Monday, December 16, 2013

Break-fasting?

Which category? Do you fall into the category of those who are big time foodie and don't mind eating anything that comes their way, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner? Or do you fall in the category who are weight watchers and extremely conscious about your calorie intake? The third category is for those who think breakfast in unessential and generally skip it due to lack of time or other factors. Whatever category you fall into, please keep in mind the importance of breakfast and what should go inside your body. You should know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day which should NEVER be skipped. After your night's dinner when you sleep for 6-7 hours, your body has digested the food. The energy of your body is consumed by your body cells to breakdown the food particles. Hence it is important to replenish your body with energy in the morning, with the right food (breakfast). This energy keeps you going throughout the day.

The argument over breakfast- Some say it should be light, some prefer it heavy. Remember, whatever you consume, the food is broken down in the cells accordingly. You definitely don't want to feel sleepy at work/school/college after a rich heavy breakfast! That tempting rice or puri/bhature is hence a big NO for breakfast. Its advisable to eat cereals or anything light. Choose from a variety of fruits (one whole fruit a day is recommended worldwide by all dietitians, doctors), cereals (I have been consuming cornflakes in breakfast from the past 2 years and I am not bored of it), Brown Bread (white bread is MAIDA that aids slow digestion and is not fibrous), Milk/ Fresh juice (packed juice is only sweet flavor, no fiber), oats (sweet or salted as you like), Poha (battered rice), pasta (made of rawa or sooji), Eggs (not omlette), or Cheela (made of chipkea flour/besan and sooji and/or eggs)

An easy recipie
You can made a wonderful variety of the above, if only you had all the time in the world. Being a working professional, I understand the time constraint of everybody. My friends were amused to know see me eating cornflakes daily, which had become a habit. I could not torture them with cornflakes, on the morning of New Year when I had invited them for New Year party the previous night. With less time in hand, no open shops around and with the limited ingredients available at home, I made my own customized CHEELA. (Why has it been named so, only CHEELA would know :p )

Cheela- breakfast/evening snack for 4-5 people
Spread on tawa
Preparation time- 15 minutes Ingredients- 1 and half small cups chickpea flour or Besan 2 and half cups rawa or sooji 1/2 cup refined oil Finely chopped onions Finely chopped tomatoes Half a spoon turmeric A teaspoon of- black pepper, cummin seeds salt as per your taste , a pinch of baking powder Optional: Grated ginger, Finely chopped coriander leaves (Dhaniya), tea spoon of chilly powder/chopped green chillies, 2-3 eggs

Blend chickpea flour, rawa sooji, spices, chopped vegetables together with water in a pan. The paste should neither be too thin nor thick. Mix the right amount of water till you achieve consistency. Make sure chickpea flour don't form balls together. Blend eggs in the mixture if you want. A pinch of baking powder or soda will make the Cheela soft and fluffy. In case you add eggs, skip the baking soda. Heat the pan/tawa, spread a spoonful of oil and/or sprinkle cummin seeds. Pour a small portion of the mixture over the tawa. Follow the process of making omelette. Turn the cheela upside down and cook the other side with few more drops of oil. Don't let the cheela stick to the tawa. Keep turning its sides lest you may burn it.Serve hot with
Follow the process of making omelette
 chutney/sauce. Cheela spring rolls- If you have some more time in hand, on one side of the cheela, spread cooked vegetables like beans, cabbage, carrots, peas or dinner leftover and roll the cheela like a spring roll. You can even stuff the roll with small soya chunks. A healthy, tasty meal with minimum cholesterol is ready within no time. I make this usually on weekends or on days when my cornflakes stock is over!






Whats in there for you- benefits: 
  • Nutritious as Chickpea flour- is rich in Vitamin A, Phosphorus, Potassium, Has Zero cholesterol, Sooji- Has Vitamin E& B complex, Iron, Is easy to digest, keeps you full for longer duration
  • Less time consuming 
  • No hassle preparation( even kids can make it )
  • Light yet filling

Friday, December 13, 2013

Together, a beautiful "We"

On the highs and lows together
I knew you when our friendship was so raw,
we shared the same skipping rope,
hung on to the same sea-saw.
The memories still brew fresh in my mind,
when we left others behind,
in our notorious pranks on our neighbors
and we loved our life's spicy juicy flavors!






Partners in crime scolded together
You stole money from your dad's wallet and bought ice creams for both of us,
which your parents came to know and created a lot of fuss,
I shared the scolding with you as we were partners in crime,
our bonding grew stronger which was never to sublime.

"Sisters"? our new teacher asked us on the first day to school,
"Yes" you replied with a smile on your face,
and since then in our lovely bonding,
ego had no space.

My mum made sure to buy anything double,
one for you, and  another for me,
because you and I together made a beautiful WE.
I smile when I look at the doll that you gave me on my 8th birthday,
I remember how I had treasured it,
never gave it to anybody to play.

secrets well guarded
Those little chits that we passed in our classroom,
fills me with nostalgia now, as I remember
how for our poor classwork we were reprimanded,
and how those secrets remained between us so well guarded.

Our late night conversation and gossip sessions,
together our homework and swimming lessons,
just brought out our best in us,
I had many friends, but none like you,
who made my life bright and beautiful too.

I cried when a kid pushed me on the playground,
You always lent me a shoulder
you pushed her on my behalf and turned the world around,
you lent me your shoulder when I cried,
and stayed there with me till my tears dried.

I grew dependent on you for almost everything,
including my mood swings and solution to my problems,
you patiently counselled me to be a calm person,
and so well handled all my tantrums.

No, I was not a spoiled child at all,
it was just that while growing up there was not a single day I did not see you,
it was you who understood my condition whatever I went through.

The thought of parting with you was a nightmare,
but someday that would happen, you were aware.
My heart skipped a beat, to know you will be far from me,
but you consoled me each second with your words
saying "Distance does not matter, together we still make a beautiful we"

Friends forever
We were inseparable since childhood,
till the day you left to a different city for higher studies,
we were torn physically apart,
yet the best buddies.

Poem dedicated to my childhood and best friend Namita, who is in Australia now, leading a happy married life. I love you Namita and feel blessed to have you as my best friend. Could not write more lines on you as my eyes just brimmed up,
Image coutesy:Google