Kuch Khaas Hai...

I can eat Paneer Butter Masala almost every day, but this saturday, our cravings were at a peak-time high as there was light rain outside. Everyone knows I just love Paneer Recipes, and this weekend I decided to make the eternal favorite Paneer Butter Masala, that velvetty-smooth gravy that has all the goodness of indian spices combined with cubes of cottage cheese and garnished with cream and coriander! Now do I have your attention??! Paneer Butter Masala is similar to other paneer gravies, except that as the name implies, it is more rich due to butter and the gravy is thickened by using onions, tomatoes and cashew paste rather than just cream. You cannot go wrong with this, try it for yourself and see!

Believe me, paneer is such a versatile ingredient in Indian cooking, you could make an entire meal using just this, right from appetizers to main course to dessert! Hey maybe they should choose paneer as the next secret ingredient for Iron Chef!:) Till then, try this mouth-watering recipe (adapted from Sanjeev Kapoor's cookbook) at home and enjoy its taste as it lingers on your tongue and your senses!

Ingredients:

3 big tomatoes - pureed
250 gms paneer - cubed
2 big onions
1 bay leaf
2 cloves
1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
1 tsp red chilli powder
3 tbsps cashewnut paste
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp dhania powder (dry coriander powder)
1/2 tsp kasuri methi (dry fenugreek leaves)
1 tsp tandoori masala (optional for color)
2 tsp garam masala powder
salt and lemon juice - to taste
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp fresh cream
fresh coriander - chopped for garnish

Method:

Skin the onions and blanch them in hot water for 3 mins, then ouree them to form a paste. Do the same with tomaotes, unless you are using tomato puree directly.

Take 1 tbsp of ghee, heat in a pan for 2 mins, the saute the paneer cubes in it till golden brown; Now take 1 cup hot water, add a pinch of salt and turmeric powder to it and immerse the paneer cubes in it for 10-12 mins. Then remove the pieces, drain them on a tissue paper and keep aside.

Heat 2 tbsp of butter in a pan, add the bay leaf and the cloves
, then add the onion paste and saute till light-brown. Add ginger-garlic paste. Saute for 3 minutes. Add chilli powder, followed by the cashew paste and fry for 5 mins.

Add tomato puree, crushed kasuri methi,coriander powder, turmeric powder, garam masala and salt. Stir and let it simmer for some time.

Add the paneer cubes and simmer for 4-5 minutes. Add a small cup of water and let it cook on medium heat till you get the desired curry consistency. Remove from fire, stir in remaining butter and fresh cream.

Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve the Paneer Butter Masala with any bread of your choice, pulao or simply jeera rice.

Kasutera is a spongy, eggy Japanese Honey cake which is not very sweet or naturally sweet with honey, hence do not need icing. Without adding any kind of essence, it has a wonderful aroma of honey and with just a dusting of confectioner's sugar on top, not too sweet either which is how I like my desserts!



This recipe is adapted from a 'Learn to cook' book series called "Japanese Homestyle Dishes". Usually, I don't cook any Japanese food at home or interested in trying either. I ran...well...drove to the library, borrowed this book. Kasutera sounded and looked good, so glad I tried it! I read that it's a popular dessert cake in Nagasaki, Japan, originally brought to Japan by Portuguese.

5 large Eggs, 2/3rd cup Powdered sugar, 1/4 cup Honey, 1 tsp Baking powder, 1 cup All purpose flour or Cake flour. (9" by 9" cake pan, lined with parchment paper and sprayed with no-stick oil or butter.
(You can add 1 tsp of essence of your choice like Orange or Lemon, but recipe didn't say and I didn't add any either, loved the natural honey taste and aroma!)

For dusting: 1/4 cup extra powdered sugar for dusting the cake on top. You can even dust it with cocoa powder for contrast.


To bake the cake:



Preheat the oven at 350F.

1. In a mixer with whisk attachment, add 5 Eggs and beat until frothy.
2. Add in the Honey and powdered sugar, beat this mix for 10 to 12 mins, until it's thick, pale in color and beater leaves a ribbon when lifted.

(This 2nd step is very important to keep the cake fluffy and bake high, so do beat well until you see the trail of ribbon with the batter before adding the flour etc)

3. Now, add the baking powder and flour gradually, mix and fold or beat on low speed gently just until flour is well incorporated.
4. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 25 to 30 mins or until skewer when tested in the center of the cake comes out clean. Don't bake too much.
5. Invert on a cooler, peel off the parchment paper.
6. When completely cooled, dust the top with powdered sugar and cut into slices to serve.

Top most Firing IT companies in India


1) IBM --- Right now this is the most firing company for IT professionals. In the last 6 months, this company has fired nearly 20% of their employees because of BG check and performance issues. This is the most insecure company from an IT professional's point of view. They don't have any strategic plans at HR policies regarding employee security. No appraisals (maximum 10%).

2)TCS --- Previously its an government IT Company . Now a days TCS also becoming firing IT company. Recently they fired on 500 people.( the people below 2 years of experience) and TCS losts so many projects recently( especially British Telecom Projects).

3) Accenture --- This is second top most firing company. The firing rate is around 5%. This depends upon outsourced projects; they have a unique system where Accenture development centers around the world bid for a project coming into the company. Currently Philippinescentre is taking the cake and the Indian centers are in a firing mode.

4) WIPRO --- Firing people with very frequent back ground checks and firing them with out even experience letters and relieving letters (will mention as terminated from services)but will promise the employees that they will retain them. After the project is over they will fire away. Will threaten of criminal cases against such employees if they oppose the move and has also filed against some.

6) Intel --- Recently joined the league. Running in heavy losses, hence firing 3000 employees in the Bangalore center in a phased out manner.

7) CTS --- Has a steady firing policy (checking the Educational background and previous employment and also employee performance in work). In a Recent HCL walk-in, around 50% attendees were from this company. Sadly the I-pods have not helped them.

8) CSC --- Excellent package but fires folks in Background check and those on bench regularly. Recently fired 400+ employees from its subsidiary Covansys.

9) Satyam --- Currently stopped firing. The Attrition rate is very high. No firing from 2005 until now when 1000 employees were fired in Hyderabad.

10) Patni ---- They fired so many employees that currently they are facing understaffing and deficiency with number of employees. Very high attrition rate.

11) Keane India ---- This USA based company is always involved in firing employees. Although they proudly say that they don't have hire and fire policy. Recently they fired Java and as 400 professionals after which most of the employees have started to pack their bags. Employees change this company within 1 year.

So take care before accepting offers from these companies.



Secure IT companies in India

1) Microsoft --- Has projects till 2050.

2) EDS --- Most secure company in India. Not laid off any of its employees even during 2001. Has lots of projects in Defense and financial areas

3) HP --- Dream Company. In-house and outsourced projects

4) Infosys --- Dream Job. On a way to achieve the status of a secured, stable Govt. company.

5) AOL, Google and Yahoo - Best companies to work with, great job satisfaction as well as great salary and work environment. Rarely fires an employee. As they are internet based companies' they offer lots of opportunities to grow.

6) HCL -- A good company to be in. Called as a "retirement company."

7) HSBC--- This is the most secure company. It has never fired any employee, even when they know that the employee is showing fake experience.

8) Aricent--- a communication based software company, has never fired any employee and gives great perks & incentives, lot of projects in kitty. Minimal level of attrition.

9) KPIT Cumminns Infosystems Limited ---- This is the most secure company not known to many. It has presently acquired CG Smith, Bangalore and has lots of projects in pipe line. Acquisitions plans will continue.

Have you ever wondered what happened to your socks when you put them into the dryer and then never saw them again? It's an unexplained mystery that may never have an answer. Many people feel the same way when they suddenly find that their brokerage account balance has taken a nosedive. So, where did that money go? Fortunately, money that is gained or lost on a stock doesn't just disappear. Read to find out what happens to it and what causes it.

Disappearing money

Before we get to how money disappears, it is important to understand that regardless of whether the market is in bull (appreciating) or bear (depreciating) mode, supply and demand drive the price of stocks, and fluctuations in stock prices determine whether you make money or lose it.

So, if you purchase a stock for $10 and then sell it for only $5, you will (obviously) lose $5. It may feel like that money must go to someone else, but that isn't exactly true. It doesn't go to the person who buys the stock from you. The company that issued the stock doesn't get it either. The brokerage is also left empty-handed, as you only paid it to make the transaction on your behalf. So the question remains: where did the money go?

Implicit and explicit value

The most straightforward answer to this question is that it actually disappeared into thin air, along with the decrease in demand for the stock, or, more specifically, the decrease in investors' favorable perception of it.

But this capacity of money to dissolve into the unknown demonstrates the complex and somewhat contradictory nature of money. Yes, money is a teaser - at once intangible, flirting with our dreams and fantasies, and concrete, the thing with which we obtain our daily bread. More precisely, this duplicity of money represents the two parts that make up a stock's market value: the implicit and explicit value.

On the one hand, money can be created or dissolved with the change in a stock's implicit value, which is determined by the personal perceptions and research of investors and analysts. For example, a pharmaceutical company with the rights to the patent for the cure for cancer may have a much higher implicit value than that of a corner store.

Depending on investors' perceptions and expectations for the stock, implicit value is based on revenues and earnings forecasts. If the implicit value undergoes a change - which, really, is generated by abstract things like faith and emotion - the stock price follows.

A decrease in implicit value, for instance, leaves the owners of the stock with a loss because their asset is now worth less than its original price. Again, no one else necessarily received the money; it has been lost to investors' perceptions.

Now that we've covered the somewhat "unreal" characteristic of money, we cannot ignore how money also represents explicit value, which is the concrete worth of a company. Referred to as the accounting value (or sometimes book value), the explicit value is calculated by adding up all assets and subtracting liabilities. So, this represents the amount of money that would be left over if a company were to sell all of its assets at fair market value and then pay off all of liabilities.

But you see, without explicit value, implicit value would not exist: investors' interpretation of how well a company will make use of its explicit value is the force behind implicit value.

Disappearing trick revealed

For instance, in February 2009, Cisco Systems Inc had 5.81 billion shares outstanding, which means that if the value of the shares dropped by $1, it would be the equivalent to losing more than $5.81 billion in (implicit) value. Because CSCO has many billions of dollars in concrete assets, we know that the change occurs not in explicit value, so the idea of money disappearing into thin air ironically becomes much more tangible.

In essence, what's happening is that investors, analysts and market professionals are declaring that their projections for the company have narrowed. Investors are therefore not willing to pay as much for the stock as they were before.

So, faith and expectations can translate into cold hard cash, but only because of something very real: the capacity of a company to create something, whether it is a product people can use or a service people need. The better a company is at creating something, the higher the company's earnings will be and the more faith investors will have in the company.

In a bull market, there is an overall positive perception of the market's ability to keep producing and creating. Because this perception would not exist were it not for some evidence that something is being or will be created, everyone in a bull market can be making money. Of course, the exact opposite can happen in a bear market.

To sum it all up, you can think of the stock market as a huge vehicle for wealth creation and destruction.

Disappearing socks

No one really knows why socks go into the dryer and never come out, but next time you're wondering where that stock price came from or went to, at least you can chalk it up to market perception.

With the due date of July 31 fast approaching, it is that time of the year again when the nation’s tax payers scramble to file I-T returns. After
all, filing of tax return is compulsory for everyone whose gross total income exceeds the basic exemption limit.

For financial year 2007-08, for instance, the basic exemption limit was Rs 1.45 lakh for women below 65 years of age, Rs 1.95 lakh for senior citizens and Rs 1.10 lakh for any other individual. However, for financial year 2008-09, the limit has been increased to Rs 1.80 lakh for women below 65 years of age, Rs 2.25 for senior citizens and Rs 1.50 lakh for males below 65 years.

Thus, if your income for the year exceeded the exemption limit, you will be required to file the return by the due date. "You need to file the tax return even if you are not paying any tax or even if your employer has deducted tax at source," says Ashish Kapur, CEO, Invest Shoppe India Ltd.

However, despite all the precautions taken by you, rush-hour filing may mean that you could inadvertently miss out on certain details and disclosures, and therefore be on the bad books of the taxman. If not that, you might just forget to make the most of the tax breaks available to you, thus paying more tax in the process and claiming no or less return.
Here are 10 important things to do before filing your I-T return:


1. Identify Sources of Income

Firstly, you need to identify your sources of income under different heads. Under the I-T Act, all incomes earned by persons are classified into five different heads, such as income from salary, income from house property, income from business or profession, income from capital gains, and income from other sources. Thus, you should identify all your incomes from different sources, just to ensure that you haven’t missed out something while filing your return.



2. Refer to the Basic Documents

According to Vikas Vasal, executive director, KPMG, some basic documents/information that should be referred to while filling the return include:

· Form No 16 (issued by the employer): This shows the income from salary and tax deducted by the employer on the same.
· Summary of all bank accounts during the year: This summary gives an idea about the income earned during the year, investments
made and other expenses. This will ensure that neither any income nor any eligible deductions are left out in the return.
· Details of tax paid during the year: This is required in case the individual has paid any advance tax during the year.
· Income of a minor child: This is to be included (except in few cases) even if it is a small amount, e.g. bank interest.



3. Compute Your Tax Liability

Having identified your sources of income and after referring to the basic documents, you need to compute your tax liability for the year. If you are familiar with the process and are comfortable with doing it, you can do it all by yourself. If not, you should take the help of a tax expert or a CA or some other qualified professional. This is important as a wrong computation of your tax liability can land you in trouble later on.
You also need to ensure that "if any tax is payable, the same has been paid as ‘self assessment tax’ before filing the tax return. Further, if any interest is payable for late payment of tax, then the same has also been deposited," says Vasal.



