Many food enthusiasts asked about china grass which I used in making Low Calorie Chocolate Mousse. This gave me the idea to start a new food dictionary. In these blog posts, I would explain the new or uncommon ingredients which I would or I had used in making any dish. Here I start with the first ingredient.
Agar or agar agar is a gelatinous substance extracted from seaweeds like Ceylon moss. Because, gelatin is made from animal tissue, agar agar is used commonly as a vegetarian gelatin substitute for making soups, jellies, desserts, ice creams by vegans. According to Wikipedia, the word "agar" comes from the Malay word agar-agar (meaning jelly). It is one of the main ingredients of Japanese cuisine for making desserts.
Kanten, China grass, or Japanese isinglass are the other names of agar agar. Like ordinary gelatin, agar is flavorless. When dissolved in water, heated and then cooled, it becomes gelatinous. Its is full of protein along with number of minerals and gels more firmly than gelatin.
Agar's gelling power is weakened by acids and would breakdown when exposed to enzymes of raw fruits like kiwi, papaya, pineapple, peach, mango, guava, and fig. So, use canned fruits instead of fresh ones.
Food Ingredients Dictionary - China Grass
Low Calorie Chocolate Mousse For A Perfect Summer Dinner
Weekends are a great way to relax and to hangout with old friends. From the last many weekends I have been relaxing. So this weekend I chose to invite two of our friends, in fact my husband's. But over a period of time I have gelled with the husband and wife so well that it seems we have been friends from years. For a lovely couple like this, with whom I and my husband really love to spend our time, I had to take utmost care in preparing the food to their likes.
After lingering on a lot many dishes, I decided on the menu. Then started for the preparations. I checked on the ingredients. Most of them were there. What were not, I sent hubby dear to pick them from the market. Good music, engrossing chit chats and the warmth of old friends is the quintessential core of perfect entertaining on a superb weekend. And hence, finalizing the menu is not just the end of the worries for the host. Setting the table comes next with deciding on the cutlery, dinnerware and the decor.
Initially I was a bit skeptical about the dishes I chose. But the dinner was delightful, and the conversations we shared from movies to our daily woes over fresh was simply exceptional. I was glad that they enjoyed each of the dishes. It started with garlic vegetable soup followed by pesto pasta and baked garlic mushrooms. Ended with the drooling chocolate mousse. I preferred to make everything quick and light so that I have time to chat with them and not get tied in the kitchen.
Ingredients
4 cup skimmed milk
1½ cup water for china grass
10 grams unflavored china grass (chopped)
2 tbsp sweetener (sugar free)
3 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp low fat milk for cocoa powder
2 tsp coffee powder
2 tbsp warm water for coffee powder
2 tbsp low fat cream
Method
* In a pan combine china grass with water and cook on low heat till it is dissolved, stirring from time to time.
* Strain with a strainer and let it cool.
* Dissolve cocoa powder in 2 tbsp milk and coffee powder in 2 tbsp water, separately.
* Boil milk in a pan.
* Add the china grass mixture, sweetener, cocoa powder paste, coffee powder paste. Mix well and cook over a low flame for around 10 minutes, stirring continuously.
* Remove from heat and let it cool for few minutes.
* Add the cream and mix well.
* Pour the mixture into small cups or bowls.
* Chill them for 4 to 5 hours.
* Garnish with chocolate sprinkles. Serve chilled.
Fresh Fruit Muesli - A 5 Minute Breakfast
There are two infact three things which lead to this breakfast. Although its such an easy one and most of you must be already making this. Still I wanted to add it on my food blog for its simple nature. The first thing that led to this was a morning email from Food Bloggers Unite on How A Single Post Drew Over 20,000 Hits In One Day? The post was How To Make Butter In Under 5 Minutes ? I must say reading it was such an enlightening experience. Second thing was I needed to submit my favorite breakfast recipe for WYF: Breakfast Event. But being a lazy bone I wanted to make only one that could some up my both ideas.
Then late afternoon, when I was going through my daily dose of a science daily on food and nutrients, something caught my attention. A study was mentioned according to which, women who ate breakfast daily were less likely to be overweight although they took in more calories. The reason given was the whole day of work ahead which made them burn all the calories, avoided over eating and reduced snacking.
Early morning breakfast really plays a vital role in providing necessary nutrients to kick start the day. So even if you have loads of work or short of time, do not miss the breakfast. You can make some quick healthy breakfast. Fresh Fruit Muesli is just that. It can be made in less than 5 minutes and has loads of nutritional value. You can even get packaged muesli for making it, as it is easily available in the market. Its a loose mixture of rolled oats together with various pieces of dried fruit, nuts, and seeds.
Ingredients
1/2 cup quick rolled cooking oats
1/2 cup cornflakes
2 tbsp chopped mixed nuts (cashewnuts, walnuts, almonds)
1 tsp wheat bran
2 tsp chopped raisins
2 tsp castor sugar
1 cup soya milk (per person)
1 cup fresh assortment of fruits (chopped)
Method
* In a pan warm milk with sugar.
* Take a large bowl. Add all the fruits, oats, cornflakes wheat bran, nuts, raisins, fresh fruits and mix.
* Pour warm soy milk.
* Serve immediately.
Note: If you like it cold, then no need to warm the soy milk.
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