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Archive for September, 2009

Residential Sidewalk Options

Sidewalks adjacent to the home are the home owner’s responsibility to fix and/or replace. Most cities will offer incentives to the homeowner in tax breaks, rebates or deductions to ensure the work is done properly. The property owner is responsible for removing vegetation outcrops, and other obstructions that may affect safety and pedestrian flow, such as alignment and grading. There are three general methods to maintain your home adjacent sidewalks: sidewalk grinding, concrete fillets and concrete overlays such as rubber sidewalks.

Sidewalk grinding:

This is a proactive and preventative action. Many times due to the weather, ground movement or vegetation, sidewalks lift and create a dangerous tripping environment. Grinders work to eliminate the trip up to an inch and a half in height. The price of grinding is approximately 10% of the cost to replace the affected area. Also, it is a permanent repair rather than filler, and of course lasts longer than the 5-7 year longevity of this ‘band-aid’ approach. Grinding is a better choice than a filler patch, it is aesthetically pleasing and creates easier maintenance for the years ahead.

Concrete repair:

Concrete repair involves using concrete fillets combined with grinding is also more cost effective than replacement. These ‘fillets’ are a far more permanent alternative to asphalt fillers. The fillets are used when a tripping point is higher than an inch and a half, and grinding would compromise the structural integrity of the existing concrete. It can also be used to overlay sinking, spalling or cracks in the sidewalk. Esthetically this concrete fillet technique is best because the color blends with the existing concrete, as opposed to asphalt which is non-permanent and remains black.

Rubber sidewalk:

This technique is relatively new. It is a concrete-like substance made from recycled tires and a great choice for environmental sustainability. The intention of using a rubber sidewalk is to lessen long term maintenance. This option allows for lifting, for periodic root trimming or other maintenance needs and it is a fraction of the cost to replace the existing sidewalk.

Another thing to consider is building grades. This is the official elevation of the sidewalk, curb or street. Official building grades on city property are needed to ensure the entrances for buildings meet the existing city sidewalk, curb and street levels. Each city has their own specifications, so check with the engineering department in your area to find the official grading levels before you start. On private property the building grades are usually based on a private surveying company, and then approved by the city. The grades are used to establish the height of the structure to ensure proper drainage.

There are different criteria for different structures. For example, any development involving a multi-dwelling home, any development involving underground or covered parking and when a building which is 6 meters or less from the street or lane. The grades must be indicated at all corners of the site, along the perimeter of the structure, along both sides of the property line and 3.1 meters on adjacent properties.

Travertine tiles add a decorative feel to the bathroom. Bathroom installations are incomplete without this creative addition. This incredibly beautiful stone has a high maintenance issue. People love and hate this stone simultaneously. However, this issue doesn’t alter their decision to install the durable stone in their shower area.

The maintenance of travertine tile isn’t an issue, if you maintain them regularly. Their longevity is determined by the way you maintain them. Hence, a dedicated effort improves the endurance of travertine. So, how about replacing your old shower tiles with travertine? Just give it a try and I can assure you that you’ll be proud of your tiling decision.

You can remove the old tiles from the shower area very easily. Firstly, scrap off the grout with help of a chisel knife and hammer. Now, remove each tile at a time by hammering the tile with a chisel. Remove all the dirt and grit from the wall. After cleaning the tile, put a good quality mortar on the surface and paste the travertine tiles on it. You can also use a spacer to simplify your task.

After installing the tiles, keep the area untouched for 24 hours. Now, fill the gap between tiles with help of a grout. Prepare a grout mixture and put it on the trowel for easy application. Don’t forget to wipe the excess grout with help of a cloth. Select a portion at time and grout the tiles perfectly. These days, you can also buy colorful grout for the installation of your travertine tiles.

If you can’t install the travertine tiles yourself, then appoint a professional tiler to do the job. You can also seal the tiles so that they retain their shimmer. However, installation doesn’t end the job for you. You should maintain them regularly. Blot all the stains, dirt and spillage as soon as possible. You can also appoint a restoration expert to conduct the activity once in two to three months.

So, don’t think any more and add an extra edge to your bathroom with help of travertine shower tiles.

Functional foods—defined here as food and beverage products that offer a distinct health advantage beyond basic nutrition by including specific ingredients whose therapeutic benefits provide a primary market positioning—continue as a key food industry driver due to greatly ramped up product development and marketing. Although the economic recession may prohibit some consumers from purchasing higher-priced specialty items, functional foods can actually save consumers money in the short term by pumping up basic food items with ingredients shoppers would otherwise have to get in the form of more expensive nutritional supplements. Additionally, whereas in the past consumers were primarily reactive, trying to treat health problems after they arise, today they are more proactive, focusing on overall “wellness” and turning grocery aisles into hunting grounds for healthful, functional foods to prevent illness and chronic conditions.( http://www.bharatbook.com/Market-Research-Reports/Functional-Foods-and-Beverages-in-the-US-4th-Edition.html )

This fully updated fourth-edition report examines the U.S. market for functional foods and beverages from all angles while providing insight into key international markets, identifying global trends in new product introductions by geographic region and company and exploring developing markets poised for growth. For the U.S. market, it presents retail sales breakouts of food and beverage categories with a strong functional tilt, from yogurt to food/snack bars to cranberry juice; examines market drivers and trends; and maps out the overall competitive situation. Trends in new product introductions are examined in depth, based on data from Datamonitor’s Product Launch Analytics, as are trends in functional ingredients and condition-specific product thrusts. The report also profiles major marketers, including Groupe Danone, Kellogg Co., Kraft Foods, Nestlé SA, PepsiCo and Nature’s Path Organic.

An exclusive feature of Functional Foods and Beverages in the U.S., 4th Edition is custom survey data from February 2009 online poll of 2,600 U.S. adults, which was conducted to measure purchasing patterns, attitudes and demographics specific to functional foods and beverages. Drilling down to the marketer and brand level, the analysis also relies on consumer survey data from Experian Simmons’ Fall 2008 National Consumer Study, and on Information Resources, Inc. InfoScan Review data charting product sales in mass-market channels.

Buy Paul Hobbs Wine 1

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One of the rightfully classical Paul Hobbs brews you will come across at Nick’s wine corner is the 2003 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Stagecoach Vineyard Magnums Napa; this is a wine you simply cannot yield to lose out on. In order to have the Cabernet Sauvignon and Paul Hobbs in the most exquisite fashion, you will have to pamper yourself with this grand wine. This Paul Hobbs wine slowly opens itself up, exposing its layers one after the other. This is a massive and vivid wine that has been made with superb tending, so that you can enjoy it, and revel the precious texture that it has to volunteer. The principal composition of the wine is defiantly a mixed bag of superior fruit, which are blended to give utmost vulnerability to the Cabernet Sauvignon tone.

The pair of black cherry and black berry, both do justness to the fruity whim of the wine, and are well complemented with the support of dried current, and the natural flavour of hazelnut. Midway through, the undertones of; spice, fresh-cut flowers and berry is smelled, with a flash of sage as well for good measure. Equilibrium is fundamental here, and it is accomplished in a most right fashion, and the feel is transferred back towards the fruit drawing close the end. This is a first-rate Paul Hobbs wine, and a vivid treat, immaculate for you to purchase if you like Paul Hobbs’s trend of output, and also have a soft spot for Cabernet Sauvignon, you will pick up loads of definitive Paul Hobbs wines at Nick’s wine corner, and preferring will not be a problem since you will pick up all the steering you require in this regard.

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The latest Australian nutritional promotion states “eat two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables” a day to get your recommended daily intake of nutrients. But how strict is this? It’s a great guideline, but variety is the spice of life. If you love fruit and hate veggies, don’t worry if you have five serves of fruit and two serves of veggies, it will pretty much do the job. Both are high in similar vitamins.

A great idea is to eat from the rainbow. This means fruit and veggies with a variety of colours. They get their colours from different nutrients and vitamins, so if you eat a variety of colours this will meet most of your nutritional needs. Purple, orange, green, yellow and red fruits and vegetables are higher in certain nutrients than others. By balancing the different colours, you will receive a well balanced amount of nutrients, whether fruit or vegetables.

For example, eggplant and blueberries are great purple foods and offer antioxidants powers. Oranges or carrots are equally nutritious with different, yet similar vitamins. Any kind of green fruits and vegetables are high in fibre and vitamins, whether it is broccoli, cabbage, kale, kiwis or green grapes. Yellow bananas are high in potassium and corn is high in fibre. Red tomatoes or strawberries and pomegranates are high in antioxidants Vitamins C & E.

You can see how eating fruits or vegetables can provide you with essential vitamins and minerals. The important thing is that you eat plenty of these nutritional foods in place of foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugars, when you are on a personal training diet, especially for weight loss.

Since the body metabolizes carbohydrates into sugar for later use, they are stored as fat. This is the energy that the body uses at a later time. Many fruits and vegetables contain what is known as “good” carbohydrates, which are natural sugars. The body uses these as they are consumed, rather than storing them the way it does the “bad” carbohydrates. These are the ones that are responsible for weight gain, heart problems, insulin highs and lows and other health problems.

Natural sugars offer you healthy energy that is consumed easily by the body, because they are quickly absorbed without being stored. When it comes to healthy weight loss, eating the fruits and vegetables of the rainbow offers you many more benefits than other kinds of foods.

If you eat seven servings of fruit and vegetables per day, it is easy to add lean meats, such as chicken, fish, turkey or lean beef, for protein. Of course, you can also add some whole grains or beans to round out your diet and provide fibre.

If you pick your favourite varieties of fruits and vegetables from the different colour groups of the rainbow, you will have the most complete variety of vitamins and minerals that your body needs. This variety is what makes a healthy and complete personal training diet and it is easy and fun to implement, when you use the rainbow as your inspiration.

Scott Hunt has been a Personal Trainer for over a decade and has personally taken over 20,000 Personal Training sessions. While his Gold Coast Studio, Fitness Enhancement has done hundreds of thousands of sessions.

With the recession being felt in full force now all across the country, people have begun to take a closer look at their consuming habits and making steps to cut back costs in any way possible. One strategy people have started warming up to again is the brown bag lunch. Spending $10-15 every day of the week on buying lunch at work can add up rather quickly and so we’ve put together a guide that will help reacquaint you with that old childhood lunch box – upgraded for the working class man and woman.

So save some cash and eat well by replacing the business lunch with the business lunchbox.

Tricks of the Trade

Anybody can throw together a cold egg-salad sandwich and some celery, but who wants to sit alone at a desk eating a miserable meal while your coworkers hit up the local Chinese restaurant? The trick to bringing a lunch to work is making a variety of tasty options that won’t leave you bored and resentful after your first week of brown-bagging it. Fortunately for you, there are a wealth of options that will not only make lunch a pleasure, but will also leave your coworkers jealous of your healthy and cost-saving meal.

The first step to take is investing in the right containers and utensils. Replace that plastic bag with a Tupperware container and buy a thermos for soups. Also purchase plastic utensils that you can either pack in your lunch or keep in desk drawer at work. In addition to keeping utensils at work, it’s a good idea to keep some of your favorite condiments at your office such as mustard, salt and pepper, ketchup and hot sauce as none of these require refrigeration.

If your office has a refrigerator, bring your own salad dressings, write your name on the bottle and store it in the fridge. Also, most offices have a microwave available but if they don’t, just check your local corner stores or 7-11’s as most will have one free for use.

Once you’ve got your tools ready, you can finally get to work on bringing your lunch to work!

Buying in Bulk

One of the biggest setbacks people face when attempting to make that step towards making your own lunches involve time-constraints. With family, work and leisure time all competing for your attention, not all of us can set aside 20 minutes every morning to make a tasty lunch. That’s why buying and cooking in bulk has become a popular and highly effective strategy for saving time and money.

When making dinners, cook more than needed so that you will have leftovers to use for the next several days. You would be surprised by how many foods can be tweaked to be made lunchbox friendly – everything from roast beef to grilled salmon make for great meals the next day.

Another option is to make large stews or soups with the intention of freezing the leftovers to be microwaved back at work. A good way to do this is by placing the leftover soup into plastic bags and then freezing them in a cup so that they can stack easier. Then, when you’re at work and feel the hunger, you just remove the plastic bag and place it in a bowl and microwave that sucker for a piping hot fresh soup!

Additionally, soups and stews are some of the only foods that actually get better with age as the ingredients settle together for a more flavorful food.

The Sandwich Solution

The first option you have is to put a twist on the classic sandwich. When deciding on what kind of sandwich to make, avoid recipes that could result in soggy bread or spoiled ingredients. Using a more hearty bread such as a baguette or a roll will keep your sandwich from falling apart and also add to the taste. And if your office lacks a refrigerator, avoid using condiments such as mayonaisse or butter as these ingredients can go bad quickly and spoil a perfectly good sandwich – plus, most of these add unnecessary calories and one of the biggest benefits to making your own lunch relates to health.

So what’s the perfect office sandwich? One great recipe is the classic grilled chicken sandwich. Grilled chicken is great as you can make it for dinner one night and use the leftovers the next day to put on some bread resulting in one very tasty sandwich. Additionally, you can add your own variations to the dish including mozzarella, pesto sauce, tomatoes or lettuce to customize the dish to your liking.

Other satisfying sandwiches include tuna fish (light on the mayo), the classic deli, mozzarella and tomato, hummus and grilled portabella mushroom.

However, don’t feel pressured into conforming to the standard bread-based sandwiches. Wraps and pitas are becoming more common alternatives for those looking to add variety to the standard sandwich.

Tupperware Party

This is the part where the right tools come in to play. Certain foods won’t fit easy into a brown bag or thermos and to avoid getting caught in a soup and sandwich rut, get a hold of some Tupperware containers and watch the world of the business lunchbox open in front of your eyes!

Tupperware makes pastas, salads, rice dishes and other foods all fair game. Most leftovers will easily fit into the containers but some foods hold up better the next day then others.

For instance, salads that have already been mixed with dressing will become soggy and unappetizing by the next day. Additionally, certain cheese-heavy dishes like macaroni-and-cheese or pizza won’t fare so well overnight in a refrigerator.

However, pasta with a light olive oil sauce, feta cheese and fresh tomatoes is an excellent example of a pasta that would be delicious the next day heated up or cold. Other dishes that stand up cold include chicken and salmon, as mentioned earlier, and they can be combined with rice or bread to add variety to the meals.

Bring In, Dine Out

A less obvious but very rewarding reason to bring your lunch in to work is the ability to take it with you anywhere. Just because you brought your own lunch doesn’t mean you can’t step out on a nice day and enjoy it outside or drive to a nearby park with friends or coworkers. Even if you do decide to eat at your desk, use the time you saved by staying in the office to take a walk around the neighborhood or run some personal errands. Remember, it’s not just money that you waste eating out but also valuable time waiting for servers and splitting bills.

So take that final step and join the brown-bag revolution!

Do you have any tips or recipes for good brown-bag lunches? If so, leave your suggestions in the comments section below! Thanks for reading!

