Thursday, September 23, 2010

Shrimp and Green Onion on Grilled Italian Bread



One of my favorite seafood is Shrimp. It's easy to cook and very tasty. I came up with this recipe, as I got this freshly baked bread and could not wait to taste it ...especially when grilled and combined with shrimp. 
The day before, I tried the same recipe with mushrooms....It was as good as the shrimp (sorry could not wait until I could capture the picture in my camera :-)). I am mentioning this to satisfy the veggie lovers. :-)
I would like to share some nutrition aspects of shrimp.  Shrimp is high in calcium, iodine and protein and low in food energy. A shrimp-based meal is also significant source of cholesterol. Shrimp consumption, however, is considered healthy for the circulatory system because the lack of significant levels of saturated fat in shrimp means that the high cholesterol content in shrimp actually improves the ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol and lowers triglycerides.
Ingredients:
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6 slices of Calabrese bread/Focaccia bread/ciabatta Baguette
Note: Use can use any kind of Italian bread too which has bit hard and crunchy outside and soft inside. 
20 Shrimp – divined and cleaned and cut into small pieces
1 bunch Green onions – chopped
¼ tsp Garlic powder
½ tsp Ginger powder
1 tbsp Hoisin sauce
Salt to taste
pinch of Sugar (optional)
1 tsp White pepper powder
1 tsp Red pepper flakes
2 green Chilies chopped finely
1 small Onion chopped finely
1 tsp Olive oil
1tbsp Butter

Method:
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1. In a pan add olive oil and when it’s medium hot add 1 tbsp butter, when the butter melts add the onions and sauté it until it turns transparent.
2. Add the chopped green onion stems and shrimp, garlic powder, ginger powder, hoisin sauce has salt in it, pinch of sugar, white pepper powder, red chili flakes and chopped green chilies sauté all these for about 5 mins or until the shrimp is cooked on a medium high heat. sauce, salt it needed as the
3. Mean while take the bread slices and brush both the sides with Olive oil.
4. Heat a grilling pan and place the slices in a slanting position so that u can get nice grill marks on the bread. 5. To get nice flat crispy bread and nice grill marks u can place a flat pan on top of the bread slices and press down a bit and hold for a min.
6. Remove the slices on to a plate.
7. Check the shrimp and finally garnish with chopped green onions.

8. Take spoon full of the shrimp and place on the bread and eat it when it is warm.

Note: I tried the same recipe with chopped mini Bella Mushrooms instead of shrimp. It was as good as the shrimp. This would be a good alternative for veggie lovers. (Sorry could not capture it in my camera).

Chicken Fry/Varuval (SHOJ)



Varuval mean fry. It can be anything from veg to non-veg. In india varuval is favorite dish to go with dal/sambar or any mixed rice recipes. varuval is mainly done with veg or non-veg coated with masala and slowly sauteed to fry until it becomes crispy with no water. 
This recipe was made by Shoj. It was a Friday evening and was raining outside and I was in no mood to cook, but wanted to eat something spicy and hot. So Shoj decided to cook for me today. 
It was a wonderful dish to go with chapati/roti and I was enjoying it so much that I ended up eating more than I should :-). 
We ran out of curry leaves which is the only missing ingredient as per Shoj...but for me, the recipe was so good that I didn't think about it at all.

Ingredients:
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2 Chicken breasts with bone cut into small bite size pieces
1 pcs of cinnamon stick
2 Cardamoms
1 pcs of Star anise
4 dry Red chilies
1 tbsp of black Soy sauce
10 Curry leaves
1/2 cup of Water (optional)
Salt to taste
1 tsp Pepper powder

To make paste in mixer:
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2 medium size Onions
5 cloves of Garlic
2" of Ginger
Curry paste:
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1 tsp water
2 tbsp of Curry powder
2 tsp of Chili powder
2 tsp of Turmeric powder

Method:
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1. Heat oil in pan add cinnamon stick, cardamoms, star anise, dry red chilies and curry leaves, fry it for about a 5 secs.
2. Add the ground paste and sauté until golden brown.
3. Add the curry paste and fry for a min.
4. Add chicken and sauté it until the masala is coated well.
5. Add salt, pepper, soy sauce and water (optional) (because I used defrosted chicken which had enough water to cook on its own).
6. Cover with lid and cook in medium low flame for about 20 mins or until chicken is cooked and dry without any water.

