The Amazing Cucumber

  This information was in The New York Times several weeks ago as part of their "Spotlight on the Home" series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.
1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day... Just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon? Put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror... It will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area. WOW!

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes. The photochemical in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too! DOUBLE WOW!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD-40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber sliced rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the photochemical will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!

Spicy remedies for all Diseases:!!!

COLDS

Mix a gram of dalchini/cinnamon powder with a teaspoon of honey to cure cold. Prepare a cup of tea to which you should add ginger, clove, bay leaf and black pepper. This should be consumed twice a day. Reduce the intake as the cold disappears.

GINGER FOR COLDS.

Ginger tea is very good to cure cold. Preparation of tea: cut ginger into small pieces and boil it with water, boil it a few times and then add sugar to sweeten and milk to taste, and drink it hot.

DRY COUGHS.

Add a gram of turmeric (haldi) powder to a teaspoon of honey for curing dry cough. Also chew a cardamom for a long time.

BLOCKED NOSE.

For blocked nose or to relieve congestion, take a table spoon of crushed carom seeds (ajwain) and tie it in a cloth and inhale it.

SORE THROAT.

Add a tea spoon of cumin seeds (jeera) and a few small pieces of dry ginger to a glass of boiling water. Simmer it for a few minutes, and then let it cool. Drink it twice daily. This will cure cold as well as sour throat.

AJWAIN/AJMO FOR ASTHMA.

Boil ajwain in water and inhale the steam.

CURE FOR BACKACHE.

Rub ginger paste on the backache to get relief.

GARLIC FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

Have 1-2 pod garlic (lasan) first thing in the morning with water

HONEY AND GINGER FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

Mix 1 table spoon and 1 table spoon ginger (adrak) juice, 1 table spoon of crushed cumin seeds (jeera), and have it twice daily.

MIGRAINE..

For the cure of migraine or acute cold in the head; boil a tablespoon of pepper powder, and a pinch of turmeric in a cup of milk, and have it daily for a few couple of days.

BITTER GOURD/KARELA IS GOOD..

A tablespoon of amla juice mixed with a cup of fresh bitter gourd (karela) juice and taken daily for 2 months reduces blood sugar.

TURMERIC/ARAD CURE FOR INJURIES

For any cut or wound, apply turmeric powder to the injured portion to stop the bleeding. It also works as an antiseptic. You can tie a bandage after applying haldi/turmeric.

CRAMPS

You must do a self-massage using mustard oil every morning. Just take a little oil between your palms and rub it all over your body. Then take a shower. This is especially beneficial during winter. You could also mix a little mustard powder with water to make a paste and apply this on your palms and soles of your feet.

HEADACHES.

If you have a regular migraine problem, include five almonds along with hot milk in your daily diet. You could also have a gram of black pepper along with honey or milk, twice or thrice a day. Make an almond paste by rubbing wet almonds against a stone. This can be applied to forehead.

Eat an apple with a little salt on an empty stomach everyday and see its wonderful effects. OR When headache is caused by cold winds, cinnamon works best in curing headache. Make a paste of cinnamon by mixing in water and apply it all over your forehead

TURMERIC

FOR ARTHRITIS.

Turmeric can be used in treating arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory property. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than adding to dishes to help prevent all problems. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder per cup of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local action.

GOOD FOR THE HEART

Turmeric lower cholesterol and by preventing the formation of the internal blood clots improves circulation and prevents heart disease and stroke. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than adding to dishes to help prevent all problems. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder per cup of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local action.

GOOD FOR INDIGESTION

Turmeric can be used to relieve digestive problems like ulcers, dysentery. Turmeric can be taken as a drink other than adding to dishes to help prevent all problems. Use one teaspoon of turmeric powder per cup of warm milk every day. It is also used as a paste for local action.

HONEY IS A GOOD CURE FOR ALL DISEASES

Mix 1 teaspoon honey with ? teaspoon cinnamon powder and have at night.

HICCUPS

Take a warm slice of lemon and sprinkle salt, sugar and black pepper on it. The lemon should be eaten until the hiccups stop.

