How to make perfectly hard - boiled eggs?

How to make perfectly hard – boiled eggs?

Place eggs in single layer in a medium saucepan. Completely cover with cold water. Cook over medium  - high heat until water comes to a rapid boil. Remove form heat, cover and let stand 15 minutes. Drain under cold water or place in a bowl of ice water until cool. Now eggs can be peeled and served immediately.

Substitute for a wire cooling rack for baking

Stainless steel round roti / papad roaster

Substitute for a wire cooling rack for baking

Ideally, a freshly baked caked should stay in its tin until it has cooled to 140 * F (60 * F) as it breaks if handled warm. Allow a  minimum of 10 – 15 minutes  cooling  time, then turn out on to a wire rack (though not an essential item, it is a neat way to cool cakes). Wire rack helps the cake to cool evenly. 

Substitute for  for a wire cooling rack for baking - Pull a rack out of the oven, grill, or broiler pan or Stainless steel kitchen mat. Make sure it's clean and simply leave it out on a flat surface to place the baked items on it (source – wikihow).

Here I’ve used is Stainless Steel  round roti / papad  roaster with wooden handle (1st photo), oven (OTG) rack and Stainless steel kitchen mat.

                                                                                                          

       

How to whip egg whites?

How to whip egg whites?

Instructions  from Sharp 5 – speed Hand Mixer

Beaters and bowl must be thoroughly clean.

Be sure that there is no egg yolk in the egg whites.

To create the maximum volume, egg whites should be at room temperature.

Whip egg whites at the highest speed setting (5) until they reach the desired consistency.

Whipping time will vary in accordance with freshness of the eggs.

For best results when whipping egg whites, use a cold metal bowl preferable stainless steel.

Garlic Peeler

Garlic Peeler

A garlic peeler — really, a small plastic tube — takes the work and mess out of peeling garlic. Just put a whole garlic clove inside the tube and roll it back and forth, pressing firmly. A fresh garlic clove is ready now !!!

Available @ leading supermarkets (Santhosh Super Stores, Anna Nagar) & gift stores in Chennai (Price Rs52 -60 / 1 garlic peeler ).

Tips for Food Hygiene

Tips for Food Hygiene

Source - Reader's Digest

Wash your hands before and after you handle food.

Clean utensils and working surfaces with hot soapy water before, after and also during food preparation.

Never use the same cutting board or the same utensils for raw meat, chicken or fish, and vegetables. As a general rule, keep meat, chicken and fish away from other foodstuffs.

Never place cooked meat or fish on the same surface where you placed it raw, without cleaning the surface thoroughly beforehand.

Thaw your food in the fridge, never at room temperature. If you defrost it in the microwave, cook it immediately afterwards.

Never refreeze a product you have previously defrosted.

Throw away tins of food that are dented or swollen.

Throw away cracked eggs.

Never eat chicken if the flesh is still red after it has been cooked.

Close container lids and insert corks firmly before you store products in the fridge.

Throw away any that show signs of mold.

Never eat raw pastry, even to taste it.

Put leftovers in the fridge or freezer within 2 hours of the end of a meal and if they’re uneaten after two days, throw them out.



Uses of Parchment Paper

Source - Reader's Digest

It's not really a gadget, but use parchment paper under cookies and brownies and you’ll never have to clean stuck-on burnt messes anymore. Another great use: bake fish inside little packets for a no-mess quick weeknight meal.

Appam with Bulls Eye / Fried Egg on top

Appam with Bulls Eye / Fried Egg on top

The other day I saw an article about many variations of Appam / Aappam being served in a couple of chain hotels in Chennai. Though I haven’t tasted them yet, I thought of making them and here’s one of the variation. Essentially this is an appam with a fried egg / Bulls eye on top. In both those hotel chain ( Nala’s Appakadai & Simran’s Appakadai ) many other variations like Chicken mince appam & Cheese appam also available.



