Indian children love the Khomcha-Wallah. He wanders the streets, the busier the better, basket of goodies on his head and a cane stool under his arm. When he encounters a likely crowd he sets down his basket on the stool and starts to trade. The basket will contain the half-prepared ingredients of what is known in northern India as chaat - savoury snacks from traditional Hindu cuisine - which may be served in a banana leaf bowl.

One item might be Aloo Chaat which is fried, golden-brown potato cubes tossed with chilli powder, roasted cumin powder and chaat masala**.

Another, Dhai Baras which are split-pea patties. They will be already fried and softened in warm water. To complete the dish the Khomcha-Wallah may add beaten, creamy plain yoghurt with salt on top, and a choice of spice mixes. One mixture will be aromatic and probably contain roasted cumin, black pepper and dried mango powder, another will be hot a fiery with chillies, another sweet and sour like tamarind chutney.

Some Indian cities have become renowned for a certain sort of chaat - Jaipur for Paapri Chaat (similar to Dhai Baras but served with cubed potatoes chick peas) and Mumbai for Pau Bahji (spicy potato and vegetable curry served in a bun) but it is Delhi which is the chaat capital of India.

Some other chaats are:

Aloo Samosa - little pastry triangles filled with a spicy mixture of small diced potatoes and peas with chillies, chilli powder, fresh coriander, cumin and garam masala.

Keema Samosa - similar to above but including minced beef or lamb.

Aloo Tikki - mashed potato mixed with peas, cumin powder, corn flour, chilli powder and salt, formed into patties and fried until crisp and golden.

Tandoori Chicken Chaat - Tandoori chicken, shredded and mixed with diced green mango, onions, green chillies, coriander leaves and chaat masala**, dressed with lemon juice, oil and chilli powder.

**Chaat Masala is a spice mix made by combining the following ingredients.

• 4 tsp powdered dried mango
• 3 tsp cumin seeds, roasted and ground
• 3 tsp salt

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One of the great recreational activities is an exciting and fun-filled tailgating party. It’s more than just drinks at the back of an SUV or a truck; tailgating parties are a big hit at any sports event. This is where everyone gets together to celebrate the game, or maybe just for a get together where all of you can have fun, share stories and laughter.

But aside from that, no party is complete without food and drinks. Food is a very important part of tailgating. Make sure your food is in the Safe Zone. If you do not, end run will mean something completely different!

The most important thing to stress about tailgating is keeping the food at safe temperatures. That is below 40 degrees or above 140 degrees. This means ice and a food thermometer are two of your most important aspects of tailgating equipment.

Did you know that between the temperatures 40 degrees and 140 degrees, bacteria grow at the fastest rate? Therefore, the great thing to do is to make sure that you keep cooked meat to their proper temperature and you have kept cold foods under 40 degrees.

High protein foods, such as meat, eggs and milk products must be stored less than 40 degrees. Melons should be washed on the outside, cut up at home, and then stored under 40 degrees until serving. And, the food should never sit out more than two hours if you are taking “takeout” or fully cooked food to an outdoor event. In addition, make sure to keep insects especially flies to stay away from your foods.

Try to estimate how much food you’ll eat at the event. Taking home leftovers is not encouraged by experienced tailgaters. In the end, be prepared and plan.

You might want to consider some of these suggested recipes. They are just simply great and delicious, a perennial favourite of many experienced tailgaters.

For your main dish, grilled shrimp is easy to prepare.

Peel shrimp leaving tail section intact. Pour one small bottle of Italian dressing in an 8 1/2 x 11-inch pan. Place shrimp in pan. Sprinkle a splash of teriyaki sauce on each shrimp. Lightly sprinkle garlic salt across the entire pan. For extra zest, splash lemon on shrimp.

Chill in refrigerator for two - three hours to marinade, then grill for 10 minutes. Turn occasionally for browning effect. Do not overcook, as shrimp will get tough.

For you beverages, you could prepare summer time punch.

Mix 2 cups of water,

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Eating seafood is part of a healthy diet. Since we are living in a health and weight conscious society find foods that are high in beneficial proteins and low on saturated fats are quite important. The health benefits of seafood can be the lowering of cholesterol, lowering the risk of heart disease, lowering the risk of stroke, and building muscle.

It is easily apparent to see the effects of a high seafood diet when visiting a coastal community. In general these people live longer healthier lives. Fish and seafood with higher protein can prevent weight gain naturally, and it is easier to digest. It is a natural and easily obtainable food source in some areas making is a good alternative for red meat or poultry.

Omega 3

The essential oil in seafood is Omega 3; this can be found in fatty fish like tuna, salmon, and sardines. These have high levels of two kinds of Omega 3 fatty acids are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). It is recommended by physicians to have at least two portions in a week. They keep the heart healthy and help to prevent future cardiovascular disease and lower blood pressure. There is also evidence that fish can help prevent and possible alleviate some mood disorders, making it not only heart healthy but brain food too.

White fleshed fish, in particular, is lower in fat than any other source of animal protein, and oilier fish contain substantial quantities of omega 3s or the “good” fats in a diet plan. Fish does not contain the “bad” fats, omega 6 fatty acids, which are commonly found in red meat.

The high content of poly unsaturated fatty acids in seafood lowers serum cholesterol levels. Omega 3 fatty acids change the critical balance of certain blood components called lipoproteins, reducing low density lipoproteins and very low density lipoproteins that deposit cholesterol along the artery walls. Fish is low in saturated fat and provides the body with essential vitamins and minerals, such as, vitamins A, B, and D; zinc, iron, and selenium.

Dietary Advantages

Seafood can go a long way toward helping consumers achieve dietary goals. Most shellfish are low in fat, with a total composition of less the 5% fat; many varieties have less than 1% fat. Thus, with such a small amount of total fat, most seafood provides only 190 calories for a 3 ounce serving, cooked. But for a healthier choice, go for the poached, baked, or grilled fish, rather than fried. Fried fish is much higher in fat, especially if it is cook in a batter. This does not mean you can’t enjoy the occasional fish and chips; it is just healthier not to counteract the good oils with the bad.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Gourmet Seafood Market at http://www.gourmetseafoodmarket.com

[tags]seafood, seafood diets[/tags]

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