cup Fenugreek seeds.( Methi dana)
  • ½ cup Carom seeds ( Ajwain).
  • ¼ cup Flex seeds ( Alsi)
  • ¼ cup white and black Sesame seeds.
  • ½ cup Salt crystals.

Method

  1. In a cotton bag or cotton cloth, mix all ingredients.
  2. Tie the bag or cloth with the help of cotton string and form a poultice.
  3. Heat this poultice either in the microwave for one minute or on tawa and give heat fomentation to the person suffering from cough or pain.
  4. NB : Always check the temperature of the poultice for the comfort of the patient.

Categories
Breakfast Health Drinks

(336) Glass of nutrients.

Ingredients

Method

Please see the video.

Categories
Quick Cooking Tips

(335) Rock Candy

Misri  Powder ( Dhagewali misri)

Break rock candy or khadi sakhar or Misri into small pieces with the help of motor and pestal and then grind into coarse powder. If you grind into a fine powder then the lump will form after some days.

Rock candy coarse powder

Benefits of using Misri

  • Misri stimulate lactation in new mothers. It also helps in dealing with mood swings, depression that are often seen in new mothers, as a result of post-partum depression.
  • Misris are rich in various minerals, vitamins and amino acids, regular consumption of rock sugar not only triggers better blood circulation but also prevents other complications associated with anaemia like dizziness, fatigue and weakness.
  • Rock sugar is better than regular sugar and is a powerhouse of various nutrients. Ayurveda recommends it for better eyesight, preventing cataract. Consume it along with milk for improving vision.
  • After consuming a heavy meal. Eat half a teaspoon of mishri along with fennel seeds. Consuming misri after a meal adds in proper digestion, by stimulating digestive juices and helps prevent gastric problems.
Categories
Faral Healthy food

(332)Farali Mix Flour

Either grind all four grains individually and mix flour according to your need or mix all four grains and then grind.

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup Sabudana.
  • ¼ cup Moraiyo.
  • ¼ cup Kutti daro.
  • ¼ cup Rajgira.
  • 1 tsp. Cumin.

Method

  1. Dry roast all ingredients together on a slow flame.
  2. When ingredients turn aromatic switch off the flame.
  3. After cooling grind it into coarse powder.
  4. Store in an air tight container for 15 days.
Categories
Spice Benefits

(331)Pomegranate seeds Powder or Dry Seeds

Anardana

Dry Pomegranate seeds
Pomegranate Powder.

Benefits of using Pomegranate

  1. Pomegranate seeds are rich in antioxidants, which help protect against oxidative stress and inflammation.
  2. Pomegranate seeds are a good source of vitamin B6, which is important for the brain.
  3. Pomegranate seeds are a good source of calcium, Vitamin C and dietary fibres.
  4. Pomegranate seeds are full of antioxidants which improves immunity.