Miri Boulevard Eggless Fruit Cake

1. Butter - 250gm
2. Sugar - 150gm
3. Flour - 500 gm
4. Baking powder - 4 tsp
5. Bicarbonat soda - 2 tsp
6. Ideal milk - 1 tin (medium)
7. Condensed milk - 3/4 tin (medium)

Paneer Potato Bonda ( without onion & garlic ) Paneer Potato Bonda Makes: 9 Ingredients For the Bonda: 3 potatoes, boiled and mashed 100 g paneer, cut into small cubes ( 1/4 - inch ) 1 tablespoon grated carrot 2 teaspoon oil 1 teaspoon mustard seeds 1/2 teaspoon jeera ( cumin seeds ) 1/2 teaspoon urad dal 1 spring curry leaves 2 green chillies, slit lengthwise 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon salt ( or to taste ) 2 pinches asafoetida ( hing ) 250 ml oil for frying bondas (oil level should be 1 1/2 - inch from the base of the kadai ) For the Batter: 1 cup ( approximately 175 gm ) gram flour ( besan / kadala maavu ) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder 2 pinches hing ( asafoetida) 1/2 cup + 1 1/2 tablespoon water Method For the batter: Mix all the ingredients well and make smooth batter with water. Batter should not be too watery. It should be of dropping consistency. Keep aside for 15 minutes. For the seasoning: Heat oil in a kadai/ frying pan. Add mustard seeds. When they pop, add cumin seeds, urad dal, curry leaves and slit green chilies. Fry for 2 - 3 minutes. Add turmeric powder and saute on a low heat till the raw smell goes. Add boiled and mashed potatoes, paneer cubes, grated carrot, hing and salt to taste. Do not add water. Mix well. Cover with a lid and cook on a low heat for 10 minutes. Switch off the heat. Allow the mixture to cool for some time. Remove the slit green chillies. Make lemon sized balls ( bondas ) and keep aside. For the Bondas: Heat oil in a kadai or frying pan. Reduce heat to medium. Dip each lemon sized bondas in gram flour batter and ( ensure the batter is well coated ) deep fry on a medium heat till golden color. Drain out oil and serve as an evening snack with tomato sauce / coconut chutney.

Aliva Cracker Chaat Posted: 28 Feb 2010 05:10 AM PST Aliva Cracker Chaat Serves: 2 You will need 1 packet Aliva Cracker 2 tomatoes, finely chopped 2 onions, finely chopped 2 teaspoon lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon chaat masala powder 2 teaspoon chopped mint / coriander leaves ( for garnishing ) Method Make small pieces of Aliva Cracker and mix with other ingredients. Sprinkle chopped mint / coriander leaves. It is advisable to consume immediately after preparation. Serve as an evening snack.

Spicy Mutton Curry Posted: 28 Feb 2010 12:08 AM PST Spicy Mutton Curry Recipe Credit - My husband Serves: 2 Ingredients 250 g mutton pieces 4 teaspoon oil 250 g onions, finely sliced 2 spring curry leaves 1 green chilli, slit lengthwise 1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon pepper powder 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup water 1 teaspoon chopped coriander leaves For the marinade: 25 g ginger - garlic paste 1 teaspoon vinegar 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder 1 teaspoon red chilli powder 3/4 teaspoon pepper powder 1 tablespoon coriander powder 1/2 teaspoon salt Method Wash and clean mutton pieces. Drain out water completely. Mix with all the marinade ingredients and keep aside for 1 hour. Heat oil in a wide kadai / frying pan. Fry sliced onions till pink in color. Add curry leaves, green chilli and saute till fragrant. Add red chilli powder, turmeric powder, pepper powder and turmeric powder. Mix well and fry for 3 - 4 minutes ( till the raw smell goes ). Add marinated mutton pieces, adjust salt to taste and mix well. Add 1/2 cup water, cover with a lid and cook on a low heat for 45 minutes to 1 hour ( or till done and fragrant / gravy thickens ). Stir occasionally. Sprinkle chopped coriander leaves and serve with Chapati / Rice.

Can East meet West?

Cancer treatment can be more beneficial and efficient when Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners understand each other better.

CAN Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) join hands to treat cancer patients?
If you asked Prof Li FuMin, a Singapore-based consultant TCM practitioner who specialises in immunology and oncology, the answer is yes. In fact, an integration of both techniques is more beneficial than using any of them alone, he says, but only if doctors from both sides talked to each other more often.

In China, where Western medicine and TCM are deemed equal, there is generally greater integration in their approaches to cancer treatment

“Both Western and TCM have their individual strengths and weaknesses. And cancer is a unique disease that neither of them can treat nor cure fully,” Li, 68, explains when met in Kuala Lumpur recently. “That is why integrating the two might be more efficient in treating the disease.”
Although his statement might appeal to conventional logic, barriers to an integrative approach in cancer treatment have thus far prevented it from becoming a widespread reality. The lack of communication and mutual trust between practitioners from both systems are among two of them.
“In China, where Western medicine and TCM are deemed equal, and medical students from both systems are required to have basic knowledge of the other medical system, there is generally greater integration in the approach,” Li said. In other places, where complementary medicine is still regarded with a huge dose of scepticism, patients can find it more difficult to benefit from both systems.
“Sometimes patients are told to completely avoid consuming traditional Chinese medicines when they are on conventional cancer treatment,” Li laments. But on the contrary, TCM can play a supportive role to cancer treatment, he added.
Elaborating on the way Western medicine and TCM are usually integrated in cancer treatment today, Prof Li offered: “Usually, patients will go through the conventional therapies like surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy first before they go for TCM therapies.
“It can act as a complementary therapy that could help alleviate some of the side effects of these cancer treatments, regulate patients’ body systems to improve their quality of life and prevent the recurrence of cancer once the disease is stabilised.”
This is the way Li would suggest his patients go about it too. “After being diagnosed with cancer, many patients will consult many doctors, trained both in Western medicine and TCM. But I would always advise my patients to seize the opportunity to remove the tumour or go for chemotherapy or radiotherapy first.
“After that, TCM can help them with side effects and their recovery. It can also help reduce the chances of recurrence when taken long-term,” he explained.

Prof Li FuMin ... An integration of both Western medicine and TCM)is more beneficial than using any of them alone.

The reason for this approach is a very practical one, because TCM practitioners could not diagnose cancer.
“The claim that traditional Chinese medicine practitioners could diagnose cancer is a fallacy,” Li emphasised. First of all, many cancers have little or no symptoms until it reaches a late stage, which make diagnosis through the TCM way (observation of external symptoms and enquiries into a patients’ lifestyle) difficult, if not impossible.
Second, as TCM practitioners deduce the presence of a disease or ailments by relating certain groups of external symptoms to unhealthy changes inside the body, it is also difficult to diagnose a highly variable disease like cancer accurately.
“Cancers can manifest in very different ways in individuals, and we now know that external symptoms may sometimes mislead us in our diagnosis,” Li said. “That is why, to diagnose cancer, or other diseases, for that matter, we need to use modern diagnostic facilities,” he added.
Besides leaving the diagnosis to Western medicine, Li also stressed the importance of communication between attending doctors from both systems of medicine, particularly when a patient goes for conventional cancer treatment and TCM at the same time.
“When patients go for both treatments separately without informing their doctors about the other treatment, they may risk being repeatedly treated, over-treated, or mistreated. For instance, if you are about to go for a surgery, a traditional Chinese herb that increases your blood flow may cause you to bleed excessively during the procedure,” he said.
You would also be better off if you consult a TCM doctor who specialises in cancer treatment and understands conventional cancer treatment.
“In cancer treatments, only when the TCM doctor understands his patient’s condition and the procedures his patient had undergone completely will he be able to prescribe the best treatment to suit his patient’s needs,” said Li, who also reads his patients medical records, X-rays and laboratory results when they are referred to him.
“And just like Western Medicine, TCM doctors can specialise in the treatment of certain diseases as well,” Li said.

Datuk Dr Mohd Ibrahim Wahid ... Maybe by working together, patients can have the best of both worlds and they can be reassured that we are doing the best we can to give them the best possible care

In Malaysia, although there are efforts in integrating TCM and other traditional complementary medicine systems into public hospitals, the recognition of TCM as a complementary therapy for cancer treatment is still limited.
However, said Malaysian Oncological Society president Datuk Dr Mohd Ibrahim Wahid, many cancer patients undergoing treatment still seek alternative treatment, with or without their oncologists’ consent or knowledge.
“So, even if we strongly oppose it, it doesn’t help the total care of the patient,” he said.
And since his patients are going to go for alternative medicine like TCM anyway, he prefers to know about it. “If (TCM) is used as a complementary therapy, and if it has no unsafe or untoward interactions with the treatments we are giving our patients, then we have no problems with that,” he said.
“We are only concerned when patients rely solely on traditional treatments as an alternative to conventional treatment and delay appropriate treatment. This is because it will jeopardise our chances of curing or treating the cancer,” he added.
So, if cancer patients undergoing treatment are taking alternative medicine, Dr Ibrahim strongly advises them to inform their oncologists.
“Even when we are still not exactly sure how these medicines interact with conventional cancer treatment, we can monitor our patients’ condition with blood tests to ensure that their condition do not worsen as a result,” he says.
The way forward, as Dr Ibrahim sees it, is for oncologists to work together with TCM practitioners for the benefit of cancer patients. “We can’t say that Western medicine can cure every ailment, and we can’t say that Chinese medicine can cure every ailment too.
“Maybe by working together, patients can have the best of both worlds and they can be reassured that we are doing the best we can to give them the best possible care,” he said.

Phishing attacks on the rise

KUALA LUMPUR: CyberSecurity Malaysia has advised Internet users to be wary of e-mails from “banks” asking them to update personal details, reactivate online banking accounts or participate in surveys offering cash rewards.
Those who received such e-mails are advised to delete them because by responding to these messages, they could become victims of phishing attacks, which are on the rise in the country.
CyberSecurity chief executive officer Husin Jazri said consumers who responded to such messages would be asked to click a link that would open up phishing or fake e-banking websites in which they would be asked to key in personal details such as the usernames and passwords of their e-banking accounts.
Once the culprits obtained these details, they would “phish” away money from the victims’ accounts, he added.
“As these fake websites look exactly like the original, customers are tricked into entering these confidential information,” he told Bernama.
Husin said last year, a total of 3,564 reports of Internet-related incidents were received through the Cyber999 Help Centre, an increase of 68% from the same period in 2008.
He said phishing or fake websites were created to look like the design of some well-known banks’ e-banking websites to manipulate the weak side of human being’s sense of security by masquerading as a trustworthy entity.
“Usually, phishing attacks also utilise a kind of ‘social engineering tactic’ such as sending spam e-mails that look as though they are legitimate e-mails from well-known banks.
“The fraudulent e-mails use convincing words to trick people into clicking a link that would open up the fake websites.
“Banks will never ask their customers, particularly their e-banking users, to do any account update, password reset, account unclocking or to reveal any personal information in relation to banking, via e-mails or URLs,” Husin noted.
Husin said that CyberSecurity, an agency under the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, was monitoring the situation.
The agency was also working closely with various authorities namely the police, Bank Negara, Securities Commission and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to provide specialised and in-depth technical support on how to tackle cyber threats, he said.
As phishing activities had become more rampant each year and considered as one of the major threats to the country, Husin said, the government had taken steps to combat the scams, including setting up CyberSecurity and the formulation of the National Cyber Security Policy.
“In an effort to educate the people and to increase awareness on Internet security, CyberSecurity has developed a program called CyberSAFE where the public can get information on Internet safety issues at its portal www.cybersafe.my,” Husin said.
The Public can also contact CyberSecurity at Cyber999 Help Centre or e-mail at cyber999.

Million-dollar dream chasers

PETALING JAYA: Ever since he was 19, Shahabudeen Jalil has always dreamt of becoming a millionaire. To achieve his goal, he has been dabbling in a business importing products from China for seven years now.
He also has his own business consultancy which trains entrepreneurs on the methods of sourcing for products from China.
Now 27, Shahabudeen conducts lectures on the subject all over the country and makes trips to China at least twice a month with his clients.
He has been in the consultancy business for two years and has trained over 800 clients.
For Shahabudeen, being a millionaire would mean financial freedom and the opportunity to improve his mental and spiritual self.

Dreaming big: Shahabudeen is one of many youths who are chasing the dream of becoming a millionaire.

It will also give him the opportunity to travel the world.
“I believe that to be successful, you should do something that you like,” he said.
He had taken up an engineering course but found it not to his liking. After completing his A-levels, he worked as a car salesman for a year.
He then started the business importing products from China.
He believes that working for someone would limit the income he could receive.
“In business, there is no limit to what you can earn although there are risks. You will also have to be patient,” he said.
But he is realistic about his chances of being a millionaire. “If someone tells you that you can get rich in two months, they are probably bluffing,” he said.
Shahabudeen, who is confident of achieving his goal by the age of 30, is just one of many youths who have the ambition of becoming a millionaire.

