Monday, June 01, 2009

Braided Hotdog Bun

These are the real soft buns which the recipe from "孟老师的100道面包". I guess it would be the mashed potato make it so soft. But, I've probloem in shaping the dough nicely. The dough was a bit wet whereas I need to slightly oiled my hand to handle the dough. I think I'll shape it in a simple way next time rather than braiding the dough.
Anyway, the soft buns are really good to eat with some cheddar cheese topping and dried parsley for garnishment. I think this potato dough would be good for making others savory buns too!

Recipe (makes 5 buns):
(A)
110g bread flour
40g plain flour
15g caster sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
70g cold water
2g yeast (1/2 teaspoon)
30g mashed potato
(B)
15g butter
(C)
5 pieces hotdog
some shredded cheddar
some dried pasley
  1. Mix ingredients (A) at low speed using a dough hook mixer follow by the mashed potato. Turn to medium speed continue kneading until it become a smooth dough. Add in the (B) unsalted butter and knead with low speed until the butter combine with the dough. Turn to medium speed continue the kneading process until it become a smooth and elastic dough. (the dough will slightly wet, I oiled my hand then...) place the dough into a lightly grease bowl and cover with cling wrap to proof for 80 minutes.
  2. Divide the dough into 5 portions and round them into small balls. Let them rest for 10 minutes.
  3. Wrap the hotdog into each doughs and proof for 25 minutes.
  4. Egg wash the dough and sprinkle some shredder cheddar cheese and dried parsley. Bake at 190'c for 18 minutes until golden brown. Enjoy!

Re: 7 Reasons to Hire A Kitchen Designer

The Kohler web site has a good article detailing the 7 Reasons to Hire A Kitchen Designer. This advice applies to baths too.

In the Industry today we have seen a dramatic drop off in work coming into design offices and showrooms over the past year and a half.

Consumers are buying houses that have been poorly maintained, or even trashed and repossessed by lenders, yet they are not going the established route of working with a designer. Instead they seem to be going it alone in making decisions about how to repair the damage and renovate their newly purchased homes.

I have said more than once recently, that the situation reminds me of the '70's, when Do-It-Yourself (DIY) was the way most people planned and renovated. I started out as a Do-It-Yourselfer back in the '70's, so I know whereof I speak. From what I have seen of the quality of most '70's renovations over the intervening years, they would have been better off doing NOTHING!

Correcting the poor decisions of the '70's Do-It-Yourselfers has kept the kitchen and bath design industry growing ever since! I can't stress this point enough. It is very important for the current DIY consumer to realize this fact, because YOU live with your decisions and your mistakes; and when you decide to sell your home, for whatever reason, YOU will pay the price in less appreciation and saleability.

Kitchen and bath designers are trained to maximize efficiency and storage. We are also trained to bring a project in within budget.

Kitchen and bath designers SAVE far more than we cost our clients.

So, if you are cruising the Web today, looking for ideas for your own kitchen or bathroom renovation, with the thought of saving on design and Doing-It-Yourself. I strongly suggest that you ask yourself these questions:

1. What are the requirements in my community for submission of plans for renovation?

2. Am I up to the task of creating the required documents? Such documents require electrical and mechanical elements. Am I prepared to learn what I need to know about electrical, lighting, and mechanical documentation? (Here in California we have community and State mandates to upgrade inadequate electrical service, plus Title 24, to take into account).

3. If so, am I willing to spend the time to learn enough to design my own kitchen or bath and be satisfied with the results?

4. Does the kitchen or bath lend itself to easy decision making? In other words: Do I already like the way it is designed? The traffic flow? The space for storage? The area for countertops? The amount of light? If not, see Question 3.

5. Am I willing to spend the time to research each of the myriad products I will have to contemplate to complete my new kitchen? Do I know WHAT THEY ARE? Do I know WHERE TO LOOK FOR THEM? CAN I DISCERN RELATIVE QUALITY BETWEEN LIKE PRODUCTS?

Kitchen and bath dealers represent certain products because the manufacturers offer elements important to the dealer. Such as: price; quality; reliability of delivery; little or no damage on delivery; etc.

