Category: Recipes

  • Tandoori Chicken

    Tandoori Chicken

    Tandoori chicken is a famous South Asian dish which is made out of roasted chicken by adding spices and yogurt.The name Tandoor chicken is originated from the preparation process itself,as it is prepared in a cylindrical clay oven called Tandoor. Tandoor is heated by using wood or charcoal.By doing so we can heat the meat directly on live fire.By doing so we can remove the excess fat present in it and the meat gets cooked with the fat and juice in it.These Tandoor are generally maintained at high temperatures.

    This spicy mouth watering tandoori chicken is originated in Punjab region.The tandoori chicken has became official from the incident that took place once at Moti Mahal, where the first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru was served this dish, he inherently enjoyed the dish and made it a regular dish at official banquets.This is generally cooked at very high temperatures on a traditional grill.

    Spicy mouth watering Tandoori chicken recipe
    Spicy mouth watering Tandoori chicken recipe

    Ingredients:

    1) Take 3/4 kg of Chicken(  leg pieces are more advisable )

    For marinade:

    1) Take one cup of yogurt or curd of low fat

    2) Take chopped onion slices

    3) Take half slice of lime

    4) Take one clove garlic

    5) Take 1/2 inch of ginger and peel off the skin

    6) Take two green chilli

    7) Take one and half table spoon of garam masala

    8) Take salt that is sufficient for taste

    9) Take red food color and orange food color

    For Baking:

    1) Take a cookery tray

    2) Take Aluminum foil

    3) Take a pastry brush (this is optional)

    Ingredients required for making tandoori chicken
    Ingredients required for making tandoori chicken

    Preparation:

    For making delicious Chicken tandoori it takes about 30 minutes of cooking process,but before starting the cooking process the chicken that is taken must be marinated for one whole night so that it gives a better taste.The preparation of chicken tandoori can be learned easily by step by step process.

    Step 1:

    For the first step of preparation we have to take chicken and wash it thoroughly so that the waste matter and dust particles that get stuck to the chicken gets washed away.After washing the chicken let them drain and arrange those pieces on a in a plate.Make sure you do not remove the skin part as it actually protects the flesh when you bake it.Make deep slits on either side of the leg pieces such that the bone gets touched to the knife.This will help the chicken to marinate well.

    Making deep slits on either side of chicken legs
    Making deep slits on either side of chicken legs

    Step 2:

    Take a deep bowl and squeeze the half slice of lime into it,to this add salt that is sufficient for taste.Mix these well until the salt gets mixed in the lemon juice.Now take a leg piece add lemon juice to it and take some of it in the hand and do massage the chicken piece well.repeat this process to all the chicken pieces.As soon as this process is completed keep it in a refrigerate it for 20 to 30 minutes.Now take a mixie and add curd, garam masala, tomato sauce, ginger, garlic, one table spoon of salt, green chili, sliced onion and grind it until a smooth paste is formed.

    Ingredients are well mixed to form a smooth paste
    Ingredients are well mixed to form a smooth paste

    Step 3:

    After the paste is ready,now take the chicken pieces from the refrigerator into a bowl and mix them with lime, food color, few drops of water.Make sure each piece gets the mixture eventually.After this process is completed your chicken will look all red.Take the marinade in a large bowl and add each piece individually and massage the paste into the slits and on both sides and leave it in the bowl.After doing so, keep them back in the refrigerator for at least 8 hrs or one whole day.The chicken gets more taste a the marination time increases.

    Chicken Piecies must be marinade for atleast 8 hours
    Chicken Pieces must be marinade for at least 8 hours

    Step 4:

    On the next day after marination of chicken pieces get ready for making tandoori.At first clean up the oven and heat it alone for a very high temperature that is available in one’s oven.Now take a cookery and line it with the aluminum foils that we have taken earlier.As this process is going on take the marinade chicken from the refrigerator and shake it once so that the excess paste that get stuck to it will be removed.Now place it on a cookery sheet and wrap the tail of these chicken pieces with a cookery sheet.

    Chicken tandoori preparation process
    Chicken tandoori preparation process

    Step 5:

    Now place this pieces in a tray carefully in the middle of the oven.Allow them to get fried in the oven for about  15 minutes.After it gets cooked, slowly remove the tray by using oven mitts.Again add some marinade using a spoon ad please note that you should not touch them directly as it may hurt you.allow it to get cooked for about ten minutes.At this moment all the juice that is present in the chicken gets burnt and gets completely cooked because of the extreme temperature.Then take the tray out.That’s it very spicy and mouth watering chicken tandoori is ready and move it to a serving plate.

    Mouth watering chicken tandoori is ready
    Mouth watering chicken tandoori is ready

     

  • Eat Well All Week

    Eat Well All Week

    Health is Wealth. In this generation, where we literally swim in our love for fast food, it is pretty difficult to keep our health in check. The bulges keep peeping out. The health scares keep revisiting. But somehow, we still take the back seat. I’ll exercise later. I’ll eat healthy food from tomorrow.

     

    “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow”

    -William Shakespeare, Macbeth (Act 5 Scene v )

     

    Well, tomorrow never comes.

    It is quite understandable that, at first, the thought of “change” seems like a lot of work but with time, it will only do YOU good. It’s your choice, basically.

     

    Make one change per day. Eat one healthy meal.

    For a better you. For a better tomorrow.

     

    7 DAYS. 7 RECIPES.

     

    Monday Delights:

     

    Paprika Pork

     paprika pork1

    Time- 30 minutes

    Serves- 4

    Ingredients-1 tbsp olive oil, 2 onions, finely sliced, 400g pork fillets, trimmed of any fat, cut into thick strips, 250g pack mushrooms( sliced), 1½ tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tbsp tomato purée, 200ml chicken stock, 100ml soured cream, egg noodles  (tagliatelle or rice, to serve)

     

    Directions- Heat the oil in a large pan, tip in the onions and cook for 10 mins until soft and golden. Add the pork and mushrooms and cook on a high heat for 3-4 mins until browned. Add the paprika and cook for 1 min more.Stir in the tomato purée, then pour on the stock and simmer for 5-8 minutes until the pork is cooked through. Finally, mix in the soured cream and some seasoning. Serve with egg noodles.

     

    Tuesday Bonanza:

     

    Basque Style Salmon Stew

    salmon stew

    Time- 35 minutes

    Serves- 4

    Ingredients- 1tbsp olive oil, 3 mixed peppers (deseeded and sliced), 1 large onion (thinly sliced), 400g baby potatoes (unpeeled and halved), 2 tsp smoked paprika, 2 garlic cloves ( sliced), 2 tsp dried thyme, 400g can chopped tomatoes, 4 salmon fillets, 1 tbsp chopped parsley

    Directions- Heat the oil in a large pan and add the peppers, onion and potatoes. Cook, stirring regularly for 5-8 mins until golden. Then add the paprika, garlic, thyme and tomatoes. Bring to the boil, stir and cover, then turn down heat and simmer for 12 mins. Add a splash of water if the sauce becomes too thick.Season the stew and lay the salmon on top, skin side down. Place the lid back on and simmer for another 8 mins until the salmon is cooked through. Scatter with parsley, if you like, and serve.

