know about sugar.and (types)

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SUGAR was first cultivated in India 2500 years ago and called karkara in Sanskrit.  sugar derives from arabic form of word sakkara and appeared in the 13th century in England. the recorded history of cane sugarbegan when a member of Alexander's army mentioned in 325 BC. sugar remained expensive until Columbus introduced the canes to hiati, in the west indies in 1493. despite setbacks, its cultivation spread throughoutthe islands and cane sugar became and still is a main source of swetness. sugar is produced from sugar cane, sugar beet, palms such as dates, coconut, toddy etc.




granulated sugar
TYPES OF SUGAR



Granulated sugar: This is the most common type of sugar available in several textures of refined white. it is used both for table and in cooking.




caster sugar



Caster/Castor sugar: It is processed from granulated sugar by miling and shifting and is much finer than granulated sugar. It is used generally for cakes and pastries. Because of its texture, it dissolves quickly and its small crystals are useful in creamed cake mixtures.
icing sugar






Icing Sugar: It is also processed from granulated sugar by miling it to a fine white powder. it is also known as Powder or confectioners' sugar. it is used for converting cakes and making icing because icing dissolve quickly.

DEMERARA SUGAR



Demerara sugar: it is one of the several raw brown sugars and Barbados is another well-known type. it is also known as brown sugar. it comes from raw sugar or sugar syrup remaining after granulated sugar has been extracted. its crystals are coarse and pale amber with delicate flavor. it is used for dark, rich fruits cake, crunchy toppings or crumbles.
soft brown sugar



SoftBrown sugar : it may be light or dark refined brown sugar and is processed from sugar syrup remaining after granulated sugar had been extracted or cane molasses is added. they generally moist and have distinctive flavor. both are used in cereals, coffee, fruits, and spice cakes.

rainbow crystal sugar



Rainbow Crystal sugars: it is also processed as granulated sugar. vegetables dyes or food color are added to white sugar to give pastel shaded crystals. it is sometimes served with coffee and often used for ciscuits and cake decor
candy crystal






Candy Crystal: these are fairly large brownish particularly popular with coffee because they dissolve slowly. the coffee retains some of its bitter taste and is sweetened gradually as it is drunk.

cube sugar


Cube sugar : it is processed from refined and crystallized granulated sugar which is moistened, molded and compressed into cubes and dried. the cubes are used for sweetening hot beverages in order to dissolve quickly.
nib sugar






Nib sugar: nibs are produced along side with cube sugar as bi-product. these coarse white nibs are useful for decorating cakes, pastries and buns.



palm sugar
Palm sugar: palm sugar comes from date, coconut, toddy and Palmyra palms. the sap of palm tree is collected by tapping the trunk or top of the tree and further reduced to syrup by cooking and allowed to crystallized. it is known as jaggery and used for manufacturing purpose and also to sweeten  the foods


molasses sugar


Molasses sugar : it is  the darkest or lighter paste of processed sugar. the light type is moist and soft than the dark one in texture. the lighter is also known as Muscovado sugar. they are used in rich dark fruits cakes, brown breads and also used as manufacturing different products.

lump sugar





Lump sugar: it is the block of dark brown concentrated sugar used in many Chinese and Indian dishes. 

INDIAN SPICES - short brief of spicecs

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Asafoetida (Hing) - also known as devil's dung. It is a resin taken from a plant from the parsley family. It is a distinctive and pungent spice. It is most commonly found in powdered form. When cooked, it has a truffle-like flavor and a roasted garlic aroma. It is used mainly for its digestive properties, especially in the cooking of beans and lentils, as it is reputed to have antiflatulence properties. Asafoetida is an important ingredient of the snack called cheewra - a mixture of grains, dried fruits, and spices. It can be added to flavor fish and vegetable dishes. A pinch of it can be fried in hot oil before the rest of the ingredients are cooked.

 igourmet Organic Dried Bay Leaves
Bay leaves - these fragrant leaves with pointed ends are used in their dried form. These are used in curries and rice preparations.

Cardamom (Elaichi) -Elettaria Cardamomum  is the seed of a tropical fruit in the ginger family. Fruits and seeds leave pleasant aroma with sweet, pungent taste behind when chewed. Cardamom has a sweet, lemony, eucalyptus flavor. It is world's second most expensive spice. It is available as a powder, dried pods, or loose seeds. Green cardamoms are the most common, but there are also black and cream varieties. It is one of India's favorite spices, used in curries, savory and sweet dishes, ice cream and custards. It is often combined with almonds and saffron. It can be used to flavor tea and also is great with black coffee. It is used in Ayurvedic medicine to remove fat and as a cure for urinary and skin complaints. Egyptians chewed cardamoms to whiten their teeth and simultaneously sweeten their breath. The seeds are aromatic, sweet cooling, carminative (cures flatulence), digestive, stimulant and tonic. Cardamom finds usage in indigestion, anorexia, burning sensation, debility, asthma.
Cayenne pepper (Lal Mirch) is a spice made from the seeds of plants in the capsicum family (ranging from sweet pepper to chili - in general, the smaller the fruit, the hotter it is). Cayenne peppers' bright red color signals its high content of beta-carotene or pro-vitamin A. It includes both the ground seeds as well as the dried flesh.  It should not be as hot as chili powder, but it is pretty hot and should therefore be used with care. Cayenne pepper is used to provide the heat for many spicy dishes.
Chilies (Mirchi) - it is the hottest flavor on earth.  As a general rule, dark green chilies tend to be hooter than red chilies. Small, pointed chilies are usually hotter than larger, more rounded varieties. Whole chilies can be seeded to make them a little less hot. Chilies and chili powder should be used with extreme care. The hot vindaloo curries are made from the hottest chilies.
Chili powder - Red color, fine powder. It is very hot because it is made from the dried, ground seeds of the chili, its hottest part.

Copyright: Marzena Saigal
Cilantro ( Dhaniya) -  this fresh herb is a fragrant mix of parsley and citrus. The leaves are rather like those of flat-leaved parsley, but darker. The leaves have a very distinctive bitter-sweet taste. Cilantro it is usually added toward the end of cooking to preserve the fresh aroma. Also it is frequently used as a garnish. The seed of the cilantro is known as coriander.
Cinnamon (Dalchni) - is the dried bark of various laurel trees in the cinnamomun family. It is a sweet-tasting spice, with a warm, woody aroma. The smell of Cinnamon is pleasant, stimulates the senses, yet calms the nerves. The thinnest bark is the best quality cinnamon. It is available as a powder but is much better bought in sticks. When ground, the flavor becomes stronger. Whole cinnamon is used for spacing hot drinks,  ground - in  cakes, sweet dishes, fruit pies (especially apples). It can also be used in more piquant dishes, such as curries, and combines perfectly with chicken.
Cloves (Luong) - small, dried, reddish-brown flower bud of the tropical evergreen tree of the myrtle family. They have strong, sweet aroma and hot, pungent taste, Cloves are best bought whole and ground, if necessary. They have been used in India for thousands of years, not only in cooking, but to sweeten the breath and to relieve the pain of toothache. They contain a mild anesthetic.  Whole cloves are frequently used to flavor meat dishes, curries, and soups.   
Cokum has the same souring qualities as tamarind, especially enhancing coconut-based curries or vegetable dishes like potatoes, okra or lentils. Kokum is especially used with fish curries, three or four skins being enough to season an average dish. It is also included in chutneys and pickles.
Coriander seeds (Dhaniya) - is a member of a parsley family.  The seeds are oval in shape, ridged, and turn from bright green to beige when ripen. This spice tastes sweet and tangy, with a slightly citrus flavor. The English name for this spice comes from the Greek koros, meaning “bug”. Coriander is usually sold  in powdered form, although the whole seeds are also available. Fresh green coriander  - because they are aid digestion, they are particularly effective with carbohydrates like pastries and bread. Coriander is also used in fish and savory dishes as a healthy alternative to salt, and it is basic ingredient of curry powder.
Cumin (Jeera) comes from the parsley family. The seeds are oval with ridges, greenish-beige in color, warm, nutty aroma and  a taste that is bitter, but not hot. They can be ground to a powder. Cumin is usually dry-fried before use (drop the whole seeds into a hot dry pan and cook until the roasted fragrance emerges). It is used to flavor rice, stuffed vegetables, many savory dishes and curries. It combines well with cilantro and is widely used in beef dishes. 
Curry leaves (Kari putha or Neem) - are small grey-greenish leaves (a bit like bay), relative of the orange. They can be used fresh or dried. Their aroma is released by its heat and moisture. They are sometimes fried in the oil the food is cooked in, and then discarded.  They are mainly used as an aromatic and flavoring for most curries and soups. When starting a curry or soup dish, put the curry leaves into the oil to fry until crisp.
  

