Breast Cancer Campaign

This October Indusladies.com is conducting a Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign.


Join the campaign and help promote breast cancer awareness. Breast Cancer is more among the Urban women.

For BREAST CANCER? EAT Wheat, bran and cabbage helps to maintain estrogen at healthy levels.

Want to take a quiz click here.

For every women taking this quiz, Indusladies.com will donate Rs.1 to Forum for Breast Cancer Protection, an NGO. Participants will be automatically entered to a drawing to win T-Shirts and Caps.

Some information on Breast Cancer from NBCAM

Types of breast cancer

There are several different types of breast cancer that can be divided into two main categories - noninvasive cancers and invasive cancers. Noninvasive cancer may also be called "carcinoma in situ." Noninvasive breast cancers are confined to the ducts or lobules and they do not spread to surrounding tissues. The two types of noninvasive breast cancers are ductal carcinoma in situ (referred to as DCIS) and lobular carcinoma in situ (referred to as LCIS).

It is known that hormones in a woman's body, such as estrogen and progesterone, can play a role in the development of breast cancer. In breast cancer, estrogen causes a doubling of cancer cells every 36 hours. The growing tumor needs to increase its blood supply to provide food and oxygen. Progesterone seems to cause stromal cells (the woman's own cells to send out signals for more blood supply to feed the tumor. (Source: Dr. V. Craig Jordan, vice president and scientific director for the medical science division at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia as quoted in NY Times, Hormones And Cancer: By Gina Kolata, Published: December 26, 2006)


•Non-invasive breast cancer. The majority of non-invasive breast cancers are DCIS. In DCIS, the cancer cells are found only in the milk duct of the breast. If DCIS is not treated, it may progress to invasive cancer.


In LCIS, the abnormal cells are found only in the lobules of the breast. Unlike DCIS, LCIS is not considered to be a cancer. It is more like a warning sign of increased risk of developing an invasive breast cancer in the same or opposite breast. While LCIS is a risk factor for invasive cancer, it doesn't actually develop into invasive breast cancer in many women.


•Invasive breast cancer. Invasive or infiltrating breast cancers penetrate through normal breast tissue (such as the ducts and lobules) and invade surrounding areas. They are more serious than noninvasive cancers because they can spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs, and brain.


There are several kinds of invasive breast cancers. The most common type is invasive ductal carcinoma, which appears in the ducts and accounts for about 80 percent of all breast cancer cases. There are differences in the various types of invasive breast cancer, but the treatment options are similar for all of them.

Not all breast cancers are alike


Not all breast cancers are alike - there are different stages of breast cancer based on the size of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread. For doctor and patient, knowing the stage of breast cancer is the most important factor in choosing among treatment options. Doctors use a physical exam, biopsy, and other tests to determine breast cancer stage.


Stages of Breast Cancer


The most common system used to describe the stages of breast cancer is the AJCC/TNM (American Joint Committee on Cancer/Tumor-Nodes-Metastases) system. This system takes into account the tumor size and spread, whether the cancer has spread to lymph nodes, and whether it has spread to distant organs (metastasis).

All of this information is then combined in a process called stage grouping. The stage is expressed as a Roman numeral. After stage 0 (carcinoma in situ), the other stages are I through IV (1-4). Some of the stages are further sub-divided using the letters A, B, and C. In general, the lower the number, the less the cancer has spread. A higher number, such as stage IV (4), means a more advanced cancer.

These are the stages of breast cancer:

Stage 0 - Stage 0 is carcinoma in situ, early stage cancer that is confined to the ducts or the lobules, depending on where it started. It has not gone into the tissues in the breast nor spread to other organs in the body.

•Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): This is the most common type of noninvasive breast cancer, when abnormal cells are in the lining of a duct. DCIS is also called intraductal carcinoma. DCIS sometimes becomes invasive cancer if not treated.


•Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS): This condition begins in the milk-making glands but does not go through the wall of the lobules. LCIS seldom becomes invasive cancer; however, having LCIS in one breast increases the risk of cancer for both breasts.


