Food Cravings - How to deal with it?

Most often food cravings are emotionally driven. Specific foods are often wished for as they could rekindle some sort of memory or a setting in the past. Often you might have heard women who are pregnant talking about food cravings and this is caused due to the hormonal changes. Having a diet without much variety could also lead to food cravings. Here are top 5 foods that can satisfy your cravings without causing any risk to your health:

1. Chocolates

The most common craving food is chocolates. The simplest way to help the craving is by having a bite of chocolate, but it is difficult to limit your serving. You could try alternating it with coffee, with DISCOUNT CODES from famous brands. Switch to chocolate brands that have a good cocoa content and less sugar. High sugar could impact your weight and heart health. 

2. French Fries

If you are craving for French fries, it is probably because you feel it is your comfort food. It has a high calorific value as it is rich in fats and carbs. Eating carb-rich food secretes Serotonin that gives you a satisfied and calming effect. Just be sure not to eat more as a large bag of French fries could account to calorific content of a full meal. Try seasoned fries or baked fries instead as they would reduce nearly 200 calories less a serving.

3. Pepperoni Pizza

Pepperoni pizza is usually remembered as a food that is linked with fun times spent with your loved ones. If you do not watch your toppings wisely, a slice of pizza might be high in calories. Do not say no to your pizza, switch to healthier options in your pizza. You could go for a whole-grain pizza base, add more vegetables, reduce the cheese to make it more healthy. You could still add a few slices of pepperoni to satisfy your cravings.

4. Potato Chips

A bag full of potato chips becomes almost inseparable from TV times. The crunchy potato chips have made a classic mark in the cravings list. What makes it worse is its high-calorific value and less nutrition value. The processed chips now have better alternatives. You could go for baked chips, popcorn or a simple bowl of nuts. Intake of processed potato chips on a regular basis could lead to obesity. 

5. Rich ice-cream

Treat foods like creamy ice cream on a warm day is something to naturally crave for. The combination of fat with sugar gives a soothing effect to the person. It is good to have a tiny half-cup serving of rich vanilla ice cream but the difficulty lies in stopping yourself from eating more. You could freeze whipped fruits or smoothies to give a similar texture and taste, and they have no saturated fat content!

Final thoughts:

Nutritionists believe that food can make or break a healthy body. You could use your cravings to positively impact your health. At times, you might not realize that you are gaining weight as you are giving in to your temptations. It is not easy to say to some cravings that demand a specific taste. If you are not able to please your cravings with alternate food, go for bite-sized treats of your cravings. The most important thing to remember is that moderation is the key to success. Do not deprive yourself too much of any cravings as it could lead to negative results. 

Paneer Biryani - Pulav Style!

Paneer Biryani - Pulav Style, simple and quick!

Today was rainy and dull, wanted something quick to boost my sleepy spirits! Here goes, Paneer Pulav, such a simple recipe and perfect every time. I had added a carrot and a handful of peas, which you can keep or skip when you make. You could adapt the same recipe with other vegetables, baby mushroom (you can add it whole - no chopping) or Chicken.

I used no tomatoes in this recipe. If you have a pack of fried onions, you could skip it as well. Kids loved the carrots and called it carrot coins :)

Here goes, do try and let me know!

Ingredients:

Paneer - 250gms (cubed to bite size)
Onion - 2 small chopped
Carrot - 1 sliced as rings
Peas - handful
Curd - 2 Tbsp
turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Tandoori masala - 1 tsp
Garam Masala - 1 tsp
Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
Chilli Powder - to taste
salt to taste
Oil - 2 Tbsp
whole spices (Bay leaf, cinnamon stick, sombhu, cardamom, cloves)
Basmati rice - 2 cups
Water - 4 cups

Method:

1. Soak Basmati rice in water
2. In a bowl add curd, turmeric powder, tandoori masala, garam masala, chilli powder, salt and beat to mix
3. Mix in the paneer, the curd mix, the chopped carrots and peas
4. In a cooker/rice cooker/pan add the oil, add chopped onions and fry till brown.
5. Remove onions in a plate.  
6. Add the whole spices and let the spices release the fragrance in the same oil
7. Add the paneer/veg mix in the oil, let it cook for a minute. 
8. Add soaked rice, and water.
9. Adjust salt to taste and lemon juice
10. Finally add the fried onions and let it cook for 20 minutes in low flame. 

My notes!

If you are in short of time, you could do it in pressure cooker and cook to one whistle (Just add 3 and a half cups of water for 2 cups basmati rice)

If you have more time, cook till step 7, and layer it with cooked Basmati rice. I add 5 cups of water if I am cooking the rice separately and would drain excess water in a sieve. It might take about 10 minutes more than this recipe, considering the cooking time of rice. 

Green prawns fry

Green Prawn Fry - Prawns mixed in a green sauce and shallow fried.

