Friday, October 26, 2012

A HEALTHY CLEAR SOUP RECIPE

Have u ever wondered why have a ' CLEAR SOUP '?
The clear soup or clear liquid diet is required for a number of reasons.... 

2 Read more follow the link..
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/311898-clear-soup-diet/#ixzz2A7hjLO13

A HEALTHY CLEAR SOUP RECIPE [ 3 persons ]
Put a pressure cooker to heat add:
3 cups of water,
1 carrots, washed, cut into small pieces,
1\4 cup cabbage washed n cut into big pieces,
1\8 cup cauliflower, small florets,
1\8 cup sweet corn,
1\8 cup bottle gourd, washed n cut into pieces,
2 -3 french beans cut opt,
1 tbsp ginger grated,

1 tbsp garlic grated,
salt n pepper powder to taste..
Close the lid n allow to cook until 1 or 2 whistles..
Open the lid and pour into a pan, heat until boil appears.
Serve with a garnish of cut coriander leaves n few drops of
lime juice..


A viewer's query .. . 


 
Amita Palat
Hi Usha, I like ur Clear Soup recipe. Perhaps u need to mention that the vegs need to be strained after being cooked in the pr. cooker. 
If I'm wrong, pls excuse me.
Amita
Dear Amita Palat, first of all your query is awesome.
No the veggies are not to be strained but rather have as chunks
of veggies the way served in a clear soup. Also could get a little
innovative and add some noodles ...

Most Popular Dessert Called Rasgulla .. .

Most Popular Dessert Called Rasgulla .. . 
Rasgulla is a very popular cheese-based, syrupy sweet dish originally from the Indian state of Orissa. It is popular throughout India and other parts of South Asia. The dish is made from ball shape

d dumplings of chhena (an Indian cottage cheese called Chhena ) and semolina dough, cooked in light syrup made of sugar. This is done until the syrup permeates the dumplings.
The Rasgulla originated in Puri, a town in coastal Orissa in which it was originally called Khira Mohana.
It has been a traditional Oriya dish for centuries.
The rasgulla gained popularity all across India and the rest of South Asia.
Rasgullas are usually served at room temperature or colder.
Rasgulla is the first syrupy Indian cheese desserts.
Indian Desserts .. ... How To Make Rasgulla ...
Check out
http://indiandesserts.net/

FRUITS 4 ENERGY

FRUITS 4 ENERGY
Eat bananas to boost your energy levels.
Try a banana as a mid-morning snack and an orange in the afternoon. 
Read more: Foods That Give You Quick Energy | eHow.comhttp://www.ehow.com/facts_5005226_foods-that-give-quick-ene


Watermelon is refreshing and contains vitamin C that adds zing
to your life. Apples are a great source of slow-release energy.
An orange is a ‘power house’ for energy and vitamin C.
Papaya builds energy and has anti-inflammatory benefits.
Mango is the king of fruits and is filled with vitamin B and C, calcium, potassium, zinc, folate and proteins.
Avacado is a fruit you can count on for boosting your energy.

Dabeli or Kutchi Dabeli or Kachchhi Dabeli

Dabeli or Kutchi Dabeli or Kachchhi Dabeli
It is a snack of India, originating in the Kutch or Kachchh region of Gujarat. 

It is a spicy snack made by mixing boiled potatoes with a Dabeli Masala, and putting the mixture between Ladi-Pav (Burger bun) and served with chutnies made from tamarind, date, garlic, red-chillies, etc. and garnished with pomegranate and roasted pea-nuts.
Dabeli literally mea

ns pressed in Gujarati language. It is said to be invented by one Keshavji Gabha Chudasama alias Kesha Malam, resident of Mandvi, Kutch in decades of 1960. He had never imagined that the product would become popular one day.
Dabeli Masala, which is the main ingredient of the dish, is readily available in most of the cities all over India.
The Dabeli Masala made from Mandvi and Bhuj are preferred by people for their taste and ethnicity.
This Dabeli Masala is a dry-paste made from dried red-chillies, black-pepper powder, dried coconut, salt, clove, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, turmeric, elachi, badiyan, black-salt, tej-patta and other garam masalas is a specially prepared Masala.
The Debeli Masala once made or purchased from shops can be stored and used for over a period of six to twelve months.
Chutney is another important part of almost all type of Indian cuisine and these type of Chutneys can be prepared in advance.
When making Dabeli a spicy mixture of boiled potatoes with a Dabeli Masala, and chutneys made from tamarind, garlic, red-chillies, and garnished with onion, sev and roasted masala pea-nuts.

Zespri Gold is


Zespri Gold is unique & a 100% natural variation of its green brother.
http://www.zesprikiwi.com/
The gold kiwis look just a bit different on the outside with smooth skin and 

a hard pointed crown at one end. The flesh of a gold kiwifruit is
 sunny yellow, and the edible seeds are black to red. Gold kiwifruit tastes tropical sweet and mellow a mix of mango and melon flavors.
7 reasons to eat a kiwi every day
Monday - Kiwis are bursting with vitamin C
Tuesday - Good for digestion
Wednesday - Low in calories
Thursday - Chock full of antioxidants
Friday - Low glycemic index
Saturday - Source of folic acid
Sunday - They are so delicious!
A kiwifruit is extraordinarily rich in vitamin C, almost as much as 2 oranges and 3 lemons.
It is filled with antioxidants and is rich in fibers.
This fruit also has considerable amounts of potassium, almost as much as a banana.
There is more vitamin E in a kiwifruit than in 2 apples.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Amba Haldi (Curcuma Aromatica)


Amba Haldi (Curcuma Aromatica)
http://www.tarladalal.com/glossary-fresh-turmeric-643i
http://www.rootsherbal.com/PageIngr_right.html
Amba haldi is an aromatic stimulant, tonic and carminative.
It protects skin from atmospheric pollution, wr

inkles and bacteria.
It imparts resistance against allergies of throat, nose and trachiobranchital passage.


Haldi is commonly used in skincare preparations and treats pimples, acne and black heads.


It helps prevent and slow the growth of unwanted superfluous hair.
Both Haldi (Turmeric) and Kali Haldi (Black Zeodary) are used by the traditional healers in


treatment of hydrocele (A pathological accumulation of serous fluid in a bodily cavity, especially


in the scrotal pouch). Both are used externally.


FRESH HOME MADE AMBA HALDI
Haldi the fresh Turmeric is a member of the ginger family.
It is loud color i. e a deep orange inside.
Amba is another variety, known by some as "white" turmeric, is consumed by Southeast Asians.
Its flesh is a li
ghter color than common turmeric.
Take fresh turmeric in equal proportions of the yellow and white roots (the white variety is called


amba-haldi and has the flavouring of raw mango).
Also need lemon's juice and salt to taste.
MAKE TASTY AMBA HALDI AT HOME.
Ingredients
3-4 PIECES ORANGE COLOR HALDI,
3-4 PIECES WHITE HALDI,
2-3 LIME JUICE SQUEEZED,
SALT TO TASTE.
METHOD
Wash the fresh Turmeric.
Peel both fresh turmeric.
Cut in thin long juliennes.
Put in a jar, add salt and lime juice.
Shake well.
Store in the fridge section.
Serve along with the food.

Such lovely food quotes..


Such lovely food quotes..
1 Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie. ~Jim Davis
2 As a child my family's menu consisted of two choices: 
take it or leave it. ~Buddy Hackett
3 The belly rules the mind. ~Spanish Proverb
4 When baking, follow directions. When cooking, go by your own taste. ~Laiko Bahrs

Thursday, October 18, 2012

HAPPY SNACKING TIPS .... TIPS ....


HAPPY SNACKING TIPS .... TIPS ....
Snacking doesn’t serve to replace a meal.
Three square meals a day is all well and good, but we all 
sometimes need a little something in between.
Munching between meals can actually reduce your overall ca

loric intake by curbing overeating at your next meal.
Many experts are recommending several smaller meals throughout the day instead of the usual three.
Fruits and vegetables are always a safe bet because they are low in fat and calories.
Always try 2 carry healthy snacks that are portable and easy for on-the-go eating? Like Cucumber slices, Apples, bananas, strawberries or any fruit of your choice, Fruit smoothie in a thermos or how about nuts.
One view is Not only am I eating more often and more food. I consume less calories over all. It is all about making better nutritional choices. An ounce of nuts and not a handful ! A small bunch of grapes and not a bag of chips.
Almonds are high in protein and fiber and the dried apricots.
A homemade smoothie with no added sugar, sweetener or additives).
Hummus and crudites n Hummus is best had with raw veggie sticks.
You will only lose and maintain a healthy weight by eating healthy foods in moderation. Crudites are bite-size vegetables that are raw or lightly
cooked and served with dip. the top left in pic...
Read more: Vegetables and Dip - Healthy Meal Ideas - Good Housekeeping

