Raagi Sweet Dosa/Uthappam/Adai

Ingredients:

Raagi Flour- 1/2 cup
Wheat flour -  2 tbsp
Jaggery/Bellam - 1/4 cup
Grated Coconut - 1/3 cup (optional)
Cardamom powder - 1tsp
Nuvvula Oil/ Gingelly Oil - for frying or cooking the dosa

Procedure:

• In a mixing bowl, add ragi flour, wheat flour, grated coconut, cardamom powder and mix well.
• In a microwave safe bowl heat 3 to 4tbsp water and to it add the jaggery and dissolve it. 
• Now filter the jaggery mix to remove any sand or dust in it.
• Add the jaggery mix to the flour mix and mix it well by adding water to the mix.
• The mixture has to be not too thick nor watery. It has to be thicker than the dosa batter.

• Heat a dosa pan and add ghee/ oil on the pan.
• Put one laddle full of batter on the heated pan and spread it from middle to sides very slowly.

1. It will take for 2-3 mins to cook.
2. Now put little oil on the dosa and flip it to the other side and cook for another 1 min and serve.
3. Repeat the process with the remaining batter and serve it hot. 
4. This is a very good and healthy breakfast for both kids and adults.

Tips: 

• This will not be very thin as dosa and not as thicker as uthappam but medium in size.
• If you try to turn or spread the batter hard and fast on the pan it may not be perfect but crumbles. So be careful while spreading the dosa.
• Without the grated coconut it may be little harder but tastes good too. 

Eggless Wholewheat Dates Cake/Cupcakes

Ingredients:

Dates - 18 to 20 (preferred seedless)
Milk - 3/4th cup
Sugar - 3/4th cup
All purpose Flour/ Maida - 1cup (or) Whole wheat flour - 1cup
Oil - 1/2 cup
Baking Soda - 1tsp
Cashews/Walnuts/Pecans/Almonds - 1/2 cup (chopped) use any nuts you have.

Procedure:

• Soak dates in warm milk or just microwave for 5 mins till warm so that the dates turn soft enough to grind.
• Add sugar and along with the milk and dates into a blender and grind it to a smooth paste.
• Take this in a large mixing bowl. Add oil and mix.
• Sieve together flour and baking soda in a separate bowl.
• Add the flour 1 tsp at a time and mix well with a spatula.
• Add nuts and mix well. Do not over mix it.
• Preheat oven at 350F. Bake the cake in a greased oven proof dish for 35-40 mins or till the knife inserted in the cake comes out clean. (or) Pour the batter in the cupcake molds. But it takes only 20- 25 mins to cook the cupcakes.
• Cut it into pieces and serve the cake. For cup cakes transfer them onto the cooling rack and serve when cool.

This cake is more yummier the next day.

The 11 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating

Hi Friends How are you all??? Its been so long that i have posted in my blog due to some busy life schedules. But really feel like posting something interesting in which each and everyone of us are really crazy about. And wanted to give a good perfect start for my blog. Recently seen this article in some magazine and could not wait to share with all u guys...Lets enjoy the Healthy treat together...



Nutritionist and author Jonny Bowden has created several lists of healthful foods people should be eating but aren’t. But some of his favorites, like purslane, guava and goji berries, aren’t always available at regular grocery stores. I asked Dr. Bowden, author of “The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth,” to update his list with some favorite foods that are easy to find but don’t always find their way into our shopping carts. Here’s his advice.

1. Beets: Think of beets as red spinach, Dr. Bowden said, because they are a rich source of folate as well as natural red pigments that may be cancer fighters.
How to eat: Fresh, raw and grated to make a salad. Heating decreases the antioxidant power.

2. Cabbage: Loaded with nutrients like sulforaphane, a chemical said to boost cancer-fighting enzymes.
How to eat: Asian-style slaw or as a crunchy topping on burgers and sandwiches.

3. Swiss chard: A leafy green vegetable packed with carotenoids that protect aging eyes.
How to eat it: Chop and saute in olive oil.

