Monday, December 20, 2010

Okra Stir-Fry

Okra also called as Lady's Finger and one of the most liked vegetable. It is one of the most versatile vegetables that I have known. My granny would always tell us that one can solve Mathematics very well if you eat a lot of Okra . I ate a lot of them for the very same reason . I guess there must definitely be a reason behind making kids eat different vegetables. Okra is very rich in fiber content. It is also considered good for people with elevated sugar levels.
Okra is used in stews and stir-fries. This stir-fry is very easy to prepare and gets ready in minutes.



Ingredients:

Okra - Cut into small pieces - 1 1/2 cups
Oil - 1 Tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1 Tsp
Urad Dal - 1/2 Tsp
Chana Dal - 1 Tsp
Red Chilli Powder - 1/2 Tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 Tsp
Salt - According to Taste

Method:

  • Wash whole okra and pat it dry. Cut them into small round pieces.


  • In a pan heat oil and add the mustard seeds, urad dal, and chana dal.Let the mustard seeds crackle and allow the dal to brown a bit.

  • Add the cut okra into the seasoning in the pan.

  • Now add the turmeric powder, red chilli powder and salt.

  • Mix all the ingredients well and cover and cook for 7-8 minutes.

  • Serve hot with plain rice,Sambar/Rasam rice or with Phulkas.Enjoy!!

Protect Your Plumbing This Holiday Season!



Plumbing, Drain and Sewer Line Disasters = A Not-So-Merry Christmas and Unhappy New Year

The holidays are upon us, and along with all the joy comes an increased risk of serious plumbing emergencies. The sudden influx of people visiting your home can put unexpected pressure on your plumbing system – more washing, more bathing, more flushing, and more things going down the drain or garbage disposal.

Winter is usually a busy season for plumbers. On the day after Christmas alone, plumbing contractors in the Delaware Valley -- including Horizon Services, Inc. -- report a jump in business of 20 to 40 percent over a normal day. We get so absorbed in holiday celebrations that we often don’t consider the strain that these parties and out-of-town guests can put on our home’s plumbing.

By taking a few simple precautions, you can dramatically reduce the chances that your plumber will be the guest of honor at your next holiday party. Here's what you can do to minimize the likelihood that you will have a plumbing, drain or sewer line emergency in the midst of your holiday celebrations:


Plumbing Precautions In the Kitchen

Don’t pour grease or cooking oil down the drain or into the garbage disposal. These fats can solidify in your pipes and cause clogs that can back up drains. Wipe grease from pots and pans with a paper towel, and put the towels in the trash. You can also drain grease into a clean, empty can and throw it away.

Don’t put things like celery, poultry skin, pumpkin pulp or potato peels into the garbage disposal. Stringy, fibrous items like these aren’t easily broken down by the disposal blades and may cause clogs.

Run some cold water for about 15 seconds before and after using the garbage disposal. This helps flush waste out to the main sewer line.

Be sure the disposal is running when you put food into it, instead of filling the sink and then turning it on.

Run your washing machine and dishwasher at night to help conserve hot water and water pressure so your guests can shower in comfort whenever they wish.


Plumbing Precautions In the Bathroom

Plan ahead and try to schedule showers if you are expecting company, waiting at least 10 minutes between showers. This gives drains a chance to empty fully and lets your hot water heater refill for the next person.

Turn up the heat on your water heater slightly to help increase its capacity. Be careful not to turn the temperature higher than 125 degrees, though, to avoid scalding your guests.

Put a trash can in each bathroom and empty them frequently so your guests won’t use the toilet to dispose of garbage like used tissues, cotton swabs, facial scrub pads, hair, napkins and disposable hand towels.

Stock each bathroom with a plunger and put it where it can be reached easily if it is needed.

Keep a chemical drain cleaner handy in case of emergency. Most minor kitchen or bathroom clogs can be resolved with these products, and if you watch for slow drains you can usually catch most problems before they require the expertise of a professional. If you do need to use a chemical drain cleaner, be sure to follow the instructions carefully and use only in a well-ventilated area.


When Holiday Plumbing Disasters Strike

As proactive and precautionary as you may be, you may still find yourself in the throes of a plumbing emergency. May be when you're wrapping presents. Or entertaining guests. Or trying to enjoy some cookies and eggnog. If a plumbing situation arises in the middle of your holiday preparation and celebration, take comfort in knowing that the plumbing and drain professionals at Horizon Services are just a phone call away. Our customer service representatives and plumbing and drain technicians will be available morning, noon and night throughout the holiday season...including Christmas Eve and Day and New Year's Eve and Day!

If you need emergency plumbing, drain or sewer line service any time over the holiday season, Contact Horizon Services -- 24/7!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a Joyous Kwanzaa to everyone from The Horizon Comfort Zone!


Related Holiday Plumbing and Drain Information from Horizon Services...

Yule Log Pudding/Cake

YULE LOG PUDDING/CAKE





The moment we decided to post recipes for CHRISTMAS, our whole family was abuzz with excitement. Think tanks were activated and switched on to memory mode. My sister Yosee reminded me of the Yule Log our mother had once prepared for Christmas.
Candle making, cake making and many other classes were held at the Inner Wheel Club where the members shared their skills with each other apart from their busy social service schedules.
Mother had learnt the art of making eggless cookies, cakes and puddings in one such session. She once made Yule Log using Marie biscuits, for Christmas. It was great fun helping around with the decorations as we secretly licked ( OOOOH! TABOOOO! ) our sugar and butter coated fingers! We enjoyed the log pudding/cake as much as we enjoyed the plum cake father had bought from NILGIRIS.
I called up my mother for a quick 'Yule Log making' lesson and prepared it for the first time, and this is how it turned out to be.
My daughter and grand daughter helped me with the decorations. I really love the cute little fledglings sitting on the log, which was modelled by my grand daughter using home made marzipan.

INGREDIENTS

Marie biscuits - 2 packets
Cocoa powder - 4 tbsps
Milk - enough to make the dough
Butter - 300 gms
Powdered sugar - 4 cups
Tuttifruity - 6tbsps
Raisins - 6 tbsps
Cashew nuts - 6 tbsps
Vanilla essence - 1/4 tsp
Ready to use chocolate - 1 slab

METHOD

1. Break the biscuits into tiny bits and powder in a mixer.
2. Mix cocoa into the biscuit powder.

3. Sprinkle milk little by little and knead the biscuit powder and cocoa into a smooth dough.



4. Cream butter and sugar into a smooth paste adding vanilla essence and keep aside.
5. Divide the biscuit dough into three parts .
6. Roll one part into a moderately thick round, like a chapati.



7. Spread 1/3 of the creamed butter sugar mixture evenly on the 'chapati'.



8. Spread tuttifruity so that it covers the entitre surface.


9. Roll out the second portion of the dough and place it on the tutifruity spread.
10. Spread the next 1/3 of butter sugar mixture over the second layer.
11. Sprinkle cashew nuts and raisins all over it.



12. Roll out the third portion of the dough and place it on the cashew raisins topping.
13. Spread the sugar butter cream over the last layer of the biscuit dough 'chapati '.
14. Press the whole arrangement lightly and then roll them together.
15. Do not bother if a few cracks appear on the roll or if little bit of sugar and butter cream spills out.
16. Cut the little extra dough on both ends to make it look like a chopped log
.
17. Roll the cut out portion into a cylinder and attach it to one edge of the log to make a stump.
18. Place this in the refrigerator and let lt chill thoroughly. I left it to chill over night.
19. Place finely broken chocolate in a bowl and place it in another bowl of water and boil, or microwave using a microwave safe bowl.( Micro wave for four minutes checkig in between)
20. Let the chocolate bowl stand in hot water even after bringing it out of the oven; use a spoon and whisk it smoothly.
21. Spoon the molten chocolate quickly all over the cold log and spread it using a spoon , fork or a brush.
22. Stroke with brush or fork to get the grains and swirl the same to get the circular grains.
Put back the chocolate coated log into the refrigerator until you are ready with the decorations.



MARZIPAN

INGREDIENTS

Almonds - 100 gms
Powdered sugar - 1 cup
Almond or vanilla essence - 2 drops

METHOD

1. Soak almonds in boiling water and remove the skin.
2. Thoroughly dry almonds and make them into a fine powder in a mixer.
3. Add equal quantity of powdered sugar and run the mixer for a few more seconds.
4. Take out the blend , add essence and knead well.
5. Store it in an air tight container ot wrap it in a foil and leave it in the refrigerator to chill.
6. Bring out the marzipan dough, divide it into three portions.
7. Add a pinch of red, yellow and green food colour to each portion and knead them separately.
8. Start shaping them into any form you like. The eggless marzipan became little sticky. Hence we greased our fingers with butter to make the desired shapes. Finally our 'butter fingers' worked!