Holige and a few other Kannada festive treat....

 



















I always wanted to learn it and the last vacation at my bellary home paid off...Our 85 year old Ajji is my Guru here! You would be surprised to see how dexterous she is even at this age!Squatting on the floor, with the gas hobs pulled to her side her hands moved quickly between the hot griddle and the Holige...While I was trying to rotate the holige on the griddle very cautiously....she did it all in a jiffy....there was magic in her hands the way she flipped it around! Her hand shivers otherwise but it is very firm when it comes to cooking!!...and what an amazing cook she is...you name it and she does it....her only complaint is that we all have become addicted to the instant food and the bakery items that we dont give her much chance to feed us...in fact we didnt wish to trouble her...it was never a love for all those insta products...we wanted her to take rest...which she never does!
 

Poli,Holige,Obbattu.....you call her whatever you want...but she is just an amazing sweetypie that you dont feel sinful to associate with....!!Hot Olige with a dollop of desi ghee is a real treat....Be it in Andhra, Karnataka, Tamil nadu and even in some parts of Kerala,a festival or celebration is not complete without this treat...
When I was in the hostel in B'lore my Iyer ponnu used to get me wonderful Obbattu during Ugadi or Navaratri... and whenever we felt a craving for it we queued up near the Arya Bhavan to eat it hot...

Making Obbattu/Holige demands some amount of patience...so do it only when you are in a mood to spend some good quality time with her....Otherwise be happy with the frozen ones that we get in the Indian shops.....but of course it is no comparison to the fresh treat! By the way you can add variety to this holige, like kai holigai/kobbari Holigai(kannada) for instance, which is coconut based....and I have noted that Holige made by Tamil Iyengars taste slightly different, may be because they add pachakarpooram(edible camphor)and nutmeg to the Poornam/Hoorana/filling.So try it as well if you like it that way...

So here goes our ajji's recipe:

Filling/Poornam
Bengal gram/kadalaparippu-1 cup
Jaggery-1 cup(customise)
cardamom powder-a pinch

Ingredients for the cover
1/2 cup maida
1/2 cup wheat flour(You could use maida alone as well)
Turmeric powder-a pinch
1 cup oil (can reduce,but it affects the fluffiness/softness)(ghee-optional)
Salt- a very small pinch
Milk/water-as rqd for mixing the dough
(Quite a lot of people mix rava, but unfortunately my experience with rava has been a disaster,may be I was not good at handling rava)


Method

Mix the flour with water/milk(add carefully), adding(half the quantity) oil and make it into a soft pliant dough.One degree softer than a chappati dough.Now pour the remaining oil on top of the dough and leave it aside for some time till the Poornam/filling is ready.

Pressure cook dal till it is very soft.(If you are not happy with the consistency of dal, you may grind it a bit to make it soft.)Mix the powdered jaggery and cardamom powder to it. Mix it well.The Poornam,as it is called,should be in a mouldable consistency.

Take and aluminium file cut into a reasonably good size. Oil it well.Take a large lemon size dough,mould it into a smooth round ball. Using ghee/oil roll it out with your hand (light pats will do the job) to the size of a small puri.Now take about 2 tbsp filling(or rather about 1/2 the size of the dough),mould it into a smooth ball,place it in the middle of the rolled out dough.Bring all the edges together and close it. Now roll it again,preferably with your hand(no roller pins) using gentle taps. Spread it out as thin as possible, without letting the filling come out(it is little bit of a trick!).

Heat the Tava medium hot and gently slide the spread Holige on to it from the aluminium foil.Turn it around, flip flop the sides ,it will start bulging like a puri,and when it is golden, it is ready. Now serve it with a dollop of desi ghee...hmmm....it is yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!


Whenever Holige is made, the humble holige saaru accompanies coyishly! It is a sweet and sour curry made with the left over poornam/filling,ground roasted coconut,a very small quantity tamarind, a little ginger garlic paste and a tadka of cumin,fenugreek seeds,dry red chilly,mustard, curry leaves.
 

