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/

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.

The Tortilla Espanola or Spanish Omelet is the . .

The Tortilla Espanola or Spanish Omelet is the most commonly served dish in Spain. It is also called Tortilla de Patata or Potato Omelet. It is a typical Spanish dish consisting of a thick egg omelette made with potatoes fried in olive oil.
The potatoes, ideally a starchy variety, are cut into thin slices or in small dice. They are then fried in olive oil together with sliced onions at a moderate temperature until they are soft, but not brown. Browning is often avoided by using an excess of olive oil, which can later be strained and re used. The potatoes and onions are then removed, drained, and mixed with raw beaten and salted eggs. This mixture is then returned to the pan and slowly fried. The tortilla is fried first on one side and then flipped over to fry on its other side. Other ingredients, like green or red peppers, chorizo, tuna, shrimp or different vegetables, may also be added.
The tortilla may be eaten hot or cold; it is commonly served as a tapa or picnic dish throughout Spain. As a tapa, it may be cut into bite size pieces and served on cocktail sticks, or cut into pie style (triangle) portions (pincho de tortilla).

Just wanted to share . . . Kulcha Recipes

Just wanted to share . . . Kulcha Recipes
http://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/kulcha/
http://nishamadhulika.com/en/540-amritsari-aloo-kulcha-recipe.html
http://www.indiankhana.net/2013/07/kulcha-recipe-indian-bread-recipes.html

Shahi tukda a rich dessert . . .

Shahi tukda a rich dessert . . .
Double ka meetha is a bread pudding dessert of fried bread slices soaked in hot milk with spices, including saffron and cardamom. Double ka meetha is a dessert of Hyderabad. It is popular in Hyderabadi cuisine, served at weddings and parties. Double ka meetha refers to the milk bread, called "Double Roti" in the local Indian dialects because it swells up to almost double its original size after baking.
The dish is similar to Shahi Tukda which has its roots in Pakistani cuisine and is a famous dessert in Mughlai cuisine. It is particularly prepared during the festive month of Ramadan and on Eid. The recipe uses bread, condensed milk, and dry fruits.
Shahi Tukda Recipes . . .
http://www.ifood.tv/recipe/diwali-special-shahi-tukda
http://gayathriscookspot.blogspot.in/2013/08/shahi-tukda.html

The Fruit Peels You Should Never Throw Away . .

The Fruit Peels You Should Never Throw Away . . 

Do you know that most people are used to peeling many fruits and vegetables, and then throwing the peels out. 
But then what about the tons of benefits of fruit peels that you miss out on?
Did u know?
The peel actually contains four times more fiber than the entire orange.
So what can one do?
The problem is that orange peels don’t taste as good as the fruit itself. So to avoid the bitter taste just take a piece of the orange peel, grate it, and sprinkle it on your salads or vegetables. This orange zest can enhance any dish, and even tastes good mixed into cookies or cake.
What is Orange zest?
Orange zest is the top layer of the orange's peel. It contains the fruit's oils, and adds flavor to a variety of dishes.
Take off only the rind of the orange's skin, and not the pith.
What are the Health Benefits of Orange Peels?
The health benefits are like Anti-cholesterol, also averts Cancer,
even helps in Heartburn, Indigestion, besides these they are good
as a room/air freshener and Skin Whitening.
Orange Peel Face pack
Take some orange peel and let them dry. Now, grind them to make powder. You can also store this powder in an air tight bottle.
Now, take one spoon of orange peel powder, one spoon of gram flour, a pinch of turmeric powder, one spoon milk and one spoon rose water. Mix all ingredients and make a smooth paste.
Apply this pack on your face and neck for 20-30 minutes and then rinse with normal water.
It is a wonderful pack for skin tightening and skin whitening. You can use this pack once a week.
So eat more Oranges for good health..

Does anyone do this..

Does anyone do this..
Pomegranate peel is a wonderful homemade scrub. You can use half spoon of dried pomegranate peel powder in any pack and use it as your body scrub. Even dried pomegranate peel can be mixed with lemon or rose water to apply as a face pack. 
Do the same with Banana peel also..
Mash some banana peel and apply it on your face for 10-15 minutes. It helps in removing age signs and makes your skin soft and smooth.

more info

Many fruits like Apples, pears, peaches, plums, nectarines and others that appear bruised are most often usable. It is because the bruised portion of the fruit can be easily cut off with a small knife, and very little of the fruit is wasted. 
The bruising is most often caused by the handling and methods 
by which the fruit is shipped and reaches us.
Fruit such as oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit may appear bad, but are perfectly fine to eat. Do not discard citrus fruit unless the skin has rotten through to the flesh, and the fruit has shriveled, your finger easily pierces the skin.
Here are some properties of the fruit and vegetable peels:
Peel is rich source of dietary fiber
Peel is low in calories, sugar and fats
The peel of some fruits contains considerable amounts of mineral and vitamins.
Certain fruit peels like in orange contain rather higher levels of vitamin C than its juice.
Peel of some of the common fruits like blueberries, grapes and guava contain higher concentration of anti-oxidants.
Cucumber peels are used in beauty care for tightening the face skin, hydrating and moisturizing effects. Potato peels can reduce puffiness around eyes.
The peels of the fruits and vegetables can be put to their best use.

info .. ..

info .. ...
The batata is a root crop that is a type of sweet potato. It is grown in the Caribbean and has a flavor that is similar to a sweet potato, yet more starchy. Because it is a sweet potato variety, you can use 
the batata in any recipes where sweet potatoes are required. However, batatas are an exotic vegetable. Therefore, you may not be able to find them easily at your local market.

The latest buzz word is “eating clean,” . ..

The latest buzz word is “eating clean,” . ..
What is Clean Eating? By Jessica Cox, RD, Culinary Nutritionist
Clean Eating is a dietary lifestyle that is whole, natural foods while reducing highly processed foods and chemicals and preservatives in your diet. A clean eating approach focuses on nutrient-dense foods, giving you the most nutrition bang for each calorie, and is intended to be in line with the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
What’s included: Fresh fruits and vegetables (e.g., Leafy greens, carrots, apples, berries)
Whole grains (e.g., whole wheat flour, oatmeal, brown rice)
Lean proteins (e.g., lean meats, beans, legumes)
Low-fat dairy products (e.g., 1% or skim milk, low fat yogurt, cheeses)
Healthy fats in moderation (e.g., avocados, olive oil, canola oil).
What avoided/limited: Refined grains (e.g., white flour, white rice, white bread), Added sugars (e.g., Sodas, energy drinks, baked goods, desserts), Packaged and highly processed foods (e.g.,snack foods like chips and crackers, convenience products, and canned sauces), Alcohol.
Even clean eating is NOT a diet but it is a lifestyle choice. Clean eating is not a new concept, as a matter of fact clean eating has been around for quite some time.
"Clean Eating" dates back to the natural health food movement of the 1960's, which shunned processed foods for the sake of moral and societal values (rather than health and nutrition issues). Eventually it landed in gyms, where it gained momentum among body builders and fitness models. Recently, however, it made the jump into mainstream America, rejuvenating and inspiring a new generation of healthy eaters.
When someone makes the choice to eat "clean" they are choosing to eliminate all processed foods and extra additives from their diet. Basically, you are choosing to eat whole, unrefined foods. Also
Eating clean combines three aspects of healthy eating: overall nutrition; emphasis on unprocessed foods; and healthy food preparation.