SOS Pancakes, Stuffed Paneer N Spinach Paratha for The Review Of Fortune Rice Bran Health Oil

 
Hi All!

Last few days have been chaotic and messy, too many things happening and loads to finish with deadlines, the biggest of all the deadlines was finishing revision for the Final exams. The kid appears for his grade 7 exam and had a humongous syllabi to finish and every now and then was seeking my help. I’m taken for granted to clear his doubts and be around when he is studying as he hates being alone.

Besides this I had a carpenter and a plumber along with a mason working fulltime in my house past 4 days. My ears were deafened with all the knock knock and I was tired cleaning the house every now and then. And since all this was not enough my laptop started troubling and I was some how managing with the internet on my cell phone. I’ve a tough time when I’ve to do elaborate things using the cell phone.. Amongst all this mess the good thing that happened was that I received a 2litre can of Fortune Rice Bran Health Oil from BlogAdda with a smiley card along with it, that made my day. I am reviewing healthy heart oil as a part of the BlogAdda's Product Review Program for Indian Bloggers.

We read so much about health food and how to change our eating habits and indulge into healthy eating and lifestyle. All nutritionists and doctors recommend these days to use an oil low in cholesterol and which can prevent heart disease. My doctor always recommends to change oil and not stick to one kind of oil, he also suggests to use a mix of oils in cooking. I use the peanut oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil and alternate them. Till now I had never used rice bran oil… Preferably, I use the low absorption oil to keep the consumption of oil low.

Rice bran oil (also known as rice bran extract) is the oil extracted from the germ and inner husk of  rice. It is notable for its high smoke point of 213°C (415°F) and its mild flavor, making it suitable for high-temperature cooking  methods like stir fry and frying. A medically significant component of rice bran oil is the antioxidant γ-oryzanol, at around 2% of crude oil content.

I’ve used other Fortune oils earlier, so when I received this pack of Fortune Rice bran health oil, I was elated. I had heard about the oil through advertisements and articles in paper but now was the time to taste and test the oil.

Before opening the oil I always read the can carefully. The can said 100% veg, free from Argemone oil. Argemone oil is obtained from Argemone seeds, is used as an adulterant in oil and is not good for heart, so the Adani Wilmar Limited, who are the manufacturers of the oil assures of  no adulteration, which is done by all good oil manufacturing companies as a sign of quality assurance. I then read the nutritional information and was pleased to read that as 100mg of oil had 0mg cholesterol, 0g trans fatty acids, 0g proteins and 0g carbohydrates. It has 24g saturated fatty acids, 42g mono unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), 34g poly unsaturated fatty acids(PUFA), 50mg Vitamin E, 100g fat, 1000mg Oryzanol and gives 900KCal of energy. The 2litre can costs Rs.230/- which is a price any middle class man can afford easily towards health.

For people who are not aware of the importance of MUFA, PUFA, Oryzanol, I’m going to describe that in brief here, which will help you understand the benefits of using this oil. MUFAs are considered a healthy type of fat. If your diet includes unsaturated fats such as MUFAs & PUFAs instead of saturated fats and trans fats, you may gain certain health benefits. Consuming monounsaturated fatty acids may help lower your risk of heart disease by improving risk factors. For instance, MUFAs may lower your total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels but maintain or increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. MUFAs may also help normalize blood clotting. Also, some research shows that MUFAs may also benefit insulin levels and blood sugar control, which can be especially helpful if you have type 2 diabetes. (courtesy www.mayoclinic.com)

Oryzanol is an anti oxidant compound and is associated with reducing plasma cholesterol, lowering serum cholesterol, decreasing absorption of cholesterol and decreasing platelets aggregation. It has also been used to reduce hyperlipidimia, disorders of menopause and to increase the muscle mass. Another study has shown gamma-Oryzanol to reduce the risk of gastric ulcers caused by stress while at the same time maintaining gastrointestinal motility.
Vitamin E present in oil is good for skin and prevents ageing. More on the 10/10 benefits of the oil  one can read here

Since, I’ve already mentioned what is present in the oil and it’s advantages, I must also inform my readers what is absent in the oil and it’s consequences or advantages too.. Both Trans fatty acids and Cholesterol are absent in the oil.

Trans fatty acids, also known as trans fat, is an artery-clogging fat that is formed when vegetable oils are hardened into margarine or shortening.Trans fat is known to increase blood levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, while lowering levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL), known as "good" cholesterol. It can also cause major clogging of arteries, type 2 diabetes and other serious health problems, and is found to increase the risk of heart disease.

Cholesterol is a type of fat (lipid) in your blood. Your cells need cholesterol, and your body makes all it needs. But you also get it from the food you eat. If you have too much cholesterol, it starts to build up in your arteries . This is called hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis . It is usually a slow process that gets worse as you get older. Absence of cholesterol in the oil adds to it’s health benefits

Coming back to the Fortune Rice Bran Oil after I have read the can , my first observation about any oil is the clarity and the smell and this oil passed in both the physical observations, there was no smell and the oil was clear with very light yellow color, soothing to eyes and light to touch. Any oil is best checked when you start using it for your day to day cooking and that’s what I did. I used the oil every possible way, for stir fry, tempering, shallow frying and deep frying too. What I realized was that it does not contribute to the flavor of a dish and stays neutral, which is what I prefer and so that was the first advantage I noticed in terms of cooking, secondly it gets absorbed less while deep frying and hence does not cling to the food item, so less oil goes into your body. The other big advantage which I would also get on a longer run is the advantage coming from the chemical ingredients present as well as absent in it which I have mentioned above!

I have passed this oil with flying colors for it’s physical qualities and health benefits and I would recommend it highly to my readers and friends. I cooked many dishes with this oil but I’m sharing two of the recipes here, both the recipes makes use of ingredients good for health and can be cooked for breakfast or as lunch box items.

Stuffed Paneer In Spinach Paratha

Preparation Time:15mins

Cooking Time:2-3mins per Paratha

Makes:9-10parathas

Serves:3

Ingredients

For Cover:

2cups whole wheat flour

1/2tsp salt

20-25 spinach leaves

1green chili

For stuffing

200gms paneer (cottage Cheese) grated

salt to taste

1inch ginger grated

2green chilies, finely chopped

1tbsp chopped coriander

1tbsp coriander pwd

1tsp cumin pwd

also

Fortune Rice Bran Health Oil for smearing

Method

For Cover

Using minimum water grind the spinach and green chili to a paste.

Add salt to the flour and mix the spinach paste and make a medium soft dough. If required use water else avoid it.

For stuffing

Mix all the ingredients under the heading stuffing. Avoid adding extra salt as the cover also has salt added to it.

Take dough to make a ball slightly larger than a lemon. Roll it to make a 2inch disc (or spread using fingers).

Fill about 2tbsp stuffing into the rolled disc and close all ends to make a ball and flatten it. Roll the disc gently using flour to make a 6-7inch broad paratha.

Heat a griddle and roast the paratha on either side. Smear some Fortune Rice Bran Health Oil on either side and roast again till golden in colour.

Serve hot with chutney/pickle, butter, curds or butter milk.

SOS Pancakes/ Savory Oats Semolina Pancakes

Preparation Time:10mins

Standing Time:15mins

Cooking Time:2mins per pancake

Makes:about 8

Serves: 2-3

Ingredients

1cup rolled oats

4-5tbsp semolina

1cup warm milk/ soya milk ( I used plain soya milk)

1/2-1cup warm water

1-2 green chilies, finely chopped

6-7 curry leaves, finely chopped

10-12 spinach leaves finely chopped

1/2 onion, finely chopped

salt to taste

Fortune Rice Bran Health Oil for smearing

Method

Mix all ingredients and let it stand for 15mins. This allows the semolina and oats to soak the moisture and bloom.

Adjust the consistency of the batter by adding more water if required. This batter is thinner than the regular Dosa batter.

Smear oil on a non stick pan and heat on medium flame, spread a ladle full of batter on the pan of 3-4mm thickness.

Cover with a lid and cook. Flip to the other side and cook without the lid till golden. If required apply more oil.

The pancakes have crunchy crust and soft inside.

Serve with butter, sauce/chutney/pickle.

Sending it to my event ‘Only’ Vegan Cooking hosted by PJ.

Do give me a feedback whether you found the review informative and also whether you liked the recipes.

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Act Chawa Sabudana Vada Ready Mix..a Product Review

 

Hello all!

I’m here with yet another product review. I had picked up this product during my recent few hours halt at Mumbai. It was newly launched product at Hypercity. I got particularly interested in this product as it was an instant version and I greedily picked it.

It is not that I do not know how to make sabudana vada that I picked this Mix, as a matter of fact I make excellent vadas and I do not mind boasting about it. I’ve posted my version of making authentic sabudana vada here.My kid loves this vada and at times he wants it made instantaneously which is not possible and then he sits with a sullen face. It was for the kid’s disappointed face, that I picked the Mix so that I could  bring a smile.

The pack has a content of 200g  and is priced Rs.46/-. It has a decent shelf life of 10 months and has no added preservatives or colours. The price is reasonable for a common Indian consumer. It’s perfect to be used for fasting too.

 

 

I must say I was very apprehensive about the Mix and it’s outcome but I was amazingly surprised with the result. The Sabudana vada was perfect, I’ll not say it matches what I make at home but the flavours are authentic. The best part is that the Vadas can be made within 45mins and you do not have to follow the usually long procedure. The vada did not absorb excess oil and were crisp and for me it only lacked in the chilli level. I would rather add 1-2 green chillies to Mix. The directions given on the pack are clear without any flaws. The mix makes 15 vadas which is enough for 3people.

It can be used as an entree or starter for guests in case of sudden arrivals. My family loved it and I regretted so much that I had bought only one pack. People living in Central India, do try it and for those who would like to reach the manufacturers at www.actchawa.com or call them at 0712-3224211.

 

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MTR Potato Cheese Balls ..a Product Review

Hi!

Starters have become an important part of a meal when guests are invited and the lady in the kitchen, who not only cooks but works too, with her hands full, definitely wants to go for a quick and tasty starter. And if a ready mix is available then it is always welcome.

MTR a known name in food products have introduced  a snack mix under the category of  ‘MTR-Tasty Delights’ to help fix a starter in a matter of few minutes. The new product is called ‘Potato Cheese Balls’ and I must say the two words, ‘potato’ and ‘cheese’ are good enough to attract most of us.

The product has three  packets inside it labelled A,B and C. Packet-A has the potato and cheese dry mix which is to be mixed with warm water to make the balls. The mix is enough to make 25 small balls. Later the balls are to be mixed in a slurry of Packet-B which has corn starch and then rolled in bread crumbs contained in Packet-C. Once ready these can be deep fried in oil in small batches. The product is  ready to serve in half an hour. The packet says serves 6 but the size of the balls is so small that I thought it’s good for 3-4 people.

The directions provided on the packet are clear and simple to follow except for packet B where it says that the corn starch to be mixed with a tbsp. of water and that was just not enough, I added almost 4tbsp of water to make the slurry.

The balls have the taste of cheese and potato and have a very subtle continental taste. These balls will not only make a quick starter but can be a good snack for kids. I’m not very sure of how many adults would really enjoy the taste as it does not have very dominant flavours but it will be loved by the kids.

The product is priced Rs.45 for 95g and I found it a good price to make such a quick starter. It’s a price that the common man in India can easily afford and hence will surely indulge in this product as quality wise it does not disappoint you. The balls do not soak oil, if fried in small batches and is delight for the younger generation and also for people with subtle taste buds.

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Britannia NutriChoice Multigrain thins..a Critical Product Review

Hi.

A few days back DH got a packet of Britannia Multigrain Thins to try out in his flight back home. After tasting it, he realised that this is what I would love to eat, so he got the packet back home and asked me to try it out. I asked him what it was and he explained that it’s a new product from Britannia, so the samples were given to the passengers for tasting in the flight.

He explained that it’s a baked product and is made of five grains. The first three adjectives i.e Britannia product, baked and five grains were good enough to catch my attention. I put the first piece in my mouth and my first reaction was ‘yummy’, this is so good and I finished the remaining packet in a matter of few minutes without sharing with anyone, and completely true to it’s punch line ‘Snack That Loves You Back’.

 

I decided to buy this product and do a proper review as I’ve always been a Britannia fan. I have grown up eating Britannia bread, biscuit and now even the dairy products. As you already know by my previous description  that this product tastes great but any product when a consumer buys from the market does not sell only for it’s taste, it has to be cost effective also. It needs to see what kind of market is targeted and what’s the competition that the product is likely to face.

If we see the Indian market presently a lot of multigrain products are available but they are largely dominated in the noodles world or in sweet biscuits segment. This is the first time that I’ve tried a multigrain savoury snack.NutriChoice Multigrain Thins are initially  available in three flavours- Classic Indian Spice, Mediterranean Herb & Tomato and Lime & Mint. I’ve currently tasted the Classic Indian Spice and I just loved it and I will surely say that ‘No One Can Eat Just One’. The thins are light and crispy. The flavours explode in your mouth making you crave for more. These are great munchies and can make a great snack for kids or can also be served with dips as a perfect starter in a high tea, and surely the best part is that one can indulge in guilt free binging.

Made with the goodness if grains like corn, ragi, rice, wheat, oats and coated on top with flax seeds these thins are baked to perfection. It has zero cholesterol and zero trans-fat, making it an ideal snack for heart patients and diabetics. It is quite low in calories and fats as compared to the fried snacks available in the market. This product has a large range of targeted customer base as it’s perfect for children to old age people.  It does not have much of competition in the market as there’s not much choice of savoury multigrain biscuits available today.

 

The product is available in two packing…the individual mini packs which weigh 25g of the product are available for Rs.10. It is also available in a box pack having two 2mini packs inside costs Rs.30. It is the cost of the box that hit me as I found it high for providing a box pack. So costumer pays Rs.10 extra only for the box. So, personally I thought it’s ridiculous to spend Rs.10 extra only for the box and I would never buy a box pack as it is not cost effective. I find it  wise to buy the mini packets unless I would want to gift the product.

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Lucozade Sport by GSK - A Product Review

 

Lucozade Sport is a rehydrating drink to be launched by GSK (Glaxo-Smith and Kline) available in two flavors lemon and orange. Priced at Rs. 40 for a 200ml bottle it  surely attracts mostly the upper middle class cadre of customers.

I tasted both the flavors and personally liked the lemon. Both are citrus flavors and have a mild sweet and salty taste. It is an excellent drink for people who are into sports and also for school children during peak summer.

It helps restore the glucose, water, electrolyte levels in the body and helps boost up stamina.

I would love to buy this surely in peak summer for kids and also once in a while after their soccer session. I personally thought of having it during my cursed days as this will surely give that extra energy which I am lacking that time. Surely worth giving it a try.

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Foodles from Horlicks..a product review

Hi Friends!

From now onwards product review will be a regular feature in my blog. People living in India might have seen the advertisement of Foodles from today.

I had tried this last week when Horlicks had passed on these samples to S. The name Horlicks brings in a lot of expectation as their health drinks are extremely popular and now after  tasting these Foodles, I can surely say that it’s going to a big success.

I tried the   curry and  ala masala flavors and both are good and the taste different and suitable for Indian palate. Priced at Rs. 15 for 80g pack which is an approachable price for Indian clientele, these are health packed, made with four grains- Ragi, Rice, Wheat and Corn.

Horlicks has surely targeted health conscious parents. It’s a different product made with multi grains, something which Indian market has not seen yet, so will surely attract people. It is a good source of proteins, fats and carbohydrates so is extremely good for growing children.

We enjoyed eating them. One pack is good enough for one person’s breakfast, so do try it.

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