Lifestyle

New Delhi, Oct 3 (IANSlife) Nothing gets the day off to a better start than a cup of freshly brewed coffee! The top travel company, Booking.com, has put together a list of coffee estates in India where visitors may participate in the selection of coffee beans, have tastings, and get a much-needed caffeine boost on this International Coffee Day.

These coffee plantations, which span for miles, are primarily located in the mountainous regions of South India in the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. If you enjoy coffee, mark these locations on your calendar for a guaranteed caffeine surge!

Coorg, Karnataka

Surrounded by numerous lakes, lush green hills, rich flora and fauna, Coorg, is known for its Arabica and Robusta brews. Almost 40 percent of India's coffee is grown in Coorg, and it plays a significant role in the local economy. November is the best time to visit this hill station as coffee lovers will be able to witness berry picking during this time. Some of the places that you could visit during your stay at Coorg include Abbey Falls, mini Tibet of Bylakuppe, Virajpet and Mandalpatti.

Chikmagalur, Karnataka

Known as the 'Coffee Land of Karnataka' Chikmagalur is a must visit for coffee enthusiasts. When the British Raj introduced coffee to India, it all began at Chikmagalur. Additionally, it is from here that the bulk of the nation's coffee is produced. You can hire a tour guide to show you around this lush, mountainous region and explain how coffee is made, or you can hike through it to learn more about the plantations or just back and simply enjoy a warm cup of coffee. In Chikmagalur, you may discover a lot of resorts surrounded by coffee plantations. You don't have to travel far to look for or smell fresh coffee beans.

Palani Hills, Tamil Nadu

The Palani Hills, a continuation of the Western Ghats, are home to elegant mansions on coffee estates. Along with coffee, the area is renowned for its avocado, pepper, and lime plantations. The Rajakkad Estate has a hotel that dates back to the 18th century, which takes pride in serving freshly ground coffee. Guided tours of the coffee estate are also available.

Wayanad, Kerala

Apart from the beautiful coffee plantations, Wayanad also provides multiple other activities to do that will make your visit worthwhile. If you travel in November or December, you may gather berries, go bird watching, hike up to the Edakkal caves, which have inscriptions that date back 8,000 years, or go rafting on the Kuruva Dweep river. Don't forget to visit a handful of the country's biggest waterfalls, which can be found in Wayanad.

Chikhaldara, Maharashtra

One of the only coffee plantations in Maharashtra, Chikhaldara is about 600kms from Pune. Pretty lakes, waterfalls, and the hilly terrains of Amravati. It is a bird watcher's paradise with several old forts to keep the history nerds engaged. As it is still relatively unknown on the tourist map, this plantation should be on your itinerary for a peaceful holiday away from the hustle bustle.

Araku Valley, Andhra Pradesh

Araku Valley is a beautiful hill station in the Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. Located along the Eastern Ghats, the area is home to numerous tribes, all of whom are involved in the cultivation of coffee. The local tribes have their own brand of brilliant organic coffee called Araku Emerald claimed to be the first organic coffee by a tribe in India. Visitors can buy from them and enjoy the local taste of this famous coffee. Other regions in Andhra Pradesh that produce some great coffee are Chintapalli, Paderu and Maredumilli.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

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New Delhi, Oct 3 (IANSlife) Indian festivals are authentic to the country's aesthetic culture and traditions; people have indelible memories and attachments to them. While different parts of India celebrate festivals like Navratri and Durga Pujo, their spirit is the same. Sharing a festive feast across the table with your loved ones is one of the many joys of the holiday, deeply rooted in our tradition and culture.

With guests arriving and numerous preparations to make, the search for delectable snacks and meals appropriate for the occasion is endless. With guests arriving and numerous preparations to make, the search for delectable snacks and meals appropriate for the occasion is endless. While sweets are the highlight of the holiday season, savoury snacks become a staple during the festivities as well. Don't those chatpata, tasty, tangy, quick and easy bites make us all drool? So, this holiday season, get creative with your snacks.

Saffola Masala Oats, with their perfect blend of desi Indian masalas, will add a chatpata twist to your favourite snack recipes and up the yum factor. Here are some of Chef Kunal Kapur's lip smacking festive recipes that you must try!

