Tag: food

Every Day Smoothies !!!

Weight Gain is a fear every girl goes through . Yes I am part of that herd who is checking out her inches and freaks out when she doesn’t fit in her two months old jeans. Yes ! I am that normal silly , messed up screwed up , average looking , part of the crowd girl who wants to make a mark of herself which makes her stand out from the rest. Are you relating with me ? I am sure you do . More than half of the population does. Why do I spare boys they too feel the same . Its true that i have cried several hours for my pimple marks , hair fall, eyebrow issues, Bad hairstyle day ( And I am talking about serious problems here …Don’t Laugh!!!) .We all go through this bizarre life and we all feel why are we the chosen one ? To have a positive thought process or to have a happy smile (not fake) its a simple theory to get it right to eat healthy , to boost your brain cells to positivity, to assure yes! I am the chosen one for the right things in life.

Now you would be thinking how come I am thinking this way when I myself agreed to have cried for several hours on pitty issues. I have a true answer to this . I was tired of crying , pretending everything is okay , pretending I will clear the deep dark sky to my desired sunshine. It doesnt happen this way . For healthy mind you need nutrients and healthy lifestyle to think and behave wealthy. I am true to you guys because nobody can make you happy if you yourself don’t try or behave the way you should. We all have blessed lives and we all are chosen ones for miseries and happiness . believe me cribbing is the nascent stage of depression . Don’t crib , pull up your sock and get a grip of your own life. Wake up early with a beautiful smile and straight away head to the kitchen. Its a paradise of surprises and innovation. Take out the green veggies , nutritious fruits and vegetables and start cooking healthy food for yourself. To start a fresh day have a smoothie. As a health freak I had to write this article. I don’t want to be boring and strict for you guys to give you tasteless drink recipes which i myself wont drink , so I have few interesting smoothie recipes which I would love to share with you guys for so that you can start your day with a healthy and fresh . Smoothies or juices are very easy to make and you don’t need any rocket science theory or a tag of five star chef to enjoy the richness and benefits of healthy drinks . When you will read the recipes you will feel the same way. So cutting short the “Gyaan or Funda” and moving to the actual data of happiness . Do try it and have a blessed and happy smile .

24 Carrot:

Yes I am talking about Carrots and not Carat’s. Definitely is a health gold recipe for you . Do try it and have a sparkling day ahead.

Ingredients : Handful of cracked ice ( To get the crackling effect just make a poly ice bag and beat it hard to get cracking ice), 2 carrots coarsely chopped, 100 g pineapple pieces , 2 cups pineapple juice , Chilled strip of cucumber to garnish . Garnishing can be of your choice.

Servings : 2

Method :

Put the ice into the food processor or blender, add the carrots , pineapple pieces , Pineapple juice , and process it until it gets to thickness of a slush. Take a glass pour the slushy smoothie into it and serve it chilled.

This drink is healthy , with balanced nutrients , and moreover tasty. We often think healthy stuff is tasteless , this recipe will prove you wrong . Live love louder.

Tropical Smoothie :

Being healthy is worth living your life. We all are having hectic schedule and we often miss out our breakfast ( The most important meal of the day …Yes I am right …and I know you miss it !!!) If we think our body is a machine ,then breakfast is its battery charger. To have a charged up day you have to start a heavy diet ( healthy too ….I am not talking about parathas ). This smoothie will solve all your troubles as its fast and easy to make. Try out !

Ingredients : 1 ripe papaya peeled , stoned and chopped .1/2 fresh pineapple , peeled and chopped . ( You can prepare this overnight to avoid early morning hassle .1 cup soya milk ( A healthy source of protein ) , 2 cups low fat yoghurt. Chopped pineapple for garnishing . If you feel lazy don’t garnish but yes please do make the smoothie.

Servings :2

Method : Place all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until smooth. Meanwhile switch on your radio and do listen your favourite frequency. Cooking will be better and effective when you have music in your company.

Pour into glasses, Decorate or don’t decorate it . Wear your office clothes Have a sip and have a kick-start day .

So at the end of this do you feel it is blame the day , or your boss , your kaamwali bai or your spouse ( The most common one ) for not giving you a carefree life . I think you have started believing it that I was right when I said its simple to have a healthy smile by having a healthy food. So Instead of sulking and making anybodies else’s life miserable , lets take a pledge to wake up early , grabbing the beautiful smile, slowly opening the room curtains , see the morning sunshine and heading right to our kitchen and cooking the awesome recipes suggested above and if you do like it post your comments for the new ones till happy eating !

December 8, 2014
Food Myths Exposed!

There is like crux of truths behind so many food and nutrition myths and now, this articles will help you separate science from silliness and uncover some most common Food myths. Yes, some conventional food wisdom you think makes you so wise, is well, not so wise. And that’s why you need to clear up your cluttered mind and here’s are some real food myths busted, only for you. Go through them and get yourself amazed…

Chocolate lifts up mood and is Antidepressant: The most common aspect we believe in, these delicacies help in upliftment of mood and makes us feel better when you are feeling low. Like Really? The story behind it is that chocolate has been touted as possessing this ability to boost serotonin levels. But there’s a problem with this theory as per researchers. First being, that your mood changes without change in serotonin levels. Finally, when you eat chocolate as comfort food, it is more likely to prolong your depression rather than bringing it to an end and this is why the joy you receive from eating chocolate is short and sweet as a pleasure of anticipation.

Calories eaten at night have more fattening than the calories eaten in morning: Well, this is funny to think that calories have effect on your body system as per time of the day. As told by Dr. John Foreyt,” Calories are calories and it doesn’t really matter what time you eat them. What actually matters are the total calories that you take in.” So, better to keep check on the amount of calories rather than on time.

Fresh is always better than Frozen: Not a truth as Frozen can be as good as fresh food with all the nutrients intact. The frozen produce can be as nutritious as fresh and this is because it is frozen shortly after picking, which says that it retains more nutrients than if it has to travel, unfrozen for days before being sold and consumed. Also, there is cost benefit as frozen is often cheap as compared to fresh.

Apples are as good for you now as they always were, like in 19^th century: Apples are awesome and are an excellent wholefood and source of nutrients and Vitamin A, of course. But unlike in 1940s, when apples were known to contain three times as much of iron as one of today’s apple, which was due to growing of the same crops in the same soils. It removes the nutrients and that’s why crop rotation is so important.

