RED BEANS SUNDAL/KARAMANI SUNDAL/REDLOBIA SUNDAL

A very protein rich diet recipe .Lobia ranks much higher on nutrition making it a hidden healthy gem. They are brimming with the goodness of B complex vitamins,proteins,zinc,calcium and iron.

It contains almost essential vitamins and minerals.Vit.A,B,B1,B2,B5,B6,C,folic acid, potassium, magnesium,selinium,sodium etc.

It is beneficial for our health .It maintains standard cholesterol level. It also removes free radicals.

Lignin is a good component is present is good for weight loss.

Ingredients:

• Karamani……..1 cup
• Mustard seeds…1/2tsp
• Urad dhal…….1 tsp
• Asafoetida…..1/4 tsp
• Oil……1tbs
• Curry leaves…few
• Salt as needed
• Red chillies or green chillies…..2
• Coconut optional…..4 or 5 tbs
• Coriander leaves optional finely chopped…1/2 tsp

Method.

1. Dry roast the beans for few minutes and soak it for few hours.
2. Pressure cook it till it gets cooked.
3. In a kadai put oil in it.
4. Add mustard seeds when it splutters add urad dhal now add green or red chillies.
5. Add curry leaves.
6. Add cooked beans and salt mix well.
7. If going to add coconut you can add now .
8. Same with coriander leaves too

If for neivedyam add coconut scrapings if taking for weight loss diet can skip that.

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BOTTLE GUORD KOOTU/CALABASH/LOUKI LENTIL CURRY

A bottle guord or white flowered giurd is a vine grown for it’s fruit. It is harvested young to be consumed as a vegetable .When it is freshit has a light green smooth skin and white flesh. The round ones are called CALABASH guord and long ones are called bottle guord.

Bottle guord are in if the favourite vegetable of Indians and are especially good for old age people and toddlers.

It is rich in vitamin s like thiamine,vit.C,folate,Vit B2,B3,B5 and B6.

Also rich minerals like calcium, magnesium,phosphorus,potassium,zincand has iron and maganese too.

Bottle guord is rich in fiber so it helps preventing constipation and other digestive disorders.

It helps in preventing fatigue.can have in the form of juice too.

Hollowed out and dried Calabash are used as utensils.

Ingredients:

• Bottle guord deskinned and chopped…1 cup
• Green gram dhal.. 1/4 cup cooked and mashed
• Coconut scrapings…3 to 4 tbs
• Onion…1 finely chopped
• Tomato..1 finely chopped
• Cumin seeds…1/4 tsp
• Red chillies …2
• Turmeric powder…..2 pinches
• Garlic……3 cloves
• Oil.,…..2 tbs
• Mustard seeds and urad dhal…1/2 tsp.
• Salt as required
• Coriander leaves chopped.

When u chop the bottle guord discard the stem and deskinned it.

Cook dal separately and mash it.

Chop onions and tomatoes.

Grind coconut scrapings,cumin seeds,red chillies and garlic cloves.

Method

1. In a kadai put oil then add mustard seeds when it splutters addurad dhal after turning brown add onions.
2. When onions are transparent add tomorrow’s to it .
3. When slightly mushy add bottle guord and pour water for cooking it.
4. Add turmeric powder when half done add salt to it.
5. When it is cooked and mashed dal and mix well.
6. Now add coconut paste to it.
7. When done finally add chopped coriander leaves.

GREEN GRAM DHAL CURRY/GREEN GRAM CURRY KERALA STYLE/MASHED GREEN GRAM DHAL CURRY

The mung bean alternatively known as the green gram is a plant species in the legume family.

These beans are the best plant based source of protein. This has high levels of globulin and albumin. They are rich in essential amino acids such as Phenylalanine, Arginine,Lysine, Tryptophan,Methonine, Valine,Leucine and Isoleucine.

Mung beans easiest to digest among all beans.It boosts immunity. It is low in calories,low in fat,low in sodium.It contain good to high levels of several B complex vitamins and someA, C,E and K.

Have good to excellent levels of several minerals among them potassium,iron,manganese,calcium and magnesium.

An excellent way to enhance the nutritive values of this dal is to sprout them.

Ingredients

• Green gram dhal….100gms
• Tomatoes………2
• Garlic few pods.
• Onion….2
• Oil ..1 to 2 tbs.
• Coriander leaves….few
• Turmeric powder..1 tsp
• Mustard seeds…..1/4 tsp
• Urad dhal…1/2 tsp.
• Ginger grated….1/4 tsp
• Redchiilies…..2
• Curry leaves few

Optional I have added a powder which I have prepared.Dry roast coriander seeds,red gram dhal and chillies. You can add sambar powder if you want.

Method.

• Fry green gram for few minutes and soak it for atleast three hours.
• Now in a pressure pan add turmeric powder, tomatoes,garlic and onion. Cook for three to four Whistles.

