ISFMA the Blog

The food of any place is a true reflection of its culture, resources and the tastes and preferences. This holds true for Kerala State as well. The cuisine of any place is to a great extent dictated by the available resources and also the weather conditions. This provides us with the apt explanation behind the dishes that make up the traditional Kerala meal.

Coconut country, the name fits just right for this land which has an abundance of coconut trees. Kerala state has learnt to make the most of its available resources and thus, coconut forms the base for most dishes here. Handicrafts of Kerala state too are predominantly based on products from the coconut tree. The coir industry (again a by-product of the coconut tree) makes a major contribution to the exports of Kerala state.

Coming back to the cuisine of Kerala state, rice is the staple food here. Closeness to the sea ensures easy availability of the choicest seafood. This has led to the fact that large portions of the population of Kerala state are seafood lovers. The population of the state consists of Hindus, Christians and Muslims. It is seen that the Hindus especially the Nairs have been predominantly vegetarians. There are still a few households where even onions and garlic are taboo. However, today’s generation has to a great extent been responsible for the big shift from vegetarianism to non-vegetarian cuisine. The Muslim and the Christian population of Kerala state are known for their exotic dishes and a delicious spread consisting of mouthwatering biriyanis, pathiri ( a pancake made out of rice flour), fish moilee(fish cooked the traditional way in coconut milk), meen pollichattu(fish cooked in a banana leaf) and other delicacies.

Meals are prepared with a lot of care and attention to detail and constitute an important part of every household. A day would usually start with tea or coffee, followed by breakfast. Breakfast in the lower segments of the society is mainly rice gruel or kanji. However, dishes like dosa, idli, vada, upma, poori, pootu (steamed cakes made with rice flour) and appam are very popular.These dishes are also eaten for dinner in many homes. Lunch consists of rice served with delicious curries(like sambhar, dal or parippu,olan, kalan) dry vegetables(like thoran and avial), non-vegetarian dishes, pickles, pappad and the popular banana chips. The traditional meal of Kerala state served on the banana leaf is indeed very famous. This is a practice that has been followed for several hundred years and still continues in several homes. Known as the “Sadhya”, the meal served on fresh banana leaves consists of rice, curries, dry vegetables, pickles, pappads, banana chips and payasam. The payasam or kheer is the traditional sweet dish. It may be made with rice, milk and sugar or can even be any one of its delicious variants. The array of payasams range from the basic rice pudding to one made with lentils and jaggery and coconut milk. Believe me each one them is truly mouthwatering. Weddings and other auspicious occasions are not complete without an elaborate sadhya.

Food is an important part of the culture of Kerala state. In fact, meal time is one wherein all the members of the family get together and spend time with each other. Festivals and special occasions in the family or the society is also one where food takes centrestage.

With coconut being available in plenty, coconut oil is the main medium of cooking. However, there has been a significant shift in preferences in the recent times. With the health aspect gaining prominence, many Keralites are shifting to low fat cooking oils. However, the flavor and taste of a dish cooked purely in coconut oil still remains unmatched. Discover the delicious cuisine of Kerala state on your next Kerala tour and you are sure to be left licking your fingers.

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Lots of backyard BBQ’ers don’t really know how to prep, grill and clean up your grill or smoker, so even if you own the latest and greatest barbecue grill you may need some pointers on how to barbeque food. So, let’s find out what knowledge is important so that you can use your grill or smoker.

One good thing to do before you even begin is to rub a non stick solvent like oil on the grill to prevent the food from sticking. This will make cleanup much quicker and less stressful. Also put the meat out on the counter to bring it to room temperature before cooking it. Don’t leave it out for more than an hour though as this may cause it to spoil.

You also need to bring the grill to the optimum cooking temperature before placing the meat on the grill. This will give you the best chance at getting a nice even cooking throughout the food.

For gas grills turn them on 5 minutes before beginning, and for charcoal it is recommended to heat the coals for up to 30 minutes (or until all brickets have turned grey). Also, move the meat around periodically as those pieces closer to the center will likely cook faster. Use tongs or a spatula, and always wear a protective glove to keep you from burning your skin. Try experimenting with searing the meat quickly on both sides and then moving them to one side of the grill or the other away from the direct heat, and let them finish cooking slowly. For me this provides the best tasting results. It just takes a little more time.

For even more flavor, baste the meat for an extended period before cooking it to let the flavor completely saturate it. Among the traditional barbeque flavors to try - including sweet sauce, traditional bbq sauce, and many more. One thing to consider is that if the marinade contains a lot of sugar you should wait until the food is at least half cooked before basting to avoid a drying effect on the meat.

Another technique is to use dry bbq rubs to flavor the meat. Use liberally on both sides of the meat about an hour prior to cooking. This is a simple thing to do, but you’re friends will wonder how you learned to cook so well!

If you are barbequing kabobs you should leave a small amount of space between meat pieces to ensure ample heat penetrates all sides and cooks it evenly. You can even alternate meat and vegetable pieces to allow flavors to pass between them, giving a better all around taste. And if you are using chicken pieces, cut them with a knife to make sure they are completely cooked all the way through before removing them from the grill.

Right after removing the meat, make sure to scrape the grills before they get colder. It’s best to do this when they are still very hot as the excess food and other material will easily slide off. Just be careful not to burn yourself. Experiment with different recipes to find what works and what doesn’t. Over time you will find many different things that bring the best taste out in various meats. And then you will feel like a seasoned backyard barbeque expert in dry rubs.

By the way, nothing prevents a BBQ to be blended with kid birthday theme - and here you have it, you’ve got a birthday party idea.

Green tea is a favorite, and traditional, drink in Asian countries and has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine as a standard remedy for a variety of common complaints. While widely known about and used throughout Asia, the west has only recently become aware of the benefits of drinking green tea and it is now becoming more popular.

Green tea is a leaf tea which is made from steeping the dried leaves of the Camellia sinesis plant, which is a shrub that is native to the countries of Asia, and it is known as the “virgin of teas” because it is the least processed of the Asian teas.

green tea extract
Many believe that because it is not processed as much as black tea, another common tea in Asia, that this is why it has more potent health benefits that other teas. Black tea is from leaves that have been dried, roasted and fermented and therefore lose much of it’s medicinal properties.

Because of its delicate, non-processed nature, herbal tea should be steeped in water that is below the boiling point so as not to destroy the chemical components that provide the unique health benefits from the concentrated antioxidants.

In most areas where green tea is a traditional drink, milk and sugar are not added. However, since its’ introduction to the other hemisphere, putting in such additives is more common, and it comes down to whatever makes it so that people drink it on a regular basis so that they can enjoy the health benefits it brings from regular consumption.

tea pots
Green tea is known to be loaded with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), which is a powerful anti-oxidant. It also contains rich bioflavonoids that can performance, and it also contains catechins that are known to have many positive effects on health and healing, and these benefits can also be attained by looking for the many forms of green tea extract that are now available.

These components are thought to be the factors responsible for the many reported health advantages such as lowering cholesterol, reducing the risk of heart disease, preventing cancer, eliminating acne, increasing immune system function, and improving memory, curing various infections, alleviating rheumatoid arthritis, and even preventing cavities and tooth decay. Many people who drink the Chinese tea also report enjoying an improved sense of well-being when regularly drinking with your favourite tea ceremony.

There have also been reports that it have been able to help lessen some of symptoms of Parkinson’s. In a study published in February 2006 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition it was reported that a “higher consumption of green tea is associated with a lower prevalence of cognitive impairment in humans.”

leaf tea
In addition to all of these wonderful benefits, green tea is also believed to cause an increase in metabolism that helps lower cholesterol and also supports weight loss, and because it is a natural component it is more often found in almost every weight loss remedy on the market.

The main results from studies have shown that green tea inhibits the release of insulin, which means less sugar is turned into fat, and it also helps to keep people’s appetites in check. All of this combines to make green tea a good, low risk, way to help address weight problems.

The Coke versus Pepsi taste tests have been stalemated for years. Do you know the dubious history of these taste tests? These two seemingly identical products have made branding into a science, each building a loyal following that adamantly refuses to drink the competitor’s beverage.

Basically the Taste Tests of Coke vs. Pepsi are all inconclusive as in double-blind tests, people are equally split about which tastes better (even those who claim to like one better than the other are just as likely to choose their stated less-favored brand). But a recent innovative taste test involving brain imaging has shown something unique: that Coca-cola excites parts of the brain associated with memories and emotions, whereas sipping on Pepsi does not.

You got to see it to believe it - neurological brain scans reveal what the participants couldn’t, that Coke engaged more emotional memory centers of the brain than Pepsi does. What does this suggest about branding? Basically that Coke has been more successful in linking its brand with strong memories and emotions than Pepsi.

Think about it - Coke has managed to associate itself with Father Christmas, the Olympics, Disney, and practically nostalgia itself. What does this mean for small businesses and others hoping to emulate Coke’s success? It means that building branding is more than celebrity endorsements, sports stars and flashy styles.

So part of a customized marketing solution is comparing and contrasting the new line with competitors, much like Coke versus Pepsi, which are, all things considered, identical products.

As the coffee industry shifts toward fair trade practices and organic certification, more farmers are switching from mere flavored and gourmet coffees to organic and sustainable practices. But, what does that mean, and how does it affect the actual coffee? For answers to these questions and tips on where you can find gourmet organic coffee, keep reading.

What Does Organic Mean?

Organic coffee typically indicates it has been certified by the USDA and meets their stringent growing and harvesting standards for organic certification. Therefore, coffee that has been certified as organic has been farmed using methods that have a minimal impact on the environment and little to no reliance on chemical or unnatural methods.

Because coffee is harvested as a seed, buying organic has little-to-no health effects for the consumer. However, purchasing an organic coffee bean means you’re supporting environmentally friendly and sustainable farming methods.

Ethical or Fair Trade Purchasing

Fair trade certification focuses on the labor practices of the coffee farmer and manufacturer. By purchasing fair trade coffee, you’re supporting a trade standard that gives small-industry grower co-ops a standard price for their coffee.

While fair trade doesn’t carry the same environmental standards as organic certification, they do ban the use of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and most pesticides.

Who Makes Organic Coffee?

Green Mountain Coffee Company

The Green Mountain Coffee Company is based out of Vermont and is one of the country’s largest organic and fair trade coffee suppliers. They currently do the bulk of their business as a supplier for office and workplace coffee needs, including K-Cups and instant coffee machines.

Gloria Jean’s Coffee

As a roaster and supplier of 100 percent organic, fair trade coffee, this Australian coffee roaster was awarded the Corporate Green Globe Award by the prestigious Rainforest Alliance.

They sell a range of coffees and roasts while fulfilling their commitment to ethical environmental and social business practices.

Jim’s Organic Coffee

Jim’s Organic Coffee makes a range of blends and roasts that are certified organic and fair trade. The company also sells a Rainforest blend that is shade grown and certified by the Rainforest Alliance. This means the farming methods used to cultivate the coffee don’t destroy natural habitats or the existing rainforest ecosystem around the plantation.

Starbucks

Starbucks, a major coffee retailer all over the world, carries three kinds of organic coffee. They stock their Shade Grown Mexican, Organic Serena Blend and their own Organic Sumatra-Peru blend.

The process of brewing a great cup of coffee has become so advanced that most companies put out a machine that will brew a perfect cup every time. But the DeLonghi coffee maker goes one step further by making sure the machine that brews it will look great as well.

Other advantages of a DeLonghi machine are that it is easy to use, and just as easy to clean.

Of course none of this would matter if it didn’t make a great cup of coffee, and these machines certainly do. With features like an aroma button and a unique time release brewing process, you are assured of a cup of coffee that is exactly to your liking.

Wine lovers tend to be very aware that all red wines are not the same, although the average person may not realize there are differences that extend beyond the label on the bottle. In reality, there are at least 50 key varieties of red wine and the colors can range from light red and ruby red to opaque purple and almost black. Even the flavor can vary greatly among the varieties, ranging from fruity to having a hint of tobacco. Learning more about reds is a great way to develop an appreciation for this versatile wine type.

The color and flavor of red wines is a combination of the wine making process and the variety of grapes used. Grapes used to make reds range from deep red to purple to blue and the skins are left on during fermentation. The skins contribute to the varieties of color and, along with the grape seed, determine the amount of tannins in the finished product.

The longer the skins are left in contact with the fermenting grapes, the deeper the color and the higher the tannin content. Reds with the highest tannin content are considered full-bodied, like Cabernet, while lower tannin content gives medium-bodied Merlot or light-bodied Beaujolais. The fruity reds, which are named because of their flavor not because there is any sweetness, have the lowest tannin content of all the reds.

The variety of colors of red wines is not the only product of fermenting the grapes with the skin. Flavenoids, which are known as antioxidants, are present in both the grape seed and skin, and they escape into the wine during fermentation. Because of this, a fuller-bodied wine has a higher flavenoid content. As a result, four ounces per day can help reduce bad cholesterol and clotting, while raising good cholesterol levels. Flavenoids have also been linked to the formation of nerve cells, which could help people avoid Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, as well as the inhibited growth of certain types of cancer cells.

The difference between types of Red Wines extends beyond what is written on the label. The differences, such as subtle variations in color, flavor and aroma, have been perfected by wine makers to make each red as different from another as the reds are from the whites. Those subtle differences begin with the grapes, but they are perfected in the winery. Fully appreciating the differences begins with learning and understanding more about them.

For many people, taking time out of a busy afternoon to enjoy sipping a cup of flavorful leaf tea from a favorite herbal tea, can help to melt stress and push their concerns into the background so they can gain perspective and some respite from the demands of the day. Tea time can have a magical effect when sometimes nothing else will do.

Tea cups come in many different varieties of shape, color, material, and size, although in general they all have some common attributes that make them different from other types of cups and mugs. First they are typically more shallow than coffee cups, which allows the tea to be able to cool off more quickly.

tea cup
Most often, tea cups are made from fine materials, such as bone china or fine porcelain, and the higher quality cups have a very translucent aspect to them, adding to the sense of refinement in them. Tea cups normally come in sets, often with a full tea service that includes a matching tea pot, and various accessories such as sugar bowls and creamers, infusers and strainers, and sometimes even spoons and a spoon rest.

Tea cups also have a traditional shape and components that set them apart, such as small handles designed to be held with the thumb and just one or two fingers, as opposed to a coffee cup which generally has a more substantial handle to accommodate all the fingers.

tea pots
Most cups designed for tea drinking also have a elegant shape meant to fit comfortably in the hand and have a well-formed cup that gracefully curves outward toward the thin rim that makes sipping quite easy.

Most tea cups also have a footed base that also flares out slightly adding to the classic design. Matching saucers also are traditionally part of the tea cup set, although many tea sets are also available without saucers.

Tea cups seem to lend themselves perfectly to being embellished with flowing floral designs, but many other patterns can also be as well. The great variety in their shape and the many different patterns that have been applied to tea cups over the centuries has made them highly sought after by collectors and are some of the most prized possessions in many collections.

green tea extract
Tea cups do tend to be fragile, which is one of the reasons that collectors are so excited to find older pieces in good condition, especially if they are able to find multiple cups with their matching saucers to form a complete set.

If you are considering hosting a tea party, you will want to find some lovely tea cups for the occasion, as coffee cups or coffee mugs just don’t have the right feel for such an event.

For your special tea cups, having a distinctive tea cup to call your own is a great way to make your break even more memorable and enjoyable.

If someone were to tell you that farts were destroying the environment, you might laugh for quite a while. You probably would not take them seriously.

