Day: July 14, 2014

4 Italian Dishes You Must Have

The entire human race can spend all their birthdays thanking their stars for blessing them with this sect of super humans called Italians. Yet, they would not be able to thank enough. Be it the field of art, literature, sports or food, Italians have given us everything on this Earth which is amazing like hell and is sure to be forwarded to the progeny. If we talk about Italian cuisine, we would notice that it has its origins in Greek and Roman cuisines. The simplicity of Italian dishes make them stand out in the crowd of loud cuisines. Italian dishes have a subtle taste to them which is loved by all, irrespective of their quirky individual preferences. The way Italian dishes are cooked and the kind of spices that go into them, make them a really healthy option when pitted against other cuisines from all around the globe. Not just spicy food, Italian cuisine has some great desserts too, one of which we have include in this list too. There are some Italian dishes that one must try in order to feel the awesomeness of Italy’s food. Here are listed some Italian dishes that you have to have. No questions asked.

1. Pizza

Pizza is round flat bread baked in the oven and topped with tomato sauce, cheese and various other toppings. Classic Margherita pizza is one that most of the people abide by. It is topped with tomato sauce, cheese and basil. The simple taste of this pizza is way better than most of the other over-done dishes that we find in other cuisines. Pizza tastes absolutely lip smacking, whether it is topped with bell peppers, jalapeno, pineapple or chicken. Pizza can also be a healthy option as it is rich in carbohydrates due to the base and the toppings and cheese provide various other nutrients. It, thus, becomes a sort of melting pot of various toppings which are rich in nutrients as well as taste. If one picks up a healthier pizza base and cooked with a little bit of calculation and smartness, one can include it as a diet food option. However, with oodles of mozarella, one can definitely suit it to one’s sinful cravings. Pick up one you like!

2. Arrabbiata Pasta

You talk about Italian cuisine and you do not talk about pasta? Are you serious? Pasta is to Italian cuisine as Britney Spears is to rehab. The main ingredients of arrabbiata sauce are tomatoes, red chillies, garlic, clove and olive oil. It is often given a tinge of oregano, basil or parsley, as per one’s preferences. Pasta has a number of variations in sauces and arrabbiata sauce is one classic sauce. It has a spicy flavour that is very rich on tongue. A fun fact would be that the word “arrabbiata” literally means “angry” in Italian. The sauce has been named such because of the fuming heat that is produced due to the red hot chillies. So, what are you waiting for? Get that anger out of yourself onto your pasta and it would not even mind, because it knows that it can straighten out that rage of yours in a jiffy with its heat which is too-hot-to-handle. Grab this and you are in for a delightful experience!

3. Tiramisu

Now, you have had that super spicy pasta and you feel you will die in the next moment if you do not have something to burn that heat. Then, tiramisu is the answer to all your worries and discomforts. It is an italian dessert that is highly recommended to anyone who has a sweet tooth and to anyone who does not have a sweet tooth. It is made in the form of layers of biscuits that are soaked richly in coffee liquor and covered with a thick dollop of mascarpone cheese and egg yolk mix. At times, its taste is enhanced by adding cocoa and rum. Owing to its delicious taste, it remains Italy’s most famous dessert, despite the fact that there are innumerable debates regarding its origin. Tiramisu has a light feel attached to it which makes it an object of envy for other desserts that make you feel as if you have eaten a huge chunk of Mount Everest itself.

4. Risotto

Risotto is a dish that is made with rice and has broth that leaves it with a creamy consistency. It can be either vegetarian or non-vegetarian as the broth tastes equally palatable when meat based as it does when it oozes with numerous vegetables. Risotto is served in the first course. However, there are some heavier versions of it that are served in the main course. Romana and Milanese are two variants of risotto which are most popular and relished by people of all ages. The presence of delicious butter, crispy onions and and gooey parmesan cheese make it a sinful craving.

July 14, 2014
Why Vegetable Oils Are Not Good For Your Health?

