Picture Of The Week

Week # 3:

Carrots

This picture was taken few years back. Fresh carrots everywhere… its beauty will be stuck in your eyes forever.
Eat more carrots. They are nutrient rich, low in calories, full of vitamins and are even better if you eat it raw. 

Self Help

Came across these self-help quotes, today. I love these do You.. ?

How to stop time : Kiss

How to travel in time : Read

How to escape time : Music

How to feel time : Write

How to release time : Breathe

Quote Courtesy: etsy.com, 

Image Courtesy: google.com

Picture Of The Week

Week # 2:

This one is from Mahabalipuram/Mamallapuram, which is a historic town in Kancheepuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. 

The Descent Of the Ganges

By the 7th century it was a port city of South Indian dynasty of the Pallavas. It has a group of sanctuaries, which was carved out of rock.  This one is a part of The Descent of the Ganges.

Idly

Do you care for some idly? Yes of-course, who will not like idly? It's one of the healthiest breakfasts ever. It's the national breakfast of South Indians. :)

My mom, like any other mom prefers to prepare idly as the breakfast on any important functions. You have to remember, it's easy to prepare it. Just pour the batter in idly mould and keep it in stove. When it's done, remove it from the stove and serve it hot with some chutney or sambar. You don't have to stand near to the stove forever like dosa or any other breakfast. It's not that she will prepare idly only during festivals or functions. But those days idly is a must.

But idly was a horror breakfast during hostel times. A big no for breakfast during those days! It’s not just idly, sometimes breakfast was a long distant dream.

Now I am settled in Chennai, one of the city famous for idly and dosa and their infinite lovers. There were many weekends I stand in queue to have delicious Idlis from a famous hotel along with lip smacking chutneys and sambar. Chutney is not just one but your plate filled with multi-color chutneys. Red, white, green you choose which color is yours. I am sure that you would also love them if you taste it at least once.

Now I prepare Idlis at home for my two year old son. He loves them. You can prepare the batter at home or buy it from any of the local store. You can get it from anywhere.

Once you have the batter ready, then you need is just an idly mould.  Steel, aluminum, non-stick so many varieties to choose. I have a steel and aluminum. But I choose to prepare in the aluminum mould which is Adi's favorite toy.

Here is how I prepare idly at home.

Recipe: Breakfast

Preparation Time: 10 Hours

Cooking Time: 15 Mins

Serves: 15 Idlis

Ingredients:

Skinned Urad Dal: ½ Cup

Idly Rice: 2 Cups

Salt as required

Water as needed

Method:

Step 1: Wash the rice until the water runs clear. Soak in enough water to cover it by 3 inches and leave aside for 3-4 hours.

Step 2: Wash the Urad dal and soak it as well. Make sure there's enough water for it to absorb and swell. Urad dal requires more water than the rice.

Step 3: Grind the soaked Urad dal and a generous amount of water to the grinder.

Step 4: It will take about 15 mins for the Urad dal to be ground smooth. When you take a little batter and rub between fingers, it should be smooth and flowy. As the Urad dal grinds, it will rise and turn fluffy. This is perfect.

Step 5: Transfer the Urad dal batter to a large enough container and set aside.

Step 6: Grind the Rice next. Rice doesn't need as much water as the dal so add about 1 cup and see if it gets thick as you grind. Grind rice to a smooth paste too.

Step 7: Once done, add this to the Urad dal batter and top off with some salt. Mix gently so that the rice and dal get combined well. The consistency should be fluffy and the batter should fall down easily from your spoon as you mix it.

Step 8: Set aside this batter in a container that is only filled halfway with the batter to allow room for rising during fermentation. Leave the batter overnight.

Step 9:  Next day morning Urad dal would have risen to the top leaving the heavier rice batter at the bottom so you need to mix it uniformly before making idlis.

Step 8: Pour into greased Idli mould and steam for 10-12 mins for super soft and spongy idlis.

So are you guys having some idlis? I am….

Weekend Stories

Lake View

Night rain has reduced the heat little bit. Otherwise even if it's not dawn, it would have been difficult for me to drive this long. It's just gonna be 5 in the morning and I have almost reached my destination. Another ten minutes’ drive from here.

It's always good to drive through the chill air rushing inside with its magnetic spirit, making us feel that the destination never comes.

But today I am even more exited. We are going to have a peaceful day after long days of work and life pressure. Adi is sleeping nicely in his dad's chest who is in his best dreams with calmness in face and heart. I could not afford sleeping right now because we have to reach the place before the sun could come out from the mountains.

At times we spend the weekends there to enjoy ourselves and have the best time without being disturbed by anyone. It's gonna be just me, Adi and him.

A lake flowing through a vast area.  A small farm house near to it which we bought few years back from a friend of us who shifted to another country. A farm house in four acres was not that affordable for us with our financial situations then, but still we were ready to take risk for such a heavenly place. Luckily we are in much better place now.

There are couple of houses nearby which is maintained pretty well. The one next to us is owned by an old couple who got it from their retirement money and made it us a weekend destination. So there will be always some families who spend the weekend with them.

The calmness in the air while the morning Suns first rays touches the water and the light yellow color of the atmosphere is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. The time which I spend here might be the most beautiful in my life. I will have hundreds of beautiful stories to tell about this place. Definitely this story will continue...

Picture of the week

Week # 1:

I am not a great photographer. But I want to share with you some of the pictures which I have taken.

This one I have taken @home for last Diwali.

Nilavilakku

Give Light and the darkness will disappear of Itself.

India is a large country and you can see a variety of cultures, each boasting their own traditions, in different parts of the country. One such practice that is unique to Indian culture is the practice of lighting a lamp. Any auspicious day will not start without this oil lamp being lighted in the house. Diwali is festival of lamps.

