Day: August 1, 2014

The art of Chikankari!

Gorgeous Terracotta pots, the ‘tehzib’ (polite mannerisms), the famous ‘Zari Zardosi’, the Nawabs, the eloquent Urdu poetry and the lip smacking Kebabs…Do these ring a bell in your mind? For many of us, it takes us to this one place located in Uttar Pradesh around the Gomti River, which is known as Lucknow to the world! Arts and crafts form the heart of this city. Handicrafts account for a major chunk of its economy and this place is a must-visit for everyone who has a liking for indigenous arts. Lucknow has given another fine art form to the world, called the ‘Chikankari’.

Chikankari is a unique traditional embroidery style also known as ‘shadow work’. It is a very delicate hand embroidery done originally on soft muslin cloth using a white thread and occasionally a yellowish silk fibre. With the modernization of this old art-form, artisans have started producing these elegant marvels on a multitude of bases like semi-georgette, pure georgette, silk, chiffon and other light and thin fabrics. It is made sure that the fabric is not hard or very thick to make sewing with the needle easier. The intricacy and the exquisite gossamer characteristics of this art form lends it a very subtle elegance and a fine quality that is appreciated by designers all over the world. The art of Chikan embroidery is not just a mere craft anymore. It accounts for a large amount of income of the state through exports and is thus one of the most important economic activities practiced in Lucknow and the neighbouring areas. It provides employment to over 3 lakh people ranging from artisans, dealers, entrepreneurs and exporters.

The word ‘Chikan’ has Persian roots and finds its lexical origin in the word ‘Chikh’ or ‘Chakin’ which refers to a cloth adorned with needlework. The origin of Chikan has several tales associated to it. The earliest reference to it was in the 3rd century BC when a Greek traveler, Megasthenes mentioned the use of flowered muslins by Indians. Some famous folklore suggest that a traveler passing through a village near Lucknow is accountable for the popularity of the craft. They say that the tired traveler while crossing this little village asked for water from a poor peasant who offered it graciously to him. As a token of appreciation, he taught the skill of Chikankari to the farmer so that he would never fall short of money ever again. Though it is said that Chikankari became an integral part of Indian Culture when the art form was revived by the Mughal Empress Noor Jehan. Despite being a part of the Indian heritage for centuries before this, the origin of chikan is believed to be in the town of Awadh due to the impetus given to the work by Noor Jahan.

The art has a huge Mughal inclination. The inspiration from Mughal designs can be widely seen in the motifs sewn onto the fabric. Generally floral designs with plants, leaves or creepers (bel) are the most common designs used. Individual motifs and bhutis of animals and birds are also a common sight in this exquisite needlework. Fish, the emblem of Oudh is also widely used.

Arabesque versions of soft roses, gorgeous lilies, intricate butterflies and other animals lend this couture a mesmerizing expression of indigenous style of the Mughal Era. Chikankari has adopted additional adornments like sequin, bead and mirror work, Mukaish, Kamdani and Badla to lend it a heavier and richer appeal. Also, apart from the original use of white thread, one can find a fine collection of threads of different materials and varied colours. Integrating this needle work with stones, embellishments or jail work gives it an eclectic appeal.

The process of Chikankari has five different stages: Designing; Engraving; Block printing; Embroidery; and finally washing and finishing. The desired patters are sketched and then engraved on one or more dye blocks which are collectively used to put together a beautiful pattern on the ground fabric. The embroider then stitches on the pattern using different stitching patterns depending on the design and the shape required. There are around 36 different stitches that are done here. They are broadly classified into three types: flat stitches, open trellis like ‘Jali’ work and raised or embossed stitches. Some of these intricate stitching patterns are described here.

Bakhya: Also called the shadow work, it has two types, Ulti and Sidhi. Normmally done from the wrong side of the fabric, Bakhya is also known as the double back style.

Tepchi: It is a long running stitch which is employed for simple straight designs. It is usually used for outlines.

Hool: It is a detatched eyelet stitch wherein a hole is punched into the fabric and the threads are teased apart which are then held back by small straight stitches all around. It generally forms the centre of a flower.

Jali: Here the thread is never drawn through the fabric making sure that the back side looks as perfect as the front. The fibres of the cloth are torn apart slightly and tiny buttonhole stitches are inserted into the cloth.

Zanzeera is a small intricate fine chain stitch generally used to outline leaves or petals.

While Phanda is a millet-shaped stitch and Murri is a rice shaped minute stitch, both of these are used to embroider the centre of flowers in ordinary Chikankari motifs.

There are various other stitches like Turpai, Darzdari, Rahet, Banarsi, Khatau and many more which lend the art work a unique look altogether. The style of stitching is chosen according to the pattern to be followed as in this embroidery style, strict rules are followed. It is obeyed that a stitch assigned for a particular purpose has no other alternative and cannot be replaced by any other stitch. Though, frames are used these days by the chikan-karigars, it was not used originally. Originally, the fingers and the thumb of the left hand were used to hold the cloth in place and then the stitching was done by the right hand. Once the stitching is over, the fabric is checked for any flaws and is then washed before it is starched and ironed. The whole procedure can take up to six to seven months.

