Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Care and maintenance of pressure cooker / How to maintain pressure cooker

  • Clean your pressure cooker thoroughly after each use by washing and drying.

  • Avoid using abrasives or metal scouring pads.

  • Use soap and water with a plastic scouring pad for cleaning.

  • Store your pressure cooker with the lid slightly open.

  • Replace gasket at the first sign of cracking, flaking or tearing.

  • Ensure all handles and knobs are securely fastened before using pressure cooker.

  • Tighten nuts or screws if required.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Some more cooking tips

  • To prepare crisp, golden dosai (Dosa), add a teaspoonful of fenugreek while grinding for it.

  • To prepare soft dosai, add some old cooked rice while grinding for it.

  • Add a few drops of lemon juice and a tsp of oil while boiling rice to separate one another.

  • To remove the shell easy from boiled eggs, keep them in cold water for about 5 minutes.

  • Don’t keep stainless steel spoons permanently with pickles.

  • To Peel garlic easy, heat them for a while.

  • To store green chilies longer, remove stems from them before storing them.

  • To remove excessive salt in the dish being prepared, add a few pieces of potato.

  • To retain the green color of spinach while cooking, add a pinch of sugar.

  • To separate noodles immediately after boiling, put them in cold water.

  • To prevent foaming and spilling over of oil while deep frying, add a small piece of tamarind to the oil.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Common ingredients used for cooking and their equivalent names in Hindi and Tamil


  • Asparagus - Asparagus - Thanneer vittaan Kizhangu



  • Almond - Badaam -Vadumai



  • Asafoetida / Asafetida - Hing- Perungayam



  • Brinjal / Eggplant- Bengan - Kattharikkai



  • Cabbage - Bandh gobi - Muttai khos



  • Cardamom - Elaichi - Elakkai



  • Carrot - Gajar - Kaarat



  • Cashewnut - Khaju - Mundiri



  • Cauliflower - Phool gobi



  • Chickpea /Bengal gram -Channa dal-Konndai kadalai



  • Chili / Chilly- Mirchi - Milakai



  • Cinnamon - Dal chini - Pattai



  • Clove - Lavang - Kirambu



  • Coconut - Narial - Thengai



  • Coriander - Dhania – Kottha malli



  • Cucumber - Kheera / Kaakkadi - Vellari



  • Cumin - Jeera- Jeeragam



  • Curry leaves - Kari pattha - Kari veppilai



  • Drumstick - sajna - Murungaikai



  • French bean – Sem phalli - Avaraikkai



  • Fennel - Sonf- Sombu / perunjeeragam



  • Fenugreek - Methi - Vendhayam



  • Garlic - Lasoon - Poondu



  • Ginger - Adarak - Inji



  • Groundnut / Peanut - Moongphalli – Verkadalai



  • Lady’s finger -Bindi - Vendaikkai



  • Lettuce / Amaranthus / Spinach - Palak - Keerai



  • Maize - Makkai - Cholam



  • Millet - Bajra - Kambu



  • Mint- Podhina - pudhina



  • Green gram - Moong - Pasippayaru



  • Millet - Ragi – Kelvaragu



  • Mustard- Sarson - Rai- Kadugu



  • Nutmeg - Jaiphal - Jadhikkai



  • Onion - Pyaj - Vengayam



  • Parboiled rice - Pulungal arisi



  • Pea-– Mattar - Pattani



  • Pigeon pea - Arhar dal/Tuar dal - Thuvaramparuppu



  • Potato - Aloo -Urulaikkilangu



  • Pumpkin - Kaththoo - Poosani



  • Radish - Mulli- Mullangi



  • Raw rice / Kolam rice- Kacha chaval - Pacharisi



  • Rice - Chaval - Arisi



  • Saffron - Kungumappoo



  • Semolina – Suji – Rava / Ravai



  • Sesame - Til - Ellu



  • Tamarind - Imli – Puli



  • Turmeric - Haldi - Manjal



  • Urad dal - Ulundham paruppu



  • Wheat - Gheung- Godhumai

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Frying, Cutting, Microwave cooking and Storing

Frying:




  • Heat oil thoroughly before seasoning; Fry until change of color (colour), to get full flavor (flavour).



  • Fry the ground masala in reduced flame, so that it retains its color and taste.



  • Onion will turn brown faster if a little salt is added while frying.



  • If oil is less, masala will stick to the pan.



  • To make crispy puris, add a little rice flour to the wheat flour while kneading.



  • To make crispy pakodas add a little corn flour to the gram flour (besan) while preparing the batter.



  • Steam can cause severe burns. Be a little away from steaming pan while opening it.



  • Add vegetables that take the longest to cook first, followed by others.



cutting:




  • Cut vegetables uniformly to cook evenly.



  • To avoid browning of apples after cutting, apply a little lemon juice on the cut surface.



  • To shred cheese easily, refrigerate it for about 20 minutes.



Microwave cooking:




  • Microwave cooking is a good way of cooking; as it takes very less cooking time with less lose of nutrients.



  • The microwave oven will damage if operated without any food in it.



Storing:




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



  • Remove the stems of green chilies while storing them .This will help them to stay fresh for long.



  • Try to keep foods in sealed bags or closed containers. This helps to keep them fresh.



  • Don't store food or drinks near chemicals such as cleansers.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

SOUP, PICKLY, LEFT OVER IDLY AND WATERMELON.

  • If soup is more salty,add small pieces of potato.

  • For long time preservation of pickle, Use dry container and dry spoon only.

  • To avoid wasting left over idlies and to have them later, cut them into pieces, fry in oil (Idly fry).

  • Slice watermelon thin to separate seeds easily.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

EGG,POTATO,CARROT AND CAULIFLOWER.

  • While boiling egg, add a little salt to prevent egg shells from cracking.

  • Rubbing a slice of raw potato will take food stains off your hands.

  • Carrots with green tops may be avoided as they are bitter to taste.

  • Add fresh or leftover cauliflower to soups or stews.

Friday, February 22, 2008

HEALTH HYGINE AND CLEANLINESS

  • Keep your kitchen clean. It is essential to keep food safe. Otherwise bacteria can grow and spread.

  • Always wash worktops before you start preparing food.

  • Wash and dry kitchen cloths and sponges regularly and keep different cloths for different jobs.

  • Wash knives, spoons, tongs, etc. thoroughly after using them with raw meat.

  • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before starting to prepare food.

  • Washing your hands with soap and water will remove onion smell, garlic smell, etc.