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Food articles including view about Indian cuisine are posted in this section

Ganesh Chaturthi” is an occasion or a day on which Lord Ganesh makes his presence on earth for all his devotees. It’s not the birthday of lord Ganesh.The festival for Hindus is observed in the Hindu calender month of ‘bhaadrapada’, starting on the ’shukla chaturthi’[fourth day of waxing moon period).

While held all over india, it’s most elaborate in Maharashtra. The festival lasts for 10 days,ending on anantha chathurdashi.

Rituals:

During the festival,a household worships an idol of Ganesha. The worship happens for one day in South India, but in western states of Maharashtra and Goa, the worship may last from 2 to 10 days. There are also public celebrations of the festival,with local communities vying with each other to put up the biggest idol. This fest is the time for a lot of cultural activities.

The main sweet dish during the period are modaks, also known as kozhakattai in south india. It’s a sort of dumpling made from rice flour with a stuffing of coconut, jaggery and some other condiments. It can be either steam cooked or fried. A Karanji is also similar but has the shape of the 4th day moon. In Karnataka, Karjikai is made, which is similar to the South Indian Kozhakattai, but here it’s crisp on the outside and with a coconut filling on the inside.

Story behind the festival

The story goes that, Lord Ganapati  was created by goddess Parvati, wife of lord Shiva. Parvati created Ganesha out of the sandalwood paste that she used for her bath and breathed life into him. Letting him stand guard at the door she went to have her bath.however, while parvati was taking her bath, lord shiva happened to come there and as ganesha didn’t know him, he didn’t allow him to enter the house.

As a result, lord Shiva got angry and severed the head of the child and entered his house. But after realizing that he had beheaded his own son, lord shiva fixed the head of the elephant in place of Ganesha’s head. In this way, Ganesha acquired the image of an elephant-headed god.

The Poojas and the offerings

Ganesha is invited with special phrase and with material and verbal offerings, the puja begins; it involves milk,curd,ghee,honey and jaggery with which god’s icon’s washed,cleansing with water in between. Ganesha is then given a red garment and sacred thread-saying it’s silver. He’s then smeared with red sandal paste and offered some red or yellow flowers. A lamp is lit, bells chime, and food is offered in six symbolic mouthfuls.

He is also offered special leaves 21 of each and white durva grass.The Ganesha mantra is chanted, followed by a ganesha prayer.at the end of the day’s puja, the idol is taken with all flowers and leaves to be immersed into the water.

So shed all your worries and have a Great Ganesha Chaturthi this weekend! and don’t forget some of the special recipes that go with it.

Chefs.com, a popular food site has announced the “Treasured recipe” contest. The rules are simple: submit a favorite family recipe and send an interesting story along with it. If you are lucky you stand a chance to win $10,000 grand prize in big money. Now whoever paid that big award in prize money.

According to Chefs.com promoters:

We are eager to hear the stories that are associated with these recipes, because together tell the history of our nation.
This recipe contest is unique, because a well-crafted story about the significance of each recipe is as important as the recipe itself in determining winners. When submitting a recipe, be sure to submit a story about the special meaning associated with it.

• Is it the naan bread recipe that’s been passed down through your family for generations? Share your memories.
• Describe what makes your recipe truly authentic.
• How has your family brought different traditions together for a new expression in this special dish?

Cooks can enter online or get information about entering by mail by visiting http://treasuredrecipes.chefs.com. Entry deadline is November 8, 2006.

So grab your pens now and send that recipe now!

Though many of you might have come across the term ‘chocolate fountain’ while browsing the net, you may not have ventured to learn more about it.

Though not popular or even known in India, chocolate fountains are a hit in western parties and weddings. So read this brief write - up by guest author, Joseph Thento know more.

Continue reading →

Related Website: Chocolate fountain for hire . Make you special occasion a special one with a chocolate fountain and pure cascading chocolate.

COCONUT ORDEALS
Using skimmed milk powder made into a paste with water can be used as a substitute for coconut for thickness.

STORING GREENS
If they have some roots, dip those in a small container of water and keep in the refrigerator. Put them in a brown paper bag (before washing), seal and keep refrigerated. Wash, wipe off or drain off excess water and seal in a plastic bag. Wash, wipe off or drain off excess water, wrap in a towel and refrigerate. Even if curry leaes turn dark the flavor stays.

FREEZE PEAS
Peel, blanch, drain and pack in air tight containers and store in the freezer.

STORING PEAS
To store peas for a few days in the refrigerator-Refrigerate them without peeling. Should last 4-5 days.

RETAINING THE COLOR OF PEAS
To retain the color of peas, when you saute the peas, do not cover them. Cover them only once the mixture comes to a boil.

STICKY JACKFRUIT
Oiling hands and knife helps in reducing the stickiness while cutting and washing Jackfruit.

VEGETABLE ENHANCEMENTS

To make the onion brown & crispy fast just add a little bit of salt while cooking!After blanching green vegetables like French beans, spinach, green peas, plunge them in cold water to retain their colour and crunchiness.

ANT-FREE SUGAR

A few cloves in the sugar jar will keep ants at bay.

GARLIC SKIN

Soak the garlic flakes in water for five minutes before peeling - this keeps the garlic skins from sticking to the hands.

