Cut the Fuss

Eat Smart This Monsoon

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:19:20 +0000

Monsoons are a time of music, poetry and especially food. There is something in this weather that makes us want to sample spicy and exotic food. But the most important and easily overlooked aspect of this season is hygiene. Ever got bugged with your mother for asking you to wash your hands too many times during the rains? Tiring as it may be, it is one of the most important things to remember.

Our craving for exotic food during the rains is not limited to cooking in our kitchens. Ever been tempted to order a plate of bhajiyas from the stall down the street? Or a plate of Momo’s from the Chinese cart in the market? Most of us have given in to this temptation many times but this year CTF and GITS have taken an oath to promote good hygiene and safe food.

This Monsoon we are running a campaign which will promote the importance of food hygiene and the advantages of home cooked food over take-aways. Check out our site for various articles and photographs on “eating right” this monsoon.

This month you too have a chance to contribute to our cause. Got any candid pictures that depict the importance of home-cooked food or the side effects of take-aways? Well then waste no time and send us in your pictures, videos, blog posts, etc. at online@gitsfood.com.

So this year, be safe and eat safe during the rains. And if you get a craving for some good food then check out our site for various quick, easy and tasty recipes to try out this season.

Stunts One Shouldn’t Try On The First Day Of College

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:56:58 +0000

First off, hearty congratulations to everyone who has finally gotten out the school grind and made it to the big “C” – College! However with the euphoria of securing admission in favorite college dying down, the dreaded day is finally here – “FIRST DAY OF COLLEGE”. This day is a lot more important than your first day of school, where you are not as harshly judged or the concept of cliques is minimalistic. Worried about doing something grossly wrong? Worry not! Why fear when CTF is here to help you avoid making those unforgivable mistakes.

Do Not Go Unwaxed Or With Your Eyebrows Bushy (for girls)

Girls please remember we are all really shallow!! No one wants to be friends with the Yeti. Take the effort to go to a parlour and look less hairy or be known as “Karisma kapoor of the early 90’s” for the rest of your college years.

Do Not Wear A Chain Which Reads C.O.O.L

For all you guys out there, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was 12 years ago! Get over it. Just to be on the safer side don’t wear chains at all. Lest you be known as the “roadside shopping aficionado”.

Eat Mint

Please do eat mint or better yet brush your teeth! Do not with garlic breath. That is guaranteed to keep people running away for the next three years.

Do Not Wear A Vest (for skinny guys)

Guys I hate to break it to you, but if you don’t have the Salman Khan Muscles please stay away from the skin tight sleeveless vests. Unless you want to be known as “string bean”.

Do Not Oil Your Hair And Wear Two Plaits (girls)

While there is nothing particularly “criminal” about it; this aint the first day of kindergarten. You do not want to look like the location of an oil spill.

First days are tough enough without making terrible faux pas so make sure you think twice before selecting your wardrobe. Make sure you don’t carry a Hello Kitty bag or you will be the official “blonde” of your class.

For those who are going to start college, send us your queries and we will try to solve them in true CTF style.

For college veterans; Share your first day stories with the rest. Who knows you might help a poor confused soul out there.

Awesome Recipes You Must Try This Season

admin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:22:15 +0000

Finally after that oppressive summer the rains are here and with a bang. What is it about the monsoons that make us want to eat interesting and spicy food like chilli pakodas? Well while that question may be tough to answer we ran a crazy recipe contest on gits where we asked people to share with us their yummiest and wackiest recipes. After that week long romance with madness we at CTF have come to your rescue to give you some interesting and quick recipes to try out this monsoon season:

Chocolate Pancakes:

This recipe is for all those who have a sweet tooth.

Take 1 cup flour and add 2 teaspoon baking powder and 4 teaspoon powder sugar to it. To this add two eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla essence. Add milk till the mixture is of paint-like thickness. Whisk for a minute with a hand mixer to get rid of all lumps. On a non-stick pan make small pancakes, no bigger than a tea plate. Cook well from both sides. Remove from pan and apply butter while they are still hot. Top this off with Chocolate sauce and eat with honey.

Sinful to the last bite.