HIGH BLOOD CHOLESTEROL

In 1 glass of water, add 2 tbsps of coriander/dhania seeds and bring to a boil. Let the decoction cool for some time and then strain. Drink this mixture two times in a day. OR Sunflower seeds are extremely beneficial, as they contain linoleic acid that helps in reducing the cholesterol deposits on the walls of arteries.

PILES

Radish juice should be taken twice a day, once in the morning and then later in the night. Initially drink about ? cup of radish juice and then gradually increase it to ? cup. OR Soak 3-4 figs in a glass of water. Keep it overnight. Consume the figs on an empty stomach, the next day in the morning

VOMITING

Take 2 cardamoms/elachi and roast them on a dry pan (tava). Powder the cardamoms and thereafter add a tsp of honey in it. Consume it frequently. It serves as a fabulous home remedy for vomiting. OR In the mixture of 1 tsp of mint juice and 1 tsp limejuice, add ? tsp of ginger juice and 1 tsp honey. Drink this mixture to prevent vomiting. OR Limejuice is an effective remedy for vomiting. Take a glass of chilled limejuice and sip slowly. To prevent vomiting, drink ginger tea. OR In 1 glass water, add some honey and drink sip by sip.

WARTS

Apply castor oil daily over the problematic area. Continue for several months. OR Apply milky juice of fresh and barely-ripe figs a number of times a day. Continue for two weeks. OR Rub cut raw potatoes on the affected area several times daily. Continue for at least two weeks. OR Rub cut onions on the warts to stimulate the circulation of blood.. OR Apply milk from the cut end of dandelion over the warts 2-3 times a day. OR Apply oil extracted from the shell of the cashew nut over the warts. OR Apply Papaya juice OR Apply Pineapple juice.

URINARY TRACT INFECTION

In 8 oz of water, put ? tsp of baking soda and drink it. OR Drink plenty of water, as it aids in flushing out the waste products from the body. OR Drink Cranberry juice. You can also add some apple juice for taste.

SINUSITIS

Mango serves as an effective home remedy for preventing the frequent attacks of sinus, as it is packed with loads of vitamin A. OR Another beneficial remedy consists of consuming pungent foods like onion and garlic, as a part of your daily meals. OR Fenugreek/methi leaves are considered valuable in curing sinusitis. In 250 ml water, boil 1 tsp of Fenugreek seeds and reduce it to half. This will help you to perspire, dispel toxicity and reduce the fever period. OR Tie a tsp of black cumin seeds in a thin cotton cloth and inhale.

TONSILLITIS

Take a fresh lemon and squeeze it in a glass of water. Add 4 tsp of honey and ? tsp of salt in it. Drink it slowly sip by sip. OR Milk has proved beneficial in treating tonsillitis. In 1 glass of pure boiled milk, add a pinch of turmeric powder and pepper powder. Drink it every night for about 3 days.

Top-five Cancer-causing foods

1. Hot Dogs

Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.

 
2. Processed meats and Bacon

Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.

 
3. Doughnuts

Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams , may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.

 
4. French fries

Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams .





5. Chips, crackers, and cookies

All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.

Recipe of Mini Samosa

Here is the recipe of Mini Samosa that can add a flavour as snacks of Diwali.



Ingredients

* 2 cups of all purpose flour (maida)
* 1 cup of vegetable oil
* Salt (depending upon the taste)
* moong daal (soak 6-8 hrs in Plenty of water with baking soda)
* 1 tbs red chili powder
* 1 tbs garam masala
* 1 tbs coriender powder
* 1 tbs salt
* tbs amchur
* 3-4 pinches asafoetida powder
* tbs cumin seeds
* Vegetable oil for frying


Method

* Grind the moong daal with minimum quantity of water.
* Add oil in heavy pan.
* Add cumin seeds, asafoetida powder and daal paste in it.
* Stir it properly. Add salt,garam masala,coriender powder,chili powder and amchur powder.
* Stir it until the mixture dried very well.


