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Banoffee Pie: a brief history and a full proof recipe

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Banoffee chocolate pie decorated with chocolate, fresh blueberry
Banoffee chocolate pie decorated with chocolate, fresh blueberry and strawberry, holiday christmas background

The word ‘banoffee’ comes from the words ‘banana’ and ‘toffee’; and it is easy to determine that the classic dessert is a heavenly combination of the two. Interestingly, contrary to popular belief, a Banoffee pie is an incredibly easy recipe to make. It combines some really simply ingredients, such as banana, cream, dulce de leche, biscuits, etc; but the end result is a gorgeous melt-in-the-mouth creation.

The components of a Banoffee pie:

A Banoffee pie will always contain the following elements:

Banoffee chocolate pie decorated with chocolate, fresh blueberry
Banoffee pie (tart) decorated with chocolate, fresh blueberry and strawberry
  1. A buttery and crumbly base, made with crushed biscuits, graham crackers, etc. mixed with melted butter.
  2. Slices of fresh banana
  3. Fresh whipped cream
  4. Caramel/toffee, made from scratch, or by boiling condensed milk, or dulce de leche.
  5. Additional optional ingredients such as chocolate or coffee

The history behind the dessert:

Banana banoffee pie and cake
Banana banoffee pie and cake in white plate isolated on white background

The British restaurateur, Nigel Mackenzie, created the Banoffee pie back in 1972. Here is how the story goes.

In 1968, Mackenzie and his wife, Sue Kenrick, purchased a tea room in East Sussex. This tea room was previously inhabited by monks. The couple spent six month renovating the place. Finally, they converted the tea room into a fashionable restaurant, and called it The Hungry Monk.

1971, when the restaurant was up and running, they realized that were short of one item for their dessert menu. The then head chef, Ian Dowding, suggested that they try out the recipe that he had brought back from America. This recipe was called the Blum’s Coffee Toffee Pie. Mackenzie embraced the idea whole heartedly, and they set to prepare the dessert with caramel, cream and boiled condensed milk. During the experimentation phase, Mackenzie suggested that they should use bananas, and that’s how the famous dessert was created. They named the dessert as ‘Signor Banoffi’s pie’.

Also read

The curious history of the red velvet cake

10 most expensive ice creams around the world

The popularity of the Banoffee pie:

Delicious banana cake on table
Delicious banana cake with coffee cup on table top view. Sliced fruit biscuit with caramel and buttercream on wooden catering plate, copy space

The customers of the restaurant were delighted. They fell in love with the dessert, and made sure that it was on the menu and was available when they visited. Gradually, the fame of the dessert spread across restaurants. Soon, it became a permanent item on the menu! In fact, Nestle went on to print the recipe on their condensed milk cans; which further increased the popularity of the dessert.On the downside, the commercialization of the dessert meant that its quality fell considerably. Unfortunately, imitators would use low quality whipped cream instead of lightly whipped double cream. They even substituted the short crust pastry base to ready made digestive biscuits, which they crushed and used.

The Deeper Secrets of the Hungry Monk was published in 1974, and the original Banoffee pie recipe appeared in their recipe book. The book sold over 1,00,000 copies, and the dessert took the world over. It even went on to gain official recognition in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1997.

Easy Banoffee pie recipe:

Everyone can make a Banoffee pie at home. It is simple and easy. And you would not have to rush to the supermarket to pick up ingredients especially for the dessert. No fancy equipments needed either!

Banoffee pie crust:

450 grams digestive biscuits

150 grams butter, unsalted

Banoffee pie toffee filling:

90 grams butter

2/3 cup brown sugar

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Banoffee pie topping:

1 cup heavy cream

1 tsp coffee powder

3 bananas, thinly slices

Chocolate shavings

Cocoa powder, optional

Method:

  1. Start by lining an 8 inch pie dish with parchment paper.
  2. Crush the biscuits using a food processor. You will need fine crumbs for the base.
  3. Melt the butter over low heat, and add in the biscuit crumbs.
  4. Combine the mix evenly, and spoon in the prepared pie dish.
  5. Use the back of a spoon, or the edge of a rolling pin to press down the mix firmly onto the base and the sides.
  6. Refrigerate till ready for use.
  7. Start with preparing the toffee filling next. Heat the butter and sugar in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally. Add in the condensed milk.
  8. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring in intervals. Continue to cook for 5 to 10 minutes, till you obtain a thick consistency. A
  9. Add in the vanilla extract and mix well.
  10. Pour over the chilled Banoffee pie base.
  11. Refrigerate for an hour at least.
  12. Whip the double cream using a stand mixer or an electric beater with the instant coffee powder, till soft peaks form.
  13. Arrange the banana slices on top of the toffee mix.
  14. Spoon the cream on the top, and use a small offset spatula to level it out.
  15. Let it set in the fridge for at least an hour.
  16. Garnish with cocoa powder and chocolate flakes, and serve cold.

Banoffee pie variations:

Today, the word Banoffee is synonymous with the classic combination of banana and toffee. It is no longer limited or restricted to just the classic Banoffee pie itself, but has witnessed a lot of variations over the years. A Banoffee cake is extremely popular, which uses a vanilla sponge, fresh whipped cream, dulce de leche and bananas. A Banoffee cheese cake is also an excellent innovation of the original dessert.

What innovation will you like to do with the classic dessert?

Options for students post completing their graduation in Australia?

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australia

After completion of graduate students abroad, countries like Australia might be wondering what to pursue after that. There are a lot many things that continuously evolve around the minds of the students. Students sometimes need to take prompt decisions about what should be done after completion of graduation. There are some important things to note down after the completion of graduation such as checking out visas whether a visa is expired or not. Students have to recognize various options after post graduation. In this blog, we will try to state some options for students to post completing their graduation in Australia.