Though the art form has reached out to the world and has seen a number of variations under the impact of Globalization, it still retains its authenticity and glamour. It is widely worn by people all across the world in various forms. Be it scarves, sarees, kurtis or even gowns, this indigenous art form has spread all over the fashion industry.

So, next time you visit the Nawabi city of Lucknow, make sure you get your collection of this prized art form!

August 1, 2014
Meal is incomplete without Cereals

Cereals are the staple food in our meal providing unlimited benefits to our body and mind too. If one has choices available for healthy lifestyles, then cereals are the best choice you people can opt. The nutritional value of cereal is undoubtedly so high that no other food item can replace this staple item from our meal. It is highly rich in carbohydrate, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals.

Cereals, being the main source of carbohydrates help in providing you with vigorous energy and increase the immunity of our body against cancer. It also aids in removing constipation problem and maintain the sugar level. Cereals are also supplemented with iron and fiber contents which keep your body away from any heart diseases and maintain the level of cholesterol in your body. Nothing could be better than having cereals in your breakfast as they are enriched with high protein contents. They are generally preferred to be accompanied with the glass of milk.

Cereals are also known as grains and are the most staple crops which belongs to monocot families. They are grown to gain the edible component of this fruit. The fruits are known as Caryopsis. It is largest selling crop grown all over the world and therefore it is farmed in huge quantities. The name has been derived from the word Ceres (Roman goddess of agriculture). It was firstly cultivated in South West Asia by the Neolithic founder.

According to the production statistics every country has its own staple food like wheat is mainly consumed in Europe and India; rice is famous in Japan, South East Asia, Pakistan and US; maize is widely popular grain in Africa and Northern America; millets are eaten in Africa and India.

You can find different types of cereals in your meal. It can be rice, brown rice, wheat, maize, millet etc. Let us discuss some of them. Rice is the most popular cereal eaten across the world. It is cultivated in tropical regions rather than cold regions. It is consumed in many countries with various different rice recipes prepared which are truly lip-smacking. Maize is the most staple crops found in South America and Africa. Popcorn and Cornflakes are the two other different forms in which this particular cereal is consumed. Cornflakes is counted in one of the healthiest snacks and popcorn is the favorite time pass during the movies. Wheat, this cereal needs no description. All the basic food items like bread, pastries, biscuits, pancakes, cookies, etc are incomplete without this cereal. It is mostly cultivated in agricultural zones. There are various different species of this cereal, which is grown all over the world.

Cereals are mostly eaten in breakfast meal. Breakfast cereal is a commercial food available in all the kitchens around the world. They are eaten as an individual item or sometime they are also accompanied with water or milk. According to our taste fruits are also added and some sweeteners too. Breakfast cereal is boiled or mixed with milk in order to make them soft before consumption. Some of the best examples of breakfast cereal are Corn Flakes, Porridges, oatmeals etc. Breakfast cereals are widely accepted in developing and developed countries, both as they are a single bowl of full nutrients. It provides you with full nutritional value while maintaining your health and weight.

Porridge is unconditionally the most nutritious breakfast anyone can have. It is fully rich in fibre and minerals. For making it sweet people use jaggery and it is decorated with almonds and raisins. Intake of this porridge in your breakfast helps in maintaining your sugar level. Poha is another version of rice which is generally prepared on every Sundays in the Indian households.

Cornflakes are the healthiest breakfast, loved by all the children. A bowl of this corn flake along with the milk fulfills the demand of all the nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and iron. Its intake is more effective during the time of monsoon as due to high moisture it becomes easy for your body to hold the water.

Wheat flakes are just the replacement of wheat porridge and is prepared using wheat. It is taken in the breakfast meal as it is highly rich in calcium. Oatmeal is best for those who are going through diseases like diabetes and cholesterol. There is no need to add sugar into the bowl of oats. It helps in exorcising depression from your mind. Muesli is the best choice among all the breakfast cereal as it consists of four types of grains along with almonds and raisins. It helps in the mental and physical growth of the child and keeps them fit and fine. The most amazing fact is it is served with yoghurt. Sometime people take it as their evening snack too.

Try some juicy cereals too for your child and enjoy all the nutrients in just a tiny piece of grain..!!

August 1, 2014
The Mesmerizing Museums!

Human Civilization, across the vast area of the globe has been a seat of diverse cultural evolutions. The societies all across the world have evolved culturally, economically, socially, politically and spiritually. The change in values, principles, ethics and customs is reflected in the fact that all of us had been subjected to constant change through the processes of Urbanization, Industrialization and Modernization. From the Stone Age to the Modern Machine Age, man has traversed a long course in time!

The change in the cultural and social practices is well reflected in many institutions and material evidences. One of them is a Museum. A museum, as an Oxford Dictionary defines it is an institution or a building that houses objects of interest to display to the public. Wikipedia calls a museum as an institution that conserves a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. To many, a museum is the primary source of information about the evolution of man in a multitude of aspects. To many, visiting museums is a recreational activity. To some of us, a museum is a mirror into our true origin and a way to connect to our roots. Thus, a museum is a reflection of our ideologies that date back to millions of years and yet build our present identity.

The word ‘museum’ has possibly been derived from the Greek word ‘monseion’ that meant ‘seat of the Muses’. It then referred to a philosophical institution or a place for contemplation. The Latin derivation ‘museum’ appears to have restricted to places of philosophical discussions. Thus the great Museum in Alexandria which was founded by Ptolemy I Soter in the early 3^rd century BC., with a college of scholars and a library of its own, was more of a prototype university to preserve and interpret material aspects of the heritage. By the 17^th century, museum was a term used in Europe to refer to describe collections of curiosities. By the 18^th century, the idea of an institution called a museum established to preserve and display a collection to the public was accepted. 19^th and 20^th centuries have witnessed establishment of many such museums all across the world in various countries. Though continued digitization of information and increasing capacity of digital information storage along with technological advancements has caused the traditional model of a museum to become less popular, but the virtual exhibits so developed still remain dependent on the preservation and interpretation of material things by the traditional concept of the model.

Visiting a museum has been a household- recreation for many. Go to a place that has a decent historical lineage and it is bound to have a museum. And if there is a museum, visiting is a good option. What we should observe here is that a museum is not just to be visited for spectating the galore of our forefathers. It a place to connect to our history, gain information, promote our national and cultural identity and hence make it a memorable experience. These cultural institutions foster intercultural awareness and restore a sense of dignity and identity to many communities. They could also resolve conflicts. People and communities in areas infected with unrest and conflict could appreciate each other’s ancient history and thus co-exist in harmony if they were made aware of it through such institutions. UNESCO suggests making entries to museums free to promote the culture among various people irrespective of their caste, creed, social and economic status. The value of ancient arts and culture chimes in sync with the modern ethics of our society in the concept of museums. Quoting the exact words of NDMC that says:

“The museum sector believes that it makes a real difference to people’s lives. It is a line that is frequently used to advocate and promote our work to stakeholders; but what does it mean and how might we investigate it? What is the nature of the impact that museums have on the individual and how does this play out in communities, societies and even nations?”

Museums are fundamentally driven by the human desire to delve evidence for secure meaningful information and to dig deeper for accounts of experiences. What a museum intends to do is make a cultural impact, by stimulating knowledge transfer, deliver life-enhancing skills, development of basic virtues and skills of patience, observation, reasoning out and hence the overall development of a human mind. It strives to establish an emotional connect and development of ideas or an increase in the capacity to learn.

Given the significance of museums in our fast modern lives, it is a definite fact that the galore of these institutions is not to be given a miss. There are various museums in the world in different continents that are not just objects of cultural significance but reach out to the masses to etch a permanent impact on their minds. Having said that, let us have look at some of the famous museums of the world.

1.)    The Prado, Madrid, Spain

The Royal family of Spain curated and commissioned art with utmost passion. In addition to their fine taste and interest, their huge collection of the best Spanish paintings and works of the best artists from across the globe made them establish this museum. It was open to public in 1819 by Fernando VII in the neoclassic building designed by Juan de Villanueva.

2.)    Le Louvre, Paris, Spain

One of the largest and the most visited museums in the world, with over 9.3 million visitors in 2013, this museum is popular enough to make people swoon over it just by its name. Housed in the Louvre Palace, a former Royal Palace, it was opened in 1793. The famous glass pyramid added in 1989 is one the major attractions. The most famous exhibit being the classic painting of the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.

3.)    National Palace Museum, Taipei

The National Palace Museum boasts of the largest collection of ancient Chinese artifacts. The museum was originally established Beijing’s Forbidden City in 1925, after the expulsion of the last king of China. In the final years of the Chinese Civil War, the most precious items of the collection were transported to Taiwan.

4.)    State Hermitage Museum , Saint Petersburg, Russia

The Hermitage has acquired a mesmerizing collection of arts from all over the world varying from the times of the Stone Era to the early 20^th century. The glorious blue- and-white structure consisting of 6 buildings, was completed in 1764 and had served as the main residence of the Czars for several centuries. Founded by Catherine the Great, this massive museum houses some of the best works of famous artists like Michealangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci and more.

5.)    The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

Also known as the Met, This is an art museum located on the eastern edge of Central Park in the New York City. The vast gothic-style building was opened to public in the year 1872 and had been subjected to various add-ons after that. It has on exhibit, some of the finest works of art from across the human history depicting almost every field of craft in existence. It also organizes travelling shows throughout the year.

6.)    Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.

This is the world’s largest research and museum complex. It includes 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park and many research stations. Dorothy’s ruby red slippers, the dresses of the First Ladies, the Gem Hall and the Wright brothers’ 1903 flyer are some of the major attractions here.

7.)    The British Museum, London, England

This museum boasts of being the national collection of archaeology and ethnography ranging from pre-historic bones to pieces of Athens’ Parthenon. It houses the Rosetta Stone that was carved in 196 B.C. It was established in 1753 and has the largest collection of mummies outside of Egypt.

