Indian Delicacies – Most delicious form of dessert

I wonder how a meal can be complete without sweets. Indian sweets also known as mithai are the most delicious form of dessert items in India. Sweets hold a different traditional significance in Indian culture. On Diwali, one of the biggest and auspicious festival of India, People meet each other and distribute sweets to their closed one .It signifies happiness and prosperity. Not just diwali but at all other important festivals or happy occasions, distribution of sweets are made sure. When marriage ceremonies takes place, the first thing done to express the joy is sharing of sweets. It’s considered that starting such occasion with sweet will bring sweetness in the lives of the new couple all lifelong. There are different types of sweets.Those vary in shape as well as taste. Few of them can be easily made at home and rest can be bought from the online store. Most of the sweets are made with milk and milk products .So you never have to think twice about your health and diet as well before having any Indian dessert. I am going to share few of the recipes which you can find being made 365 days at every home in India. Western Indian sweet named as shrikhand is made from yogurt and can be very easily prepared at home. So I would like to share the recipe here. Ingredients used:

• Yogurt-2 kgs
• Saffron – 7-8 strands
• Milk – 2 tablespoon
• Almonds – ¼ cup
• Sugar – to taste
• Green cardamom powder – 1 ¼ teaspoon

Preparation:

1. Hang yogurt in a muslin cloth, in a refrigerator until all the liquid from the yogurt has drained off. (Approximately three hours.).
2. Dissolve saffron in warm milk and set aside.
3.  Blanch almonds, cool and cut into slivers.
4. Mix together the hung curds, sugar, saffron mixture and cardamom in a bowl and churn using a hand blender. For every cup of thick yogurt, add three fourth cup of sugar.
5. Mix well and transfer to a glass bowl and refrigerate till cold.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="590"] For hygienic and healthy Indian desserts trust only www.indianity.com[/caption] Kheer also known as Payasam is a rice pudding which is the favorite dessert in south India.It is made with rice and milk. Again a very simple and healthy recipe which is easily made at home. Ingredients used:

• 1/4th cup long grain rice (washed and drained)
• 2-3 crushed cardamom seeds
• 2 tbsp almonds
• A pinch of saffron threads
• 2-3 tbsp sugar or as desired
• 1 tbsp raisins (optional)

Preparation:

1. Put the rice, milk and cardamom in a pan, bring to boil and simmer gently until the rice is soft and the grains are starting to break up.
2. Add almonds, pistachio, saffron and raisins and simmer for 3-4 minutes.
3. Add the sugar and stir until completely dissolved.
4. Remove the rice kheer from heat and serve either warm or chilled.

“Gajar ka halwa” made form carrot which is made in almost every Indian house during winters. Having hot halwa during winters not just makes you feel relaxed but also is healthy is so many ways as it’s made of carrot and milk.Ingredients used:

• 1 Kg carrot
• 1 Liter milk
• 2 tbsp almonds, rasins and pista
• ¾ Cup Water
• 3 tbsp ghee
• 450 grams sugar

Preparation:

1. Wash and grate the carrots. Soak the raisins in water for 30 minutes. Blanch and shred the nuts.
2. Put the water to boil, when it starts boiling add the grated carrots. Cook for 5-7 minutes.
3. Add the milk. Cook on a low flame for 1 hour stirring occasionally. Add sugar, mix well and cook till the sugar has dissolved and all the milk has been absorbed.
4. Add ghee and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Add the slightly crushed cardamoms and the raisins. Mix well.
5. Remove the gajar halwa from heat and arrange in a serving dish. Garnish with almonds and pistachios. Serve cold, hot or at room temperature.

No matter which part of India it is, Sweets with different varieties and specialties of each region are found everywhere. Indian meal is always incomplete without these sweets. No matter where you are, you can taste these sweets delicacies by ordering online. For checking out few of them log on to www.indianity.com .

Types of Tea and Their Health Benefits

I love Tea and there are feel good reasons behind it. I personally prefer “Tulsi Tea” because I love the aroma of it. Holding a cup of tea mug itself starts cooling my mind. Relaxed and light I feel after having it. Tea is hydrating to the body. Apart from relaxation there are various other health benefits found out. Nutritionists agree any tea is good tea. Tea is a great alternative to coffee drinking. It has much lower caffeine as compared to coffee.
Green Tea, Black Tea, White Tea, and Oolong Tea - They are all derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, a shrub native to China and India, and contain unique antioxidants called flavonoids. They help against free radicals that can contribute to cancer, heart disease, and clogged arteries.
Green Tea:
You can find a packet of green tea in the store. Just 2 minutes of boiling is required to enjoy the tea and numerous health benefits of it. It is made from the same tea leaves. The difference is Green tea does not go through a fermenting process. Instead the leaves are dried.
How to prepare Green Tea : Heat 1 cup of water in a vessel or kettle.When the water boils switch off the stove and add the leaves to it and let it be there for few minutes (3 to 4 mins).Now filter it and add sugar or honey to your taste.
Benefits of Green Tea:

1. Green Tea Act as antioxidants thus it lowers the Risk of Cancer.
2. Green tea helps in cutting down calories and fighting fat.
3. It prevents Tooth Decay
4. It improves Blood circulation and reduces stress.
5. It Increases in metabolic rate.
6. Green tea has been found to improve bone mineral density and strength.
7. It holds Anti Cancer properties.

Black Tea:
Black tea is made from the tea leaves. The leaves are completely fermented after they have been dried. Fermentation typically refers to the chemical breakdown of the substance by bacteria, yeast or other microorganisms. It is most oxidized in comparison to green, white and oolong tea which makes it stronger in flavor.
Benefits of Black Tea:

1. According to Boston University, Black Tea reverses the dysfunction of coronary artery disease.
2. Without sweeteners, it is free of calories, fats, proteins.
3. It was also derived that black tea reduces the incorporation of cholesterol.
4. Research indicates that black tea aids in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

White Tea:
White Tea is lightly oxidized tea grown in china. White Tea Process is simple. Withering is done to fresh tea leaves. And then drying is done .Drying can be air or solar or mechanical.
Benefits of White Tea:

1. White tea reduces the severity of strokes.
2. As it contains high level of catechins, it prevents cancer.
3. White tea contains the most Antioxidants which reduces cholesterol, decreases blood pressure and improves the function of blood pressure.
4. According to Kingston University, white tea has high anti inflammatory,antioxidant and anti-collagenase and anti-elastase properties which reduce the risks of developing Arthritis , Some cancers and heart diseases. 
   

 

Oolong Tea:
Oolong Tea can be consumed directly after production. However it is preferred to let it go for aging to make it gentler on stomach. The health benefits of Oolong Tea are similar to that of Green Tea. The degree of Oxidation cuts down a little benefits of Oolong Tea if compared to Green Tea as Green Tea is pure natural.
Benefits of Oolong Tea:

1. Tooth Decay, Digestive Disorder, Fat Burning, Reducing cholesterol is the common benefits of green tea.
2. These results indicate that after consuming oolong tea you will expend more energy than if you were to drink green tea or water and that it can last up to two hours.
3. The caffeine and EGCG content was much higher in the green tea versus the oolong tea.

 

Watch out if you over do it. Overdoing it could lead to weak bones over time, and this is caused by the fluoride in the tea. Everything in limit is health.
To buy the natural Indian Organic Tea Online, You can Log on to www.indianity.com .

Indian Food – Health at its best

I am a big Foodie and I really eat like a cow. I love trying out different things at different places. New place with new cuisine. After looking at my diet people wonder how I maintain my weight.  But one thing I have known is no matter how much you eat, if you eat healthy, it won’t cost your body and weight.


As I live in India, I must say I am lucky in case of food. Indian food is considered to be the healthiest among all. As I live in northern India, start of your day with “Poha” which is nothing but an appetizer which is calories free, oil free and full of iron.

I would like to share the receipe.You don’t need much things to prepare it and time required is 5 minutes. I love it also because it takes not more than 5 minutes to get ready to activate my taste buds :) .

