Walnuts- 'The World's most healthiest food'

What makes Walnuts healthy?

Walnuts are great source of omega 3 fatty acid and are naturally sodium, cholesterol and gluten free. Global studies show that eating handful of walnuts daily may reduce the risk of chronic illness such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, asthma and arthritis.

The best part about Walnuts is that not only nutritious but also very tasty. So grab a handful as a snack, or include them in your meals to enhance crunch, nutrition and flavor.

* Walnuts may be considered the king of nuts for health benefits, with a combination of more healthful and higher quality antioxidants, U.S. researchers say.

* "Walnuts rank above peanuts, almonds, pecans, pistachios and other nuts."

* "A handful of walnuts contains almost twice as much antioxidants as an equivalent amount of any other commonly consumed nut. But unfortunately, people don't eat a lot of them. Everybody should eat more walnuts as part of a healthy diet."

* Nutrients in Walnuts 0.25 cup (25.00 grams) -  omega-3 fats94.5%,  manganese42.5%,  copper20%,  Calories (163) 9%


* The reason they are so good for your brain health is the high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids. Your brain consists of more than 60% structural fat, and for the brain cells to function properly, omega-3 fats need to be a primary component. The American diet is almost devoid of all omega-3s, with researchers finding that about two-thirds of Americans are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids.

* A study has shown that children with a lower concentration of omega-3 fatty acids have a higher risk of being hyperactive, having learning disorders, and displaying behavioral problems.

So,include this 'Brain food' everyday in your diet. 

5 mins coffee mug chocolate cake (easy and quick recipe)

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons - all purpose flour/ maida
4 tablespoons - sugar
2 tablespoons - coco powder
3 tablespoons -  milk     
2 tablespoons - vegetable oil
2 tablespoons - butter
1 - egg
1 teaspoon - vanilla essence
2 teaspoons - coco chips (optional)

Method :

Whisk all the ingredients together and pour into coffee mug (don't fill the coffee mug with the cake mixture completely, leave some gap for the cake to raise up). Cook for 3-4 mins(in high) in microwave.
If you want, you can decorate the cake with what ever you like.

Caramel Custard

Steps:

1. Take a pan. Add sugar and very little water to it . When you get the perfect caramel consistency, switch off the flame.

2. Pour the caramel in another pan and spread it.

3. Take 3 eggs, 50 grams of sugar, few drops of vanilla essence and whisk them all together.After whisking, add 500 ml of milk.

4. Strain the mixture using a strainer and pour the mixture into the caramel pan.

5. Double boil(see the picture below) in low flame for few minutes until it is done.

For double boiling, add sufficient amount of water to the bottom vessel and on top of it keep the vessel which contains food.

THE BEST REMEDIES FOR FLU, COUGH, FEVER AND BODY PAIN.

RELY ON GARLIC TO FEND OFF COLD

Raw garlic is one of the most essential natural remedies to fend off these common aliments. Follow these tips to extract the best benefits from this wonder of nature:

* After breakfast, swallow a small clove of garlic. Do not chew. the juice, once out in the mouth, will result in a strong and unpleasant smell that will stay for sometime. Having a garlic daily during winter improves your immunity.

* Chop some cloves and sprinkle it in your food. This boosts your digestion and helps you fight stomach aliments.

* Heat some mustard oil and put a few cloves of garlic in it and boil. Rub the oil on the chest and under your feet when you have heavy cough or cold. It cures the cold overnight and relieves you from congestion due to cough.

* Chop a clove and swallow it with a glass of orange juice just before retiring to bed. Your body ache will be gone over night. 

* A cup of garlic broth help you in curing sore throat and it is easy to make. Crush 4 or 5 cloves of garlic. In a bowl, boil a cupful of water. Add the crushed cloves to the boiling water and cook on low flame for 15 minutes. Strain the liquid and sip it. This warmth of the liquid will relax your sore throat and antibacterial properties of garlic will help combat the infection.

* Cure for fever (grandma's secret) : toss a few chopped cloves of garlic in your favorite soup just a minute before take it off from gas. Remember heat reduces the effectiveness of raw garlic. So consume it immediately. 

Easy home made rasagullas

Ingredients:

4 cups milk
11/2 cups sugar
2 tablespoon lemon juice

Method:

1. Boil the milk for 6-7 mins
2. Add the lemon juice to the boiling milk and stir occasionally. You can see the milk and water separating. At this point switch off the flame.
3. Using a clean Cotten cloth filter the panner separated from milk. Drain the water completely.
4. Using your hands smash the panner nicely and make small size rasagullas.
5. Add 4 1/2 cups of water and 1 1/2 cups of sugar for syrup. Sugar syrup doesn't have to be very thick.
6. When the syrup is done add the rasagullas to the syrup. Do not switch off the flame. Leave the rasagullas in the syrup for 7-8mins  in medium flame.
7. Refrigerate the rasagullas for 1 hr and serve cold. 

Best pancake recipe

Say good bye to the ready made pan cake mixes! Once you taste this home made recipe, you will definitely agree they are better than the ready made pan cakes.

Ingredients:

1. 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2. 2 tablespoons sugar

3. 2 teaspoons baking powder

4. 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

5. 1/2 teaspoon salt

6. 1 1/4-1 1/2 cups milk

7. 2 eggs

8. 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)

9. 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Method:

1. In a bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients.

2. Make a well in the centre and pour in the milk.

3.Start with 1 1/4 cups milk, adding up to another 1/4 cup if necessary, as you mix it with the flour.

4. Add the two eggs, vanilla and oil to the mixture and whisk nicely without any lumps. 

5. Heat a frying pan (if it is not non-stick, you will need to melt a bit of butter or oil in it) and when hot, pour in some pancake mix.

6. When the pancake starts to bubble on top and is golden brown on the cooked side, turn it and continue cooking until both sides are golden brown.
7. Repeat this process for remaining batter.Maintain in medium flame.

8. Serve hot with maple syrup or honey and butter. 

Kandarappam - traditional indian-chettinadu sweet

Kandarappam is a traditional sweet from the south India's famous chettinadu cuisine. It is prepared for all important festivals and  poojas. It is a healthy and tasty snack.

Ingredients:

1. Raw rice - 1 cup

2. Par boiled rice( idly rice) - 1 cup

3. Urad dhal - 1/4 cup

4. Peeled broken green gram/moong dhal - 1 tablespoon

5. Toor dhal - 1 table spoon

6. Channa dhal/bengal gram - 1 table spoon 

7. Pinch of salt

8. Jaggery - 1 1/2 cup

9. Grated coconut - 1/2 cup

10. Elachi/cardamom - 5-6

11. Oil for frying 

Procedure:

1. Soak the rice and dhal for 2 hours.

2. Grind everything except grated coconut, jaggery and elachi for 10 mins.

3. Finally add the jaggery, grated coconut and cardamom to the batter. Batter should be in dosa or pan cake consistency.

4. Take a frying wok and add required amount of oil for deep frying the appam.

5. When the oil gets heated (not smoking hot), immediately reduce the flame and maintain in low - medium flame. Take a ladle of batter and pour slowly into the oil. Wait for few seconds. When appam raises turn it other side and cook for few seconds.Appam will not take much time to cook. When appam turns light brown, remove it from the oil. 

6. Now serve hot. It is very tasty when it is hot.