     

    Wednesday Treat:

     

    Super healthy Singapore Noodles

     singapore noodles

    Time- 30 minutes

    Serves- 4

    Ingredients- 3 nests medium egg noodles, 2 tbsp sunflower oil, 100g tenderstem broccoli (stems sliced at an angle), 1 red peppe (deseeded, quartered then cut into strips), 85g baby corn (quartered lengthways), 2 garlic cloves (shredded), 1 red chilli (deseeded and chopped), thumb-sized piece fresh ginger (peeled and finely chopped), 2 skinless chicken breasts (sliced), 100g shelled raw king prawns, 1 heaped tbsp madras curry paste, 2 tsp soy sauce, 100g beansprouts, 15g pack coriander (chopped),4 spring onions (shredded), lime wedges

    Directions- Pour boiling water over the noodles and leave to soften. Meanwhile, heat half the oil in a large non-stick wok and stir-fry all the vegetables, except the beansprouts and onions, with the garlic, chilli and ginger until softened. If the broccoli won’t soften, add a splash of water to the wok and cover to create some steam.Tip the veg on to a plate, add the rest of the oil to the wok then briefly stir-fry the chicken and prawns until just cooked. Set aside with the vegetables and add the curry paste to the pan. Stir-fry for a few secs then add 150ml water and the soy sauce. Allow to bubble then add the drained, softened noodles and beansprouts, and toss together to coat.Return the vegetables, chicken and prawns to the wok with the coriander and spring onions. Toss well over the heat and serve with lime wedges.

     

    Thursday Delicacy:

     

    Smoky Fishcakes with Oat Crumb

    fishcakes

    Time- 40 minutes

    Serves- 2

    Ingredients- 400g potatoes (peeled and cut into large chunks), 175g undyed smoked haddock, 2 spring onions (finely chopped), 4 tbsp tartar sauce, 85g whole oats, 1 egg (beaten), 2 tbsp sunflower oil

    Directions- Boil potatoes in salted water for 15 mins until tender, drain, then return to the pan. Mash quickly over a gentle heat until the potatoes become quite dry, then transfer to a large bowl. Put the fish in a microwave-proof dish with a couple of spoonfuls of water, cover with cling film, then cook on Medium for 2-3 mins until the fish flakes easily. Gently peel away the skin, then flake into the potatoes in large chunks.Mix in the spring onions, 2 tbsp of tartare sauce and some seasoning, then shape into 4 cakes. Briefly whizz the oats in a food processor until slightly crumbly-looking, then tip onto a plate. Dip the fish cakes into the egg, then into the oats to coat. Chill for 20 mins to firm up.Heat the oil in a large, non-stick frying pan, then fry the cakes for 5 mins on each side until golden and hot. Serve with the leftover tartare and a green salad.

     

    Friday @PartyFood:

     

    Chicken Pie

    chicken pie

    Time- 1 hour 15 minutes

    Serves- 4

    Ingredients- 450ml chicken stock, 100ml white wine, 2 garlic cloves (finely chopped), 3 thyme sprigs, 1 tarragon sprig (plus 1 tbsp chopped tarragon leaves), 225g carrots (cut into batons), 4 skinless chicken breasts, 225g leeks (sliced), 2 tbsp cornflour (mixed with 2 tbsp water), 3 tbsp crème fraîche, 1 heaped tsp Dijon mustard, 1 heaped tbsp chopped flat-leaf or curly parsley, 70g filo pastry, 1 tbsp rapeseed oil

    Directions- Pour the stock and wine into a large, wide frying pan. Add the garlic, thyme, tarragon sprig and carrots, bring to the boil then lower the heat and simmer for 3 mins. Lay the chicken in the stock, grind over some pepper, cover and simmer for 5 mins.

    Scatter the leek slices over the chicken, cover again then gently simmer for 10 more mins, so the leeks can steam while the chicken cooks. Remove from the heat and let the chicken sit in the stock for about 15 mins, so it keeps moist while cooling slightly.Strain the stock into a jug – you should have 500ml (if not, make up with water). Tip the chicken and veg into a 1.5 litre pie dish and discard the herb sprigs. Pour the stock back into the sauté pan, then slowly pour in the cornflour mix. Return the pan to the heat and bring to the boil, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the crème fraîche, mustard, chopped tarragon and parsley. Season with pepper.

    Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.Tear or cut the chicken into chunky shreds. Pour the sauce over the chicken mixture, then stir everything together.Cut each sheet of filo into 4 squares or rectangles. Layer them on top of the filling, brushing each sheet with some of the oil as you go. Lightly scrunch up the filo so it doesn’t lie completely flat and tuck the edges into the sides of the dish, or lay them on the edges if the dish has a rim. Grind over a little pepper, place the dish on a baking sheet, then bake for 20-25 mins until the pastry is golden and the sauce is bubbling. Serve immediately.

     

     

    Saturday Special:

     

    Spicy Vegetable Egg Fried Rice

    egg fried rice

    Time- 30 minutes

    Serves- 4

    Ingredients- 200g basmati rice, 1-2 red chillies (deseeded and grated or very finely chopped), 3 garlic cloves (crushed), 1 tbsp sunflower oil, 2 large carrots (diced), 200g Chinese cabbage (finely sliced), 2 eggs (lightly beaten), 3 spring onions (sliced), 200g frozen peas, 1 tbsp soy sauce

    Directions- If making the rice from scratch, cook it following pack instructions, then drain. Mix the chillies and garlic (in a pestle and mortar, if you have one) with a pinch of salt, to make a paste.Heat oil in a wok or large frying pan on a medium – high heat. Add the carrots and stir-fry for 5 mins until tender. Add the cabbage and chilli paste and cook for 1 min more. Tip in the cooked basmati or leftover rice and stir-fry for 1 min until piping hot.Push the rice mixture to one side of the pan. Add the eggs to the cleared space and scramble until set. Mix in the onions, peas and soy and stir-fry everything together until the peas are hot.

     

     

    Sunday Feast:

     

    Baked Chicken Masala with Almond Pilaf

    baked chicken masala

    Time- 45 minutes

    Serves- 4

    Ingredients- 250g brown basmati rice, 2 heaped tsp turmeric, 5 tsp medium curry powder, 2 tbsp flaked almonds, 6 tbsp low-fat natural yogurt, 2 large skinless chicken breasts (cut into chunks), 8 medium tomatoes (halved), 2 large red onions (thinly sliced), ½ small bunch coriander (leaves picked)

    Directions- Heat oven to 220C. Put the rice in a saucepan with 600ml water, 1 heaped tsp turmeric, 1 tsp curry powder and some salt. Bring to the boil, stir, cover, turn heat to low and cook for 30 mins, or until tender. Try not to take the lid off during cooking. Remove from heat and leave covered for 5 mins. Add the almonds, and fluff with a fork.Meanwhile, mix 2 tsp curry powder, the remaining turmeric, 2 tbsp yogurt and seasoning. Add chicken and toss to coat.Toss the tomatoes and onions in a roasting tray with the rest of the curry powder, then nestle in the chicken pieces. Bake for 15-20 mins until the chicken is cooked through and the veg are soft. Scatter over the coriander and serve with the rice and remaining yogurt.

