Tag: food

4 Romantic Desserts That Will Take Your Heart Away

Romantic dessert…that just sounds a bit redundant, doesn’t it? There is nothing better than the combination of two of the best things in the world, namely dessert and romance. Science has proved that there are certain fruits and other edible items that can turn on your mood and are a must have for that perfect date. we all know that chocolates and strawberries are great aphrodisiacs too. No wonder the entire human race is crazy about chocolates like anything. Whether you are preparing dinner for your loved one or you are just feeling low, these desserts will surely uplift your mood and bring a 100 Watt smile on your face. Try these out and feel yourself floating in epicurean heaven.

1. Chocoberries

Chocoberries are strawberries that are coated with chocolate and served chilled. This quick dessert has the most romantic things ever available on the planet Earth. The sweet and tangy flavour of strawberries goes aptly well with the velvety touch of chocolate, making it an absolutely amazing dessert. It is perfect for every occasion and non-occasion. The best part of this dessert is that it takes such less time that you can count on this one for those last minute surprises.

Ingredients:

10-12 strawberries (remember to have the stems intact)

3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips or chocolate chunks

3/4 tablespoon corn syrup

2 1/4 tablespoon butter

Method:

1. Wash the strawberries and pat dry. Make sure you have all the strawberries fresh and clean.

2. Spread them out on a paper tissue until they reach room temperature.

3. Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler. Add corn syrup and butter to the double boiler. Make sure you keep stirring in between else you will run the risk of burning your chocolate mix.

4. Remove the mix from heat and dip the starwberries into the chocolate but do not dip more than 2/3 of the strawberries.

5. Let the excess chocolate drip off the strawberries.

6. Place the strawberries stem side down and referigerate for about 15-20 minutes and serve with a spark in your eyes.

2. Chocolate Mousse

Everybody loved this dessert as kids. everybody loves it as adults. This dessert never gets old. The texture of this dessert is simply perfect and the way it melts in the mouth, makes it all the more adorable. The enigmatic smell that it emits makes one fall in love with everything around them. Almost.

Ingredients:

60 grams chocolate chips

1 1/2 tablespoon water

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup whipping cream

1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar

Method:

1. Melt the chocolate and water in a saucepan.

2. Add vanilla to the mix and whisk it thoroughly.

3. Leave the mix to cool and whip the cream in a separate bowl.

4. Add confectioners’ sugar to it.

5. Blend in the chocolate mix to this and beat it in cut-and-fold manner.

6. Take a scoop of the mousse created and pour it into a clear bowl.

7. Garnish with some grated chocolate to give it an extra chocolatey taste.

3. Strawberry Pie

A pie is one dessert which is not too sweet and so, does not go overboard in making one feel its sweetness. The crispness of the pie mixed with the gooey texture of strawberries make it a complete dessert. Strawberry pie tastes brilliant but it looks even better! And a tempting looking dessert is always better than every other dessert.

Ingredients:

1 pie crust, pre-baked

1 pint strawberries

100 grams strawberry Jell-O gelatin dessert

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 cup cold water

1 cup hot water

1/2 cup sugar

Whipped cream

Method:

1. Pre-bake the pie crust and let it cool.

2. Slice the strawberries into the pie crust.

3. Take a saucepan and mix the jello with cornstarch. Add water and sugar to it.

4. Cook over medium heat. Let the mixture boil. Make sure you keep stirring in between lest you burn it.

5. Pour this boiling hot mixture over the strawberries and let it spread evenly.

6. Keep the pie in the referigerator and chill it for 3-4 hours.

7. As the glaze of the jello sets, bring it out and serve with generous dollops of whipped cream.

4. Chocolate Marie Logs

Chocolate logs are easy to make and easier to have. These have a perfect blend of biscuits and chocolate which gives it a smooth taste. The subtle flavour of coffee enhances the effect the logs have on the tongue. These are one of the quickest and easiest things you can make and make whenever you want.

Ingredients:

12 Marie biscuits

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

4 tablespoon unsalted butter

4 tablespoon powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon coffee powder

1/4 cup warm milk

Method:

1. Take the milk in a container and add coffee powder to it. Mix it well.

2. Soak the biscuits in it and stack them on top of the other. Make sure that you do not soak them too much otherwise your biscuits will get all soggy and crumble.

3. Take the butter and sugar in another container and mix them evenly. Add cocoa powder to it and blend in.

4. Spread the mixture on the stack of the biscuits or the log. cover the entire log generously with the cocoa mix. Run a fork on the mix so as to give it the look of a wooden log.

5. Keep the log in the referigerator to chill for two hours and cut it into diagonal slices.

July 27, 2014
Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin

Right from the ancient times turmeric has been used in our society. A lot of thesis has been written in the Indian mythology about the benefits of Turmeric. Most of the people in our society know turmeric as a spice used in cooking various dishes. Its addition gives the yellow color to the curry. It is not only used as a spice but also as a wonderful medicinal herb. Since turmeric offers lots of health benefits it is considered as one of the best nutritional supplements that we have. Most of the researches made in this regard prove the same. It has several medicinal properties in it which is very much beneficial for the human body. Out of all the compounds present in this herb, the most essential and beneficial is curcuminoids i.e. Curcumin. Curcumin is considered as one of the most active compound which is present in turmeric. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant property plays a major role in keeping the body fit and healthy.

