Day: June 19, 2014

4 Reasons Why You Love Samosa

Walk into the nooks and crannies of North India and you will not be able to find a single human being whose lips have not touched the crisp crust and gooey filling of heaven that is in a triangular shape. This lip smacking snack is none other than the humble samosa. We can just wonder why no Indian Neruda has written an ode to it! Samosa is a snack that is made by simple ingredients such as flour, potatoes, peas, salt and other spices. A filling of mashed boiled potatoes is created and spices added to it, in order to give it a flavour to die for. Thin rotis of the kneaded dough are rolled out and the filling goes into it as the dough neatly hugs it from all the sides in the shape of a triangle. This is one snack that everyone loves to have! This delicacy from India has started gaining a fan following overseas too. So much for gluttony! Here, we bring to you the reasons behind this mania for samosas:

1. Easily Available

Go to any part of North India and you are bound to find a person selling samosa. It is one thing which is found in a properly air conditioned and hygienic food chain as well as at a roadside stall. This snack is absolutely omnipotent in nature. It is so easily available that you simply cannot say no to this delicacy. It is said that if you do not like something in the beginning but if you keep on doing that repeatedly, you eventually develop a taste for it and get addicted to it. So, if you are getting a thing at every corner of your city, then how can you ever dislike it? Thus, the samosa available everywhere is one which you just cannot miss. The next time you come across a place with samosas, go grab them.

2. Pocket Friendly

We all love delicious pizzas and sandwiches of high end restaurants and cafes. However, as it is said with great power comes great responsibility. In the similar way, with great food comes great price! But, there is an exception.There is a snack which is so delicious and yet, so cheap. Even in today’s world where a mere cell phone costs a humongous fifty thousand rupees, having something to eat which is so reasonable can just be treated like a blessing from heaven. The humble samosa is available at Rs. 5 to Rs. 10 at some places even today! Ask any college student to name the thing which he/she loves to eat and that person will simply give out two names, Maggi and Samosa! We all know there is a tough fight between the two but given the price for both, you can always be sure that a samosa will never burn a hole in your pocket.

3. Gluttony

As the Bible says, we are sinners and as Satan says, if we are born sinners then we must sin. With the Supernaturals series getting hold of the attention of our generation completely, it is no challenge to guess whose side are we going to choose. Satan, it is! Eating a lot is definitely an inseparable part of your life. Or in fact, to put it in better terms, you do not eat to live, but live to eat or why would you be scanning this website right now! Samosa is a snack that is deep fried and oozes with glistening oil. That definitely does not guarantee a healthy body but the way its palatable nature satiates one’s hunger is beyond the realm of mortals. The unhealthy snacks are the tastiest snacks ever and that is no news to anyone. The same goes for Samosas. This Indian junk food is bound to get you up on your toes to satisfy those desperate pangs of hunger when you just want to eat something really fried and heavy.

4. Avant-garde

If you are a foodie then you must have had experimented with your food and tried erratic combinations that made your not-so-foody (read boring) friends puke and faint at the same time. Samosa is one snack that you can combine with any damn thing on the planet and it would taste just better than before. This avant garde aspect of samosas make them the object of envy for all the other cuisines. One can have a samosa in a simple way with chutney or go one step further and eat it with a gravy based dish made of chickpeas. There are many parts oin India, such as Gujarat and Rajasthan mainly, where the breakfast of samosa and jalebi is the norm. The crispness and spicy flavour of the samosas have the divine soulmate in the form of sweet jalebis. These variants of the simple samosa make it a snack that is meant to be the food of the nation. Nay, food of the world!

June 19, 2014
Almonds at its Best.

The nuts called Almonds are all good and are most sought after and preferable nuts of all. These crunchy, tasty nuts aren’t just mouthwatering, they promote health and longevity like no other food, if eaten in moderation. Just a handful of nuts are enough to meet your body’s daily requirements. Simply one ounce of almonds provides third of your body’s need. Almonds are my favorite nut of all. Almost every morning, I add 8 to 10 almonds to my breakfast with a glass of milk. Almonds are rich in Vitamin E and also contain magnesium, which lowers blood pressure and heart healthy monounsaturated fats, which helps in lowering LDL, the so called ‘bad cholesterol’. Almonds are very beneficial for health and provides all sorts of nutrients. The diet which is rich in almonds, supports reduced inflammation throughout the body and also reduced levels of insulins, which is a hormone that helps in controlling blood sugar. Fortunately, the deliciously flavored and versatile almond is available throughout the year to make a healthy and tasty addition to almost any dish.

