All Things Vegetarian

As often as possible I will be sharing information about vegetarian recipes and topics related to vegetarianism . I hope you will enjoy them and be able to share them with friends and family.

Friday, May 21, 2010

making paneer, making panir, how to make paneer

How to make paneer at home

Making paneer at home is a easy and simple process. You will find how to make paneer instructions below. Though paneer is easily available, homemade paneer is made within a few minutes.

The ingredients to make paneer are very few. You only need milk and an acid ingredient such as vinegar or lime juice or citric acid. Follow the instructions below to make paneer at home.

You may use full cream or skimmed milk as you like.

How to make paneer at home - Homemade paneer

Ingredients to make paneer

Milk - 1 literLime juice - 1 tbsp

Making paneer:

Heat milk in a thick bottomed pan. When it starts to boil, add lime juice. Switch the flame off.Stir for a minute. You will see the milk solids separating from the whey. Leave for about 5 minutes to cool a little. Use a cloth strainer or a plastic strainer with a fine mesh and strain the liquid. Once all the liquid is drained, rinse the solids under running cold water. This will remove the taste of vinegar or lemon.

If you are using cloth, tie up and hang for about an hour. You may also keep the cloth wrapped paneer under a heavy stone, pan or a jug of water. Keep a thick kitchen towel below the wrapped paneer. That helps in getting the liquid out fast.

Homemade Paneer is ready to use.

Tips:

The amout of water to be taken out from paneer will depend on what you want to use paneer for. If using for deserts , you will need soft paneer and generally 1 hour draining is enough. when you can form a firm and smooth round with the paneer, it is ready to make sweets like rasagolla.If you want to have paneer cubes, you need to make it a little hard so drain for a longer time. Shape in to a square or rectangular while still in the cloth and put the heavy weight on it. You will be able to cut into cubes later. You need to handle paneer carefully while cutting.




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Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Sometimes the real obstacle of making that big change in your life to becoming a vegetarian is not the "why" of making this big change in your lifestyle but the how. Its not hard to find good reasons to eliminate meat from your diet. There are moral reasons, spiritual reasons and above all health reasons that make the change a perfect fit for where you are in life right now.

Sometimes the real obstacle of making that big change in your life to becoming a vegetarian is not the "why" of making this big change in your lifestyle but the how. Its not hard to find good reasons to eliminate meat from your diet. There are moral reasons, spiritual reasons and above all health reasons that make the change a perfect fit for where you are in life right now.



But what really stops a lot of people from making this very positive change in their personal lives is not knowing exactly how to make the transition. So its a good idea to think through what it will mean to become a vegetarian so we can remove the mystery from what you are about to do.



There is no sugar coating the fact that a significant change in diet such as you will experience switching to a vegetarian lifestyle is going to take some getting used to. It is also going to call for some self discipline on your part to make the transition. Yes, you will be more healthy and probably feel better ethically when you can honestly tell the world, "I am a vegetarian". But the transition can be a challenge.



That is why one of the big steps in making the change is to be well in touch with your priorities and reasons for becoming a vegetarian. This is the most important in the first weeks of your new lifestyle as you get used to the diet and the health effects on your system. And since most vegetarian diets go through an adjustment period as you assure you are going to get enough protein and vitamins, you will have a lot of new sensations and things going on inside that will take some patience to get through.



So be sure of your motivations and go back to that 'mantra" of why you decided to make this change in your life in the first place. And like any great goal, if you truly believe in what you are doing, you will push through the rough patches because you want to live right and enjoy the benefits of eating and living in a way that is harmonious with the environment and with your own bodily needs.



Sometimes the reason we hold back from taking the plunge on becoming vegetarians comes from a fear that is grounded in lack of information. So the obvious solution is to learn all you can about your diet and what to expect as you begin living the life of a vegetarian. The top priority in your new education program is how to create a diet that meets your nutritional needs as well as provides you with sufficient variety to be satisfying without the presence of meat. The good news is that there are a huge variety of web sites and books you can use to learn how to supplements your diet so you get what you need nutritionally to begin your life as a vegetarian.



A big decision to make and one you should think through before you start your path to the life of a vegetarian is how you will make the transition. You may be enthusiastic and want to go "cold turkey" or a very harsh vegetarian regimen. But is not advised as it will increase the chances you will experience more severe reactions to cutting out so much of your diet. Remember your body is used to a certain level of eating. So make changes slowly one at a time and ease into your new vegetarian lifestyle.



If there is any question about whether a vegetarian diet is right for you, seek medical advice before starting to make such a big change to what you eat each day. Your doctor can help you make sure you are getting enough vitamins for ongoing health and that you are planning meals that give you sufficient protein and nutrients so your active lifestyle is not hurt by your new eating discipline.



By begin smart, consulting with your doctor and being aware of your nutritional and vitamin needs as you start to change your diet and lifestyle, you will gently ease into a vegetarian life. And as you do so, you can celebrate that you are not just moving away from a bad diet but moving toward one you will enjoy and one that will benefit your health for a long time to come.

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Sunday, May 02, 2010

You've certainly heard the expression many times, "You are what you eat." Have you ever really thought about what it means? And do you think about it when you're making food choices?

You've certainly heard the expression many times, "You are what you eat." Have you ever really

thought about what it means? And do you think about it when you're making food choices?

In some ways, we do become what we eat, literally. Have you ever seen an example of your blood

plasma after eating a fast food hamburger? What was previously a clear liquid becomes cloudy

with the fat and cholesterol that's absorbed from eating a high-fat hamburger.

And when you think about it, we also become what we don't eat. When we switch from eating

meat to a vegetarian-based diet, we become less fat, less prone to many types of cancers. Our

cholesterol can improve. When we're leaner and eating fewer animal products, then many other

health and fitness issues are reduced. The incidence of Type II diabetes is reduced. Blood

pressure falls into normal ranges. When you're healthier, you're taking fewer medications. Even if

you have a prescription drug benefit in your health plan, you're still saving money with fewer

co-payments on medications.

If you have a family history of high cholesterol or high blood pressure, then it's particularly

incumbent on you to revise your eating habits. Moving towards a more vegetarian diet has been

shown statistically to reduce the incidence of so many of the diseases of industrialized countries.

Vegetarians are statistically healthier than omnivorous persons; they're leaner and live longer.

Isn't it time to think about what you want to be and to eat accordingly? Do you want to be

sluggish and fat? Do you want the risk that goes with eating animal products, with their high fat

content? Or do you want to look like and be what vegetarians are? Leaner and fitter with a longer

anticipated lifespan. It's never too late to change what you're doing and increase your chances

for a longer, fitter life.

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