Akshaya Tritiya 2021

Ved Vyas ji narrated and Lord Ganesha wrote the great epic Mahabharat. 

Sanskrit word Akshay is made from two words- a (not) and kshaya (diminish), which means 'never diminishing'. people belief, those who offer prayers on this day achieves what they deserve.

The mango season has started : 

Benefits of mango :

Mango is low in calories yet high in nutrients — particularly vitamin C, which aids immunity, iron absorption and growth and repair.

High in Antioxidants. ...

Boost Immunity. ...

Support Heart Health....

improve Digestive Health...

Support Eye Health.....

Improve Hair and Skin Health..

Celebrate Akshaya Tritiya with Delicious Mango Recipe :

Rippled mango popsicles

INGREDIENTS :

Mango ice cream:

2 whole mangoes

400gm double cream

3 cups fresh milk

½ cup caster sugar

Vanilla ice cream:

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup whole milk

½ cup sugar

1 vanilla bean pod, split in half lengthwise

¾ teaspoon vanilla extract

Pinch salt

Note: you can use store bought vanilla ice cream for this recipe if you prefer.

METHOD

Mango ice cream:

1. Remove the mango flesh from the fruit and place into a blender with the remaining ingredients.

2. Puree until smooth (about a minute) and then chill in the freezer in a large plastic container with a lid.

3. After one hour, remove from the freezer and stir, and then return to the freezer for another four hours or until set.

Vanilla ice cream:

1. Pour one cup of cream into a medium saucepan, and add the sugar and salt. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean pod into the saucepan, and add the pod to the pot. Warm over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.

2. Remove from the heat. Add the remaining one cup of cream, milk and the vanilla extract. Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator.

3. Once mixture is chilled and ready to churn, remove the vanilla bean and then freeze the mixture in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Assembly:

1. To make the popsicles, use a teaspoon to place the first layer of mango ice cream on the bottom. Return to the freezer to set slightly (for one hour), then spoon in a layer of vanilla. Allow the vanilla layer to set before filling up the rest with more mango. Insert a paddle pop stick into the centre of the ice cream, then freeze overnight for best results.

2. Dip the popsicles in warm water to remove them from the molds and serve.

Mothers, the beautiful creation, are an integral part of our lives. Mother's love throughout the life remains unconditional and she stands by our side like strong pillar.

Mother's Day is an occasion which is celebrated in various parts of the world to express respect, honor, and love towards mothers. The day is an event to honor the contribution of mothers, acknowledge the efforts of maternal bonds and the role of mothers in our society.

Kids Celebrate Mother's Day : Prepare soup and Mint chocolate parfait for your lovely Mom.

Roasted garlic and tomato soup

INGREDIENTS

1.2kg field tomatoes, quartered

2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra to serve

1 tbsp  vinegar

1 cup Vegetable stock

1/4 cup tarragon sprigs, plus extra leaves to serve (optional)

1 whole garlic bulb

 5/6  Basil leaves or Tulsi leaves.

1/2 cup shaved parmesan

Baguette  or 4 slices of  Brown Bread .

RECIPE METHOD

Step 1

Preheat oven to 180°C or 160°C fan. Place tomato in a small roasting pan. Drizzle over vinegar and 1 tablespoon oil. Season. Top with tarragon. Place garlic bulb in 1 corner of pan. Bake for 30 mins or until garlic is soft.

Step 2

Remove garlic from pan and cool slightly. Transfer tomato and juices to a large saucepan. Squeeze garlic from skins into the saucepan. Add stock. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 mins. Add basil or Tulsi leaves. Blend with a stick blender until smooth. Season.

Step 3

Meanwhile, place the baguette or brown bread slices on a baking tray. Drizzle over the remaining oil and bake for 5 mins or until lightly toasted. Spread the pesto over the hot toasts and top with the parmesan.

Step 4

Ladle the soup into bowls. Top with extra oil and tarragon. Season with pepper. Serve with the toasts.

Mint chocolate parfait

INGREDIENTS

1 x 100g pkt Petite Chocolate Meringues, coarsely crushed

8 scoops chocolate ice-cream

Ice Magic Chocolate Topping, to serve

2 x 35g pkts Nestle Peppermint Crisp bars, crumbled, to serve

Select all ingredients

Step 1

Divide the meringue among eight 250ml (1-cup) capacity serving glasses.

Step 2

Divide the ice-cream among the glasses. Drizzle over the topping and top with Peppermint Crisp to serve.

A hint of mint makes this ice-cold chocolate treat extra refreshing.

Mother's day special recipe  : For Mom.

Pretty vanilla-bean cupcakes

INGREDIENTS

250g butter, softened

2 cups (400g) caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla bean paste

4 eggs

3 cups (450g) plain flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 cup (250ml) milk

Liquid food colouring, to decorate

Icing flowers, to decorate

Sprinkles, to decorate

BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

200g butter, softened

1kg icing sugar mixture

1/2 cup (125ml) milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Select all ingredients

Step 1

Preheat oven to 180°C. Line twenty-four 1/3-cup (80ml) capacity muffin pans with paper cases.

