Sago Payasam/Javvarisi Payasam/Sabudana Kheer

“Wishing all my lovely friends and wonderful readers a Very Happy Onam, Thiruvonam Aashamsakal”

Onam is the most important festival of the state of Kerala, India. It is a harvest festival and is celebrated with great enthusiasm by all the communities throughout Kerala. The festival is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam. Once again I am wishing all you a very very Happy Onam.

I am sorry my friend’s I was not keeping really well for the past 3-4 days, so was not able to visit your pages. But since today is Onam I wanted to post something really sweet and celebrate this Onam with all of you.

Here's how to make Sago/Javvarisi Payasam with step by step photos...

Idli Fry - South Indian Delight/Idli Fry Recipe/How to make Idli Fry Recipe with step by step photos

Today I have come up with quick, simple and hassle free lunch box item, yes it is idli fry. I think the name says it all, I am not going to say anything more about this recipe. So without any delay. Meanwhile do check out other interesting and healthy Breakfast Recipes here.

Here’s how to make idli fry with step by step photos…

Ullundhu Kali Recipe/Urad Dal Halwa Recipe/ How to make Ullundhu Kali with step by step photos & Video in both English & Tamil

Ullundhu Kali is an authentic and traditional dish of South India – Tamil Nadu. I am really sure all the girls from Tamil Nadu must be very very familiar with this ullundhu kali. The reason I say it is because this  ullundhu kali is given to girls when they attain puberty and throughout their teen age. Ullundhu kali is a must during this time because it strengthens the pelvic bone of the young girls and helps in strengthening the back. This dish is totally amazing it involves only three ingredients but loaded with proteins (urad dal), Iron & minerals (Jaggery) and vitamin E & Omega 6 (Gingelly oil). Even now the tradition of giving raw eggs and gingelly oil as a first thing in the morning for the first few days for the young girls during their first menstruation cycle continues in many families. They are considered to be very nutritious for the girls as they strengthen the uterus and prepare them for healthy child bearing later on in their adulthood. I still remember those days when I used to cry to eat the raw eggs so my grandma used to give boiled eggs, but I love gingelly oil.

Now coming back to Ullundhu kali, it must be made only with gingelly oil. Gingelly oil/Nalla ennai  is a cold pressed oil  derived from sesame seeds and has numerous health benefits. Cold pressed oils are produced through a combination of grinding and low heat without any addition of chemicals. Ongoing research also indicates that the rich presence of antioxidants and polyunsaturated fats could help to control blood pressure [source:Wikipedia]. Gingelly oil is called as “Nalla ennai” meaning “Good Oil” , so friends try to incorporate it in cooking as much as possible.

Honey Drizzled Semolina Cake Recipe/Basbousa/Rava Cake/Sooji Cake/How to make Sooji Cake with step by step photos

This Honey Drizzled Semolina Cake is for the Home Baker’s Challenge started by Mrs.Priya Suresh and hosted by Mrs. Shama Nagarajan. Thank you very much Mrs. Priya Suresh and Mrs. Shama Nagarajan for this wonderful and exciting challenge.

This month Mrs. Shama had chosen  5 different types of  cakes and muffins. Off all the five recipes I chose to do the Honey drizzled Semolina Cake. This cake is called as Basbousa/Hareesa in Arabic, Revani in Turkish, it is nothing but a sweet cake made with semolina  and soaked in a simple syrup. The basbousa or the honey drizzeld semolina cake is found in the cuisines of Eastern Mediterranean under different names. [Source:Wikipedia]

This cake is very easy to make, it is really soft, moist and spongy. Once you start you can never stop eating them. Try it out guys you will surely fall in love with it. Usually nuts are placed on top of the cake as part of decoration on each piece of cake, which you can do it before serving. My kids were in a hurry for the cake so could not place almonds before the clicks, even my clicks were in a rush.

Here’s how to make Honey Drizzled Semolina Cake with step by step photos…

Modakam/Kozhukattai –Ganesha Chathurthi Recipes

Slokam for Lord Ganesha/Pillaiyar

Mooshika vaahana modhaka hastha

Chamara karna vilambitha suthra

Vamana rupa maheswara puthra

Vigna vinayaga padha namasthe.

Red Bell Pepper Chutney[Side dish for Idlis, dosas, chapathis and more]

We make different types of chutneys as side dish for idlis and dosas, here is another simple and delectable chutney in that same list. Red bell pepper chutney is very easy and quick to make, just try it out friends you will surely love it.  Check out other delectable chutneys here.

Here’s how to make Red Bell Pepper Chutney with step by step photos…

Ammini Kozhukattai/Mani Kozhukattai/Ganesha Chathurthi Recipes

The first thing that comes to mind when it is Ganesha/Vinayagar Chathurthi is Modhakam which we prepare as special offering for Lord Ganesha. We also prepare different types of kozhukattai’s like paal kozhukattai, kaara kozhukattai, pidi kozhukattai etc. When we make modhakams or kozhukattai we always tend to have some dough left, this mani kozhukattai is usually prepared with that dough only. But nowadays we all prepare this mani kozhukattai separately as offering to Lord Ganesha. Not only for Ganesha Chathurthi, I make this mani kozhukattai as evening snacks for my kids and they love it because they are cute and tasty.

Here’s how to make Ammini Kozhukattai/Mini Kozhukattai with step by step photos…