Author: nishtha toshniwal

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
Enjoy this monsoon with hot and crispy Pakoras
Monsoon is here to make the whole environment vivacious with its drizzling effect and make it lively. Monsoon comes with different flavors and have lots of fun embodied in it. For example for children it is the time to sail their handmade boats, for farmers it is like a blessing and some people enjoy the tiny droplets falling over the ground. So different people enjoy this season in their own different ways but common part amongst all of them is that their fun is always accompanied by eating crispy pakoras. Monsoon is said to be complete when you have enjoyed the rain with hot and crispy pakoras along with the tea or coffee. The best thing about pakoras is that they are easily prepared and taste delicious when served with chutney or sauce. It is known fact that pakoras are the main reason behind the rise of cholesterol in the body but eating it once during the whole season did not affect anyone’s health. They are quite easy to be prepared so avoid eating pakoras at road side stalls and start the intake of home-made healthy pakoras.

In southern parts of India, pakoras are known with the name Bajji. This hot, crispy dish is famous in Pakistan too. But it is not treated as a separate snack rather it is served with curry and this dish is known as Pakora curry. It is also an important part of Afghani Cuisine. In China people used to refer it by the name Pakoda.

Pakoras come with its different flavors. There are various ways of making pakoras like onion pakora, paneer pakora, cabbage pakora, egg pakora etc. But here tastes and its nutritional value is the most concerning factors. So here are the few recipes that you can enjoy while sitting along the windows served with hot tea.

Onion pakora:

During monsoon season your tongue definitely demands something crunchy, something spicy and something hot and then suddenly onion pakoras rings a bell and the aroma of these onion pakoras are felt. It is very popular and common snack preferred during this season. It has a quite simple recipe and ingredients required are easily available in everyone’s kitchen. Ingredients required are:
- 1/2 cup Besan
- 1/2 tsp Chili Powder
- 2 large Onion
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
Initially take sliced onion and put turmeric powder, red chilly powder, coriander powder and salt to it. After mixing all the ingredients add besan to it and at the same time pour water to it so that sliced onion is properly coated with the besan. Take oil in a frying pan and allow it to be heated for some time. After this slowly add the prepared batter into it and allow the pakoras to be fried. The excess oil must be absorbed with the help of paper. Now onion pakoras are ready to be served with hot chutney or sauce.

Paneer Pakora:

Paneer pakora is another famous recipe for paneer loving people. Ingredients required are same as onion pakoras but instead of onion you need to have cubes of paneer and chat masala. Its recipe is again quite simple. Add cubes of paneer to the prepared batter of besan, red chilly powder, ginger paste and salt. Now let the paneer cubes marinate for half an hour. Now slowly fry this batter in the hot frying pan containing oil. After taking out absorb the excess oil and sprinkle the chat masala over it. Now the paneer pakoras are ready to be served.

Bread Pakora:

Evening snacks during the monsoon season with the hot cup of tea is one the best thing your tongue demands..! It is a popular street food in the northern parts of India. Ingredients required are:
- 2 potatoes
- 1 onion
- 1 inch ginger
- 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp urad dal
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp chat masala
- Salt
- Slices of whole grain bread
- 1 cup besan
- 1/4 tsp turmeric
- 1/2-1 tsp chili powder
Boil the potatoes and mash them properly. In a bowl, heat the oil. Add mustard seeds and after they popped, add ginger, chillies, urad dal and onions to it. Now add salt and all the spices according to your taste and then add mashed potatoes to it. If it is the season of peas, then you can add peas also. Now take the slice of bread and spread the mixture prepared over it. Now cover this with another slice of bread and cut it into two pieces. Now prepare the batter with the besan, turmeric powder, salt and chilly powder. Dip the slice of bread into it and make sure it must be coated properly. Fry this coated slice in a pan containing oil till it turned reddish brown. Remove the excess oil from it and now it is ready to be served with chilly sauce or chutney.

Experiment with all the above discussed recipes and enjoy this monsoon with the different flavors of hot and crispy pakoras..!
July 30, 2014
Go on and try some Bread based meal
Bread is one of the oldest foods which people use in their daily life. It is available all around the world anywhere and anytime. It is the simplest and the easiest option available to the people whenever they are hungry and are not in a mood to do any type of effort. It is a type of staple food which is prepared by mixing water and flour together. The dough we obtained is then baked and given its ordinary shape. Since from the emergence of agriculture, it has found its existence and till now it has come up wide varieties which are differentiated on the basis of shape, size and color. Bread is sometimes taken as the most popular snack item and sometimes it is used as ingredients in our dishes. It is hard to believe the fact that bread has found its existence in religious rituals too in Europe and East Asia.

