Saturday, May 08, 2010

RAW MANGO SWEET PACHADI

மாங்காய் வெல்லப் பச்சடி

I love this sweet pachadi very much. To prepare this, the raw mango should be very firm and slightly ripe. Especially ‘ottu maangai’ is the most suitable one. It is also called as ‘Kili mookku maangai’ or ‘ kallaamani mangai’. From May to September, we can get this type of raw mangoes everywhere in Tamilnadu. This sweet pachadi is specially made for the festival of ‘chithirai thirunal’ that is the Tamil New year on April 14th every year! The achu vellam gives a very delicious taste to this pachadi.



Ingredients:


Big firm [slightly ripe] raw mango- 1
Achu vellam [jaggery blocks]-2 to 3
Shredded coconut- 3 tbsp
Chilli powder- 1 tsp
Turmeric powder- half sp
Ghee- 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds- 1 tsp
Split black gram- half sp
Small onion finely chopped- 3 tbsp
Green chilli finely chopped-1
Coriander finely chopped-1 tbsp
Salt- a pinch


Procedure:


wash and remove the skin of the raw mango.
Cut the mango in to slightly thickened slices.
Cook them with a little water, the powders and salt.
When the mango is cooked and the gravy is thickened, add the powdered jagerry and cook till it is blended well with the mango. Heat a small pan and pour the ghee.
Add the mustard seeds and when they splutter add the black gram and cook for a few seconds.
Then add the onion with the green chilli and the coriander.
Fry for a few seconds.
Add this to the mango.
Add the shredded coconut and mix well.

Friday, May 07, 2010

Energy Efficient Home Financing Options 2010

Special Financing Can Help Make Your Home More Energy Friendly and Cheaper to Own and Operate!

Most of us want to reduce our impact on the environment and are interested in ways that we can lower our monthly utility costs by making our homes more energy efficient. The one thing holding us back is the high initial cost of many of these greener alternatives.

Thankfully, there are several emerging options to help first-time buyers and established homeowners finance energy efficient initiatives.

Some government-sponsored loans and private lenders now offer special financing packages for energy efficient new construction or existing structure improvements. Many states also have special programs for qualified residents. It’s a good idea to check with the U.S. Department of Energy or your state’s energy office for more information about available programs and eligibility standards.

Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEMs) are among the most popular home financing options available today to consumers. EEMs are divided into two categories: new home construction and improvements or upgrades to an existing home. An EEM allows you to buy or refinance a newly-built home that already adheres to certain energy efficiency criteria, or to buy or refinance an older home that will be in compliance with energy efficiency guidelines following renovations and upgrades.

The amount of financing offered for energy efficient homes depends on the home’s energy rating. The higher the rating, the more money you may qualify for. Energy ratings generally involve extensive inspection by a certified professional who is accredited on the state or national level in home energy rating systems (HERS). HERS depends on where the home is located and may be affected by other factors.

When it comes time for en energy ratings inspection, the examiner will look at all of the energy-related attributes of the home: insulation, windows, HVAC systems, air leakage, drafts, and more. Following a comprehensive inspection the rater will provide you with a detailed report that clearly states your home’s energy rating, as well as information regarding your family’s average annual energy consumption and costs. The report could also include recommendations for improving energy efficiency, estimated costs of these improvements, and a breakdown of potential savings or return on the initial investment.

Once the energy rating report has been submitted by the inspector, it must show that the structure is already sufficiently energy efficient or that any suggested improvements are cost effective—that is, any improvements will eventually save you more money that you have to borrow to implement them. The energy rating will determine how much a lender is willing to extend in financing. A favorable rating will incline the lender to add the cost of improvements into the mortgage or may extend your debt to income ratio, helping you qualify for a better interest rate.

Energy efficiency is having an increasingly strong impact on the real estate market. For sellers, energy efficiency financing lets you make improvements that add value to your home and will make it more attractive to potential buyers. If you’re in the market for a new home, choosing energy efficient amenities can help you get more for your money, as lower utility bills mean you can afford to expand your mortgage budget.



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Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Crepe Rolls





I've been quite slow in updating my blog recently. I wonder where is my baking and blogging spirit has gone. I wish I got back my passion after the gathering with my buddy but somehow I fine myself still like floating somewhere else. This fruit crepe was made last week and till now I've nothing to post up here. Well, at least I've got few of this pictures taken so to make you remember me :) 




I normally have crepes spread with my homemade peanut butter for breakfast rather than serve as dessert. I know it suppose to be dessert not breakfast. So this time, I try to make it as a fruit dessert since I've got some banana and strawberries. I've seen many food bloggers and recipe books showing how to make this crepe rolls till now only I got a little mood to do it. It's not perfectly roll up but I find this crepe recipe I've been using for many years really a good one and simple to make.


Roll in the lemony cream cheese cream with the strawberries and banana is quite a refreshing dessert. I very much like the light texture of cream which contains little cream cheese with little sugar. Melt some dark chocolate that given by my buddy that make extra flavor to it. I think I must not only make this fruit crepes for my breakfast next time. It taste very yummy indeed but just need more practice to roll it up nicer. 


For the crepes 西点学习大百科 - 法式可丽饼:


In a mixing bowl, beat two eggs with one tablespoon of caster sugar and pinch of salt until the sugar dissolve and combine. Add in 80 gram shifted flour until a thick batter. Mix in 50ml cream and 200ml fresh milk then add one teaspoon vanilla extract until everything combine and become a smooth batter. Cook a scoop of batter in a non stick pan. When the crepe edges browning and lift up, flip another side to cook. Makes about 15 pieces approximately 18cm)


For the cream cheese cream 西点学习大百科 -  


Beat 100g cream cheese and 40 gram caster sugar until smooth batter then add in four tablespoon of lemon juice. Keep in the fridge while you whisk the whipping cream. In another bowl, whisk 400ml whipping cream until thicken. Add in the cream cheese batter continue to beat until well combine and the cream become harden. Transfer to a piping bag and keep in the fridge until ready to use.


To make the crepe rolls, place a piece of crepe on a plate. Squeeze some cream cheese cream at the center then place a piece of strawberry or banana on the cream. Squeeze some more cream cheese cream until it cover the fruits. Fold up from the bottom and the side then roll up the entire crepe. Keep in the fridge for 2 hours before serving. I'm not sure this is the best roll up method. Please feel free to give your opinion and ideas. Thanks!