Fruits for Good Health

Everyone knows eating fruits is good for health, but many persons do not know the real benefits of different fruits. There are many benefits of consuming fruits like eating fruits make your skin glow and your hair healthy. Fruits are generally high in fiber, water and Vitamin C. Yellow fruits are rich in Vitamin C.

Let’s see some benefits of different fruits:


APPLE:
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away”

• Apples lower the cholesterol level in the body
• Helps in digestion, thereby prevents constipation
• Strengthens gums & teeth and promotes hair growth
• Apple juice destroys viruses in the body
• Apples reduce the risk of breast cancer in women
  

WATERMELON:

• Watermelon is a rich source of Vitamin A
• It reduces the risk of prostrate & colon cancer, asthma & heart disease
• It is rich in sodium, potassium and magnesium which protect our body from many diseases

ORANGE:

• Orange is rich in beta-carotene, which makes one energetic and active
• It is a rich source of Vitamin C
• It is also rich in Calcium and Potassium
• It also acts as a Cleanser and makes your skin glow
  

We will cover benefits of some more fruits in future articles. Till then keep on eating these fruits and stay healthy.

Ordering Food Online

Has anyone tried ordering food online! I think most of the persons would say ‘No’, even though they must have used Net-Banking, or done other online transactions. But many persons even do not know that such kind of service even exists. Actually they never tried searching it on google or any other search engine.

As this blog is for all about food, it would be good to know whether people in India will use this service when they will come to know about this. Well many restaurateurs in India do not think this way at least in cities like Ghaziabad, even in Noida that has vast number of IT majors and large manufacturing units. As per them, people like to order food on phone rather online.
These were the words that I heard from many restaurant owners/managers when I went to list their menu on our site. Some says still people do not have internet connection in this area or nobody connects to net to order food.

I do not know whether our foodies also think the same way. But if you will ask me, may be on the first go, I may not chose it but after knowing the benefits, I may not turn to my phone till the time I have my net connection on my PC/smart-phone.

Now you may think what is that big deal in ordering food online, well there are many, trust me.

First, you have access to complete menu of the restaurant in front of your eyes with the prices and you do not have to ask on phone the prices for each dish, so if you think any dish is costly you can simply chose another one, but on phone, normally you do not ask which dish is less expensive so that it will be as per your budget. Also you will have your complete bill in front of you as you add the dishes of your choice. So you have total control on the billed amount. You are also saving on your telephone bill as you do not have to call anywhere, and get the updates/status on the site itself.

Another advantage is you have large number of options with you, you will find menu for different restaurants instead of one you called on phone. So you can just look for different options and can read/write the reviews if this facility is available on the site.

And if site offers online payment facility, you can order food for your friends and family and give them a surprise gift. So even you are in US or any other country, and your mother’s birthday falls during your visit, you can always order food and cake for her and let her feel special.

And most sites also offer reward points, so whenever you order food, you also get some reward points, which always you can claim for some exciting gifts or discount coupons.

So let us see when people in India will start using these online services to make their life even much better and hassle-free.

Moong Dal ka Halwa - Recipe

Thanks to Ms. Shipra for sending this sweet recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup Moong dal (Soaked)
• 1 cup Sugar
• 3/4 cup Mawa (Khoya) well crumpled
• 1/2 tsp Saffron soaked in a little milk
• 1 litre Milk
• 4 Cardamoms powdered
• 7 tbsp Ghee

Preparation:

1. First grind the moong dal coarsely and get the ghee in a thick bottomed kadai (frying pan) and fry the dal till it turns golden brown.

2. Mix the milk and heat till the milk has been absorbed.

3. Add mawa and cook on a low flame, stirring continuously till the dal and the mawa are well blended.

4. Remove it from the flame and keep aside.

5. Now make sugar syrup and add saffron and cardamom powder to it. Now add the dal mixture to the syrup and stir quickly till it mixes completely.

Now your MOONG DAL KA HALWA is ready to serve & enjoy the great taste.
You may also add some dry fruits...

Dhokla - Recipe (Gujarati)

This time we will have one of the Gujarati’s favourite dish, ‘Dhokla’ or ‘Khaman Dhokla’.

