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

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

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

Onion pakora:

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

Paneer Pakora:

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

Bread Pakora:

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

Experiment with all the above discussed recipes and enjoy this monsoon with the different flavors of hot and crispy pakoras..!
July 30, 2014
Universal Truths in Nutrition That People Actually Agree On

There are lots of controversies on the facts about the nutrition. People generally believe in what they hear without authenticating the source and consider the facts as truths. It is a common human tendency and happens with almost everyone. You hear the views of the elders or some learned person and try to follow them without making any efforts to make sure that the facts mentioned are correct or not. We are hereby talking about those universal nutrition truths which people generally believe is correct and try to find out if they are correct or just myths.

Added Sugar is Unhealthy: Well, if you are believer of this fact that added sugar is unhealthy, then you are correct. The addition of sugar gives rise to the blood sugar level, which affects the normal functioning of the human body. The added sugars are in fact sucrose or fructose corn syrup which is very much harmful for the human body. Not only they have empty calories in them, they are also the source of various harmful metabolic toxins which causes serious harm to your health. Many researchers believe that the added sugar is the prime reason for the spread of the western diseases among the people.

The Artificial Trans Fats are Unhealthy: There are lots of controversies about the artificial Trans fats. While some people believe that the Trans Fats are healthy, a major section of the people believes that they are not good for the human body and their consumption is like inviting the diseases to attack you. Trans Fats are actually unsaturated fats, which are created by altering the saturated fats chemically. In the process of manufacturing of the unsaturated fats, the saturated fats are exposed to the high pressure and high heat in the presence of the hydrogen gas acting as a catalyst. Because of the hydrogenation of the fats the LDL cholesterol level, which is bad for the human body increases while the HDL cholesterol which is good decreases. The highly processed foods are the ones which have the artificial Trans fats. So it is a wise step to avoid these artificial Trans fats.

Green Tea is one of the Healthy Beverages: Most of the people have this mindset that the coffee consumption is not at all good for the human body as it contains caffeine but on the other hand the consumption of the green tea is healthy. While there is a controversy on the consumption of the coffee, the intake of the green tea is actually very much beneficial for health. Green tea is a rich source of the antioxidants and the EGCG, which is a bioactive compound. If you regularly drink green tea, then there are strongly protected against the chronic heart diseases and cancer. Green tea not only boosts the metabolic processes in the body, but also helps in burning the fats. Moreover, they also have specific amino acids which play a major role in maintaining the proper functioning of the brain. So it’s time you start drinking it as it will help you to stay fit and healthy.

Olive Oil is Healthy: Most of the people consider olive oil as healthy and this is absolutely correct. They are very much beneficial in maintaining good health. Olive oil is actually one of the gifts of the Mediterranean diet and is used in almost every corner of the world. The most tedious task in today’s time is getting the right kind of olive oil from the market as there are so many adulterated olive oils being sold throughout the world. Olive oils offer several advantages. They have a large amount of monounsaturated fats and powerful antioxidants, which gives the much desired boost to the metabolic health. Further, the presence of the anti-inflammatory compounds in the olive oil makes it very much beneficial for the heart. If you can get the quality olive oil then it will be optimal as they have the healthy fats in them.

Supplements Cannot Be Used to Compensate the Unhealthy Diets: It is extremely important for you to choose and eat the right food items as they have a direct impact on your health. Any negligence in this regard is not accepted and it can be dangerous for you. The composition of the whole food is very much complex. They have so much of vitamins, proteins and other essential minerals in them. Quite frankly, we are not at all aware of the total compositions of most of the food items and so the supplements cannot be used to compensate for the real healthy foods. Science has progressed a lot but still we do not have the supplements for the traces of unaccounted minerals found in the real food items. So it lies in your hand to select the food best suited for your health. If you believe that you can eat anything, even if it is unhealthy and not fit for your body and in order to compensate for the essential nutrients you will eat supplements, then you are wrong and you need to change your attitude quickly before it affects your health.

July 30, 2014
Nature’s candy-date palm
They grow in hot places like deserts and are among the freshest dry fruits. During their growth, these fruits tend to produce a lot of sugar, which crystallizes in the hot sun. This crystallized sugar slowly soaks the outer skin of the dates thus making them soft and chewy to eat. It is the presence of this sugar which makes them so sweet earning them the name of nature’s candy.

