Simple brownie

How nice it is to get in touch with ur childhood buddy..yes i got in touch with my childhood friend 2 days bac.I was so busy talking to her & had no time to make any postings.I feel so happie to talk to her.Jus waiting to meet her.

In this happie occasion i present my brownie recipe.Simple, easy & tasty one.
Here i go...
Ingredients
Cake mix 1 pack(i used chocolate cake mix)
oil5 tsp
milk 1/2cup(substitute for egg)
almonds,raisins 2-3 tspIn a vessel add the cake mix oil & milk & bet nicely to make a smooth paste.Add the almonds & raisins & mix well.Pre heat oven to 360degrees.Grease a baking tray with oil & pour the mix.Bake for 40 mins & check if its fully done.To check use a knife & insert it in the cake.If it comes out clean brownie is done.Adjust time accordingly.Allow it to cool & cut it into ur desired shape.

Parangikai(pumpkin) sweet kuttu

The word pumpkin originates from the word pepon, which is Greek for “large melon". The French adapted this word to pompon, which the British changed to pumpion and later American colonists changed that to the word we use today, “pumpkin". The origin of pumpkins is not known, although pumpkins are thought to have originated in North America. The oldest evidence, pumpkin-related seeds dating between 7000 and 5500 B.C., were found in Mexico. Pumpkins are a squash-like fruit that range in size (less than 1 pound (0.45 kilograms) to over 1,000 pounds (453.59 kilograms), shape, color, and appearance (smooth or ribbed). In Tamil it is known as "parankikkaai" (பரங்கிக்காய்)or "sarkkarai poosani" (சர்க்கரைப் பூசணி).

Pumpkin itself is sweet in nature.When combined with jaggery it tastes awesome.

Now to my recipe.
Pumpkin 1 cup (cut)
jagery 4-5 tsp(depends upon the taste of pumpkin)
In a kadai add pumpkin & add little water.cover & cook.When done add required jaggery & mix well.

Isnt it simple.Very tasty.

Kotsu

Kotsu & venpongal are a classic combination.I love venpongal.When teamed with brinjal gotsu no one jus stop eating.I got this kotsu recipe from Married to a desi by kanchana.I Should say this is the blog that introduced me to the world of blogging.

Here is the recipe....
Ingredients
Brinjal 1 cup(cut)
Onion 1
garlic 2 pods
ginger small piece
chilli powder 1 tsp
pinch of hing
oil 2 tsp
mustard seeds 1/4tsp
curry leaves few
tamarind juice 2-3 tsp

In a kadai add oil & splutter mustard seeds.When it pops add onions & chopped garlic pods & saute.Now add the chopped brinjal & ginger piece.Now add chili powder hing & salt.Mix well & add the tamarind juice.Add more water if u want.Allow it to cook.Garnish with curry leaves

Moore kozhambu

Moore kozhambu is a favorite south Indian recipe.It can be prepared in minutes.It is one stop gap kozhambu i used to prepare whenever i run short of time.This is again my hubbies favorite.

Ingredients
Thick buttermilk 1 cup
Turmeric powder 1/4tsp(optional)
salt to taste
Vegetable 1/4cup(brinjal,okra,pushanikai)
mustard seeds 1/4tsp

To grind
coconut 2-3 tsp
jeera 1/4tsp
green chilli 2-3
Grind all the items given for grinding to a fine paste.Add this paste to the butter milk.Add required salt.In a kadai add oil.Splutter mustard seeds.Now add the cut vegetables & saute till it cooks fine.Set aside.Now cook the buttermilk till it starts boiling.Take off stove when it starts to boil.Now add the vegetable to this.Moore kozhambu is ready.When u mix all items with buttermilk if u feel its not thick enough add a tsp of rice flour to it before boiling.

Never reheat moore kozhambu.Heat it jus before serving with hot rice.

Okra kai

Okra reminds me of my grandma who prepares it so tasty.Its almost 15 years but i still remember the taste.Okra has always been my favorite.I used to be very chose when it comes to eating vegetables.But my hubby has every thing vegetarian.So now i eat almost everything thatz vegetarian.

Many dont like okra becoz it gets sticky.I learnt how to make it with out becoming sticky from my chitti.

