Sweet Potato Gulab Jamun/ Shakarkandi Gulab Jamun (சர்க்கரை வள்ளிக் கிழங்கு ஜாமூன்)

Gulab Jamun is a famous Indian desert, which is not only famous in India but also in South Asia. It is a dessert with deep fried dumplings soaked in  sugar syrup.  Traditionally, this desert was made using rose water and hence  it got the name “Gulab” meaning rose and Jamun for the balls that resemble the Jamun fruit. The jamuns are generally prepared using milk based products. Today, to post easy Diwali sweet recipe,  I have prepared Gulab Jamun using “Sweet potatoes” or “Shakarkandi/ Rattala”. Don’t think otherwise, you prepare these sweet potato gulab jamun  and...

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Apple Pista Halwa/ Apple Halwa

Diwali is nearing and I want to post some of the easy Diwali recipes which will be of use to the working women and beginners. Apple Pista Halwa or Apple Halwa is one of the recipe which can be done without much strain and there are no hard rules to follow. It combines the goodness of apple and pista and hence this is very good for growing children. Those who already have a list of recipes to be done for Diwali, can include this sweet also because it will not take much time. Above all else, I can proudly say that this Apple Pista Halwa is an innovation of mine for this Diwali. This delicious...

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Gobi 65 /Cauliflower 65(Dry)/ Cauliflower Fritters

Gobi 65 or Cauliflower 65 is really a treat for vegetarians and non-vegetarians also go in for this dish in place of chicken 65. This dish is the one which I always want to stay away from because once I start eating a single piece with sauce and onions, I could not resist eating again and again. My son is a great fan and when  we decide to go to Saravana Bhavan, he will say “ok” only after getting assurance that we order Gobi 65 as a starter along with Sweet Corn Soup (his favourite combo!),  Or whenever he wants to have a bite, he will opt for Saravana Bhavan. These facts drove me...

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Vegetable Soup/Mixed Vegetable Soup

Soup… Everyone would like to have a hot steaming cup of soup especially during rainy days and  my family is no exception. Even though we have tasted many soups at the restaurants and so many  ‘ready to make’ soups are available in the market (they may be delicious too!), nothing can compensate for our home-made soups because it is more hygienic and we have the satisfaction that we have served our family the total goodness.  Though it is my family’s favourite, I hardly find time to make it.  But today’s weather essentially forced me into making it. The   recipe,...

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Vegetable Stock ...How to prepare Vegetable Stock at home?

Vegetable stock or Vegetable broth is the extract taken from the vegetables and used mainly for making vegetable soup, stew, etc. Traditionally it is prepared using all leftovers i.e scraps of the vegetables like skin and peels of carrots, potatoes, tips and tails of beans, stems of cauliflower, cabbage  and even the outer peels from onion & garlic. This is done to extract the minerals, nutrients and flavours of the left over veggies, which  are  found in abundance underneath the skin of the vegetables. Now a days, it is not at all advisable to use the outer skin of the vegetables...

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Mutton Kola Urundai/ Minced Meat Ball (மட்டன் கோலா உருண்டை)

Mutton kola urundai or Mutton kaima ball or Mutton keema ball or Minced  Meat ball or Mutton Kofta is a special Chettinad dish usually prepared for special occasions especially for treating grooms immediately after marriage. My grandma used to prepare these balls with ease, like any other dishes, kootu, poriyal, etc. She used to make these balls  in 100s since it is a favourite one for everybody in my family.  Though she made in large quantities, the dish will disappear within a few hours because these balls can be eaten like a snack and can also be taken as an accompaniment for rice. ...

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Home Made Idli Podi/ Idli Milagai Podi/Idli Dosa podi (இட்லி மிளகாய்ப் பொடி)

Our South Indian Idli podi has many names like  Idli Milagai podi, Idli Dosa podi, Chutney powder or  Gunpowder.  This podi when combined  with gingelly oil is one of the best accompaniments for hot, steaming idlies. Though it can be taken with all South Indian breakfast recipes like  dosa, oothappam, rava dosa  or chapati, it is best-suited with hot  idlies and thus, gets the name “Idli Podi”.  This is a mixture of fried dhals with red chillies and is basically a spiced dhal/ lentil powder. Many famous Masala Brands have their idli podi available...

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Chapati...How to make soft chapatis

Chapati or Chappati or Chappathi is a common Indian flat bread and  is a regular staple dish in North India and Pakistan. There are many forms of chapatti with slight variations, namely Roti, Paratha/Parantha, etc. I am basically a rice person and   love to eat idlies and dosas. But my son likes everything other than idli and dosa.  As mothers,  we  strive  to  give our children the best. So I tried a lot to make soft chapattis as my son likes them.  Always I wonder on seeing North Indian ladies making soft chapatis with no effort. I asked whoever...

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In the Media.... Nalla Saappaadu (நல்ல சாப்பாடு)

This post is to share a happy moment with you! The leading women’s magazine, Malligai Magal, has  released a book “Nalla Saappadu” (நல்ல சாப்பாடு) in which my recipes are featured under the category “Mutton Virundhu” (மட்டன் விருந்து). At this juncture, I want to say a few words about this book. The book contains not only the recipes but A-Z details on healthy eating habits, foods that will  aid  weight loss in natural way, nutritional aspects of food items, secrets for making tasty dishes and many more... It is really a rare collection of information...

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Murungaikkai Kathirikkai Sambar (Drumstick & Brinjal Sambar)

Preparation time :15 minutes      Cooking time : 15 minutes Serves 3  Difficulty :  Medium Sambar … one of the signature dishes of South India, loved all over the world. There are many different ways of preparing sambar but we need not learn all those styles because the vegetables which we use for making sambar itself  bring out different taste. Out of all vegetables, drumstick and brinjal outnumber every other vegetable and  can be termed as “sambar speciality veggies”. Here we go with the recipe. Ingredients: Toor dhal – ½ cup Drumstick (cut...

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Quick Onion Tomato Chutney (அவசர சட்னி)

Preparation time :5 minutes      Cooking time : 10 minutes Serves 3  Difficulty :  Easy There are many versions of making onion tomato chutney. This recipe does not need the  grinding part and we can make it in a jiffy with minimum ingredients. Hence, in our family, we name it as “Avasara Chutney” (அவசர சட்னி).  But don’t under estimate its taste, I can assure that it tops every other chutneys.   I am categorizing this chutney under Bachelor’s recipe since it does not need grinding and more over, it needs only one vessel! You can make...

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