IN A NUT SHELL



IN A NUT SHELL
A handful of nuts can provide you a quick, crunchy portion of wholesome benefits.
Peanuts this very popular nut isn't a nut but it's a legume, making it more like a bean or a pea (hence the name). Since they're legumes, peanu

ts contain flavonoids n antioxidants.
Although the peanut is technically a legume, the International Nut and Dried Fruit Foundation recognises that the nutritional composition of the peanut close to that of tree nuts, and thus includes peanuts in the list of nuts it represents.
Almonds are rich with antioxidants, so snack on a few almonds when get hunger pangs.
Walnuts look like tiny little brains, and they're a very smart snack choice too. When eaten raw, hazelnuts are a crunchy source of potassium.
Cashews are rich in iron, phosphorus, selenium, magnesium and zinc.
Walnuts are a great source of plant based protein and they also contain many other vitamins and minerals.
Pistachios have been shown to reduce LDL ("bad") cholesterol and increase the good HDL cholesterol.
Nuts are rich in energy, protein, packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Nuts are the storehouse of health benefits.
They contain very good levels of vitamin-E.
From boosting energy to lowering risk factors for heart disease, you can go nuts for nuts thanks to their many health benefits.
No wonder it is said "a handful of nuts a day, and you will be doing more than good to stay fit."

A frying pan is

A frying pan, frypan, or skillet is a flat-bottomed pan used for frying, searing, and browning foods.
A grill pan is a frying pan, usually with very low sides, with a series of parallel ridges in the cooking surface or a removable metal grid. A grill pan cooks food with radiant heat (like a grill) on a stovetop. It is referred to as a "griddle pan" in British English.

did u know..

did u know..
Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy.
Traditionally, it is made from the zest of lemons, that are also known as Sorrento lemons. The Lemon zest, or peels without the pith, are steeped in grain alcohol until the oil is released. The resulting yellow liquid is then mixed with simple syrup.
Lemon liqueur is a liqueur made from lemons, liquor, and sugar.
Limoncello is traditionally served chilled as an after-dinner.


The healthiest juice combination is the ABC Juice, which means Apple Beetroot Carrot.
HAVE U HEARD OF THIS?????
ABC JUICE????
ABC Juice (Apple, Beetroot, Carrot) ....
A for Apple, B for Beetroot, C for Carrot.
They are 3 simple ingredients for the ' ABC Juice '..
http://www.noobcook.com/abc-juice-apple-beetroot-carrot/

Ingredients
(Makes one tall glass)
1 small (about 200g) beetroot, remove skin and cut to small chunks
2 medium carrots, skin peeled, cut to small chunks
1 large red unwaxed apple, cut to small chunks.
Directions
1. Blend everything with a fruit juice extractor (not food blender) and serve immediately.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

The Navaratri festival .... Best wishes 4 the festival . ..


The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratrimeaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshiped.
Navratri begins on Ashwin Shukla of the calendar.
'Navaratri' is the festival of worship of the Goddess Shakti.
The Navaratri festival has been celebrated for thousands of years.
The 10th day is commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or Dussehra.
The beginning of spring and the beginning of autumn are two very important junctions of climatic and solar influence. These two periods are taken as sacred opportunities for the worship of the Divine Mother.
Navaratri represents celebration of Goddess Durga, the manifestation of Deity in form of Shakti [Energy or Power] .
Navaratri is celebrated in different ways throughout India. In North India, all  Navratris are celebrated with much fervor.
In Western India, particularly in the state of Gujarat, Navratri is celebrated with the famous Garba and Dandiya-Raas dance.
In Goa, zatra begins during Navratri, entire Antruz (Ponda) is highly ornated.
In the state of West Bengal in East India where they are celebrated as Durga Puja. This is the biggest festival of the year in this state.
The Chaitra Navratri culminates in Ram Navami and the Sharad Navratri culminates in Durga Puja and Dussehra. The Dussehra of Kulu in Himachal Pradesh is particularly famous in the North.
In South India, people set up steps and place idols on them. This is known as golu.
In Kerala, three days: Ashtami, Navami, and Vijaya Dashami of Sharad Navaratri are celebrated as Sarasvati Puja.
In Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, people celebrate Bathukamma festival over a period of nine days. It is a kind of navratri celebration.
Navratri is celebrated in a large number of Indian communities. The festival is celebrated with true devotion and purity all over the country.
On the eve of  'Navaratri'   let us pray to the Goddess ' to give us strength.
May this Navratri be as bright as ever.
May this Navratri bring joy, health and wealth to you.
May the festival of lights brighten up you and your near and dear ones lives.

What Is Pho?