Here goes my okra recipe
Ingredients
Okra cup 1 cup
onion 1
chilli powder 1tsp
turmeric powder 1/4tsp
salt to taste
oil 2-3 tsp
mustard seeds 1/4tsp

Wash & cut okra to small pieces as u cannot wash it when u cut it.In a kadai add oil & splutter mustard seeds.When they pop add onions & saute.Now add okra.Add chilli powder,turmeric powder & salt.Mix well.Cover & cook in slow flame.Remove the lid & check if okra is cooked.

When preparing okra never add even a tsp of water.It is not necessary.Also if u want to retain the color of any green vegetables u cook donot cover it again once u open to check if the veggie is cooked.This way u can retain the color.So when u decide to open the lid make u own judgement when to open it & check.

Strawberry preserve

Hurrah 3 Oscars for India.A.R.R bagged 2 & Resul pookutty bagged one.Lovely news to start the day.Although i missed the live show saw the news over & over again to watch the oscars.Many congrats to the SDM team for winning the best movie award.It was nice to c the kids acted in that movie in LA.They have a future now.If u all have not seen the movie watch it.Simply superb.Truth is bitter but still watch it.As rightly said by Mr.pookutty they are bringing history bac to India.

Also happie to the little Pinky from UP walk through the red carpet.Her movie won the best documentary award.Hats off to all these people.

With this wonderful news I post my most favorite Strawberry preserve dish.As u all can know from my blog how much i love these berries.We bought lots of strawberries from costco.I Couldn't finish them.So decided to make preserves.We always buy strawberry preserves not jam.So i thought why not try making it myself.We love the strawberry chunks we get in between.

Here i go my strawberry preserve
A big bowl of strawberries
5-6 tsp sugar(it depends upon the taste of strawberries)
lime juice 1/2tsp
Remove the top part of strawberry where it will be a little white & hard.In a wide mouthed vessel put all berries & cook in slow flame.These berries contain water so don't have to add water.When they become soft & cooked completely add sugar.Add little by little tasting it in between.Beware it will be hot!!!!When the sugar dissolves completely & u reach the desired consistency add lime juice & take off stove immediately.Allow it to cool.It will set nicely like jam.Strawberry chunks in between was soo gud.

Njoy it with bread.Or can have it jus like that they are so yummy

Hi vidhas I pass on this award to u..thanx a lot for ur support & timely help...will never forget it..

vidhas passed on this award to me....
thanx a lot vidya

Spaghetti in tomato sauce

This is the first time i tried spaghetti with tomato sauce.I got a tomato sauce from walmart.It didn't have salt or anything in it.It tasted jus like a tomato puree.So i tried to use it in spaghetti.This is how i made it

Ingredients
Spaghetti 1 box
Hot water 1 ltr
tomato sauce 1 small tin
chilli powder 1 tsp
salt to taste
oil 2 tsp
onion 1
carrot cut into thin slices 1/4cup
peas 1/4cup
coriander leaves few
In a wide mouth vessel boil water.When water starts to boil add little salt & spaghetti to it.Add a tsp oil to this to avoid spaghetti from becoming sticky. Allow spaghetti to cook to required tenderness.Drain water & run cold water on cooked spaghetti & set aside.In a kadai add oil & then onions to it.Saute for a while.


Now add carrots & peas to it.Add Tomato sauce to it.Now add chilli powder & salt to it.Allow the sauce to cook for a while.When it starts add the cooked spaghetti & mix well.Garnish with coriander leaves.

This was more like how we prepare tomato sevai in India.So i called it Indian spaghetti.sounded gud to me how abt u?

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Tomato rice

When we have to prepare some thing for lunch box one thing that comes to mind are the mixed rice.In specific tomato rice.Tomato will be available almost always in every bodies house.So here goes one more rice variety with less masala.

Ingredients
Tomatoes 4
onion 1
green chilli 1
coriander & curry leaves few
oil 2 tsp
Mustard seeds1/4tsp
Jeera 1/4tsp
tumeric powder 1/4tsp
chillipowder 1-2 tsp
salt to taste
Cooked rice 1 cup
Green peas 2-3 tsp

In a kadai add oil.Splutter mustard seeds & jeera.Add onion & saute.Now add the tomatoes & saute.Add little water.Then add peas,turmeric powder,chilli powder & salt.let the tomatoes cook fully.Now add curry & coriander leaves.Add the cooked rice & mix well.Adjust salt accordingly.

Paruppu rasam

Rasam has become one of my favorite.Only when i started blogging i realized i know a lot of rasam varieties.This rasam takes maximum 10 mins to prepare & easy to prepare.

Here we go
All u need are
Tamarind 1 small lemon size
toordhal1/2cup(cooked)
tomato 1
turmeric powder 1/4tsp
pinch of hing
salt to taste
mustard seeds 1/4 tsp
oil 1 tsp
Rasam powder2 tsp
Coriander leaves to garnish

Squeeze tamarind & extract juice.Dilute this by adding more water.Pressure cook toor dhal & mash.To the tamarind extract add turmeric powder,salt & hing.Let it boil till raw smell of the tamarind juice goes.Now mash the toor dhal & add some water to dilute it & add to the tamarind juice.Cut tomato & add to this.Now add the rasam powder.When it starts to boil take off stove.Garnish with coriander leaves.

Apple custard

"An apple a day keeps the doctor's away" is a saying.So i try to include at least one apple a day in our diet.When we had invited our friends for lunch last weekend i wanted to prepare something simple,tasty at the same time healthy dessert.So i decided to prepare custard which will save a lot of time for me.

Here is what u need to prepare this dessert
Apples 2
Milk 1 litre
Sugar 1/2 cup(approximately)
Custard powder 3-4 tsp
Cashew nuts & raisins few(optional)From one litre of milk take half cup of milk & boil the rest.Mix the custard powder in this half cup milk & set aside.When the milk has started to boil simmer the stove & add the milk in which u dissolve custard powder.Stir constantly after adding this custard paste to avoid milk from sticking to the vessel.In a min or 2 this custard will start thickening.Remove from stove.Now peel of the skin of the apples & cut into small pieces & add to the custard.Garnish with cashew nuts & raisins.Allow the custard to cool & refrigerate.Serve chilled.

Full preparation time is less than 10 mins(excluding the time to chill it).U can even make this custard with mangoes,pineapples,grapes &bananas.This custard powder is available in different flavors.I used vanilla flavor.

Iam sending this recipe to Varsha's Recipes for the rest of us event & one page cookbooks by Ramki.This is the first time iam sending an entry to an event.

Poha uppma

Poha is very gud for health.It has no fat & can be had even by those on diet too.Poha uppma is one thing that can be prepared very easily for breakfast when we run short of time almost always.

All u need to prepare this uppma are
Poha 1cup
vegetables(cut) 1cup-i use carrots,beans,peas,corn kernels,capsicum
tomato 1
onion 1
green chilli 1
jeera 1/2tsp
mustard 1/2tsp
turmeric powder 1/4tsp
chilli powder 1-2tsp
salt to taste
pinch of hing
oil for tampering
cilantro & coriander leaves to garnish


In a vessel soak poha in water mixing chilli powder,turmeric powder,salt & hing.Allow it to absorb water completely so that poha becomes soft.Water should only to poha level.Jus to soak poha fully.Poha takes 10-15mins to become soft.In a kadai add oil & temper mustard seeds & jeera.Then add green chilli & all the vegetables.Add little water to the vegetables for them to cook.Add little salt to the vegetables.When water drains & vegetables cook add the soaked poha & mix .Do not mix too much becoz poha will break & stick to each other.Take of stove.When uppma has cooled slightly mix them.

If u still find water when poha is soft & ready to use sqeeze out water from poha.If u add the poha with that extra water uppma will become sticky.

Puliyodharai

Pulikachal is one which can be prepared & stored in fridge for few days.When we mix this to rice it is called puliyodhari.The one served in temples tastes so gud.It is quite easy to prepare it. Lets c how to do it.Ingredients

Tamarind 1lemon size
turmeric powder 1/4tsp
salt to taste
pinch of hing
ground nuts a handful

To temper
Mustard seeds 1/2tsp
curry leaves few
red chillies 3


To roast & grind
Channa dhal 2 tsp
dhaniya 2 tsp
red chillies 7-8
fenugreek seeds 3-4
gingely oil 1/2cup

Squeeze tamarind & extract thick juice & set aside.In a kadai add2-3 tsp oil & roast all the items given under roast & grind.Allow them to cool & grind to fine powder.set aside.Add remaining oil in the kadai & temper mustard seeds,red chillies & curry leaves.Now add ground nuts.Pour the tamarind juice.Add turmeric powder,hing & salt to tamarind juice & mix well.
Let it boil till the raw smell of tamarind goes & thickens.Now add the ground powder & mix well.Let cook till the consistency is achieved.To make puliyodharai mix this pulikaichal to cooked rice.Add little gingely oil to this rice to taste best.This pulikachal can also be used as side dish for adai,pesaratu,dosai& idly.

Idly batter bonda

I had jus half cup idly batter left.That is not enough to prepare idly.I was getting bored to do dosai.So i decided to prepare bonda as tiffing that evening.


I add handful of rice flour to the idly batter.To this i added little salt,pepper powder & curry leaves.Batter should be a bit thick so that u can take it in hands & make small pieces & drop it in oil.Heat oil in a kadai.When oil is hot enough drop small pieces of this batter like v do for pakodas.Deep fry them & serve hot with ketchup or coconut chutney.U can add onion & add chili powder instead of pepper powder.It was an instant bonda i prepared the other day when i had nothing much to prepare any tiffin item.It tasted like mysore bonda.

Jeera rasam

Jeera is a gud for digestion.There are various ways to prepare this rasam. But one easy way to prepare jeera rasam is this

Ingredients
Tamarind 1 small lemon size
Turmeric powder 1/4tsp
A pinch of hing
salt to taste
Tomato 1

To grind
toor dhal 2 tsp
red chilli 2-3
pepper 1/4tsp
jeera 1/4 tspSoak tamarind in water & extract juice.Dilute it by adding more water.To this juice add turmeric powder,hing & salt.Cook till raw smell of the tamarind juice goes.Grind all the items given under to grind to a fine paste adding little water.Add to the tamarind juice.Add tomato & coriander leaves.When it starts boiling take off stove.In a kadai add oil & splutter mustard seeds & jeera & add to rasam.

Mysore rasam

There are couple of ways mysore rasam is prepared.This is one of the ways it is prepared.It tastes jus like the rasam served in weddings.It takes less time to cook.

All u need are
A hand full of toor dhal
1 tsp jeera
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp dhaniya
2-3 red chillies
tamarind juice 3-4 tsp
tomato 1
turmeric powder 1/4tsp
salt to taste
apinch of hing
coriander leaves few

To season
oil 1 tsp
mustard seeds & jeera 1/4tsp
red chilli 1

Pressure cook toor dhal,pepper,jeera,dhaniya & red chillies to only one whistle.U dont have to pressure cook dhal fully.Allow this mixture to cool & grind it to fine paste.To this add tamarind juice,salt,hing & tomatoes & dilute it.Cook in slow flame.When the raw smell of the tamarind goes take of stove which will only take few mins.Garnish with coriander leaves.Splutter mustard seeds,jeera & red chillies in oil & add to rasam.This is one of my favorite rasam.

U can even add garlic pods when u pressure cook dhal.

Garlic rasam

Rasam prepared in iya sombu(alloy made up of tin) tastes great.But we should be very careful when preparing rasam in it coz if we cook it high flame it melts.So we got to cook in slow flame.Never want to take a chance cook in ordinary vessel & transfer it to iya sombu.That way too we get the same taste.

Garlic has so many medicinal values.When take raw in the morning it acts as a blood purifier.I love this garlic rasam.Again my mom prepares it differently.I never got the same taste so i adopted the method my mother in law prepares.It is a super hit again. Here u go.

Ingredients
Tamarind 1 small lemon size
Turmeric powder 1/4tsp
A pinch of hing
salt to taste
Tomato 1

To grind
toor dhal 2 tsp
red chilli 2-3
garlic pods 5
pepper 1/4tsp
jeera 1/4 tsp

To season
oil 1 tsp
mustard seeds 1/4 tsp
jeera 1/4 tsp
coriander leaves to garnish

Soak toor dhal in little water when u start preparing rasam.This will help in grinding dhal to a fine paste.Soak tamarind in water & extract juice.Dilute it by adding more water.To this juice add turmeric powder,hing & salt.Cook till raw smell of the tamarind juice goes.Grind all the items given under to grind to a fine paste adding little water.Add to the tamarind juice.Add tomato & coriander leaves.When it starts boiling take off stove.In a kadai add oil & splutter mustard seeds & jeera & add to rasam.

