Whisky Soda Bread... Mutton Kheema

Spirit Of Diwali

Confession! I'm not a whisky drinker, in fact I hate it. But I love it in my Irish Coffee. And the remaining started going into my baking experiments. I googled recipes to use it up. First I found a recipe for chocolate cake with whisky ganache. Next, I wanted to bake whisky bread. The one I've put done here is a modified one and also a combination of two whisky bread recipes. The best part about using alcohol for fermentation is one doesn't have to knead the dough at all. It's just kind of put together and left to ferment and rise. The dough and the bread doesn't rise much but it's super soft on the inside and crusty on top. And all this with whole wheat bread! What more does one need? So here we go .... 

  
Whisky Soda Bread

Ingredients

Whole Wheat flour – 1 cup

Baking powder – ½ tsp

Baking soda – ½ tsp

Butter  (frozen) – 2 tbsp

Buttermilk – ½ cup

Whisky – ½ cup

Method

Mix flour and baking powder well

Add butter  and mix to form crumbly mix

Add baking soda to buttermilk. Let it froth

Add to the flour and mix

Add whisky and form dough

Do not knead too much

Keep in a warm place for about 3 to 4 hours

Shape into any style your want and make designs

Brush with melted butter and bake in an oven preheated at 180 degrees C for about 20 to 25 mins till done

Brush the top with butter again and bake for 5 mins more

Let it cool in the oven

Enjoy this crusty bread hot straight off the oven

Mutton Kheema

Ingredients

Kheema – 250 gms

Onion – 2 large (grated)

Tomato – 1 large (grated)

Coriander leaves – ½ cup

Dill leaves (Suva) – 1 cup (finely chopped)

Garlic – 8 to 10 cloves

Ginger – 1 inch

Green chilies (spicy dark green) – 6

Salt – to taste

Garam masala – ½ tsp

Cumin (Jeera) powder –  ½ tsp

Kasuri methi – 1 tbsp

Turmeric powder (haldi) – ½ tsp

Peppercorns – ½ tbsp

Bay leaves (Tej patta) - 2

Oil – ½ cup

Warm water – ½ cup

Add caption

Method

Grind coriander leaves, ginger, garlic and green chilies and salt with half tbsp oil

Apply this paste to the kheema and leave for at least an hour

Heat oil in an iron kadhai

Add bay leaves and peppercorn and sauté for a minute

Add onions and saute till light brown

Add kheema and fry for a few minutes till dry

Add haldi, salt and cumin powder and fry

Add tomatoes and sauté well

Add the dill leaves and mix well

Add water and mix well

Cover and cook till done

Add garam masala and cook covered for further 5 mins

Keep it covered for an hour

Heat it and enjoy it with freshly baked bread, rotis or paranthas

Diwali Eats Healthified

Diwali Eats Healthified

Every Diwali I tell myself that I will not binge on sweets this time. The ones that are sold outside or commonly made in people's homes is everything opposite of what I prescribe in my diet sessions. It's not something I just preach, it's also something that I follow regularly; the occasional cheats are there of course. So I wanted a way out of eating these sugar, ghee, oil and maida loaded goodies. Of course, there's a lot more one can do but given the time constrains I managed to pull off four. 

I chose dates, a natural sweetener... and makhana the superfood for my sweet tooth. For savouries I chose the wholewheat chakli and chickpea sev. A good beginning to low fat and no-sugar festivity.

Dates n Nuts Roll

Ingredients

Dates (deseeded) – 1 cup

Mixed nuts (cut) – ½ cup

Cardamom powder – 1 tsp

Poppy seeds (Khus khus) – 3 tbsp

Ghee – 2 tbsp

Method

Coarse grind the dates in a mixie

Pulse four to five times and then grind

Keep aside

Dry roast the poppy seeds and keep aside

Heat 1 tsp ghee in a pan and fry the nuts for a couple of minutes till crunchy

Heat 1 tbsp ghee and fry the dates paste in a non-stick pan on low flame with constant stirring

Continue till it becomes soft

Add the nuts, 2 tbsp poppy seeds and cardamom powder

Mix well and keep frying for 2 to 3 mins more till it forms dough like

Switch off the flame

Let it cool for a minute

Moisten your palms with the remaining ghee and knead it like dough and roll out to form a cylinder

Spread the remaining poppy seeds on the counter and roll the cylinder over it

Wrap the cylinder in butter paper or aluminum foil and keep in the frig for at least 4 hours (I had kept it overnight)

Remove and cut into thick slices

Enjoy as a healthy after-meal sweet

Makhana laddoos

Ingredients

Makhana (foxnuts) – 3 cups

Nuts (mixed) – 1 cup

Raisins – 2 tbsp

Cardamom powder – 1 tsp

Jaggery – ¾ cup

Ghee – 2 tbsp  

Method

Heat 1 tsp ghee in a non-stick pan and dry roast makhana for few minutes till crispy