Challenging times for condominium segment




THERE is an oft-quoted line: what goes up, must come down. With the anticipated recovery in the property sector, the focus now turns to the condominium market. Over the last decade or so, this segment has increasingly become a very big sub-segment of the property market.



The overall perception today is that there is a general oversupply of condominiums and serviced apartments. Because of this overhang of more than 90%, the market is expected to be rather challenging this year.



According to the National Property Information Centre (Napic), in the last 24 months the oversupply exceeded 90% for both the luxury and non-luxury category. This is significant when compared with other sub-segments of the property market, namely detached units (zero overhang), semi-detached (1%) and terraced housing (3%).



Henry Butcher Marketing Sdn Bhd chief operating officer Tang Chee Meng says if one were to look at the stock of residential properties coming onstream, the bulk in Penang, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur are condominiums. Because land is scarce, developers are trying to maximise land use.





In a recent talk on the luxury condominium market, he says his main concern is the oversupply in KLCC and Mont’Kiara. Tang is focusing on the luxury segment of RM700 per sq ft and above.



He says there are difficulties in renting out the larger units because there is a scarcity of expatriates.



The number of skilled, trained and professional foreigners entering the country has been dwindling since early last year. Although the situation may reverse, for the next year or so this seems unlikely.



There are other issues haunting this segment. The recent return of the real property gains tax (RPGT) and a possible future increases have also resulted in wary resignation.



Incidentally, sales of luxury condominiums were boosted by the suspension of RPGT in 2006. Besides the RPGT, the possible rise in interest rate is another cause for potential buyers to be more circumspect.





Investment options



At the global level, the weak and uncertain economic situation has also lowered the level of interest among foreign investors.



“There are more attractive investment options offered by overseas properties where prices have dropped more significantly and currency exchange rates have become more favourable,” says Tang.



He says although some have reported that up to 40% of their units have been sold to foreigners, the percentage of Malaysia’s properties bought by professional foreigners is actually less than 3%, taking into consideration the middle and high-end category.



“Some of them have been living here for many years. They are not speculators or investors. We are not seeing foreign investors coming back in a big way. Most of the buying is done by locals at the moment and they go for smaller units so the large units are difficult to sell. They also prefer to buy units that come with tenants,” he says.



He says the completion of several new projects in the KLCC area has also put further pressure on occupancy and rental rates.



There are luxury condominiums in other locations like Bangsar, U-Thant and Damansara Heights but they do not boast such massive numbers. Tang, therefore, expects the market in Bangsar and Damansara Heights to recover fast.



Giving an overall picture of the situation around the KLCC and Mont’Kiara area, Elvin Fernandez, managing director of Khong & Jaafar group of companies, says the KLCC and Mont’Kiara condo market is high-end that appeals to modern singles or households that prefer city centre living that one may buy to stay or to invest in. City centre living is a growing long-term trend as opposed to the suburban living. Notwithstanding that broad trend, the micro factors insofar as Kuala Lumpur’s high-end condo is concerned, the financial crisis has rocked this market quite a bit.



“Although many believe the global crisis is behind us, equally as many believe the issues and problems that caused and came with the crisis will continue to impact us as we go forward.





“City centre condos are presently pressured by low rental yields of below 5% net. That is not sufficiently attractive as it ought to be more than 5% to commensurate with long term and sustainable risks in the hierarchy of risks within and outside the property market,” he says.



Suburban condominiums, on the other hand, are higher density substitutes for landed properties.



Landed properties are preferred and the low initial net yields reflect this, but with the scarcity of land in suburban areas, particularly just outside the city centre areas, higher density housing is an increasingly acceptable substitute.



The pricing and returns of suburban condos will follow the substitute landed except that a slightly higher risk will prevail and this will translate to a higher expected net yield.Higher yield also means a lower unit value.



While net yields for landed houses in prime locations may be 2% to 3% net at present (they ought to be moving to higher numbers going forward) the long-term sustainable net yield for suburban condos should rightly be about 6% net and above.



Change in conditions



Taking the cue from the current market conditions, over at Mont’Kiara, Sunrise Bhd being the biggest player there, says it will not be giving emphasis to large units of 2,000 sq ft and above.



Incidentally, these two locations – KLCC and Mont’Kiara – have come under scrutiny because of their sheer numbers which go into several thousands.



Says Sunrise executive chairman Tong Kooi Ong: “The profile of the Mont’Kiara resident has changed. The old strategy of selling to Malaysians and renting to a professional foreigner worked many years ago. It will be a sunset industry if we follow this strategy today and this is obvious if you look carefully at the tenancy market.”



“There is a shift in the expatriate population and this will affect the property market. The average occupancy is 75% in Mont’Kiara. Now it takes about two years to fill a condo; last time, we could have filled it up faster. Our buyers have become residents themselves. If you cannot get RM15K a month, why buy a RM3mil unit? The guy who buys a RM3mil unit is not renting it. He is buying to stay,” he adds.



At its peak, owners have reported exuberant yields of double-digit with 9% being on the conservative side. Today, the yield has dropped to about 5%.



Known as a one-product, one-location developer, Tong says the company will be going into different locations offering different projects from now on. It recently signed a joint venture with the Sime Darby group to go into commercial development in Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam. The company has secured more than 50% bookings, valued at about RM500mil, when it launched condominium project MK 28 in December last year. The average selling price of RM785 psf was also higher than expected. Tong says the company will continue to develop MK 20 and 22, both condominiums, in that area later on.



S. K. Brothers Realty (M) Sdn Bhd general manager Chan Ai Cheng says Mont’Kiara is very developed. The appeal here is the international schools. In light of the number of completed projects of late, she is aware of unit owners in certain projects there who are facing challenges in securing tenants and had to reduce rentals after the units remained untenanted for close to a year.



“Generally, it would seem like supply outweighing demand. However, not all units are facing the same challenge,” she says.



The U-Thant area will have its niche appeal and following while KLCC properties will tend to be more speculative as they attract not only locals but foreigners as well, although, for the time being, the foreign market has dried up.



On the other hand, the Petaling Jaya condominium market appeals more to locals and this will continue to be mainly a family-based, owner-occupier market.



“PJ properties are seen to be resilient because of strong local demand. Some projects are thriving and are in hot demand while places like Pavillion Residences keep raising prices. Selected established condominiums like Hampshire Residence remain well occupied,” she says.



The Selangor Dredging group, which recently launched the second phase of Five Stones, has an overall take-up rate of 66% for the 192 units in Block D and E. Over at Damansara Perdana, if there is no issue with leasehold, Chan says it is possible to get units at attractive prices and there are many options to choose from. As more projects enter the market, developers will have to keep improving. We are already seeing this in Ara Hills, by Sime UEP group, which have provided a high-voltage perimeter fencing as an added safety feature, she says.

Maximising the resale value of your car


By EUGENE MAHALINGAM







eugenicz@thestar.com.my



SO, you want to sell your car. Naturally, you’ll want the best resale value your ride can offer.



However, the automobile (like nearly everything else) is already depreciating in value the moment you turn the ignition switch for the first time (unless of course, it’s a classic or collector’s item).



Some experts claim that the value of your car goes down by 65% in just five years of normal driving.



However, a vehicle’s resale value is dependent on a number of factors – the demand for that particular make and model, mileage and if it’s accident-free or otherwise.



On top of that, second-hand car dealers and banks also have their own methods of evaluating the resale value of your vehicle.



So before you slap on the “for sale” sign on the side of your vehicle, here are a few simple tips that could help maximise its resale value.



Don’t crash



Other than the age of your vehicle, knocks, dents or scratches can pummel the resale value big time.



If your car has been involved in an accident, get it fixed immediately, says Chong, a used-car dealer in Kuala Lumpur.



“An experienced used-car dealer who is evaluating the value of your car can spot the signs of an accident a mile away! If you do get that dent fix, always get it done through a reputable workshop.



“Also, don’t compromise if you need to replace any spare parts. Always use factory or original parts, as they’ll last longer and will of course give added value if you want to sell your car.



You can also command a better price if the parts are genuine.”



Chong adds that it doesn’t hurt to be honest about the accidents or repair jobs on your car with the potential buyer when you plan to sell.



“Keep all records, like receipts of the repair works that you have done to your car. If you try to be evasive, the potential buyer may think that the damage could be worse than it seems.



Sending your car for regular service will ensure it’s performing at optimum level. What’s more, it also shows that the vehicle has been well looked after by its previous owner.



Stick to the maintenance schedule



Chan, a car salesman from Kepong, says it is a good habit to keep records of maintenance schedules of your vehicle.



“You should keep receipts for all maintenance and repair work, no matter how minor. Having documents of your vehicle’s service history will be the best evidence that your car has been well maintained,” he says.



He adds that buyers are also willing to pay a higher price for vehicles with proper documented service history.



Keeping your car clean is also a sign that the car is being well maintained. “If there is a stain on the upholstery, clean it up quickly. Regular washing and waxing will also help keep your car in tip-top condition and make it more appealing to potential buyers,” says Chong.



Fix it now



If your trip odometer is no longer functioning or one of your headlights isn’t working, get it fixed as soon as possible, advises Ali, another used-car salesman in the Klang Valley.



“When there’s a problem, get it done immediately. Do not let your car slip into a state of disrepair. The more problems you need to fix, the more money you’ll need to fork out.



“Some problems, if left unattended for too long, also cost big bucks to fix. A vehicle with prompt and correct maintenance will have much better resale value,” he says.



Don’t ‘pimp it’



Shows like MTV’s “Pimp My Ride,” where ordinary cars are subjected to insane visual and performance modifications, may look spectacular on television, but in reality, adding crazy modifications to your vehicle will only depreciate its value.



“There’s a reason why a car is meant to use factory parts. Customising it and adding parts that were not designed for it in the first place could actually do more harm than good to your car.”



Vincent, who works in a vehicle after-market shop in Petaling Jaya, says any car customisation should only be attempted after thorough research.



“Speak to professionals, mechanics or even other similar vehicle owners and get their opinions first. The modification should be an enhancement and not be destructive to your vehicle.



“Super-large rims may look cool on a car but it could affect the handling and nobody wants a car that is difficult to control.”



Vincent says modifications such as an upgraded stereo system, adding a sun roof or window tints that are within regulations, can enhance a car’s resale value.



“Actor Vin Diesel looked cool in his tricked-out cars in the Fast and Furious movies, but it’s best to leave the over-the-top modifications to Hollywood.”

Delicious Rajasthani Dishes at Shri Rajasthani Dhaba - Anna Nagar, Chennai

Highly recommending Shri Rajasthani Dhaba - Anna Nagar for delicious Rajasthani ( Pure Vegetarian ) Cuisine

Click on photo to view large

Standard Rajasthani Thali ( Curd, Kadhi, Dal, Black gram dal curry, Tomato - Potato - Cauliflower curry, Mixed vegetable curry, Phulka and extra Rice and Papad )

Aloo Paratha & Gobi Paratha


Aloo Paratha & Paneer Butter Masala


Phulka


Bajra Roti


Makki Ki Roti


Gulab Jamun & Malpua

There are 3 selections for Rajasthani Thali , ranging from Rs 150 for special Rajasthani Thali to Rs90 for a standard thali . Stuffed parathas like Aloo , gobi, paneer , mooli costs Rs 30 each . Vegetarian side dish costs Rs 70 - 90 ( like Paneer Butter Masala, Sarson ka saag, aloo gobi, dal fry ctc ), Gulab Jamun ( Rs 15 / piece ), Malpua ( Rs 20 ), Phulka ( Rs 6 ), Rs 15 for Bajra / Makki Ki Roti/ Missi roti ( per piece). Dal, Baati & Churma available only on Saturdays and Sundays.

Appetizers like jal jeera, soups, nimboo pani also available.

This place well maintained, spacious and the service was prompt and courteous.

