White pumpkin/ Ash gourd detox drinks

 Ash Gourd/ White Pumpkin detox

METHOD 1

Ingredients

White pumpkin diced ½ cup

Ginger 1"

Curry leaves 2 strands

Salt to taste

Lemon juice ½ lemon

Roasted cumin pdr. ½ tsp

Water ½ cup

 

METHOD 2

White pumpkin diced ½ cup

Coriander leaves a handful

Ginger 1”

Curd ¼ cup

Pepper pdr. ¼ tsp

Salt to taste

Water ½ cup

 

METHOD 3

White pumpkin diced ½ cup

Jaggery pdr. 2 tbsp

Cardamom pdr. ¼ tsp

Salt a pinch

Pepper pdr. 1/8 tsp

Dry ginger pdr ¼ tsp

Water ½ cup

Serves 2

INSTRUCTIONS

1.       Wash the ash gourd well. Cut into slices. Peel the skin and remove the seeds. Cut it into small pieces and set aside.

2.       Grind all the ingredients given under method 1,2,1 separately using a mixer.

3.       You can even add ice cubes while grinding or keep it refrigerated and enjoy it cold

Recipe notes

You can always increase or decrease the spices according to your taste and needs.

Add cold water and ice cubes while grinding or else you can keep it refrigerated.

 

coutresy- Shammi's kitchen

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Turn Old Looking Things Into New Once Again

You most probably have a couple of things around the house that are old, or things you most likely love that you wish would look as good as new again. Thankfully, with these secrets, your old-looking items will look brand new once again!

1. Chopping boards  

Use a sponge soaked in a mixture of lemon juice and salt to make an old chopping board look as good as new. 

 

2. Copper pots

For copper pots to look as good as new again, sprinkle the surface with salt, then pour a little bit of vinegar over it, rubbing it with a hard sponge.

3. Plates

Got scratches on your plates? Use a polish designed specifically for use on porcelain. 

 

4. Baking trays

Remove burnt stains from baking trays easily by applying a paste made of hydrogen peroxide and ordinary soda. Spread the paste on the baking tray and leave it for 30 minutes before rinsing.

5. Carpets

Prepare a solution made of one part vinegar and two parts water. Mix the water and vinegar together in a spray bottle and spray on the stain, covering with a damp cloth. Then, set your iron onto steam mode and place it over the cloth for 30 seconds. 

6. Cast-iron pans

For cast-iron pans you will need a disinfectant, some gloves, garbage bags and white vinegar and follow these instructions: 

 

• Spread a thick layer of the disinfectant on the old cast-iron pan. 

 

• Put the pan in a garbage bag and tie it up tightly. 

 

• Leave the pan in the bag for 1-2 days then rinse off the disinfectant. 

 

• Apply a new layer of the same liquid and put it in a tightly knotted bag for one day. 

 

• Wash off the dirt with hot water. 

 

• Soak the pan in a mixture of warm water and vinegar (1:1) for an hour and scrub the surface with a scouring pad. 

 

 • Let the pan dry. 

 

• Preheat the oven to 250C, putting the pan in it for an hour. 

 

• Carefully remove the hot frying pan and apply a layer of olive oil all over it. 

 

• The hot metal will absorb the required amount of oil - wipe off the residue with a clean, dry cloth and once again, put the pan in the oven, this time upside down. 

 

• Take it out after 15 minutes, wipe with a cloth and place it in the oven again for an extra 15 minutes. Repeat for another two times. 

 

7. Tiles

Use bleach to clean the areas between the tiles. Mix with water in a ratio of 1:1. While doing so, be sure to ventilate the room. 

 

8. White sneakers

It is possible to make your sneakers bright white once again using a solution of one teaspoon of dishwasher cleaning liquid, three tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide, and two tablespoons of baking soda. 

 

9. Leather furniture

Wipe scratches from your sofa using olive oil or baby oil, using a cotton swab. Let the oil dry for an hour. If the scratch is visible, repeat the procedure. 

 

10. Furniture, with microfibre upholstery

This kind of furniture requires special care. Use a white sponge and alcohol to get rid of any stains that may appear on the furniture over time. Dampen the stain with a sponge soaked in alcohol, let it dry, then clean the area thoroughly with a brush. 

 

11. Leather bags

Clean the stains on a leather bag easily by simply using wet wipes.

