Indian Cooking Challenge Rules and List to Choose

I am really overwhelmed with the response to the Indian Cooking Challenge event. To make it even more exciting and interesting, I have come with some rules. I hope these rules will help make it more interesting and something of a challenge to look forward. Suggestions and thoughts are most welcome!

The concept of Indian Cooking Challenge will work out like this.

Select a dish either sweet or savory.
Get a tried and tested recipe
Share it with members
Everybody cooks the dish and posts on their blog by the deadline.


Before getting on with the rules, lets talk about the list. For now I have about 35 different sweets and savories suggested by bloggers. Others are welcome to list out their choice too. Will be putting up a poll soon with the finalized list.


The Project Plan for Indian Cooking Challenge is as follows

Get the finalized list of items - Last Date is 17th June PST (EOD)
Polling on the choice of the month - Will end by 20th June PST
Announce the Choice of the dish - 22nd June
Get a foolproof recipe for the chosen dish - 24 - 25 June
Mail all the members the recipe - at the earliest by 27th or 28th.
First challenge will be for the month of July, which should be posted on the blogs by 28 - 29 July.

Other details:

Special cooking gadgets will be suggested along with the recipe.
Alternative ingredients will be suggested
We should be able to come up with an alternative for Vegan specific requirements. If its not possible, the member can be excused.
The recipe should mostly be given for 4 people or small servings.
Other references will be cited.


Indian Cooking Challenge Rules:

• Members cannot miss this event more than 2 times in a row.
• If somebody is not able to take part, it should be informed in prior.
• In their blog post, should explain in detail their experience while cooking the dish along with the verdict.
• Elaborate pictures if accompanying are most welcome.
• Should display the logo of Indian Cooking Challenge in their blog, along with a link back to the event announcement.
• Should leave the details in the ICC Blog under each challenge, that way members can visit the other member's blogs.
• The recipe details will be sent out to all members, and should be followed as per the details given, unless and until they cannot use or consume any of the ingredients listed.
• Like if the member is Vegan, they can substitute the ingredients needed for the recipe with a Vegan choice.
  
• Vegans do not eat -
  1. dairy (milk, paneer, ghee, butter, yogurt, cheese)
  2. Honey
  3. Eggs
  4. Of course any kind of meat
  5. Paneer water/whey
• Other items used for baking or related items can also be replaced with something different if need be.
  

I think that's about it, but will update once I get more. The logo is still not ready, will have it before we start.

Ok, the list for now

Update: wow its now 90 in total!!

7 cup sweet
Ada Pradhaman(Jaggery/Milk)
Adhirsam
Aethekka Appam (Banana Fritters)
Ari/Godhambu Halwa(Rice/Wheat Halwa)...Cereal
Ariselu / Athirasa,
Aval Vilayichathu
Aval(Red Rice Flakes)Nanchathu
Badhusha
Basundi
Besan Ladoo
Boondi Laddu
Boorelu.
Chakka Pradhaman
Chakka/Ethappazha Halwa(Jack Fruit/Banana Halwa)...Fruit
Cham Cham
Chandrakala
Chiroti
Choorma Ladoo
Coconut Ladoo
Dharwar Peda
Diamond Cuts
Ethakka(Raw Plaintain)Sarkarapuratti
Ethapazha(Banana) Pradhaman
Fried Ice-cream
Golden Jubilee
Gulab Jamun
Ilayappam
Jangiri
Jilebi
Kai Muruku
Kajjikaayalu
Kaju Katli
Kakinada Kaja.
Kala Jamun
Kalakand
Kalkandu Pongal
Kamarkat
Karappusa / Omapodi
Karha Parshad
Kasi Halwa
Kaza
Kesari Bath (with rice)
Kozhukattai
Lavang Latika
Malai Sandwich
Malpua
Manoharam
Milk Peda
Mishti Roi ( Sweet Yougurt )
Mohanthal
Murukku/ Chakralu
Mysore Pak
Narial Barfi
Nethram Appam
Neyyappam
Paal Peni
Palakayalu
Palakova
Parotta
Pathi Peni
Patishapta
Payesh - Kheer - Rice Pudding
Poornalu
Pootarekulu
Pori Urundai
Pudings
Pulli pitha/Dudh Puli (tiny coconut dumplings in sweetened milk)
Puran Poli
Rasagulla
Rasmalai
Rava Ladoo
Ribbon Pakoda
Rumaali Roti
Sandesh
Sohan Papdi
Soiyam
Suji Ladoo
Sunnundalu
Sweet Boli
Sweet seedai
Thenkuzhal
Thirattu Pal
Tirunelveli Halwa
Tokkudu Laddu
Unniyappam

Please update the comments section with your names that are missed in this post that you might want to try.

