Life, Or Something Like It !

Coconut Bean Curry with Collard Greens

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 23:13:00 +0000

Today's recipe is an indulgent one, creamy and rich, chockful of nutrient rich ingredients and goes well with either flat bread or any grain. As a vegetarian family, we do tend to use a lot of beans and grains in our meals. I also try to use fresh vegetables and fruits in our diet to get all the micronutrients.

The one thing that I want to increase this year is the amount of greens we consume. Leafy greens are typically low in calories and fat and have high protein content per calorie. They also tend to have high levels of fiber, Vit. A, Vit. C, Vit. A and Vit. K. Dark greens also provide a significant amount of folate which promotes heart health.

I had purchased Collard greens during my last grocery trip. Although I remember my mom preparing a lot of greens while I was growing up, we never had collard greens available in the markets. I had never purchased a bunch before and I now wonder why I didn't. I have been using these greens in soups, rotis (Indian flatbread) and have really enjoyed the flavor and texture. Collards are from the Brassica family, the same family that cabbages and broccoli belong to. They have large dark green leaves and a thick center stem. I use the stems also, finely chopping them ensures that they cook quickly as well.

I also had cooked navy beans in the refrigerator. Minestrone soup had been on the menu for the week and I had about a cup leftover. I had all the ingredients to make a curry and that is what we had for lunch on Saturday.

I used my Instant Pot to make this recipe, but the same recipe can very easily be made on the stove top or in a conventional pressure cooker.

Ingredients:

1 C cooked beans (navy beans, chick peas, red beans, any will do)

1 Can coconut milk (You can use low fat milk, I used the full fat version)

2 C chopped fresh greens (I used collard greens, but you could use spinach, chard or other greens of choice)

2 tsp oil

1 tsp cumin seeds

1/2 C chopped onions

1/4 C tomato puree

2 tsp salt

1 tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp red chilli powder

1 tsp garam masala or curry powder of choice

chopped fresh cilantro for garnishing

Method:

1. Switch on the electric pressure cooker on Sauté mode. Once its hot, add the oil and the cumin seeds.

2. Once the cumin seeds crackle, add the onion and fry until softened. Add the tomato puree (use chopped tomatoes as an alternative), salt and turmeric. Fry until the tomatoes are soft.

3. Add the spice powders, mix well and then stir in the greens.

4. Add a 1/4 C of water.

5. At this stage, turn the cooker off. Close the lid and hit the Steam option. Keep the vent closed.

6. Set the time to 4 minutes. Once the timer beeps, let it rest for 5 minutes and then manually vent the steam. Take care to vent away from your face.

7. Carefully open the lid. Stir the contents. The fresh greens will be cooked to tender.

8. Add the beans, the coconut milk and heat through using the Sauté mode once again.

9. Taste for salt and spice levels and adjust if necessary.

10. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve hot with rice or flat bread.

Notes:

1. The entire family loved this dish with rotis. I kept the spice at a medium level so that my kids could enjoy this as well.

2. The dish is naturally vegan. Although coconut milk is high in saturated fat, this is balanced in the recipe due to the fiber and the beans and the greens. A once in a while indulgence that I am comfortable with. If you would rather use low fat coconut milk, please note that the curry will be thinner and you might need to cook it down further to achieve the right consistency.

3. If you are using an Instant Pot, please make sure you follow all the guidelines set by the manufacturer. Make sure there is enough liquid in the inner pot for the food to cook properly.

4. If you are making the dish on the stove, cover and cook the greens until tender and then stir in the beans and the coconut milk.

Do try this recipe and let me know if you liked it.

What greens do you usually use in your cooking? Do share, I am always on the lookout for more ways to include them in our diet.

Happy Cooking !

Toasted Pita Bread with Red Bean Filling

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 20:48:00 +0000

Today's post is a simple recipe that can be used for any meal that you might think of. It's filling, nutritious and easy to whip up as long as you have cooked beans and a few simple spices. In a pinch, a can of beans will definitely work, but cooking your own beans from scratch and having some in the refrigerator or freezer will be the cheapest and best option. It does require a little bit of pre-preparation, but beans are the most versatile ingredients that you can have in your kitchen, especially if you are plant based.

One of the easiest ways is to soak your beans of choice (there are so many!) overnight. The next day, drain the beans and cook them in fresh water until they are tender and still hold their shape. You can use a pressure cooker or cook the beans on the stovetop. Once the beans are cooked, you can either use them right away or store them in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer. There are a lot of ways you can use beans - salads, rice dishes, curries, burgers...the uses are many.

The recipe below came about because I had made the curry but didn't have any flatbread to serve it with. Pita bread to the rescue!

So without further ado, lets take a look at the recipe.

Ingredients:

2 Cups cooked red beans (or 1 can red beans)

1 tsp oil of choice (I used avocado oil)

1/2 chopped red onion

2 medium tomatoes

1 tsp turmeric

1 tsp cumin seed powder

1 tsp cayenne powder

1/2 tsp fennel seed powder

1 tsp garam masala

1 tsp salt (or to taste)

juice of half a lemon

1/2 C cooked rice or any other cooked grain (quinoa, barley, etc.) (optional)

1 C chopped lettuce

2 whole pita breads

Method:

1. In a heavy bottomed pan, heat the oil. Once the oil is heated through, add the chopped onion and sauté until softened.

2. Add the chopped tomatoes and then add all the spice powders including salt.

3. Once the tomatoes are softened to your liking, add the beans and mix thoroughly.

4. Add the cooked grain if you are using it.

5. The curry should be on the dry side.

6. Taste for salt and adjust the seasoning, if necessary.

7. Switch off the flame and stir in the lemon juice.

8. Tear the pita bread in half and toast the sides.

9. Fill in the bottom part of the pita half with lettuce and then top off with the red bean mixture.

10. Serve hot with some hot sauce or ketchup.

Notes:

1. My kids really enjoy these pita burritos for snacks as well as for the main meals.

2. Having the beans prepared and available will make this a very quick recipe to put together.

Steps towards self-sufficiency - Homemade turmeric powder

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 23:02:00 +0000

I have been dreaming about and slowly working towards partial self-sufficiency in a few things that can be managed in a mostly urban area. Due to the lack of growing space and lack of time, complete self-sufficiency is not going to be possible. But there are quite a lot of things that I can still do in my urban home so as not to purchase every single thing from a store. The reasons are two fold - by not consuming a lot of processed things, I hope to maintain good health for my family for a long time. The second reason stems from my effort to be ecologically conscious, to try to tread as lightly as possible on this earth for as long as we are privileged to be here!

To that end, I have been growing some vegetables and herbs in my backyard. As a full time working mom of two boys, I haven't been able to devote a lot of focused time to the kitchen garden and that shows in my sporadic harvests. But this past year has been slightly better. Although I got to a late start and didn't grow as many plants, I still got a very decent harvest of long beans, Armenian cucumbers, okra, amaranth, cow peas, cluster beans and spring onions. I also grew mint, rosemary, sage and oregano and was able to dry some and make my own mixed herbs. I realized that with a little bit more planning and with an organized approach, I would be able to grow a little bit more.

One harvest that I was really looking forward to was the turmeric harvest. Turmeric is very widely used in Indian cuisine and I had long envisioned growing and making my own turmeric powder. A good friend had shared a few rhizomes with me a couple of years back. I had let the clump grow for about 2 years without harvesting at all. This year, I decided to see if there was any action going on underground at all!

The day I cut down the long fragrant leaves of the plants and dug up the clumps was like a day at the candy store for a sweet toothed kid! I pulled out all the roots and dug around the area carefully so as not to break any rhizomes. The whole muddy clump was actually a delight to behold!

Once cleaned and sorted, the turmeric rhizomes weighed about 4.5 pounds, which was a fantastic surprise!

This was one of the clumps that I dug out. I had two big clumps growing next to each other. I had to dig gently up to almost 8 - 10 inches underneath the surface to get to most of the rhizomes. I think I did get everything out, if not, we will know in the spring when the rhizomes will start sending out shoots again!

The dried flower was another bonus. I did not use it for anything, but the fragrance was out of this world. Very earthy, but also floral and heady. I would go out to the plant just to get a whiff of the flower.

Once I harvested all the rhizomes, I got a big bucket, filled it with water and dumped everything into the water. I let it sit there for about 30 minutes and then went back and rinsed off the rhizomes pretty thoroughly, changing the water several times, until the water was clear and the rhizomes looked very clean.

Since I did this on the back patio, I was able to minimize the mud and the dirty water in the kitchen. The water went into the nearby plants!

This was the sum total of all my turmeric harvest, after the ends were chopped off and the mud was cleaned off. The darkest rhizomes on right were the original ones that I had planted. The paler ones are the new growth. I left the rhizomes on a sheet of paper in my kitchen corner for a few days.

I set aside some of the turmeric to use in pickles and other dishes. The rest of them were destined to be made into powder. After a couple of days on the sheet of paper, some of the outer skin was getting dried. I used a paper towel to brush off the dried layers and used a box grater to thinly slice the turmeric as best as I could.

I did not boil the rhizomes before hand. I had read several articles on how to make the powder and there were two thoughts on that. Some boiled the roots in water until tender and then dried them and powdered them, others didn't. My sister in law back in India told me that she never boiled hers. She has been doing this process for a long time and so I decided to follow hers.

I spread out the slices into a single layer on a parchment lined baking tray and set it out in the sun. I covered the tray with a mesh net to prevent the slices from flying off and to prevent and birds from pecking at them.

I brought the tray back in at night and set it out again the next day. I continued the process until the slices were crisp and dried and had no hint of moisture.

I then blended it using my Indian blender jar.

Of course its not as finely milled as it would be in a professional mill, but for home use it will do.

The powder is also very pungent and fragrant and a little goes a long way.

It remains to be seen how long this will last for me and my family since I use turmeric powder in a lot of my dishes.

Have you tried making turmeric powder before? Do share your tips and techniques in the comments below!

~ Until next time, may the grass always be greener on your side of the fence ~

A little bit of luck, a whole lot of beans and greens!

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 00:16:00 +0000

"Its a new day, its a new plan..........here we are, still goin' strong..."

So crooned singer Bryan Adams in his hit song - Here I am..

Seems pretty apt for the time that we all find ourselves in. Its the beginning of a brand new year. We have, hopefully learned a few things about the people around us and more importantly, a lot about ourselves. If nothing else, then 2020 should have served as the year of new insights, new adventures, new perspectives along with a dash of renewed hope, renewed contentment with what we have and a resolve to continue to improve, no matter what.

With that, I will move on from that topic and resume with regular programming!!

Among the many recipes that crop up during the New Years Day, I kept seeing a lot of pages devoted to a dish called Hopping John. Its a classic southern US dish, usually eaten on New Year's Day and is supposed to bring in a lot of luck. Traditionally, its a dish with rice, black eyed peas, onions and eaten with collard greens. The idea of a hearty dish with beans and greens sounded lovely for a cold day here in North Dallas and who wouldn't want a bit of fortune to go along with that?

So that was what went on my menu plan for the day. I had to check to make sure I had some beans, I didn't want to make a trip to a grocery store just to get beans. I have been trying to limit my trips to grocery stores - less exposure, less impulsive buys and more opportunities to use up what I already have in the pantry. I knew I had about half a cup of dried black eyed peas, some red peas and frozen greens.

I made the dish for lunch in my Instant Pot, served it up with steamed white rice and the whole family gobbled it up with relish. I hope you try this dish.

Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy New Year!

Ingredients:

1/2 C dried black eyed peas

1/2 C red beans (Rajma)

1/2 C chopped onions

1 medium tomato, diced

2 C mixed chopped greens (I used spinach and amaranth greens)

2 tsp oil (I used avocado oil)

1 tsp finely chopped ginger

1 tsp finely chopped garlic

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp red chili powder

1 tsp curry powder ( I used Kitchen King)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp jaggery(any unrefined sugar) (optional)

Method:

1. Wash the beans and soak them in plenty of water for at least 8 hours or overnight. I would really recommend this step so that the beans cook up very nicely.

2. Set the Instant Pot to saute mode. Once its hot, add the oil. Add the chopped onion, ginger and garlic and fry for a minute or two.

3. Add the tomatoes and cook until the tomatoes are soft. Add all the spice powders and mix well.

4. Drain the beans and add them to the pot. Add enough water to cover the beans.

5. Add chopped greens of choice. Add the salt and the jaggery and mix well.

6. Cover the lid of the Instant Pot and change the setting to Beans. This cooks on high pressure for 30 minutes. If you had soaked your beans well, this time should be sufficient. If not, you might need to cook for an additional 10 minutes.

7. Wait for the pressure to release naturally. If you are in a hurry, wait for at least 10 minutes before a quick steam release.

8. Stir well, add more water to adjust consistency, if required. Mash a few of the beans to get a smooth texture. Serve piping hot with rice.

Notes:

1. I really enjoyed this dish. Admittedly, I veered quite a bit from the original recipe, but still! The heartiness of the beans and the earthiness of the greens, combined with the potent spices is a wonderful meal.

2. You can use a combination of any beans and greens for this dish, I would just recommend that you check the cooking times for the beans.

3. If you use canned beans and frozen greens, this can become a very quick - cooking dish.

4. I used amaranth greens that I grew in my backyard this past summer and froze the excess. Other greens of choice would be collard greens, chard, spinach.

5. You could use powdered ginger and garlic, but fresh is always better!

6. Instead of white rice, you could always use quinoa, brown rice or millet or any grain of your choice.

16 Bean Dosa - High Protein breakfast

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 19:04:00 +0000

Food - a simple concept most of the time, or at least it should be. But it seems like everytime I turn around, there are changes in scientific research that either vilify a particular food or glorify it to such an extreme that prices then are necessarily through the proverbial roof!
As a person trying my best to feed my family healthy meals, I have found that exercising moderation in all aspects is the golden key to solving this food puzzle. In an effort to reduce the over consumption of polished white rice, I am always on the lookout for recipes that utilize other grains / lentils and beans. My niece had remarked once that she used a combination of beans in her dosa batter and had achieved good results. The light bulb went off the next time I was pondering over the weekend breakfast.
I had some 16 bean mix that I had purchased from the bulk bins of my local Natural Food market.
(As an aside, if you have access to any grocery store that has bulk bins - Sprouts Farmers Market, Whole Foods, Winco, do check out their bulk bins. They have an amazing variety of items that you can try and incorporate into a healthy eating routine.)
I soaked a cup and a half of the 16 bean mix overnight. The next morning, I drained the beans and ground them up in my blender with an inch of fresh ginger, a couple of green chillies and a handful of fresh cilantro. I added a sufficient quantity of water to ensure that the blender ran smoothly and to get a free flowing batter. I also added half acup of semolina and a teaspoon of salt.
You could also add half a cup of rice flour instead to ensure that the batter spreads evenly and has a crispy texture.
This batter does not need any fermentation time. I let it sit for about 15 minutes while I did some other chores.

I served the dosas along with coconut chutney and the family indulged in a rice free, protein rich breakfast that didnt take too much effort to put on the table.

Ingredients:
1.5 C of mixed beans and lentils (Either store bought or mix it yourself)
1 inch fresh ginger
2 -3 green chillies (depending on taste)
1/2 C finely chopped cilantro
1/2 C finely chopped onion (optional)
1/2 C semolina or rice flour
1 tsp salt or to taste

Method:
1. Soak the beans overnight. This will ensure that the beans are soft enough for grinding. If you do not have a high powered blender, then make sure you grind in batches and rest the blender in between to prevent an overload.
2. Drain the beans and discard the soaking water, Blend the beans in batches, if required along with the ginger, chillies and cilantro.
3. Remove the mixture into a pot / vessel. Add the semolina or rice flour and adjust to a pouring consistency by adding sufficient water. Add the salt.
4. Add the onions if using and mix well.
5. Heat a pan well and then make dosas by pouring a ladle of the batter and spreading it out on the pan with the back of the ladle in a circular motion.
6. Cover the dosa to ensure that it gets cooked well. Drizzle a little oil around the edges of the dosa.
7. Flip the dosa and cook it on the other side for a while.
8. Serve hot with accompaniment of your choice.

Notes:
As with any other dosa / pancake, make the first one slightly thick. Subsequent dosas can be spread thinly. Make sure the pan is sufficiently hot before you start making the dosas.
I prefer to eat dosas while they are piping hot. These will still taste good when cold, but eat them while they are hot if possible!

Wishes, Purposes and Fulfillment

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 00:10:00 +0000

As the day bowed down and gave way to the impending night, so did the exhausted old year yield to the energetic new one. I had already started getting messages and forwards from friends and family across the ocean through social media, celebratory and jubilant. All expressing a wish that my family and I would have a prosperous, fun filled,healthy and happy new year; that the new year would bring with it new beginnings, new hopes and new aspirations. After all, they had already bid adieu to the old year and relegated it to their memories.
I, on the other hand was still in the process of saying my goodbyes. It was still New Years Eve for us in the western hemisphere and the old year was like the guest who was leaving after the party, but was in the midst of a last minute conversation at the door. The old year had not yet been captured and framed to be boxed up with its predecessors. I was preparing for a quiet separation, one that would not involve boisterous games and excited conversations and kids running around waiting for the obligatory slice of cake.
When the new year dawned on me, it brought with it more messages and wishes, all of them more or less repetitions of the same variety. I had nothing against them, I myself had sent numerous such replies to my well-wishers. But once I had done that, I found myself in an introspective mood. What, in the end, did these wishes mean? What is the recipient to do?
"Wishing you a New Year filled with new hope, new aspirations and new happiness"
Wouldn't it be amazing if wishes such as these were self-fulfilling and would grant us all that they contained, without needing anything from us in return? They would be fantastic!
Alas, then that wishes have no such power hidden in their depths. All they convey are expectations and desires and wants, whether for ourselves or for others. Do we then receive them, acknowledge them and let them flow through the sieves of our daily routines?
What if we picked through the list and selected the wishes that spoke most compellingly?
New aspirations? Check.
New happiness? Yes, please.
Then, what if we added our own goals and wants and yearnings to the pile?
Dig through that discarded bag of resolutions and dust off the "better health", "better relationships", "better career" wishes and look at them through renewed eyes.
Its time to convert the well meaning wishes into something more purposeful, something achievable and something that we all have to do for ourselves.
I want better health this year, like I have wanted for the past several years. I am going to have to take steps to achieve that, though. I will need to make better choices regarding food and I am most definitely going to need to make a sustainable plan for working out on a regular basis and follow through. I also want better relationships. That means, I will need to work on that also. I need to make plans to spend time in a meaningful way with my husband and my kids and my friends. Its not something that will happen automatically.

So dear readers, here I am, at the beginning of another beautiful year, not just wishing you a happy new year, but urging you all to find the purpose in your wishes and then working through a plan to bring those wishes to fulfillment. We are all fellow travelers in this life. Our wishes, goals and purposes might be as different as chalk and cheese, but the happiness that we will derive from the fulfillment will most certainly be the same.
Let us then make this year not just about passage of time, but about an achievement of desires and wants. Let us not be beguiled into thinking that our friends and neighbors have a better life than us just on the basis of their social media presence. They are also, after all struggling through their own personal obstacles that we might know nothing about. Let us look through a lens of optimism and encouragement and perseverance and realize that when we focus, we progress and when we progress, we fulfill. When we fulfill, we have contentment.
Let us all strive towards a state of contentment so that when it is time to look at this year in our rear view mirrors, we can do so with a lighter heart, a smiling face.

