RECIPE ADAPTER

How to crochet plant pod or hanging basket for indoor plant and style from scrap yarn and waste material? Easy recipe for home improvement.

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 13:09:00 +0000

Crochet hanging basket free beginner pattern

Yay! Good if yall saved a lots of scrap yarns. Here is a free pattern to crochet a fun plant pod or plant basket for your plants. No, no, plants don't mind the scrap yarn, in fact they bask in glory of the kaleidoscope pattern with itty bitty and more scrap yarn. You can use similar color or different colors or match or contrast your wall colors or home decor. This is a absolute beginner project. A crochet newbie is able to finish this pattern after practising the basic stitches given in the end of pattern. You also get a bonus free recipe on How to style live plants in a crochet planter pod or crochet basket?

It is good to save scrap yarn for later. It can be used in small amigurumi stuffing. You can also crochet an easy chunky plant pod or a hanging basket. A sturdy hanging basket which can carry a small vase with live plant with small amount of water. Even artificial plant in the hanging basket will brighten any room.

Prepping the scrap yarn for hanging basket:

To make the basket sturdy use two strands together. Use any length any color yarn. Attach together with a knot and then wind the yarn in a ball. Take care to use matching crochet hook with the yarn you are using. I have used thick yarn and K Hook.

Scrap yarn tied together

Stitch Abbreviations (usa)

Sc - single crochet

Dc - double crochet

Sl st - slip stitch

Ch - chain

Sk - skip

Dc2tog - dc two together

Materials:

Scrap yarn ball equal to one skien

4.5 mm to 5.5 mm crochet hook matching yarn

Yarn needle

Sewing needle and thread

Scissors

Stitch marker

Pattern:

Make a magic ring

Row 1: ch 2, then make 12 dc in magic ring circle, pull short Yarn tightly and close the magic ring, slst to the first chain of ch2. (12 dc - ch2 is not counted as stitch)

Row 2: ch 2, 2 dc in each stitch and then slst to first dc.

Row 3: ch 2, 2dc in the first dc, 1dc in next dc continue till te end. Sl st to first dc.

After 3 rows stop by to clean-up your work. Sew the ends of yarn to avoid unraveling with a needle and thread and cut excess yarns. Here are some pictures after row 3.

Continue with the pattern....

Row 4: ch 2, dc in the first dc in back loop only. Continue dc in each dc in back loop only. Sl st to first dc.

Row 5: ch2, normal dc in each dc. Sl st to first dc.

Row 6: ch2, 10 times sc, dc2tog 8 times and 10 dc. Sl st to first sc.

Row 7: three sc in same stitch, 1 sc in each stitch (before completing the sc wrap one round of yarn and then complete the sc. Then make a sl st and then ch 16, sl st(To make the loop to hang the basket). Ch1, 24 sc in ch loop, sl st. Do not end - leave a long yarn and then cut, wrap the yarn around the loop 8 to 10 times. End of the pattern.

Hide the ends of yarn inside to look neat after tying a knot. Then clean-up the scrap yarn ends by stitching with a sewing needle and cutting the excess yarn neatly. The plant pod or hanging basket is ready to use.

Front and back images of the crochet plant pod or crochet plant basket. Finished #scrapyarn

How to style crochet plant pod or crochet plant basket to add positivity to your home?

I had the opportunity to visit ikea and I checked out some of artificial life like plants that can be styled with crochet plant pod or plant basket. Check out the styling and tell me in comments which one yall liked the best. I have also posted pics on side with prices for your reference.

How to style live plant in crochet plant pod or plant basket will be the next article. Gather your materials and wait for me to post.

Materials for styling live plant

Crochet plant pod or plant basket

Small plastic bottle

Scissors

Coconut bark small amount

Here are some videos to help a beginner complete the hanging basket:

Magic circle

https://youtu.be/J7GHTfXaz2E?si=lh_xyGLCN44pcHu

Sc or single crochet

https://youtu.be/jUIfV-Qcq2c?si=VG4uLRYaUWPmnc6E

Dc2tog - double crochet two together

https://youtu.be/aIJvMfrhAVw?si=EDEo-N5SZeXkLwN_

Hindi Marathi videos

Very slow magic ring in hindi

Sc single crochet in hindi

https://youtu.be/QO6N4zoEERE?si=gVMf9dn_k2C9XlfV

Satyanarayan pooja at Sri Balaji Mandir, Nagpur Shri Kashi Math

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Sun, 03 Sep 2023 06:54:00 +0000

It is time for destination pooja just like destination wedding. Destination weddings are ever popular format of weddings now-a-days. The most inspiring wedding destinations in india are:

Goa with a mix and match of temples and warm beaches.
Kerala God's own country.
Khajuraho for medieval period fine architecture and many temples.
Alibaug beach heaven is next to Mumbai city.
Jaipur Jal Mahal palace is a dream wedding destination.
Udaipur is the Venice of the East.
Jodhpur desert capital of India.

Present day family and friends are scattered all over the world. Making a memorable unforgettable experience shared with your loved ones can only be achieved only by organizing important events like weddings in a destination where all invitees can easily attend.

Similarly a new trend coined as destination pooja is popular. Why destination pooja? Traditionally, mostly people visit their village, towns or family function for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations and poojas. But in today's mobile culture world, traditions and rituals are diluted. The party culture is prominent in any celebrations and authentic traditional pooja system is slowly dying. Here are some reasons why destination pooja are trending:

LIFESTYLE

Work hard, and party harder! is today's mantra for survival. It has become one's culture whether it is in India or elsewhere in the world. To lighten the stress, anxiety of completing or be focused on work, to tone down the rigid work culture, to face upside and downs of the working week, facing it week after week requires chilling and letting your hair down and rejuvination during the weekend. The fast moving nuclear culture where u spend the Saturday morning cleaning, attending to kids/pets essential, pantry and groceries shopping, prepping to face the next week...so on so forth gives no scope to even think of anything else beyond routine. Sickness, accidents and other essentials only add to the burden.

