KOTHAVARANGAI KOOTU RECIPE | CLUSTER BEANS KOOTU

Kothavarangai | Cluster beans , the veggie i am buying and tasting for the first time. Yes, i have never seen my mom cooking this veggie and even at my in laws place they won't cook this vegetable. When i went for vegetable shopping with my friend , she was telling that she will make kootu out of cluster beans. When she explained the method i too picked up some cluster beans and made this kootu. It turned out very nice . Try out this simple kootu. It doesn't involve any pressure cooking of dal as we do for other kootu varieties.

KOVIL SAKKARAI PONGAL RECIPE | PONGAL FESTIVAL RECIPES

Pongal festival 2014 is celebrated tomorrow. I have already posted sakkarai pongal recipe which is  my mom's version. She always adds milk to sakkarai pongal but most of the traditional Kovil sakkarai pongal will not have milk in it. Though i don't like the addition of pacha karpooram(edible camphor) and cardamom powder, generally they are added in sweet pongal.
Update (13 - 1- 2017)
This sakkarai pongal post is updated with video on how to make pongal in Pressure cooker. You can use the same method for making in pongal paanai. If using mud pot, wash it nicely and soak in water for 24 hours. Wash again, wipe it and spread few drops of oil on the inside of the pot and leave it for 3 hours. Then wash it and start using the pot.
WISHING ALL OF YOU A VERY HAPPY PONGAL 
Check out my

• Samba wheat sakkara pongal
• Ven pongal recipe

COOKING FOR GUEST RECIPES #5 | AVAL PAKODA, CARROT KHEER AND MORE

This week cooking for guests will have a menu of my personal favorite , which i cooked for my own family. Actually i made this on the day before my birthday. When you are planning to cook for a small family , which you have invited, you can make lachha paratha, else stick on to phulkas. Carrot Kheer can be made on the previous evening and kept chilled in the refrigerator. Potatoes for Aval pakodas can be boiled in the morning and it will be used later. this menu serves good for both lunch as well as dinner. Generally if i palnned to make curd rice , i make it first as it will be nice when it is served chilled. Let us see in detail the menu i cooked .
Thank you aparna for this cute bowl (the one in which i have kept  carrot kheer)

KALKANDU PONGAL RECIPE | PONGAL FESTIVAL RECIPES

Pongal festival is coming next week and it is the first traditional festival of Tamil people in the year 2014. Though we make Sakkarai Pongal  for pongal festival, this kalkandu pongal we make on the next day of pongal along with variety rice. My mom makes it very well and during my trip to India i took a pack  of kalkandu |rock candy from my mom , which was bigger in size . I made kalkandu pongal yesterday and it tasted just out of the world. Try out this creamy, milky pongal .
I used the big rock candy. If using the small kalkandu the measurement  for 1/2 cup rice add 1/2 cup of kalkandu.

ORANGE PEEL PACHADI RECIPE

Orange peel pachadi is a traditional and authentic dish made at home . I have heard from my mom that my gradmother(father's mom) makes this so well and she makes for my mom when she was pregnant with my sister. I have not made this or had this as i don't like it much. During my recent trip to India, I saw my mom peeling oranges and when i asked her she told me that she is going to make the pachadi. I immediately took my camera and clicked the entire process . Though i don't like it much during my childhood days, i liked it this time along with Vathal kuzhambhu rice. 
The pictures didn't turn out well as the sunlight was bit harsh and i don't have much time to wait and click.

COOKING FOR GUEST SERIES 4 | POONDU KUZHAMBHU, SEPPANKIZHANGHU FRY AND BADAM KHEER

Wish you all a very Happy New year . We are just settling back after a super fun filled vacation to Chennai. Last week i couldn't post the cooking for guest series as it was very hectic for me to sit and write for a post. I am totally down with throat pain, and cold. I will post some interesting menu soon and till that enjoy this simple lunch menu which i cooked for my own family for a Sunday brunch, before i leave for vacation .

INDIAN KULFI ICE CREAM RECIPE | EGGLESS ICE CREAM RECIPES

Wishing you all a very Happy New year 2014. Let this new year brings lots of abundance and joy in your life. Kulif ice cream i was planning to post to post for a long time . While i was scheduling clicks to post during my vacation time in chennai, suddenly i realized ,New year will be coming in between and for that i want to post a Sweet recipe. Suddenly Kulfi came into my mind and a reader also requested for this recipe long back. So made Kulfi ice crema just before the day we are about to leave from home and clicked it. the ice cream turned out super creamy and everyone loved it a lot.
Celebrate this New year with Kulfi Ice cream and see you soon with more interesting recipes.

SENNAI KIZHANGHU CURRY | YAM CURRY RECIPE

Yam | Sennai kizhangu |Elephant foot , is one among my favorite vegetable but unfortunately my kids and Suresh doesn't like this much and hence i don't make this at home. I have already posted a recipe of Yam Tawa Fry. Last week during my stay at my mom's place one of our childhood friend came to meet me and me, my friend and my sister had a super fun time, remembering our childhood memories. During our chatting session we were talking about the yam curry which my friend's mom used to make for us. We decided to make it the next day as my sister was also a big fan of yam and her kids and hubby were not!! Amma cooked for the meal and my sister made this yam curry and of course i assisted her by clicking pictures to share with you all. 
Stay tuned for more interesting recipes.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE RECIPE | EGGLESS CHOCOLATE MOUSSE RECIPE

Chocolate  Mousse recipe without eggs or gelatin, i wanted to try for a long time and finally i tried 2 weeks back at home as a dessert when i invited few kids after their exams got over. I made a kids meal which i will be posting this weekend. I made this Chocolate Mousse for dessert. All the kids enjoyed it very much. Make this easy dessert this Christmas. Wish all my readers a Merry Christmas.
 See you soon with more interesting recipes soon. Right now i am staying in my mom's place and for the first time clicking from here. Making some new recipes from here, learning many new recipes from my mom and my mom's sisters who are here with me.
This recipe i have adapted from Here.

COOKING FOR GUEST SERIES #3 |INDO CHINESE MENU

Indo Chinese menu is always liked by everyone at my home. For a change with usual chapathis this indo chinese menu with fried rice, manchurian, spring rolls, biscuit pudding and Ice lemon Tea, this combo is always a super hit among my kids and  guests. I made Spring rolls for starter. You can make Gobi Manchurian too. I made Spring rolls and put in a zip lock cover and kept in the freezer. I just fried before serving. Biscuit pudding also you can make ahead and keep it chilled the before day. Ice lemon tea can be made in the morning and kept in the refrigerator. Generally it is preferred to serve Ice lemon Tea if guests are coming for Lunch. Serve it before 7 if they are coming for dinner.