Oats Masala Dhokla

Ingredients:
1 Cup Rice
1 Cup Masala Oats
1 Cup sour yoghurt
1 tsp ginger and green chili paste
2 tsp ghee
4 curry leaves
1 tsp sesame seeds
Salt to taste
Garnishing – grated coconut and coriander

Method:
Roast Masala Oats in a pan till aromatic
In a bowl add rice and soak it for 40 mins and keep it aside
In a separate bowl, add rice and oats, yoghurt, ginger and green chili paste, 2 tsp ghee, Salt to taste. grind it into a thick batter
Grease a tin with ghee and add the batter into it
Place the tin into the steamer and let cook for 20 mins
In a pan add 1 teaspoon oil, when it sizzles add curry leaves, sesame seeds and grated coconut.
Once Masala Oats Dhokla is ready, garnish it with curry leaves, sesame seeds and grated coconut.

Moong Dal and Matar Ghugra

Ingredients for the outer crust:
2 cups maida (all-purpose flour)
1/2 cup ghee
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 cup Water
1 tablespoon Oil

Ingredients for the filling:
1 cup Masala Oats
1 cup Green Moong Dal, soaked and steamed
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon hing
1 teaspoon amchur (dry mango powder)
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
2 Green chilies, finely chopped
Salt to taste

Method:

Soak the moong dal and masala oats in 2 cups of water for about 3 to 4 hours. Once soaked, drain any excess water and keep it aside.
Heat oil in a non-stick pan on medium heat; add the cumin seeds, fennel seeds, sesame seeds, hing and allow them to crackle.
Stir in the cooked green moong dal and add mouthwatering Masala Oats
Allow the moong dal and oats mixture to cool and divide into 20 portions
In the next step we will make the dough for the pastry crust for the ghugras
Combine the maida, ghee and salt in a bowl. Work the ghee into the flour with your fingers until the mixture resembles a coarse meal.
Sprinkle water onto the crumbly dough and with your hands push the dough from the sides to the middle of the bowl to form a ball that holds together.
Be careful to add a little water at a time, and not allow the dough to become soggy. Knead well with your hands until the dough becomes a firm ball of dough.
Once rested, make 20 small portions of the ghughra dough and roll into a small 3-inch circle.
Place a teaspoon full of moong dal and Masala Oats' mixture onto one half of the circle. Wet your fingers into the bowl of water and spread a little water around the edges of the circle.
Gently fold the circle into a semi-circle, seal the edges so that the dough sticks to each other making sure all the filling is concealed inside.
Preheat the oil for deep frying and deep fry these ghugras on medium heat
Serve the Moong Dal Oats ghugras along with green chutney and chai for tea time snacks

Baked Pudina Oats Broken Wheat Tikki

Ingredients:
1 Sweet Potato, boiled and peeled
200 grams Paneer, crumbled
2 cups Masala Oats
1 inch ginger, grated
2 green chilies, finely chopped
1 Onion, finely chopped
Pudina (Mint Leaves)
Oil for cooking tikkis
Salt

Method:
To begin making the recipe, first get all the ingredients prepped, boil the sweet potatoes.
Add in both the boiled sweet potatoes, paneer, grated ginger, green chilies, onion, mint leaves and the key ingredient Masala Oats
Blend the ingredients until the potatoes are coarsely mashed and all the ingredients come together. Open the processor and give the mixture a stir halfway through so the ingredients come together and blend again.
Transfer the tikki dough into a bowl. Check the salt and add more only if you feel you require it as the masala oats also have salt in them.
Grease your fingers with a little oil and shape the pudina oat & broken wheat dough into bite size tikkis.
Preheat a skillet on medium heat.
Place a few pudina oat tikkis at a time on the skillet, drizzle a few drops of oil on each of the Pudina Oat & Broken Wheat Tikki and cook them on low to medium heat until browned and crisp on both sides.
Remove onto an oil absorbent paper and serve

Oats Kathi Roll

Ingredients for Kathi Rolls:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon oil
1 teaspoon salt

Ingredients for filling:
1/2 teaspoon oil
2 cups Masala Oats
1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
1 cup sliced onion
3 stalks finely chopped spring onion
1 teaspoon mustard