Date palms often occur in yellow, red or reddish brown, often occurring in the latter of the three colors.

Dates a nutricious fruit

They are believed to have been the staple diet of the Babylonians where they are found in abundance. They first became popular in areas in and around Egypt, Babylonia, and Mesopotamia and along the banks of the Nile and the Euphrates River. But, thanks to trade and transport, it soon spread to other countries and they are now found in almost all warm countries. These contain seeds but they are usually deseeded during mass production and marketing. Though they are sticky, they are quite irresistible and they are a factory for a whole lot of delicious recipes.

Desi date sauce

This is one lip-smacking recipe that is simply irresistible and would leave one craving for more. Indians have always found pride in their food and their recipes, many of which have become popular even in foreign countries. The combination of the sweet taste of the dates and the spices added simply multiply the zing in this recipe.

All one needs is a bottle of vinegar, olive oil, fresh, chopped chili pepper and the required Indian spices. The vinegar is used to improve the taste, giving it the required quantity of “tanginess”. The pepper gives it the spicy taste and it is this combination of the sweet dates and the spice which makes it a perfect accompaniment for snacks like French fries or anything that is fried. The procedure is very simple.

All one has to do is to put all the ingredients in a big vessel and is simmered under a medium flame for about 10-15 minutes. The required amount of salt is added to it and water is added to prevent it from getting too thick and solid. Then the entire simmered content is allowed to cool to room temperature. After this, it is transferred to a blender bowl and is blended till a smooth texture is obtained.

The yummy date jam

Yet another delicious recipe that can be made using dates is the date jam. This can be used like any other jam, almost on anything that one wishes. Be it toast, plain bread, buns, Indian bread, cakes and the list goes on!

Though preparation is slightly complex than the previous recipe, the end result is truly sumptuous. The main ingredients required for this one are sugar, ground cinnamon, non-flavored butter, peel and juice of lemon to give it a slightly sour taste and chopped or diced date pieces. Additional flavoring may be added like the essence of vanilla, orange or apple simply to give the jam its fruity taste and its irresistible fragrance. The date pieces and water is allowed to simmer under medium flame and is slowly brought to boil. Stirring of the contents is to be done throughout the process. Slowly, all the other ingredients are added to this mixture, while simultaneously stirring.

Stirring prevents the contents from getting solidified and thick at the beginning itself. Gradually, the mixture becomes smooth and thick. It is at this time that it is taken off the stove and is then allowed to cool to room temperature. It is then carefully stored in sterilized containers to prevent attack by moisture and maybe be used cold.

A dessert from the desert

True to the title, this recipe is perfect to end a truly delicious meal. This dessert is a liquid, making it a different and a tasty finisher. It is very simple to make and does not have a standard set of ingredients as it depends on an individual’s taste. However, the following ingredients are usually used for a perfect milkshake. 2 ripe bananas, the required quantity of fresh milk, chopped or diced dates, sugar, if required (even honey can be used a substitute), vanilla essence, nuts, if required. All the items, excluding the nuts are put into a blender and are mixed till a smooth liquid free of date chunks is obtained. It is best when served cold.

Date sandwich for the lazy

For those who simply hate having to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, this recipe is the one. In addition to being extremely simple to make, it is healthy and makes a great snack or lunch. Because of its taste, lunch time will never be the same again. The items required are very less and are easily available. These include rich, cream cheese, preferably non-flavored, honey, finely chopped deseeded dates and required slices of raisin bread (or normal bread would also suffice).

The date pieces can also be grounded using a blender and gently sprinkled on top of a thick layer of cheese and honey. It may be topped with any desired layer of toppings.

