Blueberry Dates Smoothie

I was planning to send in my smoothie entry for 'Breakfast Club- Yogurt' but I completely forgot about it. I was under the impression that the deadline was on Jan 31 but suddenly remembered it was today. I initially planned to whip up blueberry nut smoothie which would be perfect for a breakfast, now also added some dates to reduce the amount of white sugar I add and also to tweak in iron. I

Eggless Biscuit Joconde Imprime/Entremet - The Daring Bakers Challenge January 2011

The Daring Bakers Challenge for January 2011 was Joconde Imprime/Entremet, a decorative design baked into a Light Sponge Cake and Filled with Interesting Fillings!!!! This Challenge was given to us by Astheroshe from Accro!!!!

It was indeed a daring Challenge!!!! I as a Vegetarian, wanted it to be Eggless and this being my First Daring Bakers Challenge, wanted to make atleast 70% Success!!!! First and Foremost thing which i needed most was a Good Mould!!!! I didnt have one!!!! I tried to get one!!!But in Vain!!! So i made my own Mould, using the Muffin Liner Box!!!!I cut out the Bottom of that Box and used it as  a Mould!!! It was a bit wobbly, but managed it a bit!!!!

Now comes the Eggless Experiments, i tried a Egg-less Sponge Cake Recipe and Used it for the Joconde!!! I thoroughly enjoyed baking this Awesome Dessert!!!! The Final Look of the Joconde, though could have been even more better, the Taste was Awesome!!!! I got very good comments from my husband who tasted it this Afternoon after lunch!!! Overall, it is an amazing Experience and i would definitely try to bake it sometime again and make it 100%!!!!

Ingredients

Recipe Source : Tarla Dalal & Kailas Kitchen

For the Pattern

1-1/4 Cup All Purpose Flour

2 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tin Condensed Milk

1/4 Cup Melted Butter

1/2 - 3/4 Cup Warm Water

Sieve the Dry Ingredients together. To This add Melted Butter, Condensed Milk and Stir Gently. Now, the batter would be Rolling thick!!! To this Add Warm Water, to make it to Dripping Consistency. Be careful, it should not be Runny!!!

For the Sponge Cake

Recipe Source : CookCurryNook

1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour

1/2 Cup Almond Meal

1/2 Cup Cocoa

3/4 Cup Powdered Sugar

1-1/4 tsp Baking powder

1/2 Tsp Baking Soda

1 cup Thick Curd

1/2 Cup Cooking

1/4 Cup Warm Water

In a Bowl Mix Curd and Sugar, until Sugar Dissolves. To this Add Baking Powder and Bakinbg Soda. Mix Well. Let it Sit for 2-3 minutes. The Curd will Start Rising & Increasing in Volume

MeanWhile, Sieve together all the three flours thrice and Set aside.  Add Oil to the Curd Mix and Stir Gently, Fold in the Flour Mix gently to this Curd-Oil Mix!!! Gently, Gently, Gently!!!! To this add water and Mix a bit more to make it bit more loose in consistency!!!!

Preparing The Joconde

Preheat the Oven to 200C. Keep the Mould Ready!!!!! In a Parchment Paper, using the Pattern Batter, draw a pattern of your choice and freeze the Parchment paper for few minutes. I did for 5 Minutes. Take it out and Spread the Joconde Batter on the Parchment Paper to fill the entire Design!!! Bake in a Baking Tray for 12 minutes. Take it out, Let it Cool!!!!

Cut it out as Strips and Fit the Strips into the Mould . For the Filling, i have used Ready made Strawberry Filling and Whipped Cream and Garnished with Some almonds!!!!

I m running a Blogging Marathon with some of my Blogger Buddies, Please Do check out their Recipes here Srivalli, Priya, Suresh, Jay, Monika, Reva, PJ, Azeema , Ayeesha ,Veena , Usha, Soumya and Gayathri.

Clean Furnace Filters = Better Health This Winter

Clean Furnace Filters Deliver Better Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency!

It’s winter and most of us have already begun to feel the effects of poor indoor air quality: dry skin, dry sinuses, stale air, etc. The average person inhales about 32,000 pints of air in a single day. Every one of those pints contains billions and billions of tiny particles of dust, pollen, dirt, and other microscopic debris. In fact, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Yuck!

Spending lots of time inside during the cold winter months can really do a number on your respiratory system, but there is a way to significantly improve the quality of the air inside your home. It is simple, inexpensive, and really effective. So what is it? Clean or change your furnace air filter!

In order to create the healthiest indoor environment possible, you have to keep the air clean. The best way to accomplish this is to select a furnace air filter that meets the needs of you and your family. Sounds simple, right? Unfortunately, the furnace air filter is a frequently overlooked source of poor indoor air quality, especially during the winter when heating systems run almost constantly.

As air passes through your home’s heating system, the furnace air filter traps dust and other particles and prevents them from entering your home. After several months, most furnace filters become so dirty that they can no longer effectively remove these pollutants from the air. What’s more, a dirty furnace air filter prevents your heating system from working at its peak so you could see an increase in your utility bills. Cleaning or changing the furnace filter regularly will not only improve the air inside your home, but it will also help you save money.

There are many different kinds of furnace air filters available. The key to choosing the right furnace filter is to decide which best suits your needs and your particular system. Each type of furnace filter has a different efficiency rating, different strengths and weaknesses, and different features that make them desirable for certain customers.

Generally, furnace air filters fall into one of several categories:

• Electrostatic furnace filters: Use an electric charge to attract particles; are washable and reusable
• Media furnace filters: Most frequently used in commercial applications; trap particles in thick layers of disposable material and need to be changed less frequently than other types
• Pleated furnace filters: Most common type; large surface area traps particles before they reach system interior
• HEPA furnace filters: Capture 99.9% of particles; good for allergy sufferers or environments where good air quality is essential (i.e. hospitals, nursing homes, laboratories, etc.)
• Activated carbon furnace filters: Good for removing unpleasant odors from air (ex. cigarette smoke, gases, chemical smells, cooking odors, etc.)
• Fiberglass furnace filters: Durable; sometimes coated with special adhesive to trap dust and dirt particles

Improving your indoor air quality is not the only reason to replace your furnace air filter. Dirty furnace filters are one of the primary causes of furnace breakdowns and high heating costs. The more dust and debris that accumulates on your furnace filter, the harder your furnace has to work. Your furnace air filter should be changed every three months to maintain optimum performance. Always be sure to select the right size and type of filter for your heating system. Your Horizon Services Heating Technician can advise you on the best furnace filter for your system.


Related Information from Horizon Services...

• Horizon Heating Services
• 101 Ways to Save Energy and Money in Your Home
• Indoor Air Quality - A Major Problem for Homeowners
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
• Seasonal Energy Saving Tips