Bajji - Boundless Evening Snack!!

Boundless Bajji - with Onion, Plantain and Potato

It's been more than a year since i made bajji. don't know why it took me so long to make bajji. propably i get that "craving" to eat bajji only during the winter... hot bajji and filter coffee.. such an awesome combo. A simple fried gram

Chinese Elbows

Chinese Elbows - Macaroni in Chinese Style

Unexpected holiday.. make it special !!

Today, is a study holiday for my daughter. so, its just myself and my daughter in our house for lunch. i decided to cook my daughter's favourite - pasta or noodles. i wanted to make something easy to cook but good to eat. my daughter asked for Chinese noodles. but i had only elbow macaroni in home. that's how we ended up having Chinese Elbow for lunch. 

Black (Whole) Urad Dhal Laddu

கறுப்பு உளுந்து லட்டு  - Black (Whole) Urad Dhal Laddu

Only recently i noticed that urad dhal is one of the key ingredient in many of south Indian recipes. It is only for the past few decades we have been using white skinned (white) urad dhal. Before that it was the black whole urad dhal which was mostly in use. There were many special recipes here in Tamil Nadu with whole black urad dhal exclusively for its health benefits. Example உளுத்தம் களி, உளுத்தம் கஞ்சி, உளுத்தம் வடை, உளுத்தம் புட்டு, உளுத்தம் தோசை, உளுத்தம் லட்டு etc. Urad dhal is good to be consumed by women especially young girls during menstruation.

Karuvepilai Chutney (Curry Leaf Chutney)

Karuvepilai Chutney (Curry Leaf Chutney)

I have tried many versions of karivepilai chutney. But this recipe is awesome flavourful and goes very well with idli and dosai. perfectly sauteed curry leaves.. right amount of dry red chillies and tamarind gives this chutney a balanced flavour and taste which is perfect for idli/dosai or bajji/bonda. It is quiet easy to make in the busy mornings too. 

Channa masala - "Fast food" Style

Channa Masala - "Fast Food" Style

Everytime, Channa masala tastes little different where ever we eat. doesn't it? But, i always enjoy eating it. 

"Semmai Marabu Koodal" in Chennai.

சென்னையில் "செம்மை" மரபுக்கூடல் 

For details: www.semmaivanam.org

Boondi Laddu - Let's Bring It back this Deepawali

Guess Lot of Us Lost the Love for this Luscious Laddu..

For more sweets and snacks ideas click here - Deepawali

Laddu.. used to be a main sweet in the weddings, festivals, special occasions etc. But now a days.. kids prefer some fancy sweets to these traditional boondi laddu. Being born and raised in this land, I think it I to sow some seeds of love for these traditional sweets in our kids hearts. I am making boondi laddu this Deepawali. 

Beetroot Halwa - For Beautiful Moments

Beetroot Halwa

When I see brilliant colours in flowers, fruits and vegetables.. I have always wondered how nature brings these bright pigments in one place. In flowers, its colours and fragrances.. in fruits and veggies its colours and tastes. I always relate colour to happiness. when I see any fully bloomed Cassia fistula tree this summer.. I feel it is the most happiest tree on earth. It just flowers like crazy. That is so very contagious.. I feel happy the very instant I see it. I can understand why flowers and fruits are brilliantly coloured. But why beets and carrots are colourful.. they are roots!!