Gulab Jamun - ICC Challenge for Month of October, 2009

Gulab Jamuns, a staple sweet in my household (or should i say in every household) for any festival. Not only it tastes yummy, it was easier to make. All these days it was MTR/Priya/Gits Gulab Jamun Mix, which dominated. But After ICC this month, chuck all those readymade mix out.

I followed the recipe of Indo's blog, yeah man!!! making Gulab jamuns from scratch, it was lot of fun!!!! i can gurantee that!!!!!!!!!!!

Ingredients

Whole milk - 4 litres

Maida (all purpose flour) - 1/2 kg

Curd (yogurt) - 1 tbsp

Baking soda - 1 tsp

Sugar - 2 litres

Lemon - 1/2

Ghee - 2 cups for deep frying. I used normal Cooking oil.

Method

To Make Khova

In a wide mouthed heavy bottom pan add the milk and heat it in a medium flame (add a couple of stainless steel spoons into the milk to avoid burning)

Reduce the milk for 3-4 hours till the milk solidifies and becomes thick.

Whip together yogurt and baking soda.

To the khova add the flour and yogurt mixture and knead till it forms a pliant dough. (make sure not to add too much flour, just enough flour to make the khova pliant)

Make 3/4 inch diameter balls and set aside

Prepare sugar syrup

In a pan add the sugar and just enough water to cover the sugar. Heat till it comes to a boil.Squeeze the half of the lemon (this is to avoid sugar crystals). Set aside.

Heat the ghee and deep fry the balls, adding a few at a time till golden brown.Cool the balls and soak them in the sugar syrup.Let sit for a few hours.

Made Some Kaju Stuffed Jamuns too, that one is special for my Darling Son Narasimhan

Peach Cake

It's weekend again! I always like to have a relaxing weekend without working too much in the kitchen but still able to enjoy some nice foods. I'll normally make some sweet stuffs to chill in the fridge and serve it at any time during the weekend.

Here, I've prepared some peach cakes which is a recipe from HHB. It's really a great recipe and very refreshing desserts. I made it into individual portion which I think is much easier for me to serve but definately much more works in advance. I followed the mousse recipe from HHB except the sponge cake. The texture is very good indeed!

Efficient Home Heating Means BIG Savings!

Now that October's here, you've probably started using your furnace at least for a few hours each day. Pretty soon, though, you know you're going to be running it much longer, maybe even all day. And if you're not careful, your heating bills can go through the roof.

Nearly half of all the energy used in American homes goes to powering heating and cooling systems; the annual cost of maintaining these systems is more than just about any other home utility. Residential HVAC units also emit millions of tons pollutants into the air, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. With so much at stake, both economically and environmentally, it makes sense to reconsider your home’s HVAC efficiency as the cold weather approaches.

Putting just a handful of these tips to work can save you hundreds in utility costs each year and will help reduce your carbon footprint.

• Clean or replace furnace and air filters regularly. Most filter manufacturers print a replacement schedule right on the packaging. It’s also a good idea to invest in a professional cleaning and tune-up once a year just to make sure everything is functioning as it should.



• Keep air registers, baseboard heaters, radiators and vents clean. Check for excessive dust or debris, and make sure heat outlets and returns aren’t blocked by carpeting, furniture or draperies.



• Use ventilation fans in kitchens and bathrooms only when absolutely necessary and just long enough to clear the air. It may seem like a small thing, but in just 60 minutes these fans can draw out an entire houseful of warmed air—along with your money.



• Close doors and turn the heat down—never off—in unoccupied rooms. This will lessen the load on the rest of the system significantly and can make a noticeable difference on your heating bill.



• Set your thermostat two or three degrees lower than normal. It may take some getting used to at first, but you can keep warm in the cozy new sweater you’ll be able to buy with the money you’ll save.



• Invest in a programmable thermostat and customize a heating schedule for your home. Set the thermostat lower when you know you’ll be out of the house for long periods of time, and then program it to kick on just before you return. The hour or two of chill you’ll have to put up with when you get home will be a minor nuisance when you see the eight hours’ worth of savings on your utility bill.



• Seal gaps under doors and in ductwork. Check ducts in attics, crawlspaces, unheated basements and garages for leaks or tears. Repair them using sealant or foil tape, then insulate. Use door stops to plug gaps under doors where drafts can sneak in. These simple steps can improve your heating system efficiency by more than 20%.



• Run heat-producing appliances during the warmest time of day. Dishwashers, dryers and ovens all give off heat. Using these devices at the right time can actually help heat your home and take the load off your heating system, saving you money.



• Consider purchasing an EnergyStar rated space heater. These units are great for supplementing the heat in a small area of your home, or to help keep infants, small children and the elderly comfortable without having to overheat your entire house.

Visit Horizon's Tips and Articles Library for More Useful Energy Efficiency Info!