Category: Drinks

Staying young forever – What to eat?

Who wants to get old? The answer is no one. Although in reality aging is unavoidable. But we can certainly lower down the rate of ageing. With age our body performs less efficiently and we become vulnerable to age associated ailments. But aging with elegance is in our hands. The manner in which we lead our lives control our aging. The damaging results of aging can be reduced by the intake of certain food items. These foodstuffs would not put a halt to the aging process but your health and strength will be improved. Even though there are many different kinds of anti-aging cosmetics available in the marketplace but directly consumption of these food items proves to be a better option as they benefit the body thoroughly. Nutrition has the chief responsibility in restraining the aging procedure. There are many such food items that diminish the symptoms of aging and some of them are listed below. Hence consume them and stay healthy.

Berries:

Everyone enjoys eating berries. Each and every kind of berry is filled with antioxidants that stimulates the health of the cell and provides defense against infections. The darker berry contains the maximum amount of antioxidants and thus delivers the best anti-aging advantages. Berries are loaded with vitamin C which provides major benefits to the skin. The tissues in the body are greatly repaired with the support of vitamin C.

Avocado:

Avocado has major anti-aging properties. It is loaded with vitamin E and many antioxidants. It also contains some amount of potassium. These antioxidants are highly skin defensive in nature and hence provide radiance to the skin. Along with that folate is also present in avocado that is responsible for the restoration of cells in the skin. So eat avocado to possess radiant and glowing skin along with glossy hair.

Nuts:

Like berries and avocados, nuts are also regarded as very beneficial for the body. Nuts are highly loaded with protein and healthy fats. Omega-3 fatty acids are present in nuts which are considered to be extremely valuable for the health and skin. A kind of nut, almonds are rich in vitamin E which is very helpful in preventing the cellular impairment. Nuts are packed up with components that relieve irritation and swelling. So next time if you are starving eat some nuts instead of chips as nuts provide so many health benefits without increasing the calories.

Tomatoes:

Tomatoes are usually present in our kitchens as they contribute in almost every dish we prepare. These tomatoes are rich in vitamin C that helps in the development of collagen. Consequently the skin becomes stronger and chubbier. Another very important antioxidant which is present in a tomato is lycopene. Lycopene is found to defend the skin from UV harm and helps in maintaining the surface of the skin. If you start eating tomatoes daily the result will be visible on your face in the form of shine and glow.

Honey:

If you eat like eating sugary foods then honey is one of the finest options for you. Honey is considered to be very useful for the skin and many people are in habit of applying honey as a face pack. Moreover inflammation is not triggered in the body with the consumption of honey. It is one of the greatest antioxidant.

Dark Chocolate:

As we all know that contact to UV radiations is harmful and it makes our skin get older. Chocolates are prepared using cocoa beans which are highly rich in flavanols, an antioxidant. This antioxidant diminishes the irritation and redness caused on the skin as a result of ultraviolet radiations. In addition to that the consumption of dark chocolate enhances the circulation in the skin. As a result the skin keeps the hold of moistness and subsequently the wrinkles fade away.

Fish:

To cope with dry skin it is advised to consume food items which provide healthy fats to our body. Such food items like fish nourish and cleanse our skin. Fishes are packed with omega-3 fatty acid which battle against the inflammation and provide protection from heart related ailments. Fishes like salmon are remarkable for our skin.

Vegetables:

Vegetables are super foods which apart from providing so many health benefits also slower down the rate of aging. Especially green vegetables like spinach are highly rich in antioxidants which protect the skin from harmful UV radiations. Along with that vegetables are also filled with vitamins as well as minerals which enhances the immunity of the body.

Garlic:

One more major anti-aging food is garlic. Garlic is considered as a nourishing and tasty food which is consumed directly or through various dishes. It diminishes the inflammation on the skin, lower down the level of cholesterol and preserves the cellular health. It is a great anti-bacterial food item which advances the immunity naturally. Hence make sure you eat garlic to fight against the ageing process.

July 30, 2014
The Tamarind LOVE!
Creeping back to the yonder days, when sneaking into the corner grocery store to buy a packet of Hajmola with the newly earned 1rupee coin, for having done the job of fetching the milk packets and the newspaper from the main gate, was an achievement, I realize how inclined my determination was to get only the ‘Imli’ flavoured Hajmola packet out of the huge jar, usually crowed with all the other flavoured ones! ‘Imli’ or tamarind, I suppose has been a significant ingredient contributing to the growing years for a lot many girls and sometimes boys too. The excitement that overwhelmed my heart at the arrival of a fair, in the locality, only to get to taste the ‘Imli ka Achar’,(Tamarind Pickle) honestly doesn’t leave my heart untouched even to this day. Even the battle to add more tamarind to the mashed potato and spices mixture, during Fuchka debacles, persists and so I think, having been journeyed a span of long twenty years along with this selfless love towards tamarind, has actually done good to me and many, health-wise. So, here’s a few facts about the goodness and multitudinous uses of my beloved, tamarind, waiting for your eyes to behold!

Tamarind, or Tamarindus indica(scientific name) is a very popular herb or fruit of a tall tree known to grow in Asia and North Africa. Having borrowed its English term from the Arabic, it is also known as the ‘Indian date’, as in Hindi, tamar means so. It has proved its prowess in many ways and has led to its effective use in medicinal, culinary, and ornamental uses throughout Asia, Africa and also Latin America. It’s also used as an economic dye in industries, thus establishing its versatility. However, it’s widespread eulogy in the medical field, for the health benefits it commences, is what is worth elaboration.