Preparation for cover

* Sieve all-purpose flour, add salt.
* Add vegetable oil (so that you can make bowls) and mix it very well.
* Then add small quantity of water and make smooth dough.
* Make small round rolls with dough.
* Roll it like chapatti (chapatti should be around 4-5 inches in diameter).
* Cut it into 2 equal halves along the diameter.
* Put small water along the diameter.
* Join and press together to make a cone.
* Place a tbsp. of filling in the cone and seal third side as above.
* Make five to six. Put in hot oil, deep fry on low to medium till light brown.
* Do not fry on high, or the mini samosas will turn out oily and soggy.
* Drain on rack or kitchen paper
* Serve hot with green chutney.

Baingan Bharta (Aubergine Curry)

Baingan Bharta (Aubergine Curry)
Ingredients

* 1 large aubergine
* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
* 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
* 1/2 tablespoon minced ginger root
* 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
* 1 tablespoon curry powder
* 1 tomato, diced
* 110g (4 oz) low-fat plain yoghurt
* 1 fresh green chilli, finely chopped
* 1 teaspoon salt
* half bunch fresh coriander, finely chopped

Preparation method

1. Preheat oven to 230 C / Gas mark 8.
2. Place aubergine on a medium baking tray. Bake 20 to 30 minutes until tender. Remove from heat and allow to cool, then peel and chop.
3. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Mix in cumin seeds and onion. Sauté until onion is tender.
4. Stir in ginger, garlic, curry powder and tomato, and cook for 1 minute. Stir in yoghurt. Mix in aubergine and chilli, and season with salt. Cover, and cook 10 minutes over high heat.
5. Remove cover, reduce heat to low, and continue cooking about 5 minutes. Garnish with coriander to serve.

Chhole Bhature Recipe

Chhole Bhature is a well-liked Diwali Veg Dish.This Diwali Veg Recipe will help you to please your guests.



Bhature

Ingredients

* Refined flour 3 cups
* Cooking oil 1 tbsp
* Plain Yoghurt 1/2 cup
* Baking powder 1 tsp


Method

* Sieve together the refined flour and baking powder
* add ghee and yoghurt
* Mix well using palms of your hands. Make a smooth dough using water as needed
* Cover with a clean wet kitchen towel to keep it from drying and leave it to ferment overnight
* Make small balls from the dough, roll into thick round chapati or tortilla like shapes.
* Deep fry in oil on both sides until golden brown

Serve with hot Punjabi chhole



Chhole Recipe

Ingredients

* Cooked Chick Peas or Garbanzo beans
* Garam masala 1/2 tsp
* Garlic Paste 1 tsp
* Ginger Paste 1 tsp
* Chili powder 1/2 tsp
* Dry Mango Powder 1 tsp
* Dry Coriander powder 1 tsp
* Finely Chopped Large Onion 1
* Salt to taste
* Cooking Oil
* Chopped Coriander 1 tbsp
*

Method

* Heat oil in a pan, add onions, ginger garlic paste,
* Fry until golden brown
* Add coriander powder and garam masala, and fry for 2 minutes
* Now add chickpeas, salt, chili powder, 1-cup water and cook until the gravy thickens. Later add mango powder, chopped coriander and cook for 2 minutes.

Serve hot with bhatura.

The Recipe of Pista Lassi

The Recipe of Pista Lassi





Ingredients

* Chilled Fresh Curds - 2cups
* Sugar - 1tbs
* Cardamom Powder - 1/2tsp
* Pistas - 2-3nos
* Pista Essence - 2drops
* Crushed Ice - 1/2cup
* Hot Milk - 1tsp


Method

* Coarsely grind pista. Dissolve sugar in curd.
* Mix all the ingredients together. Blend well in an electric blender. Chill the lassi and serve.