Looking forward to a great list in place that we all can enjoy!

Butter: Good Fat or Bad Fat?

People are often shocked when they see how much butter I use and eat in one day. But I know the real truth; Butter is a good fat and can actually help you lose weight.

Unfortunately, people thinking butter is unhealthy is a very common misconception. People still think that butter and saturated fats are the reason heart disease is one of the top killers in this country (and now in many other countries as well). The truth is that it’s not the natural fats that are causing this epidemic, its the sugar, processed and packaged foods and overconsumption of refined oils that are causing so much disease (and you can add Diabetes, High Cholesterol and High Blood Pressure to this list as well).

I go into this topic in much greater detail in the Fats Chapter of the Diet Solution Program but here are a few nuggets of info to ponder:

1. Did you know that during the 60 year period from 1910-1970, the proportion of traditional animal fat in the American diet declined from 83% to 62%?

2. During this same time butter consumption plummeted from 18 pounds per person each year to 4 pounds per person each year.

3. During the past 80 years, the consumption of dietary cholesterol intake has increased only one percent.

So where is the problem? Why all the heart disease?

1. During the same period, the average intake of dietary vegetable oils (margarine, shortening, and refined oils) increased by about 400%.

2. During the same period, the consumption of sugar and processed foods increased by about 60%

Those are the facts, but there’s never better proof than the results I see with my clients and my readers. When people finally stop eating margarine, refined oils, “fake” butters, sugar and processed foods, their health sky rockets! (and by sky rockets I mean, gets better, greatly improves, elevates to whole new levels). Not to mention all the body fat they lose off their body (now isn’t that just an awful side effect?)

It’s important to mention that the butter I use is organic and grass fed. It has this beautiful deep yellow color and is not white like most conventional butters. It has gone through minimal processing and has no added growth hormones and antibiotics. I get all my butter from http://www.grasslandmeats.com/

Now that I told you butter is ok to eat, here is a delicious chicken recipe you can enjoy:

(Please remember that the mad scientist in me sometimes forgets to document the exact amounts so you may need to play around with this a bit.)

Chicken with “I’m not afraid of butter” dressing
Ingredients:

2 large chicken breasts (approximately 1 lb of chicken)
6 Tbsp of melted butter
lemon juice from 1/2 large lemon
1/4 cup olive oil
salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste

Directions:

Melt 1 tbsp of butter in a large pan. Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Cook chicken breasts in butter covered on very low heat. Do not let the butter get brown. Pour lemon juice in a seperate bowl. Slowly stir in the remaining melted butter as you stir mixture. Then slowly add the olive oil as you stir mixture. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder.

Once the chicken is cooked through, served on a plate and pour the “dressing mixture” over your cooked chicken breasts.

Don’t be surprised if you are tempted to pour this dressing on your veggies and just about every other food item you can think of. It’s delicious!

Find out the real truth behind healthy fats and get started on your own fat loss goals right away with this free Weight Loss Guide.

Announcing Indian Cooking Challenge!

Growing up I always remember looking forward to all our traditional festivals and more so to the delicious dishes that are made for the occasion. Each festival has specific sweets and savories. And Amma goes all the nine yards to get them done. I have enjoyed so much being a part of the helping hand for her. Of course, I was the sole person enjoying all those treats before anybody gets to taste. Even now thinking of the fun, makes me get so nostalgic.

Over the years, this tradition was seen giving way to new ones. We then saw home cooks learning all the traditional dishes, who would come home and make for us. Those typical Kai Muruku, Badursha etc. Then came a period, when even getting a home cook making these seem a waste of energy. But the cycle repeats right. Amma now makes whatever she can at home, rest when I remember that I got to learn, I ask her to teach me. Like the Kaja, we all love that so much. We just stopped making them, as its so time consuming. But I loved the experience of making it all myself and finally recording it too.

I have had many readers ask for authentic recipes. I have sent Amma's recipes to them, saying though I haven't personally tried them, I have tasted the results and every time it turned out awesome. When I realized this, I was feeling funny that I had never taken up the challenge to make them myself.

