Energy Audit Video

This is a great adjunct to my previous post Comments on Green (Kitchen) Remodeling.

We are seeing and experiencing more and more weather related disasters around the world and here in the U.S. The people of Haiti, or Pakistan, or Russia, would not dispute that we are in a climate crisis. We are also seeing problems with weather related disaster here at home: Flooding in Iowa; Hurricane Katrina. This is not going to get easier unless we all do something to help our planet.

Our homes here in the U.S. use 20% of our total energy consumption. TWICE as much as cars (10%). 40% of the energy we use to heat and cool our homes is wasted, by leaky ductwork, poor insulation, all kinds of small leaks that add up to a lot of $$$ and carbon dioxide going into our atmosphere.

By doing an audit and sealing last year on our home, before buying a new furnace and ductwork, we achieved a 48% reduction in our heating energy use. That's pretty amazing considering that we opted to do only part of the prescriptive measures advised. We were also able to buy a smaller furnace than we had been told by other companies that we needed. Even better is the savings month in and month out in windy, foggy, South San Francisco. Best of all is that we are truly comfortable in our home that was once drafty and cold.

Getting a home energy audit BEFORE you plan any remodeling is just good sense. It's easy to incorporate the prescriptive changes into your remodeling plans when you have a roadmap, and a home energy audit gives you the roadmap.

Watch the following video to learn how it works. You'll save lots of energy dollars and help save our planet in the bargain.

Peggy


Green Footprint: Home Performance 101 from Foster City TV on Vimeo.

Cracked Wheat Masala Idli

Today I really wanted to eat something healthy. So I kept thinking about eating some vegeterian for my dinner which is simple, easy and tasty. Thats how I came up wtih this recipe with a healthy twist...
It was very delicious and didn't need any sides like chutney or sambar...

Ingredients:

---------------

1cup Cracked Wheat/Wheat Rawa

1cup Yogurt/Buttermilk (Note: If using yogurt need to add 1/2cup Water)

Salt to taste

1/4tsp Baking Soda

1tbsp Cilantro & Curry leaves chopped finely

Seasoning:

--------------

1tbsp Oil

1tsp Mustard seeds

1/4tsp Cumin seeds

1/4tsp Asafoetida

1/2 tsp Grated Ginger

3 Green Chillies chopped finely

1small Potato chopped into small pieces

1/2cup frozen veggies like Peas and Carrot

1/4tsp Garama masala powder

Variations: You can add oinions, Green chilli paste, cashews, raisins etc.,

Method:

-----------

1. Mix wheat, buttermilk/yogurt, salt and keep it aside.

2. In small kadai add heat oil, add mustard seeds, when the splutter add rest of the seasiong ingredients and fry for about 2 mins, add garam masala powder then off the flame and add this mixture to the wheat batter mix well. Set if aside for about 1 or 2 hours for better resuts.

3. Now in Idli cooker grease the idli plates and pour the batter and steam the idlis for about 15 mins.

4. Now serve these Idlis with chutney powder or your choice of chutneys.

Microwave Dhoodh Peda (Milk Fudge)

I have been wanting to try dhoodh pedas from Veginspirations.com for a long time and finally did today.
They are quick, easy and delicious! Here is the recipe.

Makes 22 pedas

Ingredients:
Milk Powder- 1 3/4 cups
Condensed Milk - 1 tin (14 oz)
Room Temperature Butter - 4 tbsp (1/2 stick)
Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp
Pistachios - to garnish
Saffron (optional) - a few strands

Method:
Mix milk powder, condensed milk, butter, cardamom powder, saffron in a deep microwave safe dish.
Microwave for 3 - 4 minutes depending on the power setting. Mine took 4 minutes.
Remove and stir the mixture every 1 minute.
Take a very small portion and cool it. If you are able to roll between your fingers, it means it is done.
Transfer the mixture to a greased plate and spread evenly. When it cools down,  cut into round shape using a cookie cutter or roll using your hands (grease your palms with ghee before shaping the pedas).
Garnish with pistachios.
Store in an air tight container and it should stay good for 2 days.