Benefits of dates
- Dates have been found to be very healthy and are packed with nutrients. They help in proper building of the body’s metabolism and in improving the immune system.
- Due to the presence of sugars, they are an excellent food to break a fast and are thus usually eaten during the Ramadan months. The sugars present in them immediately and easily mix with the blood thus replenishing the body’s lost glucose and electrolyte levels.
- Dates have been found to be rich in potassium, which help in maintaining the heart, by controlling the heart rate and the blood pressure thus reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
- They are also rich in calcium which is vital for the proper growth of bones and general body development.
July 30, 2014
Go on and try some Bread based meal
Bread is one of the oldest foods which people use in their daily life. It is available all around the world anywhere and anytime. It is the simplest and the easiest option available to the people whenever they are hungry and are not in a mood to do any type of effort. It is a type of staple food which is prepared by mixing water and flour together. The dough we obtained is then baked and given its ordinary shape. Since from the emergence of agriculture, it has found its existence and till now it has come up wide varieties which are differentiated on the basis of shape, size and color. Bread is sometimes taken as the most popular snack item and sometimes it is used as ingredients in our dishes. It is hard to believe the fact that bread has found its existence in religious rituals too in Europe and East Asia.

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

Bread Patties:

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

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

Bread Roll:

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

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

Ingredients:
- Potatoes
- Green chili
- Ginger piece
- Red chili powder
- Garam masala
- Mustard seed
- Oil and Salt
- Slices of bread
Method:
- Heat oil and add mustard seed and curry leaves. After 10 minutes, add mashed potatoes along with green chilies, ginger, red chili powder, garam masala and salt.
- Now make small round balls from that mixture.
- Dip slices into cold water and drain out all the excess water.
- Cover the balls with the slices of bread and evenly spread the mixture.
- Now heat the oil and let the cutlet to be fried in it till it gets golden in color.
- Take them out and sprinkle out the chat masala over it.
- Serve the cutlet with green chutney.
So if your mouth is craving for something chatpata.. And you are only left with bread, then go on and try these simple recipes to prepare a bread based meal.
July 30, 2014
The So Called Heart Healthy Food Which Can Actually Clog Your Arteries!

You must have been often recommended by your doctors or elder to eat those food items which offer essential nutrients and minerals required by the human body as it helps in proper growth and development. And in order to follow those advices you often go for those food items which have healthy tag on them. You choose food items which are processed or chose oils which have the healthy tag on them. This is one of the marketing strategies of the companies manufacturing these food items so that they can attract innocent people towards their products and make some easy money. You as a health couscous personally believe that those food items are actually good for your health. But the reality is somewhat very much different from what is presented in front of you. There are several food items which you believe are healthy for your body, but generally they harm your body. We are hereby mentioning some of those food items which are not at all good for you and their side effects can eventually clog the arteries present inside your body. You should immediately stop eating these food items so that live longer and stay protected.

Healthy Breakfast Cereals: Currently there are endless brands in the market which offers the breakfast cereals. The way they are presented in front of us is quite surprising. If you are not aware of the consequences of these cereals, then you may easily get into its trap. A normal person who does not know about it believes that these cereals are extremely beneficial and provides the essential minerals required by the body. In reality, these breakfast cereals are one of the highly processed food items which have a very large amount of refined grains. Further the amount of the sugar present in them is also high. The manufacturers attract people by mentioning the “whole grain” tag. But what really happens is that these whole grains are first pulverized to form the fine flour, which has the similar effects on your blood sugar level as a refined food does. It also affects the metabolism processes inside the human body. These manufacturers add several other ingredients so that the actual quantity of the sugar added to these breakfast cereals can be kept a secret. What is more surprising is the fact that these breakfast cereals are marketed as a healthy food for the children. Parents believe that these food items will help their child with proper growth and their child will be protected against the diseases.

Low Fat Dairy Products: Now again low fat dairy products are the ones which are in so much demand now a day. Since the dairy products have a rich amount of saturated fats in them, people go for lower fat dairy products, considering them best for their health. The problem is here is that it is not the saturated fats which creates a problem in your heart. The actual problem maker is the low fat food products. If you are among such people who opt for the high fat dairy products then there are more chances that you will not be affected by obesity and the heart diseases are also avoided. You are also protected against the diabetes. The dairy products are beneficial to the human body only because of the presence of the fatty components in them. If you remove these fatty components, then they are of no use. Further, in low fat dairy products there are high amounts of added sugar, which not only affect the metabolism, but also increases the risk of abdominal obesity and heart disease. Moreover the LDL cholesterol level in the body is also disturbed and affected.

