Diet(S)

So many diets...but li'l effect!

I do not have any particular view point on diets and their pros and cons. I think its an individuals own choice and thinking.

Frankly, i personally have tried out so many different types of diets.. and now have finally come to a conclusion that once in a way going all out and trying these diets can be fun.. but please don't make it a habit! its injurious.. you are not gonna loose weight.. rather are gonna put on twice the amount of weight you would loose! Make sure you exercise regularly...

I know its so sad.. but like its said.. "nothing lasts forever"  or.. I don't know if i should use this here.. but anyways.. for the temporary feel good that it gives.. i would just say.. " all good things come to an end" ..

Among the various diets i have tried out... I can vouch for GM diet (General Motors diet) and its 5 kgs weight loss in 7 days! But let me warn you.. you will gain it all back in the same time too.. :P if you are not careful about what you eat and how much you shoud be eating..  ;)

I thought I'l share the GM diet, since i followed it so religiously and got the desired results!

This is the diet that my power yoga trainer gave me and vouched for it..and since i saw the results.. I decided to share it verbatim.. 

"GENERAL MOTORS DIET PLAN:

The following diet and health program was developed for the employees and the dependants of  General Motors Inc.The program was developed in conjunction with the grant from the US Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. It was first tried at the Johns Hopkins Research Centre and was approved for distribution by the Board of Directors of General Motors Corporation at a general meeting on August 15, 1995. General Motors Corporation wholly endorsed this program and is making it available to all employees and families. This program will be available at all General Motors Food service facilities.

It is the management’s intention to facilitate a welfare and fitness program for everyone. This program is designed for a target weight loss of 5- 6Kgs. per week. It will also improve your attitude and emotions because of its systematic cleansing effects. The effectiveness of this seven day plan is that the foods eaten burn more calories than they give to the body in caloric value. This plan can be used as often as you like to without any fear of complications. It is designed to flush your system of impurities and give you a feeling of well being. After seven days you will begin to feel lighter by atleast 10 pounds. You will have an abundance of energy and an improved disposition.

During the first seven days you must drink 10 glasses of water each day.

DAY 1: All fruits except bananas. Your first day will consists of all fruits you want. It is suggested
you consume lost of watermelon and cantaloupe.

DAY2: All vegetables. You are encouraged to eat until you are stuffed with all the new and cooked vegetables of your choice. There is no limit on the account or type. Avoid oil and coconut while cooking vegetables. Have large boiled potato for breakfast.

DAY 3: Any mixture of fruits and vegetables of your choice. Any amount, any quantity. No bananas yet and no potatoes today.

DAY 4: Bananas and milk. Today you will eat as many as eight bananas and drink three glasses of milk. You can also have I bowl of vegetables soup.

DAY 5: Today is a feast day. You will eat 1 cup of rice. You also have to eat six whole tomatoes and drink 12 glasses of water today to cleanse your system of the excess uric acid you will be producing.

DAY 6: Today is another all vegetables day. You must eat 1 cup of rice today and eat all the vegetables you want cooked and uncooked to your hears content.

DAY 7: Today your food intake will consist of 1 cup rice, fruit juice and the vegetables you care to consume. Tomorrow morning you will be five to eight kgs. lighter than 1 week ago.

If you desire further weight loss, repeat the program again. Repeat the program as often as you like, however, it is suggested that you rest for three days before every repetition. You have your system under control now and it will thank you for all the purging and cleansing you just gave it. Even more than a diet program it is good to follow this diet once in a while to clean your digestive system and remove toxic substances that have a accumulated in the system.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/ helping you understand your 7 day plan... :

The most important element of the program is the 10 tall glasses of water a day. You can also flavour the water will some lemon to make the drink easier. While on the program, take only black coffee and never more than one teaspoon of oil. Preferably do not use oil because the high calorific content. No fruit juices before day seven. Here is what happens to you body while you are on this program and how and why it works.

Day 1: You are preparing your system for the upcoming program. Your only source of nutrition is fresh fruits. Fruits are nature’s perfect food. They provide everything you can possibly want to sustain life except total balance and variety.

Day 2: Starts with a fix complex carbohydrates in the form of a boiled potato. This is taken in the form of a boiled potato and taken in the morning to provide energy and balance. The rest of the day too consists of vegetables which are virtually calories free and provide essential nutrients and fibre.

Day 3: Eliminates the potato because you get your carbohydrates from fruits. Your system is now prepared to start burning excess pounds. You will have cravings, which should start to diminish by day four.

Day 4: Bananas and milk. You are in for a surprise. You probably will not be able to eat all the bananas allowed. But they are there fore the potassium you have lost and the sodium you may have missed the last three days. You will notice a definite loss of desire for sweets and you will be surprised at how easy this day will go.

Day 5: Rice and tomatoes. The rice is for the carbohydrates and the tomatoes are for the digestion and the fibre. Lots of water purifies your system. You should notice colourless urine today. Do not feel you have to eat one cup rice, you may eat less. But you may eat six tomatoes.

Day 6: It is similar to five. Vitamins and fibre from the vegetables and carbohydrates from the rice. By now your system is in a total weight loss inclination. There should be a noticeable difference in the way you look today compared to day one.

Day 7: You may celebrate with champagne. You may also have white wine instead of champagne, but in all practical programs, and in all surveys done to measure the success of the program, General Motors employees have always preferred champagne to white wine.

More than one cup of coffee with milk is especially forbidden. Milk and oil add empty calories to your diet. Avid coffee lovers can console themselves with black coffee. However, after the first week, it will help your digestion and set your stomach. The key think to remember is that if you are hungry at any time, then you are not following the diet correctly. Almost all people give up the diet when they are hungry because of dieting. The secret of this program is that you should never be hungry. If it is a vegetable day, eat so much vegetables so that you are never hungry. If it is a fruits day, eat so
much fruits that you are never hungry. You may be bored of eating vegetables all day, but you should not be hungry. You can take any amount of General Motors wonder soup on any day.

GENERAL MOTORS WONDER SOUP:

The following soup is intended as a supplement to your diet. It can be eaten any time of the day in virtually unlimited quantities. You are encouraged to drink large quantities of this soup.

