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Travelogue: Lonavala and Khandala, the enchanting hilly retreats

The twin hill stations located just 5 kilo metres apart are an ideal getaway during monsoons. You’ll get to see all the refreshing shades of green, cool breezes and beautiful waterfalls. Get drenched in the rain and savour a roasted corn, there is no dearth of things to do!

Reaching Lonavala or Khandala from anywhere in Mumbai is fairly easy. A number of trains bound to Pune run every day. One tip, do not choose to take up a reservation in AC class. You will miss out on all the beautiful scenery sitting inside the compartments with tinted windows. Be a sport and hop on to the general class and adore the sights that you pass by. It is a fairly short journey. I travelled along with two of my friends and we did enjoy the long tunnels and the view of the beautiful hills on the sides. The feel of the little drops of rain on my palm is something I still remember. If you have your own conveyance, the Mumbai-Pune expressway is a total delight. The scenic beauty that you’ll witness around is totally admirable. Buses too ply to and fro.

On the way to Lonavala

Once you reach the station, finding a hotel is not a tough job. There ample number of hotels and resorts in all price ranges. But mind you, once monsoon arrives the rates get doubled and tripled. This is the season when maximum number of tourists flock the area. In a radius of approximately 5 kilometres various other hotels and resorts can be found.
We unpacked, freshened up and booked a cab. He made us shell out a thousand rupees for taking us around the various points and destinations, the first being the Lions Point. Approximately 10 kilometres from the railway station, the twisty and curvy roads up to the point make for an adventurous ride. What a beauty it was! Standing and witnessing those beautiful peaks while a cool breeze brushes your face, total bliss! There were small vendors selling roasted corn as well as sweet corn nearby. Vendors selling water bottles can also be seen. The bhutta (corn) with sprinkled lemon juice and rock salt is a must have!

Lions Point

Our next stop was the Bhushi dam. Sadly we could not see the waterfall because the monsoon had not yet arrived. There were a lot of small shops selling vada pav and nimbu pani. There were some local tattoo artists too! Next we went to the Ryewood Park which is situated in the neighbourhoods of Lonavala. This is an ideal picnic spot for families and children. It has spacious green surroundings allowing for a relaxing day in the realms of nature. The park also has swings which attract the attention of the children. There is a Shiva temple situated inside the park as well. The garden is surely stunning.

Bhushi Dam

The day was coming to an end. We headed towards the very famous Rajmachi point and the sunset point. The two are situated in close proximity to each other. The Rajmachi point boasts of the view of the famous fort of Shivaji. There was a monkey point as well and boy, were there a lot of monkeys! A lot, but none of them would really harm you. Outside, we feasted on the yummy bhelpoori and the refreshing burf-ka-gola.

totally worth savoring!

Mumbai-Pune Expressway as visible from the Rajmachi point

The sight-seeing for the day came to an end. We got down near our hotel and walked towards the famous Kumar Resort in the neighbourhood hoping to see a snow park but unfortunately it was under construction. We then moved towards a small mall which had a very few shops and eating outlets, but enough to satisfy our day long hunger. We hogged in Yoko Sizzlers and everyone’s favourite McDonalds. I spotted a small market and indulged myself into buying a few clothes at throwaway prices. Lonavala is not really a shopper’s delight, with really very few shopping outlets. We finally retreated back into the comfort of our hotel rooms and slept like babies. It had been a tiring day.
The next we booked an auto in four hundred rupees. We went to visit the famous Karla Caves and the Karla temple. One has to climb up 350 stairs in order to reach the point. Our auto driver however took some short cut and made us start climb only 150 stairs. There were numerous stalls and shops selling Prasad, mithaai, malas, flowers etc. for the offerings at the temple. We went around and explored the temple and hall which has a Buddhist stupa. The Buddhist monks built the cave shrines around 3rd to 2nd century BC. It indeed is an architectural marvel. The temple though has been built very recently. The entry in the main caves is restricted. The number of people who stood in line to enter the temple amazed me. It would require an hour and a half to stand in line and wait!

Karla Caves and Karla Devi Temple

The rock-cut architectural styled hall at Karla Caves

After getting stuck in a jam for around an hour, we headed towards the MTDC resort. This resort is an ideal stay. It has private, spacious cottages. It has a water park and boating facilities. We went there specially for boating in the lake. Paddle and motor boats, both are available.

MTDC Boating

We did not visit any of the lakes because they were all dried up. When you go in the monsoons, do visit the Tungarli Lake, Pawan Lake and the Valvan dam.
There is no scarcity of eating joints around Lonavala. There are a number of good hotels and restaurants near the station itself. From Chinese to South Indian, you can find it all. As better options, resorts like Kumar Resort, Fariyas Resort and Dukes Retreat etc are available and within them are various restaurants and coffee shops.
Our last stop after having our tummies full was the one out of many famous Maganlal’s Chikki shop. I swear I saw at least a hundred Maganlal’s outlets! Lonavala is known for chikki which is prepared with ground nuts in jaggery. Variations include adding crushed coconut, cashews, almonds, etc. in the jaggery. Other famous shops for chikki are A-1 chikki and Purohit Chikki.

