How to pamper your taste buds

How we eat is just as crucial as what we eat. That is what I learnt a few days ago while reading an attention-grabbing feature in the Readers Digest. It got me deeply absorbed in the interesting explanation on how we all have a propensity to be imprecise on  the aspect  of eating. This is typically experienced during the festive season when we find ourselves in the midst of a throng of people. At a gathering we could finish a whole plate of food while our concentration is focused entirely on the conversation and  not  on our meal. And then we stare at our empty plate in doubt wondering if we had really eaten it. Given that our attention was more towards the conversation, we were not aware what was shoved into our mouth. As a result we will be consuming more calories. On the other hand, if we eat with awareness we  are more likely to  enjoy the food  with a minimum amount  of calories.
Moreover I was amazed ,reading further into the article, which elaborated how to draw out  maximum pleasure from the food we eat. Take this for instance, when eating a piece of chocolate, pay attention to   the flavors and the texture and take note how they transform as the chocolate melts  in the mouth. Even after  the chocolate has been ingested our taste buds just mull over the sweet essence that take place in the next few minutes.
On the whole, this particular magazine feature  taught me to be mindful of what I eat and  pay close attention to my meal by using all of my senses , whilst  observing the combination of the beautiful colors, the different textures and the extensive assortment that assemble in my plate. And prior to pushing a morsel hurriedly down my throat ,I am encouraged to take a few seconds to inhale intensely the aromas released from the food, appreciate and enjoy the moment. With that perception sharply penetrated in my mind, I succumb to my plate of delicacies.
My tastes buds are already getting tantalized with this scrumptious array of vegetables assembled on my plate.

A typical sri Lankan Meal

A healthy meal - cooked in Sri Lankan style

Kitchen Disasters

I was reading a favourite magazine when I came across some interesting  tips to follow, when cooking disasters take place in the kitchen. How many times have we  got to a stage where we think we have to  throw away  the food because we have added too much of salt in the food. And  how much does it infuriate you  when everyone starts complaining  that the food is too oily and leave their plates barely eaten. I find that in most instances  when making ,soups and stews,I unsuspectingly tend to   add extra salt and hold my hands in my head wondering what  I  am going to do with a pot full  of salty soup and  who on earth is going to eat it after that.. Many times I have added cupfuls of extra water to reduce the saltiness but  have ended  up with a pot of  watery soup.

By following some procedures ,I am sure we can relish the salty food too which otherwise would probably go waste.I found these tips very useful and easy to handle. So make sure  to  try  them  next time  you  encounter similar mishaps when cooking.Try adding raw potatoes to the soups and discard  them once they are thoroughly cooked.The cooked potatoes absorb the extra  salt ..Another method is to mix  a teaspoon of cider vinegar and sugar.To get rid of excess fat from soups ,refrigerate the soup after cooking.The excess fat will come up to to the surface and can  be easily removed. Lettuce leaves also absorb fat. Place a few in the pot and the fat will  cling onto it. Simply remove the lettuce leaves. This is a good technique to  adapt to prevent wastage of food  from  possible cooking disasters .


               A pot of soup can turn disastrous if too much of salt is added

Cooking Beans

 A few days ago I was assigned to do a pot of beans for a farewell party. Since it was a large quantity, my daughters helped me with the cutting and chopping. I was glad I had some extra help. Beans could be cooked in many different ways. I decided to  do a curried dish.

I had to fry the beans in batches as the frying pan couldn't hold a lot at the same time. Once all the beans were fried, I put them into a  large platter lined with paper towels for  the excess oil  to be absorbed.

The beans went through many  cooking stages to reach  the finish product. First it was fried and cooked on the stove and then went into the oven to simmer. A lot of tomatoes, onions, garlic and a few spices were added to bring out the flavour. This vegetable curry is a good side dish with  rice cooked in saffron.

Blog Action Day 2011: Food Taking Me Back To My Childhood

When food is mentioned, many distinguishing features pop in my mind. The first thing that draws my attention whenever this topic is brought about is family. Food and family go hand in hand. The thought of food also stimulates much deeper; the love, happiness, warmth, kindness and generosity in me. Food makes a person's heart bubble with warmth. It also reinforces kindness and generosity that make me extend an helping hand to the less fortunate. Overall the subject of food wafts me deeply as it takes me back to my childhood, reminiscing the days I spent with my parents and siblings. Food always played a major part during my childhood and continues to do so. 


With food as the topic I ventured on this nostalgic journey down memory lane. I paused for a moment, when I envisaged my childhood home, where I had spent great many years of happy times with my family. I mentally zoomed in to the dining hall where my large family used to gather during  mealtimes. Whisperings, followed by loud laughter, would erupt throughout the hallway which would quickly be silenced by the food that would soon be laid on the table. Mother would painstakingly prepare part of the breakfast while my siblings and I would wait impatiently around the breakfast table for Father, who would bring the main part of the breakfast, the freshly baked bread from the baker which we all took delight in eating, with the coconut “sambol” (chutney) Mother made. Even though we had a choice for breakfast, we always tried to eat Mother’s favorite. With stinging eyes and  runny nose, my whole body would be encircled with a burning sensation. I wouldn’t give up! Hastily gulping water in between each morsel, I would fan myself with the morning newspaper, to cool that sweltering in me and pretend that everything was just fine. I wouldn’t dislodge from the breakfast table till I finished the last mouthful of that spicy coconut sambol, which was a mixture of scrapped coconut, red chilly, green chilly and chopped onions sprinkled with lemon juice and salt. This was my mother’s specialty! A simple dish made with great labour of love.

Thanks to blog action day for the topic that rekindled  my childhood.

Maintaining A healthy Life style

According to the medical health book which mentions that the American Department of Health and Human Services recommends seven basic guidelines, to maintain the best possible health and following these regulations would  help you to be fit and in shape.
I thought it was a good idea to share it amongst the bloggers who might find this information useful.
Eat a variety of foods
Maintain a desirable weight
Avoid to much fat,saturated fat and cholesterol
Eat food with adequate starch and fibre
Avoid too much sugar
Avoid too much sodium
If you drink Alcoholic beverages,do it in moderation.

These guidelines  are also highly recommended  for people  who are  already experiencing some risks factors for chronic diseases including family history of obesity,heart diseases,,diabetes or high blood pressure.

Fun With Food

From time to time my email inbox gets filled with forwards sent to me by friends ,family and others.Some I don't even open if the sender is unknown.A few others I read. If I find those amusing, I chuckle out loud bringing the whole clan running into the computer room,probably wondering what ever had got into me. Still there are a few which I have neatly kept intact in a folder because of their uniqueness.These few had somehow found the way into my heart or should I say stomach?. I was amazed when I saw some pictures which were sent my way via email.They looked so delicious and good . I am so tempted to endow this artist, who I may never know, with words of praise for putting in a lot of effort ,to carve beautiful characters out of food.