2-hara bhara kabab

Ingredients
boiled potatoes - 400 Gms ,
boiled green peas - 100 Gms ,
boiled spinach -100 Gms ,
chpped green coriander - 2 tbsps ,
chopped green chili -1 tbsps ,
chopped ginger -1 tbsp ,
chaat masala -1tsp ,
cornflour -2 tsps ,
oil for deep frying ,
salt - as per taste

Method
1/ peel & GRATE boiled potatoes .
2/ mash BOILED green peas .
3/ squeeze out excess water of
spinach & CHOP finely .
4/ mix grated potatoes , peas &
spinach .add chopped green
chilies , chopped green coriander ,
chopped ginger , chaat masala & salt .
add cornflour for binding .
5/ divide the mixture into 25 equal
portions . shape them into a ball &
then press it between your palms to
faltten it . these are now called tikkis .
6/ heat oil in a KADHAI . deep-fry the
tikkis in hot oil for 3-4 minutes .
7/ serve hot .

tip - you may also shallow -fry the
HARA BHARA KABAB on a griddle
pate or a TAVAA .

JALEBI

JALEBI
Ingredients :
White gram dal - 500gm
Water - 1litre
Sugar - 1kg
Coconut oil or refined oil - 1kg
Jalebi colour (orange) - 5 drops
Salt - to taste



Preparation :
Finely grind the white gram dal with little water. Mix salt in it and make a smooth batter of semi-thick consistency.

Heat sugar in a pan and add water into it. Add the jalebi colour and remove from the fire when it thickens.

Heat oil in a thick bottom vessel. Squeeze the prepared batter into the oil through a thin layered cloth. While squeezing the batter, first make three rounds and a flower shape on top. When it is done (don't fry), remove from oil. Allow oil to drain. Put the jalebis into the warm sugar syrup. Take out after they soak in the syrup for about 15 minutes. Make jalebi's with the whole batter

The Acidity of Food

The Acidity of Food


There was a widely held belief that eating certain foods that were acidic would lead to stomach ulcers. Indeed for many years doctors would advise patients that were diagnosed with ulcers to avoid certain foods. People who suffer from heartburn also often try to find something in their diet that is adding acid to their stomach. But a closer look at the acidity of foods and the events that go on in the stomach during a meal shows that foods are not the source of many upset stomachs. Acidity is measured on a scale from 1 to 14 and is expressed as a pH value. A pH of 1 is very acidic, a pH of 14 is very weakly acidic or more commonly referred to as being very basic. A food or drink that has a pH of 7 is neutral, neither acidic nor basic. Distilled water has a pH of 7. Foods or drinks that have a pH below 7 are acidic, and those above pH 7 are basic. On the acidic side of the scale, a lower number means more acidic. A pH of 2 is more acidic than a pH of 3. On the basic side, a higher number means more basic. A pH of 10 is more basic than a pH of 9.

The 1-14 pH scale is not a linear scale however, which makes it a bit more complicated to understand. The pH scale is in fact a logarithmic scale. So a food that has a pH of 2 is 1 unit of pH different than a food with a pH of 3, but in fact is 10 times more acidic. If two foods have pH’s that are 2 pH units apart, their acidity is 100 times different.

Just about all foods that we eat are acidic - have a pH between 2 and 7. But the stomach is also a very acid place. Once we start eating, acid is secreted into the stomach to start the digestion process. The secretions mix with the food in the stomach and the resulting mixture can have a pH of 1.0-3.0 - very acidic. So when you eat carrots that have a pH of 6, they end up in the stomach that can be 10,000 times more acidic. Even acidic foods such as oranges, lemons or wines are not as acidic as the as normal stomach contents.

oranges, lemons or wines are not as acidic as the as normal stomach contents

It is often not the food we eat that causes acidity problems in the stomach, but an over production of acid that is secreted into the stomach following a meal. Some foods can in fact help reduce the acidity in the stomach by neutralizing (reducing) some of the acidity. Foods higher on the pH scale will tend to do this. The beneficial effects of milk probably has more to do with reducing the acidity in the stomach contents than its reported coating of stomach lining effects.


Table 1: pH of Some Common Foods pH of Some Common Foods
eggs 7.6 - 8.0
Bananas 4.5 - 4.7
Corn 6.0 - 6.5
Carrots 4.9 - 5.3
Oysters 6.1 - 6.6
Cherries 3.2 - 4.0
Cow’s milk 6.3 - 6.6
Oranges 3.0 - 4.0
Wheat flour 5.5 - 6.5
Soft drinks 2.0 - 4.0
Potatoes 5.6 - 6.0
Wines 2.8 - 3.8
Squash 5.0 - 5.4
Lemons 2.2 - 2.4

Tomato Chutney recipe

Tomato Chutney recipe

Tomatoes Fresh -6 Nos
Green chillies - 2 nos
Red Chillies (dry) - 2 nos
mustard seeds - 2 tsp
urad dal - 1 tsp
methi seeds - 1 tsp
hing - 2 tsp
salt for taste
brown sugar 1 tsp
coriander seeds 1 tsp
oil 1 tbsp


Method :
In a pan heat the oil and add 1 tsp of mustard seeds ,urad dal, methi, coriander seeds ,hing,
& chilliies. Fry for a minute. Add the tomatoes ,brown sugar& salt.
Fry till all the ingredients gets mixed & tomatoes are well cooked.
Let it cool completely . Grind it to a fine paste.
Do the seasoning with the other tsp of mustard seeds in a tsp of oil.

Wheat Flour Laddu

Wheat Flour Laddu

Ingredients :

Wheat flour - 1cup
Besan - 1/2cup
Melted ghee or dalda - 1/2tsp
Sieves and powdered sugar - 1/2cup
Cardamom powder - 1/4tsp
Chopped cashew nuts - 3dsp
Sugar - 1/2cup
Melted ghee - 1/2cup

Method :

Heat a pan and add the melted ghee or dalda. Sauté wheat flour and besan together. (Do not allow the colour of the flour to change). When it is done, remove from fire and allow to cool. Add powdered sugar and cardamom powder and mix well.

Melt 1/2cup sugar in a pan. Add 1/4cup ghee in it. Pour the content immediately on a greased flat vessel or bowl. This syrup will become hard when cooled. Grind it coarsely and add this to the prepared flour mixture.

Fry the cashew nuts and mix in the remaining 1/4cup ghee. Add this to the flour mixture and mix well. Make small balls before it cools.

Banana Tikki

Banana Tikki

Serves 4
Cooking time (approximately): 10 minutes

~Ingredients

3 raw bananas
2 medium-size onions, finely chopped
3 green chillies, finely chopped
2 pieces of ginger, crushed
5 tbsp oil
Salt to taste

~Method

Peel and boil the raw bananas. Mash it well.

Add onion, green chillies and ginger.

Add salt and mix well.

Make small balls, flatten and shape like cutlets.

Shallow fry in oil.

Serve hot with tomato sauce.

Health counter: You can also put these tikkis in any vegetable curry. Rich in iron, banana tikkis are much less fattening than their potato counterparts.

Gobi Pakora

Gobi Pakora

Serves 5-6
Cooking time (approximately): 10 minutes

~Ingredients

1 small cauliflower, cut into medium-size pieces, pressure cooked till one whistle
1 small cup besan (full to the brim)
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp red chilli powder
½ tsp kala jeera
¼ cup coriander leaves
2 green chillies, finely chopped
1 small cup mustard or sunflower oil
2 tsp salt
½ cup water or as required


~Method

Mix the besan and water well so that you get a smooth paste. It should not be too dry nor too watery.

Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, kala jeera, green chillies, coriander leaves and salt to the paste and mix well.

Dip the cauliflower pieces into the paste. See that each piece is well coated.

Heat oil in a pan.

Deep fry the cauliflower pieces in the oil till they turn golden brown.

Serve hot with tea or coffee.

Health counter: These pakoras taste divine with the afternoon tea but this dish is a strict no-no for diabetics and those with high levels of blood urea.