Bread is a rich source of carbohydrate and at the same time it consists of various other nutrients such as iron, magnesium, Vitamin B and fiber. Regular intake of bread will tends to increase the overall intake of grains in our body. So to maintain the regular amount of grain and carbohydrate in our body we must take the bread or dishes involving bread into our meal. To defeat the hunger, bread dishes are the best way as they are very easy in their preparation and at the same time it fulfills all the demands of our stomach. . Bread can also be used as an ingredient in various other preparations like bread crumbs are used to provide crunchy and crispy crusts. Some common bread recipes which are popular all over the world are:

Bread Patties:

It is a very famous snack which was originated and firstly prepared in Maharashtra. It is perfect when eaten in rainy season along with the cup of tea.

Ingredients:
- Chickpea and rice flour
- Red chili powder
- Baking Soda
- Carom Seeds
- Turmeric powder and salt
- Potato and green chillies
- Ginger paste and chat masala
Preparation:
- Heat oil along with mustard seeds, pinch of hing, ginger garlic paste and salt.
- Add green chilies which are chopped, turmeric powder and salt together.
- Add chat masala to the boiled potatoes.
- Take a bowl and add besan, rice flour, red chili powder, carom seeds, salt and any other spices if needed.
- Mix and add some amount of water and prepare a batter.
- Cut bread into a shape required. Spread the prepared potato filling on the slices evenly.
- Dip potato filled slices into batter and fry till it gets golden color.
The patties are ready to be served with tamarind chutney or mint chutney.

Bread Roll:

A Bread roll is hot and crispy in nature and is very popular in the northern parts of India.
- Large Potatoes and Green Chillies
- Pinch of hing and garlic paste
- Turmeric powder and salt
- Lemon juice and oil
- Coriander Leaves
- Bread slices
Method:
- Initially blend green chilies and garlic together and make a paste.
- Grind to make that into a coarse paste.
- Heat oil and add hing along with the paste prepared above.
- Also add turmeric powder to it.
- After this heat is turned off and the mixture is mixed with the mashed potatoes.
- Add potatoes with salt and lemon juice and mix it well.
- Then take the slices of bread and trim its edges.
- Dip slices into cold water and drain out all the excess water.
- Now take that potato mixture and roll it out into a desired shape.
- Stuff that roll in bread slices.
- Fry till it gets golden color and then absorb all the excess oil from it.
- Bread roll is ready to be served..!
Bread Cutlet:

Bread cutlet is a very appetizing and tasty dish liked by all the children. It is usually prepared on several occasions like parties, picnics and sometime eaten as an evening snack too. They are crispy and crunchy in nature.

Ingredients:
- Potatoes
- Green chili
- Ginger piece
- Red chili powder
- Garam masala
- Mustard seed
- Oil and Salt
- Slices of bread
Method:
- Heat oil and add mustard seed and curry leaves. After 10 minutes, add mashed potatoes along with green chilies, ginger, red chili powder, garam masala and salt.
- Now make small round balls from that mixture.
- Dip slices into cold water and drain out all the excess water.
- Cover the balls with the slices of bread and evenly spread the mixture.
- Now heat the oil and let the cutlet to be fried in it till it gets golden in color.
- Take them out and sprinkle out the chat masala over it.
- Serve the cutlet with green chutney.
So if your mouth is craving for something chatpata.. And you are only left with bread, then go on and try these simple recipes to prepare a bread based meal.
July 30, 2014
Jainism Rituals and Principles
Jainism, popularly entitled as Jain Dharma is one of the ancient Indian religions in the world. It believes in Ahimsa and follows the path of non-violence towards all human beings. It underlines the fact that all forms of life are equal. It basically derived from the root ‘ jin’ which means to conquer. Their history has been traced through the succession of the Tirthankaras.

Jainism is partitioned into two major sectors Svetambara and Digambara. There are about 4.2 million people in this religion. This is a small number so they are counted under minority community. There are various immigrants in Canada, Belgium, Hong Kong, Japan and United States. Though they are minority sector, but they possess highest literacy rate in India i.e. 94.1 %. They have the oldest manuscript libraries in the country.

Jainism origin is not so clear, but during the 6th century BC twenty four great teacher known as tirthankaras revealed the existence of this religion. Mahavira is recognized as the founder of this religion. There is no evidence of the existence of these tirthankaras but Parsva, predecessor of Mahavira was found to exist somewhere in the 7th -9^th century.

There are several principles that people in this religion follow. The fundamental principle of Jainism is related to a man’s personality. They believe that man has dual personality i.e. Spiritual and material. They consider that every soul is bounded by Karma, a delicate particle of matter. Our soul is attached to our Karma just like gold in any alloy which can’t be separated.

Next principle is based on the imperfectness of the human soul. They believe that no soul is perfect and to attain perfectness, it must have four characteristics: infinite power, infinite knowledge, infinite bliss and infinite faith. After attaining these soul is said to be in its eternal state. Third principle states that material nature can be controlled by the spiritual nature of a man. To attain freedom and happiness there must be an entire suppression of matter. Control of thoughts ad senses would lead to the perfection of the soul. The last and fourth principle states that man is solely responsible for his happiness and his problems would not be affected by any other human being. He has to experience the fruits and results of his own actions, whether it may be good or bad. They believe that God has no concern with any of the happenings in the world. This principle makes Jainism different from Christians, Islam or Hindus.

Jain community is categorized into two main sects: Svetambara and Digambara. These two sectors belong to the same community but they are quite different in their culture and rituals. Digambara people believe that desire for materialistic things led to sorrows so they avoid wearing clothes. This is mainly for males and females are generally seen wearing white material and they are known as Aryikas. While Svetambara monks wear white clothes and believes that scriptures does not condemn wearing of these clothes. Females in this community are referred to as Sadhvi. Digambaras considers Mahavira to be unmarried while Svetambara considers them to be married. Svetambara is further partitioned into terapanthi, Sthanakavasi and Murtipujaka while Digambaras is divided into Kanjipanthi, Terapanthi, taranapanthi and Bisapanthi.

The way of worshipping God is very different in Jainism. They start their worship with the Namokara Mantra. This is simple and fundamental prayer of this community which does not include reference to any of the Tirthankaras. They never believe in demanding any of the material things or personal favors from god. This prayer endowed a feeling of respect for other human beings in it and reminds them about their final goal i.e. moksha. The ultimate objective of their prayer to make their soul free from worldly desires and attachments towards material things. Jain has six duties to follow which is called as avahyakas. These are:
- Samyika means practicing serenity
- Vandan means respecting monks and teachers
- Pratikramana means introspection
- Kayotsarga means stillness
- Pratyakhana means renunciation
- Chaturvimshati means praising 24 tirthankaras
The most significant festival they celebrate is Paryushana. It lasts for 10 days for Digambara and 8 days for Svetambara. Svetambara called it as Paryushana while Digambara called it as Das Lakshana. Paryushana literally means ‘coming together’. At the end of this festival they usually spend a day saying sorry for any wrong deeds to the other people and make a commitment that this will not be repeated in the near future. They say sorry in the form of Khamat Khamna or Michammi Dukadam. Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated in the month of Chaitra in each and every corner of the country. They do fasts on various occasions and sometimes they avoid eating anything for the whole day to reduce the effect of their negative karma. They also believe in meditation, which provides a feeling calmness for some time. This is known as Samayika. It is mainly done during the eight days of Paryushana. It helps in managing one’s passion and emphasize mainly on the control of our senses and thoughts. During this festival they avoid eating green vegetables and any sort of food item after sunset.
July 7, 2014
Delicious Rajasthani Dishes

Rajasthani culture itself includes warlike lifestyles of its people. Along with the royal heritage Rajasthan possesses royal cuisine too. For mouth-watering aroma the food is especially cooked in pure ghee. Rajasthani dish is delicious to taste..!! Rajasthani thaali is a combination of two to three sweet dishes, several rajasthani curries, bajra and missi roti. So here come several famous Rajasthani dishes which need to be tasted if you haven’t tasted it once.

Kalakand, a sweet dish preferred by all the people of the region. It is also famous by the name called Mishri-Mawa. It is prepared with the help of cottage cheese and sweetened milk. It was firstly originated and prepared in Alwar so people usually called it as Alwar’s Kalakand. In several places it is known by the name Milk Cake. Because of its delicious and excellent taste it is renowned all over the state and even a place is named after this particular dish in Alwar.

Dal Bati Churma is a well-known Rajasthani dish which includes three individual servings i.e. Dal, Bati and Churma. Its preparation is quite easy, but take more time as compared to other Rajasthani dishes. It is considered as the most eminent and common dish for all kinds of occasion, whether it be any religious occasions, wedding parties or any small get together. Dal is basically made of tuvaar. It is prepared with the same common recipe as it has. Baati is prepared using wheat flour which is mixed with dahi, salt and water. Now the prepared ball sized round balls and put it into a well-heated oven. After it becomes brown it is served with ghee. Dal-baati is generally served with pudina chaatni, kari, green salad and buttermilk or chaach. Dal baati is incomplete without Churma. It is made of ground wheat, which is crushed and mixed with ghee to make it rich in calories. It is like a tradition to be followed in Rajasthan.

Jodhpuri Mawa Kachori, a special sweet originated in Jodhpur. As we know Jodhpur is known for having Rajasthani delicacies. Various different dishes were originated in Jodhpur like Pyaaz Kachori, Mirchibada, Makhaniya Lassi etc. Mawa Kachori is a sweet dish prepared from mawa which is stuffed in Kachori. It was firstly prepared by famous Rawat Mishthan Bhandar in Jodhpur. Since, from that time it is serving the best mawa kachori in the whole state.

Rajasthan is not only famous for sweet dishes instead its spicy dishes is as yummy and delicious as its sweet dishes. When we talk about spicy the first name comes to our mind is Kachori. Pyaaz ki Kachori is one of the variants of Rajasthani Kachori which was originated in Jodhpur. It is made of fried pastry which was stuffed with spicy onion. People across the country and especially travelers after entering into Rajasthan firstly wants to have this excellent taste in their mouth. This dish has become popular all over the country and is served in every Rajasthani outlet and restaurants. People here in Rajssthan prefer to have this spicy dish in their breakfast and snacks.

Ghewar is another renowned Rajasthani sweet dish. The demands for this sweet dish remain high during all the seasons, but especially it becomes a part of the meal during Teej. It gives an indication of the beginning of the festive season. It is made of wheat flour given a shape of rounded cake. After this preparation, it is poured into sugar syrup and then served. It has several variants that distinguish its taste. Rabdi Ghewar is generally famous and prepared on the occasion f wedding ceremonies which include a topping of rabdi along with the crunch of nuts over it. On the occasion of Gangaur, Makar Sakranti people used to celebrate their happiness with this Ghewar.

Mirchi Vada, another famous snack in Rajasthan. As we know everyone has a different taste varying it from sweet to spicy, so here comes a blend of both. Mirchi vada is combination of spicy and sweet flavours both. It is a spicy fried dish made from Mirchi stuffed with potato in it. It is served with tomato sauce, tamarind chatni, curd and with mint too. But during its preparation, make sure to remove the seeds of Mirchi so that it does not become spicier.

The meal is incomplete without rotis and in India there are different variants of rotis, paranthas etc. So when Rajasthani thali comes into concern it is incomplete without Missi Roti. Missi Roti is a specialty of Rajasthani cuisine. In ancient period it was prepared on a traditional chulha with the coals, but now a day’s people started using ovens for its preparation. Its preparation is quite simple. Initially you need to mesh wheat flour and besan along with dhaniya, red chilly, oil, salt and jeera. A stiff dough is prepared. After this thick rotis are made and brushed with melted ghee. Then it is ready to be served with Shahi Gatte, green chilly and pickle.

July 7, 2014
Punjabi food : Heartily delicious

Punjabis are food loving people and their cuisine represent the same liveliness. Punjabi food, like the Punjabi culture is famous for its unique taste and colourful presentation. It is healthy and finger-licking at the same time and is one of the most popular cuisines in Northern India. One of the key features of Punjabi cuisine is the wide variety of dishes available. Even in the Punjab region a disparity in taste is observed, inhabitants of Amritsar prefer stuffed paranthas with curd whereas people in the Malwa region adore bajra khichdi.

The dishes are prepared in a spicy gravy and the bread are baked with extra ghee. The secret of taste in Punjabi dishes is the exotic use of spices with a considerably high amount of ghee and oil. Punjabi etiquettes for serving as well as eating the food are also very elegant. Let us take a look at some of the popular Punjabi servings:

Sarson da Saag and Makki di Roti:

It is a dish typical of Punjab. The luscious green sarso saag and baked makki di roti is not only a tasty combination, but also very heathy. It is very nutritious as mustard is high in proteins and iron. Some spinach is also added with mustard leaves to add more nutritional value, vibrant green colour and thickness to the saag.

Makki di Roti is the bread made out of corn flour. It is generally eaten in winters and bears a yellowish colour. The bread is made circular and then baked in a traditional way, on a tawa. The roti is then eaten with butter and the saag.

Butter Chicken:

Butter chicken, also known as Murgh Makhni is a very popular non-vegetarian ecstasy from Punjab. The chicken pieces are cooked in a tomato gravy with spices like garam masala, ginger, garlic paste and chili are extensively used. It is cooked in a tandoor generally, but can also be roasted or grilled. It is an irresistibly luscious dish that is liked by most of us. It is mostly served with Butter naan.

