Various food categories and associated terminology

Nowadays shopping is not only about buying the goods and paying the money, and you are done.

There are so many advertising things that often makes you confusing, but a good knowledge of such things can greatly influence our decision.

1. Organic or Bio: It indicates 95% of the ingredients used are natural or organic.
2. Ecocert: 95% of its ingredients are plant-based and at least 10% of all its ingredients by weight are organic.
3. Cereal: It is a grass which produces edible grains like maize (Makka in Hindi), wheat, rye, barley(जौ), oats (जई) etc. This grass is grown as the agricultural crop.
4. Jawar ka atta: White millet or sorghum
5. Eggs: free-range or cage-free; Pasteurized or non-pasteurized
6. Milk: Raw or Pasteurized(or UHT i.e. Pasteurized at ultra-high temperature, so even no need to refrigerate.UHT is for long shelf life ).Another thing associated with milk is fat percentage or skim milk. Homogenized or non-homogenized. Homogenized milk does not allow to form a cream layer at the top while boiling. A milk can be pasteurized and non-homogenized, homogenized but not pasteurized as well as pasteurized and homogenized. Pasteurization is followed by Homogenization. Again, homogenization increases the shelf life of the milk. 
7. cold pressed oils
8. Kochbutter Vs vorzugsbutter(i.e. cooked butter vs preferred butter): The fact that cooked butter is inferior to the preferred butter is negated by experts and retailers alike. The only difference is that with cooked butter up to 10 percent foreign cream and/or frozen butter can be processed. Preferred butter is always 100 percent Swiss cream.
9. Polished vs Unpolished rice
10. Polished vs unpolished lentils
11. Olive oil: It is so much in trend these days. Olive oil comes in various quality grades. Lower grade is "Virgin", which can be used for cooking and the highest grade is "Extra virgin" which is used for salads. Olive oil is perishable and has its shelf life of only 2-years after its harvest before opening. Olive oil, which has the label estate production is of higher quality because it should have been grown and milled on the form. There are certain geographical indications like DOP(protected designation of origin). Historically, the wines of France have been classified under the AOC or Appellation d'origine contrôlée system: Appellation of Controlled Origin, a classification created by the French government in the 1950s.In the 1960s, Italy created a similar system, modeled after the French: DOC or Denominazione d'origine controllata, Designation of Controlled Origin. In the 1990s, the European Union created a new, overarching system under the aegis of the Common Market Organization (CMO), designed to offer producers and consumers a uniform labeling protocol: Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).

Food containers and symbols

An intelligent consumer always take time to notice the various symbols on the product.

There are usually two types of symbols on the storage container:
1. safe use information
2. Recycling information

1. safe use information
i. Can the container be used for food storage? Cup and fork symbol
ii. is it microwave safe? squiggly waves symbol
iii. is it dishwasher safe? Dishes with water lines or drops i.e. water lines over the dishes show that intended for only top racks; while water drops over the glasses show that it can be used in both bottom or top rack.
iv. can it be used for strong the food in refrigerator? Snowflake symbol
v. Conventional oven safe: mitten sign

2. Recycling Information:

i. Plastics
ii. Glass
iii. Metals: Aluminum, steel
iv 

Home Science and housewives

I never wanted to be a housewife. Now, I wonder how wrong was my thinking. I used to think that a housewife just cleans and cooks, what is so significant about this. Yes, these jobs may seem very trivial, but have an huge impact on our lives, if understood properly. Currently, we are living in such complex and modern world, and surrounded with so many technical advancements. Microwaves, dishwashers, variety of cleaning supplies usually harmful chemical based, we need to be very vigilant and informed what are we serving on the table, as well as what are we using to clean the house.
Overtime, I have developed this thinking that every individual is a house wife or house husband. It should not dislike a house wife, rather I should appreciate the contribution made by informed individuals towards building a healthy society.I always associated home science with the subject intended for only house wives. As in many schools, it is an elective subject, and gave me the impression that one could do without the knowledge of this subject. But, in todays time, I always google the internet to find the things which are usually the core of Home Science.

What are the core components of Home Science?
1. Food, nutrition and cooking
2. Cleaning
3. Health and hygiene
4. Clothing and Textiles
5. Home furnishing and interior design
6.Housing
7.Home Management and consumer education: Budgeting

All about Laundry

1. detergent with odor resistant agents
2. detergent for white clothes
3. detergent for black clothes
4. fabric softner: to make clothes extra soft and easy to iron
5. fabric bleach
6. detergent for colored clothes
7. detergent for sensitive skin
8. detergent for all
9. detergent for baby clothes

All about food

Salads:

1. Lettuce
         
      i.) Romaine Lettuce: It can tolerate heat, so can be used in soups as well.
      ii.) Iceberg Lettuce: This is very heat-sensitive.
      iii) Oak Leaf

2. Desserts

1. Mousse(France): Foam: can be sweet or savory. Usually served chilled with an extra dollop of whipped cream and fruits.
2. Souffle(France): It is baked egg-based dish which puffed-top in nature.
3. Lava cake
4. Sponge cake: Black forest cake.
5. Blackcurrant cake
6. Tiramisu: coffee-based Italian dessert.
7. coffee: French Press coffee
8. Torte: multilayered cake
9. 
   

Cleaning my house

When I was in India, I never thought that cleaning could be such a big thing. Firstly, I used to live in my own house, so I never bothered about how much I need to pay when I have to move out of the house. But, once I have to live in rented apartments and that too in foreign lands like Canada and super clean Switzerland, cleaning kind of become a priority for me. There are so much variety of cleaning products and many brands and I often get confused or feel overwhelmed. So, here I am sharing my journey of learning about different types of cleaning products.

1. Floor cleaners and disinfectants
2. Bathtub/Shower/washbasin cleaner
3. Tiles cleaner
4. Window glass cleaner
5.  Shower glass cleaner
6. Oven/grill and gas top or kitchen counter cleaner
7. toilet cleaner
8. Suction pipe cleaning

Some products are environment-friendly, while others have so many chemicals in it.

1. Chlorine is a very common bleaching agent and has very strong fumes, so we should use a face mask or vinyl hand gloves while cleaning.

2. Ammonia is also a gas and heavily used in cleaning.

3. Borax is also used in multi-purpose cleaning.

Sorting the Waste: One important aspect of cleaning is to properly sort the waste into recyclable and landfill waste. Waste sorting is very important from the environmental cleaning and sustainability point of view. Most people, especially in developing or underdeveloped countries as a fancy thing, but it is the need and demand of today's time for securing the better environment for the future generations.

Plastic is everywhere, it is such a synthetic material that has not left any place unaffected. But, there are different types of plastics, and all plastics are not recyclable or reusable. It is very important to know the various types and uses of plastics to keep our families healthy. Because plastic is a very durable material and last for long, but all plastics are not meant for reuse. Out of ignorance, sometimes we make the poor choice and make the lives of ourselves and our families at risk. Some plastics are not biodegradable and need to be properly disposed of, to keep our environment safe.

For deciding the re-usability and/or recyclability, we need to see the packaging of the product. It can have seven different symbols of "chasing arrows" or Mobius loop with 1 to 7 numbers inside it.

1. PET(PETE): It is polyethylene terephthalate. This type of plastic is recyclable but not reusable i.e. it is intended for only one-time use. It does not contain BPA or phthalates if it is not temperature abused. Otherwise, some studies have shown traces of antimony (a toxic chemical) leaching out from the plastic to the water when kept in the heat for prolong duration.

2.HDPE: It is High-density polyethylene. This plastic can be recycled and is considered one of safest forms of plastics. It is a thermoplastic made from petroleum and can withstand somewhat high temperatures. This plastic is reusable and recyclable.

3.PVC: Polyvinyl Chloride. It is one of the toxic plastic and should be strictly avoided. It is soft and flexible because it uses phthalates, which are very harmful to the endocrine systems. This plastic is non-recyclable.

4.LDPE: Low-density polyethylene. It is considered less toxic than other plastics. It can be reused but not always recyclable.

5. PP: polypropylene. It is a thermoplastic polymer, it means that it is strong, tough, and has high resistance to heat and acts as a barrier to the moisture. Most PP plastics are microwave and dishwasher safe. This plastic is considered food safe. It is considered safe for reuse and less likely recyclable.

6.PS: Polystyrene. It should be avoided wherever possible as it is carcinogenic in nature. It can not be recyclable.

7.Others: PC(polycarbonate): This plastic usually contains BPA, which is very harmful to endocrine health. Polycarbonate gives a very durable, microwave safe plastic.

