Showing posts with label Do-it-Yourself. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Do-it-Yourself. Show all posts

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Cold Pasta Salad Recipe.

Cold Pasta Salad Recipe.

Ingredients:
1 lb. pasta (macaroni, fettucini, etc.)
1 or 2 red peppers, seeded and cut into small squares
2 c. fresh broccoli, pared and coarsely chopped
1 lb. Mozzarella, coarsely chopped
1/2 c. toasted pine nuts
3 tbsp. Dijon mustard
3 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c. olive oilSalt and pepper to taste
Garnish: chop Italian parsley

Method of Preparation.
Step1,
Prepare the dressing by combining the last five ingredients, whisking constantly and thoroughly. Set aside.
Step2,
Steam and blanch the broccoli and the peppers, separately until just crisp tender.
Step3,
Drain and rinse under cold water. Cook the pasta until the desired texture is reached, drain well. Step4,
Toss the pasta with the pepper, broccoli, pine nuts, and cheese, add dressing, tossing again and serve immediately with hot crusty Italian bread.
(Garnish with chopped Italian parsley, if desired.)
Dish is ready to serve.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Shrimp Pasta Primavera Recipe

Shrimp Pasta Primavera Recipe

Ingredients:
1 lb. med. shrimp, fresh, unpeeled
3/4 c. skim milk
2 tsp. butter1 tbsp. plus
1 tsp. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/4 c. fresh asparagus (about 1/2 lb.), 1" diagonal slices
1 c. fresh green peas, shelled
1/2 c. green onions, thinly sliced
1/8 tsp. red pepper, crushedVegetable cooking spray
1 tbsp. fresh mint, minced
5 c. hot rigatoni (short tubular pasta), cooked without salt or fatLemon wedgesFresh mint sprigs (optional)

Cooking Directions:
Step1,
Peel and devein shrimp; set aside.
Step2,
Place milk in a 1 cup measure; microwave at HIGH 1 minute, and set aside.
Step3,
Place butter in a 1 quart glass measure; microwave at HIGH 30 seconds or until melted.
Step4,
Add flour, stirring with a wire whisk; microwave at HIGH 30 seconds.
Step5,
Gradually add milk, stirring until well blended. Microwave at HIGH 2 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring every 30 seconds.
Step6,
Stir in lemon juice and salt; set aside and keep warm.Combine asparagus, peas, green onions and pepper in a 2 quart casserole coated with cooking spray; microwave at HIGH 1 1/2 minutes.
Step7,
Stir in shrimp and minced mint. Cover with casserole lid; microwave at HIGH 3 to 4 minutes or until shrimp is done, stirring every 1 1/2 minutes.
Step8,
Let stand, covered, 3 minutes; drain. Combine shrimp mixture, pasta, and milk mixture in a large bowl; toss gently.
Step9,
Spoon onto serving plates; serve with lemon wedges. Garnish with mint sprigs, if desired. Yield: 6 (1 1/3 cup) servings.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Chocolate Crinkles Recipe

Chocolate Crinkles Recipe

Ingredients:
2 (1 oz.) sq. unsweetened chocolate, melted
1/2 cup of butter
2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
2 cup of flour
1/2 cup of chopped walnuts
1 2/3 cup of sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/3 cup of milk
1/2 tsp. salt

Method of preparation:

Step1,
Cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Beat in eggs and chocolate.
Step2,
Sift dry ingredients together and add to creamed mixture.
Step3,
Add milk, stir in nuts. Chill 2-3 hours or overnight.
Step4,
Make 1-inch balls. Roll in powdered sugar.
Step5,
Place on greased cookie sheet 2-inches apart.
Step6,
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

"Chocolate Crinkles are ready to server now"

Monday, January 5, 2009

Seafood (shrimp) Dinner Recipe

Seafood (shrimp) Dinner Recipe

Ingredients.
1 can (4 oz.) shrimp, drained
1 c. (4 oz.) shredded Swiss cheese
1 pkg. (8 oz.) frozen imitation crabmeat, thawed, cut into chunks
1 cup of pasta, cooked
1/2 cup of mayonnaise
1/2 cup of milk
1 can condensed cream of celery soup
1 can Durkee French fried onions
1/2 tsp. dill weed
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt.

Method of Preparation.

Step1,
Drain pasta and return to pan.
Step2,
Stir in mayonnaise, milk, soup, crabmeat, shrimp, 1/2 cup cheese, 1/2 can French fried onions
and seasonings
Step3,
Mix well. Pour into 1 1/2 quart casserole.
Step4,
Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 35 minutes until bubbly.
Step5,
Top with remaining cheese and onions,
Step6,
Bake, uncovered 5 minutes until onions are golden brown.
Now the dish is ready to serve.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Raisin Sauce with Sour Cream Recipe

Raisin Sauce with Sour Cream Recipe.

Ingredients.

1/2 cup of raisins
2 cup of sour cream
2 tbsp of lemon juice
1 tbsp of horseradish
1/2 tsp of salt

Method of Preparation.

Step1,
Take some water in a pan and warm it.
Step2,
Pour boiling water over 1/2 cup raisins and let stand 10 minutes.
Step3,
Drain well the raisins.
Step4,
Combine raisins, sour cream, salt, horseradish and lemon juice. Chill and serve over ham. (Makes about 2 cups.)

Saturday, December 27, 2008

French Toast With Peanut Butter Recipe

French Toast With Peanut Butter Recipe.

Ingredients:
8 slices of bread
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
2 tbsp. butter
3 eggs (beaten)
1/2 cup milk
1/4 tsp. salt

Method of Preparation:
Step1,
Blend peanut butter, honey, and salt.
Step2,
Place about 2 tablespoons peanut butter-honey mixture between 2 slices of bread to make a sandwich.
Step3,
Combine egg and milk.
Step4,
Soak sandwiches in egg mixture.
Step5,
Melt butter in a baking pan or frying pan. Bake sandwiches at 400 degrees (hot oven) about 30 minutes. Turn sandwiches to brown both sides or cook slowly in frying pan on top of range.

Best for 4 to serve

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Tutti-frutti pudding

This moist steamed banana sponge, studded with fruits and topped with a gorgeous lemony syrup, is a traditional treat that everyone will love.

Ingredients
Butter or margarine, for greasing
4tbsp golden syrup
2tbsp fresh white breadcrumbs
Juice and finely grated zest of 2 lemons
150g butter or margarine, softened
150g light brown sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
175g self-raising flour
1 large, ripe banana, peeled and mashed
50g ready-to-eat dried apricots, chopped
50g glace cherries, chopped
50g sultanas
Custard, to serve

Preparation

Step1,
Grease a 1.5 liter pudding basin. Heat the syrup in a small pan until just softened and stir in the breadcrumbs along with the juice and zest of one of the lemon. Pour into the basin. Set aside.

Step2,
In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until creamy and pale. Gradually stir in the eggs and 2tbsp of the flour. Sieve the remaining flour into the bowl and fold in using a large metal spoon.

Step3,
Carefully fold in the banana, apricots, cherries, sultanas and the juice & the zest of remaining lemon. Spoon the mixture into the basin and smooth the top.

Step4,
Fold a pleat in the middle of a square of baking parchment and put on top of the basin. Cover with a sheet of foil with a pleat in the middle. Secure in place with string. Tie an extra length of string across the top to make a handle.

Step5,
Put the pudding in a steamer placed over a pan of simmering water. Alternatively, stand the basin on a trivet or upturned saucer in a large pan, pour in boiling water until it covers half the basin and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for 2 and half hours, topping up with boiling water if necessary, until the pudding has risen and is firm to the touch.

Step6,
Carefully lift the basin from the pan and remove foil and paper. Run a knife around the edge of the pudding and turn it out onto a warmed serving plate. Serve with custard.

Serves 8
Preparation time 20 minutes.
Cooking time 2.5 hours
Fat per serving 20g
Calories per serving 380

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Are you healthy or hungry?

The key to weight Management.
Maintaining a healthy weight throughout life is vestal for the ohysical and psychological health of an individual. Eating habits and attitudes are usually established early on in life and are most often influenced by the environment. Just switch on the TV or open up a magazine and “healthy” is seen to equate “thin”. The way eat is also influenced by our emotions and “comfort eating” is often a result.The desire to gain weight is less common than the need to lose weight. Nevertheless it can be vary important for some people. Failure to maintain an ideal weight can be due to medical, biochemical or psychological problems where there is ca poor relationship with food resulting in compulsive eating, anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and orthopedic.

ARE you UNDERWEIGHT?
As most people are trying to lose weight, the group of people who are trying to gain weight are often ignored, but some reasons for low weight could be a low calorie intake, psychological problems, malabsorption, nutrient deficiencies, poor digestion and increased intestinal permeability. This can lead to a number of health complaints such as nutrient deficiencies, degenerative diseases, low self esteem, anxiety disorder as well as eating disorder.

ARE you OVERWEIGHT?
Obesity and increased weight is becoming a serious problem globally even through there are more medical diets that claim to ‘lose those unwanted pounds forever’ and hi tech gyms with the latest equipments designed to tighten muscles that we never even knew we had. Even through you may do Pilates, yoga, aerobics or weight training, if you are not educated about food and don’t listen to your body, weight will always be an issue.

TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT AND TO AVOID HUNGER.

WATER.
Water is very essential if you are trying to lose weight as it flushes out stored toxins that accumulate over the years in fat cells. Ideally you should be drinking a minimum of one 300ml glass of good quality bottled water every one and a half to two hours. Please avoid ordinary water as it may contain chemicals and xenotoxins that the body is trying to rid itself and these are stored in fat cells increasing body weight over time.

CARBOHYDRATES.
Carbohydrates supply our bodies with the energy it needs to function as it is the main source of blood glucose, which is a major fuel for all the body’s cells Carbohydrates are divided into simple carbohydrates where the sugar is absorbed quickly into the bloodstream and complex carbohydrates including fiber and starches where the sugar absorption is at a slower rate. Good sources of carbohydrates are fruits, vegetables, wholegrain-wheat products, peas and beans as they are nutrient dense. Their slower sugar imbalances such as low and high blood sugar are avoided as are stripped of fiber and nutrients.

FATS.
Fats contrary to general opinion are vital to our well-being. There are three types: saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated. The fat that we should be avoiding is saturated fats found un animal products as well as coconut oil and palm kernel oil. Excessive intake of this can increase body fat. Essential fatty acids are a combination of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. As their name suggests they are essential as they must be obtained from the diet. Good sources of essential fates are oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, nuts and seeds.

PROTEINS.
Are vital for essential growth and development and are needed for the manufacture of hormones, antibodies, enzymes and tissues. Amino acids are the “building blocks” of protein and any food that contains all the essential amino acids is called a complete protein. Good sources containing all the essential amino acids are meat, fish, poultry, cheese, eggs and soy beans. It is possible to make a complete protein food for vegetarians by combining partial protein foods such as combining brown rice with beans, nuts, seeds and wheat or beans with corn, nuts, seeds and wheat.

FIBRE.
Fiber acids in the function in the digestive system by retaining water resulting in better bowel movements. A high fiber diet can help lose weight over time. Good sources of fiber include wholegrain brown rice, whole wheat bread, oats, bran, rye, fruits, raw vegetables and legumes

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Make a cake with your child

Most children love to create things, so it would be the rare child that doesn't want to get in the kitchen with mom and dad and find out what baking is all about. Kids get so excited about their creations; parents can encourage this by letting them help bake a cake. By helping in the kitchen, kids learn the basics of nutrition and cooking which will guide them the rest of their lives. It's also one of the best ways to spend quality time with your youngsters.
Pick out a simple cake recipe to get them started; a chocolate chip cake recipe is something that just about every child loves. Simple butter cream frosting that's brightly colored will keep their attention and be fun to frost the cake with. Candies, such as gumdrops, jelly beans and Lifesavers will bring out the artist in every child when they arrange them on the cake after it's frosted.
Go through the cake recipes with your child step-by-step and be sure and supervise any contact with the oven. Teach them how to measure correctly with measuring cups and spoons and the correct ways to mix the batter. If you have small children it's best that you use an electric mixer if one is called for.
After the cake has finished cooling, set up a frosting station with bowls of different colored frosting and different colorful, small candies. This is a great idea for slumber parties, also. Just use cup cakes instead of one large cake; each child can have their own little cake to decorate the way they like. And the kids will love eating their artistic creations!
So many parents don't get to spend much time with their children these days. Between work, school and activities, family time is put on the back burner. Take some time out of the rat race and spend it with your kids in the kitchen. Your children will be so proud of their baking accomplishments and you'll be creating memories that will last you and your children a lifetime.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Oil and Grease Stains Removal.




Oil and Grease Stains on your Carpet.
After blotting oil from the carpet as much as possible, cornmeal is applied to absorb the remaining spill. Talcum powder can also be used instead. It is then removed with a brush. A commercial dry-cleaning solvent like “K2r Spot Lifter” is sponged onto the grease or oil spot, followed by the application of a dry spotter.
A dry spotter is prepared by mixing one volume of coconut oil with 8 volumes of dry-cleaning solvent.A pad moistened with dry spotter is placed over the stained area until the stain continues to be removed. The stain is then flushed with a dry-cleaning solvent.
If the stain continues to be visible, it is sponged with water and then applied with a wet spotter and white vinegar. A pad containing wet spotter is placed onto it, until the stain vanishes. It is then washed and dried.


Oil and Grease Stains on Cotton.
The procedure for removing oil stains from fabrics like cotton, linen and spandex is essentially the same as that for carpets except that ammonia drops are used instead of white vinegar, in combination with the wet spotter.


Oil and Grease Stains on your Driveway.

In order to remove oil or grease stains from a driveway, the soiled area should first be covered with Portland cement so that it sucks the excess fluid. The practice is carried out several times. Stain is wetted and sprayed with an engine degreaser or applied with a full strength concentrated cleaning powder.

The floor is scrubbed thoroughly with a hard brush and washed with a water hose. An alternate method for cleaning oil stains from a garage is to scrub the floor using a hard wire brush after absorbing the excess oil.

It is then wiped off with a rag that has been soaked in oil turpentine. Then a paste is prepared by mixing 2 volumes of hydrated lime and one volume of oil turpentine. A 5 mm thick layer of this paste is used to cover the stain while covering a considerable area around the stain as well. A plastic sheet is placed over it and left overnight.

The paste is removed and the affected area is rinsed with a water hose. Yet another technique employed to clean oil and grease stains from a concrete driveway is to spread sawdust or cat litter above the affected area to suck excess liquid from the surface. It is allowed to remain over there for one or two days, and then swept away. Dried cement is then poured over the area. After a few days, the cement is swept away, leaving no stain behind.


Oil and Grease Stains on Leather and Suede.

A thick paste is prepared by mixing fuller’s earth with water. The paste is rubbed into the grease stain on a leather surface. After the applied paste has dried out, the resultant powder is removed with a brush. If it doesn’t serve the purpose fully well, commercial leather cleaner may also be employed. An oil stain on a suede surface can be treated first with lemon juice and then with steam, followed by scrubbing with a brush.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Inks Stain Removal (Ballpoint, Marker etc.)

Ballpoint pen/ink stains
A wet sponge is used to absorb as much ink as possible. After the stain has been dried in air, it is applied with a hair spray. The stained area is covered with a paper towel at the top and with another one at the bottom. The stain is pushed with the towel placed underneath and is moved into the one placed above the fabric. A stain remover is then applied. The fabric is washed with warm water and is allowed to dry.

Marker Stain Removal
Water based marker stains are cleaned by way of placing the stained area over a dry towel. The stain is dampened with water and blotted with another cloth, hence causing it to be removed. A liquid detergent is then applied to the stain and is applied to remain on the fabric for about 3 to 5 minutes.
The fabric is then washed with water having the highest temperature it can withstand. The entire process is repeated if the attain is not completely removed. Permanent marker stains require a difficult multi-step process to be completely removed.
The fabric is placed over a white towel and is applied with rubbing alcohol. After the stain has been absorbed by the towel, it is washed thoroughly. The same process is repeated first using nail polish remover and then using acetone instead of rubbing alcohol.
A solution of baking soda in water is then applied to the fabric. If the stain continues to remain, it can be treated with a commercial stain stick or a stain gel.

Felt tip pen stains
A paper towel is pushed into the stain to absorb the maximum quantity of ink. Denatured alcohol is applied to the stain using a cotton swab. The fabric is washed. Care should be taken to carry out the process as quickly as possible.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Red Wine Stains Removal



Remove red wine stain from clothes.
If boiling water is poured over a red wine stain from above, the stain completely vanished provided it is a fresh one. If the stained has dried, it should be soaked in white wine, which serves to bleach the red color. It is then covered with a paste of baking soda, and washed after a few hours stains will vanish completly.

Remove red wine stains from carpets.
The first step involved in removing red wine stains from a carpet is to absorb the excess liquid by a paper towel. A cleaning mixture is prepared by adding carpet shampoo in an amount of 1 teaspoon to a cup full of hydrogen peroxide. A sponge is soaked in this mixture, squeezed and then used to absorb the wine stain. The affected region is then sponged with warm water. A paper towel is used to blot the region in order to dry it.

Remove red wine stains from fiberglass.
After blotting away the excess liquid, the stain is sponged with water followed by the application of a wet spotter, which is prepared by adding one volume each of glycerin and detergent to 8 volumes of water. White vinegar is dropped onto the stained area. A pad soaked in wet spotter is used to cover the affected area and is replaced when it gets soiled. When the stain completely disappears, the pad is removed and the treated region is washed with running water.

Precautions to cleaning red wine stains.
In case of a red wine stain on silk and wool, the sugar deposit left by the wine should immediately be cleaned before it leads to the formation of a permanent stain. The paper towels employed for blotting purpose should be white because colored ones can result in staining the fabric. Scrubbing the stain can result in setting it deeper into the fabric and should therefore be avoided.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Chocolate Stain on Clothing Removel.

The loose chocolate on the garment is removed using a paper towel. A thick past is formed by adding a small amount of water to a detergent powder. A little paste is applied to the chocolate stained fabric.
The detergent paste is made to penetrate the material by means of gentle rubbing. It is allowed to set for about 10 minutes. The fabric is then machine-washed. If the stain has completely disappeared, the fabric is dried.

Otherwise it is again applied with the paste and allowed to set.Another effective method for removing chocolate stains from fabrics is to soak the stained garment in a mixture of bleach, detergent and hot water, followed by rinsing and laundering.

Yet another method involves the application of heavy cream onto the stained area, followed by rinsing and washing. If a chocolate stained garment is applied with white vinegar and then put out in open sunlight for several hours, the stain disappears.

A garment can also be soaked in cold water to get rid of the cocoa stain. A suitable chemical for removing cocoa stains is hydrogen peroxide.As chocolate stains are quite stubborn, the process for removing these stains involves multiple steps, the first of which is to rinse the backside of the stained region with cool water.

Liquid detergent is rubbed on the affected area and is kept applied for about 5 minutes. The garment is soaked in a tub containing cold water for duration of 10 to 15 minutes. After regular intervals, the stained area is rubbed.

