|
|
|
Miscellaneous TipsTips For Naan And Rotis
|
 | Many variations can be got from the basic roti recipes by using your own
imagination E.g. layered roti can be made with a filling or dry masalas mixes, or kastoori
methi or paneer or thick spicy chutney. This must be spread before folding the roti and
after applying the ghee. All triangles may be prepared first but sprinkle dry flour over
each before piling. Roll and shallow fry as required. |
| Puri may be rolled and place between well rinsed wet muslin cloth at least an hour ahead. Fry before serving. |
| Always use a clean pair of kitchen scissors to trim edges of bread. Much neater and less messy edges as compared to those trimmed with a knife. |
| Use a large semi boiled potato to make a quick flower arrangement if a flower holder is not available. Push sturdy stalks of flowers |
| into the potato at the required angles. Do not keep for more than 2 days. Immerse in water to which an aspirin is added. |
| Use the water strained from the curdled milk (paneer) to soak your dull silvers for 15-20 minutes. Wash well. They will shine like new. |
| Any leftovers can imaginatively be converted to a disguised next meal. Only keep in mind that the texture and taste should not remain the same, to keep your secret intact. |
| Wherever I have used leftover rice, you can even use leftover poha (beaten rice). |
| Leftover chappaties can be dried in a oven and crumbs made to use instead of bread. |
| Use clean skins of boiled potatoes to place as a soothing pack over eyes to refresh and reduce their puffiness. |
| If there is a lot of leftover paneer crumbs, dry in a warm oven. Fry till crisp and store in the fridge. Soften in boiling water, drain and add to thicken gravies of any vegetables and curries. |
| Make tomato puree in bulk. Transfer to ice cube trays and freeze. Use ready puree cubes as required. Will keep for over 3 weeks in the freezer. |
| Give a nice big bright star on your kiddies' room calendar every day that he cleans out his lunch box fully!! See his enthusiasm soar. |
| Use minimal of wrappers, foils, etc. which they may litter or make mess if wrongly handled. |
| Replace sweets and candy with a few dry fruits like almonds, etc. for after lunch munching. So much healthier. |
| Try substituting kids' lunch bag with lemonade instead of water once or twice a week. They'll be thrilled. |
| Rub a piece of lime (used) inside the lunch box to get rid of strong odors (like garlic) before rinsing off. |
| If a lunch box tends of leak from cover, seal with scotch tape. Teach kid to remove tape before eating. |
| Grated paneer, carrot, beet root etc. is a good accompaniment in a lunch box instead of biscuits, junk food like fries, etc. |
| Always keep a couple of boiled potatoes (skins intact) handy in the fridge. They are very useful when in a hurry. |
| Either bake them, or make a quick curry, or fry them. Eat them in a sandwich, or just plain with salt and pepper. Stir fry and add spices or make a quick paratha. |
| Use a pizza cutter to cut rounds into strips for fried noodles, instead of a knife. It is faster and less messy. |
| Use chili oil instead of the ordinary oil, if you want to make the dish spicier. |
| When grinding urad dal for dosas, keep aside 2 tsp. for applying to hair. Keep on for 15 minutes, wash with shampoo as normally. Gives body and luster to hair. |
| If your griddle is large enough make many teeny weenie dosas instead of one big one. Top them with a bit of chutney and sandwich them. Kids enjoy these and eat them much less messily. |
| Make dosas a little less crisp. Roll in any desired filling like a frankie. Add chutney or jam if desired. Make very tasty rolls for your kids' lunch box, with change from the routine sandwich too!! |
| Add some soaked and ground poha to the leftover dosa batter to make tasty uthappams. Top with chopped onions, tomatoes and green chilies. |
| Keep a piece of chalk with your daughter's costume jewelry. It will not get tarnished but look new even after months! |
| Stick a strip of medicated plaster under the sole of your child's new shoes. He/she will not slip on a slippery floor. |
| Apply a little furniture wax onto the inside of ash-trays. In this way, the trays can be washed easily. If you happen to put excess salt in the curry, cut a raw potato into about 10 pieces and drop them into the curry & leave for 15 min. They will absorb the excess salt. Remove the pieces before serving. |
| To make thick gravy for mutton, chicken or vegetables, grate the onions, squeeze out their juice and brown the onions and the masala. Add the juice as stock, after the onions are brown. The onion flavor is not lost and you don't have to add water to make the gravy. |
| To avoid stains and smudges on costly cookbooks while following recipes, slip them, open page up, into a transparent plastic bag. |
| Sour buttermilk obtained after churning cream into butter can be used for preparing instant dosas. Warm a little fine semolina and maida and add to the buttermilk and prepare dosa batter. Keep it aside for half an hour and fry the dosas. You can add salt, chopped onions, green chilies and coriander leaves. |