Papaya, orange 'n' carrot juice

Papaya, orange 'n' carrot juice

Serves: 1 glass

~ Ingredients

1 cup papaya
1 medium-size orange
1 small carrot

~ Method

Wash the carrot and dice it. Remove the seeds from the orange and papaya and dice them.

Add the diced carrot along with the papaya and orange in a blender.

Blend well.

Add water for fine consistency.

Add crushed ice and serve.

Health tip: Papaya, orange and carrot juice are rich in beta carotene and vitamin C. "Beta carotene is an essential nutrient for healthy eyes. Yellow fruits such as papayas and oranges are anti-cancerous and are also rich in vitamin A."

Health Tips For Busy People: Healthy Diet & Exercise In the Office

Many women's lifestyle magazines frustrate us by providing exercise regimens for work and then adding: "You can do this exercise in your office!" What about those of us who work in a cube or other small space (with no floor space for Pilates-style stretches) that's not very private (do you really want your boss to wander by right when you're doing jumping jacks?). Even if you are cube-confined, you can maintain your health in a cube.

Make A "Health" Drawer

Your filing spaces are your friends. Most cubes have lots of little drawers. Make one of them a "health" drawer. Add a ziplock bag or two with healthy non-perishable snacks in it (maybe dried veggies), a few bags of herbal, non-caffeinated tea (switch over from coffee midday to help you sleep better at night), and a travel-size hand-sanitizing gel for use regularly when there's a cold going around the office (did you know most colds are transmitted through shared objects like doorknobs?). A decorative canvas bag can store an extra pair of athletic shoes in case you can take a 10 minute walk or stretch break over lunch.

Get Blood Back To Your Brain:

Pop goes the weasel. When you sit in a cube in front of a computer or on the phone for hours at a time, gravity pulls your blood towards your feet. It pools in your feet, ankles, and fanny; if you're ever noticed your feet looking puffy towards the end of the day, the puffiness may be a side-effect of having blood spending so much time down there! Our arm and leg muscles function as "pumps" to get blood back to the heart.

While you could just do jumping jacks to get the blood flowing back upwards, there are less noticeable ways to get blood moving: If you've got a shelf in your high in your cube, keep daily useables (paperclips, stapler) there; getting up regularly will remind you to stretch. While standing lift your legs up at the knee, one at a time, to help get blood flowing. One enterprising woman kept a postcard pinned up towards the very top of her cube wall - and kept an ever-growing collection of postcards that she exchanged every day in the afternoon. The new postcard each day perked her up, and it gave her a reminder to get up and stretch several times a day.

Muscular injury is common in the desk-job world. The Center for Disease Control reports that 92,576 injuries resulted from repetitive motion, including typing or key entry. Make sure to take breaks from the keyboard at least once an hour. Use a wrist support at your computer when you are typing or browsing, Your forearm, wrist, and hand should be on a level, not making a V. The Harvard RSI action group suggests some exercises to help prevent repetitive stress injuries (http://www.rsi.deas.harvard.edu/). If you spend a lot of time on the phone and can't use a speaker phone, don't hold the phone by crunching your shoulder against your ear. Instead, invest in or ask for a headset or shoulder support for your receiver.

Drink Plenty Of Water:

Drinking water is very important. It can help you recover from a cold more quickly (though it doesn't "cure" it), replenish lost fluids after exercise, and assist in weight loss (many people think they are hungry when they are actually thirsty, so make sure to take a drink before diving for the candy machine). Keep a four-cup bottle or thermos near the computer and replenish daily. Don't overdo though - excess water can dilute important minerals and vitamins in your blood stream.

Make Sure To Take Your Vitamins & Other Pills:

Pill reminders. Do you need regularly forget to take vitamins because you're busy? Find an attractive, desk-top container to put the bottle in - a decorative flower pot is one option. Something attractive and eye catching will remind you it's there. This can also work for daily medications, but keep in mind that some medications can be toxic to others or have street-value (many prescribed pain killers), so these are medications that should stay with you, rather than your desk.

