Tanushree Kanungo – City Insight Magazine

Warm Up with these Winter Recipes

Tanushree Kanungo — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 17:02:48 +0000

Winter brings with it a lot of cold winds, warm recipes, and opportunities to indulge in our favorites. Whether you are craving a crisp appetizer, a comforting soup, or a rich and creamy hot chocolate, these recipes will bring the warmth and comfort you need this winter. So, let’s dive into some delicious, soul-satisfying recipes that will keep you toasty all season long.

Classic Beef Stew
A healthy stew filled with tender beef, potatoes, and carrots.

Ingredients:

2 lbs beef, cut into small pieces

2 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups beef broth

3 carrots, sliced

2 potatoes, diced

2 tbsp tomato paste

1 tsp thyme

1 bay leaf

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Brown the beef pieces, then remove and set aside.

In the same pot, sauté onions and garlic until fragrant. Add tomato paste and stir.

Pour in beef broth and then add the beef back in.

Add carrots, potatoes, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.

Simmer for 2-3 hours until the beef is tender. Serve hot!

2. Creamy Butternut Squash Soup
A sweet, and savory soup to keep you warm.

Ingredients:

1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed

1 onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups vegetable broth

1 cup heavy cream or coconut milk

1 tsp cinnamon

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tbsp butter or olive oil

Instructions:

Heat butter in a pot and sauté onion and garlic until they are soft.

Add butternut squash and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes.

Blend until smooth, then stir in heavy cream, cinnamon, salt, and pepper.

Serve hot with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top!

3. Homemade Hot Chocolate
Rich, creamy, and homemade

Ingredients:

2 cups milk

½ cup heavy cream

½ cup chocolate chips (dark or milk)

2 tbsp cocoa powder

2 tbsp sugar

½ tsp vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

Whipped cream & marshmallows (optional)

Instructions:

In a saucepan over medium heat, warm milk and heavy cream.

Stir in chocolate chips, cocoa powder, sugar, and salt.

Whisk continuously until smooth and creamy.

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Enjoy with whipped cream and marshmallows!

4. Spiced Apple Cider
A classic drink that you can enjoy all winter.

Ingredients:

4 cups apple cider

1 cinnamon stick

3 cloves

1-star anise

1 orange, sliced

1 tbsp. honey or brown sugar

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a simmer.

Let it cook for 15-20 minutes to infuse the flavors.

Strain out the spices and serve warm!

5. Warm Apple Crisp
A warm and comforting, apple dessert with a crunchy oat topping.

Ingredients:
For the apple filling:

4 large apples (preferably Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled and sliced

¼ cup brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp nutmeg

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp vanilla extract

For the crisp topping:

½ cup all-purpose flour

½ cup rolled oats

⅓ cup brown sugar

½ tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp salt

½ cup unsalted butter, melted

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a baking dish.

In a bowl, toss apple slices with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and vanilla. Spread evenly in the dish.

In another bowl, mix flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Pour in melted butter and mix until it feels crumbly.

Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apples.

Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.

Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream!

Winter is the perfect time to slow down and enjoy the warmth of delicious homemade meals. So gather your loved ones, and let the winter season be filled with good food, health, warmth, and joy. Stay warm and happy cooking.

Essential Preplanning for People and Families

Tanushree Kanungo — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 17:08:44 +0000

In today’s fast-paced world, planning is essential to achieving goals and handling unexpected challenges. Life can bring unforeseen problems, such as financial crises, natural disasters, or health issues, which often arrive unannounced. That’s why pre-planning is crucial—it enhances preparedness, minimizes chaos, and fosters a sense of security. Let’s explore the importance of pre-planning and the strategies individuals and families can adopt to strengthen their responsiveness.

Pre-planning involves identifying potential risks and developing strategies to address them in advance. It ensures that basic needs are met during emergencies, preventing panic and disorder. Additionally, pre-planning strengthens community bonds, encouraging neighbors and local groups to work together to find solutions collectively.

A well-structured emergency plan can make a significant difference in critical situations. Families, especially children, should be familiar with evacuation routes, emergency contacts, and helpline numbers. Most buildings have designated safe exits and alternative escape routes for disasters like fires, floods, or earthquakes—every family member should be aware of these routes to ensure a swift and safe evacuation.