Usually turmeric has 3 % of Curcumin by weight. So it is also consumed as a supplement. Since the human body does not absorb the Curcumin properly, it is taken along with black pepper. The black pepper contains piperine which increases the absorption of the Curcumin inside the human body by whopping 2000 %. Moreover you can also take it along with the fatty meals as Curcumin is a wonderful fat soluble agent.

In a healthy body inflammation plays one of the most important roles. It helps the body in fighting the germs and bacteria that could cause serious damage and moreover also helps in repairing the damaged parts of the body. If the process of inflammation does not take place, the pathogens can easily attack our body and harm us. The inflammation process needs serious attention. While the acute or the short term inflammation inside the human body is very much necessary, the long term or the chronic inflammation causes damage to the tissues and so it should be controlled otherwise you can get diagnosed with cancer, various heart diseases, Alzheimer’s condition and metabolic syndrome. Here the use of Curcumin which is found inside turmeric comes handy. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory property which is way better than most of the anti-inflammatory drugs which we have in the market these days. It directly targets the inflammatory pathway at the lowest level by blocking the NF-kB molecules. This NF-kB molecule is the one which travels into the cell and turns on the process of inflammation. Without getting into further deep knowledge about the processes inside the body, let’s just remember that Curcumin is important for the fight against the chronic inflammation.

Oxidative damage is one of the major reasons why people get diagnosed with so many chronic diseases. The process of aging also gets affected. All this processes include unpaired highly reactive molecules and free radicals. This free radical causes most of the damage. It reacts with proteins, fatty acids and DNAs inside the body and forms harmful compounds. Here comes the need of the strong antioxidants. The antioxidant helps in neutralizing the structure of the free radicals. Again turmeric here has strong antioxidant properties and so is Curcumin. They simply increase the antioxidant enzymes inside the human body and protect it from the oxidative damages.

It has been reported that turmeric can be highly beneficial in treating the cancer disease in which there is uncontrolled growth of the affected cells. Since Curcumin affects the molecular structure of the human body, it is believed that it can be very much useful in controlling the growth and spread of this disease at the lowest level. It reduces the growth of the new blood vessels inside the tumors and also starts the metastasis process. Both of them play a major role in getting rid of the cancerous cell. While it has been tested on the animals, the test on the human beings is still going on. But one thing which is sure is that the colorectal cancer can be prevented with the help of Curcumin.

Curcumin further boosts the brain-derived neurotropic factor which improves the functioning of the brain. The neurons do develop in the later stages of the life and forms the new connections which are required in proper and smooth functioning of the brain. The presence of the Curcumin inside the human body is very much important to fight against the several degenerative processes which happen inside the brain. If you regularly eat turmeric then you are very much protected against the brain diseases. The Curcumin inside the turmeric makes sure of that. There is a never ending list of the benefits of the Curcumin of the human body. It plays a vital role in reversing the steps which leads you to the chronic heart diseases. Curcumin repairs the lining of the blood vessels which is called as endothelium and helps it in its proper functioning. The risk of the heart attack decreases by 65 % if you regularly eat turmeric in your diet. I guess the above mentioned reasons are enough for anybody to get convinced and start eating this wonderful herb.

July 22, 2014
Buttermilk: A beverage that’s also a coolant

Buttermilk which is commonly known as ‘chaach’ is an outstanding coolant that proves to be very beneficial for our body. Especially in the days of summer, the glass of buttermilk is very refreshing and energizing. It is one of the best ways to quench our thirst. It has gained a lot of popularity not just because of its taste and cooling effect but also because of the various health benefits. Buttermilk contains some bacteria that enhance the digestion rate and provides support to the immune system. Apart from that it possesses less amount of fat as compared to milk but contains lactic acid. Therefore including buttermilk in our diet is a desirable thing to do. Some of the major benefits of drinking buttermilk are listed below.

Buttermilk is a delightful drink which helps in reducing the temperature of the body. The people who witnesses high-level body heat can certainly use this drink to lower it down. All those who are suffering from warm flashes must consume buttermilk to get liberated from it.

Buttermilk contains some bacteria in it along with lactic acid. This acid helps in improving the digestion rate of the body and reduction of acidity. Immunity of the body is also uplifted as the result of this lactic acid. Buttermilk makes the body strong to fight against various damaging pathogens that our body comes across daily. Apart from this, the drink is filled with various nutrients like calcium and hence proves to be very nutritive. Hence consuming this coolant daily greatly helps in preventing us from getting ill.

Many people misunderstand buttermilk as a drink which is full of fat. But in reality buttermilk contains less amount of fat as compared to the milk. So if you are looking to lose your weight then drinking buttermilk is far better than a whole glass of milk. It is a wonderful drink which quenches our starvation between the mealtimes. So maintaining the weight of the body is quite easy with buttermilk.

Another advantage of drinking buttermilk can be seen in the form of perfect and flawless skin. Daily consumption of this drink improves the digestion and consequently the skin looks healthier. The skin is recovered to a great extent and becomes glowing with the intake of buttermilk.

