Wonderfully Vegetarian ...

2012-06-14T20:34:00.002-07:00

CORIANDER - JALAPENO PASTA:

Sometimes, you want to taste something different, make it quickly, but also want some sure shot flavors in it. Coriander adds a lot of color and flavor. Here is what I tried and everyone liked it a lot.
Choose any pasta of your liking, boil water with a pinch of salt and few drops of olive oil, add the pasta cook well, drain in a colander adding some cold water to it.
Now take a bunch of coriander, two green chillies, one tomato, a small piece of ginger, black bell peppers a few, mozzarella cheese a good half block, olive oil one tablespoon and blend to a smooth thick liquid.
Now in a frying pan, add some olive oil/ butter and after a few minutes, add chopped baby red, yellow and orange bell peppers, fresh basil leaves, rosemary and thyme and two chopped tomatoes and salt to taste. When well sautéed, add the blended coriander liquid and let it simmer in low flame for 3 minutes.

The pasta is ready to serve. In a dinner plate serve the pasta and add the simmered coriander liquid.
Top off with raisins and walnut chopped finely.
Add freshly and finely chopped coriander.
Add grated mozzarella cheese and freshly ground pepper to taste.
Take a couple of dinner rolls, toast with butter and add on the side.
Serve with a glass of orange and carrot juice mixed.
Jalapeño flavored potato chips go well with this dish.
The flavors and colors re so inviting, it will disappear from your table in no time! Happy cooking!!!!!

Whither healthcare?

2012-06-12T11:03:00.000-07:00

"The moral test of a government is how it treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the aged; and those in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped." -- Quote from Senator Hubert Humphrey,Nov 4, 1977.

In this rat race of a life we live, we need to pause, if not every now and then, at least once in a while, and take stock of what we did, what we are doing and what we would do in future, to always go back to our fundamental principles and VALUES OF LIFE and not lose sight of it, indoctrinated in us through the wisdom of our forefathers, who made ample time to ponder over the bigger, better and larger issues of life, and put in endless efforts to bring them to bear; be it your CONSTITUTION founders, your TEACHERS or your PARENTS. Each deserve a round of applause and don't just stop there! They need your respect or rather you need to respect them for what they were/are and what they did/do selflessly. Think about this when you vote for your next President. Does the candidate evoke in you good moral values and respect? That is the litmus test... your heart should answer and vote. Ultimately you are responsible for how your nation is; when you realize this, the WORLD will be a better place and DON'T ever forget - YOU ARE IN IT as part and parcel! IF it affects you, your neighbor, your friend, your child, your family, WILL YOU VOTE FOR IT? WHY THEN DO YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT SCALE AND BALANCE FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD????????????

High tea! -it doesn't get any higher than this!

2012-03-25T12:47:00.005-07:00

Everest Climbing Gear—Then and Now - National Geographic

http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/everest/gear-edmund-hillary-hilaree-oneill/

Dear readers,
Sometimes you wonder what good is technology when you see some not so good news. But here is an example, where you are amazed at what technology could do!

That is not all; you cannot but be in wonderment when you see that without any of these, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbed the highest peak on earth to date, Mt. Everest! thus accomplishing a feat that no one could even think of! They had something going for them: call it what you want: luck, good weather, stamina, etc. But then there are those who might call it "God's Grace and Will" that they be destined to accomplish this extraordinary feat, on that particular day, against all odds; and so they did!

As much as we rely on technology, they relied on something else. Their faith in their God/entity/faith, however you may address it. When you have that strength, nothing and no one can defeat you.

Follow the link to find the 1953 and 2012 mountaineering equipment and accessories; article courtesy: The National Geographic. The stark differences are not only in technology, but also in their mind set and how strong and independent they were!

While you are at it, here is a recipe for making Indian tea!
Boil a cup of water adding to it one spoon of "Darjeeling tea" when the water is in full boiling state. Add either a pinch of ginger powder or better still small piece of fresh ginger. Add a tiny amount or a single pod of cardamom. Let it boil for 2 minutes in simmer and take it off. Cover with a lid and wait for 5 minutes. Take a quarter cup of milk and bring it to boiling temperature. Decant the tea water, add required sugar and the milk. You may increase or decrease the tea/milk quantity depending upon your taste.

Some variations: If you are tired or in a hurry, you can add all the ingredients at the same time.

If you like 'typical chai' boil the tea water with the milk and sugar added and wait for a couple of minutes.

You may also want to try with mint leaves one or two added if you like the taste; as also cinnamon.

You can have a healthy tea if you substitute 'white sugar" with either "brown sugar" or natural sweetener "honey".

Serve with biscuits, cookies, saltines, crackers, sweet and savories, as your taste/occasion dictates and an undeniable smile on your face.

While sipping this tea, think how high they climbed! both in physical dimensions an din their spiritual dimensions!

Happy cooking .......!

"மறைந்திருந்து பார்க்கும் மர்மமென்ன?" - "Why look at ther blog anonymously?

2011-03-09T11:28:00.000-08:00

மறைந்திருந்து பார்க்கும் மர்மமென்ன? - "Why look at ther blog anonymously?

Dear readers,

I once in a while look at the feeds I get and so thrilled to see diiferent states/cities within US and several members from countries other than USA view the blog.I am very happy that you are here andreading this blog. But the proof of the pudding lies in its goog taste. Say when you make a recipe and nobody says anything, it is awful. Even if they say it needed this or that you wouldn't mind, right.