I am sure many of you feel the same as I have felt. Many of you would love to learn the authentic dishes that our elders made. Would want our children enjoy these treats the same way as we did as kids. While I was asking Amma to teach me those treasured recipes, it struck me that I really don't know many of the traditional festival food. I would love to learn them, especially in my current hectic schedule, I may not be inspired enough to take up the task. But throw a challenge, then I all for it.

Naturally I thought so would many of you. You all must be having your family treasured recipes that you have not made yourself yet. I know making those authentic forgotten dishes, learning them would surely spice our life enough! Don't you agree?

Come join us if you are game for it!

This event is going to be called Indian Cooking Challenge! and below is the logo

Indian Cooking Challenge Rules:

• Members cannot miss this event more than 2 times in a row.
• If somebody is not able to take part, it should be informed in prior.
• In their blog post, should explain in detail their experience while cooking the dish along with the verdict.
• Elaborate pictures if accompanying are most welcome.
• Should display the logo of Indian Cooking Challenge in their blog, along with a link back to the event announcement.
• Should leave the details in the ICC Blog under each challenge, that way members can visit the other member's blogs.
• The recipe details will be sent out to all members, and should be followed as per the details given, unless and until they cannot use or consume any of the ingredients listed.
• Like if the member is Vegan, they can substitute the ingredients needed for the recipe with a Vegan choice.
  
• Vegans do not eat -
  1. dairy (milk, paneer, ghee, butter, yogurt, cheese)
  2. Honey
  3. Eggs
  4. Of course any kind of meat
  5. Paneer water/whey
• Other items used for baking or related items can also be replaced with something different if need be.

The posting date is 15th of every month!
Other details:

• Special cooking gadgets will be suggested along with the recipe.
• Alternative ingredients will be suggested
• We should be able to come up with an alternative for Vegan specific requirements. If its not possible, the member can be excused.
• The recipe should mostly be given for 4 people or small servings.
• Other references will be cited.

The members will be choosing an authentic recipe to work out for the month. A Tried and tested recipe will be given to the members and they will have to try it out and post it end of the month.

Yeah yeah, you can say I got inspired by the Daring Bakers group! But I wanted it to be based on an Indian theme, hence trying out our Indian authentic dishes!

Please confirm in the comment section your interest to be part of this event. I am still working on the list of recipes and once I have the members, hopefully I should be able to get a comprehensive one which will be challenging. Your ideas are most welcome, so please share them.

Those interested to contribute to the list of dishes that are complex in your cuisine, kindly list them out in the comment section. I will take a complete list and put it for polling!

Expecting your enthusiast participation!

Update: Those interested to join this group, please read through the rules and leave your email id for me to contact you. Without email ids, its very difficult for me to communicate!

Appey or Paniyaram with Jowar Flour ~ a quick and simple breakfast for Diabetics!

Its really amazing how you can stretch your mind to think of interesting, yet healthy dishes for all your meals. When I decided to take up the challenge of cooking up dishes for Diabetics, I knew one has to be very resourceful and imaginative. Afterall you can't use most ingredients that you normally take for granted. I am still in discussion with Dad on the next article on diabetes. Though I have the notes ready, I wanted to discuss it with him again before publishing it. The next article was more on managing diabetes and dietary aspects of the condition.

Coming to the dish, appeys or Kuli Panniyams are most done with Rice batter. Mostly its done with the left over batter, but I have known my Amma making it always with a fresh one. The seasoning adds all the essential kicks you might want for a breakfast. Dipping it in a coconut chutney or groundnut chutney is enough to take you to heights! You can check out my Guntha Ponganalu if you want to know the regular way.

But having decided Athamma doesn't want a breakfast with rice, Jower flour seem the next best option. And yes making them as either Rotis or Dosas are so routine too. The appey pan was calling us and we couldn't ignore it right!

Since coconut chutney or groundnut chutney was no no for a Diabetic, I made these quick fatafat Tomato Chutney and Mango Relish. Athamma was crowing ahha hhah..after even the first bite!

Makes : 16 appeys.
Ingredients Needed:

Jower flour - 1 cup
Salt to taste
Onions - 1 medium
Green chilies - 1 long
Bengal gram - 1 tsp
Curry leaves few
Oil - 2 tsp

Method to prepare:

Heat a pan with little oil, gently sauté the chopped onions, including all the other ingredients expect the jower flour.

Take the flour in a bowl, mix salt and slowly add water and mix well to get a dropping consistency. Add the other ingredients that are sautéed. Mix well. Allow it to rest for 10 -15 minutes. This way it becomes little more soft when its getting cooked.

Heat the appey pan and put it medium flame. Take a spoonful of the batter and drop into each hole, sprinkle little oil over the top. Cover with lid and cook for 2 -3 mints.

Once its done, turn it to the other side and cook till its done. It takes about 5 - 6 minutes for the entire batch to be done.

Serve this with your choice of relish, I did with Tomato Chutney, a quick one at that. Will be posting it shortly!

Being a Parent!

I know most of you must have cracked this equation. I am still at it. I am still taking baby steps towards being the perfect parent. Well is there a state called the perfect Parent? Obviously not, we always have only one set of parents and there can't be comparisons. But I guess each of us end up comparing our parents with our friends. And there will always be cases where one goes up or comes down in esteem. I may have done it and I have seen my daughter doing it on me, whether she knows the effects or not.

The other day I saw a very young girl walking down with even petite baby on hand. The first thought that struck was, is that baby hers? Then I rationalized that it obviously must be. What followed my thought process next were, is that young girl really matured enough to bring up a child? Forget about material and monetary aspect, is she physically and mental equipped for the role?

Bang came the next thought, was I really ready when I had my first child? Does one really undergo some kind of training to bring up their children? Do our parents really teach us how too. I really don't think so. We just do things by instinct some by observation, some by experience So when this was how things are, how did I even doubt that that young girl may not be able to take care of the baby, if it was hers.

Life is a great teacher, every moment teaches us something. And our children are even more greater teachers. They teach us patience, with their tantrums and mischief's, makes us realize how we must have troubled our parents. That makes our parents grow even more fonder. When we think we know all, they spring something new to make us realize that there is still a whole lot to learn!

If there ever was a something to teach you how to crack being the perfect parent, I would want to learn. Till then let me continue to be this imperfect parent, still trying to learn to give my best shot!

Random Activities!

My kids are always fascinated with the crows that come to play with them. Chinnu is seen feeding them with food!

He threw it around and came back running. So many of them came on to the ground to eat!

Tired after a night out with the bottle!...that's peddu with his bottle!

And this of course Chinnu trying to catch that!

I enjoy clicking such pictures, reminds me of so many wonderful things when I look back at them. Hoping to have something on these Random Clicks that will for ever remain fresh! Will come back soon with the thought!

Diagnosing Diabetes!

Diabetes is diagnosed either by suspicion by the patient or the Doctor, when the following signs and symptoms are noticed.

Clinically it is suspected when there are some signs and symptoms noticed either by the patient or by the Doctor. As mentioned in the earlier articles, it can be a typical symptoms like Poly urea (frequent urination), Poly phasia (frequent hunger) or Poly dypsia (Excessive thirst). Or other symptoms or signs like Weight loss or gain, Fungal infections especially in the genitalia, teeth infections, non healing wounds etc.

It is also diagnosed accidentally or incidentally when a person undergoes pre employment health check, periodically check like annual check, check up before undergoing any operation or even during taking a policy.

During any health check, if the HbA1c (Glycosylated haemoglobin) is found to be more than 7 %, it indicates the person to be diabetic.

Confirmation of diabetes is always by Blood Test. The test is called Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) . The test can be explained as follows

The person is asked to have a normal meal in the previous night, and asked to attend the hospital in the morning (on empty stomach) . Whereupon the Fasting Blood sample and Urine sample is taken.

The patient is given 75 gms of glucose. Every half an hour, blood and Urine samples are drawn and examined.

If the 1 & 1/2 hr blood sample is more than 180 mgs/dl (deci liter), the patient is pronounced to be a diabetic. The threshold level of blood sugar in normal kidneys is 180 mgs/dl and when the blood sugar is more than 180 mgs/dl, the glucose passes through the kidney and appears in the urine.

The normal blood glucose in fasting should be between 70 - 110 mgs/dl.
Post prandial (after food) blood glucose should be below 140 mgs/dl

When Post prandial is between 140 - 180 mgs/dl, the stage is considered to be glucose intolerance or Pre diabetes stage.

When Post prandial is more than 180 mgs/dl, it is considered to be Frank diabetes or overt diabetes.

These Pre diabetes group of people have great potential to become diabetic and have great scope for post phoning the occurrence by taking advise from doctors and also following the diet discipline, exercise etc

We shall cover the areas in the coming weeks

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Source: Written for Spice your Life, by Dr. Nagarathnam Jetti, MBBS,DPH,DIH,FIAOH.