Bengali Bahu: Part 3 (Prayers and fasting)

West Bengal is worldwide famous for 'Durga Pooja'. Bengali ladies spend a considerable time in god-goddess prayers on a routine basis. There are few local folk tales about their fastings and prayers(pooja), which are kind of unheard in northern India.

There are few Shahsti's poojas in Bengal, which are kind of unheard in Northern India.

1. Neel Shahsti: Celebrated in the Chaitra month of Bengali Hindu calendar.
2. Ashok Shahsti:
3. Jamai Shahsti: Celebrated in the Jyeshtha month of Bengali Hindu calendar.
4. Durga Shahsti:

Goddess Shahsti is associated as the protector of children and its vehicle is 'Black Cat'. While in North India, Cat, in general, is considered as the vehicle of goddess Laxmi. And, on shashti, it is a fast of females and only niramish food is eaten without rice.

And, another vrat or pooja that is quite popular in Bengal is of goddess Mansa, which is associated as the goddess of serpents. And, Bengal is a kind of wetland, a coastal land and has rivers and lots of ponds so you can sight a serpent easily.

Vipodtarini Pooja: to protect in a family crisis.

Ranna Pooja

Thanda upas or fast:

Vishwakarma pooja: In north India, I have seen that the Vishwakarma pooja is performed after diwali, however in Bengal, Vishwakarma pooja is performed around Janmashtami.

Durga Pooja:

Every hindu bengali has nostolgia about durga pooja.

A global traveller: Bohemian

I love to travel. I always wonder what should traveling entail. There are different types of traveler. So, the following is a broad guideline to decide what to see when you are traveling.

1st Category
1. Architectures
2. Squares and Street
3. Vantage Points
4. Parks and Gardens
5. Churches/temples/religious places
6. Historical Monuments: Castles


2nd category:
i. Museums: If you love to know about history, then visit to a museum could surely interest you. There are many themed museums. You can not learn or know everything in a museum. But talk to the reception to get some leaflets to guide you to roam around and in the museum, so you know what do you want to explore in the museum. You would surely find something new there to explore. If you visit the museums with the kids, try to engage them in the activities like count or spot the specific objects or artifacts in the museums.


3rd Category:
i. Nightlife and clubs
ii. Food
iii. Music and clubs, stages

iv. Shopping
v. Events and Festivals

4th Category
i. Zoos and Animals
ii. Nature Parks

5th Category:
i. Rivers/Lakes/Ponds/ Sea beeches/waterfalls
ii. Mountains
iii. Glaciers
iv. Deserts
v. Jungles: Pine tree, Spruce tree, Fir tree, Larch tree, Cedar(Himalayan Ceder is Devdar).

6th Category:
i. Trekking/Hiking
ii. Watersports

There are broadly two types of travelers: Active and passive travelers.
Active travelers are those who immerse themselves in the architecture of the buildings and want to live the history of a place.
They love physical activities like trekking, hiking, rock climbing.
They breathe nature and capture moments through photography.
These travelers either watch all the documentaries or videos on the place before visiting it or after visiting the place.

While passive learners are those who just witness the place without indulging into the food delicacies of the place, just visiting the place without realizing its history or significance. They don't exert themselves through the activities.

Planning for Traveling:

1. See whether you need a visa for your travel destination.
2. If yes, fill the application form and submit the application fees.
3. Book the appointment for the visa interview.
4. Click the photo for the visa process.
5. Book the tickets.
6. See whether you need the visa for any layover country during travel.
7. See the weight and size dimensions of the luggage according to the airline specifications.
8. Buy the appropriate clothing like Jackets for winter, umbrellas or trench coat for the rainy season, shoes if it would snowy there.
9. Buy the toiletries in the travel appropriate size.
10. See whether you will be able to use the mobile phone in the destination country.

Traveling Shopping:

1. Cabin Luggage: It is very important to see the weight and dimensions of cabin luggage as every airline has slightly different dimensions for the overhead compartment. Like, recently I bought cabin luggage with hard outside shell, weighing 2.7 kg and size 57.5 cm. The usual dimensions are 56*36*23 cm =115cm or 45 linear inches = 22*14*9 inches

Travel Terminology:

1. Jetbridge

Experience:
Traveling is not about ticking the bucket list. It is all about the experience, a feeling and an expression of self. If we take traveling seriously and consciously, it is a great opportunity for self-discovery.
Recently, I got the opportunity to attend the event 'Pulotsav' i.e. a celebration of the work of Pu. La. Deshpande. He was the legendary Marathi author and artist.

