Sunday, November 27, 2011

Build and Brand Your Business Identity

Businesses have been waiting long for the release of Google+ business pages. Finally Google has opened the Google+ pages. Business can start using the business pages for managing their brand identity. The Google+ page is open to all businesses irrespective of brands, products, local businesses and other businesses. Here is Google’s definition of Google+ pages

“For businesses and brands, Google+ pages help you connect with the customers and fans who love you. Not only can they recommend you with a +1, or add you to a circle to listen long-term. They can actually spend time with your team, face-to-face-to-face. All you need to do is start sharing, and you’ll soon find the super fans and loyal customers that want to say hello,”

Google+ page is a lot similar to Google+ profiles but pages don’t support notifications and will not allow you to add people to circles until your page is already added to that person’s circle.

Below is the Google+ Page of Toyota USA

One of the first and foremost thing you should do after creating a business page is to link that business page to your website URL and also link the page from your website. You need to use rel=”publisher” tag when you are linking from your website. You can link in two ways.

You can also add images to your Google+ page photostrip. Below is the step:

To create a ‘photostrip’ effect, click on the blue ‘edit profile’ button and then click ‘Add some photos here’.

The next most important thing is to create a custom URL using http://gplus.to/

The orginal article can be viewed at Sexy Social Media

Pearl spot fish fried in banana leaf - The Kerala style

The most delicious dish I have experienced is Pearl spot fish fried in banana leaf (Karimeen Pollichathu) in Grand Hotel Cochin. Pearl spot fish (popularly known as Karimeen) is a tasty fish whether it is fried simply or fried in banana leaf. The dish is so popular in Kerala, God's Own Country. You can get the dish in star hotels as well as toddy shops. Here is step by step guide on how you can make delicious Pearl spot fish fried in banana leaf

Serves: 4
Ingredients

Pearl Spot Fish/Karimeen - 4 fish cleaned and side slit
Coconut oil - for frying
Tender banana leaves - to wrap the fish in while cooking

Method of cleaning pearl spot fish:

1)Slice the thick coating of thick scales on pearl spot fish with a sharp knife.
2)A cutting board can be used to rub the fish. Use salt while you rub the fish against a rough surface. Do clean inside out.
3)Wash the fish in clean water and then soak it in curd/lemon juice to get rid of bad smell of the fish.
4)Take the fish out of the curd/lemon juice after half an hour. Wash the fish again in clean water.
5)Make side slits through the fish.

Ingredients For the paste:

Shallots - 10
Onions - 1 big
Ginger - 2" piece
Garlic - 10 cloves
Chilly Powder - 1 tablespoon
Pepper powder - 2 teaspoon
Vinegar - 2 teaspoon
Curry leaves - 2 strands
Salt - As needed

Preparation Method

Grind together pepper powder, shallots, ginger and garlic into a coarse paste.
Add chilly powder, turmeric and salt and little water to make the masala to a paste form.
Rub it all over the fish inside out.
Wrap the fish in banana leaf
Leave it covered for half an hour for the masala to be absorbed into the fish.
Fry it in coconut oil on both sides, until it turns dark brown.

Serving Method

Serve hot in a plate along with the banana leaf with onion rings, tomatoes, cucumber and a piece of lime.

Below is a video on how a prepare pearl spot fish fried in banana leaf is prepared in toddy shops.



The video courtesy goes to Welcome to Kumarakom




This is my entry for the Master Chef Contest on IndiBlogger.