4. Cinnamon: May help control blood sugar and cholesterol.
How to eat it: Sprinkle on coffee or oatmeal.

5. Pomegranate juice: Appears to lower blood pressure and loaded with antioxidants.
How to eat: Just drink it.

6. Dried plums: Okay, so they are really prunes, but they are packed with antioxidants.
How to eat: Wrapped in prosciutto and baked.

7. Pumpkin seeds: The most nutritious part of the pumpkin and packed with magnesium; high levels of the mineral are associated with lower risk for early death.
How to eat: Roasted as a snack, or sprinkled on salad.

8. Sardines: Dr. Bowden calls them “health food in a can.” They are high in omega-3’s, contain virtually no mercury and are loaded with calcium. They also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese as well as a full complement of B vitamins.
How to eat: Choose sardines packed in olive or sardine oil. Eat plain, mixed with salad, on toast, or mashed with dijon mustard and onions as a spread.

9. Turmeric: The “superstar of spices,” it may have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
How to eat: Mix with scrambled eggs or in any vegetable dish.

10. Frozen blueberries: Even though freezing can degrade some of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables, frozen blueberries are available year-round and don’t spoil; associated with better memory in animal studies.
How to eat: Blended with yogurt or chocolate soy milk and sprinkled with crushed almonds.

11. Canned pumpkin: A low-calorie vegetable that is high in fiber and immune-stimulating vitamin A; fills you up on very few calories.
How to eat: Mix with a little butter, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Quick Kitchen tips..

Everyone at some sort of time face problems in the kitchen while cooking. And we wont get any sudden thought about what to do. These are commonly faced problems in the kitchen and i have posted some of the tips of how to overcome those problems and work easier in the kitchen.

Too Much Salt: If you've added too much salt to a recipe, there are two solutions,

1.add a little sugar.

2. Add a raw potato slice. This will absorb the salt, especially in soups or stews.

Too Much Spice: Can add some lemon juice, or dump off any extra gravy and pour water in it along with the spices.

Too Sweet : Add some salt, or, if the recipe is a vegetable or main dish, a teaspoon of vinegar.

Gravy Too Thick: If your gravy is too thick then add a little more liquid. For some gravies you can add milk which tastes good and make your curry a bit liguidy

Gravy Too Thin: Potato flakes may be added instead of flour to gravy, sauces and stews that are too thin, else some rice flour can also be added.

Overdone Vegetables: Put the pot in an pan of cold water. Let it stand from 15 minutes to half an hour without scraping pan.

Peeling Fresh Garlic: Peel garlic and store in a covered jar of vegetable oil. The garlic will stay fresh and the oil can be nicely flavored for salad dressings too.

For fresh Lemon: When a small amount of lemon juice is needed, insert a skewer into the lemon rind and squeeze juice out and store it again. The lemon will stay fresher longer than if it were cut.

Crisp Vegetables:To make your vegetables to remain crisp, cover the crisper section of your refrigerator with newspaper and then use the paper to wrap vegetables. Moisture will be absorbed and your vegetables will stay fresher longer.

Easily Peeled Tomatoes: Place tomatoes in a bowl, add boiling water and let them stand for one minute. Tomatoes will peel easily with a sharp knife.

Fluffy Rice: Rice will be fluffier and whiter if you add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to each quart of water.

Healthy Rice: Cook rice in liquid saved from cooking vegetables to add flavor and nutrition.

Tips from items available in kitchen..

• Egg: skin conditioner, egg white for normal and oily skin, yolks for dry skin
• Coconut Milk: applied for smooth skin.
• Cucumber: for dark circles under eyes and wrinkles, under-eye puffiness.
• Fenugreek seeds (methi): for skin scrub, if taken internally purifies blood, can be soaked and applied to hair acts as anti dandruff.
• Honey: for wrinkles, skin pores and lose skin, a natural astringent, natural moisturizer.
• Milk: for skin nourishment.
• Oatmeal: for smooth skin, improves complexion.
• Olive oil: good for dry skin.
• Oranges, Lemons, Pineapple: natural astringents, improves complexion, soften the skin, skin bleach.
• Tomato: for fair skin, as cleanser, and also opening the skin pores.
• Vinegar: for blemishes, itchy skin, and sunburn, softens skin.
• Yogurt: softens and hydrates the skin, skin cleanser, skin bleach.
• Spinach: A mixture of lettuce and spinach juice is good to drink to induce hair growth. It provides all the vitamins you need for a great skin and a healthy scalp.
• Aloe gel: remedy for burns.

