Mandarins

Lunch with a childhood friend is always time filled, laughing ,reminiscing ,exchanging new secrets,grown up ideas and almost hear our mothers' voices come out of our mouth instead of our own !!!! On one such a lunch a few days ago,an absolutely delicious meal of, "words fail to describe", mouth salivating Andhra food,which I regret not having photographed,I was truly glad that I write a food blog ! It also made me realise why I enjoyed blogging so much ,it's not just because one is interested in food and tastes etc...it's also the concept of sharing,sharing what one learns , a new discovery...like a child wanting to run to his or her friend in wonder and be the one to share the secret...that is exactly how it feels to be able to share my thoughts with you !!!!!!!!!

At the end of this yummy assault on the taste buds ,I needed to sit and just revel in all the flavours that blended so well on my palate...a half an hour later,was placed before me ,a delicious tray of desserts....chocolates,dates,carrot halwa ,katlis and adorable Mandarins !!!! I knew they were mandarins but what I did not know was that they could be eaten with the skin !!!!

They are a variety of citrus fruits similar to oranges commonly found in China,where these are from...but also available in Mumbai and other metros, at exotic fruit stores ! The skin on the Mandarin is so thin,that it can be bitten into easily and the flesh is so sweet,not a hint of tart whatsoever ! Another friend and reader who gets it from Mumbai,insists that it's the perfect snack for her kid's snack break at school !

Loaded with vitamin C ,this little fruit carries all the goodness of citrus fruits and the skin being so easily edible adds to the fibre content and is loaded with antioxidants as well ! The fruit is said to be prescribed in Asian medicine for all ailments of the throat and has tremendous nutritive properties.
This is also a hardy fruit to carry back on your travel,since it is not soft and has a firm outer covering,it's a great bring back home gift for family and friends...you know what is going to be stuffed in your hand luggage ,the next time you travel ;)) Cheers !

Pomegranate

As a child ,the Pomegranate was one fruit that I just did not want to eat....it took too long to chew you see...that meant less time for play or other more interesting stuff than eating fruit !!! Today it tops the list of my favourite fruits,I can almost feel the enrichment to my body as I swallow each mouth full and I am on a mission to pass that onto the kids in my family as well ! A bowl of crunchy pomegranate seeds bursting with juice and sweetness really uplifts the spirits,the first thing in the morning !

The easiest way to peel a Pomegranate
This was taught to me by a sweet lady called Regina,who has been a part of our household for many years...until recently I thought it was only me who did not know the nuances of peeling this fruit then I realised that many others were also reverting to the way I was used to earlier, that of cutting the fruit in half and taking it apart....this is far easier and quicker !!!
 1.Wash and wipe the outside of the fruit
2.Using a sharp fruit knife make ,vertical  shallow gashes on the surface ,on the skin
3.Place it down and cut off the crown
4.Once the crown is removed,the long gashes will become vertical segments that can be just pulled apart
5.That way ,the rest of the fruit can be stored intact,if not eaten.
6.This also offers great ease to pull out the seeds as more sides are exposed !

Vertical shallow gashes

Pulling the segments apart

A bowl of ripe ,delicious fruit !

This fruit is among the super foods and every human being will greatly benefit by eating 1 tablespoon,at least, of pomegranate everyday !

Health benefits of eating Pomegranate

They have more antioxidants than acai berry juice or green tea !

They contain hefty doses of Vitamins C,K and B...very essential for bone health and it helps the body to metabolise proteins,carbs and fats !

It has very little fat and contains no cholesterol...high in dietary fibre and even recommended in small doses for diabetics.

They have immense anti ageing properties as they promote cellular regeneration ,so think youthful skin ,hair...

All in all ,it eliminates free radicals (antioxidant!) ,promotes bone health (osteo arthritis) protects cardiovascular health, cures anaemia (iron content),boosts digestive conditions,stimulates appetite,promotes blood circulation and is a highly recommended for cancer prevention !!!!

If you don't like the taste,start eating a little bit ,you will definitely accquire a taste for  it...beats the alternative of taking medication later on...right ?!! All these super foods that are available to us throughout the year like pomegranate,drumstick (leaves and veg),curry leaves  etc...it's time we re-introduced them into our diet with a purpose,that of wellness ! Think about it and reap the benefits of healthy food choices !

 

Sugarcane

The harvest festival ,does bring with it many treasured memories of time spent together as family....these memories include one in particular ,that of enjoying the time spent talking, with a big bowl of sugarcane pieces....to my mind nothing else can compare,at this time, to the taste of crunching on fresh sugarcane and being rewarded by your mouth filling up with the yummy juice which has just the right amount of sweetness ,that is never overpowering !!! A taste that is enriched only by sharing the experience with family,especially children...crunch on a piece of sugarcane and the smiles will reach your eyes,no matter how old you are !!! It's available now in the market,you should definitely take advantage of that and bring home that treat to savour,I doubt very much that you would regret it :)))

 Now for some nutritional information that I'm sure many of us had little knowledge about...
1.Chewing sugarcane,helps to strengthen your gums,keeps the teeth and mouth clean,removes odour causing bacteria.
2.It's very good in the treatment of jaundice and liver related disorders !
3.In the 2008 journal of food chemistry,sugarcane was found to have terrific antioxidant properties ,it has the ability to scavenge free radicals and plays a protective role against radiation induced DNA damage.
4.It boosts the body's immunity and is known to fight common viral infections like the flu and common cold.
5.It contains only 15% sugar while the rest is water and a rich source of vitamins and minerals including calcium and iron,magnesium and zinc,Vitamins A,B1,B2,B3,B5 and B6...which help in the slow absorption of sugars into the body,thereby helping one maintain a healthy body metabolism
6.In the summer months,it works well to ward off dehydration.
7.It's only when it is processed and converted to white sugar,does it refrain from being healthy !
8.While the juice is beneficial,if you can,chewing the pieces has far greater benefits !
Let us take time to give our body seasonal nutrients which can only help bring about fitness for mind,body and soul !