Step 2

Use an electric mixer to beat the butter, sugar and vanilla bean paste until pale and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well between each addition. Add the flour, baking powder and milk, in alternate batches, and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined.

Step 3

Spoon mixture evenly among the lined pans and smooth the surface. Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 4

To make the buttercream frosting, use an electric mixer to beat the butter until very pale. Gradually add the icing sugar, beating well between each addition. Add the milk and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.

Step 5

Divide the icing among bowls and tint with food colouring. Use a round-bladed knife or pallet knife to spread icing over each cake. Decorate with icing flowers and sprinkles, if desired.

The Importance of Neem Plants and Homamade Neem Churna.

Neem is a wonder plant, don’t you agree? From contributing to hale and hearty health to bringing in opulence and joy, the plant is popular for varied reasons. When the benefits are these many, it does call for a celebration, right? This is why the onset of Chaitra paves the way for the festivities to roll in. Marking the beginning is ‘Neem Day.’ Also popular as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, the first day of Chaitra is reckoned truly auspicious.

Neem is one ideal for curing bacterial diseases, asthma, ulcers, diabetes, leprosy and malaria. It also improves blood circulation and maintains oral hygiene and health. Apart from this it may also be used as a contraceptive in certain cases.  We know Health benefits of eating neem leaves and using neem oil, powder and tablets.

Health Benefits of Neem: Ayurveda

1.Neem Contains antibacterial Properties.

2. Cotrol our diabetes.

3. Helps to cure Athma.

4. Helps to cure Leprosy.

5. Helps to maintain oral Hygiene and health.

6. Helps to Increase blood circulation.

7. Helps to maintain our detal problems.

8. Remove Dandruff.

9. Helps to treats our skin problem.

10. Helps to relax our tired eyes.

11. Anticeptic solution.

In the current covid Pandemic situation we must take care of ourselves and family members. Stay safe at home. 

 Ayurved churna made by our Dadi (Grandma) at home.

Ingrediants :

Neem leaves 10/12, partially crushed.

1 Table spoon Coriander/Cilantra ( Dhania ) partially crushed.

Crushed Jaggery powder (as per your test)

Mix it well.

This mixture/Churna is very useful to boost our immunity.

 

Cooking or cookery is the art, technology, science and craft of using heat to prepare food for consumption. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely across the world, from grilling food over an open fire to using electric stoves, to baking in various types of ovens, reflecting unique environmental, economic, and cultural traditions and trends.

Types of cooking also depend on the skill levels and training of cooks. Cooking is done both by people in their own dwellings and by professional cooks and chefs in restaurants and other food establishments. Cooking can also occur through chemical reactions without the presence of heat, such as in ceviche, a traditional South American dish where fish is cooked with the acids in lemon or lime juice or orange juice.

Preparing food with heat or fire is an activity unique to humans. It may have started around 2 million years ago, though archaeological evidence for it reaches no more than 1 million years ago.

The expansion of agriculture, commerce, trade, and transportation between civilizations in different regions offered cooks many new ingredients. New inventions and technologies, such as the invention of pottery for holding and boiling water, expanded cooking techniques. Some modern cooks apply advanced scientific techniques to food preparation to further enhance the flavor of the dish served.

Methods :

There are very many methods of cooking, most of which have been known since antiquity. These include baking, roasting, frying, grilling, barbecuing, smoking, boiling, steaming and braising. A more recent innovation is microwaving. Various methods use differing levels of heat and moisture and vary in cooking time. The method chosen greatly affects the end result because some foods are more appropriate to some methods than others. Some major hot cooking techniques include:

A cook sautees onions and green peppers in a skillet.

*Roasting

Roasting – Barbecuing – Grilling/Broiling – Rotisserie – Searing

*Baking

Baking – Baking Blind – Flashbaking

*Boiling

Boiling – Blanching – Braising – Coddling – Double steaming – Infusion – Poaching – Pressure cooking – Simmering – Smothering – Steaming – Steeping – Stewing – Stone boiling – Vacuum flask cooking

*Frying

Fry – Air frying — Deep frying – Gentle frying - Hot salt frying – Hot sand frying – Pan frying – Pressure frying – Sautéing – Shallow frying – Stir frying — Vacuum frying

*Steaming

Steaming works by boiling water continuously, causing it to vaporise into steam; the steam then carries heat to the nearby food, thus cooking the food. By many it is considered a healthy form of cooking, holding nutrients within the vegetable or meat being cooked.

En papillote – The food is put into a pouch and then baked, allowing its own moisture to steam the food.

*Smoking

Smoking is the process of flavoring, cooking, or preserving food by exposing it to smoke from burning or smoldering material, most often wood.