Fenugreek seed has a maple syrup scent, and is a significant home remedy for a variety of conditions. It is an excellent fighter against insulin resistance and has been proven to increase mother’s milk and produce uterine contractions when taken in sufficient quantity (So don't take it when pregnant!). It is helpful for reducing fever when taken in hot water with lemon and honey. The seeds may be ground and made into paste with some water and then spread on a boil or rash (covered with a we...
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Black mustard seed, unlike the yellow seed, is red-brownish, almost black. Its pods are black also and contain up to 12 seeds. These are round and rigid, varying in color, from dark coffee-colored to black. Black mustard seeds have a strong pungent taste and are the only mustard seeds used in Indian cooking. Almost always the seeds are fried in a little oil until they “pop” and then the rest of the spices or aromatics are added to the same oil to continue cooking. This technique is found ...
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Herbs and spices aren’t just tasty, they can be called nature’s pharmacy. Having long been interested in the healing properties of foods (I once seriously considered a career in this area), and have done some studying my whole life—from the time herbal medicine was the realm of “kooks” and now that is is mainstream multi-billion dollar business.
MINT is one of the most well-known herbs, having flavored commercial products like ice cream, candy and tea for several generations. It is f...
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Bebeji Jagdish Kaur, my mother-in-law and mentor, epitomized for me the Punjabi spirit! Believe it or not, I felt that I knew her even before we had met because I felt the love and care she poured into her work. I saw it in the embroidery! Hardworking, dominant, and fun-loving, she embodied the creative talent Punjabi women use through the work of their hands.
She had sent me, not only a diaphanous, delicately embroidered shawl called a phulkari (flower work), but also a precious bagh (garden ...
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