Schezwan Paneer Pakoda

Take medium sized cubes of paneer and marinate with a mixture of schezwan sauce and tomato ketchup. Leave for 10-15 minutes. In another bowl take Besan and add 2 spoons of cornflour to it. Add water till the mixture reaches a thick consistency. Dip the marinated paneer and deep fry in oil. Eat with ketchup or a sour cream dip.

This recipe is ideal for those who crave spice and tanginess in their food.

Dhokla Sandwich

Dhokla is a popular Gujrati snack but our recipe will add an interesting twist to the otherwise simple dhokla. Take a pack of GITS dhokla mix. This mix is ideal as it tastes great while greatly cutting down preparation time. Prepare the dhokla as instructed. Cut the dhokla in half horizontally.To the lower half apply green chutney. Top this with finely sliced spring onion and carrots. Sprinkle with chaat masala and cover with the top half of the dhokla.

Eat this with chutney or pickle.

Cheese and Olive Peppers

Take cheese slices and apply melted butter to one side. Sprinkle with finely chopped green chillies and add chopped black or green olives. Fold the cheese slice and pierce with toothpick to keep it in place. Cover the cheese packet in breadcrumbs. Deep fry this and eat with a sweet chilli dip.

P.S: Do remember to remove the toothpicks before you eat.

Papad Rolls

This recipe is fun and something even first-timers can do with a little assistance. Take 2 large boiled potatoes and peel off the skin. In a bowl mash these potatoes. Add finely chopped green chilies, herbs (as per your choice), salt, pepper and half a teaspoon of sugar. Mix well.

In another bowl take some lukewarm water.

Take a raw papad and dip in the water for about 3 – 4 seconds. This will make the papad soft enough to mold. Quickly place the papad on a plate and pat dry it. Place the potato mixture in the center and roll in a tubular form making sure all the sides are closed.

Shallow fry on a pan and cut in small pieces. Make as many rolls as required.

Garlic French Fries

Another recipe that can be attempted by first-timers.

Cut potato in French fries and dip briefly in ice. Remove on a towel and dry them. Take these fries in a bowl and add garlic paste and chilli powder. Mix well till all fries are coated. Coat fries with cornflour and deep fry in hot oil.

Eat with sweet chilli sauce.

Monster Sandwich (for the hard core carnivores)

Take 2 slices of brown bread (Healthier option!) On one slice apply sweet chilli sauce. Place few slices of lettuce. Top this with boiled chicken, bacon and a simple egg omlette. Add garlic mayo and put another slice of lettuce on top.

Cover this with the other slice of bread eat it with a cup of hot coffee as an accompaniment.

Now that we have given you so many recipes make sure you try them out for yourself. And you can thank us by sending us a sample of your dishes (only if they don’t end up in disaster!)

If you have better recipes or unique ones, make sure you share with the rest of us.

Quirky Pet Fascinations You Probably Shouldn’t Have

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 07:04:31 +0000

Ever had fights with your siblings because you could not decide between a dog and a cat as a pet? Well we have all been there and done that; but some pet choices are completely above the norm and just plain weird. Weird pets have become a growing fad all over the world and people want to be apart from the normal “dog and cat” person. Check out these 5 weirdest pet ideas and see if you are a “weird” pet person:

Ants

While Ants may be a popular pet choice for kids (Especially outside India), but honestly they are the weirdest pet choice. Not only are ants ugly but they can also wreak havoc if the ant farm breaks.

Rocks

Another one of the most “intelligent” Fads. A guy gets up one day and decides to sell a rock along with a pack of paints and title it “Pet Rocks”. Good for him and bad for all the fools out there. Honestly, ROCKS!! What good would they do; except to throw it at your nosy younger sibling in case of a fight.

Poisonous Snakes

Do I really need to explain why “poisonous” snakes make weird pet choices? A woman in California was killed by her Pet Viper. Did the “poisonous” part of it not give her any clue?

Cockroaches

Cockroaches, besides being a weird choice, are an absolutely disgusting choice. Tip: Train your cockroaches to harass your neighbors. They won’t ever dare to fight with you, or drop by your house unexpected.

Piranhas

While fish are one of the most common forms of pets, Piranhas are the worst choice of fish ever. They might eat up your hand if you try to put food in their tank. P.S: They are also pretty hard to sell off. Not many takers for these “human-eating” fish.