A tamarind a day keeps a doctor away!?
- Lemon is a source of citric acid, and tamarind here is rich in tartaric acid, that apart from giving a sour taste to the food, also enriches it with super-powerful antioxidants (E334), that help protect the body from harmful free radicals.
- It’s the key to a strong heart, no bile disorders and lower cholesterol.
- Down with sore throat and have a speech or musical the next day? Tamarind is at your rescue. Gargle out all the glitches with a sip of its juice mixed with lukewarm water.
- Anamazing cure for conjunctivitis and dry eye syndrome, is warm tamarind juice, used as eye drops
- It is also a good source of antioxidants that battle against cancer.
- Famed to have reduced fevers, treated bilious disorders, jaundice and catarrh and protected against colds, tamarind pulp in boiling water and little honey is great.
- Tamarind is a spice rich in minerals like copper, iron, calcium, potassium, zinc, selenium and magnesium and controls blood pressure, heart rate, and also the production of red blood cells.
The Queen Ingredient!

This delicately sour and sweet ingredient is popular in Indian, Middle Eastern and South-Asian cuisine in particular, but almost the entire world benefits from its goodness.

In India, it is used in curries, chutneys, achars or pickles, rasams, sambar, vatha kuzhambu, fuchkas, and other vegetable and lentil recipes. Its pulp is also used as marinades, as a solidifying agent in confectionaries, and also to flavour ‘hot and sour’ soups. Moreover there’s also a popular tamarind drink, spiced with dates, honey, sugar, cardamom, cloves and coriander seeds. Loved by non-vegetarians this ingredient also goes into non-veg dishes like, Fish or Mutton Pulusu and other fish or meat curries

In China, precisely Yunnan, tamarind serves as an important ingredient in jams, syrups and chilled drinks. Even Egypt is known to cherish iced drinks made out of tamarind.

Mexicans use it in their sauces, candies, and snacks that are dried and salted or simply sweetened. Some popular Mexican delicacies that tamarind makes possible, are Agua fresca, Agua de tamarindo, raspados, Pelon Pelo Rico, Pulparindo, Batilongo and many more.

Also served, rolled into balls of some 5 cm diameter, along with white granulated sugar and a blend of spices sprinkled on it, tamarind is loved this way in various places like, Colombia, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico, Grenada and some other Latin American countries. There, they are known as ‘tambran’ balls.

Gurame and Ikan asam, are the two popular Javanese dishes that make use of tamarind extensively, all throughout the expanse of Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. Even Maluku, Sulawesi and Manado cuisines love tamarind!

Kenya, especially the Swahili people adorn tamarind to garnish legumes and make juices, while also to flavour rice.

In Thailand, kaeng som, which is a sour curry, is among those many dishes that use tamarind as their central ingredient. And, Vietnam too basks in its goodness by using it in their soups, like Canh chua, and other drinks, candies and sauces.

And therefore, here I come to conclude that my gastronomically romantic relationship with tamarind has indeed been extremely healthy and prosperous, and therefore here’s two of my favourite tamarind recipes, that I discovered, tried and loved!

Tamarind Chicken

Ingredients
- 2 tbsps. Fresh Tamarind paste
- 4 Chicken legs
- 1 tbsp. Galangal (or you can use ginger), cut into thin strips
- 4tbsps. Olive oil
- Dried red chillies 2-3
- 6 cloves of Garlic
- 500 grams Saunf or Fennel see ds
- 6 finely chopped fresh basil leaves
- Salt and crushed black peppercorns to taste
Method
1. Assemble ginger or galangal, tamarind paste in a bowl and mix them well.
2. In a non-stick pan, heat 1 tbsp olive oil and add the dried red chillies and sauté them until the colour transforms and a smoky fragrance fills the air around.
3. Pop in garlic and fennel seeds and continue sautéing on low flame for approximately 2 minutes. After this step is over, let the mixture cool down, and then grind it to a coarse paste.
4. Mix the paste with the tamarind mixture. Add a tablespoon of olive oil into it and mix. Top it up with some basil and mix again.
5. Now, mix the chicken legs,(that have been halved beforehand) in the above mixture
6. Set it aside to marinate for some 10-15 minutes(longer the better)
7. Heat the grill pan. Use the remaining olive oil, now, to rub on the chicken pieces. Grill for 5 minutes.
8. Garnish and serve with steamed rice, pulao or parathas.
Tamarind chickpeas

Ingredients
- Vegetable or Sunflower oil-1 tbsp
- Chopped tomatoes-400g
- Tamarind paste-1 tbsp
- Chopped onion, medium- 2
- Chickpeas, (drained and rinsed) – 410g
- Nigella seeds (available at supermarkets) or cumin or celery seeds- ½ tsp.
- Fennel seeds -1½ tsp.
- Green chillies, (seeded and cut into quarters lengthways) -3
- Light muscovado sugar or normal sugar- 2-3 tsp.
- Paprika – 1 tsp.
- Turmeric – 1 tsp.
- Fresh coriander (chopped) – 1 tbsp
- half a 250g/9oz bag baby spinach leaves
- natural yogurt and chapattis, to serve
Method
1. In a non-stick pan, heat oil and sauté nigella (cumin or celery) seeds and fennel seeds, for some 10 minutes. Add the onion into it and cook till slightly golden for some 8-10 minutes.
2. Put in the chillies, tomatoes, chickpeas, paprika, turmeric and sugar and bring it to boil,and let it simmer for some 10 minutes. Stir in the tamarind paste and sprinkle with coriander. Add the spinach leaves and continue to stir gently til they’ve wilted.
3. Garnish and serve with yogurt and chapattis.
(Recipe sources-bbcgoodfood.com and Food Food TV Channel)
July 30, 2014
Why are juices turning out to be unhealthy?

We all know that fresh fruits are very useful for our body and they provide us with various health benefits. We can ingest more fruits at a time by drinking fruit juice. Consumption of juices of various fruits as well as vegetables is very prevalent now days. We normally think that drinking juice is quite advantageous. But there are certain demerits associated with the juicing as well.

