Awesome Recipes You Must Try This Season

Finally after that oppressive summer the rains are here and with a bang. What is it about the monsoons that make us want to eat interesting and spicy food like chilli pakodas? Well while that question may be tough to answer we ran a crazy recipe contest on gits where we asked people to share with us their yummiest and wackiest recipes. After that week long romance with madness we at CTF have come to your rescue to give you some interesting and quick recipes to try out this monsoon season:

Chocolate Pancakes:

This recipe is for all those who have a sweet tooth.

Take 1 cup flour and add 2 teaspoon baking powder and 4 teaspoon powder sugar to it. To this add two eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla essence. Add milk till the mixture is of paint-like thickness. Whisk for a minute with a hand mixer to get rid of all lumps. On a non-stick pan make small pancakes, no bigger than a tea plate. Cook well from both sides. Remove from pan and apply butter while they are still hot. Top this off with Chocolate sauce and eat with honey.

Sinful to the last bite.

Schezwan Paneer Pakoda

Take medium sized cubes of paneer and marinate with a mixture of schezwan sauce and tomato ketchup. Leave for 10-15 minutes. In another bowl take Besan and add 2 spoons of cornflour to it. Add water till the mixture reaches a thick consistency. Dip the marinated paneer and deep fry in oil. Eat with ketchup or a sour cream dip.

This recipe is ideal for those who crave spice and tanginess in their food.

Dhokla Sandwich

Dhokla is a popular Gujrati snack but our recipe will add an interesting twist to the otherwise simple dhokla. Take a pack of GITS dhokla mix. This mix is ideal as it tastes great while greatly cutting down preparation time. Prepare the dhokla as instructed. Cut the dhokla in half horizontally.To the lower half apply green chutney. Top this with finely sliced spring onion and carrots. Sprinkle with chaat masala and cover with the top half of the dhokla.

Eat this with chutney or pickle.

Cheese and Olive Peppers

Take cheese slices and apply melted butter to one side. Sprinkle with finely chopped green chillies and add chopped black or green olives. Fold the cheese slice and pierce with toothpick to keep it in place. Cover the cheese packet in breadcrumbs. Deep fry this and eat with a sweet chilli dip.

P.S: Do remember to remove the toothpicks before you eat.

Papad Rolls

This recipe is fun and something even first-timers can do with a little assistance. Take 2 large boiled potatoes and peel off the skin. In a bowl mash these potatoes. Add finely chopped green chilies, herbs (as per your choice), salt, pepper and half a teaspoon of sugar. Mix well.

In another bowl take some lukewarm water.

Take a raw papad and dip in the water for about 3 – 4 seconds. This will make the papad soft enough to mold. Quickly place the papad on a plate and pat dry it. Place the potato mixture in the center and roll in a tubular form making sure all the sides are closed.

Shallow fry on a pan and cut in small pieces. Make as many rolls as required.

Garlic French Fries

Another recipe that can be attempted by first-timers.

Cut potato in French fries and dip briefly in ice. Remove on a towel and dry them. Take these fries in a bowl and add garlic paste and chilli powder. Mix well till all fries are coated. Coat fries with cornflour and deep fry in hot oil.

Eat with sweet chilli sauce.

Monster Sandwich (for the hard core carnivores)

Take 2 slices of brown bread (Healthier option!) On one slice apply sweet chilli sauce. Place few slices of lettuce. Top this with boiled chicken, bacon and a simple egg omlette. Add garlic mayo and put another slice of lettuce on top.

Cover this with the other slice of bread eat it with a cup of hot coffee as an accompaniment.

Now that we have given you so many recipes make sure you try them out for yourself. And you can thank us by sending us a sample of your dishes (only if they don’t end up in disaster!)

If you have better recipes or unique ones, make sure you share with the rest of us.

5 Quick And Easy Breakfast Recipes

“BREAKFAST LIKE A KING, LUNCH LIKE A PRINCE AND DINE LIKE A PAUPER” There is more than a grain of truth in the ancient proverb, but sadly in today’s fast paced world people have no time for a decent meal. Various studies have shown that a hearty breakfast can make you a healthier person. We at CTF understand that you don’t have time to make an elaborate meal, so here are some quick-fix healthy breakfast recipes that you can try out:

Muesli

While many people cannot take the taste of muesli and consider it to taste like chopped cardboard; there are ways to make it more interesting to your palate.

Take a bowl of Muesli (which ever kind you like – I suggest the one containing dried raisins), Add fresh fruit to it (Apples, pears, grapes, strawberries etc.). Mix it properly. To this add Yoghurt and mix carefully again. This mixture can be extremely filling and one of the best kinds of low fat breakfast.

Smoothies

Smoothies are the best breakfast suggestion if time is of vital concern to you. Take a blender and add ice. On top of it add fruits, wheat grass etc and blend it. Pour this in a glass and your super quick breakfast is ready. TIP*: Vary the fruits and alternate with vegetables to avoid boredom.

Breakfast Wrap

Take a flour tortilla (or even chapatti) and line it with lettuce. On top add sliced bell peppers, cottage cheese, corn etc (add whatever veggies you like). Roll it tight and have this with yoghurt.

Idlis & Dosas

Idlis can make a great Indian breakfast and are pretty high up on the health quotient. Making an Idli from scratch can take a long time so try out GITS Idli mix, which is quick and tastes as good as something you would make from scratch.  Alternately you can also try out the GITS Dosa mix which is just as quick and tasty.

Omlette

Obvious as it is, omelets can be made differently everyday to avoid boredom. They take barely 2 minutes to prepare and are extremely healthy if made without the yolk. Here is a quick and filling omelets that can be prepared on a rush :

Take 3 Egg whites and beat till there is foam on top. On a frying pan add few drops of olive. Once the oil turns hot add mushrooms and boiled chicken (Vegetarians can add baby corn). Fry till brown. Then add pepper, salt, chili flakes and herbs. On this pour the beaten Egg whites and cook from both sides.

Eat this with a brown bread toast for a complete meal.

Many people have known to skip breakfast because its just not interesting enough can drive a person to boredom. So make sure you add a different twist to the usual breakfast item. If you are bored of the usual omelets, add different toppings like cheddar cheese, herbs etc. Don’t feel like having the plain Dosa? Then eat it with a vegetable dish or top it with chopped veggies to make it both healthy and colorful.

Check out our GITS fan page (http://www.facebook.com/gitsfoods ) for some no-fuss tasty suggestions for your next breakfast meal.

Now that we have given you these interesting breakfast recipes, make sure you try them out and avoid skipping your breakfast. All you guys out there who are regular about breakfast, share your recipes with us.

How To Avoid Cooking Disasters

Cooking has been a bane of our existence for generations. I am sure everyone has some of their cooking stories that usually end in disaster. While it’s true that some of us are just not good cooks; there are however disasters that we can prevent by just keeping some points in mind:

Salt and sugar is not the same thing

While this may be very obvious, scores of people have made this mistake. The best idea is to label your jars of salt and sugar so your sweet dish doesn’t taste salty of vice versa.

Baking powder cannot be substituted with baking soda

While at some point you might have thought “What difference does it make? They sound pretty much the same”, you just cannot replace one for the other. Unless of course you want fizzy cake.

All masalas do not have the same function

This is for all the men out there (I am sure a woman would not make this novice mistake), all masalas do not perform the same function! Do not be daft and actually take some effort to figure out which masalas go in which dish. Or deal with your funky dish.

Opt for Ready-to-Eats instead

The best way to avoid any cooking disaster is to opt for Ready-to-eats. GITS makes authentic Indian ready-to-eats which can be consumed by just opening a packet and heating (even a microwave will do just fine for those who can’t operate a stove). Other options are Instant Mixes. These are essentially dehydrated powders which require you to add water and cook. These mixes taste as great as some thing you make from scratch, but cuts down on the cooking time. These packets are a great way to get authentic Indian food without the hassle of cooking. They serve as a great respite for students and professionals who either can’t cook or have no time for it, but want the taste of good food.

Hook up with someone who cooks

The easiest way to get good food is to be with some one who actually can cook! So find a partner who is a good cook and you will be happy.

The best and easiest method however would to be joining a short term cooking class and actually learn your favorite cuisine, or get a cook book and experiment. Trial and Error works just as well for cooking as anything else in life.

Why Home Cooking Is Better Than Take Aways

Being in the 21^st century means we live in a constant rat race. And in this race cooking a meal falls really low in our priority list. However the merits of cooking are undeniable.  After a long 10 hour work day we are often tempted to just pick up the phone and order a quick take away but there are various reasons why you should resist the urge to do so :

Cooking at home is cheaper

Lets start with the very obvious. Cooking at home turns out to be cheaper than ordering a take away. 1 dish of tandoori chicken from a semi-descent restaurant will cost you about 250 while you could easily prepare the same thing at home for almost half the price.  In these times of recession this is a key motivator to cook.

Home cooked food is healthier

At home you can easily count the calories and decide how much oil, butter, cheese etc you want in your food. Take away food is usually made in a batch and ends up having way more fat than you should consume.

Cooking at home is more hygienic

Cooking at home is way more hygienic than take away. Even if you order from some of the top places you still have no idea if they are a 100% controlled about their hygiene.  For all you know the cook could have a massive cold and wouldn’t possible wash his hands after every sneeze.

Therapy

Whether you agree or not, cooking has a lot of therapeutic qualities. While the task of cooking may seem daunting after a long work day, it has its soothing qualities. Instead of planking yourself in front of the tv, pick up your knives and spoons and make a quick salad. I guarantee you will get a much better sleep and feel a lot less like a pig.

Educational

How would you know the recipe to chicken in black bean sauce unless you actually make it yourself? While ordering it from china Garden may be way easier, I think it will be a whole lot more fun to make it yourself. And if it happens to be a rather intricate recipe, rope in your spouse, partner or even sibling to help out with the chopping and stiring.

A source of compliments

One thing is for sure a well cooked meal certainly gets you compliments be it from your partner, family or even friends. I don’t know a single person who has got compliments for “ordering” the perfect meal.

Time pass

The bottom line of this article is that cooking is good way to kill some time.  Waiting for an important call or email? Waiting for your ever-late spouse to get home? Well then cooking is totally for you. It not only takes your mind off the main problem at hand, but it also makes time fly quickly.

Options

For all those out there who want to cook at home but are at a serious crunch for time, instant mixes are a great option. Despite popular belief, instant mixes are a great option on both the health and time front. At GITS we make interesting and tasteful ready-mixes keeping time, taste and your budget in mind. Want a full fledged south Indian meal without the fuss? Buy packets of GITS Instant Idli, Dosa and Vadai to titillate your taste buds.

These are only few reasons why home cooking is way better. I am sure most you have many more reasons that you developed out of experience. So share them. Who knows, you might probably help a confused soul out there.

How To Lose Weight Without Dieting

At some point or the other in our lives we have all tried to tame the demon called “dieting”. Although I am sure none of us can claim total success in that quest. So after eons of chasing a fruitless dream it just makes sense to find other ways to achieve that size zero:

1) Don’t eat at all:

Now before you cry out things like “Did you read the topic” let me tell you that starvation and dieting are totally different!! Don’t eat and eventually you will wither away.

2) Exercise as much as you eat:

If you eat 1 sandwich in a day then exercise for about 15 minutes. However if you eat 2 Zinger burger meals from KFC then you just have to stand on the treadmill and go about your life, or end up like a blimp. You Choose.

3) Never carry change; ever:

Don’t get confused. Trust me if you don’t have change in Mumbai you will never be able to take a rick or a cab. Purpose served I must say.

4) Two magic words: Baby Sit!!

Running after bratty kids will be more than enough cardio you will ever need.

5) Throw away your TV remote:

Either you will watch the same channel permanently or get up to change channels. So basically either you go insane or end up thin. Major gamble people!

