Culinary

A South Indian Variant Of Banana Bread

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Banana is one of the most widely consumed fruits in the world. It is grown in nearly 107 countries, the major banana growing regions being India, China, Brazil, Ecuador, Philippines, and Indonesia. The post popular variety is the dessert bananas, which are yellow when fully ripe. The fruit is soft and sweet and is mostly eaten as dessert.

Nutritionists consider banana a remarkable fruit for its digestive and therapeutic value. The fruit is mainly composed of carbohydrates with some amount of fat, protein, and minerals. Bananas contain three natural sugars C fructose, glucose, and sucrose. Combined with natural fiber, banana provides instant energy. It has proved to be a great healer for a multitude of illnesses such as depression, PMS, anemia, blood pressure, heartburn and many more.

Culinary Usage

The popularity of bananas has led to a wide variety of culinary usage. The fruit is savored as banana bread, banana cream pie, banana chips, banana ketchup, banana pudding, banana split, to name a few.

Banana bread

Mashed yellow bananas are used to make this very popular dish. Easy availibity of bananas and the simplicity of the recipe has made banana bread an immensely popular food item. Banana bread, also called banana nut bread is actually a quick bread similar to corn bread, biscuits, muffins, pancakes, soda bread, and scones. Quick breads are leavened with either baking soda or sodium bicarbonate. Unlike yeast breads, which take hours, to prepare, quick breads can be made in a jiffy. However, there are banana bread recipes that are yeast type. Egg is usually a common ingredient though vegetarians use soy yogurt or tofu. Chopped nuts such as walnuts and pecans are ingredients to make banana nut breads.

Today we are giving you a recipe of a very popular type of banana bread made in south India. Named Buns, this food item is prepared using mashed over ripe bananas. Buns will not come under the category of a quick menu; nevertheless, they are worth a try.

South Indian banana bread (buns)
Ingredients
“1 cup refined wheat flour
” tsp baking soda
“S cup sugar
“1 tsp pepper corns
“Three medium sized overripe bananas
Instructions
“Mash the bananas
“In a medium sized bowl, mix all ingredients.
“Add water bit by bit to make smooth dough.
“Allow the dough to ferment overnight or for a period of 7-8 hours. The mixture will rise to double the size.
“Divide the dough into ping-pong sized balls.
“Roll out the balls into circular shape.
“Deep fry in oil until golden brown.
“Take out each bun and place it on tissue paper to remove excess oil.

South Indian banana bread is savored hot on its own or with any chutney of your choice. Many prefer to eat this bread lukewarm. Buns are popular in south India as a breakfast item or as a snack.

What Are The Popular Types Of Laser Cooking Thermometer

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Laser thermometers have brought the revolution in the modern life especially in the modern kitchen. Different types of laser thermometers are available in the market to make life easier, simpler and comfortable. Laser thermometers are required when you need the accurate temperature reading of any object without touching the surface.

Different types of laser thermometers have hit the market with unprecedented popularity. The types of laser thermometers include the laser cooking thermometer, the culinary laser thermometer and the infrared laser thermometer. These can be divided into various categories as well. Here in this article we will have a look on these types of laser thermometers.

Laser cooking thermometer is the perfect companion for talking the exact temperature of the cooking surface without having to touch the surface. With these thermometers temperature can be measured in a number of ways but this work on the same principle of laser and infrared technology.

Types of Laser Cooking Thermometer

Laser cooking thermometer can be of various types. Candy thermometers and meat thermometers are the two most prominent types of cooking thermometers. Candy thermometers help in keeping an eye on the temperature of your candy concoctions as they boil. And the meat thermometers allow us to get the most delicious, succulent, tasty and soft meat dishes without the fear of overcooked or undercooked preparations. Laser culinary thermometers are just like the cooking thermometers. They help in measuring the temperature of the cooking surfaces and ensure the properly cooked food dishes.

Infrared Thermometers

Infrared thermometer is another type of laser thermometer. Infrared thermometer measure the temperature in a number of different ways. Infrared thermometers measure the temperature of an object analyzing infrared radiation that comes off of it. Almost all the object emits infrared radiation and these types of laser thermometers use the principle for accurately measuring temperature.

