Six Simple Ways to Clean an Old Sofa and Give It a Fresh Look for the Holiday

Besan is one of the most essential ingredients in Indian cuisine, as it is used to prepare dishes such as pakora, curry, chila, laddu, and many other delicious snacks. Furthermore, various sweets are made from besan during festivals, so it is often present in most homes. However, some people worry about the purity of besan purchased from stores. In such cases, you can prepare besan yourself from chickpea flour, which does not require many ingredients. This article presents two simple methods for making besan at home that will allow you to easily obtain a fresh product.

How to make besan at home:

To make besan at home, you will need 500–600 grams of chickpea flour. There are two approaches to preparation.

First method: preparation without roasting

To prepare besan without prior roasting, you must first thoroughly clean the chickpea flour. Then, this flour should be dried in bright sunlight for one to two days to completely remove moisture. When the flour is completely dry and hard, gradually add it to a dry blender jar and grind it into a fine powder. The resulting besan should be sifted through a fine sieve. If large particles remain in the sieve, they can be ground and sifted again. Thus, the besan will be ready for use at home.

Second method: preparation by roasting in a pan

If you prefer lightly roasted besan, first clean the chickpea flour and dry it in the sun for one day. After that, heat a pan and add the flour, roasting it over low heat for 3–4 minutes. It is important to monitor so that the color of the flour does not become too dark and does not burn. Then, let the flour cool completely. After cooling, grind it in the blender in small batches. The finished besan needs to be sifted through a sieve, and any remaining large particles can be ground again. This way, your besan will be ready for use.

To ensure that besan remains in good condition for a long time, proper storage is crucial. After cooling completely, the besan should be placed in a clean, dry, airtight container. A glass jar can be used. When taking out besan each time, use a dry spoon and close the container lid tightly. Store the besan away from moisture and heat to prevent clumping and premature spoilage. If the besan has an unpleasant odor or insects appear in it, its use should be stopped.

Homemade besan can be used to create many recipes. From it, you can make besan laddus, besan barfi, curry, chila, and pakora. Additionally, you can prepare onion pakora, bread pakora, cheese pakora, as well as various vegetable dishes based on besan. If you like crunchy snacks, you can make a dish like besan chakli.

Important note: For preparing besan from chickpea flour, it is critically important that the flour is completely dry. If moisture remains in the flour, it will be difficult to grind, and this will negatively affect the quality of the besan. Therefore, be sure to dry the flour thoroughly and always store the besan in clean, dry containers.

Those planning to travel between Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo during the year-end holidays will have a new option for nighttime transportation. The Vitória a Minas Holiday Train will resume operating overnight in December, with scheduled departures from Belo Horizonte at 7 PM and from Cariacica, located in the Metropolitan Region of Vitória, at 6 PM.

Tickets are already available for purchase on the official portal. The one-way fare for the complete route, connecting the Minas Gerais capital to Pedro Nolasco Station in Cariacica, is R$ 87 in economy class and R$ 125 in executive class. Date releases occur progressively, with a maximum advance notice of 45 days.

The total journey covers 664 kilometers, passing through various locations in both Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo. Traveling from Belo Horizonte to Cariacica, the train will stop in Ipatinga at 11:55 PM and in Governador Valadares at 1:53 AM, arriving in Espírito Santo during the morning. On the return trip, the locomotive crosses Colatina at 8:28 PM, concluding the journey in Belo Horizonte at 7:50 AM.

Before the start of the December operations, the ticket sales platform of the Vitória a Minas Railway will undergo modernization. During the period from November 10th, from 10 PM until November 11th at 6 AM, sales will be suspended across all channels, including the internet. This new system aims to improve usability, strengthen data protection, and centralize all operations.

With the implementation of the change, all passengers must complete a new registration. It is advised to keep the same email address used previously, which simplifies linking already purchased and unused tickets. If the passenger does not remember the registered email, they can check it at any authorized ticket office or point of sale. Additionally, support for Vale, which operates the route, can be contacted at 0800 285 7000 until 9:59 PM on November 10th.

Travel conditions, benefits, and exemptions remain unchanged. The sales schedule will also not be altered, maintaining ticket availability up to 45 days in advance.

Even outside this special December service, the railway operates regular daily trips between Belo Horizonte and Cariacica. These trains depart at 7 AM in both directions and arrive at their destination around 8:30 PM, completing a journey of approximately 13 hours.

During the journey, passengers enjoy the scenery passing through inland cities and sections of the Doce River valley. Inside the train, carts circulate offering snacks and drinks, and there is a dining car with capacity for 32 people, serving breakfast and light meals. The interior of the train is equipped with air conditioning, video monitors, an entertainment system, and refrigerated water dispensers. Additionally, there is an adapted car to serve people with disabilities.

These simple coconut truffles are made without an oven and combine condensed milk, white chocolate, and shredded coconut to create a small, creamy delicacy.

Ingredients

The following components are required for preparation: 2 tablespoons of butter, 2 cups of shredded coconut, ½ cup of condensed milk, 1 cup of white chocolate chips, ¼ cup of Klim milk powder, ¼ teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. An additional cup of shredded coconut is needed for coating.

Instructions

First, melt the butter in a non-stick skillet over low heat. Then, add the condensed milk, Klim powder, and salt. Continue stirring over low heat until the chocolate melts and the mixture becomes thick and smooth.

Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract until fully combined. Gradually add the shredded coconut, mixing thoroughly until a thick consistency is achieved that is easy to shape.

Allow the mixture to cool to a temperature where it is comfortable to handle. For a firmer structure, it is recommended to chill in the refrigerator for 20–30 minutes. Then, scoop out small portions and roll them between your palms, forming smooth balls of uniform size. Roll each ball generously in shredded coconut, ensuring it is completely covered.

Place the finished coconut balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate for 30–60 minutes or until firm. As a variation, you can add a small piece of chocolate to the center of each portion before shaping the ball and coating it with shredded coconut.