There is however a much more sensible option.  DIET!!  Eat salads and have soup…..End of story. If you manage to do this then you can gladly ignore my suggestions.

Eating Myths You Probably Didn’t Know

We live in a society hounded by myths and when it comes to eating healthy, we have actually created a mythical place of Pandora for everyone; from the cheerfully anorexic to the morbidly obese.  So this is our humble attempt at busting some age old myths related to eating.

1) To be fit, stop eating fat:

The first myth that is prevalent amongst people who wish to stay fit is that they need to totally forgo any food item that has fats or carbohydrates. Experts suggest that a balance of all nutrients in any food is required and the last time we checked carbohydrates and fats are still nutrients. One could regulate the intake as per your dietary needs but totally giving up on them and then lurking around someone else’s plate to even smell them is just lame.

2) Sugar causes diabetes:

Yes we are busting this myth once and for all. Consuming too much sugar won’t cause diabetes. However, if you let all those extra calories accumulate, you will increase your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. This occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin — or when the body doesn’t effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates your blood-sugar levels, making sure your body’s energy needs are met.

3) Energy bars are the best nutrients:

Manufactured food items such as energy or power bars are the best source of nutrients is one of the biggest eating myths. While a one-off energy bar on a terribly busy and morose Monday can be pardoned but living off these power bars is unhealthy as they contain highly refined sugars. Dieticians suggest that nothing can replace a wholesome, well cooked and fresh meal. You will get all the nutrients with it and also the joy of eating well.

4) Extra protein diet is necessary for body building:

Your body does need protein to maintain muscle mass. However, consuming extra protein won’t build up your muscles any faster — unless you’re doing significant weight training at the same time.

5) Eating late in the night causes weight gain:

It doesn’t matter what time of day you eat. If you take in more calories than you burn, your body will store the excess calories as fat. If you want to snack at night before you go to bed, you won’t put on weight — as long as you’ve taken in only as many calories as your activity level requires. However, if you choose to consumer those night-time calories sitting on the couch watching television, you could be at risk of taking in much more than your body needs to use.

Guess What India’s National Dish is!

Now if there is something Indians agree on if nothing else is that we are all different and varied. Unity in diversity the eternal mantra. And this difference is seen the most in our food. Almost every state has its own specialty and in fact food is our most convenient of describing any Indian.

Ramalingam or Subramaniam (with due respect to the two of them) are best described Idli Dosas, Bunty from Delhii would prefer calling some Babli Chicken tandoori till she gets a sindoor, the Jignesh Shah is the essential Dhokla Thepla and our Northeastern friends Chowmien and Triple Schezwan. Degrading perhaps but when in jest we all take these with a pinch of salt and move on – a quintessential Indian trait.

Thus food highlights how diverse our culture and no wonder we have a voracious appetite. Food sells everywhere, from the trendiest of roof tops to the filthiest of lanes. I mean a city like Mumbai is incomplete without the roadside Chatwalas and vadapavs or Delhi’s Paronthewali galli!

Bharat ek Bhoj

Now in such a circumstance, conducting a food survey to find India’s national dish was quite a proposition that Outlook magazine cut out for itself. So Outlook basically conducted a 13 city survey in India which explored the following facets:

• Which was India’s National Dish and Desert?
• Where do you think India’s National Dish is made best?
• Who is the best cook in your personal experience? Etc.

And guess what India’s national dish is – not Tandoori Chicken or some sizzling Paneer delicacy but the good old Masala Dosa! Even Masala Dosa is surprised (like a good modest south Indian).

Now I was really surprised to see that Masala Dosa was rated as India’s National Dish. I was expecting either Dal or Khichdi to top the list on a personal note really. Though the result is quite amusing when it is Masala Dosa. You can read the original article here.

Now wipe that look of amusement off and tell us what you think should have been India’s National Dish & Dessert? Are you surprised as I am? Do you agree with the poll results? Let us have our own survey here! Gits of course is proud to be able to make the tastiest and fastest versions of India’s national dish! So if you want to cut the fuss making India’s national dish you know what to do.