| While cutting tomatoes into slices, use a bread knife instead of an ordinary knife. The skin remains intact - also the task is executed faster. |
| If insects like scorpions or centipedes enter the house, don't panic. Pour some kerosene on their faces as they advance. They will be immobilized, then kill. This technique can even immobilize a reptile. |
| Shoes often lose their shine when old. Rub with slices of raw potato and polish. They will look almost as good as new. |
| To charge a used pencil battery, place its negative end near a candle flame and warm for five minutes. The battery will be as good new. |
| Black and blue colored clothes which have faded, look new if dipped in concentrated aquamarine blue solution. |
| Smear your hands with a little tamarind juice while collecting butter from churned cream. The butter will not stick to the hands. |
| While cooking onions or garlic, place an open bowl of vinegar by the stove. The smell will not pervade the house or kitchen. |
| For a quick chaat, fry leftover pieces of bread in ghee till crisp. Arrange the pieces in a plate. Pour curds, salt, red chili and cumin powders, coriander leaves and green chilies on them. Top with tamarind and jaggery chutney. |
| To remove the stains of citrus fruit juices, especially of lemons from the floor, smear the stain with coconut oil and rub well. The stain will vanish within a few days. |
| For a children's party, make colored ice cubes by adding food color to the water. Children love ice-cream, but it's quite expensive bought from the parlor. Instead, buy cones and make creamy inexpensive ice-cream at home (do not freeze fully). Fill in the cones and top with a cherry or grated chocolate. |
| Try to stick to one style of cooking during any party. Many people mix Indian food with Chinese or continental dishes which spoil individual taste. For example, Russian salad and pulao or chow-mien and chicken korma do not go together. |
| If fried snacks or tit bits are served with the drinks, preceding dinner, arrange small paper napkins along with the tray. Messy fingers are embarrassing for both the guests and the hostess. |
| Once the menu is decided for any party, write down the ingredients needed, next to each recipe. It avoids a lot of last minute shopping and running around. |
| When there is party, prepare a menu well in advance. Introduce a new recipe only if tried, at least, once. |
| To keep your sesame oil fresh for a few months without being spoilt, add a lump of jaggery to the oil. |
| During the rainy season, apply mustered oil on the inner side of your shoes. No fungus will form. |
| Do not throw away the skin of ripe lemons after extracting their juice. Dry in the sun and use as insect repellents in cupboards, etc. |
| Do not throw away cucumber peels. Place in drawers and strategic corners to keep cockroaches away. |
| Combs can be cleaned by dipping them for a while in a solution of washing soda and warm water. |
| Immerse rusty curtain rings in hot vinegar for two hours. Wash off with water and wipe dry. The rings will look new. |
| Pot plants - The next time you boil eggs, use the cooled water, which is now filled with minerals from the eggs, to give your pot plants a good, nourishing drink. |
| Garden hint - When sowing carrots, mix the seeds with two tablespoons of Epsom salts before placing them in the ground. The carrots will grow free from blight as a result. |
| Better rhubarb - Add flavor to rhubarb by cooking it with left over juice syrup from canned fruit, such as peaches, pears, and apricots. |
| Cleaning inside an iron - Turn the iron on, pour vinegar in the water hole, and fill it up. Once the iron is hot, push the stream button four or five times. All built-up grit and grime will then be removed. Finally, empty the vinegar from the iron and rinse well with water. |
| Oil substitute - If you don't have any oil at hand when doors and hinges begin to squeak, you will find that a smear of butter or margarine is a good substitute. |
| Dirty collars - Brush shampoo into a dirty shirt collar before running it through the washing machine. Well worth the extra effort. |
| If you write your own labels for kitchen or storage containers, cover the labels with transparent cello tape so that do not smudge. |
| When cleaning the yard, gather sticks, twigs and leaves into paper bags. When you need kindling for a fire one bag will do the trick. |
| Small cracks in plastic can be repaired by running a hot (not red-hot) screwdriver lightly along the crack. |
| To remove rain spots from suede shoes, rub with an emery board. |
| Stains can be removed from brown leather shoes by rubbing them with the inner side of a banana skin. Then wipe with a clean cloth and polish. |
| Do not use soap when cleaning a mirror because it streaks the glass. All you need to do in cleaning a mirror is to wipe it with a cloth moistened with water in which a little vinegar or ammonia has been added, and then wipe the mirror dry with a soft cloth that is lint free. |
| Do not wash eggs when you store them. There is a "coating" on eggs that helps in keeping odors and bacteria from entering. |