Buttermilk is very effective in fighting against acidity. In the course of acidity, we undergo an intense sensation which is hard to resist. This drink helps in overcoming this sensation. All the more buttermilk cools down the stomach and greatly lessens the effect of the acidity. So it proves to be a great aid at the time of uneasiness.

A fall in the cholesterol level can be seen if the buttermilk is consumed every day. Many people face the problem of cholesterol and try various methods to lower it down. Drinking buttermilk is one of the natural ways of dropping down the cholesterol level. According to many analyses, it has been reported that the various components contained in this drink maintains the cholesterol level of the body.

The study has established that buttermilk can help in reducing the blood pressure. The buttermilk is discovered to be high in the amount of bioactive protein. This protein is associated with various beneficial features like it lowers down the cholesterol level. Experts have observed that the intake of buttermilk every day considerably drops down the blood pressure.

Buttermilk is a combination of great taste and nutritional benefits. It is filled with vitamins, proteins and many more nutrients. Vitamin b which is found in this drink plays a vital role in the transition of food in the form of energy. It also helps in the discharge of various hormones and in ingestion. So the sicknesses which are mainly caused because of the shortage in the amount of vitamins can be diminished with the help of this cold drink.

There are some people who are not able to consume milk and hence they are incapable of sustaining enough calcium. Buttermilk is the perfect alternative for that. It provides sufficient amount of calcium to those people deprived of any unpleasant effect on the body. Along with that it is less fatty as compared to the milk and hence maintains the body weight. This coolant is perfect drink to battle against dehydration as it contains salt, curd and great amount of water. During summer, intake of buttermilk each and every day let us combat the dehydration and provides us with the much required respite.

So if one desires for a drink which is a blend of perfect flavor and nutrients then buttermilk is the best solution. Not only it leaves you with refreshing effect but also loads up you with so many essential nutrients. Hence on a hot summer day, if you feel exhausted then have a glass full of buttermilk is the best option to cool down your body.

July 20, 2014
Foods to soothe your headache

Headache has become a very common dilemma now days. Over millions of people deal with headaches and only they can tell how horrifying and unbearable headache can be. When the head starts throbbing the life becomes so miserable. It is very hard to contend with the pain of headache. So consequently we end up taking pain killers, but this not the solution. We need to find out the sources that triggers the headache. There are many roots for the origin of headache. Once we find out the root causes, we can lessen the frequency of headache. These natural medications take long time to cure the problem, but they are surely more reliable than just taking up a pill. Some food items have been found to be the reason of headache. Luckily there are some other foodstuffs that help in healing the pain. Some of the food stuffs that can prove to be very beneficial during the headache are listed below. You can get rid of the pain with the consumption of such food items.

Coffee

The throbbing pain can go away with the intake of some amount of coffee. When taken in excess amount it can lead to headache. But adequate quantity of coffee can repress the effect of headache. When the root cause of headache is seasonal aversions then the consumption of coffee can be very effective. The discharge of histamine in the blood is reduced with the consumption of coffee which in turn pacifies the aversions and hence protects us from the headaches.

Bananas

Bananas are found to be rich in magnesium which helps in relaxing the blood vessel, subsequently slow down the aching. Vitamin B6 is very effective to fight with headache and bananas are filled with this vitamin. It depresses the pain that our body is enduring. So if you are undergoing a lot of pain, you may try bananas to get rid of it.

Intake of water

The deficiency in the amount of water can trigger the headaches. Normally we do not ingest adequate amount of water every day and consequently it leads to headache. Hence, water plays a very important role in reducing the sternness of headache. When taken in adequate amount, water acts as a very effective natural therapy for headaches and saves us from taking medicines.

Watermelon

One of the major causes of headaches or migraines is dehydration. So to relieve the pain it is better to consume food items those are rich in water content rather than consuming a pill. Watermelon is one of such water rich food item which hydrates the body. Eventually it eases up the pain. Hence when you get stuck up with headache, try some of these water rich fruits.

Almonds

As per the various studies, it has been observed that almonds are the great source of magnesium which protects us from the burden of the headache as it relaxes the blood vessels. The one who suffers from the regular headache must consume the magnesium rich diet. There are many food items those are rich in magnesium such as banana, almonds, avocados and several more. Headaches are also caused as the result of regular day tensions. In such situations, almond proves to be very valuable. So try to soothe your head by eating almonds every day.

Spinach

Spinach is another great headache savior. It basically diminishes the blood pressure and hence rescues us from the persistent headaches. It is also packed up with magnesium which is a very desirable nutrient in case of headaches. Apart from that spinach is rich in water level which prevents dehydration. Therefore this green vegetable must be enjoyed in order to hold back from the headaches.

Yoghurt

Another cause of headache can be the shortage of calcium in our body. Less amount of calcium in the body can lead to excruciating headaches. So make sure you include calcium rich food stuffs in your diet. Yoghurt is one of the solutions, as it is high in calcium content. It can calm down your body and dispose of the pain.