American Council on Exercise, "How much water is too much?," 2005

Center for Disease Control, "Repetitive Stress/Strain Injuries," www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/Ergonomics/Ergohome.htm

Tyrrell, D., Fielder, M. , Cold Wars: The Fight against the Common Cold,Oxford University Press, 2003

Ian Mason, owner of Shoppe.MD, your source for Online Prescription Medications and health news.

Ian studies health, weight loss, exercise, and several martial arts; maintaining several websites in an effort to help provide up-to-date and helpful information for other who share his interests in health of body and mind.

Sweet lime and pineapple juice

Sweet lime and pineapple juice

Serves: One glass

1 sweet lime
4 pineapple slices
Crushed ice

~ Method

Remove the skin and seeds from the sweet lime and put it in a blender.

Clean and chop the pineapple and it to the blender.

Blend well and add enough water for fine consistency.

Do not strain the juice.

Add crushed ice and serve.

Health tip: Sweet lime and pineapple juices are good sources of vitamin C and are rich in fibre. "This juice is delicious, refreshing and contains essential micronutrients such as potassium, magnesium and zinc, which are necessary for proper growth and development of the human body,"

Beer better than Milk

Beer better than Milk
There is more protein in beer than in milk. What's more, beer has fewer calories than apple juice, milk or cola and contains neither fat nor cholesterol. These claims have been made by the All India Brewer's Association.

The apex body representing 42 beer manufacturers, has urged the food processing ministry to delink beer from the status of liquor and whisky, so that it can be advertised and marketed like any other product. They have argued that liquor has an alcoholic content of 42.8% while beer has only up to 7%.

Beer is battling to get the status of milk. The all India Brewer's Association (AIBA) have argued in a memorandum to the government that a glass of beer contains more protein than does the same quantity of milk.

Not just that. They have said that the calorie content in beer is lesser than that of a bottle of apple juice, milk or any cola. So do not club beer with hard liquor in computing tax, argues the industry.

"It has been given the status of a fast moving consumer good (FMCG) that can be traded over the counter at any departmental store", says the Vice-President and President of Shaw Wallace. "Beer distribution has to be made open as in Singapore."

The industry's representation for removing beer restrictions are straight and simple: Beer is only an agri-food. Arguing that it has neither fat nor cholesterol, the beer manufacturers' body has told the government that an average bottle of beer gives four vital minerals and five important constituents of vitamin B and proteins. Raw material for beer is malt, the same as for health drinks Maltova and Horlicks.

In their representation titled 'Indian Beer Industry - Needs Policy Support'. AIBA has pitched beer as a "mild and healthy beverage", conforming to the tenets of "responsible" drinking.

" Beer has to be taxed on the basis of alcoholic strength keeping levels on alcohol content as bench mark", say many of the top manufacturer's. Duties and tax account for 40% of the beer cost in India while it is of the order of 20% in US, France and Germany.

They have said that the cost of one litre of beer taken as percentage of daily income in the high selling states of Andhra, Karnataka and Maharashtra is close to 28%.

The comparable figures for US, France and Germany are less than 3%. And if India attains this level of even 15% then the beer should cost around Rs. 30 per litre (Rs. 20 per bottle).

"It is a highly capital intensive business. It is not feasible for the brewers to sustain the current market pressure", says the top shots. "Brewing companies are increasingly being declared sick", they add.

Corn & Cheese Fritters

Corn & Cheese Fritters

Ingredients (for six fritters):

~ 65g/ 1/2 cup wholewheat flour (atta)
~ 65g/ 1/2 cup plain flour (maida)
~ 1/4 tsp baking powder
~ 1 1/2 cups fresh corn kernels, boiled in salted water and drained
~ 1/2 cup grated cheese
~ 1/4 tsp salt
~ 2 eggs, lightly beaten
~ 1 tbsp butter


Method:

~ Sift both flours with baking powder into a bowl.

~ Mix in corn, cheese and salt.

~ Add eggs and mix well.