What Is Pho?
Pho is a Vietnamese soup that is a staple of Vietnamese cuisine and culture.
Many Vietnamese people eat this soup for breakfast rather than as an evening meal. Pho can be made in more than 20 variations, but always has either a flavorful beef broth or a chicken broth base.
The rich, aromatic broth is prepared by boiling the beef or chicken bones for hours along with spices such as gin

ger, cloves, star anise and cinnamon. Cardamom is also sometimes used. Basil is often added to chicken-based pho. Pieces of meat or chicken, vegetables, and seasonings are added before it is ready for the table.
Pho is served with side dishes of additional items to add, such as lemon or lime, bean sprouts, chilis, and Thai basil leaves. Sauces such as fish sauce and hoisin sauce, a thick dark sauce, often accompany the soup. Some people like to add a spicy Thai sauce also.

Lekach, or Jewish honey cake & A frying pan is ..

Lekach, or Jewish honey cake in English, is a honey sweetened cake. It is one of the symbolically significant foods traditionally eaten by Ashkenazi Jews at the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, in hopes of ensuring a sweet New Year.
Recipes vary widely. Lekach is usually a dense, loaf-shaped cake, but some versions are similar to sponge cake or pound cake, with the addition of honey and spices, sometimes with coffee or tea for coloring.


A frying pan, frypan, or skillet is a flat-bottomed pan used for frying, searing, and browning foods.
A grill pan is a frying pan, usually with very low sides, with a series of parallel ridges in the cooking surface or a removable metal grid. A grill pan cooks food with radiant heat (like a grill) on a stovetop. It is referred to as a "griddle pan" in British English.

DO U KNOW . . .

DO U KNOW . . . http://www.prestigesmartchef.com/glossary/list#preparations
Blanching is a cooking term which means a process of food preparation wherein the food substance, usually a vegetable or fruit, is plunged into boiling water, removed after a brief, timed interval, and finally plunged into iced water or placed under cold running water (shocked) to halt the cooking process.
The meaning of b

lanching is "to whiten", but this is not always the purpose of blanching in cooking.
Food is blanched to soften or to partly or fully cook it, or to remove a strong taste (for example of bacon, cabbage, or onions).
When almonds or pistachios are blanched, the skin of the nut becomes soft by blanching and is later removed.
Boiling when food is cooked surrounded by boiling liquid whether it is stock or water.
Par boil process means cooking to a certain extent of any food object by boiling or simmering
Poaching is cooking slowly in a minimum amount of liquid even below the simmering point and not allowing the liquid to boil.
This is a special method to cook delicate food products. For e.g poaching eggs,fish etc.
What is to 'Simmer' ?
When food is gently cooked in liquid and bubbles steadily appear just below boiling point so that the food cooks in even heat without breaking up.
Braising is also a combination cooking method using both moist and dry heat. Where the food is first seared at a high temperature and then finished in a covered pot with a variable amount of liquid, to get a particular flavor.
Stewing means cooking of food (seared or unseared) in liquid at simmering point, (mostly covered) for longer time to optimise doneness of tough meat and vegetables.

do u know what is Fermentation?

do u know what is Fermentation?
Fermentation in food processing typically is the conversion of carbohydrates to alcohols and carbon dioxide or organic acids using yeasts, bacteria, or a combination thereof, under anaerobic conditions.
Fermentation is the process used to produce alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer, and cider. Fermentation also is employed in the leavening of bread, sour foods su

ch as sauerkraut, dry sausages, kimchi, and yogurt; and in pickling of foods with vinegar.
Natural fermentation precedes human history. Since ancient times, however, humans have been controlling the fermentation process.
Dosa is a fermented crepe or pancake made from rice batter and black lentils. It is a staple dish in the southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as being popular in Sri Lanka. Appam from Kerala is fermented in toddy, which is used for fermentation.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

What does the word preheat the Oven mean?

What does the word preheat the Oven mean?
Preheat means to bring up to the required temperature before using, so for an oven, turn it on and allow time for it to come up to the required temperature before putting in the food. Most ovens hav

e an indicator light on the front panel that will switch off when the oven has reached the set temperature.
Preheating is bringing the cooking environment up to the required temperature, before you place your raw food into it. This ensures that the required cooking temperature is being applied to the food during the entire cooking process, and that the cooking duration mentioned on the recipe.
Oven To preheat an oven, you simply turn it on and set it at the desired temperature.
The amount of time it takes for the inside to reach that temperature is the "preheating" phase.
How long does it take to preheat an oven?
According to Encyclopedia Brown #15 1/2, it takes at least 20 minutes to preheat an oven.
The average time to preheat an oven to 350° is about 15 minutes,
and if you’re preheating to 450°, add another five minutes to the time.
How long it takes your oven to preheat is by testing it with an oven thermometer. Place the thermometer in the center of a rack set in the middle of the oven, then turn the oven to 350°.
Set an oven timer, then check the temperature on the thermometer at 10 minutes, then again at

WHAT IS A PUFF PASTRY?

WHAT IS A PUFF PASTRY?
A very light pastry made in layers that expand when cooked, leaving large air pockets inside.

Used for sweet or savoury dishes.
Puff pastry can be bought ready-made either chilled or frozen.
Puff pastry is just what the name implies a pastry-style dough that, because of the layers of fat worked into it, puffs up when baked. The result is a light and delicately crunchy pastry

 with its
crispiness and lightness of the puff pastry shells.
The puff pastry may be stored in the refrigerator for several days.
Puff pastry appetizer recipes can be sweet to savory and Puff pastry appetizer recipes vary from sweet to savory, simple to
complex.This French pastry is actually folded over and over with butter to create layers of dough that puff up as the steam escapes from the dough during baking. One of the benefits of puff pastry is that it does not contain sugar. This makes the pastry versatile to use in both savory and sweet treats.


Cheeses of Mexico

Cheeses of Mexico
Fresh cheeses that are made in Mexico are Oaxaca and Panela.
Most of the most popular varieties are fresh cheeses, such as queso fresco, panela and asadero. The two most popular aged cheeses are Cotija and Chihuahua.
Four cheeses produced in Mexico are entirely Mexican inventions
such as the Oaxaca, Cotija, and Chihuahua and manchengo. 
Mexico is ranked 10th in the world for chee

se production and eighth for consumption.
Queso blanco is cheese which is a creamy, soft, and mild unaged white cheese. Queso Oaxaca is a white, semihard cheese from Mexico. Queso panela (panela cheese), also called queso canasta or queso de la canasta (basket cheese) because it carries the impression of the basket in which it is molded, is a white, fresh and smooth cheese of pasteurized cow's milk, served most often as part


of appetizer.
Manchego is a cheese made in the La Mancha region of Spain from the milk of sheep of the Manchega breed.
Manchego has a firm and compact consistency and a buttery texture.
Manchego has variety of different flavours depending on its age. These are three versions like Fresco which the fresh cheese and is aged for only 2 weeks, with a rich but mild flavour.


Produced in small quantities, it is rarely found outside Spain. The other is
Curado is a semi-firm cheese aged for three to six months with a sweet and nutty flavor.


The third is Viejo, aged for one year is firm with a sharper flavour the longer it is aged and a rich deep pepperiness to it. It grates well but can also be eaten on its own or as tapas.
Chihuahua cheese is a soft white cow's-milk cheese of Mexican origin available in braids, balls or rounds.
Cotija is a hard cow's milk cheese that originated from Mexico. It is named after the town of Cotija.
Anejo cheese (Queso anejo) is a firm, aged Mexican cheese traditionally made from skimmed goat's milk.

Parsley is a member




Parsley is a member of the Umbelliferae family, which also includes celery, carrots, dill, cilantro, caraway, cumin, and the poisonous hemlock. Parsley is widely cultivated as an herb, a spice and a vegetable.
The Ancient Greeks believed parsley sprung from the blood of the hero Archemorus after he was killed by a dragon.
The Greeks used parsley for funeral wreaths and in garlands for the winners of the Nemena and Isthmian sporting games.
People who looked very sick and near death were often said to be "in need of parsley."
It is rich in many antioxidant vitamins including vitamin-A, beta-carotene, vitamin-C, vitamin-E. It is probably the richest of the entire herb source for vitamin K.
Parsley is a natural breath freshener. It reduces the odor of garlic breath when chewed.
Parsley is great for the digestive system, and freshens the breath also.
Parsley is a popular culinary as well as medicinal herb. This herb is a small plant with dark green leaves that resemble coriander leaves,
in flat leaf variety. The two main groups of parsley are  curly leaf and flat leaved parsley.
Another type of parsley is grown as a root vegetable, the Hamburg root parsley.
There are as many as 30 varieties of parsley cultivated across Europe.  
Fresh as well as dried parsley is available in the market.
FEW MEANINGS OF WORDS LIKE...
Herbs have a variety of uses including culinary, medicinal, and in some cases spiritual usage. 
spice is a dried seed, fruit, root, bark, or vegetative substance primarily used forflavouring, colouring or preserving food.
Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are parts of leafy green plants also used forflavouring or as garnish.
vegetable is an edible plant or part of a plant generally leaf, stem, or root of a plant.

Why eat Brown rice?

Why eat Brown rice?
Brown rice is just normal rice but with all the nutrients still intact because brown rice has many more nutrients than regular.
In white rice the outer layers get removed while in brown rice the outer layer, called the hull(husk) remains intact.
Brown rice has more than 80% of your daily manganese.
The brown rice has fiber which produces the best health benefit of all ' fat burning'.