Every household should maintain a list of emergency numbers, including local authorities, hospitals, and trusted friends or family members. This list should be kept in a common area where it is easily accessible to everyone.

A carefully prepared emergency kit can help families sustain themselves without outside assistance for several days. Essential items include:

Food and Water: A three-day supply of non-perishable food and at least one gallon of water per person per day.

Medical Supplies: A first-aid kit, essential medications, and prescription drugs. Families with infants should stock baby formula and necessary supplies.

Power & Light Sources: Flashlights, extra batteries, chargers, candles, and power banks to maintain communication during outages.

Having a financial safety plan can prevent stress and hardship during crises. Save copies of birth certificates, passports, insurance policies, wills, and medical records in a fireproof and waterproof safe.

Strong communities thrive on mutual support. Establishing a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) can assist senior citizens and vulnerable members during disasters. Learning essential skills such as CPR and first aid can make a meaningful difference in emergencies.

Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility that enhances safety and security. By developing an emergency plan, stocking essential supplies, securing financial stability, and fostering community collaboration, families can navigate crises effectively.

Combat Seasonal Depression

Tanushree Kanungo — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 17:00:12 +0000

Depression is a mental health condition that hits harder than most people can realize. As someone navigating through our adulthood, we encounter many daily challenges to balance our lives. A lot of us do not even realize at times why we feel sad over very basic situations.

Depression isn’t just about feeling sad. It can be due to lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, and even changes in our eating or sleeping habits.

Many of us probably experience seasonal depression during winter. While the winter season can make us feel dull and lackluster, there are effective strategies to help combat these feelings and reclaim joy and productivity.

1. Identify
It’s essential to identify what you’re dealing with. Seasonal depression often includes fatigue, difficulty concentrating, changes in appetite, irritability, and a sense of sadness. Recognizing these signs will help to address the problem.

2. Sunlight
Winter months deprive us of sun, so finding ways to soak natural light is critical. Try to sit near windows, or go for a walk outside whenever possible. On cloudy days, light therapy lamps can add more brightness to the room, and our mood and increase our energy level.

3. Physical Activity
It’s hard to motivate oneself to go out to the gym in winter, but even on dull days when it’s hard to find motivation, a quick workout can lift your energy levels. Science says movement releases endorphins, and it’s the body’s natural mood boosters. Workouts can be anything simple like yoga, running, or simply dancing in your living room, as staying active keeps both your body and mind healthy.

4. Stay Engaged
Many people feel isolated during winter months because they socialize less. This only increases sadness. Try to stay connected with friends and family through a simple phone call or text. This simple connection reminds you that you’re not alone and creates hope that you’ll meet them soon.

5. Eat Well
We often crave soups or our favorite beverages during winter. It’s equally important to balance indulgences with comfort and nutritious meals. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, avocados, and walnuts, often help regulate mood. Drink lots of water. It’s important to stay hydrated even when we are mostly indoors.

6. Seek Help when Required
Winters can feel overwhelming, but at any point, you are overwhelmed and feel you are unable to balance and look for professional help. A professional can understand your exact situation and help you navigate through medications or necessary help.

Beauty Trends this Holiday Season

Tanushree Kanungo — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 18:21:53 +0000

The beauty industry is one of the fastest and ever-changing industries in the world. Women find joy in wearing makeup and the holiday season just elevates this excitement. Fresh trends come in every year and become trendsetters. There have been technological advancements in this industry over the years catering to individuals’ preferences.

Let’s try to take a closer look at this season’s trends.

Minimalist Makeup- This is quite popular these days where people wear subtle makeup and let their healthy skins speak for themselves. Most people use tinted moisturizers along with some soft blush or highlighters for that glowing or dewy look.

Eye Makeup- It’s the winter season and hence party season for a reason. People wear bold eye makeup including electric blue or green eye makeup with glitters adding some spark to their eyes and season. If you want to experiment and get more adventurous, try winged eyeliner or reverse cat eyes which are quite popular and in fashion.

Eco-Friendly Makeup- A lot of people are conscious about what they are using on their skin. People want to try more vegan and cruelty-free products that do not use harsh chemicals without interrupting their skin. These options let your skin breathe even when you wear your makeup. Organic beauty products are also readily available these days.

Monochromatic Makeup- A lot of people prefer this way of makeup as it saves them spending too much on contrasting the colors for eyes, lips, and cheeks. It’s a simpler way of blending one particular color to effortlessly pull off an entire look. It’s budget-friendly too.