Appam with Omelette on top

Here’s how I made it: Prepare appam batter and pour it in the appakadai. When the appam is 3/4 th done break and pour an egg on the top of the appam carefully such that the yolk is intact. Cover it and allow to cook on a low heat. Once done remove the appam carefully from the pan and serve hot with Vegetable / Chicken stew, Korma and also sprinkle salt and pepper powder ( optional ).



Different type of Cheese



Soft & White cheese

Blue Cheese

Cheddar Cheese

Eye Cheese - Swiss style

Fresh & Cream Cheese

Fetta Style Cheese

Goat's Cheese

Hard Italian Style Cheese

Washed Rind Cheese

Mozzarella & Haloumi Cheese



Kitchen Tip



Source - Femina Handy Hints



An easy, effective way of greasing a tawa / frying pan for making Dosas (Polo) is by using a half- slice onion dipped in oil. Hold the onion by piercing with a fork.

Storage tip for Salt:


Source - Idealhome


To avoid moisture from setting into your table salt, drop a few grains of rice into salt shaker.

Storage ideas for Kitchen

Storage ideas for kitchen:



Source - Idealhome



Is that whisk nowhere to be found when the sauce comes to the boil? To avoid culinary disasters, keep utensils within arm's reach. Try a ceramic vase next to the stove for wooden spoons, tongs and spatulas. Hooks attached to a rod under your cabinets (or on the wall), help hang implements, ladles and slotted spoons within easy grasp.

Cooking tip for noodles:



Always heat enough water and wait till it boils, before adding the noodles.

The noodles should be completely immersed in water. It is best to add salt to noodles cooking in water shortly before it comes to a boil - salt adds flavor and ensures firm strands.

You can add a teaspoon of oil so that the noodles don't stick.

 Serve noodles immediately to keep them from getting sticky and soggy.

Smart tip for Sponge Cake:



For a healthier sponge cake, add a big spoon of honey to the batter and see the difference.

Latest Amul Topical



Indian cricketer's outstanding performance in the current World Cup - Mar' 2011

Battery operated Mini Blender

Battery operated mini blender

This is a portable and c very handy device. Since battery operated, no messing around with wires and sockets.

Main use of this is to whip / blend small quantity of - for eg - beat a single egg, make a glass or two of lassi / milkshake. Drink and serve a frothy cappuccino whenever you want, with this battery operated milk frother / mini blender. Light weight and easy to clean also.... Rs75, Available @ all leading supermarkets and gift stores in Chennai

Microwave cooking tips

Microwave cooking tips

Source - Femina Magazine

When removing a lid or a plastic wrap from hot, microwave food, make sure you lift it from the end of the dish away from you, in order to avoid being scalded by the escaping steam.

It is dangerous to use narrow - necked bottles or jars in a microwave oven, as pressure build - up during cooking, may cause them to explode.

Pierce fruits like tomatoes, plums or other soft fruits, which have a membrane or skin than can burst while cooking.

Fried foods like samosas, when reheated, do not remain crisp and French fries tend to get soggy.

Sweet dishes and bread rolls reheat quickly. Bread rolls, sandwiches, cakes, pizzas and chapatis should be wrapped in paper towels or cloth napkins. The paper or cloth will absorb excess moisture and promote even heating.

Mustard seeds do not splutter in a microwave oven, so do not be surprised if they continue to look the same when you are preparing tempering.

A microwave cooks food using its own moisture, so reduce the liquid used by almost half the normal quantity.

Never use aluminum foil to cover food completely, as the foil will reflect the microwave energy away from the food. Foil can, however, be used to cover lean areas of the food to prevent overcooking. Foil should never touch the walls of the oven.


Health tip

Source - Betterhomesandgardens

Orange juice to your aid - So you grab a fast food meal every now and then, but feel guilty about it? Just be sure to have some orange juice along with the meal. According to the researchers at the University of Buffalo, US, orange juice decreases a meal’s harmful effects by controlling the increase in levels of free radicals from unhealthy foods. Also, orange juice is an anti - fat elixir. While it can help limit the unhealthy effects of a fatty meal, don’t make junk food a habit.

