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A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet. During pregnancy you need to follow a healthy diet so that you maintain a healthy sugar level (which I miserably failed at ) and iron level. Bananas help you with your  irons and make for a easy morning if  you catch my drift. The green banana is simply an unripened yellow banana, it has different uses. While you can eat the yellow banana immediately after peeling, the green banana is best eaten cooked, either boiled or fried. Nutritionally, the green banana is a good source of fiber, vitamins and minerals, and contains a starch that may help control blood sugar, manage weight and lower blood cholesterol levels. It ...

Soya chunks are made from soy beans and they work well as meat substitutes. These come in the form of regular chunks, mini chunks and granules, and can be used in many ways. The nutritional value is similar to meat in some areas and different in others. For the first time I had these in my hostel and it was horrible. I developed a server dislike for this great product. Even though loves these and kept asking me over the years to prepare some for him, I kept putting it off. But now that I am preggo with higher glucose level, I am trying to figure out foods that are high in protein and good for me and my baby.  So decided to give these another chance. Ingredients: Soya Chunks – 1 cup Green chilli – 3 Dry red chilly-2 Ginger-garlic -1 tbsp(chopped finely) Onion-1 big (cubed) Green capsicum-1 (cubed) Soya sauce- 1/2 tbsp Hot chilly sauce -1 tbsp Tomato sauce –1 tbsp Oil – 1 tbsp (preferable Olive oil) Procedure: Soak the chunks for 30 mins. In the m...

The auspicious month of Kartik is about to be over. But Tanmaya had enough of his share of vegetarian and started complaining that I don't give him anything rich any more. So I decided to make some delicious mushroom curry. A delicious veg curry that goes well with rotis or rice, Chattu Tarkari or Mushroom Curry is easy to make and highly delicious. Hereis the recipe for Chaatu Tarkari Ingredients: Fresh Mushrooms: 1 cup  Potato: 1 medium cut into small cubes Onion: 1 small chopped finely Green Peas: 1/4 cup Ginger paste: 1/4 tsp  Garlic paste: 1/2 tsp  Tomato paste(puree): 1 cup Whipping Cream: 1/4 cup  Red chilli powder: 1 tsp  Turmeric powder: 1/2 tsp Coriander powder: 1/2 tbsp Cumin powder: 1/4 tbsp Chopped Coriander leaves Oil 4tsp Procedure: Clean the mushroom and cut them into halves. Then soak them in turmeric water for 1/2hrs. Squeeze the mushroom properly to drain out the water. Take a pan & put 2tsp of oil and ...

Now that we live in Gilroy, Tanmaya has to take a bus to office and he is really not a huge fan of bus rides. So I have to make sure he gets his lunch packed and a snack prepared for when he comes back. So I have to come up with new items all the time, as he gets easily.  Here is one that you often find on road side stalls in India, stuffed bread Pakora Ingredients For the stuffing Potato: 1 medium boiled Onion: 1 small, chopped finely Green chillies: 2 finely chopped (adjust as per taste) Green Peas: 1/4 up Cumin seeds: 1 tsp Coriander powder: 1 tsp Chaat Masala: 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder: 1 tsp (adjust as per taste) Salt to taste For the Covering Bread: 4 slies Besan (chickpea flour): 1 cup Turmeric: 1/4 tsp Chilli powder: 1/2-1 tsp (or as per taste) Little salt: as per taste (since the stuffing has salt too) Oil for deep frying Procedure:  Mash the boiled potato. In a pan, heat 1 tsp of oil.  Add the cumin seeds and they stop cracking add...

Diwali is here and its time to start cleaning up the house and decorating. Snack prep time is up and here is my last one to this years diwali snack list. Ingredients: Shakarpara: Maida (All Purpose flour) : 1 cup ( more you use more  shakaraparas it would make) Oil / butter: 2 tbsp Oil For deep frying Water for kneading the dough. Sugar Syrup: Water: 1 cup Sugar: 1 cup Procedure: Add oil/ butter to the flour and mix together. Knead the flour without water till the oil is nicely absorbed into it.  To know that the flour is ready take  a handful of the flour and close your fist tightly.  When you open your fist the flour should hold the shape but break when touched. Now knead the flour with adding little water at a time into a soft dough. knead the dough for about 1 to 2 minutes to make the dough smooth and pliable. Set the dough aside and cover it with damp cloth. Let the dough sit for at least 15 minutes. Heat the oil for deep frying...