The vast number of animals used for food give off too many gases. These gases are part of the greenhouse effect and are contributing to the rise of global temperatures through global warming. Their digestive system produces gas which is expelled from the body into the air. These gases rise and help create the greenhouse effect which is a part of global warming.

environmental issue
Okay, now that the laughter has died down, there has to be some illumination on this dreadful environmental issue. Some vegetarian groups believe that the wide consumption of meat has contributed to the global warming dilemma. As more people consume meat, more animals for food are needed. Animals digest plants and other materials and then give off methane gas. Groups believe that these gases are the number one cause of the greenhouse gas effect. More gas means a greater impact on the environmental issue of greenhouse gases and global warming.

It is true that animals and humans alike produce carbon dioxide and methane gas. If the argument regarding too many animals is applicable, then so to does the consideration that there is an overabundance of humans on the planet, each and every one contributing to the global warming science predicament. What should the solution to this be? World-wide population regulations or euthanasia of humans producing too much gas has actually been suggested in essays detailing how humanity is creating its own environmental issue by merely existing.

global warming climate change
If you are a vegetarian you may believe that there needs to be a reduction in the amount of animals used for meat production. If you are a meat eater, then you may believe that this is a bogus issue. So it comes down to personal beliefs and opinions. Opinion and preference can manipulate facts and percentages to reflect whatever the desired result is needed.

It is our responsibility to be aware of our actions and impact on an environmental issue. Humanity has already shown that we can change our wicked ways of global warming greenhouse effect by helping save species that are becoming extinct, before they actually do. We have voted for legislation to ensure that corporations can not dump toxic chemicals into our landfills and water streams. When there is concrete information regarding the global warming debate, then we will take our part as well.

A Complicated And Lengthy Process That Needs To Be Learned And Mastered

Making wine is certainly not just stamping feet on a tank full of grapes and involves a lengthier and more complicated process that needs to be learnt and mastered if one is interested in obtaining quality port wine. Pore wine is known by different names such as Vinho do Porto, or Porto wine and is a fortified wine that originates from the Duoro Valley in the north of Portugal. The making of Port wine in Portugal has been known from the middle of the fifteenth century and became popular in England after the Methuen Treaty of 1703.

It is not possible to make Port wine in some easy fashion such as adding water to a packet. It is necessary to first pluck grapes out of a vineyard, smash them up and then put them in an automated tank for further chopping into tiny pieces. These tiny pieces of grape should stay in the tank for at least twenty-four hours in order to let the grapes ferment and the sugar climb up the food chain to turn into alcohol. Once the fermentation begins to occur it is just a matter of timing and fermentation should be stopped once half the grape’s sugar has been converted.

While making Port wine or liqueurs, stopping the fermentation is done by mixing clear brandy with the wine and the brandy needs to be strongly alcoholic in spirit and contain a proof of 150 percent. The brandy’s alcohol content helps kill the yeast in the wine and thus stop the fermentation process. This will result in a sweet wine having about twenty percent alcohol and Port wine such as this is usually served with desserts, cheese and also desserts made out of cheese.

Port has many styles some of which are White Port, Ruby Port, Young Tawny Port, Aged Tawny Port, Vintage Character Port, Late Bottled Vintage Port, Traditional Late Bottled Vintage Port, Vintage Port, Single Quinta Vintage Port, Crusted Port, and Garrafeira Port. There are however two broad categories that encapsulate these different styles and these are Bottle aged or Cask aged. If even the smallest of change is made with regard to making Port wine it may result in different tasting wines, it is these two category processes which dictates the flavor of the wine.

Making Port wine using the bottle age Port style will result in the wine keeping their color and fruitiness well into maturity and behave like wine on Botox. With Cask aged Port wines, the flavor does not long last and gets lost soon and are also ready for drinking straight away.

So, it can be seen that making Port wine and fruit wines is not so simple and involves more than just stamping on tanks full of grapes. A certain degree of dexterity is needed to process the wine and once that has been achieved one is sure to savor the fine taste of Port wines for some time to come.