Meatloaf Recipe

This is the best meatloaf recipe that I have seen after a long time. It is so simple but yummy enough to use as an Iftar recipe. I hope you will agree with me if you try this out. Now I will come on the point, here are the ingredients required for the meatloaf: http://blush.com.pk/category/food/

Half pound pork

One pound beef

Half cup of celery, chopped

3 spoons of green bell pepper

One cup of bread crumbs

Half cup of parsley, chopped

One spoon of dried basil

One egg

Salt

Black pepper

Six peppered bacon slices

Method

Preheat oven on 350 degrees.

Combine all the ingredients except bacon, in a large mixing bowl. Use your hands to mix the ingredients well. Mix it well, until all the ingredients are evenly distributed.

Streak a plate or baking sheet that has sides with foil and pour the meatloaf mixture onto the foil. Shape into a loaf and cover with the peppered bacon slices.

Bake for approximately 1 and half hours. You should cook your meatloaf to the internal temperature of 170 degrees.

You may choose to serve the meatloaf with just the bacon on top or you can use any sauce like mushroom sauce with the meatloaf.

Chicken Parmesan Recipe

Chicken parmesan is very delicious dish. Chicken parmesan is one of the most demanded dishes in restaurants of the India. One can make it quite easily by the given recipe, you must try this as an Iftar recipe. http://blush.com.pk/category/food/

Ingredients

four boneless chicken breasts,
one or two eggs
1/2 cup milk
seasoned bread crumbs
2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
8 slices mozzarella cheese,

1 jar spaghetti sauce
Parmesan cheese

Method

Beat the egg and milk together in a bowl with a spoon. Dip the chicken breasts in milk and egg mixture. After dipping in egg and milk mixture now dip it in bread crumbs.

Heat olive oil in a pan on medium-high heat. Brown the chicken in the hot oil on both sides until golden, about 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Now set chicken in a baking dish.

Slice 8 pieces of mozzarella cheese and put two on each chicken breast. Pour 1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce over all.

Now sprinkle some Parmesan cheese and a little more mozzarella, and then bake at 350° for about 30 minutes.

Serve with spaghetti, garlic bread and a nice green salad, in a well decorated way.

Beef Burger

Beef is easily available on very cheap rates all over the Pakistan. Burger can be made in a lot of ways. Beef burgers are very easy to prepare in a short time. You must try this in your home; surely you will enjoy beef burgers. Here is the complete method of preparing Beef burgers. http://blush.com.pk/category/food/

Ingredients

As much beef as much you want to prepare. For burgers for four people you will need half kg beef from store
Toppings of your choice (butter, cheese, bacon, burger buns, tomato ketchup, and lettuce) or anything else you love to have on your burger

Salt and pepper

Instructions
Mix the beef with your hands with the salt and pepper in a large bowl. Create burgers according to the size you want with the ground beef.
If you wish to stuff the burgers with anything as i like cheddar cheese. Make a well in the burgers with your fingers. Place the filling in the well and cover over with the ground beef you took out making the well.
Now cook under a grill. If you are using bacon then place that under the grill for 7 minutes. You can also cook in a pan, it’s up to you.

Beef burgers are ready; now serve with salad and cold drink.

Tip: you may wish to grease the grill with oil to make sure that the burgers do not stick.

Kuwaiti Chicken Mechbous

Rice dishes like Briyani are very popular in Arabian states. Kuwaiti chicken mechbous is also known as Kuwaiti briyani. For today’s Iftar recipe we selected Kuwaiti chicken mechbous. http://blush.com.pk/category/food/

Ingredients

Chicken
Salt
1 cinnamon stick
2 cardamom pods
2 or 3 whole cloves
5 black peppercorns
Flour
3 cups basmati rice
Onion-spice topping
yellow onions, finely chopped
vegetable oil
¼ cup golden raisins, soaked in water
ground cardamom
¼ tsp. dried black lime
ground black pepper
sugar
Tomato sauce (duqqus):
tomatoes, chopped
water
garlic, crushed
one spoon tomato paste 

Directions

1) Rinse chicken inside and out. Place in a stockpot with enough water to cover. Add cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, cloves, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, and continue to boil uncovered over medium heat for 35 minutes.

2) Drain fat off the top of the broth and strain broth to remove spices. Prepare three cups of basmati rice according to package directions, using broth from chicken instead of water. Add salt if necessary.

3) While rice is cooking, cook onions in a nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until clear. Sprinkle with a little water and stir quickly until onions are brown and the water has evaporated. Stir in oil, drain raisins, and spices. Cook for one minute. Remove mixture from skillet and set aside.

How to deal Stress

Stress caused depression and mania and it is getting the attention on mass level especially in the developing countries like Pakistan. There are many ways of dealing with stress and reducing it. One just has to find out the causes of stress. There can be both internal and external factors causing stress. If stress doesn’t reduces and comes repeatedly then chronic pain, anxiety, and tension disturbing health in Pakistan and lifestyle as well. Certain treatment and therapy can make you capable of anticipating and dealing with stress.

Dealing Stress

Learning the ability to recognize the causes of stress is very effective way to handle the stress. There are causes like facing difficult people, financial problems, noise, work load, or difficult situations. You can review your daily activities and analyze them to find the change in behavior. Sometimes, this is not as easy at seems because you are not able to find patterns of behavior and stress. In this case you can consult a doctor or therapist regarding your stress.

You may keep a journal to record the moments when you felt stress and it can be very helpful. Mood calendar has been very helpful to many people in studying their moods and stress patterns. These patterns show you the data that can be analyzed while dealing with stress. This data can be shared with doctor or healthcare provider so they can easily find the solution for you.

There are certain things in life that cannot be changed and you have to face them without knowing that they are coming. Most of the people panic or lose control over senses or stress level. These situations always come unexpected so you have to prepare yourself before they come to you. Find trusted people around you and try to share things with them. This is a very effective way to reduce stress level as they are helping you see things clearly and provide you the support. While going through stressed moments you have many ways to deal with it. You may have a little break in life; spending some time alone is also helpful. Some people meet their friends when they are stressed. Sometimes solutions are around you and you can’t see them. If you don’t feel comfortable at some place and feeling stressed, you may leave that place or postpone the encounter for a while.

Stress will not let you live a healthy lifestyle. Dealing with stress is an ability that can be developed easily and all you need is your intention. Mental and physical health can be maintained by adopting certain habits. Arrange your things, make your mind and define a healthy lifestyle that you are going to follow. Make your life comfortable and see change your perceptions so that you can live a happy and healthy life.

Tips for staying healthy in Ramazan

Did things go wrong for you during the last Ramazan? Most people face health problems because of changing eating habits. There is no doubt that we all love eating during ramazan at Sehri and Iftar recipes but one has to keep healthy eating habits to stay fit during this tough month. Here are three simple tips to stay fit during this ramazan.

-        Drink a lot of water to keep yourself from dehydration. Since you will be fasting and that means no water throughout the day. To keep your body water level at a healthy position, drink water in the night. The best practice is to add a little salt, lemon, or glucose to water so that it keeps your minerals balanced.

-        Go for a walk after dinner. Since you won’t be eating throughout the day and your first meal would be heavy, you will need to go out for a walk to let your stomach process the food rather easily.

-        Eat balanced diet, including fruits and vegetables throughout the month of ramazan to stay healthy and fit. 

Top energy drinks for the Ramazan

There are many things that change during the Ramazan, including food, sleep, and daily routine. However, one thing that changes the most is consumption of energy drinks, be it Sattu, Lemonade, or Roh Afza.

Here are top energy drinks for the Ramazan that will help you regain energy after the fast.

-        Lassi: Since this Ramazan in in mid of summer, everyone would want to have a glass of lassi at Sehr and Iftar. With its proven energy boosting and cooling capacities, it is definitely one of the best energy drinks for this Ramazan.

-        Lemonade: Lemonade or Shikanjabeen is one of the most refreshing drinks you can have during summer. With anti-oxidant abilities of lemon, this drink simply helps a refreshing Iftar. You can add some salt instead of sugar to make it even better for the body.

-        Sattu: Sattu drink is actually barely in water and sugar. This drink is a traditional Pakistani food drink with plenty of health benefits. It’s perfect for summer. Try it this Ramazan to enjoy a refreshing iftar.

-        Milk Shake: Milk shake is a perfect for year round consumption. With mangoes in the market, mango milk shake can be a perfect addition to Sehr and Iftar. You will not only provide your body with most of the necessary nutrients that you can get from a drink but you will also be giving it an instant boost of energy.

-        Slush: Who doesn’t like slush after dry mouth for an entire day. Slush, prepared with a little squash on top, is perfect for a refreshing Ramazan evening.

-        Rooh Afza etc: You can also try mix fruit drinks available in market with many different names. Hamdard’s Rooh Afza and Qarshi’s Jam-e-shireen are definitely the most popular ones. You can mix these fruit extracts in water along with sugar or just add them to a chilled glass of milk for a perfect Iftar time drink.

-        Milk with Soda: Add a bottle of your favorite Soda to milk and you will love it. It’s not only refreshing but at the same time its full filling. You will enjoy your iftar this Ramazan with an occasional milk with soda drink to replace your regular energy drinks.

There are number of other popular drinks in Pakistan that you can try this Ramazan. However, these were some of the most popular ones. Almost every home has a tradition of preparing at least one energy drink at Iftar. Make sure you cycle them so that you can consume most nutrients throughout this holy month of Ramazan and have a refreshing Iftar every day. 

Kunafa—A perfect addition to Ramazan recipes

Kunafa is a Palestinian dessert, liked by most of the Pakistanis, especially during ramazan. People enjoy it on Iftari. You can add Kanafa in your iftar recipes and as well as in your regular meals because of its rich taste. Here is the complete method to prepare Kanafa.

Ingredients

·        15 ounces shredded phyllo dough

·        15 ounces ricotta cheese

·        A cup of shredded mozzarella cheese

·        One third cup white sugar

·        12 ounces unsalted butter

For syrup:

·        1 cup white sugar

·        Half cup of water

·        One tea spoon lemon juice

·        Rose water ( up to your taste )

Instructions

       I.          Preheat your oven to 200 centigrade before starting to use it for this special ramazan recipe.

     II.          Chop the frozen shredded phyllodough; pour the finely chopped dough in a large bowl.

    III.          Mix mozzarella, white sugar and ricotta in another bowl for this ramazan recipe.

    IV.          Heat the butter in the oven until melted. Now let it cool a bit, thick white foam will appear on the top. Remove this foam with a spoon

     V.          Pour the butter in the bowl of dough. Mix it with hands and make it sure that the butter is absorbed.

    VI.          Spread the buttery phyllo in the pan. Now bake in the preheated oven for roughly 30 minutes.

  VII.          Get ready the syrup as the Kanafa is baking, combine water and white sugar in the pan and boil it on average heat. Add lemon juice and stir it continuously until the mixture is thickened. Now remove from heat.

VIII.          Now get the Kanafa from the oven. Get a large tray and invert the baking dish on the tray. Pour the syrup and cut it into pieces. Now serve it.

Enjoy Kunafa with your family this Ramazan. It is still a rare Iftar recipe as people are slow to adopt foreign recipes. However, people are now adopting to these Iftar recipes because they want to try something new, something that alien to them, and something that’s healthy at the same time.