Saturday, January 23, 2021

Potato fritters

Fritters ready for frying


 Fritters ready to eat

INGREDIENTS

boiled, peeled and mashed potatoes 3 big

onion 2 medium size chopped fine

green chili finely chopped to taste

salt to taste

curry leaves finely chopped 1 tsp ( optional)

ajwain  ( carom seeds)  1 tsp

rice flour  2-3 tbsp

rava / semolina 1-2  tbsp

besan 1 heaped tbsp

hing little

oil for frying

red chili pdr. to taste ( if one wants it spicier)


METHOD

in a bowl, add mashed potatoes, all the ingredients except oil, mix well.

I didn't need water, as I found it to be the correct consistency, in case you find it too hard, sprinkle some water to get the correct consistency, it shouldn't be too sticky to roll.

Once the oil is hot deep fry till brown, drain and serve hot.

It can be eaten plain, or serve with chutney / ketchup.

Note- adding rava is optional, you can add some breadcrumbs instead. 

I prefer to add more rice flour than besan, as it makes you fries crisp, also easier to digest.

Adding carom seeds is optional, as it aids digestion and prevents gas formation, which is common when one eats potatoes !

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Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Sprouted Potatoes - Can They Be Safely Used in Cooking?

We’ve all been there: you’re cooking dinner one evening, and when you reach for the potatoes, you discover that they’ve started to sprout. Perhaps you’ve bought a bit too many on your last trip to the supermarket, or the weather warmed up and they started sprouting a bit faster than they should. The important question is ‘What should you do with the sprouted potatoes?’ Should you throw them away or use them to make dinner, after all? If you decide to do the latter, you should be aware that it isn’t without its dangers.

How Eating Sprouted Potatoes Can Be Dangerous
Sprouted Potatoes in a bagAll potatoes contain two natural glycoalkaloid compounds - solanine and chaconine - that are unfortunately toxic to humans when consumed in excess. Other vegetables, particularly eggplants and tomatoes, also have these chemicals albeit in lower concentrations.

Interestingly, scientific research shows that solanine and chaconine are beneficial for the human body in small quantities due to their antimicrobial activity as well as their ability to lower blood sugar and cholesterol, so eating fresh vegetables that contain these compounds in moderation is still a good idea. 
 
The concentration of glycoalkaloid compounds is the lowest in freshly-harvested potatoes, but over time, more and more solanine and chaconine build up in the vegetable, particularly in the skin and any green parts and sprouts. This is why we have all been told to stay away from green potatoes.

What happens if you consume too many glycoalkaloids? 
 
A few hours or even a day after consuming a tainted vegetable, people start experiencing symptoms of gastrointestinal distress, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In those rare cases when large quantities of solanine and chaconine are consumed, patients start exhibiting symptoms of shock, namely a rapid pulse, confusion, fever, headaches, and low blood pressure. 
 
Sometimes, this can result in death. So yes, eating green potatoes or potato sprouts isn’t just risky, it can be life-threatening. This is exactly why the National Capital Poison Center advises consumers to throw away potatoes that have already sprouted.

Is It Possible to Reduce the Number of Toxic Compounds in Sprouted Potatoes?
Sprouted Potatoes peeling
First and foremost, it’s necessary to point out that any potatoes that exhibit any sign of going bad should be discarded immediately, this includes potatoes with brown soft spots, signs of mold or any other growth around the sprouts, black dots on the skin, or inside the vegetable, and shriveling. Likewise, a potato with extremely prominent sprouts probably already contains a significant amount of toxic compounds and should also be thrown away. 
 
If the sprouting has barely started and the potato looks fresh and healthy, chances are they can still be salvaged. To reduce the number of toxic compounds in the vegetable, it’s necessary to peel, break off the sprouts, dig out any signs of the sprouts with a small knife and discard all of these parts, since it is believed that the majority of the glycoalkaloid compounds are stored in the skin and the sprouts of the vegetable.

When it comes to the best way to prepare salvaged potatoes, research shows that the only method that effectively reduces the number of toxic compounds is frying, while boiling, microwaving, and baking has no effect. Still, scientists aren’t completely sure that all these practices are sufficiently effective, so use them at your own risk. 
 
Needless to say, the best way to safely enjoy your mashed or baked potato side dish is by only buying the amount you need to cook one dish and use up any leftovers before they start sprouting. It’s also important to store potatoes right in order to prevent them from sprouting in a matter of days - any dark, dry, and cool place will do. 
 
Finally, please make sure to keep sprouted and green potatoes and potato scraps away from animals, as your pets are just as susceptible to the dangers of solanine and chaconine as you are.

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Healthy Papaya halwa / pudding

 Papaya always tastes good soon after cutting. But, at times, when it gets left over, you wonder what to do, as I for one, hate wasting food. So, the left-over papaya about 1 cup, I kept in the fridge, but, it doesn't taste the same as freshly cut papaya. So, I changed its form ! Voila, you get a very healthy dessert, as it contains all the goodness of papaya, iron, calcium, healthy fats, protein and fiber !

INGREDIENTS

papaya cut 1 cup

ragi ( finger millet) flour + other millet flours 4 heaped tbsp

pootukadalai ( fried dal) powder 1 heaped tbsp ( optional)

ghee ( clarified butter) 1 tbsp + 1 tsp

gur / jaggery / molasses / sugar 1/2-3/4 cup as per taste ( I used gur, as it has iron)

nuts optional

METHOD

heat 1 tbsp ghee, add the flours, keep roasting on low flame till nice aroma comes (3-4 minutes)

then add papaya and since I used gur I added that, and kept pressing down the papaya pieces with my wooden spoon, keep on stirring at this stage, for your sweetener to get well mixed and for the mixture to thicken.

Once it gets thick, add 1 tsp ghee, as it gives shine adding it last, stir well for another minute, remove and it is ready to serve, very healthy, as all the ingredients are full of nutrition that one needs. Even ghee is considered good now, provided you use less !

Note- if you don't have ragi / millet pdr, you may use wheat flour, or besan. If using besan you've to fry well till the raw smell goes.I prefer the millet flours as they're more nutritious.Ragi is rich in calcium and iron.

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https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and health tips  
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Friday, January 15, 2021

Type 2 diabetes: This green juice is the ideal morning drink for diabetics

 Type 2 diabetes: This green juice is the ideal morning drink for diabetics

Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle disease caused by making wrong dietary choices and living a sedentary lifestyle. With around 70 million people suffering from the condition in our country, India is rightly called the diabetes capital of the world.

But the good news is, just by making simple lifestyle changes one can control their blood sugar levels and even reverse the condition in some cases.

So, if you or someone in your family is suffering from diabetes, here is one simple morning ritual that can do wonders in controlling your blood sugar levels.

The green juice

People suffering from diabetes often avoid having juices as they are high in sugar. But this green juice can be hugely beneficial in controlling diabetes. The juice should be consumed early in the morning for best results. The juice is beneficial for people suffering from any type of diabetes including type 1, type 2 and gastrointestinal diabetes. The best thing about the green juice is it helps in increasing your energy levels. Here are various ingredients that can be mixed and blended together to make it, you can choose any 4-6 ingredients of your choice.

Ingredients: Green apple, cucumber, lemon, kale, green cabbage, celery, spinach, beetroot, garlic, tomato, ginger and bitter gourd.

Just mix the ingredients, add some water and blend it properly. 

How green juice benefits diabetics?

- It is an excellent source of vitamin A, C, K and iron.

- It reduces your risk of hypertension, heart diseases and all types of diabetes.

- Strengthens your immune system and boosts your energy levels.

- Densely rich in antioxidants, which prevents you from various diseases.

- Helps in detoxifying the body and purifies your blood.

- Increases your energy levels and improves the metabolic rate, which in turn reduces the risk of diabetes.

- Improves the functioning of all body organs.

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Healthy snacks to have during winter

Healthy snacks to have during winter

The festival of Lohri is just around the corner. Great food, taste of tradition, dance and dhol is all that the festival is about. While we all have just started with our new year's resolution of eating healthy and staying fit, this doesn't mean you cannot enjoy the festival or its delicacies. Here is a list of some healthy snacks that you can enjoy guilt-free during the winter festival. These snacks will keep your weight in check.

But do not forget portion control is the key.

​Chikki

The peanut gur chikki makes for one of the favourite winter snacks. The combination of peanuts with jaggery makes the chikki taste divine. The best part about the peanut gur chikki is that despite being sweet it's loaded with various health benefits.

Popcorn

Popcorn, also called Makai, is a low-calorie healthy snack. These make for one of the most popular winter snacks. Just make sure to be careful with the toppings to not load it with calories.

Sesame / ​Til ka ladoo

Til ke ladoo are traditional winter sweets prepared in almost every household. The ladoos are made using sesame seeds and jaggery. The ladoos should be stored in an airtight container to maintain the freshness.

Sarson ka saag with makke ki roti (Mustard leaves gravy with corn roti)

This traditional combo is one of the most celebrated Punjabi delicacies. Sarso has zero sugar and fat, which makes it even healthier. While makka is rich in protein, carbs, fibre and fat, again making it a healthy food option.

