Suggested Reading and my apologies for not being regular with my posts....

Hello everybody!!!!

Hope this post finds you all in fine cheers.... I am good too and am enjoying the last few weeks of my vacation in India :).Firstly, I am really sorry that I haven't been regular with my posts and haven't even been able to reply to all your comments. Things have kept me quite bz out here....I'm sure you understand :). Will get to it as soon as possible!

Secondly... Couple of weeks back,Naveen introduced me to a site called 'zenhabits', owned by Leo Babauta. The site is all about achieving goals, productivity, motivation, happiness, success etc.I enjoyed reading the posts and felt it would be useful to many of you out there. I am even gonna add it to the 'Sites I usually visit' section of my blog. Hope you like it too. Take care n Happy reading!!!! :)

Kai / Kayi Kadubu and Ganesh Chaturthi Wishes!!

Hey folks!! Here's wishing you all a very happy Gowri/Ganesha Habba!!!! May all your wishes and dreams come true. I am in Bengalooru right now and am thoroughly enjoying the festive season out here!!!!! I am posting a few pictures of Malleshwaram Sampige rd- 8th cross, on the eve of the festival. Hope you like it... This will also be my entry for Lakshmi's Ganesh Chaturthi Event.

Also Check out - Karigadubu/Karjikayi recipe

Flower Market at Malleshwaram 15th cross....

A picture of one of the stalls selling Ganesha idols on Sampige road, Malleshwaram

Most people nowadays go in for environment friendly Ganeshas with no chemail paints!!! We got the same one at our house too :)

Last but not the least, a picture of Gowri-Ganesha at my home.....

I have for you the recipe of Kayi Kadubu this time. Kayi kadubu is a traditial sweet dish of malnad regions of Karnataka. Kayi kadubu is steam cooked and uses no ghee/oil.... Hence it is healthy and easily digestable. It is usually prepared for festivals like Nagarapanchami and Ganesh-Chouti. Here goes the recipe.... Enjoi!

PS: Please excuse the poor quality of my Kadubu picture...... I was in such a hurry that I didn't have time to even make the right settings on my camera. Will capture better pictures from the next time, I promise! :)))

Ingredients:

1 cup Rice

1/2 cup Coconut, grated

1 cup Jaggery, powdered
1 tsp Elaichi powder

Method:

1. Soak the rice overnight in enough water. Drain out the water thoroughly and powder it in a blender. The powder should be VERY fine.
2. Boil 1.5 cups of water in a kadai. To this, add the rice powder and stir continuously to form a single dumpling.
3. Remove from stove and knead well, like chapati dough.
4. Pull out small balls and roll them into chapati like circles.
5. Place about 2 tsps of filling in the centre and fold the rice chapati. Seal the ends with the help of some water.
6. Place the kadubu prepared above on a plantain leaf and steam cook for about 7-9 mins.

Filling:

1. Mix jaggery and coconut in a kadai and place on stove on low heat.
2. Stir continuously until the jaggery melts and blends well with the grated coconut. You can adjust the quantity of jaggery according to your taste.
3. Add elaichi powder and remove from stove.

Avalakki/Poha Upkari

I'm sure, all you mangloreans out there will agree with me that Avalakki Upkari is one of the most simple and tastiest snacks ever! I had it for the first time at my in-laws place after my wedding and I loved it instantly!! I tried making it myself many times since then, but never got the masala right. So this time, I got my mother- in-law to make it for me and it turned out as good as ever! Avalakki upkari makes a very good evening snack!! It also goes really well with Upppittu/ Upma for morning breakfast. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

1.5 cups Thin poha/ paper avalakki

1 Onion, chopped finely

1 tsp Jeera seeds

3-4 Dry red chillies, low spiced

1.5-2 tsp Coriander seeds

1-2 strands Cilantro, finely chopped

1 tsp Lime juice

1 tsp Sugar

Salt as per taste

For tadka:

2 tsp Oil

3-4 Curry leaves
1/2 tsp Mustard seeds

A pinch of haldi

A pinch of hing

Method:

1. Grind together red chillies, jeera and coriander seeds to form a smooth powder.
2. Mix all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl; Add the masala powder and toss well. Adjust ingredients according to taste.
3. Temper with mustard, curry leaves, hing and haldi.
4. Serve with hot tea/coffee and enjoi!