Nattu Kozhi Curry Vindayi

Cooked with country chicken, lots of tomatoes, garlic, spices, cashew nuts, coconut milk and vinegar, the Pondicherry Vindayi tastes heavenly. Many Pondicherians feel the name "vindayi" has its origin in "vin d'ail", a French dish, meat cooked with wine.

Some say the Portuguese priests brought this Goan dish to this part of India. In fact, vinegar, a European condiment, is used intensively in Goan cuisine. And Goa is known for its vindalu. Vindayi and vindalu sound similar but the Pondichery vindayi tastes different.

Ingredients:

• Serves 6
• Cooking time 30 minutes
• Country chicken or mutton - 1 kg
• Onions - 5 big finely chopped
• Garlic - 2 big crushed
• Tomatoes - 7 big finely chopped
• Cumin seeds - 2 tbsp powdered
• Chilli powder - 1 heaped tbsp
• Cloves - 2
• Cinnamon - 1 small piece
• Bay leaf - Half a leaf
• Curcuma - 1 tsp
• Vinegar - 2 tbsp
• Gingili oil - 2 tbsp
• Cashew nuts - 8 ground to a fine paste
• Coconut - Half (extract the 1st, 2nd, 3rd milk)
• Salt to taste

Method:

• Grate half a coconut, put it in a mixer and run it with 100 ml of water. 
• Strain the liquid for the 1st milk. Keep aside.
• Repeat the operation for the second and third milk with 100 ml of water each time.
• In a deep frying pan, heat oil, add bay leaf, clove and cinnamon. 
• Let the spices splutter. Add onions, fry till golden, add garlic, cumin, chilli, curcuma and fry well. 
• Add tomato. Cook covered till the tomato is soft. 
• Add salt and then the chicken or mutton and fry till the gravy thickens.
• Add the second and third coconut milk. Cook on a low fire, till the meat is ready.
• Mix the cashew nut paste to the first milk and add it to the curry. 
• Add vinegar. Bring to a boil. The gravy should be thick. Turn off the stove.
• Serve piping hot with plain rice or ghee rice and Salade Pondichérienne.

Courtesy : The Hindu
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Fruits and it's health benefits

Fruit can greatly benefit not only your health, but also your skin? All kinds of fruit can be used in cosmetics.Did you know that Pomegranate has been found to have a variety of beneficial health effects secondary to its high level of antioxidants which can help to prevent cell damage and anti-aging of Skin. it also prevents heart disease and slowing down the growth of prostate cancer.A fruit diet, in required quantity, is one of the best diet components that keep body fresh, skin tone rejuvenated, cells hydrated.Here is a list of beauty fruits that can give your skin a boost. What are you waiting for! Start munching on all these healthy fruits and leave some to be applied on your skin too. These satisfy your sweet tooth and none of the added calories!

Apple

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Apple is a great source of fibre which keeps the bowels clean, ensuring skin that is free of acne and boils. It is also loaded with phytochemicals that have properties similar to anti-oxidants. Studies have also shown that eating apples regularly can reduce wrinkles and fine lines. Mix a gated apple with honey and apply on your face for five minutes for a hydrated, stress free skin. Apples are a great conditioner and toner for your skin. They have amazing skin-healing powers and have been used as a beauty aid for centuries. Add a cup of apple juice to your bath to cleanse and soften your skin. The juice of apple can be used as a breathe freshener too. Apple juice when applied to your hair scalp can prevent dandruff. Use as a final rinse after shampooing your hair. Also, remember, apples are filled with pectin - essential for fighting the dreaded acne.





Bananas



Banana is a great emollient for your skin and hair. They are rich in protein and natural fats and can be used on all skin types. An easy facemask that will make your skin supple is to apply mashed banana all over your skin and leave it on for 2o minutes, rinse off with warm water and moisturize after that. Mashed banana also makes a wonderful hair conditioner when mixed with a 1 tablespoon of honey. Perfect for keeping hair beautiful even if dyed regularly.






Lemons



A classic home beauty ingredient. Lemons are used to cleanse and freshen the skin and hair. Use lemon slices to soften rough skin spots such as elbows and heels. Lemon slices also help deodorize and mix a few teaspoons of lemon juice in your bath and you will feel fresh the whole day. Lemon juice can be added to your favourite cleanser or shampoo to refresh and tone your scalp. It also helps prevent dandruff.

Lemon rinds can be rubbed on to scars as it aids healing. Lemon is a ,natural bleach it can help to fade out dark spots and acne scars too.






Oranges



This fruit belongs to the citrus family and is best know for its astringent and toning properties. Rub fresh orange peel on your skin to tighten it and lighten the colour. Another useful tip is to take the juice of 2 oranges and freeze it in an ice tray. Rub your face with frozen orange juice cubes. It will instantly freshen you up and lift up the tiredness from your face. The juice will give your dull and oily face an instant sheen. Oranges are a good source of Vitamin C which is known to improve the skin texture and color.





Papaya



This fruit is the best bet when it comes to skin care, papaya is a good source of Vitamin A and papain. Vitamin A acts as an anti-oxidant, while the papain breaks down inactive proteins and removes dead skin cells. The best feature of the fruit is its low sodium quality. Since the salt content is less, the water retention is also little. The result is an overall hydrated skin. Rub mashed papaya on cracked heels to remove dead cell and make feet softer.Papaya- rich in papain enzyme and Vitamin A, is the best treatment for exfoliating your skin. For having a fresh and glowing skin apply mashed papaya and 3 teaspoons of aloe vera gel and massage all over your body monthly. Leave on your skin for no more than five minutes and rinse thoroughly. Use it with caution for the first time as it may sometimes irritate sensitive skin.







Pineapple



Like papaya, pineapples are great skin softeners, which cleanses and rejuvenates dull and dry skin. Use pineapple slices on rough skin spots like knees, elbows, and heels. Use a slice of pineapple as you would a sponge or loofah to scrub your body in the bath or shower.






Peach



Peach is packed with potassium and flavonoids apart from Vitamin A. It helps revitalising and hydrating epidermis. The antioxidants help wounds recover faster and prevents signs of early ageing. Grate one peach, mix with sugar and use as a face scrub.Peaches are highly emollient and perfect for dry skin types. Mash a fresh peach and combine with a tablespoon of plain yogurt to make a smooth paste. Apply on the skin and leave it on for 20 mins and then rinse off with warm water. Your skin will feel moisturized and supple to the touch.







Pomegranates




Pomegranates are excellent for oily and combination skin. Rich in AHA, pomegranate juice can be used as an astringent and is also a natural toner. Crush pomegranate seeds and use it as a scrub for skin care,this will remove excess oil and make your skin look fresh. Massage pomegranate juice on your face for around 10 minutes and then wash off for an instant glow. Like oranges pomegranates also contain Vitamin C and folic and numerous antioxidants. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and helps in building up the immune system

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Little known Home remedies

It was not too distant past that elders in the families controlled and cured small medical emergencies and ailments through home remedies. A variety of brew for fever and colds, a bruise ointment, pain relief and poison relief lotions were made from commonly available herbs and minerals. These elders had their own secret recipes which they passed to the next generation. One can cure most of the common disease with the help of these herbs and spices . Also these are better as they leave no side effects or harm your body. These mixtures are easy to prepare. In India, the Vedas contain rich material on the herbal lore 

Asafoetida (Heeng)



Is a resinous gum of a tree. Used in diseases of the stomach. One of the best remedies for flatulence. An inevitable ingredient of most digestive powders, also an antidote for opium.





Cardamon (Ilaichi)

Used frequently as mouth freshner  after meals and in betal . It subsides the water and air elements, increases appetite, soothes the mucus membrane.






Coriander (Dhania) leaves


Coriander is used to relieve headaches.  Used as spice for curries, it’s a carminative and cooling agents. It checks diarrhea if taken with curdled milk.








Cumin Seed (Jeera/Zira)

Well known for its carminative effect, relieves nausea and vomiting among pregnant mothers and increase milk yield for breast feeding. A essential  Indian spice.








Ginger (Adrak)

Root of a plant used as a spice. It is well known for its quality of helping digestion. It also increases appetite and reduces flatulence. Very beneficial in disorders connected with formation of phlegm. In India,  Ginger or Adrak Chai are quite famous for relief from cold and coughs.








Holy Basil (Tulsi)

Considered sacred and planted in most Hindu homes, it keeps mosquitoes away, a good remedy for fever, cough and cold and a very good prophylactic against malaria. Infusion made of tulsi leaves, dried ginger, pepper and Jaggery (Karipatti in tamil and malayalam) is very effective in trating coomon cold and cough. Inhaling tulsi relieves cold and headache. Fresh juice (10 ml or less) taken internally helps cure jaundice and tulsi paste applied externally helps leucoderma patients







Turmeric (Haldi)

Used in cooking, helps prevent flatulence. Cures injuries and wounds, an ingredient of poultices for boils. Prevents inflammation, used for gonorrhea. Very effective if the turmeric paste is applied on a bee or wasp sting.






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