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Archive for May, 2016

Fruits those are Rich in Fibre Content

May 7th, 2016

Fibre is the indigestible part of our food. Fibre is found in parts of plants such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, beans, leaves and grains. Basically a carbohydrate, fibre helps in the digestion of food and proper excretion. Though the fibre does not itself digest, it has many health benefits such as –

  • It feeds the friendly bacteria in the gut.
  • It benefits weight loss.
  • It lowers blood sugar levels.
  • It helps in curing constipation.
  • It lowers risk of heart disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Thus, fibre is an important component in our daily diet. It is recommended that men intake 38g of fibre every day and women should consume 25g. Do not forget to choose fibre rich fruits from your fruit basket every day. All fruits contain fibre, but there are some fruits that are rich in fibre content. Some of these fruits are –

Apple –

This sweet and popular fruit contains at least 3g of fibre. No wonder we say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Intake of one apple everyday can raise the fibre content in your diet making you healthy and fit.

Orange –

This citrus fruit contains around 3g of fibre.

Strawberry-

The delicious fruit is loaded with vitamin c along with fibre. You can get 3g of fibre from a bowl of strawberries.

Banana-

Banana contains high amounts of fibre, up to 3.1g. Eating banana can help you from constipation and other digestive problems. It is also rich in good source of many nutrients, including vitamin C, vitamin B6 and potassium. An unripe banana which is green in colour contains resistant starch in large amounts. This indigestible carbohydrates also functions a fibre.

Mango –

The exotic fruit is rich in fibre. It contains 5g of fibre and is also absolutely tasty to eat. Indulge in mangoes whenever you can.

Pear-

The pear is both tasty and nutritious. It contains 5.5g in a fibre and is a great fruit to eat.

Raspberries –

These tiny fruits are a power house of fibre. They contain as much as 8g of fibre. Eating raspberries regularly can bring a positive change in your diet as well as benefit your health.

Guava –

A full cup of guava fruit contains as much as 9g of fibre. It has fewer carbohydrates and is ideal for diabetics.

Avocado –

This exotic fruit is filled with many nutrients such as vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, vitamin E and different types of B-vitamins. One cup of avocado contains at least 10g of fibre. So do not forget to add avocados in your fruit hamper.

Fibre is a very important nutrient though it does not actually digest in our body. It is necessary that you include lots of fruits and vegetables that are rich in fibre in order to have smooth digestion. You can either consume them raw or chop them and add into your salads. In summer, you can make juices and milkshakes of the fruits and enjoy cold drinks that are healthy too.

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Chocolates in Space: Astronauts Favourite Food Item

May 7th, 2016

Chocolate is not just an eatable, it is an emotion. It is a feeling that goes beyond taste and stays in you even long after you have eaten it. When it comes to love for chocolates, there is no age, gender or race barrier. People of all age groups, from all countries and all statuses love to enjoy this delicious sweet. Chocolate is eaten along the length and breadth of the world. There are so many flavours, types and varieties of chocolates that you will find a chocolate for every event, mood and time of the year.

You have heard of sending chocolates by post, have you heard of sending chocolates to space? Not just on earth, you will be surprised to know that chocolate has reached even the space. Being a carbohydrate powerhouse, chocolates are the preferred food in space. They are also easy to eat and store. If at all astronauts get to enjoy some worldly pleasure, then it is only chocolates. The astronauts in space should eat a well balanced diet. Their food is chosen carefully to avoid health variations. Once in a while, they get to indulge themselves in the goodies available in the bonus containers that are filled with items of their choice. These containers often have sweets, mostly chocolates. Most of the space travellers prefer to take chocolates with them than any other food. Thus, chocolate seems to be the favourite of even the astronauts.

It was in 1961, the chocolate was sent to space for the first time. Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first person to orbit the earth. He lived on pureed meat packed that was packed in squeezable tubes like toothpaste. He also had another tube which was filled with chocolate sauce. Thus, chocolate entered the space in style.

Being a great comfort food, chocolate was preferred by the astronauts who followed Gagarin. They took chocolate on the US. Apollo missions of 60s and 70s. Hot chocolate was carried as a drink form, dehydrated pudding form and brownies. The brownies were packed in vacuum sealed bags. Some of the brownies from those space missions are still preserved in the Smithsonian national air and space museum.

Today there are chocolate chunks, chocolate cookies, chocolate mints and chocolate candies that are sent to space. From the famous Swiss chocolate Toblerone, Turtles, Dove bars, Raisinets, Reese’s peanut butter cups, Ghirardelli, Kit Kats, Snickers, Twix to Milky Way bars, every chocolate eaten on earth is flown to the space too. So, the astronauts do not have to worry about missing their favourite food in space.

The most convenient chocolates while in space are the bite-sized candy coated chocolates. They do not crumble and are easy to eat. Taking chocolates to space is not easy. The chocolates have to undergo many tests before they are permitted for the journey. In this age where we get home delivery if we order chocolates online, it is not surprising that astronauts can take them to space too. After all, the men in space too need some earthy pleasures.

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Top Tips to Make the Perfect Cheesecake

May 3rd, 2016

Though Cheese cake is technically an appetizer, it is more popular as a rich, luscious dessert. The cheese cake texture can differ greatly from smooth and creamy to dense and airy.

It is the type of cheese that goes into making the cheesecake that determines its texture. These include ricotta, cream cheese, cottage cheese, Swiss cheddar cheese, mascarpone, etc.

There may or may not be a crust for a cheese cake. Crust can be a thin dusting of bread crumbs, pastry crust or cookie crust. The filling consists of cheese and adding sugar, eggs and other flavourings. This mix is poured into a special spring form pan and baked on low heat. After it is baked, the cheese cake is chilled thoroughly and topped by fruit/ whipped cream/ sour cream etc.

Here are a few tips for making a perfect cheesecake. These will be handy when you want to make a cake delivery to a loved one.

  • Cheese cakes suffer when over-mixed. For best results, bring all ingredients to room temperature including eggs, cheese, liquids and flavouring before mixing them.
  • Most widely used pan for baking a cheese cake is a spring form pan whose sides and bottom can be removed.
  • One must not over beat the batter. Additional air is incorporated and this cause cracks on the surface of the cake.
  • Do not over mix the cream cheese for marbling and uniform distribution of added ingredients like nuts or chocolate chips.
  • Avoid excessive baking: Timing for baking of cheese cake is not exact due to differences in ovens. In fact, there will be continuous baking even after removing from the oven. The cheesecake must be removed from oven when centre is slightly moist.
  • When removing from oven, disengage the edge of the cheesecake from the pan by plying the tip of   a spatula or knife through the side of the pan and top edge of the cake. This allows the cake to separate from the pan as it cools.
  • The cheese cake must be cooled on a wire rack, safe from drafts of air.
  • On complete cooling of the cheesecake, slowly make loose the entire side of cheesecake from pan using tip of a knife, simultaneously releasing the clamp of the spring form pan. Make an effort to take out the side of the pan.
  • It is easy and efficient to freeze baked cheese cake. Cool the cheese cake completely and after wrapping them securely in plastic or heavy duty foil wrap, you can freeze the cheese cake for two weeks. But avoid freezing cheese cakes with garnishes or topping.
  • To prevent cracking: The big issue with cheese cakes is cracking. Like custards, cheesecakes rely on setting of eggs, which implies that they must be baked slowly and gently. Else, the eggs overcook, puff up and become grainy which will split your cake. The main trick is gentle heat. The cheese cake must be both heated and cooled gradually. Cracks are caused by rapid changes in temperature. One can even bake a cheese cake in a water bath- a pan of boiling water.

These are some tips to make a perfect cheese cake. If you bungle with your recipe, you can order online cake delivery from many online stores.

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Say you care with a sympathy gift

May 3rd, 2016

Life is full of ups and downs. It is not always about the good things, bad things happen from time to time as well. Many are of the opinion that whatever comes in your way, no matter how much sorrow it brings to you, you have to take it in your stride and move on. But there is one very important prerequisite when it comes to moving on- you have to face the sorrow and then only will you be able to address it properly and find the right motivation for moving on. In order for us to address our sorrows and overcome them, nothing is more precious than support from friends and family.

However, sometimes due to unavoidable reasons we are separated from our loved ones when they suffer a loss, due to distance. Bu that does not mean that we have no way to let them know that we are there for them! You can send sympathy gifts online to show that you care. Even if we want to send gifts over in times like this, we are often at a loss as to what to send them. Here is a suggestion that fits best in times of sorrow like these.

Nothing says “I am there for you” better than a fruit basket. There are various reasons behind this choice. Let’s take a look at a few of them and then you can decide upon the validity of this statement yourself-

  1. Because it’s healthy: When one loses a near and dear one, their life turns topsy-turvy. Their daily routine goes through a massive change. In times like this one is bound to become aloof and irregular with their eating habits. People often lose their appetite or express their disapproval over having regular meals. Fruits are loaded with vitamins which our body requires from time to time. So, if you have a bunch of fruits before you and even if you do not feel up for a proper meal, you can always take a bite or cut a slice. This way, the proper nutrients keep reaching your body so that one’s health does not get compromised when grieving.
  2. Because you need to remain active: It is a reality that when a loved one departs from our midst, apart from the sorrow, there remains a lot of work which has to be done- like arranging the funeral, getting all the paper work in order and to take care of the elder members of the family. If one does not eat properly during this time, one might fall ill, which will hamper all the necessary work that needs to be done. So, if there is a fruit hamper, one can at least munch a few fruits if they suffer from a lack of appetite due to the sorrow which has befallen.

Tip: When you send a sympathy gift, no matter what it may be, make sure that you put some thought into it. Always add a personal note along with the gift to let the bereaved know that you are with them.

If for any reason you cannot be present physically in times of sorrow of a loved one, always make sure to let them know that you care with a sympathy gift and if circumstances permit, turn up at their doorstep to console them.

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