Parangikkai Vathakuzhambu / Butternut Squash in Tamarind Gravy

Vathakuzhambu is a typical Brahmin household dish. I love the tangy tamarind taste of this dish and it goes best with steaming rice with a little bit of ghee and also with Venn Pongal. It is a very very simple dish to make and can be made with a variety of veggies like Okra, Shallots, Banana Squash, Taro Root, Drumsticks and Sweet Potato. It can also be made with dried Vathals like Manathakkali / Black NightShade and Sundakkai / Turkey Berry.

Ingredients:

Banana Squash - Chopped - 1 cup
Tamarind Concentrate - 1/2 cup
Sesame oil - 2 Tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Chana Dal - 1 tsp
Fenugreek Seeds - 1 tsp
Dry Red Chillies - 3-4
Turmeric Powder - 1 Tsp
Red Chilli Powder - 1Tsp
Asafoetida - A pinch
Sambar Powder/ Vathakuzhambu Powder - 1 Tbsp
Curry Leaves - A few
Cilantro - A few to garnish
Salt - To Taste

Method:

• Peel and cut the Banana Squash into bite sized pieces and keep it aside.

• Take a lime sized ball of tamarind and soak it in hot water and squeeze out the pulp concentrate in a bowl.
• If you are using tamarind paste, dissolve 1/2 tbsp of the paste in hot water and keep it aside.

• In a pan, heat the sesame oil and add the mustard seeds.

• Once the mustard seeds have popped, add the chana dal.

• Then add the fenugreek seeds and the dry red chillies.

• Add the Banana Squash and mix it well with the seasoning.

• Allow the squash to cook on medium heat for 3-4 minutes and add the tamarind concentrate to the squash.

• Add about 1/2 cup of water to the squash mixture.

• Then add turmeric powder and red chilli powder.

• Add a pinch of asafoetida and add some salt according to taste.

• Add Vathakuzhambu powder/ Sambar powder and cook for 3-4 minutes.

• Add some curry leaves to the Vathakuzhambu / Sambar.

• Allow the gravy to thicken. The Vathakuzhambu / Sambar has to reduce and form a sauce like consistency.

•  Then add some Jaggery to this and simmer and cook for 5 minutes.

• Garnish the Vathakuzhambu / Sambar with cilantro and serve hot.

• Vathakuzhambu tastes the best when served hot and goes very well with Venn Pongal.

• Enjoy !!

French Beans Curry/ Beans Poriyal

It has been a very very long time since I have posted something here. I have been so very busy the past few days. I just celebrated my Second Wedding Anniversary yesterday and the day was just so good. I had some surprise friends over and so many wishes. With the remaining energy that got passed on from yesterday I am sitting down now to finish up some of my very pending posts on my blog.

It is a South Indian meal calling now. So here I am with my French Beans Curry/ Beans Poriyal.

Ingredients:

French Beans - Chopped - 2 Cups
Oil - 2 Tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1 Tsp
Urad Dal - 1 Tsp
Chana Dal - 1 Tsp
Dry Red Chillies - 2-3
Coconut - Freshly grated - 1/2 cup
Salt - To Taste

Method:

• Wash the French beans and chop it and keep it aside.

• In a pan heat the 2 Tbsp of Oil.

• Once the Oil is hot add the mustard seeds. 

• Allow the mustard seeds to pop up.

• Then add the Urad Dal, Chana Dal and the dry red chillies.

• Then add the chopped French Beans and mix it will.

• Now add salt according to taste and mix it all well.

• Cover and cook for about 8-10 minutes on medium heat.

• Keep stirring in-between once or twice so that it does not burn at the bottom.

• If the curry gets too dry, then sprinkle a few drops of water and cover and cook again.

• Once the French Beans are cooked, add the freshly grated Coconut.

• Mix it well and cover and cook for 3-5 minutes.

• Turn off the heat and French Beans Curry/ Beans Poriyal is ready to be served.

• You can serve this hot with Sambar Rice, Rasam Rice or Rotis.

Notes:

• Red Chillies are added instead of green chillies so that they can be differentiated well amidst the Green Beans.
• You can also use dry dessicated coconut in case the freshly grated ones are not available.

Gauging the Health of Your Home Heating and Cooling Ducts

If your home has a central heating and air conditioning system, maintaining the ductwork is essential to keeping your home comfortable and healthy. Neglected ducts can harbor high levels of air pollutants, circulating them inside your home and contributing to conditions like asthma, allergies, sinus irritation, and other respiratory problems. Inefficient ducts can also impact your energy usage and may cause a significant increase in your monthly utility bills.

Many homeowners think that simply cleaning their ducts will take care of any air quality problems inside their homes. This just isn’t the case. While keeping ducts clean is important, far more significant is what’s going into the ductwork. Harmful fumes from paint and cleaning supplies, tobacco smoke, and even cooking are some of the main causes of poor indoor air quality. If you are having trouble with the quality of air circulating through your home, take a closer look at any of your daily activities that could be contributing to the problem.

Still, cleaning ductwork is important. Mold and odors caused by deceased vermin behind the walls of your home can seep into ducts and interfere with air quality. When cleaning ductwork be sure to replace the air filter, remove any foreign objects, and repair any noticeable cracks, tears, or weak spots. A professional HVAC technician can thoroughly clean your system and make necessary repairs or recommendations to improve the quality of air inside your home.

An impeccable duct system is nothing without a good support team: well insulated windows, doors, attics, crawl spaces, and basements. Without the proper joints and sealants, all the warm or cool air pumped out through your home’s ductwork will be lost to the outdoors. This not only affects the efficiency of your heating and cooling system, but it also raises your monthly utility costs. Be sure that all windows and doors are properly fitted and sealed, and that your home is adequately insulated.

Perhaps the most under-appreciated part of any heating and cooling system is the air return ducts. Proper return ducts ensure consistent, comfortable heating and air conditioning which improves ventilation, air quality, and the overall temperature inside your home. If the air return ducts aren’t functioning properly it can even force your furnace or air conditioning unit to work harder; this can increase wear and tear on your equipment and may shorten the overall life of your system.

Because air return ducts are a complex part of your home’s heating and cooling system, it’s best to leave them to the professionals. If you notice that the rooms in your house with outside walls are often a different temperature than the rest of the home, or that your energy bills are going up even though you haven’t changed your usage habits, it’s a sign that you may be having trouble with your return ducts. It would be wise to call in a professional technician to check things out.

Related Information from Horizon Services...

• Horizon Heating Services
• Horizon Air Conditioning Services
• Indoor Air Quality - A Major Problem for Homeowners
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning