Mira's Talent Gallery: Brinji / பிரிஞ்சி

Mira's Talent Gallery: Brinji / பிரிஞ்சி: This is a southindian masala rice with mixed vegetables viz. Carrot, Beans, Cauliflower, Green Peas, Potato Flavoured by a mixture of Herbs...

துளசி ஸ்தோத்ரம்

தினமும் சொல்லி சிறிது நீர் ஊற்றி தொழலாம். தினமும் முடியாதவர்கள், செவ்வாய் மற்றும் வெள்ளிக் கிழமைகளில் இந்த ஸ்லோகத்தை சொல்லி துளசியை தொழலாம். மஞ்சள் மற்றும் குங்குமத்தை துளசியின் தண்டில் வைத்து, பூவைத்தும் வழிபடலாம்.

ஸ்ரீமத் துளசியம்மா, திருவே கல்யாணி அம்மா
வெள்ளிக் கிழமைதன்னில் விளங்குகின்ற மாதாவே
செவ்வாய்க் கிழமைதன்னில் செழிக்க வந்த செந்திருவே
தாயாரே உந்தன் தாளினை நான் பணிந்தேன்

பச்சைப் பசுமையுள்ள துளசி நமஸ்தே
பரிமளிக்கும் மூலக்கொழுந்தே நமஸ்தே
அற்பப் பிறப்பை தவிர்ப்பாய் நமஸ்தே
அஷ்ட ஐஸ்வர்யம் அளிப்பாய் நமஸ்தே
ஹரியுடைய தேவி அழகி நமஸ்தே
அடைந்தார்க்கு இன்பம் அளிப்பாய் நமஸ்தே
வனமாலை எனும் மறுவே நமஸ்தே
வைகுண்ட வாசியுடன் மகிழ்வாய் நமஸ்தே

அன்புடனே நல்ல அருந்துளசிக் கொண்டுவந்து
மண்ணின்மேல்  நட்டு மகிழ்ந்த நல்  நீரூற்றி
முற்றத்தில் தான் வளர்த்து முத்துப்போல் கோலமிட்டு
செங்காவி சுற்றுமிட்டு திருவிளக்கும் ஏற்றிவைத்து
பழங்களுடன் தேங்காயும் தாம்பூலம் தட்டில்வைத்து
புஷ்பங்களை சொறிந்துப் பூஜித்தப் பேர்களுக்கு
என்ன பலன் என்று ருஷிகேசர் தான் கேட்க
மங்களமான துளசி மகிழ்ந்துரைப்பாள்

"மங்களமாய் எனை வைத்து மகிழ்ந்து உபாசித்தவர்கள்
தீவினையைப் போக்கி சிறந்தபலன் நானளிப்பேன்
அரும்பிணியை நீக்கி அஷ்ட ஐஸ்வர்யம் நான் அளிப்பேன்
தரிதிரத்தை  நீக்கி செல்வத்தை நான் கொடுப்பேன்
புத்திரன் இல்லாதவர்க்கு புத்திர பாக்கியம் அளிப்பேன்
கன்னிகைகள் பூஜை செய்தால் நல்ல கணவரைக் கூட்டுவிப்பேன்
கிருஹஸ்தர்கள் பூஜை செய்தால் கீர்த்தியுடன் வாழவைப்பேன்
மும்மூக்ஷுக்கள் பூஜை செய்தால் மோக்ஷபதம் நான் கொடுப்பேன்
கோடி காராம்பசுவை கன்றுடனே கொண்டு வந்து
கொம்புக்கு பொன் அமைத்து குழம்புக்கு வெள்ளிக் கட்டி
கங்கைக்கரை தன்னில் கிரகண புண்யக்  காலத்தில்
வாலுருவி அந்தணர்க்கு மஹா தானம் செய்த பலன் நானளிப்பேன்
சத்யம்" என்று நாயகியும் சொல்லலுமே
அப்படியே ஆகுமென திருமால் அறிக்கை இட்டார்

இப்படியே அன்புடனே ஏற்றித் தொழுதவர்கள்
அற்புதமாய் வாழ்ந்திடிவார் பரதேவி தன் அருளால்

