Crave Bits

Author: nishtha toshniwal

  • Aloe Vera comes with an antiseptic and medicinal properties

    Aloe Vera comes with an antiseptic and medicinal properties

    You all must be aware about the benefits of aloe Vera when skin issues are concerned..  Whether it might be rashes, sunburns etc..!! But do you people know about its health benefits..?? I think over millions of people only thousands of them know its other part and the rest must be treating it as an antiseptic for their skin.

    Aloe Vera is a succulent plant that is very short-stemmed and naturally grows up to 60-100 cm. The leaves of this plant are fleshy green with small white teeth over it. It has entitled as the ‘Wand of the Heaven’ by the Americans for having widespread antiseptic properties.

    Aloe Vera in its history is known for its medicinal and antiseptic properties. According to scientific researches it is generally considered as the beauty secret. Aloe Vera extract can be used as a lotion or is diluted to form aloe Vera gel. These extractions or prepared gel are applied on the skin to make it more smooth and shiny.  It is used to obliterate your eye makeup very smoothly and also helps in providing relief to tired and swells eyes. Skin specialist considers it as a remedy for sunburn, skin irritations, acne etc. It is applied 2-3 times a day and its cooling properties help in curing sunburns.

    face

    Aloe Vera is rich in Vitamin C and E and our skin needs these vitamins so that it always remains hydrated and soft. And nothing can be better than adding coconut oil to it so that essential nutrients and required fats all together are provided to our skin. It internal qualities keep our skin moisturizing and it’s under layer effects keeps it shiny. Aloe Vera gel is also applied on hairs to make it smoother.

    aloe2

    This is all about its healing properties and its major concern with skins. Now let’s talks about its health benefits. Aloe Vera extract is not only applied on skins rather it is also used in preparing aloe Vera juice. This aloe Vera juices in turn is taken and overpower its medicinal properties. This plant has a magical property which is used in the treatment of various diseases. So the major issue is How to prepare this aloe Vera juice. It’s quite easy and has a homemade recipe.

    Aloe Vera Juice: Initially breaks off some of the leaves from Aloe Vera plant. Then, with the help of knife, take out the extract from the leaves gently. Peel out the yellow layer from the extract so that we are left with only a clear gel. Place this in the blender and add one cup of grapes/orange juice into it. Blend these into it for some time until it is fully mixed. Pour this into a glass and your Aloe Vera Juice is ready.

    aloe1

    Aloe Vera juice helps in maintaining our digestive system and allows food particles to pass through our intestine flawlessly. It acts as a detoxifier and helps with alleviating ulcers, acidity and inflammation. Drinking this regularly helps in removing joint pains and decreases swelling. It also reduces rigidness of bones and makes them soft. It also cures diabetes and decreases sugar level to the large extent. Its antibacterial properties help in promoting cell growth and increases mouth gums. It also helps in improving immunity and boosts our immunity. It also increases energy along with maintaining weight. It contains minerals and nutrients which help in improving blood pressure and blood oxidation.

    juice

    To make it more delicious to drink instead of preparing aloe Vera juice we can make Aloe Vera Cocktail. Just by adding few more ingredients to it, it can take a new form of drink.  Firstly, prepare aloe Vera juice as usual and then add 1-2 cup of pineapple, one carrot and one green apple along with 2-4 tbsp of water to it. Finally, blend them and pour it into a glass with a straw. Now this exotic cocktail is ready to be served.

    Now we are all familiar with its health and skin benefits, but these are all due to its nutritional value. It consists of 12 vitamins, 75 nutrients, 18 amino acids, 20 minerals and 200 enzymes in it. When Vitamins is concerned, it consists of Vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E. These minerals have their effects internally or externally. It also consists of various compounds such as mannans, lectins and polysaccharides etc.

    Aloe Vera Gel: Take out the extract and place it into the blender. Foe every ¼ cup of aloe add 400IU Vitamin E and 500mg Vitamin C. Blend these together and placed the prepared gel in refrigerator.

    gel

    As we know every coin has two faces similarly Aloe comes with its advantages and disadvantages both. Excess drinking of aloe juice may be a cause of cancer in later days and can lead to serious kidney diseases and sometimes even results in death. So it’s better to consult a doctor before its intake.