8.)    Vatican museums, Vatican city, Rome

It was founded by Pope Julius II in the 6^th Century and are the most famous for the spiral staircase. The exquisitely decorated Sistine Chapel is another proud acquisition of the museum. The chapel ceiling was painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512.

9.)    The Egyptian Museum, Cairo

It is counted as one of the worlds’ best museums. It has a huge collection of papyrus and coins used by ancient Egyptians. Also, it houses many artifacts from the final two Egyptian Dynasties and from the Valley of Kings. Main attractions are the Royal Mummy Room containing 27 mummies from the pharaonic times.

10.)Museo Nacional de Antropologia, Mexico City

The Museo Nacional de Antropología or National Museum of Anthropology was opened in 1964. It contains archaeological artifacts from the pre-Columbian heritage of Mexico. The most famous object of attraction is the Stone of the Sun which was not used as a calender actually but contains 20 day signs and the four eras of suns that preceded the present 5^th sun.

August 1, 2014
Biscuits:Easy-to-carry and Easy-to-store

In this neoteric world every person from adults to children is found to be a biscuit fan. A pack of variety of biscuits is always found to be in your handbags. The time you feel hungry and have nothing to eat around you then take this out and fulfil the demands of your stomach for once. They are usually known by their different names like cookies in Canada and United States and biscuits in Europe and India. It has derived its name from the two Latin words bis means twice and coctus means cooked (process of baking associated with them). It is the best option people used to carry on their long journeys as they are easy to store.

Biscuits or sometimes referred to as cookies are available in different sizes and shapes. They are manufactured by various different companies all around the world. The European or Indian variety is found to be more creative than English Variety. They are distinguished on the basis of sugar, cream, jams, butter, herbs, and cheese and so on while in the United States they are harder and flaky in nature. When we talk about its history the manufacturers used to create hardest cookies possible so that they can be easily stored in high temperature and during the time of humidity too. But now they are made as sweet as possible with a layer of cream sandwiched between the two biscuits to make them taste yummy.

Sweet biscuits are usually preferred in snacks in the morning time as they are made of wheat flour and oats. The taste of sweet is added with the help of honey or sugar. There a variation lies in their flavors like chocolate, jams, nuts, fruit etc. They are usually accompanied with the cup of tea. They are very hard to consume so people tend to dip this into their tea for a small amount of time so as to make them soft before consumption. It involves all the digestive biscuits and bourbon cream biscuits.

Savoury biscuits are the cookies which are consumed normally along with the meal or cheese. They are also known as crackers or matzos which involves water biscuits, cream crackers and crisp breads. These biscuits also contain some additives like melted cheese, onion seeds or olives. They are somewhat spicy in taste rather than sweet, but exception lies in Hovis biscuits. They are usually sold in the European supermarkets.

Digestive biscuits have several health benefits. They are very high in their fiber content. So if people are suffering from diabetes then they can take these biscuits and simultaneously avoid the increase of sugar content in their body. You can easily prepare these biscuits in your home too. Only a certain amount of extra ingredients like butter, brown sugar, oats, and baking powder will be required. They also help in digestion and bowel movement too. For example Nutri Choice which is high in dietary fiber is the best choice you can have.

Glucose biscuits help to address the deficiency of glucose in our body and mainly in children. The best choice is Parle-G. It is fully made of wheat flour and milk content. Parle Group is the largest manufacture across all over the world. Its nutritional value is very high and purchase cost is very low. It has several other products rich in nutrients like Krackjack which has a taste of both salt and sweet, Monaco which is a namkeen biscuit, hide and seek which is a mixture of chocolate and sweet both with chocolate chips endowed in it.

Ginger biscuits help in the treatment of nausea, vomiting and sweating. As we know ginger act as an anti-oxidants so intake of ginger biscuits helps to reduce the risk of cell damage and remove all the free radicals responsible for it. They are also preferred when glucose levels in our body are increasing.

Biscuits do have various advantages but their intake must not be so high. They must be consumed in a much planned way. Their consumption depends on the time when they are eaten. People tend to utilize them at the time of their meal sometime or sometimes as their snacks too. The best way of their consumption is they must divided into 2-3 pieces and then taken at their regular intervals during snacks or meals. Homemade cookies and cookies that are high in fiber content and low in fat contents are preferred. Before purchasing any pack you must check its ingredients and make sure that list involves whole grain, some natural preservatives and additives too. At the time of humidity you must store them in airtight boxes so as to prevent them getting stale. And if you are consuming canned biscuits, then make sure to store them in refrigerators.

Go on and consume this long-lasting item in your snacks or meal and have its all benefits along with the taste.

August 1, 2014
Monsoon Treats
The Monsoon brings with it the chilly winds and pleating rain. The beautiful weather, accompanied with just the right food, can make your day perfect. Here’s a list of the stuff you can hog, without having to worry about your health, and how it can be made!

Hot Soups:

Vegetable soups are a great option to indulge in the rainy season. Warm nutrition-packed veggie soups will not just help you stay away from cold and flu, but also help you stay healthy and hydrated.