For variation u can even use ghee to season & add red & green chilies to season to give extra flavor to rasam.U can also pressure cook toor dhal & add it to rasam which tastes extremely gud.

Beans kai

Beans is used in many forms.This beans kai is the simplest side dish that can be prepared with coconut.But cutting beans takes a long time.So i always prefer preparing beans along with other vegetables.But the other day i had lots of beans at home.So no choice i made sabji jus with beans.Its tasty & easy to make when some one cuts it for us.Any ways here is the recipe

Ingredients
Beans 1 cup(cut)
coconut1/4cup(shredded)
oil 1 tsp
turmeric powder 1/4tsp
salt to taste
mustard seeds 1/4tsp
red chilli 1
sugar 1 tsp

In a kadai add 1 tsp oil & splutter mustard seeds.When it pops add red chilli & then the beans.Add salt & turmeric powder , sprinkle water & allow it to cook.When done add shredded coconut & sugar.Mix well.serve with sambar or rasam rice.

Tomato chutney

Tomato chutney is one i often prepare.It is easy to make & tasty too.When we have very less time to prepare stuff especially for breakfast this is one easy chutney we can prepare to accompany idly dosa or even can be used as spread with bread.This delicious chutney can be prepared with less items.

To prepare this u will need
2-3 tomatoes
garlic 2 pods
ginger small piece
coriander & curry leaves few
oil 2 tsp
red chillies 2
salt to taste

In a kadai add oil. To this add red chillies & garlic.Then add the cut tomatoes & mix well.Allow the tomatoes to cook till it becomes pulpy.Add the coriander & curry leaves & take of the stove.Allow it to cool.Grind this with ginger & salt.Serve with hot idlies & dosas.This along with coconut chutney is the best combo with venpongal.Try it u will know it.

Potato peas sabji

Who will not like to have potatoes??Its a hot favorite of all irrespective if their age.It goes so well with almost everything.Potato is one sabji that comes handy & rescues me in eleventh hour.No fancy ingredients are needed to make a yummy potato peas sabji.Every item will be available in ur pantry all the time.Lets c how i made this sabji.

All u need are
4 potatoes
1/2cup peas
onion 1
chilli powder 1-2 tsp
turmeric powder 1/4tsp
salt to taste
oil 2 tsp
mustard seeds 1/4tsp

Chop onions set aside.Peel skin of potatoes & cut potatoes into cubes.In a kadai add oil.To this add mustard seeds,then add chopped onions.Saute for awhile.Now add the cut potatoes & peas.Add chilli & turmeric powders & salt.Add required water & allow it to cook.When the potatoes are fully cooked mash them nicely.Take of the stove.Serve hot with chapatis,puris or rice.

Coriander rice

This is one of those recipes i learnt from my brother's wife.I love the color & taste of this.Coriander gives such a lovely taste to this dish.

To make this cook rice separately.Grind coriander leaves & green chillies.set aside.Cut onions & tomatoes.I use a hand full of frozen vegetables we get which includes carrots,beans,corn kernels & peas.In a kadai add 2-3 tsp of oil.Add 1/4 tsp of jeera,then add chopped onions & ginger garlic paste & saute.Now add the vegetables & tomato & saute.Now add the coriander & chilli paste to this.Add turmeric powder & salt to this.Allow it to cook.

When done add cooked rice to this paste & mix well.Adjust salt accordingly.

Yummy coriander rice is ready.U can even use basmati rice to make this rice.

Instant bhel puri

This is one of my favorite snack items.U can add as many items as possible.When u want to give a different snack to ur guests this is a best choice.U can get creative & add any item of ur bhel recipe is a simple one which u can prepare in no time & can have lots of time with ur guests.Kids will love this.

To prepare this bhel puri for one person u will need

A cup of puffed rice
1/2 onion
1 tomato
1 green chilli
coriander leaves few
tomato ketchup 2-3 tsp
chat masala1/4tsp
Oma podi 2-3 tsp to garnish

Grind green chilli & some coriander leaves set aside.cut onions & tomatoes to fine pieces.Mix onion,Tomato & chilli coriander paste.Add ketchup to this mixture.Transfer it to a plate & garnish with Omapodi & coriander leaves.Sprinkle some chat masala on top.Adjust chili & ketchup according to ur taste.Increase ketchup if u want it sweet & vis-verse.

Isn't it simple.Go get creative making bhel puri.U can add mashed potato boiled channa or ground nuts.Any thing of ur choice.

choice.But this

Onion chutney

Onion chutney goes well with almost every singe dish. U can even have it with rice.

Ingredients
Onions 2
Tomatoes 1
Red chillies 3-4
Salt to taste
oil 2 tsp

In a kadai add oil.Add red chillies saute & add onions.Saute for a while & add tomatoes.Saute till tomatoes soften.Allow it to cool.Grind it to paste adding required salt.Can be had with idly, dosa,pongal,paniyaram etc

Dhal

This is one of jatpat recipe that can be prepared as side dish to chappathi's or pongal or can even be had with rice.

Ingredients
Moong dhal 1 cup(cooked)
peas 1/4cup
onion 1(chopped)
tomato 1
oil 2 tsp
mustard seeds 1/4tsp
green chilli 1
turmeric powder1/4 tsp
chilli powder 1-2 tsp
sat totaste
coriander leaves few to garnish

Pressure cook dhal & set aside.Or u can cook mong dhal in microwave oven with out lid for 20mins.In a kadai add oil &then mustard seeds.When it pops add split chilli , onion & tomato & saute.Now add the cooked dhal.To this add chilli powder, turmeric powder & salt.Allow it to boil.Sprinkle coriander leaves & mix.Serve hot with chappathi,rice or pongal.

for variation u Can even add ginger garlic paste to this dhal.U can even avoid chilli powder.Instead add more green chillies & after taking of the stove add some lime juice to it.Reduce tomatoes if u r gonna add lime juice to dhal.

Ravai kesari

Kesari is a stop gap sweet we can prepare when we have guests at home.It can be made in no time.Since both my husband & myself love sweets i prepare something or the other quite often.

Here is the recipe
Ingredients
Ravai 1cup
Sugar 1-2cups(depends upon the ur taste)
ghee 2-3 tsp
cashew nuts 10-12
raisins 10
range color powder a pinch

In a kadai add ghee.Fry cashew nuts & raisins set aside.In the same kadai add little more ghee & fry the ravai.Now add water & mix to avoid lump being formed.Allow the ravai to cook.Mean while add orange color powder in a tsp of water & mix & set aside.When ravai is done add sugar & the color.Mix them all until sugar dissolves.Garnish with the fried cashew nuts & raisins.

Iam sending this post to the food in colors orange hosted by aparna

Paruppu usuli

This is one of my mother's speciality dish.When i was a child i loved my mom's cabbage paruppu usili with garlic rasam.Nothing can match the taste.I generally eat rasam rice only with chips or vadam.But when my mom prepares paruppu usuli i have it with rasam.This is one of my favorite.My mom also prepares paruppu usili sevai.

My husband eats paruppu usili rice itself.He has sambar as side dish.He loves usili & more kozhambu combo a lot.

I made usili this weekend when we invited couple of our friends for lunch.Everybody loved this.I made it with beans.

Here it goes,paruppu usili recipe

All u need are

Channa dhal 1 cup
red chillies 4-5(depending upon the spice level)
salt to taste
beans 1 cup
oil 4-5 tsp
mustard seeds 1/4tsp

soak channa dhal for at least 1 hr.More u soak softer it will be.My mom soaks it overnite.Grind channa dhal,red chilli adding required salt to a smooth paste.Now steam the channa paste in idly mold for 15mins.When done allow it to cool a bit.Then break up the channa mold now with hands.Crumble nicely to make the mold into powder form.

In a kadai add little oil splutter mustard seeds & add the chopped beans.Add salt & sprinkle little water.Saute & cover to cook.When the beans are cooked added the crumbled dhal to it & mix well.Saute for few mins.

Usili is ready.Isn't it easy to make???
Relax & make it.U can also cook the beans separately in microwave oven to save time when dhal is being steamed.


We can almost any vegetable we prepare adding coconut.

Snake Gourd salad

I am Member of Isha yoga Centre in Coimbatore.The yoga i learnt there changed my life a lot.They teach not only yoga but help us c our life in a new perspective.Will give all details in a separate column about Isha yoga.Coming to this salad the day when v had our dikshai we were served food.Speciality of the food is that it was uncooked.No match sticks used no gas.But the food they served were so gud.Above all a very healthy food.Though its not possible to eat them all the time i try to incorporate that food along with our regular food.

One such food is this snake gourd salad.Unless u tell people they will not be able to tell u its snack gourd.It will taste like cucumber salad.I made few changes like seasoning it.

Here is the salad for u all.
Ingredients
Snake gourd 2(if its the small one)
capsicum (1/4 of a capsicum)
tomato 1
salt & pepper to taste
Oil 1 tsp
mustard & uradh dhal 1 tsp
coriander leaves to season

Finely chop snake gourd,capsicum & tomato.Mix them all.In a kadai add oil & splutter mustard seeds & add uradh dhal.Add this to the vegetable mixture.Add salt & pepper & adjust according to taste.Garnish with coriander leaves.

We donot add carrot to this as all the ingredients in this salad are soft.If u want to add carrots & more color to this salad grate carrot & add to this salad.U can also add cucumber to this but will not make much of a difference in the taste.

Try it u will definitely love it.

Kosambari/kosmali

Kosambari is like a salad,usually made with carrots or cucumbers.I like to call this as ‘Indian Salad’.This is a special item prepared in marriages & on Srirama navami day in our house.

Here is how I made..

Ingredients

Split moong dal 1/4 (cup soaked in water for 1/2 hour)
Carrot 1 peeled and grated
Grated coconut 2 tsp
Cliantro few chopped
Lemon/lime juice 1tsp.
Salt to taste.

For seasoning
Oil, mustard, urad dal and red or green chillies 1.

Soak split yellow/moongdal for about half hour. Then drain the water and mix veggies.Mix together soaked dal, grated carrot , coconut, cilantro leaves, lime juice.Add salt to taste.Heat oil, when its hot add mustard seeds,urad dal and chilis to it. When urad dal starts to change colour turn off heat and this seasoning to veggies. Mix well.

Ghee rice

A restaurant in US gives ghee rice along with the side dishes like ennai kathrikai.It tastes so gud i always end up eating this ghee rice all the time & almost never order anything else.So i decided to prepare ghee rice this weekend at home as even my hubby loved it.

This ghee rice reminds the dhal rice my mom gives me when i was young with lots of ghee in it although this doesn't have dhal in it.

This is how i made it.

Wash the required quantity of rice & set aside.In a kadai add ghee.To this add jeera,the bay leaves & Cinnamon sticks.Then add rice & peas to this mix well.Add warm water.I added 2 &1/2 cups of water for one cup of rice.When the water boils transfer to microwave safe bowl & cook for 10 mins with out lid & 10 mins with lid.Adjust timing for 3-4 mins according to the rice variety.

Serve hot with any sabji of ur choice.I made thakali kozhambu & served with kosambari

Idly uppma

I was left with a lot of Idli batter. I know it keeps for a long time and I can make idlis whenever but I already had some left over from before too so that makes a lot of batter in the fridge! Moreover I've had idlis so many times now I just want to stop for a while!!I had to finish the batter so I went ahead and made the idlis but it didn’t stop there. I made Idli upma from it, unless you tell someone what the upma is they wouldn’t guess its from Idlis…hehe

Here is how i made it
Ingredients
10-12 idlies(powdered)
vegetables(cut) 1cup-i use carrots,beans,peas,corn kernels,capsicum
tomato 1
onion 1
green chilli 1
jeera 1/2tsp
mustard 1/2tsp
turmeric powder 1/4tsp
salt to taste
pinch of hing
oil for tampering
coriander & curry leaves
Idly milagai podi or red chilli powder 2-3 tsp
Break up the idlis with your hands or with the help of fork. Heat oil in a pan. Add the mustard seeds, urad dal and chana dal. Saute for a minute. Add the curry leaves and green chillies. Add the chopped onions anf fry till soft. Add the turmeric powder and saute for a minute.Add the veggies & idly milagai podi or red chilli powder. Add the idli powder and mix well. Add salt to taste . Garnish with chopped coriander and serve.

I always prefer to add idly podi to prepare idly uppma