Easy recipes: July 2015

Monday, July 27, 2015

Amazing uses of Mayonnaise !

Be pleasantly surprised to find it has a host of non-food related uses. This item is so adaptable. It can be used for cleaning indoors and out and also can be useful in many beauty routines. I also appreciate the money I’m going to save knowing these neat tricks.

1. Remove adhesives

The natural emulsifiers in mayonnaise help soften sticky surfaces. You can remove the sticky residue left by glue, stickers and even remove gum. Cover the surface with mayonnaise and let it sit for five minutes. You should be able to peel off stickers or wipe glue away with a soft cloth. You can also use it to remove bird poop or tree sap that falls on your car, however because this is likely to be grimier it might take a few tries before it comes off completely.

2. Furniture polish and water stains remover

If your patio furniture is looking worse for the wear or your wooden furniture is covered with water rings, mayonnaise can help. For water rings, let the mayonnaise sit for 10 minutes and then buff the stain. It’s a wise idea to try this on a small area first before you apply the mayonnaise everywhere.

For whole pieces of furniture, you can use a soft cloth to rub mayonnaise into the stained areas. The active ingredient in most furniture polishes is oil and similarly mayonnaise can replenish the moisture of wooden furniture’s finish. The oil and vinegar offer shine and protect the finish too.

3. Remove stuck rings

Mayonnaise can also help you remove a stuck ring from a finger if your ring is just not coming off. The oily texture of mayonnaise acts as a lubricant. Rub mayonnaise underneath and around the ring and twist. The ring should slide off. Stop if you feel numbness or excruciating pain.

4. Lice killer

Anyone can get lice, no matter how clean you are. There are lots of special shampoos for the condition but did you know you could just use mayonnaise? It’s a cheaper alternative lice fighter and has the added benefit of being non-toxic. Using room temperature mayonnaise, liberally apply the condiment all over your dry hair. Cover your head with a shower cap or wrap it in plastic wrap. Go to sleep with this mixture in your hair and the next morning you can wash it out. Afterwards use a fine comb to comb out any dead eggs or lice.

5. Conditioner for shiny hair

Mayonnaise can make your hair soft and smooth looking. Mayonnaise also contains nutritious ingredients: the egg yolk will encourage hair growth, the oil will condition and the vinegar will exfoliate the scalp.

After shampooing and towel drying your hair, comb in a tablespoon of room temperature mayonnaise. Start at the top of your head, and work it down to the tips. Coat each strand and leave it in for an hour. Wash your hair again with baby shampoo, or a small amount of regular shampoo. This will remove the greasy kitchen scent from your scalp. You can now dry your hair. The end result should be luscious locks.

6. Exfoliator

Mayonnaise has fantastic emollient qualities. Not only can it soften your hair, but it works wonders on your skin too. Apply a blob of mayonnaise to problematic skin areas such as your elbows or knees. Leave in the condiment for 15 minutes and wipe away with a washcloth or damp towel. Afterwards use a regular moisturizer to lock in the freshness.

You can also remove dead skin cells on your face, using mayonnaise as a facial mask. Spread mayonnaise over your face and leave it in for 20 minutes. You can wipe off and wash your face with water.

7. Glossy houseplants

If your houseplants are looking a little dull why not use this old florist trick. Take a paper towel and rub a little bit of mayonnaise on the leaves. This will leave not only leave your plants looking vibrant and glossy, but this trick also prevents dust from sticking to the leaves.

8. Sunburn relief

If you find that you’ve overdone it with the sun and underused your sunscreen, mayonnaise is a great relief for sunburn. The soothing ingredients will cool the skin and soothe the burn. Ingredients like oil and vinegar help hydrate the skin and prevent it from peeling.

9. Strengthen fingernails

If your nails are often chipping or breaking, or you feel like giving yourself a home manicure, mayonnaise is your go to all-in-one ingredient. Rest your nails in a bowl of mayonnaise. Make sure to also dip your fingertip including your cuticles. Let your finger soak for at least 5 minutes. Rinse afterwards with warm water. This solution strengthens your nails, improves the condition of your cuticles, and can heal and prevent hangnails.

10. Fix wood cracks

It seems mayonnaise has endless uses. This last tip is great for aging furniture. If you find that your wooden furniture has small cracks, you can fill in the cracks with mayonnaise. Smooth the top over so that no extra mayonnaise remains. Leave it in for several days. The mayonnaise will release oils and proteins which will cause the wood to swell and in turn shrink the cracks.

those interested in cancer and health related topics are free to see my blog-

http://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com/

for crochet designs, my blog, those who like a particular design are free to mail me

http://My Crochet Creations.blogspot.com

For info. about knee replacement, be free to view my blog-

http://knee replacement-stickclub.blogspot.com

Friday, July 24, 2015

Some things that shoud not be microwaved

Hard boil eggs
If you try to hard boil eggs in your microwave you're likely to either end up with a big mess or burned fingers! The rapid heat from the microwaves creates a lot of steam in the egg, which has nowhere to escape. Exploded egg is hard to clean up—trust us.

Meat

Frozen cuts of meat are tricky to defrost in a microwave: Thinner edges start cooking while the thicker middle remains frozen. And if your microwave doesn't rotate food while cooking it, this too can lead to uneven distribution of heat, which can can allow bacteria to grow. The safest way to thaw meat is to defrost it overnight in your refrigerator, according to food safety experts.

Breast milk

Not only does microwaving frozen breast milk warm it unevenly, which can create scalding hot spots for sensitive little mouths, other research has found that this heating method may destroy some of breast milk's immune-boosting proteins, particularly on high power. A better bet: Nuke a mug of water, then place a bottle of breast milk in the mug to come to room temperature.

Chinese takeout containers

Metal (even small amounts of metal, like the handles on those white containers) and microwaves don't mix. Or, more accurately, when they mix, they can start fires. Put the rice in a bowl to warm it up.

Plastic containers

You know you shouldn't pop plastic leftover containers in there, but you still do. Here's why that's bad: Many plastics contain estrogen-like chemicals (BPA is a well-known one) that can leach into your food when the plastic is heated. In a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, 95 percent of 450 plastic products (such as baby bottles, zipper-top bags and containers) tested released chemicals that acted like estrogen after they were microwaved, washed in a dishwasher, or soaked in water. Even products labeled "BPA-free" released estrogen-like chemicals. Better to be safe and warm up your dinner directly on a plate.

Styrofoam containers

As a type of plastic, styrofoam can release harmful chemicals into your food when heated. Dump the leftovers onto a glass dish covered with a paper towel instead.

Certain plates

Do you have a lot of fancy China or metallic-trimmed bowls? Keep them far from the microwave. Even if the metallic trimming is miniscule, it may still react in the microwave, according to the USDA. If you use the microwave a lot, it’s best to invest in a plain colored glass plate for microwave use only.

Travel mugs

Stainless steel mugs block the heat from warming your coffee or tea and can damage your microwave instead. If it's plastic, check the bottom of the mug to see if it's marked as microwave safe—but even if it is, you may want to reconsider.

Nothing

With no food or liquid to absorb the microwaves, the magnetron (which is what makes the microwave function) ends up absorbing the microwaves instead, which can damage your microwave and even start a fire, according to the USDA. Make sure you don't accidentally press "start" without food or drink inside.

Cups of water

When plain water is heated in a microwave in a ceramic or glass container for too long, it can prevent bubbles from forming, which usually help cool the liquid down. The water becomes superheated; when you move the cup, the heat releases violently and erupts boiling water. To avoid this scalding risk, heat water only the minimum amount of time needed or heat it for longer in small cycles.

That mug you’ve had for years and years

Certain mugs made before the 1960s, like old versions of Fiestaware, were glazed with materials that could give off radiation and may contain lead and other harmful heavy metals. That mug you found at your neighbor's garage sale may look cute, but consider adding it to your shelf collection instead of drinking from it.

Beware of “Microwave Safe” labels

The only thing a “microwave safe” label tells you is that you can microwave the container without damaging it or damaging the microwave. In fact, manufacturers aren’t even required to test their ceramics to ensure safety after heating, according to the FDA (that’s probably why you’ve burned yourself on too-hot ceramic mugs). Even though something may say it’s safe to nuke, if you've never used it before, consider heating your liquid or food on the stove and then transfer it to a bowl, plate, or mug.

