Banana Pepper Fry

Raw banana -2 Nos
Onion - 1
Green chillies – 4 nos
Ginger paste – 1 tspn
Fennel seeds – 1 tspn
Dhanya powder – 2 tspn
Crushed pepper – 2 tspn
Turmeric – a pinch
Tamarind paste – 2 tspn
Salt
Oil
Curry leaves

Remove the skin and cut banana lengthwise of 1 inch long pieces, as we cut for finger chips. (Not very thin)

Take a kadai. Add 2 tbspn oil. Add fennel seeds, curry leaves.
Then add finely chopped onion.

When onion is almost done, add banana pieces, slit green chilly, ginger paste, dhanya powder, turmeric and salt. Mix well. Sprinkle handful of water.

Cover and cook for 10 mts. With stirring once or twice in between
The mixture will turn dry with masala coated all over the pieces.
If you feel the banana pieces are not cooked well, sprinkle water , cover and cook for sometime.

Add crushed pepper and tamarind paste. Mix and cook for 2 minutes.

Remove from heat.

This spicy dish goes well with sambar rice, curd rice and with chappathis too.

KBIS On HGTV Tonight

I just received this notice from NKBA (National Kitchen & Bath Association).
KBIS is the annual show. This year held in Vegas in May.

Peggy

Tune into HGTV tonight at 9pm (Eastern/Pacific time) for a special presentation on Kitchens & Baths in 2007. The show will feature a recap of K/BIS 2007 and also highlight what's new in the industry.
If you miss tonight's show, a list of future airings is provided below. The episode will run four times during October, which is National Kitchen & Bath Month!

August 21, 2007 9:00 PM ET/PT

August 22, 2007 1:00 AM ET/PT

August 28, 2007 11:00 AM ET/PT

September 17, 2007 11:00 AM ET/PT

October 7, 2007 9:00 PM ET/PT

October 8, 2007 1:00 AM ET/PT

October 14, 2007 5:00 PM ET/PT

October 17, 2007 11:00 AM ET/PT

For more information on Kitchens & Baths 2007, please visit http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/spcl_prsntn/episode/0,1806,HGTV_3909_51400,00.html

Is Now the Best Time to Remodel?

There is an interesting blog post on latimes.com's Pardon Our Dust called Is a down real estate market the best time to remodel?

Four well known remodeling contractors in the area comment on the current climate in residential remodeling and how it impacts homeowners contemplating a remodel.

I think the biggest impact is the influx of builders into the remodeling sector tempting homeowners with low-ball pricing.

If you are one of those households with enough savings to consider remodeling in this environment of sinking home values and difficult financing, you need to be very careful to vet your choice of contractors by asking for extensive references IN YOUR AREA.

Builders are a different breed who are not accustomed to working on homes with people living in them and having to deal with the homeowners on a day to day basis. Supervision, to them, means an occasional visit from the architect or building inspector.

Major residential remodeling is typically a 3-6 month commitment between the homeowner and contractor. There is nothing worse than being in the middle of a project, with your home in shreds, and in such a confrontational situation with your contractor, or his employees, that you don't want to open your door when they get there in the morning.

Best to be sure that those who represent themselves as remodeling contractors really are what they say they are.

There is an article on my web site called "How to hire a professional contractor" that I prepared for my clients years ago. All the advice holds true today. The criteria for selecting your contractor hasn't changed. But the potential for hiring the wrong contractor in an effort to save money or out of ignorance has changed a lot in the current situation. Buyer BEWARE.

Peggy