Lassi and curd:

Punjabis are passionate about curd, lassi and buttermilk. Lassi is basically sweet beaten curd and is the favourite drink of Punjab. It is thick, creamy and filling which can easily quench your thirst in summers. It is freshly prepared and does not contain any added flavours. Curd is an essential part of Punjabi meal and is eaten with Butter paranthas. Buttermilk or chhachh is prepared by whipping curd and removing the butter which comes on top. It is a year-long drink and is usually served with meals.

Bukhara Dal Makhani:

Dal Makhani is an awesome Punjabi dish that is prepared from a combination of Indian black lentils and beans. It is cooked with spices and whipped cream to give the gravy a thick texture. It is a close cousin of the popular dish dal makhani. It is slow cooked in a tandoor and is usually served with naan.

Punjabi Kadi Pakodi:

Kadi Pakodi is a very popular dish that is made regularly in Punjabi households. In this dish, pakoras are cooked in a spicy and sour soup made from gram flour (besan). It is eaten with rice or chapatti. The taste is dependent on the sourness of the curd used. The pakoras are optional, but adding pakoras adds a different texture to the kadi. It is a very delicious and easy to cook dish which is a staple food in Punjabi homes.

Paranthas:

Paranthas are a routine diet in Punjab. These may be made simple or with different fillings like that of cheese, potatoes, cauliflower etc. Paranthas are basically stuffed flat bread made from wheat flour which are then cooked in ghee or oil. These are high in calories and are generally eaten for breakfast or brunch. Aaloo da Parantha which is stuffed with potato filling is the most popular of them all.

Tandoori Chicken:

Tandoori chicken is a popular Punjabi non-vegetarian dish. Pieces of chicken are roasted or grilled and then cooked with a mixture of yoghurt and spices at high temperature. It is generally cooked in a traditional clay oven (tandoor), and hence its name. It needs to be marinated for at least 8 hours or overnight.

Sweet Dishes:

Just as no meal is complete without sweets, so is the case with Punjabi meal. Some of the sweet dishes typical of Punjab region are Gazar ka Halwa, Makhane ki Kheer, Channa Rabdi, Doodhi ka Halwa, Lauki ki Kheer etc. Pinni is a traditional Punjabi sweet that is prepared during winters in Punjabi households. It helps keep the body warm and keep the seasonal diseases at bay.

Besides these dishes, there are several other lip-smacking vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Rich in taste and good in the presentation are the key feature of any Punjabi food. The Punjabis pay heed to every detail of the food like taste, aroma, texture and flavour. So, whenever you get a chance of having the wholesome Punjabi meals, just grab it. But do not forget to keep a count of your calories!

July 6, 2014
Wants to gain some extra kilos..??

In this Neoteric world, mostly people seem to lose their weight or lose some kilos, but there are people who want to put on some weight and gain some extra kilos. These are the people who are thin as a stick and for gaining extra kilos they tends to move towards unhealthy food or junk food. They believe that extra intake of this unhealthy food would help them to gain some amount of fat, but in reality it is not so. These foods help them to add weight, but at the same time they add bad fat to our body and make it unhealthy. So it is suggested to have such food in our meal which tends to increase the amount of nutrients in our body and increases our energy level.

People may be skinny and underweight due to a variety of reasons other than the hierarchy problem. It may be inadequate habit of feeding, long amount of gap between their meal time, bad selection of dishes, large workouts, etc. Sometimes diseases may also be the cause of underweight like cancer, tuberculosis, eating disorders and hormonal imbalances. So apart from sticking to the fact that you are underweight you must change your eating habits, selection of food and get back to a normal health. Eat butter, cheese, paneer in your meal is the very common advice you can get from everyone. But the question is: Are these three things sufficient for gaining weight?? Actually, extra intake of these items can have a bad effect on the heart

Salmon is the food which is rich in protein, so daily intake of two servings would help you to increase your protein level and helps in gaining weight. It consists of omega-3 fatty acid in it which helps it earn a title of health-supportive food.

You can take peanut butter too. It is a paste made from roasted peanuts. It is being a good source of saturated fats and vitamins helps to increase the energy and make you more fit and fine. It is preferred and generally served with bread so that with just one serving 192 calories is added to our diet. This is the healthiest way and the best choice for the people who are trying to gain weight. While taking this, make sure it contains a less amount of sugar in it. This is the main source of Vitamin B3 and folate.

You can take eggs with your meals and this is the only food which suits to everyone’s pocket. It provides proteins, Vitamin A, D and E and add a good amount of cholesterol to our body and helps in gaining extra kilos.

Start your morning with Granola. It is the most nutritious diet one can have in his/her breakfast. It consists of nuts and oats, which are sufficient for providing a good amount of calories in our body. Natural Granola is a cereal which has no added sugar in it. We can also add some dry fruits to it and enjoy this with thick yogurt to have a delicious experience.

For glowing and shiny skin you know nothing could have been better than the fruit juice, but do you people known it plays a significant role in gaining extra kilos too. With the intake of fruit juices, whether it may be of watermelon, apple, strawberry, etc. increases our energy and nutrient level. And also due to the presence of sugar it helps in gaining weight. According to food experts’ mango, banana and pineapple are the best choice you can make and if it is not possible to eat all of them one by one then you can blend them together. This serving would be full of sugar and can provide you energy.

You can take dry fruits and oats at least one time in a day and if possible morning is the best time. It is very fast and quick method to add calories along with the nutrients to the body rather than fresh ones. Oats contain fibre together with various nutrients so intake of these seems to be good for skinny people.

Bananas are the most easily available and in budget fruit in the market. Intake of two bananas in a day can prove to be fruitful. Generally people used to take these bananas with the milk in the morning so that along with the calorie proteins also add to our diet. People who used to workout, take these bananas on a daily basis as it is a good source of carbohydrates and nutrients.

Indulge yourself in a habit of exercising every day. It will regularly tune your body and maintain the level of intake of nutrients. It maintains the flexibility of our body and helps to make our muscles stronger. It indirectly helps in gaining our weight.

These are some of the ways to shut the mouth of those people who usually comment you as skinny and thin. Try these and gain some extra kilos to look more perfect.

July 1, 2014
Famous Cheese Recipes for Cheese Lovers

Think about Cheese and the image which comes to our mind is melted cheese on pizzas, vegetables covered with melted cheese, cheese sandwich etc. The list is endless. Cheese is popular all over the world and is one of the ingredients loved by each and every heart. A person who loves cheese is entitled as turophile. In ancient times, there had been a special kitchen in Rome, which is especially maintained for the preparation of cheese. Every cuisine in this world is incomplete without cheese. In 16^th century, it is known to be the currency in Denmark.

Cheese is a food obtained from the milk of buffalos, cows, goats or sheep. It is formed by the coagulation of milk and milk must be acidified. Finally solids are separated out and given a final form. United States, being the largest producer produces 2000 varieties of cheese. It is a large source of protein, calcium and phosphorus.

You must be thinking now cheese is ready and this is all about cheese, but actually now the picture starts. All the cuisines all over the world use cheese as special ingredients. Every dish is incomplete without cheese whether it is margarita pizza, cheesecakes, Savory Corn tarts, Gratin of potatoes, pasta, fondue, macaroni, etc. The list is not completed here, rather it is endless. The preparation of these dishes requires cheese as the main ingredient, but they also require some other ingredients to complete its preparation and now we will discuss some of them.

Oreo Cookie cheesecake is a much loved dessert by the children. It contains oreo cookies, melted chocolate and creamy cheese. Initially crushed down the cookies and mix it with butter. Then beat sugar, cornflour and cheese along with egg one by one. After this add vanilla essence and melted chocolate in it. Pour the solution over the crust and allow it to bake at 180 degrees C for 10 mins and then decrease the temperature to 100 degrees C for 2 hours. Allow it to cool down and then cut down the slice and it is ready. In every bite of these slices you will have a taste of creamy cheese on your tongue and after every bite the only thing you will speak is “yummy cheese”.

When you talk about cheese, slideshow of hot sizzling pizza flashes across your mind. Isn’t it? So here comes the best cheese based pizza’s recipe i.e. Margharita. Take the dough and place it on the tray for pre-heating. Cover it with a layer of mozzarella cheese and spread a layer of pasta and basil leaves. Put the prepared material into the oven for 10-12 minutes. Now, after this drizzle down some olive oil and pepper on it. The pizza is ready to be served and cut down the slices too.

Cheesy dip items are all we want now days. Then how could you forget about gratin of potatoes along with garlic cream. It is a yummy dish with very easy recipe. Cut the potatoes and grate down the cheese. Now add salt and pepper to the potatoes.Now layer the pieces of potatoes and add all the grated cheese along with the garlic cream to it. If the bowl is empty add another layer of potatoes with the garlic cream and cheese. Cover it with butter and allow it to bake at 180 degrees C for 25 minutes. After the potatoes are fully cooked and surface of potatoes covered with cheese becomes brown, then it is ready to be served.

If cheese and pasta lovers are together then four cheese pasta will be there in their menu definitely. This item is as cheesy as cheese. Initially boil the pasta in salted water and mix it with the olive oil. Boil milk with thyme, bay leaf, rosemary and onions and mix the butter with flour. Add both the mixture slowly along with the pepper and salt and stir it. Grate different varieties of cheese like Parmesan, Brie, Emmental and cheddar. Add this to the above sauce. In a pan, add garlic, chili flakes and tomatoes to it. Now mix it properly and serve.

Melted cheese is far more delicious and yummy than the melted chocolate. Here comes another melting cheese dish known as ‘Cheese Fondue’. Fondue is prepared with the help of melted cheese and is a popular Swiss dish known all over the world. Varieties of cheese such as Gruyere and Emmental are added to white wine. Now hot mixture is ready and next you have to add vegetables like baby corn, broccoli to it. Enjoy the cheesiness in every sip of this fondue.

These are some recipes famous all over the world. So if you haven’t tasted any of these dishes, then what are you waiting for. Go to the nearby cuisine and place the order. Spend some cheesy moments with the cheese. Go cheesy, think cheesy and eat cheesy…!!

July 1, 2014
The most Refreshing Yogurt : Lassi

Lassi, a yogurt based drink which always leaves you wanting more. In this summer nothing can be more refreshing than this coolant drink. Yogurt drinks are widely popular all over the world. In India people referred this yogurt based drink as “Lassi”.

Lassi is also known as buttermilk is a traditional drink in India and Pakistan. It was originated in Punjab and is an age-old custom in Punjab to serve this coolant drink after the meal in huge glasses. It consist of Yogurt or curd, water, sugar, pepper, raisins and sometimes salt too. Lassi can be salty or sweet and it depends on our taste which one we would like to have. Different flavors of it can be generated by adding seasonal fruits. To give a creamy taste it is topped with clotted cream. Lassi is chilled with ice-cubes and served during or after the meal as a refreshment drink.

Lassi along with refreshment also helps in maintaining our digestive system and enzymes. Lassi being an item prepared from curd helps in alleviating problems related to stomach such as constipation etc. It helps in generating healthy bacteria and decreases the number of bad bacteria. Being rich in proteins it is a main intake of bodybuilders to keep their muscles stiff. Whenever we feel low a glass of Lassi can work and increases our energy level. It is also used to provide strength to our bones as it is a good source of calcium. It also decreases building up of bacteria and gastrointestinal problems.

Lassi is of only two types: Sweet or Salted…Really is it so?? The answer is NO..Lassi comes with its variants…it mainly depends on our taste and ingredients we would love to have. Like Sweet Lassi is a flavoured form of lassi with sugar and different form of flavours added to it e.g. Rose, Lemon, Strawberry or any other juices. Saffron Lassi is a type of this which has saffron as a special ingredient in it. This is popular in Pakistan and Rajasthan. Makkhaniya lassi is lassi topped with a layer of butter over it.

Preparation of lassi is quite easy. You just want some ingredients and blender with you. Ingredients required are: 1.5 cups curd, 7-8 tbsp sugar, 1/2 cups water, saffron (optional), 6-7 almonds/nuts, I tbsp rose water, ice cubes. Initially take the curd, sugar in a blender and blend it. It is blended until an even mixture is obtained. Make sure that it is not blended for a long time otherwise butter will start to float on the top. Now lassi is ready and pour it into the tall glasses. Sprinkle the nuts and pieces of almonds over it. Saffron is added if required.

Mango Lassi is prepared from mango pulp and yogurt. Sugar is optional ingredient in it. It has gained its popularity all over the world including UK, Singapore, Malaysia. In Canada this lassi is treated as a cold drink with kesar mango pulp added to it along with the cream and there it is served with an ice cream. To make it more delicious nuts are also sprinkled at its top.

Bhang Lassi, the name itself creates an image of Punjab’s culture. This lassi contains bhang as an ingredient in it. Bhang is a type of liquid derivative of eaten forms of Cannabis. This is mainly taken during Holi and it is served with pakodas. In Uttar Pradesh there are some bhang shops and they all are licensed so you people can visit, can buy some bhang products in case you want to and can enjoy bhang lassi.

Chaach is another form of lassi which is salted in form. It is diluted in form and contains salt and jeera for giving salty taste. Some people used to add green chillies as a seasonal element. In Gujarat and Rajasthan it is served along with the meal and especially during summers. It acts as coolant drink during this hot season.