23 oz water
06 large onions
02 green peppers
03 whole tomatoes
1 cabbage
1 bunch celery add herbs and seasoning as desired.

This program is highly recommended for women and men above 40 for whom excess weight is especially dangerous. Excess weight for women aggravates arthritis problems and leads to rapid joint decay. Pain and joint deterioration can be lessened by weight loss as weight loss removes the stress on the knee joint. Excess weight is the most critical factor in keeping good health and excess weight is responsible for the most problems including coronary diseases, heart problems, arthritis and cancer among other serious life threatening diseases. Most serious health problems can be avoided by the single function of maintaining an ideal weight. Daily mild exercise of 20 minutes is also essential. Do not tire yourself out, but being regular in your exercise and maintaining an ideal weight goes a long way in ensuring a happy, healthy and long life. "

# 42: Mango Milk Shake

Mangoes...Mangoes.. Mangoes...

This Summer was totally refreshing!!! :P


Ingredients: (Serves 2 ;) )

1. Mango pieces - 1 cup
2. Milk - 1 glass
3. Sugar - 4-6 Tsp (or as per taste)
4. Chopped mango pieces for garnishing :P
5. Ice cubes - 8

Preparation:

Add the mango pieces, milk, sugar, & ice cubes together in a mixer and beat it. Whooooooooooosh! .. and the mango milk shake is ready!

Add the chopped mango pieces to njoi the milk shake with some fresh mango tooo.. :)

 

It couldn't have got better.....

# 41: Mango Mousse

This year.. it was certainly " Raining Mangoes".. and my indulgence was just obvious. :)

Decided to buy some mangoes, and tempt the diabetics to indulge with me.. :P I know its so nasty of me to do something like this.. But hello!!! think on the brighter side.. you still get to savour the mangoes.. ;) covering up for the guilt of eating whole mangoes i guess.. :P

Did the Mango mousse.. an attempt to try out how i could use fresh fruits to the prepare mousse..After all,  its my first time!

So I followed the same recipe, "instant mousse"- the Nigella way. God bless Nigella to have come up with some yummy tricks.. :)

Ingredients:

1. Mango Pulp - 2 cups or 250 gms
2. Marshmellows - 150 gms
3. Unsalted Butter - 50 gms
4. Cream - 200 ml
5. Vanilla Essence - 4-5 drops
6. Water- 4 TBsp

Preparation:

Heat the Butter and melt the Marshmellows. Add the mango pulp & water to it. As we know, the marshmellows will take a while to melt. Just be patient and wait for it to melt and then cool the mixture.

Whisk the cream till its firm and add the essence!

Fold the mango-marshmellow mix into the cream. Pour into the bowls and garnish with some chopped mango pieces!

 

Refrigerate for a maximum 2 hours and its ready to be served...

 

Hola!!!

Treat your taste buds to some fresh mango desrie... ;)

# 40: Sweet Lassi

There definitely something about North Indian food & beverages.. I love just everything about it. Its so simple to prepare, yet so nutrious, and filling.

Lassi is the best example..(Cooling, refreshing, and filling on a hot summer day! Ummm.. I give it a full 5 star rating..)

Well, South Indians also have their version of it.. its probably called "Butter milk".. but its no fun to have butter milk..and there is surely no comparison between Lassi & Butter Milk.

It was again one of my lazy summer afternoons.. randomly browing through the 100 channels we are offered..only to realise that i stick by some 4 or 5 channels.. rest???? who cares.. ya..so I was watching a show on "TLC" about a globe trotter and her love to explore the food around the places she visits. And this time, she decided to visit Amritsar and the Golden Temple.

She went around the gurudwara and its Kitchen..etc etc... i can just narrate the whole show to the "T".

Cutting it short.. she went on to prepare the lassi, the apparently traditional way..which i did not quiet know. So decided to try it out myself!

Ingredients:

1. Curd - 1 cup
2. Milk - 1/2 glass
3. Sugar - 4 Tsp (or as per taste)
4. A pinch of salt

Preparation:

To the cup of curd, add the milk, sugar, & a pinch of salt. Beat the mix together or you can just use a shaker to get the Lassi all ready and done with.

Sprinkle some pepper/black salt just before serving!

# 39: Gobi Ka Paratha

Hmmmm... Parathas!

I distinctly remember Mom's numerous ways to get my brother to eat vegetables! And one of them was the stuffed paratha way.. I remember her trying out the Brinjal parathas where she mixed it with potatoes to camouflage it.. But bro found out with his very first Morsel... it was one hilarious day.. That's different that he ate it... But still..:D

Well, I don't know about my brother, but it certainly worked for me. Not like i was ever fussy about vegetables..  I don't think i was given the privilege to be fussy actually! :P  You know, the usual dialogues that Mum's can just sell us.. good for eyes, good for skin, good for hair..n all the etc. goods.. Not to forget the vitamin & mineral value, which i dint really care to bother myself with.. But yes...I did buy every product of mum's with this GOOD concept of hers.. ;)

Mum didn't have to rack her brains to get us to eat Gobi parathas for sure.. :)

Coming down to the recipe..

Ingredients:

1. Grated Cauliflower
2. turmeric powder - a pinch
3. Red Chili powder- 1/2 tsp
4. Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
5. Finely chopped Coriander leaves 
6. Salt to taste
7. Grated ginger - 1/2 tsp
8. Oil - 2 Tsp
9. Green chilies- 2 chopped into fine circular rings

Procedure:

Preparing the gobi stuffing- 

Heat the oil in a pan. Add the grated ginger, later add in the cauliflower. Let the cauliflower soften up.. Add salt, turmeric , red & green chili, & cumin powder. Mix well. And leave to cook. Leave the mixture to cool.

Add chopped coriander to the mixture and mix well.

Parathas-

The procedure to roll out the parathas is the same as done for Muli parathas..

# 22: Muli (Raddish) Parathas
 
Do be generous while adding ghee on the parathas while pan frying them.. You'll instantly fall in love with the aroma.. and the parathas are yummy!!!

Serve with pickle & curd! :)

 

Njoi!

# 38 : Gaabo Dry

"Banana Stem".. As i had mentioned, its the tender portion of the Banana plant's bark!