So it is here. PLEASE take a moment to register your email id here, either under folowers or members. That way anytime there is a new post you will be automaticaly sent a link. Also you can ask me any recipe/ suggestions anytime.

See you soon as my friend!

Oh! What a pressure.....

2011-01-17T21:18:00.000-08:00

You know sometimes you do things under pressure and later on when you look at it or recall the incident you can only but laugh. So it was today, I was cooking our dinner. The cooker was on the range with rice in one compartmnet and the ingredients for rasam in the other compartment. After a few minutes I put the "weight" where it should be. Meanwhile I had cut okra into small pieces and started preparing the vegetable curry. When that was all set and cooking, I cut small brinjals for a second curry, "ennaik kaththirikkai". A few minutes passed by. I noticed that the cooker was not making any noises; and steam was coming from the valve, where it should not!. The cooker is almost brand new and my first reaxction was to get angry. Then I realized I have to do something or else the steam will all be gone and the cooker's base would be scorched! So I made a small roll from tissue and inserted it in the hole of the valve. It didnot cover it completely. The waste from cutting the okra and eggplant were still there. I picked up an okra piece and covered it. It was shifting a little and I had to hold it in place with a knife. That wasn't a good solution. Then I saw the eggplant tops and thought why not try one of them. Lo and behold! It did the trick! I didn't have to hold it and the cooking was done. When it was all over I looked at the cooker and burst into a laughter!. I called out to my child and she peeled into a laughter too. That is when I thought of sharing it with all of you. The things we do under pressure.... hm... Happy cooking... the words are still ringing in my ears. This was one very happy cooking indeed...

back to basics - simple vegetable side dish

2011-01-11T03:46:00.000-08:00

This is a basic vegetable dish preparation. Can be done with pretty much any vegetable you like.
Bhindi (ladies finger/ okra), cabbage, cauliflower, chow chow(Bangalore kaththirikkai/chayote squash), eggplant, beans,koththavarangai, beefwood, noolkol, white long radish, spinach, avaraikkai, potato, sembu, seppangkizhangu, etc....

For root vegetables, boil, peel and cut into uniform pieces, add salt, turmeric powder, mix gently and keep.
All green vegetables cut and set aside.

Take a saucepan, add a spoon of oil, and add quarter spoon of mustard seeds and let it pop. Now add quarter spoon of urad dal and cumin seeds. When the urad dal is golden brown add the cut vegetables. Add salt to taste. Let it simmer in medium flame. When done add asafoetida and curry leaves and serve.

Some tips for refinement.

You can add grated cocoanut to bhindi, koththavarangai, avaraikkai, beans, cauliflower, cabbage, beetroot, noolkol and spinach, sauté for couple of minutes and it is done.
For roots, you can add chilli powder to taste and sauté till golden brown.

This will go well with a simple meal consisting of sambhar and/ or rasam rice and curd rice.
Or with chappati and curd rice.

Do not cover with lid for any of them especially with bhindi and snake gourd. It will make it soggy

Sandwich Series I.1 - The King of sandwiches!

2011-01-11T03:20:00.000-08:00

All in one sandwich! Yes this can be a late sumptuous breakfast, lunch or dinner!

Chutney preparation:

Ingredients: one bunch pudina, coriander leaves clean, cut and set aside. Onions 2, garlic 4 cloves, peel, cut and set aside.(optional)
Take a quarter spoon of methi seeds, 5-6 whole black peppers, green chillies 6-8 or as required, 2 grated cucumbers after draining the water, 2 shredded carrots, cut ginger and the precut items above. Add all the items in a blender and make a fine paste adding very less water. Add a few drops of lemon, salt and mix well and refrigerate. This can stay even for a month without getting spoilt.

Sandwich

Cut tomatoes and cucumbers into thin slices.
Take two slices of bread and toast to golden brown.
On slice slice spread butter first and the a layer of the chutney.
Place cucumber and tomato slices.
Add a pinch or two of salt and crushed black pepper. Close it with another slice on which butter and the chutney have been spread.
Press gently and cut diagonally. Your sandwich is ready.
Serve with chips and juice/ soda of your choice.

For adults with normal appetite, one sandwich would be good for breakfast or snack.
For a heavy meal two would be fine.

However many times you make, your guests will be queuing for more over and over again.

An awesome sandwich that is healthy as well.

Happy cooking!!!!!!

"Each little flower that opens"

2010-12-03T21:53:00.000-08:00

You know the fondest memories you have are from those innocent childhood days. It is amazing what little facts, pictures and scenarios the mind chooses to remember! So it was that today over a cup of coffee, myself and a friend of mine, travelled to our childhood briefly. I remember this proud, old, very strict and neatly dresssed teacher of ours, Mrs. Charles, who taught us History and Geography. She was a Christian and had a soft high pitched voice and also taught us some songs when we had some free time. I can still recall her voice and the songs (well not all of them). Here is one so simple, yet wonderfully describes Nature and God's creations. Though it probably originally referred to Christians praise of their God, I always saw it as being applicable to any religion. Simply think of your God when the annotation points. To those who do not believe in a God, you still cannot but admire in awe and wonder at the manifold expressions of Mother Nature. Well, without much ado, here is the song which is so sweet and was sweeter when she taught us.

Each little flower that opens
Each little bird that sings
He made their glowing colours
He made their tiny wings!

All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small
All things wise and wonderful
The Lord God made them all!