Baking tip :


Source - Goodhousekeeping


The temperature drops by 12 * C every time the oven door is opened, so check your bakes through the oven window.


Cooking tip for Rice:


Add a few drops of lemon juice to the water before boiling rice to make the grains water.


Source - Goodhousekeeping Magazine

How to clean Sandwich Maker ?

How to clean Sandwich Maker ?

Always unplug the sandwich maker before you start cleaning it.

Let the sandwich maker cool down properly in open position.

First remove excess oil from the plates with a piece of kitchen paper before cleaning.

Clean the cooking plates with a moist soft cloth or sponge.

Use a wooden or plastic spatula to remove stick food residues (for example solidified cheese) from the cooking plate.

Never use abrasive pads to clean the cooking plates, as they will damage the non - stick coating.



Storage tips for Eggs:

Keep eggs in the main part of the refrigerator, which is cooler than the shelves on the inside of the door. Store the pointed end of the egg down, so that the yolk remains centered in the shell away from the air pocket at the larger end. Leave eggs in their original dated carton to keep track of when you bought them. Refrigerated eggs can be safely for up to 3 weeks.

Calorie content:

A large egg contain about 70 calories , 6 g of protein, 5 g of fat ( of which less than 2 g is saturated fat ), and about 190 mg of cholesterol.

How to make soft and spongy Appam ?
( Traditional breakfast dish of Kerala )

Please find here recipe !!!!

How to store Coriander leaves ?

How to store Coriander leaves ?

Remove the roots and store in an airtight container. It will remain fresh for more than a week.

Storage tip for Curry Leaves

Storage tip for Curry Leaves

Have you faced a situation where you prepared a great South Indian curry but while looking for curry leaves for seasoning you could find none. Many of us struggle to find the best way to store curry leaves. Here’s what I do.

Remove every single leaves from the stem. Ensure the leaves are dry ( no moisture on the surface ). Then store them in an airtight container in refrigerator and use as required. I have found that the freshness is retained for more than a week this way.

Citrus fruit peeler

Citrus fruit peeler

The other day I spotted this small but useful gadget in our neighborhood store. This device is very helpful to peel citrus fruits like orange, sweet lemon etc ... Wear this on one finger and run it over the citrus fruit. This is much safer than using a kitchen knife as there is no possibility of injury ( Rs12/ 1 packet ).

How to cook perfect Pasta ?

How to cook perfect Pasta ?

Cook pasta according to the direction shown on the packet.

Always cook pasta in a larger pan, with lots of boiling water - it will never stick.

Never, never overcook pasta. It should be just firm enough for you to bite into it - the term for this is ‘’ al dente’’. Fresh pasta rises to the top of the pan in just about a minute - and that’s a sign it’s done.

Rinse pasta in boiling water or cold water after you cook, so that extra starch is washed away.

Always drain pasta in the colander once it’s cooked.

Preservation tip for leafy vegetable ( Spinach, Methi leaves ... )

Preservation tip for leafy vegetable ( Spinach, Methi leaves .... )



If you found a fresh bunch of leafy vegetable in the market someday, but not in a position to prepare it the same day, here is a tip ( this is an age old practice - nothing new ) to help you preserve the freshness overnight.

Keep the vegetable in cool room with its ro...ots immersed in water ( see the photo ). The freshness can be retained overnight.

Idichakka thoran, Gidgi Gashi and Cheera thoran

Find here Cheera thoran / Tambidi bhajji sukke recipe

Find here delicous Gidgi dishes

How to split coconut into perfect halves ?

How to split coconut into perfect halves ?

Have a you faced problems splitting the coconut into perfect halves? Here is a solution.

Immerse the coconut in water for 5 - 10 minutes. Then break the coconut. There is high chance of coconut breaking into perfect halves.