Remove

Heat 1 tsp ghee again and roast the nuts till crispy

Switch off the flame

Cool

Crush ¾ of the makhana and keep aside

Crush the nuts and keep aside  

Melt jaggery in the pan

Add all the ingredients and mix well on slow flame till it comes together

Add the remaining ghee little at a time while mixing

Cool slightly and shape into laddoos

Enjoy as a healthy after-meal sweet

Whole wheat Chakli

Ingredients

Whole wheat flour - 1 cup

Turmeric powder - ½ tsp

Chili powder - 1 tsp

Ginger-Green Chili paste - 1 tsp

Coriander powder - 1 tsp

Asafetida - ¼ tsp

Oil - 2 tsp

Method

Mix all the ingredients

Add oil and mix to form crumbly mix

Add water and makeshift dough

Bake in an oven preheated to 180 degrees C for almost 30 mins

Make sure to turn them over after 15 mins

Monitor them well

Let cool in the oven

Lemon Pepper Sev

Ingredients

Besan (chickpea flour) - 1 ½   cup

Rice flour - ¼ cup

Lemon juice - 2 tbsp

Ajwain - ¼ tsp

Pepper powder - 1 tbsp

Oil - 2 tbsp

Asafetida - ¼ tsp

Method

Mix all the ingredients

Add water to form soft dough

Bake in an oven preheated to 180 degrees C for almost 30 mins

Make sure to turn them over after 15 mins

Monitor them well

Let cool in the oven

Black Seed Crackers

Ingredients       

Whole wheat flour – 1 cup

Ghee - ¼ cup

Kalonji (Onion seeds0 – 2 tsp

Salt - to taste

Method

Mix flour, salt, kalonji seeds and ghee in a bowl to form a crumb mix

Make a tight dough by adding little by little water

Cover and keep it aside for 30 minutes

Divide the dough and roll out into the desired shapes

Bake in an oven preheated at 180 degrees C for about 20 mins depending on the thickness

Health Benefits of Dates

Rich in fibre; helps to cure constipation

Improves heart health

Contains isoflavones that are known to reduce risk of cardiovascular diseases

helps in weight management

Has beneficial effects on cholesterol levels

Rich source of copper, magnesium, selenium and manganese – all of which are important for bone health

Rich in vitamin K a blood coagulant

Rich in potassium and helps lower blood pressure levels

Energy booster

Rich in vitamin A important for eye health

Contains vitamins C and D that work on skin elasticity and has anti-aging benefits

Rich in iron; promotes blood circulation to the scalp and promotes hair growth

Immune health

Health Benefits of Makhana

Antioxidant rich

Anti-ageing food; helps to prevent grey hair, wrinkles and premature ageing

High in fiber; helps to prevent constipation

Helps the body to flush out wastes and prevent accumulation of toxins

An aphrodisiac – helps in premature ejaculation and improving semen quality. Helps women in overcoming infertility

Low in saturated fats and sodium and high in magnesium and potassium; it helps to control high blood pressure and diabetes

Cures insomnia as it has calming properties

Helps to cure diarrhea and improve appetite

Health Benefits of Chick pea flour

High in fiber - improves blood sugar, lipid and insulin levels

Rich in iron, phosphate, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and vitamin K – all important for bone health

Its high fiber, potassium, vitamin C and vitamin B-6 content all support heart health

Contains selenium which prevents inflammation and decreases tumor growth rates

Promotes satiety and decreases risk of obesity

Gluten free

  Health Benefits of Onion Seeds

Helps to in regulate blood sugar

Antioxidant rich

May lower cholesterol levels

Alleviates iInflammation

Could help protect the liver

May prevent stomach ulcers

Indo Chinese Chicken Fried Rice,,,Prawns in Pepper Garlic Sauce

Less-Guilty Chinese Meal

What do yo do when you are dying for a change of taste and have raw chicken, prawns and leftover cooked brown rice? And I forgot to add, all those sauces that I want to finish so I can get a fresh stock!! Had it not been for those sauces nudging me, I would have made a two-layered biryani with prawns forming the upper layer. So Chinese it had to be. I did not want the typical oily fried rice. So the Indo-Chinese Rice seemed an excellent option. Although the original recipe has roasted cashewnuts and raisins. I avoided the nuts to reduce the calories. And raisins only go into my desserts, at the most I don't mind it in my vegetable biryani.

Prawns had to be the pepper garlic variety - my all-time favourite. So here I go. And yes, feel free to add a bit of your favourite sauces or up the garlic, ginger or spice quotient.  So here I go!

Note: However healthy we may try to be by using brown rice instead of white, less oil and stuff, I want to stress on the point that this Indo-Chinese is still not a healthy meal. I have it probably once in two months or so. The bottled sauces are defintely a no-no for regular meals. I like my Indian cooking where I make my masala fresh and grind the spices. This was my cheat meal of the week!

Indo Chinese Chicken Fried Rice

Ingredients

Chicken (boneless) - 250 gms

Spring onion – 1 bunch (medium)

Capsicum – 2 (medium)

Carrot (chopped) – ½ cup

Garlic (crushed) – 1 tbsp

Ginger (grated) – 1 tbsp

Soya sauce – 1 tsp

Chili tomato sauce – 1 tbsp

Brown rice (cooked) – 1 ½ cups

Lemon juice – 1 tbsp

Pepper powder – 1 tbsp

Salt – to taste       

Oil – 2 tbsp

Method

Cut chicken into small cubes. Add salt and pepper and little water and cook it

Dice whites of the onions and capsicum into small pieces

Slice carrots into thin pieces

Heat 1 tbsp oil

Sauté ginger for a minute

Add onion, capsicum, garlic paste and salt

Sauté till the mixture becomes soft

Add carrots and mix well

Keep it aside

Heat 1 tbsp oil

Add the cooked chicken along with the stock and the sauces

Sauté it for about 5 minutes

Add rice and mix well

Cover it for 5 minutes for the flavors to blend well

Add the sautéed veggies and the greens of the spring onions

Prawns in Pepper Garlic Sauce

Ingredients

Prawns - 200 medium (steamed)

Spring Onions - 2 stalks

Garlic (sliced finely) - 10 flakes

Soya sauce - 1 tsp

Pepper sauce - 2 tbsp

Peppercorn (crushed) - 1 tsp

Oil - 1 tbsp

Method

Microwave the prawns for 10 seconds

Heat the oil

Add garlic and sauté

Add onion whites and stir fry

Add the onion greens, sauces and peppercorn

Sauté for 1 minute

Add the lobsters and mix slowly 

Health Benefits of Prawns

Rich in protein, omega-3, vitamins A and E, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus

Has low fat content

High level of zinc - improves immunity

Contains copper, phosphorus, and magnesium – promotes bone health

Anti-oxidants - improves skin health

Anti-ageing - prevents formation of wrinkles, fine lines and crow’s feet

Protects skin against harmful UV rays

Boosts collagen 

Health Benefits of Brown Rice

Helps in weight management

Anti-diabetic

Anti-inflammatory properties

Gluten free

Promotes heart health

Energy booster

Hyaluronic Acid - The Anti-Wrinkle, Anti-Ageing Wonder

Wonder Acid For Your Skin

Now you will understand why eating healthy makes your skin look 
fresh and young. That little extra effort can give you better results than expensive skin products

It’s strange how simple conversations sometimes lead us to something important, like the saying goes – Every experience teaches you something. It was a casual conversation with my neighbour and one thing led to the other and suddenly we started discussing Skin. She told me how her daughter had problem skin on her cheeks when she was a baby. The top layer of the skin was not there and she used to cry and howl every time during a bath or if someone touched her face.

Rub It On Your Skin

My curiosity was aroused; I asked her how it was cured. She told me how a close friend who was getting married had burnt her hand accidentally and d to be rushed to a leading dermatologist (who is today a celebrity favourite). Her friend asked her to consult the dermat for her daughter’s skin problem. And the solution given by the dermat was very simple. She had to dilute a certain acid with water, dip a cotton ball into it and rub the baby’s cheeks with it. And miraculously, the baby’s skin became normal after a couple of months.

I kind of guessed what the acid would have been but still asked her the name. Hydrochloric acid or something like that, she told me. Being a science student, I knew it could never be hydrochloric acid. I’ve been a victim of it splashing on my hand and clothes during our chemistry practicals. 

Hyaluronic Acid

I had read up a bit on Hyaluronic acid and immediately knew it had to be that. The name hit a bell and she immediately said – Yes, that’s the one. I don’t blame her, for not too many are familiar with it and the others cannot pronounce it correctly. I also asked her if it had been very expensive. She said it was. There was no doubt in my mind then that it was Hyaluronic Acid.

But I had always known it to be of cosmetic value as an important part of skin creams and gels. This was the first time I had come across it in the medical context. I did a bit of research online and want to share it with my readers. 

To the less beauty savvy, 'acid' may sound like something you don't want to put anywhere near your face, but in reality it actually holds the key to smooth, flawless and hydrated skin. This experience that I’ve recounted is proof. I will trust it with my eyes closed. But before we start applying it, let’s get a little familiar with it. 