So the next time you are in the market for a unique pet, you know exactly what to avoid. Or if you do decide to buy them, do so at your own risk. You have been warned.

IF you have ever had such strange pets (or heard of people who do) then do your bit and help others by giving your opinions.

Interesting Ways To Make Your Workout Regular

admin — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 12:32:50 +0000

Let’s face it – All of us have given up on regular exercise at some point or the other. Exercising is not just about losing weight (or gaining weight) but about meeting an end goal. At CTF we understand the struggle you go through to keep up your exercise schedule so we have come up with a few suggestions for you to make your workout regular:

Stick up posters of slim bikni babes (For girls) or chiseled men (For Guys)

The reason for this is pretty obvious. You keep looking at these pictures every day and remind yourself what you don’t have. Eventually the guilt and shame will make you more regular with your exercise. However your family might think you are gay; but it’s all for a greater good right?

Hire an Insulter

Hire one of your close friends to insult you profusely every time you miss your workout. I’m sure some of your friends will be more than happy to take up the task.

Cruel Punishments

Turn your workout into a game with your siblings. Whoever misses their workout gets punished by the other. This is kind of like truth or dare. P.S: (Ask the loser to walk around your locality wearing a board saying “I’m Fat and I like it”. Tried and Tested.)

Think about Balika Vadhu

Every time your body refuses to run or jog, think about Anandi from Balika Vadhu. It certainly makes you want to “run away”.

Babysit

Can’t convince yourself to go out for a jog or to the gym? Then volunteer to babysit someone’s kid for a day. It will give more than adequate cardio exercise. And if you are the one who likes a lot of exercise then offer to babysit twins.

Now that we have given you these fool-proof suggestions to make your workout regular, you can’t make any excuses to skip it. And every time you do feel like bunking you know exactly what to do.

5 Quick And Easy Breakfast Recipes

admin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:05:32 +0000

“BREAKFAST LIKE A KING, LUNCH LIKE A PRINCE AND DINE LIKE A PAUPER” There is more than a grain of truth in the ancient proverb, but sadly in today’s fast paced world people have no time for a decent meal. Various studies have shown that a hearty breakfast can make you a healthier person. We at CTF understand that you don’t have time to make an elaborate meal, so here are some quick-fix healthy breakfast recipes that you can try out:

Muesli

While many people cannot take the taste of muesli and consider it to taste like chopped cardboard; there are ways to make it more interesting to your palate.

Take a bowl of Muesli (which ever kind you like – I suggest the one containing dried raisins), Add fresh fruit to it (Apples, pears, grapes, strawberries etc.). Mix it properly. To this add Yoghurt and mix carefully again. This mixture can be extremely filling and one of the best kinds of low fat breakfast.

Smoothies

Smoothies are the best breakfast suggestion if time is of vital concern to you. Take a blender and add ice. On top of it add fruits, wheat grass etc and blend it. Pour this in a glass and your super quick breakfast is ready. TIP*: Vary the fruits and alternate with vegetables to avoid boredom.

Breakfast Wrap

Take a flour tortilla (or even chapatti) and line it with lettuce. On top add sliced bell peppers, cottage cheese, corn etc (add whatever veggies you like). Roll it tight and have this with yoghurt.

Idlis & Dosas

Idlis can make a great Indian breakfast and are pretty high up on the health quotient. Making an Idli from scratch can take a long time so try out GITS Idli mix, which is quick and tastes as good as something you would make from scratch. Alternately you can also try out the GITS Dosa mix which is just as quick and tasty.

Omlette

Obvious as it is, omelets can be made differently everyday to avoid boredom. They take barely 2 minutes to prepare and are extremely healthy if made without the yolk. Here is a quick and filling omelets that can be prepared on a rush :

Take 3 Egg whites and beat till there is foam on top. On a frying pan add few drops of olive. Once the oil turns hot add mushrooms and boiled chicken (Vegetarians can add baby corn). Fry till brown. Then add pepper, salt, chili flakes and herbs. On this pour the beaten Egg whites and cook from both sides.

Eat this with a brown bread toast for a complete meal.