Popping the wrong foods, containers, or mugs in the microwave could make you sick, expose you to harmful chemicals, or even start a fire. Follow these tips to avoid dangerous microwave mistakes.

those interested in cancer and health related topics are free to see my blog-

http://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Arbi bondas

Ingredients

rice washed and soaked 1 cup
udad dal washed and soaked 1/2 cup
green chillies to taste
arbi leaves washed and finely chopped 1/2 cup
fresh coriander leaves chopped 2 tbsp
hing 1/4 tsp
salt to taste

Method
grind rice and dal adding as less water as possible to a thick paste with chillies
remove, add hing, salt, leaves, mix well
heat oil in a kadai/ pan, take small portions in your hands, put in hot oil carefully, fry till golden brown, drain well, serve hot with chutney/ ketchup

those interested in cancer and health related topics are free to see my blog-

http://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com/

( colocassia) Arbi-dal fry

Ingredients

chana dal soaked 1 cup
arbi leaves washed and chopped 1/2 cup
green chillies 3-4 or to taste
oil 2-3 tbsp
salt to taste
mustard seeds 1/2 tsp
hing/ asafoetida 1/4 tsp

Method
grind the dal with as little water as possible to a paste, adding chillies, then add the leaves and grind, adding hing, remove, add salt, mix well
put the mixture on a greased plate, steam for 12-15 minutes in a cooker/ vessel
remove, cool, cut into big pieces and grate or once luke warm mash it well with your hands or spoon
heat oil in a heavy pan/ kadai, add mustard seeds, once ti crackles, add the mashed mixture, mix well, keep it on low flame to fry according to your taste
this will go well with rice and dal/ rasam/ sambar

those interested in cancer and health related topics are free to see my blog-

http://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com/

Bondas/ Bhajiyas for fasting days !

Ingredients
for outer covering
raw banana boiled and mashed well 2
green chilli paste 2 tsp or to taste
ginger paste 1 tsp
salt to taste
turmeric pdr. 1/4 tsp
coconut grated 2-3 tbsp
arrowroot pdr. 2 tsp

for stuffing
paneer mashed 200 gm
nuts and raisins coarsely powdered 3 tbsp
coconut pdr. 2 tbsp
sugar 2 tsp
spice pdr. 1/2 tsp

Method
mix all ingredients for outer covering, make small balls
mix all the ingredients for stuffing well and make small balls of the stuffing
oil your palm lightly, take small balls of the outer covering, flatten it, put filling cover from all sides well, make all in the same way
roll the balls in arrowroot pdr to coat it well, dust off excess powder
deep fry in hot oil till light brown, drain well, serve with green chutney

those interested in cancer and health related topics are free to see my blog-

http://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com/

How Long Foods Last?

those interested in cancer and health related topics are free to see my blog-

http://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Healthy Oats Puliyodarai

Ingredients

oats 1 cup
water 3/4 cup
turmeric pdr. 1/4 tsp
tamarind paste 1 tbsp
salt to taste
green chillies 2-3 or to taste finely chopped
curry leaves few
peanuts 2 tbsp
urad dal 2 tsp
chana dal 2 tsp
mustard seeds 1/2 tsp
hing 1/8 tsp
fresh coriander leaves 2 tbsp

Method
heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, once it crackles, add the dals, peanuts fry til light brown, add hing, curry leaves chopped fine ( or else people throw it, losing its nutrients)
add turmeric pdr, add water, tamarind paste, let it boil well, add half of the coriander leaves
add oats, cook till all the water is absorbed
serve garnishing with rest of the coriander leaves and roasted papad and cucumber raita

those interested in cancer and health related topics are free to see my blog-

http://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com/

Monday, July 20, 2015

Mushroom in gravy

Ingredients

mushrooms 200 gm chopped big
potatoes 2-3 cubed
onion 2 chopped
tomatoes 3 chopped
turmeric pdr. 1/4 tsp
coriander pdr. 2 tsp
red chilli pdr. 1 tsp or to taste
ginger-garlic paste 2 tsp ( optional)
water as needed
coconut 1/4 cup grind with roasted jeera 1 tsp and 1 green chilli to a fine paste
salt to taste
oil 2 tbsp
curry leaves few
coriander leaves chopped 2 tbsp
jeera/ cumin 1 tsp

Method
Heat oil in a pan, add jeera, once it crackles, add curry leaves, then onion, fry well, add the tomatoes, fry well
add the spice powders, ginger-garlic paste fry well
add the potatoes, enough water for it cook
cook till potatoes are 3/4 done, add mushroom, cook till done, add the ground coconut paste, salt, coriander leaves, let it simmer for 3-4 minutes
break some curry leaves with your hand, coriander leaves and remove
this goes well with idli, dosai, appam, rice

those interested in cancer and health related topics are free to see my blog-

http://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com/

Mushroom biryani

Ingredients
mushroom halved lengthwise or cut as desired 1 cup
onion 2 chopped
tomatoes chopped 2
mint leaves 2 tsp
fresh coriander leaves chopped 3 tbsp
turmeric pdr. 1/4 tsp
coriander pdr. 2 tsp
red chilli pdr. 1 tsp or to taste
ginger-garlic paste 2 tsp ( those who don't like garlic can omit garlic)
salt to taste
oil 1 tbsp
ghee 2 tbsp
basmati rice soaked for 15 minutes 1 cup
cinnamon stick 1" broken into 2
cloves and cardamom 2each
salt to taste
water 2 cups