Mughlai Mutton Korma Recipe

Mughlai Mutton Korma Recipe

Ingredients

* Mutton - 1 Kilo
* Onion - 3 medium sized (finely chopped)
* Tomato - 1 (small)
* Green Chillies - 4 or 5
* Curry leaves
* Coriander leaves - to garnish
* Coconut - grounded as paste (3 cups) Ginger Garlic Paste - 2 tbsps
* Chilli Powder - 2 tbsps
* Coriander Powder - 4 tbsps
* Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tbsps
* Cinnamon & Cloves - few


Method

* Heat oil in a cooker and add Cinnamon sticks and cloves.
* Add onions, green chilies, curry leaves and fry them till it is light brown in colour.
* Add tomato and fry for two minutes.
* Add mutton pieces and sauté for 10 minutes.
* Add ginger garlic paste, chili powder, coriander powder and turmeric powder and sauté.
* Then add coconut paste and mix well. Add enough water so that the mixture is not very thick.
* Close the lid and wait for 5 whistles.
* Garnish with coriander leaves and fried cashew nuts (optional).

How to Make Chocolate Bread Pudding

Stray away from the usual pie and coffee dessert and serve this absolutely delightful, old fashioned, easy to make treat that will delight even the pickiest of eaters.

Serve it warm, topped with ice cream, caramel syrup and a dab of whipped cream or cold, topped with fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and chocolate chips.



Simple to make, with simple ingredients, it's sure to become an instant favorite. You'll have your family and guests begging for seconds!

Ingredients

• 1 loaf of brioche or other white bread (about 18 slices)

• 350 mL or 11 ¾ fl oz milk

• 445 mL or 15 fl oz cream

• 3 egg yolks

• 3 whole eggs

• 100 g or 3 ½ oz sugar

• 100 g or 3 ½ oz chocolate, neatly chopped

• 200 g or 7 oz chocolate, roughly chopped

• a cup of sugar

• pinch of salt

Steps To Make Chocolate Bread Pudding

• Preheat the oven to 300ºF (150ºC)

• Cut all the brioche or bread into quarters using the large knife and place them into a large bowl.

• Pour the cream and milk into a pan, and heat over a medium high heat.

• Add the neatly-chopped chocolate and salt as soon as small bubbles appear on the surface. Stir well, and turn off the heat.

• Add the egg yolks, whole eggs and sugar to a bowl. Whisk to combine.

• Add a small amount of the hot chocolate sauce to the egg and sugar mixture, and whisk to blend. This is called "tempering" the eggs.

• Pour this mixture into the pan of the remaining hot chocolate sauce and whisk once more.

• Strain the chocolate sauce through a sieve over the bowl of bread.

• Add the roughly-chopped chocolate, and mix. Be very careful to not break up the bread. Leave to soak for 10-15 minutes.

• Pour the bread and chocolate mix into the buttered tin. Spread it evenly and pour any excess sauce over the mixture.

• Place the tin into the center of the oven and bake for roughly 35-40 minutes.

• Check to see if it is done by gently piercing the center of the loaf with a knife point or a toothpick. If a little chocolate is left on the knife or toothpick, it is ready to remove, as it should be on the moist side, and not too dry. Let it cool.

• Remove from the tin, cut into thick chunky slices.

• Serve hot or cold with raspberry sauce, cream, toffee or simply on its own.

Chili Prawn Noodles

Chili Prawn Noodles

Ingredients
2 pkt noodles, prawns flavor
100 gms prawns, cleaned
1 onion, finely chopped
1" piece ginger, chopped
2-3 green chilies, chopped
1 tomato, chopped
2 tbsp oil
salt to taste

Method

• Heat oil and fry onion, ginger and prawns for 1-2 minutes.
• Add chopped tomato, green chilies, salt, and cook till the prawns are tender.
• Add 3 cups of water to the prawns and bring to a boil.
• Add noodles and cook for another 2 minutes.
• Serve hot with tomato soup.

Chawal Ki Roti

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups rice flour (chawal ka atta)
4 tbsp cooked rice
2 tsps garlic, grated
2 tsps green chilies, chopped
2 tsps ginger, grated
3 tbsp curd (yogurt)
2 tbsp oil
salt to taste
oil for cooking

Method
Combine all the ingredients and knead into a firm dough using enough water. Divide the dough into 6 equal portions.
Roll out each portion into a circle of 150 mm. (6") diameter and 6 mm. (¼") Thickness.
Heat a tava (griddle) and cook each roti on both sides with a little bit of oil until brown.
Press down with a spoon on the thicker edges to ensure the roti also gets cooked through on the inside.
Repeat with the remaining dough to make 5 more rotis. Serve hot with any gravy or curry.

Soya Dahibara

Soya Dahibara

Ingredients
500 gms whole soya beans
60 gms urad dal (black gram)
1/2 cup curd (yogurt)
4-5 green chilies
few coriander leaves, chopped
salt to taste
1 tsp. cumin seeds
soya refined oil for deep frying

Method
Soak soyabeans and urad dal overnight. Drain water and grind mixture into a coarse consistency.
Add finely chopped green chilies and coriander leaves. Add salt to the mixture and mix well. Make flat baras and deep fry in soya oil till the baras turn golden brown.
Beat the curd into a smooth paste. Add salt to taste. Roast cumin seeds and powder them coarsely. Soak the baras in this curd. Garnish with cumin seeds powder. Served chilled

Dal with Palak

INGREDIENTS

3 cups (250gm) chopped palak (spinach)
1 cup arhar dal or toovar ki dal (red gram dal)
1 small clove garlic finely chopped (optional)
½ piece ginger finely chopped
1 green chilli finely chopped
½ tsp haldi (turmeric powder)
1½ tsp salt to taste
1 tsp Leonardo® olive oil.
TOMATO ONION BAGHAR (TADKA)
3 tbsp Leonardo® Olive Pomace Oil
½ tsp jeera (cumin seeds)
1 onion chopped finely
1 tomato chopped finely
1 green chilli slit length ways into four pieces
½ tsp garam masala (mixed spices)
½ tsp dhania (coriander) powder
1/8 tsp amchoor (dried mango powder)
½ tsp red chilli powder.

1. Pick, clean and wash dal, Wash chopped palak in plenty of water
2. Mix dal, palak, garlic, ginger, green chilli, haldi, salt and Oil. Add 3 cups of water to the dal.
3. Pressure cook dal to give one whistle and then keep on low flame for 6-7 minutes. Remove the cooker from heat.
4. For the baghar, heat Oil. Reduce heat. Add jeera. When it turns golden, add onions.
5. Cook till onions turn brown. Do not under cook the onions. Brown them, stirring continuously.
6. Add tomatoes. Cook for 2-3 minutes on low flame.
7. Add dhania powder, amchoor and garam masala. Cook for ½ minute.
8. Keep aside. Add the green chillies and red chilli powder. Mix well.
9. Pour over the hot dal. Mix gently. Serve hot.

Malai Kofta (Vegetarian)

Malai Kofta (Vegetarian)

Ingredients:

* 4 tbs Oil
* 4 Onions
* ½ tsp Salt
* ½ tsp Sugar
* Oil for frying
* ½ tbsp Besan
* 500 gm Paneer
* ½ tsp Turmeric
* 3/4 cup Cream
* 1 tbsp Khuskhus
* Coriander leaves
* 1 cup Tomato sauce
* 8 pieces Cashewnuts
* ½ tsp Garam Masala
* Pinch of Baking powder
* 2 tsp Garlic-Ginger paste


Method:

1. Take paneer, baking powder and besan in a bowl and beat them until soften.
2. Make small balls and deep fry at high flame, and keep aside.
3. Heat 4 tbsp oil in a pan and put chopped onion and fry until golden brown.
4. Add ginger-garlic paste to the above and mix.
5. Grind cashewnuts & khas-khas and mix it to the above. Add tomato sauce and cook for 5 minutes. Add turmeric powder, salt, sugar and 3/4 cup of water. Cook for 10 minutes.
6. Leave 2 tbsp cream aside and add rest to the above gravy.
7. Add garam masala and mix well. Pour gravy in serving pan.
8. Add fried paneer balls to the gravy and garnish with rest of the cream and coriander leaves.

Healthy Summer Drinks and Snacks

Summer is a time when we tend to drink a lot to replenish the liquid and the needed body salts lost from sweating.

In addition we also tend to eat snacks and munchies to go with what we drink.
This can pose some serious problems for those who are trying to maintain their weight or even lose some.

Here are some great ideas for coolers to quench thirst and cool down your body temperature when it's blazing hot outside. They're easy to make and you don't have to search the aisles of an entire supermarket to find the ingredients. Chances are that most of them are already a part of your well-stocked kitchen and refrigerator.

Fruit Sorbet:

For sorbets, water-filled fruits such as watermelon, sweet lime, rose water and fruit sugar mix are good. All you have to do is puree the fruit, pour it into ice cream moulds and set in the freezer. Most citrus fruits are great for sorbets.

Smoothies:

Good smoothies can be made with bananas, mangoes, papayas and other pulpy fruits. You can have them with breakfast as accompaniments or as stand-alone breakfasts, especially if you're on the go. Simply blend the fruit with yogurt and a few raisins (like kishmish) and set. If you don't like them too cold then drink them straightaway.

Chilled fruit tea:

Fruit teas are healthy drink options in terms of calories. They're easily available in every departmental store but you can choose to make them at home. Just make a light brew of tea and allow it to cool. Add some fruit to it and chill in the refrigerator. Serve with crushed ice.

Lime Soda - the old favourite:

Nothing beats the amazing thirst quenching power of fresh lime soda with salt or sugar. The ingredients are available throughout the year, making it the most popular drink across cultures, states and climatic regions of the World. To make it at home, use fresh lime, club soda and add black salt, roasted cumin (jeera) powder and a few mint leaves.

Zingy Apple:

Another good summer drink is just plain apple juice with chilled soda. You can opt to use packaged apple juice or make it fresh at home. However, make sure that the packaged option has minimum or no added sugar. This will ensure that less unwanted calories enter your system.

Ice Cream:

A little low fat ice cream with plenty of fresh fruits is a good anytime-of-the-day snack. Avoid this as dessert after dinner and go easy on the ice cream even though it's low fat.

Sweets:

It's ok to eat a little sweet here and there, especially if they're made out of figs, dates, prunes, apricots or other dry fruits and nuts. They're good if not made out of white refined flour and ghee.

So make the best of summer by trying out all these drinks and snacks. They're healthy, they're easy to make and by Jove, you'll enjoy them 100%.

Karahi Paneer (Vegetarian)

Ingredients:

* 2 tsp Oil
* 2 Bayleaf
* 3 Red Chilli
* Salt to taste
* 500 gm Paneer
* 1 tsp Chilli powder
* 1 tsp Garam Masala
* 1½ cup Onion, sliced
* 3/4 cup Tomato puree
* 2 tsp Coriander seeds
* 2 tsp Ginger-Garlic paste
* 1 Capsicum, cut into thin long strips


Method:

1. Cut Paneer into small cubes and keep aside.
2. Heat oil in a wok (Karahi), add dry red chilli, coriander powder, bayleaf and then add sliced onion, saut onion till golden brown in color, and crisp.
3. Add ginger-garlic Paste, stir.
4. Now tomato puree, cook for few minutes.
5. Add chilli powder, coriander powder and salt, mix well. Add water if required.
6. Add paneer and cook until coated with thick gravy.
7. Serve hot, garnished with lightly roasted crushed coriander seeds.

Aloo Tikki (Appetizers - Vegetarian)

Aloo Tikki (Appetizers - Vegetarian)

Ingredients:

* ½ Lemon
* Oil for frying
* ½ tsp Cumin seeds
* ¼ cup Peas, boiled
* Breadcrumbs to coat
* 3 tsp Coriander powder
* 2-3 tsp Coriander leaves
* Salt, Chilli powder to taste
* ½ kg Potatoes, boiled & mashed
* 2-3 pieces green Chillies, chopped
* 250 gm Carrots, Beans, Cauliflower, Cabbage, all chopped


Method:

1. Heat the oil in a pan and saut the cumin seeds. Add all the vegetables.
2. Add half a cup of water to cook the vegetables till tender and keep aside.
3. Add salt, lemon, green chillies and coriander leaves to the mashed potatoes.
4. Make a small sized balls, flatten in palm, put 1 tsp of thevegetable mixture on it, place another flat ball of potatoes on it andclose the edges by pressing.
5. Pat cutlets in breadcrumbs or can be fried just like that.
6. Fry in hot oil in a shallow frying pan, 3-4 pieces at a time.
7. Serve with chutney, curd and chaat masala.



Tip: Peel and cut potatoes and boil them in water in which a littlevinegar is added . It will retain their texture & will be done inno time.It will also avoid bad odor and to give a good color to oldpotatoes.

Marinated Mushrooms Treat (Appetizers - Vegetarian)

Ingredients:

* Salt to taste
* Black Pepper
* 4 tbsp Olive oil
* 1 tsp Rosemary
* 1 kg Mushrooms
* 2 tsp Lemon juice
* 1 tbsp Garlic paste
* 2 Onions, finely sliced
* ½ kg Tomatoes, deseeded and grated


Method:

1. Saute the onion in 2 tablespoons of olive oil until browned then add the tomatoes, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper.
2. Simmer until all the liquid has been cooked off and a thick sauce remains.
3. Clean the mushrooms with as little water as possible, drain them and cut them in half.
4. Pour the lemon juice over them and leave for 10 minutes.
5. Saute the mushrooms in the remaining olive oil.
6. Add the mushrooms to the sauce and simmer for a further 10 minutes.
7. Can be eaten hot or cold.

Tip: Always make sure that the potatoes are boiled well in advance andcooled before you use them. It would be better if they can berefrigerated for a short time. This helps the starch in the potatoes tosettle down and the tikkis will not be gooey.

Banana Facts To Go Banana's About!

There are more than 500 varieties of banana in the world.
Banana plants are the largest plants on earth without a woody stem. They are actually giant herbs of the same family as lilies, orchids and palms.
A cluster of bananas is called a hand and consists of 10 to 20 bananas, which are known as fingers.
The word 'banan' is Arabic for finger.
Bananas are one of the few fruits that ripen best off the plant. If left on the plant, the fruit splits open and the pulp has a "cottony" texture and flavor. Even in tropical growing areas, bananas for domestic consumption are cut green and stored in moist shady places to ripen slowly.
As bananas ripen, the starch in the fruit turns to sugar. Therefore, the riper the banana the sweeter it will taste.
In 2001, there were more than 300 banana-related accidents in Britain, most involving people slipping on skins.
Bananas are perennial crops that are grown and harvested year-round. The banana plant does not grow from a seed but rather from a rhizome or bulb. Each fleshy bulb will sprout new shoots year after year.
In Eastern Africa you can buy banana beer. This beer is brewed from bananas.
In South East Asia, the banana leaf is used to wrap food (in the place of plastic bags and cling wraps), providing a unique flavor and aroma to nasi lemak and the Indian banana leaf rice.
India is by far the largest world producer of bananas, growing 16.5 million tonnes in 2002, followed by Brazil which produced 6.5 million tonnes of bananas in 2002. To the Indians, the flower from the banana tree is sacred. During religious and important ceremonies such as weddings, banana flowers are tied around the head, for they believe this will bring good luck.
Some horticulturists suspect that the banana was the earth's first fruit. Banana plants have been in cultivation since the time of recorded history. One of the first records of bananas dates back to Alexander The Great's conquest of India where he first discovered bananas in 327 B.C.
The banana plant reaches its full height of 15 to 30 feet in about one year. The trunk of a banana plant is made of sheaths of overlapping leaves, tightly wrapped around each other like celery stalks.
The phrase 'going bananas' was first recorded in the Oxford English Dictionary, and is linked to the fruit's 'comic' connections with monkeys.