ARTIFICIAL LIFE

"everything is okay and we are happy and doing well" is expected status today. AI or artificial intelligence is computer technology. AL or artificial life or social media life is compulsory for survival today. Sometimes social media and even faking, far from truth and we are ready to ride the back of Artificial intelligence to achieve it.

PACKAGE DEAL

When you perform pooja like ganahoma, satyanarayana pooja for general well-being of family in a jam packed city like Mumbai, it becomes difficult and additional burden to gather all requirements. Constraint of space, availability of priest, shop for special materials for the pooja, cook food or arrange for catering, traffic jams etc etc the list goes on why people are walking away from performing traditional pooja.

If you perform a destination pooja in a temple which has all facilities it will be a wonderful spiritual experience. Once a year enroute to yor vacation destination you can add a satyanarayan pooja for the well-being of the whole family including extended family. People definitely remember God or some form of energy when they face difficult situation or need help. Most people pray to God mentally everyday. But the benefits of praying in a temple or performing authentic pooja has a calming effect. We can set goals, confess and thank God in a befitting manner and make it a memorable event.

Every month on poornima day satyanarayana pooja at

Nagpur Kashi Math Sri Balaji Temple . Every month on Poornima day traditional satyanarayana pooja is performed by the temple priest Laxman Bhat.

Here are some photographs from the event. You can ask for more details in comment section or contact temple in the given link above,

Hindustai classical .Voice Pandit Venkatsh Kumar

noreply@blogger.com (KEMTHUR DEVARU) — Sat, 09 Jul 2022 14:46:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 15:30:00 +0000

Palm jaggery natural better alternative for diabetics

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 15:30:00 +0000

palm jaggery from kerala

I was allowed only 15 kgs on Indigo plane from cochin to mumbai on my return back home. It was mind boggling to prioritise/cancel. I found so many precious things that I want to carry home from Kerala "Gods own country". Nah! precious Gold metal is not one of them. If you were silently listing gold at the top as you read this, then you are mistaken. Precious metal has never been my forte. But natural palm jaggery was no.1 on my list when I visited Kerala this August. (now you can also get in speciality stores online, here is Amazon)

I may be on the path of Krishna Consciousness , on the lower rung of the stairs, but definitely in food area I am very aware what I eat, or what goes in when I prepare a dish, or when/ what time I eat, I am food conscious, or ingredient conscious, or health conscious (oh I very much enjoy fast food, fried food, and all that should be avoided but regret having it later). What I am not is a gourmet cook/chef or a nutritionist/dietician etc. I became conscious of food when life put me on the path. Knowledge changes a person. So internet and quest for knowledge changed my views on food.

Basically I rather cook from scratch than assemble store bought things or cook from a pouch. A pure simple home cooked food is best for a healthy disease free lifestyle. Google Mai, also taught me to adopt and adapt recipes to suit babies , eggless , party or diet for high blood pressure patient or any such needs that arise in a lifecycle.Whenever I visit a place I try to collect easy on the pocket, local and natural products for my home, mostly kitchen pantry ingredients. Google Mai helps me to study before hand of course :) Even when I go to grocery shopping I take a lot of time to understand the food labels and to consider before including any new item in my kitchen pantry. My sister chides me "there she goes staring at the aisle".

I am drifting away with my banter. Back to my article on Palm Jaggery. The term SUGAR is very confusing for a diabetic person. It is like "To be, or not to be, that is the question" by Shakespeare. As, if the diabetic opts for artificial sweeteners then it is likely to alter their gut composition and open up for more diseases. Palm jaggery is a better alternative as it has lower Glycemic Index than the table sugar and is made from simple process and has medicinal properties. Diabetes is more of a lifestyle management than taking medication.

I am sharing the videos and links that I like as I tried to understand the ingredient PALM JAGGERY

I enjoyed reading a detailed article on Swasti's blog on how to identify palm jaggery and different types of palm jaggery in coconut palm sugar and diabetes.

Here is article from American Diabetes Association on coconut palm sugar.

Shunmuga sundari says "Everyone knows the fact that regular refined white sugar is harmful for health. Still people are not able to drop sugar from their diet until they get diabetes. Instead of waiting for a day when you are asked to completely avoid sugar and prescribed daily dose of medicines, start replacing refined white sugar with healthy sugar alternatives early not only for you but for your whole family" in her article Top 5 Natural Sugar substitutes.

There are many links on the benefits of palm jaggery floating on the net. I liked this the best.

I am sharing below a beautiful article (as it is) written by Jaya Ruban Joseph a blogger, experienced Civil Engineer, Quantity Surveyor & Approved Valuer ( https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140901081235-288311205-what-is-palm-jaggery-what-is-karuppatti-what-are-their-uses)

"What is Palm Jaggery? What is Karuppatti? What are their uses

Palm Jaggery we are calling as karuppatti in Tamil is made from the extract of Palm Trees. The process of making jaggery from the plant sources, does not involve any chemical agents and hence all the natural mineral salts are retained without adding any preservatives of chemicals. Jaggery is known to have various medicinal properties and other health benefits.

It is a relatively unrefined sugar. While manufacturing processes in sugar utilizes chemicals such as sulphur dioxide, lime and other bleaching agents, jiggery is prepared in a natural way, without removing minerals. Its mineral overtones and dark syrup has the lingering complexity of taste that can make eating imperative.

Palm Jaggery is reported to have more nutritional and medicinal value than cane sugar. It is a good source of Vitamin B complex and it also contains ascorbic acid. It is delicious and has mineral salts too. During pregnancy, elders traditionally give kashayams every night from 7 month onwards to ease up the pregnancy difficulties, widely practised in Tamilnadu.

Being rich in iron, it prevents diseases like anemia and also contains essential nutrients like magnesium and potassium. Magnesium is vital for the proper functioning of the nervous systems and the potassium regulates the blood pressure and the heart functions.It purifies the blood, prevents rheumatism and bile disorders and is highly nutritious in value. Jaggery is also useful in combating problems like cough and stomach ailments like indigestion, acidity and constipation. Recent scientific research has reaffirmed the benefits of jaggery for the sensitive organs of the human body like the lungs. Consumption of jaggery is useful for those who are exposed to pollution on a regular basis like industrial workers. It has been lauded for its ability to help the human body to fight off the ill effects of pollution.

Palm jaggery is a natural sweetener and Energy Food, it is very rich in minerals, predominantly iron with traces of other mineral salts. The benefits of palm jaggery include its ability to cleanse your body, act as a digestive agent, sweeten your food in a healthy manner, provide good amounts of minerals. Highly rich in calcium.People often prepare sweets with jaggery. Particularly for naivedyam, jaggery sweets are preferred to sugar sweets. Our elders, they may not have degrees, but they do know where the ingredients come from and how they are made. They avoid sugar in naivedyam.

Jaggery, which is bought in block form, is more nutritious and healthy than regular sugar because it is unrefined, contains no preservatives or synthetic additives, and has minerals such as magnesium, potassium and iron. Jaggery contains slightly less calories than table sugar, has a higher glycemic index and is sweeter than table sugar. Mahatma Gandhi recommended jaggery as part of his vegetarian, goats milk diet. He believed that consuming jaggery instead of sugar resulted in a slower rise in blood sugar.It is highly priced due to its medicinal properties and it makes it a unique product that can be used by people of all ages. Due to its cooling effects over human body, it is of high value. It does not have the bone meal content which is used for whitening processed sugar. Palm jaggery is quite popular in the Southern states of Tamil Nadu (called Karupattivellam or panavellam), Palm Jaggery is rich in calcium, iron and other useful vitamins and minerals.

Most of the time it is given to women who give birth to a child. If the palm jaggery are given to such women, then impurities in the breast milk would disappear and baby gets the white and clean milk during breast feeding. Even in the case of milking cows, the same thing is repeated after it gives birth to a calf.

Jaggery is a healthy alternative to white sugar and is commonly known as 'medicinal sugar', because of its various health benefits. Jaggery acts as a cleansing agent for our body and effectively cleans the respiratory tracts, food pipe, lungs, stomach and intestines. It helps the body to get rid of the unwanted particles and thus provides relief from constipation. Jaggery proves as a great digestive aid and speeds up the process of digestion. Eating a few grams of jaggery after a heavy meal is often recommended for those having problems with normal digestion. In the body, jaggery activates the various digestive enzymes and itself gets converted to acetic acid, thus speeding up digestion.

Jaggery is a rich source of many vital minerals that are required by the body for normal growth and functioning. It is considered as a store house of various important minerals like iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, etc. Jaggery is used since ancient times to treat problems such as dry cough, common cold and asthma.It is beneficial in treating conditions like indigestion and constipation.Jaggery helps in promoting relaxation of muscles, nerves and blood vessels, thus enhancing their functions.

Migraines, the most painful and uncomfortable type of headaches can be relieved to a large extent by jaggery. Jaggery is a rich source of iron and is therefore, very good for anemic people, as it increases the haemoglobin level in the blood. Jaggery has strong antioxidant properties and protects our body cells from the damage caused by free radicals. Jaggery has the ability to purify blood and helps in regulating the liver function. A mixture of jaggery and dry ginger powder taken with warm water can stop hiccups. Jaggery helps in regulating blood pressure and also helps the body to get rid of all the toxins. Jaggery is loaded with many essential nutrients such as proteins, vitamins and minerals, that play a key role in many life processes.

Jaggery has potassium content that may help in reducing bloating and water retention. Jaggery used as an Ayurvedic medicine comes from palms. A quick fix medicine for common cold, cough etc, it dissolves mucus and clears the throat. Our products are manufactured under controlled conditions to ensure high quality while at the same time retaining the nutrient value, freshness and flavour.

I am sure after looking at the following videos your sugar consciousness will increase :) and is a eye opener to protect your general health from sugar. It is important to limit sugar/salt intake if a person is obese or need to watch your weight. Please leave your comments.

how sugar is manufactured in factories

The truth and only truth about sugar

Dangers of sugar

Ganahoma a Lifestyle Recipe - Perform Ganahoma once a year and include meditation and yoga in routine daily life

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 11:03:00 +0000

Performing Ganahoma once a year is a must for health, prosperity, and many more things for our life. Why it is so important read on................

Both Yoga and Ganahoma has the same intention. That is prepare the body and mind for divine connection. Yoga strengthens the body and improves concentration to receive divine connection. In Ganahoma the fire purifies and revives the senses the eyes, ears, nose and the skin, nadi shuddhi (cleansing of the nerves), ignite the fire in brain through mantras and prepare body, soul, mind to receive divine connection. Exactly 4 g connection to your smart phone :) if it is done with utmost faith, dedication, devotion, with right ingredients, right technique, right priest.

Most of us may be aware of the significance of the Ganahoma as we also do know yoga and its benefits. But when we link to the spiritual side of the meditation, we can understand how advanced our ancestors and India is. The current situation is that the west has aggressively adopted yoga into their daily life routine just like going to a gym. You walk into any gym in neighbourhood, there are group programmes on yoga, pilates, etc. Yes in India too we have many yoga studios, classes, organizations and other things, they have cropped up in India after yoga was popularized by the west. But even today in India majority of people have not yet instilled yoga in their daily life despite the many attempts of Shri Shri Ravi Shankar and Baba Ramdev and the latest fad Mickey Mehta's 360° Wellness Temple and Shivganeshyoga bringing out good yoga teachers. I hope the central government and state governments eventually include one period as Yoga period in the school curriculum. As a Hindu major country include shlokas, yoga sutras, meditation etc. in that yoga period and make it compulsory and bring out a uniform curriculum throughout the country. This vision may be a near reality with our Prime Minister Modi himself practices yoga and supports yoga.
After the physical yoga and spiritual meditation, the west is now following the Indian yagnas and homas. They even have given a name for it and call it Fire Yoga. http://vedicastrologer.org/ has explained the Fire Yoga here

As we all know Ganahoma is a pooja to Lord Ganapathi to bless us with health, wealth and happiness, and to remove any obstacles on our way to success be it in academics, sports, business, family, new ventures, inauguration of a home or shop etc. Asking Lord Ganesha to be present and help in any human related efforts.

T.A. Balasubramaniam in his website on homas has explained about Ganapathi homam beautifully.

There are many types of Ganapathi homam according to Ganesha Purana like Mahaganapathi Homam, Ashta Dravya Ganapathi Homam, Sahasra Modaka Ganapathi Homam. I could understand the spiritual connection between mind, body, soul and the dimming of the five kleshas (Avidya - ignorance, egoism - asmita, raga - attachment, aversion - dvesa and abhinivesa - fear of death as per the Samadhi Pada of the Yoga Sutras.

It is explained very well in Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple website about how to diminish the kleshas and obtain better spiritual connection by performing Ganahoma here

I have linked many websites and articles from the internet to share the knowledge for educational purpose only. I thank them for helping me put together this article on Ganahoma.

Konchady Vasant Pai has shared his experience of Ganahoma - He says " In our family, it is more than a hundred years since Ganesh Chaturthi and ganahoma are performed without fail. The holy smoke acts as a fumigant, disinfecting the dwelling, and it purifies the lungs of the inhaler. As the priest chants the mantras and feeds Agni with ghee, panchakajjaYa and naivedya we experience a spiritual exhilaration."

Other than performing Ganahoma for specific purpose like housewarming, shop opening, specific health/education reasons; mostly GSB and konkan people perform Ganahoma annually. During Ganesh Chaturthi they bring in Ganesh idol to their homes and offer various poojas along with their family and extended families, relatives, neighbours etc. Thereafter the family and extended families disperse, after performing pooja and partaking prasad, food etc. as the Ganesha Idol is taken to Visarjan. Usually family of four plus their extended family come together on Ganesh Chaturdashi day and take part in pooja, prasad and other celebrations. My dad's side Nagar Nayak Trust performs one day Ganesha chaturthi on behalf of 300 plus family members (my grandfather is one of the seven brothers). The family members are strewn all across India/world due to their profession (banking,IT,Insurance etc.). Most of the family members make it a point to reserve Ganesh Chaturthi day to visit Gangolli and partake in the poojas and celebrations of Ganesh Utsav wherever they are :) Some of them perform in their office or trust they support. People also visit Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav

When people cannot cannot visit their family Ganapathi due to some reasons, they perform Ganahoma at the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav (community Ganapathi celebrations) venues. One can also perform Ganahoma at a community event or temple Check with your local temple if they offer Ganahoma Seva. If you live abroad then check your respective area hindu temple online for sevas.

We performed Ganahoma on Tuesday the second day of Ganeshotsava celebration at Wadala Ram Mandir. It has 10 day celebrations. Other seva details are here

Another GSB venue that performs community Ganahoma is GSB Seva Mandal at which has a 24 hours various pooja service for 5 days starting from Ganesh Chaturthi day annually. The details of seva are here.

Please write in comments your experiences on Ganahoma, incidents relating to Ganahoma, more knowledge on Ganahoma pooja and traditions. This article on Ganahoma is open for corrections/additions/deletions (in comments below) You may also share your recipes of Panchakajjaya and other naivedya items. Please add your blog address for me to share articles related to Ganahoma. Here is one from Pratibha Rao, in her blog The Indian Food Court has given detailed pictorial recipes of four Panchakajjaya according to the related festivals.

CURRY LEAVES HEALTH BENEFITS and RECIPES USING LOTS OF CURRY LEAVES

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 11:04:00 +0000

Check here to know more curry leaf benefits

curry leaves info http://www.thehealthsite.com/

Benny auntie's kadi patta tree in our colony

Thanks to Benny aunty I get fresh curry leaves from her tree for making Curry leaves chutney pudi and curry leaves rice. There are many recipes around the web and I will share here some of the recipes.

Curry Leaves Chutney Puddi from http://kudpiraj.blogspot.in/2012/11/curry-leaves-dry-chutneykarbeva-chutney.html
Curry Leaves Rice from http://www.jeyashriskitchen.com/p/festival-recipes.html
Curry Leaves Rice - Karuveppilai Sadam Recipe by sharmis Passions http://www.sharmispassions.com/2014/12/karuveppilai-sadam-recipe-curry-leaves-rice.html
Lots of recipes like Curry Leaves Rice (two methods), sesame curry leaves podi, Garlic curry leaves podi, curry leaves powder, curry leaves chutney, curry leaves kuzhambu, curry leaves roasted gram chutney, curry leaves dip by Kamalascorner http://www.kamalascorner.com/tag/curry-leaves
Curry leaves chutney by Indianhealthy recipes http://indianhealthyrecipes.com/curry-leaves-chutney/
Curry leaves chutney by Veg recipes of India http://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/curry-leaves-chutney-recipe/

Here are some recipes using curry leaves for tempering or garnishing

http://www.tarladalal.com/glossary-curry-leaves-388i (includes information on curry leaves, storage etc. and scroll down for recipes using curry leaves)

An International (australian) website for ingredients of the world has many recipes on curry leaves http://www.sbs.com.au/food/ingredient/curry-leaf

BBC Food Curry leaves recipes http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/curry_leaves

Here are some tips and videos on growing curry leaves in your balcony or container garden. Just like sage, rosemary, mint and other herbs, curry leaves is one of the ingredient in Indian herb garden.

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/curry/growing-curry-leaf.htm

http://balconygardenweb.com/curry-leaves-plant-complete-growing-guide/ (how to grow curry leaf plant/tree in a pot or a container)

http://www.mykitchengarden.info/2015/08/growing-curry-leaves.html (Varieties like regular, dwarf and gamthi curry leaf plants)

Curry leaves are a versatile and important kitchen ingredient. It has medicinal properties and is helpful in controlling/curing conditions like Diabetes, Cholesterol and used for skin and hair care

Check this video for a weight management recipe

Ayurhealth has lot of Home Remedies using Curry Leaves http://www.ayurhealth.info/health-benefits-of-curry-leaves/

a gluten free dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 14:14:00 +0000

Jowar bajre ki roti recipe http://www.tarladalal.com/Jowar-Bajre-Ki-Roti-2979r

Beet Detox Soup http://www.theawesomegreen.com/3-warming-soups-for-liver-cleanse/#top

Ghosale upkari

Honey, wine, spice poached pears http://illinoistimes.com/article-9123-pears-poached-in-red-wine,-honey-and-spices.html (i used moscato wine)

http://www.akshaypatre.com/2014/11/heerekayi-upkari-ghosale-upkari-ridge.html

Mixed Vegetable Pasta with Pumpkin Sauce. Healthy, Yummy, Easy, Nutritious, Fiber, Less Oil, cholesterol, diabetes friendly, Kid friendly

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Sun, 13 Sep 2015 05:56:00 +0000

Hey peeps today I made a ultimate healthy breakfast and want to share with you the original recipe and how I tweaked it to be Indianised. I succeeded in making the breakfast wholesome, filling, fat free but at the same time yummy. Believe me it turned out to be one finger licking dish without processed cheese. To make it kid friendly add grated natural cheese :)

For the Mixed Vegetable Pasta recipe adapted from http://nishamadhulika.com/en/695-pasta-with-mixed-vegetables-recipe.html)

Ingredients for mixed vegetable Pasta:

Pasta 100 gms (I used 100 gms shell instead of 200 gms for 2 ppl)

Capsicum - 1 green (u can add whatever pasta suitable veggies are with you no hard and fast rule for this)

Cauliflower - 50 gm

beans - 50 gm

carrots - 50 gm

mushrooms - 50 gms

beetroot - 1 small

tomato - 1 medium

onion - 1 large

extra virgin olive oil - 3 tsp (1stp to boil the pasta and 2 tsp for jeera tadka)

cumin seeds - 1 tsp

coriander stalks

salt

Boil the pasta as per manufacturers instructions or follow http://nishamadhulika.com/en/695-pasta-with-mixed-vegetables-recipe.html boiling pasta instructions only.

Then heat a kadai/wok/pan and add one tsp oil, put in cumin seeds, after it splutters add chopped onion and saute. When the onions are translucent add veggies sauteing gap of two secs each capsicum, mushroom, tomato, carrots, beans, beetroot, cauliflower. Depending your need for crunchiness saute the veggies, when done add boiled pasta, salt and chopped coriander stalks switch off and keep it aside. (no ajinomoto, no soy, chilliflakes, oregano, Italian herbs you can add if you want more spicy and Italian :)

For the Pumpkin Sauce I adapted recipe from I adapted from http://avocadopesto.com/2014/09/09/creamy-pumpkin-pasta-sage-gluten-free-vegan/

Ingredients for Pumpkin Pasta:

Boiled pumpkin puree - 1 cup (pressure cook pumpkin and mash it)

1/2 cup milk (i reconstituted smp 1 tbsp)

garlic cloves - 5 minced

cumin seeds - 1 tsp

extra virgin olive oil - 1 tsp

cumin seed - 1 tsp

water as required

pepper powder

salt

Heat oil in a pan over medium heat, splutter cumin and then add minced garlic and cook till lightly browned and add pumpkin puree, add little water (2 tblsp) and bring it to boil, simmer down add milk and simmer for a few minutes, stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper. Check for consistency, if it is too thick add some water, simmer for some more time and remove from heat. Pumpkin sauce for pasta is ready.

To serve Mixed vegetable pasta with Pumpkin Sauce; take a bowl add some mixed veggie pasta and then ladle some some over it. You can add cheese for children or tweak according to your taste.

This recipe is diabetic, cholesterol, cancer, convalescence friendly can be converted to totally vegan recipe if you follow original.

CHOCO NUTTY KHARWAS( MA OWN RECIPE):)))))))))))

noreply@blogger.com (Rekha Vishwaath Nayak) — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 18:30:00 +0000

This is ma own recipe, Actually i prepared kharwas using readymade pow packets available in markets. But by mistake i added little more quantity of sugar to it. So it became too sweet. Suddenly i have got an idea. And i made dis dessert by adding some more ingredients. And the result is too good. So , i thought i will share this recipe with ma frenzz...and the name was suggested by cousin Sahana Shenoy who is talented in every field. A biggggg thanx to her for suggesting a cute name for this dessert:))))))))))

INGREDIENTS:-

To make kharwas(posu):-

colostrum pow- 100gm

raw pkt milk - 1/2 ltr

sugar- 150 gms

cardomom pow-lil

To make Choco Nutty Kharwas:-

Kharwas- as instructed above

ghee - 3 tsp

cashew nuts - few

cocoa pow- 3 tsp

horlicks pow- 1 1/2 tsp

paper cups -5

cherries - 5

How to make kharwas:-

Mix colostrum pow+ sugar+ elaichi pow. Mix thoroughly without lumps.Boil 10 - 15 mins with steam.

How to make CHOCO NUTTY KHARWAS:-

Discard the water in kharwas. Smash it and keep it aside. In a kadai, put ghee+cashew nuts. fry till cashewnuts are lil brown in colour. Now add kharwas+coca pow+ horlicks pow and mix well. Continue stirring till ghee leaves the sides of the dish. Switch of the stove. let it cool. Now put it in paper cups and decorate it with cherries on top.

HAPPY COOKING:)))))))))))))

EGGLESS CHOCOLATE MOUSEE:)))))))))))

noreply@blogger.com (Rekha Vishwaath Nayak) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 12:00:00 +0000

INGREDIENTS:-

100gm dark chocolate

300gm sugar

150 gm thick cream

METHOD:-

Break chocolate into pieces and melt it using just sufficient heat to gently melt it.

Stir it as it is melting.
Meanwhile combine the sugar with the cream and then whip the cream till it is foamy.
When the chocolate is melted fold it in the whipped cream.
Spoon the mixture into the glasses and place the glasses into d fridge about an hour before serving.

HAPPY COOKING:)))))))))))))

"POSU" A SWEET MADE FROM COLOSTRUM MILK

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:28:00 +0000

"POSU" - A SWEET MADE FROM COLOSTRUM MILK

Posu in Konkani and Ginnu in Kannada. Posu is made from colostrum milk, the milk from a cow that has just delivered. It is rich in Proteins and Carbohydrates,(Of course this milk is hard to find these days since people do not bring up cows and Buffaloes at home). It is typically consumed after being chilled but some prefer to consume it warm during the rainy season.

Ingredients:

Colostrum milk – 1 cup
Whole milk(pasturised)- 1 cup
Sugar/Jaggery (Molasses) – as per taste
Cardamom – as per taste
Thick Coconut milk - 1 cup

Method:
1) Mix colostrum milk, whole milk and coconut milk in a bowl
2) Add required quantity of sugar/ jaggery to taste.
3) Steam it in the cooker as you steam idlies without placing the weight for 10 minutes.
4) Insert a spoon to know if it is cooked.
5) Cut into desired shapes and Store it in a refregerator and it will remain afresh for more than 20 days .

TOMATO OMELETT

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 08:23:00 +0000

TOMATO OMELETT

Tomato Omelett is a simple and tasty Vegetarian Omelett.

Ingredients:

1 cup Gram Flour (Besan),
3/4 cup finely chopped tomato,
1/2 cup finely chopped onion,
1/2 tspn chopped ginger,
2 finely chopped green chilies,
3-4 strands chopped coriander leaves,
Turmeric Powder (as required),
Chili Powder (as required),
Salt (to taste),
Oil (for cooking).

Method:
How to make Tomato Omelette:
1) Combine gram flour, tomato, onion, turmeric powder, chili powder, ginger, coriander leaves salt, and water and make a mediumthick batter.
2) Heat a tava and smear some oil on it.
3) Spread the batter.
4) Pour a tbsp of oil, when it is cooked and then flip it over.
5) Cook the other side until done.
6) Serve with tomato sauce.

PHOOL MAKHANA KHEER/ LOTUS SEEDS KHEER:)))))))))))))

noreply@blogger.com (Rekha Vishwaath Nayak) — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 17:16:00 +0000

RECIPE FOR KAMAL KAKDI KHEER:-
Take few lotus seeds as much as u need..Fry it in lil ghee for a while..
Start boiling milk and add the makhanas in it which will make the makhana's soft like rasmalai balls.Add lil cashewnut paste. Now add kesar to the milk and add milkmaid.

Untill the milk gets a point where it gets cream over..
Now add sugar to taste and Badam , pista pieces and garnish

HAPPY COOKING:))))))))))

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:32:00 +0000

MANGALORE BUNS/BANANA POORIS

Ingredients:

All purpose flour (maida) - 1/4kg
Bananas - 2 small or 1 large
Curds - 2 tbsp
Sugar - 3 tbsp
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Baking Soda - 1/4 tsp
Oil/ghee

Method:

1. Smash the banana completely with your hands; Add the rest of the ingredients and make a dough; The dough should be of the chapati dough consistency.
Note: Be very careful while adding curds; curds gives out some water and tends to make the dough watery. So, start with very little quantity and then add more, as required.
2. Keep the dough ball covered for 8 hours orovernight in a warm place.
3. Make small balls of dough & roll thick ( 5-6cms diameter - about the size of pooris)
4. Deep fry until golden brown
5. Serve hot with coconut chutney
Note: The buns retains for 3-4 days if stored in an airtight container.

BELLAPPA & TOMATO FRY:))))))))))))))))

noreply@blogger.com (Rekha Vishwaath Nayak) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:32:00 +0000

INGREDIENTS:-

For Bellapa:-

Dosa rice- 1 pav

Urad dal- 1 tbl sp

a pinch of methi seeds

cooked rice- 1 cup

yeast- 1/2 tsp

salt to tatse

For Tomato Fry:-

Toamtoes- 3-4

Onions_ 2

curry leaves - few

turmaric pow - 1/4 tsp

red chilli pow- 1 to 1 1/2 tsp

rasam pow- 1/2 tsp

hing- lil

sugar- lil

salt to taste

corr leaves - for garnishing

BELLAPPA RECIPE:-

Soak 1 pav dosa rice+1 tblsp urad dal + a pinch of methi seeds for 2-3 hrs.Grind it along with 1 cup of cooked rice and water. The batter should be thicker than neer dosa one.Add 1/2 tsp yeast and allow it to ferment overnight.Next morning add salt to taste and make bellappa in a round bottomed tawa or kadai.

TOMATO FRY:-

Heat oil in a pan. Fry 2 sliced onions till brown. Add a few curry leaves. Add haldi pdr, red chilli pdr, hing, rasam pdr and mix well. Add 2-3 chopped tomatoes, salt, sugar, little water and fry till tomatoes become soft. Garnish with dhania leaves

HAPPY COOKING:))))))))))))

SPICY CHURMUREY/ CHARMURI UPKARI(PUFFED RICE)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 14:44:00 +0000

Spicy churmurey/ charmuri upkari

(puffed rice)

Ingredients:

Puffed Rice – 6-8 C
Coconut oil – 6 T
Nayak’s Churmuri Powder or Sambhar Powder – 3 T
Red Chillie Powder – 1 t
Finely chopped Onions – 1 C
Finely chopped Cilantro leaves – 1 C
Raw Mango – 1 C (Finely chopped): optional
Salt – As per taste.

