Potato-Ladies Finger Poriyal/ Fry

Ingredients:
Potato - 2 big (diced)
Ladies Finger - 1/2 kg (diced)
garam masala - 1 tbsp
Coriander powder - 1 tbsp
green chilli- 4
Salt
Pepper
Coriender leaves- to garnish

For Potato Ladies Finger Poriyal:

• Deep fry both ladies finger and potato seperately and keep aside.
• Heat 1 tbsp oil in pan, Add curry leaves, green chillies, the fried potatoes and ladies finger and add the garam masala, coriander powder, pepper and salt and mix them well.
• Garnish wiwth coriander leaves.

This would taste heavenly.... try it out.

Vaalaka/ Plantain Bajji

Ingredients:

Besan Flour - 1 cup

Valaka/ Plantain - 1 Sliced into thin pieces

Garam masala - 1/2 tbsp

pepper or chilli powder - 1 tbsp

salt - as required

• Make a paste of all the above except the plantain. Make sure its a little thick in order to stick well to the plaintain.
• Coat the plaintain nicely in besan paste and deep fry in oil.
• Fry all the pieces in the same way.
• Interesting and easy snacks ready in less than 15 mins. Enjoy hot !!!

Channa Puri Samosa

Ingredients:
Wheat flour/ Atta - 2 cups
Warm Water - as required
Salt - as required
Oil - 2 tbsp

• Mix the above ingredients except oil , and make a soft dough.
• Coat dough with oil and let it rest for atleast 20 to 30 mins.

Meanwhile, for the Masala filling:

Channa/ Chick Peas - 1 cup (Soaked over night and pressure cooked)
Potato - 1 (pressure cooked, peeled and diced)
Peas - 1/2 cup
Onions - 1/2 chopped
garam masala - 1/2 tbsp
coriander powder - 1 tbsp
chilli powder - 1 tbsp
Green chilli - 2
curry leaves - 1 strand
Salt - as required

• Heat oil in pan, Add curry leaves, onions, potato, peas, chick peas, all the masalas and cook for 5 to 10 mins. Add required salt and turn of flame.
• Let it cool down little bit.
• Now, to the rolled dough, place little filling, and press the edges firmly so that the filling does not come out.
• Deep fry in oil, till golden brown... Repeat the same for as many samosa's you want
• Enjoy hot !!! :)
  

Honey & Cinnamon

It is found that mixture of Honey and Cinnamon cures most of the diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Ayurvedic as well as Yunani medicine have been using honey as a vital medicine for centuries. Scientists of today also accept honey as a Ram Ban (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases. Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients also. A famous magazine named Weekly World News published in Canada dated 17 January, 95 has given a list of diseases that can be cured by Honey and Cinnamon as researched by western scientists.

ARTHRITIS: Take one part honey to two parts of luke warm water and add a small teaspoon of cinnamon powder, make a paste and massage it on the itching part of the body slowly. It is noticed that the pain recedes within a minute or two. Or arthritis patients may daily, morning and night take one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If drunk regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research done at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week out of the 200 people so treated practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

HAIR LOSS : Those suffering from hair loss or baldness, may apply a paste of hot olive oil, one tablespoon of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder before bath and keep it for approx. 15 min. and then wash the hair. It was found very effective if kept for 5 mins. also.

BLADDER INFECTION : Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of luke warm water and drink it. It destroys the germs of the bladder.

TOOTH ACHE: Make a paste of one teaspoon of cinnamon powder and five teaspoons of honey and apply on the aching tooth. This may be done 3 times a day daily till such time that the tooth has stopped aching.

CHOLESTROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, if given to a cholesterol patient, it reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10% within 2 hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken 3 times a day any chronic cholesterol is cured. As per the information received in the said journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complains of cholesterol.

COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon luke warm honey with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder daily for 3 days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold and clear the sinuses.

INFERTILITY: Yunani and Ayurvedic have been using honey for years in medicine to strengthen the semen of men. If impotent men regularly take two tablespoon of honey before sleeping, their problem will be solved. In China, Japan and Far-East countries, women who do not conceive and to strengthen the uterus have been taking cinnamon powder for centuries. Women who cannot conceive may take a pinch of cinnamon powder in half teaspoon of honey and apply it on the gums frequently throughout the day, so that it slowly mixes with the saliva and enters the body. A couple in Merryland, America had no children for 14 years and had left hope of having a child of their own. When told about this process husband and wife started taking honey and cinnamon as stated above, the wife conceived after a few months and had twins at full term.

UPSET STOMACH: Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears stomach ulcers from the root.