Maganlal’s Chikki – Assorted pack

The trip came to an end but the scenic beauty of these hilly retreats remain imprinted in our memories for times to come.

July 3, 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
Worried About Hair Falls! Try These Foods

Hair loss is a major concern these days. What we apply on our locks is not the only thing that leads to strong and healthy hairs. The perfect balanced diet also plays a significant role in this matter. Similar to each and every other bit of the body, the strong hairs can be determined by the nutritious diet. When our body is disadvantaged from the necessary nutrients then our body undergoes the hair fall. The hair follicle is strengthened by the take in of proper nutrients. There are other factors also that negatively affect the quality of hair like smoke, environmental conditions, not sufficient sleep and many more. But proper nutrients can surely compensate for all these issues. The best way to overcome this situation is to provide your hairs with the perfect nutritious diet. Below down there are few most desirable food products to prevent the hair fall.

Salmons:

Salmons are discovered to be very rich in proteins, vitamin D as well as omega-3 fatty acids. The body needs these nutrients to grow the hair. It has been found that the body is unable to produce the fatty acids which are needed in the growth of the hair and hence we should to take in food products which are rich in these fatty acids. If you don’t like eating salmons there are many others which contain these essential fatty acids like trout, avocado, walnut and many more. Make sure you take in sufficient amount of these fatty acids.

Walnuts:

The walnuts are very good in fighting against the hair fall. The walnuts are those kinds of nuts which are filled with great quantity of omega-3 fatty acids. Apart from this they also contain vitamin E as well as biotin which are responsible for protecting the cells from impairment. And other than this walnut also contains a mineral –copper which provides the hair with shiny and glossy color. The elasticity of the hairs is also improved by the oils present in the walnuts and henceforth leads to stronger hairs. Hence walnuts are proved to be very friendly to the hairs.

Eggs:

Eggs are soo hair friendly. They are vital in the growth of the healthy hair. Eggs are filled with many desirable nutrients. Some of them are proteins, iron, omega-6 fatty acids and many more. If our body is deprived of any of these essential nutrients then we certainly suffers the weak and feeble hairs. Apart from this eggs also contain biotin which is a major hair fall fighting source. Consequently it is advised to eat eggs to have beautiful, long and lustrous hairs.

Oats:

Oats are very much required to possess a healthy body as it is filled with fibers. But eating oats has other benefits too. They are found to be filled with fatty acids, zinc as well as iron too. These fatty acids are majorly responsible for the proper growth of the hair. And hence reduce the hair fall to a great extent. As we can see that we get so many essential nutrients from this particular food product therefore we should include a bowl of oats in our daily diet.

Carrots:

Vitamin A is delivered to the body in great amount by eating carrots. Vitamin A is not only beneficial for the eyes but also for the hairs. It delivers great nutrition to the scalp and makes it healthier. And subsequently the hair becomes stronger and shinier as a result of healthier scalp. Apart from carrots the perfect diet that includes green vegetables, fruits and proteins is found to be the promoter for well-conditioned hair. Hence carrots are very important to control and limit the thinning hair line.

Prunes:

There are several other hair related concerns apart from the hair fall like the hair undergoes dryness, firmness and lightening in the hair color. The major reason of all these conditions may be depletion in the amount of iron. And hence our body is need of iron rich food items. One of the major sources of iron is prunes and it majorly reduces the hair fall. Prune significantly enhances the hair quality and makes the hairs look more radiant. There are other sources of iron too which you can include in the diet as well like green vegetables, beetroots and many more.

Spinach:

Spinach proves to be of great help in maintaining the quality of the hair. Spinach contains some of the most essential nutrients like Vitamin C, iron and many more. And as a result taking in spinach makes the hair follicles healthier and eventually diminishes the hair fall. It also helps in the circulation of the oils in the scalp. There are many other options like broccoli as well as kale.

Apart from the healthy diet there are some other points that you must take into account to prevent the thinning of the hair line. Extreme strain should be avoided and stop switching from your shampoo and hair product frequently. Lower down the usage of hair sprays. Thus start taking in the balanced diet and enjoys the perfect and glossy hair with no hair fall.

July 1, 2014
5 Things you gotta know about Meditation
Whenever “MEDITATION” word crosses any where we tend to imagine Yogis or mental training. That doesn’t mean meditation don’t involve them in the picture, it’s just not the whole scenario. Yes! Meditation is needed. Why? It’ll be discussed further in the post, but let us first free ourselves from the preset definition of Meditation in our minds and start from the basic.

One of the defining features for living beings as we all know is Sensitivity. What’s sensitivity? It involves ability to adapt after we sense our environment. Humans gain sensitivity through Consciousness. Consciousness means forming a perception or being aware, of ourselves and our surroundings. In other words, through our consciousness we sense around the environment and respond respectively.Robots or machines if called simplistically are made by humans; still there is scope for collaborating conscious into their intelligence which is called Artificial Intelligence. Hence, being conscious is a unique feature of us, Humans!

Now, there are three states of consciousness: waking, dreaming and sleeping. When we are awake, we sense our surroundings and respond to the situations we encounter. But, if we just have a normal stimulus-response relationship with our environment, why do we encounter conditions like stress? Because, every day we wake up and try to do activities that pleases our senses. The fascinating thing about our senses is like any other system in our body its needs increases exponentially with time. So, we can never satisfy them and the exhaustion resulted from this pursuit results in most cases of stresses. In the world where competition weighs everything down, we aren’t in a situation to compromise with the best we can give. So, it all comes down to increasing your potential to be a better person than a second before.