துளசி ஸ்தோத்ரம்

நமோ துளசி கல்யாணி
நமோ விஷ்ணு பரியே ஷுதே
நமோ மோக்ஷப் ப்ரதே தேவி
நமோ சம்பத் ப்ரதாயிகே

ஸ்ரீ மஹாகணபதி ஸ்துதி

ஓவொன்றும் தனி தனி ஸ்லோகங்கள். அதனால் இடைவெளி விட்டு காட்டி இருக்கிறேன்

சுக்லாம் பரதரம் விஷ்ணும் சசிவர்ணம் சதுர்புஜம்
பிரசன்ன வதனம் த்யாயேத் சர்வ விக்னோப சாந்தயே

வக்ரதுண்ட மஹாகாய சூர்யக் கோடி சமப்ரபா
அவிக்னம் குருமேதேவ சர்வ கார்யேஷு சர்வதா

கஜானனம் பூத கணாதி ஸேவிதம்
கபித்த ஜம்பு பல ஸார பக்ஷிதம்
உமாசுதம் சோக விநாச காரணம்
நமாமி விக்னேஷ்வர பாத பங்கஜம்

அகஜானன பத்மார்க்கம் கஜானன மகர்நிசம்
அனேகதம் தம் பக்தாநாம் ஏகதந்தம் உபாஸ்மஹே

மூஷிக வாகன மோதக ஹஸ்தா சாமர கர்ண விலம்பித சூத்ரா
வாமன ரூப்பா மகேஸ்வர புத்ரா விக்ன விநாயக பாத நமஸ்தே

Brinji / பிரிஞ்சி / ब्रिंजी

This is a southindian masala rice with mixed vegetables viz. Carrot, Beans, Cauliflower, Green Peas, Potato Flavoured by a mixture of Herbs & Spices.

For this recipe, I used Tukda Basmati which though looks small, when cooked looks like long rice and gives out the wonderful aroma of basmati and is also cheaper compared to the normal basmati rice.

Ingridients :

1. Rice - 2 Tea Cups
2. Milk - 2 tea cups
3. Water - 2 tea cups
   
4. Curd - 1 tbsp
5. Carrot + Beans + Potato + Green Peas= 1 cup
6. Onion - 2 Nos
7. Tomato - 2 Nos
8. Green Chilli - 3 nos.
9. Garlic Pods - 8 -10 Nos.
10. Ginger - 1" piece
11. Bread Slices - 4 Nos. (optional)
12. Oil / ghee - 2 tbsp
13. Salt to taste

 

Spices :

1. Bay leaves - 3 nos
2. Cloves - 4 Nos
3. Cinnamon sticks - 2 nos
4. Stone flower - 1  piece
5. Saunf / Fennel seeds - 2 tsp
6. Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp
7. Red Chilli Powder - 2 tsp (as you prefer)

Herbs :

1. Coriander leaves - 1 handful
2. Mint Leaves - 1/2 measure of coriander leaves

Preparation

1. Chop Onion lengthwise
2. Dice the vegetables
3. Chop coriander & mint leaves
4. Chop green chillies & tomatoes finely
5. Grate ginger and garlic
6. Cut the Bread Slices into small squares
7. Wash rice and keep aside

Procedure :

• Heat Oil in a wok, add the Bay Leaves, Cinnamon, Cloves, Stone Flower and Fennel Seeds (saunf). 
• After the saunf changes colour slightly, add the Chopped Onion, grated ginger, garlic and greenchillies. 
• Fry till onion becomes translucent. Add Tomatoes and cook till they become mushy.  
• Add Turmeric Powder and Red Chilli Powder and the chopped vegetables & saute for 2 minutes
• Add the herbs and saute for few seconds
• Add the rice & fry for 3 minutes 
• Add curd, water and milk & required salt, mix well.

• Cook using absorbing / drying method, when you see the  bubbles coming out of small holes, switch off the stove and keep it covered for 20 minutes.

• Heat a non-stick pan, add very little oil/ghee, put the bread pieces, mix well and roast them in low flame till they become crisp by turning them occassionally.
• Before serving add the roasted bread slices, mix and then serve with Raitha & roasted papad

Tip :- For roasted bread slices, you can also make them crispy using the pop-up toasted and then slightly roast in little ghee for flavour.

Padi Kolam

DESIGN-9

Crocheted Coin Purse

I used the fur thread for this work. Made the foundation chain to the desired length followed by rows of SC till the desired height. Identifying chains or stitch using this thread is little difficult.

Panchamrudham / Panchamruth / பஞ்சாம்ரிதம் / पंचामृत

पंचामृत

You will need :-

1. Small Sweet ripe banana - 3 to 4 Nos
2. Jaggery - 1 tbsp
3. Ghee - 1 tbsp
4. Raisin - 8-10 nos.
5. Dates  - 3 Nos (chop finely)
6. Honey - 1 tbsp
7. Sugar Candy - 1 tsp
8. Cardamom - 2 Nos.
9. Pachai karpooram - a pinch (optional) - edible camphor

Cardamom - 2Nos.

Procedure :-

• Cut the bananas, add jaggery and chopped dates. Put them in a bowl. 

• Mash the bananas lightly. Add rest of the ingridients and mix well till the Jaggery dissolves and blends well. 

• Delicious panchamrutham is ready! 

• If you let it stand for one or two hours, the flavour of the ingredients also blends well and gives a sweet fruity flavour.

If you prefer less sweet, then you may reduce the quantity of Honey, Sugar candy and Jaggery to suit your taste preference.

How to cook Plain Rice - for beginners

Plain rice should be cooked properly to make the food more inviting and interesting. The grains should be separate as well as cooked. 

Choosing the rice : There are variety of rices avaialble in the market. One major thing which we should keep in mind is not to buy new rice. New rice cooks faster and mostly it will end up becoming paste. Also they are not good for stomach. New rice will look bright in colour, easily breaks/powdered. So always buy little Old Rice. But best suited for health is boiled rice. and red rice especially for dieters. It will not taste so good like raw rice, but it will give you a filled feeling quickly, less consumption of rice and will not make you feel hungry for long time. The red rice is the healthiest rice as the outer skin is not removed. But it's taste is not so good but very very healthy.

Plain rice can be cooked in different ways :-

1. Pressure cook method (slow cook method)
2. Draining method  (fast cook method)
3. Drying /  Absorbing method
4. Rice Cooker

Pressure cook : For this method the amount of water required vary according the variety of rice used. So this is a trial & error method. Always cook some sample rice in case you are going for a new variety, to know the required water. Normally i take rice and water in 1 : 2  to 1 : 2 1/2 sratio for pressure cooking.

Pressure cooked rice when kept outside for long time will become dry,  if you like to reheat it, sprinkle little water on top to make it soft, close the vessel with a lid.

Draining method : It is the traditional method where the excess starch is drained and this method is very good for dieters as it removes the excess carbs. Those who want extra noursihment can add milk  & sugar  or butter milk & salt and drink the water or can use it in making soups.

Take a big vessel (which should be able  to hold the cooked rice as well as the water upto 3/4th of its capacity). Fill nearly 3/4th of it with water and boil it. In the meantime, take the required quantity of rice, wash , fill fresh water & keep aside. When the water starts boiling, drain the water from the rice and put it into the boiling water. Stir it. when the water after adding rice starts boiling again, reduce the flame and cook till the grains are almost cooked. (to save gas consumption, remove it from fire when 3/4th done, keep it covered for 10 minutes. check a sample if done to your preference, drain). To drain the excess water, i have a holed plate with which I cover the vessel, put clips on both sides and let it drain.

Absorbing / Drying method :

For 1 cup rice, take 2 cups water. Boil the water, then add rice, cook on medium falme. When you see no water on top and bubbles appearing out of holes on the surface, put off the flame. Keep it covered for 15 minutes. The rice will be ready and the grains will be separate. This method is best suited fo rmaking pulao.

Rice Cooker:

This method also like pressure cook method the amount of water varies with the variety of rice used. To get dry rice, (i.e.) grains separate, add 2 or 2 &1/2 cup water. Always do sample cooking to get to know the exact water required for the variety of rice you use.

Tips/ Suggestions for parks - Navratri Golu

To a normal golu, some creativity, add-ons makes it interesting and an unique one. Park near golu padi attracts everyone's attention. Children crowd around it, like a bee attracted to honey. I am sharing the tips which i saw my mother doing for our golu park during my school days. As we didn't have camera that time and the family i am married into don't have the golu tradition, i am unable to post any pictures to show you the sample.

Basic Things you need for a miniature Park,

1. Sand
2. A bogini / cylinderical vessel
3. Small miniature dolls according to the theme
4. Ragi sprouts and mustard seeds
5. Mustard Sprouts
6. Ice cream / popsicle sticks
7. Small Rectangular chip tiles - to use as step on hills
8. Burnt paddy skins / உமிக் கரி - or you can get the rice skin from shop and burn it & coarsely powder it for making roads. or use used coffee and tea powder after drying them.

Mark a corner near the golu padi which will be safe and undisturbed. Clean the area, Spread the sand evenly. Select your theme. We did mixed theme hence there is a hill with temple on top, below one part is forest area with wild animals, one is a residential area, one side restaurant, one side Pond with aquatic animals.

1. Mountain/Hill : Take a vessel fill it with sand, place it in the part wherever you want the hill to be, completely cover it with sand till the sand heaps on top of the vessel looks like a peak of a mountain. Keep it on a corner of the park. pour sand over it till the vessel is completely buried under sand. Sprinkle some water to keep the sand intact.
2. Decide which theme occupy which place 
3. For temple on top of mountain : place miniature temple creating a base. Place the small rectangular chip tiles as steps leading to the temple at top. small miniature dolls can be placed on the steps here and there to show people climbing up or down. Cars or bullock carts can be placed at the foothill from where you can mark the roads using burnt paddy crop skins.
4. Lake : In the marked place,slightly remove sand, place a blue plastic sheet over which keep a flat bottomed wide mouthed small glass tray  (like a circular fruit tray) and level the sand around it. carefully fill water inside it. Float the miniature aquatic animals, boats etc. in it. Amphibians can be also placed near the bank to give it a real life habitat look. 
5. Green effect : Make this arrangement two or three days prior to kolu if you want it to look green right from first day, or just make it a day before so that each day with the growth of ragi plants, the park will have different effect. soak ragi two days prior to kolu, drain and and let it sprout. these sprouts can be sprinkled evenly on the land and  on the mountain/hill. Where you want forest, sprinkle some ragi as well as mustard seeds. Don't forget to sprinkle water over the sprouts every day. just sprinkle little water every morning and evening.
6. For Flower bed look, colour the ear buds and plant them in bunch properly on a area where no need for sprinkling much of water.
7. Plant the dolls, houses, & other items as per your theme in their place. 
8. Make fence at the end using ice cream sticks / popsicle stick.
9. For a change even chettiar set can be placed near the mountains and with few hut like dolls, can create a village effect.
10. Urili or good plastic tubs / glass bowls filled with water and floating floral arrangements can be made. 
11. For Roads in parks, you can collect and dry the used tea / coffee residues or umi kari (burnt paddy skins). and keep some vehicle toys.
12. small pebbles and stones can be partially burried amidst the grass. (ragi sprouts)

We can explain to children about the importance of man in living in harmony with nature and their fellow living beings viz., (animals, plants, birds, etc), going green, importance of wildlife, etc.

Let us try to be close to nature as nearly as possible by bringing out a natural greenery inside our kolus, our homes, this year and every year with some creative changes!

You may also like to check out the following posts :

Navaratri Chundal Varieties (Sundal)

Navratri / Golu

Navratri Golu Ideas

Navratri / Golu GIFT ideas

Navratri Preparation

Happy Navratri.

Navratri / நவராத்திரி / Dusserah

Navratri festival which is celebrated through out India falls in the month of September - October. As per the Tamizh Lunar Calendar it falls in the month of "Puratassi" after the new moon day (called as Mahalaya Amavasai) and is celebrated for 10 days, ending on 10th day celebrated as Vijayadasami. It is celebrated in grand manner but in different ways in the nothern (as dusserah) & southern regions of India.

In North Each day of Navratri , bajans are conducted by ladies inviting other ladies to their home, offerings made to god and distributed as prasha d. In the evening hours, ladies, gents and children gather and play garba (espcially Gujaratis) till late hours of night.

Navratri is dedicated to the Goddess during which first 3 days, she is worshipped in the form of Shakthi (goddess of power), next 3 days in the form of Lakshmi (goddess for wealth) and the next 3 days in the form of Saraswathi (goddess for knowledge). In temples, the Goddess are decorated in the 3 forms on their respective days.

Golu / Kolu : 

 Image courtesy : google

As the Navrati approaches, the house is cleaned and maintained very neatly as it is believed that goddesses are invited in their homes to dwell with them. Then the box in which the dolls are saved are removed from the attic, cleaned, if required given a fresh coat of paint or glitters, dresses are made for them before they are displayed in the golu / Kolu padi. New idols also take their place in the golu/Kolu.

Navratri in the south is celebrated in many homes by displaying various dolls / idols neatly arranged in steps called Kolu padi. On the new moon day, the steps are set and the idols of god, kalash, rice & dal in each in separate bowl takes the first few steps, then comes the dolls of  Mahatmas like acharyas, scholars and then birds and other animals and human beings till the last step.  The most common idols in all golus are idols of the 3 godesses, Dasavatharam, Ram, Seetha, Laxman, Hanuman, Krishna, Sankaracharya, Vivekanandar, Shirdi Baba, Gautama Budha, Animals & Birds, Chettiar ayya and chettiar amma with their grocery shop. Some plan their golus theme based suiting to modern days. Park as an add on feature is created near golupadi using sand, on which grass is grown & dolls are place to create forest, resort or temple theme or mixture of all. The place is decorated nicely as per one's creativity & affordabillity using festoons, drapes, Illuminations etc.

The Neveidhyams or offering to the goddess vary as per the state and tradition of the people. Legumes, pulses, rice are offered in different forms as per their tradition. they can be sweet or salt & spicy viz., sundal, puttu, etc.

Mornings special offerings are made to the Goddess every day of navratri with the ladies chanting special slokas for goddess like "Lalithambal Sobanam, Devi padam, Devi Bhagavatham, etc."

Lady of the household invite relatives, friends and neighbours to their Kolu . Girl children dressed in silk blouse & skirt goes to different houses inviting the lady & children of the household offering saffron (kumkum).Some Ladies wear silk sarees, decorate their head with beautiful flowers and visits golu in their best attire with their children.

The guests are welcomed, offered seats (which is usually a mad laid on floor), chandan & kum kum. If they know to sing, the sings songs in praise of the goddess. Neivedhyams like sundal, puttu, payasam are offered to God.While the visitors take leave, they are offered kum kum again, betel leaves & nuts, banana, flowers, Haldi, gifts (optional) and the prashad of the day. The day ends with an arathi.

On 9th day of Navratri falls the saraswathi pooja. On that day the instruments, tools and books are placed neatly, covered with a cloth and pooja will be conducted in every household, offices and factories, worshipping Godess Saraswathi - the giver of good knowledge. People do pooja for their vehicles too on that day. The next day is the "vijaya dasami day" and all the books, tools & instruments are taken out after a pooja for use.

The navratri celebrations come to an end, when the idols are put to sleep (putting them in lie down position) on the steps and the next day, they are packed & saved properly for the next year.

Below are some more posts of mine on Navratri / Golu which may be of help to you

Navaratri Chundal Varieties (Sundal)

Navratri / Golu


Navratri Golu Ideas


Navratri / Golu GIFT ideas


Navratri Preparation

Yaa Devi Sarva Bhutheshu, Shakthi roopena samasthithaa

Namastasyay, namastasyay, namastasyay namo nama :

 

Yaa Devi Sarva Bhutheshu, Lakshmi roopena samasthithaa

Namastasyay, namastasyay, namastasyay namo nama :

Yaa Devi Sarva Bhutheshu, Vidyaa roopena samasthithaa

Namastasyay, namastasyay, namastasyay namo nama :

May the goddess bless you all and bring the prosperity and happiness to your home. Happy Navratri.

Jai Mata Di

Puliyodharai / Tamarind Rice - புளியோதரை

A lipsmacking variety rice of south India and is the most common and famous one in the Iyengar Homes. This rice is distributed as Prashad at Vishnu (Perumal) Temples in Tamil Nadu. I love seeing the rice inside the dhonnai (leaf bowl) which make it even more appetizing. "Perumal Koil Puliyodharai" is very famous. But the recipe I am giving here is a little different one, shared by one of my Iyengar (Vaishnavite) friend.