Many people have known to skip breakfast because its just not interesting enough can drive a person to boredom. So make sure you add a different twist to the usual breakfast item. If you are bored of the usual omelets, add different toppings like cheddar cheese, herbs etc. Don’t feel like having the plain Dosa? Then eat it with a vegetable dish or top it with chopped veggies to make it both healthy and colorful.

Check out our GITS fan page (http://www.facebook.com/gitsfoods ) for some no-fuss tasty suggestions for your next breakfast meal.

Now that we have given you these interesting breakfast recipes, make sure you try them out and avoid skipping your breakfast. All you guys out there who are regular about breakfast, share your recipes with us.

10 Best Ways To Deal With Boredom

admin — Fri, 28 May 2010 09:33:40 +0000

“The cure for Boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for Curiosity.”

Who hasn’t at some point or the other during a day felt extremely bored and nothing to do in particular? Well if you are one of them (and I’m pretty sure you are) then you really need to read this post. Here are some typical CTF ways to get rid of your boredom:

Try Not To Count Penguins

This is really funny when you try really hard. Because if your mind is trying super hard not to count penguins, that is exactly what you will be doing. A great way to kill about 10 – 15 minutes.

Walk Around Pretending Like A Robot

Walk around your house or office pretending to be a Robot. Make sure you also talk in a robot voice. This can be quite amusing unless others get bugged with you.

Try to Touch your Tongue to your Nose

There is not much to say about this one. It is possible for a few people. Alternately you can also try to touch your tongue to your elbow [Which is not really possible, but it is a good way to kill time]

Watch a Hollywood Movie and Repeat Dialogues in South Indian Accent

Why? Because it’s hilarious !

Go Outside and Burn Things with a Magnifying Glass

Remember that science class where you first learnt that magnifying glass can be used to start a fire? And remember the fun you had trying to burn ants? That could be just as fun as an adult. P.S: Avoid burning your own clothes or hands.

Go Celebrity Spotting

Go to a place that is known for a lot of celebrities hanging out and try to see if you spot anyone in particular. If possible make this a competition among friends and see who wins. P.S: That extra from Om Shanti Om who kept saying “Waah kya Tiger hai” does not count !

Wet your hand; Make a Sneeze Noise, then Throw Water on Back of Another Person’s Neck

Always a good gag. For an even bigger reaction out of the person, act like you’re not sorry at all for what they think you did. Comment instead on how big that sneeze was or about how there was a lot of mucus in that one.

Throw Wet Tissues

Wet tissues and throw them against a glass surface or a wall and watch them stick. It’s quite gross and that’s what makes it fun.

Make a List of Long Term Goals

And then tear it away! Please don’t be boring; exactly the reason behind this suggestion.

Check Out www.bored.com

I’m not lying! There actually is such a website. And it does have quite some hilarious and time-killing games. That should keep you busy for a while.

After all that if you are still bored then you must really be crazy or a borderline schizophrenic! Although if you have some better suggestions on how a person can kill some time then share it with us.

How To Cut The Fuss And Master A Foreign Language

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 12:28:09 +0000

We live in a society of instant gratification. 2 minutes doesn’t just apply to Maggi anymore. We want everything instantly. Trust me if there was a way to have a baby in 9 days instead of 9 months we would grab it. The same rules and demands apply to learning a language. None of us are ready to invest 2 years to master a language. So here are some quick-fix CTF ways to learn a new language:

Download a Language:

With the boom of torrents one can easily download an entire language course such as linguaphone. Listening to this course material can help you learn a language as fast as you want it to. P.S: For the record, I am NOT advocating illegal download. Please buy the course material from Amazon if you are offended by my Torrent suggestion. [If any cops reading this, I don’t use torrents. It’s all hearsay.]

Watch Kites:

Want to learn instant Spanish? Then you are exactly the kind of audience for a movie like Kites. After all one half of the lead pair is constantly speaking in Spanish! No wonder most of the audience was confused. But as a wannabe multilingual you may actually end up enduring the movie.

Marry a Foreigner:

Yes you read it correctly! Marrying a foreigner who does not speak any language except his/her own can be quite an asset. Eventually out of sheer desperation to understand your spouse you are going to pick up the language. P.S: Do not judge foreign speaking people based on Barbara Mori in Kites. Not everyone is annoying enough to make you want to kill them.

