Fruit & Vegetable Storage Guide

Maintain that garden-fresh taste and nutrition of your fruits and vegetables with proper storage. Spend a few moments when you first get them home and you will be amply rewarded with extended shelf life and flavor.

Vegetables

Stem

Avocados can be left out at room temperature to ripen and then refrigerated for several days.

Store summer squash, eggplant, and peppers in the crisper section of the refrigerator for

Refrigerate okra in a paper bag for two to three days.

Store tomatoes at room temperature to ripen. Do not refrigerate, as it will turn the tomatoes mealy and flavorless.

Winter squash can be stored in a cool, dry place.

Leafy

For herbs, remove band or tie and wash and dry. Snip off the ends and submerge them in a glass of water. Cover with a plastic bag and leave in the refrigerator.

Wrap unwashed lettuce in paper towels and store in plastic bags in the refrigerator.

Store cooking greens (e.g. spinach, kale, chard) in plastic bags and refrigerate for up to one week

Tubers, roots

Refrigerated potatoes will have a waxy consistency when cooked so store them in a dark, well-ventilated, cool place away from onions.

Sweet potatoes will have shorter shelf life, but should be stored like potatoes. Store jicama in a cool, dry place for up to three weeks.

Carrots, turnips, radishes and rutabagas should be refrigerated in a plastic bag to keep the moisture in.

Beets can be stored refrigerated without a plastic bag.

Bulbs

• Store garlic, onions, and shallots in a cool, dark, well-ventilated area.
• Chives, leeks, and scallions should be stored in plastic bags in the refrigerator.

Other Types

Cut inch off the bottom of asparagus spearswith ends submerged in water.

Store mushrooms in a paper bag in the refrigerator

Refrigerate corn and peas in plastic bags

Store unwashed artichokes, broccoli or cauliflower in a plastic bag in the crisper section of refrigerator for four to seven days.

Refrigerate rhubarb in a plastic bag.

Whole Grain Guide

This is a healthy and delicious whole grains into your diet.

A whole grain is simply the most minimally- processed version of any grain. Grain kernels are made up of bran germ, and the endosperm. As the bran and the germ are stripped away in the refining process, much of the fiber, vitamins , minerals , and antioxdiants are removed along with them. Most grains are processed in some way before we cn eat them and there's a wide specturm from whole to fully refined.

Healthy Eating For Diabetes

Tips for staying healthy

It's about making educated choices, practicing portion control and moderation and choosing nutritious foods, include a variety of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats, and high-fiber whole grains and beans.

Carbohydrates are the primary fuel for your body and brain. It contribute most to your blood sugar and glucose levels. It found in breads, grains, beans, fruits, vegetables and dairy products, as well as in table sugar, cakes, cookies, ice cream, and other sweets.

Sugar and sweets can be part of a diabetic diet, but should be combined with other foods to lessen their impact on blood sugar. If you choose to have dessert, plan ahead, substituting it for other carbohydrates in the meal (like pasta, rice, or bread).

High-fiber foods help stabilize blood sugar and lower cholesterol. High-fiber foods include oats and barley, whole grains, beans, nuts, fruits, and vegetables.

Protein, select lean meats, seafood, low-fat dairy, 1 egg per day, or legumes (which includes beans, soy products, and peanut butter).

Fats are a necessary part of any diet. With diabetes, excess weight and risk of heart disease are concerns, so managing fat intake is especially important. Avoid saturated fats, like those found in full-fat dairy, red meat, and chicken skin and also trans fats, found in commercially fried and processed foods. All fats, even the healthy ones, are high in calories, so use them sparingly.

Water and other low-calorie beverages are the best ways to quench your thirst without adding excess calories and carbohydrates.

If you drink alcohol, limit drinks to 1 per day for women and 2 per day for men, and always consume it with food.

Weight loss and daily exercise lower blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol which in turn may lower amount of medication you need.

