Diamond Cuts (Salted Version)

Tea time snack, that is Kids friendly and Easy to make.

Ingredients Needed:
1. Maida 3 1/2 cup
2. Oil 1 cup ( Or use 1/2 oil and 1/2 ghee)
3. Salt to taste
4. Sugar 1 tsp
5. Sesame seeds 2 tsp
6. Pinch of soda (Optional)
7. Water to knead.
8. Oil to fry
Method:
1. In a big bowl put Maida, Salt, Sugar, Sesame, Oil, Soda and mix well.
2. Knead with water. (Use minimum water possible.) It should be thick.(Like Puri dough)
3. Keep it aside for 30 minutes.
4. Roll into 1inch thick chappathis and cut into small squares.
5. Fry in hot oil till crisp.
6. Cool and store in air tight containter.

These Crispies can be enjoyed with Tea and anytime.

Shiv Darshan on Maha Shivrathiri

Mahashivrathiri marks the night when Lord Shiva performed the "Tandava".

It is also believed that on this day Lord Shiva was married to Parvati Devi.

On this day Shiva devotees observe fast and offer fruits, flowers and bel leaves on Shivalinga.

Om Nama Shivaya !
Om Nama Shivaya !
Om Nama Shivaya !

Idli podi With Sesame(Ellu)

Milagai Podi - Chilli Powder - Chutney Powder.
Chief Accompaniment to all South Indian tiffin items.

Ingredients Needed:
1. Urad Dal - 1 cup
2. Channa Dal - 1/2 cup
3. Sesame seeds - 2 tablespoons
4. Idli rice - 1 tsp
5. Hing
6. Salt to taste
7. Dried red Chilli - 1/2 cup (according to taste)
8. Tamarind - small gooseberry size
9. Jaggery very little to adjust taste
10. Oil 1tsp

Method:
1. Roast No 1 to 4 separately till golden brown.
2. Heat 1 tsp oil, roast red chillies with tamarind and with little salt.
(Salt reduces the burning smell of red chillies)
3. Cool everything.
4. Make fine Powder of Red chillies, Salt, Tamarind and Hing.
5. Then add the 1 to 4 items and Jaggery. Powder it, it can be coarse or fine.

Serve this podi with Sesame Oil with Idli or Dosa.
Note:-
1. Adding Salt while roasting the chiilies, will reduce the burning effect of the chillies.

Saabhudhana Vada (Javvarisi Vadai)

Traditional Maharashtrian Dish.
Sago Vada is a Upwas Khana. [Fasting day dish.]

Ingredients Needed:
1. Sago / Sabudana - 1 cup (Javarisi in tamil.)
2. Boiled Potato - 1
3. Crushed peanuts - 2 tablespoons
4. Salt to taste
5. Green Chillies chopped finely - 2 (according to taste)
6. Coriander leaves, chopped finely.
7. Cumin Seeds - 1/2 tsp

Method:
1. Wash Sago and soak for 4 hours and remove water.
2. Add Mashed Boiled Potatoes, Peanut Powder, Chopped chillies, Coriander Leaves, Salt, Cumin Seeds and mix well.
3. If it is in loose consistency, add 2 tsp of rice flour.
4. Make Vada and deep fry in hot oil till done.

You need not necessarily fast to enjoy this dish with Sweetened Curd. :-)


This is my submission for Potato Feast Hosted by DK of Culinary Bazaar
Also my submission for "ode-t0-potato" hosted by sia of Monsoon spice

Thair Vadai (Curd Vadai)

Thair Vadai is Popular in all Parts of India and made in various versions.
In South India spicy verion is more popular than the Sweeter North Indian version.

Thair Vadai

Ingredients Needed for Vada:
1. Urad Dal - 3/4 cup
2. Moong Dal - 1/4 cup
3. Green Chillies - 2
4. Small Piece of Ginger
5. Salt to taste
6. Oil to Deep Fry
7. Ghee - 1 tsp
8. Warm Water - 5 cups ( To soak vada)

Vada making

Ingredients for Curd Mixture:
1. Grated Coconut - 2 tablespoons
2. Green Chillies - 2
3. Salt to taste
4. Grated Carrot - 3 tablespoons
5. Boondhi (Optional) - 5 tsps.
6. Coriander Leaves
7. Water - 1/4 cup
8. Thick whipped curds - 3 cups + 1/4 cup milk

Fried Vadai

Method:
1. Soak Urad dal and Moong Dal for an hour and Grind it along with Chillies, Ginger and Salt.
2. In the grinded Mixture add 1 tsp of Ghee and mix well.
3. Make vadas without hole in centre and deep fry in oil.
This measure makes 16 to 18 vadas.
4.Grind grated Coconut, Chillies and Salt and add to the whipped curds.
5. If it is too thick add 1/4 cup of water and Milk.(Milk to avoid sour smell in the curds) Make this into 2 portions. (In One portion mix grated Carrot and chopped Coriander leaves)
6. Temper Mustard Seeds and Curry leaves in 1 tsp of oil and pour over curd mixture.
7. Soak these Vadas in warm water for 5 minutes and remove excess water and put these Vadas in plain Curd mixture.
8. Pour remaining Curds and chill in fridge till use.

Thair Vadai

While serving spead some Boondhis on top. Kids would love this.

Colourful and Healthy (Oil Less ) Curd Vadas

Tomato Onion Dal

Dal with Tomato and with Onion.

Ingredients Needed:
1. Moong Dal - 1/2 cup
2. Tomato - 2 (Fully Ripe) Cut into big cubes
3. Onion cut into length wise - 2
4. Green Chillies - 2 (or according to taste)
5. Salt to taste
6. Turmeric Powder
7. Hing
8. Coconut Milk - 2 tablespoon
9. Red Chilli Powder - 1/2 to 3/4 tsp
10. Jeera (Cummin Seeds) - 1/4 tsp

Ingredients for Tempering:
1. Ghee 1 tsp/ Oil - 2 Tsp
2. Mustrad Seeds - 1/2 tsp
3. Curry leaves
4. Coriander leaves to garnish.

Method:
1. Fry dal in a tawa for few minutes, Wash and Cook in a separate vessel
by adding Turmeric and Jeera.
2. In a Kadai heat Oil / Ghee, temper ingredients and fry Onions till soft.
3. Now goes the Slit Green Chilli, Chillipowder and mix well.
4. Now add cubed Tomato pieces and turn 2 times without mashing the tomatoes.
5. Add Cooked dal, 1/4 cup water, cook for 5 minutes.
6. Before removing from fire add Coconut milk.


Serve the flavourful Dal with Rice or Roti.

Beauty of Kerala

God's Own Country - Kerala from my son's Camera

Elephant Quarters

Chinese Fishing Net in Cochin

View of Munar Tea Estates

Thekkady

Kerala Boat House

Kerala kalari Fight