Yummy Mango Slices sprinkled with niceness!!!! – Street Foods & Snacks.

I really dont know whats with me and mangoes. I find gazillion ways and including mangoes in my dishes now and then. I remember, as a child in our earlier home in Chennai. my dad had planted a mango sapling when I was a baby!. By the time I was in high school, the mango [...]

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Navarathri Neivedhyam – Saraswathy Pooja – Ulundhu Vadai.(Crispy Savoury Snack made from Black Gram Dhal)

Crispy Black Gram Dhal Vadas were always my favourite from when I was a little girl. Madurai amma used to make them at home for all important festivals and I used to love to bite in to their crispy exterior and spongy insides!!!   I have two maternal uncles living in the north and whenever they [...]

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Navarathri Neivedhyam Day 8 – Black Channa Sundal garnished with sliced coconut pieces.

On this Ashtami of Navarathri I wanted to make an all time favourite – Black Channa Sundal garnished with sliced coconut pieces. Black Channa is very common among our homes as a classic Neivedhyam for Navarathri. It is in fact made on Saraswathy Pooja day as the “traditional” offering to Sarswathy, in my home. Just [...]

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Sutta Appalam Inji Kuzhambu. ( Fire roasted Appalam cooked in Ginger Tamarind Gravy).

Every morning when its time to decide the day`s menu, I promise you I really get stumped. It`s the same story everyday….I decide on Vazhakkai Podimas and then to my dismay realise that I am out of Dhania for the spice powder. Then I think why not Pavakkai Pitlae, but the pavakkai is in a [...]

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Yennai Kathirikkai Kara Kuzhambu.(Baby Brinjals filled with spices fried in oil soaked in spicy tamarind gravy)

Eggplants have always been my husband`s  favourite vegetable. He loves it in any form. I know a lot of people who are allergic to eggplants because of the seeds in it.In addition to featuring a host of vitamins and minerals, eggplant also contains important phytonutrients, many which have antioxidant activity. Phytonutrients contained in eggplant include [...]

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Quick Fix Arisi Upma (Upma made from coarse cream of rice cooked with seasoned spices)

Every evening from school meant having tiffin prepared by dear Madurai amma. It would not be a lot in quantity, just a little bit to satisfy that crazy hunger pangs when you come home from school after a tiring day and a crowded journey jostled in public transport. It would not even be warm, let [...]

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YajurVeda Upakarma (Avani Avittam) – Significance & Purpose.

Avani Avittam, as I remember, was a day when the men of the family went to the temples, in the morning for performing the Upakarma, in the temples. Upakarma (/upaakarma/) means beginning or “Arambham“, i.e. to begin the study of the Veda (Veda Adhyayanam). For example, Yajur Upakarma means to begin the study of the [...]

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Mini Kozhukattai – Ammini Kozhukattai (Steamed mini rice balls spiced with seasonings).

Ammini Kozhukattais – I have no clue about the origin of that name and how we came about calling that delicacy that. I know that whenever we set out to make Uppu Kozhukattais and Vella Kozhukattais, we would normally have the outer dough leftover and so amma would always make these mini delicacies!!! In my [...]

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Corriander Rice Pulav with Vegetables.

Corriander has always been my all time favourite garnish. Now there are really two schools of thought on the subject of corriander garnish. My grandmother etc has always been on the opinion that a good dish prepared sumptously with ingredients in the right proportion, with devotion, can stand up for flavour and taste all by [...]

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Quick N Tangy Tomato Ginger Gravy.

This is a quick side dish for Pongal /Vada/ Chappathi/Dosa /Puris  and Idlis. It`s pretty much easy and simple to make but vrey delicious and appetising. I remember one time when my mami made this for Pongal. We simply lapped it up!!! Yeah…its that good!!! INGREDIENTS: 4 Big Slicing Tomatoes or Tomatoes on the Vine. [...]

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