Too hungover to go to brunch? Chef Gift of Pedalicious (38 Ekkamai Soi 12, 02-713-3377) gives us the low-down on her secret pan-fried eggs.

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 30g diced ham
• 30g diced onions
• 25g bacon
• 1 teaspoon salted butter
• 1 teaspoon Maggi seasoning sauce
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• salt and pepper
• parsley for garnish

Procedure

1. Heat oil and salted butter in a pan and sauté (stir fry) diced ham and onion until they are just cooked. Season with salt and pepper.
2.  Crack the eggs on top and let them cook the way you prefer them.
3. Finish with a dash of Maggi seasoning sauce and use the parsley as garnish.

Tips

1. Use duck eggs instead of chicken eggs as an alternative, as they have a slightly different flavor.
2. Use a small pan which is not Teflon-coated because the most delicious part of the dish is the little burned and crispy bits that stick around the bottom and edge of the pan.
3. Fried eggs are really better when super fresh. Even if they’re safe to eat, eggs close to their expiry date just aren’t the same thing as fresh ones.

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I-S list 7 gym-less exercises to keep you fit and healthy.

Walk around the office
Collect documents from the printer and distribute them to your colleagues.

Tone your arms
Pick up weighty packages from reception and offer to deliver them to your colleagues’ desks.

Get some cardio
Wait till the last minute to go to the toilet, then run to the one three levels above yours.

Get off your ass
Put an alarm on your phone and place it at the far corner of your desk so you have to stand up to switch it off every half-hour.

Brisk walk
Don’t order takeout. Go to the restaurant and order your lunch personally.

Beat lunch coma
Hold an hour-long meeting in the conference room—without chairs.

Instil balance
Remove a wheel from your chair so you’re forced not to hunch all day long.

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HOW TO: Make your Own Cleansing Facial

Get this: 2-inch long fresh turmeric, 2-3 lemons, blender or mortar and pestle
Do this:
1. Wash the lemons and turmeric first, then without peeling them, chop them into small pieces.
2. Use a mortar and pestle or a blender to mix the ingredients together into a paste.
3. Strain the solution and dispose of the solid bits, keeping the liquid to be put into a jar. It can be stored for two months.
4. Apply the solution to your face. Be careful not to apply to your eyes or mouth. Leave it on for 30 minutes, and then rinse off with water.

HOW TO:Make a Stuffed Doll or Pillow

Get this: fabric, scissors, thread and needle, pins, polyester cotton, printed pattern on A3
Do this:
1.
Choose a shape and print it on an A3-size piece of paper. Tip: When doing a google image search for your pattern, just add the words “clip art.” For example, “rabbit clip art.” You can also just make a square version of this to make a pillow.
2. Lay your pattern down onto some fabric. The fabric should be twice the size of your pattern since your pillow has two sides.
3. Fold the fabric with the patterned side facing in and pin the pattern together with both layers of fabric.
4. Cut through both layers of fabric following the pattern.
5. Remove the pattern paper but leave the pins as they are, so the fabric pieces don’t move when you stitch.
6. Sew shut the doll’s body but leave a gap of at least 1.5 inches, so you can stuff the empty rabbit with polyester later.
7. Once you’ve stuffed the rabbit with the polyester, do another double stitch to close up the open seam.

HOW TO: recycle Your Old T-Shirts

Get this: two old T-shirts, needle and thread, scissors, pins
Do this:
1.
Take an old T-shirt you really like. Save the pattern part of it by cutting it out.
2. Pin the cut out pattern to another t-shirt you’d like to decorate.
3. Double stitch the pattern onto the shirt that you’d like to decorate.

HOW TO: Build a tire swing

Get This: 15 to 18-inch old tire, thick rope, old t-shirt
Do This:
1.
Acquire a tire. Many auto shops are happy to give out old tires. A 15-inch tire works best for youngsters, 18-inches for adults. The tire shouldn’t contain any steel belts as these can injure children.
2. Acquire some thick rope. HomePro offers a selection suitable for the job. You should choose the thickest possible diameter in order to ensure strength.
3. Search for a strong, low hanging branch on a tree containing only green leaves. Sling the rope over the branch and apply weight to the rope to test. The branch should stay completely stationary under load. It is wise to put an old T-shirt or rag at the point of contact between the ropes and branch to avoid erosion or excessive wear to the branch and rope.
4. Use a box knot (see how to make one here: http://tiny.cc/tl8nj) to secure the tire to the end of the rope after the rope has been tied to the branch. Make sure to test the swing before letting youngsters have a go. By Cole Pennington, photo by Tim Samoff

HOW TO: Get Ice-Cold Beer Without a Freezer

Get this: six bottles of beer, tall ice bucket with a cover, 3 handfuls of rock salt, crushed ice, water
Do this:
1. Place the beer bottles in a bucket, leaving enough room for ice.
2. Fill the bucket about half full with ice, followed by one handful of salt.
3. Fill up the bucket with ice, followed by the rest of the rock salt, and water.
4. Cover up the bucket, then shake the bucket in circular motion, for about 10 minutes.
5. Check on your beer and consume at your desired temperature. Make sure to drink it before it becomes frozen solid. Tip: Too much salt can lower the temperature too quickly and cause the beer bottles to break.

