Vishu sadya

Vishu

.....my Vishu kani..!!

Vishu is a festival held in the state of Kerala around the first day in the Malayalam month of Medam (April –May). Vishu is also considered as the Malayalam New Year day and thus the importance of this day to all Malayalees regardless of their religion or sect.The festival is marked with offerings to the divine called Vishukkani. The offerings consist of a ritual arrangement in the puja room of auspicious articles like raw rice, fresh linen, golden cucumber, betel leaves, arecnut, mirror, the yellow flowers "konna poovu" , and a holy text like Ramamyanam and coins, in a bell metal vessel . A lighted bell metal lamp or" nilavilakku" is also placed alongside. This arrangement is completed the previous night. On the day of Vishu, the custom is to wake up at dawn and go to the puja room with the eyes closed so that the Vishukkani is the first thing one sees. Since the occasion marks the beginning of Malayalam New Year, it is also considered auspicious to read verses from Hindu Holy book Ramayanam after seeing the "Vishukkani". It is also believed by some that the page of the Ramayanam to which you open up will have a bearing on your life in the coming year.

Bursting crackers is part and parcel of the celebration especially for children. Elders gift firecrackers to children and every child vie with each other to make a world of their own. The smell of the lingering smell of the fire crackers on a Vishu morning is a long cherished nostalgic memory of any Malayalee. The people wear new clothes (Puthukodi) for the occasion and the elders of the family distribute tokens of money to the children, servants and tenants. These tokens are called Vishukkaineetam and are usually in the form of coins. People carry on this custom believing that in this way, their children will be blessed with prosperity in the future.
Vishu is also a day of feasting. "Sadya" which includes plenty of vegetarian dishes followed by sweet dishes "payasams" is an integral part of Vishu.Sadya is served on banana leaf.

Paneer Jalfraezi

This is a quick recipe when you are really running short of time .

Ingredients:

1. Paneer(cottage cheese) - 400 gms
2. tomatoes - 2 med sized
3. capsicums - 2 med sized
4. onions - 2 med sized
5. ginger - 2" piece
6. green chillies - 1-2
7. coriander leaves - 1/4 med bunch
8. whole red chillies - 2
9. cumin seeds - 1 tsp
10. red chilly powder - 1 tsp
11. turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
12. vinegar - 1 1/2 tbsp
13. garam masala powder - 1 tsp
14. oil - 3 tbsp
15. salt to taste

Method:

• Cut paneer into 2" long pieces.Cut toamtoes & capsicums into 2" long slices.Cut onions into thick slices & separate the different layers.
• Cut ginger into julienne.Finely chop green chillies & coriander leaves.
• Heat oil in a wok.Add cumin seeds.when they crackle add broken red chillies.Add ginger julienne ,green chillies and onions.Saute for a minute.
• Add red chilly powder and turmeric powder.Stir well and add capsicum.Cook for 2 mts.Add paneer fingers and toss.Add salt and vinegar and cook for 2 more mts.Stir in tomato pieces and garam masala.
• Serve hot garnished with coriander leaves.

Mooli Paratha

A very common dish in North India.There are a variety of ways to make it ..this is just one of them..

Ingredients:

1. Wheat flour - 2 cups
2. Radish - 1 cup (grated fine)
3. onion - 1 tbsp(chopped finely)
4. red chilly powder - 1 tsp
5. cumin seed powder - 1 tsp
6. ginger - 1 tsp( grated)
7. salt to taste
8. water to knead dough

Method:

Mix wheat flour,salt,& enough water to form a soft pliable dough.Add salt to grated radish & leave aside for 5 mts. squeeze out the water completely that comes out.Add onion,ginger,cumin seed powder,red chilly powder to radish.Mix well.

Make balls out of the wheat dough.Roll out medium sized chappattis.Place one chappatti on a plate .Spread the radish mixture evenly .Place another chapatti on top & press the edges to seal thoroghly.Roll the paratha lightly again.Heat a griddle .Spray a little oil.Place the paratha over it .Once it cooks on one side flip it apply a little oil & cook on the other side also until brown spots appear.Mooli parathas are ready to eat!!

Apple Coconut pudding

This is my contribution for Maheswari's AFAM..I am not sure if this satisfies the conditions of AFAM..please let me know my faults so i can improve in future...This is a pudding to be served warm..

Ingredients:

1. Apples - 1/2 kg (peeled & cut in 1/2" pieces)
2. powdered sugar - 1/4 cup + 1/2 cup
3. butter - 1/2 cup softened
4. all purpose flour - 1 cup
5. dessicated coconut powder - 1/2 cup
6. baking pwder - 1 tsp
7. eggs - 2 nos.
8. milk - 1/2 cup
9. raisins - 2 tbsp
10. vanilla essence - 1 tsp

Method:

• Mix apples with 1/4 cup sugar & 1 tbsp butter in a microproof dish.Microwave for 4 mts.Keep aside.
• Sift flour & baking powder.Add coconut powder & raisins.
• Separate egg whites in a dry bowl.Beat till peaks form.keep aside.
• In a large mixing bowl beat butter & 1/2 cup sugar. add egg yolks & essence.mix well
• Add flour mix & milk to the butter mixture.Beat well to get a soft dropping consistency.
• Gently fold in the beaten egg whites.Spread the batter over the fruit.
• Preheat oven to 180 degree Celsius .Bake for 25-30 mts until top is slightly brown.
• Serve the pudding with cold custard custard or ice cream.

Trip to the Jungle

Hi friends, i know i had been away for a quite a while now .Actually it was a much needed break that me, my Dear & my lil' one had taken .We both love travelling & ever since we have been married we have been to plenty of places in India, especially in the Northern states . From the hill stations in Uttaranchal & Himachal to the desert in Rajasthan. In the last 6 years we had been to some exclusive places like Rohtang, Auli, Narkanda, Rishikesh, Kausani, Osian, Bikaner, Mandwa & ofcourse the well-known places like Manali, Shimla, Nainital, Agra etc.

This time we went to Bandhavgarh National Park in the North East of Madhya Pradesh in Umaria District (180 Kms by road from Jabalpur). It is supposed to have the maximum density of tigers in india.It claims to have about 46to 52 tigers. If you wish to see tiger in the wild, then this is the place to come, especially in the months of March/April/May. Though it is not as popular as other national parks in india like Kanha & Corbett, I bet this is the best place for tiger spotting . We had been to Corbett as well but had to satisfy ourselves with warning calls of Sambhar, peacock . We even went on elephant back hoping to spot at least a sleeping fellow, but in vain.

Bandhavgarh was truly a unique experience. Its about 200kms drive from Jabalpur. Most of it was good roads barring a small patch . For those of you who would love to travel this side, a word of caution -there are no decent eateries in this entire stretch. So pack your own food, especially if you are travelling with kids. We started in the morning reached the MP tourism's White Tiger Resort by noon. Had a quick grub , hopped onto the dilapidated jeep that was provided by resort guys & zoom we go into the jungle with little hope of seeeing the beast ; what after our Corbett trip.we just enered the core area & we see a coule of jeeps parked close to a bush of elephant grass.we ask the driver to drive towards that side .all hushing there is a tiger sleeping inside the bush .one group of travellers jump onto elephant backs .the idea is to make the elephant disturb the tiger so tht it comes out .the elphant goes in & there!!!..i could see the stripes of the animal . Our jeep along with others quickly turned to the other side of the bush where it is expected to come out..we wait for a couple of minutes ..&THERE COMES THE MAJETIC ANIMAL!!!!how beautiful it looked moving very slowly not bothered about how many people have come form places to see him...It went across to the other side stood for a little while .saw a chital at a distance became a little firm ..we thot its going to charge ..but he decided against .probably was already full.and sat down..& went off to sleep again..that was quite an experience.
we went all over the jungle hoping to see more of it & finally on our way back to the exit gate ...we saw it again .this was a tigress.she went to the water hole nearby drank water for quite loooongtime ...came to a place where she had kept a kill & started eating .we were so lucky this time we spotted the beautiful animal about four times in two jungle safaris.
It was a worthwhile trip..i would recommend Bandhavgarh to all those who wish to see tiger!!...
ps.Shall some pics soon..