ME AND MY KITCHEN!

A visit to Munnar, Kerala..

2011-05-27T00:05:00.001+05:30

Everyone’s wish for a summer vacation is to visit a hill station with cool climate. We also planned for the same and decided to go to munnar, Kerala. The reason being its just 150 kms from Madurai (our native place). Alternatively we had other option of going to kodaikanal which we felt is boring and as well is much crowded during summer vacation. So here we go to Munnar.

(15kms before munnar, Tamil Film Myna being shot at this place)

We hired Toyota Qualis and we were totally 7 including my son Amiitesh. The charge is quite reasonable as the total travelling distance may not exceed 500kms. We completed with 540kms.

The way we took is via Theni – > Bodinayakkanur – > Bodimedu –> Poopara –> Munnar. Total distance is 160kms and travelling time is nearly 5 hours, we had our breakfast at Theni.

(15kms before munnar, Tamil Film Myna being shot at this place)

One should not close their eyes while on the way to munnar, as the entire hill range is covered with greenery. Everywhere green, green, green….. One should not miss this. Another important is that the entire hill range is covered with tea estates. They are just awesome. Stop the vehicle, take a snap and enjoy.

(Tea estate from the road side view..)

On the way to munnar, just 15kms before, there is a spot where the Tamil film “Myna” is been shot. Its really a cool and nice place to see and enjoy the low degrees. See the first image in this blog post.

Once we reached Munnar, there are large number of hotels,cottages you can book, though you can book online also. We booked a cottage in the tea county road, just less than half a km from the town.

(the cottage where we stayed…)

Later the same day we visited the following places Mattupetty dam, echo point, Kundala Dam and Top point. Both the dams are very scenic and beautiful. See the pictures below

In Top point, you can see the entire hill ranges and you feel like you are flowing in the air, it’s a marvelous feeling and the top point lies in Tamil Nadu.

Above Picture :-

(Mattupetty Dam)

All the four places the two dams, echo point and top point all lies in the same way, it takes nearly 6 hours to visit the dams (Boating charges extra), echo point and top point (Rs.15 to see it).

Above Picture :-

(Echo Point – where when you shout the forest infront of you will echo it)

Above Picture :-

(Kundala Dam)

Above Picture :-

Top Point.

Once the journey is over, we are back to the cottage and the next day morning, we changed our plan and we planned for thekkadi. Since there is one more place to see in munnar, ie the varaiyadu (that we are not interested), we planned for thekkadi.

We started our journey in the 11’o clock morning and reached Kumili around 2PM in the noon.

On the way, we took snaps of the various tea estates.

Above Picture :-

Tea Estates on the way… So many estates, you can see like this in Munnar)

Its nearly 110km from Munnar to Thekkadi and again the scene is lovely on the way. This time you can see fully elachi plant planted nearly for more then 50kms in the entire hill range.

Above Picture :-

everywhere is elachi plant..

We took some wet elachi plants, the aroma will be there only when it is dry. Once we reached thekkadi, we thought of boating, but we couldn’t get the tickets as the tickets are sold for the day. If you are planning to go to thekkadi boating, then plan to go in the morning, only then you may get the boating tickets.

Above Picture :-Thekkadi…Later we retuned to madurai from thekkadi, before cumbum, one can see huge number of grape plants and you can purchase grapes at a cheaper rate and even you can take photographs of the graph plant.

Then we reach madurai around 9PM. Its just a two day trip as munnar is just 160km away from madurai.

Budget needed for Munnar Travel

Rent for Car – rs. 5000

Cottage rent Rs. 2500

Food/Other – Rs. 2000

Approximately, Rs. 10000 being spent for two days for 7 persons.

IF you are planning from Chennai or Bangalore, calculate the Charges and timing as per their convenience. Self Drive / hiring a car is the best option in Munnar.

A Visit to Parry’s Corner

2010-11-16T13:57:00.003+05:30

One day me(Pradeep - sri's SH) and my wife decided to go out for a long run shopping to Parry’s corner at Chennai. We actually planned to go for buying fancy (covering) bangles available at sowcarpet, NSC Bose Road.

We reached and we spent our 3 hours of time to roam in the NSC Bose road, its really fantastic to go for it. We nearly travelled 50 kms in our bike (Beach road) to reach parry’s corner.

Sowcarpet is just a small (non south India) north India particularly the Mint street. There are so many shops to purchase sarees, chudi, salwar, etc. Like in north India, we need to bargain to buy sarees. During the noon, pani puri, samosa, kachodi, etc is available in the streets.

Above: A Saree Shop

Above: Mint Street

Above: Mint Street

After a visit of more than 2 hours, my wife purchased four set of bangles and satisfied.