As the name suggests, it is tangy (Puli).

Prepared using combination of different ingredients and different methods..


In this method, the gravy and the masala powder are mixed separately to the cooked rice and set aside for minimum 4 hours to let the flavour be absorbed by the rice. Seasme Oil (til tel) suits best for this recipe.

You  may also mix the powder in the tamarind water, boil it in a kadai after giving tadka and that paste can be stored in refirgerator for instant use in the future. - A good & quick lunch box idea for office goers.

In olden days, for long distance travel, this rice is preferred & taken as Parcels by packing them in a plantain leaf, as they can last long. I remember the train journeys during my childhood  days, we eagerly await for amma to open each podhi (parcel), we just relish every bit of the rice with the fried karuvadams (a southindian papad variety). It is a must in our Picnic Lunch as well.

Ingredients :-

1. Rice - 1 tea cup 
2. Haldi - 1/4 tsp

for the gravy & tempering

1. Tamarind - 1 big lemon size
2. Salt to taste
3. Asafoetida (hing) - less than 1/4 tsp
4. Urad dal - 1 tsp
5. Mustard - 1 tsp
6. Chana dal - 1 tsp
7. Gingelly oil - 2 1/2 tsbp
8. Roasted Ground nut - 2 tbsp
9. Curry leaves - 1 sprig

Masala Mix

1. Dhania seeds - 1 tbsp
2. Red chilli - 7 nos
3. Pepper corns - 10 nos.
4. Jeera - 1/4 tsp
5. Methi seeds - 1/4 tsp

Preparations :

• Cook rice by adding Haldi (turmeric powder) - the grains should be separate. spread in a plate to cool.
• Dry roast the ingridients given for masala mix one by one and powder them
• Prepare tamarind water and keep it ready.

Procedure :-

• Heat oil, add mustard. when it starts spluttering, add Channa dal and urad dal & fry till they turn red.

• Add curry leaves, roasted ground nut and tamarind water.

• Put asafoetida and salt. Boil till it becomes little thick in consistency.

• To the cooked rice, add the masala powder little by little (as per your flavour preference) and the tamarind paste (if you need it less tangy, add it 3/4 of the paste first and then as per taste can add more). Mix well and keep it aside for minimum 4 hours so that the flavour will be absorbed into the rice and makes the dish even more special

Side dish suggestion : Urad Papad / Rice papads

Suggestion :- You may add the powder to tamarind water and boil it well. after it cools down, store in a container and refrigerate. This can be used as and when required for preparing tamarind rice.

Carrot Thayir Pachadi / Raitha - காரட் தயிர் பச்சடி

Ingridients

1. Carrot Grated - 1 cup
2. Coconut - 3 tbsp
3. Mustard - 1/4 tsp
4. Green Chillies - 2 or 3 Nos
5. Salt to taste
6. Coriander Leaves finely chopped - 1tbsp
7. Curd - 1/2 cup

• Grind coconut, mustard and green chillies to a nice paste
• In a bowl, mix the grated carrot, ground paste, salt, and chopped coriander leaves. Mix well.
• Before serving add the curd and mix then serve.

Kakra - Italiano (Healthy Snack - 3)

 

Kakra Italiano

Ingridients :-

1. Wheat flour - 1 cup
2. Salt to taste
3. Ghee - 1 tbsp (optional)
4. Italian mixed herb & spices - 2 tsp(available in the market)
5. Water to knead the dough
6. Kitchen towel

Procedure :-

• Mix wheat flour, Italian spices & herbs (this comes with salt hence adust and add salt to dough accordingly), ghee (optional), and salt. 
• Knead the wheat flour like you do for chapathis and keep it aside for 30 minutes. 
• If not using ghee, then add few drops of oil and apply all over the dough and then rest it for 30 minutes.
• Make small balls out of it. 
• Flatten each ball on a board using a rollingpin. Spread it very thin with occassional dusting of wheat flour to prevent it from sticking to the board. 
• Heat tawa, then turn the flame to medium.
• Fold the kitchen towel & keep it ready
• Cook the flattened thin chapathi. When it is partially cooked (to prevent it from sticking), keep pressing & rolling it with the kitchen towel till the side is crispy.When done, flip sides and cook. 
• Keep on pressing all over the chapathi with the kitchen towel. Though it raises, gradually it will settle down and become paper thin.
• Home made fresh, thin, cripsy and healthy Italian Herbs Kakra is ready!!! :-)

Serving Suggestion : for a variation, you can sprinkle cheese powder mixed with oregano & thyme on top of it before serving.

