ZUNKA

ZUNKA
Zunka is very similar to the Pitla. It is a drier version of the Pitla. Usually more oil is used for the Zunka as you need to cook it into a dry vegetable like consistency unlike the Pitla. This cant be mixed with rice but it has to be had with Chappati or Bhakri. You can add vegetables like Capsicum, Methi, Cabbage, Bottle gourd (Doodhi) etc to enhance the nutritive value of the Zunka.

Ingredients
Besan (Gram flour) – 1 cup
Onion - 1 finely chopped
Green Chillies – 2 finely chopped
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Red chilli powder – 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Asafoetida – a pinch
Salt to taste
Curry leaves - 1 sprig (optional)
Coriander leaves for garnish
Oil – 2-3 tbsps

Method
Fry the besan in a little oil till it turns light brown. It should loose its raw smell. Keep aside.

Heat some oil and add the mustard seeds, once it starts to crackle, add the onions and fry till the onion becomes transparent and nicely fried. Add the curry leaves and fry for a minute.

In a bowl, Take the Besan, turmeric powder, red chili powder, asafoetida and salt and mix it with water, to form a batter with a liquid consistency. This is a sure shot method of preparing a successful Zunka for beginners according to my mother-in-law. As when you make a batter, there won’t be lumps and it will be easier to handle the cooking. Once it simmers. Keep the gas on a low flame and allow the water to evaporate. Keep stirring rapidly so that the besan doesn’t stick to the pan. The mixture will start to separate and loose its water content and become dry. At this point Garnish with coriander leaves and stir for a minute or two.

The Zunka is usually served hot with Bhakris or chappatis (known also as Polis). On the right is one Happy meal that can please my husband YO, A hardcore Maharashtrian anytime.

VARIATIONS TO THE ZUNKA
This type of Zunka made with vegetables is called as Pith perleli Bhaji (Vegetable rolled in Flour).

METHI ZUNKA
You can take a cup of fresh Fenugreek (Methi) leaves or if you cant get fresh methi leaves You can alternatively use Kasoori Methi. To use Kasoori Methi, Take 2 tbsps of kasoori methi in a bowl, add a pinch of salt and add warm water and let it soak for 5-10 minutes. Then drain the water, The methi will be soft like fresh methi leaves now. After you add the onions and stir fry for a while, add the Kasoori methi or Fresh methi and stir fry. You will get lovely aroma of the methi. Follow the above method of the Zunka and serve hot with Bhakri or Chappati.

SPRING ONIONS ZUNKA
Take one cup of Spring onions (Pathi che Kande). When you are using Spring Onions, use the onions as well as the green leaves of the onions. Remove the skin and chop the spring onions into fine pieces and fry with the onions. The leaves of the spring onions must be washed thoroughly and chopped into fine pieces and used in the Zunka. Once the onions are fried, Add the finely chopped leaves of the spring onions and stir fry. And then follow the above method.

CAPSICUM ZUNKA
Take one cup of finely chopped Capsicum. Once the onions are transparent. Add the Capsicum and stir fry and follow the above method.

The change in the cooking comes when we use Cabbage(kobi), Bottle Gourd (Doodhi Bhopla).

Do also try my own innovative recipes of using Ridge Gourd(Dodka) and Raw Papaya Zunka.

CABBAGE ZUNKA
Take one cup of Shredded Cabbage.
Heat oil, then temper with mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Saute the onions, then add turmeric, chilli powder, cumin and coriander powder and salt and stir for a few seconds. Add the cabbage and stir fry. Cover with a lid and allow to cook for 5-7 minutes till the cabbage is tender. Cabbage cooks very fast. At this point, Add in the Besan and mix well. Saute gently on medium heat. The flour will absorb the Cabbage juice and cook. Do not add any extra water! Cover and cook on low heat for 4-5 minutes. Garnish with coriander leaves.