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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

10 Little-Known Uses For Your Dishwasher

Are you only using your dishwasher to clean dishes? If so, you’re seriously missing out. The truth is that the dishwasher is a real multitasker - it can clean and disinfect all items in your home, and it can even be used to cook foods. In that regard, it’s not so different from other kitchen appliances like the microwave or even a rice cooker, as we’ve specified in the article - 12 Unexpected Uses of Home Appliances. Wait no more and expand your dishwasher’s potential with these genius but little-known hacks!

1. Rinse fresh produce  

We’re all a little more concerned about disinfection and cleaning these days. Like many people, you may be wondering how to clean the fresh produce you just purchased at the supermarket or the farmer’s market without spending an entire hour on hand-washing each fruit and vegetable. 

 

Here’s a pretty clever solution - just rinse them in the dishwasher. To do so, place each type of fruit and vegetable strategically: softer and more fragile foods like tomatoes or grapes should go on the top rack, whereas studier items, such as potatoes and oranges can be placed on the bottom rack. Rinse the foods by switching the dishwasher to the cold setting and running only the rinse cycle. Avoid using detergent when you’re rinsing produce. 

 

2. Disinfect toys 

Washing kids’ toys such as legos and plastic figurines by hand can become a real project, a project that will consume a big portion of your day. Still, it has to be done since kids can and will chew and roll around in their toys, whether or not they’re dirty and covered in bacteria. Luckily, you can make the dishwasher get the disinfecting done even better than you ever could. 

 

Here’s how to do it: put the smallest toys in the silverware basket and the medium toys on the top rack. Bigger toys should go on the bottom rack. Do NOT use the highest heat cycle or the heat-dry setting because both of these could damage or melt plastic toys. It’s safer to use a light wash cycle. Extra tip: you can also use the same directions to wash pet toys in the dishwasher.

 

3. Prepare tender fish  

Do you hate the way your oven overcooks fish no matter what? According to a Real Simple recipe, you can prepare soft and tender fish filets using the dishwasher. The results are similar to when you’re steaming fish. To make fish in your dishwasher, take two fish filets (we used salmon) and season them with lemon, salt, pepper, and a little olive oil. 

 

The next step is crucial - seal the salmon filets airtight in aluminum foil. It’s best to use plenty of foil and seal each fish filet individually. Finally, put the two foil packets on the top rack and run the dishwasher on a normal cycle. Do not use soap.

4. Ripen avocados in no time

Avocados can take awfully long to ripen. If you need to ripen an avocado fast - and we mean really fast, i.e. in a matter of a few hours - use your dishwasher. Place the unripe avocados on the top rack of the dishwasher a run a regular cycle. This is a well-known chef trick used in restaurants. 

 

5. Keep the dishes warm 

If a specific meal you’re preparing is best served on a warm plate, you can use the dishwasher to keep them warm. While some dishwashers have a plate-warming setting, every regular dishwasher placed on the heat/dry setting has the same effect.

6. Make steamed vegetables 

Steaming veggies can be quite tedious, which is a shame because they’re so healthy. But we found a really simple hack that will make steaming veggies super easy, and it involves a dishwasher. To prepare steamed vegetables in the dishwasher, you will need a Mason jar. 

 

Take your vegetables — asparagus, broccoli, and green beans work especially well for this method— and put them in the jar. Add 1 cup of water, lemon, butter, and any herbs and spices of your choice into the jar, and then seal it shut. Place the jar on the top rack and run the dishwasher on a normal cycle. Et voila, you have a serving of perfectly-cooked and seasoned steamed veggies! 

 

7. Cook lasagna Dishwasher

If for whatever reason the dishwasher is the only tool you can use to cook an entire lasagna, it’s totally possible! But you will need to choose a watertight container to do it. Just like the fish recipe, aluminum foil is a good choice, for example. But you’ll need to use plenty of foil and fold it up tightly to ensure that no water can leak through in the cooking process. Place the lasagna on the top rack and turn on the dishwasher on the normal washing cycle without any soap. 

 

8. Clean makeup brushes and hair combs

 

Washing hair combs, hairbrushes, or makeup brushes is another tedious task that needs to be done on a regular basis. Otherwise, the dirty makeup brushes can cause eye irritation and make your skin break out, and they will be less effective at applying your makeup, too. 

 

Likewise, dirty hair combs and brushes can cause scalp irritation, dandruff, and other scalp problems. So it’s a really good idea to clean these items at least once a month, and the dishwasher can do the job for you. Simply place the brushes and combs in the silverware basket and wash on the gentle cycle, preferable without using soap. 

 

9. Wash flipflops and hats 

Even though many shoes and hats can be safely cleaned in the washing machine, they can become misshapen in the process. So, instead of washing things like flip flops and baseball caps in the washing machine, you could just toss them in the dishwasher. Just don’t mix them with dirty dishes because that’s unsanitary. 

 

10. Keep food warm

Need to keep a certain food warm while also preparing another dish in the oven? Why not let your dishwasher do the job? Cover the dish with some foil to seal in the heat, and place the dishwasher on the heat/dry setting. This cycle uses no water, and it will keep your food nice and warm while you’re busy finishing up the dinner.

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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

Sweet potato-dal cutlet

 INGREDIENTS

Sweet potato peeled and chopped 1 bowl

potato 1 big peeled and chopped

moong dal  1 small cup

green chilies 2 finely chopped

ginger-garlic paste 2 tsp OR

only ginger paste or finely chopped

salt to taste

rice flour 2-3 tbsp / breadcrumbs

oil for shallow frying

METHOD

as I peeled the sweet potato, I put it in water, so that it doesn't get dark

peeled and chopped water, wash well

wash well dal

I put all the washed ingredients in a pressure pan with little water, along with green chilies chopped and ginger-garlic paste with little turmeric pdr for 3-4 whistles

once the pressure was released from the pan, I mashed it all well with a vegetable masher adding salt to taste, you must do it when it is still warm as it is easy to mash well.

As, I had put minimum water, it was a thick paste that I got. As, I'ld not do it, the same day, I kept it in the fridge, then next day, mixed well adding about 2 tbsp of rice flour, add more if your paste is too sticky or you add some breadcrumbs.

Shape into cutlets and shallow fry using minimum oil till brown on both sides on medium flame.

We ate it plain, or you can serve with chutney or ketchup.

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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

 

 

Tips for Keeping Bread Fresh For Longer

Bread is a basic product that exists in different forms, made of different types of flour and is an inseparable part of many people's diets. Some people bake their own bread and pastries while others buy them at the supermarket or bakery, but all bread poses the same problem; how do you keep it fresh and tasty for longer?

Usually, 24 hours after the end of the baking process, bread loses its crispness and taste, and many people just accept this situation instead of realizing that they may be storing it in unsuitable conditions. That’s why we've put together a number of methods to help you keep your bread fresh for longer than usual. 

2 ways and 5 methods to keep bread fresh 

 

Pantry Storage 

This is the most common method of keeping the bread fresh on the shelf or in the pantry, and for it to be as effective as possible, you need to know what kind of wrapping you should use on different types of bread. 

 

Method 1: Different bags or covers  

Plastic bags: When you buy bread in the supermarket, it usually comes packaged in a plastic bag. In such cases, when you finish eating the desired amount of bread, make sure the bag is well closed after use. The bread should be placed on a shelf or in a pantry so that it can maintain maximum freshness for about 2-3 days. It is important to note that this method is not suitable for sourdough, home-baked, or artisan bread since these types don’t contain preservatives and the fermentation process which still occurs can lead to sweating conditions in the plastic bag, making a great environment for mold. 

 

Paper or cloth bags: Wrapping bread in these bags, beyond being an economical, simple and ecological choice, is also recommended because it does not allow dry air to penetrate and cause the bread to dry out, thus keeping it moist and crisp. Paper and cloth bags also help prevent the process of sweating which often leads to the formation of mold, and they can be used for almost all types of bread. 

 

Method 2: Wooden or tin bread box 

One of the most effective ways to keep the bread fresh out of the freezer is to store it in a wooden or tin box with an appropriate lid that allows air and gases to be released from the box. If you want to provide your bread with double the protection, you should wrap it in a cloth or paper bag while storing inside a bread box. The box should be placed in a dark, dry and cool place. 

 

Tips for keeping bread fresh without freezing: 

 

 Don’t store bread above the refrigerator, as the heat from the back of the refrigerator rises and can dry out the bread. The same heat also can cause condensation in the storage bag which speeds up mold formation. 

