Oats recipes for breakfast - in Pakistan

Oats are fiber-rich and among the healthiest grains that contain antioxidants, vitamins as well as minerals like iron and zinc. Here are some more insights about oats....   

Health & well-being

Oats improve immune system i.e. body is able to fight against bacterial and viral infections. Having oats in breakfast at least 3-4 times a week help maintaining over all well-being. Studies are being carried out that oats may help fight against developing cancer. Cancer is basically unusual growth and when the body is functioning well with enriched food, the cancer would not develop. Oats are also being studied to have a relaxed feeling in asthma patients. Oats contain those types of antioxidants that are anti-inflammatory and anti-itch. Eczema patients must consume oats along with other precautions and healthy food.

Fitness

If you care about your health and looking for the options to stay healthy, including oats in your diet is better than merely a healthy choice. I do not understand why only sick people consider consuming oats. Oats are healthy for those as well who seem healthy. Focus your health first instead of taste and chatkhara and have oats in breakfast.     

Heart health & obesity
Oats lower cholesterol levels and help treating heart diseases. High blood pressure patients also consume oats for a better feel. Consuming oats lowers blood sugar so these are good for diabetic patients as well. As sugar feeds cancer cells, so lowering sugar might help prevent cancer. Those willing to fight with obesity consider having oats as these make a person feel full with little amount and for longer time.    

Kids

It is almost impossible to get children to finish their meals especially breakfast before school. Considering health benefits of oats and the fact that they can be consumed in variety of ways and flavors, these are perfect in breakfast. Oats are known to relieve constipation symptoms so kids / adults with constipation issues should consume oats. Those kids who have gluten allergies, oats are good substitute as these are gluten free.

How to consume oats?

Oats can be eaten when soaked in water or milk as overnight oats, cooked at stove top as porridge, or baked in recipes like bread, cookies, and granola.

Oats tasty recipes

Oats porridge
Oats porridge (dalya) can be prepared with milk or water at the stove top with jaggery (gur) added.

Overnight oats
Soak oats in milk or water for at least 3 hours or overnight. Add some chia seeds for nutrition. Add a couple of dates for richness & sweetness. Next morning add some fruit slices like banana, strawberry, mango, or apple. Enjoy!

Oats cookies

Make cookie dough with oats, cacao nibs, raisins, jaggery (gur), unsalted natural butter.  Add an egg or 1/2 tsp baking powder if desired but not required. Add water / milk to if too thick. Make cookie shape. Bake in a preheated oven at 250⁰C for at least 12 minutes or so. Enjoy!

Oats green smoothie
Blend oats, frozen banana, fresh spinach, and lemon juice. Add water if required. This is so refreshing green smoothie. If you want some sweetness then add honey. 

Oats granola

Take oats (you can take barley porridge as well) then add honey to it. Add some nuts. Lotus seeds (makhana) can also be added in winters. Most important part is to dehydrate thinly cut apple or pear chunks, and then add to oats. Let all of the above in a wide baking dish to bake on low flame around 150C. Once the granola is golden, it’s done. Let it cool then store in airtight container. Have homemade cereal granola with smoothie / milk / yogurt / fruits in the breakfast!

Oats with fruit crumble 

In a bowl add oats, whole wheat flour, and cold butter and gently massage this into a coarse crumble mixture. Add honey or jaggery (gur). In a separate baking dish or cooking pan, bake or cook apple chunks or berries at low heat until juicy & tender. Sprinkle some cinnamon on it. Adjust your sweetness using honey but these are wonderful as it is. Now, in a baking dish first put the cooked fruits then layer the crumble mixture on top. Bake for 15 minutes at 250⁰C or until top layer turns golden. Bon appetite!

Oats bread

This bread is made in a traditional way using whole wheat flour and oats. Yeast was proofed & used to dough. Then dough was left for proofing twice. Then baked for 35 min at 250⁰C.

Friend with oats = unfriend sickness

Tried & tested recipes by,

Engr. Ayesha Alam Khurram

 

Municipal solid waste management options

Municipal solid waste (MSW) or garbage is thrown away from every house, every office, and every institute i.e. from every area that is dwelled. Topsy-turvy urbanization in the race of raising high rise & hi tech constructions far beyond the needs and closer to our egotistic fulsomeness, has lead this bare problem to a calamitous survival. The governments, environmentally sensible organizations, and inimitable individuals are finding technological ways to counter this global catastrophe. First step is to make people aware of reducing, reusing, & recycling waste at its very origin then to properly hauling it away, treating, and utilizing it in a manner that is auspicious for the environment and health of our planet.

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Waste-to-energy

A study in Malaysia shows that waste-to-energy techniques can recuperate energy from MSW [1]. MSW is being used for energy production in levelheaded countries who are putting forward a stiff scuffle to make human life better after whole world has wriggled to make it worse. In Malaysia a case study was done at a landfill to mug up the options for technological waste-to-energy stratagem. Incineration is expedient for the production of electricity & heat. Anaerobic digestion was found out to be more promised for electricity generation. A study in China showed that waste-to-energy incineration of MSW can improve ambient environment and cut out greenhouse gas emissions while producing renewable energy [2]. Pollutant discharges via MSW into land, water, & air can also be taken care of through this technology. Waste-to-energy methods can not only elicit better management of MSW but can also kindle methods of harvesting alternative energy.

Biogas yield

Biogas can be yielded from MSW using efficiently designed anaerobic digesters [3]. After adequately reducing MSW’s size and by considering key features like temperature hydrogen-ion concentration, and moisture content etc. for designing digesters, the biogas yield can be resourceful.

Bioelectricity production

A study on cattle manure shows that bioelectricity can be produced through it [4]. MSW has the potential to generate electricity that can be further utilized. Also, the greenhouse gas emissions can also be reduced when large amount of MSW will be employed for bioelectricity production [5].

MSW management in Pakistan

In Pakistan the annual MSW production is around 20 million tons and the production rate is increasing each year [6]. Unless the public is aware of environmental issues and is self-motivated to generate less waste at the source, the MSW production rate per year cannot be lessen. In the absence of proficient waste collection system the waste is being dumped on the streets and in any area that has apparently unclaimed space. Neither waste sorting at the source is encouraged nor does the public have an inner urge to do so. Serious health problems are on rise due to deteriorating environment. According to a study in Data Ganj Bukhsh Town in Lahore, Pakistan showed that reconditioning household waste material, gathering biowaste, biogasification, and energy recovery from landfill are preferable scenarios for an environmentally enhanced practice [7]. A proper MSW management plan is needed to solve the issue of solid waste floating around here and there across the country.  

A gist of MSW by,
Engr. Ayesha Alam Khurram

References

[1]        S. T. Tan, W. S. Ho et al., “Energy, economic and environmental (3E) analysis of waste-to-energy (WTE) strategies for municipal solid waste (MSW) management in Malaysia”, Energy conservation and management, vol. 102 (2015), p: 111-120.  

[2]        H. Cheng and Y. Hu, “Municipal solid waste (MSW) as a renewable source of energy: Current and future practices in China”, Bioresource Technology, vol. 101 (2010), p: 3816-3824.

[3]        A. H. Igoni, M. J. Ayotamuno et al., “Designs of anaerobic digesters for producing biogas from municipal solid-waste”, Applied Energy, vol. 85 (2008), p: 430-438.

[4]        Y. Lee and N. Nirmalakhandan, “Electricity production in membrane-less microbial fuel cell fed with livestock organic solid waste”, Bioresource Technology, vol. 102 (2011), p: 5831-5835.

[5]        M. A. Rajaeifar, H. Ghanavati et al., “Electricity generation and GHG emission reduction potentials through different municipal solid waste management technologies: A comparative

review”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 79 (2017), p: 414-439.  