HOW TO: MAKE THE PERFECT CAPPUCCINO

Get this: Your own espresso coffee maker. Try Lavazza’s LB1000 model for B29,900 (Great Earth International, 2/F Alma Link Bldg., Ploenchit Rd., 02-655-1551. www.great-earth.net) or a more affordable Severin’s 5954 model (B2,540) at Verasu (83/7 Wireless Rd., 02-254-8100). You also need good coffee—pick the best ground beans your pocket allows, but arabica coffee is richer in flavor than robusta, so it is better suited for milky coffee drinks like cappuccinos.

Do This:
1. The cappuccino is built on top of an espresso. If your espresso is not perfect, the cappuccino won’t be either. A normal espresso uses just 7 grams of ground coffee. Boiler pressure should be between 0.9 and 1.2 bar and the time between you pressing the button and some coffee dripping out should last 5-6 seconds.
2. The crema (top layer) of your espresso should be golden. If it’s brown, then you just burned it!
3. Fill a pitcher halfway with cold milk. Insert the espresso machine’s nozzle into the pitcher, beneath the surface of the milk. Steam to 75°C. You may need a thermometer before this becomes second nature.
4. Before pouring the foamed milk, knock the pitcher, hard, a couple of times on the table to set the milk.
5. Make sure to pour the milk from high above your cup to let more air into the milk. And pour it into the center of the espresso.
6. Create cool designs by swirling around the milk while pouring to leave the white outline of the milk. Photo: Mark Prince & CoffeeGeek.com

HOW TO: Stencil your wall

Get this: color sprays, cardboards, A4 papers, cutter, glue, pencil
1. Design your own pattern or download one from www.spraypaintstencils.com for free.
2. Print out the pattern on paper and then glue it to a piece of cardboard.
3. With a cutter, cut out the stencil from the cardboard.
4. Tape your stencil to the object you want to paint, and spray paint the stencil. Don’t overdo it or the paint will run.
5. Wait for it to dry a little. Repeat #4.
6. Wait for it to dry completely. Remove.

HOW TO:Make your own FLESHLIGHT

What you need: empty potato chips can, sponge pad, lubricated condom, bottle ring, elastic band or elastic wrist band, scissors, ruler and marker
1. Cut the sponge pad down to the size of the can. Try rolling the sponge pad just as if you’re making sushi, to see if it fits. Make sure you’re able to fit at least three fingers or the estimated size of your weiner through the space in the middle of the roll.
2. Once you have the right size for the pad, get a condom and mark the length of the condom on the spongey pad. Cut the pad again to match the condom’s length.
3. Position the bottle ring at the bottom of the condom, and then lay it on one edge of the pad and roll the pad around the condom, again like sushi, as if the condom is the filling and the pad is the seaweed.
4. Stuff your condom roll into the potato can. If you like, use red or pink marker and color the sponge to make it more realistic. Pull and roll the top elastic portion of the condom around the can of the mouth, and then secure it with an elastic band.
5. Use it with a water-based lubricant and enjoy your new toy!

HOW TO: Make Good Use of Your Holiday in the City

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Stuck in Bangkok for Songkran? We promise you won’t get bored with these fun DIY activities.

HOW TO: Revamp Your Chairs

Get this: fabric, chalk, scissors, thread and needle, ribbon, iron
Do this:
1. Measure the back of the chair that you wish to cover: the height as well as the width. Cut a piece of fabric to double the length of the back’s height so that you can fold it in half to form the cover. Leave an inch on each side, depending on the thickness of the back.
2. Fold the fabric into a pocket with the patterned side on the inside. The crease should be at the top, leaving three sides open.
3. Draw two vertical lines on both the left and right sides to match your back’s measurements, and then do double stitches to close both left and right sides, leaving the bottom end open to slip onto the chair. When finished, flip it out so the pattern is facing outwards.
4. Tidy up the bottom ends by folding a 1-centimeter cuff, then double stitch them up.
5. Iron the finished product before covering your chair and decorate with a matching ribbon.

HOW TO: Clean Anything in Your House without any Cleaning Products

Electrical appliances: You can brush out the dirty stains with a toothbrush and toothpaste, then polish with a dry cloth to remove surface scratches.
Sink: If your bathroom or kitchen sink is clogged, drop in 2-3 tablespoons of salt followed by a small amount of boiled water with a few tablespoons of baking soda thrown in. You can also remove rust from your sink by scrubbing it with table salt.
Table stains: Alcohol can help you remove ugly stains on wooden furniture. Soak a piece of cloth in alcohol, then leave it on the stain for 2-3 minutes and it will magically vanish.
Coffee mug: Use approximately one tablespoon of salt dissolved in water to soak a sponge that you use to scrub out the nasty brown stains inside.
Toilets: To take away the bad smells from your loo, pour 2-3 liters of strong salt solution into the bowel. Wait a few minutes before flushing. To make the solution mix one part salt, with two parts water.
Kitchen: Sticky stains on the kitchen floor can be rubbed out easily by using a damp mop with a few drops of vinegar.
Glasses: If you have white residue on your glasses or your vases, dip them in water with a few drops of vinegar.
Trash: Place a few pages of newspaper under the trash bag in your garbage can to reduce the smell from your rubbish.

HOW TO: Make a Laptop Case

Get this: 27 x 16-inch piece of felt cloth, 27 x 16-inch sponge pad, 27 x 16-inch lining, needle and thread, big round buttons, pins
Do this:
1.
Layer the felt cloth, sponge pad, and the lining fabric together, and then use pins to prevent the materials from moving.
2. Have the lining side up, and then close up all the ends with double stitches, leave the top end open.
3. Once you’re done, flip the case inside out. Sew the edge to tidy up.
4. Make button holes, and sew the buttons in.

HOW TO: Get a Ponytail that Won’t Make You Look Like an Auntie

Get this: 2 elastic hair bands
Do this:
1. Section off 2-inches of your hair at the top of your forehead.
2. Bunch up the rest and tie it up into a high ponytail with an elastic hair band.
3. Now grab the hair you sectioned off and tie it loosely to the main ponytail so that it stays bouncy on the top of your head.

HOW TO: Make a RUSTIC Wooden Tray

Get this: four 14.5” x 2” and four 10” x 2” pieces of wood, nails or screws, chalk, drill, sand paper
Do this:
1.
Assemble all the wooden pieces together in the shape of the tray. Use a piece of chalk to mark where they will be screwed together: one screw wherever a piece from the bottom of the tray meets the frame.
2. Drill a pilot hole wherever you previously marked the wood with chalk. The drill bit should be a bit smaller than the diameter of your screw.
3. Put screws in all your pilot holes, joining the wood together.
4. Sand the finished product with a fine-grit sandpaper to make the surface smoother.

HOW TO: Get Rid of Your Old Stuff

Books

Stang Mongkolsuk Library Book Donation Center accepts any kind of books and will distribute them to those in need in the rural areas of Thailand. (P102, 1/F, Physics Building, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, 272, Rama IV Rd., 02-201-5717. http://stang.sc.mahidol.ac.th)
Read4thai sends books to schools and libraries in Thailand’s rural areas on request. Unwanted books are sold online at cheap prices to encourage the people with less purchasing power to read books. The revenue goes towards supporting the project. (8/12 Vibhavadi Soi 44, Vibhavadi-Rangsit Rd., 02-941-4194. www.read4thai.org)

Clothes

Bannok Secondhand Clothes Project supports the poor in the North of Thailand, especially in Chiang Rai. So basically, the clothes sent here will be sold, and the revenue goes towards food and essential items for those in need. You can send your secondhands via post. (106, Moo 1, Maeyao, Chiang Rai 57100, 053-737-7412. www.bannok.com)
Ban Kru Noi. Although preferring clothes for the children, Ban Kru Noi also accepts adult clothes to support the older kids grew up in the shelter. (319, Moo 1, Ratburana Soi 26, 02-871-3083. www.moobankru.com/bankrunoi)

HOW TO: Make Candles

Get this: old candles, glass container, wick, string, decorations, essence oil (optional)
Do this:
1. Chop up a new or leftover candle into small pieces in order to melt it more easily.
2. Take your chopped up pieces and place them in a suitable container. Make sure your container is microwavable. Then put it in the microwave for thirty-second bursts, stirring between bursts until it’s fully melted. Make sure your container is microwavable.
3. Tie a piece of string that will serve as a wick to a toothpick and hang it over your selected container. If possible, have the wick hanging position exactly at the center.
4. Pour the melted wax in the mold until it’s almost full. If you want, mix essence oil with the melted wax before pouring.
5. Once the wax becomes solid, decorate your candle as you wish.

