Chakka koottu (Jack Fruit Curry)

Prepare time          10 min
Cook Time              20 min
Serve                      5

Ingredients

Chakka Koottu

Chakka pieces                  2 cups
Grated Coconut                1cup
Red Chili                          2
Turmeric Powder            1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds                    1tsp
Rice                                1tsp
Mustard Seeds               1tsp
Urad Dhal                       2 tsp
Curry Leaves                   few
Salt to taste.
Method
Cut the chakka pieces into small.
Heat a pan with water add the chakka pieces.
Add turmeric and salt, cook till it becomes tender.
Grind the coconut,chili cumin seed and rice into a paste.
Heat a pan with oil, add mustard, 2 tsp coconut, urad dhal and curry leaves.
When mustard  crackles add to the koottu and mix well.

Navaratri Naivedyam Bonda

Ulundu Bonda

Bonda

Ingredients

Urad dhal                            1 cup
Green Chili                         1
Coconut Flakes                 2  tbsp.
Black Pepper corns            1 tsp
Rice Flour                            1 tbsp.
Curry leaves                       few
Salt to Taste
Method

Grind the urad dhal, chili and salt into a fine paste with little water.
Add pepper and coconut and mix well.
Heat a pan with oil.
Take little batter make a ball and drop in the hot oil
Fry them golden brown.
I make this for Navaratri as prasadam.

Chakka Eriseri(Traditional Jack Fruit Curry)

Chakka Eriseri(Traditional Jack Fruit Curry)

Chakka Koottu

Prepare Time                  10min         
Cook time                         10 min
Serve                                5
 Ingredients
Chakka                            1/2 kg
Grated Coco                   1 cup
Red Chilies                      2
Jeera(Cumin Seeds         1/2 tsp

For Seasoning

Grated Coconut.              2tbsp

Mustard Seeds                1tsp
Jeera(Cumin Seeds.)      1/2 tsp
Curry Leaves few
Method

(Raw) jack fruit seed is removed from the thin outer part of chakka.  

Cut these into small pieces. Boil 3cups of water adding chakka pieces and turmeric and salt.

Grind the grated coconut. chili and jeera,  

When the chakka is cooked add the ground paste and stir it well.

Heat a pan with little oil, add grated coconut, mustard seeds jeera and curry leaves. 

When the coconut become red add to the chakka eriseri. This curry is very tasty.

Serve with rice.

I tried with the frozen raw jack fruit and the chakka eriseri came out very well..

Olan

Olan

Olan is a Kerala recipe. It is very simple recipe. This is one of the curries for festival days in Kerala.

• Prepare Time.......................10 min
• Cook time..............................10 min
• Serve.....................................4
• Ingredients

Olan

• White Pumpkin.(Elavan)Chopped into pieces)...........1cup
• Yellow pumpkin.(Mathan)Chopped into pieces).........1cup
• Black Eyed Peas (van Payaru)...................................1/2 cup
• Green Chilies(Slit).....................................................4
• Grated Coconut........................................................1/2cup
• Coconut Oil..............................................................1tbsp
• Curry Leaves............................................................few
• Salt to taste

Method

• Soak the black eyed peas into water for 5 hours.
• Extract coconut milk by grinding the grated coconut. (half cup thick milk and half cup thin milk)
• Boil the vegetables and black eyed peas with thin milk. 
• When the vegetables are cooked add salt and thick coconut milk,coconut oil and curry leaves.
• Mix well. 

Olan

Olan

Olan is a Kerala recipe. It is very simple recipe. This is one of the curries for festival days in Kerala.

Ingredients

Olan

.(Elavan)Chopped into pieces)   1cup
.(Mathan)Chopped into pieces)         1cup
Black Eyed Peas                    1/2 cup
Green Chilies(Slit)                   4
Grated Coconut                       1/2cup
Coconut Oil                              1tbsp

Curry Leaves                              Few

Salt to taste
Method
Soak the black eyed peas into water for 5 hours.
Extract coconut milk by grinding the grated coconut. (half cup thick milk and half cup thin milk)
Boil the vegetables and black eyed peas with thin milk. 
When the vegetables are cooked add salt and thick coconut milk,coconut oil and curry leaves.
Mix well. 

Elevan Pachadi ( White Pumpkin Raita)

Pachadi is an important element of the Sadya and festive occasions (Vishu, Onam, wedding)

 Ingredients

• Chopped White Pumpkin....................1 cup
• Yogurt................................................1 cup
• Mustard seeds....................................1 tsp
• Red Chili............................................1
• Grated Coconut...................................1/2 cup
• Green Chili.............................................2

Method

• Boil little water and add the eleven pieces and salt. Remove the water.
• Grind the  grated coconut with one chili and half tsp mustard seeds.
• Add this with yogurt and cooked eleven pieces.
• Heat a pan with ad mustard seeds and broken chili.
• When it splutters add to the yogurt with cooked eleven pieces.
• 
  

Potato Bajjias

• Prepare Time...10 min
• Cook Time.......10
• Serve.................5

Potato Bhajjias

Ingredients

• Begal Gram flour.(Besan)......................... 1cup
• Rice Flour.................................................1tsp
• Red Chili Powder......................................1tsp
• Asafetida...................................................a pinch
• Salt to Taste

Method

• Mix the flours chili, asafetida, salt with little water make a thick batter
• Slice the potao thin
• Heat a pan with oil, dip the potato slice in the batter and drop in the oil.
• Deep fry them till golden
• Serve with chutney

Pinapple Pachadi

Pinapple Pachadi

Pinappale Pachadi

• Prepare Time.....................5 min
• Cook Time.........................5 min
• Serve...............................3

Ingredients

• Ripe Pineapple Pieces.......................2cups
• Grated Coconut................................1cup
• Red Chili..........................................4
• Turmeric Powder..............................1/4tsp
• Mustard ...........................................1tsp
• Curry Leaves......................................few
• Salt to Taste
  

Method

• Boil pineapple, with turmeric and salt in 1/2cup water.
• Grind coconut with dried 2 chilies to a fine paste.
• Heat a pan with oil with mustard seeds red chilies (broken and curry leaves.
• When it splutters add pineapple pieces and coconut paste.
• The gravy should be thick and cover for 3 minutes in a low flame.
• This is a sweet side dish.
• Usually this dish would be one of the items in Sadya
  

Elai Vadam ( Vathal)

Elai vadam is one of favorite things of my grandchild. So I make this vadam very often,

 Ingredients

Elai Vadam

• Raw rice..........1 cup
• Boiled rice......1/cup
• Salt to taste.

Method

• Soak the rice for an hour and grind it into a smooth paste
• Take the vadam sheets , apply oil and spread one tsp batter.
• Steam them peel and dry them in shade.

Elavan Koottu (White Pumpkin Koottu)

Elavan Koottu

• Prepare Time.........................5min
• Cook Time................................10 min
• Serve........................................5

Ingredients

• Elavan ( white Pumpkin)............1/2 KG
• Grated Coconut.....................1 and half cup
• Chana Dhal...........................1/2 cup
• Cumin Seed..........................1tsp
• Red Chili................................2
• Mustard Seed........................1tsp
• Urad Dhal..............................2tsp
• Curry Leaves.........................few
• Turmeric Powder...................1/2tsp
• Salt to Taste

Method

• Wash, peel the skin and cut the elavan into small pieces.
• Boil water, add the pieces, chana dhal and turmeric powder.
• Grind the coconut, cumin seeds and red chili into a paste.
• When the vegetable is cooked add the coconut paste and salt.
• Mix them well.Kootu should be thick. 
• If there is excess water, remove the water before adding the coconut paste.
• Heat a pan with oil add mustard seeds, urad dhal, 3tsp of coconut and curry leaves.
• When the coconut turns into red , add this to the kootu. 
• It is very tasty and eat with sambar rice, rasam rice, chapathi or poori

Potato Podimas

Potato Podimas



 







Prepare Time..............5 min
Cook Time...................10 min
Serve...........................5

Ingredients

• Potato ..............................1 kg
• Coconut ...........................half cup
• Green Chilies................... 4
• Curry Leaves......... ...........few
• Ginger(Chopped)..... ........1tsp
• Mustard Seeds................ 1 tsp
• Chana Dhal........................2 tsp
• Oil .................................3 tsp
• Salt to Taste

Method

• Boil the potato and remove the skin. Mash them nicely. 
• Grind coconut and chilies coarsely. 
• Heat a pan with of oil. Add mustard and chana dhal. 
• When the dhal becomes red, add the mashed potato, coconut, ginger and salt.
• Mix well and lastly add the curry leaves

Tomato Rice

Tomato rice is the easiest recipe to prepare.I prepare this recipe most of the time.

• Prepared Time.......15 minutes
• Cook Time..............20 min
• Serve ......................5

Ingredients

• Cooked Rice....................4cups
• Turmeric Powder,..............1/2 tsp
• Tomato.............................2
• Green Chili.......................5
• Red Chili Powder............. 1tsp
• Asafoetida..........................1tsp 
• Corinader Leaves...............little
• Sambar Powder................1/2 tsp
• Mustard Seeds...................1tsp
• Chana Dhal........................2tsp

Salt to taste

Tomato Rice

Method

• Heat a pan with oil add mustard seeds and chana dhal.
• When it crackles add chopped tomatoes, green chili,
• Add turmeric, red chili powder  and sambar powder.
• When the tomatoes cooked add the rice, salt and mix.
• Sprinkle coriander leaves.
• serve with vadam/ pappadams.

Black Eyed Peas Patties

Black Eyed Peas Patties

Ingredients

• Cooked Black Eyed Peas ............1cup
• Chopped Onion.......................... 1/4 cup
• Green Chili(Chopped)................. 1.tsp
• Scallion. (Chopped).................... 2tbsp.
• Red chili Powder....................... .1/2tsp
• Coriander Powder .......................1/4 tsp
• Maida ..........................................4tbsp
• Salt to Taste 

Method

• Mix above all ingredients and mash nicely with spoon or fork.
• Mix all together make patties. Add little water to the maida and make a batter.
• Dip the patties on the batter and put them on the hot oiled pan and cook both sides till they become brown.(Use these as burgers for sandwich)

Thiruvathirai Festival

Lord nataraja

Thiruvathirai or Arudra darishanam is a festival dedicated to Lord Shiva9Nataraja)All the shiva temple have special event on this occasion.It comes in the month of Margazhi at thiruvathira star/ poorami
There are rudrabhishekam for Lord Shiva in early morning.Onthis day unmarried women and girls take bath early in the mroning, wear  new clothes  sit near the vilakku. We prepare Kali and thalakam with all vegetables, banana, beetle leaves coconut do the naivedyam and seek lord Shivas blessing.

In Kerala they dance thiruvthira kaikottu kali.

Thiruvathira Kali

Thalakam for Thiruvathira Kali

Koottu Curry (Kerala Recipe)

Koottu Curry

Koottu Curry

Prepare Time...........10 min
Cook Time...............20 min
Serve........................4

This dish is very important in Sadyas in Kerala. The aromatic smell tells about the place where the Sadya dishes are prepared.

Ingredients

• Chenai (Yam) cut in small cubes.................1 cup
• Elavan(cut in small cubes)........................1/2 cup
• Chana Dhal ( split chick peas)...................1/2 cup
• Grated Coconut......................................1 1/2cup
• Turmeric Powder....................................1/4 tsp
• Mustard Seeds......................................1 tsp
• Red Chili Powder.....................................2tap
• Powdered Jaggery..................................3tbsp
• Jeera(Cumin Seeds)................................1tsp
• Urad Dhal..............................................2tsp
• Curry leaves...........................................few
• Salt to taste

Method

• Heat a pan with 2 cups of water.
• Wash the chana dhal, and add to the water wiht turmeric.
• When the chana dha is half cooked , add the vegetables.
• Add chili powder,salt and jaggery
• Grind one cup of  coconut and jeera into fine paste.
• When the vegetables are cooked, add the ground paste and mix.
• Heat a pan with oil, add mustard, urad dhal,half cup  coconut and curry leaves.
• When the coconut becomes golden add to the curry.

Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is on 19th September 2012.

Ganesh Chaturthi

We celebrate Ganesh festival on August/September month. Ganesh's birthday is celebrated all over India .This festival is celebrated for 10 days from Ganesh Chaturthi to Anantchaturdashi

People clean and decorate the houses with mandap and garlands.They bring the Ganesh idol on that day with beating drums and music. They install Lord Ganapthi and do puja. Make prasad like Modak and do arathi for ten days

.

