COOKING FOR GUESTS SERIES #18 | TAMIL NEW YEAR SPECIAL LUNCH MENU

இனிய தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள்

This week in cooking for guests series , i have made full elaborate meal we cook for Tamil New Year. Tamil New year is celebrated tomorrow . When we were in India i used to cook elaborate  meal for all festivals. After coming here though i make the important items for each and every festival. The reason behind this not due to laziness, but most of the festivals come on working days and for lunch i will be the only person at home. Suresh and kids will pack lunch for office and school. Even it is on a holiday, nobody will eat an elaborate meal. But i wanted to make an elaborate meal for this cooking for guests series and today i will be sharing the Tamil New year lunch menu.
I couldn't get proper banana leaf , and the one which we get in cover was not so proper when i opened. It was bit wide and was difficult to cover in my lens too. Though i am satisfied with the meal i am not satisfied with the pictures. But i don't have option , as i don't get banana leaf in near by shop and i opened the leaf . just before serving the food. So the food was ready already and i have to click. Will update sometime .

POOSANIKAI KOOTU WITH TAMARIND | ASH GOURD KOOTU

Poosanikai kootu |ash gourd kootu is the one which is made in mils place during all festivals like deepavali, pongal, tamil new year, navaratri pooja and the list goes on. Whereas my mom makes Sambar for most of the occasions. All of them in the family likes this kootu very much and some times ash gourd will be replaced with brinjals too. Traditionally raw peanuts are added to this kootu but many times we replace with black channa too. We call it as poosnikai puliita kootu ( ash gourd kootu with tamarind) . This recipe is similar to Arachuvitta sambar but with few small variations.
   This recipe i clicked long back, but some how missed to post. When i was seeing the pictures album today, i saw this and as the pictures looked decent, i thought i will post. The step wise pictures , will be updated with good ones soon.
Checkout my Poosanikai Kalyana kootu .(without tamarind)

PLAIN PARATHA |PLAIN PARATHA RECIPE |PARATHA RECIPES

   As South Indians, we always make idli, dosa, upma for breakfast but parathas rarely take place in our menu for breakfast. Some times when i make aloo paratha for kids lunch box and keep the same for me for breakfast. During our trip to Delhi, ( i know i am talking too much about the trip, please bear with me) we happened to have parathas for breakfast on most of the days. But we all enjoyed as whenever we go for an international holiday we end up eating cornflakes, bread and juice for breakfast. Few years back when we go for a North India trip we hunt for places to have South Indian food , but now a days Indian Vegetarian food is more comfortable for us ,especially for me. These plain parathas i have added in my last week's cooking for guests menu. So if you have guest, you need not not make lot of chapathis, just few parathas you can make as they are thick.

MASALA CHAAS | MASALA CHAAS RECIPE

Masala Chaas i first had some 12 years back when we went to my firnd's place in Jaipur. She made masala chaas at home and tasted very nice. After that though i had few times at restaurants, never attempted to try at home. During our recent trip to Delhi, had lots of Masala Chaas in all places we visited. A tall of glass of masala chaas after breakfast kept us energetic throughout the day. I just made it few days back at home. Sharing the recipe of simple masala chaas today.
There are many variations to the recipe and mine is the basic simple one.

COOKING FOR GUESTS SERIES #17 | NORTH INDIAN MENU

This week i went so fast and i didn't plan any menu till Thursday night. But just before going to bed i soaked some rajma , as i thought i will make a North indian meal. Morning after the usual routine, i planned the menu , which can be made either for dinner or for lunch. This week's meal includes Carrot ginger soup, rajma masala, Kadai paneer, Plain paratha, mushroom puloa and fruit salad with ice cream. Actually this menu didn't much for me to cook . I totally enjoyed cooking this north indian meal and of course enjoyed eating too.
North indian meals are always most welcome among South indian friends. So if you have guests who are a big fan of North indian meal, just go ahead and make this meal.

APPLE PIE RECIPE | MINI APPLE PIE RECIPE

Apple pie ,i have tasted in McDonalds long back , but never thought i will make it at home one day. Last week i have seen making of an mini apple pie in a cookery show . I actually wanted to  try a vegetable pie , but my daughter Varsha who watched the TV show with me , was so particular to make the apple pie. So finally ii tried the mini apple pie today and it turned out very well. She totally enjoyed and the house is filled with fantastic aroma.

IDLI TIKKA RECIPE | KIDS FRIENDLY SNACKS RECIPE

Paneer tikka is always my favorite starter, but very recently i saw Idli tikka in a local food channel when i visited Delhi last week. It sounded very interesting to me. I thought i can make this for kids as they are on vacation now. This idli tikka was an super hit among my kids and i too loved this a lot.  Do try this easy kids friendly recipe at home. I made them with mini idlis. You can do this with normal idlis too.
Check out the how to make soft idlis

WATERMELON AND CUCUMBER COOLER | SUMMER DRINKS RECIPES

Watermelon and cucumber are one of the best summer cooler. I know that it is best to eat the fruits as it is, but some times we need some fresh fruit juice instead of taking plain water. To stay cool in this summer try out this watermelon and cucumber juice. This is very easy to make and gives instant energy too.
After spending 10 days of holiday in Delhi and in Jim corbert , it is bit tough for all of us to come back to this very hot weather here in Singapore. Stay tuned for more interesting recipes which i have explored during these holidays.

COOKING FOR GUESTS SERIES#16 - TRADITIONAL LUNCH MEAL

Full meals or traditonal tamilnadu meals or kalyana sappadhu, whatever we call, i always enjoy very happy cooking a full meal. Though now a days , we cook so many variety of cuisine for guests, this traditional tamil nadu meals will always have a special appreciation always. Two weeks back when i had guests at home i made this traditional lunch. Though i felt later , it could be more elaborate with one more curry and a sweet pachadi, still the guests enjoyed the meal. Will post one full tamil nadu meals soon. My mom always used to make this menu for newly married people who visit our place during our childhood days. My mil's place the menu will be slightly different, which i will post soon.

PAPAD KI SABZI |SIDE DISH FOR ROTI | NO ONION NO GARLIC RECIPES

Papad ki sabzi is a rajathani dish , which i learnt from my friend very long back. I noted down the recipe in my book but forgot to try. Last week when i made rotis for me and my hubby for breakfast(rotis for breakfast is very rare) i thought i will try out this sabzi. Actually i was running out of veggies and even onions too. It turned out very nice and we both liked this.This can be made in a jiffy .