Kara Sev for Indian Cooking Challenge

Srivalli challenged us this month to prepare kara sev, as part of the monthly Indian Cooking Challenge event. I missed the previous three challenges in a row. So this time, I prepared as soon as it was announced instead of  usual practise of making it nearing the post date. Kara sev was in my to-do list for a long time. I very much wanted to try it making with the ladle. I understand that there is a special ladle for that. I tried making with the perforated ladle. The holes are big enough in that. I found it very hard to press down the dough. It was falling perfect, about one inch in length. But it was time consuming. I guess it requires lot of practise. So eventually I went back to the murukku press and it was easy to press.

You need

 

• Gram Flour (Besan)- 2 1/2 cups
• Rice flour - 1 cup
• Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
• Black pepper coarsely powdered - 1 tsp
• Ghee - 2 1/2 tsp
• Cooking soda  - a pinch
• Salt to taste.
• Oil to deep fry.

 

 

 

Method:

 

1.Mix gram flour and rice flour well. Make a well in the centre.

 

2.Add chilli powder,pepper powder, salt,ghee and cooking soda.

 

3.Mix thoroughly with hands so that the flour mix resembles bread crumbs.  Divide the dough into 4 portions.

 

4.Take one portion of this mixture, sprinkle water, knead like Puri dough.

 

5.Heat oil in a kadai, Press dough using the sev maker. Drain when the sizzling sound round the sev subsides.

 

6. When it is cool, break them into one inch long strings and store in airtight container.

 

 

Air Ducts 101

What You Can't See May Be Costing Hundreds of Dollars in Wasted Heating and Air Conditioning Bills!

Your heating and cooling systems use more energy than any other system in your home. Typically, 46% of your entire utility bill goes for heating and air conditioning alone. For many homeowners, a large chunk of that heating and cooling bill may be completely wasted...and the culprit is hidden out of sight beneath your feet and over your head.

Your home’s air duct system is a complex network of tubes made of sheet metal, fiberglass or other materials that runs throughout your walls, floors, and ceilings, carrying heated or cooled air from your home’s furnace and central air conditioner to each room. But if these air ducts have leaks or are poorly insulated, as much as 60% of your heated or cooled air can be lost before it even reaches the registers in these rooms. That can result in a lot of wasted energy...and money. As well, ducts that are damaged or don’t work properly can create serious, life-threatening carbon monoxide (CO) problems in the home.

Sealing and insulating air ducts that are in unconditioned spaces -- such as an attic, crawl space or basement -- is extremely important and can be a great way to get a handle on out-of-control heating and cooling costs. Insulation if fairly easy to install on existing duct work. If you are buying a new duct system, consider one that comes with insulation already installed. Sealing your air ducts to prevent leaks is even more important if you want to save energy and money. If the supply ducts are leaking, large amounts of heated or cooled air can be forced out of holes or unsealed joints and lost. In addition, unconditioned air can be drawn into return ducts through unsealed joints. In the summer, hot attic air can be drawn in, increasing the load on the air conditioner. In the winter, your furnace will have to work longer to keep your house comfortable. Either way, your energy losses can cost you big bucks.

In most cases, air ducts in unconditioned spaces should be sealed and insulated by a qualified HVAC and duct work professional using appropriate sealing and insulation materials -- especially if the air ducts are concealed. If you're a handy do-it-yourselfer, here are a few simple tips to help with minor or temporary repairs to visible duct work.

• Check your ducts for obvious air leaks. Look for sections of duct work that should be joined but have separated, as well as for holes or punctures.


• If you use tape to seal your ducts, avoid the common cloth-backed, rubber adhesive duct tape that you can get at any old store. This garden variety duct tape tends to fail quickly. Instead, most HVAC and duct contractors recommend professional quality mastic, butyl, foil or other heat-resistant tapes. Look for tape with the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) logo.


• Be award that insulating ducts in the basement will make the basement colder. If the heat ducts are fully insulated, water pipes and drains in the basement could freeze and burst if the basement temperature gets too cold. Use electric heating tape wrap on your pipes to prevent this. Also consider insulating your basement walls to hold more heat in or installing heating in your basement.


• If your basement has been converted to a living area, hire a professional to install both supply and return registers in the basement rooms.


• Make sure that a well-sealed vapor barrier exists on the outside of the insulation on cooling ducts to prevent moisture from building up.
  

Related Heating and Air Conditioning Information from Horizon Services...

• Horizon Heating and Air Conditioning Installation & Replacement
• Horizon Heating Services
• Horizon Air Conditioning Services
• The System Analysis
• The Installation Process

Yes I need a new water heater, but what type?

A typical residential water heater usually lasts 7-10 years.  Depending on usage ans water quality, yours may last longer or fail sooner.  At some point, your water heater will fail and the question often arises "Is there an alternative to the standard tank-type heater I already have?".  As a homeowner you now have a variety of water heaters to choose from, many of which will perform as well or better than your existing heater but will likely save you money immediately!


Conventional Water Heaters
Conventional water heaters are the most popular type. They hold water in a large tank--typically 20 to 80 gallons--heating cold water from the bottom and releasing hot water to the top. They automatically maintain water in the tank at a constant temperature set by you. Because they always maintain a reservoir of hot water, even when there is no demand, they're convenient, but they can waste energy.

There's another trade-off for that convenience, too. When conventional water heaters fail, they can empty their entire contents into the room, damaging carpets, appliances and personal items. In an apartment or condo, where one person's ceiling is another person's floor, the damage can spread to multiple households, multiplying the damage.

Tankless or Instantaneous Water Heaters

Tankless water only heat water when you turn on the hot side of a fixture.  There is no large tank to maintain temperature, therefor, savings are realized immediately by only heating the water you need by a "on-demand" basis. A Federal Tax Credit of 30% installed cost is available to qualifying units, a tremendous incentive to go green!

Tankless water heaters are sized to provide enough hot water for an entire home, and when properly sized they will provide an almost endless amount of hot water.  Annual maintenance is suggested based on water quality but, this is preventative and minimal in cost to have a professional perform if you choose not to do yourself.

Heat Pump Waters Heaters

Heat pump technology has been around for decades, recently it has been applied to heating water for domestic use.  Kind of like "reverse" air conditioning, a heat pump uses electricity extremely efficiently to heat the water, lowering the annual costs and giving a calculated return on investment.  This is a tank type heater that is best fit for a direct replacement of an existing electric water heater, but in some cases a great way to save on propane!  Federal Tax Credit available for these too!

Solar Water Heaters

Want free hot water?  An active solar thermal water heating system can be sized to effectively eliminate up to 90% of your water heating costs in your home or business.  Simple, low maintenance systems make use of the sun's energy collected by panels mounted on the roof (typical), outside wall or even at ground level and store that energy in an insulated tank in the mechanical room.  Coupled with a back-up water heater (usually tankless) and this is the ultimate green method of providing savings and utility to your home!  Federal Tax Credits of 30% with no cap are available for the entire installation providing for a relatively short pay-back period making solar thermal the most cost effective avenue to invest in green technology.

Sizing is Key
Correctly sizing any type water heater is essential to get an ample supply of hot water for your family while operating in the most energy-efficient and economical way. Aune Plumbing, LLC will gladly assist you in finding the best fit water heater for your needs.  Give me a call to get started on saving money today.

Eric Aune

Aune Plumbing, LLC

763-238-2385