Happy New Year

Himalaya Botanique Complete Care Toothpaste - review

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 04:08:00 +0000

Gone are the days when everything that a family might need for its day to day living was made at home. In the modern world, all daily necessities are easily available in any store or market. There are sores of brands that churn out newer and more improved varieties of personal hygiene products like soaps, shampoos and creams. Toothpastes are by no means an exception. Rows upon rows are filled with tubes of all shapes, sizes and brands, Colorful pictures and texts proclaim benefits upon benefits. But an informed consumer should know that not all toothpastes are created equal.
A glance at the ingredient list in most common toothpastes will show names such as Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Triclosan, Artificial sweeteners and colors, Propelene Glycol among others, Studies have shown that these ingredients are not really good for our health and yet they are used to make a product that is used at least twice a day, if not more.

When I got the opportunity to try out the Himalaya Botanique Complete Care Toothpaste through the Moms Meet program, I was intrigued by a couple of points. The first was that ingredients included Neem, pomegranate, Triphala and xylitol. The product was also free from SLS, fluoride, carrageenan and gluten. I readily agreed to try the product with my family.
The review kit was really a surprise. I got to try several varieties of Himalaya paste including peppermint, spearmint, cinnamon and Neem and pomegranate. The tubes came in beautiful cardboard boxes, which are completely recyclable. The toothpastes definitely have the astringent taste because of the Neem, Triphala and the pomegranate. There was a pleasant feeling after brushing.
Some of the more salient features of the product are as follows:
* Neem leaves have been used traditionally to maintain dental health and they work to keep the mouth clean.
* Pomegranate has astringent properties and helps support healthy gums by tightening the tissues.
* Triphala is a much loved Ayurvedic formulation and is composed of three different fruits and helps in keeping the teeth clean.
* Xylitol is a tooth - friendly sweetener and has also been clinically studied to support good dental hygiene.
* With regular brushing, this herbal formulation helps remove plaque, supports healthy gums and maintains white teeth.
* The Himalaya Botanique Complete Care toothpastes contain Papain and Bromelain, enzymes from Papaya and Pineapple to remove surface stains.
* The toothpastes are gluten free, carrageenan free, SLS free and fluoride free.
* The toothpastes are available in a variety of flavors and retail for $5.99

For more information, do visit the following sites:
www.himalayatoothpaste.com
www.facebook.com/HimalayaUSA
www.twitter.com/HimalayaUSA
www.instagram.com/HimalayaUSA

My kids found the flavors a tad overwhelming, but both my husband and I really liked the paste and are using it daily. I like that there aren't any sulphates and artificial sweeteners and colors. I like the inclusion of Ayurvedic ingredients. I would really recommend this toothpaste to anybody looking for more herbal preparations for their dental health.

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my honest opinion on my blog. The opinions posted are my own.

NeilMed Naspira Nasal-Oral Aspirator - Review and Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 16:30:00 +0000

If you have ever suffered from a common cold and everything that it entails, then you know just how frustrating and torturous it can be to go about your daily routines while battling with congested noses, sore throats and watering eyes. On the other hand, if its your toddler or baby who is suffering from congestion, then it becomes even more difficult to provide them with relief until the cold runs its course.

We have used a neti pot with our older son when he was around 4 -5 years of age, successfully to an extent. The neti pot definitely helped in gently flushing the nasal passages with warm saline water and seemed to have helped in reducing congestion and helping our son breathe better. But a toddler or a baby cannot use neti pots and the suction bulb can only help so much.

I recently hear about the NeilMed Naspira Nasal Oral aspirator and was struck by its unique design. The aspirator is designed to help suction a baby's or a toddler's nose safely, gently and effectively.

I was offered a chance to use a kit and review it and I decided to give it a try.

Unlike the ubiquitous blue suction bulb that is provided by the hospital after a baby is born, the NeilMed aspirator is transparent and has a 2 in 1 design. You can either use it as an aspirator or as a nasal / oral suction device. Parents can use this device to generate suction force through the mouth to alleviate nasal congestion in their little ones.

Although my youngest is now 5 and can blow his nose by himself to clear any mucus that might accumulate, he did allow me to try the aspirator on him when he had a slight cold earlier in the month. When I tried to insert the tip of the aspirator into his nose, it took us a few tries just because he kept getting tickled by it! But once he had the hang of it, it was easy enough to gently use the aspirator to clear his nose. I can see how easy it would have been to use this product if he had been a few years younger.

The aspirator is made of high grade silicone and can be easily pulled apart for thorough cleaning. It can also be sterilized and disinfected easily by using boiling water or in the microwave.
The product has a life time warranty and is made without latex, pthalates or BPA. It is also dishwasher safe!!

The NeilMed Naspira Nasal Oral aspirator kit also includes 7 in-line disposable filters to prevent any mucus from entering the tubing and reaching the user's mouth.

The retail price of this kit varies from $9.99 to $14.99. The kit can be easily found at retailers such as Walmart, Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Rite Aid , Target and amazon.com.

Giveaway !! -
GreenMomsMeet and NeilMed have graciously provided me with a few kits so that I can share them with any readers who might be interested in trying this out. Please leave me a comment with your name, email address and why you think this product might be useful to you! Give away closes in a week!!

For more information about the kit and other products from NeilMed, visit the following websites:

www.neilmed.com

www.facebook.com/neilmedbaby

www.twitter.com/neilmedbaby

Disclaimer:I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program (greenmomsmeet. com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

Harvest Monday - 6/20/2016

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 03:05:00 +0000

Summer has burst into the North Texas areas now. Temperatures are soaring during the day and nights are getting pretty warm too. It is typically an expected occurrence here and temperatures are already at the 98 / 99 F range with the worst of the summer yet to come.
Although I had sowed my seeds well in advance and prepared my beds by working in compost, the big mistake I made was not getting protection in place for my tiny gardening space. The rabbit population has increased drastically in my neighborhood and they need to get sustenance from somewhere! My unprotected raised beds are, therefore, fair game. My okra plants have been all but decimated, only small twigs remaining in place of lush leaves. The green bean plants have been trampled over and several are broken. Its nobody's fault but mine! Lesson learned the hard way, that is all!
I do still have several growing plants in the beds, so all is not lost!

Green amaranth

I harvested another big bunch of amaranth leaves and shared them with a neighbor.

I also pulled up two of my garlic plants. Having planted them in November last year, I was very curious to see what was going on underground. I have never grown garlic before and as an experiment, planted 12 cloves of ordinary store bought garlic. The only amendment I added to the soil was compost and I watered the plants with liquid sea weed once in a while.
I am very excited about the results. Granted, they are not huge bulbs, but I have seen bulbs this size in grocery stores and considering what I started with, I think its a fair harvest!! I still have about 8 more bulbs in the ground and I am planning to let them stay there for a tad longer before taking them out.

Raw horsegram beans - image courtesy Wikipedia

I also made sprouts last week. I am not sure if they are considered typical harvests. Instead of the usual green mung beans that I use, I sprouted horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) beans. Horsegram beans are legumes of the tropics and the subtropics and are known by several different names . Wikipedia tells me that these legumes were primarily grown as cattle feed, but they are very commonly consumed as sprouts in several regions of India. Like other beans, these little gems are high in protein and fiber and are also an excellent source of iron. This is a very drought tolerant vine. It can withstand prolonged duration of drought. The stems and leaves are used extensively as cattle fodder and once the crop is harvested, the plants are worked back into the soil to improve the soil quality.

sprouted horsegram

I soaked a cup of these beans overnight and then let them sprout in a sunny corner of my kitchen for about 3 days, rinsing them periodically. Even after sprouting, these beans are pretty chewy. They can be easily cooked on the stove top or in a pressure cooker to make them softer. I used them to make a curry to go with rice and also used them as sprouts for a simple sprout salad with cucumbers and tomatoes. If you would like to try these, a quick trip to the nearest Indian grocery store should suffice! You can find some more information about these beans here.

Simple sprout salad with horsegram sprouts, chopped cucumbers, tomatoes and red bell pepper dressed with lemon juice, salt and cayenne pepper. Since this will be consumed for lunch at work tomorrow, I didn't add onion, else a little chopped onion would add more flavor.

For bounteous harvests from other gardeners around the world, visit the Harvest Monday roundup at Our Happy Acres.

Harvest Monday - 06/14/2016

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 20:56:00 +0000

I am a day late again for this week's Harvest Monday. It wasn't a very fruitful week!! I harvested a big bunch of amaranth greens and shared them with a friend. A big bunch of lemongrass stems also went along for company. My friend said that last year she had taken the lemongrass stems that I had shared, sliced the bulbs up thinly and dried them until all the moisture was gone. She had then powdered it and used it in her tea. I think I shall have a go at that and see if I can get some homemade lemongrass powder.
I also used up a few sorrel leaves and some spring onion greens from the garden. No pictures, however. But I am excited about a new purchase! I am now the proud parent of a Moringa plant!

I am not sure which kind of Moringa plant it is, the tag doesnt say. If you haven't heard of it before, then you can read all about this wonder plant here. Suffice it to say that the leaves of this plant are highly nutritious and the fruits or pods are edible as well. This is a very well known tree in India. Its known colloquially as drumstick and is relished as a seasonal specialty. I remember my father getting the long pods from the market. The leaves are used in stir fries and the pods are used in lentil stews. Recently, it has been hailed as a miracle plant and the western world is slowly discovering the benefits of this tree, which is native to the tropical and subtropical areas of the world. India is the largest producer of moringa. The leaves are the most nutritious part with high protein, Vit. A and Vit. C content.
It is a very fast growing tree and since I am not sure if it will survive the winters here, I will keep it as a container plant. All information suggests that keeping the plant in the container and pruning it off regularly will keep it at manageable heights. There is already new growth at the tips and I will probably move it to a bigger container soon. I am wary about transplant shock and am wondering if I should let the plant remain in this container until the stem has thickened a little bit more. Any advice?
For more productive gardens this week, do visit the Harvest Monday roundup at OurHappyAcres.

Harvest Monday - 06/06/2016

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 20:32:00 +0000

I have been following the Harvest Monday posts for quite some time now, marveling at the wonderful harvests, drooling over the pictures of dishes using said harvests, appreciating the hard work that these gardeners have put into their gardens and widening my eyes over the beautiful green spaces being maintained!
Compared to these bounties, my gardening space is tiny and my harvests are very small. But they are gratifying and exciting nonetheless! I didn't plan at all for any spring harvests and my summer garden is just beginning to grow. But I have taken some offerings from my raised beds in the past couple of weeks.

Green leaved amaranth is one plant that is self sown in my patch. The first and last time that I sowed it was probably about 3 years ago. Since then, it comes up regularly like clockwork every spring and sometimes in the most unlikeliest of spaces! But you will hear no complaints from me because I love my amaranth greens. I saute them with garlic and red chillies for a simple side dish or I add chopped leaves and tender stems to lentils to make a hearty Indian daal to go with rice.

This year I am also growing Roselle (Hibiscus Sabdariffa or sorrel). Many Indian dishes use the tangy leaves extensively for chutneys and such, but the rest of the world apparently also uses the dark red calyces for syrups!

A few overgrown spring onions and a lone garlic. The spring onion bulbs were still edible and the garlic was pulled out because the resident pest stamped all over it and bent the stalk. Plus I was very curious to see how much it had grown; this being the first time that I planted garlic!

I also pulled out several stalks off my lemongrass bush. It had surprised me considerably in the spring by not only surviving the winter but also thriving splendidly! The clump of bushes is providing a hiding nook for the rabbits who are viewing my little vulnerable patch like a 24/7 buffet. I cut away the outer leaves, trimmed each stalk to a manageable length. The picture above shows the stalks with the roots still attached, but I removed those and washed them clean before putting them in a ziploc and stowing them in the freezer. I still have about 2/3 of the bush to harvest. I am planning to use them in teas and lemonades, to flavor rice and also in curries. Since a little lemongrass goes a long way, I should have a nice supply for the coming months.

The above picture shows several seedlings of my holy basil. A traditional house in India is never without a holy basil plant. It is considered sacred there, being heavily used in religious ceremonies. It is also cultivated for its medicinal use. The leaves are highly prized for their use in respiratory disorders, fevers and stress. A few months ago, it looked like I wouldn't have this wonder herb in my backyard for the first time in a decade. But thankfully that was not to be. I plan to get a bigger container for these plants and nurture them into a big bush that I can move into the house during colder temperatures.

That's it for this week!

For other amazing harvests, visit the Harvest Monday roundup at Our Happy Acres.

Embracing the gardening bug!

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 17:49:00 +0000

For the past couple of years, I have noticed a recurring theme in my behavior when the beginning of the year comes around. I seem to get bitten badly, by the gardening bug..I mean! I dream of seeds, regular and exotic. I surf gardening blogs like they are going to become extinct. I make notes (in my head, of course) of all the different types of vegetables that can be easily grown in the home garden. It doesn't help that there are gardeners out there, with exceptional blogs, who showcase such beautiful harvests that are definitely drool-worthy. I await warmer temperatures with a fervor that only a fellow gardening enthusiast can understand!!!
By no means do I consider myself an expert, an amateur at the most, with some small success in growing certain vegetables. I don't have self sufficiency in home grown vegetables, meaning I definitely have to spend my money at the grocery store. But that does not mean that I cant dream about it :D

Things that are currently growing at home:

My curry leaf plant that has been babied and cosseted and pampered and is rewarding me by growing steadily :) I am going to prune the tops off in the spring to encourage more branching.

The lemon grass experiment: I bought some healthy looking firm stalks from the Indian grocery store and rooted them in water. Then, I stuck them in the ground and watered them when they looked dry and pretty much ignored them after that. When winter was about to set in last year, I harvested the outer most thick stalks and gave them away to friends. Surprisingly, they survived the winter and seem to be holding steady!

My lemongrass bush has also survived the winter here and was recently given a haircut. I still need to trim it a little bit more and make it look neater. I love the lemony clean scent of its leaves. What I don't like is the Resident Rabbit who seems to think hiding behind my bush makes him invisible {grrr}

My chili seeds (Baker Creek Thai Green) and tomato seeds (Roma tomatoes from Home Depot) have already germinated. The reason I am starting the tomatoes so soon is because peak summer brings really soaring temperatures here in the North Dallas area and the poor tomato plants cannot bear any fruits then. So they need to get a flying start even before they are transplanted into the ground.

Some for me and some to be shared with friends.

Gardening is hard work. What (and how you sow), so shall you reap! (This was most probably coined by a gardener and then was used as an allegory to life!). Planning, organization, preparing the beds, sowing seeds, removing weeds, watering consistently, fertilizing if required, checking and dealing with pests - these are all required tasks to do in the garden and in order to harvest anything worthwhile, one must certainly be prepared to put in time, effort and last but not the least, patience!!!
But having said that, I can also say that gardening - in all its wonderful forms is almost cathartic. Working systematically and methodically in the garden, paying attention to the soil running in between your hands, inhaling the intoxicating fragrance of wet soil, tending to the seedlings and plants and the utter joy in getting the (literal) fruits of your efforts is enthralling. The best stress buster that I can think of, that also lets you get a healthy dose of air and sunshine.

Coming back to my little patch, I didn't plan for any spring harvests, but a few green onions that I had planted last fall have overwintered and to my utter surprise have also divided into more plants!
Considering that they started as root ends of store bought green onions that I stuck in the ground, that looks like a great return on investment for basically sticking them in and then forgetting all about them!

I have used up the tops of these spring onions several times as garnishes on my potatoes. I will pull them up as and when I need them so that I can make space for fresh ones soon.

Another experiment: I selected about 12 - 14 firm cloves of garlic and planted them out in a corner of my vegetable bed in the fall. They seem to be growing well. I mulched them with some shredded leaves and watered them occasionally. I havent fertilized them.

There is a serious dearth of flowers in my garden now and I want to rectify that. To that end, I have started some asters and zinnias also. Hopefully I can grow some nice flowers this year.

I still have some prepare my beds before I can start sowing directly in the ground. But I am really looking forward to the growing season. For inspiration and visual treats, do check out http://ourhappyacres.com/
Every Monday, gardeners from all over showcase their vegetable beds and harvests and their low of gardening and self sufficiency is truly amazing.

I hope to be more regular with my posts here, so wish me luck.
Until then - May the grass always be greener on your side of the fence :)

Anjeer Halwa / Fig pudding

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 19:26:00 +0000

Festivals have a way of energizing people, infusing them with the sense of exuberance, joy and excitement. I suspect this is true worldwide. I experienced this myself when I was growing up in India. The anticipation of an upcoming festival would drive my mom and all the neighboring ladies into a cleaning and cooking spree. Preparations would start days before the actual day of the festival and everybody in the vicinity (read my dad, my brother and I) would be roped in to help! Since we were always ready to gobble the delicacies, we would always help.
One of the major festivals celebrated in India is Ganesh Chaturthi. This is a festival that was instituted as a publicly celebrated festival in the city of Pune since the time of Shivaji Maharaj and the Peshwas. Although the fall of the Peshwa regime saw the decline of the celebrations on a public scale, it was revived again by Indian freedom fighter, Lokamanya Tilak and continues to this day.
But, I digress. The impending arrival of the elephant headed God sprinkled magic over homes grand and humble. Schools had holidays, office goers got a day off and entire families and communities could celebrate this festival in togetherness and harmony if they so wished!
I miss that excitement and fervor in the States. People obviously celebrate, mingle and whip up delicacies at home. But schedules dont match, working moms have a tough time trying to adhere to customs and their other responsibilities. But all was not lost this year, despite having to work on the day of the festival and having to attend a meeting at my son's school. Although I couldnt make the usual sweets and treats that I try to make every year, I couldnt let the festival pass without even a token offering to the God of knowledge and wisdom.
I made panchakajjaya, which is very easy to prepare and which I usually make.
I also tried a new sweet this year, since it seemed as if I had all the required ingredients. I had seen a recipe for Anjeer Halwa (Fig pudding) in a Tarla Dalal newsletter and that was what was offered.

Ingredients:
15 - 18 dried figs
3 Tbsp ghee
1/4 C almonds - blanched, peeled and crushed into a coarse powder
4 tbsp sugar
4 tbsp milk powder
1/4 tsp cardamom powder

Method:
1. Boil enough water and soak the dried figs in the water for at least 2 hours or until softened.
2. Once softened and cooled, drain the figs and pulse in a food processor with a little of the soaking water.
3. Reserve a teaspoon of the ghee and heat the remaining in a thick bottomed pan.
4. Add the powdered almonds and cook on medium flame. I only had raw almonds and thats what I used.
5. Add the pureed figs, milk powder and sugar along with a quarter cup of water.
6. Cook on a medium flame for at least 5 minutes, stirring continuously.
7. Add the cardamom powder and mix well. Take off the flame when the mixture thickens slightly.
8. Garnish with slivered almonds or cashews roasted in ghee and serve hot or cooled.

Notes:
While I really liked the complex flavors of the figs, my family members were not as enthusiastic! They accepted the token teaspoon of 'prasad', but didnt ask for it again. The kids felt it was too crunchy (from the fig seeds). Oh, well! Hopefully at least the Lord was appeased!
* Figs are a good source of dietary fiber and minerals such as iron, potassium and magnesium. So its definitely worth having in the kitchen for a healthy diet.
** I apologize for the not quite good quality of the picture, it was late, the family was looking forward to dinner and I didnt have a lot of leeway to stage a photo!

Organic India Tulsi Tea - review

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 17:25:00 +0000

The one plant that is most commonly found in Hindu households is the Tulsi or the holy basil. In traditional homes, where there is ample space around the house, this humble plant is usually found right in front of the doors. The tulsi has such cultural and religious importance that even apartment dwellers and people residing outside India usually have the bush growing lushly in containers. The reason is simple - the Tulsi plant has been revered since ancient times for its medicinal uses. The western world has recently opened its eyes to the wide array of beneficial uses of Tulsi, but the ancient medicinal system of Ayurveda has always indicated the usage of Tulsi for managing respiratory disorders, enhancing immunity and even for reducing stress.