What do we need for that?

Calm and composed mind gives clarity to the thoughts in our mind which facilitates decisiveness, Coherent while communicating and gaining Emotional stability, intuition are just some of the mention able benefits.

So, Why Meditation?
1. It calms the “Freak-ish” side of you.
At situations when you don’t know why you were screaming at that person or flipping out or just runaway from there,

reason behind them are some unsettled thoughts and emotions which had been buried or repressed for some reason. Point to be made is neither you nor others like this side of you. Meditation drifts mind from the chaotic state to more stable disposed one, in this state you are able to focus all your energy to relax your mind. The repressed thoughts and emotions are if not resolved then at least isn’t projected as anger or frustration. So, after you’re done with meditating for a while; the calm mind forgets about the happenings and is ready for a fresh start.
1. You become Smarter!
Yes, it’s true and sure is so much heard from our parents, elders or counselors.

Now, come on it’s not like you meditate once in a month or week and you expect to top your boards. Once you cultivate a regular habit of meditating, it increases an individual’s focusing power which improves attention. More you give attention to something, more you will be grasping that topic.
1. You’ll be upgraded!
Yeah, it has been found out that meditation increases an individual’s level of consciousness. The benefit of evolving your level of consciousness is that the amount of disorder or disturbances in the life seems to be negligible. This means that with regular assimilation of meditation trivial disappointments would last for like a moment for you, not occupying all of you, all day.
1. Apart from mind, it’s good for your body too!
Meditation has been found to stimulate parasympathetic nervous system that is responsible for fight or flight response for the body. It calms down the body from the provoked state. This reduces the anxiety level for the individual which in due course of time can even treat disorders like insomnia.

It slows down the respiration making an individual take only longer and deeper breaths. Why is it important? Every breath we take in gets oxygen and supplies it to the lungs which get transported to rest of the body from and we know oxygen is pretty important for every organ and system in the body. So, shallower and faster breaths cut down the time for this procedure, resulting in hasty transportation of oxygen and carbon di oxide.
1. Get rid of those blues.
Meditation balances the neuro-chemical system of the body which reduces not only anxiety but also depression and moreover increases your critical thinking power! How’s that?It also helps staying in the present moment and it affects all aspects of your life and relationships.

Meditation does or so more than that, it transforms one’s personality for good. Individuals get to know more about themselves and this brings about thirst for discovering more about enigma of life. The questions encountered after that like “What is life? And Why I go in a circle of happiness and sadness round and round?” will take you into a different yet exciting journey altogether. This will only enrich your consciousness more and more resulting in you perceiving the whole universe as part of oneself. However easy and insignificant it may sound, it’s important for a human to get the answers for the same in his or her lifetime.
July 1, 2014
Ooooo Sauce-y !!

Sauces are the splendor and glory of French cooking.

-Julia Child

I remember ordering an egg roll at Bedwin, a well known roll shop here in Kolkata. (To those who love their rolls, kindly don’t take offence) They served the egg roll with potato and onion filling and no ketchup or sauce of any kind. A healthy roll. Well, for me, that’s not a roll – it’s chapatti with potato and egg. I mean, where’s the sauce?

A roll without sauce is not a roll. Period.

A sauce, whoever insignificant it may seem, adds flavor, moisture and visual appeal to a dish. Nowadays, most of the sauces are store bought, like Soy Sauce, Tomato Sauce, Worcestershire Sauce and the like. But by watching Masterchef, the one thing I have learnt is that there’s nothing like a fresh home-made sauce. The taste of a store bought one is nowhere near its zing.

Anyhow, here are a few easy-peasy sauce recipes for you to try out (some even take less than 15 minutes to make) –

Barbeque Sauce

Time- 30 minutes

Makes- 450 ml

Ingredients- 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 onion (finely chopped), 400g can chopped tomatoes, 3 garlic cloves (finely chopped), 85g brown sugar, 3 tbsp malt vinegar, 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp tomato purée

Directions- Heat oil in a saucepan and add the onion. Cook over a gentle heat 4-5 minutes, until softened. Add remaining ingredients, season and mix. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes, until thickened. For a smooth sauce, simply whizz the mixture in a food processor or with a hand blender for a few seconds.

White Sauce

Time- 15 minutes

Makes- 500 ml

Ingredients- 500ml whole milk, 1 onion (halved), 1 bay leaf, 2 cloves, 50g butter, 50g plain flour

Directions- Gently bring the milk to the boil in a small saucepan with the onion, studded with the bay and cloves (step 1, above). Turn off the heat and leave to infuse for 20 minutes.Melt the butter in another saucepan, and add the flour. Stir continuously until a paste forms (step 2) – this is called a roux. Continue cooking for 2 minutes.Remove the onion, bay and cloves from the milk with a slotted spoon and discard. Add the infused milk to the roux gradually, stirring as you go, until you get a smooth sauce (step 3). Cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring continuously, until the sauce has thickened. Season well.