Lee Holmes agrees,” Almonds are full of good fats, and are a great hit of protein, which is essential for strong skin, hair and nails. It’s also a great snack between meals, keeping you satiated.” Almonds are actually stone fruits related to cherries, plums and peaches. The seed of the almond fruit is that we refer to as the almond nut. Almonds are scientifically classified as drupes, have several health benefits and these beneficial properties are used via various forms like almond oil, almond milk, almond paste or whole almonds. The benefits may range from healthy hair, good skin or managing healthy cholesterol levels, there are innumerable advantages which are not generally known by everyone. So, many of its good qualities and benefits are enlisted here, and this will surely inspire you to never skip on almonds in your diet.

Skincare benefits: Almonds have great health benefits in terms of good skincare. Almonds prevent the premature appearance of wrinkles, pimples, blackheads, dry skin. A regular massage of almond oil will get you a glowing and healthy flawless skin complexion.
Haircare benefits: Almond oil is also helpful in treating dark circles around oils, as it helps to revitalize the fatigue cells and improve the blood flow. It is also useful in treating all kinds of hair problems. It help as a cure for treating hair-fall, dandruff and prevents premature whitening of hair.
High in nutrients: Almonds are super-nutritious and have high nutritive value as they contain iron, copper and vitamins and are hence used as an effective remedy for anemia. They are also beneficial in treating constipation as they increase the fiber content in our food and have laxative properties.
Antioxidant benefits and contain vitamins: Almonds have antioxidant properties and contains alpha-tocopherol, which is a major source of vitamin-E and is hence really great for healthy hair and skin and also increases blood flow to the vital organs.
Reduce weight: Almond’s healthy fats help the obese person to lose weight. Almond rich, low-calorie diet, which is high in monounsaturated fats can help overweight people to put down some kilos more effectively than a low calorie diet high in complex carbohydrates. It also lowers the risk of weight gain in individuals consuming almonds in their daily routine. So, never let your concern about gaining weight, prevent you from enjoying the nutritious and delicious almonds.
Reduces Bad cholesterol: Almonds help in lowering bad cholesterol or low density- lipoprotein(LDL), as they contain healthy monounsaturated fats and some polyunsaturated fats, which are the same type of health promoting fats found in olive oil. They reduce the risk of heart disease, due to the antioxidant action of vitamin E. Thus, addition of almonds in your diet can prove to be more heart healthy.
Prevention in Diabetes: Almonds provide double protection against diabetes as they decreases the after-meal rises in blood sugar levels and also provides antioxidants to mop up the smaller amounts of free radicals that still result in. Hence, they help in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. They also protect against cardiovascular diseases by lessening the increase in cholesterol-damaging free radicals that follows large elevations in blood sugar.
A few quick serving ideas with almonds:
Add sliced almonds to chicken salad.
Garnish chopped almonds on almost anything from homemade cookies or cakes or ice creams or any dish. Almonds are versatile that they go with all.
Add some almond butter to the breakfast shake which in turn boost its taste and protein content.
Enhance a healthy sauté of curried vegetables with slice almonds and enjoy.
Almonds and apple slices make a wonderful power pack, on-the-go snack.
Add to plain yoghurt, some chopped almonds and dried fruit and make it delicious.
Sprinkle a handful of nuts over your morning cereal or cornflakes or porridge, lunchtime salad, dinner’s steamed vegetables.
After acknowledging so many benefits of almonds and so healthy and easy to make simple quick servings, I don’t think any sane person would do injustice to them by not having some almonds everyday. If regular consumption is important, then moderation is also necessary. So, enjoy your almonds and be creative with them. With so many different uses and different products, they are sure to acquire an important place in our life.

Eat Almonds. Live healthy.

June 19, 2014
Chicken 65 Recipe

Chicken 65 is a delicious Indo Chinese dish which is very popular in south India.This recipe can be found in many of the dhabas and restaurants around every part of the country. Many of the people like to order this dish whenever they have visited dhabas and it is also most adorable by the children.This can be served as a great starter and many people like to have it with the drinks. This dish gets the flavor from the ingredients like ginger, garlic, red chillies and vinegar.For the preparation of this dish we can take either chicken with bone or without bone.The main important ingredient from which the whole flavor comes to this dish is only from the curry leaves.

Delicious Chicken 65 Recipe

Different stories for the name chicken 65:

This famous chicken recipe is originated in Chennai.Universally this dish is called as chicken 65,but there are many stories regarding the name of the dish. But many people exactly don’t know the correct reason why does it so called.Few people say that the dish is so called because the first price of this dish was 65 rupees and few say that the weight of each chicken piece is about 65 grams and thus the name came into acceptance.But many people say that the number 65 in the chicken 65 represents the year in which this dish was introduced by a famous hotel in Chennai named Buhari.Thus the name chicken 65 was originated.This dish is used as a simple meal for the Indian military during the year 1965.

But the exact name Chicken 65 came as follows.Actually this dish was started from a Military canteen in Chennai where there were a set of Indian army soldiers from the northern states of India usually visited as it was one of the popular canteens. As they don’t know the regional language they used to suffer a lot with this problem.Most of the Soldiers tried to order this item by showing the number in the menu.As it is the 65 item on the menu later when ever they visited this canteen they get used to that number in the menu and they easily ordered this item by saying the number 65 to the canteen members, later it became famous with that number and spread all over as chicken 65.

history-of-chicken-65

Ingredients:

1) Take one 450 grams of Chicken ( make sure it is boneless and is cut into small cubes )

2) Take half table spoon of rice flour

3) Take one table spoon of corn flour

4) Take one table spoon of red chilli powder

5) Take one table spoon of garam masala powder

6) Take one table spoon of ginger garlic paste

7) Take one table spoon of lemon juice

8) Take one pinch of red food color

9) Take one pinch of turmeric powder

10) Take two table spoons of curd or yogurt

11) Take one raw egg

12) Take salt that is sufficient for taste

13) Take refined oil required for making a deep fry

14) Take chopped onion cut in the form of rings for garnishing

15) Take chopped coriander leaves for garnishing

Ingredients that are required for making chicken 65

Preparation:

Chicken 65 is a spicy, red and deep fried chicken mostly taken as a snack item before meal or at the evenings and is accompanied with the onion slices, slit green chilies and lemon slices.The preparation of chicken 65 is different from one place to another depending on their taste requirements.This dish can be prepared by using boned chicken or boneless,here we are we are taking boneless chicken.Basically chicken 65 is red in color because it is deep fried and red food color is added to it.Chicken 65 can be prepared in many ways but the taste is lied within the spices.

Step 1:

At first take a bowl and add all the ingredients rice flour, corn flour, red chilli powder, garam masala powder, ginger garlic paste, lemon juice, red food color, turmeric powder, curd, salt sufficient for taste and mix all of them along with the egg yolk for about two minutes, now add the chicken pieces slowly to the ingredients mixture and mix them well until each piece is gets the spice attached to it and leave it undisturbed to marinate for few minutes.

Chicken marination for making chicken 65

Step 2:

Now take a pan on the stove, switch on the flame and add oil to it that is required for making a deep fry.Leave the pan on a medium flame so that the oil gets heated up.Now take the marinated chicken pieces that are ready for cooking and put them slowly in the oil piece by piece and care should be taken that the oil should not spill.After adding all the pieces to the oil make a deep fry until their color changes to nice reddish brown color.After their color is changed take a plate with a tissue paper placed evenly on it and move the chicken pieces on to it.That’s it very hot and spicy mouth watering chicken 65 is ready.Garnish it with vegetables or onion, green chillies, lemon slices, coriander leaves and serve it.