In the hot summer, chilled Lassi is served in tall a glass which is topped with clotted cream. In Punjab, the demand is getting so high day by day that shopkeeper started using washing machines for blending curd instead of mixers. With these maximum demands can be easily fulfilled. Lassi so prepared is very thick and spoon is served with it to make it easy to drink. Firstly, you can have the taste of buttery cream and then drink that lassie. People in Northern India preferred to have lassi with samosa, paranthas and sometimes with chat too.

Lassi must be prepared in a proper way like never add lassi with the fruit because curd and fruit always contradicts each other so it can indirectly harm our immune system. Reduce the consumption of lassi in winters and especially at late nights because it increases the concentration of phlegm in our body.

June 28, 2014
Gujarati’s folk dance: Daandiya Raas

Dandiya is basically a dance form which was originated by Lord Krishna in Vrindavan. It was a symbol of Raas Lila between Krishna and Radha. But now it has become a popular folk dance of Gujarat. It is a custom followed during Navaratri evenings in various parts of Western India. During this season people gather together and perform Dandiya Raas.

Dandiya Raas has become a substantial part of Navaratri festival. This festival is celebrated throughout India to pay tribute to the incarnations of Mata Ambe. It continues for nine days and people tend to visit temples and then open their fasts. While the days are passed in worshipping, the nights are energetic and vivacious. The excitement of this festive season is at its peak. In every part of the country special events are organized and arrangements are made for Dandiya especially in Gujarat.

There are various forms of this dance form like Dang Lila in Rajasthan. In this people used to perform dance with only one large stick in their hands. But in Dandiya Raas people carry sticks in their hands and form two large circles. Stick is the only prop used in this dance form and it is fully decorated. The sticks are made of bamboo and to give an attractive look they are usually painted with different colors. In the ancient times Dhol was enough to make them dance, but today various tracks are in the market, which makes their feet dance according to its beat. The people from both the circles make pairs and dance accordingly. Their sticks hit together and create a nice sound. One circle tends to move clockwise and another anticlockwise. And if they are short of sticks, then they just hold one stick in their right hands and dance. In some parts of the state it is also known as Stick Dance.

Dandiya Raas generally includes a large number of people so to make it a successful event sometimes dancer are supplemented by an instrumentalist which is a master in playing drums. This man stands in the center of these two circles and hundreds of people gather around to see the live performances. The sound of these sticks produces a rhythm of musical waves. It is the highlight and focus of attraction during the festive season of Navratra.

Raas Dandiya is performed to display a fight between the Goddess and the demon-king Mahishasura. The sticks used in the dance are a symbol of swords of Durga. In this dance the dancers energetically move their feet and sticks to tune themselves to the rhythm and set according to the beats. This dance does not require many skills and can be easily co-ordinated. Dancers perform in a very rhythmic and elegant manner and it appears like they are rotating around ‘Mandvi’.

Dandiya is not all about how we dance instead the most attractive part is how we are dressed up. In this dance form both men and women participate. The women are generally dressed up in traditional colorful dresses or in general, we can say three-piece like embroidered choli and ghagra with bandhani dupattas. They adore themselves with attire consisting of mirror work and jewelry. Women adorn themselves with silver jewelry on their heads, silver bangles in their hands, etc. The men are seen in colorful turbans and traditional dhoti and kurtas. The dresses they wear not only make them appear charming rather it also make their moves appear flexible. These events are organized in a large garden or grounds. So to give a plasma effect the whole area is covered with lanterns and candles.

People generally use Garba and Dandiya as each other synonym but in reality they are not similar and there lies a major difference between them. Garba is a dance form which consist of feet and hand movements without using any props like sticks. Women are the only ones included in this dance form and coordinate their steps. Dandiya Raas is another style which colorfully decorated and lucrative sticks in it. In Dandiya various steps require an even number of participants while in a Garba random number of people can participate. You can need to be careful and attractive while you are playing with Dandiya but Garba is a freestyle form of dancing that requires no coordination. Musical Instruments such as table, drums, and harmoniums are required for Garba dance. Garbage is always performed before Aarti while Dandiya is performed after Aarti.

Generally Dandiya Raas and Garba dance is reflected during the Navaratri festival, but in some parts of our country, it has become a culture in wedding ceremonies. Raas is very complex when it has to be performed on stage with some particular music and steps. Initially, when Raas entered into our culture, all the songs were related to Lord Krishna, but as soon as it was expanded songs about love, Goddess Durga came into the scene.

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June 28, 2014