Dark or Brown Bread is always better than White bread: A very common perception that people have, that white bread holds no good and dark one is better. While the truth is slightly different as dark bread may just have caramel colouring and be no better than white bread. Rather look at such words on the packaging like, ”whole wheat bread” “whole grain” ; that means bread is made from unrefined wheat, which has more than double the fiber and also has high potassium, manganese, selenium content. So, break this myth.

Eggs are bad for your heart health: Well, Labeling eggs as bad for the heart is wrong notion as many studies show that healthy people can eat an egg a day without any problem. Though it is true that it contains substantial amount of cholesterol in their yolks which is about 211 milligrams per large egg. But the good thing for most of us is, that the cholesterol we eat in eggs or any other food, doesn’t have a huge impact on raising our blood cholesterol as the body compensates by simply manufacturing less cholesterol itself. Only trans fats and saturated fats are the chief culprits for heart disease. Make sure that eggs can fit in as long as you make a room for them in the rest of what you’re eating.

Carbohydrates make you fat in some way: The famous low carb/no carb manifesto is generally followed by many people thinking carbohydrates are fattening while there’s nothing inherently in them that make them a fat food. Undoubtedly, refined carbohydrate rich food such as white bread, pasta can raise the risk of gaining weight and other health problems but is you cut so called, good carb from your diet such as whole grains, beans , then you are missing out the main source of fuel for your body.

Radiation from microwave zaps nutrients in your food: This is a misguided thinking as according to many researchers, it is the heat and the amount of time you are cooking that affects the loss of nutrient and not the way you cook it. The right perception is; because microwave take less time to cook and hence minimize the nutrient losses. Microwave cooking is no different than any other method of cooking that supplies heat to food. You just need to make sure that you use microwave-safe containers only and not just pick any of the plastic container.

Craving certain food because there is deficiency in one of the nutrients they provide: Nope! It’s not true that you crave certain because you have gotten deficient in nutrients they provide to your body. The basic reason behind human food craving tends to be more about satisfying emotional needs than the actual hunger. Generally, cravings occur when you have a boring diet or you are restricted to eat something. If there is any nutrient deficiency then it is of “iron” and that lack of iron might somehow affect the body’s mechanisms.

All these food facts or food myths busted here might surprise you and change your ways and perceptions about it. But it is for your good, if taken into consideration. Now, relish food more.

Healthy Eating. Happy Life.

December 6, 2014
Barbeque Nation: A must visit!

A world of food in itself is Barbeque Nation. Whether you want to have a dinner out, celebrate an occasion with your friends, colleagues or loved ones, this is the place. A place with perfect ambience and zippy service. You just can’t miss to come in here at BBQ Nation. The food, which is vegetarian and non-vegetarian is fresh, tasty and the most special part is that they there is live grill that is placed directly on your table so that you can grill your starters and savour them while there are still sizzling. Wonderful, No? Also, there is lively arrangement of slow, peppy, hip music and other easy listening number you can choose from. Everything just perfect to lift up the mood.They say that they believe in simple pleasure of eating food and food here is like celebration of life in itself. The soups and salads and main course in this mouth-watering restaurant is taken from cuisines around the world- American, Mediterranean, Oriental, Asian and even Indian!

Barbeque Nation being one of the most successful casual dining food chain in India and has several outlets in all the major cities of India. Let’s have a look on how it all started, the world on grill; food franchise, what’s the story behind it, let’s uncover it.

Sure, some of the successful businesses today are born out of the small personal everyday needs and these end up becoming huge companies with a bit of innovation and desire to deliver satisfaction. Such a tiny, trivial issue pushed the thinking of Mr. Prosenjit Roy Chaudhary to an extent that the mere experiment to get rid of issue turned into one of the most successful food chain in India – Barbeque Nation; a.k.a BBQ Nation. Here goes the story. As in November, Indore can get quite chilly evenings and at the poolside of Sayaji Hotels, the temperature was 7 degree Celsius and Mr. Prosenjit was informed by his MD- Sajid Dhanani, about the complaints of customers that the kebabs served to the guests at hotel were getting cold. That evening, he was watching television in evening at his home, when he saw how nomads are facing a similar problem while camping at riverside. They erected a grill using stacked armour and roasted meat on it. Mr. Choudhary as amazed by this and began serving kebabs on mini grills at the tables, which were 90% cooked, in the banquet division of Sayaji Hotels. It was a big hit.

Then, Chaudhary got the green flag from his MD, to enter into food retail and As CEO of BBQ Nation, he brought the idea to Mumbai and set up city’s first Barbeque Nation at Pali hill, Bandra. People liked it a lot and between 2006 to 2008, there were 13 outlets. Today there are 35 outlets across India. The chain generates revenue of nearly 9 crore per store and the profit margins are 19 percent. What is remarkable about it is the buffet service serving unlimited meat and seafood. As Mr. Chaudhary says,” Barbeque Nation doesn’t begrudge you on portions. He further adds,” If they say they are serving prawns, they will really give you unlimited amounts of prawns.” The firm says, it is interested to explore internationally also and will be going global in coming next years and also adds that Indian market is still the most exciting place to experiment. The firm tells,” We have some serious trade enquiries from Australia, UAE and especially from Dubai. We would be exploring the opportunities of expanding outside India now.”

The chain operates on economies of scale and it offers its customers the independent dining experience. The customers pay a flat price ranging between Rs. 650 and 800 per head, depending on location and time, gets a choice of five vegetarian and non-vegetarian that they can season and cook on the grill, at the table, then move to the main course buffet and can eat as much as they want. This is a unique experience in itself and you enjoy your food like having a barbeque at home and if I talk about taste, undoubtedly perfect. The firm feels that giving fixed price and unlimited choices and food, may have attracted and retained such a pool of customers. Also, it makes it easy for the group of professionals to visit as there is no uncertainty about the bill. He also adds that concept of unlimited buffet isn’t new but execution of Barbeque Nation is superior and lovely experience in itself, making the imitators difficult to copy and compete and operate at same level. The food chain is efficient in its service and is able to deliever consistency at every outlet; which is unlimited food, prompt service and clean toilets. The food is also a perfect blend of multiple cuisines and just the perfect taste to tickle your taste buds and makes it irresisitible for you to avoid coming here. You just can’t help but seduced to dine-in in BBQ Nation.

In this picture is Mr. Kayum Dhanani, the now MD of BBQ.

Indulge yourself in for an unforgettable Barbeque experience, something you just can’t forget and can’t resist walking in again. Go, discover the joy of partying well with Class and Style and yeah, the delicious food. The restaurant is all yours ready to serve your appetite.

November 21, 2014
Sweet Potato: Delicacies you cannot miss

SWEET POTATO DISHES

Sweet potato is the healthier replacement of our beloved potatoes and it is loved by most of us. Packed with important vitamins and other nutrients, sweet potato helps us stay fit. They are also a good source of potassium and iron which are two most important minerals for our body. Sweet potatoes are not only delicious but they also come with long list of health benefits. So, head to the nearest grocery store now and grab some sweet potatoes. Here are a few dishes to get you started.

1. Sweet Potato Biscuits

Ingredients:

• 1/2 kg of all-purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon salt •

I cup butter

• 1 sweet potato

• 4 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 cup buttermilk

• 1/4 -1/2 cup unsalted butter

• 3-4 tablespoon maple syrup

Method:

• Cook and mash the sweet potato.

• Now, add buttermilk to mashed sweet potato and blend it well.

• In another bowl add the all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt. Add the butter to this and mix it well.

• Add the two mixtures and mix it well into soft dough.

• Roll out the dough on a smooth surface to about a thickness of 1 inch. Use a biscuit-cutter to cut into your desired shapes.

• Bake it for 15 minutes approximately and your sweet potato biscuits are ready.

For the Maple Butter:

• Mix the maple syrup with the butter to get a smooth mixture.

• Serve with the warm biscuits.

2. Sweet Potato Patties

Ingredients:

• 4 sweet potatoes

• 3 eggs

• 1 cup of chopped onion

• 1-2 teaspoons of chilli powder

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds

• 1 teaspoon pepper

Method:

• Grate the sweet potatoes and keep it aside.

• In a pan, sauté the cumin seeds until brown.

• Whisk the eggs and add the grated sweet potato, chopped onion, chilli powder, pepper, salt and the cumin seeds.

• Heat oil in a frying pan. Now put spoonful of batter into it and fry until golden brown.

• Serve it with sauce or chutney.

3. Sweet Potato Pancake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup wheat flour

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 sweet potato

• 2 tablespoons sugar

• 4 teaspoons baking powder

• 2 cups of milk

• 2 eggs

• Butter

• Maple Syrup

Method:

• Cook the sweet potato and peel it. Now, puree it and keep it aside.

• Take a bowl and whisk the eggs. Add wheat flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder and milk.

• Heat a pan and butter it properly. Cook a spoonful of the batter until golden brown on both the sides.

• Serve the hot sweet potato pancakes with maple syrup and enjoy!

4. Sweet Potato Pasta Ingredients:

• 1 cup of whole wheat pasta

•1 sweet potato

• 1 red bell pepper (thinly sliced)

• 1 cup diced tomatoes

• 1 teaspoon crushed garlic

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 2-3 tablespoons of chopped parsley

• 1/2 cup cheese

• Salt

Method:

• Peel and shred the sweet potato and keep it aside.

• Cook the pasta until tender.

• Take a skillet and add 1 tablespoon of oil along with garlic. Keep stirring until you get the aroma of the garlic. Now, add the sweet potato, tomatoes, bell pepper and water. Cook until the bell pepper is crisp and tender. • Drain the pasta but keep half of the water it was cooked in. Now, put the pasta back into the vessel and add the sweet potato mixture, 1 tablespoon oil, parsley, lemon juice, salt and cheese. Add the retained pasta water and combine the mixture well. Your delicious sweet potato pasta is ready!

5. Sweet Potato Chocolate Pudding

Ingredients:

• 1 large roasted sweet potato

• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup

• 1/4 cup milk

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method:

• Peel and puree the roasted sweet potato until smooth.

• Combine all the ingredients and blend it well until smooth. It should in a puree form. Your easy-to-make sweet potato chocolate pudding is ready to serve!

6. Sweet Potato Wedges

Ingredients:

• 2-3 sweet potatoes

• Pepper

• Salt

Method:

• Peel the sweet potato and cut into wedges.

• Mix the wedges with some oil, pepper and salt. Blend it well.

• Roast the wedges in the oven for around 15 minutes until they turn golden brown.

• Sprinkle some pepper on the top and serve them hot with ketchup.

7. Sweet Potato Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 sweet potato (peeled and diced)

• 1 chopped onion

• 1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic

• 3-4 carrots (peeled and sliced)

• 1 red pepper, sliced

• 1 teaspoon ginger

• 1/4 cup yogurt

• 1 cup chicken broth

Method:

• Heat oil in a pan. Add chopped onion and garlic. Sauté for 2-3 minutes.

• To this add the chicken broth and two cups of water. Stir well.

• Now, add sweet potato, carrots, red pepper and ginger. Cook it well.

• Once it is done, keep this mixture in the fridge for around 25 minutes. • Next, remove the vegetables from the mixture and puree them until thick.

• Put this puree into the soup and blend them well. • Cook until the soup thickens. When it almost finished, add yogurt and mix it well. Serve and enjoy!

November 9, 2014
Win over the Festive Cravings!

Festive season is here and so are all the food delicacies. The mouth-watering sweets, lovely chocolate packs, attractive sweet shops, decorated foodie stuff is all around and resisting all this is a big challenge. Heart says have it all, have what you want and Head says No! Not a good idea to have it all. This constant fight between head and heart is ruining all the joy of festivities. Sweets being so attractive are hard to resist. We are just some days away from the grand finale of the festive season; Diwali, which I already burning bright with all the lighty lights in Indian homes and fireworks will add all the more to it. What is synonymous with this festival is sugar high mithai boxes, all laden up in homes, piled up before and after exchanges. Diwali marks the high point of mithai season and with the beginning of this festive season, bingeing on ghee-laden foods like laddoos, jalebis, pedas, samosas and bhajias is natural and is going to be regular affair. I know its no fun in always saying ‘no’. Then, the problem lies in how to avoid these delicacies. When even the determined, most health conscious, strong-willed people can’t resist these temptation, how will you particularly, when you just love munching on all this. Well, Don’t you worry, these small ways will let you manage your diet schedule and will make you resist the festive cravings, when all you can see is sweets around you.

