D.I.Y LAMP SHADE DECORATION

Easy to do decoration

THINGS NEEDED

1.ACRYLIC SPRAY PAINT

2.FOAM DECORATIONS PIECES OF YOUR CHOICE

3.GOLDEN BEADS .

Method

1.Spray paint any acrylic colour spray paint of your choice.I chose blue because our bedroom has blue colour paint.

2.Stick designs of your choice.I have used butterflies made of foam.And golden beads.

It’s very easy and cost effective.

Can try different decorations like stones and beads of different colors.

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VEGETABLE BRIYANI

Ingredients

• Rice..2 cups
• Cloves….4
• Tomatoes..2
• Cardamom…6
• Carrot………1 or 2
• Green Chillies….4
• Beans……6
• Big onion…2 to 3
• Cashews…few
• Coriander leaves..1 bunch
• Peas…1/2 cup
• Mint leaves…1bunch
• Potato ..1 large
• Turmeric…2 tsp
• Water..4cups or coconut milk
• Lime..1
• Garlic…8 flakes
• Ginger…1 inch piece
• Cinnamon…2″piece
• Salt to taste
• Bread few slices

Method

Wash and drain rice.

Peel and cut carrots and potatoes in long,thin slices.

Slice onions and split green chillies

Grind ginger and garlic

Cut bread into small pieces and fry in ghee.

1. In a pressure cooker add ghee then add cinnamon,cloves,cardomoms and cashews.
2. Now add onions and green chillies till crisp.
3. Add tomato pieces and ground masala fry till the oil separate s
4. Add other vegetables fry slightly and now add water or coconut milk.
5. When it begins to boil add mint leaves,coriander leaves,turmeric powder ,salt and finally rice.
6. Close the cooker with it’s lid
7. Put weight and cook for 10 mts on slow fire or keep for one whistle
8. Remove from the stove and allow the pressure to subside.
9. Remove weight open the lid and add bread and lime juice and mix well.

If you want more spicy can add chilly powder also can add ready-made briyani masala.

This is a flavourful Indian rice dish.

Serve with raitha and papad.

GREEN GRAM THORAN/ PASIPAYAR THORAN

Keralites prepare different types of thoran.Green gram thoran is one among them.Green gram is very rich in proteins,iron,Vit.B, Magnesium,Vit A,Calcium and Vit.B12.

In short it is packed with protein and low carbs.It is filling even small quantity is taken.It is easy to digest.

I learnt this recipe after my marriage when I came to Kerala.

Ingredients

• Coconut scrapings…1/4 cup
• Green gram………… .1 cup
• Red chillies………. ..2 or 3
• Curry leaves……. a few
• Cumin seeds…….1/4 tsp
• Shallots……… A few.
• Garlic pods…..2 or 3
• Coconut oil….1 to 2 TBS
• Mustard seeds…1/4 tsp
• Urad dhal…..1/2 tsp
• Green chillies…2 or 3
• Turmeric powder…1/4 tsp.

Wash and soak green gram for atleast

4 hrs.

Method.

1. Pressure cook green gram for 4 to 5 whistles.
2. Put shallots,green chillies and garlic pods in a jar and whip it.
3. Take a kadai when it gets heated pour coconut oil
4. Now add mustard seeds when it splutters add urad dhal and when it turns brown add red chillies and curry leaves then add coconut scrapings and turmeric powder.
5. After few seconds add cooked green gram and grounded mixture and salt and mix well.

Some grind coconut scrapings green chillies , garlic pods and cumin seeds and add to the mixture.

Any option according to your taste.

This thoran is a side dish for rice but in Kerala they take it as a side dish with kanji which is a favourite food for Keralites.

KOLU/NAVARATRI CELEBRATIONS.

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Among various Hindu festivals navrathri is an important one.As the name itself suggests it is celebrated for nine days.It is celebrated different ly in different parts of India.It is celebrated religiously and socially across India.

