Ganapathy - A sketch by me

Aum Gam Ganapathye Nama:

Sharing with you a Ganesh ji sketch made by me.....

making of Ganesh ji....

Ganpathy Bapa Morya!

Krishna - a free hand sketch!

There are few poses and paintings of Krishna, that inspired me and I always had an urge to try them and finally here I am with one of such favourite paintings and pose of Krishna that I always loved. The child form....

While I was glazing at this sketch, I remembered the lovely lines from the poem of Mahakavi Bharathi - "Pillai Kani Amudhe, Kannamma Pesum Por Chitirame!"

sharing with you making of this little krishna....

Sri Krishna Janmashtami Celebrations....

Made a short video with Krishna Janmashtami Celebration photos at my home....

Song : Chitram chiru Kaale (Thirupavai song : 29) Singer : Smt. Lalita Gopalakrishnan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For perfect cheedai making tips without explosion please watch this video -

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sri Krishna Janmashtami is known by different names through out India viz., Janmashtami or Gokulashtami or Krishna Jayanthi. This is a festival to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna, the 8th incarnation of Bhagavan Vishnu. Celebrated on Ashtami tithi, the eighth day of the dark half or Krishna Paksha of the month of Bhadrapada in the Hindu calendar, when the Rohini Nakshatra is ascendant. This is celebrated usually in the months of August or September in the said month when the above thithi and star falls. Sri Krishna was born to Queen Devaki and her husband, King Vasudeva in Mathura. Devaki's brother is Kamsa. During that time, Mathura was in miserable state as Kamsa, had put his father, King Ugrasen in prison and declared himself the new king. When Vasudeva and Devaki got married, a voice from the heaven (a divine prophecy) proclaimed that "Devaki's 8th child would kill Kamsa". To protect himself, Kamsa rushed to kill his sister but gave up the idea of killing after being assured by Vasudev that he will hand over all his children to Kamsa. Kamsa put his brother-in-law and sister in prison. Kamsa killed all the six infants as soon as they were born. The seventh child (Balram) was saved due to divine intervention, when he was transferred from Devaki's womb to that of Rohini's (the other wife of king Vasudev). When Krishna was born, with the divine intervention, Vasudeva secretly carries the infant Krishna away across the river Yamuna and exchanges him with his close friend King Nand of Gokul and takes his daughter to the prison back. When Kamsa tries to kill the newborn, the exchanged baby appeared as the Hindu goddess Durga (Yoga Maya), warning him that his death has arrived in his kingdom, and then disappears, according to the legends in the Puranas. Krishna grows up with Nanda Baba and his wife Yashoda. When Kamsa knows his whereabouts, he sends various demons to kill baby Krishna. Krishna slays all the demons sent by him. Later when he grows up into a boy, he kills Kamsa putting an end to his tyranny. Krishna has two siblings viz. Balram (Baladev) and Subhadra (Wife of Arjun and mother of Abhimanyu). In Puri, Krishna is worshipped as Jagannath and blesses people along with his siblings. Krishna Janmashtami is celerbated through out India with Vigour. Though the rituals practiced vary from one region to the other, the spirit and devotion to the Lord is same everywhere. Hare Krishna!

Arachukalaki

Arachukalaki or Arachakalaki - the name itself explains the process of making this dish. "Arachu "means grind and "kalaki" means mix. A vert easy and handy dish to make when you simplify the cooking process or if it is summer time and you want to reduce your time in the kitchen or when unexpected guests come.

This is a distinctive side dish of Palakkad Iyer Cuisine. A curd based side dish to accompany Molagootal or Molagooghyam (Mulagushyam).

Molagooshyam recipe is here :- https://youtu.be/LgGG2iOHPGM

Keerai Molagootal recipe is here :- https://youtu.be/pFKe3E2Y5qY

Pickled Tender Mango and Gooseberry can be used for making this dish. Pickling is a process which our ancestors adopted to preserve seasonal items for consumption during off season. They would be preserved in its brine. The video is available HERE!!    Follow the video except the masala adding part to make this preserve.

Pickled Mango & Gooseberry - in the photo below :-

Gooseberry = Amla | Nellikai

Tender Mango = Uppilitta Kanni Manga | Uppula ooriya Vadu Manga

Let us go into making of this wonderful recipe. I am using pickled mango in this recipe.

Video recipe is available in "Mira's Askhaya Patram"

You will need :- (Serves - 3)

1. Pickled Gooseberry or Tender Mango - 2 to 3 pieces
2. Grated coconut - 1/4 cup
3. Green Chillies - 2 nos. (or as preferred)
4. Curd - 1 cup
5. Coconut oil - 1.5 tbsp
6. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
7. Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 tsp
8. Curry leaves - few
9. Dried Red Chilli - 2 nos.

In the above list, traditionally fenugreek seeds are added in the tadka (Tempering). However, you can even add directly to the raita, roasted and powdered fenugreek. Some families grind little mustard along with the coconut masala. You can follow any of this method to bring in variation. I have not included salt in the above list as pickle will be salty. However, you can check the seasoning at the end and adjust accordingly.

Process :-

• Grind together the pickled mango or gooseberry, grated coconut and green chillies to a smooth paste.

• Transfer to a serving bowl. Add curd to it. Mix well.

• Tempering :- Heat oil, add mustard seeds. After they splutter, switch off gas, add fenugreek seeds, when they start changing colour, add curry leaves and dried red chillie.  Add to the ground mixture.

• Mix well. Manga - Arachukalaki is ready. 

• check the seasoning at the end. Usually there is no requirement for adding salt as pickle is used. You can adjust the seasoning if required.