Yoga and Meditation is a magic !!!

Most people are well aware by now that the formula to a happy and healthy life is to exercise and eat well. However, today's hectic lifestyles often mean that we frequently find ourselves in stressful situations. In order to combat stress we need to learn how to relax, and that's where meditation and yoga come in.
One of the advantages of Yoga is that it can be practiced almost anywhere, without special equipment, and by people of all ages.It helps you become more aware of your body's posture, alignment and patterns of movement. It makes the body more flexible and helps you relax even in the midst of a stress stricken environment.

Practicing first thing in the morning is an excellent way to revitalize the mind and body, while practicing yoga breathing and meditation exercises at night helps induce a deep, restful sleep.

For practising yoga you need these basic steps to be followed:

• Choose a place that is relatively free from distractions, the place should be quiet, clean and well ventilated.
• It's best to wear loose or stretch clothing.
• Empty your stomach and consume a glass of warm water 15 minutes before you start.
• Do not strain yourself.
• Using some properties minimizes the strain and supports your muscles, thus allowing you to save your energy by exerting less effort on a pose.
• Specially yoga properities help people with medical ailments and the elderly to cross their limitations.
• Props can be a yoga mat, arm resting chair for relaxing poses, etc. for your comfortability.
• As little as 15 minutes of exercises and 15 minutes of Breathing and meditation each day can yield benefits.

So these are some of the poses for the beginners to try.

Uses Of Yoga and Meditation:-

There are many benefits by doing yoga either physically or psychologically like :

• improves immunity power
• increases balancing and energy levels
• for better sleep posture improvement
• control on her emotions
• weight normalizes
• better Concentration and memory
• cholesterol decrease
• overcome any breathing and respiratory problems

so on......... there are many many advantages when we start saying like this. So my advice is practicing yoga daily is the best exercise one can do.

Meditation:-

The purpose of meditation is to calm the mind and create inner peace, harmony and tranquility, and also emotional balance through detachment. By meditating, you are creating a condition where you are no longer affected by what is going on around you. This can lead to a remarkable feeling of calmness and a positive outlook on life. Meditation can be of two types like Focusing on your breath or just saying a mantra (word) silently in your mind. Meditation can be done either sat on the floor with the legs crossed, or sat in a chair.

You can just try this meditation for just 10 mins then you will feel the magic of yoga and meditation. This is the sample test you can try and feel the difference.

You just need to sit in a calm, clean place and switch this on with your eyes closed and don't let any thought come into your mind and relax your mind and concentrate on the tune. And later after 10mins open your eyes slowly. Then you can feel the freshness how nice it is. I think at least in a day you can just spare 10mins for this and get out from all the tensions and stress from your daily routine.

Tips for better Glowing Skin...

Who does'nt like a glowing skin????Everyone craves for it. So these are some useful home remedies for flawless skin.

How to get flawless skin by using stuff available in your kitchen?

Follow these easy steps and feel the difference :

1. Gram flour with curd work wonder.(nalugu pindi in telugu which is the best all time)
2. Mix tomato juice with lemon juice and apply.
3. As a cleanser/scrub you can mix salt with milk and scrub for 2 minutes then wash it off.
4. Apply mixture of orange juice,papaya and honey for instant glow.
5. Mix honey with 2-3 drops of lemon juice and apply on face to wash away to get rid of tanned skin.
6. Mix oatmeal with curd and tomato juice and apply on the face,wash it off after 15 minutes.
7. Apply cabbage juice on face .
8. Apply mixture of raw milk(pachi palu) ,cucumber and few drops of lemon juice.wash it off after 10 minutes.
9. Rub ice cube on face to improve blood circulation.
10. Most important and the one known to everyone is drink plenty of water

Tips...to get good sleep

Many experience this problem whatever may be the reason like stress, strain, depression, some health & family problems etc. So i think this article would help many who is suffering with this problem.

There’s a lot of advice out there about getting good sleep; here are tips that work for many:
Good habits for good sleep:
1. Exercise most days, even if it’s just to take a walk.
2. No caffeine after 7:00 p.m.
3. An hour before bedtime, avoid doing any kind of work that takes alert thinking. Addressing envelopes—okay. Analyzing an article—nope.
4. Adjust your bedroom temperature to be slightly chilly.
5. Keep your bedroom dark. Studies show that even the tiny light from a digital alarm clock can disrupt a sleep cycle. We have about six devices in our room that glow bright green; it’s like sleeping in a mad scientist’s lab. The Big Man's new pet, a Roomba (yes, he loves his robot vacuum), gives out so much light that I have to cover it with a pillow before bed.
6. Keep the bedroom as tidy as possible. It’s not restful to fight through chaos into bed.

If sleep won’t come:
1. Breathe deeply and slowly until you can’t stand it anymore.
2. If your mind is racing (you’re planning a trip, a move, Christmas shopping; you’re worried about a medical diagnosis), write down what’s on your mind. This technique really works for me.
3. Slather yourself with body lotion. It feels good and also, if you’re having trouble sleeping because you’re hot, it cools you down.
4. If your feet are cold, put on socks.
5. Stretch your whole body.
6. Have a warm drink. Some people claim that warm milk contains melatonin and trytophan and so helps induce sleep, but in fact, a glass of milk doesn’t contain enough to have any effect. But it’s still a soothing drink. My nighttime favorite: 1/3 mug of milk, add boiling water, one packet of Equal, and a dash of vanilla. A real nursery treat.
7. Yawn.
8. Stretch your toes up and down several times.
9. Tell yourself, “I have to get up now.” Imagine that you just hit the snooze alarm and in a minute, you’re going to be marching through the morning routine. Often this is an exhausting enough prospect to make me fall asleep.

Re-frame:
Re-frame your sleeplessness as a welcome opportunity to snatch some extra time out of your day. I get up and tackle mundane chores, like paying bills, organizing books, or tidying up. Then I start the day with a wonderful feeling of having accomplished something even before 6:45 am.

Courtesy : Yahoo

Balanced diet..

FOOD GUIDE PYRAMID What’s this? A food guide pyramid is a simple way of knowing what are the kinds of food one needs to consume and in what amounts to ensure good health. It is obvious that there is interplay of nutrients in the body. When we talk about nutrients it is important to know the quantity i.e. how much to take. This can be well understood by the concept of FOOD GUIDE PYRAMID. This can form a foundation for a good diet selection, providing the essential nutrients. Definition of RDA RDA or Recommended Daily Allowances are levels of intake of essential nutrients which are on the basis of scientific knowledge and are adequate to meet the known nutrient needs of all healthy persons. FOOD GUIDE PYRAMID (FOR VEGETARIANS) FOOD GROUPS Cereals:Cereals form the staple diet in India e.g. rice, wheat, maize. Cereals generally lack lysine, however rice is richer in lysine compared to other cereals. Ragi, a millet, is a rich source of calcium and known as poor man's milk. Cereals do not contain Vitamin A and Vitamin C except yellow maize, which contains carotene. 1 Cereal serving = 1 katori of cooked rice or 2 phulkas or 2 slices of bread. 1 Cereal serving will supply about 100 calories and 2-3 gms. of protein. Legumes (Pulses and Dals): Pulses are rich sources of protein (upto 22-25%). Vegetarians can meet their protein requirement by including different pulses in their diet. But they lack Vitamin A and Vitamin C. However, germination of pulses increases the Vitamin C levels. Soaking and cooking of legumes destroy their anti-nutritional factors like tannin and trypsin inhibitors and make it easier to digest. Cereal-pulse combination in a proportion of 4:1 or 3:1 is enough for its supplementary effect. 1 serving = 1 katori of cooked dal or pulse 1 serving of legumes = 100 calories and 6-7 gms. proteins. Vegetables : Green leafy vegetables are very rich sources of Vitamin B, carotene, iron, calcium, Vitamin B complex and Vitamin C. At least fifty grams should be consumed daily by each person. Yellow-orange vegetables are good sources of Vitamin B, carotene, and lycopenes. Roots and tubers are rich in carbohydrates and contain some vitamins and minerals. Three to five servings of vegetables per day is a must and one of them should be a green leafy vegetable. Fruits : They are rich source of vitamins, minerals and fibres. Green, yellow and orange fruits like mango, papaya contains beta-carotene. Amla, citrus fruits and guava are a rich source of vitamin C. Dried fruits like dates supply iron. Banana and jackfruit are good sources of energy. Two to three servings of fruits per day are recommended. Milk and milk products : Milk is a good source of protein, calcium and vitamins. It is deficient in iron and Vitamin C. Whole milk has high percentage of fat (8-12%) whereas low fat or toned milk has about three percent fat. Skimmed milk has very little or no fat. Recommended servings per day is two to three servings where one serving = 1 cup (225 - 240 ml). FOOD GUIDE PYRAMID (FOR NON-VEGETARIANS) FOOD GROUPS Meat / fish / Poultry : Egg, fish, meat etc. are included in this group. Eggs supply good quality protein, vitamins and fat. Fish, meat and chicken are good sources of protein and vitamins. Meat has more fat compared to poultry and fish. Omega 3 - PUFA in fish protects against cardiovascular diseases. Two to three servings/day are recommended. One serving has about 30 gms of cooked meat. One serving provides 100 calories and 7 gms of protein. Fat / Oils : Calories from fat should not exceed 10-15% of the total calorie intake. Fat is made use of not only during cooking (visible source) but it is also present within the food we eat such as seeds, nuts, pulses etc. Fifteen to twenty grams of visible fat (oil/ghee) is recommended per person per day. One gm. of oil or ghee gives 9 calories. One tsp of ghee, butter, oil = 45 calories. Sugars : This group includes sugar, honey, jaggery, etc., which are concentrated sources of energy. Jaggery provides little iron. This group has to be used sparingly. Excessive intake of sugars is not desirable due to wide fluctuations in blood sugar and leads to obesity. 1 tsp. sugar = 20-25 calories.