~ Divide batter into six equal portions.

~ Melt butter in a frying pan on moderate heat.

~ Drop spoonfuls of batter into pan leaving 1" between each fritter and fry till golden.

~ Flip over and fry the other side.

~ Serve hot.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a vitamin (a substance the body requires in small doses for proper nutrition and function) that is fat-soluble, meaning that it is dissolved and stored in the fat of your body. Vitamin D maintains proper levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood and together with calcium builds strong bones. The November 9, 2005, issue of JAMA contains an article about sufficient levels of vitamin D for healthy bones.


SUNLIGHT EXPOSURE

Sun exposure for 10 to 15 minutes at least twice a week usually provides adequate amounts of vitamin D. Certain conditions such as cloud cover, northern climates, pollution, and the winter months may not provide adequate sunlight exposure. Excess sun exposure causes skin cancer, so you should limit exposure to sunlight, not use tanning beds, and wear protective clothing and a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 when outdoors for longer than 10 to 15 minutes twice a week. Infants should be kept out of direct sunlight all together.


VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY

When vitamin D levels are low, bones become weak and brittle. In children, vitamin D deficiency causes a disease called rickets, which results in poorly developed weak bones, delayed growth, immune deficiencies, and, when severe, seizures. In adults, vitamin D deficiency causes a disease called osteomalacia, which results in weak bones, fractures, bone pain, and weakness. Low levels of vitamin D may be a factor in osteoporosis (thin bones).


WHO IS AT RISK OF DEVELOPING VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY?


Infants who are exclusively breast-fed or receiving less than about 2 cups a day of vitamin D fortified formula or milk

People who have darker-pigmented skin

People with very limited sunlight exposure

People with fat malabsorption diseases, such as pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, and surgical resection of the bowel

People who have liver or kidney disease or enzyme deficiencies

People in the northern hemisphere during winter



HOW MUCH VITAMIN D DO YOU NEED?


For infants to adults aged 50 years, the daily adequate intake is 200 international units (IU) of vitamin D. For adults aged 51 to 70 years, 400 IU is required, and for those older than 70 years, 600 IU is recommended. Discuss with your doctor the proper vitamin D intake and sun exposure for you and whether you should take a supplement, especially if you are at risk of developing a deficiency. Too much vitamin D can occur from taking excess vitamin D supplements and can cause serious problems, such as nausea, vomiting, and weakness or even confusion and heart rhythm abnormalities.

Eatables before workout!

Eatables before workout!

Planning to include an exercise schedule in your to-do list of things? Good.

Now comes the tough part. What should you include in a workout session? Ideally, exercises should be instrumental in building up your stamina and toning your body.

And what should you eat before and after a workout session? Well, that's our focus for the week.

To begin with, always remember this thumb rule -- exercising on an empty stomach is detrimental. However, eating too much just before a workout session isn't good either. Don't eat anything at least 30-40 minutes before you decide to exercise.

Yoga experts believe people should avoid drinking or eating anything at least for an hour before a session. Always have water an hour before an exercise session. And yes, sipping water in small quantities throughout the workout is permissible.

What should you eat before a workout? Ideally, a simple fruit should do the trick. You don't want to feel too heavy but you don't want to feel too hungry either.

However, if you find it difficult to start your day without tea or coffee, don't stop yourself. But wait for at least 40 minutes after your tea/ coffee before you start exercising.

On the other hand, all those corporate executives who prefer to hit the office gym after a hearty breakfast -- say one comprising of bread, eggs and fruit -- need to wait for at least two hours before they can work out. In fact, an ideal pre-workout meal is a combination of carbohydrates, fibre and protein.

An ideal pre-workout Indian breakfast can comprise of a bowl of poha or upma, fresh fruit and a glass of milk topped with almonds. Those of you who are allergic to milk can consume a cup of tea or coffee.

Alternatively, you can opt for a bowl of milk and cornflakes, eggs on lightly buttered toast too.

A post-workout meal should be light. Ideally, this meal should be consumed within two hours of the exercise. Don't remain hungry for too long after an exercise session.