Mangoes and Memories

Every Indian will have memories around mangoes. If you have eaten ripe mangoes as a kid, you will know what I am talking about.

As a kid I grew up in a village in Kerala. Unlike other states in India, this is one of the states where you get rain throughout the year. Of Course I have to tell you that it had changed now days since summer started showing its Colors in this beautiful place as well.

We had a mango tree near to my home which was only the one available nearby. The tree was so tall and the mangoes where on top which made it difficult for us to get them. Throwing stones was one of the ways to get those mangoes but I was very bad in it. And we were too small to throw stones and get them. The only source was the heavy wind blew before a thunder storm in the evening time. This was the specialty of the rain in summer time and it comes only in the evening. As soon as the wind blows we, me and my sister and the other kids run towards the tree to pick up the mangoes fallen down due to heavy wind. Kids include everyone from the nearby houses as well. It takes seconds for us to run and pick up the mangoes and run back with the same speed before the raindrops touches the ground.  We made sure that we filled our baskets more than the next one. But most of the time we get drenched and end up in moms scolding. One day like any other we all ran towards the mango tree after a strong wind. As soon as we reached the place a thunder stroked heavily almost like it was on us. With the same speed we came towards the tree we all ran back to our home crying loud. We were so scared that even left the mango baskets near to the tree itself. We were running so fast breathlessly to reach home safe before another such one. After this incident my mom scolded us and told not run for mangoes before rain. Her policy was just to wait until the rain stops and then go and get it. But we knew if we wait for long we will end up getting few mangoes which will not satisfy our taste buds. So her scolding didn't stop us from running towards the tree again on the next day and the many more days to come in all those years. It was always happy ending due to the very tasty mangoes which we ate together watching the heavy rain and the over flowed small river in front of our house. Those days were precious and the mangoes we ate were the most delicious ones.

Then the years pass by and we all grew and settled in different parts of world. Here when I feel like eating mangoes I go pick some from nearby shop which will be filled with them during the season.

At my home my dad has cut of the tall mango tree and planted a new verity. This one is short and the mangoes can be plucked with hands itself.

Now no more running to pick the fallen mangoes and no more thunder strokes. 

Images: https://www.google.co.in

Health benefits of Curry Leaves

Curry Leaves are added to give an aroma and taste to the dishes. But it can give more good to you than just seasoning your food. How many of us know the health benefits of curry leaves? Packed with Carbohydrates, fiber, calcium, phosphorous and vitamins it has many health benefits. However, rather than eating this leaf most of us just throw it away. Know about some of these health benefits of Curry Leaves.

·         Due to the high contents of Vitamin A adding Curry leaves to the daily diet is good for healthy eyes.

·         Curry leaves is effective for indigestion.

·         It contains very strong antioxidant properties which help to treat and prevent skin infections.

·         Curry leaves helps to maintain blood sugar levels by affecting the insulin activity.

·         It also believed to help strengthening hair roots and improve hair growth.

·         A study conducted on the effects of curry leaves on our health has proved that it is very effective in reducing the cholesterol and thus protects us from heart disease.

·         Curry leaves are rich source of iron and folic acid. Folic acid is responsible for iron absorption d since curry leave are rich in both, it is the natural remedy for anemia.

So, the next time you see curry leaves in your plate, don’t throw away but eat them to reap their amazing health benefits.

Images: Google Images

Onion Poha

Here I will tell you about this easy and healthy breakfast recipe.

This is one of the easiest breakfast recipes. But you have to believe me; I have spoiled this dish when I made it for the first time. I never knew how to prepare this and instead of poha it ended up as a gum like rice halwa…

I have tried this recipe only once before and it was a huge blunder. But few days before, I decided to give it a try again. It ended up pretty well and tasty.

Poha can be made with Onions and potato. I made it with Onion. With Onions and seasoning with Chilies, lemon and curry leaves make up a tasty and easy meal.

Onion Poha

Recipe: Break Fast

Preparation Time : 10min

Cooking Time : 20 Min

Serves: 2-3

Ingredients:

Poha/ Pressed Rice : 1 Cup

Oil: 1 Tbsp

Mustard Seeds: 1 Tsp

Black Gram/Urad Dal: 1 Tsp

Bengal Gram/Channa Dal: 1 Tsp

Onions Chopped: 1 Cup

Whole Red Chilies: 2-3

Lemon Juice: 1 Tbsp

Curry Leaves: 8-10

Salt to taste.

Method:

Step 1: Put Poha in a Colander and wash, not letting it soak too long in water. Leave it in the colander to drain out completely.

Step 2: Heat the oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, Bengal Gram, Black gram, curry Leaves and whole red chilies.

Step 3: When it get slightly roasted add onions and sauté well.

Step 4: sauté the onions until it slightly brownish.

Step 5: Now add Poha and salt and mix well.

Step 6: sauté everything till mixed and heated through.

Step 7: now switch off the stove and add the lemon juice.

Have your healthy and tasty breakfast with a happy face. J

Recipes

Until I moved out from home for work, I never had to cook much. Studies was a good reason for being away from kitchen and my dad cooked well in case my mom had to be away for few days. So cooking was not an option for me until I realized that regular meals at a paying guest accommodation might not be that interesting. Depending on nearby restaurants also lost its charm after few days. So we decided to cook, we- me and my friends – started with easy recipes which we know from our home and survived.

So by the time I got married it was bit easy for me to satisfy the home needs. And now I try all type of recipes from most of the known food websites. J

Sometimes when I see the pictures of food, I wish I could make the same, exactly as it looks. It might not be possible always, but I do try my level.

I thought, along with my other curious writings why not include my experiments in kitchen. So here I go…. bear with me and please do try this…