Nails- Nail paint is one of the most popular forms of makeup. The nail industry has evolved so much over the years with different forms of nail art to other fun ways to accessories our nails. There are lots of options to make our nails stand out while holding our favorite beverage.

Gloss- The holiday season is incomplete without some gloss and shine. So elevate your makeup and go for that glossy lipstick that you have been waiting to use for the holiday season to set in.

Whatever you choose, always compliment your look with your smile. Eat healthy and take adequate rest for your skin to shine. Enjoy the season.

It’s a Yes! A Guide to Wedding Planning

Tanushree Kanungo — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 18:00:00 +0000

Congratulations, you said ‘yes’ to the proposal. With dreamy eyes glittering rings and
thousands of dreams in your eyes, you are ready to take the next step, a wedding. The heart and
brain are simultaneously racing and flooded with many emotions.

Weddings are a huge commitment and it takes good planning to make it memorable not just for
the bride and groom but for everyone who attends the wedding. As Tessa Lyn Brand the famous
creative visionary of Tessa Lyn Events says,“ By breaking down the year month by month,
you are taking on the planning process in bite-size pieces and it will be far less
overwhelming,” “You can enjoy each step.”

If you are planning to get married, let’s take the liberty to help you with planning your
dream wedding. Every couple needs some time between engagement and wedding to plan
the wedding. Let’s assume you have a year to plan before your wedding even though every
couple has a different time window. If you have a smaller time window it’s wiser to
compress the checklist without missing out on any important element.
Assuming that we are planning a year in advance, let’s proceed with a deep breath and a
glass of your favorite beverage.

Budget: Budget is the show stopper of any event. The bride and
groom or if the families are involved must be all on the same page. Communication should be
extremely easy when it comes to budget planning. Every possible expense should be
discussed and sorted to minimize any friction.

Market research: A little research hurts none. The bride and groom should discuss their
tastes and choices for their special day especially when it comes to food and beverages. Try
to get different ideas along with the prices for better planning and execution.

Guest List: We all want to invite our family and friends to celebrate our special day. Hence
it’s extremely important to carefully carve out the list so that we do not miss out on our long
lost friend keeping budgets in our mind.

Venue: Once you are settled with ‘who’ you want to get married, the next question is ‘where’
do you want to get married. You have to choose a venue that goes well along with your taste
and budget. Honestly, a good venue with good decor makes everything look just perfect.
Okay, that was a lot of work and you have another six months before your wedding. Let’s
help you with some pointers.

Photographers: You want your best moments to be captured in the best possible way. Hire a
good photographer preferably a local person so that he or she doesn’t run late on your d day.

Dress: We all want to look good on our special day, hence make sure you have done your
research about your wedding and reception outfits keeping the theme, decor, and the
weather in mind.

Honeymoon: Choose a destination if you are planning to fly right after your wedding.
Discuss with your partner about your choices and budget and make the necessary
arrangements to avoid any last-minute hassle.

The cake flavor has been decided, the parlor appointments are made, the dresses are ready,
the flowers have been ordered, the guests have received their invitations and you are two
weeks shy of your wedding. Relax, you have worked enough to plan everything. Now is the
time to enjoy the excitement. Ensure you get enough rest and cherish every
moment before you walk down the aisle. The feeling is truly magical.

Top 5 Grocery Tips

Tanushree Kanungo — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Groceries are such an important part of our chores and livelihood. We all do grocery shopping in person or online these days to obtain our necessities. Some of us enjoy doing it, while for others, it is not even remotely exciting. We all have shopped for groceries for ourselves, friends, neighbors, and maybe for strangers, in order to help. Though groceries may not be the most exciting thing to do; we do it for our survival.

We all have our own ways of grocery shopping but ever since the pandemic hit, our lives, our ways of shopping, especially grocery shopping, have changed. Previously, grocery shopping over the weekends would mean a small family outing which probably ended with ice cream or chocolate shake, but now people in most families prefer to leave their children at home to limit their exposure to unwanted germs. People mostly opt for online grocery delivery which seems to be more convenient and time saving.

You may or may not like grocery shopping, but here are a few survival tips which can help you to shop with ease.

