Mutton Curry Recipe

The simple, easy curry is the best curry. The best mutton curry features ingredients commonly used in Indian cooking. Items you likely already have at home. Mutton curry is all about bold spiciness and aroma (MUTTON DALCHA). 

This South Indian-style mutton curry is ideal for beginners or for days when time is tight. With mutton pressure-cooked first, it saves time and lets you focus on cooking the rest of the ingredients.

Marble Cake Recipe

Marble cake, also known as swirl cake or butter cocoa cake, is a hybrid of half butter cake and half chocolate (cocoa) cake. This is a pretty easy recipe. You can even use a regular butter cake recipe, split the batter into two, and fold cocoa powder into one portion, making sure there are no lumps (BUTTER CAKE RECIPE). 

If you like, add a little extra cocoa powder. The slight bitterness blends well with the sweetness of the buttery cake batter.

Sleep Struggles for Women in Midlife: Yoga Solutions

Author

Ms. Krishnan N, a Zen entrepreneur in her 60s, founded Nava's Zen at 58. With 22 years as a lecturer, including 13 years in the Curtin University of Technology Perth, Australia Degree Twinning Program, she is now a certified yoga instructor, coach, and counselor. Her expertise enriches her current work.

Abstract
This article investigates the sleep struggles faced by women in midlife, particularly those in their forties and beyond, and emphasizes the role of yoga as a holistic solution. As women in this age group encounter various challenges - such as emotional fatigue, physical inactivity, and disruptions in circadian rhythms - these factors significantly contribute to poor sleep quality. The research highlights how the practice of yoga can address these issues by enhancing physical, emotional, and mental well-being. By incorporating yoga into their daily routines, women can cultivate mindfulness, reduce stress, and foster a deeper sense of tranquility, which are essential for reclaiming restful sleep.

Sarawak Laksa Recipe

Fragrant, spicy, and creamy Sarawak-style noodle soup with a rich prawn-coconut broth layered in tangy, aromatic flavors. The famous Sarawak Laksa or laksa made in Sarawak. Though spices like coriander seeds, cumin seeds and fennel seeds are roasted before adding into the making of Sarawak Laksa Paste, for easy cooking, store-bought already grounded ones make it easier.

 

The Laksa paste is what determines the delicious of laksa, which also be said as curry or laksa gravy. Once this has been made, the rest of the cooking technique is rather straightforward (PRAWN CURRY LAKSA). 

Mutton Dalcha Recipe

When mutton is cooked with lentils and spices, it becomes a thick, spicy curry with tender meat. A vibrant yellow hue, soft lentils and meat, tasty Indian-style Mutton Dalcha.

What makes this Mutton Dalcha, or Mutton with Lentils Curry, stand out? It’s the cooking technique. Pressure-cooking the mutton softens the tough meat. The flavor is enhanced by store-bought spice powders instead of making masala from scratch.

 

Add the creamy richness of natural yogurt and the aromatic touch of curry leaves and coriander, and the curry is full of depth and aroma (INDIAN LAMB SOUP).

Tofu Stir Fry: Indian Style

Tofu, the protein-packed ingredient made from soybeans, is suited for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. These days, it comes in different tyoes. from traditional blocks to sofu and even organic varieties (VEGETARIAN NASI LEMAK). 

For this Indian-style stir fry, firm tofu works best. Otherwise, tofu will crumble apart, unless you’re after a softer, scrambled texture.

Easy Chocolate Cake Recipe: Italian Genoise

This Easy Chocolate Cake: Italian Genoise is light, tender, slightly dense, and soft yet crumbly, all the way through a chocolaty delight. With just six simple ingredients, it’s amazing how such a minimalist recipe can create a cake that melts in your mouth (BUTTER CAKE). 

Baking this cake requires the boiler method, where eggs and sugar are whisked over simmering water until foamy, then whisked off the heat to reach the ribbon stage. Folding in the flour carefully is equally important.

 

Fold in one direction and avoid lumps to keep the cake airy and light (CHOCOLATE COFFEE CAKE). 