Options for student after graduation in Australia

Join for higher degree programs

Group of multiethnic students on graduation day
Group of multiethnic students holding their diplomas on graduation day, Happy people celebrating education degree, copy space

Some students after completion of graduation opt to stay in Australia. What they do is they continue their studies after graduation. They make their portfolio strong by gathering more degrees to get the desired job there. There are so many things that students before continuation of master’s program should keep in their minds like they should apply for new visa prior expiration of the old one, arrange money for study and living over there. Students can enroll themselves in new Universities or in the same Universities in which their graduation has completed, it all depends upon the student’s choice.

Also read Real Ways to Make Money in College/University

Extend your Visa for a stay in Australia

People usually don’t want to leave abroad. Once they have enrolled in different courses, they want their regular stay in Abroad. Students can stay in Australia after completion of graduation by several means. Following  reasons support you to stay in Australia

Working with current employer

This is the best way to extend your stay in Australia. Many students are using this way to make their stay increase and valid. If your present employer sponsors you, you can stay even after completion of your studies. Your current employer can sponsor you on a permanent or temporary basis depending upon his choice and that can be done by Employer Nomination Scheme Visa 

Work with enhancing your skills

If you enroll yourself in different courses, you can increase your limit of stay in Australia. Students also enroll themselves in various English improving courses. It can be proved as a great option for staying in Australia even after the completion of graduation.

Explore more places in Australia.

If you increase your stay for visiting the country, no one can stop you from staying in abroad. Students can apply for a tourist visa after studies. It allows you to stay in Australia for a period ranging between 3 months to 12  months.

Working holiday

Students between the age of 18-30 years are capable to apply work and holiday visa that ensures them to work and travel having validity of 12 months.

Gain professional experience

Students can gain work experience that which make them gain industry-related skills that further help them in acquiring skilled migrant visa by earning an extra 5 five points. Students can work with different companies and enhance their skills to the next level. This will also help them to increase their stay in Australia.

Also read Study in Singapore: top colleges, procedure and other relevant information

Apply for PR

Passport with visa stamps. Travel or turism concept background.
Passport with visa stamps. Travel or turism concept background. 3d illustration

Students after completing graduation should wish to achieve permanent residency. Students get  PR by following ways

  • Skill Select Migration Program
  • Skilled Independent Visa
  • Employer Nomination Scheme
  • Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme

Apply For a research scientist

Students can also apply for various Junior research fellowship and senior research fellowship programs. It will also extend their stay and provide more exposure to the research field and also add up their income source through research work. Students get more conversant with their work and even get permanent jobs based on their skills. If they get permanent jobs, ultimately their visa will be extended by itself.

Also read Masters study in Russia: a complete guide

Return to your country

Returning to your country after completion of graduation can be one of the options. If there are no plans after study just pack your bags and move back to your country after completing all the necessary formalities like cancellation of various services such as electricity, water, bank accounts and many more. Although this can be tough after staying long in foreign countries if they are no ways this can be one of the ways. Students might find it difficult to go back but many educational institutes run seminars regarding adjusting in their hometown after staying in Abroad.

Conclusion

Students once stay in abroad countries like Australia, they don’t feel comfortable coming back. Students finding different ways to increase their stay in the country by any means. In this blog, I have described various options for students to post completing their graduation in Australia. If you are having any doubt, feel free to ask me in the comment box.

The Grand Opera Cake

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Opera Cake

True coffee lovers cannot deny or hide their love for a good, moist, strong Opera Cake. No doubt, a good opera is one which has been baked and layered to perfection; and has been served at the right temperature. And for those who don’t yet know, an opera cake is a classic French cake. It is made of layers of Jaconde, coffee syrup, chocolate ganache, coffee buttercream , and chocolate glaze.

This cake is the perfect cake for those who are looking for something exotic, want something coffee flavoured yet nothing too strong, and cannot give up on their love for chocolate.

Read on to find more about the history of this class French pastry, its origin and naming. Also find out why you should definitely try an Opera cake at least once in your life.

How many layers does an opera cake have?

chocolate cake
french chocolate cake opera in front of white background

A classic opera cake comprises of six layers in all. It starts with a thin layer of Jaconde sponge, soaked in coffee syrup, followed by a layer of coffee-flavoured buttercream. This is again followed by another layer of sponge and a layer of chocolate ganache. In the end there is a third layer of sponge and finally a topping of chocolate glaze.

Modern day chefs and pastry enthusiasts, however, have innovated the traditional opera cake. They add more layers to it, to show off their skills and add more levels of complexity to the dessert.

Where did it come from?

The Grand Opera Cake

There are a lot of interesting stories about the origin of the opera cake. With so many competing stories about the same, it is hard to decide the true story behind the opera cake is. Nevertheless, it is interesting to know and read about all of these theories behind the invention of the cake.

One theory suggests that the cake was invented by one of the most famous and legendary pastry chefs of Paris, Louis Clichy; who showcased it as the Paris Exposition Culinaire in 1903. The cake was well received by all. Ultimately, it became the signature cake at the Clichy’s Shop in the years to come.

The owners of pâtisserie Dalloyau, on the other hand, claim that they were the one who invented the Opera cake back in 1955. As per their version of the story, the pastry chef Cyriaque Gavillon invented the cake. Apparently, the cake reminded his wife of the opera, and thus he named the cake as the “Opera cake” in honor of the Paris Opéra.

A third story that goes behind the cake is that it was invented by the Paris Opéra itself around the year 1890. Since the cake had large amounts of coffee in it, it helped people to stay awake during the final acts of the lengthy epics that were performed in the opera.

ALso Read The curious history of the red velvet cake

What goes in an opera cake?

There are different components that go into an opera cake, all of which combine beautifully together to create the epic and glorious cake that we know of today.

Let us break down the components of a classic opera cake, and try to understand each one of it better.

The Jaconde sponge:

A Jacone is a flavourful and light sponge made with almond flour, and has a lot of air incorporated in it, thanks to the egg whites that are used. Cheaper versions, however, would have a normal vanilla sponge, instead of the much more exotic and also costlier jaconde sponge.

The coffee syrup

The coffee syrup is integral to a good opera cake. Not only does it add a lot of flavour to the cake, but it also keeps it moist and juicy for a long time.

The coffee buttercream

A classic Italian meringue buttercream or a pate bombe mix is used to make the delicious buttercream for the cake. It is then flavoured generously with coffee, with even coffee liqueur is added at times for that extra dose of flavour.

The chocolate ganache:

A ganache is a smooth emulsion of cream and chocolate. It has a delightful and creamy texture, that takes the opera cake to an altogether new height.

The chocolate glaze is a versatile component, with no set recipe or method to be followed. Bakers and confectioners can choose to make a complicated glaze with gelatin and neutral gel if they desire. Or they stick to a simple mixture of chocolate and butter for the shine.

What does an opera cake taste like?

An opera cake is a deliciously balanced dessert, with no flavour overpowering the other. Packed with the flavour of nuts, chocolate and coffee, it is actually one of the most famous and sought after flavour combinations in the world; which is hard to not like by anyone out there.

Variations of the opera cake:

The classic recipe can be altered in various ways to innovate and add personal touches to the cake; which is why homemade opera cakes are simply the best. I have even had a raspberry opera cake. It bore a similarity to the original cake in terms of the structure, but has a completely different taste to it. The classic sponge, however, remains the same; though some people might add a bit of pink food colour to it for that added appeal. Other elements of a raspberry opera include a raspberry sugar syrup, a white chocolate ganache, and raspberry buttercream, complete with a shiny pink glaze to finish the cake off.

 What would your dream opera cake taste and look like? Would you add caramel to this already heavenly combination? Would you increase the strength of the coffee for that amazing espresso hit-in-the-mouth?

Let us know in the comment section below.

Ten Best Places To Visit In Europe

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The world is on lockdown, and everything feels like a scene out of a dystopian-era movie. It definitely feels like the worst time to post a blog on the wonders of travelling. But don’t feel too bad, things will soon be alright. And when they get better, you could use these pointers to your advantage, get away from the boring couch and Quarantine, and on a backpacking trip far, far away to European nations.

A nation with infrastructural beauty that quite often remains unparalleled, Europe is home to several beautiful monuments, architecture that is simply exquisite and natural wonders with stories that remain unheard. Here is our list of the top ten places you should visit on a trip to Europe.

10. Venice.

Where the roads are water, and the cars are boats. Venice is definitely a city like no other. With its typical style of European architecture, Venice gives off the same kind of calming energy as comes with an expedition in Europe. However, what puts it into our top ten is the reason its often most talked about – Its roads.

Ten Best Places To Visit In Europe

Venice has canals which serve as the pathways from building to building. The city lives entirely around the canals. The only way to navigate through is on a boat. Where it does lose some points is the smell. Venice has canals of seawater. Along with the smell of fish and sewage, there is the stale saltiness of the seawater that may obstruct you from truly enjoying the visual beauty that it is.

9. Amalfi Coast

This beautiful place has pristinely white buildings, all following a strict style of architecture. Amalfi Coast is the what you would call a quintessential coastal town. Located at the mouth of a deep ravine and overlooking pristine waters, the Amalfi coastline is rich in such buildings reflecting Arab-Sicilian and Greek architecture.

Ten Best Places To Visit In Europe

While it has beautiful cathedrals and hiking trails overlooking the exquisite coastline, Amalfi is a place where the best thing to do would be to sit on the docks in the evening as the sun sets and laze around the luxury hotels catering especially to visitors.

8. Santorini

Ten Best Places To Visit In Europe

Another town known for its distinctly whiter architecture, Santorini is a picturesque Greek archipelago of two islands. Santorini is home to incredibly diverse beaches, all making it a wonder in itself.  Santorini is often suspected to be the original home to the lost city, Atlantis. You could prefer visiting Santorini if you have a particular affinity for history. Santorini is now known for the vivid history it houses – the archaeological attractions of Ancient Thira and Akrotiri, with ruins dating back to the 17th century BC. However, if you are looking to have a relaxing time, Santorini has one of the finest wineries in the world. It is generally very kind and safe to tourists and citizens alike.

Also read Places To Explore In Bali

7.Prague

Prague is a personal favourite. I have often said that if aliens ever invaded our planet, and asked to see the most beautiful parts of humanity, one of the creations we could be most proud of was the city of Prague.

Ten Best Places To Visit In Europe

An amalgamation of the bustle of the modern-day and Gothic style architecture dating back centuries, Prague is a place you would do well to visit at least once in your lifetime. Prague is also, a very budget-friendly trip, and you could truly enjoy your experience without burning through your pocket here. It is also an extremely safe city, despite its sheer size.

Also read The Best Places to travel with Kids in the USA

6. Amsterdam

Before I make any arguments in favour of Amsterdam, I would like to say – recreational drugs like marijuana are legal here. While I am not encouraging you to do them, I would like to point out that Amsterdam is probably one of the most laid-back places to visit. Amsterdam is, however, not just what infamous rumours have made it out to be.