So all you need here is: 2 cups poha (flattened rice) , 2 tablespoon cooking oil , 1 tablespoon mustard seed , 2 green chilies , 6 to 7 curry leaves , 1 chopped onion , Pinch of turmeric powder , Salt to taste ,Chopped coriander to garnish. Preparation: Wash Poha under running water and keep it aside to drain. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, curry leaves and green chilies. Fry till the spluttering stops and add onion to it. You can add peanut as well. I don’t add because it has loads of calories. When the onion gets soft, add poha to it after completely draining water to it.  Add turmeric powder and salt and cover the lid for 2 minutes. Poha is ready. Garnish with chopped green coriander.
 


Main course which comprises of “wheat chapatti” and “pulses or fresh vegetable” are the best you could consider having an energized food with low cholesterol.Including Grain in your deal is very important as it has its own advantages.Wheat has calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc, but you can count on getting 3 to 9 percent of the recommended daily intake of all four nutrients from just one wheat chapatti. One chapatti has got 3-5 grams of fiber.  Grains are a good source of energy-providing thiamine, niacin and riboflavin.

 


Chapattis are made from the firm dough made from flour. Small portions of dough are rolled using a rolling pin. The rolled out dough is put of pre heated flat pan and cooked from both the sides. It blows up like a balloon when half is heated on high flame.
 


Pulses are a part of food grains and generally include food such as peanuts, beans etc. I will write a post especially on pulses as it has numerous advantages and benefits a lot. Pulses are a good source of protein, fiber and essential nutrients, making them a healthy addition to your diet. Using these pulses with Indian recipes will keep it oil free and give the natural benefit. In India you get different types of pulses which is unique in terms of health benefits in its own way.
 


In India, every pulse is made by boiling and using tomato and onion mix with adding simple spice to it. What else you desire, health food with good mouthwatering taste.

 



And your meal is ready :) :)  .
 


 To have a look at various Indian pulses, food grains, Indian Spices, You can log on to www.indianity.com .

What is the best cooking oil for you?

These days with increase in so many diseases around, I have become really cautious about the food I prepare for the betterment of my family. I have preferred butter over oil in most of the places I can but in case of frying I needed to decide the right oil for the health benefits.
Oil is one thing I have always been wondering that which one to choose. As oil leads to heart diseases and blood pressure problem, I spoke to many cardiologists and did some research by myself to have a general idea about it. Would like to share here.





All the food sources we think of fats including oil are made up of fatty acids.
These fatty acids have specific chemical shapes that affect both how the fat performs in cooking (or baking) and how the fat affects your health. These chemical shapes generally are classified as

• Saturated - A diet high in saturated fat has been linked with elevated cholesterol levels and increased risk for heart disease, so it’s best to limit use of them.( They’re solid at room temperature. )
• Polyunsaturated - When used in place of saturated fats, polyunsaturated fats can help to improve blood cholesterol levels, thereby reducing risk for heart disease. “Omega-6” and “omega-3” are other terms used to describe specific types of polyunsaturated oils. Although both omega-6 and omega-3 fats are essential for good health, omega-3s also have additional heart-health and anti-inflammatory benefits.( They’re always liquid—even if you put them in the fridge.)
• Monounsaturated - When substituted for saturated fats, monounsaturated fats can help to improve blood cholesterol levels, thereby reducing risk for heart disease.( They’re liquid at room temperature but become semi-solid (or cloudy) in the refrigerator)

All fats contain all three types but are classified by the type of fatty acid that makes up most of the fat.
Oil when heated gets converted into Oxidized oil – Damaging your health
Anytime you cook a food, you run the risk of creating heat-induced damage. The oils you choose to cook with must be stable enough to resist chemical changes when heated to high temperatures, or you run the risk of damaging your health. One of the ways vegetable oils can inflict damage is by converting your good cholesterol into bad cholesterol—by oxidizing it.  As the oil is heated and mixed with oxygen, it goes rancid. Rancid oil is oxidized oil and should NOT be consumed—it leads directly to vascular disease.


 


Only one cooking oil that doesn’t react with the Heat – Coconut Oil
This is why I constantly recommend avoiding all vegetable cooking oils, such as canola-, corn-, or soy oil, and replacing them with organic coconut oil, which remains stable and does not oxidize at higher temperatures. – By Dr. Mercola .Though coconut has the highest amount of saturated fat among all the edible oil but it is not the cause for heart disease.