Warung Mak Dara Corner (Jalan Kebun): Taste of Malay Heritage

Living just 10 minutes from Jalan Kebun via Kemuning Greenville, I’ve yet to explore the eateries in Jalan Kebun. However, being a true lover of Malay cuisine, I’ve already indulged in every Malay eatery within Kemuning Greenville, where Nava's Zen is located as well. This time, for a casual lunch with my dining companion, we decided to venture into Jalan Kebun. Though I initially had another spot in mind, my lunch partner suggested Warung Mak Dara Corner (Kampung Jln Kebun), and we arrived around 11:30 am on a Sunday.

Parking was a breeze - being both Sunday and an early lunch hour. By the time we arrived, a few patrons were already enjoying their meals. While they offer breakfast and noodle dishes (likely served later in the day), the main attraction for lunch is Nasi Campur.

Ghee Mutton Roast Recipe

A really thick-gravy South Indian mutton curry with a tadbit of masala around tender mutton. This popular Ghee Mutton Roast is cooked in ghee with aromatic spices for spiced-up flavour profile and aroma (MUTTON RENDANG). 

Though the name may sound exclusive, making this easy spicy mutton recipe is surprisingly simple. Using a pressure cooker helps tenderize the mutton quickly, and the rest follows easy, step-by-step cooking.

Sweet Lotus Seed Soup Recipe: Leng Chee Kang

A bowl of refreshing Chinese dessert, served hot, at room temperature, or chilled with ice. This healthy sweet lotus seed soup is nourishing and naturally sweet from dried Chinese ingredients, enhanced by fragrant Malaysian pandan leaves (TEA GOJI BERRY JELLY). 

Leng Chee Kang, also known as sweet lotus seed soup, can be found at Chinese dessert stalls in coffee shops or from roadside vendors. Each version may vary slightly, but the flavors are always comforting.

 

Making a homemade Leng Chee Kang recipe is simple and flexible, allowing you to adjust dried fruits and other ingredients to your taste. Instead of white sugar, this dessert typically uses rock sugar, cane sugar, or lump sugar (MOIST BANANA CHOCOLATE CAKE). 

Religionism & Mental Health in Selangor Hindus: Yoga Healing

Author

Ms. Krishnan N, a Zen entrepreneur in her 60s, founded Nava's Zen at 58. With 22 years as a lecturer, including 13 years in the Curtin University of Technology Perth, Australia Degree Twinning Program, she is now a certified yoga instructor, coach, and counselor. Her expertise enriches her current work.

Abstract
This article explores the intricate interplay between religion, mental health, and the practice of yoga among Hindus in Selangor, Malaysia. While yoga is deeply rooted in Hindu tradition, serving as a pathway to self-awareness and spiritual growth, modern interpretations often distort its essence. The article examines how contemporary societal pressures, social media, and the emergence of self-proclaimed "yoga masters" contribute to a disconnection from the authentic teachings of yoga. 

It highlights the importance of grounding practices in spirituality and the need for individuals to navigate their faith with humility and authenticity. By emphasizing yoga's role as a healing practice, the article advocates for a mindful approach to spirituality that fosters mental well-being and a deeper connection to one's cultural heritage.

Vegetable Pulao Recipe

Vegetable biryani and vegetable pulao are both flavorful rice dishes, yet they differ. Biryani is layered and cooked slowly for a bold, spicy taste, while pulao is cooked in one pot, giving it a milder, comforting flavor. Biryani is popular in India, Pakistan, and the Middle East, whereas pulao is across South Asia as a home-style dish (VEGETABLE BIRYANI). 

Both use fresh vegetables and aromatic spices like cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and bay leaf, often with onion, tomato, ginger, and garlic.

Prawn Curry Laksa

One of the most enticing Prawn Curry Laksa, sure to trigger your appetite. Also known as curry mee, it’s purely prawn-based with room for your own twist (VEGETARIAN CURRY MEE). 