On the return journey, we had our lunch at adyar ananda bhavan triplicane. Here is the Lunch we had on that day. Its nice isn’t?

EFM - Cakes and Bakes Series!

2010-08-30T10:16:00.002+05:30

Halo Friends!!!!

I am really thankful to all the blogger who participated in the EFM - SWEETS AND SAVORIES Series and made it successful! I received number of delicious entries for Sweets and Savories Series for which the ROUND UP is HERE!

Now its time to announce the theme for this month . Theme for EFM (Event for the Month) for the month of September is "BAKES AND CAKES". Bakes ad Cakes include Cakes, Cookies, Muffins, Pies, Tarts, Breads, Pastry, and Chocolates.

So, come out with all your BAKING Recipes and am awaiting eagerly for all your entries.

Rules for Participating in the Event:

1. Prepare any type of baking recipes,and post it in your blog in the month of August 29,2010 to September 30,2010 with the logo and a link back to this page.

2. If you already have appropriate entry archived, please make sure to re-post it during the period of event with the logo and a link back to this page. Only the entries re-posted during the entry will be accepted and it is more important.

3. Do not forget to provide a link back to this announcement page and to use the logo .

4. Interested people can Subscribe my blog via E-mail, so that you can receive my recipes to your mail address itself.

5. Email your entry to srikitchen@gmail.com, with "EFM Theme - Cakes and Bakes Series" in the subject line with following details

* Blog Name :
* Blog URL :

* Recipe Type (Cakes, Cookies, Muffins, Pies, Tarts, Breads, Pastry, and Chocolates) :
* Recipe Name :
* Recipe URL :

* Photograph of final dish(150 x 150 Pixels) and it is a must.
* id which you have used to subscribe my blog

6. The deadline for this event is September 30th,2010. Please remember that no late entries will be entertained.

7. There is no limit to the number of entries.

8. If you don’t have a blog but wish to participate in this event, send your entries with a picture, your name and recipe to srikitchen@gmail.com before the deadline. I will post the recipes with your picture in my blog and include it in the round-up.

Hope all started to prepare your dishes in your kitchen and let's have a great one stop for cakes and bakes recipes!

EFM - Sweets and Savory for Diwali Series Round Up!

2010-08-26T09:45:00.002+05:30

Presenting you the Round Up for the "EFM - Sweets and Savories for Diwali Series!" and I Welcome you all to the Round Up! A surprise awaiting for u all at the end of the Round Up....!

My sincere thanks to all you wonderful blogger, who joined me to celebrate the Sweets ans Savory Series and making this one, a successful event. So get ready to bookmark your favorite recipes and try it out in your kitchen. I received totally 65 types of Sweets and 17 types of Savories recipes and so totally 82 entries. Can we all get this altogether from one person or from one book? It's impossible, i can say!

Thank you one and all for your delicious contributions and making it a very successful event. It’s because of you all lovely blogger now we have One-Stop-Shop for Various Sweets and Savories recipes. I am really very happy and thank you all for your support and encouragement.

If i have missed any of your entries, please contact me to my mail id srikitchen@gmail.com, so that i can update the missing entries.

PARTICIPATION AWARD

We all know that "Participation is more important than success!". So we should always encourage the participants of any contests. So, i too like to award all the participants of this contest with this " Chef Award". All the participants, please grab this award and display it in your blog proudly!

I have submitted the round up in the order i have received the entries.Here is what you have been looking forward to…

SWEETS RECIPES:

1. Kadalai Urundai / Peanut Candies from My Recipes Diary

2. Bread N Butter Pudding from A HomeMaker's Diary

3. Rasmalai from Anita's kitchen

4. Carrot Halwa with Milk Powder n Evaporated Milk from Anita's Kitchen

5. Microwave Rawa Laddu from Kitchen Samraj

6. Microwave Matta Rice Aval Laddu from Kitchen Samraj

7. Suyyan from Kitchen Samraj

8. Dummadai from Kitchen Samraj

9. Microwave Aval Laddu from Kitchen Samraj

10. Semiya Payasam from Avanthirao's Kitchen

11. Pineapple Kesaribhath from Desi Food Bytes

12. Coconut Rice from Nivedita's Kitchen

13. Peanut Gujjiya from Nivedita's Kitchen

14. Sago Halwa from Super Yummy Recipes

15. Rava Laddu from Food lovers

16. Kaju Katli from Dips Kitchen

17. Gajar Ka Halwa from Tasty appetite

18. Beetroot Ka Halwa from Tasty Appetite

19. Dahi Ke Jamun from Lazzat

20. Gulab Jamun from Simple Veg Cooking

21. Carrot Halwa from Creative Sanyukta

22. Mohanthal from Authentic Vegetarian Recipes

23. Boondhi Laddu from Flavors of South India

24. Apple Kheer from Apy Cooking

25. Besan Ke Ladu with Crystallized Sugar from Super Yummy recipes

26. Pinwheel Biscuits from Kitchen Express

27. Marie Brown Wood from Kitchen Express

28. Gulab Jamun from Joy of Cooking

29. Rasgulla from Sangi's Food World

30. Oats and Dates Peda from Vidhya Ravikumar

31. Malpua from Vidhya Ravikumar

32. Mysorepak from Vidhya Ravikumar

33. Microwave 5 in 1 Halwa from Vidhya Ravikumar

34. Pal Poli from Vidhya Ravikumar

35. Mango Shrikand from Vidhya Ravikumar

36. Kaju Katli from Kavithavin Kaivannam

37. Badam Cashew Cake from Kavithavin Kaivannam

38. Gulab Jamun from Kavithavin Kaivannam

39. Rasagulla from Kavithavin Kaivannam

40. Maladu from Kavithavin Kaivannam

41. Panasa Thoalu from Kavithavin Kaivannam

42. Poori Payasam from Nithu's Kitchen

43. Fruits and Nut Dessert from Nithu's Kitchen

44. Poha and Dates Payasam from Nithu's Kitchen

45. Mango Dessert from Nithu's Kitchen

46. Moog Dal Payasam from Nithu's Kitchen

47. Beetroot Kheer from Nithu's Kitchen

48. Carrot Kheer from Nithu's Kitchen

49. Vermicelli payasam from Nithu's Kitchen

50. Rice Halwa from Nithu's Kitchen

51. Beetroot Halwa from Nithu's Kitchen

52. Carrot and Bread Halwa from Nithu's Kitchen

53. Mixed Fruits Bread Halwa from Nithu's Kitchen

54. Cassava Halwa from Nithu's kitchen

55. Asoka Halwa from Nithu's Kitchen

56. Sooji Halwa from Nithu's Kitchen

57. Poha Ladu from nithu's Kitchen

58. Coconut Burfi from Nithu's Kitchen

59. Pal kolukattai from Nithu's kitchen

60. Bread Gulab Jamun from Nithu's Kitchen

61. Aval Kesari from Nthu's Kitchen

62. Kaju Katli from Nithu's Kitchen

63. Besan Laddu from Nithu's Kitchen

64. Suzhiyan from Nithu's Kitchen

65. Gulab Jamun from Nithu's Kitchen

Savory Recipes:

1. Bean Pockets from Anita's Kitchen

2. Sagu Biyyam Murukku from Kitchen Samraj

3. Karasev from Dil Se

4. Green chilly Crispy Poha from Nivedita's Kitchen

5. Chegodilu from Mharo Rajasthai Recipes

6. Crispy Thattai from Tasty Appetite

7. Fenugreek Crisps from Creative Sanyukta

8. Murukku from My Kitchen Skills

9. Murukku from Kavithavin Kaivannam

10. Thattai from Kavithavin Kaivannam

11. Karasev from Kavithavin Kaivannam

12. Chegodilu from Kavithavin Kaivannam

13. Poha Chiwda from Kavithavin Kaivannam

14. Sago Murukku from Kavithavin Kaivannam

15. Thattai from Nithu's Kitchen

16. Seepu Seedai from Nithu's Kitchen

17. Thenkapal Mullu Murukku from Nithu's Kitchen

Winners of the Series!

Undoubtedly, the First Place goes to Nithu Bala of Nithu's Kitchen, for sending maximum of 27 entries to the event! Enjoy it and Congrats Nithu Bala!

And the Second Place goes to Kavita and Gayatri of Kavithavin kaivannam and she has send 12 entries for the event and Congrats to you Kavitha ad Gayatri! And, its the award for you dear!

There is a Giveaway announcement by Sig! Click HERE for further more details!

Deadline Extended for EFM - Sweets and Savories for Diwali Series!

2010-07-06T10:38:00.001+05:30

I have already announced about EFM - Sweets and Savories for Diwali Series! But i was unable to keep touch with the blog since i was too busy and it took very long time for me to settle in Chennai! Yes, i am back to Chennai again! So, i like to extend the DEADLINE for EFM - SWEETS AND SAVORIES FOR DIWALI SERIES to 31st of JULY!

Rules to Participate in the series are same as i have announced earlier! For more details about the series, click HERE! I am eagerly awaiting for all your delicious entries! Some of you bloggers already has sent your entries for this event and no need to resend it again. I will surely add your entries too in the round-up! Bloggers, Rush up with your entries soon!