7. Serve hot with chapati/roti and sliced onions (favorite part for Shoj,especially when eating chicken and chapati).

Why Your Heating Repair Professional Should Be Your Best Friend



When if Comes to Home Heating, The Right Relationship is Everything!

Heating season is now upon us, and that means the inevitable need for heating system maintenance or repairs. Most homeowners are capable of handling the most basic heating system maintenance tasks: changing disposable filters, washing electrostatic filters, lighting or relighting the pilot light. But when it comes to more complex heating repairs or furnace tune-ups, the sheer complexity of most heating systems makes them inaccessible to even the handiest do-it-yourselfer. So it pays to have a reputable heating repair professional that you know well and can trust on-call to handle both common repairs and emergencies.

The following is a list of reasons why developing a relationship with an experienced heating repair technician is good common sense.

Stay on Top of Heating Repairs:
Your home’s heating system is only as good as its equipment. It is important to give these systems plenty of attention to help keep them functioning properly. A heating professional can inspect your heating system to prevent future issues, make sure your furnace or heater is up to code, make repairs, replace old parts, and recommend updates. These kinds of regular check-ups are especially important if your HVAC system or furnace is older, as some parts or components may be out of date or not up to current standards.

Never Too Much:
The average American takes their car in for service 4-5 time per year. Since you probably spend more time in your home, don't you think it needs at least half as much professional maintenance? Don’t worry if you see your heating repair professional at least two or three times a year; that's average for most homeowners. Having your heating system inspected and cleaned frequently can translate into significant savings on your utility bills, your safety, and your schedule.

You’ll Save Money:
Replacing your entire heating system can be very costly. And the number one reason that heaters and furnaces break down is because of neglect or deterioration. To help you avoid the expense of buying a new heating system or incurring a major heating repair, have a heating professional come to your home to inspect and clean your existing unit several times a year. You’ll actually end up saving money in the long run.

You’ll Save Time:
You don’t have the time to learn everything there is to know about heater or furnace maintenance, but a qualified technician does. Having a number you can call when your heating system breaks down means you can spend more time enjoying your life. To save even more time, do a heating system test run during the mid to late fall. Because winter is the busiest time for any repair professional, it helps to have an idea of your problem before you call.

You’ll Save Your Health:
Hiring a heating contractor to come inspect your property a few times a year helps guard against potential safety hazards like leaks, allergens, fire, and carbon monoxide poison. This can ultimately improve not only the health of your heating system but the health of your household, too.

Familiarity Breeds Success:
Every heating system is different. Heaters and furnaces have their own peculiarities. Do you want to waste time and money with a heating repairman who has little or no experience with your type of heating system or who has to learn on the job and familiarize himself with the workings of your heating unit? It pays to have a heating repairman who already knows your heating system inside and out and is familiar with your particular heating unit's performance and repair history.



How to Find a Heating Repair Professional You Can Trust

This is not something to take lightly. Choose a heating repair professional as carefully as you would choose a new doctor or dentist. Ask around to friends, family, local companies, or the Better Business Bureau to compile a list of trusted, quality heating contractors. Heater and furnace emergencies are no joke, and you want to be sure the heating professional you have on call is the best person for the job.

If you live in Delaware, Pennsylvania or Maryland, you can't go wrong by choosing Horizon Services for your heating service needs. Our heating technicians provide a level of quality and professionalism that is unequaled in the industry. Friendly, accountable, experienced technicians with a personal touch. It's a relationship that you'll treasure for years.


Related Heating Information from Horizon Services...