Spicy foodstuffs

When seasonal aversions are the reasons behind the painful headache, then consuming spicy food items is one of the ways to get relief. The hotness of the spicy foodstuffs diminishes the sinus pressure that opens the air routes which pacifies the pain. Chili powder also contains vitamin E which is found to provide relaxation to the blood vessels, thus aiding us to get rid of throbbing head. But excessive dosage of this vitamin must be avoided.

According to the specialists, the best way to avoid the painful headaches is to start knowing about the conditions that triggers it. Some food items also act as triggers, and it is best to avoid them. But some food items like the ones mentioned above have significant defensive powers which shield us from the unbearable headaches. These food items does not vanish the headaches totally but they are effective to a great extent.

July 20, 2014
Food Addiction: Sign, Symptoms and Treatment
Food Addiction is one of the major problems with many people and no matter how hard they try, they simply cannot overcome it. With the help of the various research conducted in different parts of the world it has now been proved that people get addicted to one or the other food items and they love to eat it frequently. Although they are most likely aware that that eating these food items will harm their body but they cannot help it. This is absolutely wrong and is called as the food addiction. Are you among those people who are addicted to food? Or do you have loved ones who are very much addicted to the food items. Then you must read this article carefully and find out the measures using which you can detect the food addiction and take steps to cure it.

Defining the food addiction is quite easy. It is the scenario where the person gets addicted to the food items just as a drug addict gets addicted to the consumption of drugs. They cannot simply work properly if they are not provided with that food. Some people also term it as the eating disorders. This unhealthy and unwanted relationship with the food is very much harmful for the human body. If you have food addiction, then you must take steps to get rid of it. Mostly people have addiction with the fast food items. They simply cannot resist themselves and love to eat it regularly without considering that it may be affecting their health in a negative manner. Life is precious. You must move forward in life with utmost care and protection else you will be the one who will suffer. Mostly those food items which have wheat and sugar in them are problematic. Their excessive consumption can lead to the emotional and physical instability. Ultimately the quality of life is affected. The following are the symptoms of the food addiction.
1. Although you are feeling full but then also you cannot stop yourself from eating any particular food item.
2. When you are served that particular food item, you eat it excessively which is much more than you have intended to.
3. When you know that this food item is not good for your health and yet you eat it.
4. You have tried to stop yourself from eating a particular food item many times but every time you have failed to capitalize on it.
5. You try to hide you eating habits from other people as you know they will scold you and ask you to stop eating it.
6. When you find excuses so that you can eat the food item that you are carving for.
If you are among such people who experience all of the above mentioned addiction signs, then you must take serious steps immediately to get rid of your food addiction else it will be too late and your health will surely suffer. The alcohol and the drugs addictions are very much similar to the food addictions. The thought process and the consequences of all these addictions are ultimately similar. It is just that the other mentioned addictions here such as the drugs and the alcohol addictions have to face the social consequences too. But what is most important is the health condition and it should not be compromised on any cost. You may suffer from obesity, cancer, heart disease, diabetes among other diseases. So you must understand it quickly that the food addiction is simply ruining your life. You will not be happy when other food items are served to you, even if they are far more beneficial for the health.

More often people get addicted to the junk food as they are spicy and delicious in taste. In today’s culture you will find junk food everywhere and there is no way you can simply eliminate them completely from your lifestyle. So it is important that you understand the pros and cons so that you eat them occasionally and eating junk food does not becomes an addiction for you. To overcome a food addiction, you need proper determination and strong will power. You must be strong enough to convince yourself that eating this particular food item will affect you and your health will deteriorate. Once you have made up your mind, then it becomes easier to avoid such food. Now if you find it difficult to convince yourself then you must prepare a chart of the pros and cons if you continue eating those addicted food items. Your chart should include what all you will gain and what all you will eventually lose if you don’t stop those food items. I bet the cons column will be long enough to convince yourself and you will eventually get rid of your addiction. I know it is pretty much difficult to stop eating the food which you love but for the sake of your health and brighter future, you will have to stop eating them. Once you are confident that your addiction is over then you can start eating those food items occasionally.
July 15, 2014
A look at Irish Culture

Every culture in this global world is unique and gain its own specialty.The Irish Culture too comes into that category.Coming to the Ireland,it is situated in Western Europe,occupying five-sixth of the islands in the North Atlantic Ocean which is to the west of Great Britain.The capital of Ireland is Dublin with a population of about 4,487,000.Irish language known as Gaeilge is a Indo-European Language of the Celtic family.

A picture showing about Irish culture in brief

The people of the Ireland are very culture oriented irrespective of their interests.Irish Culture has a nice variety of traditions,cultures and historic legends.There are some symbols which uniquely relate to the Irish culture.Ireland is often known as ‘Land of Saints and Scholars’ which refers the golden age of monastic learning.It is also referred as ”The Emerald Isle’ which means its green landscape.

