Burnt Expresso and Tiramisu Cups

Ingredients

100 gm Mascarpone Cheese
70 ml water
50 ml sugar
2 egg yolks
1 gelatin leaf
140 ml fresh whipped cream
100 ml roasted expresso syrup
100 gm chocolate sponge fingers

Method

• Boil water and sugar to a soft ball consistency.
• Pour the sugar syrup over the egg yolk and whisk to get a sabayon.
• Once cooled add the mascarpone cheese and melted gelatin leaf.
• Fold in the whipped cream to get the tiramisu mix.
• Take a demitasse cup, pour the mix in it with 2 layers of chocolate sponge fingers dipped in expresso syrup. Refrigerate.
• Serve dusted with cocoa powder and garnish.

taken from the Delhi Times section of the Times of India.

Show Me the Honey!

Honey has, since ancient times immemorial, been considered ambrosia. It hass been referred to extensively in religion, art, mythology and literature. The oldest mention- from circa 5500 BC- of the use of honey has been found in documents in Egypt. A great healer, honey is widely known for its medicinal properties and as a panacea for nearly all ailments. It is the only food that does not go bad even after thousands of years!

Healthy benefits

ALLERGIES: Around 90% of all types of allergies can be treated with raw honey in various forms and concoctions.

COLDS AND COUGHS: Honey's antibiotic properties soothe irritated throats.

DIGESTION: Honey boosts kidney and intestine functioning. Easy to assimilate it's particularly useful for those suffering from indigestion- mix equal parts of honey and apple cider, dilute with water and drink up for instant relief.

CONSTIPATION: Take 1/2 tsp honey and 1/2 cup of warm water 2- 3 times a day to improve bowel movement.

PARALYSIS: Consuming honey with the extract of boiled rice helps cure facial paralysis.

WEIGHT CONTROL: Low in calories, honey helps you to reduce weight; it provides the same energy as sugar.

INFERTILITY: When consumed with milk, honey can increase human sperm count considerably.

STRESS: Drink honey and water in a ratio of 1:4 to soothe an agitated mind.

DID YOU KNOW?

• In older times, newlyweds were given an alcoholic beverage made of honey to drink during their first month of marriage, believing that this would produce a male child.
• In ancient Greece, brides dipped their fingers in honey and made the cross sign before entering their new homes. They believed this would bring sweetness into their married lives.

This has been taken from the Delhi Times section of the Times of India.

k's kewl!

Vitamin K is the unsung vitamin that tends to be back- benched in our daily diet dose of supplements. Here's the last vitamin in the series- vitamin K. Get to know it better....

What it Does

• Prevents internal bleeding and haemorraging.
• Reduces excessive menstrual flow.
• It is essential for normal functioning of liver.
• Is involved in energy producing activities of the tissues, particularly of the nervous system.
• Aids, along with vitamin D, synthesis of the bone protein that in turn regulates calcium levels.
• Aids in bone metabolism.

Sources

Vitamin K is found in abundance in green leafy vegetables like spinach, cabbage, fenugreek, mint, mustard and coriander leaves and to a lesser extent in wheat and oats.

• 100 gm of turnip greens= 0.65 mg
• 100 gm of spinach= 0.42 mg
• 100 gm of broccoli= 0.2 mg
• 100 gm of cabbage= 0.13 mg
• 100 gm of lettuce leaves= 0.13 mg

Deficiency

Not taking vitamin k can lead to many problems. Blood may take longer to clot, leading to severe hemorrhages anywhere in the body. It may also increase bone material density, thus increasing the tendency to fracture.

Did You Know?

Animal products contain very less vitamin k.

Ideal Daily Intake

Men= 0.07- 0.14 mg
Women= 0.07- 0.14 mg
Kids= 0.035- 0.075 mg

Taken from the Delhi Times, part of the Times of India.

Kewl Kiwi

Want a tangy start to the day? Bite into a kiwi. Also known as Chinese gooseberry, the fuzzy brown fruit with a bright green interior is packed with goodness.

Why Kiwis?

Nutrition wise, kiwi fruit is rich in potassium and vitamins C, A and E. Its black seeds can be crushed to produce kiwi fruit oil, a rich source of alfalinoleic acid 9and omega 3 fatty acid). Kiwi fruit is especially beneficial for asthmatic children and it decreases the probability of colon cancer. Since it contains the protein- dissolving enzyme actinidin, it may cause allergic reactions in some people like itching of the mouth, lips, palate, wheezing and collapsing.


How to Buy

Choose plump, unwrinkled fruit with unblemished skins. Hard, unripe fruit can be ripened at home. Store at room temperature, but not in a bowl with other fruits, since the enzymes in kiwis cause them to ripen very quickly.

Taken from the Delhi Times section of the Times of India

Kiwi Fruit Phirni

Ingredients

1 l milk
170 gm sugar
250 gm kiwis (pureed)
40 gm rice flour
kiwi slices (for garnishing)

Method

Mix the rice flour with milk. Cook on medium heat and stir till the mixture gains a creamy consistency. Remove from the fire, add sugar and stir. Simmer till it is fully dissolved and then boil for a minute. Cool. Add kiwi puree. Pour the mixture into earthenware dishes. Chill. Decorate each dish with slices of kiwi.

This has been taken from the Delhi Times section of the Times of India.

Grapefruit

• Grapefruit is a very high on vitamin C and therefore has excellent antioxidant properties.
• It contains pectin and fibre, which help settle an upset stomach.
• Inhaling too much nicotine? Try grapefruit as an antidote. It lowers the risk of cancer.
• Binged last night and have a hangover? Have a grapefruit.
• Have a rapidly growing midriff? Drink at least half a glass of grapefruit juice everyday; it keeps you trim.
• Arthritis, halitosis, rheumatism and colon cancer can be cured by regular intake of grapefruit.
• Grapefruit is an effective way for people suffering from gallstones.

This has been taken from the Delhi Times section of the Times of India.

Cheap yet Chic

Don’t have a tub? Make yourself innovative bath bouquet garnies. These bundles of herbs, usually tied together with string and used to prepare soups, stocks and various stews, can actually be made for your tap faucet too. Take a small muslin cloth, surgical bandage or cheesecloth and put 1 tsp of starch, milk powder, rose petals, oatmeal or rice powder each and add a few drops of lavender oil in it. Tie the pouch with a rubber band. Make 15- 20 pouches, store them in a jar and let it sit on your bathroom shelf. The what? Take one out each time you have your bucket and tap routine! Tie it either to the tap faucet or rub it all over your body in gentle circular movements. The starch will work as a natural tightener as the rose petals tone and lend your body a natural fragrance. The oatmeal will gently exfoliate, even as milk does what it does best- moisturize.

Taken from the Delhi Times section of the Times of India.