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If your oven glove is not protection enough and you hand still feels the heat, or if it is too large to fit you comfortably, line it with a few layers of newpaper.
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Dosa Mix For Lustrous Hair
When grinding udad dal for dosas, keep aside 2 tsp. for applying to hair. Keep on for 15 minutes, wash with shampoo as normally. Gives body and lustre to hair.
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You will get better results with mint pulao if you saute mint leaves in a teaspoon of butter oil before cooking with rice.
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Simply add water to curds (ratio of curds: water is 1:3 for thick and 1:4 for thin buttermilk. There is no need to buy it from stores, which is not economical at all) Crush any leftover, broken puris, toss into a salad of chopped onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, Add seasoning of salt, crushed red chilli, crushed cumin, coriander, sugar and a dash of vinegar. Chill salad first, toss in thepuri just before serving.
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Fix candle in a container. Fill half the container with water before lighting the candle. This way, the candle lasts longer and the overflowed wax is easier to remove from the water. The container becomes easy to clean too.
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While cooking onions or garlic, place an open bowl of vinegar by the stove. The smell will not pervade the house or kitchen.
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Knives
Wipe the blades of greasy knives with a peeled lemon . Wash under running water. The greasiness will disappear.
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Keeping a small lump of edible gum in the mouth, will bring relief to mouth boils and blisters.
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Stale bread should not be discarded, instead toast the bread and powder it in a mixer. Store these breadcrumbs in an airtight container. It can be used for coating food items that are deep-fried to give a crisp outer covering.
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Chicken becomes especially tender if you marinate it for and hour in curd (raw yoghurt) mized in with some of whtever spices your recipe calls for and salt. Half teaspoon of sugar is also an excellent tenderiser.
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Try a hot water bath, followed by a cup of warm milk half an hour before going to bed. This will help induce sleep for those having problems going to bed easily.
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Sprinkle a mixture of powdered cardomom and rock sugar (misri) over the tongue, gums and inner cheeks to get relief from mouth sores and ulcers. Repeat 3-4 times a day.
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Microwave fresh mint till dry and crisp. Crush coarsely, mix some salt and chilli powder and chaat masala. Sprinkle over freshly fried papads for that extra tang.
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Teeth Whitening
Dry lemon and orange peels till brittle. Powder them and sieve with a fine mesh. Rub teeth with powder and wash. This mixture acts as an excellent whitener for teeth, with continued use.
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Make tomato puree in bulk. Transfer to ice cube trays and freeze. Put the frozen cubes in a thick polythene bag. Store in the freezer and use reddy puree cubes as required. Will keep for over 3 weeks in the freezer.
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Save the stems of colocasia leaves. Peel outer skin and chop fine. Add as garnish to a salad or stirfry and add to clear soup.
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Soak petals of lots of roses in water overnight. Add water after passing through a colander, to the bath water. Makes and excellent luxury bath and puts all those bouquets you are stuck with after a function, to good use!! Add a handful of tulsi leaves too if you wish.
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Mix in 15-20 cloves to a kilogram of dal, while storing. This will keep the dal from getting attacked by insects. The same cloves can be reused.
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To clean a blocked metal tea strainer, heat gently or place in a hot oven. When fully heated, the tea particles between the mesh will burn out. Scrub out particles now, with a stiff toothbrush or a metal bristle brush, and they will fall out easily. Wash with warm soap water and metal scrubber to finish off.
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To serve piping hot fresh biryani, pulaos, or rices, you can prepare completely, upto the stage when cooker is closed and whistles have to be counted after putting on heat. This stage can be done just a half hour before sitting to a meal, so that the cooker is done, as well as cooled enough to open and serve, in time.
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