Vegetable soups are also the easiest thing to cook, among other soups.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon of olive oil

1 onion, diced

3 cloves of garlic, minced

2 potatoes, diced

2 carrots, diced

1 cup of green beans, cut into smaller pieces

2 cups of spinach*

1 can of diced tomatoes

2 tablespoons of tomato passata

4 cups of chicken stock

Salt and pepper

Sour cream (optional)

There are no hard and fast rules.Quantities of vegetables can be adjusted according to your taste and requirement and you are allowed to use any vegetables that you have on hand.

Method:

1. In a big saucepan on low to medium heat, add oil and saute the onion for a couple of minutes

2. Add garlic, saute for a further minute

3. Put heat up to medium and add all the vegetables to the saucepan, saute for five minutes

4. Add diced tomatoes and passata, stir through for a minute

5. Add chicken stock and bring it to the boil

6. Turn down the heat and let it simmer on low to medium heat for 25-30 minutes – add salt and pepper to taste

7. Serve with crusty bread and a dollop of sour cream (optional)

Tea:

Have tea, especially herbal ones- this will keep bouts of influenza away. Herbal teas are also good for digestion. Now there are two methods you can use. One of them is to buy herbal tea bags, in which case, all you have to do is dip them in hot water and add milk and sugar as per instructions.

Ginger tea, however, is another easy alternative.

Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 3-4 black tea bags or 3-4 tsp black tea leaves
- 2 inch ginger for a strong taste or 1 inch ginger for a milder taste, peeled & either crushed or grated.
- 3-4 cardamom, crushed or powdered in a mortar-pestle(optional)
- ½ to ¾ cup regular milk or cashew milk or soy milk – add more if you want a milky tea
- 8 tsp unrefined organic cane sugar or add more for more sweetness
Instructions
1. In a saucepan or kettle, add the water, crushed ginger and crushed cardamom with the peel.
2. boil this water-ginger-cardamom mixture for a good 6-7 minutes, till the color of the water changes to a mild yellowish hue. the ginger releases its juices and flavors in the water and thus the color of the water changes.
3. add sugar and simmer for a more of 1-2 minutes.
4. now add the tea leaves or tea bags and simmer for 2-3 minutes till the water gets a deep hue of red.
5. add milk. simmer the tea for 2-3 minutes if using regular milk or soy milk.
6. if using cashew milk or almond milk, then just stir the cashew milk with tea and remove from pan as otherwise heating further would cause the cashew or almond milk to become slimy and separate.
7. strain the tea through a strainer right into the cups.
8. serve the hot ginger tea or chai or adrak chai with indian snacks like pakoras or samosas. you could also serve the ginger tea with biscuits or cookies.
Pakoras:

Mouth watering pakoras are yet another dish that are a must have during the rainy season. A cup of hot tea and a plate of pakoras are an unbeatable combination. You can choose from various kinds of pakoras ike onion pakora, spinach pakora, potato pakora, paneer pakora, green chili pakora and it goes on. Here’s how you can make Onion Pakoras.

Ingredients
- 2 to 3 medium sized onions
- 2 cups gram flour or besan
- ½ tsp red chilli powder
- ½ tsp garam masala powder
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder/haldi (optional)
- ¾ tsp ajwain or carom seeds
- A pinch of asafoetida/hing
- Oil for shallow frying or deep frying – sunflower oil or any neutral flavored oil
- water as required
- salt as required
Instructions
1. Peel the onions.
2. Rinse and slice them thinly.
3. Add the chilli powder, garam masala powder, asafoetida, salt and chick pea flour to the sliced onions.
4. Add water and mix it to a thick and smooth consistency.
5. Add little water in the beginning as the onions will release water later and so the batter becomes too watery.
6. The pakoras won’t turn out good if the batter becomes watery.
7. You can add more besan if you feel the batter is not thick and smooth. You can always adjust the content of besan and water by adding it more if you feel you have not got the right consistency.
8. Now heat the oil in a deep frying pan. Take a teaspoonful of the onion batter and add it in the oil. On a medium heat fry the onion pakoras till golden brown.
9. Serve onion pakoras hot with tomato sauce, green chutney and bread or pav.
So go ahead and make your taste buds dance this monsoon!

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August 1, 2014
Potatoes: Goodness Unearthed
Potatoes are one of the cheapest crops grown all over the world. It is a tuberous and starchy crop which belongs to nightshade family or Solanaceae family. It is considered as the most comfort food, whether it is in roasted, mashed or baked form. It is the only crop available throughout the year as it is harvested somewhere in every month of the year. It has listed its name amongst the world’s largest food crop which already includes maize, rice and wheat.

Potatoes are found in different sizes, shapes, color and flavors. There are about 100 different varieties of potatoes found all over the world. Potatoes are classified in two two groups: mature potatoes and new potatoes. Mature potatoes include the White Rose and Russet Burbank while New Potatoes include Red Pontiac and Red LeSoda. The outer covering of this crop is generally red, yellow or brown in color while inside it is white or yellow in color.

As we know potato is a rich source of nutrients so to have all its nutritional value, we must consume it fully without peeling it. You can scrub the potato in the cold water so as to remove bruises or deep eyes and if needed you can use the knife. And if you are peeling it, then be careful and only remove thin covering so as to retain all the nutrients. After cutting, potatoes must be placed in a bowl containing cold water and lemon juice so as to avoid its skin from darkening. Avoid its contact with aluminium or iron pots as they are sensitive to it.

Common and popular dishes made from potatoes are: mashed potatoes, which are prepared by boiling the potatoes and then mashing it along with yogurt, butter or milk; French-fried chips, which is prepared by slicing potatoes into chips and then fried; potato pancakes; baked potatoes and many more.

Potato is one of the most substantial food sources across the world. It is almost like an ingredient in each and every dish. It is considered as the best remedy to cure blood pressure problem, but unfortunately people take its intake after covering it with butter, melted cheese to make it yummier and simultaneously adding more fat to it. This sometimes becomes a big contributor to heat related problems. Potatoes are the main source of Vitamin B6 and a very good source of copper, manganese, fiber and Vitamin C. It also contains several phytonutrients which has anti-oxidant properties and perform activities against free radicals. Recent studies show that quercetin, a chemical which is present in potatoes helps in cardio-protective activities and has anti-cancer properties. Several health benefits that intake of potatoes involve are:

It helps in lowering blood pressure: Scientist in UK found a compound called kukoamines which has a blood-pressure lowering capabilities in potatoes. Previously this compound was only identified in an herbal plant named Lycium Chinese, but now it is present in the World’s most available crop i.e. Potatoes. Potatoes in addition to this also contain several health promoting chemicals. So people who are suffering from high blood pressure problem must take a regular intake of this vegetable in any form.

It helps in building our cells and makes them stronger: Potatoes being a good source of Vitamin B6 provides strength to our cell. It is found that one potato contains a half milligram of this special nutrient in it. B6 is the most important nutrient that our body demands every time like during enzymatic reactions, formation of new cells etc. So presence of any potato based dish in our meal is enough to fulfil all the requirements of B6 in our body.

A good source of Vitamin C and iron: potatoes are the main source of Vitamin C and contain more amount of this nutrient than tomato. It helps in preventing cellular damage as it has an anti oxidizing capability. It also helps in collagen production along with the iron absorption, which keeps our gums stronger. Potatoes also help in supporting our immune system. One potato can provide 6% of the iron needed by our body. The intake of potato helps in oxygen utilization, neural development and control the overall functioning of cells.

Apart from the health benefits it has several uses too:
- Potatoes are used in the preparation of several alcoholic drinks like vodka, potcheen etc.
- Potatoes are one of the main parts of the meal of domestic animals.
- Potato starch is used in textile industry and in the food manufacturing industry too. This starch is also used in biodegradable packaging.
- Potato if taken with honey, then it is the best remedy for scratches and burns.
- It is also used in various researches involving plants.
- Various companies are recycling all the waste potatoes to polylactic acid. This acid is used in several plastic products.
So here we have seen that all the goodness of potatoes. This appetizing, family-favorite crop is not just have health benefits instead has several other uses too. So make potato a part of your meal and unearth all its comfort.
August 1, 2014
Food in General

“Food in general” sounds really boring as the heading of a blog-style-article and I know that most of you won’t probably want to read this mostly because the title has this weird monotony inducing vibe to it. But I want to be clear about the body of this blog-style-article that it is going to be really useful, especially for the mothers and cooks in the house who love experimenting with their food, just because it gives a sizzling sensation to their taste buds. So I am hoping for you guys to stick around and find out what I have to rant out this time of the day, or night or whatever.

People love experimenting with something they love because doing one thing regularly bores them and newness excites them at the same time. The prospect of getting into an experiment and succeeding sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Same is the case with food and today, I would discuss about how people unintentionally rip the nutritional value of their food to pieces. R.I.P. to healthy food, I feel like it’s my duty to mention a condolence.

Indian food is generally extra fried, over cooked and spicy to the point of cringing and smacking one’s lip at the same time. Now, even though the taste is highly fantastic in a lot of cases when it comes to Indian cuisine, I feel like the way of cooking such dishes is kind of unhealthy in the long run. Personally, I have a problem with fried food. I feel nauseated and can’t ingest it, which might be bad or might be good, but all I know is that fried food is not healthy in the slightest bit.

I had a sleepover last night at my friend’s place and we ate “kachori and aloo ki sabzi” at breakfast, which was too much for me but nothing for my friends because apparently, they are used to such heavy, fried food at breakfasts. It’s like a ritual for them, eating unhealthy fried food at breakfast. I promised to not have a sleepover at her place after that because the nauseated feeling was way too much for me to handle.

I would recommend that eating heavy is the correct choice at breakfast because dieticians recommend having a heavy, nutritious breakfast but I don’t think that “kachori” has any nutritional value except that it’s fatty. Having a glass of chocolate milk, some bananas or omelette or fruit salad or even some chapatti and veggies sound like a tasty and dietary breakfast. I have seen Gujarati people eating kachori and jalebi and fafda and samosas etc during breakfast time and I always wonder how they can eat something so unhealthy and oily right in the morning.

But I am just suggesting, not commanding so you can do what you want. It’s your life, not mine. But just remember one thing that health is wealth.

Other than that, no pressure!

After fried, I would like to turn to the next term in the above mentioned list which is over cooking. Indian food is considered to be over cooked by estranged people and that is apt. Over cooking leads to destruction of existent nutritional value in the food which makes the point of eating healthy ingredients so as to gain some nutrition moot. Therefore, avoid over cooking food; ensure that it’s not raw but don’t overcook because it would make the food taste exceptionally good. Trust me; I have seen people crisp their okra up until to the point of turning them into chips because they taste helluva great.

One more thing that I want to add here is that chopping vegetables excessively is another factor as to why food becomes less nutritionally rich. Chopping an apple a hundred times so to make it a food of convenience for your child won’t help him reap any dietetic value from the apple.

Spices make the food taste bloody good and we all are thankful for the almighty inventing spices. Without spice, we all would have been nothing, just starved, uncreative beasts hungry for good food. But seasoning your food with a lot of spices is not the way to be thankful to them for existing. Using them judiciously is the way to be grateful to spices because highly spiced food is not good for the human body. Spicy food can cause stomach aches and indigestion. It can cause skin damage. Please don’t touch your skin with chilli clad hands or most importantly you eyes; they can burn like nobody’s business once you rub them with you spiced hands and you don’t want to experience that burning sensation.

I know it’s not much but this is all I have in “Food in General” because these are the four thing that Indians generally do to their food in their kitchens and I know it’s unintentional because of lack of awareness but I feel good and satisfied telling you thing now. Not so spicy, less fried, or properly cooked food can also taste fine, you know. You just have to accept the fact that healthy eating is the best way to treasure your body.

So stay fit, eat hit!

August 1, 2014
Food And Festivities

Colorful, exuberating, cheering…festivals in India are not just to mark a day of significance, but are a much-needed break from the exhausting work schedule. India is a platter of all kind of spices from the world, representing a potpourri of a variety of cultures and religions. Thus, every day in India is celebrated somewhere or the other! When it comes to festivities, how can one forget the profusion of various delicacies prepared with a pinch of love in every kitchen on the special day? Innumerable sweets and pakwaans, so colorful and delighting, decorated in thalis, can be spotted in every street during the festive season.

Every festival seems to have its own signature food item. Let’s have a look on some of the major festivals and the foods prepared on them.

DIWALI: Diwali is a festival of sweets. Families and friends exchange mithai and consume various chatpata snacks. The choice of sweet depends on the taste and custom of the family. From north to south, from east to west, a large variety of food is prepared on this festival. Kesar kaju barfi, besan laddoo, kheer, badam phirni, gajar ka halwa, channar payesh, jalebi, gulab jamun, shakkarpare, ghatiya, etc. are some of the sweets prepared on this festival. Roads can be seen occupied by stalls of snacks like dahi-bhalle and gol-gappe. Diwali ‘mela’ is another noticeable site where foodies can be spotted.

HOLI: Any Indian festival is somewhat incomplete without a grand feast! Holi is another popular festival in the country with its own list of delicacies. Gujhia, the main sweet prepared on this fest, can be spotted in every shop, every street, every kitchen, rather in every mouth on this day! Apart from gujhia, we have bhang as the major refreshment served in every holi gathering. Jaljeera, papri chaat, kanji-vada, and thandai also top the menu for dishes to be prepared on holi.

CHRISTMAS:

Not only in India, Christmas is a festival celebrated all over the world with great pomp and show. So, when it comes to Christmas celebrations, how can one forget the gala feasts prepared to mark this day! Christmas cakes and cookies, among many other scrumptious recipes, are children’s favourite all over the world. Plum cakes, chocolate puddings, flavoured fudges, colourful mocktails, fruit bars etc. are some of the favourites among many others.

EID-UL-FITR:

This festival is celebrated among Muslim community with great zeal and gusto in the country. Mouth-watering dishes are prepared in no time with special traditional techniques on this day. Eid is a festival promising appetizing dishes to be remembered life-long. Badami gosht is a very much liked dish on Eid and otherwise. Seviyaan, equally famous among Hindus and Muslims, is another major dish prepared on this day. It is a sweet made with vermicelli and milk, savoured as a dessert. Phirni, mutton, biryani are other savouries that are consumed by family and friends.

NAVRATRI: Navratri is a fest celebrated for a long period of continuous nine days. People fast during these days. It is festival in which food is consumed with utter precautions, according to Hindu mythology. Yet, many special recipes prevail without onion and garlic during this period. Specifications also extend to choice of spices. Only rock salt is used in the preparations. Kuttu ke pakore(prepared with buckwheat flour) and aloo ki khichdi mark the one time meal for fasters. Boondi ka raita, saboodana vada are also consumed. The dishes prepared vary from place to place. The course is strictly vegetarian.

GURU NANAK JAYANTI: this festival marks the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. This festival is celebrated by Sikhs with enthusiasm. No festival is complete without lip-smacking food items! Umpteen delicious sweets are served on Guru Nanak Jayanti. Some of them are kaju barfi, malai ke laddoo and atte ka seera.

ONAM: It is a state festival of Kerala. It is celebrated by Malayalees with zest all over the country. The grand feast of onam is held in a specified manner. The dishes are served on a banana leaf. All the preparations reflect the essence of south indian cuisine. Masala dosa, idli, avail, are very popular recipes in south india. Numerous other dishes are also served- sambhar, vada, coconut chutney and banana halwa to name a few.

India is a blend of various other such festivals offering their own list of preparations. Festivals and foods are inseparably connected to each other. Each soul in this very celebrated country enjoys the days of fest which are incomplete without the serve of respective delicacies and flavors. Though these specially made food items are available all year long, but the fine taste and joy of having them is experienced in festive seasons most. That is the time when everyone unites in one color and together celebrating love and happiness!

August 1, 2014
Food Addiction-A real problem
As a kid, most of us were asked to eat a lot. Growing up in an Indian family, if the child skipped a meal it was a sin and the mom would never forgive herself for letting her child skip a meal. We were forced to eat and sometimes just because some of us didn’t like normal food our parents introduced us to the world of junk foods! Pizzas, Burgers the chief culprits, and not to forget our first junk food the potato chips which we kept munching while watching our cartoons! Junk foods have now become a part of us. Most of the kids these days are addicted to junk foods and there are a lot of older people who have a craving for these monsters too!

Even though junk foods have been identified as a problem for a long time, until recently no one realized the actual enormity of this problem. Junk foods like drugs have become an addiction for today’s younger generation. Eating junk foods has now become fashionable and the problem of food addiction is huge and very real. Despite their best intentions, people repeatedly find themselves eating large amounts of unhealthy foods, despite knowing that it is causing them harm.

What is Food Addiction?

Food addiction is the extreme urge to eat junk and unhealthy foods, so much so that it affects your behavior and routine causing stress and tension. Food addiction is, quite simply, being addicted to junk food in the same way as drug addicts are addicted to drugs. It involves the same areas in the brain, the same neurotransmitters and many of the symptoms are identical. Food addiction is a relatively new term and there are no solid statistics available on how common it is.

Food addiction occurs because of the effect certain junk foods have on the human brain. They have the tendency to directly affect the neural system involving neurotransmitters and can clog brain functioning like how drugs do. Food addiction like other addictions cannot be diagnosed completely by medicines and they don’t necessarily have biological symptoms. They can be identified by certain behavioral symptoms.

How do we know someone is a Food addict?

There are certain behavioral symptoms which point towards food addiction. People who are addicted to junk foods tend to become restless when they haven’t had their daily share of junk food. Few of the common symptoms are:
- People who have become addicts to certain kinds of foods have a craving for the food, and as soon as they eat it they get a feeling of guilt and sadness. They try to stop themselves from eating it but are not sure how to control the urge.
- Food addicts get a sudden craving for a particular kind of food, and this doesn’t have any particular time or pattern. Despite being full they crave for their favorite food and after eating it they realize they should never have eaten it
- Another common trait is that Food addicts generally convince themselves that the particular food is good for health or sometimes they just convince themselves by saying it doesn’t matter what they eat things will remain the same.
- They know they shouldn’t have eaten that food in the first place, and try to hide this from everyone to save themselves the embarrassment of not being able to follow a thing as simple as controlling what they eat.
A real problem

Food addiction might not sound as bad as drug addiction or alcoholism but it is every bit dangerous as them. The symptoms and behavioral changes are the same according to some doctors. The social consequences are not as severe as drug addiction but the effects are equally bad to the addict. Food addiction might result in severe stress, obesity, increased blood and sugar levels and a high level of irritation. Food addiction can make the addict lose his self-esteem and become highly unhappy with his body and make one’s life miserable. It can lead to severe distress to the addict and affect his personality completely, sometimes making them prone to suicides and mental problems.

Ways to overcome Food addiction

Like any other addiction the first step in overcoming food addiction is self-acceptance. The addict must realize the harm it is causing to his body and must be in a state of mind to overcome this. The easiest solution is to avoid junk foods completely but in extreme cases it is not possible. Just like how a chain smoker can never become a casual smoker there is no question of a food addict eating junk foods occasionally. If the addict wants to get over it he should get over and done with it completely.

The best way to overcome food addiction is to find an alternate food, which is natural and healthy and at the same times satisfies your craving for junk food. Identify the fast food places which provide healthy food in your locality, this is important in case you are hungry and not in a mood to cook.

Mostly, it is not the lack of will, but the lack of proper planning which prevents people from getting over their addiction. It is important to plan your diet and healthily in order to overcome food addiction. It is high time people started realizing the importance of this, and overcome food addiction because the threat is enormous and requires significant effort.
August 1, 2014