Prawns are my favorite kind of seafood - No bones and easy cleaning. I learnt to clean prawn myself only after I really had to. Back in Chennai it is usually cleaned in the fish market. It was the same picking up the pre packed cleaned ones in supermarkets. In London, however, I sort of felt it was a bit off-taste in the prepacked ones. I sort of felt it lacked flavor. In Leeds market, the prawns come as cleaned or with shell and I think both taste yumm. 

Here is a slight tweak to the usual prawn recipes. 

Do try and let me know!

Ingredients:

Prawn - Cleaned, shell removed - 200 gms

Green Chillies - 3

Pudina - half a bunch

coriander leaves - half a bunch

corn flour - 1 tbsp

Sombu - 1 tsp

Curry leaves to taste

oil - 1 tbsp

Salt to taste

Method:

1. Make a paste of Mint leaves (pudina), green chillies, coriander leaves, few curry leaves
2. Add cleaned prawn, one tablespoon corn flour and mix well
3. Let it marinate for 10 minutes
4. In a kadai heat oil and sombu and curry leaves
5. Add marinated prawns and let them curl
6. Serve hot!

My notes:

You could also grill this prawn recipe. Sometimes, I add onions, capsicum as well along, marinate, and grill them in skewers.

Kari Kulzhambu aka Mutton Kurma

Kari Kulzhambu aka Mutton Kurma

Mutton Kurma - Mutton cooked with rich cashew coconut gravy and potatoes, best served with idly, Dosai, Chapathi, or rice! 

Most weekends at my mom's home start with a hot steaming plate of idly with this Mutton Kurma for breakfast. Well, I would be mostly waking up on the aroma of this gravy only! Lunch would be again this mutton gravy with steamed rice and chicken or mutton dry fry for the side. Well, I should say the Mutton gravy will taste awesome even with a little mango pickle. If there by any chance the Mutton Kurma is left over, it will be again happily there for dinner with hot piping dosa or Chapathi. Really it tastes great with anything! Best part, you don't easily get bored of its taste!!!

Even those who don't prefer eating mutton will surely enjoy eating this gravy. This recipe is my mom's specialty.

Do try and let me know your feedback!!!

Ingredients:

For pressure cooking:

Mutton - 3/4kgs

tomato - 1 chopped
Potato - 1 chopped

Ginger Garlic Onion Paste - 3 tbsp

salt to taste

For Grinding finely

Coconut - 1

Poppy seeds - 1 tbsp

Cashew nuts - 2 tbsp
Red chilies - 3
Coriander seeds - 1 tsp
Whole Black pepper - 1 tsp
Saunf/Sombu - 1 tsp

For Frying:
Onion - 3 chopped
Green Chillies - 2 slit
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Whole spices
1 bay leaf
3 cloves
1 green cardamom
1-inch pattai
Cooking oil

Method:
1. Wash mutton clean until there are no traces of blood. The fatty white parts of the mutton should be retained for taste. If you would prefer having lesser fat, you can remove it partly.
2. Pressure cook the mutton with chopped tomatoes and ginger garlic paste. Depending on the age of the meat, it would be tender. I usually let it cook for 10 whistles in the cooker. If the meat is not tender, cook it again till it is soft. The meat should not be chewy
3. Once cooked, place the cooker to release the pressure on its own. Meanwhile, grind the coconut, cashew nuts, and poppy seeds. Make it to a fine paste.  Add the spices under grinding and make it to a smooth paste
4. In a kadai, add one tablespoon cooking oil, add the whole spices listed in the ingredients, let it release the fragrance. Now, add chopped onions and green chilies. when it is golden in color, add the cooked mutton with the liquid. You could strain a cup of the stock and use it as a soup. Add enough soup to keep your preferred consistency
5. Add the ground coconut mixture to the kadai once it starts boiling.
6. Add salt to taste
7. Garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves for an extra zesty flavor.

My Notes!
If you have someone who doesn't like mutton, you could add more potatoes along with the mutton. It gives a fantastic combo. The mutton cooked with potatoes will also give you a thicker gravy. You can omit the potatoes as well!
I have always loved this gravy and would be ready to have it anytime. Have tried it for potlucks with friends and they were absolutely delighted with the Kari Kolambu taste :) Hope you have fun making it as I did! 

Vegetable Lasagna

Vegetable Lasagna

Vegetable Lasagna - Layered Pasta with vegetables in a delicious
cheese sauce

I have always loved the smell when I bake pasta. The aroma of rich cheese melting in the warmth of the oven fills your home in no time. Lasagna was one recipe that I tried to avoid as it has always seemed too complex. I couldn't resist trying it out after I had it in a Pizza Express when I visited the Cambridge. 

Watched lasagna making videos online on youtube and finally mustered the courage to try out this delicacy at home. I did not want to make it a non-veg pasta and chose vegetables instead. You could easily alter the recipe with chicken or cooked meat instead of the vegetables.

Here is my super easy recipe for lasagna. 