GAS : According to the studies done in India & Japan, it is revealed that if honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

HEART DISEASE: Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread or chappati instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also those who have already had an attack, if they do this process daily, are kept miles away from the next attack.

Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat.

In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that due to the increasing age the arteries and veins which lose their flexibility and get clogged are revitalized.

IMMNUE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks.
Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts.
Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral diseases.

INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food, relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

INFLUENZA: A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ingredient which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

LONGEVITY: Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly arrests the ravages of old age. Take 4 spoons of honey, 1spoon of cinnamon powder and 3 cups of water and boil to make like tea.
Drink 1/4 cup, 3 to 4 times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age.
Life span also increases and even if a person is 100 years old, starts performing the chores of a 20 year old.

PIMPLES: Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste.
Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water.
If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root.

SKIN INFECTION: Eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections are cured by applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts.

WEIGHT LOSS: Daily in the morning, 1/2 hour before breakfast on an empty stomach and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup water.
If taken regularly it reduces the weight of even the most obese person.
Also drinking of this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.

CANCER: Recent research in Japan and Australia has reveled that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully.
Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month 3 times a day.

FATIGUE: Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful than detrimental to the body strength.
Senior citizens who take honey and cinnamon power in equal parts are more alert and flexible.
Dr. Milton who has done research says that half tablespoon honey taken in one glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3.00 p.m. when the vitality of the body starts decreasing, increases the vitality of the body within a week.

BAD BREATH: People of South America, first thing in the morning gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water. So their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

HEARING LOSS: Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder taken in equal parts restores hearing.

As far as i have heard ans researched honey is very very healthy and useful for many cures which you ve seen above ... Apart from all these displayed here , there might be lots more yet to discovered im sure ... One thing i can guarantee you is ... " Honey is Healthy" and Good for your Health ....so try it ... Eat Healthy...Live Healthy !!! Enjoy life ..

Nutty Banana Vanilla Creme Cake

It was my hubby's Bday yesterday and so, i baked a Surprise cake for him :)) mmm ..Not much of a surprise, coz he knew ill bake a cake for him.. I bake cakes for all special occasions. Then, wont i do it for his bday ??? !!! ha ha ... so it was not a surprise ... he was actually expecting one !!!

So... my hubby is very picky...so finicky... no chocolate, no pineapple, no strawberry's ....what else cake can we bake for a bday ??? If i had baked any of the above No's ...ill end up eating the whole cake and adding extra kilo's..which i don't want :) So I decided to bake a Banana Walnut cake ....but since i did nt have walnuts...i used Almonds and Pecans and changed my cake name to "Nutty Banana Cake with Vanilla Creme ... " ...howz that !!!

Here's what you ll need to bake Nutty Banana Vanilla Creme Cake:

All Purpose Flour - 2 cups
Baking Powder - 1 tbsp
Baking Soda - 1/2 tbsp
Butter - 100 gms (1 stick)
Powdered Sugar - 2 cups
Egg - 2 (Separate the egg white and yoke and beat both till fluffy- keep aside)
Milk - 1/2 cup
Sour Creme - 2 tbsp
Vanilla Essence - 2 tbsp
Smashed Banana - 1
Nuts - Almonds, Pecans, walnuts - 1/2 cup ( use any nut of your choice and quantity of your choice too)
For Nutty Banana Vanilla Creme Cake:

• Wet Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, add butter and beat till creamy and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar and beat again. Add the beaten eggs, milk, vanilla essence, sour creme to the above mixing bowl and beat till it mixes well.
• Dry ingredients: First Sieve the flour, baking powder, baking soda. Add them to the mixing bowl along with all the other ingredients. Beat well till the batter is well mixed.
• Add the smashed Banana and beat again.
• Finally add the nuts and fold the batter well.
• Grease the baking pan, place a baking paper( parchment paper) and add the batter to 2 pans. Meanwhile, preheat the oven @ 350 degree
• Bake the cakes @ 350 degrees for 45 minutes.



• Let the cake cool down for a little while.

For Vanilla Creme Icing Ull need:

Heavy Whipping Creme - 1 pint
Butter - 1 stick (optional)
Sour creme - 1 tbsp (optional)
Confectioners sugar - 1 to 1/2 cup
Vanilla Essence - 2 tbsp

• Add the heavy whipping creme, sugar and beat till the creme becomes little thick, then add the butter and beat again till thick. Add the vanilla essence and fold the icing creme.

Layering the Cake: Once the cake is cooled, Place the first cake layer add 1/2 inch icing on top, then the next layer and add 1/2 inch icing throughout the outer surface of the cake in even pace. You need not make it perfectly flat. Having a little bumpy and messy cake surface gives a nice Home mstyle look ....and i like that. :))
Tips:

• I added cocoa powder to the icing creme for the decorations. coz i needed a contrast color. You can also add 'icing color' to the icing mix to decorate in different colors. Since i did nt have it, i used chocolate icing for decorations. you can try any other colors as well.
• While layering, you can also add Strawberry preserves to the middle layer.
• You can also use, nuts and chocolate chips for the decorations..
• Adding sour creme to your cake, makes your cake more fluffier and soft..

I baked the cake yesterday and its over today !!! It was indeed delicious and nutty :))) try it out and let me know your suggestions and comments...

Natural Weight Reducing Diet !!!

This is an interesting topic !!! and this post is especially for my brother and for all those of you, who want to reduce some weight and want to be trim and fit...

Well, to start of with some facts, regular exercises are very important for a trim and fit body. But diet also plays a very vital role in toning our body line. Most or all the food that we eat do have some calories. So when we eat calorie food, we add weight. "But, can you imagine eating food can also reduce your weight ? Yes , you read it right!!! Eating some food can actually reduce your weight ...and you need not starve or sacrifice any of your favourite dishes in the process of weight loss.. "

"So as i told you, eating some food can actually reduce your weight, lets see how and what and where and many more answers to all your questions ... "
Some fruits and vegetables are very high in calorie...and unfortunately, the tastiest foods contain the highest calorie rate.. Lets ignore those for a while and lets see what helps in weight loss...
There are some vegetables and fruits which have 'NEGATIVE CALORIES' .... that's right ...."-ve -ve calories .... " Great to hear this isn't it !!!
So the more the -ve calorie food you eat , the more calories you will BURN !!! ... And you can see the difference in just 1 week..

What does Negative Calorie' mean ?
Negative Calorie food are those which use more calories to digest than the calories the food actually contains. Hence, you get to reduce the extra fat in your body. And also they are rich in Vitamins and Minerals ...This gives these foods a tremendous natural fat-burning advantage. So having Negative Calorie food is the best way to Natural Weight Loss ...

How it works?
All foods have a nutrient (carbohydrate, fat, protein), caloric (calories) and vitamin & mineral content. Vitamins stimulate living tissues to produce enzymes that breakdown the caloric nutrients of that food.The foods with negative calorie contain sufficient vitamins & minerals that produce enzymes in quantities sufficient to break down not only its own calories, but additional calories from body in digestion as well. This is called "negative calorie effect".

How to do it ?
Well, I'm not asking you to eat just the negative calorie food. What I'm telling you is " Add the negative calorie food in a higher ratio to your regular cooking" ...For example, Banana's and Mango's are very high in calorie. But, don't avoid them, coz they are also high in fiber, vitamins and minerals. Just include apples, strawberries, orange, watermelon to your fruit bowl in a higher ratio and relish ...
Similarly, in vegetables, potato's are high in calorie only when fried in oil. But if they are eaten in the right way by steaming and boiling them, there is no other source of medicinal values you can get then from a 'Potato'... Potatoes are rich in 'Medicinal Values' - if eaten in the right way!!! Most of us miss interpret, the above facts and avoid it ... Don't do that mistake anymore. Eat potatoes, bananas, mango's in the right proportion and you ll stay healthy !!!
Carrots, Lettuce, celery, Spinach, Cucumber, etc are Negative calorie vegetables .... - you can also eat them raw...so eat lots of these.. . The more you eat, the more calories/ fat you ll BURN.

I have a list of some of the Negative Calorie food....which i have tired my self. And Now, even after being a mom, I'm able to fit into my college days jeans... I did nt do follow any special diet ....i just ate 'Negative Calorie food' ... and i still do. Even if you feel difficult at the beginning, youll soon get used to the cycle. I know a friend of mine who reduces 12 lbs in 1 month. So try it out. It really works !!!

Some of the food with Negative Calories:

• asparagus
• apple
• beet
• cranberries
• broccoli
• grapefruit
• green cabbage
• lemon
• carrot
• orange
• cauliflower
• pineapple
• celery
• raspberries
• peppers
• strawberries
• cucumber
• lettuce
• garlic
• onion
• green beans
• papaya
• zucchini
• radish
• turnip
• spinach
• etc

TIP: In addition to Negative Calorie Food, drink plenty of WATER.. Water washes away all the bad toxic from the body and keeps skin fresh and vibrant throughout.

This is the list of Negative Calorie foods as far as i have researched and as far as i have experimented my self. This is not ALL ...There are still lots that i don't know and lots more that is not yet known to anyone.. So gentle readers, if you know any other Negative Calorie food, do let me know, and ill add them to the list ...so that all can benefit !!! Also do give me your comments if you have found this post useful...