     

    Image and Recipe Courtesy: bbcgoodfood.com

     

     

  • Summer 2014 Mocktails

    Summer 2014 Mocktails

    Come summer, come heat and sweat!! All one could possibly pray for in this season is either rains or a refreshing glass of cool drink. With the growing concern regarding health, many prefer to opt for the natural substitute to the drinks rather than the aerated varieties in the market. The problem is, natural is often least appealing. Fret not friends, your prayers seems answered. Here’s a refreshing mix of art and colour with nature. Whether it’s planning a party, a mid-day snack or if it’s a healthy non-alcoholic option you need for your next family and friends meet, these virgin drinks meet the demands across all age groups. And the best part is, they are delicious. The drinks are full of flavour —subtle, fruity, or just plain refreshing.

     

    MINT JULEP

    835043

    You’ve got a new party favourite across all age groups. It’s a perfect alcohol-free take on a classic party favourite.

     Calorific Value: 140 calories                                          Serves: 1

    Ingredients

    • ¼ cup water
    • ¼ cup castor sugar
    • 1 tbsp chopped mint leaves
    • 2 cups crushed ice
    • ½ cup lemonade

    Directions

    • In a saucepan, add water, sugar and the chopped mint leaves.
    • Heat the mixture. Stir until the sugar has dissolved.
    • Cool the syrup. After an hour, strain out mint leaves.
    • Fill the serving glass with crushed ice.
    • Add lemonade to the ice and top up with a dash of the prepared syrup.
    • Garnish with a mint sprig.

     

    CARIBBEAN SUNSET

    8

    No one in the family or friends meet is ever going to miss alcohol after they drink this exciting and refreshing mix of wonders!!

     

    Calorific Value: 140 calories                                          Serves: 1

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Sprite
    • ½ cup Orange Juice
    • ½ cupLemonade
    • orange / lemon wedge and cherry for garnish

    Directions

    • Fill your serving glass of considerable length half full of ice
    • To this, add the orange juice and lemonade
    • Add sprite on top and give a good stir.
    • Garnish with an orange / lemon wedge and cherry

     

    LONG ISLAND TEA

    7

    Taste the original minus the alcohol!!

     Calorific Value: 102 calories                                          Serves: 1

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Coke
    • 1 cup Lemonade
    • 1 cup Unsweetened Black Tea
    • lemon wedge
    • crushed ice

    Directions

    • In a tall glass, fill half with crushed ice.
    • To this add equal quantities of coke and lemonade
    • Top the mixture with unsweetened black tea. Stir.
    • Garnish with lemon wedge

     

    COSMO – TO – GO

    6

    A classic take on the cosmopolitan martini without the alcohol. Ahh!! Heaven!!

     Calorific Value: 182 calories                                          Serves: 1

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Lemonade
    • 1 cup Cranberry Juice (any citrus juice of choice)
    • 1 cup lime syrup
    • Lemon wedge

    Directions

    • Take a shaker and fill it with crushed ice
    • Into the ice, carefully add the prepared lemonade, cranberry juice and lime syrup.
    •  Recap the shaker and shake well till all the ingredients are evenly mixed
    • Strain into a martini glass
    • Garnish with a lemon wedge

     

    RED SANGRIA

    5

    Who said you need wine to shake up Sangria!!

    Calorific Value: 200 calories                                          Serves: 1

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup of Pomegranate Juice
    • ½ cup of Orange Juice
    • ¼ cup Apple Juice
    • Splash of Soda
    • 1 orange wedge and cherry for garnish

    Direction

    • Take a tall thin glass and fill half full of ice
    • Combine the juices – pomegranate juice, orange juice, apple juice and stir
    • Add a splash of soda on top
    • Garnish using cherry and orange wedge

    SWEET ‘n’ SOUR SLIDE

    4

    Craving for a glass of cold whiskey? Here’s a healthy alternative

     Calorific Value: 148 calories                                          Serves: 1

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup Sprite
    • ¾ cup Pineapple Juice
    • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
    • pineapple wedge for garnish

    Directions

    • Fill a glass with half full ice
    • Add to it sprite, pineapple juice and lemon juice in the given quantities. Stir well
    • Garnish with a pineapple wedge

     

    PEACH COLADA

    3

    An all year round favourite!!

     Calorific Value: 350 calories                                          Serves: 1

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup Peach smoothie
    • ½ cup Vanilla flavoured non-fat yogurt
    • ¼ cup Coconut Syrup
    • 2 cups ice
    • 1 scoop whipped cream
    • 1 peach slice for garnish

    Directions

    • In a blender or food processor, add the peach smoothie, yogurt, coconut syrup and ice; blend till smooth
    • Pour into a serving glass of choice
    • Garnish with whipped cream and a peach wedge

     

    TROPICAL MANGO COLADA

    2

    A mocktail for all people across all seasons!!

     Calorific Value: 200 calories                                          Serves: 1

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Vanilla flavoured non-fat yogurt
    • ¼ cup mango juice
    • 1 tbsp coconut syrup
    • 2 cups ice
    • 1 scoop whipped cream
    • 1 tsp toasted coconut flakes
    • 1 tsp toffee bits
    • 1 mango slice for garnish

    Directions

    • In a blender or food processor, add the mango juice, yogurt, coconut syrup and ice; process until smooth
    • Pour into a serving glass of choice
    • Garnish with whipped cream, coconut flakes and sprinkle toffee bits on top. Add a mango wedge on the glass edge

     

    ROMAN HOLIDAY

    download

    Not only is it bright, it is also light! A perfect night party drink!