Ingredients

For Bechamel sauce

2 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoon plain flour
150 ml milk
salt and pepper to taste
spices, if preferred

For the vegetable sauce

2 cups chopped vegetables
1 cup pureed fresh tomatoes 
1 onion chopped
salt and spices to taste


For assembling
Instant lasagna sheets
Parmesan cheese 2 tablespoon
Grated mature cheddar 2 tablespoon


Method:

For lasagna, I made two sauces. One is bechamel sauce and other is a mixed vegetable sauce. The basic steps of making lasagna are:

1. Prepare your sauces
2. Layer them with the lasagna sheets
3. Bake it
4. Relish! 

For bechamel sauce, take a spoon butter in a pan and add one tsp flour, add the milk n let it thicken. Add salt, spices and pepper to taste. I added a pinch of dried basil.

For the vegetable sauce, saute onions n chopped vegetables. I used carrot n  beans but you can add any veggies. Add pureed fresh tomatoes and let it simmer and thicken. when the sauce is thick, add salt and spices. Remove from fire.

Layering:

When you choose a baking pan, choose something that would fit your lasagna sheets without breaking them. I used a loaf pan as I cooked just for the kids. First, apply some butter or oil to make sure that the pasta would not stick to the pan. Add the vegetable sauce and keep the first layer of pasta. Then, add a layer of bechamel sauce and add vegetable sauce over it. Add the grated cheese and cover it again with a pasta layer. Layer it again till the pan is 3/4th full.

Now, top it with a layer of freshly grated cheese. Cover it with foil and bake it for 20 minutes on 180 deg.

After 20 minutes, remove foil and bake it for another 15 minutes to make it bubbly and crisp on top.

Vegetable Lasagna is ready to relish!

Notes:

Many recipes on the internet seem too complex. I have tried to simplify it by making a single sauce with the vegetables and tomatoes. You could even make the sauce a single one by adding cream to it.

If you are concerned about calories, you can substitute butter with oil and milk with fat free milk.

Creamy Mushroom Curry

Yummy Mushrooms Served With Rice

I come from a family where they don't cook mushrooms! My Granny thinks that they are only part of the fungus group that grows in a dirty way! It was funny making her understand that mushrooms were edible and can be cooked into a very tasty dish. I told her my recipe on the phone and she was excited about it.

Here is my recipe for the Creamy Mushroom curry:

Ingredients

Mushroom - 1 Packet

Onions - 1 small, finely chopped

Green Chillies - 3 or 4 (Reduce it if you cannot take spicy food)

Butter - 1 tbsp

Three Cream Pasta Sauce - 2 Tbsp

Oil - To sautee

Oregano, salt and pepper - To Taste


How To Proceed

• On a pan, add oil and heat it to medium
• Add the green chillies and onions. Saute it till they brown at the edges.
• Add the mushrooms (I cut them into two halves, you can chop them into smaller pieces or add them as whole if they are button sized)
• When the mushrooms brown, and water oozes from them, reduce the heat.
• Add 2 tablespoons of Three cream pasta sauce and one tablespoon of butter
• Let it cook till the you get a nice aroma of creamy mushrooms. 
• Add Oregano, salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve it hot with rice or roti or bread of your choice

Note

I love them when they are hot. It tastes very good on a cold winter afternoon. If you do not have the pasta sauce, you can add shredded cheddar cheese and a little milk mixed with cornstarch. It will give you the same taste. If you do not have cornstarch, you can add a little all-purpose flour as well. 

Carrot n cheese muffins

Delicious Carrot and cheese muffins - A great evening snack!

If the smell of baking makes you go crazy, but you do not have a sweet tooth, then this is a perfect recipe for you!

Savory muffins are one of my favorite breakfast options as they are liked by all, especially the man of my house who doesn't enjoy a baked treat, would be happy to indulge on these lovely muffins.

If you are bored of the usual sweety and gooey muffins, give these lovely muffins a try. You will sure impress!

It will in no time become a family favorite!

These Muffins can be had both hot and cold, and can even be stored for a few days too. Try them out and do let me know!

Ingredients:

For making 6 medium Muffins

Cake flour/Maida - 1 cup (makes 6 medium muffins)

Grated carrot - 3 tbsp

Grated cheese - 3 tbsp

Baking powder - 1 tsp

Salt to taste
Oil - 2 tbsp
Milk - 2 tbsp
Curd - 2 tbsp
Sugar - A pinch

How to Proceed:

• First take 2 bowls, in the first bowl, measure 1 cup maida or all purpose flour
• Add baking powder and salt and sugar
• Add grated carrot and Cheese and gently mix
• In the second bowl, add Oil, Milk, Curd and Sugar
• Mix well until it is frothy, use a hand blender for best results
• Now, add the liquid mix into the dry mix
• Mix gently to combine, a spatula will help
• Grease Muffin trays or place parchment paper in the muffin tray
• Fill out 2/3rds of the muffin holder
• Preheat the oven to 200 C for 15 min
• Bake on a preheated oven for 15min or until done
• Serve after it has cooled down a bit

Notes:

You can add any vegetables or even cooked meat while you make them. Broccoli, cooked peas or even nuts of your choice can be added.
Goes well with a hot cuppa chai on a rainy evening!