To my surprise,when I started singing, she joined in. (We are from two different countries!)

So, take a moment from your busy work and go out and enjoy nature even if it be for just a few seconds - look at a flower,a ird, mountain, tree, cloud, sky, a dried twig, a rainbow .... something of nature and ponder over it... I am sure it will rejuvenate you every single time. Later in life when you have time to think and look back, these moments would be dearer to your heart than you can imagine now!

In some ways this would very well be a song on children! They come in all colours and sizes and character - but they never fail to brighten your day. So treat your children for what they are: precious commodities and try to make good memories for them.

I am restarting writing this blog after a long gap. Tune in for new and your favourite recipes and news!

Until then Happy Healthy cooking!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sandwich Series - I

2010-06-22T17:14:00.000-07:00

Sandwich - Regular

Bread: White, wheat or your choice. Toast lightly and spread it with a thin layer of butter.
Veetables: cucumber and tomatoes cut into thin pieces.
Take one slice, place 5 cucumber slices with one in the center and place 2-3 slice sof tomatoes. If you like cheese another layer of swiss cheese. Sprinkle salt and pepper.

Serve with orange juice,violet colour chips and some fruit for dessert.

Have it all! Pretty, Fast and Healthy! - THIDEER DINNER!!!

2010-06-18T13:39:00.000-07:00

What can you do when you loved ones turn off a switch and do not want to eat what you had planned for dinner?
This was my solution one day.

Take a couple of veggie patties/burgers and have them well done.

FOOD SAFETY: 1. SOY - OH BOY NO..................

2010-05-13T15:03:00.000-07:00

Dear readers,

I have been casually researching food, nutrition value and so on. Eversince my friend warned me about tofu, I have been wondering about food safety as well.

So risking the fact that numerous people would have written about food safety, I want to start this section. We will take one product or ingredient at a time.
The honour of being the first item goes to Soy, as I just returned from visiting a friend who is a die hard Soy proponent.

Without any further preamble here is a take on Soy.

Soy

Contains several naturally occurring compounds that are toxic to humans and animals. Soy foods block calcium and can cause vitamin D deficiencies. One health agency estimates than 100 grams of soy protein provides the estrogenic equivalent of the pill. Processing and all modern soy foods contain MSG, which cause neurological problems. Soy products inhibit thyroid function, which may lead to fatigue and mental issues. Infants on soy formula are vulnerable to developing autoimmune thyroid disease when exposed to high amounts of isoflavones over time. These Isoflavones have been found to have serious health effects, including infertility, thyroid disease or liver disease, on a number of mammals. Long term feeding with soy formulas inhibits thyroid peroxidase to such an extent that long term elevated thyroid stimulating hormone levels can also raise the risk of thyroid cancer. It is said that two glasses of soy milk a day over the course of a month contains enough of the chemical to change the timing of a woman’s menstrual cycle. Only eat soy if it has been fermented: such as soy, misu and tamari and if it is labeled as organic or non-GMO. See our Genetically Modified Foods section for more information.

So BEWARE OF SOY.

source: http://www.purezing.com/living/toxins/living_toxins_dangerousingredients.html

N.B: Please let me know an item or product you want to know about and I will gladly find out and let you know here. Readers are also most welcome to send articles or pointers to related articles.

Happy and Safe Cooking..............

APPLE-KADALAI MAVU GOTHSU! ஆப்பிள்- கடலை மாவு கொத்சு!

2010-05-04T11:32:00.000-07:00

கடலை மாவு சட்னி என்றால் இனி ஓட வேண்டாம்!
You know, nowadays cooking with original time tested recipes is becoming harder and harder. Don't you agree? If it is ghee, oil etc., cholesterol; rice etc - too much carbohydrates; sweets and savouries - oh it is fattenning/ too much oil and the list goes on. So it is with Channa dal powder - kadali mavu. For some people, the minute they hear something is made out of kadalai mavu, they will be reaching for their stomach. It is more a mental impression than anything else. If you eat anything with perspective (How much you eat and what your health condition is), and a balanced meal nothing can harm you.

Well, in any case, because of this notion, I hardly make the quick recipe side dish that goes amazingly well with chappati or poori - namely the famous "kadalai mavu chutney". But I wanted to make it, since it had been a long time that I tasted it.
Now my mind started racing. How can I make this a welcome and side dish? and thus ended up with:

APPLE-KADALAI MAVU GOTHSU! ஆப்பிள் - கடலை மாவு கொத்சு!

கடலை மாவு சட்னி என்றால் இனி ஓட வேண்டாம்!

Here is the recipe:

1 cup channa dal powder
1 big apple
6 tomatoes
1 onion and 2 garlic pods (for those who prefer)
3 green chillies, small ginger piece, chopped.
Coriander leaves chpped. ( or basil leaves)

Dice the tomatoes and keep. Chop onions, garlic, chillies to small pieces.
Mix the channa dal powder in 1-11/2 cups of water to amke a thin liquid. Add 1/2 spoon turmeric powder, some asafoetida powder, 1/4 spoon garam masala, 1/4 to 2 spoons chiili powder, according to your taste, and mix well and keep.
Cut the apple into small pieces and let it microwave for 2-3 minutes with some water. Cool, peel the skin and keep aside.
In a blender, add the peeled apples, some of the chopped tomatoes, some coriander leaves and blend well. I added basil leaves instead, to give a different flavour.
In a sauce pan, add 2-3 spoons of oil, pop mustard, cumin and urad dal. (1/4 spoon, 1/4 spoon, 1 spoon, respectively).
Now add the green chillies, ginger, (garlic and onions) one by one and saute well. Add the diced tomatoes and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes. Now add the contents from the blender and let boil for 5 minutes. Add salt to taste. Now add the channa dal powder liquid that you prepared and keep stirring. When it is a semi-liquid and done, stop an dtransfer contents a to another utensil. If you kep stirring till it looks right, it will solidy into a solid cake and laugh at you (:-).
There you have it, a traditional dish made very nutritious and what is more your tummy will love it.
I generally see in many houses, apples are just lying here and there as children and adults don't consume a lot. So why not include it appropriately in dishes that will add to the nutrition value?

And did you know, if someone has a stomach ache, plain boiled and pureed apple sauce is good for them?

Well, I can hear some people commenting "ஆமாண்டி! மிதமிஞ்சி விட்டது போலிருக்கு". It may seem so, but here you see apples everywhere. Instaed of wasting them, I feel this is a better use of the apples. Readers, chime in your 2c worth!

Atleast I have given you a suggestion to include apple for one day... We will come up with the other 364 ideas! Don't worry!

Happy cooking!!!!!!!!!! An apple today became a gothu for dinner!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUBBLE!!!!!

2010-04-24T21:42:00.000-07:00

Memorable photographs! You can say that again.. From the very beginning Hubble has been a "genius" photographer..

So here is saying " A Very Happy Birthday to Hubble" on the twentieth year of its launch!

Enjoy.

COMMENTS PLEASE, IF IT PLEASES YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-03-15T15:58:00.000-07:00

Dear readers,

You know, I think a lot of bloggers have this tendency like me - they write for there is an urge in them to express some aspect of life they see or experience. By the same token, it is delightful to get comments (even if they are not positive; these help to improve your blog) and it kinda lingers long in your memory and charges you.

So imagine my surprise when I got a really nice compliment from a friend far off! And I don't know why, I don't see the comments made by readers, eventhough several of them have told me they did send their comments. I got this one because she checked with me and when I said I didn't get her comments, she emailed it to me.

I have edited ONLY to maintain her privacy.

The second good thing that came out of the email was the low-down on TOFU.
You will find a lot of tofu recipes here.
Now you can see the other side of Tofu.

This friend of mine is a self-made expert on buying food - because she knows a lot on Pesticide grown fruits/vegetables and so on. Anything she says about buying food, I don't have to second-guess it.

So here is her edited email with advice on using Tofu.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: wow, what a blog!

Hello Vaidehi !

Regarding the blog: I am not a computer savvy person -I use the Word features tons, but as a matter of fact have NEVER looked at any blogs, and I routinely refuse invitations to join people on their various whatever sites as a "friend".
So yours is the very first "blog" that I visited, and you blew me away. How on earth do you manage to create something so very complex? I would have to spend hours making comments.

But here go a few:

1. Impressive, HOW do you gather so much varied info, and HOW do you create such a page!!??

2. do you need authorization to use other people's material? Such as the lovely videos and such (I listened and watched several, and greatly enjoyed the one with the "cooking" funny song and dancing in the kitchen).

3. I do not find WHERE it is that I leave a comment for you ON the blog itself. Maybe it is unclear...

4. Lots of tofu recipes: beware, tofu once or twice a week is enough.

Remember that it acts as a phytohormone, and can destabilize your system. It is particularly important not to feed too much to children, but it may be VERY good for women as we grow older and NEED those phytohormones ...Also, be sure to ALWAYS cook tofu before eating it, even when it is supposed to be served cold, a traditional Japanese cook will always give the tofu boil, then allow it to cool down.

5. a Suggestion: when something that not all people would know is called for in a recipe, it is best to describe it or the procedure for making it. For example, one of your recipes indicates "Make tamarind water as needed and keep.".
But it does not say HOW to make tamarind water.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks my dear friend.

For those of you wondering about registering your coments, here is what you can do:

1. Each post has a comments underlined at the bottom. 0 comments means NO ONE HAS COMMENTED SO FAR. If you click that link it will take you to a section where you can express your response and when you are done, it should increment the comment clok by one unit.
2. There is a WOV Guestbook display. You can click that link and submit your comments. It will be added to "recent comments" if you refresh your browser.
3. On the side bar there is a question about your rating of this blog. You can choose more than one response, if you wish.
4. You can email me your comments.
5. You can follow the blog by signing in with your email ID, where it says Google friend connect.

So write away! I will look forward to your comments.

Happy cooking and commenting!!!!!!!!

"மாதங் ளில்........... கறிகாய்களில் பச்சை நிறம்.....!" - DIDN'T I TELL YOU TO EAT YOUR VEGETABLES?

2010-03-11T13:11:00.000-08:00

"மாதங் ளில்........... கறிகாய்களில் பச்சை நிறம்.....!" - DIDN'T I TELL YOU TO EAT YOUR VEGETABLES?

Sounds familiar - but it has a world of wisdom in it. Read on:
Eating more vegetables is as central to a healthy nutrition plan as lowering/eliminating grains and sugars, drinking more water, or consuming omega-3. But while almost all vegetables are good, some are clearly far better, from a nutritional standpoint, than others. The general rule is: the greener the better (though a few vegetables that are not green made it onto the best-of list below).

At least one-third of all the food you eat should be raw, as cooking and processing can destroy essential micronutrients. Vegetables are an easy and obvious choice to enjoy raw. While vegetable juicing is an essential part of your nutrition plan at the advanced level, even beginners will find that it is a highly enjoyable and easy way to consume your raw vegetables on a daily basis.
Finally, if at all possible, aim to buy organic, locally-grown vegetables that are in season. If no organic vegetables are available, carefully wash your foods, and remove peels and cores, to minimize your exposure to pesticides and other chemicals.

Highly Recommended Vegetables
Asparagus	Escarole
Avocado (actually a fruit)	Fennel
Beet greens	Green and red cabbage
Bok Choy	Kale
Broccoli	Kohlrabi
Brussel sprouts	Lettuce: romaine, red leaf, green leaf
Cauliflower	Mustard greens
Celery	Onions
Chicory	Parsley
Chinese cabbage	Peppers: red, green, yellow and hot
Chives	Tomatoes
Collard greens	Turnips
Dandelion greens	Spinach
Endive	Zucchini

Use sparingly due to high carbohydrate levels
Beets	Jicima
Carrots	Winter Squashes
Eggplant

Vegetables to Avoid
Potatoes

courtesy: http://www.mercola.com

Dark Green Leafy Vegetables and Nutrition

2010-03-11T12:41:00.000-08:00

Dark Green Leafy Vegetables and Nutrition:

From time to time I would like to remind my friendly readers what is good to eat. Here comes the lecture on leafy vegetables, the major ingredient to salads.

What are dark green leafy vegetables?

Dark green leafy vegetables are good sources of many vitamins and minerals your body needs to stay healthy, such as vitamins A, C, and K, folate, iron and calcium. They are also great sources of fiber. Research suggests that the nutrients found in dark green vegetables may prevent certain types of cancers and promote heart health. It is recommended that teenage girls eat 3 cups of dark green vegetables per week, or about ½ a cup every day.

Dark green vegetables are also high in fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, K, D, and E. These vitamins require a little bit of dietary fat in order for the body to absorb them. When you eat dark green vegetables, make sure to add a teaspoon of dietary fat, such as butter, olive or canola oil, cheese or salad dressing to make sure your body absorbs all of the vitamins you eat.

What are some examples of dark green leafy vegetables and the best way to eat them?

Arugula has a peppery taste and is rich in vitamins A, C, and calcium. Arugula can be eaten raw in salads or added to stir-fry, soups, and pasta sauces.

Broccoli has both soft florets and crunchy stalks, and is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, folate, and fiber. Broccoli can be eaten raw or steamed, sautéed or added to a casserole.

Collard Greens have a mild flavor and are rich in vitamins A, C and K, folate, fiber, and calcium. The best way to prepare them is to boil them briefly and then add to a soup or stir-fry. You can also eat collard greens as a side dish. Just add your favorite seasoning and enjoy!

Dandelion Greens have a bitter, tangy flavor and are rich in vitamin A and calcium. They are best when steamed or eaten raw in salad.

Kale has a slightly bitter, cabbage-like flavor and is rich in vitamins A, C and K. Kale is tasty when added to soups, stir-fries, and sauces.

Mustard Greens have a peppery or spicy flavor and are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, folate, and calcium. They are delicious when eaten raw in salads or in stir-fries and soups.

Romaine Lettuce is a nutrient rich lettuce that is high is vitamins A, C, and K, and folate. It is best when eaten raw in salads, sandwiches or wraps.

Spinach has a sweet flavor and is rich in vitamins A and K, folate, and iron. Spinach tastes great eaten raw in salads or steamed.

Swiss Chard tastes similar to spinach and is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, potassium and iron. It is best stir-fried or eaten raw in salads.

courtesy: http://www.youngwomenshealth.org

பார்த்தால் பசி தீரும் !!! PRESENTATION PRESENTATION PRESENTATION!!!

2010-03-11T12:35:00.000-08:00

பார்த்தால் பசி தீரும் !!! PRESENTATION PRESENTATION PRESENTATION!!!

Now you all know that men are a tad bit reluctant to eat salads, whereas, we - I mean womenfolk literally love salads and some would even live on it! Nowadays I am caught in the dilemma of cooking for my better half (who becomes the bitter half on surveying the rice-rich menu) things that he would like to eat vs. things that he should eat. Oh! did I mention that he has embraced a "life-style" of healthy eating and a strict regimen of exercise? Now, we don't see eye to eye, ANY MENU!!! (well, we will not divulge into other areas, if you know what I mean! :-) )

So one night as I was preparing the dinner, a thousand watt bulb flashed in my cartoon head! Aha. I have the perfect solution now.

I had made channa and some other vegetable, sambhar, rice, etc.,

I got the lettuce, tomato and cucumbers and a mini apple (the real small cute ones) and cut them as I would for a salad.

Took a dinner plate and laid a generous layer of lettuce. To this I decoratively placed cut cucumbers and tomatoes.

Then mixed some sambhar rice (1/6 the quantity an adult would eat) and placed it in the center. On all sides I placed small balls/ amounts of the cooked vegetable. Topped it with some nuts and lo and behold! I had the perfect dinner plate. It was low in calories, looked very colourful and attractive, and had lots of cooked and raw vegetables with a very small portion of the mixed rice.

We both looked at it and beamed! So you see, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU COOK (only sometimes, guys, not always). It has to be presented appropriately, knowing your audience.

From that day forward, I started presenting the dinner attractively. This picture is from yesterday's dinner - on a bed of lettuce and brocolli florets and since I ran out of cucumber, I substituted it with green zucchini and used pears instead of apples.

The next one is my daughter's dinner plate. I placed two smaller lettuces and placed her mixed rice on each and had a row of the vegetable in the middle.

When it came to mine, I was basically tired, just placed lettuce and served my portion of rice and vegetables in a triangular fashion.

So, there you see - it is all in the eye of the beholder! OR it all comes down to PRESENTATION, PRESENTATION, PRESENTATION!

Happy cooking !!!!!!!!!! and Happier eating....!!!!!!

Great Masters/ Musicians Born in March

2010-03-08T14:12:00.001-08:00

Alexander Graham Bell - 3 -3 -1857
Mikhail Gorbachev 2-3-1931
Shaquille O'Neil 6-3-1972
Alan Greenspan 6-3-1926
Lou Costello 6-3-1906
Michaelangelo Buonarotti 6-3- 1475
Ivan lendl 7-3-1960
Bobby Fischer 9-3-1953
Yuri Gagarin 9-3-1934
Liza Minelli 12-3-1946
Albert Einstein 14-3-1879
Robert Frost 12-3-1874
Maxim Gorky 28-1868
Vincent Van Gogh 30-3-1853
REne Descartes -31-3-1596

Celebrating Great Masters/ Musicians - II - Bismillah Khan

2010-03-08T11:41:00.000-08:00

USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN - Born on March 21, 1916 in Dumraon, Bihar. Lived until August 21, 2006.

You know there are people whose mere mention of their name swells up a mixture of awe, reverence and admiration in you instantly. Bismillah Khan is one such for me. The kindest most divinely smiling eyes I have seen.

Follow the link.
For more unique info, will continue later.

Celebrating Great Masters/ Musicians Series - I - ANTONIO VIVALDI

2010-03-04T21:26:00.000-08:00

Vivaldi -see link

STARTING TROUBLE .......? - "வாங்கவாங்க! துவங்கும்போதே அசத்துவோம்!" - Part II

2010-03-01T15:15:00.000-08:00

வாங்க வாங்க துவகும்போதே அசத்துவோம் - மடல் ௨.
You know to cook well you really don't have to slog. All you need is some devotion to cooking, a flair for what flavours and tastes can mingle well and certainly a nose that can sniff and find out what is missing will help.

Common Denominator Recipe for dry vegetable curry:
This is SOP (standard operating procedure) for all vegetables that are edible.
Take a frying pan and add 2-3 spoons of oil, depending upon quantity.
To this add 1/2 spoon mustard seeds, 1/4 spoon urad dal, 1/8 spoon cumin seeds, asafoetida, and let the mustard pop completely);
Then add finely cut ginger, oninons and garlic (if you like onions and garlic). Saute till brown.
Now add:
boiled and water strained vegetable (cabbage, cauli flower, beans, avaraikkai, koththavarangai, beetroot), OR
fresh vegetable cut into nice uniform small pieces (egg plant, bhindi, carrot, snake gourd, bitter gourd, tondli), OR
fresh peeled cut vegetables (plantain,beetroot, turnips, yam), OR
boiled, skin peeled and then cut into uniform pieces (potatoes, arbi, sweet potatoes).

Add required quantity of salt, 1/8 spoon turmeric powder and let cook. When done, add curry/coriander leaves and asafoetida.
Serve in an attractive container.
With this recipe, now you can prepare any vegetable. This is the simple plain basic vegetable curry. Anything else is frills added; which you will learn by and by as you cook more and more.

SOME DOS and DON'TS.
1. Get your vegetables, ingredients ready before starting the range.
2. Have all vegetables cut.
3. Don't walk away from the range for too long, lest the ingredients decide tos how you a sulking black face!
3. If something is to be boiled, do so now.
4. Take out the boiled vegetable and strain the water.
TIP: You can use the water of the cooked vegetable as soup stock.
5. For root vegetables, pre boil, peel the skin off and cut into pieces.
6. Do not have the flame on high.
7. Wait for the mustard seeds to pop completely. If it doesn't, you will see brown miniature eye like stuff all over your dish.
8. Do not cover if it is green vegetable. It will make it soggy.
8. Ad asafoetida powder and curry leaves or chopped coriander leaves at the end and cover to preserve flavour.
9. Keep the dish warm.
10.With eggplant, have a bowl with water ready and drop the cut vegetable in it. While adding to the pan, drain the water.
11. With plantain, drop the cut vegetables into a bowl of water mixed with a spoon of yoghurt, to keep it from going dark. Be prepared to wash your hands well as cutting it leaves your palm with sticky stuff.
12. With yam and arabi, make sure that they have been sun dried to some extent. This will remove any itchy effect on the tongue that many a time happens when eating the vegetable.
13. Make sure that the vegetable doesn't get soggy.
14. Do not use the top portion of a bunch of carrots with leave son top. They are toxic.
15. Don't waste time. You could have boiled dal in a vessel for making a simple dal thadka when you were making this vegetable!
16. SERVE WITH A SMILE.
Happy cooking!.........

STARTING TROUBLE .......? - "வாங்கவாங்க! துவங்கும்போதே அசத்துவோம்!" - Part I

2010-02-26T11:41:00.000-08:00

"வாங்கவாங்க! துவங்கும்போதே அசத்துவோம்!" - Part I

If you among the "to be tested" category, or the so called "novice "in your cooking, in whatever way, here are some tips to begin on a strong foot.
1. Be bold.
2. After all, if it turns out bad, you can redo.
3. You know, even experienced people make cooking blunders.
That said, it is better to prepare yourself. If you are new to cooking, learn the basics:

1. Know how to make good coffee and tea. Even if you are not a coffee/tea drinker, it helps to impress people who do drink these beverages.
2. However small or big, keep your house, kitchen and bathroom clean and smelling fresh. This makes a big difference.
3. If you are greeting soemone specia; or someone whose approval you desire, make it known that you welcome that person/s.
4. Flowers and plants always add a soothing and cheerful atmosphere.
5. Add a waterfall if you can.
6. A pleasant looking and sounding door chime works wonders.
7. Keep that smile (as genuine as possible" on your lips throughout.
8. Play some likable music.
9. Now you are ready.
10. Learn the basics.

a. Learn how to operate the range/ stove/gas/ cylinder on off, etc., etc., I have heard of someone mixing all the ingredients and not lighting the range, simply because that person was attended to all the time and didn't even know how to light or switch on a stove/range.
b. Check the ingredients and choose a simple yet powerful meal.
c. South Indian - More kuzhambhu, brinjal podi vegetable or vendaikkai vegetable, kosumalli, rasam and thayir satham. Plus appalam/chips and urugai. One sweet or payasam.
d. North Indian - Pulav, chappati, raita, chips, potato-onion curry an d/or bhindi masala. Papad and chutney or pickle.
e. Now I ma going to give the shortest route to recipes; so may go back and forth between merging North and South.

RECIPES:

1. Take 2 cups of rice add 21/2 to 3 cups water depending upon rice variety, keep it in cooker. Add a few drops of oil for pulav.
2. Keep on top of that another tray with toor dal.
3. If there is room for a third tray, put potatoes cleaned for boiling.

1. Now take some puli/imli and soak it in hot water and microwave for 2 minutes. Let it cool and drain water into a pan.Add rasam powder 2 spoons, turmeric powder a1/8 spoon, salt and keep for boiling. Add precut toamtoes (2-3). When it boils once, add cooked dal from the cooker nicely mashed. Let boil for 2 more minutes and take it out and keep it in the serving container. Add cut coriander leaves and asafoetida.
3. Take shredded cocoanut, filling half of a cocoanut broken part, 5-8 green chillies, jeera 1 spoon, few fenugreek seeds, 1/4 spoon mustard seeds, fresh curry leaves. Add water and grind to a smooth paste in a blender.
Take a sauce pan and add 2 spoons oil and let boil. Now add 1/2 spoon mustard seeds and pop. To this add precut (brinjal/ cucumber/ bhindi/ onions/ bell pepper/ whilte pumpkin/yelow pumpkin - ANY ONE will do) and saute.
Now add the blended mix, add another 2-3 cups of water, salt, turmeric powder and let it boil on medium flame. When it just boils, remove. Cool a little and add coriander leaves and asafoetida. Add yoghurt as needed. Now your More Kuzhambhu is ready.
4. For pulav, take a sauce pan and saute precut vegetables and jeera and ginger well and add the cooked rice slowly mixing till all are added. Add cashew nuts and coriander leaves. Pulav is ready.
5. take the boiled potatoes, peel, cut to required pieces and keep with cut onions. Take a sauce pan, add 3 spons of oil (for 2 lbs of potatoes), add mustard, cumin and urad dal and let pop. Add the onions, saute and then add the potatoes and saute some more.. Add salt and asafoetida ans few curry leaves. Curry ready.
6. Take a sauce pan, fry mustard, jeera and urad dal (1/4 spoon, 1/2 spoon and 1/4 spoon) and add the precut vegetables. Add salt to taste and cook till done. Take it out and add curry leaves and asafoetida. For brinjal, if you ahve premade podi, add and saute for another minute before taking it off. Your vegetables are done.
7. For raita cut onions/onions+tomatoes/tomatoes/cucumber. Add 7-8 spoons of yoghurt and add popped mustard seeds and mix well and serve.
8. Fry papad if you ghave; lijid for North Indian and vadam or urad dal or arisi appalam for South Indian. mango hot pickle for SI and mango sweet pickle for NI.
9. Chappati - yu should know; it can't be taught. Do it a few times to perfect the technique.
10. Bhindi masala - Take a sauce pan, fry mustard and jeera, then onions, ginger, tomatoes, and then add bhindi. saute well adding salt, turmeric, little chilli powder and asafoetida. When well done, take out and coriander leaves.

Give yourself 2-3 hours to do everything from start to finish. If you are running out of time, cut one of the dishes from your menu. Use chips instead of papd frying.
Clean up, use attractive serving vessels of the right proportion, keep serving spoons, plates, eating spoons, napkins, water ready.
Now go change into a beautiful attire, dress up confidently to your choice and walk into the room ready to greet your guests with A SMILE and CONFIDENCE!.

Happy cooking!

BACK TO BASICS! - engE pOnalum amma samayal ruchi aladithan...!

2010-02-19T16:07:00.000-08:00

Hm!
Yes, every time I think of home, I feel this way. No matter how tasty I cook or eat out in restaurants or friend's places, nothing seems to come even close to having a meal at home, served so kindly by mom.
Why do you think this is? It it the magic touch by this wonderful person who expects nothing in return from you, your mother. Your meal has been cooked with love and only one goal in mind; that it should nourish your body. You can never get that selfless view from anyone else.

A good friend of mine from Brazil, told me this story: In her previous life she had worked in a Pizza place. She said every time she visits that restaurant now, the owner never fails to ask her to come back, even though he knows she isn't going to. This she says is because, the customers loved the pizzas she served and kept coming back. Why? She says the people who work in restaurants used to come their with stress and vent out their problems while preparing the meals, etc., whereas she is a "happy go lucky' type personality and will be chatting away cheerfully everytime. The food soaks up the environment; if it is prepared by cheerful people with laughter on their lips, when it is consumed by a consumer, it does only good things in his/her body. On the other hand, food prepared by sulking, sad or disgruntled people also imbibes the environment, only since this is bad, it does not do a lot of good in the consumer's stomach.

Actually, makes sense, don't you think? How many of us have eaten in a good restaurant and have had a bad sleep or stomach or bad night due to the food not agreeing with you and have wondered what could be the reason?

So this is my advice to you - cook special time tested home recipes for your kids - for when they become adults and are on their own, this will draw them home or bring loving flashbacks. They just don't get a meal, they get a meal loaded with your love and it nourishes them.

Don't try short cuts and buy ready made food thinking you are saving time. If you are really pressed for time or by other constraints, yes. But don't do this routinely. In fact, by spending a 30 min to 1 hour on your family's meal, you will be saving time for them ( by giving their bodies nourishing food that their system loves and hence they won't fall sick). So in fact you will be saving time from ill health and sickness. And in this world of a thousand quick bites food, choose healthy alternatives or have a balance when it comes to junk food; let them pass it by by offering a healthy alternative.

Eg., chocolate chip cookie can be traded for a cup of hot chocolate, but not with water, but in real milk.

or say, you can have a cookie, if you first finish the salad.

Instead of chocolates, offer fruit cups or carrots or cucumber.

If they are very hungry how about a soup and toast or veggies with a home made dip (oh yum - recipe later!) , or fruit pieces, and so on.

Do this diligently, every time. Sooner or later they will begin to like natural foods and will start choosing them on their own.

Good luck growing those little bubbly faces and cutie looks into wonderful people.

Let them HEAR ONLY good sounds at home; they do have a good vibration.
Let them ONLY SEE good stuff (on TV or otherwise).
Let them DO ONLY GOOD THINGS, like an artwork or craft or singing or dancing or helping somebody, volunteering.

One kid, one family at a time. You take care of yours with your life partner.
Slowly, but surely, we will be looking at a GLOWING, EXCELLENT breed of kids WHO CAN WIN THE WORLD IF THEY WANT TO; more importantly, they will be a beacon of light for so many kids out there who are not fortunate to have a home like theirs by being truly good people in their lives.
More than anything, they will be very self assured, confident people of the FUTURE! and that my friend, is a great contribution from you to the society and people living around you.

So dream big and dream for people who cannot dream for themselves, the less fortunate people of the world. And go get them and transform them into truly the wonderful person they are at the core! - for I believe every child starts as a GREAT KID! It is the circumstances and opportunities that shape them into WHO THEY BECOME!

NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THIS THOUGHT..................

Happy Cooking!!!.... Now you know what is the most important ingredient for your meal!!!
If you fall short of other ingredients, it is ok; and if you don't know what to cook, well here I am.
Ask me or email me. I will send a recipe customized to your needs and ingredients!

TOFU VENDAYA KUZHAMBHU - டோபு வெந்தய குழம்பு!

2010-02-01T15:36:00.000-08:00

டோபு வெந்தய குழம்பு

In thouroughbred South Indian families, hardly anyone can pass a vendhya kuzhambhu without their taste buds jumping!

So it was one day I was preparing this kuzhambhu and thought why not some tofu too?
Now for the recipe:
Firm tofu is good for this. Cut it into nice cubes.
Make tamarind water as needed and keep.
Take a handful of manathakkali, 2 spoons toor dal, 1/2 spoon mustard seeds, 1/4 spoon fenugreek seeds and 5-7 red chillies.
If you are fond of onions, you can substitute onions for manathakkali.
Take a sauce pan, and heat some oil in it. Add the above ingredients and let it pop.
Add the cut tofu and saute for a few minutes.
Now add tamarind water, sambhar powder, turmeric powder, salt and let it boil.
When consistency is good, add asafoetida and curry leaves.
Your tofu vendhaya kuzhambhu is ready.

TOFU KALANDA SATHAM - டோபு கலந்த சாதம்!

2010-01-21T15:08:00.000-08:00

டோபு கலந்த சாதம்!
Want to make a very healthy, tasty, mixed vegetable rice. Here comes Tofu to the rescue.
You need a block of firm tofu, green chillies, coriander leaves, tomatoes, ginger, (onion and garlic if you are used to), and lemon juice.

Cut the ingredients into small pieces, put them in a blender and grind to a paste. Take a saucepan, add olive oil and pop mustard, cumin and urad dal seeds. Now add the blended mix and let it simmer to a tick paste. Boil rice separately and cool. Now add alittle salt and asafoetida, turmeric powder to the rice. Mix. Add the tofu paste and mix well. To this add cut and sauteed vegetable sof your choice. Mix well, without making the rice into a paste.

There you have a new dish! Tofu kalanda satham. Add mango pickle, lijid papad, cucumber raita and chappati/puri. You have a complete lunch/dinner!

Happy cooking! Let me know how it turns out!