Laser thermometers can be of different types as well. Spot Infrared Thermometer, Infrared Line Scanning Systems, Infrared Camera, Portable Infrared Thermometer, Permanent Infrared Thermometers and Mini Celsius infrared thermometer are some very prominent types of infrared thermometers.

Among these, Spot Infrared Thermometer is the sort of thermometer that focuses a laser onto a small point of the object to read the temperature. The infrared radiation coming from this point aloe the thermometer to take temperature read. Infrared Line Scanning Systems Work similarly as the Spot Infrared Thermometer. But these thermometers use the mirrors to reflect its laser onto a wider surface instead of focusing onto a small spot. Infrared Camera is used to take temperature read when the surface area is large. These thermometers can create 2-D image of an area of space and they can map the temperature throughout it.

Portable Infrared Thermometer is yet another type of infrared thermometers. These are good for using in the doctors office or in the field. Permanent Infrared Thermometers are also for larger and mounted tasks. These are used in the large places specially for monitoring the areas. These are suitable for using in the military bases.

Laser thermometers are perfect for measuring the temperature of any type of object with accurate reading.

Why Should You Go To A Culinary School

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Food is a staple requirement for all. Being able to eat normally, or eat just as much as you want is already anyone’s desire. There are numerous folks who say that good food can alter one’s outlook, mood, and even the process of thinking! Eating good food can’t be experienced all the time – meals could go bad or become disastrous.

If eating good food isn’t good enough, people also strive for preparing good food also. In the past, culinary schools aren’t popular. However, with the change in trends and career shifts there’s been a booming growth of culinary schools everywhere. Career opportunities in cooking have been slowly and gradually increasing in popularity as seen in many competitions and even in reality shows. What is with culinary schools? Why is it becoming a trend with people, even with existing careers?

Social Skills: Culinary schools is also considered one way to discover how to get around with people. The team work that builds inside the kitchen is a booster regarding social skills, particularly if you have plans in opening up a restaurant. Diversity is something that one should appreciate and enjoy, specially in culinary schools, because this can make a person to simply conform to various kinds of people.

A Fresh Career: Tired of your present career, and you enjoy food preparation? Experience with a culinary school will open doors for a new profession and the degree will get you a title as a certified cook. Whether you proceed being an entrepreneur, a cook, or even a chef, you’ll certainly leave your existing job. There are some occasions that some people become more successful as they changed their hobby into a job that they enjoy and earn a lot from.

Added Expertise: There is no better pleasure when you will learn more and be an expert in something that you do. Improving your cooking skills could make you a celebrity in the dining room by your friends, family and colleagues! Additional expertise could be a edge as you can venture in other culinary businesses such as catering services.

Fulfillment: The happiness of succeeding in the cooking profession is incomparable. Seeing how people take pleasure in your cooking is priceless, and will motivate you to continue in making good food. In restaurants, customers even request the chef or the cook to come to the table to commend them of their good work.

The Fun Never Stops: Although years will pass and things change, the knowledge of cooking will always be new. The options are unlimited in terms of discovering new dishes, innovations and even the styles of cooking. The knowledge of cooking can even be passed by to generations and generations after. Cooking never gets useless – it certainly is the way to anyone’s heart. Culinary schools with aid to supply the knowledge in you that goes a long, long way.

There are numerous of advantages in going to culinary schools. Open up a lot more by singing up and begin the learning. Create your kitchen your own private dreamland!

Pumpkin Seed Oil – Making Homemade Soap

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The earliest record of pumpkin seed oil dates back to February 18, 1697 from a farming estate in Styria. This natural oil has been used and produced in the southern part of Styria since the 18th century. Today, this oil is largely exported from the Austrian and Slovenian parts of Styria, but has other international producers, using white seeds with shells to produce cheaper oil. It is, globally, marketed.

Pumpkin seed oil is made by pressing roasted, hulled pumpkin seeds, from the Cucurbita Pepo, (Styrian oil pumpkin). This Styrian pumpkin is quite unique, as it has a greenish-yellowish skin, and its flesh is yellowish-orange in color. The unusual seeds in the pumpkin do not have a shell, which allows for easier processing of the oil.

This natural oil has a variety of uses from culinary, medicinal and to making homemade soap, lotions, creams and more!

For culinary purposes, it is used in salad dressings, soups, dessert, (such as vanilla ice cream), cooking oil and more. This natural oil has a distinct nutty taste and, when it is browned, it has a bitter taste.

Medicinally, some studies have reported it improves symptoms of enlarged prostate, good for treating irritable bowel syndrome, lower the risk of certain types of kidney stones, prevent arteriosclerosis and regulate cholesterol levels.

Pumpkin seeds contain amino acids, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, tryptophan, lysine, zinc and are rich with the benefits of vitamin E, C and A. It has antioxidants benefits and offers plenty of natural beta-carotene.

The oil has a yellowish gold to a deep greenish tint, with hints of dark red within. Its layer of thickness distinguishes a color variation. Its thin layer is more greenish in color, while its thick layer is red in color. Its shelf life is six to eight months, when stored in a cool, dark and dry location.

How does pumpkin seed oil offer homemade skin care benefits? It is quickly absorbed into skin providing soothing relief from dryness or cracks. It helps to reduce fine facial lines and wrinkles, diminishing the signs of aging.

It is wonderful to use in making homemade soap, lotions, creams, and scrubs. Just a little bit of this soap making oil goes a long way, so be sure to use it sparingly. On average, unrefined pumpkin seed oil will run about $ 50.00 per gallon at wholesale price. There are many different soap-making oils, and using pumpkin seed oil is a healthful choice.

There are different ways to learn how to make soap. You can take in-person classes or learn, at home, with an audio visual resource, such as a DVD. Either way can provide you with an abundance of soap making information. Learn with easy soap making instructions, find soap recipes, learn by doing with trial and error, find resources and more! There are different soap making methods, such as hot process soap making, cold process soap making and re-batching. Use the method you are most comfortable with or just use them all! You can find all the soap making information you will ever need! Use a soap making kit, containing oils, molds and other materials to help you get started making soap. So, get started, you can make YOUR very own homemade soap and enjoy the, healthful, benefits of pumpkin seed oil, today!

Why Your Macarons Are Going Wrong – The Most Common Pitfalls

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Making macarons is not easy – anyone that tells you otherwise has either never trued making them or is lying for some reason. If some of the world’s greatest chefs admit that they often struggle to make perfect macarons, how can any of the rest of us claim otherwise?

However, the good news to come out of all this is that making decent macarons you don’t in fact intend to serve to members of the aristocracy or sell to the public doesn’t have to be an unmitigated nightmare. The basic recipe is pretty simple and so too is the process of putting the ingredients together – tasty and pretty macarons do not demand a degree in the culinary arts.

So, you may ask, why are you coming out with pure garbage pretty much every time you try? Well, the simple answer is that you’re most likely making once of a few extremely common mistakes and not even realizing it. So if you happen to be guilty of any of the following, you probably have your answer as to how and where you’re going wrong:

1 – Fresh, Cold Eggs The most common pitfall of all that’s happening all over the world right now as you’re reading this is the use of fresh eggs straight from the fridge. Any good recipe will tell you that it is preferable to use fresh egg delivery that have been -aged’ for a few days to get the right texture for your batter. It will also tell you that using eggs that aren’t at room temperature is inadvisable. Of course, some see it as easier to ignore the rules than to delay their baking any longer, so they end up with a batch of bothersome biscuits they have no use for. Ignore this tip and you’re wasting your time.

2 – Weak Whisking If you don’t give your egg whites enough time and attention with the whisk, your batter will be a disaster. This is pretty much the be all and end all of your macarons after all, so be prepared to really go for it and not stop until you know you’re on the money – even if you’re getting sore and bored. Just to coin a comparison, you’ll know you’re heading in the right direction if and when the mixture looks similar to shaving foam.

3 – Timing the Sugar Call it dull and boring all you like, but if you don’t time the adding of the sugar exactly, you’re in for a disappointment. You need to add the icing sugar – NOT icing mix – after you’ve been beating the egg whites for about 30 seconds-no more and no less. This timing is essential to ensure the right consistency, so don’t ever overlook its importance.

4 – Oven Issues About half way through the cooking process, you should open the oven door and rotate the baking trays. Why? Two reasons – one being that you need to let the excess moisture escape from the oven and the other being the importance of even cooking across the board. Ignore either and you may end up with half your macarons fit for a king and the other half not fit for the dog.