​Dahi bhalle / Dahi Vada

Dahli bhalla makes for a perfect side dish to include in winter thaali. Prepared using curd, imli / tamarind chutney, dry fruits, spices and urad dal, the recipe works wonders for digestion. To add more flavours to the dahi bhalla, garnish it with coriander.

Pindi channe

Pindi channa is boiled chickpeas wrapped in spices and cooked to perfection. You can try it with simple phulkas or rice to make for a quick and easy treat.

Carrot / ​Gajar halwa( pudding)

Carrots are the basic ingredients used to make gajar halwa. Carrots are rich in beta carotene and various other nutrients. Adding milk to halwa adds the goodness of calcium and adding some nuts increases the good fat content in it. So, do not stop yourself from enjoying this super yummy dish during the winter.

Chiraunji makhane ki kheer / Fox nut milk pudding

Makhanas are a heart-healthy snack. Low in cholesterol, sodium and saturated fats, makhanas make for a perfect healthy snack. And because festivities are incomplete without a generous serving of sweet, ending the Lohri celebration with makhane chiraunji ki kheer is one of the most healthy options.

​Corn palak tikki ( spinach-corn cutlets)

We all love having hot spicy aloo tikki with loads of dahi and spices in it. Why not make your aloo tikki healthy by adding some corn and palak to it. Instead of deep-frying, you can shallow fry or air fry the tikkis to make them healthier.

Pro-tip for healthy snacking

While you munch on your favourite snacks, do not forget to be physically active. If you cannot take out time for a workout, you can climb stairs or go for a 10-minute walk.

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Wednesday, January 13, 2021

10 Foods to Keep Out of the Fridge

Refrigerators are great - they keep our drinks cool and our food fresh. However, despite our tendency to just toss whatever food we have into the fridge, there are certain foods that will fare much better outside of the cold environment than in it. Here are 10 of the most common foods people keep in the fridge, but shouldn’t

1. Tomatoes 
fruit-vegetables
The fridge does keep tomatoes fresh, but it does so by stopping the process of ripeness. Consequently they lose their flavor. In addition the refrigerator also changes the texture of the tomato, making it powdery or floury. Tomatoes are best kept out of cold environments. 
 
2. Basil
fruit-vegetables
When one keeps fresh basil in refrigeration, it withers very quickly, but before it withers all the way and becomes unusable, it absorbs the taste of the foods kept closest to it. Basil is best kept outside the fridge and in a glass of fresh water, just like flowers. 
 
3. Potatoes fruit-vegetables
The cold temperatures in the fridge turns the starch in the potato into sugar at a faster pace than normal, and we're left with a sweet yet grainy potato. Keep your potatoes in a sealed sack and in a cool and dry place. They should be covered, because being exposed to sunlight makes them grow sprouts. 
 
4. Onions
fruit-vegetables
The dampness in the fridge makes onions soft and moldy. The best place to keep onions is in a cool and dry place, outside the fridge. Green onions can be kept in the fridge because of their high percentage of water content. Do not keep onions next to the potatoes, because it will make them rot quicker. 
 
5. Avocado
fruit-vegetables
If you're waiting for an avocado to ripen, you should never put it in the fridge. However, if the avocado has already ripened, placing it in the fridge will prevent it from going bad.

6. Garlic
fruit-vegetables
When we keep garlic in the refrigerator, it grows green stalks. Also, it'll get a moldy, sticky texture. It is best to keep garlic in a dry, cool place. 
 
7. Bread fruit-vegetables
When it comes to bread, there are a number of options. If you are going to use sliced bread within a few days, it can be kept in the fridge. If you intend on storing the bread for a longer period of time, keep in the freezer. 
 
8. Olive Oil
fruit-vegetables
Olive oil should be kept somewhere dark and cool - when placed in the refrigerator, it freezes and its texture becomes similar to butter. That said, you can thaw it again to its original state. 
 
9. Coffee
fruit-vegetables
Storing coffee in the fridge makes it lose its flavor quickly and absorb the flavor of foods stored near it. Coffee should be kept somewhere dark and cool. However, if you want to keep a large amount of coffee at home, you can keep it in the depths of the freezer - not near the door. 
 
10. Honey
fruit-vegetables
One of the most fascinating facts about honey is that it never goes bad. There is no reason to keep it in the fridge, in fact it should be avoided as the cold temperatures will solidify it. Honey is best kept at room temperature. 

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https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and health tips  
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement