Fried Okra in Yogurt -- one of the many ways you can use Okra

Fried Okra in Yogurt. What a delicious recipe for Okra! Check this recipe out on Vidya's kitchen site at vidyaswamyskitchen.com.

Would love to hear a comment after you test it out.

Off-the-charts Indian fast food joint in Naperville, Illinois

I had to make a trip to Naperville, IL from MO just to have some decent Indian food! My experience at Tandoor Hut was way better than just decent. It was a busy Saturday and we needed to have a meal and move on to other things. We ordered our food before we left home and were right on time at the restaurant.

I had the best Chole Bhatura ever. A tickle to every sensation. Perfect color, taste, aroma and definitely visually appealing as well. What else does one need? The combination of spices were absolutely perfect, good friendly people and fresh food added to the experience. The place is tiny; but clean and there are still tables to have a relaxing meal.

There's a whole list of things to pick from.  Unfortunately, I was in a rush or could have hung around to taste some other things.  Reservations already made for my next visit. 

I would give it five stars and rate it at a 5 out of 5.

What do the food labels say? Organic or genetically modified?

Companies hardly highlight any portion of the Food labels unless it is advantageous to them.  Now they might have to, mandatorily. At least in California -- 'Genetically Modified' labels need to stand out.
 
Behemoth companies almost mask their names on the organic food labels because they are afraid to reveal the name behind it. Only because of their otherwise bad association with all the modified ingredients they use in other foods. While they make sugared soda on the one hand, they also might be bottling pure coconut water. If we only knew all the names of such companies! Consumers who are especially fastidious about what goes into the foods they buy, will stay as far away as possible.

California is trying to make labeling food containers that have genetically modified ingredients, mandatory.  Lobbyists and the big names behind them are spending hundreds of thousands to block this initiative. This has scared some of the organic brands that are trying to distance themselves from the big named parent companies. One of the arguments against it is that the law should be a national one and not a one-state mandate.

What are the large names afraid of?  That their sales would go down or that the truth that almost every ingredient in the food products they sell is genetically modified?  What do these companies care about? 
Clearly, it's the money. The hope of many true organic brands is that the law will pass. Not sure if they have the money to fight those who oppose labeling. It will take a while for the results to come out. One would hope it does and spreads to other states as well. Why can't the U.S. follow Europe's example and as a country ban the use of any thing that is genetically modified?

Indo-chinese Noodles

Check out this noodle recipe.  I would like to call it an Indo-chinese recipe as there is a little indian twist in there.  But believe me they taste better than the restaurant bought one. You'll get the kick of the spices and the flavor of a good chinese restaurant preparation. The combination of the two make it a fusion recipe.

Does being 'too clean' lower our body's defence systems?

There may be an element of truth in that question.  There was a time when I hardly fell sick. No colds, fevers or any other aches or pains.  In fact, I don't remember visits with a doctor in my school days except for maybe one or two. I could drink water straight out of the tap and eat anything from the busy roadside food stalls. 

I can do none of these things now.  I need to take shots to travel, flu shots every season as my doctor recommends them, constantly wash my hands, drink only bottled water in a foreign land and can never risk eating just anywhere.  As a matter of fact, I avoid using public restrooms if I can help it because I wonder about the type of bacterias that breed there. 

I know one reason is paranoia and the other reason is my weak immune system.  Don't know if one feeds into the other.  Whether it is paranoia that has weakened the system, or if it is the not-so-strong an immune system that scares me from doing anything normal.  On the other hand, by being too careful I could have possibly lowered by body's own capacity to fight off the usual bacterias.

Not sure what is right anymore! 

Potato Cutlets - Baked

One of the most tasty and in this case healthy appetizers. Check out this delicious cutlet recipe and your guests won't feel guilty taking a second or maybe even a third helping.