In some states of India Durga Pooja is celebrated.Goddess Durga battles and emerges victorious over buffalo demon to help restore dharmam.

The story goes Goddess Durga received great power to fight against mahishasuran.so all the other God’s transmitted their power to Durga and later turned into statues.In order to respect their sacrifice we keep kolu at home.

In these days poojas are done.Some people keep kolu in their houses.Golu is the festive display of dolls and figurines in South India during navrathri time.These displays are thematic,some narate legend from Hindu text and cultural issue.

A series of steps is set up.This may in wood or metal or any stand is used.It is mandatory that the arrangement of the koludolls should be off number of steps like3,5,7,9.It can be simple or elaborate.The women of the house invite the other women and girl children to inspect kolu,eat some snacks,sing songs in front of it and exchange goodies.

The celebration of nine nights has been died into three groups.Day1 to 3 for Goddess Durga,4to 6 for Lakshmi and 7 to 9 for Saraswati.

Kolu begins with a kalasa pooja instead of a photo or a idol Goddess Durga is represented in the form of kalasam.A brass or silver pot filled with water covered with a coconut and mango leaves.It is believed that Goddess Durga reside inside the kalasam during the nine days of the puja and brings peace and prosperity into our homes.

Arrangements of Kolu Padi

• Kolu Padi1 to 3

In these we keep idola of Goddess Durga,Lakshmi and Saraswati.Also will keep dolls of Shiva ,Vishnu and others.

• Kolu padi4to 6

Here one keeps the idols of saints,like Guru Ragavender,Saibaba,Azhwars and National leaders.

• Kolu Padi 7

Dolls of your choice.like festivals,marriage,functions or poojas.These can be with a set of dolls conveying the theme.

• Padi 8

This can be for creativity.Also will keep chettiar and chettichi with the household things in front of them.

• Padi 9

Marapachi dolls. This is made of wood and mostly will be in pair.

Then we can have themes like park,zoo, playground etc.

Sarawati Pooja is celebrated on the ninth day of the festival.If one is not able to keep for all the nine days can keep for at least last three days.

The day next to Saraswati Pooja is Vijayadasami.This day is special to start anything new.xhildren are introduced to the world of letters.It makes a new and prosperous beginning. Even other art forms will be started.

So though they say 9 days literally 11 days are included in this.

Some dos for the Pooja:

• Women should have head bath daily.
• Put kolam in front of the kolu.
• Offer neivedyam twice a day.Morning can keep rice varieties and in the evening can keep snack items like various sundal varieties using lentils or sweets or vadai.
• Some avoid usage of onion and garlic.
• When we remove kolu we should move the doll towards north.Put the dolls to sleep after neivedyam.
• Suppose if the 10rhday is Friday or Tuesday put the dolls to sleep after 10th morning neivedyam and make the sleep till noon.
• Sprinkle water from kalasamon the family members and the remaining water to the Tulsi plant
• Can cover the stand or steps using cloth.
• Steps must face North or East.

When small we used to wear silk skirts plait our hair with the kunj lam keep flowers.some stitch flowers like thalamboo or Jasmine in their plait. That is dress traditionally and visit houses.

The scientific reason behind preparing sundal is that we get easily tired and feel it due to weather.So protein rich diet is recommended.

Vijayadasami day is the day for victory over evil.It makes new properous and new beginning so children are introduced to the world of learning. Also they begin learning art forms like music and dancing.

I don’t keep kolu in my home but my my close friend Rathi keeps Kolu in her house .I have shared the photos of her Kolu. Each year she arranges differently and is very well arranged.

The above three photos are my neighbour ushas Kolu.

PEANUT SUNDAL

Navaratri is close by so thought of posting a sundal recipe .This is slightly different from the regular method.This is very healthy evening time snack for children too.Very easy to prepare.