Mynahs taking refuge from the rains in my balcony

see how beautifully they are perched near my balcony!

Mira's Talent Gallery: Good Times of a FOODIE....

Mira's Talent Gallery: Good Times of a FOODIE....: Two days back, I was busy chopping veggies…zoomed my camera eyes ….I was shredding cabbage so thinly…then I started grating carrots & some ...

Good Times of a FOODIE....

Two days back, I was busy chopping veggies…zoomed my camera eyes ….I was shredding cabbage so thinly…then I started grating carrots & some garlic pods…..(high definition foodie visulation….please)…


I took the flour started kneading it….don’t know why I was finding myself busy that day…I can sense people in the house… relatives?..I didn’t give much attention to the blurred images in the background though they looked familiar to me. I was busy & focused towards my goal than cooking.


When the aata was ready, I sauted the veggies without oil and started making…..momos!! Yes one of my favourite healthy snack. Stuffed the small flattened chapathis and gathered the ends. Put them into the vessel to steam. My mouth was watering. The 10 minutes was moving in snail’s pace. I was waiting to open the lid…yes, 10 minutes over. I made some red chutney quickly and put in a plate. The good hot momos jumped into my plate and I started gobbling them one by one…forgetting to offer it to the blurred images around me…my HD vision and mind was only set on the momos. Suddenly I opened my eyes. OMG!!!..it was just a dream! Mira going gastronomic in a dream! “That is too much for a foodie” I said to my brain and tried to get control of it.


It was 4’O clock in the morning and I was left craving for hot momos rest of the early morning hours. Finally I got up to start my chores. But this craving never left me. So Sunday evening was declared as a ‘Junkie foodie evening’ (a long cherished dream of mine came true). We started with a wonderful ‘Vada Pav’ at a maharashtrian mess. Sharing is a very good habit. We shared them between ourselves so that we could enjoy variety of junks on a single evening. Moved from there to another place few streets behind to a khau galli where we enjoyed hot hot pav bhaji. It was still pouring down hence we were carefully selecting hot snacks and enjoyed them a lot. While we were finishing the pav bhaji…..the steam from the near by cart caught our attention! Yes! It our favourite healthy snack momos. After eating the junks felt very guilty. So do some justification to our morale, went ahead with a plate of Piping hot momos with yummy chutneys. Burning the tounge, we (“I” ?) gobbled the momos while thinking what to do next?!



As it was the day of Ganpathy visarjan, the junction was crowded with the immersion procession. M & M thought What to do now? ”Lets change the route!” Mira suggested the alternate route innocently without knowing the outcome. The aroma of dabeli pulled us to that corner and our vehicle creaked and stopped faithfully in front of it . While we munched the dabeli, the sweet shop near by (seems like a new one!) attracted our attention and so we packed some pedas and was about to leave. I said, let us complete the ritual with a can of 7 Up and so shared it between us and headed towards home with happy tummies!   

 







"Sarva Foodie Sukhino Bhavanthu!"

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Padi kolams / Maakolam/Naalu moolai Kolam designs - friday special

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Invite you for a Ona Sadhya

Wish you all a happy onam. As my little friends are yet to recover, i managed to make a simple ona sadhya with easy menu. Invite you all for the yummy 'Ona Sadhya'

1. Palada Pradhaman
2. Puli Inji
3. Kaalan
4. Thoran
5. Olan
6. Aviyal
7. Puliserry
8. Pachadi
9. Ghee
10. Paruppu (dhal)
11. Papadam (big & small)
12. Kondattam Molagu (fried curd chilli)
13. Rice
14. Banan Chips
15. Jackfruit Chips
16. Sweet fried Banana Pieces
17. Curd

Made a very simple rangoli with my left hand.

 

Wish you a great Day :-)

Padi kolams / Maakolam/Naalu moolai Kolam designs

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Padi kolams / Maakolam/Naalu moolai Kolam designs - friday special

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