     Calorific Value: 210 calories                                          Serves: 1

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Orange Juice
    • ¾ cup Lemonade
    • 1 tsp caramelized sugar
    • 1 orange wedge, lemon wedge and mint sprig each for garnish

    Directions

    • Fill a serving glass half full of ice
    • Add the orange juice and lemonade along with caramelized sugar in the glass of ice; squeeze and add the orange wedge; stir well
    • Garnish with a lemon wedge and a mint sprig

     

    Georgie Rajan

  • Turmeric For Tendonitis

    Turmeric For Tendonitis

    Tendon is the structure in the body that connects your muscle to the bony attachment. It is tough yet flexible band of fibrous tissue. When functioning normally,these tendons slide easily and smoothly as the muscle contracts.
    Sometimes, the tendons get swelled up due to several reasons and the normal gliding movement of the tendon is impaired and the movement will become difficult.This very condition i.e. inflammation of tendons is referred to as Tendonitis. It is also called as jumper’s knee, swimmer’s shoulder or tennis elbow.
    Tendonitis is most often an overused injury. It often occurs when people begin a new activity or exercise that causes a tendon to become irritated. It can be a result of an injury, repetitive movement, aging or a disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis. This problem is most common in the age of 40-60 year range. Occasionally, there is an anatomical cause too. If the tendon does not have smooth path to glide along, it is more likely to become inflamed. But these are some of the unusual situations.
    Tendonitis is always diagnosed on physical examination. Consistent findings with tendonitis includes:

    Tenderness directly over the tendon
    Swelling of the tendon
    Pain with movement of tendons
    The pain increases on moving the injured area
    turmeric for tendonitis 3
    TURMERIC FOR TENDONITIS:
    Tendons the tough cord of fibrous tissue that join muscles to bone are essential for movement because they transfer the force of muscle contraction to bones. Tendonitis is a form of tendon inflammation that causes pain and tenderness close to joints, and is common in knee, elbow, shoulder, hips and wrist.
    The global incidence rate of tendonitis is on a increase with increase in aging. In 2002, there were an estimated 232,000 Achilles tendon sports injury in U.S.
    However,a derivative of the Indian curry spice turmeric hopes to offer a new treatment for the sufferers of this painful condition of tendonitis.
    Curcumin,which gives the turmeric its bright yellow color, could be helpful in treating painful inflammatory conditions, such as tendonitis. According to the researchers at the University of Nottingham in the UK and the Ludwig-Maxmillians university in Munich, Germany studies show that curcumin can be used to suppress biological mechanisms that spark inflammation in tendon diseases.

    Dr Ali Mobasheri of the University’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, who co-led the research, said: “Our research is not suggesting that curry, turmeric or curcumin are cures for inflammatory conditions such as tendinitis and arthritis. “However, we believe that it could offer scientists an important new lead in the treatment of these painful conditions through nutrition. Further research into curcumin, and chemically-modified versions of it, should be the subject of future investigations and complementary therapies aimed at reducing the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the only drugs currently available for the treatment of tendinitis and various forms of arthritis.”

    Curcumin has an effect on inflammatory reactions by inhibition of signalling molecules known as interleukin. Interleukins are a type of cell signalling protein molecules that can activate a whole series of inflammatory genes by trigerring a ‘dangerous switch’ called NFkB.
    Curcumin known for its potent anti-inflammatory properties, The compound has been known to influence more than 700 genes, and it can inhibit both the activity and synthesis of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipooxygenase (5-LOX), as well as other enzymes that have been implicated for inflammation.

    DOSAGE:
    Turmeric dosage depends on the condition of the sufferer. It is easily accessible as tablet, tincture or in liquid form. The best way to include turmeric for prevention of various diseases is to include it in the daily diet. Taking 250-500 milligrams of turmeric(available in capsules or tablets)three times per day as mentioned on product level helps very much in treating tendonitis.
    A usual dose can be made upto 6 capsules per day of 500mg. But if taken with water,take one pill at a time and have enough water to wash down the capsule.

    turmeric
    According to a tendonitis patient,
    “Taking a heaped tea -spoon of turmeric in a glass of orange juice (after diluting it in a little warm water) two times a day for two months brought down her pain to half the amount she had in the beginning.”,
    TIPS FOR INCREASING ABSORPTION OF CURCUMIN:
    1. One alternative is to make micro emulsion by combining a tbsp of curcumin with 1-2 egg yolks and a tsp or two of melted coconut oil. Blend it to emulsify the powder.
    2. You can also use turmeric liberally in your cooking. Choose a pure turmeric powder rather than a curry powder, as a study has found that curry powder contains little curcumin.
    3. Another strategy is to put 1 tbsp of curcumin powder into a quart of boiling water. Its best to drink this water within 4hrs.
    PRECAUTIONS WITH TURMERIC:
    1. Excess use of turmeric over long periods can cause indigestion, nausea, dizziness or diarrhea.
    2. People with diabetes, pregnant women or those with bile duct obstruction or gall stones must avoid turmeric supplements.
    3. Turmeric supplements should be avoided with children.
    4.Checking about the right dosage of turmeric supplements with your doctor is essential.
    turmeric for tendonitis 2

  • For the Chicken Lovers: 5 MUST-have dishes!

    For the Chicken Lovers: 5 MUST-have dishes!

    I like my chicken roasted, smoked, curried, steamed, sandwiched, in gravy, in salad, in soup, basically, in any random form. The fact about chicken is that it can be prepared in a diverse number of ways. Either you can take your time and leisurely prepare a chicken dish in about 3 – 4 hours and have a perfect lunch or if you are running against time, you can land up with a neat chicken dish in even less than 30 minutes.

    That’s the way with chicken.

     

    So, here I am, showering all my love and dedicating this week’s article only to CHICKEN.

     

    Let the CHICKEN fiesta begin!

     

    Spicy Parmesan Chicken

    spicy-chicken-fingers_med

    Time: 25 minutes

    Serves: 2

    Ingredients:  6 chicken supremes

    For the marination –

    Salt and black pepper
    1 Tbsp minced garlic paste
    1 Tbsp red chilli flakes
    1 1/2 Tbsp flour
    For the Parmesan batter-

    1/2 cup cream
    4 Tbsp parmesan cheese (grated)
    1 egg
    Salt and pepper to taste
    Parsley
    1 grated nutmeg
    For Frying-

    4 Tbsp olive oil
    4 Tbsp butter
    For tomato chutney-
    1 cup cherry tomato
    1/2 onion
    1 green chilli
    Salt and pepper
    4 Tbsp olive oil
    4 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
    Chopped parsley

    Directions:

    For the marination-
    First take chicken pieces and marinate it with salt and pepper. Add garlic paste, red chilli flakes. Sprinkle some flour and let the chicken get marinated for few minutes.
    For parmesan batter-
    Take a bowl add some cream, grated Parmesan cheese and mix it well. Add a egg and blend the mixture well. Then add some salt, pepper for taste. Add fresh parsley leaves, grated nutmeg to the batter.
    For the frying-
    Dip the marinated chicken supremes in the batter. Take a pan and add olive oil, butter. Let it get heated for 2 minutes. Put the dipped chicken supremes for frying. Fry perfect.
    For tomato chutney-
    Take cherry tomatoes, onion, green chilli and put it in the mixer. Add some olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Add fresh parsley leaves and blend it all together.

     

    Chicken Layonnaise

    Chicken-Layonnaise_med

    Time: 30 minutes

    Serves: 2

    Ingredients:

    200 gm chicken julienne
    100 gm butter
    50 gm onions
    10 gm garlic
    60 gm capsicum
    60 gm tomatoes
    3-4 black olives
    Spinach-boiled
    Sauteed potato
    Sauteed carrots
    sauteed beans-boiled
    sauteed 60 ml
    White Wine salt
    pepper-to taste

    Directions: Heat butter and saute onions and garlic for about a minute. Add chicken and quick fry on high heat until chicken gets a brown texture on the outside. Add capsicum and tomatoes and sauté for a minute. Then add the white wine and season with salt and pepper.  Add the black olives and serve with all the vegetables.

     

    Fried Chicken Roll

    chicken-roll_med

    Time: 40 minutes

    Serves: 10

    Ingredients:

    2 cups all purpose flour
    2 eggs white
    1 cup bread crumbs
    3 cups grated chicken
    1/2 tsp turmeric powder
    1/2 tsp pepper powder
    1 tsp chicken masala
    1 tsp chilli powder
    1 tsp coriander powder
    3 to 4 coriander leaves
    Salt to taste
    3 to 4 green chillies
    2 onions

    Directions: Mix all purpose flour with water and egg and make it like a batter. Spread  2 to 3 table spoons of batter on a frying pan and spread it like chapati till it becomes slightly hot. In another frying pan,heat oil and add onions and heat till it turns brown.  Add salt,chilli, chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, chicken masala. Then add the boiled and grated chicken to the mixture and stir well for abaout 5 to 10 minutes. Now add coriander leaves and keep aside. Roll the masala in the chapati and dip in egg white and breadcrumbs. Finally deep fry the rolls.

     

    Chicken Manchurian

    chicken-manchurian_med

    Time: 1 hour

    Serves: 3

    Ingredients:

    250 gm chicken mince
    2 eggs, slightly beaten
    3/4 cup refined flour
    1/2 tsp garlic paste
    1/2 tsp ginger paste
    Oil for deep frying
    2 Tbsp oil
    1 tsp finely chopped garlic
    1/2 cup finely chopped onions
    1 large capsicum-chopped fine
    For sauce, mix together –
    3 Tbsp corn flour-blended
    1/2 cup water
    2 Tbsp vinegar
    2 tsp salt
    2 tsp soya sauce
    1/2 cup tomato puree
    2 Tbsp chopped celery or 1/4 tsp celery salt
    2 cups water

    Directions: Mix together the chicken, egg, flour, garlic and ginger paste, ajino moto and enough water so as to have a thick batter. Leave this for 5-10 minutes. Heat the oil, keeping the heat high drop heaped teaspoonfuls of batter and fry to a golden brown. Drain on absorbent paper till required. Heat 2 Tbsp of oil, and stir-fry the garlic and onion in it over high heat, till the onions look glossy. Add the capsicum and turn around a few times. Add the sauce mixture, and simmer till the sauce thickens and becomes translucent. Add the fried balls, turn around a few times and serve.

     

    Dahi Chicken  (chicken cooked with curd)

    Dahi-Chicken_med

    Time: 1 hour

    Serves: 4

    Ingredients:

    1/2 kg boneless chicken (cut as you like it)
    2 1/2 cups yogurt
    1 tsp cumin / zeera powder
    1 tsp garlic paste
    1/2 tsp red chilli (rang) powder
    A little less than 1/4 tsp turmeric/haldi
    1/4 tsp garam masala
    Few slit green chillies
    2 onions, chopped
    1 tomato, chopped
    Coriander leaves to garnish
    2 tsp oil
    1 tsp salt

    Directions: Take the yogurt and mix in the cumin powder, garlic paste,garam masala, haldi and red chilli powder. Mix with hands. Put chicken into this and add slit chillies. Keep aside for 30 minutes. Now heat 2 tsp oil in pan and add onions. Cook till translucent and soft. Add the tomatoes. Cook for a minute and add all the chicken and marinade. Keep cooking till gravy reaches the consistency you like. Of you like it more dry, cook a little bit more till yogurt curdles around chicken. Check for salt. Garnish with coriander leaves and enjoy. You can eat this with rice if the gravy is more and with Indian bread (roti/naan) if you dry it up.

     

    Recipe Courtesy: cooks.ndtv.com

    Image Courtesy: cooks.ndtv.com

  • Street Food Made Easy Part-1

    Street Food Made Easy Part-1

    They say that temptation was the fall of man. Well, the Bible does anyway. It relates how Eve and Adam gave in to temptation when falsely lured by the Serpent and how they bit into the Forbidden Fruit. Despite being forbidden repeatedly, their greed was predominant. And this small act of temptation signified their fall from God’s grace and the Garden of Eden.
    One such similar temptation when it comes to matters of the tummy is street food. It is not gastronomically appropriate for you. In fact, it is every dietitian’s worst nightmare come true. You are highly aware of all these solid facts! And yet you simply can’t stay away from these forbidden delights out on the city streets. Street food just has that certain appeal of its own, you say.
    Now what comes to your mind immediately when upon hearing the term ‘street food’? Unhealthy? Unhygienic? Inappropriate? Unfit? Unpalatable? Well, there might just be a way to avoid all of the above terms and also savour these tempting snacks at the same time. How you ask? It’s impossible no longer. If you have the recipe to spruce up these cookeries at hand, you no longer have to worry about any outside problem at all. You can be your own cook and your own critic at the same time! And all while enjoying the comforts of your own little kitchen at home as well. Don’t worry even if you are a beginner at cooking. All you have to do is simply follow the recipes and voila! There you go. You have those mouth-watering and irresistible food items right in front of you all just waiting to be devoured. Now then, we ask. How much better could it honestly get?
    What’s the wait up for then? Simply make a note of the following recipes. Close your eyes. And just let your taste buds do the talking. Read on to find out more!

    (1) Bhelpuri:

    Bhelpuri

    Bhelpuri is a savoury Indian snack, and also a variant of chaat. It is typically prepared by mixing together appropriate portions of puffed rice, vegetables and a tangy tamarind sauce along with a few other ingredients on the side. Bhelpuri is thought to have originated in Gujarat. Thereafter, because of its immense popularity among the mass, the recipe has spread to many other parts of India where it has been modified accordingly to suit local food availability. The Kolkata variant of Bhelpuri is called Jhaal Muri (meaning “spicy puffed rice “). A native Mysore variant of Bhelpuri is known as Churumuri or Churmuri in Bangalore.

    Ingredients:

    • Puffed Rice: 2 cups.
    • Sev: ½ cup.
    • Roasted Masala Chana Dal: ¼ cup.
    • Roasted Peanuts: ¼ cup.
    • Crisp Puris: 8.
    • Onion: 1 medium sized.
    • Potatoes: 2 medium sized.
    • Green Chillies: 2-3
    • Salt: According to taste.
    • Green Chutney: ¼ cup.
    • Tamarind Chutney: ½ cup.
    • Garlic and Red Chilli Chutney: 2 tbsp.
    • Lemon Juice: 1 tsp.
    • Fresh Coriander Leaves: 10-15.