Translator Dictionary:

Buy a dictionary that helps you translate from the language of your choice to English or vice versa. Walk around with it and keep saying things in that language, be it a love quote to your girlfriend or abuses for a friend. P.S: I will not take responsibility if all your friends kill you for being a complete pain in the ass.

3G Connection:

Get a 3G phone and a connection. Why? Well then you can easily use the internet to use Google Translate whenever you need to know something to say in a foreign country. Although you may look a little foolish staring at your phone before saying something. Not appropriate to impress chics.

Intensive Courses:

Most Embassies have intensive language courses that hold classes for 5 – 6 hours every day for a month, after which you have mastered the basics and conversational part of that language. These courses are basically “Language on steroids” and quite useful if you have the time (and money) to spare. 3 – 4 Months down, you are fluent in the language (or so they say) and quite a few 1000’s poorer.

Language Exchange:

There are lot of language exchange programs whereby you can teach your language to someone who in turn teaches you his. These programs are quite useful and free (favorite word of all Indians). Google “language exchange” and you will find many such willing people who would help you out. P.S: Might I warn you that internet is not a safe place so don’t go around asking people to share their language with you.

Study all Salman Khan’s Movies:

Mainly because Salman’s accent sounds like an entirely different language. Maybe you will be the second person in the world to be fluent in Salmanish !

On a serious note: A language is meant to be learnt over time as that is only way by which you will become fluent and the language will have a high retention value. Go to a proper certified instructor and learn over time with ample practice. [I’m kidding! Please follow my cooler suggestions]

10 Comedy Flicks To Catch Over The Weekend

admin — Fri, 21 May 2010 13:18:47 +0000

“A eugooglizer. One who speaks at funerals. Or did you think I’d be too stupid to know what a eugoogly was?

If you haven’t recognized where that quote came from, this article is a must for you. Comedy movies have been a source of great entertainment and respite for years. With the weekend coming up, all of us would like to curl up in front of the television with a nice movie. Comedy flicks can be brilliant stress busters and here are some of our suggestions for movies to watch this weekend:

The Great Dictator

A hilarious Charlie Chaplin movie taking a pick on Hitler. Chaplin plays a dual role in this film which is considered to be Chaplins greatest work. Ever seen Hitlers hatred for Jews in a more humorous light? Well if you haven’t this film is your chance to do so. A must see if you like historical comedies.

Harold and Kumar go to White Castle

A hilarious journey of two friends who wake up at night feeling hungry and decide to go scouting for the world’s most perfect hamburger. Ever had the worst day of your life? Well Harold and Kumar face something much worse. From crazy hitchhikers to a weird couple in the woods, this movie has it all. [The sequel “Harold and Kumar escape from Guantanamo Bay isn’t bad either]

Death at a Funeral

A respectable final farewell for a loved one erupts into uproarious chaos when romance, jealousy, in-laws, drugs, dark secrets, life-long yearnings and a spot of bold blackmail all collide in this crazy British comedy DEATH AT A FUNERAL

You don’t mess with the Zohan

The story starts off with a typical Isreali counter terrorist, Zohan Dvir (Adam Sandler) catching the bad guys; but deep down in his heart yearns to be a famous hairdresser in New York. When he decides to take the next step by faking his death and going off to New York, is when the hilarity begins. Right from crazy fast-food-king gangsters to idiotic first time kidnappers; everyone wants a piece of Zohan.[Even Mariah Carey] One of Adam Sandlers best performances.

Zoolander

This movie takes the popular belief “All models are dumb” to a new height. Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) is a daft model who has been blessed with really good looks and awesome luck. Unknowingly he finds himself a pawn in an assassination plot masterminded by fashion honcho Mugatu, played by Will Farrell. To top it all Zoolander has a new rival, Hansel; a blond and equally dumb model. This movie is a refreshing change from all those chic-fashion flicks.

Austin Powers- International Man of mystery

You really want me to tell you why?

Chupke Chupke

A new husband (Dharmendra) can’t take his wife’s praise of her brother-in-law and decides to prove that he is smarter. Hence en-sues a con of ultimate proportion. Dharmendra and Om Prakash are a treat to watch as they go about the whole plot with their perfect comic timing. P.S: This movie also has some of the most popular songs of that era.