4. Chose the Right Form

Once the details in respect of income and expenses are collated, you should check which tax return form is applicable to you. With the introduction of new forms, based on the nature of income earned during the year, you should select the right income-tax form.
For example, there are two I-T return forms -- ITR-1 and ITR-2 - available for salaried individuals at the moment, and your sources of income will decide which form to use. Use the first form if your income is from salary, pension or interest earned in the financial year, and use the second one in case of any capital gain, income or loss from house property and income from any other source. There is another form - ITR-4 - which is meant for individuals having income from a business or profession. The Tax Department will refuse to accept your form in case you have chosen the wrong one.



5. Fill in Correct Personal Details

Ensure that you fill in correct personal details in the form meant for you, especially your name, address, bank account details and PAN number. Bank account details include the bank account number, type of account and the bank’s MICR code. "This is crucial, especially if you are claiming a refund. Likewise, your PAN is very important because the tax laws levy a fine for not quoting or misquoting your PAN number," says Kapur.



6. Claim all Deductions

Ensure that you have, under various sections of the I-T Act, claimed all the deductions that you are eligible for. For example,
a. Under Sec 80 C - For investments made like PF, PPF, NSC, school tuition fees of children, insurance premium, investments in specified mutual funds etc.
b. Under Sec 80 G - Donations made to charitable organizations
c. Housing deduction for interest on housing loan etc.



7. Information of Specified Investments/ Exempt Income

You also have to fill in information in respect of specified investments, as per prescribed limits, such as:
# Property bought or sold in excess of Rs 30 lakh
# Mutual funds, in excess of Rs 2 lakh
# Cash deposits in excess of Rs 10 lakh
# Credit card payments in excess of Rs 2 lakh
# Bonds etc in excess of Rs 5 lakh
It is also important to know that certain income that is exempt (i.e. income which is not taxable) is also required to be disclosed in the I-T return form. For example, dividend received and receipt of PF balance, among others. Not disclosing these incomes may land you in trouble also.



8. Claiming a Loss

If you are planning to claim a loss in the income-tax return, which you would like to carry forward, the same can be done, only if the return is filed by the due date. If this filing deadline is not met, then the loss claimed would not be allowed to be carried forward for future set off against income.



9. File By Due Date & In the Right Tax Jurisdiction

After the tax return is filled in, the next step is to file it appropriately, by the due date. For individuals having salary and interest income only, the due date of filing the tax return for the financial year 2008-09 is July 31, 2009. The return may be filed either electronically or in printed form. In few cases, even the electronically-filed return has to be filed in printed form within a given time period.

"One must also ensure that the return is filed with the right tax officer (tax jurisdiction). This is determined based on the address of the individual. In case of salaried employees, the jurisdiction is determined by particulars of the employer," informs Vasal.

The proof of filing the return is the acknowledgement, which is stamped and signed by the tax officer and a copy is returned to the individual.
One important thing to remember is whether it is electronic filing or paper filing, now individuals do not have to attach any document or attachment with the return of income.



10. Maintain Documents For Future Reference

The documents based on which the return is prepared may be requested at a later stage by the Income Tax Officer to check the correctness of the claims made. Failure to submit details may lead to disallowance of the deduction claimed, resulting in an increase in the tax liability or a decrease in refund. "Hence, it is advisable that all the documents required to substantiate the return are maintained by the tax payer for future reference," says Vasal.

These are the few important points which you should bear in mind while filing your return. The golden rule is to be organised in your paper work and be timely in paying tax and filing the tax return.

Well... Sahaja wanted a one dish meal and here is my simple yet nutritious one dish Uppittu/Upma I make when I am in a hurry or don't have any left overs to eat. Usually I throw in a frozen mixed vegetable pack here to make veg Uppittu. I love Avarekalu / Lilva / Field beans in Uppittu but fresh beans is not always available to me, so I soak dry ones and cook them to add to dishes or use frozen Lilva. For tanginess, I add Lemon juice at the end or one fresh sliced Tomato.

To make Mixed Veg Uppittu:

1. Heat 1 tsp ghee in a non-stick pan. Add 1 cup Semolina/Rava and roast until Rava is golden on a medium heat and spread it on paper to cool.

2. Add 2 tbsp oil to the same pan, add 1/2 Mustard seeds, 1 tsp Cumin seeds, few curry leaves, (Cashews are optional), 2 tsp each Chana dal and Urad dal, 1 onion, finely chopped, 2-3 green chillies and fry them until soft.

3. Add 2 1/2 cups of water, enough salt, few cilantro. Add 1 cup of pre cooked (Microwave them with little water) mixed veggies like Beans, Carrots, peas, Lilva beans, one Tomato sliced. Let it boil for 5 mins.

4. Taste for salt and turn down the heat to simmer. Slowly add Rava in a stream and stir all the while to prevent clumping. Stri well, cover and let it simmer for 4-5 mins.

5. It's ready to eat. serve with crunchy Sev, Boondi and plain yogurt.