Method
heat a heavy bottomed pan, or you can do in a pressure pan/ cooker
heat oil and ghee, add cinnamon, cloves and cardamom
then fry onion till light brown,add ginger-garlic paste, fry, add the powders, fry well
add tomatoes, fry for 3 minutes, add chopped mushroom
add rice and water, salt to taste, mint and half of the coriander leaves, mix well
if using pressure cooker, cook for 2-3 whistles, or if using a pan, keep it in sim, cover and cook, stirring in between for 8-10 minutes, till rice is cooked
to serve sprinkle remaining coriander leaves, you may sprinkle some ghee if desired or some nuts along with raita and papad to make a complete meal, as mushrooms are rich in protein.

those interested in cancer and health related topics are free to see my blog-

http://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com/

Sweet sandwich

Ingredients
brown bread as needed
apple peeled, cored and finely chopped as needed
cinnamon pdr. 1/4-1/2 tsp according to the quantity you use
brown sugar/ jaggery to taste
ghee/ clarified butter 1 tbsp
cottage cheese/ paneer crumbled 2-4 tbsp according to the quantity used
peanut butter to apply on the slices
finely chopped nuts as needed

Method
heat a pan with ghee, once it melts, add the apple pieces, cinnamon pdr., after 2 minutes, add brown sugar to taste, once it melts, add nuts and paneer, stir till mixture is almost dry, remove and cool
toast the slices( if you prefer), apply peanut butter, then spread the prepared apple mixture, place a thin slice of apple on top, sprinkle some nuts and serve.

those interested in cancer and health related topics are free to see my blog-

http://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com/

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Stuffed Karela/ bitter gourd

Ingredients
karela small ones 250 gm
onion 3 finely chopped
tomatoes 2 finely chopped
green chillies 3-4 finely chopped
besan/chickpea flour 1 tsp
garlic minced 6 cloves ( optional)
amchur pdr. 1/2 tsp
coriander pdr. 2 tsp
turmeric pdr. 1/4 tsp
garam masala pdr. 1/2 tsp
salt to taste
oil as needed

Method
scrape the karela, slit it carefully lengthwise without separating it,smear it with salt, set aside for 30 minutes, then squeeze it well and keep aside
heat oil in a pan, fry onion, tomatoes, green chillies, garlic till light brown, then add the spices and salt, fry till brown, remove and cool
make a thick paste with besan
fill the karelas with the mixture, seal with besan paste, shallow fry on medium heat, turning all over till cooked and browned or you can cover for 2-3 minutes, then turn them all, again cover and cook, repeat the process till karelas are tender and brown.
serve hot with roti/ rice

those interested in cancer and health related topics are free to see my blog-

http://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com/

Carrot cake

Ingredients

wheat flour/ atta 1 1/2 cups
baking pdr. 1 tsp
baking soda 1 1/2 tsp
cinnamon pdr 1 1/2 tsp
nutmeg pdr. 1/2 tsp
salt 1/2 tsp
coconut oil melted 1 tbsp
egg 1
vanilla essence 2 tsp
low fat curd 1/4 cup
honey 1/2 cup
low fat milk 1/4 cup
grated carrot 2 cups

Method
preheat oven to 175 deg. C
sift together the flour, baking pdr, baking soda, spice powders and salt in a bowl
in another bowl, whisk together oil, egg and essence
add the curd, stirring to get a smooth consitency
add the honey, mix well
add the flour mixture and then milk, stirring just until all mixed well
fold in the carrots
either you can bake in muffin cups or bake as a big cake in a cake tin at 175 deg. C for 25-30 minutes, check with a toothpick/ knife by inserting into the centre of the cake, should come out cean
once done, remove, let it in the pan for few minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool completely

those interested in cancer and health related topics are free to see my blog-

http://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com/

Protein rich cutlets

Ingredients

almonds whole 1/3 cup
soya bean granulea 1/2 cup
chana dal 1/4 cup
onion finely chopped 1/2 cup
ginger finely chopped 2 tbsp
garlic finely chopped 1 1/2 tsp
red chilli 2
green chillies slit 2
shahjeera 2 tsp
saunf/ fennel seeds 2 tsp
salt to taste
turmeric pdr. 1/2 tsp
water 500 ml
oil as needed
almonds halved as needed