Heart Healthy Whole Wheat: Go to a grocery store and you will find several different brands offering the heart healthy whole wheat. This modern version of the wheat is not healthy and they have been actually created by the scientists by altering the genes of the plants so that a new breed can be generated which can offer much more yield. The main motto of this step was to increase the yield so that the starvation can be reduced in different parts of the world. But now this is done for economic gains. So much tampering with the genes of the wheat plant is actually making them less healthy and so there are unforeseen consequences which we didn’t want in the first place. This wheat is called as the semi-dwarf wheat and is significantly low in nutrition level when compared to the older varieties. The recent studies have shown that this semi-dwarf wheat can increase the level of the cholesterol inside the human body and also increases the inflammatory markers. The acute inflammation is the major reason for the heart diseases. The LDL particle count is also high and they also have gluten in them. All these constituents are very much harmful for your heart and you can end up losing your precious life. It’s time you stop using all these mentioned food items and protect yourself so that you can live happily.

July 30, 2014
Why are juices turning out to be unhealthy?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

July 30, 2014
Dussehra – A festival celebrated all over India

As we all know that India is a land of festivals and celebrations.Dussehra is one of the most celebrated festival in all the parts of the country.It is a annual festival and is celebrated for seven consecutive days.There are two important stories behind the celebration of dussehra in India.One story related to Lord Ram and the other relates to goddess Durga.The main reason for the celebration of this festival is due to victory of good against evil.Many of the festivals in India are related to the epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata and Dussehra is one among them.

Dussehra celebrations in India

History:

According to north India, history of dussehra began when Lord Rama declared war on Ravana, who took away Rama’s wife Sita.Lord Rama took blessings from goddess Durga and he succeeded in the war that took place between Lord Ram and Ravana.This war lasted for ten days.Thus people started celebrating dussehra to seek blessings from the goddess of power and courage.

Lord Rama assassinating Ravana

Coming to south India, the history behind the celebration of dussehra festival as follows.When Mahishasura was undefeatable even by Lord Brahma ( the creator ), Lord Vishnu ( the protector ) and Lord Shiva ( the destroyer ).At that time goddess Durga was powered to destroy the demon Mahishasura.This victory against the demon is celebrated as Vijayadashami or Dussehra.During Vijayadashami for nine nights people worship goddess Durga.Generally this festival falls in the month of September or October.

Goddess Durga assassinating Mahishasura

Dussehra celebrations in different parts:

Northern India:

On the first day of navaratri, many of the northern states like Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and west Bihar have a tradition to plant barley seeds in earthen pots.On the ninth day i.e., Dussehra the sprouts are kept in men’s cap or ears.They believe that it is a symbol of luck.In some parts of Maharashtra during the ten days of this festival, many plays and dramas based on Ramayana are performed.While in the evenings,there are outdoor plays and large parades with sculptures of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghanad.These sculptures are burnt in the open place.Generally dussehra starts with the end of hot summer.At this time it is believed to spread infections.To avoid those infections they burn these large sculptures which are made out of phosphorous in air.By doing so it certainly purifies the atmosphere.Where as in temples they perform chandi homa with same cause.

Dussehra-The-Triumph-of-Good-over-Evil

Southern India:

Vijayadashami is celebrated in south India in various ways.Most of the south Indians believe that it is a best day to start anything to achieve in life.This festival is celebrated as Golu in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tami Nadu,Kerala from navarathri onwards.The exhibition of toys in various places undertake various names.It is known as “Bombe habba” in Karnataka, “Bommala Koluvu” in Andhra Pradesh,”Bomma Gollu”in Kerala and Golu or Kolu in Tamil Nadu.As the goddess Durga needed lots of power at the time of assassination of Mahisahasura.Many of the gods and goddesses transferred their power to her and they all stood still as statues.So to respect their sacrifice, people prepare small statues in the shape of gods and goddesses.People think that it is a favorable day for starting their child’s formal education.Also people keep their books, tools, materials for puja and take back those things on the ninth day of navaratri.

Dussehra celebrations in South India

Andhra Pradesh:

According to Telugu people, Vijayadashami is a auspicious day for starting a new business, education, selling or buying of things.In the city of Hyderabad, Durga Puja is being celebrated for more than 60 years till now.During navaratri goddess Durga is decorated in different avatars like Bala Tripura Sundari, Mahishasura Mardhini, Annapoorna, Kali, Raja Rajeswari, Kanaka Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati and Gayatri Devi.In Andhra especially the festival is celebrated grandly in Vijayawada.Every year it is celebrated grandly in this place. are celebrated every year with great pomp & show and tens of thousands of people visit this temple during the navaratri’s.