    Preparation:

    •Peel the onion and chop finely. Clean the coriander leaves, wash well and then chop finely. Boil the potatoes. Then peel and cut into bite sized pieces. Wash and remove stems. Then finely chop the green chillies.
    •Combine the puffed rice, onion, roasted masala chana dal, peanuts, potatoes, green chillies, half of the Sev and toss well in a big mixing bowl. Add four crushed puris and mix further. Add salt according to taste. Add the three chutneys as per your own taste and mix well. Add lemon juice and mix well.
    •Garnish with the chopped coriander leaves and the remaining Sev. Serve immediately along with the remaining puris to eat.

    Preparation Time: 12-15 minutes.

    Serves 4.

    (2) Panipuri:

    Panipuri

    Panipuri (also known as Golgappa, Pani ke Bataashe, Phuchka or Gupchup) is a popular street snack famous all over the countries of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. It basically consists of a round, hollow fried crispy puri which is filled with a mixture of flavored water (“pani”), tamarind chutney, chili, chaat masala, potato, onion and chickpeas. It is generally small enough to fit completely into one’s mouth in one go. The pleasure lies in being able to swallow it whole and thus, relish the small bite-sized snack as it is meant to be. It is an exceedingly popular street food dish especially in the regions of Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Lucknow in India. The panipuri is said to have originated from the Magadha region of India.

    Ingredients:

    •Crisp Puffed Puris: 40.
    •Date and Tamarind Chutney: 1 ½ cups.

    For the filling:

    •Boiled Bean Sprouts: 1 cup.
    •Boiled Potatoes cut into small pieces: 2 big-sized.
    •Black Salt: According to taste.
    •Chaat Masala: 1 tsp.

    For Pani:

    •Fresh Coriander Leaves: 20-25.
    •Fresh Mint Leaves: 20-25.
    •Green Chilies: 5-6.
    •Panipuri Masala: 2 tbsp.
    •Dried Mint Powder: 12 tbsp.
    •Black Salt: According to taste.
    •Salt: According to taste.
    •Roasted Cumin Powder: ½ tbsp.
    •Lemon Juice: 3 tbsp.
    •Boondi: ¼ cup.
    •Dry Mango Powder: 2 tsp.

    Preparation:

    •To make the moong sprout filling, combine all the ingredients in a bowl, toss to mix well and set aside.
    •To make the pani, grind the coriander leaves , mint leaves and green chillies to a paste using water as required.
    •Transfer the coriander and mint paste into a large bowl, add panipuri masala, dry mango powder, black salt, salt, cumin powder and lemon juice and stir to mix well. Add six cups of water to the above mixture.
    •Stir to mix well and put to chill in the refrigerator. While serving, add boondi to the prepared pani and stir.
    •Take a puri, break a little of the crust, fill it up with a little moong and potato filling followed up by a half a tablespoon of sweet date and tamarind chutney each.
    •Dip the puri in the prepared pani and serve immediately. Similarly, prepare the remaining puris and serve.

    Preparation Time: 16-20 minutes.

    Serves 4.

    Well then, what are you waiting for? These delicious street food items are exceedingly simple to make. Moreover, you can vouch for the food hygiene yourself. We assure that they will surely leave you craving for more. And more.

    So, stop slacking! Get snacking!

  • Potato chips

    Potato chips

    A potato chip is nothing but thin slices of potatoes which are dried in the sun and then fried in hot oil to become nice, crispy and a ready to eat snack. For health conscious people these slices of potatoes are baked rather than fried in oil. Earlier potato chips were available in only one flavour that was salted but with time, changes occurred both in production technologies and taste of the consumer. Today different flavours of chips are available from classic salted to tangy tomato to cream and onion etc. Potato chips are a food item which is consumed by both children and adults and has a market which covers almost the entire world. In the west, chips became a common snack both in households and in the food market. Studies states that in 2005 total revenues gained from the sale of potato chips alone accounted to almost US$16.49 billion.

    chips 2

    There is a popular tale which talks about the birth of potato chips into this world. According to the tale it was on August 24 1853 in Saratoga Springs New York where an event took place. The credit for the introduction of this food item is given to George Crum who was a half black half Native American who was a cook by profession and worked in his own lake side restaurant called the Moonlake house. A customer had entered the restaurant but was not happy with the dishes in the menu card. So in order to appease the unhappy customer, Crum decide to try something new. He cut the potatoes into very thin slices and then fried them till they became nice and crispy. He then seasoned them with salt and gave it to the customer. The customer was very happy with the new dish and that’s how potato chips were introduced. The name given to these chips by the locals was Saratoga chips which remained till the mid 20th century. In 1973 St. Regis Paper Company which is responsible for the packaging of these chips revealed that the story was true and that Crum was a cook who by 1850 owned his own restaurant and the customer who had come that day was Cornelius Vanderbilt who was a local. With years going by chips became so famous that it began to spread in the neighboring regions as well. It was no longer a dish listed in the menu cards but had come out of restaurants to become products of mass production for home consumption. The Dalton which is an Ohio based chips producing company is considered to be the oldest in the United States, established in 1910. Chips soon became popular and in demand among the masses. Many industries which produced chips allowed their workers to take back home a small quantity of the produce. This was done both as a publicity stunt and secondly it helped to ensure employee satisfaction. Chips were sold in markets in tin cans earlier but the problem with this system was that the chips lying in the base used to become stale and crumbled. Later specially designed colorful plastic bags were introduced which were filled with nitrogen gas before sealing the ends which not only helped in increasing its shelf life but also helped the chips to remains nice and crispy and in shape avoiding crumbling.

    chips 1

    Back in India, other than the potato chips we also have the banana chip which is a very important component of the south Indian cuisine. The basic technique of preparation remains the same where ripe bananas are sliced into thin pieces, dried in the sun and then fried in oil. These chips can be sugar or jagery coated or can be spicy or salted depending upon the taste preference of the consumers. Usually prepared in the Indian state of Kerala, these can be used either as a snack or with proper meals.

    chips 4

    The best part about these chips, may it be potato or banana, is that they can be prepared at home and the technique for both the types is almost the same. In order to prepare potato chips at home the directions are given below.

    Directions:

    •  First slice the potatoes finely.
    • Place the slices in cold water which is salted and boil it. When the chips have boiled well, drain the water and transfer the contents into another bowl.
    • Now add oil to the chips and mix well. After this add spices and any other extra ingredient like herbs, cheese etc and finally add salt. Remember whatever you add mix well so that every single chip is covered evenly.
    • Spread the chips on the baking platter and put them in a hot 200c oven and let them bake for about 20mins.
    • Shake or stir in between thought not compulsory.
    • Keep a check on the chips in order to avoid overcooking. The chips when done look light brown in colour and are crispy and crunchy when eaten.
    • After 20mins take out the chips and they are ready to be served.

    Homemade potato chips can be enjoyed along with different items like eggs, meat or a cheese dip and can be also eaten on their own.

    chips 3

    Since potato chips come under the category of fried food, they pose serious health concerns for the public. A recent study reveals that potato chips are the biggest contributors to weight gain and the high starch content in potatoes chips is the main reason behind tooth decay. Other related health issues are high blood pressure caused by the high sodium content which is found in the salt used during the preparation of these chips.