Ten Best Places To Visit In Europe

The soils here are deeply entrenched in history, both mesmerising and saddening. Museums like the Van Gogh Museum, Verzetsmuseum and the Anne Frank House are absolute musts. Immortalised by the YA novel, ‘The Fault in Our Stars’, the canals of Amsterdam welcome you fondly for a boat tour. And if you are lucky, you shall maybe even get to consume the stars, bottled up. I am of course talking about the champagne that it is famous for. Amsterdam has friendly locals and a very ambient atmosphere, often making one nostalgic enough to visit again.

Also read A Perfect guide for an Egypt trip

5. Barcelona

Ten Best Places To Visit In Europe

Made a household name by its famous football team, Barcelona has a beauty in itself. Housing a unique style of architecture, Gothic in nature, it has many iconic buildings that you could spend ages looking at. A day in Barcelona is pure relaxation. Overlooking the Mediterranean, one can lie down and spend their evening hours on the La Barceloneta Beach. With a vibrant nightlife, there isn’t a moment in Barcelona that isn’t fun.

Also read Paris – The City of Dreams, Love and Romance

4. Florence

You haven’t had a true taste of Europe if you haven’t had a taste of France or Italy. While France is up there on our list, yet to come, we now have Florence, Italy in our top five. A city that could properly in one tour show you what Italy was all about, Florence is authentic and quaint.

Ten Best Places To Visit In Europe

And well, we shall even use this time to tell you that all of those stereotypes you heard about Italian cuisine? It’s true. Mouth-watering scents line the streets. Cobbled streets invite you to sit upon them and feast on the one dish that has originated here and has been replicated the world over – pizza. Or if it is too hot, you could always wind up with the special Italian gelato.

3. London

Rich in culture and great food, London is a city you shouldn’t miss on your way through Europe. Yes, it is your typical city, loud, a little smelly and packed. But it also has what are probably the best fish and chips in the world. Now I am not saying you should visit London just for its fish and chips, but it wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing to consider. London Tours offer trips to the Stonehenge, to the original Harry Potter theme park among many other beautiful sights.

Ten Best Places To Visit In Europe

Other such cultural attractions include the Westminister Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Churchill War Rooms. While the British cuisine isn’t what you would necessarily call inventive or tasty, as it has become the melting pot of ethnicities from numerous countries, it has now got to offer the best cuisines from all over the world, right here at London. A very accessible city due to their official spoken language being British English, London is home to tourists throughout the year.

2. Paris

I would probably not have much to say about the city of love that you wouldn’t already know. People often call Bombay the city of dreams, but out here in Europe, the dreams you’ve always had shall come to fruition under the lights of the Eiffel. Not an attraction just because of the Eiffel Tower, Paris boasts a unique style of architecture.

Ten Best Places To Visit In Europe

While each building reflects the distinctly unique European culture, the planning of the city ends up revealing something wonderful – the city itself. Planned and constructed by Haussmann, Paris follows circular planning, at whose centre lies the Eiffel Tower. If you were wondering why in every outdoor photo in Paris, one can spot the Eiffel Tower, here is your answer.

1. Rome

One would normally remember the legendary city of Rome from the phrase, “All roads lead to Rome.” And just like the proverb, our countdown has finally led us to the magnificent city of Rome. Rome is an amalgamation of everything Italy is famous all over the world over for, and then some more. Deep-rooted in its traditions and culture, Rome’s architecture and cuisine offer you a glimpse into times past. Buildings from the great eras of Julius Caesar, Octavian, Hadrian lies in ruins now, but you could always marvel at them on a day trip to the city.

Ten Best Places To Visit In Europe

And when the heat seems too unforgiving, Rome offers you a wonderful selection of gelatos, desserts and delicious brunch options to choose from. All in all, Rome ranks at our top. It has got all the qualities of an ideal tourist hotspot – from being visitor-friendly to offering an enthralling experience in its history and cuisine.

With this, I end my countdown of the best places to visit while in Europe. While times right now may seem grim and unforgiving, please remember that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. We shall all come out of this period of Quarantine, healthier and more positive, and I’m sure, if you feel like this lockdown has brought out the wanderlust in you, you shall know which list to look at. We send you love and strength to get through these tough times.

10 Facts you need to know about RIVERDALE

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Riverdale is one of the best American teen drama show streaming on Netflix. Riverdale as always is full of surprises. Beginning in 2016 this show sucks you in with its epic thrill, romance, drama and mystery. Riverdale revolves around Archie from Archie comics, the girl next door Betty, his best friend Jughead and the new girl in town Veronica who tries to unravel the evils lurking out in shadows. In the process they were exposed to lot of twist and turns but that’s Riverdale is all about.

Here some of the shocking facts about Riverdale that will knock you down with a feather.

Riverdale was actually going to be a film

What you now see as a television series was actually decided to be a movie show. Yes the producers and directors of Riverdale planned Riverdale to be a movie but soon they realised that everything cannot be expressed in two or three hours so they finally announced Riverdale as a television series, a big relief to fans.

10 Facts you need to know about RIVERDALE

Riverdale cast shot multiple endings of season 1

In order hide the identity of the person who murdered Jason Blossom. Riverdale cast actually shot multiple endings. Well this is really surprising but when it comes to spoilers Riverdale can go to every ends to prevent revealing.

K.J Apa wanted Archie and Betty to be endgame

Now this might shock also after watching so much of Varchie romance. You have never expected K.J apa/Archie Andrews to be thinking of this but K.J Apa did said that he thinks the relationship between Betty and Archie is classic and he wants them to be endgame however the hot red guy isn’t the one writing the show so it will ease you to know that’s there no such information of them to be together has yet declared.