Vijayadashami celebrations in Andhra Pradesh

Karnataka:

In karnataka people celebrate ayudha puja on the ninth day of navaratri.They celebrate it by worshiping the commonly used tools like pens, books, kitchen tools, vehicle tools and many more.They believe whatever may be the work that is started on this day will lead to success with the help of goddess Durga blessings.

Dussehra celebrations in Karnataka

Kerala:

In Kerala the last three days of navaratri is celebrated as Saraswati puja.People of Kerala keep their books for puja on the first day of navaratri and take them back on third day i.e., Vijayadashami.Ayudha puja is also conducted during this period.

Dussehra celebrations in Kerala

Tamil Nadu:

In Tamil Nadu they celebrate the worship of goddess Lakshmi, Saraswati and Shakti.People fast on all 9 days of navaratri and tie a holy thread on fist.People of Tamil Nadu dress up in various avatar’s of goddess and collect money.All the money that is collected is offered to temple on the ninth day of navaratri.

Dussehra celebrations in Tamil Nadu

Western India:

In Maharashtra, the festival is celebrated on the tenth day in the month of Ashwin.On the first day people visit each other and exchange sweets.On this occasion people worship Apta tree and decorate their home or work place using those leaves.They believe it brings them luck.They also start new things on this occasion believing it brings success and will have blessings of goddess Durga.

Dussehra celebrations in Western India

Eastern India:

In Bengal, Orissa and Assam, Dussehra is celebrated in the form of Durga Puja.It is celebrated for five days in Bengal, whereas in Orrisa and Assam it is celebrated for four days.As a part of their celebration on the fifth day, they place a statue of goddess Durga and is beautifully established in the form of Pandals.They perform Durga puja on sashti, sapthami, ashtami, navami followed by a great puja on tenth day.Women take sindhoor on their foreheads each other.In this way they play sindhoor holi against each other.

Dussehra-and-Durga-Puja-Celebrations

July 30, 2014
Aloo Paratha Recipe

Generally Parathas are treated as Indian breads.These Indian breads are roasted on a skillet with oil.This delicious dish is conceived previously in Punjab,later it spread to all the parts of the country and also South Asia.There are different types of Parathas.Parathas may be plain, stuffed with vegetables like potatoes, cauliflowers, peas, paneer and few are stuffed with non vegetarian like ground meat, eggs and many more.Parathas are available at any of the Indian restaurant and Dhaba’s are famous places to enjoy these Paratha recipes.In India we can find few frozen and precooked parathas in supermarkets.Most of the veggies choose to eat parathas as a meal in any part of the day.Paratha can be eaten simply with a spoon of ghee, butter.But it tastes best with pickle, thick curd, chutneys, any curry or gravies.

Spicy Aloo Paratha served with curd and pickles with butter topping

In North India most of the people like to have flat breads stuffed with spiced potatoes generally known as Aloo paratha.For the preparation of this dish patience is required.Aloo paratha is a famous dish that is so delicious and tasty.The name itself specifies that Aloo means potato.It is very easy to make it and can be served as breakfast or a snack item.The preparation of Aloo paratha is as follows.

Ingredients:

For Dough preparation:

1) Take a cup of golden temple flour

2) Take half the cup of water

3) Take half teaspoon of salt

4) Take two to three teaspoon of oil

Dough Preparation Ingredients

For Aloo stuffing:

1) Take two medium potatoes

2) Take half the teaspoon of salt

3) Take half teaspoon of garam masala

4) Take half teaspoon of cumin seeds

5) Take one fourth teaspoon of turmeric

6)Take one fourth teaspoon of red chili flakes

7)Take five sprigs of cilantro, chopped

Aloo stuffing ingredients

Preparation:

To enhance better taste, the first thing we need to consider is take right kind of flour.That kind of flour is also known as duram atta.This flour is a combination of stone ground wheat and regular flour.It is perfect for making roti’s, chapathi’s and paratha’s.Here in the below preparation process we are going to take golden temple flour.As we are having the flour we are half set.The first and the important part in the preparation of aloo paratha is dough.

