Posts filed under 'Tips & Tricks'
Preventing rice and pasta from sticking to a colander while filtering the starch water
Most often pasta and rice stick to colander while trying to filter the starch water out after cooking rice or pasta. The colander then gets more complicated to clean, especially if pasta or rice is left in it for a while to cool down. It is possible to avoid this frustration using this easy tip. Just rinse the colander with hygienic tap water just before you pour the pasta or rice. This tip with the water layer provides for a non-stick layer and prevents rice or pasta from sticking to the colander. Be generous with rinsing the colander and do NOT towel dry the colander after rinsing.
Make it Fast, Fun, and Facile! – Sri
1 comment July 7, 2009
Wrap 101
Wraps are adaptable for all meal types. They make for a filling meal, a light snack and work well as take along foods for trips and hikes. The only trick involved in making a wrap – is the ‘wrap’ part. So, here is a post dedicated to all MTS who once like us wondered about wrapping a warp 
.
Kind of food: Main course/ Appetizer/Snack
How long: 1o min
Makes: 1 wrap
Pots and Pans: None, just a surface to assemble
Ingredients
1. For the Wrap layer: Tortilla or Lavasah or any thin flat bread (sangak or rotis)*
2. For the spread layer: 2 Tbsp of Hummus/Pesto/Chutney/flavored cream cheese/ Any spread
3. For the protein layer: Sliced deli meats (2) /grilled tofu (1/4 cup) /cooked beans (1/4 cup) – a combination of these will work too
4. For the veggie layer: Bell peppers, Cucumbers (sliced), avacado sliced, left over grilled veggies, blanched asparagus spears – a combination of any of the above veggies cut in thin strips measuring 1/4 cup.
5. For the added nutrition – “Green layer” – 1/4 cup of any salad green.
Optional layer – cheese slices or shredded cheese.
How to make:
1. The bread layer has to be soft and pliable. If bread is not fresh, then warm up the bread layer of your choice (like tortilla) in a microwave for a 5-7 seconds to make it pliable. You could warm up in pan too.
2. Spread the hummus or any spread of your choice evenly on the tortilla.
3. Place the deli meat slices or the cheese slices in the center of the bread in a thin layer. Greens like whole romaine leaves could also be placed in the place of or along with deli meat.
4. Place the veggies, beans and greens on top of the slice on top of the meat /cheese slice as shown in the picture below.
5. If using shredded cheese then sprinkle it now on top of the veggies.
6. Season with red pepper flakes or ground pepper(optional). The spread and cheese will have adequate salt. Also, salt can make the wraps a little soggy, so avoid it especially if the wrap will be consumed later.
7. Fold about 1 inch on two opposite sides of the tortilla 0r other breads and hold it as shown in the picture below.
8. Now roll the tortilla from the unfolded side (the side you held in step 7).
9. Continue to roll the bread until it is completely wrapped and use a toothpick to secure it.
Make it Fast, Fun, and Facile! – Sri
Tips, tricks and alternatives
Look at what is available in the pantry and refergirator and decide on a theme when making wraps. This way left overs get consumed.
Serving Ideas
Serve with any dipping sauce. Look up the MTS post on easy dipping sauces for more ideas. To make a hearty meal out of wraps, serve it with chips, side salad, or fruits.
Look out for the Wrap 201 post coming soon with interesting filling suggestion and exotic spread ideas!
Add comment June 7, 2009
Preventing milk from burning while boiling/warming it
It is very easy to avoid milk from scorching at the bottom of a pot/pan while boiling/warming it. Just rinse the pot in which you will boil milk with tap water (hygienic tap water) and then add milk to the pot immediately and bring it to boil on medium heat. This family secret with the water layer works like a charm (non-stick) always! Be generous with rinsing the pot and do NOT towel dry the pot after rinsing.
Make it Fast, Fun, and Facile! – Sri
Add comment June 6, 2009
When you are lost in the pantry / kitchen
All of us, at some point or the other, have a blank moment and can not come up with a meal idea. MTS has some tips and ideas that might help you find an answer when you go blank.
Planning a meal, especially when running low on groceries can be a bit frustrating at times. But, if you stay focused on your top level goals, cooking a meal should not be very complicated. When you can not find the most important items for a meal in your pantry or fridge, you do not always have to reach for the frozen pre-made meals or canned food. If you just take a few minutes, you can put together something with the most unexpected ingredients. This post offers ideas on how a meal can be put together with a pantry/refrigerator ruing low on stock.
MTS recommends that you try to keep it simple. All you need to make an healthy and wholesome meal are:
1. Carbohydrate item
2. Protein item
3. Vegetables/Fruits
4. Flavor – Seasoning, condiments etc
Some samples provided below should help you think of quick, creative and easy meals.
Sample 1:
1. Carbohydrate- Pasta
2. Protein- Meat / tofu / Cheeses / Canned Beans
3. Vegetables – Canned / frozen
4. Olive oil / Sauce / Herbs / Garlic
A simple pasta can make a wholesome meal. Pick left over pastas that you may have. Look for a protein source – some meat or tofu or even a can of garbanzo bean that has been in the pantry for ever. Try and utilize bits of ingredients left in boxes and use them up. Left overs Tuesdays – Can be left over ingredients and not necessarily left over cooked food.
Sample 2:
1. Carbohydrate – Rice / Potatoes
2. Protein- Soy protein granules, canned Beans
3. Vegetables – assorted
4. Chicken or vegetable broth, condiments, Fresh herbs
Use these ingredients and make a quick soup and add a side of bread or fresh fruit to complete the meal.
The idea here is try to focus on including the 4 parts of a meal. Its about developing the thought process. What do you feel like today – It can start with any of the 4 parts the meals. Or think of a flavor – e.g. Italian herbs – then try and look for other three parts that may compliment your selected flavor. Cooking a meal does not have to start with a recipe – it can start with that what you see in the pantry. Work on coming up with a recipe with what you already have. It is not a requisite to start with the recipe and gather the the items needed for it.
When reading a recipe – Always look for alternatives for each ingredient. Think seasonal – and look for alternatives appropriate for the season. It will even save you a lot money. A lot times, simple substitutions can add a lot of variety for the same recipe. If a recipe calls for for Rice – see if you can replace it something else like Wild rice, or Arborio rice or even couscous. If a recipe calls for garnet Yams – Sweet potatoes may be a great substitution or even regular potatoes. You may end with something more exotic and give a little kick to your taste buds. Creative cooking is mostly acquired and not always a inborn talent.
Being creative in cooking is not that hard! Just a keep your focus on some top level goals and you are on your way to becoming a fabulous cook!
Look for the “Pantry section” on the right side of this page and click on the ingredient names for quick recipe ideas.
Add comment April 23, 2009
From the Chef’s Pantry – Episode 4
This week’s feature on the Temple bay series includes a recipe for Indo-Chinese style gravy along with pointers from MTS bay on what typically goes wrong while attempting to make to Indo-Chinese food at home.
Add comment April 6, 2009