Hot and spicy mouth watering chicken 65 recipe

June 19, 2014
Foods that have the healing powers

Eating proper food is very important in maintaining a healthy body as it helps the body organs to function appropriately. Treating the diseases with the healthy food is one such method which we have been following from a very long time now. A normal person is generally aware of such food items which give the essential required nutrients to the human body and so they love to eat them. But they are not necessarily aware that there are few food items as well which have high healing capacity in it. This simply means that if you eat these food items then your body will have the enough power to fight the diseases and will heal automatically. All these food items which have been mentioned here have several distinct properties in them which help in maintaining a healthy body.

There are hundreds of food options that are available and so people have the liberty to choose the food as per their liking. But eating a food which has the healing power in it has several advantages. Firstly it helps in treating the diseases without the need of medicines. Secondly it slows down the aging mechanism of the human body. So you will fell fresh and young. Thirdly it helps the body in gaining the energy required to fight the disease causing germs and bacteria. Today science and medicine has progressed a lot and all these facts that we are going to mention in this article have been proved in various research conducted by the scientists. Start eating these foods and protect your body from any harmful disease.

Spinach: You must have seen the Popeye cartoon series in your childhood where he eats the spinach and gets the strength to fight against the enemies. It is because spinach has tremendous amount of Folic acid, Fibre, Vitamin A and Vitamin C in it which has several positive effects on the human body. The fibre present in the spinach helps in controlling the condition of constipation and is a very essential mineral for the proper functioning of the eyes and the digestive system. Spinach also has the anti-inflammatory properties in it which stops the cancer causing cells in getting replicated and protects the body from the prostate and breast cancer. Several eye and heart disease can also be avoided with the help of spinach. It also helps in keeping your bones strong as it has Vitamin K in it. So it is advised that you should eat spinach on a regular basis.

Carrots: Carrot not only has an adequate quantity of Vitamin A in it but is also very much rich in antioxidants. It has carotenoids in it which makes it an excellent food if you have an eyesight problem as it helps in maintaining the proper vision and protects you from the postmenopausal breast cancer which is very common now a days in the ladies. It also helps in regulating the blood pressure of the body. One can eat carrot daily and stay away from all these health problems. Carrots also help in stimulating the body’s immune system which fights with the disease causing germs and bacteria.

Beans: Beans has several essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals in it which makes the body stronger and helps in fighting the harmful effects of the diseases. Beans have very low glycemic index level in it which helps the human body in regulating the insulin production and maintaining the sugar level in the blood. Beans are actually low in energy density level which is a good sign as it helps in sustaining the energy and maximizing the positive effects on the human body. To your surprise beans is also equipped with rich amount of magnesium, fatty acids and potassium which provide several benefits to the human body. Where else will you find so much essential nutrients together in one place? So it is often said by the learned people that you must start eating beans to stay healthy.

Cherries: Cherry is one such fruit which has lots and lots of antioxidants and various vitamins in it. One of the biggest benefits with cherry is that they are themselves very rich in sugar which acts as an excellent source of fibers which are required by the human body. Further they have low carbohydrates content in it which again proves to be good for the body. All these help us in getting our body shielded from the harmful effects of the various diseases. Cherries can be consumed daily.

Kiwis: Kiwis is one such food which is often recommended by the doctors as it has the excellent healing capacity. Kiwi has the perfect amount fiber, potassium and phytonutrients in it which help in protecting the body against the heart stroke, respiratory diseases and cancer. It has the natural property of making the blood thin so that it can easily flow through the heart and also checks the formation of the blood clot as they are extremely dangerous for the body. It helps in lowering down the cholesterol present in the body and also maintains the blood sugar. Kiwi also helps damaged cells to get repaired and protects the DNA from getting damaged.

June 19, 2014
KARIM’S: A must visit restaurant for the non-vegetarians

Karim’s is one of the most famous non vegetarian destinations located in the Jama Masjid area of Old Delhi. The popularity of this restaurant can be described by the fact that today Karim’s is synonym to the area in which it is located. This place provides the best and most delicious Mughlai cuisine. None of the non-vegetarian food chain in India is more famous than Karim’s. This hotel has simply created its utmost position in providing the ultimate non vegetarian dishes. The reason behind its rise is the use of the secret exotic spices which they use in their dishes.

