Sunday, October 17, 2010

Vazhai Pazha Thair Pachadi - Ripe Banana in Yoghurt

VAZHAIPAZHATHAIRPACHADI
I prepared Vazhai Pazha Thair Pachadi with great reluctance for the first time after my husband's incessent requests. To my greatest astonishment I ended up eating more than half of the portion that I had prepared. From then on I loved to prepare this cool and delicious pachadi very often.



INGREDIENTS
Ripe bananas - 2
Fresh thick curds - 2 cups
Salt - 1 pinch
Oil - 1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
Freshly chopped green coriander leaves - 1 tbsp
Finely chopped green chillies- 1/2 tsp
Pomegranate seeds - 2 tbsp

METHOD



1. Peel and chop the ripe bananas into small pieces.
2. Add salt and lightly mash the fruit with the back of a spoon so that the curd should uniformly be infused with the juice of the fruit. Take care not to mash it up into a pulp.
3. Mix in the thick curds.
4. Heat oil and add the mustard seeds.
5. When the mustard seeds crackle add the cumin seeds. Let the cumin seeds pop up before switching off the flame.
7. Add chopped green chillies and add the seasoning to the pachadi.
8. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and sprinkle the red pomegranate seeds on top.


Relish the cool and sweet Vazhai Pazha Thair Pachadi as a side dish or enjoy it as a dessert without adding the green chillies.

The Basics of Faucet Leak Repair



Read This BEFORE You Try to Fix a Leaky Faucet On Your Own

Nothing is more annoying than the constant drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet. If you’ve got the right tools, a leaky faucet in the kitchen or bathroom is one of the easiest DIY fixes around the house. However, keep in mind that all faucets are not alike. Here are some basic, leaky faucet tips and insight that do-it-yourselfers should know before they start taking things apart and trying to put them back together..


Types of Faucets
  • Compression Faucets: Usually found in homes with older plumbing, the compression faucet is fairly common. There is a knob for hot water and another for cold water. When the knobs are turned open, the faucet opens and water flows through. Compression faucets leak when the washers on the knobs become worn or damaged. To fix a leaky compression faucet you generally only need to replace the washers.

  • Washerless Faucets: Washerless faucets are another common type found in many homes; ball faucets, cartridge faucets, and disk faucets are all washerless fixtures. Despite their name, these faucets do have washers, along with many other components that allow them to operate properly. Any one of these components can fail and cause a leak, though washerless faucets are among the most reliable plumbing fixtures you can install in your home.

  • Ball Faucets: They have a single handle that rotates on a ball, letting you move the handle left or right for hot and cold water. When the adjusting ring becomes loose, ball faucets can develop leaks. Other common causes of leaks in these types of faucets include failed cam washers, worn springs or worn valve seats.

  • Disk Faucets: They come in single or double handle configurations. Both have a ceramic disk mechanism that opens and closes to allow water through. Disk faucets rarely fail, but the most common sources of leaks are worn seals, o-rings, and stems.

  • Cartridge Faucets: They are usually single handle units with a cartridge assembly that allows water to flow. Cartridge faucets have a series of o-rings that can become warped or worn, causing leaks.

For Most Faucet Leaks, Consult a Plumber

Even if you think you can handle a simple leak repair on your own, it’s still a good idea to call a plumber for a second opinion. Most plumbers will be happy to talk you through a basic repair job over the phone, offering helping advice and educating you about the proper tools and parts you’ll need. If the repair turns out to be more difficult than you bargained for, a plumber will gladly make an appointment to complete the repair for you.

Whether you choose to repair a leaky faucet yourself or feel more comfortable hiring a professional plumber, the sooner you deal with the problem the better. Even minor faucet leaks have a nasty habit of compounding into major plumbing problems...and that can quickly add up to thousands of dollars in more serious plumbing repairs. A leaky faucet that goes ignored too long can cause substantial water damage, erode pipes, and compromise the water pressure in your entire house. Furthermore, a faucet that drips just twice per second wastes about 100 gallons of water each month, which can jack up your water bill significantly.

The plumbing professionals at Horizon Services can quickly diagnose the cause of your faucet leak or other plumbing problem and fix the problem inexpensively and reliably. Call Horizon today!



Related Plumbing Information from Horizon Services...

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Alternative Home Heating Technologies Have Arrived



The Future is Now for Home Furnaces and Heating Systems!

As our world continues to contemplate the efficiency of existing heating technologies and more and more homeowners become concerned about depleting natural resources, especially fossil fuels, there have been several new innovations in home heating. Here we outline three of the leading alternative heating technologies.


Solar Panels:

Solar panels use photovoltaic cells to change sunlight to electricity. To use this technology effectively, a home needs a south-facing roof with a precise pitch so that the cells are exposed to maximum sunlight. While other heating sources like traditional furnaces and hybrid heating systems are still cheaper for most homeowners, solar panel heating systems are growing in popularity every year thanks to government subsidies and enthusiastic advocates.

According to one source, solar panel installation has increased nearly ten-fold since this time last year. For most homeowners, however, the cost of solar panel installation remains prohibitive. From start to finish, installation costs can run anywhere from $25,000 to more than $75,000 depending on geographical location and the size of the home. Even with government incentives and credits—which can often supplement almost half of the installation cost—it will take years for most homeowners to recoup the cost of initial installation.


Solar Furnaces:

Like solar panel heating systems, solar furnaces harness the power of the sun to heat your home. These devices work like a giant magnifying glass, concentrating sunlight on a single point to generate powerful heat. Highly reflective mirrors reflect the sun’s rays, creating temperatures up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit for a standard furnace and more than 3000 degrees Fahrenheit for larger units. This heat can be converted to energy capable of powering a variety of other applications. Surprisingly, solar panels provide more efficient heating for residential furnaces, and solar furnaces are more effective at powering other things like ovens and other electric appliances.

The cost of a solar furnace is hard to pin down exactly. A crude solar furnace can be put together for as little as $10, while large commercial systems can cost millions. At this point, there are few middle-of-the-road options for homeowners who want to explore solar furnace heating, though there are several solar-powered oven ranges currently on the market. It is expected that this technology will experience rapid growth and development over the next five to ten years.


Geothermal Heating Systems:

The most tangible and efficient source of alternative home heating comes from the ground. More than half of the sun’s energy is absorbed into the ground, where it creates a nearly constant temperature that can be transferred to your home. Currently, geothermal heating has a much brighter future than most solar heating options available right now. Geothermal heating is an attractive choice for new home construction and green renovations, as it is much more affordable initially than solar options and pays for itself in just a few years with increased utility savings.


Interested in Alternative or Traditional Heating Solutions?

Contact the heating professionals at Horizon Services, Inc. Our experienced Comfort Consultants can perform a FREE, no-obligation In-Home Energy Analysis of your home to assess your home's heating and cooling requirements AND recommend a variety of energy-efficient heating and cooling systems that will both maximize your comfort and reduce your utility bills.


Related Heating Information from Horizon Services...
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