Stage I - Stage I is an early stage of invasive breast cancer. In Stage I, cancer cells have not spread beyond the breast and the tumor is no more than 2 centimeters (three-quarters of an inch) across.


Stage II - Stage II is one of the following:

•The tumor in the breast is no more than 2 centimeters (three-quarters of an inch) across. The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.


•The tumor is between 2 and 5 centimeters (three-quarters of an inch to 2 inches). The cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.


•The tumor is larger than 5 centimeters (2 inches). The cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.


Stage III - Stage III may be a large tumor, but the cancer has not spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes. It is locally advanced cancer.

•Stage IIIA - Stage IIIA is one of the following:


◦The tumor in the breast is smaller than 5 centimeters (2 inches). The cancer has spread to underarm lymph nodes that are attached to each other or to other structures.


◦The tumor is more than 5 centimeters across. The cancer has spread to the underarm lymph nodes.


•Stage IIIB - Stage IIIB is one of the following:


◦The tumor has grown into the chest wall or the skin of the breast.


◦The cancer has spread to lymph nodes behind the breastbone.


◦Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare type of Stage IIIB breast cancer. The breast looks red and swollen because cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast.


•Stage IIIC - Stage IIIC is a tumor of any size. It has spread in one of the following ways:


◦The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes behind the breastbone and under the arm.


◦The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes under or above the collarbone.


Stage IV - Stage IV is distant metastatic cancer. The cancer has spread to other parts of the body.


Recurrent cancer - Recurrent cancer is cancer that has come back (recurred) after a period of time when it could not be detected. It may recur locally in the breast or chest wall as another primary cancer, or it may recur in any other part of the body, such as the bone, liver, or lungs, which is generally referred to as metastatic cancer.u are aware and spreading the awareness.

Puli Inji(Ginger Tamarind mix)

Puli Inji is a very spicy and tangy sidedish for Kootu rice. It can also be mixed with hot steamed rice and ghee or oil. This is my MIL speciality and she taught me. Puli Inji is also one of the dish in Palakad Iyer/Tamil Brahmin wedding menu.

Ingredients
Ginger/Inji - 1/2 cup(chopped or thinly sliced)
Green Chilli - 1/2 cup (chopped)
Tamarind water - 2 cups
Turmeric - a pinch
White Sesame powder/Ellu Podi - 1 tspn
Gingely Oil/Nalla Yennai - 2-3 tspns
Jaggery/Vellam - a small lemon size
Salt

Preparation Method
Heat a kadai/wok, add oil,  add ginger, green chilli and a pinch of salt. Saute till the raw smell goes.
Then add tamarind water, turmeric and boil well till the water becomes thick and condense.
Finally add jaggery and sesame powder and boil till the jaggery dissolves or its dry.

Puli Inji is ready to serve. This can also be sidedish for chapathi.

Notes - This can be stored in air tight container for 14-20days in refridgerator.

Crunchy Pina Cookie!!!

Crunchy Pina Cookie is different one. I am baking after a long time, this biscuits/cookie turned out crispy and crunchy. I added more milk so could not cut in cookie cutter and this was good. My son enjoyed.

Ingredients
Maida/APF - 1 cup
Sugar - 1 cup
Corn Flour - 1/2 cup
Baking Powder - 1/4 tspn
Unsalted Butter - 2 tspns
Pineapple essence - 2 drops(Optional) - Pina is Pineapple in Spanish.
Milk - 2-3 tspns

Preparation Method
In a wide bowl, add butter, sugar and pineapple essence. Mix well.
Sift maida, corn flour and baking powder separately.
Now slowly mix with butter and sugar mixture.
Add milk and make a thick batter.
Pre heat oven to 180 C 
Pour 1-2 spoons on the baking tray. Leave little gap from one cookie to another since it will spread a bit.
Bake for 20mins or till brown.


Crunchy Pina Cookie is ready. Enjoy it with coffee or tea.

Pasi Paruppu Payasam/Moong Dal Kheer

During Navarathri different kinds of sundal and sweets are prepared and being shared with family and friends.
Today I have prepared Pasi Paruppu Payasam and Red Kidney Bean/ Rajma Sundal. Its also called Payatham Paruppu, Siruparuppu in Tamil, Pesara Pappu in Telugu, Moong Dal in Hindi and Hesaru Bele in Kannada.
Pasi paruppu is very cooling and good for mouth ulcers.

Ingredients
Pasi Paruppu - 1 cup
Paal/Milk - 2 cups
Vellam/Jaggery - 1 cup(powdered or broken)
Elakka/Cardamom powder - a pinch
Nei/Ghee - 1 tspn
Mundri Drakshe/Cashew n Raisins - 1 tspn
Fresh Grated coconut - 1 tspn(Optional)


Preparation Method
Pressure cook the Pasi paruppu with water for 3-4 whistles.
In a vessel put vellam/jaggery with 1/2 glass of water and allow it to dissolve. Keep stirring. If you find any mud particles then you filter it and boil again till the raw smell goes in low flame.
Then add milk and mix well. Allow it to boil for 5 mins.
Now add the steamed pasi paruppu and mix well.
Add Elakka powder.


In a separate pan, heat ghee and add nuts. Once its brown garnish it.


Pasi Paruppu Payasam is ready to serve. Serve hot or cold.

Paal Payasam/Rice Kheer | without Condensed Milk- Method 2 and Awards!!!

Paal Payasam/Kheer is very popular sweet/pudding in India. This method is easy and simple. This can be tried by Bachelors too. Checkout my other method of payasam here.

Daily I have been preparing sundal today made payasam.

The colour of payasam will be this when its done in pressure cooker.

Ingredients
Milk - 1 litre(you can also use Low fat, Skimmed or any milk)
Rice - 2 tablespoons
Sugar - 1 cup(Adjust accordingly)
Cardamom/Elachi powder - 1/2 tspn

Preparation Method
In a pressure cooker, take a vessel which is  a bit long in height. Add milk, rice, cover it and pressure cook for 10-15 whistles. You can also see a colour change to pink.
Once steam is gone add sugar and cardamom and heat for 10mins till sugar dissolves. If you want it very thick and creamy, heat for longer time.

This get the flavour of condensed milk

Note - Stand near and stir occasionally till its thick and reducing.

Paal Payasam is ready to serve. You can serve hot or cold.

I have used this papasam without rice to make ice cream, check for recipe here.

Jay and Nithu has given this award for participating in their Event. Do Checkout my Guest Post in Nithu's site.

Navaratri Begins.....

Wishing you and your family a very Happy Navarathri.

Navarathri is going to begin from tomorrow after this Mahalaya Amavasya day. Navarathri means a 9 day festival of Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswathi and Goddess Durga.

This is celebrated by Hindu religion in different states of India.

You can see Golu i.e decorating the house with dolls. They keep 3,5 or 11 padi/steps. Each day various prasadam is prepared and exchanged with ladies. Gifts are also bought and given with Kumkum. Many people keep fast on these days. Sundal is a usual prasadam prepared with the dals and its very healthy. These 10days food is prepared without onion and garlic.

Mysore, Karnataka, India is famous for Mysore Dasara and 10days its celebrated very grand.

Navarathri starts from 8th Oct and ends on 17th October. 16th October is Saraswathi Pooja, on this day books and music instruments are kept for pooja. 17th October is Vijayadashami. Aksharabyasam is also done for children before going to school on this day. Children enroll into music, dance and other classes on these days. During these 10days of the festival cleaning or dusting are to be avoided until the Ayudha Pooja day. In many places classical music navaratri concerts are conducted.

Lots of sweets are distributed in factories and many enjoy the holidays with family and friends.

In North India, they have garba and dhandiya cultural dance for this festival.

On Mahalaya Amavasya payasam or sweet is prepared and offered to God.

Since am abroad we dont keep Golu but still do all the pooja and prasadams.