• When cooked mash it with wooden spatula or any other spoons.
• 
• In a kadai pour oil.add mustard seeds when it splutters add urad dhal when it turns brown add red chillies.Add grated ginger
• Then add sliced onions,curry leaves to it.Fry a little.
• Add to the curry.
• Allow it to boil after adding salt and that powder.
• Finally add chopped coriander leaves.

Another option can add coconut paste that is grind 1/4 cup coconut in a mixer and add it.

Suppose if you cannot prepare the powder which I have mentioned can add 1 tsp coriander powder and1 tsp chilly powder depending upon your taste.

You can serve this curry for rice,chappathi,roti,appam and puttu.

POTATO RICE

I have given a number of single rice recipes. This post is a single rice preparation which is very easy to prepare. Almost all kids favourite is 🥔. It is also a lunch box recipe. I cooked rice seperately and prepared potato separately.

Ingredients:

• Cooked rice……1 cup
• Potatoes…………2 cut into small cubes
• Ginger garlic paste…..1 tsp
• Chilly powder………….1 tsp
• Turmeric powder…….1tsp
• Onion…………..1 or 2finely chopped
• Vegetable masala powder…1 tsp
• Oil……….as required
• Salt …….as required
• Coriander leaves……finely chopped.
• Cinnamon…1 piece
• Star anise….1
• Cloves………2
• Cardomom….2

Method:

1. Cook rice separately remember it should not be mushy.
2. Boil potatoes and cut it into cubes.
3. Pour oil in the pan. If it is for kids can use ghee instead of oil.
4. Now put fry masala ingredients cinnamon,star anise, cloves and cardomom.
5. After sauting add chopped onions fry a little add cubed potatoes now add turmeric powder, chilly powder, vegetable masala powder and salt.Fry till it is crispy.
6. Now add the cooked rice. Mix well.
7. Finally add chopped coriander leaves.
8. Can serve with raita and papad.

When giving for kids remove the whole spices after cooking and before serving for kids .

D.I.Y SPRAY PAINTING And PAINTING WITH ACRYLIC COLORS

Easy painting techniques can do wonders in our homes. One of my hobbies is painting. In this post I have given some tips in which I have used spray painting to change Colors and give a new look to old objects. I have used two Colors in spray painting one is gold and the other one is blue colour.This post will give you an idea about this technique.

Spray paint is a great way to get a job done quickly. This method will work on a variety of materials like wood, plastic,metal and paper mache.

Few points to remember:

• Use a drop cloth or a plastic sheet or news paper or a piece of cardboard.
• Spray test shot on to a piece of plywood to see the spray pattern that the can produces. You can adjust your technic and hold the can closer or further from the target depending on the spray paint.
• If you are going to keep objects exterior only then u need a prime coat.
• First u remove the dirt and dust. If the objects get wet wait till it is dry.

I had few terracotta items I decided to give them a golden touch,You can see these items.I had shelf lying idle so decided to paint that with brown spray paint and then arranged the things in that shelf. This gave a different look to the terracotta items.

STAINLESS-STEEL

I had a stainsteel container which was leaking if we keep liquids. So thought of using it as a decorative piece.I used gold for this purpose.Really looked very nice.

PLASTIC

I had a old Ganapathy which was made of plastic. I painted it to give it a new look.

Next a small basket was unused for a very long time.I painted the basket with blue colour originally it was violet color. It suited the color theme of blue in my kitchen.

The stand which was green colour now painted with blue to suit the theme. I have arranged small spices jar in top shelf. In the bottom shelf I have kept provisions and three containers have chilly powder,turmeric and pepper.

METAL LIDS

I spray painted the metal lids with blue to suit the color theme.one point to remember is that I have painted only exterior and not the interior portions.

This stand had metal finish I painted it blue.

PAPER MACHE

The idol which had a dull finish was received as a wedding gift some 30 yrs ago.After painting the sheen is very attractive and looks like a new piece

All these are with spray paint.

Last but not least I wanted to have same colour lids for the jars and storage containers lid so I have used acrylic Colors that is fabricated color red to the lids to have a uniform look.

Hope you all liked this post and I think it will be useful for you to give a new look to old objects.

KOZHUKATTAI

An evening time snack. An easy preparation. Since this is by steaming it is healthier.

Ingredients:

• Fine rice flour…1cup
• Oil.. ……………..1tbs to 2tbs
• Water…………..2cups
• Salt……………..1/2tsp
• Mustard……..1/2tsp
• Urad dhal…..1tsp
• Red chillies…2 or3
• Curry leaves…a few
• Grated coconut….1/4 cup
• Onion……….1 finely chopped.