Method
wash and soak dal, soya granules and almonds separately for 15 minutes,
drain water, mix the other ingredients except the last 2
add water cook on medium heat, removing the scum as it comes up. cook till the dal is cooked and the water as almost evaporated.
remove, cool and make a paste in the mixie.
check for seasoning, add some finely chopped coriander leaves, mix well
make small cutlets, press gently one almond half in the centre
shallow fry in a pan till crisp on both the sides
serve hot with ketchup/ chutney of your choice.

those interested in cancer and health related topics are free to see my blog-

http://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com/

A Simple Guide to Peeling Fruits & Veggies

14 smart and easy ways to peel your favorite fruits and veggies:
Tangerine

1. Cut the top and bottom edges.	2. Make a lateral inscision.

3. Split the tangerine	4. Enjoy!

Kiwi

1. Cut the top and bottom edges.	2. Use a teaspoon to separate the flesh from the skin.

3. Push on one end to slide the skin off.	4. Enjoy!

Hazelnuts

1. Roast the nuts for about 20-30 minutes.	2. Place the nuts on a kitchen towel and wrap it around them.

3. Roll the towels as if you're using a rolling pin - this will separate the skins from the nuts. Enjoy!

Ginger root

1. Use a knife to streamline the root, removing all "bumps".	2. Peel the skin off using a spoon.

3. Enjoy!

Garlic

1. Place a whole head on a flat, hard surface and "smack" it with your hand.	2. The cloves will separate. Put all the individual cloves into a bowl.

3. Use a second bowl to create a closed container. Shake it well for a few seconds.	4. The movement will peel the cloves. Enjoy!

Corn

1. Gently peel the husk from the top of the corn, where the dark "hairs" are.	2. Pull the husk leaves off and grab them.

3. With your other hand, grab the cob and pull the skin off in one smooth motion.	4. Break the stem off and clear away any leftover "hairs". Enjoy!

Chestnuts

1. Cut an 'X' shape at the top part of the chestnuts.	2. Place the chestnuts on an aluminum foil strip, and fold it into a container with a small hole at the top.

3. Pour a quarter of a cup of water into the "container" and roast it in the oven for 20-30 minutes at 180°c (350°F).	4. Your chestnuts are now both roasted and peeled. Enjoy!

Banana

1. Most people start peeling the banana from the stem - this is not the best way.	2. Grab the bottom of the banana with your thumb and index finger and squeeze it until it splits.

3. Peel the banana. Enjoy!

Avocado

1. Cut the avocado horizontally.	2. Separate both sides and inset a small knife between the skin and the flesh.

3. Spin the avocado around to separate the skin. (Make sure you're spinning towards the dull end of the knife!)	4. Pull off the skin. Enjoy!

Mango

1. Separate both sides of the mango along the seed.	2. Cut into the sides in a criss-cross pattern. (try not to cut the skin)

3. Hold the piece and use your thumb to push the skin "into" the flesh as seen above.	4. Cut the lovely squares into a bowl. Enjoy!

Orange

1. Roll the orange on a flat surface. Apply some pressure to soften it up.	2. Cut an inscision near the top of the orange.

3. Insert a spoon into the insicion.	4. Use the spon to separate the skin from the flesh. Enjoy!

Tomato

1. Insert a fork into the top of the tomato.	2. Roast the tomato over a medium flame until the skin splits.

3. Let the tomato cool down, then simply pull the skin off.	4. Enjoy!

Potato

1. Boil the potatoes until they're cooked.	2. Place the cooked potatoes in a bowl of ice water for 15 seconds.

3. You can now pull the skin off the potato with your hands. Enjoy!

Peach

1. Make an 'X' shaped insicion at the bottom of the peach.	2. cook the peach in boiling water for 30 seconds.

3. Allow it to cool and the skin will come off easily. those interested in cancer and health related topics are free to see my blog- http://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com/ for crochet designs, my blog, those who like a particular design are free to mail me http://My Crochet Creations.blogspot.com For info. about knee replacement, be free to view my blog- http://knee replacement-stickclub.blogspot.com