Here is the prayer when lighting the lamp sent by my cousin.

Subham Karoti Kalyanam

Arogyam Dhana Sampadah

Shatru Buddhi Vinashaya

Dipa Jyotir Namostute

Some more information on Goddess Durga

Who is Goddess Durga and the meaning of Durga?



Durga, in Sanskrit means "She who is incomprehensible or difficult to reach." Goddess Durga is a form of Shakti worshiped for her gracious as well as terrifying aspect. Mother of the Universe, she represents the infinite power of the universe. The manifestation of Goddess Durga is said to emerge from Her formless essence.

She is also called by many other names, such as Parvati, Ambika, and Kali. In the form of Parvati, She is known as the divine spouse of Lord Shiva and is the mother of Her two sons, Ganesha and Karttikeya, and daughter Jyoti. Destroyer of demons, she is worshiped during an annual festival called Durg


Her Appearance


There are endless aspects of Durga described in the Puranas and Agamas and the iconography is consequently very varied. She is usually pictured as having ten arms holding Sword, Conch, Discus, Rosary, Bell, Winecup, Shielf, Bow, Arrow, and Spear. She is most often shown riding a lion from which comes Simhavahini. She is gorgeously dressed in royal red cloth and has several ornaments decorating her beauty. Her hair is dressed up in a crown (karandamukuta) which then flows out in long luxuriant tresses that are darkly luminous and soothing to the eye. The various tools reflect the eminent supremacy that helps in controlling the universe.


* Will upload photos of Golu soon.

For Sundal Recipes click here
Pacha Payir Karamani Sundal
Verkadalai Sundal
Kondakadalai Sundal

Pacha Payir Karamani Sundal

Pacha Payir and Karamani Sundal for Navarathri. Its is healthy and tasty.

Ingredients
Pacha Payir/Green Gram - 1 cup
Karamani/Black Eyed Bean(White or Brown) - 1 cup
Yennai/Oil - 1 tspn
Kadag/Mustard - 1/2 tspn
Peringayam/Asafotida/Hing - a pinch
Karuvepillai/Curry leaves - few
Kanja Milagai/Dry Red Chilli - 2 nos
Thengai/Fresh Grated Coconut - 2 -3 tspns
Uzhatham Paruppu/Urad Dal - 1/2 tspn
Salt


Preparation Method
Soak pacha payir and karamani in water for 4-5 hours or overnite.
Pressure cook for 3-4 whistles with water and little salt.
Heat a kadai, add oil, mustard wait and add asafotida, curry leaves, dry red chilli, urad dal and saute till the dal is brown.
Then add the cooked dals mix. Cook for few mins.
Off the stove and add fresh grated coconut and mix.


Pacha Payir Karamani Sundal is ready for prasadam.

Notes - If you want to do the sundal fast and if you forget to soak at nite. Soak the dals in hot water.

To know more about this festival click here.

AWED - Brazil Event Announcement!!!

Dear Friends,


After the success of MM Party Treats, now am very pleased to annouce AWED-Brazil. AWED is an wonderful event started by DK of Chefinyou, its an excellent way to explore international recipes.  I would like to thank DK for giving me an opportunity for hosting this event.

Brazil is a large country that is made up of many different cultures. Each region has a different food specialty. The Portuguese arrived in Brazil in 1500 and brought their tastes and styles of cooking with them. They brought sugar, citrus fruits, and many sweets that are still used for desserts and holidays. The Brazilian "sweet tooth" was developed through the influence of the Europeans. Brazilians use many eggs, fruits, spices (such as cinnamon and cloves), and sugar to make sweet treats, such as ambrosia. They also use savory (not sweet) seasonings such as parsley and garlic. Other nationalities that settled in Brazil were Japanese, Arabs, and Germans. More than one million Italians had migrated to Brazil by 1880. Each immigrant group brought along its own style of cooking.


