Cocktails & Mocktails

Celebrating the special moments!!

Baking & Sweets

Muesli+Honey+Milk+sugar+Grated almonds+raisins

                                                  Carrot -Date Balls:
2 cups grated  carrot + 1/2 cup grated coconut + 10 dates + walnuts +raisins + honey(add according to the sweetness required )+ milk (for binding the mixture) pinch cinnamon powder +pinch nutmeg powder + pinch cloves powder .grind the above mixture.. refrigerate it for 2 hours and then simply make balls :)

Fats and Cholestrol

We always talk and read about Fats and Cholesterol,but do we know what they  are? what they do?  and foods which we should avoid? and foods that's actually good for us to intake??

FATS:

Fats provide Linolic Acid -essential fatty acid for :

• Growth
• Healthy skin
• metabolism
• helps absorb Vitamin A,D,K

There are 2 kinds of fats

• Saturated (BAD)
• Trans-Fat (BAD)
• Unsaturated

1. SATURATED FATS:

They are derived from 

• meat
• eggs
• Dairy
• coconut

These are solid at room temperature and they increase LDL(Bad Cholestrol),
 although there are some which have neutral effect on cholesterol.

   

    2. TRANS FAT

They are UNSATURATED Fats-- but they are created artificially by a process called Hydrogenation..(A process used to change liquid oil into into solid fats..) and hence they are called Hydrogenated Fats as well..

Trans Fats are used to increase the shelf life of processed foods..You will generally find them in

• cookies
• cakes
• Fries
• Doughnuts

They are harmful because, they

• Lower HDL (Good Cholesterol)
• increase LDL (Bad Cholesterol)

  3. UNSATURATED FATS (Good Fats)

They are derived from

• vegetables
• Plants

2 types of Unsaturated Fats:

Mono-saturated Fats(Omega-9): Liquid at room temperature... solidifies at cold temperature.

• Olives
• canola
• Peanuts
• Avocados

They are good since they:

• increase HDL
• Lower LDL 

Poly-Unsaturated Fats(Omega-3): These are liquids at room temperature

These are liquid at room temperature:

• Sun flower
• cotton seeds
• corn
• soy-bean

Too much of above is not good although they do reduce LDL..

Well we read about Fats and see that everything leads to Cholesterol.So lets see what it is:

CHOLESTEROL

Cholesterol is a fat or liquid produced by the liver and is used 

• to make outer coating of cells
• produce esterogen/testestrone
• produce Bile Acid which is used to digest food.

Our body creates 1000 mg of cholesterol each day, Now cholsterol is a fat (oily) and Blood is liquid, So a product of LIPIDS+PROTEINS(LIPOPROTEINS) are created which can easily mix with blood 

2 types of Lipoproteins:

LDL --- LOW DENSITY-LIPOPRTEIN: So, as the name suggests LDL has low protein content, and more fat content, which is bad for blood flow,Too much of LDL leads to deposits if cholesterol in Arteries --causing blockages --leading to heart attacks..

HDL---HIGH DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN: It has more protein ..It acts as vacuum cleaner sucks up excess cholesterol and sends it back to liver,, which can recycle it.

So in order to stay healthy and free from cholesterol: following foods are recommended.

WORLD-WAR 1

WORLD WAR 1

The pre world war Europe:

The start of the World War 1:

1. assassination of Austria's Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie. by serbian Nationalist
2.  Austria--Hungary(together thought of )having a war against --Serbia
3.  Austria-Hungary had a treaty with Germany---(so 3 together)
4. Serbia had treaty with Russia, who in turn had a treaty with--France and Britain

so, ALLIES--France+Britain+RussiaCENTRAL POWERS: Germany+AUSTRIA-HUNGARY

The Germans were surrounded by France on the west and Russia on the east, and so they created The Schlieffen Plan --They planned to attack France while Russia was preparing its troops..So, they attached France via Belgium which was neutral.. but Belgium had a treaty with Britain...Britain was officially into the war..France also executed its plan of quick mobilization in response to the Schlieffen Plan... So Germans moved east and France moved west.. and so war came to a stalemate--since no one could move.Both the army troops made there trenchesthis continued for 3 years... and finally in  1917, the Allies were starting to run low on young men.So, they needed help and were hoping to get support of the US. But US was following th the isolationism principle--that is they would generally take part in foreign affairs only if they are getting affected....

However there were 2 major event s which changed the thoughts of the US.1)A British Oceanliner was sunk by Germans which was carrying passengers and they were mostly US citizens.2) Zimmermann Telegram: Germany sent Mexico coded message urging them to join the war and in return promosing them to get portions of U.S land.
This message was intercepted by Britain and showed it to US...which gave strong reasons for US to join the war and obviously against Germany-- so US became the Allies.

so, ALLIES--France+Britain+Russia+USCENTRAL POWERS: Germany+AUSTRIA-HUNGARY

As the United States was entering World War I, Russia was getting ready to get out.In 1917 Russia had internal issues and in order to deal with them.. it found a way to escape the war..-and signed a peace treaty with Germany.

So, again:
so, ALLIES--France+Britain+US (-RUssia)CENTRAL POWERS: Germany+AUSTRIA-HUNGARY

Now with the war on the east ended..Germany could move its troops against US.The war again continues, with the fresh ?Us soldiers and the tired European soldiers..

At the end of 1918, an armistice was finally agreed upon. The fighting was to end on the 11th hour of 11th day of 11th month (i.e. 11 am on Nov. 11, 1918).

 The Versailles Treaty was the peace treaty that ended World War I; however, a number of its terms were so controversial that it also set the stage for World War II.
The carnage left behind by the end of World War I was staggering. By the end of the war, an estimated 10 million soldiers were killed. That averages to about 6,500 deaths a day, every day. Plus, millions of civilians were also killed. World War I is especially remembered for its slaughter for it was one of the bloodiest wars in history.

Resources:
http://history1900s.about.com/od/worldwari/p/World-War-I.htm

The Other Side Of Me--The Cook(A Discovered Passion)

Mexican soup and Lettuce wraps

Hakka Noodles

Spanish Omlette & Spinach Fritata

Pizza

Baingan ka bharta

(Boil eggplant+pigeon peas

Saute spring onion+tomatoes add salt+turmeric+red chilli powder+cilantro powder+cumin powder+garam masala and then add the boiled veggies in it )

Pesto Sauce Pizza

(Prepare pesto sauce by grinding 1 clove garlic+Parsley+10min boiled spinach+peanuts+few spring onions)

saute the paste in olive oil+add salt+oregano+chili flakes+grated parmesan cheese

Toppings--Green pepper+Broccoli+spring onions,+cheese

Veggie Wraps!!

(saute green chillies+garlic+green onion+onions+green cabbage+Carrots+eggplant+salt+pepper+soysauce)

Garnish with cilantro+green onions again+mango+avocado+mayo+red chili sauce

Tastes yum!! And healthy as well!!

Egg Pizza+Hash Brown!!

Tried out some cocktails!!

Enchiladas for Dinner!!

Saute garlic+green chilies+spring onions+onions+tomatoes+refried beans+tomato paste+black beans+corn

Fill tortilla with the above sauce+olives+black beans+cheese

Layer the sauce +sour cream+cheese

Morning Breakfast!!

The 3 fillings

                                                            Pita Wraps.

Filling: 1)Red Sauce  grind red beans +salt+1 sbsp oil+2 cloves garlic-prepare sauce keep aside.

2)Veggies: In a pan, saute oil+cumin seeds+spring onions+onions+zucchini+carrots+red pepper+salt+red chilli powder+oregano+red chili flakes+parsley--keep aside

3) Add parsley to sour cream

Fill the pita with the above 3 fillings.

Spanish Omelette+Fruits!!

Pani Puri--(Water Balls)!!!

The name of which tickles my taste buds..

Mint Water:Mint leaves+Cilantro+Green chilies+ginger+black salt+salt+cumin seeds+chat masala+lemon+tamarind

Sweet Chutney: Dates+Tamarind+Red Chili powder+Cumin powder+jaggery+chat masala

Potato Filling: Boiled potatoes+black chana+salt+red chili powder+cumin powder+chat masala

Yellow squash & Asparagus Pasta

Saute Garlic+green chilies+2 tomatoes +Parsley+spinach+green peas+oregano_chili flakes +add tomato pasta sauce+Ricotta cheese

(Boil pasta and in 5 last min boil yellow squash +asparagus )Add this to the above mixture.

garnish with parsley.

Lettuce Wraps!! 

Saute green chilies+5 clove garlic+spring onions+onions+tomatoes+red / black beans+salt+oregano+chili flakes .Make a paste of little of above mixture +  tomatoes+red/black beans+2tbpsn Salsa sauce....For Rice: boil brown rice .Saute onions+garlic+red beans salt and add rice to it

Idli Sambhar(South Indian Food)

Rajma Rice(North Indian Food)

Bhaji Pav(My favorite one pot meal)