 

A whole loaf of bread should be sliced from the middle out and not from the end. This allows you to cut as many slices as you want and when you're done you can “close” the loaf back up by placing the two ends back together and storing. 

 

Do not store bread, in any packing method, in a place that is too hot and/or exposed to direct sunlight. 

 

Bread should be kept in a dark, dry place. 

 

It is not recommended at any stage to store bread in the refrigerator, which speeds the formation of mold by up to 6 times, causing bread to lose its taste and texture. 

 

 Freezer storage  

Storing bread in the freezer is considered the most efficient method of all and there are a number of good and easy ways to implement this storage method which will help us keep our bread fresh over time. 

 

Method 3: Double-wrapping bread in plastic  

If you choose to store bread in the freezer, it is best to double wrap it in plastic to prevent the penetration of unpleasant odors and to prevent the formation of freezer burn on the bread. 

 

Method Number 4: Do not freeze a whole loaf of bread  

The reason why it is not recommended to keep a whole loaf of bread in the freezer stems from the fact that it is very difficult, even almost impossible, to slice frozen bread. This action is dangerous because the center of the bread is an area that contains some liquids that freeze into a block of ice which can cause the knife to slide when pressure is applied. In addition, if you want to eat only a few slices of bread, you’ll need to thaw the whole loaf, which will lead to the beginning of the aging of the bread again, after which it is also not recommended to freeze whatever is left. Therefore, freezing the whole loaf is only recommended if you plan on eating it all in one sitting, however, it’s always better to freeze bread that has been sliced, which leads us directly to the next efficient method. 

 

Method 5: Freeze slices  

Freezing bread in slices is the best way to keep bread fresh for a long time, because if you want to eat a few slices of bread, you don’t need to thaw the entire loaf, only to get the desired amount. Here are tips to help you do this effectively: 

 

Storing a few slices of bread in a ziplock bag  

Ziplock bags are commonly found in many homes, and in order to store slices of bread in such a bag, all you’ll need is a simple plastic straw and to do the following. 

 

1. Put the bread slices into the bag and arrange them one on top of the other, no more than 3-4 slices - depending on the size of the bag. 

 

2. Put half of the length of the drinking straw in the bag and zip the bag closed as much as you can without removing the straw. 

 

3. Hold the bag in the area of the closing strip, place the straw in your mouth and suck the air out of the bag forming a vacuum. 

 

4. Remove the straw and quickly close the seal. 

 

5. Now that the bag contains only a small amount of air and is sealed, put it in the freezer until use.

 

Storing slices of bread with dividers  

When bread sizes are frozen, the slices stick together, and when separated, they sometimes break or crumble. It is therefore advisable to use the following method, which will allow you to freeze a loaf of sliced bread as a single unit but will still allow you to separate as many slices as you want: 

 

1. Take parchment paper and cut it into equal-sized squares slightly larger than the size of a slice of bread. 

 

2. Remove the bread slices from the bag in which they’re stored, and place a piece of parchment paper between each slice. 

 

3. Return the bread with the parchment paper back into the bag - it is recommended, but not mandatory, to remove the air from the bag - and put it in the freezer until your next use. 

 

4. When you want a few slices of bread, simply remove the amount you want easily by separating them without having them stick to each other. 

 

5. Place the papers aside to dry (they will be slightly damp at first), so you can use them again in your next loaf of bread.  

 

Tips for keeping frozen bread fresh:  

It is not recommended to freeze bread that has already been thawed. 

 

Freezing bread, which has been outside for several hours or days and has gone stale, or whose texture is no longer soft, will not cause it to be fresh again once thawed. It will come out dry and exactly the same texture it was when you put it in the freezer. 

 

The maximum amount of time recommended for freezing bread is between two and three months. Beyond that, it loses its taste and some of its nutritional value. 

 

Thawing frozen bread should be done in a natural cloth bag (without heat) and at room temperature, or by wrapping the loaf of bread in aluminum foil and placing it into a preheated oven at 300 degrees F (150 ° C) for 5-10 minutes. 

 

It is recommended to double-bag bread you intend to freeze: the first bag should contain as little air as possible (you can use the straw method) and the second bag will contain some air to create a space that will prevent ice from forming on the bread. 

 

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