Lantern Festival and Tangyuan Yummzz

The Chinese Festival, called the Lantern Festival falls on January, 15 according to the lunar calendar. As indicated by the name, this festival is accompanied by beautifully designed and decorated lanterns. In olden days, lanterns were pretty simple but today they consist of classic designs including those of animal shapes. Lanterns symbolize that people should forget their past problems and start the new year with a brand new begining with good deeds. The red lantern color indicates good fortune. But as we know that any festival is incomplete without food, Tangyuan is the traditional chinese sumptuous recipe that is served on this auspicious occasion.

Tangyuan is made up of glutinous rice flour, which is the main ingredient. It may be stuffed or unfilled. Unfilled Tangyuan are sweet dumplings. The rice flour is mixed with a small amount of water. Balls are formed from it and cooked. Balls may be big or small. They are served in boiling water. It can be eaten during following fests and occasions as well:-

• Chinese Winter Solstice Festival
• family/relatives re-union
• Wedding and ring ceremony
• Chinese New Year

Variant names:-

• yuanxiao (this is derived from Yuanxiao Festival)
• tangyuan or tangtuan
• round dumplings in soup

Southern Chinese usually eat sweet dumplings with filling that consists of sugar,  osmanthus flowers, sweet bean paste, sesame etc. Northern Chinese prefer to have salty dumplings consisting of minced vegetables and meat. Tangyuan can be paired with the following:-

• Red bean soup
• Black sesame soup
• Ginger and rock sugar
  
  
  

  
  

Since ancient times, the preparation method of this dish vary though it's chiefly consumed on Lantern festival in the same country. Tangyuan was traditionally white in color. Later on flavors were added to it on customer demand, making the recipe even more tempting and delectable. Yet few of them relish in their form and color.

Sweet filling consists of:-

• Peanut butter and sugar
• Chopped peanuts and sugar
• Red bean paste
• Crushed sugarcane rock candy
• Sesame and sugar paste
  
  

  

Asian supermarkets in China and other places produce Tangyuan that comes under frozen food section. Tangyuan is widely associated with  Winter Solstice and Chinese New Year in China as well as other parts of Asia like Japan etc.

Dry Fruit Fried Rice or Kashmiri Pulao

Here comes the yum yum rice, Kashmiri Pulao!!! Perfect recipe for zapping a bad mood. With richness of cashews, almonds and walnuts, the Kashmir origin dish has a unique flavor of its own. The mild and sweet flavor comes from aromatic spices making the recipe simply irresistible. 

 

The aristocrat rich saffron is a perfect booster for the tingling taste buds. Dry fruits give warmth and are perfect for cold climate of Kashmir, India. Pulao is cooked with dry fruits and can be garnished with fresh fruits such as pineapple, cherries and pomegranate. So say cheers to winter with the hot and mildly sweet Kashmiri pulao.

Ingredients:-

For the Rice:-

2 Cups good quality rice, soaked for 30 mins,

1 Inch cinnamon,

1 Tsp caraway seeds,

1 Bayleaf,

3 Cloves,

3 Green cardamoms,

2 Black cardamoms,

½ Teaspoon dry ginger powder,

1 Teaspoon fennel powder,

2 Pinches of saffron,

2 Tablespoon clarified butter,

41/4 Cups water,

Salt as required

For garnishing:-

1 Medium sized sliced onion,

12 Cashews,

12 Almonds,

12 Walnuts,

2 Tablespoon oil

Preparation Method:-

1. Heat clarified butter in a deep pan. On a low or medium flame, add all the whole spices. Fry till the oil becomes fragrant.

2. Now lower the flame, add the ginger and fennel powder and stir. Add the soaked and drained rice and stir gently.

3. Add crushed saffron and saute for a minute. Pour water and salt. Stir and cover the pan tightly. When the rice is cooking, prepare the garnish.

4. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a frying pan. Add the sliced onions. Also add a pinch of salt and fry the onions till they are golden or caramelized and crisp.

5. Remove and drain on paper tissues. In the same oil, first fry the almonds till they become crisp.

6. Now fry the cashews and walnuts till they are crisp and lightly browned and cook the rice till all the water is absorbed and the rice is cooked.

7. When done, fluff the rice. Chopped stir fried seasonal fruits can be added.

8. Serve dried fruit fried rice or kashmiri pulao hot. Garnish with the fried onions and dry fruits. 

 

Enjoy the aromatic rice!!!