K.J Apa is a New Zealand actor

Well, yes K.J Apa who is playing role of Archie Andrews isn’t actually an American. Born in Auckland, New Zealand he first played a role of Kane Jenkins in New Zealand primetime soap opera Shortland Streets from 2013 to 2015 Also featuring in shows like the The Last Summer, The Hate You Give and A Dog’s Purpose.

Also Read Will Riverdale Season 5 bring Death of Hiram Lodge and Mr. Honey?

Riverdale is Camilla Mendes’s debut show

Riverdale is the first show of Camilla Mendes’s life, it doesn’t look the same after all her flawless acting of portraying herself a spoilt brat is one of the reasons Riverdale is at the top of everyone’s Netflix list but above all she is a really cute and funny nature

Also read Study in New Zealand

K.J Apa had to dye his hairs red for Riverdale

The hot Archie with red hairs definitely fires the show but do you know he had two his hairs red in every two weeks to completely fit in his role. The hairs of K.J apa is natural black, but in Archie comics Archie has red hairs to look exactly the character in Archie comics he has two dye his hairs in every two weeks.

Also read EPIC SHORT STORIES BY RABINDRANATH TAGORE

Madelaine gave the auditions for Betty Copper

The hot red beauty of Riverdale Cheryl Blossom which actually steals the show by her acting but do you know that she was firstly asked to give auditions of Betty Cooper. According to sources the character of Cheryl was not revealed during the auditions.

Also read Shades Of Life(Opens in a new browser tab)

Lili Reinhart admitted Riverdale has damaged her hairs

Not only K.J Apa but Lili Reinhart also had to undergo to look flawless in the show. In an interview she said ‘My hair is damaged as hell from being on my show and just from heat styling is general’ Lili said ‘S I try to take good care of my hair’, the ponytail causes me stress. It takes a long time than you think, longer than you’d think, and it’s really annoying and very frustrating. It’s just the fact that it’s hard to get it perfect… That’s my biggest struggle. Being on camera, you can’t have flyways, so I’m looking at my haed probably 70 times a day to make sure that my hair is in place. I hate that it’s very high maintenance.’ She added.

Also read Top 10 Countries Of The World With Similar Flags

10 Facts you need to know about RIVERDALE

Camilla, Lily and K.J were not selected during the auditions of Riverdale

We all the love onscreen chemistry of our Riverdale team and what excites us more is how nicely they paired up in the show, the way the quad lit the show is remarkable but what if I say that out of these four central character only Cole Spouse was selected and Camilla Mendes, Lili Reinhart and K.J Apa were not selected during the auditions but luckily they were later called for the same. Its really that they were selected at the end because Riverdale can’t be imagined without these four.

Also read Top 10 Onscreen couples we really miss!!

K.J Apa broke his hand in season one finale

In season one finale we all saw Archie Andrews who rescued Cheryl Blossom from drowning in a frozen lake. During the scene when he was smashing the ice, he wasn’t actually punching the real ice. When asked from him he said ‘That was gnarly day of shooting. I’ll tell you that much.’ Apa further added ‘I wasn’t really punching the ice, but I got a little bit too excited. I was punching the foam mat that was placed on the ice. It was cold, so I didn’t really feel it. It wasn’t until 20 minutes after that I realized I broke my hand. I didn’t tell anyone.’

The curious history of the red velvet cake

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Red Velvet Cake
red velvet cake with cream and strawberry

Gen Z has had it enough with the chocolate truffle and pineapple cakes that so dominated our childhood, and for want of a better alternative, it is the red velvet cake that is trending on the charts now. And while store bought red velvet cakes with cream cheese frosting and strawberries for décor maybe the perfect way to celebrate one’s birthday or ring in the New Year; nothing can beat a good homemade red velvet cake.

And since the cake is getting only more and more famous with each passing day, it only makes sense to learn a bit about the interesting history behind this interesting flavour.

The origin of the red velvet cake:

Red Velvet Cake
red velvet cake with cream and strawberry

The velvet cake dates back to the Victorian era, where it was a fancy dessert enjoyed by the upper classes. The term ‘velvet’ in itself suggested how the cake was a delicacy in itself, with a soft and velvety crumb.

Fast forward to the Second World War, when foods were scarce and hence were rationed. Bakers of those times had no options but to use boiled beetroot juice to enhance the colour of their cakes and make it more visually appealing. Additionally, since beetroot was cheap, it acted as a great filler in a lot of recipes, and also helped to retain moisture. This is how the cakes ended up being red, and hence the name ‘red velvet cake’.

Red velvet cake
Red velvet cake on a white wood background. the toning. selective focus

Interestingly, traditional recipes never called for any artificial food colouring. Instead, the red colour was a result of the beetroot juice, as well as due to the unprocessed cocoa powder that was used back in those times. (Cocoa powder these days is Dutch-processed, which means that it is alkalinized to remove the acidity of the cocoa powder). That is to say, the cocoa powder was acidic, and contained what is known as anthocyanins. These anthocyanins are naturally occurring pigments that turn red in the presence of an acid. And since a traditional red velvet cake will always call for acidic ingredients such as buttermilk and vinegar; the cake batter is red as a result of this scientific reaction.

However, it was not long before the red velvet cake was highly commercialized, and Adams Extract, a company from Texas, introduced the red food colour to popularize the cake and bring it to kitchens across America. In fact, the original recipe of the cake is extremely popular in New York’s famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, which has gone as far as to call the red velvet cake the ‘Waldorf-Astoria Cake’. Many, however, argue that it is a southern recipe, and a traditional red velvet cake will always call for a French style roux icing, which is also known as ermine icing. These days, however, cream cheese frosting and buttercream frosting are much more popular and synonymous with the red velvet cake.

Of late, the cake and its mini version-the red velvet cupcake- has gained much popularity in Europe and the USA.