 

The flavor comes from a simple prawn stock: lightly fry prawn heads, add water, simmer, and strain. The rempah paste or homemade laksa paste combines dried red chillies, fish powder, and belacan (shrimp paste) to lift the taste.

Dubai Attractions

Modern, trendy, and stylish, with towering skyscrapers, six-lane highways, and constant movement - that’s Dubai. A cosmopolitan city in the United Arab Emirates, it is made up of various ethnicities and a fast-paced lifestyle. Amongst the locals are those from other countries working in Dubai, as well as tourists visiting for a holiday.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) is one of the busiest airports in the world and a major transit hub. For those stopping in Dubai for a short time, there are options to include sightseeing while in transit. It is convenient to visit a few top Dubai attractions and see parts of the city within limited time (TURKEY TRAVEL). 

Vegetarian Noodle Soup

A complete, wholesome meal. Chinese-style vegetarian noodle soup that’s easy and delicious. What makes a vegetarian noodle (VEGETARIAN CURRY MEE) soup, or any vegetarian soup, stand out? The stock.

Use a homemade vegetable stock made from onions, carrots, celery, and herbs, or store-bought stock - granules, cubes, or ready-made. For how to make vegetable broth or stock, click these links: Vegetable Stock and Vegetable Broth, from our YouTube channel.

 

Some dried wolfberries added to the stock bring natural sweetness and health benefits. The vegetables are simple. Straw mushrooms and salad leaves, but you can add more of your choice.

Foot Creams Review: Dry Skin & Cracked Heels

How are your feet doing? Mine have already become rough, tough, and full of character, with lines and wrinkles forming a natural pattern. Honestly, I don't mind the wrinkling - people rarely notice my feet. Well, maybe they do when I’m conducting yoga sessions, but even then, I embrace the lines and wrinkles. What I do struggle with, though, is the rough, dry skin. At times, I can feel the skin flaking under my fingers. Being an urban gardener and taking care of household chores that involve frequent contact with water makes this almost inevitable.

The real concern for me is if the dry, flaky skin will start peeling and expose raw skin underneath  -  thankfully, that hasn’t happened yet. For some, dry feet can lead to cracked heels, which can be quite painful. Once the cracks deepen, they can bleed, making every step excruciating. Luckily, this hasn’t been my issue, but I’m always mindful of it.

Semperit Cookies Recipe: Biskut Dahlia

Whether baked as long stripes or shaped like Dahlia flowers, these are yellow golden custard cookies that melt in the mouth. Some call them Kuih Semperit or Kuih Dahlia. They are Malay heritage traditional cookies (PINEAPPLE TARTS). 

The crumbly texture comes from corn flour and custard flour. Visually appealing and a delight to eat. Still popular for Hari Raya festive seasons, along with other Malay cookies.

 

The difference in making these custard cookies lies in the mould. Use either the stringent like metal long mould or a flower-shaped cookie cutter. Otherwise, the ingredients are the same (BUTTER COOKIES).

Singapore Laksa

Coconut milk, homemade spice paste, fish stock, and fish pieces, all lifted by the aroma of Vietnamese coriander (daun kesum). This is the vibrant, absolutely delicious laksa.

Is there much difference between Malaysian Laksa and Singapore Laksa? Not really. Some ingredients are the same, while others vary slightly. This laksa is also a blend of Asam Laksa and Curry Laksa.

 

The recipe is simple, with no lengthy ingredients list. It’s all about convenient home cooking. Unlike hawker stalls, food courts, or restaurants, it can be easily replicated at home -affordable, straightforward, and fuss-free (PRAWN MEE).

Cempedak Goreng Recipe

Crunchy outer batter coating, and soft, yellow-orange cempedak fruit inside. For Malaysians, or even those in Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore, cempedak needs no introduction. But for the rest of the world? Cempedak is a tropical fruit, similar to jackfruit, and can be eaten fresh. It’s especially delicious when fried as a snack or sweet dessert (KUIH KASWI RECIPE). 

