Chinese restaurant Jiang Hu opens in East Setauket

The Stony Brook Chinese-restaurant boom, which has spread east to Centereach and Selden, is now making inroads north into East Setauket. Jiang Hu has opened in the little peaked-roof building that used to be Little Joe’s III pizzeria (where it shares quarters with Cupeez Drive-Thru).

The menu concentrates on the authentic Chinese cuisine of a number of regions: soup dumplings, scallion pancakes, seaweed-pork soup red-braised pork belly with chestnuts, salt-and-pepper shrimp, cumin lamb and spicy kidneys. A specialty of the house is whole fish braised in a hot pot at your table. Starters are all under $9; most mains stay below $20. (Diners looking for what the menu calls “American dishes” will find General Tso’s and Kung-Pao chicken, shrimp with broccoli, orange chicken and more, almost all priced below $15.)

Jiangnan Zheng owned three restaurants in his native Fuzhou, in southeastern China, before moving to New York three years ago. After buying a house in Miller Place, he spent a year looking for and hiring staff for his first Long Island restaurant, which he hopes will appeal to both Chinese immigrants, like himself, and American-born customers. "If Americans order four dishes, I will try to get them to order one authentic Chinese dish." He's had luck introducing newbies to sliced pork with onion and pepper, chili beef and spicy shrimp.

Both types of customers are well advised to come by for lunch where select “American” dishes can be had for $9.50 plus soup and rice; select authentic Chinese dishes are served, over rice, for $11.95.

It’s an attractive little place, done up in shades of pickled wood, teal and aqua. For now, the pizzeria's deck ovens are still in situ, between dining room and kitchen, but they are hidden by a row of curtains.

Make These Delicious Sweet Treats With Besan To Please Your Taste Buds

Besan has been a staple food in Indian kitchens since time immemorial. Like all-purpose flour (maida) and wheat flour (atta), you'll always find gram flour (besan) somewhere in the kitchen pantry. Besan also known as chickpea flour, is derived from chickpea or Bengal gram. It is used to make a number of dishes at home and that is why it's an important item in our grocery shopping list. Besan flour is diluted in water to make cheelas or rolled and fried to make pakodasforkadhi. It is also used to make dhoklas and Rajasthani cuisine special – gatte ki sabzi. Besan can be used in various delicacies. It also plays an important role in various natural skin care regimes. Besan also makes for a credible base for many sweet dishes as well. Yes, besan-based desserts are very common and are seen as healthful and delicious at the same time. 

Here are some exciting desserts you can make at home with besan:

1.Besan Ke Ladoo
We have all grown up savouring this sweet delicacy. Be it a festival, a religious event or a wedding function, ladoo is one traditional Indian sweet that has to be there to mark the celebrations. Besan ke laddo, unlike other ladoos, are not grainy and turn into a soft, powder-like form the moment you bite into them.

2.Mysore Pak
This is a signature dish of the Indian state of Karnataka and mostly prepared during Diwali. Made of besan, ghee, sugar and water, this soft, gooey sweet will win your heart right away.

3.Three-Tiered Plum Dessert With Besan
Giving a modern twist to the traditional halwa, this unique dessert comprises plum compote laid on a bed of textured biscuit made with besan and maida. With a pista elaichi paste accompanying the dish, this triple-layered dish is worth trying.

4. Besan Ka Prasad
This is basically halwa made with besan that retains the soft, squidgy texture and the tantalising taste of halwa dish. This rich, creamy besan paste is usually served during religious occasions but gorging on it otherwise is not a crime. This delectable dessert is best served hot and can be eaten as is or with pooris.

6 Weight-Loss-Friendly Smoothies You May Add to Your Diet

Thick, slushy and ever-so-delectable, smoothies are an ideal way to blend in your favourite and not-so-favourite fruits and vegetables together. Smoothies are also helpful in making sure your kids have something healthy without fuss. However, make sure you prepare them with fresh and vibrant fruits, and you'd see them chug a glass in no time. In this scorching heat, these chilled, yogurt-based drinks bring about a much-needed respite. Did you know homemade fresh smoothies could also prove to be a healthy addition to your weight loss diet? Provided you chose your ingredients wisely. The key ingredient of a smoothie is yogurt, which is a rich source of calcium and protein. Protein helps induce satiety and prevents you from overeating. It also helps regulate the cravings. You can throw fruits, nuts, and veggies of your choice to the mix and make the potion more antioxidant-rich.

Here are some weight-loss-friendly smoothie ideas you can try at home:

1. Apple Chia Seed Smoothie
Packed with the goodness of chopped apple and chia seeds, this smoothie is going to fill you up with all things good, healthy and yummy. Both apple and chia are great sources of fibre, which is crucial for weight loss. Serve chilled.

2. Flaxseed Smoothie
Flaxseeds are considered to be an excellent source of plant-based protein. Vegetarians often face a dearth of options when it comes to protein sources. This flaxseed smoothie also happens to be vegan. In addition to flaxseeds, the smoothie is packed with goodness of bananas and strawberry.

3. Melon and Kiwi Fruit Smoothie
This ultimate summer smoothie is packed with the goodness of melons and kiwi. The refreshing smoothie is an ideal way to beat the heat and keep away from mindless bingeing. Both melon and kiwi are an excellent source of dietary fibres that take time to digest and keep you full for a long time. If you are feeling full, you are less likely to binge so soon, and eating in moderation is crucial for weight loss.

4. Watermelon and Strawberry Smoothie
Another stellar summer preparation you must try. Both watermelon and strawberry are dubbed as 'negative calorie' fruits. This is because their calorie count is so low that digesting these foods take more calories/energy than they inherently contain.

5. Banana And Honey Smoothie
Slushy and thick, this classic smoothie recipe is always a hit with kids and adults alike. In addition to antioxidant-rich banana and honey, the smoothie also packs the goodness of pumpkin seeds, which also happens to be a good source of plant-based protein. Serve chilled and enjoy.

6. Peach, Raspberry And Nuts Smoothie
Vibrant, zingy and ever-so-delectable. This loaded smoothie is made with a nutritious medley of fresh raspberries, banana, and peach along with almonds. Have it early in the morning or as a post-workout snack, this smoothie is sure to be a delight anytime of the day.

7 Best Kiwi Recipes

With the summers breaking all records, all we can fall back on are the juicy, citrusy summer fruits to refuel our body. I have always loathed summer season for the ever increasing heat, sweat and several gastro problems in the body such as indigestion. Yet love it for the many delicious fruits it brings with itself. From melons to mangoes and the vibrant green tangy kiwis, summer season offers a host of such fruits, which are not just flavourful but have amazing health benefits that are much needed to our body.

Kiwi isn't an ordinary fruit. By looks, flavour and even when it comes to nutritional benefits, it is much distinct from other fruits. It has glistening green slices with dotted black seeds when peeled off from its brown fuzzy outer layer and offers a great sight for the eyes besides a tarty, refreshing flavour. With a Chinese origin, kiwi was earlier known as 'yang tao' and 'Chinese gooseberry' before it started to be commercially cultivated in New Zealand and marketed by the name of 'kiwi' because of its close resemblance to their national bird and was eventually crowned as the national fruit of New Zealand.

Kiwi Nutrition | Kiwi Fruit Benefits

Termed as an exotic fruit, kiwi rapidly garnered popularity across countries due to the many health benefits it offers. It is added to many desserts, cereals and salads or eaten just as is. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 100 grams of kiwi contain about 61 calories, 1.14 grams of protein, 0.52 gram of fat, 14.66 grams of carbohydrates and about 3 grams of fibre. Besides all of this, kiwi is loaded with health benefits that give a major boost to our body. Let's look at the many kiwi fruit benefits:

1. High On Vitamins & Minerals: With Vitamins A, B12, B6, E, iron, calcium and potassium, kiwi helps in proper functioning of the body by ensuring blood circulation in the vessels, iron absorption for healthy bones, good vision, etc.

2. Helps In Digestion: Presence of an enzyme known as actinidin helps in the proper digestion of proteins in the body and also helps patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.

3. Rich Source Of Vitamin C: While you might think that oranges and lemons are the only rich sources of vitamin C, kiwi also isn't far from it. With a 154 percentage per 100 grams of vitamin C, kiwi proves to be a powerful antioxidant and also helps in boosting our immunity against harmful pathogens.

4. Good Source Of Dietary Fibre: Loaded with dietary fibre, kiwi helps in the prevention of numerous diseases. According to a study done by the University of Leeds, "Increasing consumption of fibre-rich foods can lower the risks of both coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD)."

With so much and more health benefits of kiwi, it would be ideal to include it in our diet. And to ease your next question of how to do that, we have a list of some of the best kiwi recipes to prepare at home.

Try These 4 Interesting Protein-Rich Lunch Ideas For Kids

Back-to-back classes with endless syllabus can turn out to be quite exhausting for school-going kids. In order to brave the entire day in school without experiencing low energy levels, it is important to load up on foods that induce energy. Most school-going kids get influenced and also happen to influence other kids very easily. Packing a protein-rich lunch for them will not only set an example for all their classmates but will also leave your kid feeling energised during back-to-back classes. It's quite common for kids to feel lazy and sleepy after their lunch breaks and getting through the last few periods can become quite challenging for them. To ward off this problem, you can pack in protein-rich and nutritious foods for them in their lunchboxes.

Here are a few protein-rich lunch ideas for kids:

1) Replace Spreads With Nut Butters
If your child is used to gorging on sandwiches for lunch, you can replace the unhealthy processed spreads with nut butters. Almond butter, walnut butter and peanut butter are some of the options that you may consider. As per USDA, two tablespoons of almond butter contain 7 grams of protein.

2)  Add Beans And Chickpeas To Pasta
Once a week, when your child takes pasta for lunch, try adding beans and chickpeas to the pasta. It will not only add protein to the dish but will also make it crunchy and flavourful. Start by adding a very little quantity and eventually increase the quantity as they start developing a taste for it.

3) Egg Salad/Omelette
Try to include eggs in their lunch in some form or the other. Eggs are not only high in protein but are also quite versatile and can be cooked in various ways. You can pack omelettes and egg rolls in their lunch. Egg salad is a good option too as it requires no oil and is easy-to-make as well. You can boil the eggs and pair them with other protein-rich veggies. Don't hesitate in adding certain herbs and spices that will add more flavour to the dish.

4) Veggie Burger
While preparing burger, stuff those buns with protein-rich veggies to increase the nutritional quotient. You can also add those veggies in a sandwich. Basically, instead of using an aloo patty, try to replace it with veggies like peas and asparagus.