Health and Recipes

Making a healthy and delicious avocado chicken salad Ingredients 2 large cooked chicken breasts, shredded or chopped 2 large avocados, peeled, pitted, and diced 1 cup cooked corn, fresh or frozen and thawed ¼ cup finely chopped red onion (or green onion or chives) ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro (or parsley) 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons lime juice (freshly squeezed is best) ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper Instructions Prepare the chicken: If not already cooked, you can bake, grill, pan-fry, or use leftover or rotisserie chicken. Shred or chop it into bite-sized pieces. Dice the avocado: Carefully peel, pit, and dice the avocados into bite-sized pieces. Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, add the cooked chicken, diced avocados, corn kernels, red onion, and cilantro. Make the dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Dress the salad: Pour the dressin...

Easy homemade Peda (Milk Fudge) recipe Peda, a popular Indian sweet, can be easily made at home, especially a quick version using milk powder and condensed milk. This method saves time compared to the traditional lengthy process of simmering milk to create mawa (khoya or milk solids).  Ingredients 1 can (14 oz or 396g) sweetened condensed milk 1 ¾ cups milk powder 1 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter), reserving some for greasing hands 1 tablespoon milk A pinch of cardamom powder A pinch of saffron (optional) ¼ cup pistachios or other nuts of your choice, chopped for garnish  Instructions Prepare the saffron (optional): If using saffron, warm milk and add saffron strands and cardamom powder to infuse. Combine ingredients: In a non-stick pan, mix condensed milk and milk powder until smooth. Cook the mixture: Heat on medium-low, stirring until the mixture thickens. Add ghee and flavorings: Once the mixture leaves the sides of the ...

  Here's a simple guide to making delicious mango lassi at home: Ingredients 2 cups chopped ripe mangoes (Alphonso, Kesar, Ataulfo, or other sweet, pulpy variety) or 1 cup canned sweetened mango pulp. 2 cups cold plain yogurt (full-fat recommended for creaminess). 4-5 tablespoons sugar or sweetener of choice (adjust to mango sweetness). ½ cup milk (optional, to adjust consistency). ½ teaspoon cardamom powder (optional, for fragrance). Ice cubes (optional).  Instructions Prepare the mangoes: If using fresh mangoes, rinse, peel, and chop them into small pieces. Blend the ingredients: In a blender, combine the mangoes (or canned pulp), yogurt, sugar (or other sweetener), optional milk, and optional cardamom powder. Blend until smooth: Blend until a smooth, creamy consistency is achieved and there are no mango chunks remaining. Adjust sweetness and consistency: Taste the lassi and add more sugar if desired. For a thinner lassi, add a sp...

Making tandoori chicken at home You can make delicious tandoori chicken at home even without a traditional tandoor oven, using an oven, grill, or even a stovetop.  Here's a breakdown of the key steps: 1. Preparing the chicken Choose the right cut: Bone-in chicken legs, thighs, or quarters are recommended for juicy results. You can also use boneless chicken thighs or breasts. Slash the chicken: Make deep cuts into the chicken pieces to allow the marinade to penetrate deeply and infuse the meat with flavor. Pat dry: Thoroughly dry the chicken pieces with paper towels before marinating, as excess moisture can hinder flavor absorption.  2. Preparing the marinade Ingredients: The core of tandoori chicken lies in its flavorful marinade, typically a blend of yogurt and aromatic spices. Key ingredients include: Yogurt (Hung Curd or Greek Yogurt): Essential for tenderizing and providing a creamy base for the spices to cling to. Ginger-Garlic ...

  Indian food: a beginner's guide to cooking Indian cuisine is renowned for its diverse flavors and aromatic spices, and while it might seem complex at first, there are plenty of easy and delicious dishes you can make at home. Here's a breakdown to get you started:  1. Essential spices and ingredients Indian cuisine relies on a rich pantry of spices and herbs. Here are some of the most important ones:  Ground spices: Turmeric (Haldi), Cumin (Jeera), Coriander (Dhania), Red Chilli Powder (Lal Mirch), and Garam Masala. Whole spices: Mustard seeds (Rai), Fenugreek seeds (Methi), Cloves (Laung), Cardamom (Elaichi), Cinnamon (Dalchini), and Bay Leaf (Tej Patta). Aromatics: Ginger (Adrak), Garlic (Lassun), Onions, and Green Chillies. Fresh herbs: Cilantro (Coriander leaves), Mint leaves, and Curry leaves. Dairy: Ghee (clarified butter), Yogurt, and Paneer (Indian cottage cheese). Other key ingredients: Lentils (dal), Rice (especi...

        This Khaman Dhokla recipe makes a wonderfully soft and fluffy, lightly sweet and savory cake that’s perfect to enjoy anytime of the day. It’s easy to prepare Khaman recipe steamed on the stovetop or even in the Instant Pot with my step-by-step instructions. What is Khaman Khaman, also known as khaman dhokla in other Indian states, is a popular delicacy from the Gujarati cuisine. It is light, spongy and includes a hint of great savory flavor from a simple combination of gram flour (besan), spices, and herbs. Gram flour is ground skinned black chickpeas. Khaman is a healthy savory-sweet snack that happens to be vegan. Plus, it can be gluten-free too, if you skip semolina and asafoetida in the batter. Khaman is also known as yellow dhokla as it has a yellow color or besan dhokla. It is also known as instant khaman. I prepare khaman dhokla recipe with the steaming method either in an Instant pot or in a pan. They’re perfect to enjoy for a hearty and satisfying b...

  There are many exercises that can help tone and strengthen your stomach muscles. Here are a few options: Crunches: Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground. Place your hands behind your head or cross them over your chest. Use your abdominal muscles to lift your upper body off the ground, curling your shoulders towards your hips. Lower yourself back down and repeat. Planks: Get into a push-up position with your hands on the ground directly under your shoulders and your toes on the ground. Engage your core muscles and hold your body in a straight line from your head to your heels, making sure to keep your hips level. Hold for as long as you can. Bicycle crunches: Lie on your back with your hands behind your head and your knees bent. Lift your head and shoulders off the ground and bring your left elbow towards your right knee while extending your left leg. Then bring your right elbow towards your left knee while extending your right leg. Repeat this mo...