     

  • Rasgulla: The syrupy taste of India

    Rasgulla: The syrupy taste of India

    Don’t you people got bored with the same khichdi and daal all the time in your lunch and dinner? Have some change and make your appetite more interesting and delicious..!! Go on and try some desserts, sweets, ice-creams. What can be more yummy and delicious than Rasgulla..! Rasgulla, the name itself can make you salivate.  The most historical and yummy Bengali dish is famous all over the country and also spread its taste over neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is a white spongy variant also popularly known as Rossogolla in Bengal.

    ras2

    It is a syrupy dessert based on cheese (chhena) is popular in the whole nation mainly in West Bengal and Orissa. It is typically served on various occasions and parties. They are white sweet yummy balls which is spongy and rubbery in nature.

    Sri Nobin Chandra Das, who is remembered as the father of Rossogolla succeeded in inventing this National Sweet of India in 1868. He is responsible for modifying this recipe of white variant spongy dish all over the nation. He popularised this sweet dish among various sweet-makers and finally canned rasgullas were prepared to gain this popularity outside Kolkata.

    This sweet dish not only popular among parties or dinner instead in Puri this is most widely used as an offering to the Goddess Lakshmi as a tradition. There people believed that Jagannath tried to pacify Lakshmi with these rasgullas and that’s why she is offered this as a ‘Bhog’. Due to this tradition scholars perceived this offering as the origin of this dish.

    ras6

    This Bengali sweet doesn’t exist as a single rather several variants exist. Starting with Notun Gurer Rasgulla, which are the most famous seasonal variants with the addition of Fresh Jaggery in it. Then comes Kamola Bhog, which is rich in orange flavour.  Originally the rasgullas used to be creamish in colour and less spongy. In Orissa it is very common to embed a piece of cashew or raisin which increases its taste. Conventional Rossogolla, Cream Chop, Sponge Rossogolla, Rajbhog, khasta are another variants that are available in different shapes and sizes. They are generally served to the guest at room temperature but sometimes they are also served them chilled. This is not enough instead hot rasgullas are also famous among Indian household.

    ras5

    Manufacturers of Rasgullas do not generally disclose the recipe of this sweet dish and it seems that its preparation might be difficult. But it is not so. It has an easy and convenient way. Its preparation initially needs the preparation of Chhena balls and syrup.

    Ingredients: Flour (2 tspn), milk (1 litre), sugar (200gm), Lemon juice, Water.

    Preparation of Chhena balls:

    • Initially boil full cream milk and allow it to cool down.
    • For separating chhena and water add lemon juice to it.
    • After separation, bundle up the content of milk in muslin cloth and keep it for 6-8 hours so that extra water is drained out.
    • Now add flour to the Chhena and prepare fine dough.
    • From that dough make small balls.

    Preparation of Syrup:

    • Boil water and add sugar to it.
    • After sugar is dissolved then add ½ cup of milk.
    • Some un-dissolved particle would float which needs to be separated from it to obtain clear syrup.
    • Add Chhena balls to it and boil it along with the addition of water to it in a span of 15 minutes.

    Rossogollas is ready and it needs to be cooled now.

    How much delicious this sweet dish is depends mainly on its serving size. The size of rasgullas varies greatly but usually small size of 3.5 oz is preferable. The serving size will directly affect nutritional value of this sweet.

    Generally a person believes that sweet dish is responsible for various diseases and they tend to avoid sweets. All the wishes of them are marred. But it is just their perceptions and in reality it is highly nutritious dish after taking your lunch or dinner. This delicious sweet consists of 186 calories (153 calories for carbohydrates, 17 calories for fats and 16 for proteins).

    ras4

    In ancient times Rasgullas are served normally at room temperature but now days demands changed and it has led them to be served chilled. They are also served with Ice cream as a dessert to make ice cream rasgullas. In restaurant to add more cream to this dessert it is served with blueberry sauce. It is entitled as Oriya dessert. Sondesh is similar as rasgulla and is another Chhena dish prepared in Bengal. The Chhena balls prepared is also used in Rasmalai which is popular throughout India. In this sweetened milk is mixed instead of syrup. In Creamy chop chhena is sandwiched in the middle of the clotted cream. This dish is served in various occasions such as marriages, parties and it shows the symbol of your high dignity. This is also served as a welcome dish on various festive occasions.

    Go on and try it..!!

    ras3