How to prepare perfect Pancake ?

How to prepare perfect Pancake?

Source - Womenandhome

Makes: 12

You will need

110g flour

2 eggs

400ml milk

Pinch salt



Method

Sift the flour and salt into a bowl and make a well in the centre. Crack the eggs into the well, and using a hand whisk, gradually draw in the flour to the eggs until all the flour is mixed in.

Stirring constantly, add the milk in a thin, steady stream, until it has all been incorporated. Don't go too quickly or you'll end up with lumpy batter!

Keep chilled until ready to use. The batter will sit for up to three days.

To cook, heat a shallow non-stick frying pan. When hot, add a small knob of butter. When it is sizzling, pour a ladleful of batter into the pan and swirl it round to distribute it. When you have an even thin layer, tip out any excess and cook for a minute or so, lifting the bottom up with a palette knife to check the underside.

When the bottom is golden, either use a palette knife to flip the pancake or toss it in the air. Turn the heat right down and cook for another minute, until the other side is golden too.

Serve straight away or keep warm in a low oven while you finish the rest of the batch.

TIP

Keep your pan well greased and piping hot .



To turn your pancakes into extra-rich French crepes, just stir in 30g melted unsalted butter to the finished batter.

Latest Amul Topical

India's poor performance against South Africa in the on-going Cricket World cup - Mar' 2011

Cooking tips for Mushrooms

Cooking tip for Mushrooms

Source - Reader’s Digest

When buying mushrooms, look for firm buttons with no bruises. All mushrooms are handpicked, but bruise easily. Handle them carefully.

Flavor develops as the mushrooms grow, so the largest of any variety have the most flavor.

Don’t store mushrooms in cling wrap or plastic. Place them in paper bags and store in vegetable crisper of the refrigerator.

Five days should be the maximum storage time in the refrigerator.

Rinse mushrooms just before using them, but do not peel them or remove the stalks. The nutrition of mushrooms is just under the skin and will be lost by peeling. Just slice, quarter, or chop with the skins intact.

Cook mushrooms quickly. If using them in a slow dish such as a casserole, add the mushrooms for the last 20 minutes.

Benefits

Fat - free and very low in calories.
Rich in minerals.
Some are rich in plant chemicals, which may boost immune function.

Drawbacks

Wild mushrooms may be poisonous.

How to whip cream ?

How to whip cream ?

Source - Sharp Hand Mixer

Cream, beaters and mixing bowl must be thoroughly chilled.

Begin whipping process at lowest speed setting ( 1 ) to minimize spatter. As the cream begins to thicken gradually increase the speed setting to whip ( maximum 5 ).

Whipping time will vary according to the cream’s fat content, freshness and temperature.



Oil Dispenser for Dosa Tawa

This oil dispenser for dosa tawa is something I saw in the market the other day.

Many of us use varied method to apply oil on tawa or frying pani before pouring dosa batter ( from spoons, cloth, sponge to dedicated mini brooms). This is a device which is very useful to apply oil on tawa for Dosas - just (open the red cap) fill oil of your choice to be applied. The oil will seep out through the cotton strands on bottom. Rub this on the tawa to apply oil. This is also washable.

This is just for info and not intended to promote this device. Use your judgement before buying.

Available @ Santhosh Super Stores, Anna Nagar, Chennai

How to whip egg whites with hand mixer ?

How to beat egg whites with hand mixer ?

Source - Sharp Hand Mixer

Beaters and bowl must be thoroughly clean.

Be sure that there is no egg yolk in the egg whites.

To create the maximum volume, egg whites should be at room temperature.

Whip egg whites at the highest speed setting until they reach the desired consistency.

Whipping time will vary in accordance with freshness of the eggs.

For best results when whipping egg whites, use a cold metal bowl preferably stainless steel.

Gongura Pickle

Find here more details about Gongura leaves ...

One of our close friend gifted us homemade gongura pickle ( traditional Andhra pickle ) !!!!