BOTTLE GOURD ZUNKA
Take one cup of peeled and grated Bottle gourd (Doodhi Bhopla) (dont grate very finely, use the grater with big holes, so u get thicker grates).and follow the method as in Cabbage Zunka. Allow the Besan to cook in the vegetable juice and cook. Do not add any extra water! Cover and cook on low heat for 4-5 minutes. Garnish with coriander leaves.

RIDGE GOURD ZUNKA*****
Take one cup of peeled and grated Ridge Gourd (Dodka) (dont grate very finely, use the grater with big holes, so u get thicker grates).and follow the method as in Cabbage Zunka. Allow the Besan to cook in the vegetable juice and cook. Do not add any extra water! Cover and cook on low heat for 4-5 minutes. Garnish with coriander leaves.

RAW PAPAYA ZUNKA*******
Take one cup of peeled and grated Raw Papaya (dont grate very finely, use the grater with big holes, so u get thicker grates).and follow the method as in Cabbage Zunka. Allow the Besan to cook in the vegetable juice and cook. Do not add any extra water! Cover and cook on low heat for 4-5 minutes. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Please do try the Ridge Gourd and Raw Papaya Zunka. The Raw Papaya Zunka tastes absolutely divine. The taste compares to no other recipe.

Its my own innovative trial and I am sure you’ll will enjoy it too. Please do try the recipesand let me know.

AGAR AGAR (CHINA GRASS) HALWA

AGAR AGAR HALWA

Agar Agar is very good for health. This is a very light dessert and can be prepared easily and quickly and there is no tension of the halwa consistency not being proper for it to be cut into pieces like the traditional Halwa

(Refer to the recipe of Agar Agar Jelly in my blog to know how good agar agar is for your health)
Ingredients
China Grass – 1 cup
Sugar – 1 cup
Water – 3 cups
Cardamom Powder – 1 tsp
Ghee – for greasing the plate or containers
Chopped Pista, Cashews and Almond slivers for decoration.

Method
In a saucepan, boil 3 cups of Water, Wash the China grass in a colander to remove traces of preservatives. Add this to the boiling water, wait till it melts completely. At this point add the sugar and the cardamom powder and keep stirring until the sugar dissolves. Once it dissolves run a test

Test : Take some cold water in a small cup and add a teaspoon of the boiling agar agar syrup to it. If it stands means its done). Switch off the flame.

Take a deep plate and grease it with ghee, Pour the concoction. Once it is completely poures garnish with the dryfruits. Allow it to come to room temperature. Cool in the refrigerator (DO NOT PLACE IN DEEP FREEZER) for about an hour and cut it into squares or diamonds after it becomes solid and enjoy.

Serving Instructions
Pour the mixture into small ice cream cups or glass bowls leave it in the vessel itself.

Place the cups/bowls in the refrigerator, in about an hour, you can eat the halwa from the cups directly.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF LIFE

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR THE OVER 35 YEARS OLD :)[life span is unpredictable these days even a 25 yrs old is at risk of kicking the bucket:) ...] 1. Focus on enjoying people, not on indulging in or accumulating material things.2. Plan to spend whatever you have saved. You deserve to enjoy it and thefew healthy years you have left. Travel if you can afford it. Don't leaveanything for your children or loved ones to quarrel about. By leavinganything, you may even cause more trouble when you are gone.3. Live in the here and now, not in the yesterdays and tomorrows. It is onlytoday that you can handle. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may not even happen.4. Enjoy your grandchildren (if you are above 60 and blessed with any) but don'tBE THEIR full time baby sitter. You have no moral obligation to take care of them.!Don't have any guilt about refusing to baby sit anyone's kids, includingyour own grandkids. Your parental obligation is to your children. After youhave raised them into responsible adults, your duties of child-rearing andbabysitting are finished. Let your children raise their own off-springs.5. Accept physical weakness, sickness and other physical pains. It is a partof the aging process. Enjoy whatever your health can allow.6. Enjoy what you are and what you have right now. Stop working hard forwhat you do not have. If you do not have them, it's probably too late.7. Just enjoy your life with your spouse, children, grandchildren andfriends. People, who truly love you, who love you for yourself, not for whatyou have. Anyone who loves you for what you have will just give you misery.8. Forgive and accept forgiveness. Forgive yourself and others. Enjoy peaceof mind and peace of soul.9. Befriend death. It's a natural part of the life cycle. Don't be afraid ofit. Death is the beginning of a new and better life. So, prepare yourselfnot for death but for a new life with the Almighty.
ALWAYS BE HAPPY AND KEEP SMILING

