5 Mango Recipes You Should Try

Editor

Mangoes contain vitamin A, vitamin B-6, vitamin C, and dietary fiber that is why it’s good for a low-cholesterol diet and improving bone health, digestion, and complexion. Here are some tasty mango recipes you should try.

Mango and Pineapple Salsa

  • Ingredients: 2 cups diced mango, 1 cup diced pineapple, 3 tablespoons lime juice, 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro, ½ cup minced red onion, 1 seeded and minced jalapeno pepper, and salt
  • Preparation: A bowl, mix all of the ingredients together then season with salt. The salsa can be served with chips right away or stored in the fridge for up to two days.

Mango Ice Cream and Chili Sea Salt

  • Ingredients: 2 cups of pureed ripe mango, 2 eggs, 1 juiced lime, ¼ cup honey, ½ cup white sugar, 3 cups cream (halved), 2 Thai red chili, and 3 tablespoons sea salt
  • Preparation: Place the mango puree and lime juice in a blender and puree until the consistency is smooth. While blending, whisk eggs and sugar in a saucepan, then add honey and two cups of cream. Cook in medium heat while stirring until the mixture thickens. Remove pan from heat then add the remaining cream. Cool the pan in ice to create a custard. Once it cools, whisk in the puree, then chill overnight in a separate container. Next, pour the custard in an ice cream maker while preparing the chili sea salt separately. Mix chili and sea salt in the food processor. Serve the ice cream with the chili sea salt.

Mango Shrikhand

  • Ingredients: 4 mango slices or 3 peeled/whole ataulfo/champagne mangoes, 1.5 cups plain Greek yogurt, 8 to 10 strands of saffron, 4 teaspoons confectioner sugar, ½ cup heavy cream, fresh lemon juice, 5 to 6 halves pistachio, and powdered seeds from 3 cardamom pods
  • Preparation: Blend the mangoes, sugar, saffron, cardamom powder, and whipped cream in a food processor. While processing, add the yogurt, then the lemon juice. Process for an additional 30 seconds until all the ingredients are mixed, then transfer the mixture in a bowl and garnish with saffron strands and pistachios. Chill before serving.

Mango Lassi

  • Ingredients: 1 cup chopped ripe mango, 1 cup plain yogurt, ½ cup milk, 4 teaspoons sugar or honey, and a dash of ground cardamom
  • Preparation: Mix mango, milk, yogurt, sugar, and cardamom in a blender until the desired consistency is achieved. Add ice or serve drink with ice cubes. Sprinkle with ground cardamom before serving.

Maanga Pulissery

  • Ingredients: 2 chopped mangoes, 2 green chilis, 2 cups grated coconut, 1 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, 2 slit red chilis, 2 cups curd, 1 teaspoon mustard seeds, 8 to 10 curry leaves, salt, 1 teaspoon oil, and water
  • Preparation: Mix coconut, turmeric, green chilis, cumin seeds, with water in a blender to create a paste. Then, add the paste to a heated pan and simmer for 2 to 4 minutes. Next, add curd, water, and salt. Add the mangoes and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes. In a separate pan, heat the red chilis, curry leaves, and mustard seeds, then pout this over the mango curry.

5 Red Wine Recipes to Enjoy

Editor

Did you know that the red wine you love so much can be included in tasty meals for the family? Here are 5 recipes with wine that you should try.

Red Wine-Poached Chorizo

Ingredients: Two pieces of 4-ounce dry Spanish chorizo, 10 peeled garlic cloves, 4 bay leaves, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, and 6 cups dry red wine

Preparation: In a skillet, combine all the ingredients and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for not more than 15 minutes until the chorizo become plump. Slice the chorizo diagonally and simmer again for another 5 minutes before transferring to a bowl and pouring the liquid on top.

Chicken with Red Wine Sauce

Ingredients: 3 pounds of boneless chicken breast halves, 1 cup red wine, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 minced garlic, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 cup brown sugar, and salt and pepper

Preparation: In a skillet, sauté garlic until tender then place the chicken. Cook for 10 minutes on each side then remove the heat and drain the oil. Sprinkle paprika, sugar, and pour red wine around the chicken. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes while basting with wine sauce.

Salmon in Red Wine Sauce

Ingredients: 4 salmon steaks, ½ cup red wine, 3 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon oil, salt and ground black pepper, and 2 scallions with tops and bulbs separated

Preparation: Preheat oven to 450° then place the oiled pan for about 5 minutes. Season the salmon with salt and pepper before placing them in the pan. Cook for 8 minutes then drain the excess oil. Use the oil to saute scallion bulbs and wine for not more than 2 minutes. Next, whisk in the butter and season with salt and pepper. On a plate, place the fish and sprinkle scallion greens then spoon the sauce around the salmon.

Red Wine Mascarpone Risotto

Ingredients: 2 tablespoons mascarpone cheese, 1 cup alborio rice, 3 ½ cups chicken stock, ¾ cup dry red wine, 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 finely chopped shallots, 2 minced garlic cloves, and 1 juiced lemon

Preparation: In a saute pan, melt the butter and saute the shallots and garlic for three minutes. Add the alborio rice and cook for about one minute before pouring the wine. Let the wine evaporate before adding chicken stock. Stir constantly until the rice absorbs the stock. Remove from heat and add the cheese, chives, lemon, and lemon juice. Season with salt then serve.

Red Wine Portobello Burger

Ingredients: 4 portobello mushrooms, 4 toasted hamburger buns, 2 teaspoons grill seasoning, 2 tablespoons canola oil, 1 chopped garlic, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons red wine, ½ cup grated cheddar, ¼ cup mayonnaise, 4 romaine lettuce leaves, and 1 sliced tomato

Preparation: Combine the grill seasoning, garlic, oil, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl. Coat the mushrooms in the mixture. Heat a grill pan and place the mushrooms with the gills downwards for about 5 minutes on each side. Before flipping, coat each side with cheese. Combine 2 tablespoons of the mixture with mayonnaise and spread these on the hamburger bun. Serve the buns with the mushroom, tomato, and lettuce.

Get to Know the Five Surprising Health Benefits of Butter

Editor

If you’re a fan of pastries and other types of delicious baked treats, you may have recently tried to avoid butter because of the effects that fat can have on the body.

However, not all fats are harmful. Fats such as monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat is actually healthy and needed by the body, and can help important bodily functions. Certain saturated fats can also be healthy when in moderation.

In fact, here are the various health benefits butter can give you when eaten in moderation:

1. It has a lot of fat-soluble vitamins
You can find a lot of fat-soluble vitamins, such as A, D, E, and K2, in butter. If you’re considering going vegetarian, adding butter can make up for a lot of the nutrients you would only get in eating meat.

While the first three are nothing new to you if you’re already eating healthy, K2 (which aids in breaking down calcium to be used in the body) is can be hard to find outside of grass-fed butter.

Selenium, which is responsible for enhancing antioxidant effects in your body, is another fat-soluble mineral present in grass-fed butter.

2. Lowered heart attack risk
Saturated fats can also be healthy, and when consumed in moderate amounts, can help the body perform its various functions.

For instance, saturated fats have been shown to help raise a person’s good cholesterol count, while at the same time neutralizing a good portion of a person’s bad cholesterol. This decrease in bad cholesterol can help prevent the onset of cardiovascular diseases later on.

Another way that moderate amounts of butter can lower the risk of heart disease is the additional introduction of vitamin K2 into the bloodstream.

3. Butter is rich in butyrate
Butyrate is a fatty acid created by bacteria when they are exposed to dietary fibers. For humans, this acid is highly beneficial to the digestive system because of its anti-inflammatory and protective effects.

This makes it more effective as a health food than margarine, which is perceived as a “healthier” low-calorie alternative to butter.

4. Certain fats in butter contain anti-cancer properties
While this may sound like a stretch at first, it turns out that grass-fed butter does in fact contain significant amounts of conjugated linoleic acid, which not just boosts your immunity and build muscle mass, but also prevents the development of cancer cells.

5. Butter improves the mood (and the mind)
Additionally, while it seems that cholesterols are the bane of any healthy diet, it turns out that low cholesterol levels can be linked to a higher risk of conditions such as depression, dementia, and even Alzheimer’s.

With just a small helping of butter included as a food ingredient, the risk of these conditions go drastically down.

Singaporean Desserts For the Sweet Tooth  

Editor

Singapore has always been known to be one of the best dining destinations in Asia. There are numerous dishes and a wide variety to choose from for locals and tourists alike. While Singaporean food is best known for hawker dishes and hawker stalls, they also have some of the best local desserts in all of Asia, some of which you may never have heard of and some of which may be a little familiar to you.

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Mango Pudding

Well, it’s not an entirely local dish, as it is better known to be a local dish in Hong Kong. However, mango pudding is one of the most popular desserts in Singapore. Mango pudding usually consists of gelatin, ripe mangoes, sugar, evaporated milk, and, in some cases, it’s also served with sago.

 

Chendol/Cendol

Again, this is a dish not entirely local to Singapore as it is found in other Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia. Chendol is mainly based on coconut milk and rice flour turned into jelly-like noodles. In Singapore, it is served with red beans and gula melaka.

 

Pandan Cake

Pandan cake is probably the staple when it comes to Singaporean desserts. Simply put, it is just light sponge or chiffon cake flavored with the juices from pandan leaves, which then produce the green color that makes it distinct from all the other cakes. When made with pure pandan extract, some would actually add green food coloring to simulate the natural coloring of pandan leaves.

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Apom Berkuah

Everybody loves eating a heaping stack of pancakes drenched in maple syrup and topped with a lot of butter. Well, Singapore has its own version of pancakes. Apom berkuah is made from coconut water and from rice flour instead of the usual all-purpose flour. And, instead of maple syrup, it’s best paired with banana sauce.

 

Chin Chow

Chin chow is simply known as grass jelly. The jelly is made from the leaves and stalks of a plant known as Mesona chinensis, which locally grows in a lot of Southeast Asian countries. The leaves and stalks are boiled together with starch and potassium carbonate to attain that jelly-like consistency. There are a lot of ways to enjoy this dessert. It is often turned into a drink by adding syrup made from coconut sugar or by adding soy milk.

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Beat The Summer Heat!

Editor

5 Cool Drinks and Foods to Keep You Hydrated This Summer
Staying hydrated is always a great idea, especially now that the summer temperature is rising up. But how can you ensure that you stay hydrated this whole summer season if drinking at least eight cups of water daily is not your thing? Curious enough? Well, here are other ways on how you can get your hydration fix on this scorching hot summer season.

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  1. Flavoured Waters

Almost all of us know someone who can’t stand drinking water. It’s true that water can really get dull after some time, but you can now spice up the boring drink by adding some natural flavour in it like a zest of lemon, cucumber, mint leaves, lavender and cayenne. Not only will you stay hydrated with this drink, you’ll also get special health bonuses like drinking a glass full of vitamin C and antioxidants.

  1. Smoothie Bites

Another great way to get your hydration fix this summer is through making some smoothie bites. All you’ve got to do is blend you favourite fruits together, pour it into an ice cube tray, freeze them and pop them in your drink. For a refreshing smoothie bite start, try the fruity combo of pineapple, mango and coconut water.

  1. Green Juices

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If you haven’t tried a green juice yet, then it’s probably time to experience and see what the green juice hype is all about. For starters, try out the green juice made from apple, celery, kale, spinach and parsley then pair it with a bowl of raw almonds for that perfect afternoon snack.

  1. Oatmeal Bowls

Although it may not look like it, oats are actually hydrating. They tend to soak up the milk or water they’re cooked in, making them rich in water. But if you’re not into hot oats, try out a cold oatmeal bowl topped with berries and bananas for breakfast. All you’ve got to do is add some water to your uncooked oats and keep the in the fridge overnight. In the morning, top your cold oats with some freshly cut fruits and almond butter for a delicious and balanced breakfast meal.

  1. Summer Soup

Soup is definitely the last thing you’d want to eat during summer season, but wait until you’ve tasted some cold soup. We promise, it tastes a lot better than it sounds and is one of the ideal summer hydration alternatives. Two of the must-try cold summer soup are the creamy gazpacho or avocado soup. Up the nutrient and water content of your gazpacho soup by adding more veggies. If you’re all in for the avocado soup, just blend some scallions, avocado, cucumber, veggie broth, and presto – you now have a creamy avocado soup.

With these easy-to-do and cool alternatives for your hydration fix, you no longer have an excuse to fall behind on your 8-cups-8-ounce rule this summer. So start drinking up now and soak the summer heat with these tasty drinks.

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The Health Benefits of Beer  

Editor

Singapore comes to life at night. After work, we come together with our friends and talk about things. There is nothing wrong with coming together for booze but there are things that we need to know before indulging. The first thing that you should know is the Liquor Control Bill which forbids Singaporeans and visitors to consume alcohol beyond 10:30pm.

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The second thing that we should know is the benefits of drinking beer. Beer is not just an alcohol that releases happy hormones when we consume it. It also gives benefits only if we drink it moderately.

  • Helps fight dementia: We should know that a new study made by Chinese researchers revealed that beers can help fight dementia. According to researchers, hops (a plant used to make beer) releases chemicals that can protect the brain cells from dementia caused by stress. This chemical is named Xanthohumol. It fights damage which leads to degeneration of brain cells. Beers can also boost one’s memory.
  • Helps digestion: Beers can help digestion. In fact, thirty cl glass of beer contain one gram of soluble fibre. Fibre deficiency can lead to intestinal and gastric disorders like diarrhoea and constipation.

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  • Helps lower bad cholesterol: It was mentioned earlier that beers contain fibre. Aside from digestion, fibre can also held reduce the LDL cholesterol levels in our body. LDL cholesterol is commonly known as the “bad cholesterol”. We should be aware that beers can reduce the risk of heart attack compared to non-drinkers.
  • Helps increase vitamin B: Beer also contains vitamin B (like B1, B2, B6 and B12).
  • Helps with colds: Beer can help us deal with colds. If we have colds, drinking warm beer can be a remedy. This is because when barley is heated, it can improve the circulation of blood. Furthermore, it can also help with the congestion.
  • Helps deal with insomnia: Beers can help us deal with insomnia. For people who have troubles sleeping, beers can be an excellent solution. Beers contain nicotinic acid and lactoflavin which promote sleep.
  • Helps blood clotting: Beers can help with blood clotting. There are ingredients in beer that prevent the formation of blood clotting.
  • Helps reduce anxiety: There is no doubt that beers can combat anxiety and stress. This is according to the University of Montreal. Two glasses of beer a day can make a difference at the end of the day.

So, if you fancy a bottle, indulge but remember to drink it moderately and remember the new Bill.

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The Health Benefits of Bananas

Editor

Bananas are often underestimated or ignored because many people think that it is an ordinary fruit. Well, they should be taught differently. You should know that bananas contain nutrients needed by the body. There are Singaporeans who do not consider bananas because it will make them look like a monkey.

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You should not think that way. It is better to know the benefits of bananas so you can share it to your fellow Singaporeans. Before anything else, it is crucial that you know the nutritional contents of bananas. Bananas contain variety of vitamins as well as minerals like vitamin B6, manganese, potassium, folate, vitamin A, iron, magnesium, vitamin C and many others.

Now that you know the contents, it is required that you know the health benefits of bananas. Health benefits of bananas are:

  • Regulating blood pressure: Not all people know that bananas can regulate blood pressure. Bananas have low sodium content which is crucial in the lowering of blood pressure.
  • Managing asthma: Children who eat bananas have fewer chances of developing asthma. This is according to the Imperial College of London.

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  • Reducing the risk of cancer: You can actually reduce your risk of cancer by consuming bananas. Bananas are excellent source of vitamin C which is known to combat free radicals that can cause cancer.
  • Treating diarrhoea: Diarrhoea bouts can be solved with the help of bananas. Bananas can serve as your diarrhoea treatment because it will replenish and stabilize your potassium.
  • Boosting mood: According to studies, bananas contain tryptophan which is an amino acid. This amino acid is proven to boost your mood.

If you do not eat bananas often, it is time that you incorporate it in your diet and live healthy. Good luck!

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