Shri Rajasthani Dhaba
2 nd Avenue,
Anna Nagar
Chennai

Tel # 32956655

Land mark - 12 th main road bus stop, above Apollo Dental Clinic & Ootty Vegetable Shop

How to improve your investment skills

WE have been asked by many readers on ways to improve their investment skills. In fact, for all of us who invest, it is one of the essential skills that we need to acquire in our lifetime. Like it or not, we need to have it if we need to generate returns for our investment.
All investors want good returns from their investments. However, most of the times, instead of generating returns, retail investors are suffering from losses from their investments. We feel that one of the key differences between an intelligent investor versus a normal investor is that the intelligent investor will be aware that he may make mistakes in some of his investment decisions while a normal investor tend to overlook the fact that he will make wrong decisions no matter how good he thinks he is.
Despite extensive research on certain listed companies, due to some unforeseen changes in certain fundamental factors, even good value companies may suffer losses. Under such circumstances, an intelligent investor will admit that he had made a mistake in his investment decision and will cut losses fast.
However, the problem with most investors is that they refuse to face their mistakes; some are not willing to cut their losses even though they are aware of their mistakes.
Hence, rule number one in investing is that we must be fully aware that regardless of whether you are an investment guru or an average investor, everyone will make mistake in his investment decisions. That’s why some experts say: “When somebody mentions that they have more experience than you, they mean that they have incurred more losses than you in stock market.” The key is to learn from our mistakes.
In order to avoid incurring losses in stock market, we need to develop our own investing system that suit our needs, skills, knowledge and risk tolerance level. The investing system can be adopted from the fundamental analysis, technical analysis or combination of both. If we ask some remisiers, they will most likely tell you that they need two to three years to develop their own investing system that can help them to generate returns from stock market.
One of the fastest ways to acquire investing knowledge is through reading books relating to investment. There are many good investment books in the market. However, since every investor has different preferences, the best way is to visit bookstores and look for investment books that he or she can understand and can offer the skills needed. For beginners, always start with some basic investment books that explain well on key investment concepts.

Here are some good investment book titles for consideration: The Intelligent Investors (by Benjamin Graham), The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America (Warren Buffett and Lawrence A. Cunningham) and Rule #1 (Phil Town). For advanced investors, you may consider Security Analysis (by Benjamin Graham and David Dodd), which is still one of the best investment books in the world.
Apart from reading books, investors need to read more business news in newspapers and magazines to keep themselves updated on the latest happenings. In addition, many newspapers, magazines and websites also publish good articles for the purpose of educating general public on investment. For example, investors can get good investment knowledge from website like www.min.com.my, by Securities Industry Development Corp.
Reading analysts’ research reports will enhance our understanding on some issues and factors in valuation as well as comments on some corporate strategies and developments. This knowledge is crucial in helping us making better investment decisions. Besides, for those serious fundamental investors, they may consider buying books like Stock Performance Guide (by Dynaquest Sdn Bhd) and Shares (Pioneers & Leaders (Publishers) Pte Ltd), which will provide all the essential investment information like companies’ background and some key critical investment information.
Another way to acquire investing knowledge is through attending investment training classes. There are many types of investment training classes, for example, classes on fundamental investment, technical analysis, currency trading or option trading. Given that a lot of these classes are quite expensive, we need to check whether investment training suits our needs. We believe some of those classes may be able to help investors generating returns, however, they require higher level of discipline and commitment.
Before we start investing with “real” money, one of the ways to gain experience and at the same time test out our skills is by building up a “virtual” portfolio and investing using “virtual” money. We can always try out our investment skills through playing a simulated investment game and monitor the investment returns before putting the real money into the stock market. Besides, we should also start young. If we acquire these investment skills at younger age, the losses that we may incur will be much lower than trying them when we are getting nearer to our retirement age.

Cyber attack in M'sia still under control

KUALA LUMPUR: Cyber attack in Malaysia is still under control, due to government efforts in ensuring a safe electronic environment in the country, said CyberSecurity Malaysia's Chief Executive Officer Husin Jazri.
"Cyber security in Malaysia is the same as in other parts of the world, we have issues and challenges that we face but in short, it is under control (cyber attack)," he told Bernama Tuesday.
He said the government was pursuing more efforts to address the issue through CyberSecurity, which is the national cyber security specialist centre under the purview of the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.
"We are part of the value-chain that is involved in cyber security. When an incident is reported to Cyber 999 Help Desk, an investigation is undertaken immediately and the victims are advised on what they should do," he said on the sidelines of CyberSecurity Professional Networking Cocktail.
Cyber 999 Help Desk is a one-stop reporting centre to lodge complaints on any incident taking place in cyberspace.
Last year, 3,564 cases were reported to the centre, an increase of 68 per cent compared with the same period in 2008.
"This figure shows that there is a rising awareness about cyber security," he said, adding that CyberSecurity works with state and local governments and the private sector to ensure an organised and unified response to future cyber incidents.
"Given the enormous damage that can be caused by even a single cyber attack, ad-hoc responses will not be enough. Neither is it sufficient to simply strengthen our defences after incidents or attacks occur.
"We have plans and resources in place to disseminate information, issue alerts and ensure a coordinated response to mitigate the threats to our society," he explained.
Quoting a report last year, he said Malaysia lost RM1 million via Internet banking.
Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung said in Parliment, recently, 50.3 million Internet banking transactions were conducted between January and June 2009, involving RM348.5 billion, but the loss was a meagre RM1 million.
Husin said CyberSecurity launched the Malware Research Centre, last year, as testimony to its commitment to weed out new emerging threats.
"It assumes a vital role in identifying and analising new threats that may harm Malaysia's infrastructure and economy," he added.
Husin said under its key performance indicators for 2010, CyberSecurity has to train about 1,500 experts this year to produce world class services in the near future.
CyberSecurity, was also exploring a partnership with international players to address the cyberspace issue.
It recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Morocco's Department of Post, Telecommunications and New Technologies to establish close cooperation.

Caught in middle-income trap

By Dr FONG CHAN ONN

A graduate teacher starts at RM2,500 per month in Malaysia, compared to RM6,196 in Singapore and RM15,661 in Hong Kong. Malaysian wages have fallen behind partly due to the gross divergence between the suppressed Malaysian CPI and that of the world.
OVER the last few months, there has been much discussion on the issue that Malaysia has been caught in the middle-income trap. In this article, I will discuss the rationale on why Malaysia has been caught in this dilemma, and some of the steps we need to take to emerge as a high-income economy.

"Many countries caught in the middle-income trap have deliberately jump-started their economy through a high wage policy" DR FONG CHAN ONN

From independence to the 1980s, Malaysia progressed rapidly. From an agricultural society in the 1950s, it evolved into an Asian Tiger Economy by the 1980s, mainly through labour-intensive industrialisation.
However, subsequent attempts to further deepen our industrialisation process met with mixed results; and Malaysia’s economic well-being generally remained stagnant, while many other countries galloped away under the scenario of a rapidly expanding world trade.
This is because of the following factors:
Price controls
In 1946, the colonial government enforced price controls in Malaya to avoid economic hardships after World War II. This policy holds until this day.
Price-control items include basic necessities such as rice, flour, sugar, fertilisers, milk, chicken and even bus and taxi fares. Because of controls, these commodities are much cheaper in Malaysia compared to outside.
For example, as of December last year, a kilo of raw sugar in Malaysia was RM1.35, while the world price was RM2.20; that of rice is RM2.75 per kilo compared to world price of RM6.75.
Since basic necessities constitute a large component of the Malaysian CPI, the cumulative effect of price controls for over 60 years has been a gross suppression of our CPI compared to world CPI (see Figure 1).

