TIP OF THE WEEK

LIMES

Limes store best at 40 - 45 degrees F. and last only about 2 weeks.

10 limes yield about 1 cup of juice.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

TIP OF THE WEEK

Fresh coriander!


Keep coriander leaves in a muslin cloth bag in the refrigerator. They will remain fresh for a longer time.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

This is a secret family recipe for Chocolate chip cookies ! Everyone who tries them begs for more. Enjoy!!"

Ingredients:
1 cup butter flavored shortening

3/4 cup white sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups milk chocolate chips

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter flavored shortening, brown sugar and white sugar until light and fluffy.
   
3. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla .Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually stir into the creamed mixture.
   
4. Finally, fold in the chocolate chips. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.
5. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until light brown.
   
6. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

AVIYAL

Aviyal

This is a semi-dry preparation which is a mixture of all sorts of vegetables.

Ingredients:

Yam sliced thinly into 11/2" length pieces - 1cup

Cucumber sliced lengthy into 11/2" thick pieces -1cup

Snake gourd sliced into 11/2" length pieces - 1cup

Carrot sliced into into 11/2" length pieces - 1/4cup

Long runner-beans sliced into 11/2" length pieces - 1/2cup

Drumstick cut into 2" length pieces - 2nos

Raw bananas sliced into 11/2" length pieces - 1no

Mango pieces for sour

Turmeric powder - 1/2tsp

Salt - to taste

Grated coconut - 1/2quantity

Green chillies - 5nos

Cumin seeds - 1/2tsp

Curry leaves - 2sprigs

Coconut oil - 3tbs

Method:

1. Coarsely grind the coconut, green chillies and cumin seeds. Keep it aside.

2. Clean the vegetables.

3. Heat 2tbs coconut oil in a thick bottom vessel.

4. Add the vegetables and cook in a low flame. Do not add water.

5. When it is done, add turmeric powder, salt and mix it well.

6. Remove the vegetables from the middle and put sliced bananas and mango pieces and cover it with the other vegetables.

7. When steam comes out, add the coconut paste and stir well. Remove from fire. Mix the remaining coconut oil and curry leaves in the aviyal.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Dirty dishwasher!

You are always cleaning your dishes in the dishwasher, but when was the last time that you cleaned your dishwasher??

Once every few months, after you have emptied the dishwasher reset your settings for regular wash, no heat dry.

Now place a bowl in the bottom rack with a cup of bleach in it. Run your dishwasher cycle with out any soap in the cup.

Once the cleaning process has completed, open the door and place a cup of Vinegar in the bowl. Set your dishwasher to run a complete cycle.

Now you have a squeaky clean dishwasher!

VERMICELLI PAYASAM

Ingredients :

Vermicelli- 1/2 cup (thin variety)

Milk - 4 cups

Sugar - 1/2 - 3/4 cup

Ghee - 4 tbps

Almonds - 2 tbps

Cashews - 2 tbps

Raisins - 2 tbps

Method:

1. Fry vermicelli in 2 tbps of ghee, till light gold in color.

2. Let it gets cold. Skin almonds-chop them into small pieces. Fry the almonds,cashews in 2 tbps of ghee, till well toasted.

3.Boil the milk, add the vermicelli and keep on stirring over low heat till the vermicelli is just cooked and the milk is thick. (Do not over cook the vermicelli).

4. Reduce heat and add sugar little by little-stirring all the time till the sugar dissolves.
Remove from heat, when cold, mix in the almonds, cashews and raisins. Serve chilled.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Onion odor:

Removing onion odors from hands - Rub fingers with salt moistened with vinegar.