All about EyeGlasses

I am both an explorer and a traveler. One of the most common accessories that I always carry with myself is Sun glasses.

There are few things that you should keep in mind while purchasing your sun glasses: 

1. Functionality: To protect from harmful UV-rays of run. 

2. Shape and Sizes (Small/Medium/large)

3. Style and Designs: Should match with the face cut of the person.

2. Shape: Sun glasses come in different shapes and sizes. 

The common shapes of sun glasses are:

i. Aviator

ii. Retro Square

iii. Sports

iv. Cat Eye

v. Round/Circular

vi. Rectangular

vii.Oval

viii. Butterfly

i.x Shield

x.WayFarer

xi ClubMaster

Size of the sun glass matter for the fir of the sun-glasses. In case of unisex sun glasses, it is only the size that differs.

Female sun glasses have more broad lenses and glossy accessories.

Food and Drinks

When you are in Europe, it is a good opportunity to taste different types of food or cuisines like Italian, French etc.

Italian Cuisine:

It is predominated by pizza and pasta.
Pasta comes in different shapes and sizes(like ribbon pasta). And it is usually distinguished by the type of sauces used like meat-based sauce like Bolognese or white/red/green sauce(like pesto sauce).

Drinks:

1. Alcoholic and Non-alcoholic: Wines are usually described as 'dry', it means it is an unsweetened wine.
2. Dessert Wines: as the name suggests are usually drunk with the meal or the desserts or as a replacement for dessert and are sweeter in nature. These wines have both high sugar and alcohol levels.
3. Fortified Wines: 
1. White fortified wines: Usually drunk before the meal.
2. Red Fortified wines: Usually drunk after the meal.

Coffee: When you are in Europe, coffee is a must drink. You will find so many accessories and techniques of coffee that will amaze you.

Coffee is made from the coffee beans. Coffee beans are produced in different regions of the world, so different in taste and texture.

Types of coffee:

1. Expresso
2. Cappuccio
3. Latte

Techniques for making coffee:

1. Pour over coffee using the coffee filter
2. stopover percolator
3. Expresso Machine
4. Coffee machines using capsules
5. French Press 

Buddha as a Neuro-scientist or motivation speaker

I am a science student with a curious research-focused mind. My spiritual inclination is toward Buddhism. I find it interesting to read and listen to the famous neuro-scientists. And, the more I listen to such latest updates in the Neuro-science and lectures of modern motivational speakers, I find so many correlations in the modern science and religion. Sometime, I wonder that initially we made the religion simplified so that people can follow it easily, but in the long-run it has become so over-simplified that we have lost the sight of its significance.

The main essence of Buddhism is Happiness. Many things make us happy: family, relations, health, money etc. We are also reminded every now and then that the our life is all about the decisions we make at each moment. We are often mistaken that we will be happy when we will have lots and lots of money. But I realize that this is not completely true. Money is just an illusion that it can make us happy. Buddhism shows us the light how can we make ourselves happy. It tells us about two types of happiness: relative and absolute happiness. Relative happiness is one which depends on this and that like if I got the promotion, I will be happy, a new car would make me happy and list is endless. And, absolute happiness is the state of happiness despite all good or bad. If there is all good, we don't get trap in the arrogance and if there are challenges, we have courage to take the right actions.

As much as I am researching on the religion, I am developing a better understanding of it. I am a very practical person, and used to believe that religion is something outside of us. Now, I realize that religion is an integral part of us. We often say that life does not come with a manual. I believe that the manual for life is 'Religion'.Religion touches upon all the aspects of living a healthy, happy life.

Our life is not ruled by few things or guidelines. There are many dimensions of our life:Personal, Physical, Spiritual, and so on. But, we are misled or distracted so much by the dogmas that we lost the real picture. And, this is true for everything and religion is not an exception.

In every religion, we have a place, call it temple, church, gurudwara or mosque, where like minded people gather and discuss. We burn candles or incenses or lamps. These things are symbolic and add to the better understanding. Light signifies hope, a message or an intention that we should be able to overcome our darkness and be able to see the real truth, the absolute truth.

Religion teaches us about the values that we should apply morally, in business and in every aspect of our life. We all follow the books of rules to direct our lives, the quality of our life depends on the quality of the directions shown in the book followed by us. This book could be a bible, guru grath sahib, Geeta, Ramayan or Quaran or 'The monk who sold his Ferrari' or 'The Alchemist'. I read in the book: 'The Monk who sold his Ferrari' that books are not read to acquire knowledge rather to discover ourselves. I believe that religion is like a mirror which helps us to introduce us to ourselves and guides us in growing in our life journey.

All the motivational speakers are selling the old wine in new bottles. What our religion has already told us, motivational speaker are repeating or decoding for us and the neuro-scientist are finding the scientific proof of that.

Bengali Bahu (Bengali Daughter-in-law)

When I got married in a bengali family, I used to wonder, have I come to a foreign land, which I, now, find it true.

In Bengali families, you are supposed to take off your shoes before entering the house, which I never saw in Punjabi families. And, the same Bengali rule is true for North American or European household, they do take off their shoes at the entrance of their houses.

I laughed a lot when I first learned of that Bengali's carry a separate bed and cover sheets for the train journeys as well as for hotel stays. And, I was equally amazed to know that typical Swiss people do prefer to make their own beds in the hotels.

As I mentioned in my earlier post-Bengali Bride: Part 2, Bengalis have course based meal system, which in part seems to inspire from the European cuisine.

Bengalis have the love for nature, therefore in everyBengali'ss rooftop or in the balcony, you can find a tub of flowers and vegetables, and in their backyard or front yard, you could easily locate a mango or beetle nut or coconut tree. Same is true for Europeans.

Bengali's are also quite sustainable. They always throw the vegetable peels in their garden at the roots of the tree for decomposition. And, in Switzerland, every household or apartment building has a separate small bin for the wet, green waste like vegetable peels.

Bengalis also love to travel a lot. They are very curious and want to know each and everything. That is why Bengalis are great travel and a huge amount of their saving for traveling. Same is true for the westerners.

As I mentioned earlier that Bengali's are curious to know each and everything. Therefore, they love to read a lot. It is a common site to find a closet or a corner decorated with books related to literature. And, I have also observed that people in the west do love to read a lot.

Like westerner people, Bengalis do have a soft feeling for their art and culture. It is a common custom that Bengalis put a lot of emphasis on extra-curricular activities. Poor or rich alike, they try to put their kids into a dance, drama/theater, singing, music or drawing school.

Bengalis are also very stereotyped. Like, they have a special liking for heathy, long-hair girls.

Bengali Bride: Part 2

When I got married in a Bengali family, I used to wonder, have I come to a foreign land, which I, now, find it true.

In Bengali families, you are supposed to take off your shoes before entering the house, which I never saw in Punjabi families. And, the same Bengali rule is true for North American or European household, they do take off their shoes at the entrance of their houses.

I laughed a lot when I first learned of that Bengali's carry a separate bed and cover sheets for the train journeys as well as for hotel stays. And, I was equally amazed to know that typical Swiss people do prefer to make their own beds in the hotels.

As I mentioned in my earlier post-Bengali Bride: Part 2, Bengalis have course based meal system, which in part seems to inspire from the European cuisine.

Bengalis have the love for nature, therefore in everyBengali'ss rooftop or in the balcony, you can find a tub of flowers and vegetables, and in their backyard or front yard, you could easily locate a mango or beetle nut or coconut tree. Same is true for Europeans.

Bengali's are also quite sustainable. They always throw the vegetable peels in their garden at the roots of the tree for decomposition. And, in Switzerland, every household or apartment building has a separate small bin for the wet, green waste like vegetable peels.

Bengalis also love to travel a lot. They are very curious and want to know each and everything. That is why Bengalis are great travel and a huge amount of their saving for traveling. Same is true for the westerners.

As I mentioned earlier that Bengali's are curious to know each and everything. Therefore, they love to read a lot. It is a common site to find a closet or a corner decorated with books related to literature. And, I have also observed that people in the west do love to read a lot.

Like westerner people, Bengalis do have a soft feeling for their art and culture. It is a common custom that Bengalis put a lot of emphasis on extra-curricular activities. Poor or rich alike, they try to put their kids into a dance, drama/theater, singing, music or drawing school.

Bengalis are also very stereotyped. Like, they have a special liking for healthy, long-hair girls.