There are many public mandals celebrating this festival. People visit many pandals where different Ganapathis are installed during this festival.

Invite relatives and friends to their houses to participate in the function.Ganesh is worshiped for 3 days/5 days or 10 days .On the 11th day, the Idol is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing, to be immersed in a river or the sea chanting ""Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Puduchya Varshi Laukariya" (O father Ganesha, come fast early next year).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesh_Chaturthi

Naivedyams

• Kozhakattai (Ganesh Chaturthi

• Ellu Kozhakattai and Ulundu KozhakattaiParippu Vada

• Nai Appam ( Sweet Appam) 

• Pasi Parippu Payasam

Mumbai

Taj Mahal On a Rainy Day

Belapur

Peas Kofta Curry

Peas Kofta Curry

Ingredients

• Potatoes..................2
• Besan....................2 tbsp
• Peas........................2 cups
• Green Chilies...........2
• Turmeric Powder.....1/4 tsp
• Garam Masala........1/2 tsp
• Salt to Taste

For Grinding

• Onion...........................2
• Red Chilies...................2
• Coriander Leaves.........2 tsp
• Tomatoes......................2
• Cumin Seeds.................1 tsp

Method

• Boil the potatoes, peel and cut into pieces.
• Grind the peas coarsely add besan chopped chilies salt to make a dough.
• Make small balls and deep fry them.
• Grind onion, tomatoes red chilies and coriander into a paste,
• Heat a pan with oil, add cumin seeds and ground paste.
• Fry till the oil separates.
• Add the garam masala turmeric powder and water.
• When the gravy thickens add the koftas.
• Add little salt since  already added in the koftas.
• Sprinkle coriander leaves,
• Serve hot with rice.

Thakkali Gotsu

Ingredients

Tomatoes                       3
Onion                             1
Green Chilies                 3
Turmeric Powder           .1/4  tsp
Curry leaves                     few
Mustard Seeds                1 tsp
Rice Flour                       1 tsp

Method

Chop the onion  and tomato into small pieces.
Heat a pan with oil add mustard seeds.
When they splutter add the chilies and curry leaves and onions.
After sautéing 2 minutes add the tomato.
Add turmeric powder and salt.
Mix well and add water to cook.
Mix the rice flour in half cup of water and mix.
Add it to the mixture and boil.
When it thickens transfer into serving bowl.
Serve with pulav, idli and dosa.

Vella Cheedai (Gokulashtami)

Vella Cheedai

 We make this only for Janmashtami day.

Vella Cheedai

Freshly Ground Rice Flour            1 cup
Powdered Jaggery                         1 cup
Sesame Seeds                              1 tsp
Cardamom Powder                       a  pinch

Method

Dry roast the rice flour till it becomes aromatic.
Dry roast the sesame-seeds for a minute.
Fry the coconut for a minute.
Heat pan with one cup of water and add the jaggery.
When jaggery fully dissolved in water filter to remove impurities.
Boil the syrup and when it is hot add slowly the rice flour, coconut ,sesame seeds
and cardamom powder.
Make small balls and deep fry them in medium flame.

Uppu Cheedai

Uppu Cheedai

Ingredients
Rice Flour                   1 cup
Urad Dhal Powder       2 tbsp.
Butter                          1 tbsp.
Cumin Seeds              1 tsp
Grated Coconut             2 tsp
Asafetida                   1/4 tsp
Salt to Taste

Method

Take a bowl and mix all ingredients together.
Add water and make thick dough.
Make small balls and keep for 10 minutes to dry.
Heat a pan with oil and deep fry them.

Quotes

If an egg Breaks Due 2 outside Force


"LIFE ENDS" But

If it breaks From Inside "LIFE BEGINS"

Great Things Always begin From Inside

So try to make Your INSIDE GOOD.



If you don't goafter what you want,

you 'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no.

If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place. Unknown source

Watermelon Juice and Watermelon Salsa

Water melon                 1/2
Sugar                           1/4 cup              
Water                          1cup
Mint leaves                  few

Method

Remove the skin and seeds. Cut into cube.
Heat a pan with one cup water and sugar.
Add the mint leaves. When it boils remove and let it cool.
Filter this water. Take a blender add the melon sugar water and crushed ice and blend, pour this juice in glass and serve.

Watermelon Salsa

Watermelon (Sliced                2 cups
Cucumber .(Sliced)                1/2 cup
Tomato.(Sliced)                     1/2 cup
Onion (Minced).                    1/2 cup
Coriander Leaves. Minced     1/4 cup
Lemon Juice                          1 tsp
Jalapeno Pepper Minced           2 tsp
Salt to Taste

Method
Mix all well and keep in fridge.
Serve with chips and it is very healthy dish.

Kothavarakkai Parippu Usali

Kothavarakka Parippu Usali

Kothavarakkai Parippu Usali

Ingredients

• Tur Dhal.....................1 cup
• Red Chilies.................3
• Asafoetida..................1/2 tsp
• Kothavarakkai.............250 gm
• Turmeric Powder........1/4 tsp
• Salt to Taste.

Method

• Soak the dhal for 2 hours.
• Grind with chili asafoetida and salt coarsely.
• Heat a pan with oil add mustard seeds and urad dhal.
• When the mustard crackle add the ground dhal.
• Mix well till the water evaporates.
• Add little oil and dhal should be separated or
• (Keep on microwave for a minute)
• Wash the kothavarakkai (Clustered beans) into small pieces.
• Boil water, cook the beans with turmeric and salt.
• Remove the water and keep.
• Add this kothavarakkai to the dhal and mix.
• It goes with Samar./ Rasam rice.

Ginger Pickle

Ginger Pickle

• Cut Ginger.............................1/2 cup....
• Tamarind................................lemon size
• Red Chilies............................12
• Powdered Jaggery.................1/2 cup
• Urad Dhal.............................2tsp
• Asafoetida.............................1/2 tsp
• Oil.........................................3tbsp
• Salt to taste

Method

• Add water to the tamarind and keep in microwave for 30 seconds.
• Wash and remove the skin of the ginger, cut into pieces.
• Heat a tawa add oil, red chili, urad dhal.
• When the dhal becomes red , remove and cool it.
• Grind the ginger, chili,  jaggery. dhal tamarind and salt into a thick paste
• Heat a tawa with oil add mustard seeds.
• When it crackles add to the mixture.
• It is very tasty and serve with idli, dosa  and rice..

Cookies

Cookies

Ingredients

• Milk.........................................1 cup
• All Purpose Flour.....................1cup
• Oats........................................1cup
• Baking Soda............................1/2 tsp
• Baking Powder....................  .1/4 tsp
• Cinnamon Powder................  .1/2 tsp
• Vanilla Essence.........................1/2 tsp
• Powdered Flax seed.................1 tsp
• Melted Butter ..........................1/2 cup
• Powdered Brown Sugar...........1/2 cup
• Powdered mixed nuts...............1/2 cup

Method

• Soak the oats in milk
• Preheat the oven to 350 degree.
• Mix flour,nuts,baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon powder.
• Beat the butter, sugar, brown sugar and powdered flax seed.
• Add both mixture together and mix well.
• Take one tsp of the dough and just press in the middle.
• Place all the balls in a greased plate,leaving space in between
• Bake it for 12 minutes

Vegetable Fried Rice

Vegetable Fried Rice

Its main ingredients are vegetables and rice.

Ingredients

• Basmati Rice......................2 cups
• Carrot................................1
• Cabbage............................50 gm
• Beans................................50 gm
• Onion................................1
• Capsicum...........................1
• Spring Onion..................... 3
• Green Chilies.....................3
• Pepper Powder..................1 tsp
• Ghee..................................2 tbsp
• Oil......................................1 tbsp
• Soy Sauce..........................1 tbsp
• Cashew...............................6
• Coriander Leaves...............few
• Salt to Taste

Method

• Wash the rice and soak for  10 minutes and drain.
• Fry the rice with ghee for 5 minutes.
• Cook the rice by adding water and salt.The rice should not be over cooked.
• Heat  a pan with oil add all cut vegetables, chilies.
• When the vegetables are tender add vinegar and soy sauce and saute it. 
• Add pepper and salt and cooked rice.
• Garnish with coriander leaves and roasted cashew nuts.