Method:

1.Fry the puffed rice on kadhai on very low flame (dry without oil). My mum does this exercise before preparing Churmurey Upkari. This also ensures that puffed rice are crispy and fresh and thereby enhance the flavor of the dish.
2.Add the coconut oil, Churmuri and Red Chilli powder. Nayak’s Churmuri powder is easily available in all Mangalore stores in Bangalore and Mangalore. Mix in rigorously to avoid lumps. If one cannot find this powder, plain red chilli powder also serves the purpose.
3.Finally add in salt and chopped onions. This process ensures that onions absorb the oil. Add cilantro leaves while serving the dish

SHEVAI/INSTANT RICE NOODLES

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 14:34:00 +0000

SHEVAI/INSTANT RICE NOODLES

Ingredients:

*. 1 cup Dosa Rice
*. 2 cups grated Coconut
*. 1 glass Water
*. Salt according your taste

Method:

1. Soak Dosa Rice for 7-8 hours (soak it in the night if you want to make shevai in the morning).
2. Take soaked Dosa Rice in the mixer.
3. Add grated Coconut, Salt and little water.
4. Grind the contents till it becomes a smooth batter.
5. Pour the batter in a Kadai.
6. Keep the Kadai containing the batter on low flame and keep on stirring till this mixture dries and becomes thick as shown in the picture.
7. Take small quantity of this thick mixture and make small balls.
8. Steam them in a cooker for about 20-30 minutes.
9. Now put the steamed balls in the Shevai making instrument and make Rice Noodles/Shevai.
10. Rice Noodles/ Shevai is ready. Serve them with coconut oil or home made pickle.

MUSHROOM-MUTTER MASALA (A SIDE DISH FOR CHAPATHI):)))))))

noreply@blogger.com (Rekha Vishwaath Nayak) — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 10:26:00 +0000

Ingredient

Mushrooms – 200 gms
Fresh/frozen peas – 1 cup
Onions – 2 medium,finely chopped
Tomatoes – 2 medium,finely chopped
Ginger garlic past – 2-3 tsp
Haldi/turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
Red chilly powder – 1 tsp
Coriander-cumin powder – 1 tsp each
Garam masala – ½ tsp
Salt to taste
Oil – 1 tbsp
Broken cashews – 1 tbsp
Kasoori methi – 1 tsp

Method

Heat the oil in a heavy bottomed kadai. Saute the broken cashews till lightly golden.
Add the ginger-garlic paste and onions and cook on a low flame with a pinch of salt till they soften and turn light brown.
Add the tomatoes with the turmeric powder. Stir well and cook for 5-7 minutes, till mushy.
Remove the contents of the kadai and blend to a fine puree in a blender, once cooled thoroughly. You may use upto ½ cup water to aid the blending process.
In the same kadai, transfer the fine puree. Season with spice powders (red chilli powder, cumin coriander powder, garam masala) and salt. Simmer for 3-4 minutes till the gravy is infused with the spices.
Add the boiled green peas n mushrooms( cut mushrooms into 2 equal parts) to this gravy and simmer for 5 minutes or till mushrooms cuked properly. Check for salt, sprinkle crushed kasoori methi and give it a stir.
Garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves and serve hot with chapthis, naan, rotis, kulcha etc.

HAPPY COOKING:))))))))))

Chakli or Crispy Savoury Spirals

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 17:10:00 +0000

Ingredients:

1. Maida, All purpose flour – 6 cups
2. Split blackgram dal, Udid dal – 1 cup
3. Butter - 2 tsps
4. Sesame seeds – 2-3 Teaspoons
5. Salt to taste

Instructions:

Dry roast black gram dal on a medium flame in a broad based bowl till you get a pleasant aroma stirring occasionally.
Sieve maida in the siever. Tie it in a white thin cloth and steam it in the pressure cooker for exactly 20 minutes.
On cooling just press the lumps with your hands powder it and sieve it. Mix roasted black gram dal powder from step 1 to maida and sieve it together around 2-3 times so that it gets mixed up evenly.
Add salt, butter, sesame seeds and mix well. Slowly add water and bring it to the consistency of chapati dough.
Insert dough into the chakli mould such that it fits tight in the mould. Set your mould and roll out chakli of required size in circular form on a thick plastic sheet.
Place a skillet with 4-5 cups of cooking oil in it on a medium flame. When heated fry the above chaklies to light brown on both the sides.
Store it in airtight containers and will remain afresh for more than a month if fresh cooking oil is used.

Paneer Paratha, Cottage Cheese Stuffed Flat Bread

noreply@blogger.com (Rekha Vishwaath Nayak) — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 12:10:00 +0000

Ingredients:

For the outer covering, Paratha:

1/2 cup maida, all purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

salt and water to knead the dough

For the inner stuffing:

100 gms Grated Paneer, cottage cheese

1 finely chopped medium onion

1 handful of Coriander leaves finely chopped

1/2 inch, small piece of Ginger (grated)

1 or 2 finely chopped green Chilies

1 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp garam masala

1/2 tsp Ajwain, carom seed (optional)

Butter / Oil for shallow frying as required

Step-by-step photos of paneer paratha

Instructions:

Make dough out of outer cover paratha ingredients as you would do for any paratha/roti.
In a bowl mix all the stuffing ingredients.
Make two medium size chapati, add the filling to the one chapati and cover it with the second one. Now roll it slightly. Cook on a pre-heated tawa (flat griddle plate).

Turn it and pour half tablespoon oil or butter.

Spread it on the paratha and shallow fry over low heat. Turn it and again pour oil or butter on the other side.

Cook on a low heat till golden brown.

Serve paneer paratha hot with yogurt (curd) and your favorite chutney or with pickle.

Note: Do not add salt to the filling before, as it will leave water. Add salt only at the time of preparation.

Mando, Mande, Mandige, Deep Fried Sweet

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 13:28:00 +0000

Deep fired puris rolled in a sweet dry powder, Mando is a popular festival sweet prepared during Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali etc. It is a typically Konkani festival sweet.

Ingredients:

1 cup maida or all purpose flour

2 tea spoon ghee
½ cup powdered sugar
1 table spoon sesame seeds (white til )
½ tea spoon cardamom powder
Oil for deep frying
Salt a pinch.

