Dear Reader,
I have been asked to write some more articles on the vegetarian food. I am not a full time chef, but I can manage cooking pretty decently that you can eat and enjoy too. (and sure you will like it too).
I start with making a simple recipe, hardly takes 20 minutes to prepare using Ladies Finger (வெண்டி காய் – in tamil (pronounced as venti kaay. bhinti or Okra in Hindi) . I wrote about the benefits of Ladies Finger in my earlier blog.
The food we are going to prepare is ladies finger sambar (or curry). Hopefully, I will try to write about different sambar too in future.
Ingredients:
1 pack - Frozen ladies finger (if you can get the fresh one would be great)
1 cut onion (use the onion used in salad (the big ones not the small)lengthwise
2 chopped tomato
1 cup - Tamarind water taken from a lemon
Some mustard seeds
Urud dal and curry leaves
3\4 tsp sambar powder or
2 tsp chilli powder
2 sp corrainder powder
Salt to taste
2 tbsp oil
First, remove the head (the stem connects with the plant) from the Ladies Finger. Cut them into small pieces(say 2 cm to 3cm each on circular fashion). Heat the pan, Just add the Ladies Finger. This is very important – kind of secret, this removes the stickiness in the Ladies Finger. Just keep on roasting until you see there is no more water substance or stickiness in the vegetable.
2. Heat the pan. Add oil, mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves and onion.
2. Fry till they turn light brown.
3. Add the tomato and fry for 2 minutes.
4. Add tamarind water and Sambar powder and salt. Boil for 5 minutes.
4. Add cut ladies finger and cook till done.
That’s it.
Please try and let me comments.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Dark Chocolate benefits
Eating dark chocolate regularly may help lower levels of inflammation, which is strongly associated with heart and blood vessel disease, Italian researchers report.
"In an apparently healthy population, even a small reduction of a low-grade inflammation such as that associated in this study with regular consumption of dark chocolate might have clinically relevant benefits in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease," Dr. Romina di Giuseppe of Catholic University in Campobasso write in the current issue of The Journal of Nutrition.
The presence of inflammation was determined by measuring levels C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker for coronary artery disease, the researchers explain in their report. Di Giuseppe and her team hypothesized that people who eat more dark chocolate, which is rich in several types of antioxidants, might have lower CRP levels.
To investigate, they looked at 4,849 healthy men and women participating in the Moli-sani Project, an ongoing study of adults 35 and older living in southern Italy. They included 1,317 people who had eaten any chocolate at all in the past year, and 824 who consumed dark chocolate regularly. Most people who ate dark chocolate consumed 5.7 grams per day.
CRP levels averaged 1.32 mg/L in people who did not eat dark chocolate, compared to 1.10 mg/L in dark chocolate consumers. Individuals who ate dark chocolate had healthier diets overall than those who didn't; they were also younger and of higher social status, but less likely to exercise. But once the researchers adjusted for these and other relevant factors, the relationship between eating dark chocolate and lower CRP remained.
The range of CRP levels seen in the dark chocolate consuming group corresponds to a "mild" risk of cardiovascular disease, while CRP levels in the non-consumers would be associated with "moderate" risk, di Giuseppe and her colleagues note.
The benefits were seen when people ate up to one 20-gram serving of dark chocolate every 3 days, but eating more chocolate wasn't more beneficial; in fact, effects on CRP levels "tended to disappear" at higher consumption levels, the researchers found.
SOURCE: The Journal of Nutrition, September 23, 2008.
"In an apparently healthy population, even a small reduction of a low-grade inflammation such as that associated in this study with regular consumption of dark chocolate might have clinically relevant benefits in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease," Dr. Romina di Giuseppe of Catholic University in Campobasso write in the current issue of The Journal of Nutrition.
The presence of inflammation was determined by measuring levels C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker for coronary artery disease, the researchers explain in their report. Di Giuseppe and her team hypothesized that people who eat more dark chocolate, which is rich in several types of antioxidants, might have lower CRP levels.
To investigate, they looked at 4,849 healthy men and women participating in the Moli-sani Project, an ongoing study of adults 35 and older living in southern Italy. They included 1,317 people who had eaten any chocolate at all in the past year, and 824 who consumed dark chocolate regularly. Most people who ate dark chocolate consumed 5.7 grams per day.
CRP levels averaged 1.32 mg/L in people who did not eat dark chocolate, compared to 1.10 mg/L in dark chocolate consumers. Individuals who ate dark chocolate had healthier diets overall than those who didn't; they were also younger and of higher social status, but less likely to exercise. But once the researchers adjusted for these and other relevant factors, the relationship between eating dark chocolate and lower CRP remained.
The range of CRP levels seen in the dark chocolate consuming group corresponds to a "mild" risk of cardiovascular disease, while CRP levels in the non-consumers would be associated with "moderate" risk, di Giuseppe and her colleagues note.
The benefits were seen when people ate up to one 20-gram serving of dark chocolate every 3 days, but eating more chocolate wasn't more beneficial; in fact, effects on CRP levels "tended to disappear" at higher consumption levels, the researchers found.
SOURCE: The Journal of Nutrition, September 23, 2008.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
3D Personal Camera from Fuji
Three-dimensional or 3D technology is nothing new, but if we get lucky, we might see consumer-oriented 3D cameras and digital frames in shops as early as next year. According to Fujifilm Corp. has developed a Fujifilm Finepix Real 3D System that includes a digital camera, digital photo frame, and photo-printing services.
The 3D camera, for example, features two lenses and two sensors that take different pictures from different angles at the same time, then combines them to create a single high quality image. Images taken with the 3D camera are then displayed on the camera's 2.8 LCD where they can be seen in 3D by the naked eye thanks to Fujifilm's proprietary technology called "Light Direction Control System," which controls the direction of light. Details of how this is done are not detailed, but the company swears the images are captured exactly as your eye sees them, so you won't be needing those 3D glasses at all.
Once you take 3D pictures, it would be shame to keep them stored in your computer for no one to see. That's why Fujifilm is also working on a 8.4-inch FinePix Real 3D Photo Frame. The LCD on the frame also features Fujifilm's "Light Direction Control System, so images are displayed in 3D for all to see.
And if that's not enough, then you can then head to the 3D-printer and make a few copies of your fun pictures so you can share your 3D memories with all your friends and family.
Other camera manufacturers are working on their own version of the 3D camera, so we'll have to wait and see just how well 3D devices are received
The 3D camera, for example, features two lenses and two sensors that take different pictures from different angles at the same time, then combines them to create a single high quality image. Images taken with the 3D camera are then displayed on the camera's 2.8 LCD where they can be seen in 3D by the naked eye thanks to Fujifilm's proprietary technology called "Light Direction Control System," which controls the direction of light. Details of how this is done are not detailed, but the company swears the images are captured exactly as your eye sees them, so you won't be needing those 3D glasses at all.
Once you take 3D pictures, it would be shame to keep them stored in your computer for no one to see. That's why Fujifilm is also working on a 8.4-inch FinePix Real 3D Photo Frame. The LCD on the frame also features Fujifilm's "Light Direction Control System, so images are displayed in 3D for all to see.
And if that's not enough, then you can then head to the 3D-printer and make a few copies of your fun pictures so you can share your 3D memories with all your friends and family.
Other camera manufacturers are working on their own version of the 3D camera, so we'll have to wait and see just how well 3D devices are received
Idul Fitri Vacation
Dear Reader,
If you are not part of this world, you would love to be here during the long holidays in Indonesia.
I did not come across any other nations gives this much (a week) holidays to celebrate Idul Fitri.
All the offices in Jakarta is closed for 9 days. Unfortunately, i had to stand by at office to support our entertainment businesses which have no holidays. However, i managed to get short vacation.
First i visited, Lido Lakes - 60 KM away from Jakarta. You take the Jograwi Toll and travel till the end of the toll road. From the exit of the toll road, travel towards Sukabumi (just travel straight). Around 14 Km of normal road and regular traffic jam you will find this place on the left hand side.
Well, being public holiday the lake is fully packed by humans and the sound from the music system is too loud that you can not enjoy it.
The rooms are nice for its standard and food is ok too. However, not for long stay. We left next day. Back Home and Have nice rest.
Next day, i went to office to see only myself alone in the office. But, i plan for the second vacation place. I finalized on "Putri Island - on Thousand Islands". This is one of the major tour attractions in Jakarta. Series of islands, near the Jakarta city on the Java Sea. (They say there are thousand islands altogethers)
The boat (speed boat) ride took 90 minutes to reach the island. The beach is clean, and it was real fun for my family (for my kids).
We choose the room near swimming pool and fortunately we had small sandy beach near by.
I snorkel. I am beginner for this. But I enjoy it.
Evening, we go for sun set boat ride. It was beautiful.
Overall, it is worth the money we spent (around USD 150 per adult) . It was great and enjoyable moment.
Thank you, Readers
JS
If you are not part of this world, you would love to be here during the long holidays in Indonesia.
I did not come across any other nations gives this much (a week) holidays to celebrate Idul Fitri.
All the offices in Jakarta is closed for 9 days. Unfortunately, i had to stand by at office to support our entertainment businesses which have no holidays. However, i managed to get short vacation.
First i visited, Lido Lakes - 60 KM away from Jakarta. You take the Jograwi Toll and travel till the end of the toll road. From the exit of the toll road, travel towards Sukabumi (just travel straight). Around 14 Km of normal road and regular traffic jam you will find this place on the left hand side.
Well, being public holiday the lake is fully packed by humans and the sound from the music system is too loud that you can not enjoy it.
The rooms are nice for its standard and food is ok too. However, not for long stay. We left next day. Back Home and Have nice rest.
Next day, i went to office to see only myself alone in the office. But, i plan for the second vacation place. I finalized on "Putri Island - on Thousand Islands". This is one of the major tour attractions in Jakarta. Series of islands, near the Jakarta city on the Java Sea. (They say there are thousand islands altogethers)
The boat (speed boat) ride took 90 minutes to reach the island. The beach is clean, and it was real fun for my family (for my kids).
We choose the room near swimming pool and fortunately we had small sandy beach near by.
I snorkel. I am beginner for this. But I enjoy it.
Evening, we go for sun set boat ride. It was beautiful.
Overall, it is worth the money we spent (around USD 150 per adult) . It was great and enjoyable moment.
Thank you, Readers
JS
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