Thai Pusam - 2009

Thaipusam, celebrated in honour of Lord Muruga (Karthikeyan). He is main lord of tamilian, he is also known as Tamil Kadavul and Hindus believe that sins can be cleansed by fasting during thaipusam and performing small pooja at your home and visiting any murugan temple that day. All your requests to the lord will be fulfilled this day. This year it is celebrated on 8th February 2009 - Good time for Pooja is morning 6:30 - 7:30 am and evening 3:30 - 4:30 pm

My dad born and bought in malaysia, took us to Batu Caves in Selangor 15 km north of Kuala Lumpur during Thaipusam day, I was surprised to see so many tamilians with kavadi and playing drums and offering their sincere prayers, to be frank i was thinking diwali is the festival that is more popular among hindus, but when i saw this one, i felt that i was wrong. Here is the Pic of the Lord Karthikeya.

Thaipusam, which falls in the month January or February each year, to be precise on Thai month[Tamil] and pusam star, This is a day of penance and thanksgiving for Hindus.

Fasting for Thai Pusam:

• Waking up early morning, taking bath.



• Perform pooja and Aarthi in presence of lord murga.



• Observe vegetarian diet through out the day.



• Again performing pooja in the evening at home and visiting temple.



• Mediate by chanting the name of lord muruga and your wishes will be fulfilled.

Thai Pusam at my home:

• I clean my pooja room and kitchen.



• Morning for pooja i prepared some sweet[I prepared semiya - jivarisi Payasam] and offered it to lord.



• Performed aarthi and chanted Lord name for 101 times



• I sung Kadhar Shasthi kavam[Song in praise of Lord Murga].

Chilli Baaji/Milagai Baaji

Ingredients:

• chilli/Lengthy Jalapenos - 6


• Gram flour – 1cup


• Corn flour – 1tbsp


• Soombu powder – 1tsp


• cumin poeder - 1tsp


• Ginger-Garlic paste – 1tsp


• Chilly powder – 1tsp


• Salt – reqd


• Oil - For Frying

Method:

• wash and cut chilly into finger size. (can cut into 2pc or use whole chilly)


• mix all other ingredients together to form a thick batter[Consistency should be of dosa batter]


• Heat oil in the kadai, set the flame to high medim


• Now dip each chilli in this flour and deep fry.

Chilli Bajji ready to serve, goes well with chilli ketchup or corriander chutney

Onion Pakoda

I love this dish with rasam sadam. I always get this from one of the road side shop near my home. They prepare it very cripsy, I have mentioned how to get this pakoda cripsy, I believe you will all love this recipe, try it and enjoy.

Ingredients:

• Besan/ Gram Flour - 1/2 cup


• Rice flour - 1/4 cup


• Baking soda -pinch


• Onion - 2 mediumsize - Thinly sliced length wise


• Green chillies - 4 - Thinly sliced length wise


• Ginger - 1/2 inch - Thinly sliced length wise


• Curry leaves - Chopped fine


• Corriander leaves - Chopped fine


• Cashews roasted - optional [just to make it more rich]


• salt


• Oil for frying

Preparation:

• Mix all the above mentioned ingredients except for oil to make a dry mixture


• When to try to hold a part of it, they should stick to each other


• If you feel the mixture is very dry, just sprinkle water - 2 drops


• The mixture should be absoultely dry.


• Once you are done with the mixing.


• Heat oil in a big tawa, as you are going to deep fry it, add enough of oil to the tava.


• Once the oil in hot, add just 2 tsp of oil from the tava and add to the mixture, by doing this your pakoda will be more crisp.


• Now just break the flour into small pieces and fry till golden brown.

Serve it hot with chilli sos.

Bagala bath

This recipe i got from a temple pujari, in chennai. They serve this rice to people visit this Vishnu temple on thrusdays. I really enjoy this whenever i go there, i am happy to share with with you all.

I am happy to publish my Final entry for Kids - event - Milk contest, initiated by sharmi and conducted by preety.

Ingredients:

• Rice - 1/2 cup


• Thick Curd - 1 cup


• Butter - 3 tsp


• Grated Ginger - 1 tsp


• Green chillies - chopped 4


• Salt


• Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp


• Sesame oil - 4 tsp


• Grated raw mango - 1 tsp

Preparation:

• Pressure cook the rice, leave 4 to 5 whistles, the rice have to smashed to semi paste along with salt.


• Now add the butter to it mix well.


• Now mix the curd and ginger with this paste.


• Heat the seasame oil, once the oil is hot add mustard seeds,once it splutters


• add greenchillies, some cashews nuts saute it and add to the mixture


• Garnish with grated mango.

Enjoy it with pickle or vattal milagai.

Rava Upma / Sooji Upma

Rava Upma is one of most popular breakfast in south india. It gives you a great filling in the morning, very nutritious diet too. You can enjoy with dish with sugar. Can be served for all ages right from kids.

Ingredients:

• Rava / Sooji -1 cup
• Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Broken Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
• Hing - Pinch
• Cashews - 1 tsp
• Curry Leaves - 1 string
• Finely chopped onion - 1
• Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Corriander leaves - for garnish
• Oil - for sauting

Preparation:

• Dry roast rava for 2 min


• Remove it from heat and keep it aside


• Heat 2 tsp of oil in kadai, add mustard seeds, once it splutters, add urad dal,cumin seeds,hing,curry leaves,cashews.


• Add the finely chopped onion, add salt to taste and saute till onion gets cooked


• Now add 2 glass of water, once the water boils.


• Add the roasted rava to this, mix well with water.


• Keep the flame in medium, cook this closed.


• Between keep stiring it then and there.


• Once all the water evaporated rava will be cooked


• Switch off the gas, close the pan and let it remain for 5 min


• Garnish with corriander leaves

Serve this hot with coconut chutney or sambhar.

February Calender 2009

Paal Panjamirtham / Jaggy Milko fruit

Panjamirtham - means mixture of five healthy and nutrient ingredients.

My five ingredients include Milk,Honey,Fruits,Jaggery and Dry ginger powder.

All the above mentioned ingredients are rich source of vitamins.

I am happy to publish my Second entry for Kids - event - Milk contest, initiated by sharmi and conducted by preety.

All kids will have great fun enjoying this dish :)

Ingredients:

• Banana – 1 ripen
  
• Dates – finely grated – ¼ cup
  
• Raisins/Dry grapes – 2 tsp
  
• Milk – 1 cup
  
• Jaggery grated– 1/2 cup
  
• Dry ginger powder/sukku – Pinch
  
• Honey – 1 tsp

Preparation Method:

• Boil the Milk, heat it till it becomes 1/2 to 1/4 glass, the milk should be thick. Do this keeping the milk in medium low flame. Keep this aside.


• Powder the grated jaggery.


• Take a separate bowl, smash the banana,add the grated grapes, add the dry grapes, jaggery,dry ginger powder,honey and the add the warm milk to this mixture.


• Cool it slightly and serve to the kids.