Ireland a land of saints and scholars

This old country has many traditions of customs which are practiced from hundreds of years and some of them are found even now.The legends are passed on from generations to generations.The culture here is in a similar way to the Western Culture in TV,movies,music and literature.But the one aspects that makes unique is the pub culture.Pub refers the meaning of public house or bar.The pub culture here has more issues than over-consumption of drinking.Pubs are considered as meeting places where people can gather whether they are friends or neighbors in a peaceful atmosphere.The pubs differ largely with the area it is situated and the customers they serve.In earlier days,pubs were separated as the men would most likely in the main part of the pub while the lounge is filled with women.Due to modernization,it is diminishing and now it is a free space. Since 2004,the Government has made an act which declared that smoking in a place of work,even pubs are considered as illegal.

Irish pub culture

The Irish people are too concerned about their food.The home made meal are loved by them especially the Irish breakfast or a bowl of stew.They even gained the comfort of drinks to ease their homesickness while living in different countries.The Irish diet is similar to that of North European nations.They very much consume meat,cereal,bread,potatoes mostly at meals.The meals are most commonly accompanied with cabbage,turnips, carrots,broccoli.The eating habits of Irish consists four meals which are breakfast,dinner,tea and supper.Dinner is the midday main meal while tea is taken in early evening at about 4.00 p.m. and supper is a light meal before going to sleep.

irish_food_pyramid_mousepad

The traditional meals mostly consists of roasts,stews, beef,ham,pork,beef and turkey.Even fish(mostly salmon) and sea food(preferably prawns) are popular here.Some foods like wheaten breads,sausages,bacon rashers and drinks like Irish whiskey,national beer have a specific symbolic role in Ireland.Many varieties of stews,potato casseroles and breads are considered as the regional foods.

Irish-people-drinks

Ireland has even many people who has great musical talent like U2,folk singer-Christy Moore and many more people.The Irish traditional dancing is even popular there where it is originated and now spread to the whole world and has taken many different forms.

Trinity-Irish-Dancers

The people in Ireland are mostly Roman Catholics.88% of the population there are mostly identified as Roman Catholics according to the records. The church used to have a dominating power in society and politics in early days.Later on ,a generational divide with people over 50 who have observant and conservative views came up.The religion has many sayings of the view of family ,marriage and abortion in the society.They prefer the dominating social structures in their extended family.Even though they move to various cities,they stick to their home bonds.

The Irish people have a great reputation for their wit and humor.Due to this popularity,they are called as ‘craic’.The people are very fast in jokes which brings out humor.They even bring out the humor on themselves even if it is self deprecating.The practice of trading insults and teasing one another among a group of close people are known as slagging.The people there are mostly witty people and won’t take anything too personal.

Coming to the 20th century the people of Ireland have adopted their new western food habits.During the modern age both of the US fast foods and continental European dishes have influenced on the people of Ireland.Here most of the common meals include pizzas, curry, Chinese food.As there are adverse effects of these fast foods and deep fried items the government has broadcast television advertisements to discourage meat consumption.

Sports are popular in Ireland and are widely encouraged.Varieties of sports are played in Ireland and the most played are Football, hockey, hurling, Gaelic, rugby.Along with these sports many of the other sport are practiced like Swimming, golf, aerobics, soccer, cycling, Gaelic football and billiards are the sporting activities with the highest levels of playing participation.At the Olympics, a person from Northern Ireland can choose to represent either the Great Britain team or the Ireland team. Also as Northern Ireland is a home nation of the United Kingdom.They also send their team to Common wealth games every four years.

Irish sports

July 15, 2014
Monsoon’s Here!

It’s start of July and there had been few showers to subtly start the season of drizzle. Monsoon’s here! Except the all unpredictable showers and muddy pools on the road, there are so much beautiful stuffs to root for. Romantic day offs and bread pakoras!
Thinking of bread pakoras, we all have specified snack list for almost every season. Summer season had Mango chutneys, ice creams, shakes and squashes. For the monsoons spicy and crispy snacks do the roles of best treats. One of strong points of evening snacks are they gratify the hunger between the two meals that is lunch and dinner. Whether it may be a school going child who came home after playing outside for hours or a housewife retiring from chores, evening snack refreshes us. Now, what snacks could we relish especially in some seasons, like for instance you would not want samosas on a summer evening or ice cream in winters? And as the topic goes all in for monsoons, we won’t deny relishing warm snacks on the rainy days.
Just before we start, notice for all the calorie-watchers! Snacks mentioned below aren’t in any order put up considering their calorie values. So, indulge in the post warding off the concern for fat count.

BREAD PAKORAS!

For the stale yet to be passing the date of expiry bread loaf, stuffed pakoras are a delicious rescue. It can either be stuffed with preferably mashed-spiced up potatoes or cheese and then can be shallow or deeply fried. The bread is soaked in gram flour and then fried. Bread pakoras like many varieties of pakoras are best when served with mint/coriander sweet, sour and spicy chutney. The chutney is prepared by grinding coriander and mint leaves along with ginger and garlic. Salt and a small amount of tamarind paste can be added, totally as per your taste preferences.

CHOLE BHATURE!

Next in the line is the best Punjabi meal to energize up a lazy damp afternoon.
Chole Bhature is prepared in two parts and served as one dish. Chole is made by soaking chickpeas and then is prepared in typical North Indian style which includes ingredients like chopped onion and tomato cooked with coriander seeds, spices and ginger and garlic paste. Dried mango powder or as known as Aamchur powder is often used too. Bhature part is basically a kind of Puri made up by dough containing maida flour with yogurt, baking powder and sugar (as per taste). This dough is covered in damp cloth and kept overnight in a clean and dry place. Chole Bhature serves as a perfect mouth watering meal for an unpredictable monsoon afternoon.

SAMOSAS!

How can we discuss an Indian snack list and not mention the very popular Samosas? A samosa is a fried pastry with filling of generally spicy mashed potatoes, onions and lentils. Very popular yet not expensive at all and relished snack all over India, WAIT! Abroad too, Samosas are just blessing on a cold monsoon evening. You wouldn’t like missing on to some Green or sweet chutney with it.
Like samosas, kachoris are also a popular spicy snack alternative and can be easily prepared in the household.

POPCORN TIME!!

Watching a movie? We all know that popcorn is a must. So, why it is specially mentioned here? Well, it’s about how we wade away the clamminess of weather by adding some flavors to the popular snacks. Butter, chili flakes or cheese can be added in the popcorn for that warm snack for the movie time. If you are not much fan of popcorn, then you can also prepare “Pyaaz (Onions) ke pakore”! It serves as an excellent movie time snack and one or two of pakore equals a handful of popcorn, so you munch less.
Easy to prepare pyaaz ke pakore is prepared by chopping onions in long slices and dipping them in mixture of Besan (Gram Flour), water, salt and chili powder. The dipped onions are then shallow or deep fried and served with the obvious green chutney or even tomato ketchup would do.

FOR THAT SEASONAL FEVER.

It’s not unknown to most of us that whenever season changes and especially from summer to winters or monsoons, there is a scare of catching viral fever and cold. For the cold, soups and dals are the best. Now, how can we make it more tasteful? Yes! Additions! Manchurian balls, chicken and mushrooms!
Okay, before we miss. Dal Makhani! Perfect cure for the “mood gloom”. Nutritional balance? Check. High on potassium and sodium value, it doesn’t deny the presence of calories but that shouldn’t be an excuse for not indulging into this elegant rescue from the taste bud numbness caused due to the cold.

Jeez! CHINESE!

Discussing soups and just about to forget Chinese food! Almost everything available in this cuisine goes so well for the monsoon season snack. Yes! Especially Maggi Noodles! Now, if you’re bored with noodles, MOMOS!
Momos are steamed/fried dumplings stuffed with either vegetarian or non vegetarian ingredients. They originally belong to Nepali culture Hot momos served with the chili sauces are just the excellent evening snack ever. Other to be mentioned Chinese snacks and starters just for this weather are (In no particular order) :
(a)    Spring rolls
(b)   Shanghai Chowmein (Well, it comes under noodles category)
(c)    Siopao (Stuffed steamed dumplings)
(d)   Jian Bing (Chinese crepes)
So, here there you have! This checklist mentions just some of the worth savoring snacks and dishes for the monsoons, all must tries. Other than that, experiment and make your own custom season based dishes checklist!
Don’t let the rain damp away the hunger pangs! Happy Monsoons!

July 14, 2014
Most popular Icecream brands

I scream, you scream and we all scream for ice cream. Ice cream is worth screaming for. Mostly all the people enjoy eating ice cream. The love for ice cream is widely growing among the people. Ice cream is served as a very common icy desert since a long time. No one can stop their mouth from watering if the favorite ice-cream is presented in front of them. So many kinds of ice-cream are available in our nearby stores and everyone has their favorites. There are many popular brands of ice-cream in the world. Based on the popularity there are some major brands of ice cream that are given below and if you are an icecream lover then make sure that you give each one a try.

Ben & Jerry’s: Everyone has certainly heard about Ben & Jerry’s as it so famous across every part of the world. This brand is available in almost each and every country. It has become the most prevalent brand of ice-cream because of its mouthwatering flavors and delectable taste. Ben & jerry’s is the first choice of every ice-cream lover. This is an American company which was started in 1978 by two friends namely jerry and ben, hence owing to its name. The headquarters of the company is situated in Vermont in United States.

Baskin-Robbins: Another brand which is globally liked by the people is Baskin-Robbins. None of the outing is completed without visiting the Baskin Robbins Store. This is an American company which was originated in California in the year of 1945 by Burt together with Irv. There are numerous outlets of this brand across the entire world. This brand is hugely recognized for its ‘31 flavors’ saying. Baskin Robbins provides their consumers with around 100 of distinct flavors, some of them are massive triumphs in the market. The most popular flavor of Baskin Robbins is “Steverino.”

Nestle: The first brand that comes to the mind when we hear about food & nutrition is Nestle. Nestle is a renowned brand especially for its ice-creams. The company was originated in Switzerland in 1905. The company was provided with the tag of biggest maker of ice-cream in the entire world in the year of 2006. The company offers employment to great number of people and it is operated in around 86 countries all over the world. The nestle ice creams are filled with so many tasty flavors and are quite reasonable to buy.