Pav Bhaji . . .A popular snack or a meal .. .

Pav Bhaji . . .A popular snack or a meal .. . 
It can be eaten as a snack or as a meal in itself.
The recipe for Pav Bhaji varies greatly as it is essentially a fast food dish to be prepared quickly.

The general procedure for making the bhaji remains the same. Potatoes are mashed on a flat griddle (tava),
and made into a thick gravy after adding diced tomatoes, finely grilled onion, green peas and
 chopped capsicum (green bell pepper). Other assorted vegetables such as cauliflower and carrots are added.


Garlic too is added at times to spice it up. A special blend of spices simply called the pav bhaji masala is added to this thick gravy. The gravy is then allowed to simmer on the pan for a few minutes and is served hot in a flat dish with a tablespoon of butter on top.
The pav is heated on the griddle and buttered generously.
The Bhaji is garnished with coriander Lemon wedges and diced onions.











THE HOMEMADE MASALAS
PAV BHAJI MASALA..

INGREDIENTS :
15 GRAMS CLOVES,
15 GRAMS RED CHILLY POWDER,
15 GRAMS PEPPER CORNS,
15 GRAMS ELAICHI,
7 - 8 BAY LEAVES,
7 - 8 CHAKRI PHOOL,
25 GRAMS CUMIN SEEDS,
25 GRAMS CINNAMON STICK,
10 GRAMS CORIANDER SEEDS.
4 TBSP MANGO POWDER.
METHOD :
ROAST ALL EXCEPT THE MANGO POWDER.
DRY ROAST ALL, ALLOW IT COOL, THEN GRIND
IN MIXER JAR, NOW ADD THE MANGO POWDER.
SIEVE, STORE IN JAR.

Lekach, or Jewish honey cake

Lekach, or Jewish honey cake in English, is a honey sweetened cake.
It is one of the symbolically significant foods traditionally eaten by Ashkenazi Jews at the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, in hopes of ensuring a sweet New Year.
Recipes vary widely. Lekach is usually a dense, loaf-shaped cake, but some versions are similar to sponge cake or pound cake, with the addition of honey and spices, sometimes with coffee or tea for coloring.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Make Today Soup


Make Today Soup
A Tomato soup, healthy and really tasty..
Ingredients
4 - 5 Tomatoes, blanched,
5 - 6 Tbsp Corn boiled,
1 Tbsp Butter,

1 - 2 Tbsp Fine flour| Maida,
1 Tsp Ginger grated,
1 - 2 Cloves,
A inch piece of Cinnamon,
Salt, Pepper powder and Sugar to taste.
Method
Put water to boil and blanch the tomatoes.
When cool put in mixer jar and make a puree.
Strain the tomato puree.
Also boil corn and keep aside as garnish.
Put a pan to heat add butter, add grated ginger,
cloves, cinnamon and maida.
Stir for few seconds.
Also can add 1 - 2 spoons water if mixture appears
thick.
Now add the tomato puree, allow to boil.
Also add salt, sugar and pepper powder to one's
taste.
When soup thickens, serve hot with few spoons
of boiled corn at the base of the bowl..

DID U KNOW ....

DID U KNOW ....
1 White chocolate is a chocolate derivative. It commonly consists of cocoa butter, sugar, milk solids and salt, and is a pale yellow or ivory in color.
White chocolate is made the same way as milk chocolate and dark chocolate the difference is the ingredients.
2 Neapolitan ice cream is made up of blocks of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream side by side in the same contain

er.
'Neapolitan Ice Cream,' in other words is a block of ice cream composed of layers of different flavors, usually chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.
3 Peppercorns grow on a vine supported by a stake or host tree.
A pepper vine can grow to lengths of 100 feet. The plant requires three years to mature and produce peppercorns, but the vines will continue to be fruitful for years.
4 Apricots originally came from China. This golden fruit has been around for more than 4,000 years.
5 Cinnamon is the spice with the longest known history, a favourite flavouring in cuisines around the world.