Long before the Europeans arrived, however, the Tupí-Guaraní and other Indian groups lived in Brazil. They planted manioc (a root vegetable like a potato) from which Brazilians learned to make tapioca and farofa , ground manioc, which is similar to fine breadcrumbs. It is toasted in oil and butter and sprinkled over rice, beans, meat, and fish. As of 2001, farofa was still used as the Brazilians' basic "flour" to make cookies, biscuits, and bread.

Rice, black beans, and manioc (a root vegetable like a potato) are the main foods for many Brazilians.

You can browse Wiki for more information.
Logo

Rules of the event
1. Prepare any Vegetarian dish from Brazil and post between now and 31st Oct (Only vegetarian no eggs please). It can be anycourse of soups, meal, snacks, starters, sweets, desserts, baking is also allowed.
2. Please linkback to this event announcement and DK's page. Use of Logo is must.
3. Email me at simplysara07@gmail.com with Subject: AWED-Brazil mentioning the following details.
- Your 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 Nov.

Hope you like participating @ Sara's Corner Events. If you have any questions, feel free to mail me or leave a comment.

Regards,
Saraswathi

Microwave Low Fat Carrot/Gajar Halwa

Thank you friends for your wishes on my Birthday. Your wishes made my day. I got few gifts from my hubby and friend. The day was good as my hubby was on leave although my son and me had cold. I wanted to make something simple and quick.

I prepared Microwave Low Fat Carrot/Gajar Halwa without ghee and cashews.

I don't use microwave except for heating and making papads. First time I have tried this Carrot Halwa and it came good.

Forgot to add Bachelor's out there you can also try this.

Ingredients
Carrot/Gajar Big - 2nos(grated)
Sugar - 2 tblspoon(White/Brown) - (Optional)
Low Fat condensed Milk - 2  tspns
Raisins - 1 tspn

Preparation Method
In a microwave safe bowl, add carrot, sugar and mix well. Keep in microwave for 5-7mins(Medium Heat)
Remove and add condensed milk and raisins mix n keep it for 3-4 mins. Till the carrot is well cooked.

Mix and serve the hot Carrot Halwa with Ice cream. You can also try my normal version of Carrot Halwa here.

Notes -
You can use only condensed milk instead of sugar.
Timings will vary according to the microwave. So check while doing accordingly.
If you feel the carrot is not cooked you can cook for 2mins more.

Vellarikaai/Southekayi/Cucumber Salad

Again going to Bangalore, we used eat a lot outside and this is also one of them. Many might have seen Southekayi selling near parks and schools. Its very refreshing and hot.

I have used Japan Cucumber where in I could not go to Little India to get the normal one. It almost tasted the same.

Remove skin and cut 1 no of cucumber into cubes or small slices. Add salt and required green chutney or pudina chutney(Grind Pudina/mint leaves wtih green chilli to fine paste) and mix well. Add little lemon juice.

Salad is ready. This can be had as it is or with lunch or dinner.

Veg. Fried Rice

Veg. Fried Rice is a chinese dish but very famous in India. I had taken snaps last time when I prepared but was so lazy kept on pending to post. Today, I prepared this for lunch and took new snaps of it. Me and my friends enjoy eating in Shanthi Sagar, Bangalore which is a fast food.

Ingredients
Rice - 2 cups(Steamed)Basmati Rice tastes good.
Onion - 1 no
Ginger garlic - 1 tspn(Chopped finely)
Green Capsicum/Bell pepper - 1 no
Yellow Capsicum - 1/2 no
Beans - 4 nos
Carrot - 1/2 no
Cabbage - 1 cup
White or Black Pepper powder - 1 tspn(As per your taste)
Green chilli - 1 no(slit) or Chilli Sauce - 1 tspn
Soya Sauce - 1 tspn
Tomato Sauce - 1/2 tspn
Ajinomoto/Chinese salt - a pinch(Optional)
Spring onion - 1 tspn(chopped) for garnishing - Optional
Olive Oil - 2 tspns(I used EVOO like Rachel's says:-)
Salt

Preparation Method
Wash and shred all veggie into thin pieces.
Heat a wide wok/kadai, add oil, onion, ginger garlic a pinch of salt and saute till transperant.
Add carrot and beans. Saute for 1min.
Add capsicum and saute for 1min.
Add cabbage and saute for 1min.
Add all sauces, ajinomoto and saute till its half cooked.
Sprinkle pepper powder and mix.
Add rice and mix well. Check on salt.
Garnish with chopped spring onion.

Serve with Tomato Ketchup or Gobi Manchurian.

Notes - If you use white pepper, the colour of the rice will be white.
           If you use black pepper, the colour of rice will change to slightly dark.

Channa/Chickpea/Garbanzo Pulao

I had soaked 2 cups of Channa for making Channa Masala, but didnt feel like making them stored in fridge, wanted to try something different. Just thought of this pulao. It was different my hubby and friends liked a lot.

Ingredients
Channa/Kondakadalai/Chickpea/Garbanzo - 2 cups
Rice - 2 cups(Normal or Basmati)
Channa Masala - 3-4 tspns(I used MTR)
Red Chilli powder - 1/2 tspn(As per your taste)
Haldi/Manjal/Turmeric powder - 1/2 tspn or little more for colour
Curry leaves - few
Oil - 2-3 tspns
Ghee - 1 tspn
Ginger Garlic Paste - 1/2 tspn(Optional)
Onion - 2 nos(Sliced thinly)
Tomato - 1no(chopped)
Spices - 1no each
Salt


Preparation Method
Wash and soak Channa overnite with sufficient water. If you wish you can make it sprouted too(I had little sprouted which I mixed here)
In a pressure cooker, add oil and ghee fry half the onions till brown and transfer it to a plate.
In the same pressure cooker, add spices and saute for a minute.
Add onions, ginger garlic and fry till transperant.
Add tomatoes and curry leaves saute till they are soft.
Add Channa Masala powder, turmeric and red chilli powder. Saute till the raw smell goes.
Now add Channa/Chickpea and saute for few mins.
Then add rice and saute once. Add enough water and salt.
Sprinkle a tspn of Kasoori Methi and mix.(Optional)
Close the lid and pressure cook for 2-3 whistles.

Channa Pulao is ready. Garnish with the fried onions.
Enjoy it as it is with papads or raitha.

Channa Pulao is going off to CWF-Chickpea by Nithu and Kiran along with Channa Masala.

Ellu Urundai/Sesame Sweet Balls/ hei zhi ma

Hope you all had great festival and long weekend. We had wonderful celebration of Vinayagar Chathurthi, am here posting recipes prepared for Lord Ganesha. Had invited few friends for lunch and went to Marina Bay Sands Skypark.

Ellu Urundai/Sesame Sweet Balls is prepared with Black Sesame Seeds and Jaggery. Black Sesame Seeds are used in traditional Chinese Medicine. Its also good source of calcium. Black sesame seeds also have high amounts of protein, phosphorous, iron and magnesium.

This is a must offering for Lord Ganesha.

Ingredients
Karuppu Ellu/Black Sesame Seeds/Till - 1/2 cup
Vellam/Jaggery - 1/2 cup or more as required(Jaggery should be Round and not square/achhu vellam)

Preparation Method
Wash and rinse Karuppu Ellu/Black Sesame Seeds to remove the sand and dirt from it.
Leave it in a strainer to remove all water for 5-10 mins.
Dry roast in a Kadai/wok till you get good aroma and it starts spluttering.
Off the stove and transfer it to a plate for cooling.
Then in a mixie add Ellu/Sesame Seeds and wip once and then add jaggery and grind to fine powder.

Make small balls. If you are not able to make balls add little more jaggery and grind.

I made 11 nos. out of it.

Enjoy the Ellu Urundai/Black Sesame Sweet Balls.

PS - Your feedback is appreciated. Do try recipe from (http://www.sarascorner.net/) take a picture and send it to me through Facebook message or mail me at simplysara07@gmail.com. Will be glad to add in my page Tried & Tasted album on FB or post on my page. Do follow me on Instagram id - saraswathiyer for more food stories and recipe ideas.Thank you.