Haagen-Dazs: When taste and flavor is the priority then certainly this brand is the best choice. It was founded in the year of 1961 in New York. During the beginning the company provides their customers with mainly 3 flavors chocolate, vanilla and coffee. These days the company has its outlets in many countries all over the world. It has been found out that the company uses milk of very high quality as well as organic stuff for the different flavors of ice-cream. People love their ice-creams for its smoothness, creaminess and rich flavors.

Blue Bell Creameries: Blue bell creameries are among the best ice cream brands that are cherished by the people. It was originated in the year of 1907 and it’s headquarter is located at Brenham in Texas. Around 250 distinct frozen stuffs are produced by blue berry among which there are 66 flavors of ice-cream. In United States, blue bell creameries is the 3rd biggest ice-cream selling company. Blue bell ice-creams are available in various rich flavors and each flavor is utterly balanced. The people are fond of the creaminess of blue bell ice creams.

Amul: Amul is an Indian brand of ice-cream which has succeeded in occupying a place among the best ice cream brands. The brand has achieved remarkable love worldwide and it was founded in 1946. Apart from India, the amul ice-creams are available in many other counties too. Its popularity owes to the fact that the amul ice-creams are very delicious and reasonable in price too. Moreover ice-creams are found with no preservatives and hence it is worth eating.

Dairy Queen: When it comes to soft serving ice-cream brand, Dairy Queen is believed to be the best choice. The 1st store of Dairy queen’s started in the year of 1940 in Illinois. The admirers of Dairy Queen’s ice creams are present in various countries and consider this brand as the best soft serving ice-cream brand. The brand has earned a lot amount of fame for the consistency and tastes of their ice-creams.

Cold Stone Creameries: It is an American brand that started in the year of 1988 in Arizona. It has already created remarkable presence in United States and trying to achieve popularity globally. It is the brand of finest quality ice-creams. The company uses real honey to serve the purpose of sweetener. People admire the brand for intense and deep flavors and they also claims that the ice creams of this brand are less in calories because they don’t contain unnecessary sugar.

July 14, 2014
Stay healthy during monsoon

Rains are awaited by all and it certainly creates a wonderful environment. Rainy season is a kind of relief from hot and sunny days. Every single person cherishes the rains. But there are some areas that need our attention. With rains come health irritations like aversions, illness and stomach problems. The level of humidity is increased during the rainy season that affects the digestion. But nothing to get worried about as certain changes in our diet and nourishment can surely solves the problem. So it is very essential to keep an eye on what we eat during the monsoon to stay perfectly healthy.

Drink lot of water: It is necessary to take in extra amount of water in rainy days as the humidity level increases and it becomes difficult for the sweat to get evaporated. Consequently, the body heat is not released properly. It has been also found out that drinking water prevents the various skin problems. As a result it is recommended to keep ourselves hydrated during the rainy seasons. Carbonated and gaseous liquids should be avoided because they can result in indigestion. Drinks like tea can work as a great substitute of it. So during this monsoon do not forget to possess a water bottle with yourself all the time.

Go for fresh and hygienic foodstuff: Keep in mind to wash every single fruit before eating them. While cooking, the vegetable should be washed thoroughly and steam them to destroy the microbes which are present on them. Filthy and unclean food stuff is harmful for the body and can result in sickness. It is advisable to take in cooked foodstuff rather than eating them as raw. Soups are too very beneficial during the rainy days as it provides the body with needed nutrition. Therefore always try to go for recently cooked food stuff.

Say no to outside food: This particular point is of great importance. You should keep yourself away from eating the street food. Street foods are quite enticing to all of us but they could possibly hold many germs which results in stomach diseases. Hence take a firm decision of not eating out.

Stay away from oily food: It is greatly recommended to stay away from the oily and fatty food items. The digestion in the body gets weaker during the rainy days as the humidity level goes up. Hence the ability of body to digest the oily food items becomes feeble and thus upsetting the stomach. Therefore, try to eat light and less oily food items.

Reduce the consumption of dairy items: The dairy foods have the supreme tendency of getting contaminated by germs. As a result the consumption of the dairy products must be low. It is better to consume curd rather than milk even if the milk is filled with all the desired nutrients. Apart from that, one should try to boil and disinfect the water before drinking it.

Intake of balanced diet: As we know that digestion is weak throughout the rainy days therefore it is advised to eat reasonably. Stop taking in food stuff even when you are not starving. Perfect balanced diet is much needed to stay from stomach problems at the time of monsoon. Fruits such as apples, litchis as well as bananas must be consumed. Along with them include carrots in your diet too. Spice up the food with pepper, turmeric as they advance the resistance of the body and supports ingestion.

Avoid drinking juices: Make sure you don’t drink juices especially from outside as they may apply water which is not filtered. It is greatly recommended to drink at once the juices prepared at home.

Sea food can be harmful: During the rainy season, make sure that you stay away from the sea foodstuff. Give more attention to fishes as well as prawns and greatly avoid eating them as rainy season is the propagating season for them. Even if you are taking in the sea food make it certain about its freshness as well as cleanness.

No spicy foodstuff: There are many people who deal with skin infections throughout this season. It is advisable for them to stay away from the spicy foodstuff, as the spicy items arouse the temperature of the body that certainly results in skin illness and infections. It is better to visit to a doctor if the infection stays for long.

