Upma or Uppuma or Uppittu is a . . .

Upma or Uppuma or Uppittu is a common South Indian and Sri Lankan Tamil breakfast dish, cooked as a thick porridge from dry roasted semolina. Various seasonings and/or vegetables are often added during the cooking, depending on individual choice.
Upma is usually made with Semolina (called Rava or Suji in India).
There are many ways Upma is prepared.
Ingredients
Semolina (Rava) (1 cup)
Cooking oil (3-4 tbsp)
Mustard seeds (1/2 tsp)
Cumin (1 tsp)
Ginger root (1/2 tsp, grated)
Green chillies (3-5 med, chopped)
Chopped onions (1 med, chopped)
Salt to taste
Vegetables of choice: Peas, carrots, tomatoes, capsicum, etc.
Grated coconut (3-4 tbsp, optional)
Lemon juice (2 tsp, optional)
Method of preparation[edit]
Dry-roast Semolina (rava) until it just begins to turn brown, then keep aside.
In a large saucepan/wok, heat the cooking oil.
Add mustard seeds and wait for them to sputter. Then add cumin, ginger, 
green chillies and chopped onions and fry until onions caramelise.
Add vegetables, salt and 2 cups of water, and bring to boil.
Add the roasted rava, turn down the heat, and mix quickly to avoid lumps forming.
The upma is done when all the water is absorbed by the rava.
Garnish with grated coconut, chopped cilantro leaves and lemon juice.

A Burrito or taco de harina is a

PIC IS FOR REFERENCE PURPOSE ONLY

A Burrito or taco de harina is a type of Mexican American food. It consists of a wheat flour tortilla wrapped or folded into a cylindrical shape to completely enclose the filling. 
(In contrast, a taco is generally formed by simply folding a tortilla in half around a filling, leaving the semicircular perimeter open.)
The flour tortilla is usually lightly grilled or steamed, to soften it and make it more pliable. In Mexico, meat and refried beans are sometimes the only fillings.
Typically, American-style burritos are stuffed with more ingredients than the primary meat and/or vegetable filling.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/mexicansteakburrito_86980
http://members.shaw.ca/alwaysinthekitchen/Burritos.html

WHO AGREE?

WHO AGREE?
Pizza is so confusing.. Square box. Inside Round , Triangle slice.
Why is a pizza pie round, put into a square box and cut into triangle slices?
Is it because. It would be awkward having triangle pizzas, put into circle boxes
and cut into square slices.
Is it just wanted to combine several figures[geometry!"]. Also because they want
to teach us shapes. So they put three shapes into something all love.
Its logical to put a round pizza in a square box because its easier to get the pizza out. 
It's also easier to manufacture a square box then a round one.

Veganism is ....

Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in diet, as well as following an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of sentient animals. 
A follower of veganism is known as a vegan.
The term vegan was coined in 1944 by Donald Watson when he co-founded the British Vegan Society, at first to mean "non-dairy vegetarian" and later to refer to "the doctrine that man should live without exploiting animals."
A 2009 review of recent research indicated that vegan diets tend to be higher in dietary fibre, magnesium, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron and phytochemicals, and lower in calories, saturated fat, cholesterol, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, calcium, zinc and vitamin B12.
Or in other words..
What is a vegan? What is veganism?
Veganism is a type of vegetarian diet that excludes meat, eggs, dairy products and all other animal-derived ingredients. Many vegans also do not eat foods that are processed using animal products, such as refined white sugar and some wines. Most vegans also avoid the use of all products tested on animals, as well as animal-derived non-food products, such as leather, fur and wool.
Vegan refers to either a person who follows this way of eating, or to the diet itself. A vegan diet includes all grains, beans, legumes, vegetables and fruits and the nearly infinite number of foods made by combining them. 
If you want to become vegetarian, you'll want to explore new foods! 
These days, ‘vegan’ has become synonymous with ‘healthy.’ And while a vegan diet is linked to superior health outcomes, not everything that is vegan is good for you. 
In order to be sustainable and healthy, it’s important for vegetarians and vegans to make sure there is variety in their diets. Look for nutrient powerhouses, it is a matter of balance.
One will need to learn and read as much as possible about vegetarian health and foods. Knowledge is power! If you know any other vegetarians or vegans, ask them for their tips or advice.

Baked Potato Jackets. Which way have u tried?

Baked Potato Jackets.
Which way have u tried?
Have u wrapped them in foil also rubbed them with oil and salt before baking. Did try adding a couple of cloves of garlic (peeled) into the foil along with the potato and bake it all together and got delicious roasted garlic to mash into the baked potato.
Do u agree that baked potatoes with a foil helps?
Firstly wrapping baked potatoes in aluminum foil helps them cook faster because of aluminum conducts heat hence traps it.
Also wrapping potatoes will also give you a softer and steamed skin.
But what if one likes crispy skin, then?
So try to rub the potatoes with olive oil and salt as the oil keeps the skin from getting too dry.
If u want to do it 'No foil' then prick the potato six times (3 times, each side) with a fork, and put in a preheated oven at 425 for about 45 minutes. The results would be crisp skin also.
Another way would be to skewer them on a metal skewer.
By doing so the metal skewer would conduct the heat inside the potato and you will still get a well baked potato with the crispy skin on the outside.
Many feel Olive oil, salt, pierced all over for 2 hours in a low oven. The technique is low oven which makes all the difference compared high heat. It is amazing! Lovely crunchy, salty crust, and fluffy interior. Best potatoes ever!
Finally foil or not do it your way.

Mindful Eating. . . INTRO

Mindful Eating. . .
The concept has roots in Buddhist teachings. Just as there are forms of meditation that involve sitting, breathing, standing and 
walking, many Buddhist teachers encourage their students to meditate with food, expanding consciousness by paying close attention to the sensation and purpose of each morsel. 
Mindful eating is not a diet, or about giving up anything at all. It’s about experiencing food more intensely especially the pleasure of it. You can eat a cheeseburger mindfully, if you wish. You might enjoy it a lot more. Or you might decide, halfway through, that your body has had enough. Or that it really needs some salad.
“The question is not what are the foods to eat, in my mind.”
“Most people have a general sense of what the healthy foods are, but they’re not eating them.
What’s on your mind when you’re eating: that’s mindful eating to me.”
Also a key principle of mindful eating is simply to eat, as opposed to eating and talking, eating and watching TV, or eating and watching TV and gossiping on the phone while Tweeting and updating one’s Facebook status.
“People are used to eating so fast. This is a practice of stopping, and we don’t realize how much we’re not stopping.”
For many people, eating fast means eating more. Mindful eating is meant to nudge us beyond what we’re craving so that we wake up to why we’re craving it and what factors might be stoking the habit of belly-stuffing.
“As we practice this regularly, we become aware that we don’t need to eat as much.”
Now about our craving being like a crying baby who is trying to draw our attention”. “When the baby cries, the mother cradles the baby to try to calm the baby right away. By acknowledging and embracing our cravings through a few breaths, we can stop our autopilot of reaching out to the pint of ice cream or the bag of chips.”
“How about the first five minutes we eat, we just eat in silence and really enjoy our food?” “It happens step by step.”
The art of mindful eating and the benefits?
Reduced over eating. Less of feeling bloated and over stuffed.
Increased enjoyment of food & Improved digestion.
Being satisfied with less. Just feeling satisfied after one or two squares of chocolate instead of the temptation to scoff the whole bar.
So are you ready to change the way you interact with food?
Then start . ...
Choose one meal or snack each day and commit to focusing on mindful eating at that time.
Set aside time for eating without other entertainment.
Only eat at the table also develop the habit of only eating when you are sitting down and able to give the food your full attention.
Taking the time to notice the beauty of the food we are about to eat.
Think about the flavor, texture and even the sound of the food in your mouth. Focus on how much you like, or dislike these sensations.
Also make sure you chew your food enough so easy to swallow.
Joys of eating is sharing a meal with loved ones. Then focus the conversation onto the meal while you are actually eating. Share what you are experiencing in terms of flavors and textures, likes and dislikes.
Eating smaller amounts will make one satisfied without having to over eat.

Eat these 5 healthy foods for happiness to fill up and feel good!

Bananas are high in calming B vitamins. The level of vitamin B6 in Bananas can smooth your mood naturally through the regulation of your blood glucose levels. The potassium in them will help to maintain a steady heartbeat as well.Bananas are even great for morning sickness! If you’re feeling nauseous when you roll out of bed, incorporate snacking on bananas between meals to keep your glucose levels normalized.

Blueberries carry energy to the brain, providing you with a heightened sense of awareness and vigor.Blueberries do more than energize they also relax! Your arteries actually relax once the nitric oxide provided by blueberries enters the body.

Cherries can be considered a natural remedy source for sleeplessness. Tart cherries help to boost the brain chemical, serotonin, that regulates your sleep and mood. Tart cherries also contain the self-regulating hormone, melatonin. 

Green Tea . . . Did you know that green-tea habit can take the blues away?

Green tea may be your golden ticket to feeling free and clear once again. A study of over 1,000 Japanese senior citizens showed that those who drank 4 or more cups of green tea daily showed less signs of depression (44%).

What makes green tea a magical elixir you might ask? According to researchers, an amino acid found in green tea called theanine might play a role.

Chocolate is that soothing sense of serenity that covers you with every bite of chocolate.