Don't let your body control you ....and Good Luck with your Weight Loss !!!

Yummy Chocolate Chip Cookies...

Ingredients:
All purpose flour - 2 1/4 cups
Baking soda - 1/2 tbsp

Baking Powder - 1 tbsp
Salt - 1 tbsp
Butter, softened - 1 cup (150 grams)

Granulated sugar - 3/4 cup
Packed brown sugar - 3/4 cup
Vanilla essence- 1 tbsp
Eggs - 2
Semi Sweetened Chocolate chips / Broken Chocolate pieces - 2 cups

Chopped nuts- 1 cup(optional)

For Chocolate Chip Cookies:

• First, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F .
• Lets mix the wet ingredients first.
• To a large mixing bowl, add the flour, granulated and brown sugar, vanilla essence and eggs and beat till creamy.
• Now add the dry ingredients to the bowl - add the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt - and blend till all ingredients are mixed well. Don't over mix. That will give a hard texture to your cookies. So just mix till all the ingredients are just combined together.
• Now, add the nuts and chocolate chips/ chocolate pieces and just fold the mixture. Don't blend or mix any further. Just fold the mixture using a spatula.
• To the baking tray, place a baking sheet so that the cookies don't stick to the tray, and place one scoop of cookie dough (Size off a golf ball) to baking sheet. Do not spread it flat. It will flatten in the baking process. Also while placing the rest of the cookie dough, make sure to have 2 inch space around the cookies. coz, it will expand in the baking process.
• Place all the cookies in tray, bake for 10 - 12 minutes.
• Once baked, let it cool for 5 mins.

Tips:

1. If you don't have brown sugar , just add granulated sugar instead. Plus add 2 tbsp honey for extra flavour. It tastes great !!!

Will be gone in no time ...
Enjoy your cookies ... :)

Quick & Easy Chicken Biriyani

Ingredients:

Basmathi Rice - 3 cups

Chicken - 2 lbs

Chopped Onion - 1/2 (medium)

Chopped Tomatoes - 1

Ginger garlic paste - 2 tbsp

Green chillies - 4 to 5 ( small)

Biriyani Masala - 3 tbsp

Spices - Bay leaf - 1, Cinnamon sticks - 1 (2 inch) , Cardamom - 4, Cloves - 4

Mint leaves - few (optional)

Coriander Leaves

Salt

Oil

Biriyani Masala: Dry roast all the below ingredients separately, cool and grind to a fine powder.

Cinnamon – 1 big stick

Cardamom – 3

Cloves – 4

Nutmeg – 1/4 tbsp

Fennel seeds – 1/2 tsp

Peppercorn - 1/2 tbsp

Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp

Shahjeera – 1/2 tsp

Mace – 3

Coriander seeds - 1 tbsp

Red chillies - 4

For Chicken Biriyani:

• Soak the Basmathi Rice for 30 mins in Luke warm water.
• Heat Oil in pan, add the spices, ginger garlic paste, green chillies, keep stirring. When golden brown, add the onions, fry till golden brown, add tomatoes and let it cook for another 5 mins. Smash the tomatoes, add the biriyani masala, little water and let it cook for 5 mins. Add the chicken pieces, stir well, add water till chicken is covered in water and cook for 10 mins.
• Add required salt.
• Now, add the rice just on top of the chicken, and water just till the rice is soaked. Add Mint leaves and coriander leaves. Pressure cook for 10 to 15 mins. Or add to electric cooker and let it cook.

Cooking time will not take more than 30 minutes... Serve hot with Raitha and brinjal masala.

Samba Puttu

Ingredients:

Samba/ Chemba Puttu Flour - 2 cups

Salt - 1 tbsp
Water - as required

Shredded coconut - as required

Sugar - as required

For Puttu:

• Wet the flour with water,add salt and keep aside for 5 mins.
• In Puttu Kolal, add 2 hand full flour, then 1 hand full coconut, repeat the same till you reach the end of the puttu (kolal )vessel.
• Place it on top of the pressure cooker, and steam it.
• Puttu will be ready in 5 to 10 mins.
• Transfer to plate, add sugar and enjoy with Green gram dhal ( cooked and sugar added) and papad.

Tips:

1. If you dont have a puttu kolal/ vessel, spread the puttu flour with the shredded coconut on a tray and steam it by placing inside the cooker.
2. Pressure cook the green gram dhal in cooker, and use the pressure outside to steam to Puttu... All in one !!! ..
3. Follow the same steps for 'White Puttu' as well..

Good for an ideal breakfast !!! Tastes Yummy yummy .... Enjoy