We often consider the vegetable oils as healthy and so we prepare our food items with them. We believe that since its name has the term “Vegetable”, it is good for the human beings. It is true that the vegetables are good for our health but the vegetable oils are not. The results of the various studies conducted prove that the consumption of the vegetable oils is not appropriate for human health and so it should be completely eliminated from the diet. People generally believe that since the vegetable oils have rich amount of unsaturated fats in them, they are beneficial in maintaining good health. But they do not pay attention towards the side effects of these unsaturated fats supplied to the body. These oils have completely different composition of the fatty acid in it which has several negative impacts on the body and consequently on health. These types of oils can cause serious harm to your health and you many get diagnosed with the chronic diseases. Here we are terming the cottonseed oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, soybean oil, corn oil among others as the vegetable oils.

We generally call all of the above mentioned oils as vegetable oils and for a common person vegetable oil sounds to be perfect for health as they are not aware of its consequences. These oils have a rice amount of biological fats in them which prove to be harmful when consumed in access. They have Omega 6 polysaturated fatty acid in them. Do not get confused with the coconut oil and the olive oil as they are completely healthy for you and they are not into the league of the vegetable oils that we are here talking about. The methods involved into the production of these vegetable oils are unhealthy and are not appropriate. It involves addition of several solvents, chemicals and other processing methods during which the essential nutrients and minerals present in them gets lost and as a result artificial ingredients are added to compensate for the lost ones. Many researchers believe that these vegetable oils are inappropriate for the human consumption. While it is true that some of the healthier brands use the cold pressed methods in the production of these vegetable oils and so it can be used occasionally. But again the major issue here is the amount of Omega 6 fatty acid in them which is not acceptable and is also not fit for regular consumption.

The acceptable ratio of the Omega 6 fatty acid and the Omega 3 fatty acid in the body should be 4:1. But with the use of these vegetable oils which are present in the market, this ratio is drastically affected and often leads to various diseases. These fatty acids have several important tasks to perform in the human body and when their balance is not maintained, your health is the one which suffers. The scientific explanation to this phenomenon is that these unsaturated fatty acids have more double bonds in them which make it highly reactive. As a result the unsaturated fatty acid consumed with these vegetable oils reacts readily with the oxygen present in the blood and causes the initiation of various chain reactions which damages the integral parts of the human body. This structural change inside the body damages the DNA and leads you to life threatening diseases.

Further these two types of fatty acids together form the eicosanoids in the body which is stored in the cell membranes. These eicosanoids play a major role in the inflammation and cellular messaging. The acute inflammation inside the human body is very much helpful but when this inflammation is spread to all parts of the body, it causes serious damage. The Omega 3 fatty acid produces anti-inflammatory eicosanoids while the Omega 6 fatty acid produces the pro-inflammatory eicosanoids. Both of them compete with each other and harm your health. Consequently they contribute to various cardiovascular diseases, depression and arthritis.

Another major concern with the vegetable oils is the presence of the Trans fats. These Trans fats have large amount of artificial ingredients and chemicals so that they can remain in solid state in the room temperature. Obesity, cancer and various heart diseases are developed due to Trans fats present in these oils. Almost every government food agencies around the world have now made this a point that the amount of the Trans fats should be reduced from the edible products. Recent studies have concluded that these vegetables oils are not fit for regular consumptions. If you are among such people who regularly consume these vegetable oils then you should stop it immediately as there are high chances that you may get diagnosed with the various cardiovascular diseases. The human heart gets the major adverse effects of these vegetable oils. These cardiovascular diseases alone cause a massive amount of human death each year globally. It’s time you stop playing with your health and start paying attention towards maintain a healthy body so that your life span increases and you live a happier life.

July 14, 2014
Monsoon’s Here!

It’s start of July and there had been few showers to subtly start the season of drizzle. Monsoon’s here! Except the all unpredictable showers and muddy pools on the road, there are so much beautiful stuffs to root for. Romantic day offs and bread pakoras!
Thinking of bread pakoras, we all have specified snack list for almost every season. Summer season had Mango chutneys, ice creams, shakes and squashes. For the monsoons spicy and crispy snacks do the roles of best treats. One of strong points of evening snacks are they gratify the hunger between the two meals that is lunch and dinner. Whether it may be a school going child who came home after playing outside for hours or a housewife retiring from chores, evening snack refreshes us. Now, what snacks could we relish especially in some seasons, like for instance you would not want samosas on a summer evening or ice cream in winters? And as the topic goes all in for monsoons, we won’t deny relishing warm snacks on the rainy days.
Just before we start, notice for all the calorie-watchers! Snacks mentioned below aren’t in any order put up considering their calorie values. So, indulge in the post warding off the concern for fat count.

