Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Mangalorean fish curry (Mehezabin and Shraddha)

Ingredients:
To grind:
1/4 tsp fenugreek
2 pods garlic
1 big onion saute
1 tbsp coriander seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/4 turmeric powder
6 red chillies
1 green chilli
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
1/4 cup tamarind pulp
1&1/2 cup grated coconut
2 tbsp oil
Curry leaves
 
Method
  1. In a kadai heat oil, add fenugreek, ajwain, chopped garlic, chopped onion and saute.
  2. Add coriander seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves, red chillies and saute for 5 mnts.
  3. Add grated coconut, turmeric powder, green chilli, ginger garlic paste and tamarind pulp.
  4. Grind everything together.
For gravy:

  1. In a wok, heat 2 tbsp oil add mustard seeds, curry leaves, onion and saute till golden brown.
  2. Add the ground paste and cook for 3 to 4 mnts.
  3. Add 1 cup water and salt and when it boils, add fish to the gravy and cook till done.

Dad’s Favorite Fudge Recipe (Mehezabin and Shraddha)

Ingredients

  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 2/3 cup evaporated milk
  • 1 lb semi-sweet chocolate, chips or block chocolate chopped up
  • 7 oz. jar marshmallow cream
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
 

Method

1 Prepare everything in advance and have ready to go - chopped chocolate, chopped nuts, best to have marshmallow cream already out of the jar and in a bowl that you can easily scrape out with a rubber spatula. Line a 13"x9"x2" baking pan with foil, butter the inside (alternatively, line the pan with waxed paper).
2 In a 3-quart, thick-bottomed saucepan, bring sugar, butter, and milk to a rolling boil on medium heat, stirring constantly once the mixture begins to bubble. Once the mixture reaches a boil, set your timer to 4 minutes. You will want to remove the mixture from the heat once it reaches 234°F on a candy thermometer (234°F at sea-level, adjust for altitude) which should take about 4 minutes. If you don't have a candy thermometer, just go with the four minutes.
3 Remove from heat. Quickly stir in chocolate and marshmallow cream. Once those have melted and are well mixed, stir in the vanilla and then the walnuts.
4 Pour into prepared pan.
5 Cool to room temperature before slicing (about 4 hours). You may want to chill in the refrigerator to get it more firm.
Yield: Makes about 3 pounds of fudge.

Chicken Patties Recipe (Mehezabin and Shraddha)

Ingredients

  • Chicken boneless 100 gm (boiled)
  • Black pepper to taste (crushed)
  • Salt to taste
  • Rue 2 tbsp
  • Egg 1
  • Puff pastry 100 gm
 

Cooking Directions

  1. Chop boiled boneless chicken.
  2. In a frying pan add rue and water as required and cook to make a well combined mixture.
  3. Add chicken, salt and pepper to taste; cook on low flame till chicken is tender.
  4. Keep a side to cool down chicken.
  5. Roll out puff pastry with a rolling pin and cut into 2 inch circles.
  6. Grease a baking pan with butter or oil.
  7. Place puff pastry circles on the tray and top with chicken mixture.
  8. Put another piece on top, gently press well to seal. Lightly brush a beaten egg on top of the pastry.
  9. Bake in a preheated oven at 230 f for 10 to 12 minutes.
 

Lemon Chicken Recipe (Mehezabin and Shradhha)

Ingredients

  • 3-4 pounds chicken parts (thighs and legs recommended), skin-on, bone-in, trimmed of excess fat
  • 2 Tbsp lemon zest
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 2 Tbsp fresh chopped thyme (or 2 teaspoons dried)
  • 1 Tbsp fresh chopped rosemary (or 1 teaspoon dried)
  • 1 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2-3 Tbsp melted butter
  • Lemon slices for garnish
Lemon Chicken (photo) 

Method

1 Place lemon juice, lemon peel, garlic, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper in a small bowl, whisk to combine. With the tip of a sharp knife, cut into each chicken piece one or two times by about 1/2 an inch. (This will help the marinade penetrate.) Place the chicken pieces and the marinade in a gallon-sized freezer bag. Rotate the bag so that all chicken pieces are coated with the marinade. Seal the bag and place in a bowl in the refrigerator (in case of leakage). Let marinate for 2 hours.
2 Preheat oven to 425°F. Remove chicken from marinade and place in a single layer in a large baking dish, skin side up. Reserve the marinade. Use a pastry brush to brush a little melted butter on to each piece of chicken.
3 Bake for a total of 50 to 55 minutes, until the skins are crispy brown, and the chicken is cooked through, juices running clear (breasts have an internal temperature of 165°F and thighs 175°F). Half-way through the baking, at about the 25 minute mark, baste the chicken pieces generously with reserved marinade.
Depending on the size of the breasts, they may be ready before the thighs, so if you are cooking a mix of chicken parts, keep that in mind, you may have to take them out of the oven before the thighs.
Let rest, covered in foil, for 10 minutes before serving.
4 Pour the juices from the pan into a serving bowl. Use a tablespoon to skim the fat off the top (save the fat for cooking with later, or discard, but do not discard down the drain or it will solidify and clog your drain). Serve the chicken with the juices on the side or a little poured over the top of the chicken.
Serve alone or with steamed rice.
Yield: Serves 4-6.

Chicken Cacciatore (Hunter Style Chicken) Recipe (Mehezabin and Shraddha)

Ingredients

  • One 3 1/2 pound chicken, cut into pieces
  • 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup thinly sliced onions
  • 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1/3 cup white wine
  • 2 cups peeled and chopped, firm ripe tomatoes (or canned plum tomatoes in their juice)
Chicken Cacciatore (Hunter Style Chicken) (photo) 

Method

1 Rinse chicken and pat dry. Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat, add the onions and cook until translucent, stirring occasionally. Push the onions to the side. Season the chicken pieces with salt on all sides. Add the chicken pieces, skin-side down. Cook until the chicken skin is golden brown, then turn pieces over and brown on the other side. Add the garlic to the pan and cook a minute more.
2 Sprinkle pepper over the chicken. Add wine and simmer until reduced by half. Add the tomatoes, lower the heat and cover the skillet with the lid slightly ajar.
3 Cook the chicken on a low simmer, turning and basting from time to time. Cook until the thighs are very tender and the meat is almost falling off the bones, about 40 minutes. If the stew starts to dry out, add a couple tablespoons of water.
Yield: Serves 4-6.

Chocolate Mousse Recipe (Mehezabin and Shraddha)

Ingredients

  • 4 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) unsalted butter, diced
  • 2 tablespoons espresso or very strong coffee (I used decaf espresso from a local Starbucks)
  • 1 cup cold heavy cream
  • 3 large eggs, separated
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
(Optional) Raspberries and extra whipped cream
Chocolate Mousse

Method

1 Whip the cream to soft peaks, then refrigerate.
2 Combine the chocolate, butter, and espresso in the top of a double boiler over hot, but not simmering, water, stirring frequently until smooth. Remove from the heat and let cool until the chocolate is just slightly warmer than body temperature. To test, dab some chocolate on your bottom lip. It should feel warm. If it is too cool, the mixture will seize when the other ingredients are added.
3 Once the melted chocolate has cooled slightly, whip the egg whites in a medium bowl until they are foamy and beginning to hold a shape. Sprinkle in the sugar and beat until soft peaks form.
4 When the chocolate has reached the proper temperature, stir in the yolks. Gently stir in about one-third of the whipped cream. Fold in half the whites just until incorporated, then fold in the remaining whites, and finally the remaining whipped cream.
5 Spoon or pipe the mousse into a serving bowl or individual dishes. If you wish, layer in fresh raspberries and whipped cream. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours. (The mousse can be refrigerated

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Healthier junk food choices (Mehezabin and Shraddha)

1. Pizza

It's not exactly a low-fat food, Beck said, but it does have considerably less fat, sodium and calories than a cheeseburger with fries. And there are some nutritional benefits.
"The cheese gives you some calcium, although you're getting a bit of saturated fat and sodium. Tomato sauce gives you vitamins A and C and the cancer-fighting chemical lycopene. Top it with vegetables and you're getting extra fibre."
According to Beck, the best way to order your pizza is: thin crust, whole wheat if you can, half the cheese, either chicken breast or ham, lots of vegetables and order a salad to go along with it.
"Don't have a pizza-only meal because you'll end up eating too much," she said.
 

2. French Fries

"If you go into a fast-food joint, usually a large order of fries is going to cost you 550 calories, 25 grams of fat and anywhere up to 850 milligrams of sodium," Beck explained. "And they're deep-fried often in hydrogenated vegetable oil so you're getting up to six grams of trans fat, that unhealthy fat that increases your LDL cholesterol."
The solution? Make your own fries at home. Bake them in the oven or look for frozen brands that are low in fat - many don't have trans fat as well - at your local grocery store or supermarket. Remember to read the nutritional labels! If you want to try something a little different at home and you're looking for a boost of beta carotene and fibre, take a sweet potato, cut it into slices, brush with canola oil and bake in the oven.


3. Baked potato chips

Those crafty food scientists at Frito-Lay figured out that deep-frying chips adds a lot of fat and calories. Their solution? Bake those chips in a nice, hot oven. They’ll come out crispy, but they won’t drip grease like a leaky oil tanker. Baked! Lays KC Masterpiece barbecue-flavored chips contain about 120 calories and 3 grams of fat per serving (about 11 chips). Fried barbecue Lays harbor about 150 calories and 10 grams of fat. It’s a big difference and it makes a previously off-limits food available for light snacking. And the baked Lays actually taste quite good. If you’re looking for something a bit fancier, check out Kettle Brand Bakes Potato Chips. The gourmet baked chips are good enough to be served in your favorite fancy restaurant.

4. Low-fat cheese puffs

The cheese puff represents a major breakthrough in snack science (and particle physics, but that’s another article). Nobody really knows what a cheese puff actually is, but we all love to gobble them down during halftime. Once again, the smarty-pants over at Frito-Lay devised a way of making low-fat, low-calorie Cheetos. They shaved about 40 calories (from 160 to 120) and about 6 grams of fat (from 10 to 4) off a serving.

If Cheetos are too scientific for you, you may want to check out Annie’s Homegrown Cheddar Bunnies. They’re not quite low-calorie and low-fat, but they’re a lot more satisfying than Cheetos. Each serving of the savory bunny-shaped crackers contains 150 calories and 7 grams of fat. 

5. Low-cal, low- sodium pretzels

Pretzels seem healthy because they’re relatively sedate snacks. Because of this, it’s easy to gobble up too many of the tasty knots. If you’re going to snack on pretzels, look for healthy ones. Legendary actor-turned-natural food mogul Paul Newman makes (or has other people make) some delightfully healthy and tasty pretzel snacks. The Salt ‘N Pepper flavor is especially delicious, adding a much-needed zing. One serving only has 100 calories and 1 gram of fat. Or try the orgasmically delicious Snyder’s of Hanover Honey Mustard & Onion Nibblers, which have 130 calories and 3 grams of fat.
Fat and calories are a big deal, but the sodium in most pretzels can be your kryptonite, especially if you’re on a low-sodium diet. Regular salted pretzels (including Newman’s) contain about 400 mg of sodium. Unsalted pretzels are much better, as they only have about 110 mg of sodium. Of course, salt makes pretzels tasty and just a little goes a long way. Low-sodium versions -- like Penn Dutch Extra Dark Reduced Sodium pretzels -- taste great, but they only have about 190 mg of sodium. 

6. Better chocolate bars

Unfortunately, the massive food-engineering firms haven’t really figured out how to concoct a good, low-calorie chocolate bar. They’ve made a few breakthroughs, but diluted or modified chocolate is about as appealing as eating fresh potting soil.

If you must have a chocolate bar, eat only half. There are a few mass-produced bars that are better than others when it comes to fat and calories. Snickers, for instance, contains 280 calories and 14 grams of fat. Kit Kat is a little better, with 218 calories and 11 grams of fat. Plus, you can eat just one of the bars in a Kit Kat pack and halve that calorie count.

7. Low-fat cookies

Your regular, no-frills chocolate chip cookie contains 59 calories and 3 grams of fat. Others, like Archway’s apple-filled oatmeal cookie, hold about 98 calories each. Taken in small quantities, cookies aren’t all that bad. When swallowed by the dozen, however, cookies can clog arteries and cause you to swell like a balloon. If you must indulge in cookies, reach for the smaller ones or try Newman’s Fig Newmans cookies, an all-natural alternative to overprocessed and chemically enhanced sweets. The no-fat versions have about 60 calories per cookie, and of course, no fat. They’re also super-tasty and figs contain tons of calcium -- an added benefit.

http://www.khanakhazana.pk/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Low-fat-Chocolate_Chip_Cookies.jpg

5 Fruits for a glowing skin (Mehezabin and Shraddha)

Besides the fact that they hydrate and rejuvenate your skin, the very smell of a fruit on your face is quite de-stressing. Unlike the chemical beauty treatments, fruits are cost-effective, natural and also bring a visible difference. Here are a few fruits and their properties, choose what suits you best!

Banana: This is one fruit that's abundantly available in India all through the year. We know it's a good source of iron, magnesium and potassium and helps reduce menstrual cramps. The effect of banana on skin too is not something that can be ignored. Bananas are rich in vitamin A, B and E and hence works as an anti-aging agent. A fresh mashed banana facial can do wonders for your skin.


Lemon: Lemon juice is an important ingredient in most Indian recipes. This is also a fruit of all seasons and almost always finds place on your kitchen shelf or refrigerator. With its vitamin C content, its juice will keep your skin beautiful. A glass of warm water with a tsp of honey and a dash of lemon juice on an empty stomach every morning is a great skin cleanser. With its astringent properties, it can be used to lighten the skin tone and also diminish acne scars. Rub the inside of a lemon peel on your elbow remove dark spots. Mix lemon and honey and use it as a natural bleach on your skin.Apple: An apple a day keeps the doctor away is cliched, but its health benefits are undisputable. Apple's antioxidant property prevents cell and tissue damage. Studies by nutritionists have shown that apples contain abundant amounts of elastin and collagen that help keep the skin young. Applying a mixture of mashed apple, honey, rose water and oatmeal can act as a great exfoliating mask on your skin.


Orange: Rich in vitamin C that improves skin texture. Like apple, orange too contains collagen that slows skin aging process. Rub the insides of orange on your skin to tighten the skin. Oranges can be dried and powdered and used as a natural scrub. Like lemon, oranges too help clear skin blemishes.


Papaya: The benefits of this fruit on skin have perhaps been talked about since the time of our ancestors. Papaya is rich in antioxidants and contain a special enzyme called papain that can kill dead cells and cure skin impurities. A glass of papaya milk or just applying the flesh of papaya on your skin can do wonders to your skin.


Mango: Rightly called the king of fruits for not just its taste but also for health benefits. The soft pulpy fruit has an amazing effect on skin too. Rich in vitamin-A and rich antioxidants, it fights against skin aging, regenerates skin cells and restores the elasticity of skin.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Ways To Flatten Your Belly (Mehezabin and Shraddha)

So you want to flatten your belly. Time to hit the floor for a zillion crunches, right? Not so fast. Power crunching alone isn't necessarily the best—and certainly not the most enjoyable—way to flatten your belly. When we talked to dozens of people, just like you, who've toned their abs, we discovered their secrets to a flat belly include fun activities such as gardening, tennis, and dancing—with some crunches in between for good measure. Leading weight loss and fitness experts also suggest some simple lifestyle changes to provide you with a complete belly-flattening program.
So if you're sick of crunches—or not getting the results you want—read on for surprising ways to get a belly worth baring.

1. Calm down. Too much stress can contribute to a potbelly. Stress increases levels of cortisol, a hormone that seems to direct fat to our middle, says Jacob Seidell, PhD, of the National Institute of Public Health in Bilthoven, Netherlands. To keep levels low, try this 5- to 10-minute stress reducer: Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit. Next, take several slow, deep breaths to help clear your mind. Continue breathing deeply and repeat the word "one" to yourself as you exhale. (If you get distracted, just bring your focus back to the word "one.") Practice this for 5 to 10 minutes once or twice a day.

2. Skip the alcohol. That glass of wine with dinner may be part of the reason your jeans are too tight. Alcohol also tends to raise cortisol levels, sending fat to your belly, Dr. Seidell says.
 
3. Stop smoking. "It keeps me thin," proclaim many smokers. But the truth is that smokers tend to have more abdominal fat than nonsmokers, says Dr. Seidell. (The stress hormone cortisol seems to be the culprit here too.) "When people stop smoking, the amount of abdominal fat actually decreases," he says.
 
4. Eat more fiber. Not only is fiber great for overall weight loss (it fills you up so you don't eat as much), it also prevents constipation, which can cause your tummy to bulge, says Lawrence J. Cheskin, MD, a gastroenterologist and director of the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center in Baltimore. To stay regular, aim for 22 to 25 g of fiber a day by eating more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables; or try a fiber supplement such as Metamucil.
 
5. Drink up. For premenstrual bloating, drink lots and lots of water. This will actually help flush away bloating, not make it worse.
 
6. Stand up straight. Heeding Mom's advice can make you look 5 pounds thinner (and your abs flatter) instantly. To straighten up, imagine a string tugging you from the top of your head toward the ceiling.

7. Sit like a royal. Slumping accentuates your stomach. To improve your posture while sitting, start with your chair. If your chair seat is too high to let your feet touch the ground without slumping, find a footstool about 4 inches high to let you sit up straight. Or place a pillow at the small of your back to help bring you forward in your chair.
 
8. Strengthen your shoulders. Strong shoulders will prevent you from hunching forward. To target this area, try the overhead press. Start with dumbbells at shoulder height, feet firmly on the floor. Slowly press the dumbbells straight up until your arms are fully extended. Don't arch your back. Hold, and then lower.
 
9. Build your chest. Good posture is easier when you have strong upper body muscles. For the chest, do the bench press: Lie on an exercise bench with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor or on the bench. Hold dumbbells or a barbell at chest height with your hands slightly more than shoulder-width apart. Slowly press the weight straight up until your arms are fully extended, elbows almost locked. Hold, and then lower.
 
10. Work your mid-to upper back. These muscles are also important for good posture. The bent-over row exercise is a great way to strengthen them. To do it: Place your left knee and left hand on a flat bench or chair so your back is parallel to the floor. Holding a dumbbell in your right hand, start with your right arm directly under your shoulder and extended toward the floor. Bending your elbow so that it's pointing toward the ceiling, pull the dumbbell up until it touches your rib cage. Hold, and slowly lower. (The movement is like starting a power lawn mower, only slower and smoother.)
 
11. Target your lower back. To stand tall, you need to strengthen the muscles that support your spine. To do that, try this exercise: Lie on your stomach with a rolled towel under your forehead. Clasp your hands behind your waist and slowly lift your head and shoulders off the floor, pinching the shoulder blades together. Only go as far as comfortable. Hold, then release.

12. Play a few holes. Swinging a golf club shapes up the oblique muscles on the sides of your abs, says Dr. Nagler. After 9 or 18 holes, that's a workout! (For an aerobic workout, skip the cart.)

13. Give boxing a whirl. Aerobic kick-boxing is more than just a great fat-burning, cardio workout. All those arm thrusts and high kicks firm abs too.

14. Do a little dance. Jeanette Friedman tells us that daily belly dancing has helped her maintain her svelte 24-inch waist for years and get back in shape after having two kids. "I started working my abs right in the hospital after my babies were born," she says. "It worked wonders!"

15. Tilt your pelvis. Lie on the floor, arms at your sides and knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Next, press your lower back to the floor so that your pelvis tilts upward. Maintain this tilt as you straighten your legs by slowly sliding your heels along the floor. Stop when you can no longer hold a full tilt position. Hold and count aloud to six. Bring one leg, then the other, back to the starting position, maintaining the pelvic tilt throughout. Hold the starting position for six more counts. Relax. Repeat 12 times.
16. Play catch. Get into a crunch position—lie on your back, knees bent, feet flat on the floor, shoulders and head off the floor with your abs contracted. Then have someone throw an exercise ball (or basketball) to you—first to your left side so you have to twist and reach to catch it, and then to your right. Do as many times as is comfortable, and try to increase the number each week. 

17. Work against gravity. Using an L-seat at the gym to do hanging leg lifts is one of the best exercises for your midsection. You're using the weight of your own legs against gravity. To do it: Support yourself on an L-seat with your forearms, legs hanging straight. Using your midsection muscles, slowly pull your knees up toward your chest and then lower. Keep your back against the seat, and don't swing your legs. For a more advanced move, keep your legs straight as you lift them.


18. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Place an exercise ball (66 inches around) on your abdomen and hold it with both hands. Use your hands to roll the ball to the top of your knees. Tuck your chin toward your chest and lift your head and shoulders off the floor. Lower to the starting position. Repeat. Exhale as you lift, and inhale as you lower the ball. Work up to 20 repetitions.
 


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Diabetic Special: Apple Kheer (Mehezabin and Shraddha)

Cooking Time: 30-40 minutes 
Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 15-20 minutes


Ingredients:
 
Apples2 medium

Milk5 cups

Sugar 1/2 cup

Green cardamom powder 1/2 teaspoon

Almonds 6 - 8

Pistachios 6 - 8

 
Method
Bring milk to a boil in a thick bottom pan and simmer till it thickens. Thickly grate apples without peeling. Heat a pan, add the grated apples and cook on medium heat. Add sugar and stew till sugar melts and continue to cook till most of the moisture evaporates. Add some of the reduced milk and cook. As the mixture thickens add the remaining milk and cook till the kheer thickens some more. Add green cardamom powder, almonds and pistachios and continue to cook till the kheer thickens to the desired consistency. Cool and then chill before serving.

























The human Cell- Mitochondion and Energy metabolism processes (Mehezabin and Shraddha)

THE HUMAN CELL
 Cells are the structural and functional units of all living organisms. An average human being has about an estimated 100,000,000,000,000 cells.
Each cell is an amazing world unto itself: it can take in nutrients, convert these nutrients into energy, carry out specialized functions, and reproduce as necessary. Even more amazing is that each cell stores its own set of instructions for carrying out each of these activities.

The Structure of Mitochondria (powerhouse of the cell)
Basic site of energy production.

Mitochondria are self-replicating organelles that occur in various numbers, shapes, and sizes in the cytoplasm of all eukaryotic cells. As mentioned earlier, mitochondria contain their own genome that is separate and distinct from the nuclear genome of a cell. Mitochondria have two functionally distinct membrane systems separated by a space: the outer membrane, which surrounds the whole organelle; and the inner membrane, which is thrown into folds or shelves that project inward. These inward folds are called cristae. The number and shape of cristae in mitochondria differ, depending on the tissue and organism in which they are found, and serve to increase the surface area of the membrane.
Mitochondria play a critical role in generating energy in the eukaryotic cell, and this process involves a number of complex pathways. Let's break down each of these steps so that you can better understand how food and nutrients are turned into energy packets and water. Some of the best energy-supplying foods that we eat contain complex sugars. These complex sugars can be broken down into a less chemically complex sugar molecule called glucose. Glucose can then enter the cell through special molecules found in the membrane, called glucose transporters. Once inside the cell, glucose is broken down to make adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a form of energy, via two different pathways.
The first pathway, glycolysis, requires no oxygen and is referred to as anaerobic metabolism. Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm outside the mitochondria. During glycolysis, glucose is broken down into a molecule called pyruvate. Each reaction is designed to produce some hydrogen ions that can then be used to make energy packets (ATP). However, only four ATP molecules can be made from one molecule of glucose in this pathway. In prokaryotes, glycolysis is the only method used for converting energy.
The second pathway, called the Kreb's cycle, or the citric acid cycle, occurs inside the mitochondria and is capable of generating enough ATP to run all the cell functions. Once again, the cycle begins with a glucose molecule, which during the process of glycolysis is stripped of some of its hydrogen atoms, transforming the glucose into two molecules of pyruvic acid. Next, pyruvic acid is altered by the removal of a carbon and two oxygens, which go on to form carbon dioxide. When the carbon dioxide is removed, energy is given off, and a molecule called NAD+ is converted into the higher energy form, NADH. Another molecule, coenzyme A (CoA), then attaches to the remaining acetyl unit, forming acetyl CoA.
Acetyl CoA enters the Kreb's cycle by joining to a four-carbon molecule called oxaloacetate. Once the two molecules are joined, they make a six-carbon molecule called citric acid. Citric acid is then broken down and modified in a stepwise fashion. As this happens, hydrogen ions and carbon molecules are released. The carbon molecules are used to make more carbon dioxide. The hydrogen ions are picked up by NAD and another molecule called flavin-adenine dinucleotide (FAD). Eventually, the process produces the four-carbon oxaloacetate again, ending up where it started off. All in all, the Kreb's cycle is capable of generating from 24 to 28 ATP molecules from one molecule of glucose converted to pyruvate. Therefore, it is easy to see how much more energy we can get from a molecule of glucose if our mitochondria are working properly and if we have oxygen

The Mitochondrion




The Glycolysis Pathway



The Krebs Cycle



The Electron Transport System


Diet Chart For Good Health (Mehezabin and Shraddha)


Monday, December 3, 2012

Chocolate Cupcakes (Mehezabin and Shraddha)


Chocolate Cupcakes, makes 15
  • 150ml sunflower oil
  • 75ml buttermilk
  • 75ml milk
  • 1 egg
  • 240g plain flour
  • 40g cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 330g caster sugar
  • 150ml boiling water
Chocolate Cupcake Icing
  • 200g dark couverture chocolate (60-70% cocoa solids), finely chopped
  • 100g butter, softened
  • 250g cream cheese, softened
  • 500g icing sugar
  • Silver cachous, to decorate 
   Method: 
Preparation: 35 minutes

Cooking: 20 minutes


1. For chocolate cupcakes, increase oven temperature to 190°C. Line 15 cupcake holes with paper cases.

2. Whisk oil, buttermilk, milk and egg in a large bowl until combined. Sift flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt together, then stir in the sugar. Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients into the oil mixture, alternating with the boiling water. Spoon into 12 – 14 cupcake cases (the mixture will be quite runny) and bake for 18 – 20 minutes or until risen, and springy to the touch. Cool on a rack. 


3. For icing, melt chocolate in a bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water. Set aside to cool. Place butter and cream cheese in an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, and mix until combined. Check there are no lumps from the cream cheese – if so, beat for a little longer. Add icing sugar then the cooled melted chocolate and mix until well combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula if necessary. Add extra icing sugar if required – check the consistency of the icing first. Pipe onto the cooled cupcakes and decorate with silver cachous.