Spicy Green Lentils Fry and a Guest Post

Dear Friends and Readers, I know I have been missing from my blog for a really long time. I have been very busy with my toddlers these days that it has been a couple of months since I checked my blog dashboard for new messages or updates. My kids are at the stage where they keep running all over the place to climbing every chair and table to shelf they see and they need me all the time and when they sleep, I take a much-needed nap along with them. Many interesting things have been going on in our life for the past couple of months. We came to India in December for our babies first birthday and right now my babies are I are in India where they are having a good time getting pampered by everybody. There had been some happy moments (had our babies ear piercing ceremony done) and sad moments in our life (I lost my dear grandma a few months ago) since we came here. We are also shifting our base from Virginia to California this month.

It feels really good to read the mails from some of my friends enquiring about me or a few mails from new friends giving good feedbacks for my old posts in spite of my absence. There was one particular mail from a friend from Veena (thank you very much dear) from Australia, who said that she found my recipes useful during her pregnancy, so here I am back with a recipe that I did long back. I really hope I continue blogging regularly. This is a recipe that I had published long back at http:/blogcritics.org/tastes/article/spicy-green-lentils-fry . This was a big hit in my family and parents said that this dish tasted almost like prawn fry, so I guess a vegetarian-version of prawn .

Spicy Green Lentils Fry

INGREDIENTS: Green lentils, 1 cup. Onion, large, 1. Roma tomatoes, . Ginger-garlic paste, 1 teaspoon. This can be substituted with 2 crushed garlic pods. Fennel seeds, 1 teaspoon. Chili powder, 1 teaspoon. Coriander powder, 2 teaspoons. Turmeric powder, ½ teaspoon. Salt as per taste. Curry leaves, 3-4, (optional). Chopped mint and cilantro, ¼ cup.

PREPARATION:

Wash the lentils and cook them for 15-20 minutes with 2 cups of water in a pot under medium flame. They can also be cooked in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl. If cooking in the microwave, add a drop of oil to the water before cooking. This prevents the lentils from sticking to one another. The lentils should not lose their shape after cooking and should have a little crunch. Dice the onions and tomatoes. Heat a pan with a tablespoon of oil. Once the oil starts to bubble, add the fennel seeds and fry for a few seconds. Then add the diced onions and sauté for a few minutes until the onions are tender. Then add the diced tomatoes, curry leaves, ginger-garlic paste and sauté for a few more minutes until everything is well blended. Add chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, salt, and the cooked lentils; mix everything and cook under medium flame for 10-12 minutes stirring the mixture in between. If needed, another tablespoon of oil can be added during the stirring process. This helps to fry the spices and release their flavors. Add the chopped mint and cilantro leaves at the end and serve as a side dish with rice or bread. If needed, any curry powders or garam masala powder can also be added along with the given powders for a much spicier version. The green lentils can also be substituted with green peas or any type of beans.

GUEST POST

This is a guest post from Mr. Leroy Templeton. He is a recent college graduate and a health nut who is very passionate about educating people on how healthy eating can help fight certain forms of cancer. I thank him for sending this compelling and useful article. We find this very informative and interesting.

Nutrition and Cancer

By: Leroy Templeton

Good nutrition is important for all people. However, it is essential for cancer patients. Learning the proper foods to include in a diet can ease some cancer and cancer treatment symptoms and increase a patient's overall well-being. Simply taking control of the foods that are consumed and following nutrition tips can enhance strength, recovery, energy and mood.

Cancer often curbs an appetite. Those suffering from the illness find it difficult to eat due to stress, anxiety, nausea, fatigue and side-effects from treatments. When this occurs, it is important to select foods high in protein and calories without sacrificing healthy eating. Choose olives, seeds, nuts, and dried fruits as snacks. These are healthy options to add protein and calories to your meals. Pick cereals with dried fruits and nuts. Have yogurt topped with nuts and granola. Cook foods with olive or canola oils. Refrain from using empty sugars (milkshakes, candies, cakes, puddings, etc.) to complete a high-calorie diet.

Water should be on everyone's list for optimal nutrition. Those with fatigue, nausea and diarrhea can especially benefit from the hydration water adds to the body. Cancer and cancer treatments are often hard on energy levels and digestive systems. Water replenishes the intestines after vomiting and diarrhea, known symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer, Pleural Mesothelioma and many other forms of cancer.

Tolerance for certain foods may also cause issues for cancer patients. Treatments are often known for their interference with the small intestine to produce lactase. Patients taking chemo or radiation may want to be cautious with or refrain from eating or drinking dairy products.

Vitamins from fresh vegetables are also a great way to keep your immune system up during stressful and trying times on your body. However, raw veggies are filled with fiber, which can be hard for a stomach to digest. Cancer patients may want to consider jump-starting the process to prevent stomach troubles. Blend vegetables in a blender and drink them as a smoothie or add them pureed in a soup. This option is much healthier than skipping out on the vitamins offered by vegetables.

Fruits also offer much nutritional value. Patients with upset stomachs and digestive troubles will want to consume fruits with less fructose. Melons, for example, are known for their high level of fructose. Choosing fruits with lesser values, such as berries, peaches and citrus is one way to gain the nutritional benefits without overloading a small intestine.

A cancer patient's body suffers enough without added illness. Treatments and medications used to fight cancer cells often weaken the body's immune system. Therefore during these times, it is important to stay away from foods that are high-risk for bacteria. These include undercooked or raw meats, eggs and seafood.