VADU MAANGA OR MAAVADU (TENDER MANGO PICKLE)

VADU MAANGA OR MAAVADU (TENDER MANGO PICKLE)
The Vadu Maanga also known as Maavadu in some households is usually prepared at the beginning of the raw mango season. The young baby mango is plucked and pickled as a whole without chopping it. Since the mango is still young it is very tender and once soaked in the spices, entirely absorbs it and starts leaving its own sour liquids into the spices, all this gets suffused and thus we get our famous south Indian pickle the vadu maanga, which tastes divine with curd rice and the water that oozes out of the mango over a period of time mixed with the spices taste so heavenly that u can mix it with rice and some oil and just have it, its absolutely mouth-watering. This pickle is literally oil free except for the 1tbsp oil, if you want you can avoid adding the oil completely.

Ingredients

Young Green mangoes – 20-25 pieces.
Mustard seeds - 8 tsp
Red chillies – 8-10 (please use chilly as per spice required)
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Salt - 1/2 cup
1 tbsp of cooking oil.

Method

Wash the young green mangoes, pat dry. Take a porcelain or glass pickle jar or Oorghai Bharani. Put the mangoes in it and a handful of crystalline salt. Keep doing this in layers. One layer of mangoes topped with salt and so on and so forth. Keep the pickle jar closed and shake it twice a day, so that the salt and mangoes mix well. After 2-3 days you will see that the mangoes have shrunk in size or the salt has acted upon the mangoes and made it tender.

Dry Roast the mustard seeds, take a little cooking oil and roast the red chillies till it becomes plump. This removes the raw smell of the red chillies and also gives it a better color. Now grind the mustard seeds, crystalline salt, red chillies and turmeric powder into a thick paste. Mix this paste with the mangoes. Remove from jar and put in an open vessel so that the paste can be thoroughly mixed with the mangoes. Now transfer the mangoes with the masala mixed into the pickle jar. Heat one tbsp oil and allow to cool. Pour this oil on top and close the lid.

For the next 2-3 days shake the mangoes well once every day. Store in air tight containers in refrigerator. This will last for about one year.

Tip: The use of crystalline salt (kallu uppu) is advised as iodized salt darkens the pickle.

WATER THERAPY - CURE AILMENTS BY DRINKING WATER

WATER THERAPY

It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven its value. We publish below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for the following diseases:

Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.

METHOD OF TREATMENT

1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water

2. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minutes

3. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.

4. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours

5. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water at the beginning may commence by taking little water and gradually increase it to 4 glasses per day.

6. The above method of treatment will cure diseases of the sick and others can enjoy a healthy life.

The following list gives the number of days of treatment required to cure/control/reduce main diseases:

1. High Blood Pressure - 30 days

2. Gastric - 10 days

3. Diabetes - 30 days

4. Constipation - 10 days

5. Cancer - 180 days

6. TB - 90 days

7. Arthritis patients should follow the above treatment only for 3 days in the 1st week, and from 2nd week onwards - daily.

This treatment method has no side effects, however at the commencement of treatment you may have to urinate a few times.

It is better if we continue this and make this procedure as a routine work in our life.

Drink Water and Stay healthy and Active.

This makes sense ... the Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals ..not cold water.

Maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating!!! Nothing to lose, everything to gain...