Kozhakattai/Modhakam (Steamed Dumplings) for Vinayagar Chathurthi Step by Step Recipe

Vinayagar Chathurthi neivedyam Ullandu/Kara Kozhakattai and Poornam Kozhakattai recipe.

Dough in common

Ingredients
Rice flour - 2 cups and little more

Water - 2 cups or more if required.

Nalla Yennai/Gingelli oil/Sesame Oil - 2-3 tspns

Salt a pinch

Preparation Method

In a wide vessel boil water, add oil and salt. Reduce the flame slowly add rice flour and stir continously to form a chapathi dough consistency. Allow it to cool. Grease hands with oil and make small balls out of it. Close a clean wet towel on it to avoid drying.

Poornam/ Sweet Stuffing

Ingredients

Fresh Grated Cocont - 1 cup

Jaggery - 1 cup(powdered)

Cardamom /Elachi- a pinch 

Preparation Method
In a wide kadai, add jaggery with a tspn of water. Allow it to dissolve with stirring on intervals. Add grated coconut and cardamom powder. Mix till its thick and dry. Transfer it to a plate.

To make Kozhakattai

Now take the Rice flour balls.

Spread in hand to form a round shaped cup.

Fill a tspn of coconut filling.

Seal the edges by pressing slowly to form triangle shape.

Steam it in the idli cooker for 15mins.

Poornam Kozhakattai is ready for Lord Ganesha.




Ullandu Stuffing

Ingredients
Ullandu/Urad dal - 1 cup

Dry Red Chilli - 1 no
Green chilli - 2 nos
Asafotida/Hing - a pinch
Oil - 1 tspn
Mustard - 1/2 tspn
Curry leaves - few
Salt
Fresh grated coconut - Optional - 1/2 cup


Preparation Method

Soak Urad dal with green chilli for about 1 hour.

Grind it coarsely not to fine in a mixie with red chilli and salt.
Steam this in Idli cooker for 10 mins or till its well cooked.
Now season it with oil, mustard,hing and curry leaves and grated coconut.
Mix the steamed stuffing and keep aside.


Stuffing is ready.

To make Kozhakattai

Now take the Rice flour balls.

Spread in hand to form a round shaped cup.

Fill a tspn of Urad dal filling.

Seal the edges by pressing slowly to form crescent shape.

Steam it in the idli cooker for 15mins.

Ullandu Kozhakattai is ready for Lord Ganesha.

Thank you friends, am happy that this is my 250th post. I know am late:-)

PS - Your feedback is appreciated. Do try recipe from (http://www.sarascorner.net/) take a picture and send it to me through Facebook message or mail me at simplysara07@gmail.com. Will be glad to add in my page Tried & Tasted album on FB or post on my page. Do follow me on Instagram id - saraswathiyer for more food stories and recipe ideas.Thank you.

Vinayagar/Ganesh Chathurthi Festival

Our house Vinayagar.

Wishing you all Happy Vinayagar/Ganesha Chathurthi.

My day started with this Kolam/Rangoli.

Vinayagar Chathurthi falls on 11th Sept 2010. It is celebrated in many parts of India but in specific celebrated very grand in Maharashtra. Big idols are kept by the sides of the streets and celebrated for 11 days or even upto a month. Music and dance performances takes place every day during this period at the end of which these idols are taken to the sea and immersed in water. At home it is done on the same day or on the third day. People with small and medium idols. People with small and medium idols immerse it at home in a bucket of water or in the tank. Some people take to nearest lake and immerse.

Back home we decorate the table for ganesha with lots of colour paper, banana leaves, fruits, lighting, Mango leaves, etc.. Ganesha is placed in a silver plate filled with rice and money. Garlands specially handmade in cotton(Gejje Vastra). You also get garlands made of lotus and chickpeas.

People visit temples and friends. Children take Akshata(Rice mixed with turmeric and water or ghee) and visit as many houses to see different kinds of idols and puja. Also enjoy the prasadams.In Karnataka, they also celebrate Gowri Festival one day before Ganesha Festival. They worship the idol of Goddess Gowri mother of Lord Ganesha. Its called Gowri Ganesha Habba.

Plain Clay idols or colour idols are available.

Hope this festival gives good health, peace, wealth and prosperity to everyone.Kozhakattai/Modak is favourite of Lord Ganesha and is an important dish on the menu for the Festival.

Delicious Dishes prepared on this festival without onion and garlic by Brahmins/Iyer.

Click on the names for recipes.

Idli
Uppu Kozhakattai/Modakam(Urad dal and spices covered with Rice flour)
Poornam Kozhakattai(Jaggery and coconut stuffing covered with Rice flour)
Sundal(Dish prepared with white or black skinned chickpea)
Vella Appam
Vadai
Ellu Urundai
Ammni Kozhakattai Payasam
Poriyal/Curry
Sambar
Paruppu Rasam
Curd Rice
Pickle

For step by step recipe of Poornam and Ullandhu Kozhakattai click here.

PS - Your feedback is appreciated. Do try recipe from (http://www.sarascorner.net/) take a picture and send it to me through Facebook message or mail me at simplysara07@gmail.com. Will be glad to add in my page Tried & Tasted album on FB or post on my page. Do follow me on Instagram id - saraswathiyer for more food stories and recipe ideas.Thank you.

Paneer Bhurji!!!

Paneer Bhurji is a simple and very tasty side dish.

Ingredients
Paneer/Paal Katti/Indian Cottage Cheese - 1 cup grated or scrumbled(For homemade paneer click here)
Onion - 1 cup (chopped)
Tomato - 1/2 cup (chopped)
Capsicum - 1/2 cup (chopped)
Garlic - 1 no(Chopped)
Garam Masala - 1/2 tspn
Red Chilli powder - 1/2 tspn
Turmeric - a pinch
Oil - 2 tspns
Salt

Preparation Method
In a kadai/wok, heat oil add onion, garlic and saute till transperant.
Add tomato and cook till its soft. Then add capsicum and saute for 5mins.
Add garam masala, turmeric, red chilli powder, salt and mix well.
Finally add grated or scrambled paneer. I scrumbled it.

Cook for few mins and off the stove.

Paneer Bhurji is ready. This can be a perfect combination for chapathi/roti/naan. Sometimes I even stuff on sandwich too.

This can also be great sidedish for picnic or lunch box if you plan to carry chapathi.

Paneer Bhurji is going off to Letz Relish Paneer by Jay.

Veggie Aval Upma and the Winner!!!

Aval/Rice Flakes is a main ingredient for Gokulashtami/Krishna Jayanthi. Here is a simple and colourful vegetable upma. This is ideal for breakfast or tiffin.

Ingredients
Aval/Rice Flakes - 2 cups
Mixed Vegetable (Carrot/Peas/Cabbage/Cauliflower)- 1 cup
Fresh Grated Coconut - 2 tspns
Oil - 1 tspn
Mustard - a pinch
Asafotida - a pinch
Jeera - 1/4 tspn
Curry leaves - few chopped
Channal Dal - 1/2 tspn
Green chilli - 2 nos
Salt

Preparation Method
Wash, Rinse the aval. Remove water and keep aside.
In a kadai/wok, add oil mustard. Wait till it splutters. Now add asafotida, jeera and channa dal. saute till its brown.
Add curry leaves, green chilli and saute for a minute.(You can slit the g.chilli or chop into small pieces)
Add the vegetables, little salt and cook it.
When its cooked add aval and salt and mix well.

Garnish with Fresh Grated coconut.

Veggie Aval Upma is ready to serve.

Now the winner of my Giveaway for Anniversary.

Any guesses??

That is Sanyukta Gour. Congratulations!!! I will get in touch with you.

Thanks to everyone for participating.