Monday, March 30, 2020

Onion-coriander chuntey

Everyone is aware of the lockdown happening across so many countries of the world due to coronavirus pandemic. Staying in a senior citizens home, gated community, we're safe, inside the complex. We've to take our food at home, so, there is absolute social distancing.

Whatever it may be, our taste-buds love to eat what we want from time to time. As, I can't eat spicy food, thought that one of the dew veges that lasts long - onion and luckily bought a bunch of coriander leaves, thought of making this chutney yesterday for radish paranthas.

INGREDIENTS
onion 2 big finely chopped
coriander leaves 1 cup chopped
mustard seeds  1/2 tsp
urad dal  2 tbsp
green chilies to taste
salt to taste
tamarind one small marble size or to taste
oil 1 tbsp
 hing little

METHOD
in a kadai/  pan, heat oil, add mustard seeds, once it crackles, add urad dal , hing, once it turns light brown, add onion and green chilies, fry adding little salt till transparent, add the tamarind and switch off the gas. Once cool, grind adding coriander leaves and salt to taste, adding little water if needed.

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Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Sambar and rasam powder

Ingredients
dry red chilies  1 cup
coriander seeds  1 cup
chana dal  1/3 cup
tuvar/ arhar dal  1/3 cup
fenugreek seeds/ methi  2 tbsp
jeera  1 tbsp
peppercorns  1/2 tbsp
urad dal   2 tbsp


Method
since I cough a lot while roasting chilies, I prefer to add them in parts when I roast the dals. So, each dal roast in medium flame stirring continuously till they turn light brown, adding part of the chilies, same way roast coriander seeds, jeera, peppercorns separately, once they all cool, powder them to a fine powder in your mixer jar, remove, once cool, store in an air-tight container.
Some people add turmeric and hing while frying, but, I prefer to add them when I make sambar. This powder can be stored for long, provided you use dry hands and spoon. You can use the same powder for making rasam also, but while boiling tamarind water, add 1" ginger finely chopped and 1/2 tsp jeera, along with a tbsp of finely chopped fresh coriander leaves, with tomato, to get a good flavour.

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Healthy bars

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups rolled oats (not quick or instant)
  • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup flaked sweetened coconut
  • 1 cup of “extras” – chopped toasted walnuts, almonds & pecans, dried cherries & chocolate chips (mini or regular)
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
  • Instructions:
    1. Preheat oven to 325° F.
    2. Line a 9” x 9” square pan with 2 criss-cross sheets of parchment paper (not foil) leaving extra overhang on all sides.
    3. Combine oats, brown sugar, coconut and extras in a large bowl.
    4. Combine honey, oil, and vanilla in a measuring cup.
    5. Add honey mixture to oat mixture and take time to combine thoroughly - about a minute.
    6. Spread in baking pan, pressing down very firmly. Try pressing down with the back of a spatula.
    7. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool completely in pan. (mine takes an hour to cool on a cooling rack)
    8. Remove from pan (using parchment handles) to cutting board. Remove paper and cut into bars.

    Bars not holding together? Try pressing them down again after baking. Let them cool for 10 minutes and press down firmly while warm, then let them cool COMPLETELY before cutting.
    Bars Too Crumbly? Try placing the 9 x 9 pan on a baking sheet to bake to keep the bottom of the bars softer.

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    https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

The Trick to Effortlessly Clean Copper Pans

keep your copper vessel in a sink, sprinkle some normal table salt all over it, sprinkle some vinegar on it, let it sit for 15 seconds, then take your scrubber and scrub well, in case there are some more stains, sprinkle salt and vinegar and scrub. You'll  be surprised by the result.

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https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and health tips  
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

Monday, March 23, 2020

From Grime to Tarnish, these Natural Cleaning Solutions Actually Work

Common household items like salt and baking soda could be used to tackle countless chores around the home, in fact, you wouldn't believe just how much you could get done around the house with these cheap and widely available items.

Lemons

A fantastic cleaning agent that can be used to remove dirt and rust stains (due to its acidic nature). Cleaning with lemons becomes especially effective when mixed with salt, making an excellent paste.

Countertops: Cut a lemon in half and dip it in baking soda, using it to clean over a countertop, then wipe with a wet sponge and dry. Lemons should not be used on delicate stone, like marble or on stainless steel as it may cause discoloring.

Dishes
: This fantastic alternative may be used alongside your dishwashing detergent, increasing its grease-cutting power. Simply add a teaspoon of lemon juice.


Liquid Castile Soap

This plant-based soap is effective at loosening grime and dirt from surfaces. It is gentler too, so it won't leave the surfaces looking dull or damaged.

Sinks, showers, tubs and ceramic tiles: This soap may be used to create a homemade soft scrubber by combining 1 tablespoon with 1/3 cup baking soda.

Stovetop and vent hood: A few squirts of liquid Castile soap mixed with 2 cups hot water can be used to clean the stovetop, burners and vent hood, cutting through accumulated grease.


Table salt

If anything in your house needs a little polish, salt's granular texture makes for a beneficial cleaning agent. Any type of salt may be used, including sea or kosher salt, but table salt will be your cheapest option.


Spills in the oven: Don't you just hate it when that casserole bubbles over when you take it out of the oven? A great way to clean the mess up without having to scrub your oven tray is to pour salt on the spill to soak it up. Once the oven has cooled down, wipe with a damp sponge.


Vinegar

The benefits of cleaning with vinegar are plentiful, as it has the ability to wipe out tarnish, soap scum, mineral deposits and other grimy substances. Its acidic nature also creates an environment that inhibits the growth of mold, mildew and some bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella.

Drains:
Use vinegar to clean drains and the pipes they are attached to by pouring the liquid down the drain. After about 30 minutes, flush with cold water.

Floors: 1/4 cup vinegar, added to a bucket of warm water may be used to clean almost any type of floor, except marble, as it can scratch it, or wood, as it can strip it. 

Essential oils

Consisting of the extraction of plants, some essential oils can kill bacteria and mold. As they tend to be very strong, you need not go overboard either. In fact, some oils like peppermint are so potent, that one drop of oil is equivalent to 30 cups of peppermint tea.

Combs and brushes: Soak combs and brushes in an essential oil blend for about 20 minutes, by filling a container with 1 1/2 cups water, 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar and 20 drops tea-tree, lavender or eucalyptus oil.

Scuffed floors: Just apply two to four drops of tea-tree oil to the spots, wiping any excess oil with a cloth and rubbing it in distilled white vinegar.
 

Toothpaste

Standard toothpaste (paste not gel, free from tartar control and whitening), combined with a mild detergent and an antibacterial agent make a potent stain-fighter.

Tarnished silverware: Add a dab of toothpaste on a soft cloth and rub it onto the tarnish, then rinse with water and dry with a clean cloth.


Cooking oils

Vegetable and plant based oils are great cleaning alternatives, particularly olive and sunflower oil which may be used to dislodge dirt, diminish scratches and imperfections as well as hydrate wood that has aged or dried out from exposure to the sun.

Cast iron pans: Use vegetable oils to make a scrubbing paste by combing them with a teaspoon of coarse salt. This easy blend may be used to combat cooked-on debris, which can then be rinsed off with hot water.

Leather shoes: First, wipe away any dirt with a damp cloth, then add a drop of vegetable oil to a soft cloth, rubbing the surface to remove scuff marks. Make your shoes shine by buffing them with a chamois cloth.


Borax

Borax can be used alongside your detergents, making your load cleaner. As it is rather alkaline, borax may also be used to kill mold and fungus.

Pots and pans: Borax may be rubbed into cookware with a damp sponge, then rinsed well.

Toilet: Just pour borax in the bowl, letting it sit overnight. In the morning, swish the bowl a few times with a toilet brush and flush.


Baking and washing soda

Also known as sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate, absorbs odors. Word of caution: when handling washing soda, wear rubber gloves.


Garage floors (and other concrete surfaces): Pour washing soda on top of oily and greasy spots, sprinkling with water until a paste forms. Let it stand overnight, then the next day scrub with a damp brush, hose it down and wipe clean.

Grills and barbecue utensils: Tough grease stains may be removed by dipping a moist stiff-bristled brush in washing soda, and scrubbing away. 


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https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and health tips  
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5 Creative Ways to Substitute Eggs

One of the most basic ingredients you have at home are eggs, which can be used in almost all recipes. While some people avoid them for their own reasons, there are various ingredients that you can use to replace eggs, be it because you choose a vegan lifestyle or because you might be intolerant to eggs. Take a look:
1. Tofu

If working with a recipe that mainly consists of eggs, tofu is the best way to go. 1/4 cup of tofu is equivalent to one egg and it makes it a delicious way to make quiches and custards. As such, tofu is tasteless, but can be flavored to your liking and offers the same health benefits that eggs have, if not more. It is high in protein and contains nine amino acids. In addition, it is high in iron, selenium, manganese, and calcium.

Recipe Tips: If you'd like to prepare vegan deviled eggs, add a pinch of turmeric into the tofu mixture to turn it a golden color. Be sure to mix well. Furthermore, when choosing to cook with tofu instead of eggs, remember to opt for the soft kind of tofu, as the firm one will make it difficult to blend. And avoid tofu that has been pre-seasoned because it will intervene with the taste and texture of your dish. 


2. Aquafaba

For an egg white replacement, aquafaba is it. It is the water in which beans and chickpeas are cooked in. It can replace eggs in meringues and marshmallows. It is rich in carbohydrates, proteins and antioxidants as the ingredients of the seeds have migrated into the cooking water. Furthermore, those proteins turn the water into a consistency that is similar to egg whites which you can mix and create a foamy texture for your creamy recipes.

Recipe Tips: You can add vanilla or sugar into the mixture if you are making something sweet. Bear in mind the following information:
3 tbsps. aquafaba substitute one egg.

2 tbsps. aquafaba substitute one egg white.

3. Flax seeds

One of the tastiest ways to replace eggs is to use flax seeds giving your dish a nutty flavor. They are loaded with many nutrients, making them a superfood. They are packed with protein, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and almost all B-vitamins.

Recipe Tips: Grind the flax seeds in a coffee grinder and mix one tablespoon flax seeds with 3 tablespoons water to replace one egg. Then let the mixture sit for 30 minutes prior to adding it into your cooking mixture. 


4. Banana

When it comes to baking sweet recipes like pancakes, cakes, muffins and so on, bananas are the most popular replacement. If you love the taste and smell of bananas it will make your cakes irresistible. Ripe bananas, in particular, can bind all the ingredients together due to the fact that they are high in moisture and have a creamy texture. They can moderate blood sugar levels, improve digestion and promote weight loss, making them a healthier alternative to eggs.

Recipe Tips: Use 1/2 a ripe banana as a substitute for one egg.

5. Pumpkin

Pumpkin can be used similarly to potatoes in baking recipes. It can be used for cookies, cakes, bread, and muffins, and will give the baking mixture more moisture to work with and can give color to a delicious cake butter, particularly during the fall. Furthermore, using pumpkins instead of eggs can be beneficial to your overall health. They are rich in antioxidants and potassium which can help regulate blood pressure. They are high in protein and fiber and are low in calories which makes it a healthier alternative to eggs.

Recipe Tips: 1/4 cup of mashed pumpkin is equivalent to one egg. Remember not to add an excess amount of pumpkin because it naturally has a strong taste. Be sure not to overdo it, as you will lose the taste of the other ingredients. 


https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  

https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and health tips  
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement