Salmon is a wonderful fish loaded with healthy fats and protein. Although one of the fattier fish out there, salmon is very flavorful with accents of a more ‘fishy’ flavor. There is no reason to mask this wonderful flavor, but more the reason to enhance it! Also, I love cooking salmon with the skin on, in fact most of the essential oils are located in or near the skin, just make sure the skin has been scaled well (the scales are not edible). Enjoy my recipe below for a quick and easy Salmon Masala!

Ingredients:

• 1lb. of salmon, quartered
• Lemon wedges

For the Masala Mix:

• 2tsp. turmeric
• 1TB. chili powder
• 1TB. red Pepper flakes
• 1TB. coriander seeds
• 2TB. garam masala
• 2tsp. salt
• 1TB. black pepper
• 2tsp. olive oil

Preparation:

Mix together all of the ingredients of the Masala Mix. Coat each piece of salmon with this mix. Turn your oven on to 375 degrees. Bake the salmon for 10-15 minutes or until crisp on the outside and done inside.

Enjoy with a salad and spritz of lemon!

Servings: 4

PS: This masala mix can be used on any type of fish or chicken!

If you would like to have a recipe revamped or have any questions, please email me - Kanwal - at kanwal.ullah@gmail.com. Or you can post comments here and I’ll check in from time to time… You never know, your next question could be featured on next week’s column for The Ajnabee! Bon Appetit!

I am incredibly proud to introduce a new voice on The Ajnabee. She is the multi-talented, beautiful, warm and simply fabulous Zenobia Shroff. I met Zenobia nearly two years ago during one of the most important days in my life - the day I watched, for the first time, Sooni Taraporevala’s film ‘Little Zizou’. Much has been written about this little film that could - and did! - and all of it praised the wonderful performance by Zenobia as Roxanne, the mother figure we all wish we could have in our lives! Although her powerful acting prowess and genuinely kind personality made her the perfect choice for playing the role of Roxanne in ‘Little Zizou’ - Taraporevala recently confessed that ‘Zenobia was a gift from the gods, a saving grace’ - the gorgeous Zen herself is a single girl in the city. This fact makes it even more commendable that she found her mothering instincts so naturally, organically and convinced everyone who has been lucky enough to have watched the film that she is indeed the perfect mother. But I could go on and on and bore you to death. For more on Zenobia Shroff, read her bio on the ABOUT page or watch her in action on YouTube. And, by all means, stay in touch with her here on The Ajnabee where her column is titled ‘Zen and the Art of…’! N-joy her funny and insightful piece on dating in the city!

WHAT? I HAVE TO PUT ON MY FACE FOR THIS!

At thirty-four I decided enough was enough! The gods had taken it upon themselves to collectively doom my love life and I was not going to take it anymore. Armed with a good friend and my best summer look, I enrolled in a dating service offered at a local coffee shop. Doing something of this nature was not something I had imagined for myself at this age or for that matter, at any age. Raised the youngest of three girls in a liberal upper-middle class household in Bombay, India, I had your standard school-girl fantasy (or for some, reality) that I would be married with two kids, the house and the dog by the time I was thirty. I however chose a different path and as a result found myself still single in the city at thirty-four. This was my choice. I did not have any regrets but the proverbial biological clock was ticking. I love children. I hadn’t met any one with whom I wanted to have them. So I decided to do something about it. My good friend Lauren told me about the coffee shop. The atmosphere was decidedly “Friends” like, with over- stuffed couches, magazines and giant coffee mugs. You had to go through books of profiles, pick men you were interested in and if they were interested in you too, you met at the coffee shop for a chat and hopefully more. I was sure it wouldn’t be that hard. After all these years of being single my “man-dar” (man plus radar, a term I proudly coined myself) would surely not let me down, right? Hah! Think again!

I picked three guys. Since I had a background in psychology and was at the time working in a psychiatric program as my day job, I started off with Paul, a psychiatric intern. The second guy was Matthew, a talent agent. Being an actress I saw definite potential there. The third was a self-described Michael J. Fox type. I chose him for that fact. So let’s start with Paul. It was a particularly hot summer evening. He hobbled in twenty minutes late, apologizing and sweating profusely. I said no matter. The delay, he informed me, was due to the length of his session with his therapist. It went long. Not a good sign. Over the next half hour we discussed the pressures of working in psychiatry. I ask him how he deals. He says, poker–faced “Oh, I just punch my fist through the wall”. I swallow hard, and flee shortly after, visions of my face being used as a punching bag swirling through my over-active imagination. Still I tell my self, one bad apple does not spoil the bunch.

In that spirit I meet Matthew. Matthew has described himself as “very cute, 5 foot 6 inches”. I leap up to greet him. We’re shoulder to shoulder. I’m 5’2’’. You do the math. As for ‘very cute’, I’m not going to touch that. Let me just say I was raised a lady. “Michael J. Fox’’ does not respond to my request to meet him. Thus ends round one. I am slightly deflated. Down but not out. A few weeks later I get a call saying there are four men wanting to meet me. I am newly buoyed. I go down to the cafe, check out the profiles and agree to meet all four. Profiles, ladies are very deceptive.  If profiles were to be believed there would be not one unhappy woman on the planet. We would all be bathed in love, happy, rich and multi-orgasmic!  And gentlemen - love you all but a helpful hint here - please tell it like it is. Don’t pretend to look like a movie star and live like a king. If you are a personal assistant to a banker don’t put investment banker under occupation. We will find out eventually. And then it’s just ugly.

Case in point, Dick. The first of the four, an actor. I consider this a good starting point. Now Dick you must understand has described himself as a Richard Gere look-alike. And Richard Gere is one of my most favorite movie stars. So naturally I am curious. Slightly cynical, but curious. We meet. Throughout the meeting I sat and silently scrutinized his face, what part of it he was referring to as the Richard Gere factor. He meanwhile is prattling on endlessly and carelessly. Finally he says, “So how do I measure up to my profile?” and it’s like, honey you don’t!!! Not to mention that he was an out of work actor, with all the requisite bitterness and whining that goes with it. (Not that I would know anything about that!)

So clearly this plan had holes. I needed to come up with a new plan. I needed to be ruthless, much as it was against my nature. Sitting there for one hour listening to them drone on was too much. I’d give them half an hour. Prove yourself buddy, or I’m outta there! But apart from that I had to have an out. A tag line. This then is what it boiled down to: “ Excuse me, I have to make a phone call” the phone call inevitably borderlined on an ‘’emergency”, and would beat a hasty retreat. This did work a few times after, though good, god-fearing girl that I am I was consumed with guilt by my deception. Yet it had to be done. My only hope was that they would not follow me because thay would have found me at the neighborhood Barnes and Noble frantically looking through Feng Shui books on how to redeem this mess! What should I buy? Crystals? Hearts? A pair of sitting ducks?

(Continued)

Sometimes all you want is a salad for a meal. Not only do you get some much needed nutrients, but it’s also quick and easy to prepare a salad. Of course, you can vary your salad anyway you like by adding chicken, croutons or cheese… but I usually like to keep my salads light and simple. If you are trying to watch your weight, I suggest staying away from creamy, full fat dressing such as Ceaser and Thousand Island. Instead opt for low fat versions. Fat free dressings just taste too artificial for me and can have added sugars, so I suggest staying away from those as well. Of course, there is nothing better tasting than making your own dressing! Enjoy my recipe below for a very simple, yet flavor blasting salad with a simple dressing!

Ingredients:

• 1c of mixed greens
• 1c of spinach
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 cucumber, chopped
• 1 avocado, diced
• 12oz. of button mushrooms, quarted
• 1 yellow bell pepper, diced

Dressing:

• 1/4c good balsamic vinegar
• 1/4c of fruity extra virgin olive oil
• 2TB of freshly cracked pepper
• 1tsp of salt
• 1tsp of garlic powder

Preparation:

Place all of the salad ingredients in a bowl. Place all of the dressing ingredients in a glass jar and shake shake shake. Pour desired amount of dressing on salad. Enjoy!

Servings: 2

 ♥ ♥ Nina’s last word - This sounded so delicious, I made it immediately for dinner. Thanks Kanwal, for keeping us delightfully light!