I have never quiet found this portion of the vegetable sold in the market. I understand that this stem is very nutritious and high on fibre. It is also believed that eating this vegetable is good to clear the intestinal path! :) I know it sounds weird.. But ya.. my mom, aunts..and their generation constantly narrate the goodness of this vegetable. I would not wanna lock horns on this topic for sure! :P

Anyways, getting to the preparation of this dish..

Firstly wash the stem and cut it into circular disks as shown.. and leave it in a bowl of water for a couple of hours. This is done so that the thread like fibre can easily detach itself from the vegetable.. If not, try scrapping the surface with ur finger and as if to knot threads.. pull the fibre..

Once you have removed this thread like substance from the surface of each disk..wash and cut into small square cubes.

Now we are all set to cook it.. :P

Ingredients:

1. Banana stem cubes (Gabbo in Konkani)
2. Turmeric pwdr - 1 tsp
3. Salt - to taste
4. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
5. Dry Red chillies - 3
6. Curry leaves 
7. Besan  (chickpea flour) - 2 tsp dissolved water
8. Curd - 2 cups
9. Oil - 1 Tbsp

Preparation:

1. Heat the oil in a pan.
2. Prepare for seasoning. Once the oil is hot, add mustard seeds. Let them split. Only after the mustard seeds split, should you add the dry red chillies (broken into halves) and followed by curry leaves. 
3. Later add the banana stem/gabbo pcs into the pan with seasoning. Stir and leave it for 5 minutes..
4. Now, add the turmeric powder and mix the well. Add the salt as well. Stir and leave it to cook.
5. When the stem appears to look like its softened, then add the bowl of curd. In order to make sure that the curd does not split... add the besan-water mix. and Stir it well and leave it to cook.
6. Add a glass of water in case the mixture appears too thick. Check if the salt is enough..
7. Leave the dish to cook... You'll get a distinct aroma of the seasoning! (The dish ideally will take 20-25 minutes to cook on slow flame.)

Serve hot with white rice.. :)

# 37: Cold Coffee

All these summer cooking adventures makes me feel like "Macaulay Culkin" in " Home Alone" :P


It was annoyingly hot and occassionaly sultry with the random rains! consumed all the fresh fruit tetra packs and had been hell lazy to replenish the stocks! what do i do.. thought will prepare something and have.


I am not very fond of milk.. although i do support those who insist on the importance of drinking milk.. Bt trust me.. i would prefer having it either as a milkshake or may be as cold coffee!


So with tons of milk in my fridge.. and my love for coffee bean.. decided to have Cold coffee.


Ingredients:

1. Milk - 3/4 glass
2. Coffee- 2 tsp
3. Ice cubes 
4. Sugar - 2 Tsp

Preparation:

To the milk, add the coffee, sugar, and ice. Mix all in a mixer.  Ta da! cold coffee is all ready.

Put some ice cubes in a glass and pour in the cold coffee. Sprinkle a little coffee powder!

# 36: Bulls-Eye

Some call it "Sunny Side up"... i have know it as Bulls eye all the while.. And this happens to be the 3rd dish i learnt while i was a kid.. Loved preparing it then only because of the challenge it posed to get the yoke perfectly in place on the pan as well as while transferring it on to my plate :P

I am sure every one know how easy it is to prepare.. just an egg, pinch of salt , and some pepper is all that goes into this yummy breakfast! :)

Just get the knack right to break the egg without hurting the yoke and yet spreading the egg white well... :)

I got it right after ages of practice..and now seem to have mastered the art! ;)

# 35: Bread Roll

Ummm....bread roll!!! do i really need to say something? :P   Love fried food so much that now it shows on me too.. :D

I am sure by now you know how much i love food and savour every bite.. so if i say this too is something i have loved.. i am so sure you might just wonder.. what is that one dish that i do not like much.. :D Isn't it?

Anyways, bread roll was made by mom especially on sundays as it is quick to prepare.. either for breakfast or evening snacks. Its filling, yummy, and yet can be a great way of finishing the mixed vegetables dish that mom made for lunch! :P  I have come to realise that any vegetable that a child would not like can be made to be loved by just frying it either as a filling in bread rolls or as pakodas. :P

Well, I decided to prepare the traditional mixture.. But believe me..from vegetables to just cheese cubes can be part of the filling! :P

Ingredients:

1. Bread slices -8
2. Mashed potates- 2
3. Green chilies - 2 ( cut into circular bits)
4. Peas - 1 cup
5. Bunch of Corriander leaves (finely chopped)
6. Salt to taste
7. Ginger -1/4 pc (finely sliced)

Preparation:

Mix the green chilies, peas, corriander leaves, ginger, and salt to the mashed potatoes.

Take a bowl of water and immerse a bread slice gently. Place between your palms and squeeze the water out from the bread. Put a spoon of the potato mix into the bread. Fold the sides of the bread and roll the bread between your palms forming a roll.

Heat a pan with oil in order to deep fry the bread roll... toss and turn till it turns golden brown!

Serve with mint leaves chutney and tomato ketchup! :)

 

Yummy tummy!

Njoi :)

# 34: Vegetable Banana Fry

It was early May when i got back home only to be warmly welcomed by our banana plant calling out loudly to tell me how thrilled she was to see me. So much so that she had bloomed and now wants to share her happiness with me with her whole bunch of vegetable bananas! :) I was so touched... that i almost fainted seeing the quantity that one flower could produce. :D

Its funny to put imaginary words into every living yet non-speaking thing around me.  I feel like Mr. Bean at times.. rather most of the time. :P

Coming back to my vegetable garden... I do not know what had happened that day.. but it poured silly! and i so needed help to get the fruit out from the plant. Luckily! i found help.. :) A sweet lady happened to come over that day to help with my domestic chores  :P (helps her earn a lil extra).. 

"rain rain go away, lil appu wants to remove the fruit today" was all that was ringing in my head! :D lol....

It was an ordeal!  trust me! firstly it was literally reaching the first floor of the house.. and top it all was towards the boundary wall.. and we had to climb up the ladder onto the wall and yet get ourselves on our toes with a knife in our hands stretching out all the way to the stem.. and yet missing every shot to get it down! Phew! I could have got my shoulder and biceps/triceps worked out that day! :D Finally we did it! We got the whole bunch down.. :) HURRAY!

But hello!!! wait on.. it did not quiet end there.  :(

Little did i know there a fruiting banana plant has the most nutritious stem that is cooked too... Oh! Good God.. You have created the most finest things in the world! and I so believe that even if i was Tom hanks in cast away.. I sure would have survived and thrived easily with the rich vegetation on that island! :D :P  

Now, guys do you have any wild idea how do you get to that stock/stem???? Well.. neither did i know..

I believe and now i know it for a fact that this tender stem has to be extracted by peeling off the outer layers of the Banana stem that's rooted. N how do you go about with it Its simple yet strenuous. :) Cut the stem from the very bottom of the plant. The portion between the leaves and the bottom holds the stem. Uff!

Peel peel peel peel .....................n more peeling out and finally you'l be happy to see the off white tender stem! Beware of staining your clothes.. Unless you think that's the best excuse to get rid of the old rag you are wearing.. :P

My banana plant offered me more than a 100 bananas and a 5ft tender stem! :) Thank you dear Plant. :)
What could i have possibly done with it..i could not think of consuming all of it myself..Best option- DISTRIBUTE. Aha! so it was.. since it was vegetable banana not many knew how to go about with it.. except the south Indians.. Well.. so while i distributed as much as i possibly could i was still left with more than 3 dozens!


I do like the fruit as a vegetable too.. and so thought about keeping some to ripen, while the others to cook instantly. While the stem was as well distributed to the one who knew and loved cooking it..

For starters with cooking the fruit.. decided on a quick marination and shallow frying! its probably the easiest and yummiest..

Ingredients:

1. Vegetable Banana cut into 2" flat pieces (Peel the skin such that the superficial green portion is removed leaving the rest.. When you fry it.. the left over layer will add to the crispiness.. )
2. Red chili powder- 1 tsp
3. Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
4. cumin powder- 1/2 tsp
5. Salt - 1 Tsp
6. Oil- 1 Tsp

Preparation:

Mix all the ingredients into the banana pcs and marinate it for a while approx 30 mins.
Heat an oil pan and place the marinated pieces on to the pan. Shallow fry it till they are slightly crispy yet soft!
Serve hot.. either as a snack or in the main course lunch. :)

:)

# 33: Banana Fritters

Its funny how we women love food and yet do not want to even allow an inch around us. We are so contradictory.. ;) I guess we just take the liberty to be this way.. now that the whole world refuses to hope anything better from us.. :P

Ok, its summer.. occasionally a drizzle and just sets the mood for some yummy snacks and beverages.. ;)

Got back home to be greeted with Bananas in mom's vegetable-fruit garden!  I would have literally fainted seeing the bunch.. was wondering what to do with it all.. especially since they were vegetable bananas!

Well this story is endless.. and the thoughts that went through my mind are hilarious.. I guess i'l just cut the details at the moment and narrate it later.. loads of banana dishes where prepared is all i can tell u at the moment. :)


I started mission banana distribution!!! :P though still had loads to give away.. In the bargain to accomplish my mission..some of the bananas got ripe.. and since i was so engrossed trying to deal with the bunch.. i ended up letting them over ripen.. So what could possibly be done apart from trashing them! cant waste food after all.. The best option.." BANANA FRITTERS"

One of my favorite snacks .. the Banana Fritters!

Ingredients:

1. Ripe/over ripened bananas - 4
2. All purpose flour/Maida- 2 cups
3. Sugar- 1.5 TBsp
4. Milk- 2 cups (depending on the required consistency)
5. A pinch of salt
6. Baking Soda- 1/4 tsp
7. Oil for deep frying

Preparation:


To the bananas and add the maida, sugar, salt, baking soda, and mash and mix them together. Add the milk little by little to the mix. The batter's consistency should be a little firm and not watery. Else it'l take up oil!

Using a spoon, add a spoonful of the batter into the pan of hot oil and Deep fry!

Ta da.. the banana fritters are ready! :)

Phew! so glad i dint waste anything..and yet ended up pacifying my cravings.. :)

NJOI!

# 32 :Chocolate Mousse

Its been a really long time I blooged.

Well, sometimes along with being busy even laziness creeps in..and I guess my laziness took over me this summer! :P    But enjoying cooking and eating has not stopped.

I have loved preparing every dish and meal with equal enthusiasm and zeal.. and today onwards I am finally gonna be able to compile the recipes and share it too..

So what better to start with but from where i left it... and the best.. "KUCH MITHA HO JAYE"...CHOCOLATE MOUSSE!

Was in Malaysia, when i prepared this.. Honestly with the truck loads of chocloates I kept feasting myself to.. I was given standing instruction to even finish them.. Did not want to make my self sick of having chocolates and wanted to do something new to keep my craze going and yet finish the chocolates...

Happened to write down one of Nigella's quick recipes on preparing the mousse.. And so it had to be tried out..

THE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE...

Ingredients:

1. Marshmellows - 150 gms
2. Unsalted Butter - 50 gms
3. Dark Chocolate (Bournvillle fruit & nut) - 1
4. Dark Chocolte chips - 50 gms
5. Cream - 280 ml
6. Vanilla Essence - 4-5 drops
7. Water- 4 TBsp

Preparation:

Ideally Nigella uses 250 grams of chocolate chips.. But Since I had chocolates to finish.. I decided to try out using the chocolates bar itself! The Twist in the mousse is the fruit & nut Bournville chocolate.. the nuts just add the desired surprise element to it.. :)

Heat and melt the Marshmellows, Butter, dark chocolate, & water. The marshmellows do take a little longer to melt. So do not get worked up! Just be patient and wait for it to melt and then cool the mixture.

Whisk the cream till its firm and add the essence as well.

Fold the chocolate-marshmellow mix into the cream. Pour into the bowls and grate some white/dark chocolate on it.

 

Refridgerate for 2 hours..and the mousse is all set to be served! :)

Njoi!

Coming Up soon....

Sigh! Its been a really long time since i have blogged. :(

Well, its not like I have decided to call it quits.. but just that have been a lot busier than I could have possibly imagined. Have cooked a lot but hardly been able to pen it down...Honestly, I will put up all the recipes I have so loved preparing and eating/drinking in this short yet long gap pf mine.. Just to list down...

Coming up soon...

• Milkshakes
• Dishes prepared from Raw (Vegetable) Bananas & its stem
• Pickles/Jams
• Seafood

and a lot more...

Ciao...

What's the Right Work out regime...

Warm Up With Cardio, Then Go To Weights. Right? Wrong.

A must read...

# 31: Cold Cake

It was in 1989-90, Dad was transferred to Pathankot. A place that i hold close to my heart. :) I was very small then. Sundays,then, were the best days for me i guess.. After all, i could sleep for long hours carefree of rushing to school. (Let me tell u..i loved going to school...but also loved and still love my sleep!) ...Mom used to give us the leverage to wake up at least by 9:30-10.. But its never enough for me you see.. and i loved stretching the time... I used to wake up only to the sounds of Cartoon serials starting up or the smell of food or bollywood music "Chitrahaar" on Doordarshan!.. Makes me feel like Jerry the mouse! lol.. :D


But Honestly, i can still remember.. the moment i have to be woken up..all my brother did was tell me 'Jungle book' or 'potli baba ki' was starting..If i was sleeping in Mom-dad's room, i would be tucked in my duvet and trying to take a sneak peek at the TV to check on the authenticity of  my brother's statements.. But aah ha! he is after all my brother.. ;)

Anyways...I can just go on and on about Pathankot and places i love...and would love to go back to.

It was in Pathankot that although we did not have cable TV/Dish TV.. there was a weird but interesting cross connection..due to which we used to manage to get PTV (Pakistan TV). I must admit..it was a brilliant channel! For me PTV was about getting to watch the Pink Panther cartoon series! while for mom.. it was about the wonderful Pakistani recipes.. (I still wonder how nicer it would have been if we dint have the stupid Partition.. Grrr! Power and Politics cause only misery!!!! )

Mom has learnt some wonderful recipes from that channel..and always praises it.' Pudhina Briyani, Kebabs, non-veg dishes, and desserts'..are just a few ..but the list is endless.. ummmm!!!  I some how have an elephant's memory and if that was not enough..my love for food has gone to extents with lingering tastes for some exceptionally yummy preparations.

Past couple of months i have been trying to remind mom of that one particular dessert she made at Pathankot.. But somehow, i could not remember the name. All i do remember is its taste and that she took it out from the freezer and cut it into circular portions ..like Swiss roll!

With Lent coming to an end and Easter preparations on.. i so wanted to have that same dish i spoke to mom about..which somehow even she could not remember what i was referring too.. :(

While deciding the menu for Easter Sunday with my family, i just happened to mention the description to my brother..(not like i was very hopeful that he would remember!).. But I was delighted for once with my brother's food memory.. ha ha ha..

He says," Oh you talking about the COLD CAKE, the Pakistani recipe na! " ... & I went, "Hurray" all over the house..

Honestly, In desserts..The taste of Cold Cake has lingered on with me for more than 20 yrs.. And now that we all recollected the dessert..it so had to be part of our Easter Special Menu! :)

After feasting on some yummy lunch..we had to have a grand closure with this delectable dessert!

COLD CAKE

Ingredients:

1. Marie Biscuits - 1 Packet
2. Butter - 3/4 Cup (100 gms)
3. Sugar - 10 Tbsp ( I know, it seems a lot..but take levelled spoons like i did.. else the cake would be bitter!)
4. Coco powder - 3 Tbsp
5. Nuts (almonds, hazel nut, cashews, ground nuts) -cut into small pcs
6. Eggs -2

* Item for setting: Plastic bag.

Preparation:

Beat the eggs in a bowl.

Heat a pan of water. To the bowl of beaten eggs, add butter, sugar, & coco powder. Whisk the mixture well till it gets thick. When thick, take it off the flame and let it cool.

Break the biscuits into small pieces and crush the nuts. Add the biscuits and nuts to the Coco mix. Mix it well.

Pour the mix into the bottom of the plastic bag. Roll the plastic bag and freeze it for a minimum 3 hrs.

Once frozen. Cut open the plastic bag and cut circular disks of the cake....

Serve as is or even with Vanilla ice cream!

Ummmm....

I look forward to festivals.. be it Christmas, Easter, or Diwali.. not just for the meanings they hold..but since its that time of the year when the family comes together....

This Easter was special..not just coz the whole family was together but coz it was my 10 month old darling niece's first Easter! :) Not like she can binge on all the food but at least having her around is just wonderful! Even more is the way she loves eating the food we eat and wanting us to make her taste everything! but lemme tell u..she is choosy! (I somehow fail to understand how she knows what's best to have! )

My most happiest moment yesterday was...."Trisha's never ending quest to bite into the cold cake", & " dad's smile  and request for 'i want another helping please..(despite being diabetic! and  his constant wow(s)! which i am hearing for the first time )' .. and everyone really having a great time with a "My tummy soooooo loves feasts... "

I love you my gurl! <3

# 30 : Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Easter..Easter...Easter...

Be it Christmas or Easter.. After the midnight service.. we celebrate new beginnings! And Easter always brings new beginnings for us... Each year is so different..so wonderful.. so memorable!

Had to have something different..something new and exciting! I guess baking cakes is not difficult..there's a set of ingredients..get the hang of it and you know how to do it. Creating variations can be so much fun!
In search of something new and different and something that's new to mommy.. I picked out "The pineapple upside down cake" by Nigella Lawson.. (i know i know..u must be wondering how i adore her recipes..but trust me.. its addictive...and even u will fall into it! )

Preparing Indian cuisines is something that we do all the time.. But preparing various cuisines from around the world is what i love!

So here it was..my  "Pineapple Upside Down Cake"...

Ingredients:

1. Butter for Greasing
2. Sugar - 2 Tbsp
3. Pineapple - 4 slices (depending upon the size of the tin )
4. Glazed Cherries - 11
5. Flour - 100 gms
6. Baking Powder - 1 Tsp
7. Bicarbonate soda - 1/4 Tsp
8. Soft Butter - 100 gms
9. Caster sugar - 100 gms
10. Eggs - 2
11. Pineapple juice/syrup - 3 Tbsp

Preparation:

Grease the tin with butter and sprinkle 2 Tbsp of sugar on top of  the butter base.

Arrange the pineapple and cherries.

Beat the flour, baking powder, soda, butter, caster sugar, & egg till the batter is smooth. Add 3 Tbsp of the pineapple juice and mix well.

Pour the mix into the tin.

Since i baked the cake in a cooker. So i did not pre heat it before pouring in the batter nor did i follow the time of 30 minutes for baking. Rather, I poured in the batter making sure the slices and cherries don't move and kept the cake to bake for 1 hr on absolutely slow flame!

(Ideally, you need to pre-heat the oven @ 200degree Celsius. And bake the cake for just 30 minutes! )
After 1 Hr, pierce through the cake and make sure nothing is stuck to the needle.. and you know the cake is ready!.. Let it cool down and only then gently toss the cake upside down into a plate..
If you think the cake is stuck to the sides and has not come off by itself after cooling..then gently using a spatula.. separate it from the tin and the turn it upside down!

Toasting to good health, success, and renewed happiness...

HAPPY EASTER!

# 29: Pan Cakes

Good Morning.. and wishing you all a very Happy EASTER!!!! :) :) :)

After the pascal vigil, it was next to impossible to even expect me to wake up and do anything.. But then i had promised everyone to take over the kitchen..could not have let myself & them down.. On a regular day, i don't quiet remember when have i had breakfast.. But i made Easter Sunday an exception.. Not just did i wake up for breakfast but also prepared it with all the excitement and thrill of trying something new!

Few weeks back, i was as usual on my favorite chef's website! "Nigella Lawson".  When it comes to waking up late and yet wanting a luxurious quick breakfast.. i cant think of anyone but Nigella & so"Pan cakes" was what i picked.

I woke up around 9AM (honestly, its way too early for me.. :D ;) ) and so did everyone else at home (it really got late by the time we crashed to bed the other nite...)!

Picked up my ingredients and was all set for Mission Pan Cakes! lol...afterall, its the first time i was preparing it and top it all..the first time most of my family members were gonna have pan cakes! :D 

Ingredients:

1. Cheese - 6 to 7 slices
2. Milk - 225 ml
3. Eggs - 2
4. Flour - 150 gms
5. Baking Powder - 1 tsp
6. Strawberries.. for garnishing!

Before i go further..let me tell you that Nigella's ingredients and measurements are a bit different from what i followed! here's her ingredients & measurements.. ( I did a bit of changes to the recipe to suit the items that i already had and also making sure its not too heavy..considering the majority has genetic health issues..and i definitely did not want to be the culprit if any thing goes wrong.. ;) :P )

• Ricotta Cheese - 250 gms
• Milk - 125 ml
• Eggs -2
• Flour - 100 gms
• Baking Powder - 1 Tsp

Preparation:

Separate the egg yoke and white.  Beat them separately.
Melt the cheese a bit, and add milk to it. Beat the two together. Add the egg white and beat it for a while before you add in the yoke as well. Beat the mixture.
Mix the baking powder along with the flour and add the two to the cheese-milk-egg mix. Beat well and the batter is ready.

Take a non-stick pan, and pour a scoop of the batter on it. It spreads on its own..so i did not have to get worked up about the shape. Leave for a while and then turn them over. A minute or two and the pan cakes are ready!

Serve with honey streaks & garnish with Strawberries! Also, team it with strawberry jam or any jam of your choice... :)

Ola! My pan cakes were ready in just a matter of 30 minutes..in all by 10 AM..everyone was done with Breakfast! and am glad there were no left overs! ;) so i assume it did suite the taste buds... :P 

Sigh! (What a relief..)

# 28: Roast Chicken

Easter was round the corner and deciding the menu was chaotic yet fun! With 2 vegetarians and 5 non-vegetarians..u know what i mean!!! ;)

I love chicken! but ya.. its not like i can eat it every single day. I guess, i am like this since mom never made it an habit. Festivals, Bdays, and weekends are the only days when we have a non-veg feast! Mom knew how to keep the excitement in us! :)

Easter Sunday lunch had to be simple, quick, & yet grand.. Coz after the pascal vigil on holy Saturday..waking up in the morning might not be all that easy. And especially for me.. its a complete pain! and this time i decided that i want to prepare everything all by myself.. ha ha ha (I don't know what i was thinking when i decided to dawn the chef's cap for the day! ;).. )

Roasting the chicken does not require one to marinate it  well in advance..and that i guess was a blessing. Its just about leaving the chicken to cook all by itself with the spices.Its the simplest.. and so definitely had to be part of this year's Easter Sunday special!

Ingredients:

1. Chicken pieces - 8
2. Onions - 1 (finely cut)
3. Potato - 1 (cut into circular portions) Optional!
4. Ginger Garlic Paste - 1 Tsp
5. Cinnamon sticks- 2 (broken into halves)
6. Cloves - 3
7. Cardamom [Elaichi (whole)] - 1 ( crushed a bit)
8. Pepper - 1 tsp
9. Salt- 1 tsp
10. Oil - 2 Tsp

Preparation:

Heat a pan of oil and toss in the finely cut onions. Let the onions turn a bit golden and then add the ginger garlic paste. Let the two cook for a while (approx 1 min). Add the spices ( cloves, cardamom, & cinnamon). Cover the pan & let it cook on slow flame. Once you sense the aroma of the spices, add the chicken pieces.

Ideally, you can add the potato slices. But i did not. Rather i had boiled the potato slices and then pan fired them a bit before adding to the dish! Dint want the potatoes to get burnt in the bargain of roasting the chicken!

Okay, while i added the chicken a lil bit of the chicken stock (say 3 tsp) was also added.. Did this so that the chicken does not get burnt and rather cooks well. Cover this chicken with a lid and leave it to cook by itself! Do make sure you keep tossing the pieces at regular intervals..

Eventually, the stock gets dried up and the chicken starts to get the caramelizing effect!

Toss the pieces over and make sure its caramelized well. Before taking it off the flame, add the potatoes and mix it well.

Ta da... we are done! :)

# 27: Eggplant Delight

A try at Reverse Engineering a recipe! and a bit of an experiment too...did not know the name of this dish...and thus, named it - "Eggplant Delight"

Some time back, i was invited over for dinner  where i had a certain dish of eggplant which was mouth watering and simply amazing. When i enquired about how this certain dish was prepared, i was told its very simple! just use sesame and besan (chickpea flour). Rest was left to my imagination. (Sigh!)

After a long time, with no recipe in hand but just a wild idea about the main ingredients, i decided to go ahead, experiment, and cook. Well, honestly, the taste is no where close to what i had...But its certainly much different and a recipe in itself now. I'd like to pen it down..


Ingredients:

1. Eggplant - 3 (cut into pieces)
2. Sesame seeds (white)- 1.5 cups
3. Chickpea flour (Besan) - 1 cup
4. Onion - 1 ( cut and ground into a paste)
5. Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
6. Cumin powder - 1.5 tsp
7. Red chili powder- 2 tsp
8. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
9. Garam Masala powder - 1 tsp
10. Coriander Leaves (for garnishing)
11. Salt to taste
12. Oil - 3 Tbsp

Procedure:

Roast the Sesame seeds in a pan and mix it with the besan. In the meanwhile, heat the 1.5 tbsp of oil and add the onion paste. Let the onions fry in the oil. Later add the ginger garlic paste. Leave the two to fry for 2-3 mins. Add in the red chili powder, turmeric powder, and cumin powder. Mix them well. Now add in the sesame seeds and besan. Mix all of them and let it cook a while. Add a pinch of salt as well. Cover with a lid and occasionally do keep mixing the gravy. This will take approximately 7 mins to cook and be ready.
Remove the gravy from the pan and keep aside.

Now, heat the remaining oil in the pan and add the eggplant and 1 tsp of salt. Cover it with a lid. Let the eggplant soften up. Once it has softened up, add the sesame-besan gravy. Mix it well and leave to cook. Add salt to taste and do stir occasionally. In about 8-10 mins the vegetable is ready. Now add the garam masala and mix well. Leave to cook for another 2 mins and the dish is ready (in good 20 minutes)!

Garnish with coriander.

P.S: Serve with hot plain parathas.

Njoi Ur Meal!:)

# 26: Chocolate-Vanilla Layered Cake with Icing

My Masterpiece! :)

I was at "Tesco" a few days back, and was browsing through their baking section. Amazing variety of things they have. Be it moulds or even colors. I was so tempted to pick up all the colors..so i can work on my icing skills. But aah! mom and sis-in-law were around and lately..rather since some 20 odd years we have stopped using any kind of artificial colors in our food stuff.  So.. it was next to impossible for me to pick up all those colors.. Well, but i am an equally hard nut to crack! got my way with Pink & green and am so proud of myself! :D

Going to the recipe...I must tell you the Ingredients for this cake is same as that of the Marble cake. Just that, i worked my way out with getting the layers right and a li'l working on butter icing.

Ingredients & Procedure: http://telangs-grubhub.blogspot.com/2011/04/25-marble-chocolate-cake.html

The technique i adopted to layer is the simplest on the face of earth!
Bottom most layer : Vanilla
Middle: Chocolate
Top : Vanilla
Just that put a good thick layer of each batter.Take a needle and design your cake through...

 





The Icing:

Ingredients:

1. Butter - 30 gms
2. Icing sugar - 100 gms
3. Vanilla essence - 4 drops
4. Drak chocolate - 4 pcs
5. Ground Cashews - 1 Tbsp
6. Chocolate Oat Crunch Cookies - 6 pcs
7. Pink color - 1 drop
8. Green Color - 1 drop
9. Silver Balls
10. Cherries

Accessories:

Butter Paper or Packet
               OR
Icing Cone with nozzles

Procedure:
Beat the Butter before adding the icing sugar. Later add the icing sugar to the butter and beat it well. Add the essence. The icing mix has to be such that when you lift the icing, it should be firm and not be even the slightest bit limp!
Do the icing accordingly...

Step 1:

Step 2: Roast the ground cashew a bit and mix it with the ground chocolate oat cookies. Once the layer of icing is put around the sides, dab the cashew-cookies granules to the sides as displayed in the pic. Start upwards! Always helps.. :)

Step 3: Melt the chocolate, add some butter and icing sugar and prepare the chocolate icing for the sides. To put the icing on the sides you can either you the icing moulds & nozzles or create your own icing bag using a packet or butter paper. Just slit the tip of the packet a bit, giving it a shape with which you can determine the design you would like to place at the sides of the cake...I slit the packet such that the shape generated was a "W"

Step 4: The flowers and the leaves. Take a spoon of icing mix to each color. Put 1 drop each and without vigorously mixing, put the icing in respective cones. I used Butter paper to prepare the cones and for the leaves, did a side slit at the tip, while for the flowers cut the tip in a "S"
Step 5: Decorate with Silver Balls & a Cherry! :)

A close up of the piece! I didn't quiet imagine that i would be able to get the zig-zag when i was pouring in the batter..But then..it just worked out!

Have Fun!

# 25: Marble Chocolate Cake

Marble Cake... Something i am so totally fond of. Apart from the several others things i like and love.

I distinctly remember the color combinations my mother used to make when i was a kid.. sometimes there was pink & blue and sometimes it was just blue and its hues and shades. I was always so amazed at the creativity with which she created such master pieces and i still continue to be. Just one difference now. I somehow have an idea about it! :P

Well! after picking up the basic cake making technique.. its high time to start experimenting.

I was gifted a big slab of Lindt Dark chocolate the other day. I totally love dark chocolates! But with the never ending quest to get an inch closer to loosing the extra inches around the waist... Chocolate feasts are near  to extinction! And with my family being so hell bent about not using artificial colors.. What best than to get working on a dark chocolate-vanilla flavored marble cake!

Phew! :D Not like i am exhausted already! ;)

After my last attempt on butter cake, and 95% of my family being completely diabetic and dealing with cholesterol! I had to do some minor changes..so here we go..