Method

1. Put 1 tbs oil in a kadai.
2. Add mustard seeds when the splutters add urad dhal when it turns brown add red chillies and curry leaves.
3. Add chopped onion s and fry
4. Add this mixture to the rice flour.
5. Now add the coconut scrapings to the flour.
6. Allow water to boil and add salt and oil to it.
7. Using a kitchen ladle slowly add the boiling water in the rice flour.
8. Mix well without forming lumps.
9. Knead the dough till it becomes soft.
10. Divide the dough into equal size balls.
11. Now cook the KOZHUKATTAI balls by steaming method.

Optional.

You can avoid chopped onions if you don’t prefer. I prefer this because it enhances the taste.

THANK YOU NOTE

I am proud to tell that I have completed 3yrs of blogging.

When the WordPress wish came I was immensely happy.

I take this opportunity to thank my fellow bloggers and my followers for their valuable comments. Then my family members ,my husband Guhan who is always very supportive.My daughter Sri Bala and son Girish who give me suggestions to improve.

Last year due to personal reasons I couldn’t blog regularly but I think this year I will be more active.

The response from many made me to continue my blogging also that was instrumental for me to write a book with101 household tips. That book too has a good response.

Above all my special thanks to WORDPRESS which plays an important role in my blogging journey.

Thank you one and all.

LIFE HACKS

We have tricks for making day to day routine easier.I am going to share few.

1. To remove odour from fridge can dip a piece of cotton in any essence and keep it in the fridge.
2. When we use new nylon threads soak in soap water for some time and then use it
3. Can keep few pieces of mosquito mats under a paper where we keep clothes. This puts off small insects
4. To deskin garlic soak it water for few seconds and then remove it will be easy.
5. Excess fried papads can be stored in ziplock covers and store it in fridge.it will be crispier.
6. To retain the freshness of ginger garlic paste pour little oil and store it.
7. When we use fried onions to decorate Briyani add a dash of sugar it will turn red quickly.
8. To ripen fruits faster store them in paper bags
9. When we cook cauliflower add little milk to retain its whiteness.
10. When we store paneer in fridge store in a blotting paper it will be fresher.

RAWA DOSAI

Among dosai varieties rawa dosai is one.This is common in South India.We have it either for breakfast or for dinner.Each have different combinations the following is mine.

Ingredients

• Roasted rawa……1 cup
• Rice flour………….1 cup
• Maida………………..1/4cup
• Chopped onions.1/4 cup
• Green chillies……2
• Grated ginger….1/4 tsp
• Curry leaves..a few
• Coriander leaves..chopped 1 or 2 tbs.
• Cumin seeds…..1/2 tsp
• Mustard seeds..1/4 tsp
• Split urad dhal…1/2 tsp
• Coconut cut into small bits
• Oil
• Salt to taste.

For frying:

1. Put oil in a kadai.
2. Add mustard seeds when it splutters add split urad dhal when it turns brown.
3. Add cumin seeds.
4. Now add curry leaves,chopped onion and green chillies.when it turns brown add to batter.

For batter

• Mix maida,rice flour and rawa with salt now add 2 to 2.5 cup water it should be watery.
• Now add the fried items chopped coconut,coriander leaves and mix well.
• 
• 

Preparing dosai.

1. Heat dosa tawa.
2. Pour ladle of batter from edges to centre
3. Spread oil all over the dosa
4. It takes time
5. Add more rice flour and maida if it is sticky.
6. If going to add cashews can put in the tawa and then pour the batter.
7. For a variation can add grated 🥕.

I have added green chillies can add pepper instead of it

Serve hot with sambar and chutney.

VANILA SPONGE CAKE

After many years thought of baking a sponge 🍰 in my microwave oven.My daughter and grandson came to stay with us for few days.I baked a cake on this occasion so that can give the little one home made cake.This very easy and is a basic one.It came out well and my family enjoyed it.

Ingredients:

• Maida…200gms.
• Grounded sugar…200gms
• Eggs…..3
• Vanilla Essence…1/2 to 1 tsp.
• Baking powder…..1tsp
• Dried fruits finely chopped.
• Cashews…… Grated 1 tsp

Sieve maida and baking powder three times.

Mix dry fruits with little maida so that it will get mixed evenly.

Method

1. Cream butter and sugar.
2. Then add maida and mix well.
3. Now separate the white and beat it till it becomes a stiff froth.
4. First add the yolk and then add the white..
5. Now add the essence and mix all the ingredients very gently.
6. Put the batter in an greased vessel.
7. Preheat oven at 190 degrees.
8. Then bake it for 26 mts.at 190 degrees.

Check before few minutes whether it is done.

Insert a tooth pick or a knife in the middle of the cake after 20 mts.If it is sticky or with batter bake for few minutes.

If the stick comes out clean then cake is done.

After the 🍰 becomes warm run a knife around the cake and loosen the sides.

Invert the cake in a plate and then cut it.