After the fabric has been rinsed, it can be made to go through the entire process once again if the stain is still visible. In the end, the stained region can be applied with a stain removing stick, a stain gel or a stain remover spray to remove any oily remains.

Remove Chocolate Stain From the Carpet


In order to remove chocolates stains from a carpet, the first step that should be employed is to remove the maximum possible stuff with hand.
Care must be taken that this step does not serve to increase the stain size. A spoonful of a neutral detergent is added to one-cup warm water. The resulting solution is blotted onto the spot. A cloth dampened with clean water is pressed against the affected area.
A solution of ammonia in water is prepared by adding 1 volume of ammonia to 5 or 8 volumes of plain water.
This mixture is dabbed onto the chocolate spot. The stained area is then dabbed with plain water. The entire process may be repeated.Another method designed to eliminate chocolate stains from carpets is to let the chocolate solidify.
Once the chocolate has hardened, it should be scraped off using a blunt knife or a scraper. The stained area is then directly poured with hot water.
Pouring is continued until the chocolate spot is completely eliminated. A chocolate stain should be dealt with as soon as it is acquired, to avoid the difficulties faced while removing an old cocoa stain.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Lipstick Stain Removals

Lipstick stains on fabric
In order to remove lipstick stains from garments, it is sprayed with a hair spray and wiped it a cloth after a few minutes. This helps remove the stain. Another method that can serve to remove lipstick stains is the use of white toothpaste.
It is rubbed on the stain with ones fingers and is rinsed using cool water. Yet another method that can be employed to remove lipstick stains is the use of Vaseline. Half a teaspoon Vaseline, alternately known as petroleum jelly, is rubbed on a lipstick stain and is allowed to set for about a minute. Liquid detergent is then applied and allowed to set for a while.
It is washed with water with a temperature as high as the material can withstand. The garment should not be dried in the dryer until the stain completely disappears. Removing lipstick stains from silk is relatively easy.
If a piece of scotch tape is placed on the affected area and then removed with a jerk, it removes the lipstick along with it.
If the lipstick stain continues to be visible, a small amount of talcum powder is put on it. As the powder is shaken off, the stain is also removed.
This process may be repeated a number of times to eliminate the spot completely. A commercial product for removing lipstick stains is a stain stick. It is kept applied for several minutes and then washed off.
Using chemicals to remove lipstick stains
Quite an effective method of removing lipstick stains is the use of rubbing alcohol. A terry cloth moistened with rubbing alcohol is used to wipe the stained area. Ammonia can also be employed to eliminate lipstick stains. After blotting the maximum amount of lipstick from the stain, ammonia is applied onto it. The garment is then hand washed with warm water and soap.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Lamb, potato and spinach curry

No need to bother with an Indian takeaway when you can serve up this delicious lamb and vegetable feast. Freshly ground spices give extra taste

Ingredients
4 cardamom pods
1tsp coriander seeds
2tsp ground spices
450tg lean lamb fillet, trimmed and cut into bite-size pieces
2tbsp sunflower oil
2 onions, sliced
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 green chili, deseeded and finely chopped
300ml canned coconut milk
450g potatoes, peeled and cubed
250g fresh spinach
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Paprika, to garnish (optional)
Bread to serve

Preparation
Step1
Crush the cardamom pods with a pestle and mortar to split the husks. (Or crush the pods in a small bowl using the end of a rolling pin) Prise out and reserve the black seeds, discarding the husks, crush the cardamom, coriander and cumin seeds together and mix the spices.
Step2
Put the lamb in a bowl, add the spices and toss to coat the meat.
Step3
Heat the oil in a large pan and gently cook the onion, garlic and chili for 5 minutes until softened. Add the lamb and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring, until the meat is browned all over.
Step4
Add the stock and coconut milk, bring to the boil, cover and simmer gently for 20 minutes. Add the potatoes, stir well and simmer, uncovered, for a further 2 minutes until the spinach has wilted.
Step5
Sprinkle with paprika, if wished, and serve with warmed bread.
Serves 4
Preparation time 20 minutes
Cooking time 35 minutes
Fat per serving 36g
Calories per serving 460

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Hearty gammon cobbler (dish for dinner)

Apples and pork are a winning combination in this rich supper dish that marries the sharp, tart taste of apple with the smoothness of double cream.

Ingredients
1tbsp sunflower oil
25g butter
1 onion, chopped
2 sticks celery, trimmed and sliced
2 eating apple, peeled, cored and thickly sliced
450g lean un-smoked rind-less gammon, trimmed and cubed
1tbsp chopped fresh sage or 1tsp dried sage
300ml chicken stock
150ml dry cider
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2tbsp corn flour
4tbsp double cream

Preparation
Step1
Preheat the oven to 200C/Gas 6. Heat the oil and butter in a large pan. Fry the onion, celery, apple, gammon and sage for 10 minutes, stirring, until lightly browned.
Step2
Add the stock and cider and season well. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes
Step3
Blend the corn flour and cream to make a paste, stir into the gammon mixture and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Spoon into a large, oval gratin dish and set aside
Step4
To make the topping, sieve the flour into a bowl and rub in the butter like breadcrumbs.
Step5
Stir in the herbs, salt, bacon and milk and bind together to form a softish dough. Transfer to a floured surface and knead very lightly until smooth.
Step6
Roll out to a thickness of 1cm and using a 5cm found cutter, stamp out nine or ten scone rounds, re-rolling when necessary. Arrange the scones round the edge of the dish so that they overlap slightly. Glaze the tops with a little milk.
Step7
Put the dish on a baking sheet and cook in the oven for 25 minutes until the scones have risen and are golden
Now our dish is ready to serve
Serves 4
Preparation time 30 minutes
Cooking 25 minutes
Fat per serving 37g
Calories per serving 690

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

How to do pedicure at your home.

A well done pedicure can enhance the appearance of your feet and toenails which are often a neglected part of the body. Pedicure includes trimming, shaping, polishing toenails, as well as feet
You will need the following things to pedicure:
1, A basin
2, Nail polish remover
3, Cuticle oil
4, Pumice
5, Toe separator
6, Nail polish
7, Base
8, Moisturizer
9, Towel
How to use pedicure
Step1:
The first thing you should do is to remove the old nail polish using nail polish remover.
Step2:
Transport a basin of warm water to a cozy chair. Add some oil or bath soak in it .The oil smooth the skin, smooth the nails. Surface and makes the cuticles supple. Soak your feet for about 20 minutes. File your nails using an emery board. File them straight across each nail. Remember always file in one direction. Keep the length 3 mm shy of the tips of your toes for a groomed look. Remember: never cut your nails if they are wet as they will be more prone to tearing.
Step3:
Smooth cuticle oil over your cuticles and leave it to work for a few minutes and then push the cuticles back using an orange stick. Run the stick under your nails to clean them. Use pumice stone on the sole and back of the heel to remove any rough skin.
Step4:
Use a foot scrub to slough away the dead skin cells on the balls and heel of your feet. The scrub will leave your feet feeling smooth and fresh. Make sure your nails are completely dry before applying nail polish. Use the toe separator to create space between toes. Splurge on a good base coat.
Step5:
Apply one sweep of polish down the centre of the nail and then continue on either side. Apply two coats of colored polish. When the nail polish is completely dry, remove the toe separator and apply a dusting of foot powder. Use a cotton bud dipped in remover to clean up around the edges.

For a heel scrub you can mix milk, baking soda and salt.
If you want to nourish your feet, to make them silky and smooth you can cover them with a thick layer of Vaseline and put on a pair of socks before going to bed.
Never go to bed or wear shoes until the polish is completely dry.
Never file your nails too deep.
Shimmer polish enhances a tan, while bright colors and complement an outfit. Use foot cream to soften the skin.