We promised you guys a gluten free chicken karhai without gravy, here is a recipe for 1! We will also have another 1 up soon. Also, here is A.K's recipe for chicken corn soup! Mmmm!!! Let us know what you think and have a great weekend! W.P

Anyone who knows me knows that my favourite ingredient to add to food is lemon. I love cooking with tons of garlic and Italian spices yes, but at least 7 times out of 10, when I am actually eating a meal, I will add lemon to my helping. You may not notice it from the recipes on the website because as I said, I add it when eating. Some of my friends tease me and ask if I add lemon to pizza or ice cream too! For the record, no I do not! I love lemon in/on my food but today I wanted to share some tips and uses for lemons asides from enhancing flavours in food. This is inspired by my friend Justine mixing baking soda and lemon juice over the weekend to remove food coloring stains from the countertop. Here are some great uses for lemons. Some of these I have tried and tested myself, but not all. Let me know which you have found to be great for you. I really need to grow a lemon tree…W.P

Removing odours
Dab some lemon juice unto a sponge or cotton and leave it in the fridge for a couple of hours. Also clean your chopping/cutting board with some lemon juice to refresh it. You can also use keep some left over lemon peels at the bottom of your trash can to prevent smells. Replace every so often of course. I don’t know about you guys but I despise the smell of moth balls. So replace them with lemons studded with cloves and over time they will dry naturally and leave behind a much nicer scent. Have a cat? Use lemons cut in halves to neutralize the smell in their litter box rather than strong aerosol sprays

Medicinal purposes
We all know to drink lemon with honey to sooth a sore throat thanks to its antibacterial properties. You can also use it for gargling however! Lemon is a diuretic and helps in the production of urine which helps reduce inflammation by flushing out toxins from your body. It is also said that regular intake can help prevent kidney stones due to an increase of urinary citrate. It helps control high bp and dizziness. Have a glass of water with some lemon juice in it to help. It also helps with a slight energy boost when you’re tired or with respiratory problems. Lemon juice also helps with bleeding gums and toothaches. Also use as a natural mouthwash to kill bacteria, rinsing well afterwards. Lemon juice in hot tea is a great remedy for headaches as well. Lemon in hot water helps with stomach aches as well- I know it definitely helps me when I have an inexplicable stomach cramp. Lemon juice also helps disinfect cuts and scrapes naturally. Here’s one I wish I knew when I was a kid- lemon juice can help dissolve warts by repeatedly applying lemon juice to the area (I had to get mine burnt!)

Insecticide 
Apparently, insects do not like lemons. Come to think of it, I have never seen fruit flies around lemons personally. Squirt some lemon juice in the area where bugs/ants are getting in and scatter lemon peel around the cracks. You can also use a lemon, water and vinegar mix to clean your floors to keep them away

Cleaning Agent
You can use lemon juice to clean/wash your other fruit and vegetables to remove pesticides and dirt. It is a natural disinfectant. You can also remove tough stains on your countertops with lemon juice (you may need to add baking soda to the lemon for tougher stains). Berry and food stains also come off easily with lemon juice. You can also use a mixture of salt and lemon to clean and polish brass, chrome and steel. Also, throw in a cup of lemon juice with your next load of laundry along with your detergent for a better wash

Bleaching purposes
We all know lemons are natural bleach. Use it to keep veggies white before cooking or in your guacamole to prevent it from oxidizing. You can also use a lemon and water soak for your delicates instead of regular bleach (I cannot bear the smell).

Skin care & beauty
Lemon water is an antioxidant and reduces the production of free radicals which are responsible for skin damage. You can also lighten liver spots or freckles by applying lemon juice directly to the affected area for 15 minutes before rinsing. It makes for a great face wash especially for people prone to pimples and zits. Another tip I have heard of and I am going to try this one, is to create natural highlights by using a mixture of lemon juice and water (ratio of ¼ cup lemon juice to ¾ cup water), rinse your hair with the mixture then sit in the sun until your hair dries. Do this once a day for about a week. You can also use a lemon and water soak to clean and whiten your nails 

Additional uses for food 
Lemon juice can help make lettuce/salad leaves crisp. Place the leaves in a bowl with water and lemon juice for a bit, then dry off completely and useWe all know lemons are natural bleach. Use it to keep veggies white before cooking or in your guacamole to prevent it from oxidizing. Lemon slices or wedges as we all know are also a great garnish for drinks or food

Here are some pics from a Lunch catering order we did on Friday for 10. The menu:

• Orange Danger Punch
  
• Veggie Shots
• Mediterranean Pinwheels
• Mushroom Puffs & Thai Chilli Sauce
• Spaghetti tossed in Pesto 
• Spanakopita
• Chilli Garlic Shrimp & Taters
• Stuffed Chicken with Lemon Smoked Rice 
• Mushroom Sauce
• Store bought candy & fruit
• Berry Chocolate Trifles

Greek Salad is one of my favourite salads! Here is a simple version! Super easy to throw together and yummy. A.K

We know that you love all our recipes and have been enjoying the variety on our site since our launch in June, so we're continuously trying to add new types of foods, ideas, and tips. We will now have a weekly guest post or recipe by Nida Kazmi, who will be guest blogging for Kitchen Cultures primarily on the topics of Raw Vegan food. She lives in the DC suburbs as an analyst and currently lives a "high raw" food diet (60-80% of her diet is sourced from raw foods) and has amassed a great level of knowledge in the food industry area over the past several years due to personal interest. We all have our preferred methods of cooking: grilling, stewing, sous-vide, baking, roasting, marination cooking, and more; however, it is important to remember that a lot of foods were and are meant to be enjoyed raw! So we brought in someone who knows more than we do about the best way to implement an increase of raw food intake in your diet and why we should. Let us know what you think! ENJOY! W.P

Raw Foods 101
I am sure by now every one has seen or heard about the green smoothie or the "raw food" craze. We all know that nature's food is the best way to nourish our body. But sometimes when we are bombarded with all kinds of information, we become confused because often, this information can be confusing and misleading if we don't have a solid knowledge base. Today I wanted to give a quick overview of why raw foods are beneficial and important and I will showcase several recipes that are easy, delicious and will give you several options to try out. The building blocks that our bodies need to function are enzymes, vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, protein, essential fats and fibre. These are all provided by our food and are involved in growth, repair and maintenance of the body.

Enzymes
Enzymes convert the food we eat into chemical structures that can pass though the membranes of the cells lining the digestive tract and into the blood stream. Their job doesn't end there. Enzymes are the living proteins that direct the life force into our biochemical and metabolic processes. They help transform and store energy, make active hormones, dissolve fibre and prevent clotting. They have anti-inflammatory effects. Enzymes help balance and restore the immune system, and heal many diseases. Enzymes even help repair our DNA and our RNA.

Vitamins
Without vitamins our cells would not function properly and thus our organs would suffer and eventually we would no longer be able to survive. Vitamins help regulate metabolism, help convert fat and carbohydrates into energy, and assist in forming bone and tissue. 

Minerals
Seventeen of the thirty elements known to be essential to life are metals. Mineral deficiencies cause disease in humans. Minerals also have a synergistic relationship with vitamins. They help each other help us. 

Phytonutrients
Phytonutrients are what give fruits and vegetables their colour. Phytos protect the body and fight disease. They also fight cancer and help your heart. Phytonutrients are at leading edge of research on nutrition. They provide medicine for cell health. 

Because of an overload of the bad food sources in our normal diet, our body goes into survival mode even though we may look perfectly fine. Eating food raw provides us with what we need for our health and well being. I know from experience that when I am eating raw, I have more energy, more mental focus, and things like acid reflux, joint pain, mood troubles and my daily aches and pains, dissipate. I also know that I am feeding my body what it needs to thrive, not just survive. Your body has stuck by you for your whole life so let's join in on helping our body help us! 

Here is a recipe for this week!

Green Smoothie
Doesn't sound very appealing but I assure you, its delicious! I like to use frozen bananas because then it tastes just like ice cream to me and my friends seem to agree with me! Don't be scared by the quantity of the bananas - they provide you with the energy you need although you are welcome to try with one banana to start; this is my breakfast a couple times a week (yes! i get to have ice cream for breakfast basically and not feel guilty about it in the least bit!!!) I prefer using coconut milk because it is creamier but just as low in calories and healthy for you, though you may substitute Almond Milk or another nut milk that suits you.

3-5 bananas
3 handfuls spinach
1 cup coconut milk

Optional:
1 tsp goji berries
1 tsp flax seeds
1 tsp chlorella
1/2 tsp maca

Blend well and serve.

NIDA KAZMI.