BREAD PAKORAS!

For the stale yet to be passing the date of expiry bread loaf, stuffed pakoras are a delicious rescue. It can either be stuffed with preferably mashed-spiced up potatoes or cheese and then can be shallow or deeply fried. The bread is soaked in gram flour and then fried. Bread pakoras like many varieties of pakoras are best when served with mint/coriander sweet, sour and spicy chutney. The chutney is prepared by grinding coriander and mint leaves along with ginger and garlic. Salt and a small amount of tamarind paste can be added, totally as per your taste preferences.

CHOLE BHATURE!

Next in the line is the best Punjabi meal to energize up a lazy damp afternoon.
Chole Bhature is prepared in two parts and served as one dish. Chole is made by soaking chickpeas and then is prepared in typical North Indian style which includes ingredients like chopped onion and tomato cooked with coriander seeds, spices and ginger and garlic paste. Dried mango powder or as known as Aamchur powder is often used too. Bhature part is basically a kind of Puri made up by dough containing maida flour with yogurt, baking powder and sugar (as per taste). This dough is covered in damp cloth and kept overnight in a clean and dry place. Chole Bhature serves as a perfect mouth watering meal for an unpredictable monsoon afternoon.

SAMOSAS!

How can we discuss an Indian snack list and not mention the very popular Samosas? A samosa is a fried pastry with filling of generally spicy mashed potatoes, onions and lentils. Very popular yet not expensive at all and relished snack all over India, WAIT! Abroad too, Samosas are just blessing on a cold monsoon evening. You wouldn’t like missing on to some Green or sweet chutney with it.
Like samosas, kachoris are also a popular spicy snack alternative and can be easily prepared in the household.

POPCORN TIME!!

Watching a movie? We all know that popcorn is a must. So, why it is specially mentioned here? Well, it’s about how we wade away the clamminess of weather by adding some flavors to the popular snacks. Butter, chili flakes or cheese can be added in the popcorn for that warm snack for the movie time. If you are not much fan of popcorn, then you can also prepare “Pyaaz (Onions) ke pakore”! It serves as an excellent movie time snack and one or two of pakore equals a handful of popcorn, so you munch less.
Easy to prepare pyaaz ke pakore is prepared by chopping onions in long slices and dipping them in mixture of Besan (Gram Flour), water, salt and chili powder. The dipped onions are then shallow or deep fried and served with the obvious green chutney or even tomato ketchup would do.

FOR THAT SEASONAL FEVER.

It’s not unknown to most of us that whenever season changes and especially from summer to winters or monsoons, there is a scare of catching viral fever and cold. For the cold, soups and dals are the best. Now, how can we make it more tasteful? Yes! Additions! Manchurian balls, chicken and mushrooms!
Okay, before we miss. Dal Makhani! Perfect cure for the “mood gloom”. Nutritional balance? Check. High on potassium and sodium value, it doesn’t deny the presence of calories but that shouldn’t be an excuse for not indulging into this elegant rescue from the taste bud numbness caused due to the cold.

Jeez! CHINESE!

Discussing soups and just about to forget Chinese food! Almost everything available in this cuisine goes so well for the monsoon season snack. Yes! Especially Maggi Noodles! Now, if you’re bored with noodles, MOMOS!
Momos are steamed/fried dumplings stuffed with either vegetarian or non vegetarian ingredients. They originally belong to Nepali culture Hot momos served with the chili sauces are just the excellent evening snack ever. Other to be mentioned Chinese snacks and starters just for this weather are (In no particular order) :
(a)    Spring rolls
(b)   Shanghai Chowmein (Well, it comes under noodles category)
(c)    Siopao (Stuffed steamed dumplings)
(d)   Jian Bing (Chinese crepes)
So, here there you have! This checklist mentions just some of the worth savoring snacks and dishes for the monsoons, all must tries. Other than that, experiment and make your own custom season based dishes checklist!
Don’t let the rain damp away the hunger pangs! Happy Monsoons!

July 14, 2014
AMLA has it all…

The well known fruit Amla is something that can be considered as a food for fitness. It is a powerhouse of Vitamin C and many other nutrients. The benefits of amla can never be undermined and are always well recognized by its sour, succulent taste and vibrant green colour. Indian Gooseberry, being English name of amla and Phyllanthus emblica being scientific name, this fruit has many versatile uses in Indian kitchen. It is famous because of its anti viral and anti microbial properties and has achieved great recognition in Ayurveda. Grown on deciduous trees, this astringent, sour tasting fruits is consumed as an ingredient in sweets, juices or pickles or chutneys or it is taken in raw form. It is flavourful and really healthy food with very low calories of only 60 calories for 100 grams. It is a very rich source of dietary fiber, Vitamin C, carbohydrates and have minerals like iron, calcium, phosphorus and is also contains antioxidants.

Well, if you wonder why it is recommended to eat atleast one amla or its dish every day, here are some key benefits it can provide you with. Amla is such a superawesome fruit, fulfilled with all the wonderful benefits. Just go through it and you will be amazed;

Amla promotes healthy eyes and skin: Many eye diseases can be prevented by its use. Because it is rich in vitamins A and C and has antioxidants, which helps in protecting the retina from oxidative damages and also prevents cataract and nearsightedness. The regular use of amla can even avoids the age related eyesight problems. In addition, amla is excellent for maintaining skin health and makes it glowy and soft. The vitamin C present in amla helps in flushing out toxins, which results in reducing blemishes, acne and also rejuvenates the skin. So, amla is something that is really good for eyes and skin health.

Amla is good for hair too: Indian markets are flooded with products containing amla calling it, amla hair oil, amla hair shampoo and many other because of its superb benefits for healthy, lustrous hair. Eating raw amla or in any other form or making a home-made amla shampoo or amla conditioner for your hair will do the wonder and makes your hair awesome looking.

Amla protects your heart: Regular consumption of amla or a glass of amla juice daily will prove to be super awesome for your heart health. It is a great remedy for many heart problems as it makes heart muscles strong and enable the heart to pump blood easily and also reduces the cholesterol and helps in monitoring any heart disease. It actually reduces the risk of strokes or heart attacks as, being rich in iron and fiber, it is very effective in controlling the oxidation of LDL(bad cholesterol) and thus maintain the cholesterol levels , thereby reducing the risk of heart disease.

Amla controls Diabetes: It has beneficial effects on secretion of insulin, it controls the blood sugar levels. Amla, a polyphenol-rich fruit has properties that can assist in absorbing the insulin which leads to drop in the blood sugar in diabetics patients. It protects the body from oxidative properties of high blood sugar. Amla variants, if taken regularly or amla juice taken with turmeric powder and honey helps in controlling diabetes and keeps check on blood sugar levels.

Amla protects from Cancer: Due to the anti-oxidant properties of amla, it prevents the formation of free radicals and thus protects the body from cancer. It even inhibits the further growth of cancerous cells and has the potential to protect the body from harmful effects of chemical which are carcinogenic and thus reduces the risk of cancer.

Amla is great blood purifier: Amla juice is something that acts as a blood purifier by flushing out the toxins and thus detoxifying the body. This detoxification is very necessary, in order for the organs to function well. Also, regular intake of juice purifies the blood and increases the haemoglobin.

Amla protects your liver and prevents gastric problems: In order to keep your liver safe and healthy, amla has properties that t can heal the damaged liver from the oxidative damage from alcohol or smoking. Also, amla having fiber, polyphenol and water content combined with inflammatory properties is a great antidote for upset stomach and acidity.

With so many perks of amla, let’s have a look on this simple recipe having all the nutrition of amla so that you can avail all these benefits and keep diseases at bay.

AMLA JUICE RECIPE:

Ingredients: 1 cup sugar, pinch of salt, pinch of cardamom powder and turmeric powder, 1 cup amla cut into pieces.

Method: Wash the amlas and dry them and keep them in a bowl. Place this bowl in a pressure cooker having 1 ½ cup of water and remove the pressure cooker from gas after one whistle.