Dough preparation:

Take a bowl and rinse it completely.Then clean it by using a dry cloth.Now take all the ingredients: add a cup of golden temple flour, add half the cup of water, add half teaspoon of salt, add two to three teaspoon of oil.Mix them thoroughly until it forms a soft, elastic dough.The mixture should not be sticky, but it must be smooth.To form smooth paste it must be stirred cotinuously.After the dough is prepared break it up into equal pieces and roll them to form balls.Now set them in a small bowl containing oil and cover it by using some oiled plastic wrap.Let the dough balls last for few some time.As we are making Aloo paratha we need to make potato mixture now.

Dough preparation for aloo paratha

Aloo stuffing preparation:

For the preparation of this recipe and to have delicious taste, we need to take fresh and unspoiled potatoes.Take small round potatoes and boil them for few minutes.Now peel off the covering of potatoes and chop them into small pieces.Boiling process must be done until the fork tender into potatoes.Now use a mill to mash potatoes.After mashing them, add all the ingredients and mix well.Make sure to have same amount of potatoes as that of dough balls.

Aloo stuffing in paratha preparation

Now our original preparation of parathas starts.Before making paratha rolls first heat the pan at low flame and keep the work space ready.Take a non stick pan with a wide, flat bottom and low sides as it is easy to cook and also heats up very quickly.Along with pan ready we also need to take a bowl full of flour, a cutting board or other flat surface for rolling out the dough and a small rolling pin called a Belan.

Aloo Paratha preparation:

1) Take one teaspoon of oil on a non stick pan and heat it on a medium flame.

2) Now take the dough and dip in a flour bowl until flour is attached to it on all sides.

3) After applying flour on all sides flatten it in the form of a disc.

4) Now roll it on a flat surface using a Belan to form long flat discs.

5) Take the potato stuffing that is prepared earlier and place it on the middle of flat dough.Now roll the dough a little, so that it is large enough to cover the potato ball.After that wrap a potato ball with the dough, gathering the edges together.

6) Press the edges inn to get sealed and again make it flat in the form of a disc.

7) Again dip the new flat thing in the flour bowl, so that it is attached with flour on all of its sides.

8) Take this on a flat surface and roll out the disc evenly into a circle upto a size of six inches in diameter.Make sure the dough must be as thin as possible so that we can see the spices through it.

9) Now place the stuffed dough disks on a non stick pan and heat it on medium flame.You will notice a color change to yellow.Once the paratha is cooked on one side toast it on other side.That’s it spicy tasty vegetarian paratha is ready.

Aloo paratha is ready to serve

July 30, 2014
Savoury indulgence on Eid
Celebration of Id, without haleem on the menu is preposterous! And, this realization dawned upon me, after my acquaintance with a Muslim friend led to the arrival of an invitation for ‘Id ki daawat’ at their place. With no prior information or preparation I felt elated and made my way to their set destination. Having been alien to Islamic customs, however, did not dwindle my enthusiasm rather infuriated it, and after my arrival, when it was time to eat, I was shocked at the array of delicacies laid down on the huge wooden table. All, I had known to expect was many types of kebabs, shorbas, biryani, kormas and basbousas. The table, had taken a plethoric dimension.

My friend however, well aware of my palate-fantasies and curiosities, volunteered to introduce me with all of the savoury dishes, laid down there. What intrigued me the most, was their holy dish, Haleem, which was particularly consumed on this day. After further enquiry, with periodical interventions by the elders of the family to add minute details to the conversation, I comprehended that Haleem is a popular stew made out of wheat, barley, meat( which is usually beef, mutton, but also sometimes chicken) lentils and spices. It is slow cooked for almost seven to eight hours in order to unleash its divine taste and qualities, till, it reaches a paste-like thick aromatic consistency.

Its origin, however, is said to be lying in an Arabian dish called Harisah, which is an ancient delicacy, dating back to some 10^th century or so, interwoven around an interesting history that I seemed to enjoy listening to, while gulping an extra helping of haleem and kebabs.

So, according to the oldest member of the family, Dada-jaan, the recipe for Harisah was first put down in a book called Kitab Al-Tabikh (Book of recipes) by Abu Muhammad al-Muzaffar ibn Sayyar which is said to be one of world’s oldest surviving Arabic cookbooks, and that this recipe has many similarities with what, in these contemporary times, Middle East boasts as Haleem. It was said that Harisah, the ancestor of haleem was actually invented by the soldiers of the Hyderabad Nizam’s army, to cater to their gastronomic needs. Something similar to the traditional Harisah is said to be still available in a place called Barkas, Hyderabad, however under the name of Haris.Had never anticipated that a food item, would ever have such an illustrious past. The acquired knowledge aggravated my curiosity, and I vouched to myself, that given the opportunity, I would surely venture to try out the ancient dish Harisah. However, that was still just too distant for me then, and so I chose to retort back to unearthing the secret recipe that Dadee-jaan would mostly boast of. Was it my charm, or vexing curiosity that hung around me, I luckily managed to string it out .But after learning its elaborate preparation, I became sceptical of my capabilities and courage to endanger the cooking gas to prepare this dish, which involved seven to eight hours on the flame. Nevertheless, if you are beyond such scepticism and are willing to dedicate your time, energy and resources for this divine delicacy, here’s a little help I could manage.

Haleem Recipe

INGREDIENTS
- Mutton or Beef- 1 ½ kilograms
- Wheat grains (crushed and soaked for 1 ½ hour) – ½ kilograms
- Onions (thinly sliced) – 4 large
- Gram Lentils (soaked and boiled)- 1 cup
- Garam masala powder- 1 tsp.
- Turmeric powder- 1 tsp.
- Coriander powder – 1 ½ tbsp.
- Red Chilli powder – 2 tbsp.
- Garlic paste – 1 tbsp.
- Ginger paste – 1tbsp.
- Dalda Banaspati or any clarified butter (ghee) – 1 ½ cup
- A pinch of soda
- Salt to taste
For Seasoning
- Fresh Coriander leaves (finely chopped) – 1 bunch
- Fresh Mint leaves (finely chopped) – 1 bunch
- Sliced Onion (large)- 1
- Ginger root (medium) – 2 pieces
- Lemons (cut in quarters) – 4
- Dalda Banaspati or clarified butter (ghee) – 2 cups
- Green chillies (seeded and finely chopped) – to taste
- Garam masala powder – 1 tsp.
- Cumin seeds (roasted and ground) – 1 tsp.
METHOD
- In a pan, heat Banaspati or the clarified butter, and add the meat, garlic, garam masala powder, turmeric ,red chilli powder, , coriander powder and salt. Carefully, smear the meat in these spices and let it cook for some time on medium flame.
- Take another separate pan, and fill it up with water. Boil the wheat grains in it with a pinch of salt. Keep a check over it, and once the water starts to bubble and the grains become tender and squashy, add a pinch of soda in it and cook for some 15-12 minutes more.
- As the water gets soaked, drain the excess and, mix the grains with the mead. Keep stirring till all of it is mixed properly.
- In a food processor, grind the lentils, and by adding a few cups of water, bring it to paste-like consistency.
- Pour in the lentil paste into the meat and wheat grain mixture, and stir continuously. Position the pan, on a griddle or heavy tava, on low flame and cook some 30 to 40 minutes.
- Sauté the sliced onions in ghee or clarified butter, and drain the excess oil, with the help of a tissue paper. Once the haleem is cooked, spread the fried onions over it, and sprinkle the garam masala powder, fresh mint and coriander leaves. Garnish it with cumin and ginger. While serving it, sprinkle some more seasoning!
Though I haven’t yet tried making it properly due to certain limitations, I have still been engaged with the consumption of Haleem from time to time, and also had the opportunity to witness an actual haleem competition. On the day of Id, this week, I’m planning to once again indulge in its rich and luscious taste, expecting some more company this time!
July 27, 2014
Why AVOCADOS are Healthiest of all foods.