1. Planning

Nobody has the time to shop for hours at a grocery store. Make a list of the items you need to purchase. Keep a notebook in one of the kitchen drawers and every time you realize you need an item, write it down. Okay, you find writing it down is old school, never mind. Use your phone to make your list. There are lots of apps which make it super simple as long as you know how to find that list. Many people still find writing it down to be more useful. This of course, is your choice.

2. Avoid buying in bulk

Unless you have a big family or you are running a community kitchen, try not to make bulk purchases. There could be some items in your grocery cart which you might get bored of eating after a day or two, or perhaps a week. If you buy in small quantities, and you like any dish or item, chances are greater you will head back to the store to buy it again.

3. Coupons

Coupons are a great way to get discounts on the items in your cart. Look for a weekly deal or any deal of the day to save on items. You may not get big discounts, but coupons will still be useful to trim down the final bill.

4.Meal planning

This helps a lot when you buy your vegetables or meat. A meal planner gives you a better idea to buy the required ingredients for the daily lunch and dinner menu. That way you know exactly what to buy and it stops you from buying unnecessary items.

5. Eat

Exactly! If possible, eat your meal before you go grocery shopping. Walking through the store makes you feel hungry, and you may end up buying too many snacks. A full tummy will be less tempting to buy those snacks and occupy your pantry space. Instead, buy a banana or a fruit bar which will be pocket friendly and satiate your hunger.

Grocery shopping will be less time-consuming and more efficient if you can use these tips.

Happy shopping folks!

Healthy Summer Ideas

Tanushree Kanungo — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 12:59:51 +0000

Summer is here, summer is here! How do you think I know? I see green leaves all around. That is how I know! Some of us have already started spring cleaning, cleaning the clutter and making way for summer items.

Summer is always a time for parks, more social meets, children enjoying outdoors, and more picnics and barbecues. The days are longer, and we tend to spend more time outdoors trying to soak more sun and savor more of the summer days.

Let’s keep a few tips in mind while we enjoy the summer.

1. Exercise

We love sunny days and it’s the perfect time to run outdoors. Put on your running shoes and hit the outdoors. You can run, go for a brisk walk, jog, or walk with your pet. People enjoy doing yoga or meditation outdoors too. Summers don’t stay all year round, so make the most of it.

2. Play

When it comes to playing, choose anything that has been your favorite over the years, or you wished to play during the winter months. If you have never played anything, summer is the best time to try a new sport or hone your existing skills. Football, soccer, and tennis; basically, everything can be played under the sun. So just get inspired and head outside!

3. Hydration

Summer means sweat and feeling fatigued. Make sure you are always hydrated, especially with water. We all love those coladas, cold coffees, iced teas and not to forget the ice creams and sodas, but water works best for our bodies.

4. Sunscreen

We all love to be out in the sun, but we need to protect our skin from the rays as well. Make sure to use a good quality sunscreen to protect yourself from the harmful rays that cause damage to skin. Don’t forget to add sunglasses, hats, or umbrellas too.

5. Eating

Summer season brings lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. The markets are filled with ripe peaches, cherries, mangoes, and other varieties. Make sure to eat seasonal. Eating seasonal food not only tastes awesome but also adds a lot of benefits to our bodies.

6. Hair

During summer months we tend to sweat, which makes our hair look greasy. Make sure to wash your hair followed by a good quality leave-in conditioner. The conditioner will leave the hair soft and moisturized.

7. Pets

Never leave your pets in the car for a quick run to the grocery stores. The sun and the heat make it uncomfortable for the pets to sit inside the cars. Take them along and they will surely thank you.

Enjoy each day of the summer season. The days are longer, so make sure you cherish every

moment of the season and make memories. We hope you find our tips useful.

Bonjour Spring

Tanushree Kanungo — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 12:39:45 +0000

We all expressed our love of the cold and cooler season and now we have moved to the lovely weather of Spring. The season of spring is here and most of us are bursting with ideas of travel and gardening. Ever wondered what’s so special about the spring season? Spring brings hope, inspires us and makes us believe that we can still fulfill those unfulfilled promises. The return of leaves, the blooming tulips and daffodils are all nature’s cues that we have crossed the long, dark winter nights. The days are longer, the sun rays are warmer and nature looks ready to burst out with colors. It all looks splendid.

A lot of people will agree that longer daylight hours to an extent is sure a mood uplifter. It helps with better concentration and zeal to achieve the day’s goals. In countries like India, there is a festival called ‘Holi’ which marks the beginning of spring. People play with dry colors to soak in the sun and celebrate the season.

When we think of spring we think of love which isn’t just about two individuals. True love starts with a little self-care. Many times while racing against the clock we tend to forget ourselves or pay very little attention to our bodies.

True love begins with self-care and self-love. Self-care is never selfish. If you love yourself and you are at peace, only then you can start loving people and accepting your situations more comfortably.

We had a life before Covid-19 hit us in different ways. We found different ways to fight it and deal with it. Life certainly has thrown giant balls of stress in these covid times which is why we all have been fighting extra hard to keep it at bay. In the process to keep our thoughts and spirits uplifted, we all have been practicing old hobbies or taking up new, learned a new craft, baked new dishes, or better, learned a new language. We all struggled to keep ourselves engaged and active.

The tides are certainly getting calmer. We are slowly but certainly marching to our pre-covid lives. Even though it’s early to completely let our guards down, yet we all cheer ourselves that we have made it so far. We all have made many lifestyle changes during these times and we should certainly hold on to the ones which kept us safe and healthy.

Let’s start with a basic few reminders which should be on our list every day. Inspiration anyone?

Exercise

Love your body. Never be conscience stricken about your body. Our bodies, especially female bodies undergo lots of hormonal and childbirth changes. Accept those changes gracefully and work towards overall fitness. The overall goal for anybody is to be healthy and build better immunity. Start with any low impact exercise and gradually move towards anything challenging. Start simple. So just grab your water bottle, a mat if you want to start with yoga, or put on your exercise shoes. Yes, don’t forget to turn on your favorite music. It certainly adds extra punch to your workouts.

Healthy eating

We love to eat and indulge occasionally. Healthy eating hugely impacts our bodies. Try to satiate your cheesecake cravings by having a single piece. Never deprive your yearning but portion control certainly helps to stay within the boundaries. Add more fruits and vegetables to your palette. After all, with summer coming up, who doesn’t want to look great in that little black dress or a pair of shorts.

Water

Water, water and more water. Ditch those cans or bottles and stay focused on water. Boring, you bet! Add some lemon or mint or strawberry. Okay we know you have lots of ideas to make that glass of water interesting. So just start. Water not only just hydrates your body but does tons of other chores for our bodies. Well, after all those harmful toxins are flushed out of bodies, you will love that soft glow on your skin. Smiling already, so just start right away!

Sleep

At some point in our lives we all wanted to throw that alarm clock away because we wanted some extra sleep. We wanted to steal those extra minutes before rubbing our eyes to open wide and start our day. Sleep deprivation is like refusing food to our brains. Our brains need it in the right amount to function effectively which is why it makes it extremely important to sleep well. Plan your time well. Let your favorite shows or movies wait a little longer while you catch up with your sleep. A good sleep helps to fight stress a lot better than just brooding over it.

Stress

Stress is synonymous with each of us these days. While stressing, try to stress less. Well, easier said than done but stress has huge impacts on our bodies. The heart is one of its worst victims. Try to manage stress with meditation by stealing a few minutes each day. Change will be noticeable, guaranteed!

Baking

Love cake? We all do. We do not need birthdays to bake or eat a cake. Try baking, it’s very therapeutic and your family members will simply love and appreciate your effort as they dig into each slice.

Vacation

It’s spring! No need to pack those heavy jackets to keep you warm when you are on your vacation. We all need a small break from our lives from time to time and hit a new road. You need not fly all the time. Pack some healthy snacks, your favorite clothes and zoooom to some countryside location. Soak the sun and it will leave you rejuvenated.

Gardening

Most of us love flowers but do not have enough space to keep enough plants in our balcony or patio. Winters can be quite harsh for the plants too. It’s spring and the perfect time to plant those seeds which will bloom perfectly by the time summer sets in. Gardening can be a big stressbuster and the end result of gardening will be purely joy.

Sports

Adding a sport to your life is a great way to keep yourself fit. Any kind of sport takes away all the negativity and dullness from bodies and minds. Just make sure to keep yourself hydrated whenever you are playing any sport.

These are a few elementary self-care ideas which we feel will make you feel enlivened and reinvigorated. Enjoy the season and catch you in the summer!