[6]      https://www.bioenergyconsult.com/solid-waste-management-in-pakistan/

[7]        S. A. Batool and M. N. Chuadhry, “The impact of municipal solid waste treatment methods on greenhouse gas emissions in Lahore, Pakistan”, Waste Management, vol. 29 (2009), p: 63-69.  

Tux paint art - Castle

Tux paint keeps children engage in constructive activity at the computer instead of just gaming & videos.

Here is another wonderful Tux paint art of a castle.

Tux paint art by,

Asma Khurram

Tux Paint Art - Rain and clouds

Tux paint offers great tools to create and enjoy! 

This art has raining clouds and rain.

Tux paint art by,
Hafsa Khurram

Tux Paint art - Seals

Water seals are made in Tux Paint along with other soft-art. 

The seals.

They are cute.

Tux Paint art by,

Hafsa Khurram

Stars and flowers

Stars, hearts, flowers, and cupcakes made up of plaster of Paris. Put together beautifully to make a wonderful art piece. 

Here are the details of each piece:

Star that is colored and glitter glued.

Cupcake that is painted with various colors.

Hearts painted blue & green.

Rose painted red and glittered.

Beautiful artwork by beautiful,

Asma Khurram

Do’s and Don’ts of detox water with 5 detox water recipes

Do not do dieting while consuming detox water

When one feels motivated and all of sudden starts working out, says no to junks, no to sugary and savory foods, and no to nutrition and then starts consuming detox water, detox water and detox water, then harm is sure to happen. 

Do have proper nutrition daily

It is vital for the body to have proper nutrition on a daily basis in order to function well. Have balanced and nutritious meals, then detox water will show its miracles. Instead, having detox water while body is already deprived of essential nutrients will do no good than harm.

Do not just drink detox water

People are seen drinking just detox water and no plain water. The body comes under chaos when it doesn’t get plain and refreshing water at all. As a result, starts responding to this situation and the person feels sick.

Do drink plain water as well

Remember, plain water is the best drink ever; better than any detox water, bubblies, or juices. Plain water is a natural detoxifier. No detox can ever be invented that can replace what nature has bestowed already. So have your water please!

Detox water recipes

1^st recipe: Grapefruit & apple

Half grape fruit slices + 1 apple slices + 1 liter of water

Soak for a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 7 hours in refrigerator.

Or it can be soaked for 1 – 3 hours outside of refrigerator.  

Grape fruit is packed with nutrients and vitamin C which are vital for health. It fights harmful cells, helps in weight loss, boosts immunity, and good for skin & optimal health. But do not be hasty to get all those benefits within 24 hours. Just have a maximum of 1 grapefruit in a day. So, you can add half or quarter grapefruit to your detox water and rest of it consume as a fruit. 

2^nd recipe: Cucumber, ginger, & mint

Half cucumber slices + 1 small piece of ginger + few mint leaves + 750ml to 1 liter of water

Soak for a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 7 hours in refrigerator.

Or it can be soaked for 1 – 3 hours outside of refrigerator.  

3^rd recipe: Grape fruit & dates

Half grape fruit slices + 1 dates + 750 ml to 1 liter of water.

Soak for a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 7 hours in refrigerator.

Or it can be soaked for 1 – 3 hours outside of refrigerator.  

Dates are usually not added to detox waters. But as dates are good source of essential minerals and various vitamins, they will provide a nutritious tag within the detox water.      

4^th recipe: Beetroot

1 beetroot slices + 500ml to 750 ml of water.

Soak for a minimum of 10 minutes to a maximum of 45 minutes inside or outside of refrigerator.

5^th recipe: Honey, ginger, & cinnamon

1 teaspoon honey + 1 small piece of ginger + 1 small cinnamon stick + 250 to 500 ml of water.

Soak for 1 – 3 hours inside or outside of refrigerator.

Detox water recipes by,

Engr. Ayesha Alam Khurram