My Pongal Celebrations and Ellu Sadam/Sesame Rice Recipe!!!

Hope you all are having a long weekend for Pongal. Heres my Pongal celebrations photos.. I had decorated with Rangoli then did all traditional puja.

I also prepared Kanum Pongal with Kalanda Sadam(Coloured Rice) today.

Dishes were

Puliyogare (Tamarind Rice)
Thenga Sadam(Coconut Rice)
Ellu Sadam(Sesame Rice)
Elamichai Sadam(Lemon Rice)
Rice Payasam

Heres the recipe for Ellu Sadam/Sesame Rice.

Courtesy - Mother in law

Ingredients
Ellu(White Til/Sesame Seeds) - 100gms
Urad dal - 50gms
Dry Red Chilli - 4 nos(As per taste)
Hing/Asafotida - a pinch
Salt

For Seasoning
Gingely oil - 2 tspns
Mustard - 1/4 tspn
Urad dal - 1/4 tspn

Preparation Method
Dry Roast Ellu till its light brown.
Then add 1/2 tspn oil in a kadai, roast urad dal, dry red chilli, Hing till brown.
Allow it to cool.
In a small mixie grind urad dal, salt, and dry red chilli in whipper to a fine powder.
Then add ellu(sesame seeds) and grind twice to a coarse powder.
Prepare rice and allow it to cool.
Then Season it with oil n mustard. Then mix this powder and Serve.

Happy Weekend.

This recipe is going off to Cooking with Seeds by Priya and APS Rice by Anitha.

Happy Pongal and Sankranthi Shubashayagalu!!!

I wish all my readers a very Happy Pongal. Pongaloo Pongal......

Bogi Pongal is on 13th January 2010.
Pongal is on 14th January 2010. Auspicious time for keeping Pongapanai is between 7.30am to 10.00am(IST) later Amavasya follows.
Kanum/Mattu Pongal is on 15th January 2010.

Its also Solar Eclipse on 15th Jan 2010 from 11am to 3.30pm(IST).

To read more about the festival and for Chakkare Pongal recipe click here. and for dishes prepared on Pongal.

Will come back with my Pongal celebrations.

Masala Idlis

Idli is one of the famous n popular breakfast in South India. I love hot idlis with sambar or molagai podi.


I have a different version of Idlis called Masala Idlis. My Father-in-law taught me this recipe.

This recipe is going off to Cooking For Kids Creative Healthy Breakfast n Dinner here at Sara's Corner event started by Sharmi and Wholesome Breakfast by Srivalli. I guess kids will love these.

Ingredients
Steamed Mini Idli - 12 nos
Onion - 1 no (chopped)
Tomato - 1no (Chopped)
Dhaniya Powder - 1/2 tspn
Red chilli powder - 1/4 tspn
Coriander leaves(Cilantro chopped) - 1 tspn for garnishing
Spices Mix - 1 piece each
Curry leaves - 1/2 tspn(chopped)
Turmeric - a pinch
Any cooking Oil - 2 tspns
Salt

Preparation Method
Grind onion in mixie to fine paste. Keep 1 tspn of chopped onions.
Grind tomato in mixie to fine paste. (you can remove skin and grind if you have time)
Heat a kadai, add oil and spices wait till it splutters.
Add chopped onions and saute till light brown.
Now add ground mixture of onion and saute. Add curry leaves.
Then add ground mixture of tomato and cook well till its soft.
Add the masalas and mix well. Add Salt.
Finally add Mini Idlis and mix well. If required sprinkle till water to it. Cook for 5mins and Serve.

Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

Shahi Gulab Jamun - Product Review

This is my second dish on Product Review. I tried Shahi Gulab Jamun for the first time using Gits product. Jamuns came out so soft and perfect.

It tastes great as its instant mixture with nuts. I prepared exactly as given on the pack.

I thank Gits for giving me an opportunity for reviewing the product.

Easy Veggie Vendaikai/Okra/Lady's Finger/Bhindi Poriyal

Easy Veggie Vendakai Poriyal is very simple and tasty curry.