So, you have decided to grow a garden this year? Well, before you go spending a lot of money unnecessarily, you should take a look at all of the advantages of hydroponic gardening. Hydroponic gardening is garden work at its best. There is virtually little to no dirt involved in hydroponic growing. Hydroponic gardening is the use of water and light to grow vegetables and fruits. Hydroponic growing means less time spent and less money wasted on unnecessary materials. You do not need to spend money on fertilizers and pesticides. Nor do you spend hours weeding and tilling the soil. Hydroponic gardening is very beneficial in that the yields on crops are much higher and the plants will generally produce richer, brighter, and more nutritious fruits.

To start your own hydroponic garden, you need to decide where you will settle your plants. The hydroponic growing of plants generally means that you need a decent amount of space to allow the plants to grow. Most people use a greenhouse. Hydroponic growing of plants is quite simple and virtually anyone can do it. All you need is to do a little research, especially if you are just starting out. Ask questions from people you know who are into hydroponic gardening. Find out what kind of nutrients your plants will need. Hydroponic nutrients are usually more concentrated because of the fact that they need to be added to the plants and their growing environment. It is best if you find a combination solution that will provide all of the nutrients necessary for your plants to grow.

Another advantage to hydroponic gardening is that you can grow your vegetables and fruits all year round. The most ideal situation is indoor hydroponic growing. This way you can control not only the light and water, but also the amount of pests that will affect the yield of the plants. When growing a garden outdoors, you must be prepared to lose some of your crop yield due to pests, the weather, and other factors. However, with hydroponic growing, you can eliminate most of these factors. You can also ensure the amount of hydroponic nutrients that your plants are getting. By using hydroponic nutrients, you can control the strength of the root systems and control the flowering potential of your plants. Different types of hydroponic nutrients can encourage your plants to produce more flowers, which in turn provide more fruit from plants such as the tomato plant. Other types of hydroponic nutrients increase the size and foliage of the plants. Hydroponic nutrients are basically plant food. This is as necessary to the plant growth as water and light.

So now we know that there are at least three things that are essential to hydroponic gardening: light, water, and hydroponic nutrients. Without these three things, your hydroponic garden will undoubtedly fail. Learn about the essentials of hydroponic growing to ensure a wonderful year round garden. You will not regret it when you see the bountiful harvest at the end of the road.

Succulents are perfect plants for drought tolerant gardens or containers and are easy to root and grow.  Learn how easy it is to propagate succulent plants, it’s a great way to expand your plant collection and it’s free!  You can easily use this planting technique with succulent plants from the Crassulaceae family like Jade (C. ovata), Spoon Jade or Gollum Fingers (C. Portulacea, Rosary Plant (C. Rupestris), and Crassula tetragona.  This propagation technique also works on other cactus and succulent plants like Aloe Vera, Echeveria, Aeonium and Baby Jade (Portulacaria afra).

Planting Succulent Cuttings: Start with a cutting about 4 – 6 inches long.  Bury about half the stalk in soil.  Trim off extra leaves.  This will give you deep roots and helps the plant withstand drought better.  Trim off the last few leaves to make a bare stalk if you need to.  The leaves can be planted too; bury about half the leaf, cut side down.  Most succulent plants and shrubs will form roots on the joints in their stalks.  I have great success rooting succulents without rooting hormone, and don’t recommend bothering with it for succulent plants or cacti.

Watering Succulent Plant Cuttings: Water every 2-3 days so the soil is moist (like a squeezed sponge). After a month, cut back to monthly watering.  The plant leaves will probably shrivel a bit as it forms roots.  The succulent plant is living off the stored energy in its leaves.  This is normal.  You may also lose a few leaves, which is also normal.  Do not use this as an excuse to over water!

Save all your broken parts and leaves.  When I am repotting, I always save all my bits and pieces.  Tuck them into the soil and leave a little green sticking out.  Most parts will take root and grow into an extra plant.

How to Grow Succulent Plants: Succulent plants want heat and light.  Outdoors most succulents take full sun to light shade.  Some succulents will change colors in the sun and with the seasons.  If you see brown, scabby spots, plants are getting too much sun.  Aloe plants will turn orange in full sun.

Most succulents and cacti make excellent houseplants.  They are already accustomed to a warm, dry environment, but they do need bright light.  Indoors, most succulent plants can take sun near a window, or bright light.  As a general rule of thumb, if there is enough sunlight for you to read, there is probably enough sun to make your plant happy.  Outdoors, Aloe and Haworthia like bright light, but take less sunlight than most succulents.  One or two hours of direct sun is usually their limit.  They will turn orange if they are getting too much sun.  Moving them to more shade will change them back to green.

A very light frost is usually no problem for succulent plants.  A hard freeze, however, will freeze them solid.  Outdoors, they can survive a frost if they have overhead protection.  In freezing winter areas, bring you plants inside and put them in an area with lots of light.

How to Water Succulent Plants and Cacti: Succulents are native to places like South Africa, South America and the arid Southwest.  Try to keep that in mind when you are picking a spot for your plants.  Succulents and cacti are equipped to store water in their leafs and stalks so that they can survive long periods of drought. Indoors, drench the pot and then allow the soil to dry out between waterings.  Outdoors, water them a few times during the hottest days of summer (if they look shriveled), otherwise, leave them alone.  The fastest way to kill succulents is to over water them.

Soil Requirements for Succulents and Cacti: Succulent plants in a pot:  The preferred soil for succulents is light and fast draining.  Some retailers carry a special cactus potting soil, which is ideal.  However, regular potting soil can also be used.  Just remember that regular potting soil is formulated to retain water, so be sure to let it dry between watering (after your plants are established.)  Do not use the potting soil with added fertilizer as it can be too ‘rich’ for succulents.  If available, add a scoop of sharp sand or fine gravel to assist with drainage.

Succulent Plant Cuttings Outdoors: Generally you can put your succulent plant cutting directly in the soil in the exact spot where you want the plant to grow.  Just break up the soil, (add a little potting soil if you must), and plant your cutting.  If the area is in full sun, your plant cutting will have an easier time rooting and getting established if you give it a little shade for a couple weeks or so.  You can use a shade cloth, a piece of cardboard or anything else that keeps the sun off your cutting for a few hours during the day.

If you are rooting a succulent cutting in a pot but plan on planting it in your garden, I recommend using mainly soil from your own garden in the pot.  You can add a scoop of potting soil if you wish, but the best thing is to get your cutting used to your native soil off the bat.  Your plant will have a better transition from pot to garden soil when you plant it.   Just let the soil dry out between watering and they should be fine. Drop by http://www.theGardenPages.com to see photos of succulents that are easily propagated with cuttings.  Once you see how easy it is to propagate your succulent plants you will have plenty left over to share with friends.

Outdoor flood lights are the best choice of outdoor lighting if you need to thoroughly light medium to large areas of your property. Reasons for needing a lot of light at night varies from property to property. Perhaps you live in a high crime neighborhood and need outdoor flood lights for security. Or maybe you live in a rural area where there are no public owned streetlights and you need a few well-placed flood lights so that you can see outdoors at night. Do you like to take out the garbage at night, or go look for the cat? You might like to light the walkways around your house and garage with outdoor flood lights. All of these are great reasons to invest in an outdoor flood lights. But first check out a few facts about flood lights to help you make a wise purchase.

Light bulbs commonly used in outdoor flood lights are:

- MVL (Mercury Vapor Lamp) used in Streetlights
- Quarts Halogen bulbs used for lighting stadiums, playing fields, and other large venues
- Halogen bulbs available for residential use
- CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs
- LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs
- Incandescent bulbs
- PIRs (Passive Infra-red sensor) can be built into many outdoor lighting fixtures and will automatically turn on your lights when activated my motion. Usually there are settings to allow to decide how long the light remains on each time it is activated.

Halogen bulbs are commonly thought of as the bulb of choice for outdoor flood lights because they cast a very bright light. The largest wattage used in a residential outdoor light fixture is 500 watts. But this is typically way too much light for a normal residential property outdoor lighting requirements.

Outdoors at night, light looks much brighter to our eyes than during the daytime or inside of a house. Our pupils dilate when we are in the dark to let in more light. So our eyes are quite sensitive to bright lights and will become blinded by a light that is too bright. The result of too much light is blindness and dark shadows, creating a bigger security problem than before you started!

If you need to use a halogen bulb, try a 150-watt bulb, and try to find a fixture that can be easily directed downward, as well as one that could be placed well above the eyes of people on the ground. This will cut down on glare, and effectively light your dark corners. Halogen light fixtures are designed to be directed downward, not outward.

CLFs or Compact Fluorescent Lights used for outdoor flood lights are the same type of bulbs that we use inside our homes these days to replace incandescent bulbs. The reason for replacing incandescent with compact fluorescents is that CLFs are much more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs. They last a long time as well, so you can avoid the hassle of frequently changing bulbs in your outdoor flood lights like you needed to with incandescent. Compact Fluorescent Lights range between 10w to 40w.

LEDs, or Light Emitting Diodes can be a good choice as outdoor flood lights because they don’t produce UV light that attracts insects, and they are also very energy efficient. LEDs are often used in solar power outdoor flood lights because they are so energy efficient. Look for outdoor solar flood lights that come with a separate solar panel. That solar cell can be larger and therefore more powerful than the typical inbuilt solar cell, and allows for overhead or eve installation of the solar fixtures. The solar collection cell can then be located a distance away, for example, on the roof where it will get plenty of sunlight. LEDs come in 40w, 70w and 100w.

Before purchasing outdoor flood lights are ask yourself a few questions such as where do I need light outdoors and for what purpose do I need this outdoor light? Remember that too much glaring light improperly directed is worse than no light at all and that light that is too weak defeats the purpose of installing outdoor flood lights. Try to get it right before going to the trouble if installing outdoor lights.

VarietiesLike the country the food of India is also diverse and different in different parts of India.

Its geography and its climate. The essence of good Indian cooking revolves around the appropriate use of aromatic spices. The skill lies in the subtle blending of a variety of spices to enhance rather than overwhelm the basic flavor of a particular dish. These spices are also used as appetisers and digestives.

Besides spices, the other main ingredients of Indian cooking and Indian meals are milk products like ghee (used as a cooking medium) and curd or dahi. Lentils or dals are also common across the country and regional preferences and availability determine the actual use in a particular area. Vegetables naturally differ across regions and with seasons. The style of cooking vegetables is dependent upon the main dish or cereal with which they are served. Whereas the Sarson ka saag (made with mustard leaves) is a perfect complement for the Makke ki Roti (maize bread) eaten in Punjab, the sambhar (lentil) and rice of Tamil Nadu taste best eaten with deep-fried vegetables.

The Hindu vegetarian tradition is widespread in India, although many Hindus eat meat now. The Muslim tradition is most evident in the cooking of meats. Mughlai food, kababs, rich Kormas (curries) and nargisi koftas (meat-balls), the biryani (a layered rice and meat preparation), rogan josh, and preparations from the clay oven or tandoor like tandoori rotis and tandoori chicken are all important contributions made by the Muslim settlers in India.

Although a number of religions exist in India, the two cultures that have influenced Indian cooking and food habits are the Hindu and the Muslim traditions. Each new wave of settlers brought with them their own culinary practices. However, over time they adopted a lot of specialties and cooking methods from the Indian cuisine and blended the two to perfection. The Portuguese, the Persians and the British made important contributions to the Indian culinary scene. Chai meaning tea is very common in North India, but it is catching in South India as well.