Ingredients:

• Peanut…….250 gms
• Red chillies…2 or 3
• Oil………2 TBS
• Mustard seeds…..1/2 tsp
• Urad dhal……..1 tsp
• Coconut scrapings….2 TBS
• Curry leaves few
• Coriander leaves finely chopped 1 tsp
• Salt as required
• Sundal powder …1 tsp or 2 tsp
• Onion chopped 1 tbs(optional)

For Powder

• Coriander seeds….2 TBS
• Channa dhal……..2 TBS
• Red chillies………2 or 3
• Dry roast all three and powder it.
• Can keep in refrigerator for many days
• Method

1.Soak peanuts for few hours.

2.Pressure cook for 3 whistles.

3.In a kadai pour oil when heated add mustard seeds when it splutters add urad dhal.

4.When it turns brown if you are adding onions add after putting red chillies then add curry leaves.

5. Add peanut to it then salt,two tsp of powder, coconut scrapings.

6. Finally add chopped coriander leaves.

OPTIONS

Some will not use onion during Navaratri then u can skip that.

If u don’t want the powder u can increase the number of red chillies.

Some don’t likecoriander leaves if u don’t want can skip that too

COLACASIA FRY/ARBI FRY

Arbi fry can be a starter or can be eaten as a side dish for variety rice like lime rice or even for rasam.In my home it’s a all time favourite for all.

Ingredients:

• Cheppankizhangu
• Salt as required
• Red chilli powder
• Oil for frying.
• 1 to 2 TBS oil to marinate

Method:

1. Clean colacasia and you steam cook or cook in pressure cooker for 2 whistles.
2. Remove the skin .It will peel off easilyShould be slimy but not mushy.
3. Add chilli powder and sprinkle salt and oil to marinate after cutting into 2 pieces.
4. Marinate and keep it in fridge for 10 to 15 mts.
5. Either fry it deep fry or fry in a non-stick pan adding oil liberally.

The vegetable has to be cooked properly.It goes well with morkulambu.

RAJMA SUNDAL/RED KIDNEY BEANS SUNDAL

Red kidney beans is a variety of the common beans.They are good source of several vitamins and minerals such as folate, cz molybdenum,iron,copper,manganese, potassium,vit.K,and phosphorus.

• Ingredients
• Rajma beans……..1cup
• Oil………….1 to 2 tsp
• Mustard seeds….1/4 tsp
• Urad dhal……..1/2 tsp
• Green chillies…2 or 3 as required
• Curry leaves ….A few
• Coconut scrapings….2 tsp
• Salt as required.

Soak rajma overnight for 7 to 8 hrs.And pressure cook for 5 to 6 whistles.

METHOD

1. Keep aside the cooked beans.
2. In a kadai.pour oil.
3. Then add mustard seeds when it splutters add urad dhal.
4. When urad dhal turns brown add green chillies and curry leaves.
5. When it gets fried add cooked rajma salt and when it blends well add coconut scrapings.

MINI IDLI IN SAMBAR/SAMBAR IDLI

Among tiffin items sambar idli is the one which can be prepared either ordinary ones or with mini idlis.Idlis is a soft spongy cake like tiffin tem made from rice and lentil batter.In most SouthIndian homes they prepare this almost daily.It is cooked by steaming so suitable for all ages.It is done in a stone wet grinder or in a mixer grinder Today I’m going to give a variety using idli.Same way there are many varieties of sambar. For this I’m sharing moong dhal sambar or it may be called tiffin sambar.

Ingredients:

• Rice ….4 cups
• Round urad dhal….1 cup
• Fenugreek seeds….1 TSP
• Salt as required.

Method:

Soak rice and dhal four to six hours.

The batter is done in a stone wet grinder or in a mixer grinder.

• Procedure for batter
• First clean the grinder and add dhal to it and grind it.Add enough water.Check in between while grinding and sprinkle water as and when needed.Approximately it will need 20 to25 mts for grinding.The batter should be soft ,fluffy and flow.Remove it and keep it in a big container.
• Now without cleaning the grinder add rice to it then add water to it.Grind the rice into smooth paste.It will take 35 to 40 mts.
• Now add the rice batter to the dhal batter add required amount of salt and mix well.Store in a large container in a big container.
• Keep aside for fermenting .It should be kept for 8 to 10 hrs.The fermenting time depends on the temperature and climatic conditions.Weather is very important as insummerit will ferment quickly and in winter it will take longer time.
• Fenugreek seeds can be added for grinding dhal.
• If we grind in the morning can store in the refrigerator in the evening. If we grind in the evening can keep it in the morning..
• Now the process of making idli.
• Grease the idli stand with oil,then take a spoon of batter and pour in the moulds. Steam in idli pot.
• This may take upto 12 to 15mts.

MOONG DHAL SAMBAR

Ingredients

• Moong dhal…..1/2 to 1 cup
• Onion…………..2
• Green chillies….2
• Tomatoes………1
• Mustard seeds….1/4 tsp
• Urad dhal……..1/2 tsp
• Curry leaves …Few
• Oil………1 to 2 TBS
• Coriander leaves finely chopped 1 tbs.
• Turmeric powder….1/4 tsp
• Garlic….1 pod
• Asafoetida…1/4 tsp

Method:

1. Heat oil in a pressure pan.
2. Add mustard seeds when it splutters add urad dhal when it turns brown add chopped onions.
3. Add green chillies and curry leaves and finally add tomatoes and fry.
4. Add cooked and mashed dhal,water little sambar powder and required salt.
5. Close the pan and leave it for 1 whistle.
6. After opening add chopped coriander leaves.

Optional:

Instead of adding cooked dhal can add raw dhal following the same steps but leave it for 2 whistles.But for me I like the taste when we add cooked dhal. There is difference in taste.

Serving

• Take a bowl keep few cooked idlis in it.Then pour sambar over it.Add a dash of ghee on it. This adds the taste for the idli.

POTATO PUTTU/POTATO PODIMAS/MASHED POTATO

Potatoes are starchy tuberous crop.Potàtoes are one of the most versatile and delicious vegetable. Potatoes have become a staple food in many parts of the world and an integral part of much of the world’s food supply.

Potatoes are often broadly classified as high on the glycemic index and. So are often excluded from the diets of individual who follow a low g.i.index.

Potatoes are an excellent source of vitC,a good source of potassium,vit.B6,fat and sodium.They are incredibly filling.

Ingredients:

• Potatoes____4
• Oil 3 tbs
• Mustard seeds 1/4 tsp
• Uraddhal—–1/2 tsp
• Green chillies___3
• Onion___1 or 2 finely chopped.
• Coconut scraping___4 tbs
• Curry leaves few
• Salt as needed

Method:

1. Boil and mash potatoes after removing skin
2. Add salt and fresh grated coconut and mix well.
3. Keep a kadai add oil after that add mustard seeds when it splutters add urad dhal when it turns brown add curry leaves, chopped onions and slit green chillies and saute it.
4. Finally add mashed potatoes to it.

Simply flavoured side dish for rice.

RAW BANANA FRY/VAZHAKAI FRY

Raw banana is a good source of protein and vitamins. It is. Low in sodium and calories.

INGREDIENTS

For powder:

• 2tbs——-coriander seeds
• 2tbs——–channa dhal
• 2 or3——-red chillies
• Raw banana—–250gms or 3 o 4
• 1/2 tsp———–turmeric powder
• 2 to 4 tbs——-oil
• 1 pinch——–asafoetida
• Salt as required
• 1/2 tsp——-mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp——urad dhal

METHOD:

1. Peel and slice the raw banana after washing it.
2. Slice them in thin rounds and put it in water so that it doesn’t turn dark.
3. In a frying pan put oil in it.
4. Add mustard seeds when it splutters add urad dhal when it turns brown add sliced raw banana to it.
5. Now add turmeric powder,add powder and salt to it.

Fry till it becomes crispy.

Optional:If u want a simplified instead of preparing powder can use red chilly powder.