Lack of fiber: Fruits are filled with various necessary constituents that go away during course of juicing. During this process, fiber is eliminated from the fruit which has a significant role in the betterment of the body. We can suffer with digestion difficulties with the absence of fiber. Fiber supports in attaining satisfaction. We generally can’t eat a lot of fruits at the same time because of the fiber which is present in them. Hence consumption of fresh fruits does not lead to the danger of sugar. In contrast to fruits, juices wipe out the fiber. The shortage of fiber leads to consumption of more amount of juice to fulfill our hunger.

Elimination of the fruit’s skin: Our body receives rarer benefits while drinking juice as the skin of the fruit is eliminated during the method of juicing. Every single fragment of the fruit is important and each fragment is packed with major nutrients which are necessary for the body. Fruit’s skin is that part which interrelates with the sun light and develops pigments. These particles are valuable in protecting our body from the harm. Generally the fruit’s skin possesses extra nutrients as compared to the flesh. Hence the intake of fresh fruit is healthier then the consumption of freshly prepared juice.

Rise in the sugar content: All the people who are suffering from diabetes and want to control their sugar content must cut out the consumption of juices. Juices are capable of providing a lot of sugar. Sugar is present in fruits and as the juices contains many fruits as well as vegetables at the same time, the sugar level increases. Hence the juices increase the risk of sugar.

Time consuming task: It is a little time consuming and problematic to prepare juices in our daily routine. Juicing involves slicing and peeling of fruits along with vegetables. It’s quite easier to consume the fruits as a whole rather than producing the juice out of it. People who are occupied with work load find it hard to include juicing in their routine.

Freshly prepared juices are of the finest quality: It is best to consume the juice when it is fresh. The juices turn out to be less flavorsome and healthy with time and so preparing the juices in advance is not be suitable. Hence it becomes troublesome for the people to prepare juices regularly because time is involved in juicing.

Juicing is pricey: Preparation of juices is costlier then the intake of fresh fruits as a whole. The process of juicing involves juicer to extract the juice out of the fruits and vegetables. These juicers are generally costly and as per their qualities and brand their costs varies.

But there are certain advices that make the consumption of fresh juices suitable for us.

Go for the pure juices: Whenever you feel like drinking juice makes it sure that it is freshly prepared from the pure and genuine fruits and vegetables. Avoid buying treated juices from the store. The freshly prepared juices are best for our health.

Cut down the usage of fruits for sugariness: The juices made out of vegetables are much better and healthier for us as compared to the fruit juices. Only slight piece of fruit must be added to the vegetable juice in order to increase its sugariness. Try to stay away from the juices that are exclusively prepared from fruits as they very high in sugar content.

Drink in moderation: The major problem with the consumption of juices is the risk of sugar. Juices are beneficial for us provided that the level of sugar content is not surpassed. Hence it is necessary to consume the juices in a controlled manner. Try not to outstrip the sugar level.

Usage of fine quality juicer: As I have already mentioned above that fiber is eliminated during the process of juicing. Hence try to find the juicer with finest quality which preserves the fruit’s skin during the course of juicing. Blender is one of the best options in this respect as it retains the fiber completely.

Now you have learnt about the fact that juices are filled with nutrients but in a lesser amount as compared to actual fruits and vegetables. Fiber which is so essential is not present in the juices. The sugar level is also enhanced in the juices. Hence it is better to directly consume the fruits rather extracting the juice out of it to enjoy the major health benefits.

July 30, 2014
Miraculous ALOE VERA!

Yes, Aloe Vera! That green spiky edged, gel filled plant, almost every garden of every household have is incredibly awesome. This wonder plant is put to plethora of practical uses and its application is worldwide. Like Cleopatra, who applied the middle gel to her body as part of her beauty regimen, this plant and its juice is incredible natural remedy having internal and external applications. Aloe vera is a plant that thrives in tropical areas and can work as a houseplant in warm environments. Aloe vera, being antiseptic, anti-bacterial gel is proved wonderful in treating many infections, number 1 thing for skincare and the aloe vera juice is simply superb to keep many diseases in check and maintain the healthy body. Just simply splitting the leaf downwards lengthwise and take out the gel and use it. Aloe vera alone produces six types of natural antiseptics which are able to kill bacteria, virus, funguses and scientists are carrying out researches to find out its potential for diseases like AIDS and cancer.

This health elixir can be put to versatile uses from beauty aid to health tonic and I’m enlisting the benefits of the miraculous, variety oriented aloe vera;

High content of Vitamins, Minerals, Amino acids and fatty acids: Aloe vera is rich in many vitamins like A,C,E, Vitamin B1,2,3 and Vitamin B12 and minerals like calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, selenium, copper, manganese and many others. Many studies have proven the rich composition of vitamins and mineral in aloe vera. Estimates have found there are around 18-20 amino acids and all 8 essential amino acids. It also contains an impressive range of fatty acids which are helpful in reducing symptoms of allergies and acid indigestion. Having all the goodness of essential elements, aloe vera is just unexpectedly healthy.

Adaptogen: It means that a thing that boosts the ability of the body to resist illness and adapt to external environment. It stimulates the adaptive and defensive mechansims of body. Aloe vera’s adaptogenic powers allows you an increased ability to deal with physical and emotional stress. Being adaptogen, it has gind so much popularity in health world.

Antioxidant properties: Aloe vera ia unique which is gelatinous and gives the benefit of absorbing toxins in your digestive tract and having antioxidant properties, it is helpful in proper elimination of toxins and waste from body and thus benefits the liver and helps in detoxification of body.

Great for skin: Because of its anti-healing properties, it is excellent for skin care and really popular among women. The gel part of aloe vera is really effective and provides glowing, healthy, supple skin when applied and even drinking aloe vera juice in morning can do miracles for skin. It is one of the primary compounds used in cosmetic industry. Having high water content, over 99%; it is a great way to moisturize, hydrate and rejuvenate you skin and it also increases the elasticity of skin through collagen and elastin repair. So, certainly aloe vera is best for skin maintenance.

Boost for Immune System: the aloe vera juice contains polysaccharids which stimulates macrophages (white blood cells) of your immune system that fight against viruses. Also, because of its anti-oxidant properties, aloe is an immune enhancer. As it is antipyretic, it is also used in treating fever. Thus, the compounds and nutrients present in aloe vera helps in immune boost.

Cardiovascular health maintenance: Aloe vera has potential benefits in treating heart disease and has positive effects on cardiovascular health. In a research, it was shoen that aloe vera extract injected into blood greatly enhances oxygen transportation. Also, consuming aloe vera gel regulates blood pressure, improving circulation and oxidation of blood and lowers the cholesterol. Blood sugar levels are also increased in diabetic patients.

Aloe Vera Uses:

Pamper yourself by using aloe vera as a soothing body scrub. Slice it lengthwise and and use inner sides as a body scrub in shower.

Use it as an antidote for allergic skin infections or use is as a good moisturizer in place of creams and lotions.

Treats acne and eczema.

Speed up your hair growth by massaging aloe into scalp and also use it as a conditioner for silky, smooth hair and it also reduces dandruff.

Take it orally to treat number of diseases from diabetes, asthma, inflammation, indigestion, ulcers, dental conditions, arthritis etc.

Treat burns from minor mishaps or cuts or scars and also treat insect bites, itches and prevent stretch marks. Can make foot baby soft by preparing foot mask. Treat the sunburns and soothe the skin in good way.

Aloe Vera is a miraculous plant, a health supplement and a super food. Though plant is incredibly medicinal, there are little precautions that one must take. Its okay to apply it to your skin or drink aloe vera juice 3-4 times a week. If you cant cope with taking it straight as it has strong taste, you can add it in smoothie or mix it in your green juice. But Avoid taking aloe vera internally as consuming gel orally or as aloe juice during pregnancy, menstruation or degeneration of the liver and gall bladder.

Well, be little cautious and Enjoy all the goodness and big benefits of aloe vera it has to offer and be healthy and beautiful always.

Healthy Eating. Happy Life.

July 27, 2014
The Mr’s and Mrs’s of Food!

Every hero needs a heroine. Similarly, certain foods taste better when they are served with their other half. There are times when their names itself are synonymous with one another. Every time you order certain foods, you will know they will be served with the other. Some times when they are served alone it doesn’t feel right. Some foods taste incomplete without their mate. They are so desperately in need of the other to look and taste better.

1.    Idly and Sambar

This is a common South Indian breakfast pair. Idly a steamed rice cake is one of the perennial South Indian breakfast dishes. You will not find any restaurant which serves Idly without sambar. If Idly is served without sambar, there is a high possibility that the customer might walk out of the hotel or create a scene about it. A couple of idlis with sambar is the best way to start your day. Idli sambar, unlike what many people feel is not a monotonous dish by any means. Idli sambar can be served in different ways. You can eat it the traditional way. Put idlis in a plate and sambar in a separate bowl. You can also pour the sambar over idli and sprinkle a little ghee over it to make is taste absolutely delicious. There is also the mini-idlis, where small baby sized idlis are soaked in sambar and eaten until our stomach is full with food and happiness.

2.    Poori and Channa

Poori and Channa is another dish which goes hand in hand with one another. Poori is made by mixing atta with salt and little water, and kneading it well until it forms dough. The dough is taken and flattened before being put in oil, and they are taken out within few seconds to prevent them from being burnt. Poori is a little heavy meal, but it is the all time kid’s favorite. Most kid’s who would run away hearing the word food, tend to eat a lot more on “Poori Days”. Poori’s are generally reserved for special occasions and Sundays. Poori is incomplete without its twin side dish “Channa Masala”. Channa masala is another kid’s favorite and it is extremely rich in proteins. According to dieticians, every channa has the same protein content as that of one full egg. The carbohydrates and protein content in Poori-Channa combo is very high and with its fantastic taste it is one of the most favorite vegetarian dish for people in India, especially the children.

3.    Roti and Dal

Roti and Dahl in North India, is what Idly and Sambar is to the people in South. It is the common man’s dish. Though roti tastes good with many side dishes like paneer butter masala and butter chicken the elegance it brings with dahl cannot be substituted. Roti is made with atta or wheat flour which is mixed with salt and water. They are made into dough and cooked in a pan or by exposing it to direct flame. Dal has slight variations in different parts of the country. Gujarati Dal is a refreshing change from the usual everyday dal. The flavors are complex, tangy and sweet with a hint of spice.

4.    Popcorn and Butter

If there was ever a theatrical combination this is it. Popcorn and butter is mostly eaten in theaters and there is nothing like munching on butter popcorn while watching an action flick. Popcorn was discovered by native Americans but became very popular during the Great Depression because of their low cost. Popcorn and butter are bound to be together forever!

5.    Pizza and Coke

Pizza might be Italian, but it is probably the most popular food across the globe along with noodles. There is nothing like ordering and eating pizza on a Saturday night. Anyone pizza lover will say it definitely tastes better with Coke. The hot pizzas and cold coke is a match made in heaven and one of the most romantic ones definitely. All the pizza chains have their own beverage partner and it is common to see coke being given as a complementary to pizza.

6.    Burgers and Fries

Although french fries may date back to the 1600s-1700s, their popularity sky rocketed when they began to be sold worldwide through fast food chains, especially McDonald’s. Most fast food chains quickly paired the fries with burgers, creating one delicious meal. Nowadays, burgers and fries are treated like a single meal and even a kiddie meal in most fast foods would serve burgers, fries and an aerated drink. They are inseparable and are meant to be that way!

7.    Milk and Cookies

The most common western breakfast is a tall glass of milk along with cookies. It is traditionally the most filling and easiest dish to prepare and eat. Milk goes along with all types of cookies, especially the Oreos. It is often dubbed as “Milk’s favorite cookie”. The chocolate cookie along with milk is as tempting as it could get.

There are a lot of other such food pairs which go hand in hand. These foods are great when eaten separately but the entire experience becomes beautiful when eaten with their pair. Certain foods are meant to be eaten that way to make the feel complete and satisfying. After all, there would be no Tom if there was no Jerry!

