Vegetable Biriani - Version 2 (No Grinding)

VEGETABLE BIRIANI - VERSION 2

I wanted to prepare a quick and tasty biriani before my two month old grand daughter woke up from her mid morning siesta, and I wanted to achieve this without sounding off the pressure cooker or the electric mixer! This resulted in Vegetable Biriani-version 2. (Version - 1 has been published in the Blogger Aid Cook Book). Once the various groups of ingredients are gathered & prepared, and the pot is on the fire, you can enjoy this dish in just twenty minutes time.

INGREDIENTS:

GROUP 1 : (Rice)
Basmati rice - 1 cup
Black peppercorns - 1/4 tsp
Cardamom - 2
Cinnamon - 1''
Cloves - 6
Curry leaves - 2 twigs
Cooking oil - 2 tbsps
GROUP - 2 (Green masala)
Spring onions - 4
Green chillies - 2
Coriander leaves - 1/2 bunch
Mint leaves - 1/2 bunch
Grated coconut - 2 tbsps
Cooking oil - 1 tbsp

GROUP - 3 ( Vegetables)
Cauliflower - 1/4
Beans - 1 fistful
Carrots - 2
Potatoes - 2
I used brocollini stems and baby corn too.
Group - 4 ( Red Masala)
Tomatoes - 2
Fresh grated ginger - 1 tsp
Grated garlic - 3 cloves
Red chilly powder - 1 heaped tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Cumin powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt - 1 1/2 tsp
Curds - 4 tbsps
Cooking oil - 2 tbsps

METHOD:

1. Soak rice and keep it aside.
2. Finely chop the green masala ingredients and keep aside.
3. Clean,peel and chop all the vegetables length wise into 1'' pieces.
4. Mince tomatoes and keep aside.
5. Grate ginger and garlic finely and keep aside.
STEP -1
6. Heat oil in a thick bottomed vessel and add the Group 1 ingredients - i.e. pepper corns, cardamoms, cinnamon and cloves.
7. When the garam masala sputters add curry leaves and then the soaked and drained rice.
8. Fry till the rice becomes translucent and sticky; switch off the fire.
STEP - 2
9. Heat oil in another kadai and add the Group 2 ingredients i.e. green masala and the coconut gratings, and saute till you get a very pleasant aroma.
10. Now add Group 3 - i.e. the cut vegetables and blend well with the masala.
11. Switch off flame and add the vegetable and green masala blend to the rice pot.
STEP - 3
12. Return the kadai to the flame and add oil.
13. When the oil is hot add the Group 4 i.e. grated ginger and garlic, and saute till it becomes golden brown.
14 . Add the chopped tomatoes followed by chilly powder, coriander powder,cumin powder and salt.
15. Cover and cook till the tomatoes become pulpy.
16. Mix in the curd and cook till the oil separates.
STEP - 4

17. Pour the masala into the rice and vegetable vessel.

18. Add 2 and 1/4 cups of water and stir well. 19. Leave it on high flame till it starts boiling.
20. When it reaches boiling point lower the flame and cook for 15 minutes, covering it tightly with a lid.

21. Remove lid and stir the contents evenly with a spatula, without mashing it up.
22. Return the lid and cook for five more minutes until done and switch it off when the aroma of biriani is overwhelming.

Roasted cashew nuts , fried bread pieces or slices of carmalised onion can be used for garnishing. A cold mint raita will be an excellant accompaniment.

Important Questions to Ask Before Signing A Plumbing Contract

Household plumbing problems can cause anxiety and stress for many homeowners. Leaking pipes, water back-up, clogged drains and drippy faucets are not only annoying, but they often lead to more serious trouble like water damage and mold. In a perfect world, we’d all have a reputable, trustworthy plumber on call any time of the day or night. But what if you don’t have that magic number taped to your fridge or printed on a business card stowed handily in your wallet?

Take some of the panic out of plumbing repairs and installation by devoting a little extra time to finding the right plumbing company for your job. If you’ve decided that you need to bring in a professional to work on your home’s plumbing, there are some important areas to cover with your plumber before you sign a contract.