Sharing… is good: Share your stuff with someone else and don’t indulge in the temptation alone and munch on handful of sweets all by yourself. Its better you should share it and in a way it will split up the calorie load. Many studies have proved that we relish something delicious only till the first two bites of it, after that its gluttony. So, bearing this fact, sharing is good in all ways.

Gauge your fat intake: Keep a check on your overall oil, butter, cheese intake, how you are taking them in, in what amount and watch it and be cautious. Be mindful, like if you want to eat some fried food, better to cut the oily food and added fat intake from the rest of your day. Rather, as an alternative, Saute veggies and bake them or steam them. Also, you can consider eliminating tadka from your dal, though its difficult, but its worth doing. Overall, just try to keep the calories balanced by cutting down on the excess oil by opting for healthy alternatives.

Hit the gym: Exercise and Exercise, workout and nothing else will watch your weight better. Be regular and then just stop worrying about the temptations. In order to maintain same body shape and size, you must go to gym regularly. If you are having those sweet ladoos or pedas or that vada pav, make sure you put that extra effort in gym to cut down the extra calories, you acquired. Though, its not going to completely compensate for your food impulses and stimulus , but still you won’t add a lot weight to your body.

Moderation is always better: Don’t munch on it with an attitude, ‘All or nothing’. Rather, limit yourself to one or two high calorie food items a day and save that taste for your whole day. Watch your eating patterns closely and don’t cheat as you will be cheating on yourself only. Never eat like there’s no tomorrow and be in control even as you enjoy food and don’t let your cravings overcome your mindfulness.

Think like yummy food isn’t going to extinct: Remember this and don’t be disheartened. There will be tomorrow when you can have another piece of sweet laden food items. When its enough for today, its means enough. Don’t give excuses to yourself. Keep in mind that yummy sweets, goodies will always be around, all year round.

Watch your protein intake: Proteins are important. You know, Deficiency of protein increase the cravings for desserts and other delicacies. Better ensure that you have your protein tank full so that you can have better controlled willpower. Pulses, egg whites, peanuts, paneer, tofu, chicken and fish are good sources of proteins and their intake should be proper in order to avoid temptations.

Choose your outfit for the season or go shopping: When you feel that uncontrollable urge for sweets you are seeing on your table, try to avoid it by not recognizing and take your mind off like by trying a new outfit for the festive season or go for some shopping. However, girls will like the idea more but it works for anyone. So, just give it a try.

Apart from all these ways, the best one, you have heard often is to exercise regularly. If you want to enjoy this festive at the fullest and don’t even want to gain those extra kilos around your waistline and hips, you just need to check your intake, eat mindfully in moderation and follow your regular exercise regimen. Moreover, the festivities are never all about food. There are other aspects to. The sole purpose and focal point of any celebration is not just food and bingeing on different varieties. Rather, the main motive is to spread joy and happiness and share it everyone.

October 8, 2014
To Eat or Not To Eat

“TO BE, OR NOT TO BE? THAT IS THE QUESTION- ”

– William Shakespeare, Hamlet ( Act 3 scene i)

Tweaking the above mentioned famous quote, in reference to our food fetishes, – ‘to eat, or not to eat? That is the question-’.

A friend of mine recently lost 16 kilos (yes, you read that right) in about 3 and a half months. No fitness centre. No gym. She followed a diet -the G.M.’s diet which is readily available on the net (go on GOOGLE it) and a daily jogging regime. I remember her saying that the amount of pep talk she had to give herself in order to follow through and not eat the junk food that she had been gorging on all these years was tough but doable. At the end of the day, you have to make a decision – to eat or not to eat (the junk). You either live to eat or eat to live. For most of us, it is the latter but a fair half would raise their hand to the former belly-rubbing with a wide innocent grin. Well, it happens. Food does get the better of us.

I know that because I have been on and off diets since… since… I really don’t remember when but it was a long long time ago. It is difficult to stick to your goal. But excuses apart, it is very doable to take baby steps or baby baby steps and choosing a healthier way of living, eating and rocking the world.

For example, why not order a filling salad when you snack out instead of loading your plate with high-calorie high-in-fat food? That would be a baby baby step.

Sesame Chicken Breast Salad

Time: 15 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients: 2 skinless chicken breasts, 85g of frozen soya beans, a small handful Thai or ordinary basil leaves (should be chopped if large), 85g herb or baby salad leaves, 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds, 1 large carrot (finely cut into very thin matchsticks), 4 spring onions (finely sliced), 140g cherry tomatoes (halved), small bunch coriander (chopped)

Dressing ingredients:grated zest and juice 1 small lime, 1 tsp fish sauce, 2 tsp sweet chilli sauce, 1 tsp sesame oil

Directions: Firstly, put the chicken breasts in a pan and pour cold water over it to cover. Secondly, tip the soya beans into a steamer. Bring the pan to a gentle simmer, and then cook the chicken breasts for 8 minutes with the beans above.Meanwhile, your third step should be to mix the dressing ingredients in a large bowl. Fourthly, when the chicken is cooked, slice and toss in the dressing along with the beans, carrot, onions, tomatoes, coriander and basil. Mix really well, pile onto the salad leaves and sprinkle with the sesame seeds.

Tuna Bean and Fennel Salad

Time: 10 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients:zest ½ lemon and 1 tbsp juice, 1 tsp wholegrain mustard, 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, a 400g can of cannellini beans (should be drained and rinsed), ½ small fennel bulb (should be thinly shaved), ½ cucumber (should be peeled into ribbons), a 160g can of good-quality tuna in spring water (drained), 1 heaped tbsp pumpkin seeds, small bunch dill (should be roughly chopped), small bunch parsley (leaves should be roughly chopped)

Directions: Firstly, to make a dressing, put the lemon zest and juice, mustard, olive oil and some seasoning in a jam or jelly jar and shake well. Secondly, tip the beans into a bowl, pour over the dressing and stir. Thirdly, add the dill and parsley leaves, fennel and cucumber, then flake the tuna into large pieces and fold through. Spoon the salad onto small plates. Sprinkle with pumpkin seeds on the top. It is ready to serve.

Whenever I go to the British Council Library, I usually stack up that week’s load of food magazines. Going through the GoodFood magazines helped me to simplify my cooking process in immeasurable ways. It categorizes recipes into low-fat, low-calorie, easy to cook, vegetarian, moderately hard to cook, gluten free, etc. For a foodaholic like me, it makes 50% of my work easier as I merely give a quick glance and select the healthier options. And in a few minutes or so, my alternative healthy snack is ready. This is where the baby step comes in.

On days when you call it a day in, instead of ordering a home delivered pizza why not treat yourself and cook up a nutritious meal with the minimum ingredients in your refrigerator?

Chicken and Okra

Time: 30 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil, 500g skinless and boneless chicken thighs (cut into chunks), 100g okra (should be cut into 2cm rounds), 1 onion (should be chopped), 1 green pepper (should be deseeded and chopped), 3 celery sticks (should be finely chopped), 1 garlic clove (should be finely chopped), ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 heaped tbsp plain flour, a 400g can of chopped tomatoes, 400ml chicken stock, small handful sage (leaves should be chopped) 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 bay leaf

Directions: Firstly, heat the oil in a large pan over a medium high heat. Secondly, add the chicken and cook in batches for about 5 minutes to brown all over. Remove the chicken and set aside.Thirdly,add the onion, green pepper and celery to the pan, put on the lid and cook for 5 minutes. Stir occasionally until softened a little. Fourthly, stir in the garlic, spices, thyme and bay leaf and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Return the chicken and any juices to the pan with the flour. Stir. Fifthly, pour in the tomatoes and stock, and bring to the boil, cook for 5 minutes, then add the okra and half the sage. Turn down to a simmer, put on the lid and cook for 10 minutes. Season well. Serve.

It really is up to you. You can either satisfy your fast food urges or go for the healthier alternatives. To eat, or not to eat? That is the question.

September 14, 2014
Chutneys are Yummy! Part 2
Chutney (also translated as Chatney or Chatni) is a family of condiments mainly associated with South Asian cuisine that usually contain some mixture of spice(s), vegetable(s), and/or fruit(s). Chutneys may be either wet or dry, and can have a coarse or fine texture. There are various types of chutneys.

Traditionally, chutneys are ground with a mortar and pestle made of stone or an ammikkal . Spices are added and ground, usually in a particular order; the wet paste thus made is sauteed in vegetable oil, usually gingelly (sesame) or groundnut (peanut) oil. Electric blenders or food processors can be used as labor-saving alternatives to stone grinding.

Let’s explore two new mouth-watering recipes of Chutneys which one can make easily at home!
- Garlic Chutney:
This is a fiery-spicy chutney made from garlic cloves and red chilies. It is a taste-enhancing must-have accompaniment for South Indian dishes like Dosa, Idli, etc. In this customized Indian Garlic Chutney recipe, garlic, soaked red chillies and coconut are first sautéed in oil, and then crushed with tamarind pulp to make delicious Chutney having a complex hot, sour and spicy taste altogether.
- Ingredients:
1) 8 chopped garlic cloves (skin removed).
2) 2 whole dry red chillies, seeded and broken into pieces.
3) ½ cup grated fresh coconut.
4) 1 teaspoon tamarind pulp.
5) ¼ cup water.
6) 2 teaspoons oil.
7) Salt according to taste.
- Directions:
1) Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a pan. When the oil is hot enough, sauté the chopped garlic over a low flame for a minute and then transfer to a plate.
2) Heat the remaining 1 teaspoon oil in the same pan and sauté the dry red chillies over a low flame for 20-30 seconds. Again, transfer them to the same plate.
3) Let the sautéed garlic and dry red chillies cool for about 3-4 minutes. Transfer the garlic and the dry red chillies to the chutney jar of a grinder or food processor. Grind them until a medium coarse paste is formed.
4) Add the grated coconut, the tamarind pulp, ¼ cup water and salt (according to taste) to the jar.
5) Grind them till a medium coarse paste is formed. Tasty South Indian Garlic Chutney to be enjoyed along with Dosa and Idli is ready to be served!
- Tips:
1) You can also use 2 teaspoons of the red chilli powder in place of the usual dried red chillies.
2) Dry Kashmiri red chillies are specially added to get that nice red color and also to make a less spicy Chutney when compared to other varieties of chillies as such.
3) Replace the tamarind pulp with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice for a slight variation in the overall taste of the Garlic Chutney.
- Preparation Time: 5 minutes.
- Cooking Time: 5 minutes.
- Servings: 6 (½ cup).
- Pudina Chutney:
Pudina (Mint) is an herb known for its medicinal benefits for indigestion, acidity, headache, dental and skin diseases. It is an integral part of Indian cuisine as well. This Pudina Chutney recipe makes for an extremely flavorsome and tempting Chutney prepared right from fresh mint and coriander leaves. However, its main taste comes from the tamarind paste which is added to give a nice tang to its spiciness. The whole texture of the Chutney is derived from the fresh coconut.
- Ingredients:
1) ¼ cup fresh Pudina (mint) leaves.
2) 1 cup chopped coriander leaves.
3) ½ cup grated fresh coconut.
4) 2 chopped green chillies.
5) ½ inch piece ginger, chopped.
6) 2 teaspoons tamarind pulp or lemon juice.
7) 1 teaspoon sugar (optional).
8) Salt according to taste.
9) ½ cup water.
- Note:
This recipe requires tamarind pulp as an ingredient. You can easily find ready-made tamarind pulp to be bought in the market. If the tamarind pulp is not available, then you can also prepare it at home by simply following the directions which are given below-

1) Soak the tamarind in hot water for roughly 1 hour.
2) Remove the seeds of the tamarind.
3) Strain the whole mixture to prepare fresh and homemade tamarind pulp.
- Directions:
1) Clean the mint leaves and the coriander leaves well by running them under fresh tap water.
2) Grind the fresh coconut, green chillies, ginger, sugar and salt together in the chutney jar of a mixer or a food processor until a very smooth paste is formed.
3) Add the mint leaves, the coriander leaves, the tamarind pulp (or the lemon juice) and ½ cup water. Grind again until a very smooth consistency of chutney is arrived at.
4) Fresh Pudina Chutney is ready to be served along with your favorite condiments!
- Tips:
1) Replace the tamarind pulp with an alternative of lime juice for an even more delicious tang of the Pudina Chutney.
2) Store it in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can then use as and when it is required.
3) You can always add more water and adjust the spices according to your own tastes so as to make the Pudina Chutney more diluted and thin, or of a concentrated and strong flavor.
- Preparation Time: 10 minutes.
- Servings: 8 (1 cup chutney).
So there you are – two delicious Chutneys which you can easily make at home by following some simple instructions. These are very good from the health point of view. They also acts as excellent taste enhancers.

Keep watching this space for more delicious recipes!
September 14, 2014
Tales served in a plate!

Have a big party to host too soon? But are too bored of the clichéd party menus available (Mexican, Chinese, Italian, Indian or Mughlai)? I have just the thing for you, that will surely elevate your stature to the “PARTY KING/QUEEN” and give you and you’re fiction-fellas the best time of their lives! Yes, give way to your literary gastronomy as I bring forth a list of fictional literary food items that you’ve read about in novels or watched your favourite characters sip or bite onto them in movies and TV series!

1. Butterbeer (Harry potter series):

“Why don’t we go and have a butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks, it’s a bit cold, isn’t it?”-Hermione Granger.
Ah! The reveries of sipping through the clouded peaks of tankard-full butterbeer, on chilly December mornings ,while crouching over the wooden benches of The Three Broomsticks, or Leaky Cauldron, has enticed us since our ripe days of innocence( and they still do). So, why not relive those days, just not in reveries but in reality! Set up old shaggy benches, restrict the light source to quivering candles, and Cheers!
INGREDIENTS
• Cream soda- 2 litre
• Butter extract- 2 tbsps.
• Rum extract- 2 tbsps.
*add drops of the extracts into a 2 litre bottle, put on the cap and slowly rotate (not shake) until combined.
• For the crème topping- 17oz container of marshmallow crème
• Whipping cream- 1 cup
• Rum extract- 1 tbsp.
METHOD

• Add all the items together in a blender and combine until smooth
• Pour the butterbeer into a glass and drizzle with the cream topping and Enjoy!

2. Scooby Snacks (Scooby- dooby doo series) :

Our very own beloved stoner mates of childhood! Remember the eternally hungry Scooby and Shaggy, who were always lured to chase the villains using this snack!
INGREDIENTS
• Dry oatmeal- 1 cup
• Flour- 2 cups
• Sugar- 1 cup
• Eggs- 2
• Butter- ¼ pound or ½ cup
• Walnut extract- 1 tsp.
• Vanilla essence – 1 tbsp.
• Cocoa powder- ½ cup
• Finely ground cannabis- 1 oz.
METHOD
• Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients. Stir continuously.
• If the consistency becomes too thick or tight making it difficult to stir, then add a tablespoon of milk into it, and mix.
• Taste the batter and adjust the sweetness according to preferences.
• On a lightly greased cooking sheet, place them in scoops or bone shape cut-outs and bake for 8-12 minutes ( depending upon the size of the cookies)
• If you wish to bite on to dry and crispy cookies, bake for longer, but if chewy and soft is your thing, a shorter time span for baking them, is fine.

3. Hotpie’s Wolf Bread (Game of thrones):

Does this ring a bell? In Season 3, this becomes a parting gift for Arya by Hotpie, remember? Of course you do! So, now imagine, breaking pieces from this Wolfbread we’re about t0 make and dipping it in the Virginia Woolf’s Boeuf en Daube (in the next point) , ah, heavenly delicious, and such a intermingled literary hotchpotch! Well, let’s proceed.

INGREDIENTS ( makes 3 breads)
• Coarse meal- 2 cups
• Wheat flour- 3 cups
• Egg(beaten with a little water, for the wash) – 1
• Baking powder-1 tsp.
• Baking soda- 1 tsp.
• Butter- 6 tbsps.
• Honey- 4 tbsps.
• Pinch of salt
• Buttermilk or sour milk
METHOD
• Combine the dry ingredients and rub in butter
• Then, stir in the honey, buttermilk, and fold in a soft workable dough
• Roll it out around 1/2″ thickness, and skilfully cut out the dire wolf shape with a knife by placing the template(below) over it( template given at the bottom)
• Once satisfied, transfer it to a baking sheet lined with a parchment paper. Brush all over it with the beaten egg
• Now, for 20 minutes, let it bake at 250 degrees F, until it’s tinted in lovely golden brown colour. Enjoy!

4. Boeuf en Daube (To the Lighthouse):

Direct from Virginia Woolf’s imaginative kitchen, this recipe is a star for any party especially if the dwellers are meat lovers. Known to spell magic with her words, Woolf in ‘To the Lighthouse’, one of the best English novels of the 20th century tickles the gastronomic sensations of her readers with her vivid descriptions of this delicacy. So let’s have a look at the recipe!
INGREDIENTS
• Primed beef (can also use mutton), cubed and trimmed of fat- 5 lbs.
• Peeled shallot or onions- 8-10 pieces
• Burgundy wine- 750 ml
• Olive oil- 1-2 tbsps.
• Fresh thyme- 1 bunch
• Garlic cloves( peeled and chopped finely) – 4-6
• Bay leaves- 2-4
• Lardons (or smoked bacon pieces) – 1 lb.
• Orange peel( dried) – 6-8 pieces
• Soft brown sugar- 1 tbsp
• Cepes( a type of mushroom), soaked for 1 hour- ½ ounce
• Sea salt
• Fresh ground black pepper
• Sun-dried tomatoes (drained and chopped finely)- 2-3
• Cognac – 2 tbsps.
• Corn flour – 1-2 tbsps.
• Tomato sauce- 2 cups
METHOD
• In a bottle of red wine, marinade the beef with herbs, shallots, and garlic overnight. Drain and keep the wine aside.
• Take a large frying pan, pour olive oil and sear and brown the beef pieces over high heat, till nutty and golden brown.
• In a cast iron Le Creuset Casserole Dish, or a crock pot, place the beef. Fry the lardons or chopped bacon pieces until crispy and golden brown. Drain and add to the beef.
• Then, brown-fry the garlic in the bacon fat and add to the beef and bacon.
• In the crock pot, add all the ingredients including the reserved wine except the corn flour.
• Cook on high flame for 4 hours and low up for 6 hours. Or, preheat oven to 175 degrees C or 325 degrees F n cook for 4-6 hours, slowly. The meat must become extremely tender.
• Once done, stir in the corn flour and cognac into the stock encased within the crock pot.
• Serve with Mashed, steamed and pureed potatoes, and green beans, or with French bread, salads and pasta! Try and make it on the day before the party, it tastes better. Best for main course!

