Saturday, November 20, 2010

Chocolate Cream Pie

CHOCOLATE CREAM PIE

We had a great family get together for nearly a month and a half when all our children had come down like a whiff of fresh air. The over burdened dining table looked like a perfect wishing table with all their childhood favourites.The table now looks relieved with a spread of two or at the most three dishes on it. The jokes cut at our (parents) expense followed by the hearty laughter and chatter, the babbling of the babies and children and the merriment have all gone back with them. Now we are back to square one, just the two of us lost in reverie in our now empty nest.
My children not only relished 'amma's' food but also came forward to prepare their own exotic dishes for all of us.
We are a family of ardent chocolate lovers. The Chocolate Cream Pie prepared by my daughter-in-law was a great hit and she had to prepare more of this delightful dessert the very next day due to the persistant requests of the connoisseurs!
Here is the recipe in her own words:

TARA'S CHOCOLATE CREAM PIE






Crust Ings:
2 cups cracker/ biscuit crumbs (I used 1 large package whole grain digestive buiscits)
4 tablespoons butter

Pie filling ings:

½ of a large bar of chocoate
2 tablespoons sugar (if using dark chocoate)
1 box silken tofu
1 cap of vanilla essence
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons sugar

Whipped Cream Ings:

2 cups fresh cream
3 Tablespoons fine sugar
1 cap of vanilla essence

Process:



Crush the crackers in a bowl until they are a fine powder.

Drizzle in the melted butter and stir until all the bread crumbs have absorbed the butter.








Pour the mixture into an pie dish and press out to an even thickness on the bottom and all the way up the sides. Set aside, in the fridge if you are in a warm place.

In the mean time, slit open the tofu box and squeeze out the excess water. Let it sit so it can continue to drain while you temper the chocoate.



For the chocolate, use the doubble boiler method. I did not have an official doubble boiler so I improvised with a smaller dish, holding with the kitchen tongs and stirring to temper the chocolate. An option while tempering the chocolate is to add extra cocoa powder, sugar and milk to get a “chocolatier” end result.


Once the chocolate is tempered remove from the double boiler and put into a bender. Add the tofu, sugar, honey and vanilla to the blender with the chocolate. Blend untill smooth (15 seconds or so).


Pour the mixture into the pie shell, return to the refrigerator. Let the pie sit and firm for about 2 hours before serving.


While thie pie is chilling make the whipped cream. For best results use a VERY large metal bowl and large wisk that are ice cold. I store mine in the freezer for 30 min before making the whipped cream. Pour the cream into the cold bowl and whip with the wisk to add bubble. After a few whips add in the sugar, whip again and then add in the vanilla. Continue whipping until the cream forms stiff peaks.
Top the pie slices with whipped cream when you are ready to serve.


ENJOY!

Friday, November 19, 2010

Simple Ways to Increase Your Home's HVAC System Efficiency



According to HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning) industry data, the average American homeowner spends approximately $1300 a year on heating and cooling bills. While green overhauls are all the rage in the home improvement and construction industry, it’s not necessary to gut your home’s existing heating and cooling system. There are many ways to make your home more energy efficient without breaking the bank. Making a few simple changes and taking the time to maintain your current HVAC system can result in hundreds or thousands of dollars saved on utilities.

One of the best ways to ensure your home’s energy-efficiency is to choose Energy Star appliances. These machines have been certified by the government’s Energy Star program, which assures they meet high standards of efficiency and reliability. If you’re in the market for a new refrigerator, air conditioner, television, microwave, or other major appliance, look for the Energy Star label to guarantee you’re getting the most efficient device with a low operating cost.

Maintenance is the best way to prevent undue wear and tear on your home’s heating and cooling system. Not only will regular maintenance keep your HVAC system running at optimum performance, but it will detect problems or malfunctions before they become major issues.

To keep your HVAC system running as it should, follow these basic tips:
  • Hire a professional to perform regular maintenance on your HVAC system, including annual tune-ups and cleanings of your furnace and air conditioner before the start of each season.

  • Follow your system manufacturer’s maintenance instructions between annual professional visits.

  • Check furnace and air conditioner filters: Permanent filters should be cleaned with mild soap and water every month or two; replaceable filters should be swapped out at least as often.

  • Keep windows and doors closed when the HVAC system is running.

  • Caulk and weather strip around windows and doors to seal drafts.

  • When the air conditioning is on, use your washer and dryer only during the coolest times of day (early morning or after sunset).

Staying on top of regular HVAC maintenance, cleaning, and professional tune-ups is the easiest, cheapest, most effective way to keep your home’s heating and cooling system working at its best. A well-tuned furnace or air conditioner runs more efficiently, which saves you money.

Consider installing a programmable thermostat. These inexpensive thermostats allow you to set the times and temperatures at which your HVAC systems run. You can program the thermostat to turn on your heating and air conditioning only on those times in which you are in the house and turn off when you are away. It's a great way to lower your utility bills.

If cleaning and professional maintenance just aren’t translating into savings on your monthly utility bills, it may be time to replace your furnace or air conditioner. A new HVAC system is a substantial investment, but in the long-run this could be your best bet. Thanks to technological advances and government regulations, HVAC systems have never been more energy-efficient or easy to operate. Even units on the lower end of the efficiency scale typically cost less to operate than a similar system that was installed just a decade ago.

High efficiency models do cost significantly more initially, but they pay for themselves in just a short time in the form of monthly energy savings. Of course, you’ll need to weigh the purchase cost and savings when shopping for a new system. A qualified HVAC contractor can help you navigate the complex marketplace of energy-efficient heating and cooling units.


Related Information from Horizon Services...

Sooji-Vermicelli Dhokla/Rawa-Semiya Dhokla

You can Call it Dhokla or call it Idly or u can even say it a Steamed Cake!!!! But, I call it an easy to make Dish, on a very lazy, don't feel like cooking day!!!! Had some already roasted rawa-vermicelli, all i have to do was to mix in some yoghurt and steam it!!!! 

Ingredient
1 cup of Semolina/Rawa/Sooji
1/2 cup of Vermicelli
4-5 green chillies
1 tsp grated ginger
1 cup of Whisked yoghurt
1 cup of Buttermilk
Salt to taste
1 tsp of Baking soda

Method
Dry Roast Semolina and Vermicelli Separately. Mix them together and add the rest of the ingredients to it. Mix well, it should be of idly-batter consistency.
 If the batter is too thick, add another half cup of butter milk to it. Grease a flat plate, pour the batter and steam cook until done. Once cool, cut them into squares and serve with some Chutney!!! We had ours with some Ketchup!!!