Olive Oil is portrayed to be healthiest but not in case of cooking. Olive oil is primarily a monounsaturated fat, which means it has one double bond in its fatty acidity structure. Although a monounsaturated fat is naturally more stable than a polyunsaturated fat, the overabundance of oleic acidity in olive oil creates an discrepancy that has been associated with increased risk for breast cancers and cardiovascular disease.


Important things need to know
Extra-virgin and virgin olive oils are processed by crushing olives into a mash, which is pressed to extract the oil (this is called the first press) without the use of heat (called cold pressing). Extra-virgin oils are of higher quality, as the olives used to make them are processed within 24 hours of picking—the longer olives go between picking and processing, the higher their free fatty acid content (extra-virgin olive oil can have up to 0.8 percent, virgin oils 2 percent). Extra-virgin oils also have more polyphenols than virgin oils.
 

Pure olive oil or simply olive oil are below extra-virgin and virgin standards and are heavily processed to remove off flavors and aromas. Though the oil still is a source of monounsaturated fat, its been stripped of healthful polyphenols.
“Light,” “lite” and “extra-light” are purely marketing terms used on highly refined oils that refer to mild flavor and/or color, not reduced calorie content.


You can have a look at various pure Organic oils from India at www.indianity.com .

Healthy food for your breakfast

Mom was right when she said morning food is the most essential food of the day. But what you select for morning food can do or die your day.

Being a health conscious person, I have taken a record of all such options that help me have a healthy diet which is full of energy and filling as well. Muesli/Oatmeal: Make your own muesli by toasting some oatmeal, then adding seeds, almonds and fruits as preferred. Piece of bananas on top, blueberries and add on some yogurt. This high fiber option will keep you full until the afternoon meal and the nutritional value resulting from the seeds, almonds and fruits will do all sorts of good. Majority of folks in the Publication of Nourishment revealed that eating a morning meal made with "slow-release" carbohydrates—such as oats or wheat bran cereal—3 time before you work out may help you get rid of more fat.

 


Smoothie: how about shooting lots of charming fruits up into a shake, which you could consume on the way to work? Drinks are far more stuffing than you might think about and allow you to be really innovative. Research with taste blends, slim out a little with water, dairy products, fruit juice or low-fat yogurt and appreciate.


Food rich in proteins: Excellent sources of protein, which can be incorporated into the breakfast meal are eggs, fish, nuts seeds, Yoghurt. Eggs are a particularly rich source of choline (B vitamin), which the body converts into acetyl-choline, a neurotransmitter found in the brain. Whey protein (a type of protein found naturally in yogurt and other dairy) packed on 42 percent less weight and nearly a third less body fat.  The whey eaters also gained 7 percent more lean body mass.

 


Raspberries: A cup of raspberries provides a huge 8 grms of roughage. What's so great about all that fiber? Latest analysis in the Publication of Nourishment indicates consuming more fiber as a way to avoid excess body weight or even motivate weight-loss. The scientists discovered that enhancing roughage by 8 grms for every 1,000 calorie consumption led to about 4 ½ weight of bodyweight missing.

 


Peanut butter: Peanut butter was also among the top 5 meals that Harward scientists said enhance weight-loss. I really like to smooth a tbsp or two of peanut butter onto whole-wheat toasted bread a "slow-release" carbohydrate, but you could also add nuts to your oats another "slow-release" carbohydrate.

 


Flaxseeds: Sprinkle flaxseeds on yogurt, oatmeal or blend in your morning smoothie or muffin batter. This high power seeds adds extras omega-3 fat, fiber and protein.

 


Whole Grain cereal: A bowl of whole grain cereal and low-fat or skim milk takes only minutes to put together. While cereals have been verified recently for its glucose material, there are healthy choices out there. Check the component details and nutrition-facts brands and look for cereals products that have at least 3 grms of fiber and 6 grms or less of glucose per providing. Also, select cereals products that are made with whole grain and that have glucose low on the record.


 

But choose your morning meal smartly. It is always a better idea to go for home-made food than the packed morning meal foods available today. You need not go by elegant titles but our own upama, pohe, chapatti, milk products, and other milk products work fabulously well when included to morning meal. So when are you starting to add energy to your life! It’s worth it!

Log on to www.indianity.com to get the healthy organic products online.