Now, remove the bowl from cooker when there is no pressure and touch the amlas to see if it has become soft and has cooled down.

Then, Press the amlas with hands to remove the seeds and break them into pieces and then grind them with little sugar and salt into a fine powder.

Now, to prepare the amla juice concentrate, mix this amla paste with sugar powder and salt and can place this concentrate in the freezer.

You can add 2-3 teaspoons of this paste in water and make a juice of it and drink regularly. You can add cardamom or turmeric powder as per your taste for some flavor.

Drinking this amla juice regularly can keep you away from many health problems. Because AMLA, the Indian Gooseberry has it all; yes, all the nutrition.

Healthy Eating. Happy Life.

July 14, 2014
Most popular Icecream brands

I scream, you scream and we all scream for ice cream. Ice cream is worth screaming for. Mostly all the people enjoy eating ice cream. The love for ice cream is widely growing among the people. Ice cream is served as a very common icy desert since a long time. No one can stop their mouth from watering if the favorite ice-cream is presented in front of them. So many kinds of ice-cream are available in our nearby stores and everyone has their favorites. There are many popular brands of ice-cream in the world. Based on the popularity there are some major brands of ice cream that are given below and if you are an icecream lover then make sure that you give each one a try.

Ben & Jerry’s: Everyone has certainly heard about Ben & Jerry’s as it so famous across every part of the world. This brand is available in almost each and every country. It has become the most prevalent brand of ice-cream because of its mouthwatering flavors and delectable taste. Ben & jerry’s is the first choice of every ice-cream lover. This is an American company which was started in 1978 by two friends namely jerry and ben, hence owing to its name. The headquarters of the company is situated in Vermont in United States.

Baskin-Robbins: Another brand which is globally liked by the people is Baskin-Robbins. None of the outing is completed without visiting the Baskin Robbins Store. This is an American company which was originated in California in the year of 1945 by Burt together with Irv. There are numerous outlets of this brand across the entire world. This brand is hugely recognized for its ‘31 flavors’ saying. Baskin Robbins provides their consumers with around 100 of distinct flavors, some of them are massive triumphs in the market. The most popular flavor of Baskin Robbins is “Steverino.”

Nestle: The first brand that comes to the mind when we hear about food & nutrition is Nestle. Nestle is a renowned brand especially for its ice-creams. The company was originated in Switzerland in 1905. The company was provided with the tag of biggest maker of ice-cream in the entire world in the year of 2006. The company offers employment to great number of people and it is operated in around 86 countries all over the world. The nestle ice creams are filled with so many tasty flavors and are quite reasonable to buy.

Haagen-Dazs: When taste and flavor is the priority then certainly this brand is the best choice. It was founded in the year of 1961 in New York. During the beginning the company provides their customers with mainly 3 flavors chocolate, vanilla and coffee. These days the company has its outlets in many countries all over the world. It has been found out that the company uses milk of very high quality as well as organic stuff for the different flavors of ice-cream. People love their ice-creams for its smoothness, creaminess and rich flavors.

Blue Bell Creameries: Blue bell creameries are among the best ice cream brands that are cherished by the people. It was originated in the year of 1907 and it’s headquarter is located at Brenham in Texas. Around 250 distinct frozen stuffs are produced by blue berry among which there are 66 flavors of ice-cream. In United States, blue bell creameries is the 3rd biggest ice-cream selling company. Blue bell ice-creams are available in various rich flavors and each flavor is utterly balanced. The people are fond of the creaminess of blue bell ice creams.

Amul: Amul is an Indian brand of ice-cream which has succeeded in occupying a place among the best ice cream brands. The brand has achieved remarkable love worldwide and it was founded in 1946. Apart from India, the amul ice-creams are available in many other counties too. Its popularity owes to the fact that the amul ice-creams are very delicious and reasonable in price too. Moreover ice-creams are found with no preservatives and hence it is worth eating.

Dairy Queen: When it comes to soft serving ice-cream brand, Dairy Queen is believed to be the best choice. The 1st store of Dairy queen’s started in the year of 1940 in Illinois. The admirers of Dairy Queen’s ice creams are present in various countries and consider this brand as the best soft serving ice-cream brand. The brand has earned a lot amount of fame for the consistency and tastes of their ice-creams.

