Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Chapathi Rolls Stuffed with Chana Paneer Masala

Have you ever felt like doing nothing???? yeah nothing, jus kill the time doing nothing. i was feeling that for the past 1 week. I have hell a lot of work pending, but i dont feel like doing one. Dead Lazy!!! Atleast today i started with some work!!! Chalo something is better than nothing.
This Chapthi Rolls i actually made for the last month - Global kadai Event, now u understand how lazy i m!!!

Ingredients
Wheat flour/Atta - 4 cups
Salt to taste
Water for making the dough.

Chana Masala
Chana - 2 cups
Medium-Sized Onions - 2nos, chopped
Crumbled Paneer - 1/2 cup
Green Chillies - 3 nos
Freshly grated Coconut - 2 tbsp
Ginger - as needed
Corinarder - a fistful

Method
Mix Atta/Wheat flour,water and salt and make soft dough. Let it rest for 30 minutes. Make small balls out of it and roll it out as chapathi's and Cook on tava.

Soak Chana overnight. Grind Chana, Green Chillies, Ginger, Coconut and coriander to coarse mixture. Dont Add water.  Heat oil in a kadai, add cumin seeds, add onions and saute till translucent. Add the Chana Mixture and salt. Cook in a slow flame. Keep Stirring , as the chana might get stuck to the bottom of kadai, sprinkle lil water now and then. Let it cook in a slow flame for 15-20 minutes. Add paneer, mix well . When it is done(rawness escapes), take it off the flame.

Now for making the rolls, Take a chapthi, Place 2 tbsp of chana masala, Roll and Serve.

Sending this CWS-Cumin Seeds, hosted @ Sara's Corner, Event Started by Priya  and also to
MLLA-23 hosted by Susan.

Taenga manga batani sundal - Coconut mango and peas salad

TAENGA MANGA BATANI SUNDAL

" Taeeenga maaanga battani sundal!"
As I write this , the voice of the sundal vendor resonates in my ears.
We always looked forward to visit Madras ( Chennai) during our holidays to enjoy our grandmother's pampering and also to visit the clean and serene Marina Beach.We were greatly awed by the lashing waves and the far away ships which dotted the vast horizon. We built sand castles, combed the beach for sea shells and stood in the waves for a long time expecting the waves to throw out a great treasure at our feet! Only the sundal vendor's sing song voice drew us towards the dry sands. Grandmother bought us the yummy 'beach snack' which we kept pecking from the paper cone packets till we reached home. The unique taste of the sundal made up for the treasure we never found!
When my grand children heard the story,they were very eager to taste the snack. Hence I prepared it for them and also tried to imitate the sundal vandor's sing song voice while serving! The excited children relished the sundal but did miss the great Marina Beach.

TAENGA MANGA BATANI SUNDAL
INGREDIENTS
Dry white peas - 1/2 kg
Mango - 1 medium size
Freshly halved Cocoanut - 1/2
Salt - 1 tsp
Cooking oil - 2 tsps
Mustard seeds -1/4 tsp
Split black gram dal - 1 tsp
Green chillies - 3
Turmeric powder - 1 pinch
Asafoetida - 1 pinch
Curry leaves - a few
Fresh coriander leaves - a few

METHOD
1. Soak the peas over night, throw away the water the next day and pressure cook with out adding water.
2. Wash the mango ( preferably the variety called "Kili mookku" or "Gini mooti" which is not too sour), cut into long strips and mince evenly into tiny pieces.
3. Slide a sharp knife in between the shell and the kernel of the coconut , loosen it and bring it out of the shell. Cut the coconut into thin strips and then into tiny pieces similar to the mango pieces.
4. Mince green chillies and chop the coriander leaves.
5. Heat the oil in a kadai and add mustard seeds.
6. When it splutters add the black gram dal and roast till it turns golden in colour.
7. Add chopped green chillies, asafoetida and turmeric powder.
8. Add mango pieces and saute for two minute to bring out the mango flavour.
9. Add the cooked peas and salt and blend well without mashing the peas.
10.Turn the flame off and then add the coconut pieces and coriander leaves.

Enjoy the flavoursome crunch of the juicy mango and the milky coconut as you munch away the softly cooked peas.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Effective Kitchen & Bathroom Cleaning Without Harsh Chemicals

These days, many of us are concerned with how much our day to day activities impact the environment. We want to find ways to reduce the effect we have without sacrificing efficacy and efficiency. When it comes to household cleaning, especially in the bathroom and kitchen, finding green products that are as powerful as traditional chemicals can be difficult. However, there is one alternative cleaning method that stands high above the rest: high-pressure water vapor.


Advantages of Water Vapor for Cleaning

The average American spends about 70 percent of his or her time at home. This makes it very important that the indoor air quality inside our homes is free of germs, allergens, pollutants, harsh chemicals, and air-borne debris. Steam cleaning with high-pressure water vapor can reduce or even eliminate everything from bacteria and viruses to fleas and dust mites. With steam cleaning, dust mites, fleas and their eggs are killed on contact, while allergens, pollen and pet dander are instantly removed.

Just as steam is used to sterilize medical instruments, baby items, and clean clothes, it can be used in your kitchen and bathroom to effectively and gently disinfect most surfaces. If you or anyone in your home are sensitive to allergens, have asthma, or a condition in which the immune system is weakened, steam cleaning is an attractive alternative to traditional chemical cleaning.

Those living with babies or small children are also sure to appreciate the power of steam cleaning as well as the reduction in the number of poisonous materials around the kitchen, bathroom and rest of the house.


Cleaning Grout with Steam

Many kitchen and bathroom cleaners are simply too harsh to clean grout, and specialty grout cleaners can be expensive. Using steam to clean tile grout is a gentle but effective way to get rid of mold, mildew, soap scum and dirt. However, steam cleaning machines can be bulky, making it inconvenient to drag them to the kitchen or bathroom several times a week. To maintain your grout in between deep steam cleanings, most experts recommend spraying grout with hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, or baking soda and water.

Spray the grout after every use, and be sure to open a window if you are using one of the harsher materials like vinegar or alcohol. Steam cleaning just once or twice a month is sufficient to kill mold spores, mildew, bacteria, dust mites, and other organisms that may be hiding in tile grout. Your kitchen or bathroom will look like a million bucks!


Beyond the Kitchen and Bathroom

The same water vapor that can be used to disinfect and clean your kitchen or bathroom can also be used throughout your home to improve overall cleanliness and air quality. Mobile units available for purchase vary in size and price; small machines cost around $100, while larger ones can cost upwards of $1000. Carpet steam cleaners can be purchased at nearly any discount or home improvement store, or can be rented at many supermarkets. Use steam to clean everything from carpets, clothing, toys, and sports equipment to sinks, wallpaper, doors, and glass.


Benefits for your Plumbing and Drains

Steam cleaning is also a wise choice if you want to keep your plumbing and drain system in fine working order. Over time, chemicals from cleaning products can corrode pipes and damage plumbing fixtures. Sediment from cleansers can also accumulate in drains and contribute to clogs. Steam cleaning, on the other hand is gentler on kitchen and bathroom surfaces and won't harm pipes, faucets, drains and plumbing fixtures.


Where to Find Steam Cleaners

You can find quality steam cleaning equipment at most hardware and home stores as well as online at websites like Amazon.com. Commercial home cleaning services can also provide a thorough steam cleaning of your kitchen, bathroom and whole house for those who are all thumbs in the clean-up department.



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