5. Turkish Delight (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe):

Remember Edmund in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, who after inhaling the Snow Queen’s Turkish Delight had betrayed his sibling?! Yes, disgust for the character seeps into your veins at this nostalgia, but never mind he learnt his lesson, right? And, the Turkish Delight, is surely a delight!

INGREDIENTS
• Water- 1 ½ cups
• Cold water- ½ cup
• Corn-starch- ¾ cup
• Orange juice- ½ cup
• Orange zest- 3 tbsps.
• Granulated sugar – 3 cups
• Light corn syrup- 3 tbsps.
• Unflavoured gelatin-3(.25 ounces) envelopes
• Vanilla extract- 1 tbsp
• Pistachio nuts( chopped)- ¾ cup
• Confectioners’ sugar for dusting
METHOD
• Take a large saucepan, place it over medium-high heat and add water, sugar and corn syrup to it and bring to boil. Stir continuously until the temperature reaches 115 degrees C or 240 degrees F, on a candy thermometer. Set aside and keep hot
• Stir in the orange juice and zest, and sprinkle with gelatin and set aside. Take a small bowl and pour in ½ cup of cold water, dissolve the corn-starch in it and stir into a hot syrup, over medium flame, until thick.
• Remove from heat and stir in vanilla essence, pistachio nuts and a little more of the orange juice. Sprinkle an 8×8 inch pan indulgently with the confectioners’ sugar. Pour the Turkish Delight into the pan and let it cool (do not refrigerate) until set, for 3-4 hours approx.
• Once cool, now sprinkle on top another thick layer of the special sugar. Cut them into 1-inch squares and dredge each well in the confectioners’ sugar. Store in room temperature in an airtight container! Serve with tea, coffee or just as welcome sweets or even as end-of-the-meal desserts!
Set the mood with the right décor, music and games, and the rest, leave it to these scrumptious delights to handle! Rest assured, just dig in!!!

September 14, 2014
Chutneys are Yummy! Part 1
Often while having food, you find that the dish lacks a certain punch. A flavor so to speak. You wonder how to solve this problem. Well, worry no longer. There is a solution at hand which will leave your taste buds tingling in the process. What can that be you ask? One word we say in reply. Chutneys!

Chutney (also translated as chatney or chatni) is a family of condiments mainly associated with South Asian cuisine that usually contain some mixture of spice(s), vegetable(s), and/or fruit(s). Chutneys may be either wet or dry, and can have a coarse or fine texture. There are various types of chutneys.

The name “chutney” covers a wide variety of foodstuffs. The common element which makes them all “chutneys” is that they are added to meals to add flavor; the best English “translation” of “chutney” is “relish”. As such, they can be, and are, eaten with a wide variety of foods.

The word “chutney” is derived from the Sanskrit word caṭnī, meaning to lick. The first chutneys in India would have been sticky fruit based preserves. Sugar, although available in India, was not widely cultivated and honey would have been used to sweeten dishes, this leading to the chutneys being used as more of a dipping sauce rather than a condiment. It is written differently in several North Indian and South Indian languages.

Let’s have a look at some popular Indian chutney recipes!
- Peanut Chutney:
Peanut Chutney, a versatile and easy-to-make spicy chutney, is a must-have accompaniment in South Indian cuisine. It can be of two types, wet and dry. This recipe is for making wet peanut chutney for Dosa and Idli, and it can be used either as spread or as an accompaniment.
- Ingredients:
1) 1/2 cup roasted peanuts, skin removed.
2) 3 garlic cloves.
3) 1/4 teaspoon tamarind paste.
4) 4 dry red chillis.
5) 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds.
6) 4-5 curry leaves.
7) 2 teaspoons oil.
8) 1/2 cup water.
9) Salt to taste.
- Directions:
1) Put the roasted peanuts, garlic, 3 dry red chillis, tamarind paste and salt in the chutney jar of the grinder.
2) Grind them together till a medium coarse powder.
3) Add 1/2 cup water to the mixture, and grind again until a smooth paste is formed. Transfer the paste to a serving bowl, and proceed to prepare tempering.
4) Heat oil in a small pan. Break 1 dry red chilli into two pieces. Add the mustard seeds. When they start to crackle, add curry leaves and the remaining 1 dry red chilli. Sauté for 10 seconds and turn off the flame.
5) Pour the tempering over the prepared chutney paste. Peanut chutney is now ready to be served along with steamed Idli and Dosa!
- Tips:
1) If roasted peanuts are not available, then you can dry roast them over low flame in a heavy based pan for 7-8 minutes. Let them cool for 3-4 minutes and remove the skin.
2) Increase or decrease the amount of red chillis to make more or less spicy respectively.
3) You can avoid topping it up with mustard seeds tempering if you are going use it only for making Dosa.
- Preparation Time: 10 minutes.
- Cooking Time: 2 minutes.
- Servings: 2.
- Coconut Chutney:
Making South Indian Coconut Chutney for Dosa and Idli is very simple. Just blend fresh coconut with chillis, curd and ginger, and mix tempered mustard seeds. However, the real taste differentiators in this recipe are roasted chana dal, tamarind paste, cumin seeds and curry leaves. Follow this recipe and discover how good the chutney tastes. But yes, don’t blame us if you get addicted to it!
- Ingredients:
1) 1 cup roughly chopped fresh coconut.
2) 1 teaspoon grated ginger.
3) 2 green chillis, chopped.
4) 1 tablespoon roasted chana dal.
5) 1 tablespoon curd.
6) 1 teaspoon lemon juice or tamarind paste.
7) 1/2 cup water.
8) Salt to taste.
- For Tempering:
1) 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds.
2) 1/4 teaspoon mustard seeds.
3) 4-5 curry leaves.
4) 1 dry red chilli.
5) 1 teaspoon oil.
- Directions:
1) Take chopped coconut in a small chutney jar of the food processor or grinder.
2) Grind it to make a medium coarse paste and transfer on to a plate.
3) Add green chillis, roasted chana dal and ginger to the same chutney jar.
4) Grind mixture to a smooth powder.
5) Add crushed coconut, curd, lemon juice, salt and 1/2 cup water.
6) Grind them to make a medium coarse paste. If required, add more water to get the desired consistency of chutney and grind again. Transfer to a bowl.
7) Heat oil in a small tempering pan. Add mustard seeds. When the seeds begin to crackle, add cumin seeds, dry red chilli and curry leaves and sauté for 10 seconds.
8) Take the pan away from flame and immediately pour tempering over the prepared coconut paste. Mix well. Delicious Coconut Chutney for Idli and Dosa is now ready to serve!
- Tips:
1) Adjust quantity of water accordingly to make it thick or diluted.
2) Avoid the addition of green chillis while making coconut paste, and avoid dry red chillis in tempering while making white Coconut Chutney.
3) Consume fresh chutney immediately or refrigerate it, and use it for up to 3 days.
- Preparation Time: 10 minutes.
- Cooking Time: 2 minutes.
- •Servings: 6.
Watch this space for recipes of more mouth-watering chutney recipes. Coming soon!
September 14, 2014
The Coolest Cucumbers!