Apple Coffee Cake Recipe

1)1 cup flour1 teaspoon baking powder

2)1/2 teaspoon salt1 cup sugar

3)1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

4)5 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature

5)1 egg, beaten

6)1/2 cup whole milk1 medium Cortland or other baking apple, peeled and sliced

1)Set the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9-inch square baking dish with or pie pan a 4-cup capacity. 2) Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt.
3) In a bowl, combine 1/2 a cup of the sugar with the cinnamon, set aside.
4) In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter with the remaining 1/2 cup sugar. Beat in the egg until blended. Add the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the milk, beating until just combined.
5) Spread half the batter in the baking dish. Lay the apple slices on the batter so they just cover the batter (you may have to overlap some slices). Sprinkle the apples with half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Spread the rest of the batter over the apples. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon-sugar on top.
6) Bake the cake for 25 minutes or until it is golden brown and apples start to bubble at the edges.

Preparation for Milkshake

Orange milkshake ingredients:

1. Orange juice – 1 cup
2. Milk – 1 cup
3. Sugar – 4 tsp or to taste
4. Crushed ice – ½ cup
5. Almond - 2 (optional)
6. Pistachhio - 2 (optional)


Orange milkshake preparation:

1.Extract the juice from orange.

2.Blend the juice with milk, sugar and crushed ice in a blender.

3.Pour into tall glass and garnish with chopped pista and

4.Serve immediately.

Preparation of Apple Juice

Apple juice ingredients:

1. Apple – 3

2. Water – required quantity

3. Sugar – 4 tsp

4. Crushed ice – ½ cup

Apple juice preparation:

1.Peel and cut apple into small pieces.

2.Remove the seeds.

3.Blend the apple pieces with little amount of water and sugar and extract the juice.

4.Transfer into glass and add some crushed ice.

5.Serve chilled.

Shahrukh Khan's Residence

Beautiful Hall ...

Gorgeous Dining Hall

Master Bedroom

Jacuzzi

Vaastu (Feng Shui) for kitchen

Here are some Vaastu tips for kitchen:

• The ideal place for the location of kitchen is the southeast corner. An alternative choice can be the northwest corner of the house.
• As per the Vaasthu remedies for kitchen, certain directions, which are a total no for the construction of the kitchen, are: Northeast, mid-north, mid-west, southwest mid-south or the center.
• Make sure that the cooking platform does not touch eastern or northern side wall.
• The best direction for cooking is facing east, as this direction is considered to be auspicious.
• No shelf should be placed above the cooking platform.
• Refrigerator can be placed on the northwest corner in the kitchen.
• While constructing the kitchen, make adequate provision for cross ventilation

Kitchen Tips

Tips on preparing some indian food ...

• For soft Dosas, add some boiled rice to white gram and rice, while grinding.
• Put some neem and turmeric pieces or garlic flakes in the container where you store rice or grains, in order to keep away insects.
• To adjust salt in curries add roasted rice powder.
• If the curd is too sour, add 4 cups of water to it. After half an hour, remove the water collected on top.
• When you cook dal add some refined oil or garlic. It will reduce gas trouble.
  Keep rice flour and basin in a polythene cover in refrigerator when you want tem stored for a long time.

My Angel..

My Angel... relaxing on a tiger ...

My Home...

Various type of decoration from Labuan , Malacca & Vietnam.At the bottom is the happy family of ducks..

This is Brass Ware from India.... its has very fine craving on it ...

Colorful Chicken...from Bangkok..

Family of Tigers.... from India..

Tips and more tips

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.

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.

Kitchen Tips

• Almonds: To remove the skin of almonds easily, soak them in hot water for 15-20 minutes.
• Ants: Putting 3-4 cloves in the sugar container will keep the ants at bay.
• Apples: Apply some lemon juice on the cut surface of the apple to avoid browning. They will look fresh for a longer time.
• Banana: Apply mashed banana over a burn on your body to have a cooling effect.

Feng Shui tips for your home

There should be no television sets in your bedrooms.If you cannot get rid of that habit then after watching the television cover it with a plastic table cloth. Remember it has to be plastic and not simply cloth.

If you already have a fish tank in your house, be careful. A fish tank placed correctly can bring about greater fortune, as you will tap on the "Divine Water Dragon's Den". But if you tap wrongly, it can cause you to have lawsuits, bankruptcy, work pressure, troubles and problems. If you noticed any of these after placing the fish tank for approximately four months, shift your fish tank to another location.