    However due to all such concerns many companies invested in research and development in order to produce chips which provide the same or more level of satisfaction but the pose less risk than before.

  • Chicken Manchow Soup

    Chicken Manchow Soup

    Soup is a form of liquid food that is mostly taken before lunch as a starter.It is made by using various ingredients vegetables,meat,corn,tomatoes,water also.These ingredients are boiled along with these items and the flavor or juice that comes out of it is extracted and served as a soup.Single bowl of soup makes our taste buds feel yummy and delicious.The word soup is originated from Sanskrit Su and Po which means good nutrition.This soup before lunch or dinner is more preferable and makes our diet with very low calories.This flavorful soup is very healthy and delicious with mild spices.We can also remove the fat content present in it by removing the layer formed on the soup by using a large spoon.It is better to choose a water based soup than a cream based soup as water based has low fat and calories compared to cream based soups.

    Many of the experts say that we eat soup rather than drinking it as we consider it as a part of meal. Soup is mostly taken by using a deep cut spoon as it is convenient and comfortable having in that way. We have many types of soups which are chunky, crispy, delicious, vegetables, meat, creamy and many more,each of these having involves different preparation process.

    Popular Chicken Manchow soup
    Popular Chicken Manchow soup

     History:

    According to history soup is also having a long history around 5000 BC. Soup is a formed by the combination of various ingredients in a large pot to originate nutritious, healthy, easily digestive item. This is a perfect choice for travelers, rich, poor, every one.The soup was first added to the menu in the restaurants during 18th century in Paris.In 19th century canned and dehydrated soups are fed to trail by cowboys and Soldiers. Later these soups are diet restricted by making it with low salt and high fiber.

    Ingredients:

    Veggies:

    1) Take 200 grams of finely chopped chicken ( just ignore this if you are going for a veg soup )

    2) Take finely chopped green chillies

    3) Take one table spoon finely chopped garlic

    4) Take 1/4 cup of cabbage pieces

    5) Take 1/4 cup of chopped carrot pieces

    6) Take 1/4 cup of red bell pepper

    7) Take 1/4 cup of chopped capsicum

    8)  Take two table spoon of finely chopped spring onion

     For the preparation of sauce:

    1) Take two table spoon of tomato puree

    2) Take one table spoon of red chilli sauce

    3) Take one table spoon of soy sauce

    4) Take one spoon of vinegar

    5) Take one table spoon of ground black pepper

    6) Take two cups of chicken stock

    7) Take two table spoons of canola oil

    8) Take salt that is suitable for one’s taste

    Ingredients that are required for making Manchow soup
    Ingredients that are required for making Manchow soup

    Preparation:

    Manchow soup is a popular soup in Indian Chinese cuisine.It is very easy to prepare and it gives a great hot and spicy taste to our taste buds.We can find it ease in many restaurants in their menu cards. Many of the people like to have this soup with Manchurian,but individually it also tastes good. The color of the soup is dark brown and is made out of various vegetables, spices, chicken( if not vegetarian consider this), corn flour, soy sauce, salt required amount, garlic, chilli peppers. All these combined to give a soft hot and spicy taste to the soup.

    Step 1:

    At first take a nonstick pan and heat it with two table spoons of oil at high flame.Now add garlic that we have taken, add half of the green chillies to the oil and saute them for about 30 seconds.Care should be taken that these garlic should not turn their color to brown.After this process now add finely chopped carrot and chicken pieces and saute them for about 2 to 3 minutes on a high flame.

    Chicken Manchaw Soup preparation process step one
    Chicken Manchaw Soup preparation process step one

    Step 2:

    As the cooking process of carrot and chicken are completed, now add cabbage, bell pepper, capsicum and saute this mixture for about one minute on a high flame.As this process is done now take a small bowl where we have to mix tomato puree, red chilli sauce, soy sauce, vinegar.After mixing these well pour this mixture into the wok by adding chicken stock and stir it completely so that all these recipe gets mixed with the vegetables and chicken pieces,but be careful while stirring as it may spill over.Let this mixture be cooked for two minutes on a high flame.

    Chicken Manchow Soup preparation process step 2
    Chicken Manchow Soup preparation process step 2

    Step 3:

    As the ingredients are well mixed to form a thick substance now add few spring onion pieces and ground black pepper that we have taken earlier and switch off the flame.That’s it the hot and spicy Chicken Manchow soup is prepared and we can take it to a serving bowl.It is advisable to take the soup when it is hot only so that we can enjoy each sip of delicious Chicken Manchow soup. The chicken pieces are soft and easily digestive.These pieces are enriched with the juice of all the ingredients and have a mouth watering taste.

    Delicious hot and spicy Chicken Manchow soup
    Delicious hot and spicy Chicken Manchow soup
  • Strawberry Pleasures

    Strawberry Pleasures

    images (6)

    The heart shaped and juicy, as lovely as a love story. A bright red strawberry, is like a symbol of love. These strawberries were considered as the darling of spring’s transition into summers, with this fruit being available only in the month of June. But now with  advance in agriculture techniques, these are now available all round the year. You can now enjoy these lovely strawberries anytime  your heart desires.

    Strawberries, small red fruits clad in scarlet red, dotted with tiny seeds and wearing green little caps, make one of the most delicious and attractive food on earth. They may be found in different varieties, colors or sometimes even different shapes.

    Strawberries belong to the rose family and for centuries it grew as wild in America and Europe, but today them are not limited to their native place due to the advancement in crossbreeding techniques.

    images (7)

    You’ll fall in love with them, when you know how good they are for you and your belly. These yummy berries are low in calories and fats, high in fiber, potassium, folic acid and antioxidants. You won’t believe that eight medium sized strawberries could impart you more vitamin C than oranges.

    One full cup of strawberries contain 45 calories, 0 gm fats, 0 gm cholesterol, 1 mg sodium, 3 gm fiber, 7 gm sugar and 1 gm protein.

    Reportedly, United States was the greatest producer of this fruit till 2005. Strawberries also carry the potential to some of the medical and beauty treatments-

    l Strawberries if consumed on a regular basis help to reduce the possibility of cancers and heart attacks.

    l These berries could also help to remove stains from your teeth.

    l Their intake helps in reducing blood pressure.

    l Strawberry juice when combined with honey, could provide cure for sunburns and inflammation.

    l Intake of nitrate rich strawberries, helps increase flow of blood and oxygen to your muscles.

    l Consumption of strawberries by pregnant women is helpful in reducing risk of birth- defects in child, due to the presence of folic  acid in them.

    Since long, strawberries have been associated with love. During the olden days, newly weds were served with strawberries. Some believe that splitting a double strawberry into two and sharing it with opposite sex may lead you to fall in love with him/her.Some consider them as a symbol of Venice, the Goddess of Love.