Also read Japanese CheeseCake Recipe

Popular versions of the red velvet cake:

Ice cream with red velvet cake dessert
Ice cream with red velvet cake dessert – Color Filter Processing

Variations of the red velvet cake are also gaining a lot of popularity these days, with home bakers and chefs across the globe adding their own innovation and personal touch, from the red velvet cake to the red velvet icecream cake, and from the keto red velvet cake to the vegan red velvet cake. Not only this, the flavour has increased so much in popularity these days, that it is not uncommon to come across red velvet cookies, red velvet brownies, red velvet brownies, red velvet shakes and smoothies, and so much more. Red velvet protein powders, waffles, alcohols, etc. are also gaining more and more popularity these days, and the flavour and scent is now also used for candles, soaps, air fresheners, etc.

You can easily make a red velvet cake at home from scratch, using just basic ingredients; though all modern recipes will definitely call for lots of food colour. This is because the cocoa powder these days is all Dutch processed, and in the absence of any natural scientific reaction; a colouring additive is needed. Moreover, with the commercialization of the flavour, most people tend to associate a good red velvet cake with a stark bright red colour, and anything less fancier than that is discarded on the grounds of not being authentic enough.

But to face the bitter reality, such huge amounts of artificial food colours are not really that good for our health, and if you saw the amounts of food colouring going in, you too would definitely avoid consuming a red velvet cake from a store. So, the next time you head out to buy a red velvet cake, make sure that you don’t just go on looks and colour, but prefer an authentic place which is probably serving you a much more genuine and healthier, though less appealing version of the dessert.

Also read Veg Cake Recipe to Enliven Summer

Baking the perfect red velvet cake at home:

If you are planning to make one at home, nothing can be better for you. Look for recipes that call for beetroot juice, since that is the ideal and original way to do it; but if you really cannot, stick to unprocessed cocoa powder. Some food colour, in limits and moderation, would do no harm; but be sure to buy one from a genuine brand, to limit the intake of harmful chemicals in your body.

Here is a super easy red velvet cake recipe for you to try at home:

Ingredients:

½ cup unsalted butter

½ cup caster sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla essence

1 ¼ cup flour

1/8 cup unprocessed cocoa powder

½ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

½ cup buttermilk

1 tsp. red food colour

Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 180 C.
  2. Cream together the butter and sugar till light and fluffy, and add the egg in parks.
  3. In a separate bowls, mix together all the dry ingredients, and add half of this dry mix to the first bowl.
  4. Alternate with the buttermilk, vinegar and food colour, beating well to combine.
  5. Pour the batter in a greased cake tin, and bake for around 30 minutes, or till a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.

Until then, happy baking!

How to look classy and elegant all the time

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Beautiful woman with wavy hair in striped coat holding black bag thoughtfully looking in camera

Class and elegance is something that never goes out of style and makes everyone sit up and notice the moment you walk in a room full of people. There is so much more to being classy than what you wear and how you dress. Here are some tips to help you out: 

1. Behaviour:

The very basic rule to be classy is to behave in a classy way. You might get your hands on designer bags, shoes, expensive accessories and what not, but none of that would make you classy unless you are confident from within, polite, exercise good manners and talk with maturity and sense without using curse words and be respectful towards others. 

2. Fabric:

Other than behavioural changes, go ahead and invest in good quality fabrics. Synthetic material can look a little cheap and so it’s always great to go for cottons, linen, tussar etc. These fabrics might be a little expensive but they will last long, will make you feel comfortable especially in the heat and will always be the first step towards getting that timeless look.

How to look classy and elegant all the time
Courtesy: Pixabay

3. Colours: 

Go for classic colours which are basic neutrals such as bold Black, navy Blue, Deep Red, White, Off-white and Beige. These colours mix and match with any accessory and opens up any piece you wear on top of them. Also, for office goers, these are always the best colours to go for creating a classy look

4. Under-wear:

It is very important that you wear good quality underwear that fits you perfectly and makes you feel comfortable. You can afford to buy less expensive clothes but never compromise on underwear because nothing destroys your image more than you tugging and pulling at your dress and your bra to make yourself comfortable. That is an absolute no no! This might take more time, a little research, little experimentation and some effort of shopping around to try out various sizes and brands, but when you get the right size and the right brand, there is nothing better!    

Also read op 10 Tips on How To Always Look Posh and Expensive

5. Minimalism:

How to look classy and elegant all the time
Courtesy: pixabay

Less is always more when it comes to being elegant and classy. A perfect foundation, a thin eyeliner, a lengthening plus volume-adding mascara, light blush and a lipstick can go a long way. Side by side, you can pair your dress up with a standalone luxury hand-bag or an expensive belt or a beautiful scarf or a very gorgeous necklace and earrings or a stunning pair of shoes.  

6. Prints:

The key to wearing prints, designs and checks and keeping it classy is to opt for smaller prints. Prints add volume and open up the dress and have the tendency to overwhelm the body. Hence, it is advisable to go for smaller florals, geometric designs or tessellating patterns. 

7. Self-grooming:

This might sound very obvious but self-grooming and keeping your absolute clean is the first key to look elegant. Keep your face clean and moisturised, brush twice daily amd scale your teeth with the help of a dentist, shape your eye-brows, keep your nails short, clean and manicured, take care of your feet, remove your body odour and maintain your hair and keep them well-hydrated. 

8. Perfume:

How to look classy and elegant all the time
Courtesy: pixabay

Wear a perfume that speaks of your personality. An overpowering cheap smell can give headache to people approaching you and repel them rather than making them get attracted to you. Use a light floral or fruity or spicy smelling perfume and use it only at your pulse-points. Don’t overdo it, rather it’s best to carry it in your bag and re-apply it when necessary. 