Avocados. Are. Really. Healthy. Do you know that? If you have eaten it, you have definitely experienced its benefits, but if you don’t consume it, maybe you doubt its perks. The Avocado, not so common in India is very renowned and beneficial fruit, healthiest of all. It has proven benefits and is loved all over the world and is consumed with all the consciousness. Avocado, also known as Alligator pear are commercially valuable and cultivated in tropical and Mediterranean climates throughout the world. Although it is techmically a fruit, this mild-flavored avocado is also used as a vegetable. It is also sometimes known as butter pear beacause of its saccharine flesh and its textured skin. Native to Mexico and Central America, there are 4 main varieties of avocado; Hass (considered to be best and used often), which has dark, greenish skin, Ettinger which is pear shaped, smooth skinned, Fuerte and Nabal which is spherical. This fruit is highly nutritious, containing Vitamin E, potassium, iron and niacin and gives nutrition to the body in a great way. It has excess of 25 essential nutrients including Vitamin A, B, C,K and also contain fiber, protein and other beneficial phytochemicals such as glutathione, lutein, betasitosterol, which protects our body against many diseases. It is available all year round in grocery stores and veggie and fruits area of your locality and Its best to keep it in fridge once ripe to maintain its freshness. If you have to decide about choosing the best avocados, go for an unblemished skin, not too soft but gives flesh when squeezed gently and if you buy hard ones , it can be ripen quickly by putting them in brown paper with a banana, out of the fridge.

The preparation of avocado and eating it easy. Just run the small, sharp knife all the way around avocado from top to bottom. To remove the stone out of avocado, ease it out with the spoon, firmly and lever out. The flesh of avocado discolours rapidly when exposed to air, so brush it with lemon juice, if you are not going to eat it straightway. Though Avocados are best used Raw, not cooked, yet there are many recipes with avocado and is even used as vegetables sometimes. You can mash it with tomatoes, garlic, chillies to make the classic Mexican dip, guacamole or you can even slice it thinly with tomato and mozzarella cheese drizzled with olive oil to make an Italian Salad. Or enjoy it as you like.

The Mayan Indians have a popular saying,”Where avocados grow, hunger or malnutrition have no friends.”

Now, you may be having curiosity to know the health benefits of Avocado and why it is one of the healthiest foods in an entire world and why it is recommended to have one Avocado a day and how it can make a difference to your life;

Good for Heart: Avocados are best for heart health, Having Vitamin B6 and folic acid, which helps in maintaining homocysteine levels. It is something which is associated with increased risk of heart diseases if have high levels of homocysteine. Also, other nutrients like Vitamin E, glutathione, monounsaturated fat helps in maintaining heart health. In addition Oleic acid in avocados improves the cardiovascular condition.

High Fiber Content: If you’re tired and bored of eating and trying other things for fiber, come try the avocados. They have quite fiber content. There is like 10 grams of fiber in a medium-sized avocado, with 75 percent of fiber is insoluble; the one that speeds up the digesting process and other 25 percent is soluble; which is responsible for making you feel full.

Awesome for Skincare: Yes, you heard it right. Avocados prove to be great moisturizer, treat sunburns and even reduce wrinkles. There’s this simple face mask; Mix honey, yoghurt, avocado together and put it on your face on keep it there for some time. And just see the magic after how your face glows out. Also, there’s this thing called Avocado oil, simply awesome and is said to do wonders for your body. Even cooking with avocado oil, can fight many diseases like heart disease, cancer and signs of ageing. So, use Avocado and its oil to the rescue.

Antioxidant Properties: Avocado is wonderful antioxidant as it contains master antioxidant “glutathione” which is an antioxidant booster and helps in fighting free radicals in the body. It boosts the body’s immune system and keeps the nervous system healthy. So, this fruit an be a wonder for you.

Eye-Protection: Avocados are best for eyes and can prevent eye weakness and even age related eye health decline. Use avocados and eat then daily for perfect eyesight. As having carotenoid lutein, it protects the eyes from age-related eye degeneration and cataracts. For healthy eyes, go for avocados.

Avocados are fattening but in a good way: Don’t be surprised. I’m talking about avocados which contain incredibly healthy monounsaturated fats which is amazing for your heart . Yes, they do hav more fats than any other fruits, but ina healthy way. So, don’t deter from eating them for weight concern.

Some Quick Serving Ideas:

Use chopped avocados for garnishing on black bean soup.

You can combine sliced avocado with fennel, fresh mint and oranges and it can be a lovely salad.

Want something new? Spread ripe avocados on bread in place of mayonnaise when making a sandwich. It can be a very helthy replacement.

Add avocado to your creamy tofu-based dressing recipe to give it richness and beautiful green colour.

Well, with so much of info and so many recipes, you should run to your nearest fruit shop and start having it. Keep loving Avocado and it will love you back all the more.

Healthy Eating. Happy Life.

July 27, 2014