• Get Prices Up Front. No one likes to be surprised by hidden fees and additional charges. A good plumber will provide a complete estimate free of charge before beginning a project and will get your approval for any unforeseen fees that pop up as work goes on. Generally, you can expect to pay for hourly labor, parts and travel time; extra charges are almost always tacked on for emergency service. Keep in mind, though, that cheaper isn’t always better when it comes to plumbing. The best way to keep costs under control is to get a ballpark number up front.

• Choose the Right Plumber for Your Job. Plumbers fall into two general categories: those who work on emergencies like burst pipes and water back-up, and those who do installation and renovation. Hiring a plumber who doesn’t have experience doing the kind of work you need done is like flushing money down the drain. Make sure the plumber you hire is qualified to do your job—even the trusted general plumber who never fails to come to the rescue when you have a plumbing emergency might not be able to manage a bathroom remodel.

• Do Your Homework. All reputable plumbers are licensed, adequately insured and certified; every state has a set of standards that these professionals must adhere to in order to do business. Don’t rely on your plumber’s word, either. Check with your local regulating organization to make sure the company or contractor’s license and certification are current; ask about insurance policy coverage details; and get a list of references. A good plumber will provide this information (and more) willingly and will encourage you to do a background check before signing a contract.

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More Plumbing Information from Horizon Services:

• Horizon Plumbing Services
• Horizon Drain Cleaning Services
• Horizon Sewer & Water Line Replacement Services
• How To Choose the Right Contractor

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New Year's Resolution: A Healthier, Happier, More Energy Efficient Home

2010: A new year and a new decade have begun. No better time than to give your home a quick inspection and address those household projects or problems you have been putting off, ignoring or just have not noticed yet. If your house is starting to feel like less of a home and more of a leaky, drafty, moldy money pit, it could be due to any one (or more) of the following common household problems.

• High Energy Bills: We all know the drill: The utility bill arrives in the mail and we brace ourselves for the inevitable monthly sticker shock. If you heating or cooling bills seem higher than usual, it could be because of air leaks in your HVAC system, inefficient or poorly insulated windows and doors, incorrectly installed heating and air conditioning systems, or badly sealed and insulated air ducts.


• Mold and Mildew: Noticing a musty, unpleasant smell? It could be mold or mildew accumulation resulting from water leaks or high levels of humidity inside your home. Excess water can cause wood rot; bubbling or peeling paint and wallpaper; structural damage; staining on walls, floors, or ceilings; and health problems like allergies and asthma. If your home has a central air conditioning system, the problem could be linked to components that are the wrong size or that have been improperly installed.


• Water in Basement: Dampness in the basement is usually caused by water that seeps in through your home’s foundation. Any time standing water is present in your yard, like after heavy rain or when winter snow and ice begin to melt, there’s an increased chance of moisture coming in your basement. Cracks or breaches in the foundation make it easier for water to get in, causing higher levels of indoor humidity and promoting the growth of mold.


• Cold Floors: If you wouldn’t think of touching a toe to the bare floor during the wintertime without layers of wool socks and slippers, it could be due to insufficient insulation or invisible drafting through improperly sealed windows and doors. Obviously, certain floor coverings (hardwood, stone, ceramic tile, concrete) will feel colder on bare feet during the winter months, but excessive frigid temperatures might indicate a more serious problem.


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• Excessive Dust: Wearing out that duster and furniture polish? Excessive amounts of dust or a sudden increase in dust could mean it’s time to change the air filter on your heating and cooling system. It could also point to a problem with your home’s HVAC system or ductwork.


• Ice Dams: These nasty ice formations are caused when warm air from inside your home leaks out through attics and ceiling crawl spaces that are poorly insulated. As the air escapes, it warms the snow and ice on your roof and makes it melt. The water refreezes as it moves away from the air leak and forms icicles and ice dams. Ice dams can seriously damage your roof, eaves, gutters, shingles, and trim, thus it's important to remove snow and ice from these areas as soon as you can.
  

Horizon Services Can Help With Many of These Problems Right Now!

Many of the problems above can be handled with some simple changes and do-it-yourself improvements around the home. But if you have more serious heating, comfort and air quality issues, you should call a reputable HVAC contractor like Horizon Services. Here are just a few of the free or low-cost things that Horizon can help you with to start the New Year off on the right foot:

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