For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you

It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this "sludge" reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

AGAR AGAR JELLY

WHAT IS AGAR AGAR OR CHINA GRASS

Agar agar is a gelling agent made from a combination of algaes from the species gelidium. The name, agar agar, is Malaysian in origin, and the harvest of the long red and purple fronds goes back hundreds of years. The fronds are freeze dried and dehydrated naturally, producing colorless sheets which are shaped into bars. Agar is available in the traditional bars, flakes, and powder form, all of which can be used interchangeably for gelling purposes. Like the other sea vegetables, agar is a good source of iodine (100 grams agar has 160 milligrams of iodine), as well as some calcium and iron. It has no calories, and according to Paul Pitchford, promotes digestion and weight loss, treats hemorrhoids, and carries toxic and radioactive waste out of the body. It is cooling in nature, and reduces inflammations and other heat conditions as described in traditional Chinese medicine.

AGAR AGAR JELLY
Ingredients
5 g Agar Agar powder
100 g Sugar
500 g Water
1/2 tsp Almond extract / 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

Method
Put Agar Agar powder, sugar, and water in a saucepan and bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring often, until agar dissolves. Pour this mixture onto a plate. (The jelly layer shouldn’t be very thick if you pour onto a bigger plate the liquid will spread and give u thinner slices).Allow it too cool down and then chill in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes until set. Cut the agar agar jelly into cubes. You can cut it into diamond or square shapes as desired.

These cubes can be added to any desserts and enjoyed.

Quotes on Criticism and Praise

Quotes on Criticism and Praise
(These are Quotes that inspire and motivate me)

"The definition of success--To laugh much; to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one's self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition.; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived--this is to have succeeded." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to the end, requires some of the same courage which a soldier needs." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Criticism is an indirect form of self-boasting” - Emmet Fox

"Praise is like sunlight to the human spirit: we cannot flower and grow without it." - Jesse Lair

"What kind of man would live a life without daring? Is life so sweet that we should criticize men that seek adventure? Is there a better way to die?"- Charles Augustus Lindbergh

"Praise in public; criticize in private."- Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi The artist doesn't have time to listen to the critics. The ones who want to be writers read the reviews, the ones who want to write don't have time to read reviews.- William Faulkner (1897 - 1962)
"It is not the critic who counts. Not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause. Who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory or defeat".
- Theodore Roosevelt (1858 - 1919)

"Don’t criticize what you don’t understand, son. You never walked in that man’s shoes".
- Elvis Presley

"Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man’s growth without destroying his roots".
- Frank A. Clark

CHINESE GOLD COINS

CHINESE GOLD COINS
Ingredients
7-8 bread slices
1 cup noodles(cooked)
3-4 potatoes (boiled)
1 tsp sesame seeds (roasted)
½ tsp Ajino moto
1 tsp soya sauce
½ tsp vinegar
2 tbsp oil
Oil for frying

Method
Discard the sides of the bread and cut one circle from each bread slice with the help of a small bowl, so that all the circles will be uniform and perfectly rounded. Keep the circles aside.

In a wok, heat 2 tbsp oil and mix the boiled, peeled and mashed potatoes, cooked noodles, soya sauce, vinegar and ajino moto.

Mix well and cook over a medium flame for 2-3 minutes. Remove and cool.

On each bread “circle” place a portion of the prepared mixture.

Top with sesame seeds. Prepare all the circles in this way.

In a wok, heat oil to deep-fry the bread circles. When the oil is hot, put in it each bread circle. And fry for only a minute. Drain the excess oil on a kitchen towel and serve hot.

GODS PHARMACY

GOD'S PHARMACY !!! AMAZING !

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye...and YES science now shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has four chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows that grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet the body pulls it from the bones, making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Eggplant, Avocadoes and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? .... It takes exactly 9 months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the motility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm cells to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries

Grapefruits, Oranges , and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like body cells. Today's research shows that onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes.

BANANAS

Bananas
This is interesting. After Reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.
Bananas. Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet. EZrent.com
Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier. EZrent.com
PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
nemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke
Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert. EZrent.com
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system. EZrent.com
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady EZrent.com
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6,B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine,"eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"
PS Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time