I know what the snack of choice is going to be at our home during this season...one option is definitely the succulent morsels of sugarcane,how about you ?

Heart healthy concoction

I find that when one pursues their passion with the intention of sharing and learning,we do happen to stumble upon information from the most unexpected of sources...information and knowledge that may save a life and also make a difference to many lives ! Being interested in various cuisines and flavours and new food experiences is one part of being a foodie,the other part is being aware of the healing and nutritive powers of food.The world has been blessed with an abundance source of nutrients and medicines,most of them available in our own kitchens...it's just that in our busy daily existence ,people find it a lot simpler and easier to pop a pill rather than spend time like our elders did in brewing up different elixirs and 'kashayams' (blends) for various ailments that may come our way !

Recently I was given this recipe by a relative who found that after taking a spoon full of this every morning prior to eating breakfast....being a heart patient...a month later ,he found himself fitter than before and that included climbing the stairs with complete ease and enjoying his daily walks with vigour...soon after ,I happened to speak to a friend who had problems with her cholesterol levels and once she began to drink a spoon full of this, very quickly her levels were normal...apparently this recipe has been going around face book and twitter and is good for anyone without ailments too to have a spoon full every morning...how can it not be??!!! it contains,ginger,garlic ,lime,honey  and apple cider vinegar and I must say,it doesn't taste bad at all !!!! What's the harm...shake the lethargy out and give it a go !!!
Recipe
1 C ginger juice (200g ginger and half a cup of water,blend and strain)
1C garlic juice(150 g garlic and half a cup of water,blend and strain)
1C lime juice (about 10 limes/lemons-Indian limes)
1C apple cider vinegar
3C natural honey
Method
Add the ginger juice,garlic juice,lime juice and apple cider vinegar to a medium sized pan.
Put on a slow fire,after it comes to a boil,leave it on a on a gentle simmer.
This mixture is about 4Cups,u need to reduce it down to 3 cups...this will take about 45-60mts on a slow simmer.
Once it's reduced...set it aside to cool.
Now add the honey and mix in well.
Store in sterile glass bottles and refrigerate.
You need to have 1 Tbsp before breakfast ...and don't worry about garlic breath,the lime and vinegar cut that out !!! ;))

Daily nutrition

Often while trying to lead the healthiest lifestyle possible not just for us but for our family as a whole,we are fed with an abundance of information ! The same things are mentioned by medical experts and books on wellness about the health benefits of various foods ! Now, I know in the hustle and bustle of everyday nutrition can sometimes take a back seat to more pressing duties or responsibilities !
It is not easy to remember from dawn to dusk,the in take of what vitamins and their respective quantities...for most of us...there are many who are super organised and know exactly what their body needs and is in fact receiving ! While we all strive to achieve that level of wellness,I'd like to take a moment to tell you ,that in fact daily nutrition does not have to be that hard...you don't have to remember which food is rich in what Vitamin/mineral...the good news is we need them all....with large doses of sunlight ;))
So,for those of you who are not already following this,I have a simple tip to make sure you get as many nutrients as possible from the veg family...that is...to go with colours...nature has given us this awesome colour chart of fruit and veg to choose from,depending on what's in season try to choose at least one veg/fruit in all the colours,everyday,to that add some nuts and you got it pretty well covered !!!

Example of diff colours in one day

Day 1

Start your day with adding a pomegranate for breakfast...1/2 a cupfull will be 1 serving

Lunch can include any green vegetable (spinach) and cauliflower- eat at least 1 cup full of veg

Remember that onions and tomatoes also count for your intake of coloured fruit/veg

you can snack on roasted almonds/apples

For dinner you can include corn ,yellow pumpkin...so now the colours red,green ,white,yellow..will give you

without you having to even remember vitamins A,C,B1 and a host of other minerals and salts,very essential for well being ! Now you just have to make sure you eat it all ;))

 Day 2

Start your day with a banana for breakfast- 1 banana per person

Lunch can be peas and radish...the same quantity as above

Again,a snack can be some papaya, channa sundal,sprouts etc

Dinner can be a beetroot dish...salad /chutney

Day3

Breakfast can include pears

A lunch with bottle gourd/ridge gourd and carrots is an option

snack on an orange,boiled/roasted peanuts

For dinner you can consider brinjal/aubergine to add to a pasta or a gravy

For me this is a very simple way of getting a variety of nutrients into every day meals...if you have other suggestions,do post them and add your comments if you like my suggestions ! Happy meal planning :))