Instructions:

Make a stiff dough with flour, ghee , salt and water.
Take small balls of dough and roll it into medium sized chapatis (roll them into as thin as possible).
Wash sesame in water and drain. Roast them on a pan till sesame seeds pops up, do not burn them.
Mix sugar and cardamom with sesame and keep it aside.
Heat oil and deep fry the discs one by one. They should still remain white colored when fried. So don’t fry for long time. Just leave them in hot oil and immediately remove to enable folding later on. Small bubbles appear on the surface indicating they are cooked. If kept for a longer time, they become stiff and cannot be folded.
Spread the sugar mixture. It should be done when the fried discs are still hot, otherwise the sugar will not stick to them. Fold it into a triangle as shown above spreading the sugar mixture on all the folds.
Store them in airtight container. They remain good for at least 15 days, if stored properly.

Nevri, Karanji, Karajikayi, Sweet Turn Overs

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 06:54:00 +0000

Nevri a popular Konkani festival sweet prepared specially during Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, and other festivals.

Ingredients:

All Purpose Flour/Maida - 1 cup
Semolina/Rava/Sooji - 1/4 cup
Grated Coconut - 1 1/2 cups
Sugar - about 1/2 cup
Green Cardamom/Elaichi - 4 pods (seeds only)
Salt
Oil

Instructions:

In a mixing bowl, add all purpose flour, semolina and salt. Mix and make a well in the center. Add 1 tbsp oil and mix again. Now add water and knead well to form a firm dough. Add little more oil and knead again to slightly soften the dough. Keep the dough covered for an hour or so.
Grind the grated coconut using little water so that the coconut turns to a coarse powder, about a minute.
Heat about 1 tbsp ghee/clarified butter or oil and add the ground coconut. Saute for few minutes at low flame. Now add sugar and continue cooking till the coconut stuffing turns to a dry powder. Turn off the heat and add cardamom powder. You can add powdered dry nuts (almonds, pistachios, cashews) and/or roasted sesame/til seeds as well to this stuffing. Let the stuffing cool.
Divide the dough into equal sized small balls. Roll a ball into a very thin puri dusting some flour. Place 1 - 2 tsp coconut stuffing in the center. Apply little water or milk around the circular edge to ease the sealing of Karanji. Fold the puri half way to form a semicircle. Press the edges to seal it completely. I used a Shankarpali/Karanji cutter for a better shape. You can use a knife or pizza cutter as well.
Deep fry the stuffed Nevri/Karanji in enough oil to check. The outer dough layer must turn crisp. If not, roll it more thinner. Repeat the same for the leftover dough.
Crunchy and Sweet Nevri is ready.

Chayote, Seeme Badane Semolia Fry

noreply@blogger.com (Rekha Vishwaath Nayak) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 19:36:00 +0000

INGREDIENTS:

Chayotes, Seeme Badane ( in kannada) - 3

Red chilly( byaadagi)-20 nos.

Raw rice 1/2 cup

Corriander seeds - 1 tsp

Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp

Tamarind - peanut size

Asafoetida, Hing a pinch

Salt - to taste

Fine semolina for coating

Instructions:

Cut Chayotes lengthwise and apply salt n turmeric and keep aside.
Grind about 20 red chillies (I have used long badgi variety, you can also use 10 badgi chillies +10 guntur chillies) + 1 tsp of coriander seeds+lil hing+salt+ tamarind + per-soaked for 10 min raw rice.
Grind to a smooth paste with very little water.
Then coat this paste to the Chayote and roll them in fine Semolina and deep fry.
You can add a spoonful of chickpea flour to the chilli paste in order to bind the masala well....i have not added it.

Smoking Deep Fried Chayotes are ready to eat.

Churmundo, Wheat Flour Ladoos

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 13:31:00 +0000

This easy sweet ladoos are prepared during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi for Naivedya or Diwali.

Ingredients:

Atta/wheat flour – 1 cup
Chick Pea Flour - 1/2 cup
Sugar – 1 cup (adjust according to sweetness)
Cardamom – 2-3 seeds[Crushed]
Ghee or clafirfied butter – 1/2cup
Cashew nuts, raisins – a handful

Instructions:

Powder the sugar along with the cardamom.
In a thick bottom kadai, add ghee.
Add the atta and mix well-the mixture will start bubbling, keep stirring.
Roast the atta and chick pea flour for 20-25 minutes on low flame stirring continuously.
Switch off the flame allow it to cool a bit(you can say it should be warm, this is because when we add sugar powder it should not melt)and add the powdered sugar.
Add raisins and roasted cashew nuts add it to the mix and make laddoos while the mix is still warm.

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CHOCO NUTTY KHARWAS( MA OWN RECIPE):)))))))))))

EGGLESS CHOCOLATE MOUSEE:)))))))))))

"POSU" A SWEET MADE FROM COLOSTRUM MILK

TOMATO OMELETT

PHOOL MAKHANA KHEER/ LOTUS SEEDS KHEER:)))))))))))))

BELLAPPA & TOMATO FRY:))))))))))))))))

SPICY CHURMUREY/ CHARMURI UPKARI(PUFFED RICE)

SHEVAI/INSTANT RICE NOODLES

MUSHROOM-MUTTER MASALA (A SIDE DISH FOR CHAPATHI):)))))))

Chakli or Crispy Savoury Spirals

Paneer Paratha, Cottage Cheese Stuffed Flat Bread

Ingredients:

For the outer covering, Paratha:

For the inner stuffing:

Instructions:

Make dough out of outer cover paratha ingredients as you would do for any paratha/roti.

In a bowl mix all the stuffing ingredients.

Mando, Mande, Mandige, Deep Fried Sweet

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Nevri, Karanji, Karajikayi, Sweet Turn Overs

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Chayote, Seeme Badane Semolia Fry

INGREDIENTS:

Instructions:

Churmundo, Wheat Flour Ladoos

Ingredients:

Instructions: