DIY Files - Part III

This month's DIY brings to you something from my mother's kitchen. 

This chutney tastes best in all seasons, specially in Winters and is a great accompaniment with anything and everything under the Sun.

You need - 

Put all the ingredients into the jar and beat using the bar until a viscous paste is formed.

• Aamla
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Green chillies
• Onion
• Salt 

Towards a Lighter Stomach

So Deepawali is going to be done with today, and I am sure many, if not all, of you will have some post-festivities guilt about having consumed a lot of fried and sweet stuff. 

Here is a quick guide to giving your stomach a break for some days and help it recuperate. Following one, some or all of these would help you feel lighter in only some days. Yes, it is tried and tested.

• Replace one meal with Fruits, the best is dinner, because most of us hardly move after the last meal of the day.

• Snack on dry fruits instead of fried or even baked snacks. They have healthy nutrients, and will keep you both full and warm.

• Sip on Green Tea to detox. Many people I know swear by it. I think the best part is that it does not need any sweetener, which definitely cuts the calorie intake compared to regular tea and coffee.

• For those who cannot do fruits, try some soup and garlic bread for dinner for they do make a light, nutritious meal.

• Cereal in breakfast, is both quick and healthy, thanks to the fiber rich contents along with many added seeds.

• Move that bum because a low calorie diet can only 'aid' fitness - there is still no alternative of physical activity.

Sundae your Ice Cream

Doesn't this shift is season makes you miss the Ice Creamy evening promises that summer brings along? It does for me. 

You can save these add-on things for the next season, or try it right away while you still can. Add any or all of these to your ice cream, and let yourself melt in bliss.

• Flavored Corn flakes - there are many varieties available like Mango, Strawberry, and Honey

• Nuts - Almonds, Walnuts, Raisins, Peanuts 

• Syrups - Chocolate, Kiwi. You may use honey too.

• Gems (Indian version of M&Ms), or grated chocolate 

• Fresh fruits  

• Dry Cake (Plum tastes wonderful)

quick (& healthy) snacking options

• Eat some Jaggery with salted peanuts.

• Dry fruits dipped in honey are a healthy and tasty option when your sweet tooth is crying for pleasure. 

• Fresh fruits cut up, and sprinkled with rock salt and roasted cumin seeds is wonderful.  Powder the cumin seeds if fine is your thing.

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• Nibble on a small square cheese, with  a sauce of your liking. Mine is mustard.  

• Microwave come corn, mix it up very little Tabasco sauce and munch on.  

• Toasted garlic bread with a slice of cheese is a ready in an instant, filling option. Chop on green chillies over the top and you have your own version of Pizza Hut's chilly garlic bread.

Healthy habits that will run long distance

• End your day with a glass full of warm water

• Brush your teeth twice a day - if at all time is a constraint and once is what you can manage, make it at night, and only mouth wash it in the morning. This is what all my dentists preach and repeat on each of my visits. 

• Snack on fruits - seasonal, dried. Such snacking would not only bring in the benefits of fruits but also help you cut on the off the shelf snacking options like biscuits, pretzels etc. 

• Replace at least two cups of tea or coffee with water. In case plain water tastes mundane or medicine like, flavor it up with some dips of herbal tea. Green tea helps boost metabolism and reduce stress, but there are other milder flavors like Jasmine and Rose available in the market too. 

• Like the grandma said, have breakfast like a king, lunch like the working class man, and dine like a beggar. Eating at or just after twilight helps. I always try and wrap my meals up latest by half past eight.

• Have one squeezed out lemon everyday - Vitamin C is the most significant nutrient in building up immunity, and brings along multiple benefits to build on good health.

Kitchen tricks

• Marinate your veggies in curd or spices for half an hour or more.
• Dry roast your spices for enhanced flavor and great essence
• Cook in the same water in which lentins have been soaked overnight to give your preparation a stronger taste.
• Use color contrasts for garnish - a red pepper on yellow food, or a green mint leaf over white yogurt
• Vary your grease with the same ingredients - ghee, butter, mustard oil, olive oil, pick your take.
• A hint of sugar can give your food the unexpected edge

Given that it is my first post on my blog, I wanted the topic to be very general. The most recurring activity in a day, any woman can bet on - something totally inevitable. 

Here, I start my blog on All Things Six with one of strongest ingredients, Food.