HYDERABADI TOAST


HYDERABADI TOAST
Ingredients
For the toast ...
4 - 5 Potatoes boiled n mashed,
1 Onion cut finely,
1 Tbsp Coriander leaves cut,

1\ 4 Tsp Chaat Masala,
1 Green Chilly cut,
1\4 Tsp Garam masala,
1 Tsp Lime juice.
1\2 Cup Corn flour to coat.
4 Bread slices cut in triangle shape.
1\4 Cup Green Chutney,
1\4 Cup Tomato sauce,
1\4 Cup Tamarind sweet Chutney,
1\2 Cup Onions cut finely,
1\2 Cup Sev to sprinkle on top.
Salt to taste.
METHOD
1 Mix in a bowl all the ingredients to make toast
except corn flour.
2 Spread the corn flour on a plate.
3 Cut the bread slices in triangle shape.
4 Apply a thick layer of the potato mixture on each
cut triangle shape bread piece. Only on one side.
5 Now coat the potato mixture side in corn flour.
Put oil to heat and the bread slice with potato mixture
side going first. Flip and fry until golden brown.
6 Drain on kitchen paper.
7 Take two fried triangle pieces, drizzle some green chutney, little tomato sauce


 and tamarind chutney
 also.
8 Also sprinkle some cut onions and garnish on top
with sev...

Muesli had 4 breakfast becomes a beneficial food choice.


Muesli had 4 breakfast becomes a beneficial food choice.
Muesli is a popular breakfast meal based on uncooked rolled oats, fruit and nuts. It was developed around 1900 by Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner for patients in his hospita

l. It is available in a packaged dry form, ready made, or it can be made fresh.
In Switzerland and southern Germany, it is also eaten as a light evening dish; Birchermüesli complet is muesli with butterbrot and coffee with milk. Muesli is a cereal that is made from toasted whole oats, nuts, fruit and typically wheat flakes. It uses whole grains, so it is high in dietary fiber.
Muesli in its modern form became popular in western countries since the 1960's.
Packaged muesli is a loose mixture of mainly rolled oats and/or cornflakes together with various pieces of dried fruit, nuts, and seeds. It commonly contains other rolled cereal grains such as wheat or rye flakes as well.
Some people top foods such as desserts, yogurt or cottage cheese with it. It can be added to muffins, cookies or warm fruit salad.

Kimchi is a traditional Korean vegetable side dish...


Kimchi is a traditional Korean vegetable side dish...
In every culture there are unique ways of cooking and preserving foods. When it comes to preserving vegetables, kimchi would be by far the best way in the world. 
Kimchi is an absolute n

ecessity in every Korean meal. It is a kind of food that combines the savor, nutrients and preservable type of food. kimchi is made from cabbage or vegetables, marinated in a mixture of vinegar and spices until it begins to ferment.
Kimchi or kim chee, is a traditional fermented Korean dish made of vegetables with a variety of seasonings.
It is Korea's national dish, and there are hundreds of varieties made with a main vegetable ingredient such as napa cabbage, radish, scallion, or cucumber.
Early kimchi was made of cabbage and beef stock only.
So Kimchi is Korea's national dish, as is pasta in Italy.
Kimchi can be categorized by main ingredients, regions or seasons.
Different types of kimchi were traditionally made at different times of the year, based on when various vegetables were in season and also to take advantage of hot and cold seasons before the era of refrigeration.
In Summer radishes and cucumbers are summer vegetables made into kimchi.
The greatest varieties of kimchi were available during the winter.
In the past these were prepared in early winter and stored in the ground in large kimchi pots.
Winter in Korea lasts for three or four months, so Korean people have developed a very effective way of preserving kimchi.
Kimchi can be made of one or more kinds of vegetables including radish, Chinese cabbage and cucumber by salting the vegetables with salt, and seasoning with assorted items like chili, garlic, scallion, ginger, and fish juice. After fermenting for a period of time at an appropriate temperature in a sealed container, the mixture of ingredients is turned into a nutritious food which is abundant in vitamins, minerals and fiber.
The cabbage is the most common and popular kimchi.
Kimchi's Flavors are sour, spicy, salty| sweet, garlic, and in many
kimchi fish sauce is also added at the time of fermenting.
Kimchi's popularity has increased around the world.
Korea's national dish of spicy fermented vegetables because it gives texture, tang and a spicy kick.

Shradh, What is the significance of Shradhs ? ? ?


From Purnima to mid of Amavasya, that is for 16 days, Shradh is is performed to provide peace to the soul of our ancestors. In respect to the ancestors, it is very important to follow Pitra Paksha and perform their Shradh work. As per the Hindu scriptures and calendar.
Pitra Pakasha, that is, the Shradh Paksha, starts from Bhadrapad Shukla Purnima to Ashwin Krishna Amavasya. According to this, every year 16 days are mainly dedicated to ancestors.

 Shradh is a Sanskrit word, which literally means "anything done with sincerity and faith." "Shradh" also means “Shraddha" which means unconditional reverence and is to remember the ancestors with gratitude. Shradh is performed every year on the death anniversary of the deceased relative as per the Panchang (The Hindu calendar) or during the period of dark fortnight called Pitra Paksha.
Hindu Puranas are full of details about Shraddh. It is Yama, the god of death in Hindu mythology, who explained the importance of Shraddh performed on Pitru Paksha.
In the Pitra Paksha Shradha, Brahmins are offered food. After the meal, they are given donation and alms as per an individuals capacity. This helps in the maintenance of good health, peace, happiness and enrichment. The religious works done during Shradh Paksha Bhadrapad Shukla Purnima to Ashwini Krishna Amavasya, gives salvation to the ancestors. It is also believed that the food reaches to our forefathers through Brahmans and birds.
Brahmins are fed and given Daan-Dakshina, for it is believed that whatever is given to the Brahmins also reach the departed souls. Shradh is performed so that the ancestors may be satiated with our offerings. Shradh, promotes righteousness and inspires us to think of the other world, and also enhances our devotion towards God. Pleasing of ancestors before God is more beneficial.
Pitra Karya is more significant than Dev Karya.  Vayu Purana, Matsya Purana, Guru Purana, Vishnu Purana and other scriptures like Manu Smriti etc. contains the description of Shradh.
Shradh  is performed with the objective that a Jeeva may attain a better life in its next birth.

Zucchini is ....


Zucchini is shaped like a cucumber, with the outer skin either dark green or yellow in color.
The zucchini is also known as squash and summer squash. 
The vegetable, also belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and is related to the melon and c

ucumber, is like tomatoes.
Generally zucchini is served cooked. It can be prepared in a variety of cooking ways like steamed, boiled, grilled, stuffed and baked, barbecued, fried, or in also in recipes such as soufflés.
The zucchini has a delicate flavor and requires little more
than quick cooking with butter or olive oil, with or without fresh herbs.
Zucchini can also be eaten raw, sliced or shredded in a cold salad, as well as lightly cooked in hot salads, as in
Thai or Vietnamese recipes.
If you suffer from a vitamin C deficiency, zucchinis are great for you. Phosphorus and magnesium found in zucchini.
Zucchini contain vitamin A.
Zucchini is one of the easiest fruits to cultivate in
temperate climates.
The flower of the zucchini plant is also edible.
According to World’s Healthiest Foods Nutrition info,
nutrients and vitamins found in zucchini can help prevent
cancer and heart disease.
A zucchini has more potassium than a banana.
The word zucchini comes from ‘zucca’ the Italian word for squash.
One of the very low calories vegetable it is.

WHAT DOES A ' Water Bath ' MEAN?

WHAT DOES A ' Water Bath ' MEAN?
Definition: A water bath is a technique to gently cook an item or seal a jar.
Cooking with a water bath:
The item to be cooked is placed in a shallow pan of water. The water heats and cooks the item gently. This is especially important for Flan, custards, sauces and mousses to prevent curdling.
The baking dish containing the water and the item to be cooked is gener

ally porcelain or ceramic, rather than metal.
Water baths are often used for egg-based dishes. The proteins in the eggs are very heat sensitive and only need to be warmed to cook thoroughly. They will start to get firm at only 145 degrees. Cooking them with a slow, gentle heat keeps the eggs soft and smooth.
Q. Many recipes call for the dish to be baked in a "water bath." What's a water bath, and why do you need it?
Will the recipe work without it?
A. Some foods require moisture in the oven, as well as a milder heat source than the direct heat of the oven, such as custards, puddings, and cheesecakes.
what's a water bath? It's just a pan of water placed into an oven. The hot water provides a constant, steady heat source and ensures even, slow cooking for recipes that call for a water bath.
http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/tools-and-techniques/what-is-a-water-bath.htm

DO U KNOW .. .

DO U KNOW .. . 
1 Score means to cut small slits in a cut of meat. This process is often useful when marinating which allows the meat to absorb even more of the marinade flavor.
2 What does pulse mean while cooking?
It may be called ' pulse ' when you use a food processor and to put the stuff in the food processor and then you push the button on and off quickly, so the food is only processed for s

hort amounts of time.
Also meaning a method of mixing ingredients in a blender or mixer by using bursts of power in very short intervals.
3 What does thaw mean for cooking?
Thaw is the process of warming food that has been frozen so that the food can be eaten or prepared to be served.
It also means that a frozen item has been warmed to the point that it no longer contains ice crystals.

Why are Strawberries being called a " super fruit "?
Great for weight watchers as they are low calorie.
They are full of Vitamin C and 8 strawberries has more vitamin C than an orange does. Also Strawberries are low in fat, cholesterol and sodium. They are a great source of folate, dietary fibre, manganese and potassium.