Cleaning cempedak can be messy due to its sticky sap, like jackfruit. Sometimes it’s easiest to buy from fruit traders who have already prepared the fruit.

Wardah UV Shield Essential Gel Sunscreen

How many of you actively defend your skin against the sun? It's crucial to acknowledge that indoor lighting, as well as the light from laptops and smartphones, emits rays that can harm your skin. Today, I want to focus specifically on facial skin.

Neglecting to shield your skin from sun exposure and indoor light sources can lead to several adverse consequences:

Accelerated Skin Aging
Prolonged exposure to UV rays can result in fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation.

Increased Risk of Skin Cancers
UV radiation can damage the DNA in skin cells, raising the risk of skin cancers, including melanoma.

Skin Inflammation
The blue light emitted from electronic devices is linked to various skin issues, potentially causing inflammation and contributing to conditions like acne and pigmentation disorders.

Nyonya Lam Mee

Thick, gooey gravy made from egg, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and prawn gravy clings to yellow noodles, seafood and Chinese broccoli (kailan), served with sambal belacan (spicy shrimp paste dip). This is what makes Nyonya Lam Mee a beloved Malaysian Nyonya-style noodle dish and a traditional homemade noodle recipe.

Bursting with flavor, this noodle dish instantly awakens your taste buds. While it may sound like a complicated recipe, it’s actually simple: the prawn stock (PRAWN FRIED MEE) and the rest are common Chinese ingredients.

Climate Change and Mental Health: A Call to Action

Author

Ms. Krishnan N, a Zen entrepreneur in her 60s, founded Nava's Zen at the age of 58. With 22 years of experience as a lecturer, including 13 years in the Curtin University of Technology Perth, Australia Degree Twinning Program, she is now a certified yoga instructor, coach, and counselor. Her vast expertise enriches her current work, where she blends wellness practices with personal development. She is also the urban gardener of Nava's Zen, passionately incorporating sustainable living principles into her holistic lifestyle and business approach.

Abstract
This article explores the multifaceted impacts of climate change, emphasizing the interconnectedness of individual actions, leadership accountability, and mental health repercussions. It highlights the significant role of food choices in exacerbating climate issues, particularly the wastefulness associated with leftover consumption and the environmental toll of processed foods and single-use plastics. Additionally, the article scrutinizes the effectiveness of leaders and politicians in promoting sustainable practices, questioning their commitment amidst lavish lifestyles that contradict their public advocacy.

Indian Masala Chicken Curry

Not your usual Indian chicken curry, this is Masala Chicken Curry. It uses a homemade masala paste and a mix of spices for a thick, tasty curry with tender chicken. Potatoes are included in the curry for extra substance.

Spices are the backbone of Indian cooking, and in this curry, they bring depth, aroma, and authentic flavor. The recipe starts with making the masala paste. For natural thickness and creaminess, cashew nuts are added. The rest uses common kitchen staples and a straightforward cooking method (CHICKEN RENDANG).

Vegetarian Curry Mee Recipe

Whether it’s called curry mee or curry laksa, this Malaysian favourite is a comforting bowl of noodles drenched in thick, coconut milk–based curry. The name depends on where you are, in Penang and northern Malaysia, it’s curry mee, while in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and the south, it’s known as curry laksa. Either way, both names refer to the same delicious dish (SIAMESE LAKSA LEMAK).

Curry mee ranges from pork broth to seafood or chicken-based versions, each with its own choice of toppings. For a vegetarian version (VEGETARIAN NASI LEMAK), the broth or stock is key. It lifts the flavours and prevents the curry from tasting flat. You can keep it simple with common kitchen staples and store-bought ingredients, or make your own curry paste by blending fresh ingredients.

Butter Cookies Recipe: Eggless

Crumbly, buttery, and with a gentle milky flavor, these cookies carry the irresistible aroma of vanilla. An eggless version, and vegetarian cookies too. Unlike other types of butter cookies, these vanilla butter cookies stand out for their pale milky hue and incredibly soft texture (CHOCOLATE COOKIES EGGLESS). 

