Santa to gift you the box of joy

Hi friends I wish you all a merry Christmas  let Santa grant you health wealth happiness . I am here to share something about chocolates the favorite of most people . It of different varieties , originated as royal drink,  now chocolates which are sweet are symbol of love and joy but they contribute to good heath too. But when the question of  health arises always remember the "bitter the better "health of chocolates  depends on the flavanols present in cocoa powder theobromine the poly phenol has beneficial effects  because of nothing but anti oxidants present in them. Dark chocolates according to research contributes to health so keep in mind the joyful chocolates can make you heather too . Please do have a watch on the amount of chocolates you consume every day as they contribute to calories . Further dark chocolate prevent blood platelets from clumping together and increase blood vessel flexibility . 3.5 ounce of dark chocolate is recommended per day

 My  favorite dark chocolate  my way at home
6 table spoon of cocoa powder
3 table spoon of honey
1 spoon of milk powder
4 table spoon of coconut or olive oil stir the mixture cook in low flame for 6 minutes . Wait to become warm and make balls and leave in freezer for 1 hour and you can enjoy the dark chocolate
There you go the home made dark chocolate

For food engineering students

Chocolate are of different variety

 Milk chocolates

cocoa butter , sugar , soy lecithin 

 Dark chocolate
 cocoa powder chiefly present milk solids are not present  further classified as  semi sweet and bitter sweet chocolate  based on cocoa powder content .


An image showing all the four varaities of chocolates known

Processing :`

Step 1   

 Cocoa beans are cleaned
Step 2

Roasting of cocoa beans is done to develop desired flavor , 20 to 25 mins roasting at a temperature of 250°c to 350°c  

Step 3

Winnowing is done to remove the shell and the nib - the part which is sent for further processing is separated

Step 4

Grinding

Beans are ground and sugar is added and finely ground   for 90 hours to 90 micron size which forms cocoa liquor  and desired consistency is obtained .
Step 5
Couching
Couching process involves exposing chocolate liquor to air to drive away the volatile and get the desired final product's flavor and texture.
Step 6
Tempering
It is done by tempering machine where  melted chocolate is heated to 110°F to 117°F  further cooled to 90°F where seedling  or small pieces of chocolate are added to get the uniform size of particles in the final chocolate and to give the shiny finish to mouth melting chocolate.
Step 7

Molded by pouring to trays and left for freezing in freezer where it is solidified.

 Vedio showing processing

 This is how the hersley's do 

Honey and Turmeric- the golden truth of decades 😊replenish the tradition

Honey the sweet fluid produced from honey bees derived from nectar in the flowers is 2500 years old its a reservoir of energy and because of its low ph its resistant to microrganisms so it prevents harmful  bacteria and viruses which leads to various diseases 

Honey ensures relief from cold and flu in children ,  its makes our digestive and respiratory system healthier . Helps prevent food poisoning due to Ecoli . Its one such natural food loaded with vitamins, minerals and enzymes helpful in boosting immunity . After the disaster of floods comes the fight against diseases   honey  and its antibotic properties will help to a great extent to prevent diseases and stay safe and healthy. The flavenoids and phenolic content in honey accounts for its benificial antioxidant property.  Honey helps in wound healing and  as a skin disinfectant and as a stimulant for immune system .  Honey is not recommended for infants because of clostridium which  can  cause boutilism;

Please ensure to use honey in your  preperations where ever possible  but keep in mind the quantity one spoon of honey per person  every day will ensure the benifits above mentioned .

Another ingridient is right in your kitchen but has great list of benifits  more then one can ever think of its none other than turmeric powder curcumin present in turmeric makes it the best spice for health it also plays a vital role to enhance defence system of human body with anti inflammatory and strong anti oxidants properties
It reduces arthritis  problems prevents and slows down Alzimer disase and fights disease due to free radicals and improves liver funtion and digestion , helps shrink LDL cholestrol  levels and acts as a antidepressant as well . Add a pinch of turmeric to foods when ever possible . One quick idea add honey and turmeric to your glass of warm milk after dinner . Be sure not to add honey to hot milk  stay healthy safe and informed😊