Ingredients
Vendakai - 500 gms
Onion - 1 no (Big chopped)
Dhania powder (Coriander powder)- 1 tspn
Red Chilli powder - 1 tspn (As per your taste)
Jeera powder (Cumin powder) - 1/4 tspn
Turmeric - a pinch
Any cooking Oil - 2 to 3 tspns
Mustard - 1/4 tspn
Rice flour - 1 tspn (Optional)
Salt

Preparation Method
Wash, wipe and then cut Vendaikai into small pieces.
Heat a kadai, add oil mustard wait till it splutters.
Then add onion and a pinch of salt. Saute till transperent.
Add chopped vendaikai and mix well. let it cook for sometime.
Now add all masala powders and rice flour. Mix well.
Add salt and 1/2 tspn oil if required.
Cook till vendaikai is crispy.

Serve with sambar or rasam rice or chapathi.

This recipe is going off to Oraphan's Giveaway.

Oats Feast Roundup!!!

Thank you for participating in Oats Feast Event. Have received wonderful dishes which are healthy.

Roundup follows.

Oats Sidedish

Plantain Stem with Oats by Usha Nandini
Snake Gourd and Oats Kootu by Priya
Raw Banana and Oats Kara Poriyal by Priya

Oats Breakfast

Masala Oats Pancakes by EC
Stuffed Oats and Wheat Pancake by Pari
Oats Dosa by Rupali Jain (No Photo)
Oats Dosa by Shama
Minty Oats Paratha by Priya
Oats Rava Idly by Shama
Oats Upma by Shama
Oats Idly by Shama
Oats Delight by Shama
Oats Healthy Drink by Shama

Oats Sweets

Oats Wheat Rava Laddu by Usha Nandini
Oats Rasagulla by Priya
Saffron Oats Peda by Priya
Oats Semiya Payasam by Saraswathi Iyer


Oats Soup

Roasted Tomato and Oats Soup by Priya
Spinach Potato Soup and Roasted Oats by Pari


Oats Cookies

Crunchy Oats Cookies by Palatable
Eggless Oatmeal Walnut Cookies by Renu Roy
Eggless Gingery Carrot Cookies by Priya
Glutenfree Eggless Oats & Almond Candied Fruit Cookie by Sadhana
Eggless Gluten free Oat & Almond Ginger Bread Cookies with no refined sugar by Sadhana

Others

Eggless Oats Brownies by Priya
Eggless Pumpkin and Multigrain Breakfast Scones by Priya

Am excited and happy in giving this award "Oats Queen" any guesses???/

Thats none other than Priya of Priya's Easy n Tasty Recipes for her wonderful recipes. Please accept it.

Participation Award to each and everyone who participated. Pls accept and post in your blog. Thank you

Looking foryour co-operation and participation for my next event Cakes n Cookies and CFK Creative Food for Picky/Fussy Eaters Healthy Breakfast and Dinner.

Do let me know in case I have missed any entry which is not intentional.

Cheers,
Saraswathi Iyer

CFK- Creative Food for Picky/Fussy Eaters Healthy Breakfast and Dinner Event Announcement!!!

Cooking for Kids is monthly event started by Sharmi of Neivedyam. I would like to thank Sharmi for giving me an opportunity for hosting her CFK event this month.

I have chosen Creative Food for Picky/Fussy Eaters Healthy Breakfast and Dinner. Most of them complain their children don't like this breakfast or don't like to eat dinner. Each child has their own taste like watching tv and some are playful. Some know by looking at the food itself what dish it will be whether they like or not. Most of them leave the plate without completing the food which is full of nutrients required for the growth. Picky eaters have poor appetites. They need proper attention and to make them eat healthy food.

So, you might also be having a story on this.

Those of you interested in hosting this event please email to cookingforkids@gmail.com.

Rules

1. Prepare any healthy breakfast or dinner and post between now and Jan 31st. (Only vegetarian no eggs please)

2. Please linkback to this event announcement and Sharmi's site

3. Email me at simplysara07@gmail.com with Subject CFK -PFE and following details. Please specify whether its breakfast or dinner. Any story behind it about your child and with the following details.

- Your Name
- Blog name
- Recipe Name
- Recipe URL
- Picture with size 300 x 300 pixels

4. Archived entries should be reposted with event linked back.

5. Non-bloggers too can participate in this event, send in your recipe by email with or without a photograph.

6. Multiple entries are accepted.

7. Round up will be posted in February.

Do send in your entries for Cakes and Cookies event. Roundup of Oats Feast will be posted soon.