Why do you feel oh-so-good after eating a piece (or two) of chocolate? As soon as you take that first beautiful bite, your brain’s opioid production goes through the roof! (Opioids are chemicals responsible for reducing pain, increasing good feelings, and just making you feel warm and fuzzy all over.) Chocolate doesn’t have to be bad for you either so you can use dark chocolate, or cacao, which is chocolate in its raw form.

Are these foods in your home? If not, maybe it’s time to fill your fridge with these healthy foods for happiness and start satisfying your happiness along with your hunger!

mindful eating

Did u know there are plenty of ways to work mindfulness into your daily food habits . . . 
mindful eating will only work for you . .
Eating slowly means to savor and enjoy your food is one of the healthiest things you can do.
Savor the silence like "let's see if we can eat for two minutes without talking".
Also Silence the phone. Shut off the TV.
Try paying attention to the details of our food can be a great way to start eating mindfully.
So mindful eating is appreciating, respecting and, above all, enjoying the food you eat every day. 
When the focus becomes how you eat, not what you eat, you may find your notions of what you want to eat shifting dramatically for the better.

Urad dal dahi bhalle

Urad dal dahi bhalle
Ingredients
Soak then grind ..
1\2 Cup soaked split or broken Urad dal,
Salt, red chilly powder and 1 - 2 pinch of Soda- bi-
carb. 
Drain all the water of the soaked dal.
Take in a small mixer jar also add salt, red chilly pd,
and soda- bi-carb.
Grind well.
Take it out in a bowl and using a spoon beat until fluffy.
Put oil to heat.
Drop urad dal pakora type then reduce the flame,
until golden brown.
Take it off the heat, allow to cool for 5 minutes.
Then add to water to soak in which salt and red chilly
powder has been added.
1 Cup Dahi,[ Curd or Yoghurt},
1 Tbsp Green Chutney to drizzle on top,
1 Tbsp Sweet Tamarind Chutney to drizzle on top,
Add to the dahi ..
1 Tsp Sugar, Salt, Black salt, Pepper powder, Red chilly powder, 
Cumin powder to taste.
1 Cup Water to soak the vadas with little salt n red chilly pd to 
one's taste.
Method
Take the dahi n beat it well n until smooth, add salt, red chilly
powder, pepper powder, cumin powder, sugar, black salt.
Keep this to chill in the fridge.
Keep the green n sweet chutney also ready.
When to serve one by one and squeeze out water.
Do it lightly as the vadas becomes very soft.
Arrange the vadas on a plate and pour the
chilled dahi, drizzle the chutneys, also red chilly pd
and cumin pd.
Garnish with few coriander leaves.

tips . . tips

tips . . tips
Brown rice is good for you, but it generally takes a little longer to cook.
Try making brown rice instead of white rice next time.
Also vegetable snacks on hand like Carrot sticks, celery sticks, cucumber
slices and bell pepper slices help as in bet'n meals.
Do u know steaming veggies instead of boiling them is better for u.

Chilly Cheese toast Recipes

Chilly Cheese toast is one of the quick and easy to make dish..
It is a simple and easy toast recipe which can be had as a snack
or for breakfast.
Catch this detailed recipe with loads of tips at the end of the recipe.
http://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/cheese-chilli-toast-recipe/
or
http://www.sharmispassions.com/2012/11/chilli-cheese-toast-recipe-cheese-chilli-toast.html

do u know . . . Watercress is also called Scurvy Grass?

pic is 4 reference purpose only ....
do u know . . .
Watercress is also called Scurvy Grass?
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) is a fast-growing, aquatic or semi-aquatic, perennial plant native to Europe and Asia, and one of the oldest known leaf vegetables consumed by humans.
The hollow stems of watercress are floating, and the leaves are segmented with small, white and green flowers are produced in clusters. Watercress contains significant amounts of iron, calcium, iodine, and folic acid, in addition to vitamins A and C.
Nourish your body with watercress as it is a rich source of vitamins and minerals, this watery plant is also high on taste.
Get to know why it’s called a two-in-one vegetable.
It’s a two-in-one vegetable because the leaves have the velvety floppiness of lamb’s lettuce, while the stalks have the snap of bean sprouts. Watercress has a wonderfully peppery flavour.
Watercress is related to mustard and is one of the strongest-tasting salad leaves available. It has a pungent, slightly bitter, peppery flavour.
When added to salads, a tangle of watercress lends a blast of deepest green taste and bouncy volume. It makes sandwiches lively and fresh. Providing you have a blender, no soup is simpler than watercress.
Growing Watercress .... follow the links . . . .
http://www.garden.org/foodguide/browse/veggie/lettuce_planting/438
http://www.clarkarty.com/at-home/how-to-grow-watercress-at-home/
Buy at . . .
GODREJ NATURE'S BASKET WATERCRESS

Do u know what ' Murukku ' is?

