Extra tips

  • Samosa Recipe
  • Sugar: Put 2-3 cloves in the sugar to keep ants at bay.
  • Tadka: Use sprouted mustard seeds (rayee) and fenugreek (methi) seeds for your tadkas. Both of them when sprouted have more nutritional values. Also this add flavour to the dish and can be more beneficial, besides giving decorative look to the dish. Submitted by MS Itisha Madhav ( itisha_madhav@yahoo.com)
  • Tomato: To remove the skin of tomatoes, place them in warm water for 5-10 minutes. The skin can then be easily peeled off.
    When tomatoes are not available or too costly, substitute with tomato puree or tomato ketchup/sauce.
    Place overripe tomatoes in cold water and add some salt. Overnight they will become firm and fresh.
  • Tamarind:Tamarind is an excellent polish for brass and copper items. Rub a slab of wet tamarind with some salt sprinkled on it on the object to be polished.
    Gargles with tamarind water is recommended for a sore throat.
  • Utensils: Use nonsticking utensils. Use thick bottom utensils, they get uniformly heated. For electric stoves, use flat bottom utensils.
    Add a little bit of common salt to the washing powder for better cleaning of utensils.
  • Vegetables: Don't discard the water in which the vegetables are soaked or cooked. Use it in making soup or gravy.
    To keep the vegetables fresh for a longer time, wrap them in newspaper before putting them in freeze.
    Chop the vegetables only when you are ready to use them. Don't cut them in too advance. It would spoil their food value.
    Vegetable Curry Recipes
  • Sink (Blocked): To clear the blocked drain pipe of your kitchen sink, mix 1/2 cup sodium bicarbonate in 1 cup vinegar and pour it into the sink, and pour about 1 cup water. In an hour the drain pipe will open.
  • Soup Salty: Place a raw peeled potato in the bowl, it will absorb the extra salt.
    Soup recipes
  • Yoghurt (Home Made): To set yogurt in winter, place the container in a warm place like oven or over the voltage stabliser.
  • Yogurt: If the yogurt has become sour, put it in a muslin cloth and drain all the water. Then add milk to make it as good as fresh in taste. Use the drained water in making tasty gravy for vegetables or for basen curry.
    To keep the yogurt fresh for many days, fill the vessel containing yogurt with water to the brim and refrigerate. Change the water daily.