    There are several strawberry festivals held in different parts of the world, especially in United States. These festivals are organized in late spring, which is the harvest time for this fruit. They are a treat for strawberry lovers as they offer a lot of fun activities and entertainment to the visitors. A number of strawberry delicacies, like pies, shortcakes, jams and desserts are served during this  festival.

    images (8)

    Some healthy strawberry recipes-

     1. Strawberry shortcakes-

    download (3)

    Combine 1 tbsp corn sweetener and 1 tbsp corn starch in a small sauce pan. Stir in 1 cup orange juice. Boil it, cook and stir it constantly for 1 min. Until mixture is thickened. Now cool the mixture by stirring. Combine orange juice mixture and some sliced  strawberries in a bowl and stir them together. Cover it and refrigerate for 30 min. To serve, spread vanilla sauce over it.

     2. Mango- ginger strawberry smoothie-

    download (4)

    combine 1 cup peeled mango, 1 cup sliced strawberries, 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt, 1/4 cup cold water, 2 tsp honey, 2 tsp minced crystallized ginger and some crushed ice. Blend them all together, to make a soft gentle puree and serve in glasses.

    3. Fresh strawberry jam-

    download (5)

     Combine 2 cup sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice in a saucepan and cook at low heat for 10 min, till sugar is dissolved. Add strawberries and continue to heat for 20 min, until strawberries release their juice. Cook till the juice gels on the cold plate and store this  refrigerated in sterilized jars.

    4. Strawberry lemonade-

    download (6)

    In a saucepan, add 2 cup water and 1 cup sugar and bring them to boil. Heat and stir the mixture, until sugar dissolves. Add lemon  juice, and then remove from heat. Let it cool, and then drain it. In a blender, puree the strawberries and add it to the drained mixture with lemon juice. Stir well and serve chilled, garnished with mint and strawberries.

    5. Strawberry frozen yogurt-

    download (7)

     

    24 hrs before you start making it, insert your ice cream maker into freezer. Add strawberries, lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar and  rum to a bowl and toss. Cover the bowl with plastic and let the strawberries to soften at room temperature for 1 hour. Now, add  strawberries with their juice in a blender. Blend the berries, and then add vanilla bean seeds and yogurt to it and continue to blend  it. Place it in freezer to chill. Now, turn the ice- cream maker on and pour the yogurt into it. Churn until the mixture looks slushy, after 12 to 15 min.Place it in freezer to make the scoop  hard.

  • Dounuts

    Dounuts

    Dounuts come under the category of confectionery food. These are famous throughout the world and are made in different ways. You can either make it at home or they are also available in bakeries and supermarkets and food stalls. Originally the shape of a Dounut is round with a hole in the middle. However we can also find Dounuts of different shapes with or without a hole such as ring shaped, balls, flattened spheres etc. Dounuts are basically flour dough which are deep fried and then decorated with various toppings such as chocolate, sugar etc. The two most famous types of Dounuts which we can find in the market is the original ring Dounuts and the filled Dounuts which is nothing but a simple Dounuts injected with cream and custard or other sweet filings.

    dou 2

    Dounuts have a vast history with different people having different opinions regarding the introduction and growth of this food item. However there is one story which many believe gives the true details regarding how dounuts had come into the picture. There used to be a Dutch sailor named Hansen Gregory who used to go for long voyages. During these journeys sometimes the other sailors along with Hansen used to get sick and medical facilities were available. Therefore Hansen’s mother Elizabeth made cakes made up of nutmeg and cinnamon which could help to reduce or cure scurvy and colds. She also used to put hazelnuts and walnuts in order to make the cake a bit crunchier. These cakes were then called oil cakes and did not have a hole in the middle. Elizabeth used to prepare in bulk for both Hansen and his fellow sailors and also end the recipe with Hansen’s cook so that he could prepare cakes for the once this stock was over. One day a storm had hit the sea and Hansen’s ship got stuck in the storm. Historians claim this event happened on 22 June 1847. In order to keep his hands free Hansen pierced one of the cakes on the ship’s steering wheel. Later when the storm had calmed down, Hansen took out the cake from the wheel and found that with a hole in the cake, it was more convenient to eat than when it did not have a hole. Hansen later ordered his cook to prepare cakes with a hole in the middle and that how dounuts came into existence. There is another story which says that the dough was cooked with a nut in the middle. Later Hansen ordered that the nut be removed and so the hole was created in the middle of the cake. The origin of the name many believed comes from the fact that Elizabeth used dough and nuts to prepare cakes for her son and so the name dounuts appeared.

    dou 4

    The popularity of dounuts had increased during the World War 1 when millions of homesick soldiers were served with freshly prepared dounuts by women volunteers who did their best to make them feel better. Later after the war when they returned home, this new dish was introduced among local strangers who again added to the fame and popularity of this dish. The first Dounut machine was introduced by Adolph Levitt who was a refugee from Russia who used to sell dounuts from his bakery using his machine. Many believe that Adolph himself created this machine after much encouragement from his customers. Once the machine was created, the bakery became famous as it was the only one with the facility. The machine allowed more dounuts to be produced than before and this helped Adolph to meet the demand which was always more than the supply. Many food historians claim that children used to spent long hours outside the bakery just to see how their favourite dounuts were being made and how the holes in the middle was built in. with time a lot of bakeries were established who sold their own dounuts. Even thought the basic recipe remained the same, every baker tried to bring in some change or design in order to beat the competition and have a share in the growing Dounut market. With different ways and techniques introduced the Dounut machine also went through changes and improvements with time making it more productive and reducing the cost of production.

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    Dounuts are simple to make and can be made at home as well. The recipe for the same is given below

    Crispy and Creamy Dounuts

    dou 5

    Directions:

    • Add yeast and warm water and keep it for about 5 mins or until it becomes foamy.
    • Now add this yeast mixture with milk, sugar, eggs and salt and finally mix to with 2 cups of flour and mix well until the dough does not remain sticky rather become smooth and elastic in nature. Then cover the dough and place it in a warm place and allow it to rise.
    • Once the dough has risen in size transfer it to a flat surface and roll it out to ½ inch in thickness. Now cut the dough with the help of a cutter and cover loosely and leave the dounuts to rise again.
    • Now we need to prepare the glaze so in a pan melt butter and sugar and vanilla. After this keep on adding 1 tablespoon of hot water till the solution becomes thin but not watery.
    • Now heat oil on a deep fryer or a skillet and slide the dounuts into the hot oil. Ensure that the temperature of the oil should be about 350F. Fry the dounuts till they are golden brown. Once the dounuts come up to the surface and attained the desired colour remove them and dip them inside the glaze we prepared and then place them in a wire rack to drain out the excess oil and glaze.

    Your Dounut is ready to be served.

    Dounuts can be eaten simply or like a snack with tea. Earlier dounuts were known to people belonging to the western countries but today dounuts has become worldwide.