Some more tips: Food items such as barley as well as oats are found out to be very beneficial for the stomach during the rainy season. Garlic is also very valuable as it enhances the immunity of the body. Fruits are considered as the supreme source of energy. But make sure that you don’t eat watermelons during the monsoon. Instead of watermelons try to eat apples, pears more. It is said that taking anything in extra amount is bad for health so avoid doing that.

With the assistance of these advices try to stay healthy and strong during the monsoon and at the same time relish the rains of the monsoon.

July 14, 2014
Hyderabadi Haleem recipe

Haleem is a dish that is made out of wheat, barley, meat ( Generally made up of mutton ) but sometimes it is made out of chicken along with the lentils and spices.Generally this dish takes too much time for preparation around seven to eight hours, so that it leads to the formation of a very soft paste like substance by blending the flavors of spices, meat, barley and wheat.This dish is very famous around south east and central Asia.The preparation of it varies from region to region and is mostly prepared during the Ramadan season.

Hyderabadi Haleem

History:

This delicious South Asian dish is originated from the Arabs during the rule of the Nizams.This is a Arabic dish which is consisting of meat and it is containing pounded wheat as the chief ingredients.From the original dish slight variations are introduced in taking flavors that resulted in the distinct taste from other types of haleem.

Hyderabad special haleem history

Ingredients:

1) Take one kg of boneless mutton or with bone

2) Take 200 grams of broken wheat

3) Take four teaspoons of ginger garlic paste

4) Take one cup of urad daal

5) Take one cup of chana daal

6) Take one teaspoon of red chilli powder

7) Take half tea spoon of turmeric powder

8) Take one to half cup of curd

9) Take two cups of onions that are length wise sliced and make a deep fry so that they change their color to deep brown.

10) Take two to three cardamom pieces

11) Take two small cinnamon sticks

12) Take four cloves

13) Take one tea spoon of coriander powder

14) Take one fourth the teaspoon of Garam masala powder

15) Take one fourth the teaspoon of jeera powder

16) Take half teaspoon of black pepper corns

17) Take one teaspoon of ghee

18) Take half the cup of fresh coriander leaves

19) Take half the cup of fresh mint leaves

20) Take four green chillies

21) Take one finely chopped tomato

22) Take half the cup of cashew nuts

23) Take salt that is sufficient for taste

24) Take oil that is required

Ingredients and preparation of Haleem

Preparation:

This is a dish that looks as if it is a signature of the festive month of Ramadan.This is a very long process of preparation and it takes about seven to eight hours for preparing it.This is a dish mostly available during the month of Ramadan where most of the Muslims do fasting.It is very popular dish especially Hyderabadi Haleem is very famous around the world and it has international demand for this product.This is a dish that is the best for those Muslims to break their fast with absolute delicious taste.Apart from Hyderabad dum biryani this is the most taken food item.There is a lot of hard work involved in the making of this dish.

Step 1:

Take a bowl and mix the broken wheat along with urad and chana daal and let this mixture soak in water for at least 4 hours.The water that is taken for soaking this mixture must be double the quantity of dal and wheat mixture.

Step 2:

Take a cup of long and thin sliced onions pieces in a cooker and make a deep fry in fortune rice bran oil.Fry them until their color changes to dark brown.While making a fry of onions along with it put cardamom cinnamon and clove pieces also and fry for about two minutes.

Step 3:

Now take the mutton pieces and wash them thoroughly.Put them in a cooker and add one fourth tea spoon of turmeric powder, one tea spoon of red chilli powder and add one cup of water.All of them are stirred continuously until they mix well and close the lid of the cooker.Let the flame be continued until five whistles.

Step 4:

After taking it from cooker separate the bones and meat.Now meat separated from bones is placed in a cooker and add one teaspoon of salt, one teaspoon coriander powder, one fourth teaspoon of Garam masala and jeera powder.Also add four green chillies, half cup coriander leaves, mint leaves and the fine chopped tomato pieces.To this add curd and a cup of water and mix all the contents well.The cooker is allowed to cook for 20 minutes on a high flame.

Step 5:

While the meat is being cooked take a pan on other side and put the well soaked broken wheat, urad and chana dal mixture in it.To this mixture add two glasses of water and mix well.

Step 6:

The bones that are separated at step 4 are taken in a container along with dal, wheat mixture and one fourth teaspoon of turmeric powder.Add salt to it and allow it to cook for about 20 minutes and stir it continuously.

Step 7:

After the bones are cooked for twenty minutes it is taken out and the bones are mashed using a wooden churner for at least five minutes.

Step 8:

In a container take the meat that is cooked and is added to the dal mixture and turn on the flame and let it be cooked for one hour on a low flame.Continuous stirring should be done for every three minutes for the complete one hour.

Ste 9:

After the completion of one hour check whether it is like a thick paste or not.Don’t overcook as the taste and feel will be spoiled and the color becomes brown.So we must turn off the flame when it is golden yellow in color.That’s it tasty spicy Ramadan season special Haleem is ready it can be garnished with fried onions, cashew nuts, coriander and can be served in a serving bowl.

Hyderabadi Haleem is ready

July 10, 2014