Kadubu
 













To make it simple,Holige filling mixed with coconut and a little fried poppy seeds is filled inside the maida/wheat covering (made like a small poori, and the sides pressed)and is deep fried in oil to make the wonderful kadubu!

Kosumbari
Kosumbari is an interesting salad made of blackgram dal(soaked for an hour or two),a little coconut shavings,some onions chopped,a little corriander leaves,and salt(You can add some green chillies, if you want to spice it up).You can add even cucumber cut into very small pieces.
 

Rasayana

 

Enne Badinekai/Noona Vankai

 

Paatu mami'sPoli

A Non veg treat!

Fish Finger
 













A Malayali's jugalbandhi with fish is quite well known and I am no exception. My husband says that my eye's sparkle at the mention of 'fish'!....Though it is a bit of an exaggeration,no doubt I love fish.....most of them....Thanks to the Kerala shop here, I still do get to taste all those traditional Kerala variety here...but of course the taste is compromised....as most of them belong to the BC age...frozen and shrunk...veterans chilling out in the giant freezers of the shop!The English variety of fish available here are really so excellent that we dont really miss the fresh fish....now so much...


Though very much a fan of really 'hot' n tongue burning cuisines, I do have a liking for the less spicier, simple English dishes....I love their fish pies,fish n chips and the fish fingers...which just melt into your mouth. I would say that it is just perfect for kids.

Ingredients

Fish Fillets(White)-500g(I used Cod)
Bread crumb-150g
Parmesan cheese-2tbsp(grated)
Coriander leaves or Parsley-1 tbsp -chopped fine
Lemon juice-1 tsp
Garlic salt-a pinch (optional)
Paprika-a pinch
Egg-1
(You may add a pinch of oregano or thyme for the flavour)
Double cream-2tbsp
Plain flour-100ml
Pepper-1 tsp(or as u need)
Oil-for fying

Method
Cut the fillets into finger length strips and keep it aside.

Beat egg with double cream and set it aside. In a bowl mix thoroughly the bread crumbs, the spices,cheese and salt.

Keep the flour in a bowl ready to coat the fish.


Fist coat the fish with flour. Next dip it in the egg and cream mixture. Finally coat it with the breadcrumb mixture.

Heat oil in a pan when it is medium hot, shift the coated fish fingers to the pan.
Cook until the crust is golden brown and the flesh becomes flaky.Use a kitchen towel to remove the excess oil. Serve it with any sauce or dip of your choice.

Mutton Kolhapuri
 















Mutton Chettinad
 

Dhaniya Chicken Fry
  

Going Vegan!

Alugadda Fry
 














Badinekai palya




Paneer Poriyal
 














Beetroot Palya


Bhindi Fry
 

Koovapayasam

Traditional Koovapayasam with a slightly modern face lift!!
 

mutton chops fry,mutton pepper fry& palak chicken

Mutton chops fry
 
















Palak Chicken
 















Mutton Pepper Fry

 

Magic of Cinnamon & Honey!

 















I was enjoying my short hibernation...cosy doing nothing!!....the inertia had caught me on badly until one sweet 'pari' hooked me on to some interesting information on Cinnamon & Honey magic....and ....

Honey!I couldnt control the itch to share the wonderful info...so here I go...once again to blogging...?Sloth and slumber....ah me! tis all dunlop and good year all over!! Frantically wanted to get rid off all those tyres!! So this magic came as a wonderful tip...I still do not know the authenticity of all the claims...nor do I know whether they are just another placebo...but I believe there is no harm in trying...So Here I go verbatim the whole lot of tips which my wonderful friend Pari has shared.... on the Cinnamon-Honey Magic!Sorry...the trials and experiments are absolutely at your own personal risk!! :)


"It is found that mixture of Honey and Cinnamon cures several diseases.
Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world.
Ayurvedic as well as Yunani medicine have been using honey as a vital medicine for centuries.
Scientists of today also accept honey as a Ram Ban (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases.
Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases.
Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients as well.
A famous magazine named Weekly World News published in Canada dated 17 January, 95 has given a list of diseases that can be cured by Honey and Cinnamon as researched by western scientists."
Here goes the list and recommendations.
Arthritis:

"Take one part honey to two parts of luke warm water and add a small teaspoon of cinnamon powder, make a paste and massage it on the paining part of the body slowly.
It is noticed that the pain recedes within a minute or two.

Arthritis patients may daily-morning and night, take one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder.
If drunk regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured!!

In a recent research at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week out of the 200 people so treated practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain, and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis, started walking without pain!

Hair Loss:

Those suffering from hair loss or baldness, may apply a paste of hot olive oil, one tablespoon of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder before bath and keep it for approx. 15 min. and then wash the hair.
It was found very effective if kept for 5 mins. also...(Hmm...a medicine for kashandi(baldness), then what abt asooya(jealousy)?!!...(for the less informed,a malayalam proverb says that there is no cure for baldness & jealousy!!)

Bladder Infections:
Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of luke warm water and drink it.
It destroys the germs of the bladder.


Tooth Ache/Bad breath?:

Make a paste of one teaspoon of cinnamon powder and five teaspoons of honey and apply on the aching tooth.
This may be done 3 times a day daily till such time that the tooth has stopped aching
People in some parts of South America,it seems,the first thing they do in the morning is to gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water so that their breath stays fresh throughout the day.... hmmm...interesting...

Cholesterol:
Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, if given to a cholesterol patient,reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10% within 2 hours( I really hope this works!).

As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken 3 times a day any chronic cholesterol can be cured.

As per the information in the said journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

Common Cold& Influenza:
Those suffering from common or severe cold should take one tablespoon luke warm honey with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder daily for 3 days.
This process will cure most chronic cough, cold and clear the sinuses.(Well, this seems to have worked for me too!)

A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ingredient which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.


Infertility-Come Honey! let's have some honey!! ;):

Yunani and Ayurveda has been using honey for years in medicine to strengthen the semen of men. It is said that if impotent men regularly take two tablespoons of honey before sleeping, their problem can be solved!

In China, Japan and Far-East countries, women who do not conceive were given cinnamon powder for centuries to strengthen their uterus.

Women who cannot conceive may take a pinch of cinnamon powder in half teaspoon of honey and apply it on the gums frequently throughout the day, so that it slowly mixes with the saliva and enters the body.

Here is a story-A couple in Merryland, America had no children for 14 years and had left hope of having a child of their own. When told about this husband and wife started taking honey and cinnamon as stated above, the wife conceived after a few months and had twins at full term!!!

Stomach Upset:
Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache(this also seems to work!) and also clears stomach ulcers from the root.
GAS : According to the studies done in India & Japan, it is revealed that if honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food, relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals!

Pimples&Skin Infections
Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste.
Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it can remove pimples from the root.

Eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections are cured by applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts.


Wanna strong Heart?
Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread or chappati instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast.
It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack.
Also those who have already had an attack, if they do this daily, are kept miles away from the next attack!!!
Regular use of the above relieves one from breathlessness& palpitations .

In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients with this successfully and have found that due to the increasing age the arteries and veins which lose their flexibility and get clogged are revitalized.

Hurray!Weight Loss!!

Daily morning, half an hour before breakfast, on an empty stomach and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup water.
If taken regularly it reduces the weight of even the most obese person!!
Also drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet! Yippee!! God! this should work...pl.....ease!!(1tsp Cinnamon powder+1 tbspHoney in 1 Glass of warm water).


Immune system
Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks.
Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts.
Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral diseases.

Cancer

Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully.
Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should take daily one tablespoon honey with one teaspoon cinnamon powder for one month 3 times a day.

Fatigue

Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful than detrimental to the body strength.
Senior citizens who take honey and cinnamon power in equal parts are more alert and flexible.
Dr. Milton who has done research says that half tablespoon honey taken in one glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3.00 p.m. when the vitality of the body starts decreasing, increases the vitality of the body within a week.

Hearing Loss
Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder taken in equal parts restores hearing too!


Live longer!!
Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly arrests the ravages of old age.
Take 4 spoons of honey, 1spoon of cinnamon powder and 3 cups of water and boil to make like tea.
Drink 1/4 cup, 3 to 4 times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age.
Life span also increases and even if a person is 100 years old, starts performing the chores of a 20 year old.

Arey! what more do we want...come let's have some honey!!...hmmm....cinnamon too!!

Cinnamon

Honey

Caution:
Dont go bananas hearing all the benefits of Cinnamon and use it lavishly....it can be toxic as per several other researches...So use cinnamon in less quantity..(max-1tsp at a time)...The simple fact that cinnmon oil has been proven to be an effective mosquito killer tells us that it can be toxic as well.."Adhikamayal Amrutum visham"(A proverb in malayalm which translates as "Even ambrosia can become poison if taken in excess quantity).

A potpourri

Chana Batoora


  

  

Prawn Pakoda

 
Kerala Style Raw Mango Prawn Curry












Tiramisu

  

Wish You All A Wonderful New Year!

 

















Wish you all a Wonderful New year filled with whispers of love,thumping joy,luck galore,sound health and blissful peace...

I think I enjoy the self imposed hibernation...indulging in a silent conversation with myself....or is it the new indolence incarnate?....I find it easier now to drool over the lovely recipes of all my blogger buddies and eat my private meal with absolutely no qualms about picture perfect looks....somewhere the urge to write remains....but I now rather enjoy learning from others...though I trot around the blogs very less these days....It is nice to see you all becoming super creative every day....

Thanks to all you wonderful people out there in this cyberspace who has always remembered me and left a loving phrase once in a while...love u all...


  

Kabhi Alwida Na Kehna....

 















I'm taking a long break from blogging....Blogging...I had stumbled upon it quite unexpectedly....happy to have got to know so many of u....it was a media for me which kept the threads of life more colourful....learnt a lot about not only food...about places,cultures,traditions,values,ethnicity....for me personally it has been a very rewarding experience....your comments,your words of appreciation....they werent just a virtual socialising for me...it was a greater feeling of being a part of a large community,a sense of satisfaction and happiness...Solitude of a housewife is at times a bit painful....especially when u have had earlier a career and a lot of people around...the transformation at times is a bit frustrating....but blogging has definitely kept me ticking...has made the transition easier....Thanx....thanx a ton....I enjoyed it....every smile on u'r face brought a lot of happiness to me....thanx thanx a lot....Thanx to blogging for having given me so many wonderful friends many whom I feel I know them for years.....LG/Inji who saw to it that she left a word of appreciation for almost every new post when I had just begun ... Sumitha,Archana,Annita,Ashwini,Shilpa,Indira,Manisha,Pushpa,Karthi,Tanuja,
Arjuna,Vaishali,Anthony,Priyas,shankari,Shaheen,Sailu,Vineela,starryN ....
I have always feltlike age old friends....and a host of new blogger
buddies like Gattina,Prema,Chandrika,Indosun,Surya,Asha,Lera,Linda,
Daagh,Maddy,Mathew,Menu today,Where's my mind,Velu.... to mention a few and
Aqua,who used to try my recipes and come up promptly with his feedback..
the other non bloggerfriends like Devi,Kerala Girl,Rg and a host of many anonymous friends....Thanx dear friends....u have all brought me a lot of happiness....So ....Let's not bid adieu....hope to meet u all somewhere some time...All the best to everybody... 

Breakfast- Desi

Vellayappam-Ishtu &Corn Puttu
  

 
















Chowchow bath &Poori-Aalu subji