World of Books and Travel

  How to make green tomato chutney - In a pan, add a spoon of oil. - Chop an onion and saute it for 2 minutes. - Add 2–3 green tomatoes, chopped. - Add 2–3 green chillies, 2–3 garlics, 1 piece of ginger, a few chopped green coriander leaves (optional). Saute them for 3 minutes. - When cooled grind with salt. -Finally, temper it with mustard seeds, red chillies and a cluster of curry leaves. Health Benefits of Green Tomatoes Improves gut health  — Green tomatoes are rich in dietary fiber. Fiber helps in keeping your digestive system healthy by aiding in the multiplication of good gut bacteria. Vitamin E found in green tomatoes helps  prevent hemolytic anemia. Beta carotene found in green tomatoes  promotes healthy skin . Prevents Premature Ageing -  As green tomatoes are rich in Vitamin C, which helps produce skin cells, may make you look younger and wrinkle-free. Helps in hydration  — green tomatoes are 94% water, which helps to keep you hydrated when exerc...

In this summer, I decided to make some Green banana powder. What is the use of green banana powder, you may wonder.  Green banana powder (raw banana powder) has several health benefits. I was shocked to know the humble banana's health benefits and why we should include it in our diet.  I usually make main curries and side dishes with raw bananas, without knowing its numerous health benefits.  I, of course, knew it was good for health.   When I came to know its health benefits I decided to make the powder and keep ready at home for immediate needs.  First, let us see how to make the Green Banana Powder. Select good variety of raw banana. Wash it. Peel the skin. (If you wish you can remove the whole skin instead of peeling it.) Cut it into small pieces and dry it in the sun or use a drier, if you have one at home. The dried raw banana pieces can be preserved in an airtight container as it is, or powder it and keep, for months together.  How to use the po...

 Hair may fall due to various causes. If it is not due to some serious issues, we can control them at home to some extent.  Photo by  Paul Siewert  on  Unsplash There are so many commercial products available in the market for reducing hair fall and promoting healthier hair growth. But we all know natural remedies are the best to try first. Six methods are given below with the things easily available at home. These are methods passed on from elders who believed in natural remedies. I have tried all of them on different occasions and I found each one useful to me. No need to try all of these, just any one method will do which is easily available with you, to control the hair fall.  1. Coconut oil  — Many people use coconut oil for hair. It is packed with fatty acids that penetrate the hair shaft, reducing protein loss and strengthening hair. Then leave it for at least an hour and wash with a mild shampoo. You will have to try this for a few days regularly to...

  More and more people are opting for millet food, realizing its amazing health benefits.  As you know, the year 2023 was named as International day of Millets.  I use millets almost on a daily basis, for various recipes. I am sharing a foxtail millet pongal recipe with you. Foxtail millets are tiny seeds covered in a thin, crispy hull and are available in a light yellow-brownish colour.   Ingredients required Fox Millet - 1 cup Moong dal - 1 cup Wash these two and keep aside.  1 piece of ginger -chopped 1 tsp. cumin seeds  1 tsp. black pepper 1/2 tsp. asafoetida powder 1 tablsp. cashew nuts - broken 2 green chillies - chopped curry leaves 1 tsp. mustard seeds Preparation Keep a cooker on the stove, add 1 1/2 tablespoon cooking oil When it is heated add half of the cumin seeds, half of ginger pieces, half of black pepper and the chopped chillies.  When it is ready, add 4-5 cup water, add salt and bring it to boil.  Add the millet and moong dal int...

 Recently I came to know that betel leaf  has several health benefits.  Betel leaves have got many health benefits, if used in the right way. It is widely used in Ayurveda treatments. Betel leaves do not have any harmful effects when used alone.  But if betel leaves are used with betel nut (areca nut) or tobacco,  it can cause cancer since they are carcinogenic. Nutrients in Betel Leaf In a 100g serving of Betel leaf, the nutrients are Calories: 61 Fat: 1g Carbohydrates: 6g Fibre: 1.8g Protein: 3g Betel leaves have numerous  health benefits. Betel leaves are good source of calcium. Additionally, they also contain vitamins like vitamin C, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, and riboflavin. Betel leaves possess analgesic, antibiotic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic properties. H ealth Benefits  1. Helpful for Diabetes - Betel leaf can help reduce glucose levels in your blood.  2. Reduces cholesterol - The eugenol content in betel leav...

  Nutritious and delicious Mulberry leaves Recipe                                                                     Mulberry leaves recipe Mulberry leaves are used in traditional medicines as a natural medicine for a variety of sicknesses because of their high nutritional values. They  are rich in plant compounds like polyphenol antioxidants, as well as vitamin C, zinc, calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium.  In traditional Chinese medicine, mulberry leaf is used to treat inflammation, colds, and antiviral illnesses.                                               Mulberry leaves Health benefits Compounds found in mulberry leaves may help lower blood sugar, cholesterol, and...

  Last week,   during my morning stroll in my garden, I saw the shallot spring onion ready to be harvested. Immediately, I had an idea to make an easy recipe with it, when it is fresh.  As we all know spring onion comes with several health benefits. It is used in various ways. Usually, I use them in noodles, salads, etc. “Cookery is not chemistry .  It is an art. It requires instinct and taste rather than exact measurements.” —  Marcel Boulestin Today I had a different idea. I tried with tur dal. Cooked some tur dal well in the cooker. Later, I added one medium-sized tomato chopped, turmeric powder, chili powder, and 2 green chilies slit, salt and cooked for 3 minutes. By then, I had ground 2 tablespoons of coconut with cumin seeds ready and added it to the curry. When it was almost ready to boil, I added the chopped shallot spring onions and cooked for about 1 minute. It should not be cooked for more time, to avoid its nutrition loss. Finally, I seasoned it wit...