The dark green, firm, cool cuke… cucumber which you just picked and put in your shopping basket is just miraculous for your health. This fruit is loaded with health benefits. Yes, I said fruit, because cucumber is not a vegetable but a fruit. I do know, that everyone knows well that cucumber is excellent for your body and is a must in salad. Heard this phrase, “Cool as Cucumber”. Probably Yes. So you can easily interpret the amount of freshness, cucumbers can deliever. Some may like it hot by baking or heating up in oil, but if not, then cool cucumber is for you, which can do wonders for you.

Do you know, the inside of cucumber, growing in the hot sun on a vine is about 20 degree Celsius cooler than air. Scientifically known as Cucumis sativus, it belongs to the same botanical family as melons, zucchini or squash. Being the fourth most widely cultivated fruit, with its mild, refreshing flavor, cucumbers are 90% water but still manage to give so many health benefits. Cucumbers are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, even bone building- managanese, potassium, magnesium, also possess infection fighting, vitamin C, anti-inflammatory Vitamin K. The fresh extracts of cucumber have been shown to have both antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties. Also, the presence of unique polyphenols in plants with lignans, this health benefiting substance is research upon extensively in cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and allium vegetables like onion and garlic. Cucumbers have three lignans which are known to have positive cardiovascular effects and reduces cancer risks, including prostate, breast, uterus cancers. They also contain an enzyme that breaks protein and helps clean the intestines and also are good for detoxification of body.

To choose from the whole lot of cucumbers, they are eaten green or under ripe. Choose the shorter, dark green cucumbers, which are firm and feel heavy, so always go for shorter, medium sized cucumbers. As, long cucumbers can be bitter and show that they are ripe. For getting the optimal nutrition and nourishment from your cucumbers while minimizing your health risk, you can choose organic grown cucumbers over conventionally grown varieties. Cucumber are mostly used in salads and eaten raw and very few people cook it like other vegetables. The cucumber is refreshing and gives crunch to the salad and is perfect diet snack and cucumber salads are prepared just before serving to retain the crispness. Eating raw cucumbers is what is known best by most of the people. However, they can be cooked, stuffed and mixed with herbs. Stuff cucumbers with feta cheese or cream by slicing it lengthwise. Though, most people prefer eating diced cucumber with some sprinkled salt and pepper. You can even grate the cucumber and add it in yoghurt with other veggies like onions, tomatoes, and sprinkle some salt and pepper and it will become a delicious raita with all the crunchiness. Have it with parantha or eat it as it is, as you like. For cooked cucumbers, you can google it and you’ll be surprised by so many recipes and suggestions. Now, let’s have a look on how cucumbers add value to our daily diet;

Keeps you hydrated: Drink enough water and munch on cucumbers, you daily dose of hydration is fulfilled. Moreover, detoxification is done automatically. They are the best substitute for water and are fully compensate if you are too busy to cater your drinking requirements. Just have some and you are healthy.

Awesome for skin and eyes: Cucumbers are just awesome for maintaining skin health. Obviously, when they are known to flush out toxins from body and have such a high water content, they will do all the good for skin. Also, having vitamins and minerals, they are good for eyes too. Moreover, not to mention, they are just too popular to remove under eye dark circles when used regularly and treats many skin and eye problems.

Helps in weight loss: For diet conscious and weight loosing people, cucumber and eating its sticks is favorite as a snack. Crunchy cucumber sticks dipped in creamy non-fat yoghurt is just too tasty and interesting. Enjoy cucumber in your salads and soups daily and enjoy the results.

Stabilizes blood pressure: Patients of high or low blood pressure, often feel that eating cucumber brings relief and helps in stabilizing the blood pressure to much extent. Also, it refreshes the mind and body and smoothen the blood flow, thus making the BP patients feel good.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits: Cucumber, loaded with so many nutrients and water content is very powerful antioxidant product and also possess anti-inflammatory properties. It includes Vitamin C, beta carotene, manganese and numerous flavonoid antioxidants.

Anti-Cancer Benefits: A group of cucumber phyto-nutrients known to provide anti-cancer benefits are its lignans, which is because the role of these plant lignans in cancer protection involves the role of bacteria in our digestive tract and therefore, there is reduced risk of estrogen-related cancers, including prostate, breast, ovary cancers, that has been associated with intake of dietary lignans from plant foods like cucumbers.

Love cucumber? It will love you back in all the ways. Just be regular with consumption or application of cucumber and see the difference in your life.

Healthy Eating. Happy Life.

September 14, 2014