Curry Powder Curry Powder is a blend of many spices and is used widely in savory dishes throughout India and Southeast Asia. Curry has a particular scent and is spicy
Buy curry powder: 
Fennel (Soonf) - is a greenish-brown, small oval seed from Pimpinella Anisum, a plant in the parsley family. It has a sweet and aniseed flavor.  Used sparingly, it gives warmth and sweetness to curries. The seeds combine well with peanuts and the zest of citrus fruit. Roasted fennel seeds are chewed to freshen the breath after the meal. They have digestive properties.
Fenugreek (Kasuri Methi) - is short, upright plant (related to spinach) with oval leaves. The entire plant has a strong, sweet aroma. The mature leaves have the bitter taste.  Ground fenugreek (seeds) has a warm, yellowish-brown color with a strong curry-like taste. In powdered form, fenugreek is one of the main ingredients of curry powders. Fenugreek is used to add flavor to meat dishes. It is also considered as an aphrodisiac.
Garam Masala – meaning “hot spices” - is a mixture of ground spices (recipes vary) (cloves, cardamom, cumin, peppercorns and cinnamon, bay leaves). It is far better to grind your own spices than to buy the mixture ready-ground. The blend of spices in the garam masala varies according to the dish to which it's added so a spice blend for a fish dish is different to the spice mix for lamb. Depending on the ingredients of your dish, you can enhance the garam masala by adding other spices like ginger and turmeric (which would suit chicken or fish). Cloves and fennel seeds might be added to a mix for dark meats like lamb or beef.
Garlic (Lassun) closely related to the onion. It has a powerful pungent or hot flavor when raw, which mellows when it is cooked. It has very strong odor. Bulbs, whose segments are usually called "cloves" are the part of the plant most commonly eaten.Garlic is used as a condiment and as flavoring in gravies, sauces, soups, stews, pickles, salads, salad dressing and breads. Garlic pickles and freshly ground garlic chutneys are popular side dishes for rice, snacks and chappathis. Garlic powder is made from ground dehydrated cloves and is used widely as a substitute for fresh garlic. Garlic helps to purify the blood and lower blood pressure. It is considered as a cure for heart ailments.
Ginger (aduwa)- the fresh root gingeris a knobly rhizome with a sweet aroma and hot, pungent taste. Inside, the ginger is hard and woody, yellow and fibrous. It is easiest to cook with, once peeled and grated. The length of the root indicates maturity, and the longer it is, the hotter and more fibrous it will be. Ginger makes a tasty paste, especially if mixed with garlic. Ginger can be used in sweet dishes, desserts, or in piquant dishes such as hot curries and stir fries. The ground (soondth) type is the same as that used in baking. Ginger is also commonly regarded as an aphrodisiac. 
Mango powder (Amchur) -  This sour powder is made from unripe mangoes. It has a tart taste. It has a sour, lemony taste, with a slightly sweet edge. The primary use of it is for Chutneys. It is used in soups, pastries, and in vegetarian dishes as a souring additive, as well as to samosas and relishes. It can be added to chickpeas, potatoes and eggplants. More, it is used as a dry seasoning for grilled dishes and sometimes appears in Bombay mix, the Indian version of potato chips or pretzels. Amchur is also an essential ingredient in making Chaat Masala. It gives any dish a tangy, sour flavor, and is the perfect substitute for lemon, tamarind or lime juice. If you are unable to find you can use a dash of lemon.
Mint (Pudina) - Indian mint has a stronger flavor and more pungent aroma than Western varieties. This herb is often paired with lamb. Mint is sweet and strong with hints of a sharp lemony taste; mint is pleasantly pungent and refreshing at the same time. The warm sweet fragrance of mint is cooling to the palate, leaving a fresh aftertaste. Indian cooking and is widely used in chutneys, relishes, salads, sauces and teas. Mint is mostly added to biryanis (Moghul rice preparation), lassi - the North Indian refreshing drink. Mint is also perfect as a garnish for desserts, and goes well with fruits, iced tea, lemonade and yogurts as well as a variety of cocktails.
Mustard seeds (Rai/ tori) - in Indian cooking brown mustard seeds are more commonly used but black seeds contain a higher proportion of the volatile mustard oil and strongest flavor. The larger yellow variety, known as white mustard are much les pungent. Powdered mustard has no aroma when dry, but a hot flavor is released when it is mixed with water. The seeds can be put whole into very hot oil and popped. Raw food can be cooked in this flavored oil or it can be poured over some dishes just before serving. Mustard helps emulsify liquids use in salad dressing recipes to help blend oil and vinegar and add a spicy zip. Mustards seeds are a popular addition to dishes such as vegetable, beans, pastries and pickles.
Nutmeg and mace (Jaiphal and Javitri) - is the seed of the evergreen tree. Mace is the fleshy lattice, covering of the nutmeg (hard nut), which is golden brown in color. Nutmeg has more robust flavor than mace, but thy are otherwise very similar. They have nutty, warm and slightly sweet flavor. Nutmeg is used to add sweet and savory flavor to dishes such as pies, custards, puddings, cakes, soufflés, vegetables, egg dishes, lamb, and fish, and beverages. Like nutmeg, mace is a sweet and flavorful spice, which can be substituted for nutmeg or cinnamon to complement a variety of foods. Mace is also used in sauces for fish and pickle chutneys.
Onion Seeds (Kalonji) - are small, irregular shaped black seeds of the plant that grows in India - Kalonji. This spice can be used fresh or dry roasted in curries, and added to vegetables, relishes, pickles and yogurts. It is featured in many spice mixtures such as Bengali five-spice mixture panchphoron, which also includes fenugreek, mustard, cumin and fennel.
Oreango (Ajwain) - it has a strong, pungent odor and flavor similar to pepper and anise. They contain thymol oil, which gives a taste reminiscent of thyme. it is used in lentil dishes, vegetable parathas, pakoras and meat dishes.
Paprika powder- is ground from dried sweet peppers (family Capsicum Annum, relative of chili) the fruits of a tropical evergreen bush. It is milder than chili powder or cayenne. Paprika has bright red color and a mild, sweet flavor with a cardamom aroma. It is highly versatile spice. It is good with eggs, fish, chicken, crab and cheese. It can also be used as a garnish on baked potatoes, salads, rice dishes. Paprika is rich in vitamin C, and so helps colds and influenza. It is also said to treat digestive troubles, cramps, circulations problems, and shingles.

Peppercorns (Kali Mirchi) - pepper's name comes form the Sanskrit Pippali nigrum, which means "black spice". Peppercorns have a pungent, woody aroma and hot, biting taste. Black pepper is more aromatic, white is stronger and hotter. Pepper is the only spice that us used to flavor food before, during and after cooking. Whole or grounded peppercorns can be added to most non-sweet dishes.

Saffron (Zaffran) - this spice is made from orange colored dried stigmas of the especially cultivated crocus (75 stamens are needed to make 100 g (4 oz) of the spice.) It is the most expensive spice of all. It has a distinctively pungent, honey-like flavor and aroma. It is available as whole threads or powdered. When ground they form a russet powder. The filaments can be lightly roasted, crumbled in a little hot water and left to infuse to bring out their full strength. Saffron is used to color rice dishes, sweets, puddings, sauces and soups to bright yellow.
Tamarind (Imli) - is the sticky, dried, brown pod of the evergreen tree. It has a sour taste and very tart, citric flavor. The pulp must be soaked before usage. In India, tamarind is mostly combined with meat or legumes (lentils, chick peas or beans). It adds a distinctive cooling quality to curries, chutneys.
Turmeric (besar) - comes from the root of Curcuma longa, a leafy plant related to ginger. It has a bright yellow color and a  pungent, warm, earthy aroma and taste. Although it becomes bitter if too much used. It is mildly antiseptic. Turmeric is an essential spice in Indian food, giving a rich, appetizing color. It is used in curries, fish dishes and with beans because of its digestive properties. Research show that turmeric inhibits blood clotting, reduces liver toxins, and helps the liver metabolize fats and so aids weight loss.

stir fried aloo capsicum

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ingredients:
100 gms dice potato
50gms dice capsicum
1 tbs oil
1/2 tea spoon cumin seed
1/2 tea spoon chilli powder
1/4 tea spoon turmeric powder
salt to taste


methods:
blanch the potato and keep aside.
heat the oil in pan and heat cumin seed till it changes the color.
add turmeric and add blanched potato and sautee for a while and add capsicum and remaining ingredients and  fry for a while. 
garnish as your wish.

EXOTIC SALAD

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An interesting combination of textures which is dressed with vitamin A enriched flavourful muskmelon dressing. 



ingredients:

1½ cups iceberg lettuce, torn into pieces
½ cup bean sprouts
½ cup broccoli florets, blanched
2 celery stalks, chopped


For the dressing 
1 cup ripe muskmelon, chopped
½ tsp roasted cumin seeds , crushed
3 tbsp chopped coriander
salt and pepper to taste


For the dressing 
1.Blend the muskmelon to a smooth purée in a blender. 
2.Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Refrigerate till required. 


methods 1.Combine all the ingredients for the salad in a bowl and refrigerate. 
2.Just before serving, add the dressing and toss well. 
Serve immediately.

kachila (raw meat)

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ingredients:
  • 200 gms minced meat
  • 20 gms fenugeek seed
  • 20 ml mustard oil
  • 50 gms chopped spring garlic
  • 5 gms corriander leaves
  • 1 no. dry red chilli
  • salt to taste
  • chilli powder to taste
  • 1 tea spoon turmeric powder

methods
  • mix all the ingredients except fenugeek seed, oil and turmeric powder.
  • heat oil and add funegeek seed till it changes color in black.
  • add turmeric powder in while so that it doesn't cange color and pour over mixed meat.
  • and garnish with corriander and little spring garlic and red chilli

foods that disrupts sleep

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caffeine:
caffeine is a mild, it increase adrenaline production and blocks sleep including chemicals. so coffee, tea, chocolate and other foods that contain caffeine should be cut down, especially prior to bed time.


alcoholic drinks:
people generally have a nightcap before going to bed to induce sleep. yes, alcohol may help you fall asleep quickly, but it may also wake you up after few hours because alcohol disrupt sleep pattern. research also suggests that alcohol have an adverse effect on sleep pattern. therefore alcohol drinks should be avoided before going to bed.


sugar:
foods that are high in sugar gives short term energy boost, leaving you drained afterwards. it can cause uneven blood sugar level which may disrupts your good night sleep.


fatty foods:
Eating oily and greasy foods such as pizza, burger, french fries prior to going bed is a bad idea. these foods take longer time to digest , causing stomach and intestine to stay active at night , which disrupts your sleep.

badel

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me want to have whole