Tips to store vegetables in summer

My previous post was on how to store fruits in hot summer season to stop them from rotting. In this article, I will tell you about some ways to store vegetables to prevent them from turning bad.

a) Cucumbers: Keep cucumbers in the warmer part of the refrigerator (preferably on the upper shelf) away from other food items.

b) Onions and Garlic: Store these in a cool, dry and dark place at the room temperature. Keep them away from other food items because of their strong smell.

c) Root vegetables (Carrots, Potatoes etc.): Keep potatoes and sweet potatoes at room temperature in a cool and dark place. For vegetables like carrots, store them in a plastic bag with holes in the drawer in the fridge. Do remember to take off their green tops. 

d) Cauliflower and Broccoli: Keep these in separate refrigerator drawers away from other fruits & vegetables.

e) Corn: Store them within their husks inside the refrigerator.

f) Mushrooms: Keep them unwashed in a paper bag in the fridge.

g) Beans: Store the green beans in a bag or container in the refrigerator. 

Regards,

Pragya Banerjee
MBA (Finance); 7+ years of work experience
email:pragyasonal@gmail.com
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Tips to Store fruits in Summer

Summer is undoubtedly a harrowing time for many households. One of the reasons for this is the rotting of fruits & vegetables in our kitchens due extreme heat and irregular power cuts.

While we cannot prevent either of the two from happening much, but we surely can prevent our raw food items from getting bad by following some basic food storage tips.

In this post, I will tell some tips to store fruits in hot summer conditions:

a) Bananas: The way to store bananas is keeping them out of the refrigerator and away from other food items. They ripen very well in a bowl.

b) Grapes: Store grapes in a refrigerator without washing. Ensure to keep them in a plastic container or bag. 

c) Apples: Many of us are not aware that apples are the producers of ethylene gas. Do store them in a cool and dark place (preferably in a refrigerator) from other items in a plastic bag with holes.

d) Avocados: Store in a paper bag at room temperature. 

e) Watermelons: These can be kept in a dark and dry place, away from other food items but not necessarily in the fridge. But once cut, ensure to store the rest in the refrigerator. 

Stay tuned for my next post on the proper storage of vegetables.

Regards,

Pragya Banerjee
MBA (Finance); 7+ years of work experience
email:pragyasonal@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/pragyasblog 
https://twitter.com/pragyasonal 
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/pragya-banerjee/15/311/aa9

Besan ke Laddoo

For making around 40 laddoos.

Ingredients: 

. 2 Cups Besan (Gram Flour)

. 1 Cup Ghee

. 1 Cup Sugar

. 1/2 teaspoon green cardomom powder

. 10-15 almonds (Badam)

Procedure:

. First, powder the sugar by mixing in a mixer-grinder.

. Next, take a non-stick kadhai/deep pan and pour the ghee.

. Once the ghee gains some warmth and melts, add the cardomom powder and roast for 30 seconds.

. Put the besan in the Kadhai/Pan and roast for 10-15 minutes.

Note: Please note here that the colour of the besan will not change but the kitchen will be filled by a sweet aroma.

. After 10-15 minutes, take out the mixture from the pan and put in a big enough vessel.

. Let the mixture cool a little for around 5 minutes.

. Separately, crush the almonds into small uneven pieces. 

. Now, put in the powdered sugar and crushed almonds.

. Mix everything together properly.

. Now, start making small balls/laddoos with your hand and keep aside.

Note: The ghee acts as the binding agent. So, if you feel that the balls/laddoos are falling apart, heat some ghee separately and put in the final mixture.

. Keep the laddoos aside for them to harden or put in the refrigerator for 20 - 30 minutes. 

Now, relish the final delicious homemade besan laddoos and make your guests happy.

Regards,

Pragya Banerjee
MBA (Finance); 8 years of work experience
email:pragyasonal@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/pragyasblog 
https://twitter.com/pragyasonal 
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/pragya-banerjee/15/311/aa9