Feel free to leave your comments. Hope you enjoy the participation @ Sara's Corner.

Looking forward for your participation and support.

Cheers,
Saraswathi Iyer

Happy New Year 2010!!!

Dear Friends,

Wish you and your family a very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2010.

WANT TO STAY YOUNG? READ THIS

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them'

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down..

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it.. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next country; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER :
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take
our breath away.

Its also Thiruvadirai Festival for Tamilians Read more about and recipe....

Cheers,

Saraswathi Iyer

Oats Semiya Payasam/Kheer

Oats Semiya/Vermicilli Payasam is a sweet dish prepared with milk, semiya, sugar, oats and kesari/saffron. This is my new innovative recipe.

Saffron is very expensive ingredient which is taken by pregnant women in milk and also used to prepare sweets.

This recipe is going off to Oats Feast here in Sara's Corner and JFI Saffron hosted at Chef in you.

Ingredients
Semiya/Vermicilli - 1 cup
Oats - 2 to 3 tspns
Milk - 1/2 litre
Kesari/Saffron - a pinch (Soaked in 1/2 cup warm milk)
Sugar - 1 cup (As per your taste)
Condensed milk - 1/2 cup
Cardamom powder - a pinch
Ghee - 2 tspns
Mix of cashews n raisins - 2 tspns

Preparation Method
In a kadai, add 1 tspn ghee and dry roast the semiya till brown.
Soak oats in water.
In a thick bottom vessel, boil milk in low flame as it will overflow. When its started boiling add roasted semiya/vermicilli, sugar, condensed milk and mix well.
Once semiya is well cooked add oats and kesari/saffron.
Boil well till the milk thickens and reduces.
Garnish with cashews n raisins roasted in ghee.

Serving suggestion - Hot or cold.

Punjabi Chole Product Review

Hope you had a great Chirstmas and holidays.

This is the first time I am doing a Product Review. I would like to thank Gits for giving me an opportunity for review and comment on some of there food products which are Heat n Eat /Instant Mixes. In this regard, I will reviewing/commenting some of their products in the next few postings in Sara's Corner.

I always wanted to try Ready to eat. Just got a chance on a tiring day out. We were just looking for sidedish which is simple, fast to cook yet tasty. I have tried Gits Punjabi Chole Heat and Eat which is very handy. This pack serves two.

I had prepared dough to make Methi chapathis previous night. I garnished with Onion Rings and chopped coriander leaves.

Recipe for Methi Chapathi will be posted soon.

Twisted Crackers with Awards!!!

Twisted Crackers simple and tasty coffee/tea time snack.

Ingredients
Maida/All Purpose flour - 2 cups
Hot oil or Vanaspati - 1 tspn
Baking Soda - a pinch - optional
Jeera - 1 tspn
Red Chilli powder - 1 tspn (as per your taste)
Hing/Asafotida - a pinch
Salt to taste
Oil for deep frying

Method

Mix all the ingredients to a dough (like chapathi dough).
Make medium sized balls and spread it.
Cut them to a medium diamond shape pieces using knife.
Then slowly remove each one and twist the corners to get this shape.
Deep fry them till brown.

Twisted Crackers/Snack is ready to serve.

This recipe is going off to Tea Time snack by EC.

Now time for Awards.

Priya of priya's recipe has passed me this award for her 150th post. Thank you so much.

Aruna of Veggie Paradise has passed me this award. Thank you so much.

I would like to share Friendly Cheer Readers award to all my blogger friends, visitors and readers of my blog. Please accept it and post in your blog.

Chiku/Sapota Milkshake

Chiku/Sapota is very healthy fruit. It is rich in iron helps improve HB. I made the milkshake for the weekend. Its very good for kids.

Ingredients

Chiku/Sapota - 2 nos
Milk - 2 cups
Sugar - 1 tspn (According to sweetness of the fruit)
Water - 1/2 cup (Optional)
Ice cubes - few (Optional)

Preparation Method

Wash, remove skin, seeds and chop the chiku into small pieces. Reserve few for garnishing.

In a mixer/juicer add all the ingredients and grind.

Chiku/Sapota Milkshake is ready to drink. Garnish with chopped chiku. You can serve them normal or chilled.

Enjoy!!!



This is off to Sanghi's FIL - Fruits. Other entries for the event are Apple Juice and Pineapple Kesari.