BEWARE OF THE COOKING LPG CYLINDER IN YOUR KITCHEN: Check out cylinder's expiry date

BEWARE OF THE COOKING LPG CYLINDER IN YOUR KITCHEN



"Have U ever heard about LPG gas cylinder's expiry date....!!



Expired Cylinders are not safe for use and may cause accidents. In this regard please be cautious at the time of accepting any LPG cylinder from the Vendor.



Here is how we can check the expiry of LPG cylinders:

On one of three side stems of the cylinder, the expiry date is coded alpha numerically as follows A or B or C or D and some two digit number following this e.g. D06.



The alphabets stand for quarters -

1. A for March (First Qtr),

2. B for June (Second Qtr),

3. C for Sept (Third Qtr), &

4. D for December (Fourth Qtr).





The digits stand for the year till it is valid. Hence D06 would mean December qtr of 2006.

Please Return Back the Cylinder that you get with a Expiry Date, they are prone to Leak and other Hazardous accidents...



The second example with D13 allows the cylinder to be in use until Dec 2013.

I checked mine cylinder and found the code D-08. This means that i'm using an expired cylinder. Next time i'm going to be very careful while taking a new cylinder.



Be cautious and live safely.

Substitution Chart for Vegetarians

There always remains a substitute for everything, then why not food, why only non-vegetarians and boozers can enjoy all the taste of life.
The following substitute for everything eatable gives a fare chance to all the veggies to enjoy all the taste of life.

Meat-free Ingredient Substitute

Gelatin--> Agar-agar (sea vegetable powder or flakes), arrowroot (starchy powder from tropical tuber), ground nuts and seeds, gums (guar gum is from an East Indian seed, xanthan gum is from corn), kudzu (starchy powder from tropical tuber).

Meat--> Beans, cheese, seitan (wheat meat), tempeh (cultured soy food), textured vegetable protein (TVP), tofu.

Meat, chicken or seafood stock--> Apple, cranberry, orange or pomegranate juice, beer, Dr. Bronner's mineral tonic, garlic broth, miso (fermented soybean paste) diluted with water, sherry, vegetable bouillon cubes, vegetable stock, water in which beans, pasta or vegetables have been
cooked, wine.

Seasoned or smoked meats--> For sausage, substitute crumbled tofu seasoned with fennel, parsley and garlic. For smoked meats, substitute canned chipotle chilies, oven-roasted vegetables, toasted nuts, smoked tofu or smoked cheeses.



Vegan Ingredient Substitute
Buttermilk--> Clabbered soymilk (to clabber, mix 2 tsp lemon juice or white vinegar per cup of soymilk).

Cheese--> Soy- and nut-based cheeses.

Cottage cheese/ricotta--> Crumbled tofu.

Eggs--> Crumbled or pureed tofu.

Mayonnaise--> Tofu mayonnaise.

Milk--> Nut milk, rice milk, soymilk.



Low fat Ingredient Substitute
Creamed soups and sauces--> Arrowroot (starchy powder from tropical tuber), kudzu. Use roasted, pureed vegetables as a base, then finish the soup or sauce with nonfat strained yogurt.

Oil in baked goods--> Applesauce, pureed bananas, pureed stewed prunes.

Oil for sautéing--> Apple juice, sherry, vegetable stock, wine.

Salad dressing--> Citrus juice or cider vinegar thickened with pureed roasted red peppers, carrots, onions or garlic.

Sour cream--> Strained nonfat yogurt.

White sauce--> Pureed white beans.



Yeast-Free Ingredient Substitute
Bread--> Baking soda breads (quick breads), flatbreads, muffins, sprouted breads.

Salad dressing (wine-or vinegar-based)--> Puree citrus juice and avocado, Puree citrus juice and oil, Mix peeled, cubed fruit such as mango, oranges and papaya into green salads

Vinegar--> Cranberry or pomegranate juice, lemon or lime juice, mango powder (amchoor), tamarind paste or pulp, vitamin C powder (ascorbic acid).

White sugar--> Bananas, barley malt, brown rice syrup, date sugar, dried fruits, fruit juices, maple syrup.



Allergy Ingredient Substitute
Butter--> Clarified butter (milk solids have been removed), olive oil, sesame oil.

Chocolate--> Carob.

Cow's milk--> Almond, goat, rice and soymilk.

Cow's milk cheese--> Cheeses made from soy, nuts, goat or sheep milk.

Eggs--> Egg Replacer; liquid lecithin with 2 tsp guar gum; baking soda plus pureed fruit or vegetables; and flax seeds pureed with water.

Peanuts--> Almonds.

Wheat flour (for baking)--> Barley, buckwheat, corn, kamut, oats, rice, rye, spelt.

Wheat pasta--> Corn, kamut and spelt pasta, rice noodles.



Ethnic Origin Ingredient Substitute

Cactus pads (nopales)--> Green beans, okra.

Chayote squash--> Yellow or green pattypan squash or zucchini.

Masa flour--> Mix corn flour with lime juice.

Poblano or Anaheim chilies--> Minced jalapeno chili and green bell pepper.

Posole (dried hominy)--> Canned white hominy.


Asian~~~
Bok choy (Chinese white cabbage)--> Beet greens, kale and Swiss chard

Chinese cooking wine--> Dry sherry.

Chinese five-spice powder--> Anise seed or star anise, fennel seed, cinnamon, black peppercorns and whole cloves. (If you have a mortar and pestle or electric spice grinder, use whole spices, otherwise use ground dry spices.).

Galangal (Thai ginger)--> Fresh ginger.

Lemon grass--> Lemon zest.

Lotus root--> Jicama or water chestnuts.

Mirin (Japanese rice wine)--> Sweet white wine.

Nam pla (Thai fish sauce)--> Soy sauce and lime juice.

Rice wine vinegar--> Cider vinegar, white wine vinegar.

Sesame oil--> 1 Tbsp sesame seeds fried in 1/2 cup vegetable oil.

Thai basil--> Italian basil.

Water chestnuts--> Jicama.


Indian~~~
Atta (chapati flour)--> 1/2 cup all-purpose unbleached flour plus 1/2 cup sifted whole wheat flour.

Chana dal--> Split yellow peas.

Curry powder--> Mix together to taste ground ginger, cumin, coriander, fenugreek, turmeric and fennel.

Garam masala (mixed spices)--> 1 tsp. cardamom seeds, 1 Tbs. cumin seed, 1 Tbs. coriander seed, 2 tsp. black peppercorns, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. cloves, 1 tsp nutmeg. (If you have a mortar and pestle or electric spice grinder, use whole spices, or mix together ground dry spices.)

Jaggery (coarse palm sugar)--> Date sugar or brown sugar.

Toor dal, urad dal, mung dal--> Red lentils.



Mediterranean~~~
Broccoli rabe (rapini)--> Broccoli plus arugula or dandelion greens.

Cannellini beans--> Great Northern beans, navy beans, red kidney beans.

Fava beans, dried--> Butter beans.

Fava beans, fresh--> Fresh or frozen lima beans.

Fennel--> Celery plus some fennel or anise seeds.

Parmesan cheese--> Any hard, aged grating cheese such as Asiago or Romano or aged Monterey jack.

Pine nuts--> Walnuts or a mixture of walnuts and almonds.


Alcohol-Free Ingredient Substitute

Red wine--> Pomegranate juice; 1/2 cup water plus 2 tsp balsamic vinegar.

White wine--> Apple, carrot or bell pepper juice, vegetable stock.

Wine or beer--> Non-alcoholic wine or beer.


This is based on an article by Gigia Kolouch. She specializes in creating and cooking vegetarian fare, especially low-cholesterol and allergy-free foods. She is based in Denver, Colorado.

Traditional Kerala Homes: NARIKKOTTILAM, VARIKKASSERI MANA, SOORYAKALADI MANA & POOMULLY MANA

POOMULLY MANA

SOORYAKALADI MANA











VARIKKASSERI MANA

NARIKKOTTILAM

Garden Vastu [ feng shui ] : garden directions, ideas, design, designs, position, plants, doors and colors.

A garden that is created with Vastu in mind can cover a micro or a macro area of the site. It can be in the front of the building or at the back of the building. It can be at the sides or it can be in the interiors, on the terraces or even in a little porch located in the building.

When we speak of a garden, we speak of nature and its primary elements udaka (water), agni (fire), akasha (space), vayu (air) and prithvi(earth) as well as its invisible, yet strong, interaction with the structure and the residents of the structure. Today's society is fast paced and there is continuous and ever increasing stress in every individual’s life. Getting into a garden that is designed on certain Vastu considerations is an excellent way of de-stressing, relaxing and getting back to balanced and calm thinking. A green area in terms of flower plants, lawn, trees and water and rocky areas are not only visually appealing to the residents but also can work in harmony with the residents giving them peace, pleasure and happiness. One of the classical treatises recommends a flower garden in the north when it says "Uttaradese tu Pushpavati".

The work on a garden begins by identifying the outermost boundary of the site and creating a depression on all the four sides. Flower and leafy plants and kusa or darbha grass can be put in the boundary. By creating a “plant” path inside a site all around, undesirable effects of negative zone that Vastu masters identify as paisacha are neutralized or minimized. A well-planned plant boundary on all sides of the site not only enhances the aesthetic beauty of the site but also significantly contributes to the disinfecting or elimination of any environmental pollution. Trees are better avoided at the four corners of the site. If a large area is available, adequate provision can be made for members of the family and their friends to comfortable sit and relax. An area in the front yard (and/or backyard) needs to be identified for the garden. The ground is prepared in such a way that the soil becomes soft and laid evenly, the soil smell is good and is free of worms, termites, rats, bones, shells, hair and dirt. All the hollow areas need to be filled up. The soil is made fertile by adequately dampening the area and spreading natural-fertilizer. Seeds of various kinds of plants are planted. Classical treatises indicate that a ground that is soft, evenly leveled, sweet smelling, not hollow underneath and contains large number of herbal plants, trees and creepers helps in bestowing comfort and overall well-being to the persons, even if they were to rest occasionally.

The planting of deep-rooted trees just opposite the main door is to be avoided. A well-planned garden can have herbal and flower plants, trees, lawn, rocks and water fountains. Climbers like money plants can be aesthetically located in Vastu accepted sectors of the garden but they need to be avoided on trees. A pathway from the front gate of the building to the main entrance can be created with herbal plants like basil and flower plants like jasmine on each side of the pathway. A tree or plant in the middle of the path or just opposite the doorway is to be avoided. The north of the garden can have a nice water pool or water fountain.

Rose plants can be planted in the southeast of the area. Avoid deep-rooted trees in the center of a site or of the garden. They are ideal in the south and west of the site so long as their roots do not disturb the foundations of the structure. Avoid trees growing above the height of the structure. Have the trees spaced out. Coconut, Bilva, Pomegranate, Lemon, Neem, Jackfruit and Banana are recommended in the residential gardens. Well laid out lawns are ideal in the north and northwest of an area. Milky trees in residential areas are to be avoided. Rocky areas in the garden can be in the south and west; herbal and flower plants in the north and east and lawn in the central areas, north and west.

Sitting areas can be in the south and west of the gardens facing north and east. A garden needs to have a focal point that is visually and otherwise comfortable to the residents. It can be a water fountain, fish aquarium, rocky landscaping, shikara or a pyramid, statue not depicting any form of violence, a small idol of your favorite deity, the Swastika, Om or anything pleasant that you adore and link to each time you see it in your garden.

Garden accessories are best kept in the northwest or southeast of the garden area. These sectors are also compatible for dog kennels. As a rule, one needs to keep the garden clean and neat making it a point to remove dry creepers, leaves, flowers, and overgrown shrubs. The lawns can be mowed regularly to create an environment for the normal flow of natural energies. A well made Vastu garden can often minimize or the imbalances of a structure.

Vastu provides clear and specific guidelines, which can be conveniently applied to create an amicable interface between nature and individuals that aid people in achieving peace and happiness.