Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Recipe column-Vendaikai thayir pachadi

A crispy, crunchy yet a smooth salad recipe
Ladies Finger / Vendaikai thayir pachadi
Wash and dry 10 nos of Ladies finger with a towel.
Cut it into small pieces.
Heat 1 table spoon oil in a kadai and fry the vegetable till it is crispy
Take a cup of thick and fresh curd (*not sour*) add salt and beat it with a spoon to mix well and smooth.
Add the fried vegetable
Heat up the kadai, allow mustard to splitter, and add 3 chilies sliced vertically,a pinch of asefotedia. Do not cut chilies into small pieces.
Pour this into the salad and mix well.
Top it up with some coriander leaves.
Do not prepare this earlier. Orelse you can fry the vegetable and keep it aside mix everything when you are ready to eat. Otherwise the cripness won’t be there and ladies finger when soft will not taste good.
It goes well with sambar rice, all mixed rice and with Roti.

Recipe column-Poriyal

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Monday, December 31, 2007

Recipe column- Melagai Masiyal

Green Chillies/Melagai Masiyal
Wash Chillies and dry it with a towel.Grind chillies and salt in a mixer into a coarse paste without adding waterHeat up a kadai and add 2 tablespoons of oilAllow mustard to splitter and fry 1 teaspoon of fenugreek,pinch of termeric powderAdd the chillies paste and fry till the colour changes(Ginger chopped into small pieces can also be added to enhance the taste)Add tarmirind paste and waterAdd salt and allow it to thicken in slow fireWhen it is done oil added will seperate from the masiyalRemove it from the heat and allow it to coolStore it in an air tight containerKeep it in room temperature for 1 day and then refrigerate.Tastes great when mixed with rice or can be used as pickle

Recipe column- mor menthiya kulambu

Cluster beans,Ladies finger,
Mor Menthiya Kulambu
Heat up a kadai and Add 2 teaspoons of cooking oil in itAdd Mustard allow it to splitter Add 1 teaspoon of gram dal, 1/2 teaspoon methi seeds, 3 greenchillies splited, 2 red chillies, 1 pinch of asafoetida, 2 pinch of termericFry it and add the veg cut into small pieces of your choice listed above(10 small pieces is enough)Saute for a whileAdd 1/2 or 1 teaspoon of tarmarind paste(according to the sourness of the buttermilk)Add 1 cup of water, salt and cook the vegetableFinally switch off the flame and add 1 cup of buttermilk.Tastes yummy with rice and iddiappam

Health tips- Simple and Easy Remidies

Simple and Easy Remidies
Insomnia: Honey
Use honey as a tranquilizer and sedative.Asthma: OnionsEating onions helps ease constriction of bronchial tubes.
Headaches: Fish
Eat plenty of fish - fish oil helps prevent headaches.So does ginger, which reduces inflammation and pain.
Hay Fever: Yogurt
Eat lots of yogurt before pollen season
Strokes: Tea
Prevent buildup of fatty deposits on artery walls with regular doses of tea.
Arthritis: Fish
Salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines actually prevent arthritis.
Upset Stomach: Bananas,Ginger
Bananas will settle an upset stomach.Ginger will cure morning sickness and nausea.
Bladder Infections: Cranberry Juice
High-acid cranberry juice controls harmful bacteria
Bone Problems: Pineapple
Bone fractures and osteoporosis can be prevented by the manganese in pineapple.
PMS: Cornflakes
Women can ward off the effects of PMS with cornflakes, which help reduce depression, anxiety and fatigue.
Memory Problems: Oysters
Oysters help improve your mental functioning by supplying much-needed zinc.
Colds: Garlic
Clear up that stuffy head with garlic.
Cough: Red Pepper
A substance similar to that found in the cough syrups is found in hot red pepper.
Breast Cancer: Wheat, Bran, Cabbage
Wheat, bran and cabbage help maintain estrogen at healthy levels.
Lung Cancer: Orange & Green Veggies
A good antidote is beta carotene, a form of Vitamin A found in dark green and orange vegetables.
Ulcers: Cabbage
Cabbage contains chemicals that help heal both gastric and duodenal ulcers.
Diarrhea: Apples
Grate an apple with its skin, let it turn brown and eat it to cure this condition.
Clogged Arteries: Avocados
Monounsaturated fat in avocados lowers cholesterol.
High Blood Pressure: Olive Oil, Celery
Olive oil has been shown to lower blood pressure. Celery contains a chemical that lowers pressure, too.
Blood Sugar Imbalance: Broccoli, Peanuts
The chromium in broccoli and peanuts helps regulate insulin and blood sugar.

Recipe column- Ennai Kathirikai

Ennai Kathirikai:

Wash 10 very small brinjals and split it into four without breaking into peicesFry 1 tablespoon urad dal, 2 table spoon gram dal, 1 table spoon toor dal, 5-6 red chillies, asafoetidaCool it add salt and grind into a course powderPut some oil in a kadai and add mustard and curry leaves allow it to splitterFill the powder in splits of brinjalAdd it to the oil and Mix it slowley in slow fireAdd 1/2 teaspoon of tarmarind paste and sprinkle some waterMix gently without breaking the brinjalSprinkle water till brijal is cooked wellCan also add some grated coconut for flavourEnnai kathirikai readyIf you add coconut milk it can be used for idiappam, appam and rice.This could be prepared in both dry and gravy consistency

Health Drink

Badam Health Drink:
Badam: 15 nos
Millet/Ragi: 50 gms
Corn: 25 gms
Soy: 25 gms
Cashews: 10 nos
Peanuts: 25 gms
Fried Gram dal: 25 gms
Green Mong dal: 25 gms
Sampa Wheat: 25 gms
Sago: 15 gms
Cardomom: 10 pods
Dry ginger powder: 5 gms
Roast all the ingredients seperately. Allow it to cool Grind to a fine powder in a mixer Add 50 gms of cocoa powder(optional for kids) and store it in an airtight container.Serves for 1 week for a family of 4.Make two halfs and mix cocoa to one part and use it for KidsUse the other part plain for adults

Recipe column- Buttermilk

Recipe column/Drinks
Buttermilk:1 green chilly,A small bunch of coriander washed and cleaned, 1 inch ginger, Cocunut 1 tablespoon(optional)Grind all the ingredents into a smooth paste.Mix it to the buttermilk and add salt, a pinch of cumin powder, a dash of pepper powder and a dash of asafoetida powder.If the buttermilk is not sour add a teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar.A delicious low fat drink for fitness freaks.

Sunday, December 30, 2007