Cold Stone Creameries: It is an American brand that started in the year of 1988 in Arizona. It has already created remarkable presence in United States and trying to achieve popularity globally. It is the brand of finest quality ice-creams. The company uses real honey to serve the purpose of sweetener. People admire the brand for intense and deep flavors and they also claims that the ice creams of this brand are less in calories because they don’t contain unnecessary sugar.

July 14, 2014
Stay healthy during monsoon

Rains are awaited by all and it certainly creates a wonderful environment. Rainy season is a kind of relief from hot and sunny days. Every single person cherishes the rains. But there are some areas that need our attention. With rains come health irritations like aversions, illness and stomach problems. The level of humidity is increased during the rainy season that affects the digestion. But nothing to get worried about as certain changes in our diet and nourishment can surely solves the problem. So it is very essential to keep an eye on what we eat during the monsoon to stay perfectly healthy.

Drink lot of water: It is necessary to take in extra amount of water in rainy days as the humidity level increases and it becomes difficult for the sweat to get evaporated. Consequently, the body heat is not released properly. It has been also found out that drinking water prevents the various skin problems. As a result it is recommended to keep ourselves hydrated during the rainy seasons. Carbonated and gaseous liquids should be avoided because they can result in indigestion. Drinks like tea can work as a great substitute of it. So during this monsoon do not forget to possess a water bottle with yourself all the time.

Go for fresh and hygienic foodstuff: Keep in mind to wash every single fruit before eating them. While cooking, the vegetable should be washed thoroughly and steam them to destroy the microbes which are present on them. Filthy and unclean food stuff is harmful for the body and can result in sickness. It is advisable to take in cooked foodstuff rather than eating them as raw. Soups are too very beneficial during the rainy days as it provides the body with needed nutrition. Therefore always try to go for recently cooked food stuff.

Say no to outside food: This particular point is of great importance. You should keep yourself away from eating the street food. Street foods are quite enticing to all of us but they could possibly hold many germs which results in stomach diseases. Hence take a firm decision of not eating out.

Stay away from oily food: It is greatly recommended to stay away from the oily and fatty food items. The digestion in the body gets weaker during the rainy days as the humidity level goes up. Hence the ability of body to digest the oily food items becomes feeble and thus upsetting the stomach. Therefore, try to eat light and less oily food items.

Reduce the consumption of dairy items: The dairy foods have the supreme tendency of getting contaminated by germs. As a result the consumption of the dairy products must be low. It is better to consume curd rather than milk even if the milk is filled with all the desired nutrients. Apart from that, one should try to boil and disinfect the water before drinking it.

Intake of balanced diet: As we know that digestion is weak throughout the rainy days therefore it is advised to eat reasonably. Stop taking in food stuff even when you are not starving. Perfect balanced diet is much needed to stay from stomach problems at the time of monsoon. Fruits such as apples, litchis as well as bananas must be consumed. Along with them include carrots in your diet too. Spice up the food with pepper, turmeric as they advance the resistance of the body and supports ingestion.

Avoid drinking juices: Make sure you don’t drink juices especially from outside as they may apply water which is not filtered. It is greatly recommended to drink at once the juices prepared at home.

Sea food can be harmful: During the rainy season, make sure that you stay away from the sea foodstuff. Give more attention to fishes as well as prawns and greatly avoid eating them as rainy season is the propagating season for them. Even if you are taking in the sea food make it certain about its freshness as well as cleanness.

No spicy foodstuff: There are many people who deal with skin infections throughout this season. It is advisable for them to stay away from the spicy foodstuff, as the spicy items arouse the temperature of the body that certainly results in skin illness and infections. It is better to visit to a doctor if the infection stays for long.

Some more tips: Food items such as barley as well as oats are found out to be very beneficial for the stomach during the rainy season. Garlic is also very valuable as it enhances the immunity of the body. Fruits are considered as the supreme source of energy. But make sure that you don’t eat watermelons during the monsoon. Instead of watermelons try to eat apples, pears more. It is said that taking anything in extra amount is bad for health so avoid doing that.

With the assistance of these advices try to stay healthy and strong during the monsoon and at the same time relish the rains of the monsoon.

July 14, 2014