| For a painful scald, try this home-made remedy. Place a crushed onion on the affected part, with a bandage over it. It really works and brings relief. Another good remedy for burns and scalds, is to smear the parts immediately with the white of an egg. In half an hour there will be no sign of the burn, and no soreness. Works like magic! |
| To improve the color of brown shoes, rub with the inside of a banana skin, then dry and polish with a soft cloth. |
| For those who do not care for a spicy taste, you can sprinkle some grated cheese on the dosa while shallow frying. Eat with sauce instead of chutney. This will suit the taste of those who are used to bland foods. |
| Dehydrate the residue of coconut used for coconut milk by drying the sun. This dried flaked coconut can be used in dry chutneys, sweets, masalas, etc. |
| Add a few drops of lemon juice and 1/2 tsp. ghee while steaming long grain rice (basmati) to make the it whiter and keep the grain unbroken. |
| Mix in 15-20 cloves to a kilogram of dal, while storing. This will keep the dal from getting attacked by insects. The same cloves can be reused. |
| To a cupful of leftover dal,add 2 leftover chappaties and a dash of leftover rice if desired, and further add some water, coriander leaves, and boil in a saucepan. Add any spices and salt if required. Garnish with a tsp. of fresh ghee. You have a tasty hot wholesome breakfast. |
| To get rid of dandruff, add one part water to one part vinegar and apply to scalp.Wash after half an hour. Repeat this weekly for good results. |
| Mix spirit and milk in equal quantities, and wipe paint or ball pen stains from foam leather, like sofas, purses, etc.,with ease. |
| Put the container for setting curds in a large hot case to make the curds set faster and better. |
| Make a potpourri of dried roses, lavender, jasmine, mint leaves, oatmeal and a handful of coarse gram flour. Tie in a strong but not too thick cloth. Soak for 10 minutes in bath water and rub yourself with the pouch while bathing for a fresh, fragrant and clean, clean bath. |
| Clean embedded dirt from gold or silver jewelry by giving them a brisk brushing with some toothpaste and an old toothbrush. Then wash with water. Just like you bush your teeth! The effect is sparkling! |
| Place dried neem leaves (folded between two pieces of newspaper) in stored grains, e.g.. wheat to avoid from being attacked by worms and insects. |
| Add a tsp. each, of salt and vinegar to soap water for washing crystals and crockery to make them crystal clean and sparkling. |
| Bring the shine back on jari work of a saree by rubbing alum powder on the work with a small soft brush. Dust off and wipe. |
| To make whiter and crisper potato wafers add some alum crystals and salt to the water in which you drop the wafers for soaking. |
| To clean musty insides of a thermos flask kept closed for long, put in some tiny shreds of old newspaper and fill with warm water. Wash with soap water after 8-10 hours. The flask will sparkle as new and have no stale odors left. |
| Use the water used for washing dals and rice to water the plants. This water is very rich in nutrients and acts as a fertilizer. |
| Remove yellow food stains from table mats, etc. by applying a paste of detergent and water to the stained areas and keep in the sun for an hour. Wash like your other laundry. |
| Apply transparent nail polish to your trinkets and junk jewelry to make their luster last much longer, and also protect them from moisture and sweat. |
| To get rid of dandruff, mix juice of 1 lime in 1 tbs.. curd (yogurt) and 1 tsp. coconut oil. Apply to the scalp and hair 1 hour before shampooing. Do this at least once a week for dandruff free hair. |
| Any extra water in which vegetables have been boiled can be saved and used as stock for soups. Stock prepared in large quantities can be frozen in ice cube trays and stored in a plastic bag as cubes. Use as required. |
| Add a few drops of lime juice and a tsp. of ghee to rice before boiling to separate each grain. |
| When the sewing machine gets stuck on a thick, coarse cloth, rub the area on which you wish to run the machine with a candle. |
| Rub powdered borax on fruit stains, then pour boiling water through the fabric before washing it. |
| Synthetic fibers stick to the bottom of the iron. Cool the iron, then rub the affected surface with nail polish remover to get rid of the sticky matter. |
| To make samosas crisper add some corn flour to the maida for dough. |
| Rain spots on satin, felt or similar fabrics will disappear if you brush them in a circular motion, using a soft ball of tissue paper. |
| Soak a few (4-5) tablets of camphor in your hair oil (coconut) to keep away dandruff and lice. |
| Do not throw away any excess water used in boiling dal. Just keep it in the fridge and use as stock for soups, when required. Will keep in fridge for a day. |
| Soak used lime peels (20-25 at a time) in hot water for an hour or two. Squeeze peels inside the water. Strain. Mix 2-3 tsp. of rose water. Mix this water in the last part of you bath water, for the tangy lemony fresh luxury bath. At no extra cost !!. |
| Rub your windscreen with a cut potato or apple to prevent misting or icing. |
| Dip your silvers (jewelry, cutlery, etc. ) in water used for boiling potatoes. Wash with soap after an hour. This will bring back the sparkle. If you are busy just let them be soaked till you can wash them at your leisure. |
| Apply toothpaste on both sides of an ink stain on cloth. Wash after dry. |
| Add a little alum to the last rinse water for cleaner, whiter white clothes. |
| Mix spirit and milk to wipe away ball pen stains from foam leather. |
| If your cutlery is discolored by egg stains, crumble a sheet of silver paper and one teaspoon of salt in a glass of water. Put the spoons and forks in this and they will come out looking clean and shining in a few minutes. |
| A little lime juice added to beet root will make them a brilliant red color. |
| A tsp. of ghee add to the dal before pressure cooking, will keep it from overflowing out of the container into the cooker. |
| To loosen a rusted bolt, apply a few drops of household ammonia or brake fluid. |
| Rub brass ware with tamarind and salt before washing with soap. It will sparkle like new. |
| Use corn flakes as a substitute for sev or papdis. It is available everywhere and give the same crunchiness to a dish, e.g.. bhel. |
| Add a few methi (fenugreek) seeds to toor dal while pressure cooking. This makes the dal easier to digest. |
| To avoid fingernails getting grimy and gritty during messy work, apply some petroleum jelly or Vaseline generously all over the hands. |
| Place candles in a dish of water while burning. They will last longer. |
| Lime peels dipped in salt can be used to make coppers bottoms sparkle. Rub with salt dipped peel. Leave for a minute. Scrub with soap and wash. |
| Before washing dirty curtains, soak in plenty of plain water overnight before washing. Major part of the dirt will come off and an ordinary wash next morning is sufficient. |
| To prevent molding of papads during monsoons, slip in a piece of blotting paper under the papads in the container. |
| To keep coriander and other leafy greens fresh longer, wrap in newspaper and place in a perforated container in the fridge. |
| After washing infant clothing, soak in salt water for 15-20 minutes before drying. Baby odors will vanish. |
| Oil stain may be removed by rubbing the area with a piece of lime dipped in salt. Later wash off with soap. |
| Should you by accident put extra salt into any food, add one teaspoonful of brown sugar, and the salty taste will disappear. |
| Use a steel knife instead of iron to cut brinjals, plantains, ladies fingers and mangoes to avoid blackening. |
| Used tea leaves and residue of coffee decoction can be put in plants instead of throwing out. They make excellent natural manure. |
| Place two - three tablets of camphor in a hot iron vessel to keep the flies away. |
| Dry used lime peels in the sun grind with chana-dal to form bathing scrub. Store the powdered mixture, mix with curd and use daily. |
| Place thin slices of potato over and around your eyes. Relax lying down with them for 15 to 20 minutes. Wash face with cool water. This helps remove tiredness and puffiness of the eyes. |
| To remove scotch tape from walls (of posters etc.) without damaging the paint - hold a warm iron over it for a few seconds. |
| A tiny pinch of alum add to the milk for making cottage cheese (paneer) will make it whiter, softer. |
| Rub used lime peels all over hands. Rub till hands feel dry. Wash after 10-15 minutes. Kitchen fatigue hands gain back their soft, clean, fresh feel. |
| Put a used lime peel or two in the pressure cooker when cooking. It will keep the cooker from becoming blackened. |
| At parties, pour tomato sauce into pastry molds or cake papers and place on guests' paper plates. It keeps the plates clean. |
| If garlic bread is not available, crush a few cloves of garlic to a fine paste, cream it well into some butter. Spread this on slices of bread and toast it. Serve with piping hot soup. |
| Use a clean eye-dropper in the kitchen to measure food colors and flavor essences. |
| If the milk begins to boil over, quickly sprinkle a little cold water over it and the overflow will subside. |
| Vary your everyday dal dish by changing the seasoning and tempering (Tadka) ingredients. Try boiling the dal with salt, turmeric and tomatoes, tempering it with curry leaves, mustard and onions fried in oil, and finishing with green chilies, sambar masala and 'kokum' pieces. |
| Always add cornflower to any recipe by first making a thin paste in cold water. Cornflower is an excellent thickening agent to add body to any soup. If not available maida can also be used, similarly. Only the transparency of clear soups will not be there. |
| Never over boil soups as they lose their color and body. |
| To make re-usable and handy stock. Make purees of boiled tomatoes, carrots, or bottle gourd. Set in freezer in ice cube trays. Remove the frozen cubes. Place in a clean milk bag. Seal and store in freezer. Use as required. Can last 7-10 days. |
|
Send mail to webmaster@infodiary.com with questions or comments about this web site.
|