Cooking tips...

• Wrap the fruits and vegetables in newspaper before refrigerating to keep them fresh for long.
• If you boil vegetables in water, do not throw the water, keep it to make gravies.
• To avoid browning of apples after cutting, apply a little lemon juice on the cut surface. The apples will stay and look fresh for a longer time.
• Keep coriander leaves in a muslin (cheese) cloth bag in the refrigerator. They will remain fresh for a longer time.
• Remove the stems of green chilies while storing them .This will help them to stay fresh for long.
• After peeling onions cut in half and soak in water for about 10 minutes before cutting to avoid crying.
• Poori can be rolled and place between well-rinsed wet muslin cloth at least an hour ahead and can be Fried before serving.
• To make pooris more crispy add a little rice flour to the wheat flour while kneading.
• Heat a non-stick pan and add a little more butter than usual. Now beat the egg and stir briskly (even while frying) with a fork. This way more air goes in your omelet, making it light and fluffy. Fry till done and serve hot.
• Fry the ground masala in reduced flame, so that it retains its colour and taste.
• Good variety chillies and chilli powder also gives colour to the gravy. As far as pos sible try to use long variety red chillies. Dry it under sun for few days and powder coarsely at home. Always the coarse powder gives good taste in gravies and pickles.
• While boiling milk, always add a little water at the base of the vessel to avoid the milk from sticking at the bottom.
• Add a tsp. of hot oil to homemade pastes of garlic, ginger or green chili, along with salt to make it last longer and taste fresher.
• Add a few drops of lemon a tsp of oil to rice before boiling to separate each grain.
• Put tomatoes in a large bowl and cover with boiling water Leave it for about 5 minutes. Take out one by one, piercing them with a sharp knife, the skin will peel off easily.
• Curd in winter - Set in a ceramic container and place it on the voltage stabilizer of your refrigerator.
• Garlic skin comes off easily if the garlic flakes are warmed a little before peeling.
• Sometimes hot oil starts foaming and starts rising in the pan. Dissipate the foam to avoid this situation by adding a marble sized ball of tamarind to the oil.

So these are some of the tips i know....Your valuable tips can also be shared.. :)