This hotel was started by the veteran cook Haji Karimuddin who served as the royal chef in the court of the Mughals. In the year 1857, when the Mughal Empire came to end after the last ruler Bhadur Shah Zafer was overthrown by the Britishers, Haji Karimuddin had no other options but to run away from the shackles of the Britishers. He spent the next few years in the small area near the Jama Masjid. Although Haji Karimuddin was in a condition which he never expected of, he never forgot the recipes of mouthwatering dishes that he used to cook for the Mughals. During this time of struggle he taught his son all the secret recipes that were used in these dishes. Finally in the year 1911, when people from different parts of India were coming to Delhi to join the coronation ceremony of the King George V, Haji Karimuddin opened a Dhaba to help the people by providing them with the tasty food during their stay. He started by selling only two dishes. With the overwhelming response that he received, he finally opened his own restaurant in the year 1913 with a view to serve people with the dishes that he used to cook in the Mughal’s kitchen. Since then this family has been serving the royal foods. At present it is the fourth generation of this family which is looking after this famous restaurant chain.

Karim’s has a wide range of the main course and starters in its menu that ranges from chicken to mutton. One can simply select the dish as per their choice and experience the taste they will cherish for a long time. One of the reasons why Karim’s food is famous is because of the fact that they are delicious in taste and quite spicy in flavor. After the mouthwatering meal, one can simply enjoy a variety of desserts which this place has. If you are planning to visit Delhi, then this city has lots to offer in terms of the tasty and delicious food options that will be available in front of you. But if you are one of the non-vegetarians then this is one such place which you must visit. You will surely have the pleasure of experiencing the cuisines that you have never had before.

This is not one of the very highly priced restaurants and so people from all section of the society visit this place to get the taste of the Mughlai foods. Every time you visit this place you will find it filled with people more than its capacity. From the time the restaurant opens and till it gets closed, you can find people all over it. This is the power of the delicious food that they serve. This restaurant is the recipient of the many prestigious awards such as the Golden Plate Best North Indian Restaurant Award for the year 2005. Recently when the Prime Minister of Pakistan visited India on the oath taking ceremony of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he expressed his desire to taste the food from this veteran restaurant. This shows that not only in India, people in various other countries are also aware of the finest food that this place provides and whenever they get a chance to visit India, they do take out time to visit Karim’s. Even the painter M. F. Hussain had words of praise after he visited this restaurant.

Almost all the magazines and shows based on the Indian food have mentions the delicious non-vegetarian food served at the Karim’s. Pioneer described Karim’s as a place which is served by a family which has a rich heritage and expertise in cooking the non-vegetarian food. Not a single hotel or restaurant can match the food being served at Karim’s. In one of its edition, the world famous Time magazine termed Karim’s as one of the best restaurants in Asia. Leading newspapers such as The Hindu, The Sunday Observer, The Asian Age, The Indian Express and everyone else have constantly reviewed this place for their readers and have mentioned it as one of the must visit non place serving restaurant. The world’s famous travel and food shows being telecasted by the National Geographic and the BBC World Guide have also praised this restaurant and have telecasted the story of a family which is so much dedicated in serving the best Mughlai dishes in India.

June 19, 2014
Pastafarianism: All Hail His Noodliness
Let me have the pleasure of introducing you to one of the oldest religions in the world, Pastafarianism. It might be an unusual name and over the internet you will find a whole lot of people announcing it as a spoof religion but it is NOT. It is as true as the Flying Spaghetti Monster Himself.

According to the Holy Scriptures, everything started 5000 years back when the lord Flying Spaghetti Monster created the earth.

Deity of Pastafarianism:-

The deity of Pastafarianism religion is Flying Spaghetti MONSTER, called so because of his distinctly non-human form. As you can already see we humans are not created in his Noodliness’ image, not even a slight possibility of that.

Theory of Creation:-

The story of Pastafarian creation is simple. First, there was a word, and that was ’Aaaaaaaaaargh!!’ His noodliness created the heaven, the trees and the midget. Following days, he created everything else. But then He got so tired that He needed the last three days for rest.