Many of these elements important to the dealer are invisible to the consumer. When the dealer is not there to filter choices down to the reliable products only - BUYER BEWARE.

The least expensive products on the market in every category are the products reputable dealers shun as problematic.

Believe me, all kitchen and bath dealers would love to be able to sell a great product cheap or more profitably. It doesn't happen because manufacturers of great products value and sell them accordingly.

6. Am I going to hire a contractor to renovate and install the products I buy? Or am I going to do the work myself?

7. If I plan to do the work myself, do I know how to do it well? If not, am I willing to spend the time to learn how?

As I said above: We kitchen and bath designers have spent the last forty years correcting the mistakes of the '70's Do-IT-Yourselfers. Do you really want to start that cycle all over again?

We have learned so much about designing great kitchens and baths in the interim. Why not give us a shot at helping with yours?

Peggy

Sunday, May 31, 2009

15 Minute Recipes-Main course(Part 3)

The much awaited round up is here!

Rice Varieties




  1. Cauliflower Rice with Boondhi Raitha from Appetizing Recipes
  2. Chutney Chawal from Ruchii
  3. Coconut Rice from Ashwini's Spicy Cuisine
  4. Coconut milk Rice from Appetizing Recipes
  5. Carrot Pulao from Appetizing Recipes
  6. Corn Pulao from Appetizing Recipes
  7. Cranberry Fried Rice from Asankhana
  8. Kichdi from Dil Se..
  9. Masala pongal from Kitchen tantra-tease your palate
  10. Milagu pongal from Kitchen tantra-tease your palate
  11. Peela chawaran from Simplysindhirecipes
  12. Puli Pongal from Chandrabhaga
  13. Sambar Sadam from Edible Garden
  14. Simple Lemon Rice from From my kitchen to yours..
  15. Ven Pongal from http://kaleidoscope-articlegallery.blogspot.com/
Rotis



  1. Red Orangee Roti from Adlak's kitchen
  2. Spicy Chapathi from Adlak's kitchen
  3. Methi Roti from Saffron Apron
  4. Mixed Veg Parotta from Vidya's Kitchen
  5. Paneer Roll from Usha Nandini's Recipes
  6. Roti Rolls from Health nut
  7. Akki Roti from Annapurna
Dishes to go with Rice and Rotis-Gravies, Sambars & dry Curries



  1. Baby Onions Curry from http://gharkirasoi.blogspot.com/
  2. Beans Poriyal from Usha Nandini's Recipes
  3. Beluli Thambli from Masala Vade
  4. Bittergourd Curry from Kavitha'vin Kaivannam
  5. Boloker Torkari from Khana Khazana with Malini
  6. Brinjal Curry with podi from Spice-Club
  7. Brinjal Tomato Sambar from Enthaligai
  8. Capsicum Curry from Usha Nandini's Recipes
  9. Chilli Garlic Cauliflower from Kavitha'vin Kaivannam
  10. Coriander leaves with gram flour from SpicyKhazana
  11. Cut Mango Pickle from Preethi's Online Cookbook
  12. Double beans gravy from Appetizing Recipes
  13. Drumstik kootu from Appetizing Recipes
  14. Gobi Matar Tawa Fry from From my palate
  15. Cauliflower Manchurian from Appetizing Recipes
  16. Kadaintha Keerai from Kavitha'vin Kaivannam
  17. Keerai poriyal from Viki's Kitchen
  18. Malaai ki Subz from Zaayeka
  19. Mavina kayi appehuli from Recipes24even.blogspot.com
  20. Mix Veg Kurma from Appetizing Recipes
  21. No Fuss Sweet potato fry from Nalini(nonblogger) Check out the recipe below
  22. Okra in roasted sesame and poppy seed sauce from Appayan
  23. Palak Paneer from Saffron Apron
  24. Palak Chole stir fry from Veggie Food Journal
  25. Palong Shak-er charchari (Spinach with mix-veg) from Appayan
  26. palong-shaak-sheddho from COOK-A-DOODLE-DO
  27. Paneer Mutter from Usha Nandini's Recipes
  28. Plain Palak Curry from http://a2zvegetariancuisine.blogspot.com
  29. Aloo Fry from Kalyani's kitchen
  30. Potato curry with podi from Spice-Club
  31. Puli inji from From my kitchen to yours..
  32. Pumpkin Stew(Gummadikaaya pulusu) fromThe Chef and Her Kitchen
  33. Red Capsicum Thogayal from Preethi's Online Cookbook
  34. Soy Chilli Aloo fry from Kavitha'vin Kaivannam
  35. Spicy Tangy Chillies from The yum factor
  36. Spicy Soy Wadian from http://memoryarchieved.blogspot.com
  37. Spinach Poriyal from Padma's Recipes
  38. Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Curry from Spicykhazana
  39. Sweet Paneer Gravy from Esho-Bosho-Aahare
  40. Thondekayi Saasime(Ivy gourd in yogurt sauce) from Savi-Ruchi
  41. Yellow Pumpkin with Cashewnuts and Coconut from Tasty Treats
I realized later that 2 entries were missing in the above collage and got mixed up with chutney collage. I apologize for the confusion! Sorry guys. If I redo the collage again, it is going to take a couple of hours more. So here are the missed out pictures and links to the recipes.

Plantain Fry from Vividha ruchulu



Radish, Peas and Bell Peppers Sauteed in Olive oil from Simple Home cooking



Recipe from non blogger

No fuss sweet potato fry
1 sweet potato (US variety)
1- 2 Tbsps oil
1/2 tspn or more red chilli powder
1/4 tspn turmeric
asafoetida
2 Tbs chopped onions
2 Tbs dessicated orfrozen coconut
salt

Peel and dice the sweet potato into small pieces.
Heat the oil in a 10 inch saucepan. When the oil is heated, add all the ingredients in the order given into the pot except the sweet potato. Give the ingredients a few seconds to sizzle together. Now add the diced sweet potatoes. Sprinkle abbout three tablespoons of water and close the pan with a lid.
Lower the heat to medium and let the sweet potatoes cook. Stir it every so often. The vegetables should cook very soon. Let it roast uncovered for a few more minutes. Garnish with cilantro.
Serves four.


Chutneys to go with Rice, Roti, Idly, Dosas



  1. Bari Chutney and onion tomato raitha from Asankhana
  2. Ridgegourd Chutney from http://memoryarchieved.blogspot.com
  3. Carrot Chutney from Sai kitchen
  4. Cilantro Yogurt Chutney from Kavya's Kitchen
  5. Kothimeera-Tomato Pachadi (Cilantro-Tomato Chutney) from kalyani's kitchen
  6. Peanut Chutney from The Chef and Her Kitchen
  7. Plantain Fry from Vividha ruchulu
  8. Plantain Chutney from Vividha ruchulu
  9. pumpkin cilantro chutney from Vidya's kitchen
  10. Mint leaf Chutney from Viki's Kitchen
  11. Radish, Peas and Bell Peppers Sauteed in Olive oil from Simple Home cooking
  12. Simple Peanut Chutney from From my kitchen to yours..
  13. Tomato Capsicum Chutney from Kavitha'vin Kaivannam
  14. Tomato Chutney/Dip from Indian Khana
  15. Tomato Archaar from Cooking 4 all seasons
  16. Ambuli Chutney from Aps kitchen
Podis/Powders



  1. Spiced Dalia (Roasted Bengal Gram) Powder from Essence of Andhra
  2. Spicy Coconut powder from Aathidhyam
  3. Thaengai podi from From my kitchen to yours..

Raithas/Pacchadi



  1. Coconut thayir pachhadi from From kitchen to yours..
  2. Raita/Pachadi from Usha Nandini's Recipes
  3. Cucumber pachadi from Easy2cookrecipes
  4. Pineapple Raita / Flavoured Greek Yogurt from http://a2zvegetariancuisine.blogspot.com
  5. Sweet mango pachadi from Sanghi's Food Delights
  6. Tomato and capsicum pachadi from Preethi's Online Cookbook
  7. Carrot pachadi from Salt to taste
Please check your links and let me know if there are errors.

OK I am TIRED and want to sign off. This covers only half the round-up. Anybody interested in doing the other half? haha.. just kidding.

Enjoy!