In your kitchen, ensure that opposite your stove there is no refrigerator, washing machine, washbasin and toilet. The fire and water crash causing family members to have disagreements.

7 Rules of Kitchen Cleaning

Cooking can be a messy process, all areas of the kitchen need frequent cleaning to keep them fresh, grease-free, and sanitary. Scrubbing and cleaning kitchen surfaces is as much a function of health and hygiene as it is good housekeeping.

• Wash your hands with hot, soapy water before handling food and after using the bathroom, changing diapers, or handling pets. Also wash your hands in hot, soapy water, scrubbing a full minute, after handling raw meat, poultry, or seafood.
• Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and counters with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item and before you go on to the next food.
• Wash dishrags, dishtowels, and sponges in the washing machine with hot water. Sponges can also be cleaned in the upper rack of the dishwasher while plastic cutting boards can go on the lower racks.
• Separate raw meat, poultry, and seafood from each other and from other foods in the shopping cart at the grocery and in the refrigerator at home.
• Never put cooked food on an unwashed platter that previously held raw meat, poultry, or seafood.
• Refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared foods, and leftovers within two hours of a meal.
• Defrost frozen foods in the refrigerator or under cold running water, not on the counter

Fire Safety Measures

Fires are the leading causes of home injury and death:

• Approximately one-half of home fire deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms.
• Most residential fires occur during the winter months.
• Alcohol use contributes to an estimated 40% of residential fires.
• Most victims of fires die from smoke or toxic gases and not from burns.
• Cooking is the primary cause of home fires.
• Smoking is the leading cause of fire-related deaths.

This checklist can help you spot fire hazards in your home. It will also help you prepare your family to quickly escape a fire.

• Smoke Detectors
• Fire Prevention Strategy
• Family Fire Drills
• Cooking Equipment
• Cigarettes, Lighters and Matches
• Furnaces, Fireplaces, and Space Heaters
• Wood-Burning Stoves
• Kerosene Heaters
• Gas-Fired Space Heaters

Handle Food Safely At Home...

Food poisoning usually can be prevented by handling food safety.Four simple steps for safely preparing food at home.

• Clean and wash hands, countertops, and other surfaces often
• Separate and don't cross-contaminate
• Cook food to proper temperatures to kill the harmful bacteria
• Refrigerate food promptly

Signs of Poisoning

Signs of potential poisoning, which can include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty speaking
• Dizziness
• Unconsciousness
• Foaming or burning of the mouth
• Cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Prevent Poisoning in the Home

Poisoning ur home is really bad. Exposures of all poisonings are in children between the ages of 1 and 4. Guildelines of poisoning preventation in the home.

• Install safety locks/childproof latches on all cabinets to restrict access to children.
• Store potential poisons including detergents, medications, cosmetics and perfumes, and chemical products out of reach and out of sight of children inside the house as well as in the garage or shed.
• Store potential poisons in their original containers. Do not transfer them to food containers like milk jugs or coffee cans.
• Keep food and potential poisons separate; store them in different cabinets. Children can mistake the identity of products that look alike to them.
• Return all products to storage immediately after use. Keep the products and your children in sight during use.
• Safely discard into a sealed, outdoor trash receptacle all household products and medications that are old or aren't used regularly.
• Never mix products; dangerous fumes could result.
• Make sure medications are in child-resistant containers. Vitamins and supplements also should be out of reach of children. Remember that child-resistant is not child-proof.
• Keep indoor plants out of reach; some may be poisonous.
• Stay away from areas that have been sprayed recently with pesticides or fertilizer.
  

Prevent Slips and Falls

There are many types of dangers around homes. Falls are especially dangerous for seniors and the most common fatal injury in the home.


Numerous safeties measures to prevent slips and falls in your home.

• Stairways should have handrails on both sides.
• Attach safety treads to steps.
• Remove tripping hazards such as throw rugs, furniture, and clutter from walkways.
• Use self-adhesive non-skid mats or safety treads in bathtubs, showers, and pools.
• Use non-skid rugs on bathroom floors.
• Use non-skid pads under rugs on bare floors.
• Install grab bars on both sides of toilets and bathtubs, especially on those used by seniors.
• Improve lighting
• Wear shoes inside.
• Avoid walking barefoot or in slippers.

Secrets of Long Lasting Carpet.

• Vacuum it as often as several times a week; shampoo it at least once a year.
• Distributing wear patterns will also help prolong a carpet’s life. To do this, periodically rotate the carpet or reposition the furniture.
• Shampooing to deep-clean a carpet, use a supermarket spray-on carpet cleaner or a shampooing machine. Apply spray-on cleaner to the carpet one section at a time, then work it into the fibers with a damp sponge. When the cleaner dries, vacuum the residue away.
• Odors and stains. To deodorize a carpet, sprinkle baking soda over it, wait 30 minutes, then vacuum. For strong odors, rinse the area with a 20-80 solution of vinegar and water. When possible, clean spills immediately, blotting them with a clean white cloth instead of scrubbing them. The longer a stain sits, the harder it is to remove.
• Environmental hints new-carpet fumes. Most new carpets release fumes that can produce eye and throat irritation and nausea in some people. Keep the windows open and close off the room for at least 72 hours after installation.

Organizing Closets

Before...

Never had space of our own closets... Is your closet a disaster area!!

Then it's high time to consider installing a closet system. There are closet systems to meet every budget.

Solution for messy closets ...

Here's proof that even a tiny space can be organized using a closet system. This design features shelves and drawers on the left with a short hanging space on the right. Storage boxes keep cloths dust-free and neatly under wraps.Ready-made stackable shelves and cubes make space for every pair of shoes and a host of accessories.

After...

Home sweet home

Something that impressed me. So I would like to share with you guyz! All of us want our house to look great and wonderful. Maybe this can give some idea to those who like arrange your house.

The Solution: Place the sofa on the diagonal across the corner and replace the heavy chair and ottoman with lighter-weight canvas chairs. This arrangement brings the room into balance.

After the solution

Silk Lavender Eye Pillows

Beautifully made dream pillows and eye pillows are the epitome of pampering!It will block out the light and spread a soothing gentle weight over and around your eyes.These are perfect anytime. Take a little time to relax and soothe your eyes. Great for rejuvenating tired eyes.

• You will need flaxseed along with some soft, luxurious fabric such as dupioni silk. Flaxseed is perfect for those that are sensitive to scent. Cool, refreshing and blocks out the light. Provides gentle weight that gently relaxes your temples.
• You can add lavender or chamomile flowers if you want- lavender and chamomile can be left whole, but for an even softer pillow grind it into a powder using a food processor or spice grinder. Lavender is a natural anti-depressant and is becoming well known for relieving insomnia, headaches and stress.
• Make a small, tube shaped eye pillow or small, rectangular dream pillow from the fabric. Simply cut the shape out and sew three and 1/2 sides together with the fabric inside out. Then turn the fabric right side out and fill the pillow loosely with flaxseed. (If you are making a chamomile or lavender pillow fill with equal parts of lavender/chamomile -ground or whole- and flaxseed). Hand stitch the last of the pillow together or use a ribbon to tie it off. The dream pillow is put under a regular pillow at night to encourage sweet dreams and the eye pillow is laid directly over closed eyes to soothe and rejuvenate.
  
  

Antique Collection

Some Tips for More Effective Lighting

Lighting can cost you as much as 20% of your electric bill; you can find substantial savings by focusing upon energy efficiency. And don’t forget that while you’re saving money on your electric bill, you’re helping save the environment!

• Use compact fluorescent bulbs wherever possible. This relatively new kind of bulb may be more expensive, but is three to four times more energy efficient and may last up to ten times as long.
• Instead of brightly lighting every room, use task and accent lighting to light the specific areas of each room that you use.
• Turn off lights when not needed.
• Use one large bulb instead of several in areas that require bright general lighting.
  When possible, use natural light from windows and skylights.

Choosing the Right Paint Color

When it comes to decorating, choosing paint color can really be a challenge. While you may feel that there are so many choices you're bound to find the right one, you may end up feeling that there are so many choices you don't know where to start!

The tips here will really help you if you feel stumped by this important choice:-

• Be Patient
• Coordinate Decorating Samples
• Really Study the Colors
• Tried and True Formula for Colors
• Trim it Out
• Choose the Paint Finish for the Job