One bite, and they melt effortlessly in the mouth.

 

This is also an easy butter cookies recipe. What’s the secret to their crumbly, crunchy yet soft bite? Corn flour. The dough will be sticky, which is why it needs to be set in the fridge. The result? Absolutely one of the best homemade cookies (PEANUT COOKIES).

Turkey Travel

In Turkey, the roads seem to stretch endlessly from one end of the country to the other. The days can fly by, especially with sightseeing. The list of places to visit in Turkey can easily spill over. In fact, 10 days and 8 nights can pass in what feels like just a few hours (TURKEY ATTRACTIONS). 

From historical sites and temples to nature, hills, and mountains, even simple pleasures like seeing rows of orange and olive trees along the roads are fulfilling. The long rides between cities may not always showcase Turkey’s top attractions, but there is always something to catch the eye out of the window. Comfort breaks in quiet rural areas for sitting back and having a drink, as the silence away from the bustling top attractions.

Chocolate Cookies Recipe: Eggless

Eggless chocolate cookies - the mild bitterness of cocoa powder, when paired with sugar and butter, creates a crumbly delight that melts on the tastebuds. But wait, add a touch of spiciness from cayenne pepper, and the flavor takes on another dimension (CHOCOLATE COFFEE CAKE EGGLESS). 

Cayenne pepper is the classic choice, but you can also use chili flakes or any other type of chili powder. Once all the ingredients are combined, the dough will be sticky. That’s why it needs to rest in the fridge first. After chilling, pinch the dough into small balls and flatten with a fork.

Vegetarian Nasi Lemak

Nasi Lemak is a beloved Malaysian dish enjoyed any time of the day, from breakfast to late-night supper. It’s a favorite among rice lovers and food enthusiasts alike. While nasi lemak is also part of Singaporean cuisine, and can be found in Brunei, certain parts of Indonesia, and Southern Thailand, nothing quite compares to the original Malaysian version. Nasi lemak is one of Malaysia’s most iconic dishes and has put Malaysian food on the global map.

What is Nasi Lemak?

Nasi lemak means coconut milk rice. Whether it’s the traditional non-vegetarian version, vegan, or plant-based nasi lemak, the main recipe for the coconut milk rice stays the same.

Kuih Kaswi Recipe

Chewy and scented with palm sugar (Gula Melaka) and fragrant pandan (screwpine) leaves, this is Kuih Kaswi, also known as Kuih Kasui. Like other popular Malay kuih-muih, it’s a steamed Malaysian delicacy and a traditional dessert (WAJIK/GLUTINOUS RICE CAKES). 

 

The Gula Melaka version, sometimes called Gula Merah, is essentially a palm sugar–flavored steamed dessert. It is infused with the fragrance of pandan leaves, which is what sets Malay kuih-muih apart from those made with vanilla essence (MALAYSIAN BANANA PANCAKE). 

Suicide in Young Indian Women in Selangor: Yoga Therapy

Author

Ms. Krishnan N, a Zen entrepreneur in her 60s, founded Nava's Zen at 58. With 22 years as a lecturer, including 13 years in the Curtin University of Technology Perth, Australia Degree Twinning Program, she is now a certified yoga instructor, coach, and counselor. Her expertise enriches her current work.

Abstract
This article explores the intricate relationship between cultural expectations, mental health, and wellness practices among young Indian women in Selangor. It examines how societal pressures and a lack of mental health awareness contribute to emotional distress and coping strategies, particularly in the context of yoga therapy. Despite the growing prevalence of mental health issues and rising suicide rates, yoga remains undervalued within the community, often overshadowed by more competitive pursuits. 

This study highlights the potential of yoga therapy to foster resilience and emotional well-being, advocating for its integration into daily life as a preventive measure against mental health crises. By promoting open discussions around mental health and encouraging holistic practices, families can create supportive environments that nurture the mental wellness of young Indian women, ultimately leading to healthier, more balanced lives.