July 27, 2014
Foodie Dare- World’s most grotesque ‘delicacies’!

“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

An inspiration from this was taken by me and my friend, to exercise a daily routine of thinking out six impossible things to eat for breakfast and we both propounded the most disgusting, bizarre and seriously impossible things one could ever gulp in, forget about eating them for a meal. However, the term ‘impossible’ soon seemed problematized when a much unbelievable truth surfaced to our knowledge. Most of the food ( mostly inedible in our perspective) items that we had imagined and put forward in accordance with our morning mental exercise, to our dismay actually were beyond the scope of impossibility and they actually exist to this date!

It was this idea that triggered us to delve a bit deeper into this context and discover a list of food items that seriously are beyond our scope of consumption, however,it seems like a lot many think unlike us, as the popularity of such weird ‘delicacies’, among the people of respective tribes, intrigues me.So, here’s a list of World’s creepiest and most eccentric vivers!

*ALERT: Highly hideous, horrendous and taste-jeopardizing content. If you could survive beholding this grotesque gastronomic journey till the end, hats off to you; If you cannot…Well,goodluck!

Baby Shark Curry

A star dish of the Goan cuisine, actually deserves to be called a delicacy, owing to its popularity and its price. However, having to eat a baby shark while contemplating on your experiences of the scenes from the movie ‘Jaws’ would be quite interesting.

Eri Polu

A famed food ingredient of Assam, which is actually the eri silkworm pupa.Once the silkworm begins encaving the cocoon of eri silk, thus beginning the pupa state of its life cycle,the silk is taken out by boiling the cocoon in hot water, and this is when the ingredient,that is the leftover silkworm is brought to use. This,paired up with Khorisha,another ingredient,an aromatic exotic dish is made.

Dog Meat

Ok, if you’re one among the brigade of doggy-lovers, I’m extremely sorry to let you know of this calamity that has befallen over the dogs of Nagaland and Mizoram, who consider dog meat, a much relished part of their cuisine. It’s even disgusting to think that they could fry, grill, smoke, or cook curries out of this poor thing!

Note: The photos are extremely obnoxious, therefore I have chosen against putting them up here.

Black Rice

Deemed to be extremely healthy,it is known by many names, Magic Rice, Forbidden Rice ,Purple Rice, and Black Rice,and is a loved food preparation in Manipur .This type,only found in India and China,is black in colour when harvested,but becomes purple,when cooked.It is also enjoyed with coconut milk in Kerela.

Phan Pyut

Is anybody interested to have rotten potatoes for breakfast? Yes right rotten,it is.And, guess what,these people seriously love it to the extent that they do not harvest them when ripe, but leave them to rot, till they can use them for their beloved delicacy. These potatoes,then are pickled ,however some enjoy it raw,in the North East parts of India. And, I was under the impression, that odour of the rotten potatoes in my fridge would choke me to death (which drove me to throw them).

Chaprah

You’re the kind,who likes it all spicy and hot? Bomb chillies and paprika had been your best friends all this time? Then,let me take you to the next level. In a tribe in Chattisgarh,the people make a very popular chutney that they consume on a daily basis,to add an edge to their meal,it’s called Chaprah.Now, the interesting part,it’s made of red ants and their eggs,yes literally. This preparation is made,by drying the red ants,and making it’s chutney,then spices and sweeteners are added to it,and it’s good to go.Just WOW!

Black Ivory coffee

A coffee that’s the world’s most expensive, about at $1,1000 per kilogram, is made from beans that are eaten by Thai elephants and then plucked from their dung! Yuck!

Fried Frog Legs

A Lepcha(Sikkim) tribe delicacy,it is said to be very healthy. However healthy it might be but,gulping in fried legs of the amphibian would seriously be a trest,isn’t it?

Chicken Blood N Pig Intestines Soup

Time for some bowl-full of real Halloween red soup that is made out of the blood of chicken and pig intestines.Jadoh is the name of this hideous soup that is consumed by the Jaintia tribe of North East.And yep,they even cook it with rice!

Stir fried Tarantula

If spiders had been your greatest fear, then you ought to try this! In Cambodia, this stuff is literally sold on streets.Imagine biting on their eight stir fried legs?!

Snake wine

Love anything scaly? How about try some slithery, pungent, exotic snake wine? A super expensive and popular beverage, snake wine is eulogized to possess restorative qualities and is widely consumed in countries like China and Vietnam. It is prepared in two ways, either by macerating a real snake in rice wine or by simply blending in the bodily fluids of a snake, such as is blood, along with the alcohol. Seriously Whoa!

Urine-soaked eggs

Yes,no need to twitch your eyes repeatedly,you read it right.So,to end with the gruesome venture,I bring here upon the declaration of the most unpalatable,obnoxious and odious food item ever,the Urine-soaked eggs,popularly known as Tong Zi Dan,which literally means Virgin Boy Eggs . Prepared in Dongyang County which is in the eastern China’s Zhejiang Province, this delicacy is universally acclaimed. For this,vendors,early in the morning traverse the streets to the elementary schools,to collect the urine of young boys. It is then,that they soak the eggs in the urine overnight ,so that it can absorb the unmistakably pungent smell. And,the next day,happy customers barge into the stalls to stuff their bags with these eggs,that promise a radiated energy and prevention from ill- health. Well, despite its ‘believed’ medicinal value,would you ever afford to experience it’s taste?

My quest, hasn’t yet come to an end, though a temporary halt is imperative. Myths of sautéed cockroaches and lizards, kebabed monkey-heads and many more have started to flicker into the realm of reality. Though I am not sure, if in near future I would ever be brave enough to get a taste of these vivers, however, if chance permits, an experience of witnessing these, would surely be intriguing!

July 27, 2014
Madras Filter Kaapi!

The coolest hangout for today’s generation is to sip on a coffee in a costly coffee shop. Every street corner has a coffee shop these days, where they serve the regular cappuccinos and hundreds of other varieties of coffee. It is a relatively new trend in India, but people of Chennai and their neighbors are accustomed to this more than anyone else. New age coffee shops, with their swanky couches and bloated prices, may have introduced the culture of drinking coffee to a new audience, but many youngsters have chosen to keep alive a living tradition, where the filter coffee is not just another drink. In a traditional South Indian restaurant, you will see young and old people sipping on their coffee after every meal. The Madras Coffee is the primary stress buster and the perennial favorite drink for most of the people in South India. You will see a lot of self confessed coffee addicts who have travelled around the world say No other coffee can match the taste of the traditional “filter kaapi”. Most people cannot start of their day without drinking “Filter Kaapi” and reading “THE HINDU” newspaper.

The Madras Filter Kaapi

The Madras Filter Kaapi is a part of South Indian tradition. It is the most widely served drink to visitors in the South Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. During the British Rule, all the four South Indian states were under the Madras Presidency and all of them have similar roots and traditions which has a stark variation from other parts of the country. The other common names for “Madras Kaapi” are “Kumbakonam Degree Coffee” and “Mysore Filter Coffee”. The traditional South Indian Coffee used to be served in aluminum tumblers and until the 1960’s it was served with honey or jaggery instead of sugar.

Roots

The coffee bean itself is a very foreign substance which has its roots in Ethiopia. How coffee made its way to India has several theories. Though it is said to have reached the shores of India, along with tea, in the 17th century, it was not until the end of the 19th century that coffee and it’s ‘cultural other’, tea, became a phenomenon in India. Coffee, unlike tea was mostly a drink for the upper class society. Even thought “filter kaapi” is very much a South Indian specialty, even North Indians especially those who have settled in South India have taken a liking to this wonder drink.

The first person to bring Coffee seeds to India was Baba Budan. Folklore has it that, Baba Budan went on a pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca and while returning brought seven coffee seeds as a gift for his people. It is said that, he actually smuggled those coffee seeds from Yemen, the biggest coffee bean producer in the world back in the 17th century. These seeds were planted on the Chandragiri Hills, which from that day came to be known as the Baba Budan Hills.

Indian Coffee Market

When recently, Starbucks, the world’s biggest coffee retail chain decided to open in Chennai, they knew it was one of the biggest battles they would face because of the competition they were likely to face from local rivals like Saravana Bhavan, Kumbakonam Degree Coffee and Café Coffee Day. Chennai is undoubtedly the coffee capital of India. The Indian Coffee Market is an ever growing one, with more number of people taking to coffee every year. According to the Coffee Board of India, over 30,000 metric tons of coffee is consumed per annum in Tamil Nadu with filter coffee cornering 54% of the market and instant coffee 46%. Pan India, over one hundred thousand metric tons of coffee is consumed per annum and this market is growing at 5-6%.

How to make the Traditional Filter Kaapi?

You’ll need a traditional percolator which is made of 4 parts. Buy grinded coffee powder, if you are not a person who is patient enough to grind the coffee seeds, though I would recommend you to try doing it occasionally. Use a clean filter, remove the lid and umbrella. Put 2 heaped table spoon of coffee powder per person and press it down with a spoon. Keep the umbrella back and gently pour fresh water and wait until the water percolates down slowly depending on the quantity of powder placed. Six to eight table spoons of coffee powder will take the decoction almost 6-8 hours to collect at the bottom. If you’ve put a lot of coffee powder, you wouldn’t have a chance to put enough water to percolate resulting in very concentrated but less quantity of decoction at the bottom. In such a case, you might have to add more water every time and do it repeatedly three or four times.

Now, to prepare the traditional Madras Filter Kaapi take a tumbler(a steel cup) and pour up to 3/4th level milk and add decoction with constant stirring to make a coffee to suit your liking, mild or strong and add sugar if you wish. You can also use jaggery or honey instead of sugar to get the traditional “kaapi” flavor.

Traditional kaapi is best served hot. Drink it when it is steaming hot and slowly get lost in the aroma and flavor of the most wonderful drink in the world- The Madras filter Kaapi.

July 26, 2014
Shake It Up!

Are you tired of having the same old glass of milk every morning? So gives mangoes and bananas a break. And explore different fruits, chocolates and ice-creams to zing up your shake.

They will not only keep you refreshed in this hot season, but the addition of other flavorful ingredients will provide you with extra nutrition.

Gone are the days of vitamin pills, tasty shakes have “ totally shaken up” the nutrition!

An ideal food for health conscious, people on the go, shakes can be a wonderful breakfast, lunch or snack. fast, nutritious, and easy to make, shakes are blended drinks made combination of fruits, vegetables, juice, or other liquids, flavored with a variety of thickenings.

As well as improving the sense of your taste buds, your general well being, shakes made from purely fruits and vegetables can have marked benefits. The following is the list of the benefits associated
with having shakes-

1 Higher energy levels

2 Clearer and glowing skin

3 Relieves stress, cold and depression

4 Certain fruit combinations are known to cure ailments

Shake stands are popping up like anything in the country, but these refreshing drinks are a cinch to make at home. It just takes a minute to whip up a smooth concoction of succulent blackberries, smooth blueberries, chilled grape juice, and a rich vanilla yogurt. Or to savor a juicy mango combined with ambrosial buttermilk, zesty fresh ginger and tart lime juice. Shakes are bursting with tempting suggestions for adventurous mixture of fruits, sorbets, soy milk, yogurt, flavorings, and other deliciously healthful ingredients zinging up with energy.

From berries to nut, here are some quick and fun ideas to instantly jazz up that drink-

Blueberry Bliss –

A. 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

B. 1/2 cup vanilla ice-cream

C. 1/4 cup milk

D. 1 tsp maple syrup

Mix all the ingredients i.e. Blueberries, vanilla ice cream and milk in a blender until smooth. add more milk if necessary, to reach the desired consistency. Served it chilled. Drink and enjoy!