The research into this wonderful herb has indicated that it is an adaptogenic herb, meaning that it has been shown to support the body's natural immune system while relieving the body's negative reaction to extreme stress. Such herbs have been used in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines for thousands of years for promoting and maintaining wellness. Adaptogenic herbs help the body adapt to environmental, physical and emotional stress, support normal functions and restore balance.

When Green Moms Meet gave me the opportunity to try Organic India's Tulsi Tea, I literally jumped at the chance. I have a much loved Tulsi bush at home. I regularly pinch off the leaves to make a herbal concoction for my family when the sniffles hit. But I had never really tried herbal teas combining Tulsi leaves with other ingredients and was really curious about it. Organic India has an enormous collection of herbal tea blends and they all contain a variety of Tulsi leaves.
The first tea that I tried was the Original formula, which contained just the blend of the Tulsi leaves. I like to sip on this when I am working. Its smooth and mellow flavor warms me up as I sit at the computer. The next one that I tried was the Sweet Rose blend. I was intrigued by this combination, not sure how the floral notes of the gorgeous rose would complement the earthy tones of the Tulsi. But I definitely need not have worried. The tea was delightful! The sweet floral fragrance was enough to sweeten this herbal tea. No need to add sugar!
I have yet to try the remaining flavors - Raspberry peach, Tulsi Green tea , Pomegranate Green tea - I am looking forward to try them all!
Here are a few other facts about this product:
* Each of the Tulsi tea blends is abundant in antioxidants, it is certified organic, tastes great and offers stress relief, increased energy and a boost to your natural immune system.
* All the organic Tulsi teas include the three varieties of Tulsi leaves: Rama, Vana and Krishna. Each variety has a slightly different look, taste and smell.
* Organic India Tulsi tea is USDA Certified organic, non GMO, Kosher and Halal certified, gluten free and vegan.
* Each box (containing 18 tea bags) retails for $5.99

Each box also has a picture of the farmers involved with the Organic India group (I found this very heartening)
If you want to try these teas for yourself, you can save 20% on Organic India products by using the code kiwi20 online. This is for a one time use only.

Here are a few more links for your perusal:

www.organicindiausa.com
www.facebook.com/OrganicIndiaUSA
www.twitter.com/OrganicIndiaUSA

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

NoGii protein bars - a review

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 16:17:00 +0000

Snacks are a big deal in my house. My kids have a snack mid morning and then one in the evening, when hunger strikes in between lunch and dinner. But finding a healthy, filling and minimally processed snack has always been a challenge. Either the product has too much sugar or is not filling enough or doesn't entice my kids' taste buds. When I got the opportunity to review the NoGii product line, courtesy GreenMomsMeet, I was really curious. I hadn't heard of the products before. The 'G' stands for gluten, so NoGii would mean that the products were gluten free. Although my family does not need to be gluten free, we do relish traditional Indian food that is quite often gluten free.
Back to the product, the shipment from NoGii left me quite speechless. They sent the entire product line, which meant that we got to sample all the different flavors of protein bars that were manufactured under the NoGii line!

Here are a few facts about the protein bars:
* These bars were created by Elisabeth Hasselbeck, gluten free mom, Emmy Award winning talk show host and Best Selling Author of " The G-Free Diet" and "Deliciously G-Free".
* It is a line of certified gluten free protein bars, protein powders and paleo bars.
* NoGii's High protein Peanut Butter and Chocolate bar is a certified gluten free and Non-GMO protein bar with 20g of high quality protein. Its also delicious!
* They are made with sustainably sourced premium ingredients and have an ideal balance of protein, fats and carbohydrates. They do not contain HFCS, hydrogenated oils or transfat.
* They are extremely portable, can be enjoyed by the entire family at any time.
* NoGii's High Protein Peanut Butter and Chocolate bar retails for $2.50 to $2.99 for one 1.93 oz bar

Our Experience:
My family, including my two school aged kids enjoyed these bars, mainly for snacks, to tide them over until the next meal. With high protein content, they provided enough satiety. These bars were also vegan, which made it easier for our vegetarian household to enjoy them. I could easily pop a few in my handbag or in the car for easy on-the-go snacks.
They made excellent school snacks as well.

The only concern I had was the soy protein used in the bars. These bars are predominantly soy based and I am not yet sure about frequent consumption of soy products. But, with some moderation, these are a really nice option, especially for people who have to follow a gluten free diet for health reasons.

Readers, you can have a the chance to win a trip to New York, where you will meet and have lunch with Elisabeth Hasselbeck.To enter, visit www.facebook.com/nogiigluten, look for the link for the contest and the complete the entry form. Hurry, Contest ends on July 31st 2015!

Please visit the following links for more information:
www.nogii.com
www.facebook.com/nogiigluten
www.twitter.com/nogiidiet
www.instagram.com/nogii_nogluten

Disclaimer - I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I have agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily refelct those of May Media Group LLCor the manufacturer of the product.

Xlear Care Kit (Oral Health Products) - A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 19:26:00 +0000

Gone are the days when everything (or even almost everything) used in a family would be home made. In this day and age, anything and everything is available in the supermarkets for a price. That includes food, toiletries, clothes and of course dental hygiene products. There is no question that one is spoilt for choice when it comes to oral hygiene products. There are rows upon rows of toothpastes, tooth gels, even tooth powders and mouth washes available for the health conscious consumer.

But just like we are getting better about reading product labels on food items, we also need to be aware of the ingredients in our toothpastes. Most popular brands today contain harmful ingredients like triclosan, sodium lauryl sulphate, hydrated silica and a plethora of artificial dyes and flavoring agents. Most of these are totally unnecessary and some are extremely harmful for the human body.

When I got the opportunity to try out the Xlear Care Kit, courtesy Green Moms Meet, I was intrigued. Getting to know about healthier alternatives for everyday products is always exciting! The kit contained the following:
Xlear Nasal Spray - This is a soothing nasal spray that helps with congestion caused by allergies, cold, flu and sinusitis. It incorporates xylitol, a natural product that has been shown to decrease bacterial adherence in the nose. The spray hydrates the nasal passages and the sinuses and also helps to wash away contaminants and pollutants. Daily usage of the spray is non-addictive and will not cause any damage to the tissue.
One 1.5 oz container retails for $14.99 and will last 2 -3 months with daily use.
Spry toothpaste Non fluoride - This toothpaste consists of 1/3 xylitol, which increases mineral absorption into the enamel of the teeth. This results in greater protection. The toothpaste retails for $5.99 each.
Spry Oral Rinse - This oral rinse uses a xylitol rich, low-alcohol and pH neutral formula. It uses a mix of natural flavorings and herbal extracts such as chamomile, aloe vera and echinacea to help soothe irritated mouth tissues. It retails for $6.99 each.
Spry Gum - This gum also contains xylitol and is available in 4 natural flavors - Cinnamon, Spearmint, Peppermint and Wintergreen. 12 pieces of the gum retail for $2.99.
Spry Gems - Xlear Spry gems are naturally sweetened with 100% xylitol and combine its benefits with calcium to create a pH balanced formula for overall oral health. They are available in a variety of flavors including Berry, Lemon Cream and Cinnamon. 40 count Spry Gems retail for $2.19.

If you notice, each of the products contains xylitol, which is a naturally occurring alcohol, found in plant tissues. It is sweet tasting and is increasingly being used as a sugar alternative.The addition of xylitol to nasal sprays and neti pots has been shown to be more effective in preventing ear infections, sinus infections, asthma, etc. Xylitol helps the body's natural cleansing process to clear away allergens, asthma triggers and other harmful bacteria. research has suggested that xylitol may help reduce dental decay.

All that aside, my family has been using these products for the past few weeks and we find them very easy to use as compared to conventional dental products. The toothpaste and the oral rinse are not harsh because the alcohol content is very low and the gems are naturally refreshing. We have not had a chance to use the nasal spray, but its reassuring to know that should the need arise, I have a product that is not only effective but is also safe to use.
Both my children, who are 9 and 4 years old have been enthusiastic about using these products, because of the refreshing flavors and low alcohol content.

Special Offer - If you would like to try the kit with your family, the Xlear Care kit, valued at $65 is available for only $25 with the code SAVE50. Visit xlear.com/xlear-care-kit-special to order!

If you would like to learn more about the products in order to do your own research, please visit the following sites:
www.xlear.com
www.facebook.com/Xylitol.Experts
www.twitter.com/XlearInc

Disclaimer : I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

SweetLeaf Organic Stevia - A Review and a Recipe!

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 18:52:00 +0000

Its been a few years now that I have been quite consciously monitoring my family's sugar intake and have been trying to avoid added sugar as much as possible. I stay away from sugary cereals and snacks that contain high amounts of sugar. I reduce the quantity of sugar called for in any recipe, without loss of flavor. I have reduced my personal consumption of sugary desserts and instead enjoy more fruits. All these changes have been pretty easy to follow so far and have not affected the way I cook for my family. The only hitch I felt was when I was sweetening my coffee or tea. I do drink up to 2 cups of coffee per day and find it slightly difficult to really enjoy my caffeine unsweetened.

I never really liked any of the artificial sweeteners. They always left a weird aftertaste in my mouth and marred a perfectly good cup of coffee! Also, research began to demonstrate that aspartame and other such sweeteners were not really good for you. So as a compromise, I drastically reduced the amount of sugar I added to my cup of joe and was pretty satisfied with that. When I got the opportunity to try out SweetLeaf Organic Stevia Sweetener through Green Moms Meet, I was intrigued. A sugar alternative that was better, contained zero calories and zero carbohydrates. I decided to give it a try.

I received two bottles of SweetLeaf Organic Stevia - one was a peppermint mocha flavor and the other one was a pumpkin spice flavor. I also received packets of plain stevia sweetener.
Here are a few facts about Sweetleaf Organic Stevia Sweetener:

This sweetener is a Certified Organic, zero-calorie sweetener made from high-quality stevia leaves.
It can use used to sweeten hot or cold beverages, cereals, baked goods , yogurt and more.
It is gluten free and contains no artificial ingredients, calories, carbohydrates or glycemic response, which makes it ideal for people with diabetes and those managing their calorie intake.
One packet of SweetLeaf Organic Stevia sweetener is as sweet as two teaspoons of sugar.
SweetLeaf Organic Stevia comes in 35 count ($4.99) or 70 count ($8.99) packets. Prices may vary based on the retailer.

I decided to use the sweetener to whip up a quick dessert for my kids. I had half a block of silken tofu in the refrigerator. Inspiration struck and I used it up to make a delicious peppermint mocha chocolate pudding using tofu, almond milk, semi sweet chocolate chips, cocoa powder and a teaspoon of peppermint mocha liquid Stevia sweetener. I did not add any additional sugar. The chocolate chips and the stevia were perfectly sufficient without being overpowering. I couldnt detect any aftertaste either. The kids were thrilled and gobbled up the pudding in a trice!

Recipe:
Half a block of silken tofu
1/4 C almond milk or milk of choice
1/4 C semi sweet chocolate chips
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp stevia sweetener of choice

Blend together until tofu is completely blended. You do not want chunks of tofu in your pudding! Refrigerate until firm. Serve chilled!

I plan to experiment more in order to substitute raw sugar with Stevia and try out more recipes which will allow me to literally have my cake and eat it too!

The key to enjoy SweetLeaf Organic Stevia Sweetener for me is to use it in smaller quantities. This is especially helpful if you are like me and can taste the bitter after notes of this sweetener. It is very sweet and a little goes a long way. It is definitely a good choice for those looking to reduce their sugar consumption. Stevia can be successfully substituted in a variety of recipes. Delicious recipes can be found at www.SweetLeaf.com.

For more information, please visit:
www.SweetLeaf.com
facebook.com/SweetLeafStevia

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions are entirely mine and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

Wacky Cake!

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 18:57:00 +0000

I am late, sorely late in fact. What for, you ask? Well..in wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy New Year!! Better late than never, though..that's one of my guiding principles and so here's wishing you and your family a very happy, prosperous and successful New Year. I hope that this new year heralds the beginning of a year where you are swamped with love, friendship, peace, knowledge and contentment and where sickness, unhappiness, loneliness and discontentment stay far away !

Now that that's out of the way, let me share a recipe for Wacky Chocolate Cake. When I was ~~(googling all over the internet)~~ researching this recipe, I found that this is also known as the Depression Era cake. The main reason is because this recipe calls for no eggs, no butter, no milk. Absolutely no rich ingredients at all and since people during that time had a scarcity for these items, some intrepid homemaker must have come up with this simple, one-pan recipe to be able to (ahem..) have her cake and eat it too!

You read that right, you can mix this cake batter up in the same pan that you bake it in. No mess, no fuss and a simple yet satisfying cake in the end. Without further ado, here's the recipe.

The recipe was adapted from sweetlittlebluebird

Ingredients:

1 1/2 C flour (I used a combination of unbleached all purpose and whole wheat pastry)

3 Tbs unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 C sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp Ener-G egg replacer(optional)

1 tsp apple cider vinegar (can use white vinegar too)

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 tsp instant coffee granules (optional)

5 Tbs oil of choice (I used olive)

1 C water

Method:

1. Grease an 8 X 8 pan. Preheat the oven to 350 deg F.

2. Mix the flours, cocoa, sugar, baking soda, egg replacer (if using), salt and the coffee granules in the pan. Whisk it thoroughly so that there are no pockets of cocoa left.

3. Make a well in the center, or three different wells and pour in the vinegar, oil and vanilla in the three different holes. Pour the water all over and gently stir the batter until it is well mixed.

4. I found that I had to mix in the corners really diligently to prevent dry flour mix (yuck!) from remaining in said corners.

5. Once the batter is smooth, clean the edges and the sides of the pan, if necessary and then place the pan in the preheated oven in the center of the middle rack.

6. Bake for about 35 minutes. Remove from the oven when a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean(ish).

7. Let cool in the pan for about 5 minutes and then gently remove onto a wire rack.

8. If your kids dont come hurtling into the kitchen, clamoring for a piece of the cake, let it cool for some more time, before slicing into it.

9. I served it plain, but you could cover it with chocolate ganache or a simple frosting to make it more decadent. Its best if the cake is consumed within a day, because it wont remain moist that long.

10. Its definitely not comparable to the rich, decadent, sigh inducing pastries and chocolate cakes, but for the time that it takes and the ingredients that it requires, its definitely a must make recipe.

Notes:

1. The kids loved it as a snack and as a lunch box item.

2. The next time I make this, I plan to use whole grain flour to make it healthier. I might even use simple chocolate ganache to top it!

Dave's Killer Bread - a review

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 19:26:00 +0000

It has always been fascinating to me how different cultures view food differently. What is a daily oft eaten food in one country could very possibly be a luxury in others. And so it was with sliced bread when I was growing up in India in the 80s and 90s. It wasn't a luxury, per se, but we definitely didn't eat it everyday. It was available in all the mom and pop grocery stores that are so common in India, but my mother cooked traditional Indian food most of the the times and bread didn't show up regularly on the menu.
It was only after I came to the United States in 2003 that I realized how pervasive the humble bread was in American diets. I was also stunned at the variety of breads available here, such as I had never seen, let alone eaten before. Whole wheat, white, honey, oat, English muffins, rye, boules, sourdough and what have you!

Picture - courtesy of Dave's Killer Bread.
Although I have followed in my mother's footsteps and cook traditional Indian food on a regular basis, my family and I also indulge in breads much more frequently than my husband or I ever did when we were children. We generally have a couple of loaves of bread at home and I have even tried my hand at baking bread at home with good results.
As I became more and more aware of the ingredients in bread, I realized that not all loaves were made equal. In an effort to reduce the amount of artificial colors, flavors and preservatives in bread, I try to purchase only whole wheat or whole grain bread, without HFCS and other additives. Reading labels has become a norm and finding a good brand that is healthy, versatile and delicious and also has a short ingredient list has become a challenge.
That's why when I realized that I had been selected by Moms Meet to review Dave's Killer Bread for my blog, I was pleasantly surprised. I had seen the loaves at the stores where I shop, but had never purchased them because they were slightly outside my budget.
I received two loaves to review - Dave's 21 whole grains and seeds and Dave's Thinly sliced Good Seed.

Picture - courtesy of Dave's Killer Bread.
Even before I sampled the bread, the following points stood out for me:
* All the breads were made using organic ingredients.
* Most were vegan with high levels of protein and fiber.
* They are also certified non-GMO
* The breads contain no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.

When I looked at the ingredient list on the breads that I had received, I was able to read, pronounce and recognize all of them! The sheer variety of the grains and seeds used in the bread amazed me.
I used the bread to make sandwiches for myself and my kids. I also used them to make croutons.
Both the varieties were hearty, filling and stayed fresh tasting even without preservatives of any kind.
I like having seeds and grains in my bread, I like the contrast in the textures. The breads made good toast too. Also, the thinly sliced Good Seed bread had only about 70 calories.

I have seen the loaves available at Costco and Sprouts Farmers market. For stores that sell this bread in your area, you can visit the store locator on the website and find out. The breads generally retail at 4 - 6$ per loaf.

On the website, I read about the history of the company and the concept of second chances that were offered to the employees of the company and was even more impressed. A company that makes amazing bread and also offers people with a past
a chance to turn their lives around - I can get behind that!

Read more about Dave's Killer Bread here http://www.daveskillerbread.com.
Visit the following links for more information about Dave's Killer bread.
www.facebook.com/Daveskillerbread
www.twitter.com/KillerBreadMan

If you eat bread regularly and are looking for a good, natural bread without unnecessary ingredients, do give Dave's Killer Bread a try.

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetsSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

Eggless Applesauce Loaf

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 19:50:00 +0000

We are a month into the new school year and so far we are doing well in the lunch and snack department. Admittedly, we rotate quite a few of the main 'entree' potion of the meal and I change up the sides quite a bit. That's one of the reasons I haven't started posting my Week in Bentos section. I am planning on incorporating a new set of lunch main dishes, so hopefully I will be able to restart that section again.
Every weekend, I try to bake at least two different types of muffins or quick breads so that I can use them liberally in the kids' lunch and snack boxes. LG8 has a really late lunch time this year and needs a hearty snack to tide him over till then. We cant afford to have hungry stomachs interfere with learning minds :). Rather than just sliced apples or pretzels, I try including something slightly more filling. A baked snack bar, or a couple of mini muffins, sandwiches too. Flavorful, healthy quick breads made with multi grain flour and studded with dried fruits lend themselves to interesting sandwiches.

I was browsing around for recipes when I came across this one at Williams Sonoma. It looked very adaptable and pretty easy to assemble quickly. It would probably have been healthier to make my own applesauce, but store bought organic applesauce, with no added sugar was a good substitute!

Ingredients:
1 C unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 C amaranth flour
1/4 C stoneground corn meal
1/4 C spelt flour
1 C walnuts, coarsely chopped, or 1 cup dark or golden raisins (I used raisins)
2/3 C sugar (I used a mix of regular sugar and coconut palm sugar)
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground allspice
1/3 C neutral tasting oil (you could also use coconut oil for a nice change)
1/4 C sour cream or yogurt
1 heaping cup applesauce
1 tsp corn starch or arrowroot powder

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350 °F. Grease a standard 9 X 5 loaf pan liberally with softened butter or oil.
2. In a bowl, stir together the dry ingredients - flours, nuts or dried fruits, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, spices and the arrowroot or corn starch. Whisk thoroughly.
3. In another bowl, whisk the oil, sour cream and apple sauce to get a smooth homogeneous mixture.
4. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until it is evenly moistened. Mix with a light hand so that the bread doesn't end up as a dense block.
4. Pour into the prepared loaf pan and bake for about 55 minutes. Keep checking for doneness after 50 minutes.
5. Remove from the oven when an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
6. Cool in the pan for about 5 minutes and then remove to a wire rack until it cools completely.
7. If possible, do not slice into the bread until it has completely cooled down. It makes such a big difference to the texture and the crumb of the bread!
8. Slice evenly with a serrated knife and serve with butter, jam, peanut butter or even cream cheese for a yummy snack!

Notes:
1. The original recipe called for 2 C of all purpose flour. I replaced half of it with various other flours that I had on hand. Use whatever you have available.
2. The original recipe also called for 1 egg that I replaced with sour cream. You could use yogurt, commercial egg replacers or any other substitute of choice.
3. I sprinkled the top of the bread with some rolled oats before baking for visual appeal!
4. The apple loaf turned out pretty tasty. I sent this in snack boxes, sandwiched with some cream cheese and jelly. It tastes delicious even plain with some soft butter.
5. You could also make mini or regular sized muffins with the same batter. Mini muffins take around 15 - 17 minutes and regular sized muffins need around 22 -24 minutes. If you use smaller loaf pans, adjust the time accordingly.
6. You could add other add-ins such as chopped apples, mini chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, etc. for a variation on the same bread.

Do give it a try!

Danish Pastry - Eggless Baking Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 23:48:00 +0000

Visit any bakery or avail your self of any continental breakfast in a hotel / motel and you will definitely have either seen or eaten a danish pastry. Flaky layers of dough with sweet fillings like jam or savory ones like cheese, these pastries are rich, indulgent and are definitely on my "have once in a blue moon" list. When I saw that the next thing that the Baking Eggless group was going to attempt, was Danish pastry, I was apprehensive to say the least. I had seen cooking shows where the method of making the dough had been demonstrated and "easy" had most certainly not been the key word. But what's the fun in being a part of a challenge group, if one doesn't attempt any challenges? Stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things definitely expands your knowledge and your confidence. So attempt I did.
As usual, I left things until the end of the month. Given that we also had a major Hindu festival to celebrate at around the same time, it wasn't until the first weekend in September that I was finally able to make the dough and bake off the pastries the next day.

Recipe source : Joe Pastry

Ingredients:
For Pastry Dough:
2/3 c milk (I used whole milk)
2 Tbsp sugar
11/2 tsp instant yeast
2 C unbleached all purpose flour + more as required
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 C yogurt (replaces 1 egg)

For the butter slab:
8 ounces of unsalted butter
3 Tbsp flour

Method:
1.I followed a slightly different order of making the dough. The original recipe had us making the dough first and then refrigerating it. I made the butter slab first and refrigerated that. I followed a youtube video that made the dough this way.
2.I brought the butter sticks to room temperature and then creamed it along with the flour until everything was well incorporated.
3. Using a butter knife, spread the butter - flour mixture into a roughly square shape on a parchment paper. Scrape off all the butter from the bowl onto the paper. You dont want to waste any butter after all!
4. Cover the butter square with another parchment paper, smooth it with your hands and then place it onto a flat cookie sheet and refrigerate for a few hours or even overnight.
5. For the dough: Warm the milk slightly. Add all the ingredients to the same bowl and knead lightly until a smooth and slightly sticky dough is formed. Add about 1 3/4 C of the flour first and then if needed, add by the tablespoon to make a dough that is easily kneaded. This dough doesnt require as long or as vigorous kneading as a bread dough. Once the dough came together, I kneaded lightly for about 3 minutes.
6. Place the dough back in the bowl. Cover it with a clean tea towel and place it in a warm area for the dough to rise.(about 2 hours)
7. After about 90 minutes, remove the butter slab from the refrigerator.
8. Now begins the fun part of laminating the dough!
9. Roll out the dough, using extra flour to prevent the dough from sticking to the rolling pin and the counter, into a shape that is slightly larger then the butter slab. It should be big enough to just cover the butter slab from all sides.
10. Once the dough is rolled out, peel the butter slab from the parchment paper and place it in the middle of the dough. Bring up the sides of the dough to cover the butter and encase it from all sides.
11. Keeping the seam side down, roll the dough gently but quickly into a rectangular shape.
12. Brush any residual flour that might be on the dough and then fold the dough like an envelope. The original site has very detailed pictures and referring to it will be very useful.
13. At this time, the butter in my dough started melting. It is the middle of summer here in North Dallas and temperatures are quite high. Not a very good time to be making laminated dough for the very first time, but still. So I quickly transferred the folded dough onto the cookie sheet and chilled it for 25 minutes.
14. Repeat the process two more times, rolling into a rectangular shape, folding into an envelope and then refrigerating for about 20 minutes.
15. Once the final folding was done, wrap the dough in plastic wrap, plunk it down on the baking sheet and send it back to the refrigerator. You can chill it overnight or you can start baking after about 3 hours.
16. When you are ready to bake the pastries, take the dough out from the fridge.
17. Using enough flour, roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch. The exact dimensions don't matter. Try to get it as thin as you can get it. The butter might start melting and oozing out again. You can either patch up using flour or cooling it again.
18. Then proceed to cut and shape the dough according to whichever style you have chosen.
Here are a few options to make with danish pastry dough.
I made the pinwheels. Cut the dough into rough square shapes. With a pair of kitchen scissors, cut from the 4 corners stopping just before the center. Take the right edge of each of the resulting triangles and secure it at the center to form a pinwheel shape. Form a depression in the center and then spoon in some jam into the center.
19. Once all the pastries are shaped, place them on a parchment paper on a cookie sheet, cover with the previously used parchment paper and let rise for about 45 minutes.
20. Preheat the oven to 375 deg. Once the dough is risen and the over preheated, bake the pastries for about 15 - 20 minutes, until they are puffed and golden brown.
21. Cool for a little while before enjoying the rich and flaky pastries.

Notes:
1. Like I mentioned previously, the heat made it slightly difficult for me to roll out the pastry as thinly as I would have liked. Though the pastries were flaky and crispy, they were not as delicate as I would have liked. They were slightly bigger and thicker.
2. The quality of the butter matters because you can taste a lot of the butter in the layers. So use a good quality butter.
3. A lot of patience is required to make the dough and to roll it out. So give your self enough time for the preparation.
4. We all liked the pastries, but they are too full of fat and calories to be had frequently, much less made on a frequent basis.

SweetLeaf Sweet Drops Cola - Review

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 03:54:00 +0000

I have never been a big soda drinker. Yes, I do enjoy the occasional chilled Pepsi or a Coke with a piping hot pizza or a spicy dish. The tart, almost bitter taste of the cola somehow complements a hot, spicy meal and I might indulge myself with one. The key word being indulge, because in my humble opinion, a soda - it doesn't matter what brand is it, doesn't qualify as an everyday consumable item. Other than the fact that soda has absolutely no nutritional value, some brands have about 40 grams of sugar in each serving, that's almost 8 teaspoons of sugar !! Add in the caffeine content and you have an addictive drink that replaces real nutrition with empty calories. Even if you go in for the diet varieties, they almost always use sugar substitutes which are no nutrition powerhouses themselves!

That is just for adults, I shudder every time I see kids guzzling these sodas down. Just think about childhood obesity, nutrition deficiency, dental decay and you will understand why! That's why, when I got the opportunity to review SweetLeaf Cola flavored sweet drops through Moms Meet, I was a little intrigued and a little curious as well. I had of course heard of stevia sugar substitute, I knew that it was plant based and was considered safer amongst all the sugar substitutes on the market, but I had never tried it myself. I always get a bitter aftertaste in my mouth, no matter the brand of the sugar substitute and I just end up using real sugar in lesser amounts.

A few facts about the SweetLeaf cola drops that I came across are:

SweetLeaf Liquid Stevia Sweet Drops Cola is a healthy alternative to traditional sodas.
All you need to do to enjoy a refreshing beverage is to add 2 - 3 drops of the Cola sweet drops to every ounce of sparkling water.
These drops are portable and very convenient.
SweetLeaf Sweet Drops contain no carbohydrates, sugar alcohols, calories, methanol, aspartame or sucralose. They are all-natural and gluten-free.
They are made with USDA certified organic stevia.

I bought a bottle of sparkling water from my local grocery store and immediately refrigerated it so that I could have a cool base for my cola drops. You could also use ice cubes, if you preferred that.
I then added about 8 - 10 drops of the liquid cola drops, stirred it well. I was pleasantly surprised when I could not detect the metallic aftertaste that I usually experience with all sugar substitutes. The taste was refreshing and the drink was fizzy due to the sparkling water. I could see how it could be used as a substitute for traditional sodas, especially by those who consume caffeinated beverages throughout the day, instead of water. I wouldnt say that using these cola drops would give you a beverage that would taste exactly like traditional soda. It doesnt. But, given that it contains 0 calories, no chemicals and is all natural, it would be worth it to just try and see for yourself.

The retail price is $4.39 for 37 servings and $14.99 for 100 servings. You could also visit SweetLeaf online and use the coupon code ColaMD at checkout to take 30% off your online order. You would also get free shipping with this deal.

Please visit the following links for more information about SweetLeaf.
www.SweetLeaf.com
www.ShopSweetLeaf.com
www.facebook.com/sweetleafstevia
www.twitter.com/SweetLeafStevia
www.pinterest.com/sweetleafstevia

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetsSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

Swedish Tea Ring - Eggless Baking Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 00:48:00 +0000

Do you ever feel that time is slipping like sand through your fingers ?? I get that feeling now and again, when I look at my kids, expecting to see my little babies, but actually seeing little persons, growing and maturing too quickly, right in front of my eyes ! Ever since I started working, I have had less time to spend with them during weekdays, but the job was my choice and so there is nothing for me to complain about :) I have to shift and slide my tasks and schedules around, so that I get to maximize the time and fun that I can have with my little darlings.
For July, the Baking Eggless challenge was to make a Swedish Tea Ring. It is very similar to cinnamon rolls, a rich yeast bread with a filling of cinnamon sugar, nuts and raisins, except it is baked in a circular form, usually in an intriguing design. This delicious bread originated in the Scandinavian region, which can now be separated into the countries of Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway. Most recipes seem to have been handed down by sweet grandmothers and continue to be relished in all parts of the world !

There are several recipes and creative designs floating merrily on the internet. Take your pick, but definitely give it a try !
The recipe we adapted is here.

Ingredients:
For the dough:
1/2 C milk
1/4 C ricotta cheese(substituting for 1 egg)
1/2 Tbs butter at room temperature
11/2 Tbs sugar
1/4 tsp salt
11/2 C + 2 Tbs bread flour
3/4 tsp active dry yeast

For the Filling:
1 Tbsp softened butter
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 C packed light brown sugar
4 Tbsp almond slivers (optional)

Method:
1. Put the milk, ricotta cheese, butter, sugar, salt and bread flour in a bowl.
2. Proof the yeast with a tablespoon of warm water and add to the bowl as well.
3. Mix all the ingredients well, until a smooth and slightly sticky dough is formed.
4. Knead well for about 5 - 6 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
5. If you find that the dough is too sticky, then add a tablespoon of dough at a time, until desired texture is obtained.

6. Oil a bowl and place the kneaded dough in it. You can use the same bowl in which you mixed the dough.
7. Cover loosely with a clean cloth and place in a warm area to let the dough rise.
8. After about 1.5 - 2 hours, the dough should have risen to double its original volume.
9. In the meantime, prepare the filling by combining the cinnamon, cardamom and sugar.
10. Punch the dough slightly to deflate the air. Roll it out into a 12 X 16 rectangle (approximately)
11. Brush the softened butter over the rolled dough. Leave about half an inch all around so that you can seal the ring properly.
12. Sprinkle the sugar and spice mixture evenly over the dough. Sprinkle the slivered almonds over the sugar and press slightly into the dough. You could use raisins instead of the nuts or you could use both !
13. Starting at the longer edge, roll the dough tightly into a log. Place the log, seam side down, stretching it with a gentle hand and then joining the two edges together to form a circle.
14. Place the circle on a greased baking tray. I lined a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
15. Using sharp kitchen scissors, cut 2/3 of the way through the loaf , at 1 inch intervals. Spread the cut pieces lightly.
16. At this point, I covered the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerated it. It was late in the evening and I didnt want to bake it at that time.
17. I couldnt bake it until the evening of the next day. The sugar and butter had combined to make a syrup of sorts which had oozed out of the dough. I was hoping that my bread wouldnt turn out to be a soggy mess !
18. If your dough is refrigerated, warm it up on the counter top for about 40 minutes. Do the same even if you intend to bake the bread on the same day. The second rise will yield a nice texture to the bread.
19. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Brush the tea ring with milk.
20. Bake the tea ring for about 20 minutes, until the top is golden and the filling seems bubbly.
21. Drizzle lightly with icing when the tea ring is still warm and serve immediately to all the family members who would have trickled into the kitchen following the delicious aromas emanating from there !

Notes :
1. The tea ring was delicious. The covering was flaky and rich and buttery and the filling was sweet and spicy and crunchy.
2. Kids and hubby both loved it and polished it off in a day !
3. The dough came together very easily and I had no difficulty with it at all.

Review : good2grow juices and veggie blends !

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 17:45:00 +0000

The days when juices were an occasional treat are long gone. Nowadays, parents all over have an inordinate number of choices when it comes to these ubiquitous treats. Picnics, birthday parties, casual gatherings, school lunches, summer camps...there is just no end to where juice boxes will make an appearance. For all their omnipresence and choice, the challenge lies in choosing a product that is not laden with artificial flavors, colors and added sweeteners. When you eliminate these culprits from the ingredient list, then there isn't too much of a choice.
When I got the opportunity to try fruit juices from the good2grow line of healthy beverages, I was curious. Since I am always on the lookout for food and drink items that I can serve my kids without any qualms, I was intrigued by the information that I had about good2grow.

The packaging was pretty unique in that a single serve bottle came with a character top which utilizes a patented spill proof design. These tops could then be reused if you purchased a refill pack of juice bottles. The 'SippaTops' come in dozens of character options such as Disney, Pixar, Nickelodeon, Marvel, etc.
I purchased a single serve bottle with a character from 'Cars' and also a refill pack. My kids were as intrigued and thrilled as I was to see this product and couldn't wait to try it out ! They loved the flavor and I loved that it was spill proof ! This way, as long as the top was tightened properly, I didnt have to worry about my kids taking their juice bottles into the living areas and inadvertently spilling the juice all over the carpet !

The good points of this juice are :

These juices are made from 100% fruit juice, as well as fruit and veggie blends. They do not contain added sugar, HFCS or any artificial additives or preservatives.
The juices come in 6 delicious varieties to suit all palettes.
They are sold in 3 different sizes ( 4 oz., 6 oz., and 8 oz.). Choosing the right size for your child becomes much easier.
As I mentioned above, the various 'SippaTop' character tops give a uniqueness to the juice bottles. The caps are also reusable and dishwasher safe.
All the bottles are BPA-free, non-GMO and recyclable.
The veggie blends contain less sugar than traditional juices and also contain one combined serving of fruits and vegetables.
These products are easily available at grocery stores, mass retailers and drug stores including Kroger, Safeway, H-E-B, Walmart, Kmart, Walgreens, CVS, Toys"R"Us, etc.
It would be convenient to send these single serve bottles as part of a school lunch, occasionally.

The aspects of this product that I didn't like so much:

Although I get that the character tops are attractive to kids, I think its a lot of unnecessary packaging. I have never had to bribe my kids to drink juice and in an age where people are trying to be more conscious about their carbon footprint, single serve juice bottles create a lot of landfill.
As a parent of two school going boys, I have come to realize that even the best fruit juices, without any additional sugars and artificial additives, are not the best drinks to offer to our kids on a daily basis. Juices have almost no fiber, a lot of sugar(even if its natural) and just add calories without providing the best nutrients.

But I believe that all treats are permissible in moderation and I make no exception when it comes to juices. So in that regard, I would feel pretty good about offering the good2grow line of juices to my kids when it is accompanied by healthy food choices which include protein and healthy fats.

Other notes:

The retail price for a single serve is $2.49 to $2.99. Refill packs range from $2.99 to $3.49. As a conscientious food shopper, I would not pay for single serve juice boxes on a regular basis because buying a big bottle of natural fruit juice is much more economical and "green" !
Refrigeration of the products is not required but is recommended for better taste.

For more information, please visit the following resources:

good2grow.com

twitter.com/good2growdrinks

facebook.com/good2growdrinks

instagram.com/good2growdrinks

If you would like to receive a free refill pack with the purchase of a single serve beverage, visit win.good2grow.com/mmblogger and enter to win a themed birthday party for your children.
Also be sure to check out the social media experience StoryStictcher at good2grow.com/storystitcher and enter to win a $5000 scholarship and free coupons.

Disclaimer : I received free vouchers for this product from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agreed to review this product and post my opinions on my blog. My opinions are completely my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

Hungarian Kipfels - Baking Eggless Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Chhaya) — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 03:24:00 +0000

For the Baking Eggless Challenge for the month of June, the recipe chosen was Hungarian Kipfels. These are traditional eastern European delicacies and are always made for special occasions such as weddings or birthday celebrations. Basically, for any occasion where family members could gather, create memories and share delicious food ! Sounds familiar ?
In any case, these sweet morsels are made with a rich dough and the filling could be prune or apricot butter, poppy seeds or even cream cheese and walnuts. I definitely wanted to make these because they looked delectable. The original recipe would definitely feed a crowd, but since I was only making it for 4, I had to scale the recipe down.

Original Recipe can be found here - June Meyer's Hungarian Kiffles
Ingredients:
2 C unbleached all purpose flour
1 stick / 8 tbsp butter , room temperature
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 C + 2 Tbsp warm sour cream
1/4 C granulated sugar
1/2 tsp active dry yeast
2 tsp grated orange zest

4 Tbsp walnuts , chopped finely
4 Tbsp granulated sugar

Method:
1. Add the yeast to 2 Tbsp of warm water and set aside for 5 minutes to proof.
2. Meanwhile, mix the softened butter into the flour mixture until it resembles bread crumbs.
3. Add all the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly. Knead well until everything is incorporated and the dough turns smooth and soft. If required, add a little lemon juice to bring the dough together. I didnt need to add any extra liquid.
4. Let the dough rise in a warm place until it doubles in volume. (about 2 hours). In a separate bowl, mix the ground walnuts and sugar and keep aside.
5. Once the dough has risen, pinch off lemon sized balls and using your palms and fingers, pat the dough into a circle. You can use a cutting board, or a flat plate to help you enlarge the dough circle.
6. Place a teaspoon of your filling mixture in the middle of the circle. I used homemade apricot butter.
7. Staring from one edge, roll the dough such that the filling is covered.
8. Roll the pastry in the walnut sugar mixture and place seam side down on a greased cookie sheet.
9. Form similar dough packets and place on the prepared sheets.
10. Keep aside in a warm place for about 45 minutes to let the dough rise again.
11. Preheat the oven to 350.
12. Bake the rolls for about 30 minutes until lightly brown.
13. Remove from the oven, cool on a wire rack and then store in an airtight container when completely cooled. Remember to let the pastries cool completely before storing, else the pastry will sweat and make the rolls soggy. Not good eats.

Result:
1. These little rolled up dumplings were seriously delicious. The buttery, flaky crust, the nutty and slightly sweet topping and the sweet and tart apricot butter filling provided a plethora of tastes and textures.
2. It is a very rich sweet, even without using eggs, so I would recommend that they be consumed in moderation!
3. Kids and hubby liked them, so it does appeal to quite a broad palette !
4. For the apricot butter, I essentially followed this recipe , but also added some freshly ground cardamom to lend an Indian touch. The apricot butter can also be used instead of regular jam. It was pretty easy to make and was quite good.

Notes:
1. I could have used a combination of whole wheat pastry flour and all purpose flour to increase the whole grains in the recipe.
2. Also, I think my active dry yeast was past its prime. The dough didnt rise as much as I expected. Please check the expiration date on your yeasts because more often than not, recipes using yeast depend largely on the yeast for the texture and taste of the end product !