This meal should contain protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats too. A vegetable sandwich or a fish sandwich (use wholegrain bread) with fruit or fresh fruit juice should do you just fine.

And yes, before you start your exercise schedule, don't forget to consult your doctor.

Ten Rules for a Good Day

Ten Rules for a Good Day

1. TODAY I WILL NOT STRIKE BACK:

If someone is rude, if someone is impatient, if someone is unkind...

I will not respond in a like manner.



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2. TODAY I WILL ASK GOD TO BLESS MY "ENEMY":

If I come across someone who treats me harshly or unfairly, I will quietly ask God to bless that individual. I understand the "enemy" could be a family member, neighbor, co-worker, or a stranger.



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3. TODAY I WILL BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I SAY:

I will carefully choose and guard my words being certain that I do not spread gossip.



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4. TODAY I WILL GO THE EXTRA MILE:

I will find ways to help share the burden of another person.



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5. TODAY I WILL FORGIVE:

I will forgive any hurts or injuries that come my way.



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6. TODAY I WILL DO SOMETHING NICE FOR SOMEONE,

BUT I WILL NOT DO IT SECRETLY:

I will reach out anonymously and bless the life of another.



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7. TODAY I WILL TREAT OTHERS THE WAY I WISH TO BE TREATED:

I will practice the golden rule - "Do unto others as I would have them do unto me" - with everyone I encounter.



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8. TODAY I WILL RAISE THE SPIRITS OF SOMEONE I DISCOURAGED:

My smile, my words, my expression of support, can make the difference to someone who is wrestling life.



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9. TODAY I WILL NUTURE MY BODY:

I will eat less; I will eat only healthy foods. I will thank God for my body.



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10. TODAY I WILL GROW SPIRITUALLUY:

I will spend a little more time in prayer today: I will begin reading something spiritual or inspirational today; I will find a quiet place

(at some point during the day)!

Yoga For Health

Yoga For Health


If the mind is kept cool and calm at all times, you will have wonderful health, strength and vitality.

Let any disease remain in your body. Do not bother too much. Develop the powers of endurance and resistance. Strengthen your body, mind and nerves.

Take plenty of open-air exercises, substantial nutritious food, medicated oil bath and plenty of rest.

Be moderate in food, drink and enjoyments. Lead a spiritual life. All diseases will leave your body by themselves.


Do not go to the doctors very often unless emergency. Endeavour to qualify yourself as your own doctor. Understand the laws of nature and the principles of hygiene and health.

Bask in the sun. Expose your body to the rays of the sun for a short time daily. This is heliotherapy or sun-treatment. Sun is the source of energy and power. You will derive energy and power from the sun.

Soak 12 almonds at night. Remove the skin and take the almonds with some sugarcandy in the early morning. Or you can make a refreshing beverage by grinding these almonds with a little black pepper and sugarcandy. This is a fine, cooling and strength-giving tonic.

Rest in bed is necessary. Adjust your diet. Take simple, wholesome, easily digestible, bland and non-irritating food. Give up hot, pungent curries, chutneys and chilliest.

Yoga For Health

If you can fast for a whole day, it is all the better. Fasting eliminates poisons and overhauls the system thoroughly. You can take sago and milk barley water and fruits like sweet oranges, grapes, etc.

Observe Brahmacharya. Get up at 4 a.m. And practice Japa of 'Hari Om' or any other Mantra and also meditation for one hour. The Name of the Lord is the best medicine or tonic in the world.

You should have intense faith in the power of the Names of the Lord. Incurable diseases are cured by Japa or singing Hari's Name.

Meditation creates new, healthy vibrations in all the cells of the body and removes any kind of disease. All the tissues are bathed in the nectar that flows during meditation. All germs that cause diseases are destroyed.

Resort to Nature Cure and Yogic Chikitsa. Practise regularly Pranayama, breathing exercises, Asanas, concentration and meditation. This is the ideal treatment.


Have a cheerful countenance always. Smile and laugh.