Ingredients:

• 2 cup(s) Bengalgram flour (besan)
• 1 cup yoghurt beaten till smooth
• 1 cup warm water
• salt to taste
• ½ tablespoon sugar powder
• 1 teaspoon soda bi-carbonate OR Eno (1 sachet – Lemon flavour)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons oil for seasoning
• 1 teaspoon(s) each of mustard and sesame seeds
• finely chopped coriander leaves and green chilly to garnish

Preparation:

1. Place the gramflour in a bowl. Mix in the beaten yoghurt and warm water. Keep mixing well so that no lumps remain and the batter is smooth.

2. Mix in salt to taste and ½ tablespoon sugar powder.

3. Boil water in the steamer/cooker (without whistle). Grease a metal dish (thali) or something like a cake mould.

4. Now mix the soda-bicarbonate (Eno) and the lemon juice into the gramflour batter. Pour the batter immediately into the greased dish (do not fill it to the brim as it will rise) and place it in the hot steamer.

5. Steam for about 11-12 minutes or till done and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into it. Once it has cooled, cut into squares and place in a serving dish.

6. Heat the oil for seasoning in a pan. Toss in the mustard seeds and fry till they splutter. Add the sesame seeds and chopped coriander leaves & green chillies and fry briefly till they are light brown and aromatic. Pour this over the steamed dhoklas.

And your yummy dhokla is ready to eat and serve...

Benefits of Honey

Honey is a sweet fluid produced by ‘honey bees’. Honey is known for its effectiveness in instantly boosting the performance, endurance and reduces muscle fatigue of athletes.
Most bacteria do not grow in honey because of its low water content.

Honey contains ‘botulinum endospores’, so it should not be given to childrens under 1 year of age.

Here are some of the benefits of honey:

MEDICINAL

• Honey is beneficial in the cases of allergy
• It is very effective in the treatment of ulcers
• It is useful in diarrhea and vomiting
• Honey is a natural antiseptic; thereby helps in preventing wounds and infections
• It helps in blood formation in the body
• It helps in teeth cleansing and treating sore throats
  

COSMETIC

• Honey can be used as a moisturizing mask for skin as well as hair
• Honey mixed with olive oil can be used as hair conditioner
• Honey mixed with grated almonds makes an excellent facial cleansing scrub
• Honey in warm water makes an excellent mouthwash
• Honey taken along with lime juice daily helps in reducing weight

So also enjoy the benefits from the honey apart from its great taste.

Lemon Rice - Recipe

Thanks to Mrs. Abha for sending this recipe. Rice lovers will definitely be finding it interesting and tasty.

Ingredients:

• Rice - 1½ cup
• Oil - 2 tbsp
• Mustard seeds - ½ tbsp
• Red chillies (dried) - 2 to 4
• Chana Dal - 1 tbsp
• Peanuts - ½ cup
• Turmeric powder - ½ tsp
• Salt - To taste
• Lemon juice - ¼ cup
• Coconut (grated) - 1 tbsp
• Curry leaves - 8-10

Preparation:

1. Wash & soak rice for about 30 minutes. Drain & then boil in plenty of water. Drain & allow it to cool.

2. Heat oil in a pan. Add dried red chillies & chana dal. Cook until the color of dal changes to light brown.

3. Add peanuts, turmeric powder & mustard seeds. Let mustard seeds crackle, & then add curry leaves. Fry for 1-2 minutes.

4. Add cooked rice, salt & lemon juice.

5. Garnish with grated coconut.

Your Lemon rice is ready to eat and serve...

Cholai ke Laddu - Recipe

Well we got this recipe from our first male user, so a special Thanks goes to Mr. Balwant for sending this recipe. So let’s have some sweet this time…

Ingredients:

• 250 gm Ramdana/Cholai (Amaranth)
• 750 gm Jaggery (Gur)
• 3 1/2 cups water

Preparation:

1. Heat a pan to very hot and add the cholai.

2. It will start popping up almost immediately. When popped up, remove from pan and keep aside.

3. Place jaggery and water in a pan, and dissolve jaggery over low heat.

4. When dissolved, increase the heat and boil it and cook over high heat till a "two" thread consistency is reached.

5. Mix cholai into the mixture.

6. Take it off the heat.

7. Let it cool enough to handle, make round balls moistening the hands if sticking.

8. Leave to cool.

And your cholai Laddus are ready to serve...

So our male users, get up and atleast post comments for this recipe...