Thengai payasam | Coconut payasam

Happy New years day (Ugadi)!!!! We celebrate ugadi. So for this day my sil gave me a suggestion to do thengai payasam. I have seen in many blogs thengai paysam is prepared with jaggery. But in our house we used to add only sugar and sometimes with any food color. Any sweet prepared with coconut tastes good. This kheer tasted delicious with mild cardamon flavor.

Lemon sevai

Idiyappam is such a wonderful dish, that you can have plenty of varieties to do with it. Idiyppam can be taken as such with any side dish or prepared as sevai. Each sevai taste differently, I have posted only lemon sevai here. Sweet sevai, pepper sevai, vegetables sevai, coconut sevai it goes on..... Will try to update as much as I can. Mostly for guest we prepare sweet sevai and lemon sevai, which are very common. The ingredients list may be big, but very easy to prepare with common ingredients.

Panakam and vadapappu

Panakam/Panagam and vadapappu is prepared during Sri Ram Navami festival. It is celebrated in the mark of Hindu god Rama's birthday. I have heard my friends saying Ram festival is so easy that you don't have to prepare much, a simple festival. No cooking required for both the recipes except for the latter you have to temper. 

Panakam is generally a coolant for summer. Vadapappu is high in protein and a good salad, cucumber can also be added. If offering for god you can skip the vegetables too.

Hummus

I had a bunch of tortillas and planned to do some wrap. For wrap base I used hummus. Hummus is an excellent protein dip for pita bread or any tortilla chips. When prepared with fresh chickpeas it tastes wonderful. For instant preparation use canned beans. 

Peanut salad

I make sure I do a salad once in a week. I use to send salad for kids snack box. A very healthy and protein rich salad. If you are not allergic to peanuts try this salad and you will sure love it. Every bite taste so good and healthy too....

Pasta with sundried tomatoes

I was wondering what to do with sun-dried tomatoes by that time my sister send me this recipe. The taste was totally different with the usual pasta sauces. It turned out good with the herbs and olive oil in sun-dried tomatoes. If need, add vegetables of your choice.

Idiyappam | String hopper

Idiyappam or string hopper is a traditional dish in Kerala  prepared with rice flour. Steamed dishes are always good for health. When sick, the doctor suggest us to have idli or idiyappam in India, in other countries too the white bread or food is suggested when your tummy is upset or any kind of sickness. Food prepared with rice or easy to digest.

This can be taken as plain with any side dish or can be prepared as sevai.

Fruit kesari

I have a sweet tooth. During my childhood, whenever I feel like eating something I would say kesari, instant sweet that can be done in jiffy. Anyone can do it. No sugar consistency, no stirring too much, an simple dessert that everyone loves. The plain version has no fantasy but the fruit kesari is the fusion of fruits combined with kesari. Great for parties, festivals, weddings,...... 

A colorful combination for Holi festival. On this day, people hug and wish each other 'Happy Holi' and threw colors.

Happy Holi 2014 to all my friends and readers.

Karadaiyan nombu adai (sweet and salt)

Tomorrow Friday(14th of March) is Karadaiyan nombu celebrated by South Indians. We don't have a custom of celebrating this festival, but last three years I get this adai from my friends. So don't want to miss this year of eating :). For posting here, I prepared yesterday itself.

Masala chai | tea

Masala chai or tea is a flavored hot beverage, popular in India. It is made by brewing black tea with Indian spices. My mom used to prepare the best masala tea. Ginger is the herb used to cure cold and has a lot of medicinal values too.

Lot of variations can be done in this. Cardamon and ginger alone can be added for ginger tea. Dry roasting the masala is vital to enhance the flavor of spices. Do not skip that. Follow these simple steps to have a wonderful beverage......

Onion paratha

Onion paratha is just mixing and preparing, no stuffing involved. Sounds cool rite!!! When in hurry you can do onion parathas. If you are out of vegetables but carving for any parathas. Try this.....

Cucumber salad

Cucumber salad - to be true this is not a recipe, just an idea. A very quick salad for boring days. Whenever I have cucumber only I used to add pepper and salt and hint of lemon, for a nice accompaniment. I used mandolin slicer, knife can also be used. For more flavor drop some olive oil into the salad, gives a shiny effect too.

Vegetable kurma

Vegetable kurma is accompanied with rotis or pooris. A popular south Indian dish served in every restaurants with plain chapathis. There are lot of varieties in kurma with a combination of any 2 vegetables or paneer, likewise.....This one is very common mixed vegetable kurma.

I do with idiyappam too. I avoid coconut and grind nuts only for idiyappam kurma. A kind of rich and sweet taste with raisins. Will try to post soon...