Chalti ka Naam Gaadi

If you don’t watch this movie you should be put down. The Kumar Brothers (Ashok, Kishore and Amit) lead the scene in this laugh riot as car mechanics that get into unique escapades. Ashok Kumar plays the formidable big brother with a secret past which makes him hate women. As a result the mention of women is banned in the house. Eventually the other 2 brothers fall in love and the whole confusion in trying to hide it from their brother creates a spectacular movie that is an epic in the comedy circuit.

Hera Pheri

A more recent comedy film that has best cast when it comes to comic timing. The movie actually keeps you in splits right from the first scene to the last. Paresh Rawal plays a lovable Marathi garage owner who rents out 2 rooms in his house to Akshay Kumar, a wastrel, and Sunil shetty, a man trying to escape paying his loans. Due to a bungle up in the yellow pages they get a ransom call meant for someone else and decide to use it to their advantage by asking for double ransom from whom the call was originally intended for. Obviously none of them are masterminds and millions of loopholes in their plans end them in a soup.

Golmaal

One of the most fun and simple comedy of errors. Ever heard your elders tell you that “one lie can snowball into many more”? Well they were right. Ramprasad Sharma (Amol Palekar) fakes a pure hindi dialect and a mustache just to get brownie points with his employer. However all goes haywire when his employer sees him in his mustache-less and anglicized look. To get out of that mess Ramprasad invents an evil twin Lucky and has to keep up the charade just to keep his job. One of the most hilarious double-role stories ever.

So have fun this weekend by checking out these acclaimed comic films. P.S: Try to find out where that quote is from. Come back on Monday and let’s see who figured it out

When Shakespeare Went Wrong – The Fuss With Names

admin — Mon, 17 May 2010 11:11:19 +0000

“Whats in a name? A rose by any other name smells just as sweet” said Shakespeare. With all due respect to the man, that statement is absolutely false. Name is the most important aspect of a persons’ identity. No one would take a person named Bhonduram very seriously, now would they? There are several Indian names that leave us wondering “Were the parents thinking at all?” So seeing how kind and generous we are, we have decided to give solutions to all of the following funny names and how to cut the fuss by making them cooler:

Cute

Ok I’m not making this up at all. I actually had the privilege of meeting a certain child by that name. I hope to god that the child does grow up to be “cute” or she is in for a hell of a time in college. (Solution: Dearest Girl, if you grow up to be not-so-cute please get an affidavit and have your name changed. Can’t work around this name much.)

Katya

Another weird girl name. The name probably has some wonderful meaning and all that, but seriously?! What little Katya could do is pretend indifference to that name. Just tell people some other name that you actually like. No one needs to know you had been burdened with a name like that.

Harddik

Ok let me not go into the details of why that name is weird. (For those who are slow on the uptake: please split the word in 2 and then say it). This is absolutely the worst kind of thing you could do to your child. (Solution for Mr. Harddik: Grow up to be an extremely nasty bully. If you manage to put the fear of god into people, you are less likely to be ragged thanks to your parents lack of foresight)

Diva

No offense to Farah Khan (we love you Farah!) but a name like Diva is just a crime. Its an adjective for gods sake!! Imagine if all of us start naming our child with adjectives: Clever, Sexy etc (you get my drift). (Im guessing little Diva does not need a solution. Being Farah Khans daughter is enough to save her from all the raggers out there. P.S: DIVA in Marathi means light – the bulb variety)

Arth

Ok it may sound good but the meaning of that name is “Meaning”. Imagine someone asking you “Hey what is the meaning of your name? You Answer: Its Meaning”. Ridiculous sounding isn’t it? (Cant help you mate.)

Aj

This name just plain means one who was never born! If you think I’m kidding please Google it. (Add a few letters ! Make it Ajit or something)

Moon Moon

You really want me to explain! (The poor child might want to either become a popular actress or a werewolf)

To a foreign national all Indian names might sound weird but honestly some of their names too have ridiculous meanings. Heard of the name Cameron? It actually means “bent nose” or something to that effect. So if you are stuck with a weird name fear not, just change it once you turn 18 or just find yourself a really cool and well suited nick name.

Cut the Fuss and Stay frosty!