Chikki with Lohri - Festival of North India

Lohri is one of the major winter festivals of North India. It is celebrated every year on January 13, to mark the day of Uttarayan or sun's journey towards north. Indian markets are flooded with “Chikki” throughout winter. Chikki is a traditional ready-to-eat Indian sweet generally made up of groundnuts, dry fruits and jaggery. There are several varieties of chikki like sesame chikki, dried chikki Maewo, peanuts chikki, gram dal chikki etc.

Chikki is very beneficial to health. It contains proteins and iron. Jaggery helps in cleansing the body and acts as a digestive agent. It satisfies the sweet tooth completely. On this joyous night, sing heartily, dance merrily on the dhol(drum) beats around the bonfire with your family and friends. Say goodbye to winter and welcome Lohri with Groundnut Chikki.

Ingredients:-

250 grams of peanut seeds,

250 grams Jaggery,

1 1/2 teaspoon Ghee/Clarified butter

Preparation method:-

1. Roast peanuts until brown. Do not roast in the microwave for more than 2 minutes. Peel off skins on cooling.

2. Put a teaspoon of ghee in a frying pan and heat.

3. Prepare the jaggery syrup. Allow the jaggery to melt in the frying pan for 4 minutes or until the completely melted and frothy.

4. Now add peanuts and mix well for around 3 minutes. Grease the plate with clarified butter. Add the mixture.

5. Cut into diamond or square shape when warm with the help of sharp knife.

6. Preserve in glass jars when cool. 

 

Say Happy Lohri with your favorite Chikki!!

Tips To Cure Depression

Broken-up after a long relationship, failed in exam, divorced, lost job – any of this can be a reason good enough to spark those “I should end my life” kinda thoughts. These are the times when our patience and mental strength is put to test. Depression may sound a routine word to you, but it can cause all sorts of troubles including anxiety, restlessness, and if go worse it may lead to trauma or even nervous breakdown. Being happy is a state of mind that can be controlled with proper efforts. With proper therapy, medication and diet, depression can be checked and treated. 

Dietary Recommendations:-

1. During depression, light food is advisable since it can be consumed effortlessly. Food rich in vitamin C like orange, strawberry, tomato, blueberry, broccoli, grapefruit and kiwi is strongly recommended.
2. Food rich in Vitamin E, such as nuts, wheat germ and vegetable oil, is also considered as good in treating depression.
3. Food containing beta-carotene like peaches, pumpkin, spinach, sweet potato, broccoli and carrots must be taken.
4. Intake of “smart” carbs such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes is recommended.
5. Non-vegetarians are on a safer side since consumption of chicken, tuna and turkey add spice to life thereby reducing depression to a large extent.

 

 Natural Methods:-

1. Follow a routine:- Plan your schedule such that it keeps you busy and occupied always.
2. Set your aims and objectives:- Striving to achieve the positive goals will keep you energetic.
3. Have a sound sleep.
4. Keep yourself fit and fine with walk and exercise.
5. Enhance your hobby whether it is cooking, dancing, singing or painting.
6. Try having fun. Go for outing with friends, relatives and see the world outside. It is simply beautiful. Just think god has given one life. Enjoy to the fullest!!!

Panipuri and Women – The Eternal Bond Stronger Than Love

It was an awesome autumn evening. Everything was looking just so perfect for a romantic evening walk. We were discussing about our future. How our life should go? Where we will buy our first house, our first car, and what not. I was looking down, all ears to her. This was perhaps the first time I found her talking sense.

But my illusion shattered the very next second. She penetrated the air filled with romance with an outloud holler. “Hey, Stop”, she yelled. I raised my head in anxiety just to see if a weird mechanic goliath from Transformers had appeared all of a sudden. I looked around but couldn’t see anyone. Then I followed the direction in which she was waving her hand while shouting “Stop, Stop…”.

Yes, that was it. How could I miss that. It was that Panipuri van again. We were in the mid of something very important when those larger than life Panipuris came into the picture. We rushed to the van. The Panipuri seller humbly said, “Madam, I’m short of minced potatoes for stuffing. Will take five mins to do that.” “Do it fast”, she said.

While the guy was mincing potatoes, I passed a look at her, and she responded with a casual careless gaze. Her look was as if we have been talking about Panipuris only, as if the whole world only cared about whether she would get those Panipuris today or not. I battled her ignorance with a look that can be compared to a cute helpless pup. But that didn’t work out either.

She just kept nagging the Panipuri guy to make it fast. And bam, then came the moment when she got her first Panipuri. I felt like all my emotions had been drifted away in that tangy water. I felt abandoned for that very moment.

Anyways, I’m not the only guy who had gone through such an oblivious experience. It’s a popular street food snack in South Asia, and has many names including “Puchka”, “Golgappe”, “Gup Chup”, “Bataasha”, etc. It consists of a round, hollow puri, fried crisp and filled with a mixture of flavored water (“pani”), tamarind chutney, chili, chaat masala, potato, onion and chickpeas. It is generally small enough to fit completely into one’s mouth.

Next time you visit South Asia, don’t forget to ask about it. Although the name might vary as per the region, but there are chances that you’d see the streets flanked by vans selling this special street food. Only when your teeth sink in through the crispy skin of this dish, and the tart splash inundates your mouth, you’d understand that the title – “Panipuri and Indian Women – The Eternal Bond Stronger Than Love” isn’t a hype.

How to lose weight..

“You require going from FAT to FIT,” said the doctor. One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” said Virginia Woolf. Two contradictory statements. How to lose weight?? Just have a look at what i tried. 

 

The Essentials:-

• Avoid caffeine, refined sugar, alcohol and processed food. They increase fat. Avoid CRAP

Instead of caffeine, one can go for green tea or spiced green tea. You can also try Good Green Tea Smoothie. This green smoothie is packed with grapes, spinach, green tea and avocado. Replacing sugar with honey enhances taste and reduces the fat contained in sugar.

• Intake of Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish, increase metabolism and therefore helps in losing weight. Omega-3 fatty acids has beneficial effects in rheumatoid arthritis and asthmatics. It also lowers blood pressure.

Variant recipes rich in Omega-3 fatty acids:-

1. Grilled Salmon & Zucchini with Red Pepper Sauce - Jazz up simple grilled salmon and summer vegetables with a zesty sauce. It's nutritious and toothsome.

2. Roasted Red Pepper and Walnut Spread - Grind red pepper, toast cubes, walnuts, oil, pomegranate juice or molasses, cumin, and red-pepper flakes in a food processor until the mixture is a rough paste. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Enjoy with multi grain flour tortillas.

How to lose weight with five food swaps!!

Croissants: A croissant is a buttery flaky viennoiserie pastry with crescent shape. Croissants are full of fat, sugar and do not contain pure milk. Sacrificing your sweet tooth for a while to cut down fat is genuine. You can have multigrain cookies instead.

Whole wheat bread: Whole wheat bread sandwiches with low fat cheese and lot of greens make a superb breakfast and is very filling. Whole wheat bread is low in saturated fat, and very low in cholesterol.

Spelt biscuits: Spelt is wonderfully nutritious and ancient grain with a deep nut like flavor. Spelt biscuits for both health nuts and non healthy eaters. The nutty whole grain flavor is simply divine. It’s the best tea time snack.

Unsweetened organic almond milk: With no added syrups or sweeteners, this delicate nutty drink comes from premium quality almonds alone. One can't think of a more delicious way to boost your nutrition. So quench your thirst with calcium and vitamin enriched unsweetened organic almond milk. Enjoy hot or cold. How to lose weight is not a matter to worry anymore.

Some tips otherwise:-

• Breakfast must be consumed within one hour of waking up.
• Including fruits salads and juice in breakfast is always recommended.
• Tummy toning moves for a real flat tummy.
• Breathing squat
• Walking, not rigorous.

With no strict diet plans or rigorous exercise, i could fit in my old jeans in just 3 months. What a brand and grand New Year start!!!

 

Chipotle Turkey Club Sandwiches

About the recipe:-

Wanna start your New Year by eating healthy??? Here we have light yet delectable recipe for you. If you are in a hurry to go to pack brunch for your husband or confused to prepare something filling and healthy for your kids, Chipotle Turkey Club Sandwich is all you need to go with. You can reduce or eliminate Chipotle for kids as per choice. Sandwiches do not take much of preparation time and is the best takeaway food that will yield good body and mind with it’s variant taste.

Chipotle supports a healthy heart and controls blood sugar. Turkey is considered as rich source of vitamins B3 and B6. The high in protein food also prevents cancer. Sprouts are good source of protein, fiber, and vitamin B. One of the major benefits of choosing multi-grain bread is their fiber content and other essential nutrients. In addition to this we have used bacon that is loved by all. Say hello to health with luscious Chipotle Turkey Club Sandwiches.

Ingredients:-

1 tablespoon fat free mayonnaise,

1 pinch chipotle chile powder,

2 slices multigrain bread,

2 ounces thinly sliced roasted turkey,

1 ounce fat free Cheddar,

2 slices cooked bacon,

1/4 cup sprouts

Preparation method:-

1. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise and chili powder.

2. Spread this mixture on the bread. Form sandwiches with the turkey, Cheddar, bacon, and sprouts.

3. Serve with your favorite dip, sauce and greens.

Enjoy the best BRUNCH!!!