HOW TO: Make Good Use of Your Holiday in the City (2)

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With more than 40 million passengers every year, it’s perhaps no surprise that the immigration at Suvarnabhumi is always so congested you could end up spending an hour waiting in a very long queue. While we can’t force them to hire more staff (or for the staff to work faster), here are some tips to get through a little faster and make your connecting flight.

1. Suvarnabhumi has two entrances to immigration (if you haven’t noticed), so try using the one located further to the right during the day to avoid swarms of AirAsia passengers.
2. CitiBank cardholders can redeem 1,000 points for a one-way fast track immigration service. For more information contact 1588.
3. Visa Platinum, Visa Signature and Visa Infinite cardholders can also purchase VIP passes, but rates vary depending on your date of travel. We checked rates for Apr and they start from around US$57.85 (B1,760) for Platinum and Signature cardholders and US$54.6 (B1,660) for Infinite cardholders. Check rates and book at http://speedpass.yqever.com.
4. More relevant for visiting friends, the newly-opened hotel St. Regis Bangkok (see page 16) offers a complimentary fast track service for every guest staying at their hotel. If your friends also want to book a limo, it’s B2,900 one-way. Siam Kempinski also offers the fast track service for an additional charge (fee TBA).

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Chef Gaggan Anand tells us how to fix a quick and healthy Indian chaat.

Hot new Indian restaurant Gaggan (68/1 Soi Lang Suan, 02-652-1700) serves up classic Indian food with impressive, sometimes arresting, modern gastro touches, and this corn chaat (B200 a la carte) is a popular starter at the restaurant. Usually a zesty, streetside snack in many parts of India, the chaat has many variations, this version involving corn (diced baked sweet potatoes are also popular). Here’s a modern take on this all-time favorite that makes for an easy appetizer or can even be served in little shot glasses for a cocktail party.

Ingredients

• 2 cobs of local corn
• 1 onion
• 10 cherry tomatoes
• 1 lemon
• 1 green chili
• a few sprigs of cilantro
• salt (or Indian black salt, if available)

Procedure

1. Roast the corn cobs on a grill or oven until half the kernels are lightly charred.
2. Dice the onions, cherry tomatoes, green chili and cilantro into corn kernel sized pieces.
3. Using a good knife, shave the kernels off the corn cobs.
4. Mix the kernels with the rest of the ingredients, add lemon juice and salt to taste.
5. Serve chilled.

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We speak to Billy Bautista of the famed La Monita Taqueria (Mahatun Plaza, Phloen Chit Rd., 02-650-9581) and get him to reveal the recipe for this chunky, crunchy and tart guacamole.

Ingredients

• 4 tomatoes, deseeded and diced
• ½ onion, diced
• 2 jalapeno chillies, diced (or substitute Thai prik kee noo)
• a handful of cilantro, chopped
• juice of 2 limes
• a pinch of cumin powder
• a pinch of salt
• 2 avocados, peeled, pitted and coarsely chopped
1. Combine the first seven ingredients in a large bowl to make salsa fresca.
2. Add a pinch of salt to the chopped avocado and lightly cut with a spoon.
3. Add the mixture from step 1, and combine, mashing to your desired level of chunkiness.

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1.  Dry clean your jeans for the first few months, to lock in the pigment.
2. Or soak your jeans in saline water for one night before the first wash.
3.  To prevent premature fading, don’t wash your jeans too often.
4.  Turn jeans inside out beforehand, both for hand wash and machine wash. Use cold water.
5.  Keep your jeans away from direct sun by drying them indoors and, if you need to iron them, do with warm temperature.

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TrueVisions signed a three-year deal with Siam Sport Syndicate which will see TrueVisions broadcasting 204 TPL matches per season up to and including the 2013 season. Good news for us and good news for each of the 18 TPL teams who receive four million baht per year from the deal. On top of this, NBT 11 will be broadcasting 68 matches in 2011 and T-Sport will be showing 34. All this means that for the first time every single TPL match will be televised live. Hello couch, bye bye life.

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Learn the tricks from the pro

We speak to expert Mr. Paisarn Sornphrom, of The Barber Shop (G/F, The P&L Club, Conrad Bangkok, 87, Wireless Rd., 02-685-3898).

1. Before and after applying the shaving cream, use a hot towel to heat up the shaving area for 3-4 minutes. It opens your pores and swells up the hairs, making shaving easier and preventing bleeding.

2.  Pull the skin tight with one finger and shave in small increments without putting too much pressure on the
blade.

3.  When finished, use aftershave to close up the pores and reduce skin irritation.

4.  While applying aftershave, also massage your face for

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