9. Clothes:

Keep your clothes absolutely clean and pristine by washing them after every two times you wear them. Use an iron or a steamer to remove all creases from your clothes and I believe steaming is an easier option, all because it vents out water vapour which eliminates all the bad odour from your dress. 

10. Skin-show:

This is completely your choice about what you wear and how much skin you want to show but according to my opinion, to look classy, limit the amount of skin you show. Elegance is about wearing your best dress right and being comfortable in your skin. Also, as a rule, you can follow these: If you decide to show skin on top, such as a bit of cleavage, you need to pair it up with a set of trousers or pants to balance it out. If you intend to expose your legs, then wear a covered top with full sleeves to make it look more even. 

11. Neutral make-up:

How to look classy and elegant all the time
Courtesy: pixabay

For regular purpose, switch to a more everyday sort-of neutral make-up that will match with almost all dresses and hair-colour that you may want to try out. Try using nude nail-polishes so that after a week or so, when the nails grow from below, it does not look odd. Switch to nude lip-shades that are also hydrating for the lips. Very dry lipsticks which are chipping away from your lips and cracking them up, settling into fine lines are an absolute no! Look for a foundation that suits your complexion perfectly and is not cakey. Always use sunscreen to protect your skin from getting tanned.  

12. Fitting:

So many of us, when we find a great dress or a top which looks great but is not fitting us completely, we go ahead and buy it thinking we would rock in it! But what happens when you actually wear it and you go out? You feel uncomfortable, you feel squeezed into the dress, you constantly adjust it and that, by no means, makes you look classy. Hence, it is always advisable to try your clothes in the Trial rooms whenever you go shopping, sit in it, while wearing it, move around and make a decision on how that dress sits on your body.If you find that you are in-between sizes, always and always go for the next bigger size. A little larger is always more comfortable and also, you have the option of stitching it in place. Nothing is worse than constant fidgeting with your outfit. 

13. Skin-care:

Woman flower beauty skin care
Woman holds beauty flower. skin care treatment

Your skin is the first thing that people see and none of us can boast about having the perfect skin! It’s perfectly okay if you are suffering from acne or dark patches or discolorations or hyper-pigmentation or such issues but it’s never too late to start taking care of them. It’s best to consult a dermatologist and follow religiously whatever has been prescribed for you. Cut down sugar, lower oil-intake and maintain a proper diet to keep your skin and hair healthy and also, for losing excess fat if you are looking for weight-loss.      

Easy Tips to Maintain a Healthy Weight

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Healthy sporty young people jogging and running outdoors
Healthy sporty young friends jogging and running outdoors

As we all know the meaning of health. But how to keep it healthy is one of the daunting tasks for most of us right! 

Let’s explain to you what actually it implies. When you are feeling happy, without worries, eat well and get sick less often that means you are blessed with good health. However, keeping a healthy weight is not only based on a good diet. You must incorporate some habits to improve your well-being.

When you maintain a healthy weight it means you are lowering the risk of developing the disease and prevent yourself from getting sick. 

Thereof myriads of things that lead to gain fat. These include age, gender, family habits, culture, sleep or genetics. Even the place or surrounding you live or work can also affect your weight.  

What every your age and weight but being active and choosing healthy habits will surely help you to gain optimal health. Besides that, you must choose nutrients rich food to improve well-being.  

That’s why today in this topic we are going to discuss, how to maintain a healthy lifestyle that leads to a healthy weight. 

Here are some useful tips to maintain a healthy weight

Do regular exercise

Young woman exercising in nature
Woman doing stretching exercise in park. Caucasian female model exercising in nature.

When you have decided to embark on a healthy lifestyle, you must do regular workouts to burn calories. Whatever your age is, one can normally start cycling, cardiovascular activities and stretching to keep your muscles active. Regular workouts uphold a healthy weight and also boost the immune system cells that fight disease. The more you exercise the more you burn calories and strengthen your muscles as well. So, your weight loss depends on your caloric intake. When you do a regular physical activity you will notice a change over your well-being.

Choose a healthy diet to maintain weight

Summer salads
Mix salads on black background. Fresh Citrus Salad with arugula feta, chia, kumquat and blood orange. Watermelon Radish salad. Vegan, vegetarian, clean eating, dieting, food concept. Top view, flat lay, copy space

Whatever you eat, affects your weight. A healthy diet is also an important factor that will keep you on track. When you combine good nutrition with exercise, it reduces the risk of overweight as well as lowering the risk of developing the disease. A healthy diet improves chronic conditions such as arthritis, asthma, cancer, diabetes and several viral infections as well. 

When you eat or drink excess calories, your body stores the energy as glycogen or fat resulting in weight gain. So, eating less or light food helps you to lose some pounds in your body.

It is also recommended that a woman should intake 2000 calories per day and men need 2500 calories to lose maintain a healthy weight. 

Drink plenty of water

Water

We all know the importance of water in our life, but do you know it also reduce your weight. Drinking plenty of water improves your metabolism. It also purifies the body by excreting metabolic waste. Drinking lots of water eliminates extra pounds that lead to keep your weight on track. 

Drinking water doesn’t mean you need to consume beverages. You have to keep an eye on your intake of drink that can add unnecessary calories resulting to gain weight. 

It is one of the simplest ways to reduce weight and also improves your well-being.

Also read Top 8 Healthiest Food in the World and their several Benefits

Sleep more

Portrait of a young girl sleeping on a pillow
Portrait of a young girl sleeping on a pillow.

When you do not get enough sleep, you gain stress which also affects your weight. To maintain a healthy weight you must sleep at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night to function at their best.  If you do not complete your sleeping hour properly this may possibly result in weight gain. Poor sleep increases appetite that makes it difficult for you to decide what is healthy for you. So sleeping is also an important factor that also maintains a healthy weight. 

Eat vegetables and fruits every day

Autumn healthy ingredients for Thanksgiving day dinner, copy space
Fall cooking background. Ingredients for Thanksgiving day dinner. Flat-lay of green beans, corn cobs, carrot, tomatoes, eggplants, fruits and fallen leaves over wooden table, top view, copy space

Fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber. It slows down the digestion process and fills you fuller for a longer time and ultimately helps you in weight loss. Apart from that eating fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of heart diseases, inflammation, and diabetes. 

Also read Obesity – the new age problem!

Don’t skip your breakfast

breakfast

Never try to skip breakfast to lose weight. When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, breakfast becomes an important part of our day. Eating fiber-rich foods in the morning keeps you full throughout the day and also maintains a healthy balance. Foods like oatmeal, eggs, wheat germs, and smoothies are healthy breakfast items. You can have these as a morning meal that helps you feel fuller longer. 

In conclusion

In today’s scenario, in order to control upraising disease, it is crucial to shed some extra pounds. To lower the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and other health problems, you need to reduce the intake of calories. There are myriads of factors that affect your weight. So, one can do physical activity, follow a healthy diet and getting enough sleep is the best way to live a healthy lifestyle. 

5 essential tips for ultimate road trips

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Group of Diverse Friends on Road Trip Together
Group of Diverse Friends on Road Trip Together

Travelling makes you more explorative. Moreover helps to change the daily routine. The best part of traveling is it creates freshness in the mood. Best among any trip is road trip, it not only allows travelers to go at their speed, drenched in the scenery and captivating in the full space of the scene. However airline trips give you exposure but Road trips are more thrilling than airlines trips moreover it allows you to decide when to go, where to go and how much you afford to make trip interesting and enthusiastic. On the other hand, roads trips are flexible as compared to airline trips. Moreover you are the owner of road trips. On the other hand, the most important thing is you can do anything, I am mean snacking, eating, playing, etc. according to your choice on road trips.

5 essential tips for ultimate road trips.

 Examine your Vehicle properly

In car
Travel in car. Element of design.

Before planning to go out. It will be good if you examine your vehicle. It ensures you that you are perfect to ride your vehicle. Although this factor can emphasize your drive a lot. It primarily focuses on What type of vehicle you need by examining your destination and the number of people accompanying you on your trip. Before moving to your way first you need your vehicle fully checked. I  mean brakes, tires, fuel and anything else that could grounds hitches. Don’t forget to keep spare fully inflated tire with you. However, always ensure that your vehicle needs to be serviced before moving towards any trip. It is one of the most essential tips for road travel.

Also read

Places To Explore In Bali

Know The Inside-Outside Of The Vietnam City And Plan Your Vietnam Trip

Make Maps your best road buddy

Happy female tourist searching road to hotel on map in city during vacation
Cheerful woman wanderer with trendy look searching direction on location map while traveling abroad in summer

While this may be true that remembering directions which is more tricky and time-consuming. At the same time technology has provided so many privileges. One of the best things is Maps. However maps can be your really good friends while traveling. Here I am talking about using paper maps, as it will depict you the clear picture of your thoughtful destination. It might be so helpful to you in knowing you where you are going. How could I forget google maps? On the other hand, the technology leads you so far, google maps not only ensures you routes on which you supposed to go but it generates shortest routes.

Also read Tips and Tricks for an ideal camping trip

Plan and Plot your trip

Woman planning a hiking trip
Planning a trip. Woman’s hands with pencil over blank notebook. Travel items for hiking tourism still life over wooden background

Planning plays a vital role in any kind of management. What happened if you have not planned about the journey? There can be a mess. Planning helps you a lot in managing and organizing various things. Planning ensures you various things in your journey of a road trip like making your schedule of the visit, the places you need to visit, with whom you want your trip to become adventurous and memorable? when will you return? where will you stay? What are your budget and many more things? Planning re-concentrate on various things. Planning saves you much time. So keep in mind it is very much needed. However there will be random pan, but you should find time to do planning.

Also read Simple Ways for Everyday Motivation

Turn your music on

road trips

Who is the one, who doesn’t love to listen to music? Music can change the mood and arise energetic feelings in you. It helps in refreshing the mood. Roads trips can become more interesting if the right kind of music plays at the right time. Open roads and great music can go so well together. On the other hand it’s better if you preload your phone with different kinds of music that you want to listen to. Hours of journeys can reduce to minutes with music. Not only music a critical factor of the boundless road trip, but it keeps the boredom away, thus makes you more alert and active. Nevertheless, road trips can become more interesting if the right music is on.

 Have one  vehicle emergency kit

At the same time, don’t forget to ready one emergency kit with you. Emergency kits can be your lifesaver. So don’t forget to keep it with yourself. On the other hand, this includes all the essential things that can be sidelined sometimes. Extra Water present with you is no less than a boon. If your vehicle may feel tired, then small toolkit can be your vehicle’s doctor. How can I forget the most important emergency things that are first aid kits and there are many more things that are highly demanded during your road trip. However, it can be as simple or as broad as you feel satisfied with  but loaded with these vital items:

  • Blankets 
  • Extra food 
  • Batteries
  • Sanitation items 
  • Power Banks
  • Water bottles
  • Medicines
  • First aid box
  • Extra clothes
  • Extra towel
  • Tools

Conclusion

While this may be true trips make you rejuvenate and helps you to explore different places. Moreover, it helps in changing moods and get out of you from boredom. In this blog, we have discussed 5 essential tips for ultimate road trips. If you are having any doubt, feel free to ask me in the comment box.