Its fun to cook in cast iron cook ware.

The modern day cooking has forced us to live a life of ease, especially with the type of cookware available in the market. Every kitchen will have at least 2 NON-STICK utensils . Frying an egg may be the first activity one learns besides preparing tea. The nonstick pan has become the most trusted companion for the starter. Although most of us know the ill effects of the materials used in the non stick pan we still use it. "ignorance is bliss", but then when there is an option to shift why the delay?

Cooking in cast iron utensils may not be practical for everyone, but once you know the benefits you will want to make a shift. There are some advantages of cooking in cast iron utensils which may surprise you. The first deterrent may be the weight , but then don't forget cast iron utensils are built to last and you will get your workout in the kitchen itself. 

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There are benefits of cooking in Cast iron frying pan, like it can be used on gas flame, induction cooker, direct firewood. This versatility makes it stand out from the other options in cookware. Some cast iron frying pans come pre-treated and some need to be pre-treated before use. Another wonderful feature of a cast iron frying pan is that after proper pre treating and constant use it functions like a non stick frying pan. There are many brands in the market to choose from. You can pick your first set of cast iron online . There is a combo offer of a skillet and a dutch oven which is too good to miss. the skillet can be used as a lid or you can cook using both the skillet and the dutch oven side by side.

 

Benefits of Cast Iron Utensils:

• They are rugged and can last for long duration, some get handed down to next generation.
• They are best suited for dishes that need to multi-cooking like open fire and then oven.
• They can be used as non-stick after pre-treating , some are sold as pre-treated.
• They are safer since there is no chemical coating as opposed to non-stick cook ware.
• They can be even used to bake.

What can be cooked in a Cast Iron Utensil:

The first set of cast iron cook ware you can pick to do most of your daily cooking would be a dutch oven and a skillet.  You can cook veg and non veg in it. If you have access to firewood cooking the smoky flavors will add a special taste to you dishes.

Cleaning the Cast Iron range of cookware is quite a ritual , but it is worth the trouble. You will save a lot on soap since you cannot wash and clean like your normal utensils.

School excursions and field trips help students

Come summer time and beaches in Goa get flooded with domestic tourists. It is also a time for some of the #goans who have relocated themselves elsewhere in India and abroad to make a trip to Goa. The benefit of such seasonal vacation also becomes a learning process for those who hunger for knowledge.

Goa has much to offer in terms of cultural heritage which a balanced mix of both ancient Goa and the Goa with a Portuguese flavour. Goa is looked upon as a platter of Church, Temples, Beaches, Feni and football. But if we really want to preserve all this for next generations , it is important that students get to see all of this in reality and not just in their text books.

A field trip gives a child a break from the routine of being confined to a desk. Field trips and excursions gives the students and the teachers an opportunity to bond with each other in an out of classroom environment. Students understand history better when they go on a heritage walk, use of modern technology at an industry helps a student to take interest in science.

In this competitive world the students become a part of the rat-race in the school itself. Getting higher grades and preparing for competitive entrance exams becomes a part of students career planning. In this scenario a excursion or field trip, a child gets an opportunity to be a part the real life experiences . It helps the child explore the real world and be prepared for the challenges.

A study tour at a Science centre, like the one at Miramar may help the students to observe and learn the subject better. But a #fieldtrip to a local T.V channel helps students to learn the various steps of broadcasting news, right from filming to editing and uploading. It is not surprising that many students discover their hidden talents and develop a liking to certain field after understanding the on job surrounding.

Many a times parents wish to plan a family trip that would double up as a fun trip and also be a learning experience. But at times it gets postponed due to various reasons like lack of time, no proper planning, finance etc. There are also certain places like factories that limit access to only school groups..

There are some institutions who have understood the need and importance of such educational trips and include them in their annual planner. The teachers who accompany the students at outings like this face a difficult task of handling students. But it also helps to create a bond with the students who understand their duty to remain disciplined.

Hats off to the Schools and Colleges who add such outings to students journey, as they get educated to face real life. There might be a few who believe in " discretion is the better part of valour".

Benefits of locally grown water melons

Water melon is a very refreshing fruit that has many health benefits. Water melons contain 92% water and due to this high water content it can help you to feel full without adding much calories. 

Although Goa gets fruits and vegetables from neighbouring states, many remain sceptical about them being injected with red dye or any other chemicals. The best option remains to buy directly from the farmer in Goa who grows in your own village.

Although most of the fields remain uncultivated, there are a few handful who still toil and grow paddy and other crops. Maybe we need to learn from the migrant lady who came to give her child a polio doze and saw water melons being sold in front of the village panchayat ghar.  That lady knew the difference of locally grown fruits and vegetables, and chose to buy one for her family.

There is no such organised market in our village, where local fruits and vegetables can be bought fresh after being harvested. But we can always spread the word and #supportlocalfarms and encourage those who help to bring chemical-free fruits and vegetables on our tables.

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Benefits of Sweet Potatoes, the starchy root vegetable

Sweet potatoes are grown all over the world and are loved for their sweetness. This starchy root vegetables has a variety of sizes and colors including orange, white, and purple . In Goa we see mostly the white variety and the orange ones. Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. The below bunch are the sourced out from the Organic garden of Martins Corner, thanks to Mrs Carafina for her generosity. Mrs. Carafina Pereira grows them herself and takes pride in growing her own food using organic means of enriching the soil.