Our community of home cooks brings you answers to the most intriguing queries on cooking. Check out the top queries and answers of the week that went by.

Tamilselvi asks: Please suggest a Board exam time diet for girls
Krishna Sudha says: Hi.. as Board exams are conducted during the summer, always avoid oily and spicy foods. Take plenty of fruits like watermelon, musk melon, salads like mixed sprouts, garnished with properly cleaned coriander leaves and add lime juice. Whenever you are tense, please calm down and inhale and exhale deeply 3 to 5 times.

Vani asks: What should be taken to correct irregular periods?
Krishna Sudha says: Take plenty of greens, avoid oils. Have diluted buttermilk. Exercise regularly.

Saras asks: Is there a difference between baking soda and baking powder?
Keerthi says: Baking soda is basic and yields a bitter taste if not countered by the acidity of another ingredient, such as buttermilk. You will find baking soda in cookie recipes. Baking powder contains both an acid and a base and has an overall neutral taste. Recipes that call for baking powder often call for other neutral-tasting ingredients, such as milk. Baking powder is a common ingredient in cakes and biscuits.

Seema Grewal asks: How to make amla preserve?
Krishna Sudha says: Hi Seema, buy firm and round amla which has no brown or black spots on them. Cut them into small pieces. Do not discard the seeds as they have medicinal value too. Now dry the pieces in shade where fresh air is available, store them in air tight container. Break the seeds to find small nuts. These are helpful in regularising periods and other uterine problems.

Aparna asks: How to cook red lentils? It does not cook easily.
Trinath says: Keep 2:1 water and lentils ratio in a pressure cooker. Add some salt and 2-3 drops oil. Cook upto 7 whistles, switch off the gas, wait for normal release of internal pressure. Open it and see how it worked.