Tips , tips , tips.

Dear Chithra,

I have one question rg storing:

We shd store in freezer hot stuff or cold like if I want to store palak,cook,blend and then shd I need to boil and immediate store it or shd I store it after blending.No need to boil agn.Not only for palak plz tell me this rule for otherthings like brinjal,peas etc.

How long we can store homemade tomato puree in freezer?

These days refrigerator wd two doors one is freezer and down is fridge :
that is always automatic defrost system or it can not b automatic?

I have to buy a new fridge.Can U suggest me some gud brand wd automatic defrost freezer?

I m sorry too many questions.Take ur time to answer.
Thank you so much
Sonia

Originally Posted by chitvish

Dear Meena,
Some problem in the computer - got rectified only now & hence the delay in replying you.
I buy whole corn 4,5 at a time ( we now get the American Sweet Corn variety which is very good & soft). I pressurise for 3 whistles. I remove the corn kernels with the help of corn remover which is now available in shops like Currimbhoys. I pack kernels in small ziplock covers & freeze for 2-3 months. Just taking out one cover is easy for one time use likecorn on toast etc. I use it for upma, kuruma, pulao etc.
I have never made corn in syrup.
Butter - I buy & keep in butter box , wrapped in butter paper. I think, if you make butter at home also, after straining water completely, keeping in butter paper in a closed tupperware box is better.
Pineapple - I boil in sugar syrup & keep in syrup for maximum 1 week in the fridge, not freezer.
Palak - as soon as I buy, cook for 2,3 mts & blend. Freeze it just for a week, not more, because there is no need. But my sister freezes for more than a month. In fact she always stocks cooked vegetables in freezer in small ziplock covers.
Big brinjal - I roast, peel & mash, as soon as I buy. Keep in 2,3 ziplock covers, for not more than a week.
Dhal, I cook once in 4,5 days & keep in tupperware boxes. There is no loss of smell at all. Just take it out with a dry spoon whenever you need & put it back immediately.
I always stock sugarless khoa in the freezer.
Because there is no need for the same, I don't freeze cooked food for long. But my
ditecian friend (from U S) says you can freeze in individual servings for upto 3 months in a n automatic defrost fridge.
For Chinese food _ long time back, I bought the telebrand gadget. It is ideal for cabbage. But, carrot & onion get chopped too fast & we tend to chop our dear fingers as well ! They show it so nicely which is not so easy for us. Now in Chennai a shop called Surya sells, Chinese chopped vegetables - without onions.
Refrigerating & freezing in foodgrade plastic, particularly Tupperware is my routine.
Regards,
Chithra.

Dear Sonia,
Do not ever say sorry for asking questions ! I am here to help you to clear your doubts, with what little I know.
Palak leaves should be cleaned well, dropped in boiling water for a mte, drained well, cooled, blended into a puree & stored in foodgrade plastic in freezer. Do not store hot.
For peas, I have given in the tip for storing in the freezer.
Brinjals may be chopped, lightly steamed , cooled & stored.
Tomatoes can be blanched, peeled & pureed without adding water. Store in freezer for a month - more than that, I have'nt tried because, tomatoes are always available.
I recently bought Samsung double Door Automatic Defrost 425lts capacity.
Your address is given as U S A - so how do I suggest to you ??!!
If you still have any doubt, please ask me.
Love,
Chithra.

Hi sonia,

We have bought double door fridge(GE brand) stainless steel type. Some people heard saying that this is quite expensive and also faces problems unlike other brands (colors) in GE brand which has less features. Some others votes for kilmore too.

Believe me, whatever you buy here in US, will face some kind of minor problem in a year or two which is my experience right from appliance upto the heater system. Maybe, visit sears, PC richard & son etc. shops and get the appliance features card and then, decide. Though you and me buy the same appliance, the problems we face will definitely different. Hope you get my point.

Bye.

Dear Chitvish,

Thank you so much for prompt response for storing.So nice of you.

Regarding refrigerator , I want to buy in India .We r moving to India Feb. 28.So tell me rg this considering that I will buy there in India.
Do U find ur new samsung one gud or any other brand which is gud?

Dear Ami,

Thank you so much for ur reply.But I m not going to buy here as we r moving to India-sweet home.

But I was wondering why we face problems here wd such appliances.I m here in rental apartment since 2 yrs. and did't have any problems wd refrigerator which they provide in apartment.May b u r talking abt long period , I just used for short period.

Bye

Dear Soniya,
For any gadget, now I go by the service availability in case of any problem. I find Samsung products as well as service is good.
Love,
Chithra.

Originally Posted by sonia

Dear Chitvish,

Thank you so much for prompt response for storing.So nice of you.

Regarding refrigerator , I want to buy in India .We r moving to India Feb. 28.So tell me rg this considering that I will buy there in India.
Do U find ur new samsung one gud or any other brand which is gud?

That is good, sonia to note down.

When we are in the apartment, they use to repair all kinds of problems before we move in but, when you move to single family home, then only, you will know the real problem in each & everything. Anyhow, happy moving to India..

Rgds.

Dear Ami,

Yes thats true I m fully agree wd you.Once we move in our own home then only we have to maintain all things alone otherwise U just have to dial a no. to call maintenance guys.

Thanks for ur wishes.
Sonia

Dear Chitvish,

Thank You So Much.

Sonia

Originally Posted by chitvish

Dear Soniya,
For any gadget, now I go by the service availability in case of any problem. I find Samsung products as well as service is good.
Love,
Chithra.

For 2 persons:

The standard proportion for coffee powder is half PB & half Plantation A.
Optionally, some add 50 gms chicory to 1 kg of coffee powder. Now, in Chennai, Kumbakonam Filter coffee powder is available, which is very good. If you buy 1 kg powder, buy in 4 or 5 small packs & open one by one, to preserve the best flavour.
Keep the powder in airtight box.

Always buy the filter proportionate to the no: of cups of coffee, you want to make.
It is difficult to make decoction in a big filter for 2 people.

Put 3 slightly heaped or 4 level tsp coffee powder in the filter. Level with your fingers & gently press. Heat 150 ml water & when it boils, pour it on the powder through a tea strainer or the “kudai” in the filter. This is for the water to spread evenly on the powder.
In 10 mts, the decoction will collect in the lower vessel. Simultaneously boil the milk on the stove. Mix both, equally hot, in the desired proportion & add sugar. If you do not like it strong, add 200 ml water .
You can add 100ml more of water & get a second decoction. This will be less strong.
If you want to carry over prepared decoction, add a tsp of sugar.