LONG LAST THE LEMONS!

Lemons last longer when refrigerated.

PICK LEMONS

The best lemons to pick are the ones that feel heavy and have a smooth, but a tight and coarse skin.

FRESH LEMONS

To get the maximum juice out fresh lemons and oranges, first bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen slab before squeezing them.

RAW ONION SMELL

If you want to take the sharp smell of onions, and wish to use it as an accompaniment for an Indian dish. Sprinkle some salt, red pepper and lemon, and put it in the fridge for a few hours.

What are the benefits of Solar Cooking : Find this out from this latest article added to the Food Articles Section

Excerpt:

Solar ovens are the perfect summer cookout accessory. Available in many sizes and configurations, solar ovens can be purchased through a wide variety of outlets on the Internet, or from catalogs and retail outlets that carry environmentally friendly products.

People everywhere are discovering the joys of solar cooking, whether they’re throwing a neighborhood backyard cookout, preparing everyday meals, rustling up dinner on a camping trip, or taking their solar oven on the road in their RV.

Read the complete article for saving the environment with this healthy cooking way.

29 quick-fire tips that you should not forget when you want to win a cooking contest..

Introduction 

For the performing Arts like dancing, people realize a next door out. Contests involving the need show talent or ability, sets criteria in choosing the most wanted winning throne. One problem in contests is the incidences of fraud caused by contest organizers, some unfairness from the jurors or judges.

There is one contest that is far from the flaws mentioned above. It is the cooking contests. Cooking is a good past time and as a contest it I has the most unbiased results. Does it end there? No of course. There are helpful steps to join in debates and competitions

1. Read and follow directions carefully. Directions are part of the contest. A misunderstanding will cause a big effect if neglected.

2. Creativity is the key. Watch food trends and adapt your recipe accordingly. Try to use your own means to discover ways on how to keep your skill improving.

3. Do not use abbreviations. If asked to write the recipe down, show industry and do not use short cuts.

4. Simplicity and ease of preparation make winning recipes. Do not act hurried or look so pressured.

5. Use accurate measurements according to the cuisine. Measurement will affect the taste of your recipe so be keen about it.

6. Garnish is very important. Always remember–eyes eat first. Catch attention and later the taste.

8. Analyze recipes that have won previous contests. There may be a trend in the taste of judges or organizers.

9. Be sure ingredients used are readily available. For you not to cram and destroy your own show, be very prepared.

10. Keep up with current diet and health trends. Health is wealth.

11. Write preparation directions in complete sentences. Think of the receivers of your work. Consider their understanding. And how you could help.

12. List ingredients in order of use.

13. Study your favorite cookbook.

14. Be creative when naming your dish.

15. Streamline a recipe by combining steps.

16. Adapt a recipe for a different occasion.

17. Create a recipe using ingredients that were once considered unusual but are now readily available in your grocery.

18. Consider a dish’s versatility.

19. Look for ways to enhance flavor.

20. Create a new shape or appearance for an old recipe.

21. Include the size of any dish, pots, pans, or casseroles used.

22. State the cooking temperatures and time needed to cook the dish.

23. Give the number of servings. Be realistic. “Serves four” is different from “four servings.”

24. The recipe should have wide appeal.

25. Type or print your recipe.

26. Double-check the contest rules.

27. Make a copy of your recipe. Always make a copy of your recipe for your files.

28. Use a separate envelope for each recipe entry.

29. Your recipe must be original. Originality is a very big edge over others. It will show how creative one really is.

Cook. Express. Win.

What exactly is chinese food? Eriani Doyel of Foodax.com offers some basic introductions.

Do you love Chinese food? If you do, you are not alone-it is one of the most popular ethnic cuisine choices out there. But, while fortune cookies are delicious and fun, they are not real Chinese food. What is traditional Chinese cuisine? It is as varied as the country is big.

Every region has its own specialty dishes that make it unique and different from the others. However, there are some basic “rules” for what makes Chinese food traditional.

Starch is the main dish in a traditional Chinese food meal-unlike in the United States and many other Western countries where meat is the main dish. Although many Chinese in southern China eat rice as part of their daily diet, in the northern parts of the country this is not the case.

It is not uncommon for Chinese food to have wheat flour noodles or a steamed bun as the main component of the meal. Side dishes can be meat (beef, pork, or chicken), fish, cooked vegetables or soup. Sometimes soup or rice is reserved to the end of the meal as kind of filler.

When you sit down to a meal of traditional Chinese food, you would be given chopsticks and an individual bowl of noodles or rice. The rest of the food dishes would be placed in the center of the table and shared. You would not serve yourself a portion and put it on your own plate-you just eat right off the plate with your chopsticks.

This is one reason that many times, the food is served in small pieces-so it is easy to pick up off of the plate with the chopsticks.

Tea is offered with the meal as well-cold drinks are not traditional.Dessert is usually a very simple affair-it could be plain fresh fruit, or fruit with a sugared glaze. Sometimes they also serve a simple rice pudding-but none of the traditional desserts are rich or extravagant like the ones we find in some other types of cuisine.

Dishes from the Sichuan (Szechwan) region are usually spicy and Mandarin are more common. Take a culinary trip to China.

If you have more to talk about Chinese food or anything in general why not use this form to talk back: