Okay so I know I have slacked these past few days but I have a legitimate excuse.  I was enjoying the outdoors way too much for me to even thinking about sitting at my laptop and writing about my adventures.  Sometimes it is good to just live and experience things rather than jot every single detail down, which I am usually accustomed to doing.

Since my weekend is practically over I decided to share one of the most orgasmic wraps I have ever eaten.   I have not had this wrap in a long time so it was an amazing experience savoring and consuming this wrap.  I closed my eyes at a moment to just fully capture all the flavors I was tasting and to make sure I was doing it justice by eating it slowly and enjoying it since it was only half of a sandwich [even more reason to savor it].

So what made this wrap amazing? On a honey whole wheat tortilla was romaine lettuce, shredded carrots, tomatoes and the most delicious home-made hummus.  The first bite was like fireworks in my mouth. I felt reunited with one of my best friends from a long time ago.  Each bite got better and better as it went on.  I know this sounds super ridiculous but this simple wrap was exotic in taste.  I was in heaven while eating this.  All I could hear was myself chewing and the murmur of my mother and boyfriend in the background.  To be honest I was unable to even hold a conversation since I was so enraptured by the amazing flavors in my mouth.

I am sad that I had to travel all the way to Nyack [Rockland County] to get this wrap.  This is the type of food you have to perfect in order to get it to taste even half as good as it does from Back to Earth [the store that makes this delectable treat].

Well readers I will leave you with my foodgasmic thoughts.

Peace, love and no beef,

Guramrit

This wrap from Riverdale Diner was amazing and satisfying minus too much cheese. It has tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, feta cheese, a few onions and a balsamic vinaigrette.  I had it on a spinach wrap.  Delicious. Satisfying. Served with a small cup of vegetarian lentil soup.

Peace, love & no beef

Guramrit

One of my favorite food’s is Aloo Parantha.  As a kid I looked forward to the days my mom or grandmother would make it for me, even though I would sometimes get it for lunch which lead to numerous curious glances and questions from kids who didn’t understand why I didn’t get a PB & J like them.

I guess one of the reasons I really like the parantha is the crispy exterior and the soft, delicate but sometimes spicy mixture of potatoes that are gently mashed and folded into the dough and cooked accordingly.

Aloo Parantha’s are only as good as the person who makes them.  If paranthas are made lovingly, from scratch and served hot then they are perfect, served with usually raita (a seasoned yogurt with vegetables in it) or plain yogurt (which we do in my house).

Here is a simple recipe for people trying to make parantha’s for the first time:

[Serves 2 people]

What you need:

1 cup of atta (whole wheat flour)

Water (enough to form a nice dough with the atta)

Salt

Ghee (refined butter, can be found in stores)

2 potatoes, boiled, peeled and mashed

2 cloves garlic, minced finely

1 jalapeno, minced finely

1/2 red onion, minced

1/2 teaspoon Pepper

1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper

1 teaspoon Garam masala

How you do it:

1. Make the dough by combining the atta, water, salt and ghee.  Kneed the dough and set aside.

2. Combine the potatoes and other ingredients together (garam masala, pepper, salt, cayenne pepper, onion, garlic, jalapenos).

3. Take dough and form into 4 small round balls.  Take some extra atta and spread onto a cutting board/wooden board.  Take a dough ball, create a little pocket with your finger and place a tablespoon of the potato mixture in it.  Close the little dough ball and roll into an approximately 6 inch round.

4. Heat a tawa (an iron skillet) and place the parantha on it.  Let cook evenly on each side, applying ghee to allow the paranthas to get crispy (this is my favorite part).

5. Cook until crispy.  Serve with plain yogurt or raita and enjoy!

Image from Fast Indian Recipes

That’s all for today!

Peace, love & no beef!

Guramrit

I know many people who are not fond of vegetables.  Honestly, I find this a big problem.  This really explains the type of society we are: obsessive, obese and addicted to the things that are not good for us.  As a child I grew up eating vegetables and grew to love new veggies each and every day.  The fact that many of the people I know do not like vegetables and do not eat them, disturbs me.

How can you live a healthy, prosperous or long life if you do not eat vegetables?  Sorry to all you meat eaters but I think some of you need a reality check: Meat is just one food group. You need more than just carbs and the dead flesh of an animal to survive.  Do you honestly think the people who live up to 100 years of age actually ate meat all day? They had healthy life styles which included a healthy, wholesome diet and they exercised regularly.

I know a few people who are trying to lose weight and get on a healthy track but they are having a hard time putting the steak, ribs and junk food down.  Listen, if you really want to make an effort to do your body some good, take care of it by eating some baby carrots, celery or adding vegetables to your dinner.  Dinner should not merely consist of meat and potatoes.  Sure, potatoes are vegetables but it is pure carbs and actually can keep the weight on you.

I am not trying to convert the world to the food religion of vegetarianism but I am trying to promote healthy eating and eating in moderation.  Try to go for grilled options rather than fried.  If you have a few options for dinner try to include vegetables and avoid going for seconds.

If you are new to the veggie game, you can try tossing it into some pasta or try a salad.  You can build your own salad that is uniquely you and incredibly delicious at the same time.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says the following about vegetables:

• Vegetables are important for the health and maintenance of the body.
• Eating fruits and vegetables reduces risk for: Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes, (protects against) Cancer, Stroke, Coronary Heart Disease, Kidney Stones and High Blood Pressure
• Veggies are low in fat (naturally!), calories and do not contain cholesterol
• Important nutrients include: potassium (helps maintain blood pressure), dietary fiber (lowers cholesterol levels, reduce constipation and regulate bowel movements), vitamins A (promotes healthy eyes and skin, protects against infections), C (helps heal wounds, cuts, aids in Iron absorption great for anemics & Women especially), and E (provides protection against infection and is an important antioxidant) as well as Folic Acid (important for red blood cell formation).

When you look at the food pyramid you can see that the meat section is the smallest section while grains and veggies are the most important aspects of the meal!

These are just a few ramblings of mine for the day.

Peace, love & no beef!

Guramrit

Uno’s Restaurant’s Broccoli & Cheese Soup.

Pure imagery. Pure desire. Pure taste.

Enjoy.

Guramrit