In alternate theory, Flying Spaghetti Monster drank heavily and had a hangover when He was creating Earth and everything. This is the reason for all the flaws and problems. After creating all this, His Noodliness rested and made some pasta. When He returned to check up on His creation, He discovered that thousands of years had already passed and there were pirates roaming the seas.

Origin of Religion:-

Because the religion is so ancient that it is hard to track its beginning, but according to Holy Scriptures, it started when His Noodliness gave Pirate Captain Mosey the eight I’d Really Rather You Didn’t. Since then, Pastafarians increased in number steadily but the revolt and chaos created by other religions forced Pastafarians into hiding.

Renaissance of Pastafarianism

In 2005C.E., the prophet Bobby Henderson, a Physics graduate from the Ohio State University was enlightened by Holy Noodliness, the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

This resulted in Bobby Henderson’s famous open letter to the Kansas State Board of Education in order to add this holy religion in Kansas State Schools as a part of their curriculum in Alternate Theory of Evolution. You can read the letter here. Though he failed in that attempt but he succeeded in restoring and popularizing this centuries old faith.

Worship

Morals

Morals of Pastafarians are guided by the eights Condiments, though two are lost which is a sign that His Noodliness won’t mind if you skip some of the rules of religion. The traditional dress of Pastafarianism is Pirate Regalia which pastafarians have to wear all the time or at least some time.

The Eight Condiments

Some of the Condiments, also known as I’d Really Rather You Didn’t, are mentioned below:-
- I’d Really Rather You Didn’t Act Like A Sanctimonious, Holier-Than-Thou Ass When Describing My Noodly Goodness. If some people don’t believe in me, that’s okay. Really. I’m not that vain. Besides, this isn’t about them so don’t change the subject. OK?
- I’d Really Rather You Didn’t Use My Existence As A Means To Oppress, Subjugate, Punish, Eviscerate, And/Or, You Know, Be Mean To Others. I don’t require sacrifices and purity is for drinking water, not people.
- I’d Really Rather You Didn’t Judge People For The Way They Look, Or How They Dress, Or The Way They Talk, Or, Well, Just Play Nice, Okay? Oh, and get this in your thick heads: Woman = Person. Man = Person. Samey-Samey. One is not better than the other, unless we’re talking about fashion. Then, I’m sorry, but I gave that to women and some guys who know the difference between teal and fuchsia.
You can read the rest here if you want.

Noodle Dance:

Noodle dance is the complex traditional ritualistic dance of the religion which is assosciated with Holy Noodle Ceremony.

Prayers and Hymns

The Noodles prayer is the most common prayer as dictated by the Prophet Ragu:-

“Our saucer which art in a colander, draining be Your noodles. Thy noodle come, Thy meatballness be done on earth, as it is meaty in heaven. Give us this day our daily sauce, and forgive us our lack of piracy, as we pirate and smuggle against those who lack piracy with us. And lead us not into vegetarianism, but deliver us from non-red meat sauce. For thine is the colander, the noodle, and the sauce, forever and ever. R’Amen”

There is another ‘Hail Meat sauce’ prayer which is common among followers of this religion.

For Hyms, various songs by the beloved Prophet Ragu can be used like Holy Holy Pastaroni, A Meaty Pasta is Our God, By His Noodly Appendage, What Sauce is This and others.

Afterlife

Pastafarians believe in Heaven and afterlife that includes Beer Volcanoes and Stripper Factory. It is also believed that the people with proper measure of Meatitude will join the Flying Spaghetti Mosnter in the Great Pasta Bowl in the afterlife.

Have faith on His Noodly Appendage and you will be rewarded in Afterlife with Noodle-y delights.

Towards other Religions

Every religion is welcome to come and join the Pastafarian religion. Pastafarians might be considered spoofs but they are not and they don’t judge others too with any such label.

Personal Views on this Religion

IN PASTA, WE BELIEVE. Basically, for the last word, Pastafarians are not anti-religion. They are anti-nonsense done in the name of religion. Isn’t it fair?
June 19, 2014