Ingredients:

1. Eggs - 4
2. All purpose flour - 250 gms (maida)
3. Sugar - 200 gms
4. Butter - 200 gms
5. Baking Powder - 1 tsp
6. Lindt Dark Chocolate - 1/2 slab (32 pcs)
7. Vanilla essence - 8 drops
8. Lime -1

Procedure:

1. Leave the butter out to melt a bit. If its too firm the blade of the beater will get ruined.
2. Grind the sugar and keep aside.
3. Sieve the Maida and baking powder together.
4. Separate the egg whites and yokes.
5. Now take the egg white and beat it. Add some ground sugar at regular intervals until it is firm. Such that you can try tossing it over and it would still not fall out or leave any liquid out. Keep aside. Now beat up the yokes in a separate bowl. Squeeze some lime juice into it. And beat well. Keep aside.
6. Now, beat up the butter a li'l before you add the sugar to it. Add the remaining sugar to the butter and beat well. Always have one direction while beating up. Else its said the cake wont turn out well.. probably due to the air pockets that get created while mixing up. Anyways!
7. Add the beaten yoke mix to the butter and beat it well.
8. Now, using a spatula, you need to fold the batter as you add the maida and egg white mix. ( Here you might notice that the egg white is leaving a li'l liquid.. That's perfectly normal and fine...). Continue to add the maida & egg white at regular intervals.. Later add the vanilla essence and fold it as well. (In case the batter it too firm..add 2 tsp of Milk...and fold it together.) Keep aside.
9. Melt the chocolate and beat it a bit before you add 2 Tbsp of the Vanilla batter. Fold it with the chocolate and don't beat it up.
10. Grease the cake baking mould with butter and sprinkle maida and spread it around well. Now add some vanilla batter into the mould and also add in some chocolate batter in to it. Such that they are equal parts but not really put in any definite pattern or layer. Using a needle. Mix randomly as per the design you wish to see around... 
11. Bake for 45 mins at 180 degrees. Else in the absence of an oven, bake in a cooker for an hour! (I have been baking my cakes in a pressure cooker lately..and they are just as amazing as they are when baked in an Oven! )

What i did is..put a layer of Chocolate, and over it a layer of vanilla batter... took the needle and spread it around randomly.. This is exactly how it turned out to be when i sliced through! :)

Ummmmm... Yum Yum....

The close up! Just before i took a bite ! :D

Njoi!

(P.S: Recipe continues to the next cake- # 26 :Chocolate-Vanilla Layered cake with Butter icing. )

The Miracle Drink

Miracle Drink : Carrot, Beet Root and Apple

This MIRACLE DRINK has been circulating for a long time long ago. It is worth your while to take note. There is a celebrity Mr. Seto who swears by it. He wants to make it public to draw the attention of people who have cancers. This is a drink that can protect bad cells forming in your body or it will restrain its growth! Mr. Seto had lung cancer. He was recommended to take this drink by a famous Herbalist from China. He has taken this drink diligently for 3 months and now his health is restored, and he is ready to take a pleasure trip. Thanks to this drink! It does not hurt for you to try.

It is like a Miracle Drink! It is simple

You need one beet root, one carrot and one apple that combine together to make the JUICE !

Wash the above, cut with the skin on into pieces and put them into the juicer and immediately you drink the juice. You can add some lime or lemon for more refreshing taste.

This Miracle Drink will be effective for the following ailments:

1. Prevent cancer cells to develop. It will restrain cancer cells to grow.
2. Prevent liver, kidney, pancreas disease and it can cure ulcer as well.
3. Strengthen the lung, prevent heart attack and high blood pressure.
4. Strengthen the immune system
5. Good for the eyesight, eliminate red and tired eyes or dry eyes
6. Help to eliminate pain from physical training, muscle ache
7. Detoxify, assist bowel movement, eliminate constipation. Therefore it will make skin healthy & LOOK more radiant. It is God sent for acne problem.
8. Improve bad breath due to indigestion, throat infection,
9. Lessen menstrual pain
10. Assist Hay Fever Sufferer from Hay Fever attack.

There is absolutely no side effect. Highly nutritious and easily absorbs! Very effective if you need to loose weight. You will notice your immune system will be improved after 2 week routine. Please make sure to drink immediately from the juicer for best effect.

WHEN TO DRINK IT:   DRINK IT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING WITH THE EMPTY STOMACH! AFTER ONE HOUR YOU CAN EAT BREAKFAST. FOR FAST RESULTS DRINK 2 TIMES A DAY, IN THE MORNING AND BEFORE 5 P.M.

(P.S: A mail recieved and circulated since a long time...)

# 24: Creamy Pasta

Pasta!?!?

I am not very crazy about pastas but yes.. I do like some preparations. Normally, I would prefer a red gravy over a white. But there's always an exception. And the exception is PASTA! :)

Like Pizza, Pasta is something I have always had at a restaurant only. Apart from Macaroni which mom used to prepare for us at home.

There was cream & cheese already in the fridge. Could not think of any thing better and quicker than PASTA..and so my experiments with cooking Pasta began. :)

Ingredients:

(Serves 7)

1. Penne - 1 packet
2. Cream - 500 ml
3. Cheese - 3 cubes
4. Red Chilies - 3 (cut in circular rings)
5. Black Olives - 1 cup ( i just love black olives.. )
6. Baby Corn - 8 pcs ( circularly cut)
7. Oil/Olive oil - 2 Tbsp
8. Pepper - 1 tsp
9. Salt to taste
10. Oregano ( if you like to add else peper is best!)

Procedure:

Boil some water with 1 tsp of salt and add the penne. Leave the penne to cook. Strain the Penne and wash lightly with cold water and strain. Dab some oil in the boiled penne. Mix and leave. (The oil will ensure the penne do not stick to each other or get soggy.)

Heat oil in a pan and add the red chilies to it. Stir a li'l. Add the baby corn and olives as well. Let the 3 cook for a minute or two. Now, add the cheese cubes to it and let it melt into the pan. Later add the cream and leave it to cook.

Add the Penne to the cream mixture. Mix well. Add salt as per taste as well as sprinkle pepper. Mix well.

The Creamy pasta is all done!

Yummy!!!!   :)

Bon Appetite!