Workers’ annual pay raises are linked to the nation’s CPI. The gross divergence between the (suppressed) Malaysian CPI and that of the world has also led to a corres­ponding significant divergence of Malaysian wage rates compared to that of the world.
This, in reality, is the major reason why since the 1980s, Malaysian wages have fallen behind wages of the rest of the world (see chart on Page 28). As an example, a graduate teacher starts at RM2,500 per month in Malaysia, compared to RM6,196 in Singapore, and RM15,661 in Hong Kong.
Besides restraining Malaysian wages, price controls also severely distort the domestic economic factor proportions, resulting in many factories using non-efficient economic production processes. With diesel and fuel prices controlled, and workers’ wages suppressed, manufacturers choose to use more fuels and labour as inputs – instead of more machines – resulting in low-quality Malaysian products and, of course, low productivity growths.
Subsidies
Subsidies began in 1961 under the Control of Supplies Act 1961. Subsidised items include petrol, gas, sugar, rice and other basic items.
In the 1970s, when the price of oil was under US$12 per barrel, petrol subsidy was a bearable cost to the Government. However, with the present high oil prices (over US$75 per barrel), this has become a disastrous predicament for the Government to continue bearing.

As Figure 2 shows, the cost of subsidies has ballooned from 3% of government operating expenditure in 1998 to almost 30% in 2008!
The high cost of subsidies in turn restrains the Government’s ability to upgrade infrastructures such as public transport. It also retards the Government’s ability to provide competitive incentives for attracting high-income activities into the country.
Agriculture sector drag
The dominance of oil palm and rubber in the agriculture sector is unfortunately a significant drag on the nation’s ability to leapfrog into a high-income economy.
Given the plantation terrain, oil palm harvesting and rubber tapping remained manual in nature and (unlike grape or wheat harvesting) not easily mechanised. Up to this day, they remained as low-wage activities, fossilising our dependence on foreign labour (about 300,000) for the continued “vibrancy” of the plantation sector.

