Canola Oil meet with BlogAdda

BlogAdda arranged a Canola Cook Out Event at Mumbai.I was eager to attend this event as this would be ideal for a foodie like me who is always on the lookout for health & nutrition.The invitation by BlogAdda  stated that cardiologist Dr Ashish Contractor,nutritionist Naini Setalvad & MasterChef Ajay Chopra would be present ! I wouldn't miss this event for anything !

So ,I registered & BlogAdda confirmed  my presence with a phone call.I attended & had a fabulous time !

I landed at  the Four Seasons  hotel at Worli,Mumbai & was directed towards the library room wherein the Cook Out Event was scheduled .I entered the place to see a few food bloggers who were introducing them selves.It was a long table & chairs were arranged across the table.I took one & was soon seated.Within seconds,my neighbours introduced themselves & asked about my blogs,etc.We began chatting about  our recipes,our followers( if any ? ! ),our other blogs etc.

Very soon ,the event began with Mr Bruce Jowett ,Vice President -Market Development,Canola Council of Canada talking about the Canola oil.He informed us that Canola oil is one of the healthiest oils as it is low in saturated fats,high in monounsaturated fats,,high in omega 3 fat & is a source of Omega -6 fat as well.We were told that Canola oil is absolutely odourless with  a neutral taste.Hence ,it can blend easily with any type of cooking.This means it can suit all palates !Moreover ,Canola oil has a high smoke point.Ideal oil for Indian cooking.Mr Jowett revealed that Canada is the biggest exporter of Canola oil.

Canola oil is derived from seeds of canola plants.Canola plants have been developed from rapeseed plants by doing away with certain undesired characteristics of rapeseed..Canola seeds are similar to poppy seeds & brown to black in colour. The canola seeds yield about 44 % oil.The plants have pods which contain canola seeds which are crushed to get the canola oil.

Dr. Ashish Contractor,Head ,Preventive Cradiology at The Asian Heart Institute,  spoke about the wide spread prevalance of heart diseases in India.Canola oil being healthier can change that.The doctor informed us that more women die of heart disease than men ! If women changed to Canola oil as it is neutral ,has high smoking point & odourless ,it will do wonders for the health of the whole family ! He said that part from genetics ,the causes for heart diseases are blood pressure,diabetes,high cholestrol,smoking & not excercisng.

Nutritionist Naini Setlavad was the next person who gave tips on nutrition.She said that she has switched over to Canola oil .No one in her home is aware that the cooking oil has been changed ! This is a fact.She  said that fat is essential in any dish & hence it is better to eat a better oil to live healthy .With Canola oil,less oil is the norm as little as 1.5 tablespoons of Canola oil per day is enough to decrease coronary heart disease risk per person !

Bread was passed around to be eaten with Canola oil so as to prove that Canola oil was indeed neutral in taste .We all broke bread with Canola oil. Believe me ...it is indeed neutral .Moreover ,I think ,I can just dip bread in Canola oil & eat it just like that without any other accompaniment !

                             Dr Ashish Contractor & MasterChef Ajay Chopra @ the event.

Next MasterChef Ajay Chopra dished up some yummy recipes.He heated canola oil with some herbs....Kashmiri red chillies,Thailand basil & rosemary.I smelled the oils & they all smelled divine ! Next ,he invited the cardiologist to assist him in cooking up Indian dishes like Kothimbir vadis,Chocolate samosas & Green peas gujiyas.All oozing with SIN that is oil...deep fried.This was done as MasterChef Ajay Chopra wanted to demonstrate that Canola oil is an extremely low absorb oil. All attendees started clicking pictures of the two men cooking ( most probably to show the snaps at home so that their better haves would make a beginning in cooking !).

Pradnya was the winner of the most innovative recipe using Canola oil. MasterChef Ajay Chopra inquired from her about the ingredients of her winning cranberry cake recipe. Pradnya was thrilled to be the winner & it showed  as she received a huge hamper of  Canola oil !

                                                  Snacks by the MasterChef for us !

Next ,we broke for high tea...there were snacks created by MasterChef Ajay Chopra like Gujiyas,Kothimbir vadis,et al,.There were vegetable sandwiches....the size was enough to satiate our tummies ! Next came yummy desserts & then coffee or tea as per choice !

                                                                Our goody bag !

Our hunger pangs gone ,we bid adieu to the event .Each of us was gifted a goody bag containing a spatula,a measuring cup,a pen drive,a pen ,an apron & a recipe book ! We headed home enriched with nuggets of information on cooking ,health,nutrition ,lifestyle etal ! In short,an awesome event !

ABCDs ! ?

A friend remarked the other day, that, no matter how high & mighty we pretend to be,we are all basically ABCDs.A is for aaya,B is for bawarchi,C for chaprasi & D means driver . Perhaps,sometimes we are more than one of these or better still all the four rolled into one !

Aaya is someone who cares for others like kids,sick & the elderly.Bawarchi denotes a person who cooks & generally takes care of the kitchen.Chaprasi is the sweeper who cleans up the dirt generated by others.Now,it is is upto the sweeper to sweep the dirt away or under the carpet.Mostly the latter.Most of us are indeed chaprasis as many a times we are busy hiding away our vices & exhibiting our virtues ( if any ).

This nomenclature stands good for men as also  women.Men need aayas to care  for them no matter how old they grow.Actually,the older the age,more is the care needed.Men are aayas only in one sense -they earn money which shows they care for the family.Very few males can actually take care of others.Doctors do care but as part of their duty.Men have an inborn innate tendency of not caring.They feel it is a job of the lady just like the other ones ! Men are bawarchis at times when they relax by means of cooking .Of course,some are bawarchis by profession .Chaprasi is an apt name for anyone who clears the mess .Men are chaprasis at the work place as they keep bemoaning that they are always cleaning up for the guy /s who left a mess or rather loads of it.It is another story, that the ladies have to perennially  clean the  trash ,that the men  leave at home on a regular basis.Men drive women crazy & so they are drivers.Sometimes,they do drive vehicles as well but how well they do it is a matter of grave concern to one & all.Just one look at the accident statistics is enough to daze the daylights out of anyone.

Women are all rolled into one most of the times.They are aayas as they care for all at home .Women cook & so they are bawarchis as well.Chaprasis are ladies as they have to clean up the houses & homes after the kids & family members leave litter strewn all over.But some women think that these three roles are insufficient to desribe their talents.So they venture into driving .They  end up being drivers also ! 

Our Prime Minister also fits into this nomenclature.He is an aaya as he the PM to take care of all Indians.At least,that is the oath taken, later forgotten, in other roles.He is the bawarchi as he has to cook up so many tales to counteract  the opposition ,the media,the public & sometimes even his cabinet ! He is a chaprasi as he will always keep reminding us that he is too busy cleaning up the mess left by the previous rulers.This is to justify that this clearing job is so voluminous that no other work will get done ! He is also the driver as he is driving our nation & its people down hill !

I  am an aaya for my kid & my hubby .This role extends to taking care of  the extended family as well sometimes, just by the reason, of being conversant in the  national language.I cook or rather pretend to cook & so am a bawarchi as well.Obviously ,the blog posts cooked by me, make readers suspicious about my culinary abilities as also my literary ones.Since my kid & hubby have no penchant for cleanliness,all the neatness is my forte.So,I am the chaprasi of the house.Whilst I worked in the Public sector,I realised that all of us - my boss included, were chaprasis earning inflated salaries.I am yet to own a vehicle & so cannot drive.But my hubby says that I drive him nuts by my adamant attitude.So I am a driver by my better half's classification.

We all fit so snugly into this.The next time anybody requests you or even orders you for any job ,just think what role is being demanded of you -aaya,bawarchi,chaprasi or driver ? Nine out of ten,it will be the work of a chaprasi !