How to avoid bugs and insects in flour, lentils and pulses

To avoid insects and bugs in your kitchen pantry items follow the following methods;

1. Before storing and lentils or pulses make sure to sun dry them for 6 hours or dry roast them (i.e. fry in a pan without oil) and after they cool down store them in clean air-tight containers. Follow this step even if you have got them freshly from the grocery store. Do not roast them too much. 
2. Add a piece of asafoetida or hing into the storage boxes/containers. 
3. Spread some turmeric powder inside the containers to avoid insects. 
4. To avoid ants put some cloves inside the sugar storage containers. 
5. Always use dry and clean containers, spoons or spatulas. Usage of airtight containers reduces the infection risk.
6. If there are any pulses/lentils/rice infected with the bugs discard them immediately. Or spread them under sun for 6 hours, from morning to noon. Then use them immediately. If you store them, they may get infected again. 
7. During frequent intervals (say for about once in 2 months) dry roast or sun dry the stored pulses/lentils. Do this especially when the climate is humid.
8. Spread some neem leaves in the pantry shelves.

If you follow the above tips bugs and insects will never ever peep into your kitchen :)

Have a nice day!!


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How to avoid Flatulence after eating grams and pulses

Grams are the tastiest and healthiest food packed with loads of nutrients like Proteins, Fiber, Vitamins and other essential minerals. But the bane of eating pulses are that they cause flatulence after eating, a discomfort in the digestion causes gases to be formed and accumulated. Digestion slows down due to the increased quantities of protein and fiber and also a flatulence causing agent present in the pulses. The only pulse that does not have flatulence causing agents is Green gram / Paasi payaru. So, to avoid such trouble try the following method it really works!!

What to do with sour dosa batter?

Sometimes the dosa batter becomes too sour and you can't even make anything with it, in such cases try using the dosa batter in the following ways; 

Using anything than discarding is better, right?

Use it like a pack on our face - 

Apply the dosa batter on your face and neck for 15 minutes. Wash to see a glowing face.

If its only lightly sour - 

1. Make egg dosas - Add two eggs for a cup of sour dosa batter and beat well. Make normal dosas. Dosas will taste yummier and the sourness will disappear. 

(or)

2. Make pancakes - Add 2 eggs, 1.5 cups of jaggery for a cup of sour dosa batter, mix well and add cardamom powder/crushed pods to it and make heavy dosas/pancakes.

(or)

3. Make crispy bondas/fritters - Make balls of extra/leftover potato masala and dip it in this sour dosa batter and fry it to get crispy dosa bondas (fritters). Sour flour will be more crispier. 

(or)

4. Use it on burns - Apply cool dosa batter immediately on burns caused by fire or hot oil for instant relief from pain/burning sensation. You can use normal (non-sour) dosa batter also. 

Hope it helps!! Will update more ideas on the coming days!!

Meanwhile please visit my Recipe blog!! Click here to go!!

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How to make leftover rice fresh as cooked rice?

Do you have lots of leftover rice?? Wondering what to do?? 

Don't throw them it will be useful, being frugal at times makes you a good home-maker.

You can make them as fresh as cooked rice!! It can be any amount 1 cup or 2 or just a handful.

How??



In short;

Store leftover rice in a airtight container and refrigerate it. Follow the same procedure as you would do for making rice, just add the leftover rice to it. Cook as usual. No need of extra Water / Salt. 


In detail;

1. Store the leftover rice in refrigerator in a clean airtight container for next day's use.
2. Next day morning take the rice out of the refrigerator and set aside until it comes to room temperature.
3. Take 1 cup or 1/2 cup of uncooked rice or according to your need, wash it well and set aside.
4. Then take the uncooked rice grains in the pressure cooker and add the required amount of water for making rice. (For 1cup of rice 2.5 cups of water)
5. Add the necessary salt.
6. Now add the leftover rice into the same pressure cooker.
7. Don't add extra salt or water. 
8. Mix well. See that there are no lumps of rice. 
9. Now close the lid and pressure cook on a low flame for 10 minutes.

You can use rice cooker, pot or a pressure cooker. Just follow the same steps as you would do everyday. You will have to add the leftover rice additionally that's all. 

Important note: Please make sure that the leftover rice is good.

Leftover rice will look as fresh as the cooked rice. No one will be able to identify the difference. Just try and let me know your feedbacks!!

Hope it helped


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Related leftover recipes

• Leftover Rice Porridge (2) / Kanji (youtoocancookindianfood.blogspot.com)
• Puliyodharai / Puliyogare / Tamarind Rice (youtoocancookindianfood.blogspot.com)
• Easy Tomato Rice / Thakkali Sadam (youtoocancookindianfood.blogspot.com)
• Crispy Leftover Idli Fry / Idli Crispy Fry / Rice Cake Crispy Fry (youtoocancookindianfood.blogspot.com)