For food processing students
Processing of honey

 STEP 1 uncapping of honey combs
STEP 2 Extracting honey from the combs
STEP 3 The honey is poured into tanks and heated @ 120°F and held at this temperature for 24 hours to melt out the crystals
STEP 4 honey is flash heated @165°F and filtered
STEP 5 cooled down again to 120°F
STEP 6 Strained to remove impurities
STEP 7 Pumped into jars and bottles and sealed

Processing of  turmeric powder
Fresh turmeric is cured to obtain dry turmeric
STEP 1 boiling the rhizomes to make them soft for 45 to 60 monutes because it affects colour of final product and aroma .
STEP 2 water is drained
STEP 3 artificial drying by cross flow hot air dryers
STEP  4 polishing done by mechanical drums due to abrasion of walls
STEP 5 this is done to enhance colour of product where rhizome is sprinked with water and ground paste of turmeric
STEP 6 grinding with different mills and swifting with mesh , packaged and sold

 

Vedio section 

Roses - the pink of love helps you stay at the pink of your health

Roses are flowers rich in carotene vitamin-C and K has numerous health benifits rose petals  when mixed with honey  and left under sunlight for 3 to 5 days . We get a tasty and healthy gulkand . Roses soothen the nervous system helps relieve  stress.
It helps detoxify the body giving a cooling effect and has anti ageing  effect on the skin giving it natural glow.
Gulkand or  rose petals preperation  is rich in antioxidants & serves as energy booster .
It helps prevent anaemia  and keep body's  metabolism  healthy and fit . It helps rejenuating the body.
It helps prevent acidity.
It serves as blood purifier and good for eyesight and acts as a memory  enhancer

Home made preperation
100 grams of rose petal
5 spoons of honey
Mix well keep under sunlight in a tight jar for 3 to 5  days see that you stir the mixture every alternative day when you leave it under the sun. Than you  you can store it and  consume 10 to 12 grams everyday to get the above mentioned health benifits .
  Food processing section :
The improvised version of Gulkand is known as rose petal jelly and its processing is discussed here

Step - 1  roses are plucked
Step - 2 petals are seperated washed & dried
Step - 3 sorted where small petals are removed
Step - 4 petals are cooked in  hot water to soften the petals
Step - 5 sugar is added and cooking is continued until desired consistency
Step - 6 jelly is fed into bottles
Step -7 bottles are sterlized & labelled

 

Video  section

Sesame Oil

Sesame oil  - நல்ல எண்ணெய்  as rightly referred by in  தமிழ்  is one of the oldest  oil  known to mankind  is a nutritive oil with loads of nutrients and antioxidants like vitamin E so this oil is highly resistant to oxidative deterioration .

sesamolin , sesamin and the PUFA present in the oil helps  lower cholesterol level. Compounds including phytate and magnesium helps prevent diseases caused by free radicals.

Copper and zinc helps in production of RBC  and known to improve blood circulation , magnesium in sesame oil reduces blood pressure and sesamin in the oil helps improve liver function .

Zinc  present in the oil gives skin elasticity and slows down skin ageing and acne . Zinc , calcium and copper  the major minerals found in the oil  helps to improve bone health .

The oil is rich in essential ammio acids and protein .  Til oil also  prevents skin damage due to UV radiations . Tyrosine an amino acid in the oil helps improve blood circulation and gives a relaxed feeling.

see that you dont prefer oils which are highly refined because during refining the oil tends to lose the essential nurtients.

 For food engineering  students

major processing steps

Dehulling: removal of seed coat  is dehulling  involves soaking of seeds in water and removing hulls or by alkali treatment by using 0.6% NOAH for one minute

Roasting :  It is generally done to impart desired colour and flavour to  the oil

Extraction : it is done by hydraulic press or screw press

Refining : sesame oil does not require excessive refining ,  purification by settling , screening and filtering is all that is needed. degumming is also not needed as natural phospholipids are less in sesame oil.

  Next there will be posts on chocolates and raisins as Diwali is nearing . One more interesting post on processing of  roses  as well  will be added very soon . stay happy, healthy and informed as well.


video  section

Tender coconut water

Reader's section 

Today we are going to know more about the"dews from heaven" as referred by Hawaiians  nothing but இலநீர் / नारियल  पानी  /tender coconut water  - The most nutritious nature's drink  known to mankind.

It is a natural isotonic beverage with same electrolytic balance as in human blood, it contains array of vitamins and minerals including Vitamin B , Vitamin C, potassium , sodium , calcium ,iron and copper with sugars and proteins serves as great energy drink to boost energy level (mineral composition is equivalent to that found in orange juice) for athletes to normal people.Proteins found in tender coconut water is greater than that found in cow's milk, 

Growth hormones  Cytokinins and auxins  naturally present in tender coconut water  help in growth and regeneration of cells and are anti ageing and anti carcinogenic in nature.  It contains bio active components helpful for digestion and metabolism.

High potassium  content  in tender coconut water  proves  great to maintain cardiovascular health  and help to increase HDL or  good cholesterol, it also contains vitamin C which is an antioxidant.

researches prove that tender coconut water prevents kidney stones . 

It hydrates human body and help as oral rehydration solution (ORS) during dehydration conditions , helps remove toxins from the body, act as skin moisturiser and prevents sun tan

During pregnancy tender coconut water helps prevent acidity or burning sensation which is common in pregnant woman, act as prevention against infections, help increase level of amniotic fluid , help in boosting immunity in mother and baby, growth hormones in tender coconut water contribute to growth of foetus and good health of the mother and can be consumed  early in the morning .    

for food engineering students 

 steps involved in processing of tender coconut water 

step 1 : Receiving and storage of  tender coconut

step 2 : Preliminary washing with portable water

step 3 : Sanitizing with chlorinated water for 15 mins i.e 300 ppm in 5% chlorine bleach

step 4 : Storage in clean environment air drying off the ground

step 5 : Cutting of coconut 

step 6 :Filtering of water using sanitized silk screen or cheese cloth 

step 7 : Collection of coconut water in sanitized container at (4° C)

step 8 :Transfer to cooling tank (4°C) 

step 9 :  Rapid filling in bottles  and labelling

step 10 : Storage of  TCW bottles at 4° C
step 11 :Loading of ice cubes over the bottles in the freezer

Minimal  processing
    

Kerala agriculture university  has developed minimal processing technique for tender coconut by dipping de husked tender coconut in a solution of 0.50% citric acid and 0.50 % of potassium meta bisuphate  for 3 minutes  and stored at 5°c to 7°c for 24 days  or more for long distance transport.

Mysore defence food research laboratory  in collaboration  with coconut  development  board  developed aluminium cans and pouches for packaging of tender coconut water

video section : food factory lovers the processing is explained in  9 minutes the explanation is in malayalam  but it is self explanatory 

Almonds

Vedio section  for  food factory vedio lovers

 READERS SECTION

The  vitamin E ( alpha tocopherol) present in the nut along with flavenoids present in the skin  of the almonds act as great antioxidant(vitamin c vitamin E etc).popularly known as free radical scavengers

 The antioxidants are those components which act against free radicals which are major reason for oxidative damage to cells and main reason for cause of many diseases.

The monounsaturated  fatty acids in  almonds help to increase HDL or good cholestrol and lower LDL or bad cholestrol
Almonds contains essential fatty acids like linoleic acid and linolenic acid proteins which promote healthy skin and hair.

Almonds contain folic acid which stimulates heathy cell growth & tissue formation   and highly recommeded to pregnent woman and help in devolopment of brain and neural pathways in the fetus.

DHA contained in almonds amount to higher intellectual  levels in school going students .
Almonds act as energy boost as they contain calclum, megnesium ,phosphorus,  iron,zinc and copper they help to provide energy along with healthy bones and teeth.

Fibres in almonds help to  improve digestive health, almonds  contain Arginine an amino acid which is converted to nitric oxide in the body which helps blood vessels to be elastic and improve heart health as well.

Riboflavin  present in almonds help in production of RBC and metabolisation of protiens , fats and carbohydrates in the body.
Almonds also help to reduce blood glucose levels and maintain heathy cholestrol levels and studies have proven that almonds a handful taken on regular basis  everyday would help in effective weight management . Hope the post  is benificial  and informative.

This part is for food tech graduates and students persuing food engineering basic processing steps  and product variety will be discussed

processing of almonds