Maybe calling it an affair might not be the correct wording, considering that two wonderful people Priyanka and Lisa - will be getting married for Mangalam at Saloon in NYC on March 25th, but it’s definitely going to be an event to be remembered!

Backed by the Bruce Knotts, Executive Director of The Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office, wondrously talented NYC jewelry designer Niraj Parekh and Bibi Magazine, the night is one you do not want to miss.

Pack your sense of humor, courtesy of comedian Aladdin who will performing the ceremony, your dancing shoes, courtesy of Mumbai’s Award-Winning DJ Ash, who’ll be spinning his groovy Bollywood music and a bit of cash for the Raffles, Giveaways, Gifts, Bangle Bazaar and Henna. But also your sense of style as this is going to be a fun dressy affair where you Desilicious fineries will feel right at home.

AND your $20 donation will be benefitting AIDS/HIV infected children in Africa, which gives the evening a great humanitarian and totally unselfish vibe. I’ll be there and I hope to see you too! For tickets, click here.

The New York city beauty landscape will never be the same again now that Sonia Mansoor, professional make-up artist has arrived on the scene.

Pakistani born New Yorker Sonia Mansoor’s passion for color became evident early on. She dabbled in painting at the New School and was then inspired to transform this passion into a professional make-up practice catering to a varied clientele comprising urban ‘desi’ brides, women with an edge and ‘fashionistas’ alike.

When asked what the elusive word BEAUTY means to her personally, Mansoor answered “Beauty to me is the presence of a sense of wonder and mystery. What I attempt to do is to enhance that allure.” And indeed, she does enhance a woman’s allure, as these images of some of her work prove.

Mansoor’s skin care and preparation routine enhances your natural radiance rendering the skin flawless and from Bollywood to Hollywood she has the latest make-up trends covered. With some sultry and delicious street-wearable looks in between, as seen above right.

Mansoor offers a variety of make-up styles including:

* Bridal Make-Up
* Beauty and Natural
* Evening
* Special Occasion
* Fashion/Glamor/Editorial
* Runway
* Film and TV
* Headshot Make-Up
* Men’s Grooming
* Air Brushing

Sonia Mansoor is certified in the New York State Fundamentals of Beauty Make-Up by the Carsten-Aveda Institute and has also trained at MAC and the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon. Like a great artist can only begin to create art once he or she has learned the basic lines of drawing, it is Mansoor’s disciplined background in beauty and cosmetics that allows her to create looks that are one-of-a-kind and incredibly glamorous.

Tucked away in her centrally located Chelsea make-up studio, Mansoor creates her signature dramatic and glamorous looks by appointment only. She uses top of the line international brands like Lancôme, NARS, MAC, Urban Decay, Estee Lauder, Elizabeth Arden and Aveda, including their mineral make-up products, as well as the TEMPTU air brush line.

Call to make an appointment at 917-273-9975 or visit her website, and begin seeing yourself in a whole new beautiful light!

All photos courtesy of Sonia Mansoor

OK, so The Ajnabee is hardly a meeting place for those with weight issues. I mean, there are as many posts about chocolate and cookies - and these days Macarons! - as there are film reviews. And that in itself is saying it all. But then there is Kanwal’s Healthy Corner to help you prepare those everyday meals and an alternative to making food that is healthy, low fat and low cal. Contrary to popular belief, though, we do care about our shape as we travel the world (by connecting at the best airports), eat good quality chocolate and watch fantastic new discoveries in filmmaking. And the key word in the previous sentence is ‘SHAPE’. We care about our shape. Never about our weight!

So here is where I draw the distinction. In this weight-obsessed world we call the USA - I never stepped on a scale while I lived in Italy, my pediatrician would weigh me at checkups and write down the result without much fanfare - there is a strong emphasis on those numbers on the scale. Yet few look at themselves in the mirror as a way to appreciate their bodies. I was blessed with parents who are both naturally slim, so weight has never been an issue for me. But shape has been my healthy obsession since I first put on my pink ballet slippers at age five. And I’ve never looked back - pardon the pun - but have always made sure to spend a good amount of time assessing my assets - hum… another funny sounding phrase I must apologize for! - to keep myself in good shape.

In fact, even women who are enviably skinny (I am definitely not one since I enjoy my Indian and Italian food way too much to watch what I eat) can be out of shape. And setting goals to be in shape can be a lot more fun and doable than setting about to try and lose or gain weight. Go for a run early in the morning, do some yoga in the privacy of your own apartment, sign up for a Pilates or dance class and watch your weight concerns turn into shape pleasures. Seriously. And while you are at it, stop to smell the roses on your jogging path and notice the sun rising before your very eyes, right in front of your yoga mat.

Another reason I prefer to think of getting healthy as minding my shape is because weight is such a yoyo factor, particularly for women. That time of the month, extra muscles from an intense workout, fluid retention from a salty meal can all add up in the pounds department and sabotage our good intentions. But if you are looking at your shape each day, you’ll notice great changes in your muscle tone and won’t be frightened by a little water gain, which will probably enhance your shapely figure anyway. I still don’t own a scale and honestly, when I do step on one at the gym, it’s always such a meaningless number. Like age, weight is so personal… What is skinny on a friend at 130 can be fat on me. Chuck it up to bone structure and size and what the Italians call a ‘Falsa Magra’ - literally, a ‘fake skinny woman’ of which I am DEFINITELY one!

Finally, I don’t wish to diminish the strife faced by those who grapple daily with their battle to lose weight. Again, I am thankful to my good genes for the absence of that in my life, but can assure you I am not so pretty myself when I stop exercising for a month. Any good weight loss program must combine food management and exercising to be successful. I’m just saying, watch a little less what you eat and mind a little more what your body looks like to find inner beauty and a healthy balance. Buy yourself a new pair of running shoes, or a yoga mat and please, thrown out your scale!

What is light and sweet and plays a symphony of taste and texture in your mouth? A macaron. But don’t call it a cookie or your Ajnabee privileges will be revoked! And, I’ll even pretend not to know you when I run into you at one of the participating bakeries around the city celebrating Macaron Day NYC 2010 this coming Saturday, March 2010.

The festivities will benefit City Harvest and that is one charity organization that I understand to the core of my soul. Their mission to feed the hungry by avoiding food waste is one that is near and dear to my heart. In this society that thinks bigger - portions, that is - is better and recycling is only done if we can make it someone else’s problem, City Harvest is a breath of fresh air. Fresh, tasty, fragrant from the kitchen, air! Not to mention, they think up the most delicious holidays!

So, drop by any of the participating bakeries this Saturday and pick up a free sample of this typically French delight. Some of the delicious spots include L.A. Burdick in Flatiron (they are personal faves), Almondine in DUMBO and Park Slope, La Maison Du Chocolat locations around the city and Macaron Cafe on West 36th Street. But click on the Macaron Day link above for all the info you’ll ever need about celebrating the delicious holiday!

Bon Appétit! - possibly pronounced in a Julia Child voice and accent…

Images courtesy of Macaron Day NYC and Macaron Cafe

We all love rice and beans. So delicious, fiber filled, protein packed, quick and economical! Now, instead of rice and beans how about we try rice and lentils?! With all the wonderful benefits of beans, lentils provide a different texture and slightly nuttier flavor. Lentils are also a great taco and burrito stuffer. Enjoy this wonderful recipe for ‘Rice and Lentils’.
Ingredients:

• 1 can of lentils
• 1tsp. of olive oil
• 1 small onion, thinly sliced
• 1TB. of minced garlic
• 1/2 cup of diced tomatoes
• 1 cup vegetable stock
• Salt/pepper to taste
• 4 cups of cooked brown rice

Preparation:

Heat a saute pan on medium heat. Once hot, add the oil. Add the onions and garlic and saute for a minute. Add the tomatoes and saute for another minute. Add the lentils and vegetable stock. Stir in the salt and pepper. Allow this to come to a boil, and then simmer for 10 minutes.

Enjoy hot over brown rice.

Servings: 4

ABOUT KANWAL

My name is Kanwal Ullah. I am a 27 year old IT Professional living in good old Jersey City, NJ. As some of you may know, I have a deep passion for healthy living. Most importantly, healthy living starts with what you put in your body. Therefore, my passion also exists in healthy cooking. When I’m not in the kitchen working on healthy recipes, you can find me at the gym or roaming the streets of NYC for great food finds. Born as the daughter of two wonderful Pakistani parents, I particularly crave the culture and food from my ancestors. However, I do not like the fat and calories that have crossed continents to get to me! My passion has developed into revamping our South Asian Cuisine to make it more heart healthy and figure friendly! I also run my own blog called Ask Kanwal.

If you would like to have a recipe revamped or have any questions, please email me - Kanwal - at kanwal.ullah@gmail.com. Or you can post comments here and I’ll check in from time to time… You never know, your next question could be featured on next week’s column for The Ajnabee! Bon Appetit!

Watch it, by any means necessary!

A light-hearted competition such as ‘American Idol’ or ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ acquires a whole new dimension in a country where it is against Taliban laws to sing or dance. It takes on completely different implications and results in a war-torn land where you are even forbidden to show your hair if you are a woman. Such is the premise of Havana Marking’s documentary ‘Afghan Star’ which will air on HBO on March 18th at 9 p.m. and throughout March and April thereafter. The film enjoyed a successful theatrical release last year and was distributed by Zeitgeist Films, a company dedicated to bringing some of the best Indie releases from around the world to US audiences.

Hailed by Oprah Winfrey as “A fantastic documentary about a talent competition in a country where you would never dream such a thing is possible” and World Cinema winner at the 2009 Sundance Festival, the film documents the dramatic stories, considerable struggles and heartwarming personal victories of Tolo TV’s ‘Afghan Star’, a contest first filmed in Kabul in 2005 which continues to rewrite the rules in Afghanistan. Yes, that same Afghanistan that has been carried into a democracy-obsessed 21st Century kicking and screaming.

Under the witty and intelligent guidance of its host and producer Daoud Sediqi, the show went on to entertain viewers from all walks of life, while gently unifying a country divided by more than thirty years of war and several rival ethnic factions. Sediqi himself “Is now in the US  - he was granted political asylum and now works as a DJ on VOA” Marking pointed out and continued that during a screening at Sundance in 2009 which received a 15 minute standing ovation he was present “And it was brilliant to see him get the recognition he deserves.”

The film closely follows the journey of four contestants from the third season of the show, each a remarkable human being in his or her own right: Rafi, a young and handsome Tajik pop star wannabe; Lema, a woman torn between her duties as a family girl and her role as a traditional Pashtun woman; Hameed, a young man who is seen as the poster hero for his own Hazara people, a tribe previously persecuted by the Taliban; and Setara, a woman from Herat with an independent spirit and courageously controversial opinions, which quickly add up to inspire contempt in the older generations of viewers. After all is said and done, it is indeed Setara — with her “Dress of Freedom” outfit and sensuous moves — who comes out the winner, though rest assured my statement does not, in any way, give the plotline away.

In her touching, truthful film, Marking steers comfortably clear of showing her own personal views and opinions, while allowing each member of the audience to pick their own favorite contestant — as I clearly did with Setara — and to observe a country in the midst of a transition. ‘Afghan Star’ is a film that leaves the viewer in awe of the resilience and joy displayed by generations of people who have only known war in their lives, only witnessed destruction in their land. It also leaves those of us who can watch the film in the comfort of our homes — sitting on a plush couch, sipping sodas and eating popcorn — just a little more thankful for all we so easily possess.

When asked about her fascination with Afghanistan, a land that most Westerners associate with war and destruction, Marking answered “My father had travelled there in the 1960s - my parents were wonderful hippies - and always talked about it. The images from that period were so epic, but all my life it was a no-go area. I always longed to go.” And about her initial draw to this project she continued “I was trying to find a project that would take me there. I had a great friend working [in Afghanistan] and she kept telling me how amazing it was. Through her I talked to a journalist who told me about Afghan Star. I knew instantly it would work, and that it was perfect for me.” 

Perhaps ‘Afghan Star’ is an allegory representing the very country both the film and the contest take place in. Afghanistan is indeed a nation torn between its youth and its traditions, its desire to modernize and its need to conform to customs. In light of the recent election crisis in Iran, the film feels like a mirror into the unifying power of music and art, staring the dividing force of politics in the face.

Poster image courtesy of Zeitgeist Films