• We have to know that our skin cells actually produce Hyaluronic Acid. It originates in connective tissue and contributes to flexibility of our facial skin
• It helps to maintain the moisture level of our skin
• But with ageing and environmental pollutants attacking our skin, their levels tend to take a bit of a dip, leading to dullness, fine lines and uneven skin tone and texture
• Fortunately, we can replace that moisture by applying Hyaluronic Acid through cosmetics

Skin Hydration

According to aesthetic doctor, Dr Maryam Zamani, hyaluronic acid is critical in maintaining skin hydration. He says, “Although the naturally produced one can be degraded by free radical mechanisms caused by things like UV exposure, when applied to the skin, it helps to hydrate the skin and maintain this hydration as a humectant.” Humectant is a substance used to reduce the loss of moisture.

Some people choose to inject hyaluronic acid as a dermal filler, which can help add volume to the skin. Others apply it topically, which won’t produce as dramatic or lasting results—as it can’t reach the deepest layers of the skin—but can still smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

If you check your high-end skin care products, you might find hyaluronic acid hiding on the labels of some of your skincare products. It works as a magnet for moisture, helping your cells retain as much of it as possible so that your skin feels and appears hydrated, plump and healthy. It attracts and retains moisture in the skin. It is thought to improve cell-to-cell interaction and promote collagen synthesis, which can prevent wrinkles and improve your skin’s texture.

Collagen Breakdown

Just a single gram of Hyaluronic Acid has the impressive ability to hold up to six litres of water. Add to that, a super smart ability to regulate that moisture within the cells, so as not to drown them and you've got one genius ingredient. When you apply it to your face it is like giving your skin shots and shots and shots and shots of water, which help plump up the skin and prevent your collagen from breaking down.

If skin is sufficiently hydrated, it feels super-soft, plump and pillowy and looks so much more radiant. When skin is hydrated, lines and wrinkles (even the deeper ones) appear diminished, so it is a great ingredient for those with ageing skin who are desperate to cling on to their youthful perkiness. It works wonders on any skin type, even sensitive or breakout-prone skin, as well as those with an oily complexion. 

Recent research suggests that Hyaluronic Acid also has antioxidant properties, and it can act like a shield against free radicals we aren't in control of, like environmental pollutants. Hyaluronic acid supplements can help increase skin moisture and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Topical treatments can soothe redness and dermatitis, while injections can make skin appear firmer.

HA and Food We Eat

Now I’m no cosmetologist nor am I a beauty therapist. So why am I discussing cosmetics and medicines? Well, as a nutritionist I always believe that food should be your first medicine. So if you eat right, exercise and follow a healthy lifestyle, it’s possible to delay ageing and the dependence on cosmetics. It’s no secret that what you eat can affect your skin. You might already try to eat foods high in antioxidants like vitamin A and vitamin E to help improve your complexion. However, hyaluronic acid can do wonders for your skin.  

It is indeed interesting to see that besides hyaluronic acid being produced in the skin, there are some naturally occurring foods high in the acid. If you want to increase your levels of hyaluronic acid in other ways, you can look to your diet. There are a number of foods that contain the compound that can help your skin stay supple and smooth. 

Foods High in HA and Some That increase 

HA Production

Bone Broth

Eating bone broth is your best bet when it comes to hyaluronic acid. Bone broth that is made from many parts of the animal might have some benefit. Because the bones are simmered in water over a period of 24 hours, it leaches nutrients, including hyaluronic acid, from the bones and adds them to the water.

Soy-Based Foods

It’s thought that an increase of estrogen may help production of HA by the body. Include foods like tofu, tempeh and edamame—which are all soy products that contain some estrogen—in your diet. Throw them in a salad, mix them in a stir-fry or nibble on them as a snack. “The great thing about these foods is that they are a fantastic source of plant-based complete proteins, are full of vitamins and minerals, and filling

Starchy Root Vegetables

Some research indicates that starchier root vegetables may increase the production of HA by the body. These foods include potatoes, sweet potatoes and other tubers such as jicama and Jerusalem artichoke. Luckily, those foods are also great sources of potassium, fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin A and vitamin C, all of which are great for our bodies.

Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits contain naringenin, which inhibits the breakdown of HA in the body, according to dermatologist Margarita Lolis, MD. In addition to fruits like oranges and grapefruits, tomatoes and bananas contain naringenin as well. “Eating grapefruits with breakfast and snacking on oranges, grapes and tomatoes during the day will absolutely lead to more supple glowing skin in as fast as three weeks,” she says.

Leafy Greens

Leafy greens contain magnesium, a necessary catalyst to help with HA production in the body. Other foods that are high in magnesium include avocado, nuts, fruits and seeds. Salads loaded with all these ingredients are a great way to boost magnesium content while getting your fair share of other nutrients along with it as well.