Do u know what ' Murukku ' is?
Murukku is a traditional snack of Tamil Nadu, a savory crunchy twists made from rice and urad dal flour. Murukku is a verb in Tamil language means twisted. ‘Manapparai murukku,' a famous and traditional dish of Tamil Nadu and is included in the package of ten special and popular food items of the state.
Murukku is also known as chakali or chakli.
Murukku is most commonly made of mixed rice flour, urad dal flour and water, seasoned with salt, asafoetida and either sesame seeds or cumin seeds. The ingredients are mixed together into a dough that is then shaped into spiral or coil shapes either by hand or using a mould. The spirals are then deep fried in vegetable oil.
do u know . . .
Murukku, chakli or akar kelapa is a savory snack consisting of a deep-fried spiral of bean-based batter. It originated in the cuisines of south and west India, and is now popular all over the world.
Catch these recipes from south . .
Murukku ( Chakli )
http://chefinyou.com/2009/09/murukku-chakli-recipe/
http://tamilnadurecipes.com/2011/04/13/murukku-murukuchakli-recipe/

DahiWale Aloo

DahiWale Aloo
Ingredients
2 Potatoes cut in cubes and boiled,
1 cup Dahi churned smooth,
1 Tsp Besan| Bengal gram flour opt because 
this will give it a ' kadhi' look but help from curdling.
½ cup Water,
1 Green chilly cut in small pieces,
A small piece Ginger cut in small pieces,
4 - 5 Curry leaves,
1 Pinch Asafoetida| Hing,
1\8 Tsp Cumin seeds,
1 Tbsp Oil,
1\4 Tsp Turmeric powder,
1\2 Tsp Red Chilly powder,
1 Tsp Coriander powder,
1\4 Tsp Garam masala.
METHOD
Cut the potatoes in cubes.
Churn the dahi with besan and add all the dry masalas.
Keep oil to heat add oil, hing, cumin seeds,
green chilly, curry leaves and ginger.
Also add the cut potato pieces.
Stir for a few seconds.
Now add the dahi and stir continuously.
When a boil appears reduce the flame or heat.
Allow to simmer then serve hot with coriander leaves..

Food Waste . . .

Food Waste . . . Half Of All Food Ends Up Thrown Away Sharing the wisdom . . .Many people seemingly lack the knowledge about food waste, which makes it hard to prevent the actual waste of food.In 2013 it was estimated that half of all food is wasted worldwide, according the British Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IME). Loss and wastage occurs on all steps in the food supply chain. In low-income countries, most loss occurs during production, while in developed countries much food that about 100 kilograms (220 lb) per person per year is wasted at the consumption stage."This is food that could be used to feed the world's growing population as well as those in hunger today," said Dr Tim Fox, head of energy and environment at the IME.Food loss measures the decrease in edible food mass (excluding inedible parts and seed) "throughout the part of the supply chain that specifically leads to edible food for human consumption".Food waste is food loss occurring during the retail and final consumption stages due to the behavior of retailers and consumers that is, the throwing away of food.Consumers can reduce their food waste output at points-of-purchase and in their homes by adopting some simple measures; planning when shopping for food is important, and spontaneous purchases are shown as often the most wasteful. Proper knowledge of food storage reduces foods becoming inedible and thrown away.The demand for water in food production has increased. The total amount of fresh water used by humans today has gone up by 3.5 times.Food waste can be dumped, but it can also be fed to animals, or it can be biodegraded by composting or anaerobic digestion, and reused to enrich soil.AVOID FOOD WASTE . ..Food waste is throwing away food, which could have been eaten by oneself or by others.Food waste is buying more than one actually needs.Food waste is rejecting a piece of fruit, because it is slightly wrinkly, bumped or has a spot. Food waste is throwing away food because it has been too long on the dining table. Food waste is pushing the older food to the back of the fridge or cupboard, and placing fresher food in front.Food waste is putting new food in the freezer, before using the same kind of food you already have in the freezer.Food waste is throwing out the last bit of food along with the food packaging. Food waste is removing and discarding several layers of outer leafs of lettuce, cabbage, onions, etc. Food waste is merely using the amount stated in the recipe and then throwing away what's left of the food. Food waste is discarding food, that have been stored wrongly and which has moulded, rotted, dried out, etc.Food waste is discarding meat, vegetables, and stems used to make a soup or a broth.Buy what you need and use what you buy and think in full-use, rather than pick-and-choose.Some of the waste is made up of things like peelings, cores and bones, but the majority (60%) is, or once was, perfectly good food.Most of it ends up in landfill sites where it rots and releases methane, a damaging green house gas. Throwing away food is also a huge waste of the energy, water and packaging used in its production, transportation and storage. The CO2 impact associated with the food waste that could have been eaten is equivalent to taking one in four cars off UK roads.