Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Rose Pudding For A Merry Christmas

ROSE PUDDING FOR A MERRY CHRISTMAS

After so many years of cooking you tend to forget what you cooked, when you cooked or for whom you cooked, unless some one reminds you of the same. I was greatly touched when Little Sonny fondly remembered one of my dishes he had relished in his younger days ( 'bread soaked in rose milk' as he put it),while speaking on a long distance call.
Rose Pudding ! That was it! It was one of the home made desserts my children enjoyed after a hard days work at school. Impelled by nostalgia I once again prepared this pudding for the Christmas post.

INGREDIENTS
Bread - 1/2 a loaf ( Chopped into small bits) plus three whole slices
Butter - 2 tbsps
Milk - 1/4 lit ( boiled and cooled )
Rose syrup - 3 tbsps

Method

1. Heat butter and roast the bread pieces till they become golden in colour.
2. Toast the three whole slices of bread with little more butter and keep them aside.
3. Mix rose syrup and cool milk together to make rose milk, adding sugar if needed.
4. Soak the fried bread pieces in the rose milk.


INGREDIENTS FOR CUSTARD

Milk - 3/4 lit
Butter - 2 tbsps
Custard powder - 6 tbsps
Sugar - 2 cups
Rose syrup - 3 tbsps
METHOD
1. Whisk custard powder, sugar and 1 cup of milk together.
2. Heat the remaining milk with butter.
3. When the milk starts to boil blend in the custard powder sugar milk mixture, stirring all the time to avoid lumps.
4. When the custard powder gets cooked and the custard beomes shiny switch off the flame.
5. Whisk together rose syrup and custard when it starts cooling.

INGREDIENTS FOR THE LAYERS

1. Black seedless raisins - 100 gms
2. Glazed cherries - 100 gms
3. Blanched almonds and Gulkhand - for decoration

TO ARRANGE THE PUDDING
1. Grease a bowl with butter and spread a layer of bread pieces soaked in rose milk.
2. Sprinkle a layer of raisins on top of the bread layer.
3. Spread one more layer of bread and top it with cherries.
4. Cover with another layer of rose milk bread.
5. Pour half of the custard over the last layer.
6. Dip the toasted bread slices in custard and arrange in such a way that the entire surface of the pudding is covered. This layer will help to hold the pudding together when it is turned over.

7. Spread the remaining custard evenly on the bread slice layer and chill the pudding covered, preferably over night.
8. Cover the mouth of the bowl with a flat plate and turn it over to release the pudding.
9. Gently remove the bowl.
10. Top with blanched almonds and blobs of gulkhand.

ROSE SAUCE

Beat two table spoons of rose syrup with 2 cups of condensed milk and enjoy the rose sauce with sliced Rose Pudding.






I am sending this post to notyet100's Christmas 2010 event!

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...