The unavoidable presence of these foreign workers in plantations also meant that many labour-intensive manufacturing operations could still continue to exist in the countryside (even in face of local worker shortage) because of the easy “mobility” of these foreign workers from estates to factories. This also means that it is very difficult for the Government to disallow or curtail foreign workers in non-plantation sectors, when it sanctions such a large presence of foreign workers in plantations.
The cumulative effect is that there are now about 2.3 million low-skill foreign workers in Malaysia, making up about 20% of the workforce. They are in the manufacturing, petroleum, construction and domestic-help sectors. Lately, they have also penetrated into retailing, food and beverage, tourism and hotel industries.
The foreign-based Electrical and Electronics (E & E) firms have already declared, in their dialogue sessions with the Government, that they would be forced to move out if foreign workers were to be limited or stopped! This argument, if accepted, will mean that our economy could remain in the middle income trap for the foreseeable future.
Where do we go from here?
South Korea’s GDP per capita is US$16,450, Singapore US$34,346, Hong Kong US$29,559, while Malaysia is still at US$7,469. It must be remembered that in the early 1970s, we were at parity with these countries. In five years’ time they would be even further ahead. What are the bold steps we need to undertake to enable us to leap out of this middle income trap?
I will attempt to elaborate on some of these steps:
Phasing out subsidies and price controls
Price controls and subsidies have created artificial market prices that distort the domestic factor proportions and impede economic efficiencies. The Government has to be bold to find ways to phase out price controls and subsidies; maybe not all at once but over a time frame of say five years. Malaysia is a small country and we cannot live in isolation from the rest of the world economy.
Petrol subsidies, in particular, should be removed within one to two years; while extensive information campaigns are carried out to enable motorists to adjust to living within the context of petrol prices being set in accordance with the world crude prices, as is the practice in many other countries.
In conjunction with the phasing out of subsidies and price controls, the Government must introduce a transparent system of social safety net, providing welfare assistance to the needy, the disabled, the aged, the unemployed and the poor. A coupon-system (together with MyKad) can be introduced where those in need are given subsidies for basic necessities and other essentials such as petrol.
Of course, this implies the need for the Government to create a nationwide data-base of those in need, not unlike the registration system for welfare payments, but more comprehensive in nature taking into account employment status and also proving channels for verification and counselling.
High wage policy
Malaysian wages have been suppressed by market factor distortions for too long. The Government should encourage our wages to be pushed up in line with the rest of the world. When the rakyat can take home more pay, they are then better enabled to adjust to the reality of world prices that will be felt when controls and subsidies are phased out.
Many countries caught in the middle-income trap have deliberately jump-started their economy through a high wage policy. Singapore is a good example; in the 1980s, its economic progress stagnated and the Singapore Government deliberately compelled companies to increase their wages by 50% or more. Though painful at first, this ignited “a second industrial revolution” in Singapore when companies became much more capital-intensive and focused on high-end manufacturing and financial activities. Today, it is a vibrant economic hub of Asia.
We could introduce a similar high wage policy by initially requiring vulnerable sectors such as plantation and agriculture, labour-intensive manufacturing, construction and services (such as restaurants and hotels) to have decent minimum wages.
The plantation companies, in particular, should be required to pay higher wages to attract more Malaysians to work in this sector.
As an example, the 2008 Annual Return of the Asiatic Group – a typical mature plantation company – shows that its total wage payment (RM83mil) constituted only 18% of its before tax profits (RM456mil); and it can certainly even double its wage bills and still remain extremely profitable!
Employers would then have to use more equipment in the new scenario; many of our skilled workers who are now in Singapore can then be enticed to return to these higher skill positions, and in the process uplift the productivity of our economy. The multiplier effects of this would be translated into higher wages for the supervisors, managers and other professionals as well.
Innovative incentives for high-tech activities
The traditional incentives offered by Malaysia in the form of pioneer status and capital investment allowances are not attractive anymore. High-tech start-ups are risky ventures; they need large capital, and hence access to venture capital and government assistance. They also need speedy Internet access and rapid logistics.
They cannot work in an environment where restrictions are placed in terms of equity ownership or employment of expatriates. They, most of all, expect rapid decision-making by us in processing their applications. In early 2000, the Indian information giant Infosys wanted to invest in Malaysia and sought approval for their expatriates to work here; our hesitancy and delay in decision-making caused them to relocate to Mauritius!
We should follow the world trend, and be rapid, decisive and agile in our engagement with high-tech entrepreneurs. We have to introduce innovative incentives to attract them to come here. This includes the offer of cash grants (as a form of venture capital), and R & D research grants to companies to set up their bases here.
In keeping with the common practice of many other countries, the Government must also be willing to offer work permits and permanent resident status to highly qualified scientists and other highly educated individuals to entice them to work in Malaysia not only as a second base but also as a second home.
IT infrastructure and public R & D centres
Malaysia was among the first to recognise the importance of IT by the establishment of our Multi-Media Super Corridor in 2001. But other countries have since superseded us in IT infrastructure. Consider this: our Internet download speed is only 2.2 Mbps, compared to South Korea’s 23.6 Mbps and Singapore’s 8.0 Mbps; our broadband penetration rate is only 30% compared to South Korea’s 97%!
Entrepreneurs now expect to be able to work through their notebooks while commuting in rapid trains and cars. They expect to be able to do video-conferencing while on the move. Our current download speed does not allow for these, and more importantly does not allow the functioning of many of the new IT applications.
The Government needs to quickly bring the state of our IT infrastructure up to parity with the global standard as a precondition for pushing Malaysia towards a high-income economy.
Further, one of the most effective methods for rapid societal debuts of new scientific ideas and innovations is the availability of public R & D centres for niche areas, where high school and university students can be encouraged to experiment with their ideas.
This was how Steve Jobs was stimulated to design the first Apple personal computer in the 1980s in Silicon Valley. And a major reason for the success of the present Korean film industry is the Seoul Animation Center; a centre where Koreans who have interest in animation for movies, computer games, or digital advertising could drop in, play around with their scripts and hopefully end up with viable commercial products.
The Government should follow this trend by setting up R & D centres in 3-D Animation, Computer Accessory Inter-face, Micro and Nano-Technology, Horticulture, Aquaculture and others deemed suitable to our resource endowment. With the proper involvement of schools and colleges, this could lead to the formation of interest groups focusing around the availability of facilities at the centres. Ultimately, this will lead to more passion for science and technology among the young, and the germination of new ideas for products and services.
Leverage on Malaysian professionals and experts overseas
According to an estimate by MEF, there are at present more than 500,000 Malaysian professionals working abroad; and they are in major cities such as New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Singapore working and doing research in areas like medicine, financial services, engineering, accountancy, logistics, construction, venture capital and other services.
In my interaction with many of them, they said that they very much want to contribute to Malaysia’s progress. Given the right conditions, I feel that they could be persuaded to set up base here. Unfortunately, often times, we have not engaged them sufficiently.
As an example, the renowned UK liver transplant surgeon Datuk Dr Tan Kai Chah wanted to set up base in Malaysia but could not do so because, as a Malaysian, he was required to do a compulsory three-year government service. Singapore, having gotten wind of this, headhunted him. His liver centre in Singapore is now very much sought after by patients near and far.
Learning from this, we should attract our Malaysian professionals to return to Malaysia, by the Government setting up a Special Group to identify them and then engaging those who are interested to return or at least set up base here.
This engagement should be done discreetly so that their individual requirements can be assessed and met, and their problems resolved. If their foreign spouses want to work, if their children need special education, if they need R & D grants, etc, all these we should be able to resolve. Then and only then can we gain leverage on the large pool of brainpower that we already have.
We should act quickly in this respect, for such talents are being aggressively headhunted by other governments. The Government should do all it can to ensure that our professionals, with their wide international exposure, will end up on our shores and not become other societies’ assets.
Strategic location
Kuala Lumpur’s location at the heart of Asean and its multi-cultural environment enhance its attraction for many emergent high-income activities. We have often forgotten that KL is only 300km away from Singapore and it also has access to deep seaports and airports. Fortunately, AirAsia did not forget this and, riding on the wave of budget air travel, has developed KL as the low-cost air hub of Asia-Australia. With our current lost-cost structures, KL could similarly be developed into the low-cost shipping and logistic hub of Asia.
The Government should also aggressively promote KL as the focal centre for business transactions between East (China, Korea and Japan) and West (India and Middle East) Asia.
A few enterprising Taiwanese direct-sale companies have already established processing centres and warehouses in Malaysia for export of their products to the Middle East because Malaysian-labelled products are more easily accepted in these markets. This is only the beginning of a new wave of opportunities, as East and West Asia get better connected.
Green energy
Flooded with sunshine, strong winds and free from natural disasters, Malaysia is an ideal location for green renewable energy R & D and manufacturing. Renewable green energy has to be promoted to be Malaysia’s new strength. The world’s top three solar companies have now located themselves in Malaysia. One of them (Sun Power) is building the world’s largest solar power manufacturing plant in Rumbia, in my constituency in Malacca.
The Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (Mida) must work hand in hand with the solar companies to come up with incentives and a strategic policy to match that of China, which is currently the world leader in solar power. We must seize this opportunity to nurture a cluster group of ancillary suppliers to provide materials and supporting services to the solar companies, just as we did when we started with E & E in 1972. We must not miss this boat to build a “Solar-con” manufacturing base to equal that of the silicon hub of Penang.
Medical care and pharmaceutical trials
With an aging population all over the world, high quality medical care has become an emergent high-value economic sector. Highly-trained Malaysian medical specialists are working by the hundreds in Singapore, London and Dublin. More importantly, they are highly respected in their fields. They could and should be encouraged to set up base here and transform Malaysia into a world-class international medical centre. The big advantage is that our cost is half that of Singapore, and one-third of that of Hong Kong, the United States and London.
If we reorganise ourselves, we can be among the top in this area. The urgent necessity is for the Government to reconsider compulsory government service for recognised Malaysian medical experts. Isn’t it better to allow them, already in their late 30s, back to create employment and build up our medical base, as opposed to rigidly requiring them to work for three years in government service at great personal and family sacrifice to themselves?
Malaysia, with our multi-ethnic population and extensive bio-diversity, is an ideal place for R & D in pharmaceutical products, particularly in the conduct of trials for new drugs, before their formal acceptance by the authorities. This can be in the area of cancer, Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, bone conditioning, and heart diseases. The Health Ministry and Mida should quickly formulate a new strategy to attract pharmaceutical companies to seriously consider Malaysia as their new destination for R & D and trials.
Oil and gas activities
Petronas is known worldwide for being a successful national petroleum company. Petronas has done really well for the country in terms of generating oil and gas revenue from both Malaysian and non-Malaysian fields. Unfortunately, unlike the E & E sector, up-stream oil and gas production has not resulted in the emergence of a corresponding vibrant downstream oil and gas sub-sector. We are still very dependent on foreign oil and gas ancillary suppliers for many of the specialised downstream services, such as rig and platform maintenance and repairs, safety training, search and rescue, and other related R and D activities.
Kemaman, Miri and Bintulu are now vibrant oil-related towns. Petronas can play a more significant nurturing role and spin off more of these related activities (which are now sub-contracted to foreign suppliers) to independent Malaysian entrepreneurs of all races, so that we can begin to transform these towns into mini Houstons. Besides its economic benefits to the country, this would also greatly endear Petronas to the hearts of the average Malaysians.
In this article, I have argued that Malaysia has been inhibited from fulfilling its true potential by distortions (in the domestic economy) caused by various policies since independence; by phasing out these distortions and focusing on our strengths in new areas, we can and would emerge as a high-income economy in the not too distant future.
Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn was Prof of Applied Economics and Dean of Faculty of Economics and Administration, Universiti Malaya. He served in the Government as Deputy Minister of Education (1990-1999) and as Minister of Human Resources (1999-2008). Currently, he is the MP for Alor Gajah.

Murg Makhani ( Butter Chicken ) A delicacy, murg makhani, could be the pride of any restaurant. Diligently marinated chicken is smeared in a few spices for about an hour and then given a tandoor treatment or skewed in the oven. Cooked chicken is then drowned in rich tomato gravy. Murg Makhani Ingredients For chicken marination: 500 gms boneless chicken pieces 4 tablespoon yoghurt 2 teaspoon ginger paste 2 teaspoon garlic paste 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon cumin powder 1 teaspoon red chilli powder (degi mirch) Salt to taste For the gravy: 1 kg tomatoes chopped 4 tbsp butter 1 tbsp fresh cream 1 tsp degi chilli powder 2 tsp chopped peeled garlic 2 tsp finely chopped ginger 2 tsp finely chopped green chilli Salt to taste 4 tsp honey Half a tsp kasoori methi For garnish: Butter cubes Fresh cream 1 coriander sprig Method Make small incisions on the chicken pieces. Mix the marinade ingredients together and add the chicken pieces. Mix well. Let the chicken marinate for at least an hour. Pre-heat the oven to 350 * F or 180* C ( moderate oven ). Skewer the chicken pieces and keep a tray underneath to collect the drippings or half cook on a tandoor. Now heat butter in a saucepan and add red chilli powder. Stir for a few seconds without burning the chilli, add the chopped tomatoes and salt. Cook on medium flame till tomatoes are soft. Then pass the tomato pulp through a soup strainer or a sieve. Bring it back on fire and then add chicken pieces to the gravy. Cover and simmer on low heat till the chicken is cooked. Then add cream and honey, sprinkle with kasoori methi. Check seasoning and consistency. Before serving, garnish with butter and fresh cream and place coriander sprig on top. Recipe & Photo Credit - Rakesh Sethi, Exective Chef at Ramada Plaza & The Hindu

Patra ni Maachi ( Parsi Cuisine ) Patra ni Maachi Ingredients Seer fish: 250gms Mint leaves: Half bunch Coriander leaves: Half bunch Cumin: 5 gms Garlic: 5 flakes Ginger: 10 gm Lemon: 2 nos. Coconut: Half Green chilli: 5 nos. Vinegar: 25ml Salt: to taste Method Clean and slice the fish. Grind the coconut, green chilli, garlic, cumin, coriander leaves, salt and sugar. Add lime juice. Wipe the fish slices with dry cloth and coat with the mix and wrap in banana leaves. Dip in the heated vinegar. Cover with a lid and place it in oven or steam in pressure cooker for 5 minutes or in a steamer for 15 minutes on a medium heat. Cook till the fish becomes tender and serve hot. Recipe Credit - Chef Victor Photo Credit - Glorious Indian Cuisine

Tandoori Pomfret Tandoori Pomfret Preparation Time: 30 minutes Marination Time: 30 minutes Time for cooking in charcoal tandoor: 6-7 minutes; in gas tandoor: 10-12 minutes Ingredients 1 medium size pomfret fish 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste 1 tablespoon malt vinegar 1 heaped teaspoon red chilly powder Half teaspoon ajwain seeds Salt to taste Quarter teaspoon green cardamom 1 teaspoon garam masala powder Half cup hung curd Method Clean the fish with the blunt side of the knife. Pat dry the fish with a clean kitchen towel. Cut the tail and cut from side the fins and gut. Mark the fish with deep cuts in criss-cross manner till bone on both sides. Apply half the lemon juice and ginger garlic paste on all sides and leave the fish in a wrap in a cold place. Take a bowl and mix in remaining ginger-garlic paste, red chilly powder, salt, malt vinegar, garam masala, ajwain seeds, hung curd and lemon juice. Rub this mix all over the fish, ensuring the paste is smeared inside of the cut marks too. Leave aside for 30 minutes at room temperature. Take a clean skewer and skewer the fish from the centre, following the mouth-first and tail-last technique running with the middle bone. Cook this skewered fish in a medium heated tandoor till half done and the cut fins are nearly browned. Remove from tandoor, de-skewer carefully without breaking. Place gently on the serving plate. Best served with mint chutney and cucumber salad. Recipe Credit - Chef Rakesh Kumar Photo Credit - Nirlep

Onion and Cheese Samosa Cheese and Onion Samosa Makes : 10 Samosas Ingredients For the dough: 1 cup refined flour 1 teaspoon Salt to taste Water as required For the filling: 1 small bundle green onions, finely chopped 1/2 cup cheese grated 2 green chillies, finely chopped 1 teaspoon oil Salt to taste Oil for frying Method For the dough: Mix all the ingredients for dough and make a soft dough. Cover and keep aside. For the filling: Heat oil in a pan. Add chopped onions and fry till brown colour. Add chopped chillies to it. Fry for 3 - 4 minutes. Let it cool for some time. Add grated cheese and salt to the mixture. Mix well and keep aside. For the Samosa; Divide the dough into five portions. Roll out thin rotis of diameter 6 - inches approximately. Warm the rotis for a few seconds on a tawa without oil. Divide each roti into two parts. Fill in the mixture and make triangles. Seal the triangles properly. Heat in a kadai / frying pan. Deep fry on a medium heat till golden color or bake at 210 * C for 8 - 10 minutes. Serve hot with green chutney or tomato sauce.