Method:
In a large bowl, add wheat flour, oil and salt and mix it well. Knead the mixture by adding a little water and prepare a firm dough. Cover it and keep it aside for 10mins
Divide the dough into 3 big portions.
Roll the dough portions into balls and flatten them with the palm of your hand. Toss them in flour and roll them out into circles
Put skillet on medium heat. Rolled out dough keep it on the skillet and cook it. Flip it after 2 mins and sprinkle some oil.
Once ready remove from the skillet and keep it aside, repeat the same with other dough portions
Next step is to prepare Masala Oats filling. Take a bowl, add spring onions, salt to taste and raw masala oats, and mix the ingredients well.
Take a pan, preheat on medium flame, sprinkle some oil and add the masala oats mixture and allow it to cook on medium flame for 3 mins
Once masala oats filling is ready, Place paratha on board, add the filling portion onto it. Add a few sliced onions, drizzle some tomato ketchup and mustard, tightly wrap the filling and serve it.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

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New Delhi, Oct 1 (IANS) September is observed as 'Heart Month' every year. During this month a lot of activities are organised to sensitise people about heart health and the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle in the fight against cardiac diseases.

However, as the awareness activities get over, most people fail to keep up the momentum and lean back to their routine inactive lifestyle. At the conclusion of World Heart Month, cardiologists have unanimously highlighted the importance of an active lifestyle and activities like stair climbing for indicative assessment and maintaining heart health.

#heart2heartchallengeIndia is an initiative that urges people to climb stairs in one minute for heart health. Maintaining momentum in such initiatives can play a pivotal role in adopting active lifestyle habits at a mass level for better heart health.

"Heart attack and stroke account for 85 per cent of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)-related mortality. One of the leading behavioural risk factors is physical inactivity and lack of exercise. Hence, climbing stairs is one of the many forms of exercise that has been scientifically proven to be beneficial for one's heart. The stair climbing test is an easy way to check one's heart health at no cost. The 'Heart2Heart' campaign is an initiative that needs to be propagated in India to prevent future cardiac problems," said Jamshed J. Dalal, Director, Centre for Cardiac Sciences, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute, Mumbai.

Ajay Mahajan, Professor and Head of Cardiology at KEM hospital, Mumbai, said, "The overall mortality of heart attacks is 13 per cent and it is higher in women than the men. Compounding problems are the fact that sudden cardiac death occurs for 10 per cent in age groups less than 40 years. This leads to a loss of productivity and has a profound socio-economic impact. A large-scale primary prevention initiative dealing with lifestyle changes of regular exercise, consumption of a balanced and healthy diet and tobacco cessation is required. Training of personnel in resuscitation is also needed. To spread awareness, the 'Heart2Heart' campaign 'Healthy Heart' challenge is the need of the hour."

P.K. Hazra, Cardiologist, Head of the Department, AMRI hospitals, Kolkata, said, "People in India are genetically predisposed to develop coronary heart diseases. But the lack of awareness and access to preventive care often leads to late diagnosis and poor outcomes among the patients. Understanding the risk factors and seeking preventive and timely care to manage heart disease calls for raising awareness among the masses. It is very important to understand that the role of exercise (get-moving) plays a pivotal role in debunking the onset of heart diseases. Any form of exercise is beneficial for heart health like climbing stairs, walking to the bus-stop, cycling, according to studies."

C.N. Manjunath, Cardiologist, Director, Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, Bangalore, said, "The mission of the European Society of Cardiology was to devise a method that is both simple and free of cost for determining the health of an individual's heart. People who can climb four flights of stairs in one minute have a significantly reduced risk of having abnormal cardiac function. The findings add legitimacy to the concept of using the stair test as a quick and easy method for individuals to evaluate the state of their cardiovascular health. It has the potential to assist in preventing CVDs, which are major causes of mortality in India. However, if a person is getting chest pain or a burning sensation while climbing stairs, it could be an early sign of blockage of the artery."

A. George Koshy, Cardiologist, Tiruvananthapuram, said, "India has one of the highest burdens of CVDs worldwide as every fourth death has been occurring due to it. Hypertensive cardiovascular disease can lead to heart failure, heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths. People with uncontrolled blood pressure, blood sugar, high blood cholesterol and unhealthy lifestyles like smoking, junk food and lack of physical exercise are at high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and consequent disabilities at a young age. In this direction, the 'Heart2Heart' campaign of climbing stairs to check heart health is a much-needed stimulus toward spreading awareness around heart health, and reducing the incidence of heart diseases."

The conclusion of Heart Month should be seen as the beginning of a new year that sees maximum people adopting healthy heart habits.

#heart2heartchallengeindia can be a torch bearer that has motivated thousands of people to take the challenge of climbing six-steps in a minute and adopt stair climbing in their routine lives.

--IANS
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By IANSlife
New Delhi, Sep 24 (IANSlife) One of the country's busiest seasons, Navratri also brings with it a tradition of fasting and feasting. In addition to fasting on nine auspicious nights, many mouthwatering dishes are also cooked, including sabudana khichdi, fruit chaat, and kheer to kuttu ki poori and aloo kadhi.



Adults are advised to fast occasionally as it gives their digestive systems a break and aids in the body's detoxification process. However, if necessary precautions are not followed regarding the type of foods consumed, particularly if the person has diabetes, fasting and consuming a restricted diet for 9 to 10 days consistently can endanger one's health.

Dr. Sunil M Jain, Endocrinologist , TOTALL Diabetes Hormone Insitute, Indoresays, "Diabetes management during Navratri fasting is important owing to the change in food patterns, nature of the fast, and the food items allowed. People with diabetes must eat at regular intervals to maintain optimum blood glucose levels and consume foods, which have a low glycemic index, before beginning the fast. It is key to check blood glucose levels a few times during the day. Today, there are continuous glucose monitoring devices that are easily accessible and do not involve any pricks. These devices show real-time glucose results and a directional trend arrow showing where glucose levels are headed, that help make informed dietary decisions by the person."

Here are some suggestions for navigating the holidays without jeopardising your health, even if managing diabetes is more difficult when fasting is followed by a feast.

Eat the right foods – Due to the dietary restrictions and altered food patterns, it is possible that blood sugar levels could fluctuate. Therefore, it is important to talk to your doctor about your plan for fasting, which should include the number of fasting days, eating frequency and timings, and foods that can be consumed, as that will help regulate glucose fluctuations and boost overall health. One can opt for foods rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, protein, and fiber, which facilitate in controlling blood glucose levels.

Consumption of roasted makhana, nuts, and pumpkin cutlets can make for good snackable satiety during fasting, as they also meet protein requirements. Additionally, vitamin C and fiber-rich fruits such as orange and kiwi are good for consumption as they help manage the insulin fluctuations in the body.

Keep Track of Your Counts - Knowing when to check your blood glucose levels during fasting is key. Keeping a home glucose monitoring system will help you track your glucose levels from time to time. Today there are sensor-based devices such as Freestyle Libre, that provide actionable trends and patterns that help you make better decisions about your health. It is also important to monitor glucose levels during fasting, to ensure you avoid a hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia attack.

Maintain Hydration: Dehydration during fasting is troublesome for those with diabetes. Consumption of at least 2 to 3 liters of water is a must while fasting. Buttermilk without salt and low-calorie drinks like nimbu pani, green tea, mint water, cardamom tea, smoothies, and coconut water can help combat dehydration during Navratri. It is better to have fruits like apples in the smoothie instead of bananas. You can also add 2 tsp of flaxseeds and chia seeds to your smoothie as they help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and diabetes complications.

Exercising – People with diabetes can exercise during fasting, however, it needs to be done at a low pace. It is important to not strain yourself during this time. One can go for short walks and include stretching exercises in their routine. You can also ditch the exercises during Navratri and enjoy yourself to the tunes of Garba.

Eating an hour before Garba will not make you feel heavy during the dance and will also ensure that you are not low on energy. For people with diabetes, having a combination of proteins and the right carbohydrates keeps you going for a long period. You can opt for a dry fruit milkshake or a buckwheat pancake with some cottage cheese cubes in such cases.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

--IANS
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By N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe
New Delhi, Sep 19 (IANSlife) An online exhibition features strikingly vibrant paintings that focus on Kumbakonam, a temple capital, and an artist's other travel expeditions across India with its undocumented culture. Artflute, presents 'Country Beats', a curated collection of the most recent works by the watercolorist, Sivabalan.



"Artflute has always been about showcasing art that is honest and leaves an impact on the viewer. Sivabalan's world of unsuspecting portraits and everyday celebration draws patrons into his painting and lets them revel in it. The showcase helps in drawing attention to the joy and happiness that can be found in what we consider as 'ordinary' life," says Padmaja Nagarur, Co-founder, of Artflute on Sivabalan's latest collection

Watercolorist Sivabalan
The artist's latest collection is a travelogue of his journey within the country and exploring his hometown of Kumbakonam further. Sivabalan's paintings also toy with nativity and rural villages, especially scenes from the southern villages he grew up around. His works capture everyday scenes and movements, without filters or divulging too many details.

Everyday Blessings by Watercolorist Sivabalan

Sivabalan's work is all about flirting with opposites. With his signature style of white background in his watercolor works, he captures the authenticity, realism, and heterogenicity of the rural portraits. His paintings depict scenes such as elephant procession, everyday prayers, women carrying pots, and festive carnivals. The artworks bring alive the animated hustle and are an ode to India and its many nuances.


The Carnival Begins by Watercolorist Sivabalan
Commenting on the collection Sivabalan adds, "I believe I can transmit my own personal feelings about people and their lifestyles through my paintings and connect the rarity of our culture to generations."

The collection can be viewed on Artflute.com until the 30th of September, 2022 on www.artflute.com

(N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe can be contacted at lothungbeni.h@ians.in)

--IANS
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By N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe
New Delhi, Sep 19 (IANSlife) Today, there is a whole gamut of skincare solutions available in the market, both for your face and your body. From oils to serums to creams to balms, the choices are endless! And sometimes, these never-ending moisturizer choices can frustrate you and really get under your skin.



Some people are minimalists - they buy one face cream, apply it all over, and they are done. Others invest heavily in their skincare regime, layering products like toners, face serums, and creams. And to top it off, they religiously apply eye creams or undereye creams all over the thin skin around their eye area.

But do you really need to purchase an eye cream, or will your regular face serum do the job? Are eye creams an expensive fad? Or are they a must-have in your skincare routine, like your favourite beauty influencer insists? Let us try to peel away the layers and solve this mystery with Dr. Priti Shenai, Founder of Skinworks, a leading beauty, and dermatology clinic based out of Mumbai.

What is a face serum?

Dr. Priti: Face serums nourish, hydrate, and protect your skin. They have a thin consistency so that they can be absorbed quickly by your skin. Another feature of face serums that sets them apart from face creams is that they have a higher concentration of active ingredients like skin lightening agents, exfoliating acids, vitamins, etc. So, by using a face serum, you can expect results much faster than a face cream.

Is it okay to use a face serum around your eyes?

Dr. Priti: The skin around your eyes (eyelids and under eyes) is thinner and more sensitive than the skin on the rest of your face. So, it shows wrinkles, fine lines, pigmentation, and other signs of ageing sooner than other areas of the face. So, you must take great care to keep this skin moisturized to prevent dryness.

Since the eye area is more delicate than the rest of your face, certain types of face serums can be harsh on them. Highly-concentrated serums with active ingredients like retinol and exfoliating acids (such as glycolic acid and salicylic acid) are not gentle on the eye area! So, if you use such a face serum, do not apply it around the eye area. Instead, use an eye cream.

What is an eye cream, and how is it different from face creams and serums?

Dr. Priti: Eye creams are specially formulated to treat (or prevent) skin conditions that affect the area around the eyes.

They treat common skin woes such as:

. Dark circles
. Wrinkles
. Puffiness
. Sagging skin (eye bags)
. Sensitive skin. If you have sensitive skin, it will not react well to face serums and greasy creams

Eye creams have a thicker consistency than face creams and are much oilier than face serums. They are also much gentler and contain active ingredients like retinol in a smaller amount.

The bottom line: should one buy an eye cream?

Dr. Priti: If you want to banish dark circles or reduce wrinkles around your eye area, then it is definitely worth investing in an eye cream. But, before you spend big bucks on products that are trendy or are being promoted, consult your dermatologist. They will recommend fast-acting, genuine products that work best for your specific skin type and solve your skincare woes for good.

(N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe can be contacted at lothungbeni.h@ians.in)

--IANS
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By N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe
New Delhi, Sep 18 (IANSlife) Cooking in a bamboo hollows has been their tradition for a long time, and even with time and advancement, food aficionados enjoy experimenting with the flavour of food cooked in various pots and pants and definitely cooking in a bamboo hollows.


Celebrate the flavour and essence of cooking in a bamboo hollows with these recipes on World Bamboo Day, which is commemorated annually on September 18 with the goal to raise awareness of bamboo globally.

Shahi Murg Bamboo Biryani By Chef Jerson, Director of Culinary, Novotel Mumbai

"One of the simplest yet most interesting and delectable recipes learned during my forest camping days when Bamboo was the only source of steam cooking a perfect dum style biryani. This is a very unique biryani for the style in which its cooked, the earthy flavours from the marinated meat and delicate textures of the long grain basmati rice marinated with roasted spices and yogurt marry each other really well promising to give a punch to your taste buds connecting you with the scent of nature. I have given my own little twist of taste, texture, and flavour to this biryani by cooking it over a live charcoal fire using dried coconut shells as fuel," says Chef Jerson.

Ingredients for marinating chicken

3 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp biryani masala
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
1 lemon
250 grams with bone chicken
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 cup fried onions
1/2 cup yogurt
1/4 cup mint leaves
1/4 cup coriander leaves
4 to 5 tbsp oil
4 cardamoms
1- inch cinnamon stick
3 cloves
1/8 piece nutmeg
2-star anise
1 flower mace
Salt as required

For rice cooking

1 cup basmati rice (1 cup=250ml)
4 tbsp oil
4 cardamoms
1 kapok bud
1-inch cinnamon stick
3 cloves
1/2 mace
1-star anise
1/8 piece nutmeg
Salt as required
1/3 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp biryani masala
1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
2 onions
2 green chilies
1/2 cup mint leaves

For assembling

2 tbsp oil
1 cup of water
Aluminum foil to cover
2 to 3 bamboos green

Method

Marinate the chicken

Take chicken into a mixing bowl.
Add whole garam masala spices, salt as required, turmeric powder, red chili powder, biryani masala, ginger garlic paste, coriander powder, fried onions, half a lemon, yogurt, mint leaves, coriander leaves, oil, and mix well.
Leave the marinade for an hour.

Marinate the rice

Take raw basmati rice into a mixing bowl.
Add oil, salt, whole garam masala spices, ginger garlic paste, turmeric powder, red chili powder, biryani masala, onions, green chilies, and mint leaves, and mix well.
Keep it aside for an hour.

Assemble

Clean the bamboo until you find no dust inside.
Grease the inner part with oil.
Put 2 spoonsful of chicken marinade first and then 4 to 5 spoons of rice. repeat the process again.
Add 1/4 cups of water.
Water runs down to the bottom through the gaps.
Cover the bamboo with aluminum foil.

Making Bamboo Biryani

Set fire using dry coconut shells over charcoal and put the bamboo on it.
Leave for 30 to 35 minutes turning in between.
Later remove it from the fire and leave it for 5 to 10 minutes.
Serve hot on a banana leaf.

Chef's Tip- Clean the bamboo by boiling it in hot water for 15 mins and then apply oil inside and leave it aside to rest before filling it.

Bamboo Chicken Biryani, By Chef Makhan Singh, Novotel Visakhapatnam

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian, South Indian
Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients for Bamboo Rice Biryani

100g Bamboo Rice
100g Chicken curry cut
1 Onion small, finely chopped
1 Tomato small, finely chopped
2 tsp Ghee
1/2 tsp Oil
Salt as per taste

For Grinding

1 Garlic Clove
1 Green Chilli
2 bsp Coriander Leaves
2 tbsp Mint Leaves
1/2-inch Ginger
1/4 tsp Coriander Powder
1/4 tsp Garam Masala Powder
1/2 tsp Red Chilli Powder

For Tempering

a small price Cinnamon
2 Cardamoms
2 Cloves
1 Bay Leaf

Method

Soak the rice for 3 to 4 hours.
Heat ghee and oil in a pressure pan over medium flame.
Saute the tempering ingredients for 30 seconds.
Grind the ingredients given for grinding to a smooth paste and add to the pan.
Stir well for a minute.
Add the onions, and tomatoes and saute for a minute.
Add the Chicken curry cut and pour 1 cup of water.
Add salt and simmer for a minute or two.
Now add the rice and bamboo cooked in a clay oven.
Cover it
Switch off the flame.
When the pressure has reduced, open the lid and gently fluff up the rice using a fork.
Serve with raita.

Bamboo Shoot Sundal & Bamboo shoot Varamilagai (red chili) Fry, By Chef Saravanan Ranganathan, Executive Chef: Novotel ibis Chennai OMR

In Asian countries such as China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Burma, bamboo shoot is a common ingredient. It is also used in many Indian dishes; the recipe below focuses on Tamil dishes. In Tamil, the shoot is known as Moongil Kuruthu. After harvest, the shoot is sliced and steeped in water for two to three days to eliminate toxins before being pickled.

Ingredients

Bamboo shoot cubes- 100gms
Sunflower oil- 15ml
Mustard seed- 5gms
Urad dhal split-3gms
Dry Red chili- 3gms
Asafetida- 2gms
Curry leaves- 5gms
Grated coconut- 10gms

Method

Dice & blanch the Bamboo shoot.
Heat Sunflower oil in a Pan, Add Mustard seeds, Urad dhal, Dry red chili, Asafoetida, and Curry leaves, and toss the Bamboo shoot in the pan.
Add Grated Coconut to it immediately.

Bamboo shoot Varamilagai fry Ingredients

Bamboo shoot slices- 100gms
Sunflower oil- 300ml to fry
Red chili Powder- 5gms
Coriander powder- 10gms
Turmeric Powder- 2gms
Ginger & Garlic Powder- 10gms
Rice flour- 20gms
Lemon juice- 5ml
Table salt- 7gms
Curry leaves- 5gms

Method

Take Bamboo shoot slices in a Mixing bowl.
Add Chilli Powder, Coriander powder, Turmeric Powder, Ginger garlic paste, Lemon juice, Salt, and Curry leaves.
Mix Rice flour with the marinated Bamboo shoot.
Heat Sunflower oil in Kadai, fry the Bamboo shoot to crisp, and serve hot

Stir-fried Bamboo shoot with Pokchoy by Novotel Imagica

Ingredients

Bamboo shoot 150 gm.
Oil 50 ml
Garlic 15 gm
Onion 20 gm
Pokchoy 50 gm
Thai chili 2 gm
Aromat Seasoning 2 gm
Red Bell pepper 10 gm
Yellow Bell pepper 1 0gm
Sugar 2 gm
Oyster sauce 5 gm
Light soya sauce 2 ml
Red wine Vinegar 2 ml
Potato Starch 5 gm
Spring onion 10 gm
salt to taste

Method

First of all dust the bamboo shoots with potato starch, and deep fry it.
Now heat oil in a wok, add garlic, onion, thai chilli and saute it. Pour 100 ml of water once sauted.
Add bamboo shoots, bell pepper, pokchoy and other seasoning. Toss it on high flame and finish it with potato starch and red wine vinegar.
Garnish with burnt garlic and scallions.

(N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe can be contacted at lothungbeni.h@ians.in)

--IANS
ianslife/tb

London, Sep 18 (IANS) A healthy lifestyle may reduce the risk of dementia in people who have type 2 diabetes (T2D), finds a new study.

The study found that individuals with T2D and an unhealthy lifestyle were much more likely to develop dementia than people without T2D and a very healthy lifestyle. However, a healthy lifestyle almost halved the likelihood of people with T2D developing dementia.

"Adhering to current dietary, physical activity and sleep recommendations is key to good health and it may contribute to a lower risk of dementia in people with diabetes," said researcher Carlos Celis-Morales from the University of Glasgow.

"We have shown that following these healthy lifestyle guidelines also significantly reduces the increase in the risk of dementia experienced by people with diabetes," Celis-Morales added.

For the study, presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Stockholm, the team tracked almost 450,000 participants of the UK Biobank study for the development of dementia.

The 445,364 participants (54.6 per cent female) had an average age of 55.6 years and were followed up for a median of 9.1 years. All were free of dementia at the start of this period.

Both T2D and an unhealthy lifestyle were associated with a higher risk of dementia. Those with T2D were 33 per cent more likely to develop dementia than those without T2D.

An unhealthy lifestyle was even more strongly associated with dementia. The participants with the least healthy lifestyles were 65 per cent more likely to develop dementia than those with the healthiest lifestyle.

Further analysis revealed that a healthy lifestyle appears to reduce the risk of dementia in those with T2D.

Individuals with diabetes and the healthiest lifestyles were 45 per cent less likely to develop dementia than those with diabetes and the unhealthiest lifestyles.

--IANS
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By IANSlife
New Delhi, Sep 17 (IANSlife) The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry's annual cultural cum award ceremony, Gata Rahe Mera Dil, has grown in popularity. During the "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav" programme, former union ministers Shri Prakash Javadekar and Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi honoured numerous chosen Bollywood artists and journalists with the PHD Utkrishtata Samman.


On Thursday, the programme was held at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where a melodic musical ambiance was established so that attendees could fully appreciate their favourite tunes. The songs "Chahe Meri Jaan Tu Le Le," "Goriya Re Goriya Re," and "Chandni O Meri Chandni" were sung by Jolly Mukerji to the point where the listeners were submerged in the musical sea.

Shailendra Singh transported the audience to an earlier era of music, while Hema Sardesai filled the room with soulfulness with songs like "Awara Bhawre," "Main Kudi Anjaani Hoon," and "Dama Dum Mast Qalandar." With songs like "Main Shayar To Nahi," "Humne Tumko Dekha," and "Hoga Tumse Pyaara Kaun," he captivated everyone.

Poornima Shreshtha connected the audience with devotion and spirituality with 'Itni Shakti Hume Dena Daata' and everyone's favourite 'Sona Kitna Sona Hai'.

Mohit Chauhan mesmerized the audience with his popular number 'Tumse Hi' while Sonu Kakkar made everyone dance to the tune of 'London Thumakda'.

Apart from this, Kishore Bhanushali entertained the audience with songs like 'Bhanware Ki Gunjan', 'Jeena Yahan, Marna Yahan' and Minu Bakshi sung 'Awaaz De Kahan Hai', 'Lambi Judai' etc. Vibhor Parashar and Bhupinder Singh Bhuppi also enthralled the audience with their captivating style and melodious tunes.

Pradeep Multani, President, PHDCCI and Mukesh Gupta, Chairman, Entertainment, Media, Art & Culture Committee, PHDCCI said, "This is the 6th edition of PHD Utkrishtata Samman. To encourage the industry as well as to promote entertainment, media, art and culture, every year this grand event is organized by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry."

On this occasion, Nandita Jain and Arshad Nizam, Co-Chairs- Entertainment, Media, Art & Culture Committee; Former Presidents- Dr. D K. Aggarwal, Suman Jyoti Khaitan, Sharad Jaipuria, Gopal Jiwarajka, Sanjay Bhatia, K. S. Mehta; and many business dignitaries were present.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

--IANS
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By IANSlife
New Delhi, Sep 17 (IANSlife) Chaitanya Nallan, Co-Founder & CEO, SkinKraft Laboratories will clear your doubts regarding what you should apply first, either moisturizer or sunscreen! We all know how important the application of sunscreen is. Sunscreen needs to be applied not just in summers but throughout the year, yes, even in winters. However, it might be confusing when you are layering your skincare products.


To keep things simple, there are 2 types of sunscreens, physical sunscreen and a chemical sunscreen. You must apply your moisturiser first if you are using a physical sunscreen and for a chemical sunscreen apply the sunscreen and then over it you can apply your moisturiser.

Vipin Sharma, Senior Product and Research Manager at Fixderma will guide through the same. Skincare is always dynamic and experimental. With changing formulations and innovation, the steps and method of doing skincare also keeps changing. It has always been CTMS-Cleansing, Toning, Moisturiser and sunscreen. Yes! There has been an addition to the old CTM routine; Sunscreen. Sun protection is indeed the most important step in skincare routine. Any skincare is not 100 per cent effective if you do not seal it with sun protection. But how and when to use a sunscreen is also very important. The thumb rule always goes from treatment to protection. So, one should always start with a serum, then a moisturiser and finish it off with a high protection sunscreen.

But with the changing game of skincare, now even we have moved away from traditional straight forward sunscreens. Sunscreen not only come as per skin type but also now in different concoction. There are sunscreens which are infused with moisturising agents like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E. In such cases, one can skip moisturiser and directly go for sunscreen. But sunscreen always has to be the last step in your skincare routine.

"With the rising trend of following a skin care regime, the question you need to ask yourself is whether you are layering your products in the right order to achieve the desired result. Let us throw some light on the most used products in any skin care routine, Moisturiser and Sunscreen. What is the order of preference? The answer isn't exactly cut and dry, but my choice is justified by some scientific reasons based on their properties. Application of the moisturiser first will bridge any gaps in the stratum corneum and make the skin soft and supple. Also, moisturisers are typically reapplied every 10-12 hours. Sunscreens on the other hand, if applied directly over a dry skin would increase the dryness further leading to irritation of the skin. Additionally, sunscreens should form the outer layer as they can directly scatter/reflect/absorb the UV rays depending on their physical properties. And sunscreens should be reapplied every 2-3 hours for maximum efficacy, especially in tropical countries such as India where increased sweating is characteristic. At present, there are moisturisers available with SPF and vice versa in the market. Nonetheless, as a rule I prefer to layer moisturiser and sunscreen separately, each catering to its own purpose," adds Dr. Gagana B. Gopal, Consultant Dermatologist, KAYA.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

--IANS
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