Strawberry Storm –

A. 1/2 liter milk

B. 1 cup fresh strawberries

C. 1 tbsp sugar

D. 1 scoop strawberry ice-cream

E. 5 strawberries for garnish

Chop the strawberries in small pieces. Blend them with sugar in blender. Add milk and blend it until you get a frothy and smooth texture. Serve chilled with a freshly cut strawberries and a scoop of strawberry ice-cream.

Jamun shake –

A. 60 ml Colorado rose honey

B. Unsweetened double cream

C. Pecan nuts

D. 2 tbsp sugar

E. Crushed ice

F. 1 cup jamun, with seeds removed

G. Mascarpone cheese

Make caramel, with sugar and water. Add pecan nuts to it and keep it aside. Mix Colorado rose honey, double cheese, mascarpone cheese ( or any other cream cheese) and seedless jamun, crushed ice in a shaker and blend it. Pour in a tall glass and add some caramelized pecans on top. Serve it chilled.

Choco- whipped shake-

A. 1/2 liter cold milk

B. 2 scoops of chocolate ice- cream

C. 5 tbsp sweetened cocoa powder

D. 2 bars of dark chocolate

E. Crushed ice

F. 4-5 tbsp of whipped cream

Break the chocolate bars into pieces. Blend milk, cocoa powder in a blender for a few seconds. Add chocolate ice cream and crushed ice, and blend it again for a few more seconds. Sprinkle the broken chocolate pieces and add whipped cream on top. Serve it chilled.

Black sesame touille shake –

A. 10 gm lavender

B. 50 gm yogurt

C. 50 gm Philadelphia

D. 5 gm black sesame

E. 20 gm walnut

F. 5 gm basil

G. 50 ml toned milk

H. 20 gm brown sugar

I. A few gold leaves

J. Crushed ice

Strain the yogurt and keep the whey in a bowl. Make sesame touille by roasting sesame seeds in a dry non stick pan, add walnut and basil and make a paste in a blender.

Add yogurt, toned milk and lavender flower. Whip it with sugar and crushed ice. Top the shake with whey, and serve chilled with 24 K gold leaves on top.

Tips for top shakes-

1. Make sure that the shake is chilled/cold when served.

2. Shakes are made for drinking immediately, their nutritional value decreases the longer they are kept or exposed to air. Some fruits and vegetable shakes tend to separate quickly, if kept longer. Make sure not to store the shakes for more than 1 day.

3. Shakes that are too tart, can be sweetened with a little clear honey.

4. If your shake is too thick, add water to make it thin. If it is too thin, add yogurt for extra body to make it thick.

5. Frozen fruits work well for shakes.

6. Make sure that you don’t use too many ingredients in a single shake recipe, as this would mask the original flavor of the drink.

7. Freezed fruits in ice cube trays, and adding the fruit ice cubes to add additional flavor to your

8. Take care when mixing fruit and apple flavors together, some of these mixtures can cause bloating. But exception to this is carrot and apple, which are very good mixtures for shakes in themselves.

July 20, 2014
Keep lovin’ COCONUT !

I, myself really love Coconut. The white fruit, rich in fiber and so many nutrients is just perfect for any dish or eaten raw or the coconut water which is deliciously awesome. The round coconut with so many hairs on its hard shell has many health benefits and also its subsidiaries, produced from coconut, constitute the wonder food too. This tropical food is very popular all over the world and its worth doesn’t end with just refreshing coconut water. When added in anything, it increases the taste of almost any dish and can be a main ingredient in many. There are many things that can be made from this mere coconut; ranging from coconut chutney to coconut ladoos, all being superawesome and super tasty.

Coconut is a fruit belonging to Cocos nucifera palm. It has greenish colour outer part, which turns brown when matured. The freshly harvested coconut contains sweet water which is extremely beneficial for health and is very tasty and refreshing. Especially, in tropical areas, coconuts are way of life people and coconut oil is staple in their kitchen from cooking to skin and haircare. Now, coconut and its derived ingredients; be it coconut oil, coconut water, coconut milk or coconut flour are being used increasingly in kitchens, restaurants and processed foods. Though it is rich in calories and laden with saturated fats, it has innumerable health benefits. It has an impressive list of health benefits, you may be surprised to know;

Rich in fiber: Coconut has very high fiber content and has a whopping 61% fiber. The fiber is very useful for body and can relieve the body from many problems of digestion or constipation. It even assists in relieving stress on the pancreas and enzyme systems and it slows down the release of glucose and transports it to the cell. Rich fiber can give obviously rich benefits!

Weight loss: Coconut oil and coconut water are really effective in losing weight. It contains medium chain fatty acids that helps in losing off those extra kilos and are also easy to digest. It helps in healthy functioning of thyroid and endocrine glands and also increases the metabolic rate. As you may have seen, tropical region inhabitants are never obese and have normal weights.

Skincare and Haircare: Coconut oil, coconut water or raw coconut are excellent for maintaining good skin health and hair. This is because it contains high fiber and antioxidants and coconut oil is very effective for massaging and moisturizer. It is useful for preventing wrinkles, anti-ageing and prevents many skin ailments. Also, massaging it in hair is very effective for reducing dandruff and keeps your hair lice free. So, in a nutshell, it is just perfect for skin and hair.

Effective for heart health: Coconut is beneficial for heart as it contains 50% lauric acid, which contributes in effectively preventing and treating many heart problems like high blod pressure, high cholesterol levels and also the saturated fats found in cococnut oil is not harmful as the fats in vegetable oils. So, coconut increases the good cholesterol and helps in improvement of cardiovascular risk.

Now, let’s have a look at the coconut derived, so-famous, beneficial products:

Coconut Oil: it contains a mixture of saturated fatty acids, which do not affect cholesterol levels in negative way. It’s the reason coconut oil has made a comeback in cooking and baking and is so popular. Its amazing effects on hair and skin are well known. Coconut oil is an edible oil extracted from kernel of matured coconuts and put to variety of uses. Use it in your daily and see the superawesome benefits.

Coconut Milk: It is made from brew of coconut meat and water but it isn’t low calorie product of coconut as coconut water. Rich and thick liquid, more like cream has 445 calories per cup. This is the reason ‘lite’ coconut milk is out in groceries stores as an substitute and is used in cooking and just turns the taste of the dish to tickle your buds.

Coconut water: It has got a lot of buzz because of its refreshing properties and taste with lovely benefits. It is a great hydrating agent after a workout and is even regarded as ‘natural’ sports drink and is very low in calories to the extent that 8 ounces of coconut water contains just 45 calories. Moreover, it can be used in smoothies and delivers a great taste on its own or when added to anything.

Coconut Flour and shredded coconut: coconut flour, being gluten free is really healthy and rich in fiber. It is used in baked goods and adds flavor to them and has great health benefits to diabetic patients. Also, shredded coconut or coconut flakes are popularly used in baking and on sweets to decorate them and add taste to the dishes. The dried shredded coconut is great on almost anything.

If you are also coconut crazy like me, you may have got surprised with all these health benefits of this super white, pure coconut. Due to its versatility, it can go with anything to everything. In addition, coconut is gluten free, non-toxic, no trans fat and is also antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal an hypoallergenic and improves the immune system and supports body function. Having so many pros of coconut, you may want to eat it everyday or atleast include any of its ingredients in you daily diet. I know fresh nariyal paani is so irresisitible and is very seasonal in northern regions. So, Go ahead, keep munching on coconut and its derived products. Afterall, it is superwesome, attractive, irresistible, pure white fruit.

Happy Eating. Happy Life.

July 20, 2014
The sour, little fruit called Lemon

The yellowish green, lovely little fruit called lemon is very sour in taste but inevitably healthy and powerhouse of Vitamin C. Though it seems little but it gives great benefits. It can be added in everything, you know and is such an awesome refreshment. Lemons are favorite of everyone and are an essential food in every kitchen. They are acidic, sour and versatile foods. They have got so many uses and so many benefits. These alkaline forming little fruits are really effective in balancing acidic condition in the body. Raw lemon, lemon juice, lemonade, lemon zest, everything from inside out of lemon is useful and taste increasing. Squeezing few drops of lemon just makes anything lively and refreshing, be it salads, chaats (in Indian way) or any other thing. The lemony lemon, sour tasting fruit is just worthy of all this attention.

Lemon, being very rich in Vitamin C is known because of its properties which can treat many diseases. Also, regular intake of lemon can keep many ailments at bay and keep you exhilarating all day long. Its benefits are recognized since ages and it will continue giving away the benefits to the humankind. Let’s have a look at what lemons serve us so well;

So rich in Vitamin C: these lemons, powerpacked from Vitamin C and other nutrients also is really beneficial for body. As vitamin C is essential for proper functioning of body and its deficiency can cause many diseases. That’s why, lemons are something really important for life. With vitamin C and flavonoids,lemons work against cold and flu infections and many allergies.

Skincare and Haircare: Lemon juice has proven effects on the hair and skin of person. Lemon juice, when applied to scalp can treat many ailments like dandruff, hair loss. Consuming lemon can also makes your hair healthier and shinier and lemon conditioner can be made by lemon juice dissolved in mug of water and then splashed on hair can really smoothen your hair and minimize the frizz. When concerned with skincare, lemon drops can be added in any face pack and can treat blackheads, acne because of its skin cleansing properties. It is a very good anti-ageing remedy and can minimize wrinkles with regular use.

Weight loss: Lemon is well-known for its weight losing benefits. When drink in warm water every morning in an empty stomach can have innumerable benefits, the most important being loss in weight. One can even add honey to this lukewarm water with lemon juice for a sweeter taste and can see visible loss in body weight.

Constipation and Indigestion: Lemon juice is really effective in curing problems related to indigestion. As it has cleansing properties and acidic nature, it can give relief to constipation and indigestion. Adding a few drops of lemon in your dish can make it more digestible but it doesn’t go well with milk. The lime water with some salt or sugar and pepper and mint leaves (as per your choice) can be a really good drink for digestion. You can have it after heavy lunch or dinner as it aids in digestion. Because of its cleansing properties, it is good for constipation also.

Dental care: Lemon juice is really useful for maintaining dental health. As lemon juice can reduce the pain of tooth ache, and even massaging lemon juice on affected gums and poor gum and teeth conditions can relieve them and stop gum bleeding. Lemon juice can be used for regular cleansing of teeth and for whitening of teeth. So, its recommended to look out for toothpaste containing lemon or its extracts and salt.

Lowering Blood pressure: People suffering from high blood pressure can take lemon juice because it helps in lowering it and also treats and prevents heart problems. As it contains potassium, it controls nausea, high blood pressure, dizziness because it gives calming and relaxing sensation to mind and body. This is why it also recommended for stress conditions.

Helps fade scars: Lemon when applied to old scars, caused from accidents or any other reasons, can help in fading of them by the time if, applied regularly. Since lemon is a cooling agent, it even reduces the burning sensation of burns and fade the scars caused due to them. Regular application of lemon juice on the affected area can really help in healing the scars.

“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Quite a famous saying, not just lemonade you can put this fruit to many uses. All these health benefits of lemon are due to high concentration of Vitamin C, flavonoids, antioxidants, proteins, potassium, phosphorus. This super food can be used to prevent kidney stones or other ailments and even to make lemon icing. The bottom line is you can use it for health and to satisfy your sweet tooth as well. So resourceful, No? Well, after being aware of so many perks and bonus of lemon, consuming atleast 1 lemon everyday either in salads or foods or in warm water in morning is recommended to reap its benefits to the fullest. Keep eating it and enjoying this, sour lovely lemony lemons.

Heathy Eating. Happy Life.

July 20, 2014