Appetite for life...

During the early 1850s, a New York chef faced a very fussy customer who complained that the served fried potatoes were too thick and soggy. The chef was infuriated by the unsatisfied customer and just to annoy the customer, he sliced the potato so thin that it cannot be eaten with a fork. Then he pan fried it and made it extra crispy. However, for the chefs surprise, the customer did not get annoyed. He loved it and so did everyone else who came to the eatery! It was later included as an item on their menu of the restaurant.

photo - http://www.healingwithnutrition.com/cdisease/cardiovascular/highbloodpressure.html

The buffet tables of the resorts of Maldives are piled high with exotic juicy lobsters, barracudas, lush green salads and luscious fruits. Looking beyond this, what’s for dinner for the natives of the small islands?

The sad truth is, a great percentage of Maldivians are underfed and suffering from malnutrition. A recent UNICEF survey shows that with a quarter of children under 5 suffering from stunted growth, the Maldives has one of the worst malnutrition rates in South Asia! (http://www.unicef.org/emerg/disasterinasia/index_30057.html)

Should a nutritious meal cost u a lot? The price of fruits and vegetables in our markets are ridiculously high and therefore depriving us from taking a well balanced meal. In the islands the situation is worse. Small children are living on mere fish and rice where a vegetable curry is considered a luxury dish. Dietary guidelines recommend at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. However for us, Maldivians, this remains an impossible.

The current hunger strike organised my Islamic democratic party is doing a good job bringing the issue to the government attention. High food costs can only lead to an underfed nation with various health issues. Nutrition should not be a privilege; it’s a necessity and a right of every human being.

The irony in this issue is that the government continues to claim that they are serious about the malnutrition issue in the Maldives with various infomercials on state run Tele persuading the public to eat more fruits and vegetables, while charging huge amount of custom duties on the imports on fruits and vegetables. In my opinion, if the government is committed on this issue they need to reduce the import duties on fruits, vegetables and other healthy food items so that people can afford to buy them. Charging MRF5 for an orange or MRF40 per kilo of Cabbage is ridiculous. Moreover, the government should actively seek ways of bringing down the prices supporting the importers, subsidising or even bringing them through government controlled institutions such as STO.

Malnutrition is certainly an issue which should not be overlooked if Maldives is to develop healthy and productive individuals for the future. The responsibility does not only rest on the government but also on parents and the public, in general, to ensure a healthy and a happy future for Maldives.

Labels: article by hamdhun and fathun, photo- DO

Most Maldivians start drooling at the very thought of a spicy, red hot chilli. We all love eating hot meals to the extent we start hearing the beating of a loud drum at our ears. The burning sensation when we eat chilli is, because of a chemical, capsaicin, present in it. This chemical acts on the pain receptors of our tongue. Chilli is one of the most loved vegetable used in our households.

Choosing the right size, shape and flavour..

- In the case of chillies....the smaller, the hotter.
- If you would like to reduce the heat of the chilli, remove the veins of it. This is where most of the hot flavour lies.
- If you are thinking of grilling, make sure you get a red/yellow or green capsicum, chop into pieces and fork it into the skewer along with the chicken.
- The big red/ yellow or green capsicums are look and taste great in salads.
- In the grocery shop look for the ones with firm skin and vibrant colours.

How to keep it fresh

- Store in the crisper of the refrigerator in an air tight container.
- Once it is sliced or cut, it looses the moisture, so store as whole. If you have a half used chilli, store in an airtight container in plastic wrap before putting in the fridge.

What would u do if u have too many chillies and need to preserve it?

Option 1 - Freeze it. When you need to use it in your cooking, just chop it when it is still cold and put in your curries, stir-fry etc. Frozen chilli does not taste pleasant in salads.

Option 2 - Chop it up and fry it and store in a container and use in your dishes when u need them.

WARNING- Wash hands thoroughly after handling chillies, especially if you need to use the bathroom right afterwards.

Beef- basil, coriander, cumin, thyme and curry leaves.

Lamb – basil, coriander, cumin, thyme, rosemary

Chicken – basil, bay leaf, coriander, cumin , dill, sage, rosemary, tarragon and curry leaves.

Egg – chives, parsley, basil, coriander, cumin.

Rice- basil, coriander, parsley.

Noodles – basil, coriander.

Salads- dill, chives, rockets.

• When grilling any meat or chicken, i always like to throw in a twig of a woody herb, such as rosemary, thyme etc.

• Always add fresh herbs during the last minute of the cooking.

• Do not use too many herbs in one dish. It is safe to use maximum, 1 or 2 herbs in a single dish.
  

Is the way to a man’s heart really through his stomach or is the saying outdated? There are so many questions attached to this saying. What if the guy already knows how to cook? What happens when the guy is on a full stomach? What if the guy is on a diet?

In the ancient times, when a woman’s work was narrowed down to just household work, efficiency in the kitchen was a must. It was the only way to impress her man. Not being able to put together a decent meal would be a shame for the woman. This must have been how the saying originated.

In the modern day, a woman’s life does not revolve around her ability to whip up a decent meal. She needs to be educated, well dressed, a bread winner etc in order to win her man. The modern guy has become very demanding!! Just a good meal cannot satisfy them and they tend to appreciate the good home cooked meals less. Sadly, more often than not the home cooked meals sit on the table and gets cold as men eat out in their favourite cafes and bistros. A great meal on the table doesn’t seem too impressive for the contemporary man.

However, the old saying has evolved with time. I have news for all you guys out there. The world has changed and i believe its time for this saying to be modified...now, the way to a woman’s heart is through her stomach...the 21^st century girl loves a guy who can cook... it impress us like hell! The thought of a guy getting his hands dirty in the kitchen, making the perfectly juicy pasta......definitly sounds yummy!

All men out there, if you intend to make an impression, i suggest you waste no more time. Pick up those pots and pans and hurry into the kitchen! The table has turned...

• If you forget the spaghetti or noodles on the stove and if it overcooks, quickly remove the pot from the stove and pass cold water through it for a minute or two. This prevents further cooking and may save your day.

• If you need to use the oven, make sure you switch on the oven and set to the required temperature 10 minutes before putting the item inside the oven.

• Store any kind of leaves in the crisper of the refrigerator (the drawer in the lower compartment) This helps the greens to maintain its fresh crispy nature.

• Do not store raw food and cooked items together. Do not let them come in contact with eachother.

I tsp coriander powder (Dhivehi name - kothambiri)
1tsp cumin powder (Dhivehi name – dhiri)
1tsp garlic, crushed
1tsp ginger, crushed
1tsp curry powder
7 tsp coconut cream / thick coconut milk)
1/3 cup soya sauce
pinch of turmeric
½ tsp sugar
2 medium sized chicken breasts
1 red capsicum
1 onion

Cut the chicken into small, 1 inch cubes.
Mix all the ingredients, except the onion and capsicum in a plastic container. Mix in the chicken and leave in the fridge for 2 hrs to let the chicken soak in the flavour.
Dice the capsicum and onion into big chunks.
After 2 hrs, remove the chicken and fork a piece of chicken, capsicum and onion and continue this pattern on a skewer.
Arrange the skewers on an oiled tray and put in the grill/oven at 180 degree Celsius for 15-20 minutes. (time depends on your oven, so keep the chicken in till the sides become brown.)

Peanut sauce

1 tsp peanut butter from the jar.
3 tsp chilli sauce
½ tsp pepper
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp garlic
pinch of coriander
pinch of cumin
6 tsp thick coconut milk
1tsp soya sauce
4 tsp lemon juice

Mix all ingredients together.
If required, adjust the consistency of the sauce with additional lemon juice.

Serve chicken with peanut sauce drizzled on top, with plain or fried rice.