Tomato Sauce

Time- 50 minutes

Serves- 8

Ingredients- 4tbsp olive oil, 2 onion (finely chopped), 2 carrots (finely chopped), 2 celery sticks (finely chopped), 2 garlic cloves (crushed), 2 bay leaves, 1 tsp sugar, 4 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes

Directions- Heat the oil in a pan and add the vegetables and bay leaf. Stir in the sugar with some salt. Gently cook for 10-15 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Stir in the tomatoes and 150ml water. Simmer very gently for 30 minutes until the sauce has reduced by two-thirds and is very thick. Stir occasionally, particularly towards the end of the cooking time, so that the sauce doesn’t catch on the bottom. If you like your sauce a little thinner, then add a splash of water. Serve half with pasta and chill or freeze other half in 1-2 batches for later use.

Pesto Sauce

Time- 10 minutes

Makes- 250 ml

Ingredients- 50g pine nuts, large bunch of basil, 50g parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), 150ml olive oil (plus extra for storing), 2 garlic cloves

Directions- Heat a small frying pan over a low heat. Cook the pine nuts until golden, shaking occasionally. Put into a food processor with the remaining ingredients and process until smooth, then season.Pour the pesto into a jar and cover with a little extra oil, then seal and store in the fridge. It will keep in a fridge for up to two weeks.

Bread Sauce

Time- 25 minutes

Ingredients – 600ml milk, 50g butter, 1 onion (chopped), 6 cloves, 6 peppercorns, 2 garlic cloves, 1 bay leaf, 3 thyme sprigs, 100g white breadcrumbs, 4 tbsp single cream or mascarpone, pinch nutmeg (freshly grated)

Directions- Simmer the milk, butter, onion, cloves, peppercorns, garlic and herbs in a pan for 20 minutes. Strain and return the liquid to the pan. Add the breadcrumbs and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Stir in the cream or mascarpone. Add nutmeg, season and serve. Can be made up to 3 days in advance and heated up on the hob or microwave on Medium for 3 minutes.

Caramel Sauce

Time- 10 minutes

Servess- 10

Ingredients- 250g caster sugar, 142ml pot double cream, 50g butter

Directions- Tip the sugar into a heavy-based frying pan, stir in 4 tbsp water, then place over a medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Turn up the heat and bubble for 4-5 minutes until you have caramel. Take off the heat, and then carefully stir in the cream and butter. Leave the sauce to cool, and then tip into a bottle.

Butterscotch Sauce

Time- 10 minutes

Serves- 8

Ingredients- 100g caster sugar, 25g butter, 300ml pot double cream

Directions- Dissolve the caster sugar with 3 tbsp water over a low heat. Bring to the boil but don’t stir at all. When the sugar is a dark golden caramel, whisk in butter. Remove from the heat and stir in double cream.

July 1, 2014
Monsoon Special!!

A fine sunless Sunday mid-morning. You wake up groggily staring at the clock ticking its way close to 12. Then you see the dark clouds drawing near. A few deep grave rumble here and there. Soft water pellets land on your windowsill which gradually change into fat drops. You rush to close all the windows in your house lest it floods in.

You watch the world bath in its glory…the trees swaying their boisterous branches, dancing away…the leaves singing “srabon er dharar moto… “

Inevitably it’s a romantic weather.

A romantic weather demands some easy to cook food…so that you can spend your time slouching under your blanket with a book in hand, while the food can be cooked in a jiffy.

So, what’s the best way to satisfy your tummy this monsoon?

Well, since it is monsoon, it’s Khichdi Time!

Khichdi

Time- 10 minutes

Serves- 3

Ingredients- ½ cup basmati rice, ½ cup moong dal/spilt and dehusked green gram, 1.5 tbsp ghee, ¼ tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp cumin seeds, peas, rock salt or regular salt as required

Directions- Rinse both the rice and dal together for a couple of times in water. Heat the ghee in a pressure cooker. Crackle the cumin, then add the turmeric powder and stir. Add the rice and moong dal. Saute for a minute. Add 4 to 4.5 cups water. Add peas. Season with salt. Stir and then pressure cook the khichdi for 5-6 whistles.

The 5 fries (bhaja)

Fried Potato, Fried cauliflower, Beguni (Fried Eggplant), Peyazi (Onion Fritters) and Ilish mach bhaja (Fried)

Since you know how to fry your fish, and the potato and cauliflower are fried the same way as the eggplant and onion, I’ll just jot down two recipes here.

Beguni (Fried Eggplant)

Time- 10 minutes

Serves- 10

Ingredients- 2 eggplant, Salt to taste, 1 teaspoon sugar, 2 cups besan flour, 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder, A pinch of turmeric powder, A pinch of hing (aesofetida), 2 cups oil

Directions- Cut eggplant into longitudinal thin slices. Add salt to taste. Set aside.Make a batter of 2 cups besan. Start to add water little at a time to make a smooth and thick batter. Add salt, red chili powder, pinch of turmeric powder, pinch of hing.Heat oil in a deep fryer. Coat the eggplant in batter. The oil should be hot. Slowly release the coated eggplant in oil. Fry till each side is golden brown. Place it on a towel to let the excess oil be soaked.

Peyazi (Onion Fritters)

Time- 10 minutes

Serves- 4

Ingredients- 2 to 3 medium sized onions, 2 cups gram flour or besan, ½ tsp red chilli powder, ½ tsp garam masala powder, ¼ tsp turmeric powder/haldi (optional), ¾ tsp ajwain or carom seeds, a pinch of asafoetida/hing, Oil, water as required, salt as required

Directions- Peel the onions. Rinse and slice them thinly. Add the chilli powder, garam masala powder, asafoetida, salt and chick pea flour to the sliced onions. Add water and mix it to a thick and smooth consistency. Now heat the oil in a deep frying pan. Take a teaspoonful of the onion batter and add it in the oil. On a medium heat fry the onion fritters till golden brown.

Labra (Mixed Vegetables)

Time- 15 minutes

Serves- 2-3

Ingredients- 100 gm eggplant, 100 gm Pumpkin, 100 gm Sweet potatoes, 1 Raw bananas, 2 Potatoes, 3 Tbsp Mustard oil, 1 Tbsp Corainder Seeds, 1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds, 1/2 tsp Fennel Seeds, 5 Red Chilies, 1 inch Ginger, 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder, 1 tsp Sugar, 1 Tbsp Ghee, mixed seeds(1/4 tsp Mustard Seeds,1/4 tsp Cumin Seeds, 1/4 tsp Fenugreek Seeds, 1/4 tsp Bleck Cumin Seeds, 1/4 tsp Fennel Seeds)

Directions- Cut the vegetables into medium size pieces. Powder the corainder, cumin and fennel seeds, and red chillis finely. Heat oil, add the crushed ginger and fry lightly. Add the mixed spices called ‘ panch phoran’ and stir fry for a minute. Add vegetables, fry well, cover and cook for 10-15 minutes. Add turmeric powder, salt, and one cup of water. Simmer the flame and cook until vegetables are done. Add the powdered spices, sugar and stir well. Cook for another few minutes adding ghee.

Tomato Chutney

(to be served with some Fried Papad, optional)

Time- 10 minutes

Seves- 5

Ingredients- 500 g tomato, chopped, 4 cm piece ginger (peeled and chopped), 250g brown sugar, 150ml red wine vinegar, 5 cardamom seeds, ½ tsp paprika

Directions- Tip all the ingredients into a large heavy-based pan and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently. Bring to a gentle boil so that the mixture turns dark, jammy and shiny.

Payesh ( a rice dessert)

Time- 30 minutes

Seves- 2

Ingredients- 1cup basmati rice, 10 almonds sliced, 1 tbsp raisins, 2 tsp melted ghee, 3 green cardamoms, 2 litres milk, 1 cup jaggery grated jiggery, 1 tbsp sugar

Directions- Clean and wash the rice. Blanch the almonds and slice. Wash the raisins.Heat a tablespoon of ghee. Add the rice. Stir it for a little bit till it becomes opaque. Take it off the heat.Boil milk. Lower the heat up and continue to boil stirring constantly for fifteen minutes.Mix in the rice and continue to stir fry till the rice is soft. Continue to stir fry till the milk has reduced to half.Mix in jaggery. Mix in sugar. Mix in the cardamoms, almond slices and raisins (if using) and stir well. Serve hot or cold.

Recipe Courtesy – vegrecipesofindia.com, allrecipes.com

Image Courtesy – hamareerasai.com, seriouseats.com, bongcook.com, thesecondlunch.com

July 1, 2014
Flax seeds are Nutrition Superstar!

The flat, oval, glossy and pointed at one end are FLAX SEEDS, quite popular in vegetarian diets. These have versatile uses and they are kind of food that can be added to almost anything. They are like the baseline of our healthy body and food. Though they have been known to world from thousand years, but with its increasing popularity, flax seeds are in the spotlight for its number of health benefits and easy to use and easy availability reasons. Flax seeds are something that are truly healthy constituent of an ideal diet and are recommended by all physicians to consume on a regular basis. Its better to crunch on them than crunching on the haldirams or other snacks when you get a craving. Just adding some amount of flax seeds in the food you eat can improve your heart health, helps to control your weight, fights against cancer, increases immunity and many more healthy perks.
Flax seeds are equipped with many nutrients and that’s why they have achieved such stardom. Flax seeds are high in soluble and insoluble fiber and also contains a good amount of Vitamin B-6, Vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, folate. Flax seeds also include phytochemicals, having many powerful antioxidants called Lignans which have cancer fighting properties. Flax seeds are also a major source of Omega-3 fatty acids and have 50 -60% of plant version of omega-3 called Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is a key to fight inflammation. Flaxseeds are very low in cholesterol and sodium, what makes them all the more better. If you are a vegetarian, it is specifically a very good source to meet protein requirements in your diet. The flax seeds can be used whole or grounded or as oil. To reap the most benefits of it, it should purchased in ground form or ground before consumption. The super awesome benefits of this wonder food are listed below:

Fights against Cancer: Many studies show that flax seeds play a major role in providing protection against cancer. They are beneficial to prevent the growth of cancerous cells because of the presence of omega-3 fatty acids and lignans which are thought to inhibit the tumor growth. Consuming flax seeds on a regular basis can help in protecting against Prostate, Colon, and Breast cancers. They are actually very safe and are associated with a protective effect on cancer.
Improvement in blood sugar: It has been proved in studies that consuming flax seeds, in regular manner help in maintaining blood sugar levels, and also prevent in having diabetes. It helps the people having type 2 diabetes to lower their blood sugar levels.
Increases Immunity: People who include flax seeds in their diet and everyday food, are known to have better immunity as it contains ALA, which decreases inflammation and allows our immune system to function better. Some researches have also shown that flaxseed can help in relieving autoimmune and inflammatory disorders such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Lowers Cholesterol: Consumption of flax seeds provides us with cholesterol-lowering benefits. The soluble fiber, which is present in them is known to lower cholesterol, which in turn helps to prevent the buildup of plaque, which can clog arteries and lead to heart attack stroke or high blood pressure. But if you are a regular taker of flax seeds, you can prevent this.
Improves digestion: The flax seeds can improve your bowel movement and prevents constipation as they have good fiber content. Thus, they help in improving your digestive health.

Some easy-to-try eating tips for flax seeds:
So, now you have ground flax seeds, it is very easy to use them as they go well with almost anything liquid or solid. Just sprinkle a little amount on anything, be it yoghurt or milk, or buttermilk, your fruit smoothie or your coffee or your breakfast cereal. You can add a teaspoon of ground flaxseed to the mustard or mayonnaise or jam that you spread on your bread. Add them to tomato sauce or to your meatballs or meatloaf. Its tasty to sprinkle on salads or soups. This way, you can have sufficient amount of flax seeds and can enjoy the benefits. But yes, eat in moderation is the key.

Little Caution about Flaxseeds:
Even though, flax seeds have so many health benefits, but there are some minor precautions which should be taken. People who are suffering from bowel obstruction or inflammatory bowel conditions should avoid taking flax seeds as they have laxative effects. Also, pregnant women and mothers who are breastfeeding should avoid taking flax seeds in their diet and be on the safe side, because of its estrogen- like properties which doctors believe may affect pregnancy outcome. If you are taking medication, consult your doctor before taking flax seeds.
They may be a tiny small thing, but they are filled with big and unlimited benefits. Because of this they are given so much of importance. Enjoy them as they taste good too, they aren’t bitter or bad tasting, rather they are bit salty and crunchy. Go on, have a tablespoon of flax seeds or just sprinkle it on anything and enjoy your food with extra added and overloaded benefits. So, yes! Flax seeds are poised with Nutritional Superstar!
Happy Eating. Happy Life.

July 1, 2014
Wonderful Soy milk!

Something that can prove to be the best alternative for milk is SOY MILK. It is rich, nutritious and very healthy drink. Soy milk has become so famous because of its high quality proteins and anti oxidative qualities. Most of the people drink this milk because of the added health benefits attached to it. As being lactose free, it is primarily used by lactose intolerant persons. It may lack in context of taste, but people consume out of its advantages and nutritive value, but now even the taste is improved since it has been started to produce commercially. This is well known how much beneficial soya and its products are as they are protein dense and can provide all the protein in a vegan diet, that you can get from meat. Similarly, Soy milk is the best substitute for Diary milk (cow milk) and for meat and chicken protein (animal protein). Soy milk or Soya milk is a plant milk, which is produced by soaking dry soyabeans, boiling and grinding them with water. It is a traditional staple in the Asian diet and has the same amount of food value and proteins and even higher as that of cow milk. One can take soy milk as per their taste as there is plain soy milk, which is unsweetened and salted soya milk is also consumed in some countries. Also, many soy products are sweetened. It was first produced in China.
Soy milk is a super awesome drink rich in many nutrients, vitamins and minerals and is a good replacement for animal protein and some sources of dietary fiber. Moreover, it also contains digestible calcium, little saturated fat and no cholesterol and contains no lactose. Soy milk has found many uses in vegan and vegetarian diet and vegan recipes and cooking. Soy milk has versatile uses and is used in making soy cream, soy yoghurt, soy based cheese analogues and tofu is also a product of soya. To know more about the benefits of this wonderful beverage, let’s have a look on these :

It reduces Cholesterol and improves Lipid profile: People who include soy milk in their diet have reduced cholesterol levels as it is unsaturated with no cholesterol, unlike cow milk which is high in saturated fat and is unhealthy and increase your cholesterol. Studies have found significant results in maintaining good cholesterol levels in the blood with the use of soy milk and decreasing LDL which is bad cholesterol. Also, the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid in soy can inhibit the transport of cholesterol in your blood stream and this is why it is recommended to take soy milk as a regular drink and enjoy it.
It helps in loosing weight: Soy milk is really helpful if you want to lose weight as it has natural sugar content and has very few calories almost equal to skim milk. Also, intake of soy milk is high in fiber content which makes you feel full for longer time, and makes you eat less and paves a way for less craving. Moreover, monounsaturated fatty acid present in soy milk can restrain the intestinal absorption of fat.
It is rich in Isoflavones: Presence of isoflavones is a very unique benefit of soy milk and is beneficial like anything. The health benefits can range from prevention of osteoporosis, ease of postmenopausal symptoms, reduction of cholesterol, prevention from risk of certain cancers; breast cancer and prostate cancer. Also, they are antioxidants that protect our cells and DNA against oxidation and this is not found in cow’s milk and that’s why it is sometimes considered as more beneficial than the dairy milk.
It has no lactose: The most beneficial use of soy milk is for lactose intolerant population. This lactose free is preferable by many because of its several benefits. In addition, it has prebiotic sugars, which decrease the toxic substances in the body and boosts immunity.
It Strengthens and nourishes the Blood vessel integrity: Soy milk is extremely helpful in nourishing the blood vessels due to the nutrients present in it as the Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids and also the Phyto-antioxidants in soy milk protect your blood vessels from hemorrhage. These compounds are helpful because they bind to the blood vessels lining and defend the lining cells from cholesterol deposits and free radicals attacks. The binding action of these nutrients also improves the flexibility and fluidity of your blood vessels. In such a way, it plays an important role and the reason the regular intake of soya milk is recommended.

Woah! So many benefits. No? After all these good facts about soy milk, the one who doesn’t really like having it, will start drinking it. There are many variants of soy milk available in your grocery store with so many flavors, like pistachio, chocolate, almond and plain too. You can pick any flavor of your choice and have it with all your heart for your healthy heart. Now, even if you are lactose intolerant, which has become quite common, you have milk that fulfills your craving for milk with so many other attached benefits, which may not be there in cow milk. Enjoy your Soy milk.

Happy drinking. Happy Life!

July 1, 2014
Go Healthy with these Superfoods!

Superfoods, as the name says are super-awesome in their own way. They are super healthy, super awesome… SUPERFOODS. Superfoods are something that are nutrient dense and scarce in calories. They are special category of foods found in nature have all the health benefits and richness of nutrients which our body needs but cannot make those nutrients itself. They possess goodness of all the essential nutrients and antioxidants, which our body longs for and that is the reason it is so desperately recommended to have them and live healthy with them. Superfoods are like multi-taskers, they solve disease-fighting purpose, then have less calories, so helpful in weight loss too, and above all, they are delicious, have good taste. Though we have many other healthy eating recommendations, these Superfoods are easy-to-find and easy-to-eat everyday superfoods to keep eating healthy, simple and delectable. Superfoods are pleasurable, soothing, refreshing, appetizing, healthy and whatnot!
So, let’s have a look on these extra special superfoods which serve a plethora of benefits. Trust me, its much easier and tastier to eat these superfoods rather than munching on the burgers or French fries, which have no food value. Have a craving, eat them:
Nuts:

Go nuts with nuts! Yes, nuts are way healthier than you think. If you have fallen prey to this myth that they have fat content, then that is wrong, because when eaten in moderation, handful of nuts everyday can serve us with plenty of health benefits. Nuts are high in antioxidants, contains proteins, heart healthy fats and fiber. Among the nuts, walnuts are of little more importance, as they have high levels of ALA, an omega-3 fatty acid which elevates the mood and heart health. It is also associated with maintaining healthy levels of good cholesterol (HDL). So, you just can’t ignore your nuts.
Eggs:

Eggs, being a source of high class protein, are nutritious, economical and versatile. Studies show that if you eat eggs in breakfast, you may eat less calories during the day and lose weight without affecting the cholesterol levels. The yolk of an egg contains lutein and zeaxanthin; which are antioxidants that helps in keeping our eyes healthy. You can take egg at any meal and they are always tasty. Make a sunny side up and enjoy your egg.
Berries:

Berries have got all the nutritional goodness along with utter sweetness in a small package. Be it strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, raspberries, cherries, all have the same amount of nutrients and antioxidants. Their flavor can satisfy your sweet tooth and can deal with your craving in a healthy way. Berries are full of phytonutrients, low in calories, high water content and fiber, which keeps the blood sugar level under control. These berries can be added to anything and they enhance the flavor of any dish ranging from smoothie, syrup, yoghurt or your morning cereal. Got a sweet tooth? Try berries!
Sweet Potatoes:

They are delicious and are a rich source of potassium and have fewer high calorie sodium content. A baked sweet potato is loaded with Vitamin C, calcium, potassium and is really sweet which makes it all the more desirable. Just think how much calories you can save by having your dose of baked sweet potato. They are brilliantly equipped with alpha and beta carotene and our body will convert these compounds into Vitamin A and it keeps our eyes, bones and immune system healthy. So, Bake it and eat it.
Beans:

Being quite popular in the vegan diet, beans are a good source of plant based iron, which is a mineral that transports oxygen from your lungs to the cells of your body. Beans have a good amount of soluble and insoluble fiber, which lowers the cholesterol and has laxative effect also. They also contain heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids and they can prove to be a very good substitute for meat and poultry. Beans are good in all the ways it can be taken, be it stewed, sprouted beans, as a side dish or tossed in soups. Have it as you like.
Broccoli:

This greeny green veggie is loved by many and is available all year long. It is a powerhouse of Vitamins and nutrients. It is a rich source of Vitamin A, C and K and also folate which helps in bone health. Also, broccoli is famous for its cancer fighting properties and also stimulates the body’s detoxifying enzymes. You can have broccoli as you like, be it steamed, raw, grilled or roasted, but don’t forget to eat it.
Yoghurt:

It is an excellent source of calcium, which helps in keeping away osteoporosis. Yoghurt is said to have good bacteria which is very good for our gut health and is also a great package of potassium and proteins. Yoghurt is versatile and have many uses in all the cultures. Just one cup of yoghurt a day is suffice to have all the nutrients in your diet. So, don’t forget to include yoghurt in your daily routine.
When you have so many Superfoods, what to worry about? Moreover, all these are tasty and hard to ignore. They gain a respectable place in our lives and we will keep eating them and enjoying. After all, it is for our own good.
Eat Super foods. Get Super healthy.

July 1, 2014
That Nutty, Creamy Peanut Butter!

Do you like peanuts? Do you love peanut butter? I know most of you do and why not, it’s way too delicious and can make anything more tastier. Peanut butter is too good for you and your diet. One superb thing is its filling, appetite satisfying and healthy too, with suffice nutrients. A bread piece or a cookie or anything with peanut butter spread on it is a perfect snack for your evening or morning. It can be a good substitute for any sweet, sugary or salty thing. It can go with anything and can be taken with anything. If you think that peanut butter sandwiches are for kids only, you are missing out something really good for your health and body. As, this protein rich, creamy delight is suitable for everyone and has become very popular now.
Peanut Butter is a rich, creamy paste made primarily from ground dry roasted peanut, which is actually a legume and not a nut. It is very popular in many countries and The United States is a leading exporter of peanut butter. It is mainly used as a sandwich spread along with other variants as chocolate sauce, jam or jelly, cheese or vegetable. The peanut butter originated by the Aztecs, who ground peanut butter into a paste. In the United States, January 24 is observed as National Peanut Butter Day. Generally, there are two types of spread; Crunchy and smooth. The crunchy one has little chunks of peanut butter in it and smooth one is creamy, smooth paste. Both are loved and eaten by all. These are a good source of unsaturated fats. However smooth butter doesn’t have as much fiber as crunchy one. The peanut butter has many nutrients and vitamins, which makes it a healthy choice. It contains proteins, Vitamin B3 and E, magnesium, folate, arginine, dietary fiber and also high levels of antioxidants p-coumaric acid. It also contains saturated fat and some amount of sodium. Having all these essential nutrients, let’s go through some of the key benefits of peanut butter, which will make us famish it more.

Why peanut Butter is so good for you and your health:

The enviable combination of protein and fiber in peanut butter is awesome and way healthier and prove to be a very good substitute for meat protein. Just 2 tablespoons full of peanut butter have had 188 calories, 6 grams of carbohydrates, 8 grams of protein, and 16 grams of fat. Each serving of protein, is really beneficial for the body as it uses amino acids to build and repair muscle tissue and helps in building metabolism-boosting muscle and such protein rich food also keep you feeling full for longer and in turn helps in losing weight. Alongwith this, peanut butter, having high content of mono-unsaturated fat, is really good for the heart and reduces the amount of harmful cholesterol in the bloodstream and even help in balancing the good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL). Many studies have shown that regular peanut taking can reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease and other chronic health conditions. Peanuts also contain high amount of poly-phenolic antioxidants, which has shown results in reducing the risk of stomach cancer by decreasing the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines. This spread is an excellent source of Resveratrol, which is an antioxidant and provides protection against heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s (Neuro degenerative disorder) and fungal and viral infections. Also, peanut butter is a great source of iron, which helps in maintaining blood circulation throughout the body. Being so rich in nutrients and proteins, it gives you energy and boosts your metabolism and keeps you active for a long time.

So, what are you waiting for? Go enjoy your healthy favorite spread. It’s worth it.

Things you can do with your Peanut Butter:
Well, I recommend one should buy natural and organic peanut butter from the grocery store as it will really benefit your health. Also, you can do a variety of things with this incredibly versatile ingredient and can enjoy that big jar of creamy, crunchy spread with your creativity and as per your taste in many ways. Here’s some easy quickies you can do with your favorite peanut butter;
You can use it as a filling in your grilled desserts as it gives your dessert a creamy richness. Just pair a spoonful of spread with bananas, chocolate, honey, brown sugar and toss it into toasty bites.
Top it on your morning cereal and drizzle it nicely on the cornflakes or salad and enjoy the creaminess and nuttiness.
You can stir the creamy butter in the stew, which is slowly cooked and it will make it velvety smooth and just too delicious to resist.
You can glaze your vanilla or chocolate chip cookies or even your frost your teatime cake with this creamy spread and enjoy the lusciousness.
You can even add the peanut butter to your smoothies, whether its banana or vanilla or strawberry or any smoothie and give it a protein boost and even add it to maple syrup and improve its taste.
You can use it as a base dressing for a salad or use it as a spread in your world-famous traditional sandwich with chocolate or jam or even in your veggie burger and sandwich.
Enjoy it as you like. Even if, peanut butter has fat content present in it, the health benefits and versatility of it is enough to adopt it with a happy heart and spread its deliciousness on breads, cookies, waffles, toast, apple slices, celery, carrots and so many other foods. It can prove to be healthy and yummy choice for everyone.

Keep munching on Peanut Butter!

July 1, 2014