Simply Innocence

My Latest Posts

noreply@blogger.com (Rajee) — Tue, 5 May 2009 14:47:00 -0700

Pls visit http://rajikitchen.blogspot.com/ for latest posts. What I post here to organise the recipes for easier reference.

Summer Coolers: Slurp, Slurp, Slurp..!

noreply@blogger.com (Rajee) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:21:00 -0700

Halwa

noreply@blogger.com (Rajee) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:22:00 -0800

Paneer

noreply@blogger.com (Rajee) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:05:00 -0800

Our families with Pedatha

noreply@blogger.com (Rajee) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:21:00 -0800

We used to call our lovely Amayee as grandmother. She's very lovely, intelligient and humble to share the great sufferings of our family and relatives. She's highly devoted to God and she subscribes and love to read some magazines about God. She loves to visit temples often. She lived in huge mansions in coimbatore whereas we stay in Dindigul, Madurai district of Tamil Nadu. Whenever we visit her, she cooks delicate meals for us. We always enjoy her cooking. I feel every meals taste great from every grandmother. Whenever we get sick, she took good care of us and she protect us from sickness by cooking herbs in rasam and making some natural ingredients like ayurvedic. We always listen to her words and advise and also follow her principles. We also love to listen her old stories of our great grandparents.
I stayed with her when I was schooling in Coimbatore. She used to hold my hand and hugged me when I slept with her daily and also put the blanket on me.
After I give birth to Jaihari, I stayed with my family for 6 months. She also came to stay with us. We had a great time with her. She loved Jaihari very much and he hugged her whenever he slept with her. I dont have camera in hand and so I badly missed this chance. Our heart broke when my father departed his journey to the world. She consoled us and again stayed 3 more months with us. She often come to stay with us in every 3 months. She gives affection, warmth and love not only to us but also to others who are known to her. She always loved to invite our guests or others who are known to her to have meals just before they leave her house. Nowadays, I've not seen anyone invites like her. So, I am very proud of her.

Slowly, she battled with her sickness due to her old age. She was worried about her health. She laughed at me and told every family that I wish her to live till Jaihari grow up, marries and give birth to babies. My mom helped her lot by taking good care of her, feeding her and stayed with her often. She wants me to visit her after coming from US.

Last year, on August 14th 2008, I was very happy to do shopping with my friend. Karthik heard her sad news and didnt want me know during the day. After getting back home, he slowly asked me to sit calmly, I feel frozen and trembled with fear.God broke our heart that she's no more. I screamed, cried lot and phoned to my Mom that she too cried very badly. I was in deep sorrow for not even making up to see her last wish. She lived long enough to see the history of our 3 generations. But her mansion is emptied with no happiness, no peace and no joy. Without her, there's no fun at all in her mansion.My heart is pounded with cup of tears when I write about her in my blog. I feel inside that she knows what I wrote about her in my blog. We really missed her lot and also her last smiles.

I am not lucky enough to be in their loop of the above picture. I'll send my picture later but unfortunatley, I left my picture with Pedatha in my home(India). These pictures are send

by my elder cousin sister, Malar staying in a very beautiful house in California.

Pie & Tarts

noreply@blogger.com (Rajee) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:00:00 -0800

noreply@blogger.com (Rajee) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:08:00 -0800

Pongal is the most popular harvest festival in South India, especially Tamil Nadu. It falls in mid-January every year and marks the auspicious beginning of Uttarayan, the sun’s journey northwards. Literally meaning "Boiling over", Pongal, signifies the advent of prosperity.

The festival lasts four days. On the first day, which is Bhogi celebrated on the last day of the month of Margazhi. Old things or clothes are thrown away, marking the beginning of a new life. Indra, Lord of the Rains, is also called Bhogi. Using rice paste "Kolam" is drawn and this represents the Sun. We've to clean our whole house.

The second day, Surya Pongal also called Perum Pongal, is celebrated by boiling fresh milk over a vessel early in the morning to worship Sun God.

The third day, Mattu Pongal, is meant to offer thanks for the cows and buffaloes, as they are used to plough land. On this day, the cows are bathed and decorated with vermilion and garlands and fed.

The last day is Kaanum Pongal. It is that part of the festival when families used to gather on the riverbanks and have a sumptuous meal (kootanchoru). It is also time for some traditional dances such as kummi and kolattam.

The dishes prepared during these days are "Sarkarai Pongal", "Ven Pongal", "Paal Pongal" Dosai and Sambhar, Lemon rice, Tamarind Rice, Lentil Rice(Paruppu Saatham), Coconut Rice, Curd Rice, pickles, Vadai and Payasam and ready-to-eat cubed sugar cane.

Bread:Old fashionable loaf

noreply@blogger.com (Rajee) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:34:00 -0800

Yes, we all know learning different methods of bread is a long process. I love to make varities of different bread with less sweet as it loses its real taste in bread by adding too much sugar and too much fat contents. Bread comes in many interesting shapes and flovours. If we learn or use the recipes of making bread wisely, then it'll be fully satisfied to our heart content.

Happy New Year & Happy Pongal 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Rajee) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:21:00 -0800

May the beauty of the Season ...

Brighten up your life...

With love, smiles and happiness!

...This pretty greeting is designed and created by JaiHari, my sweet son who's just 61/2 yrs old to wish you all a very Happy New Year and Happy Pongal!

Cookies, Cookies, Cookies...

noreply@blogger.com (Rajee) — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:15:00 -0800

Legumes

noreply@blogger.com (Rajee) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:28:00 -0700

Why legumes? A rich source of essential nutrients. Low in fat, no cholestrol, high in fiber, protein, folate, potassium, iron, magnesium and phytochemicals. A group of compounds that help to prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer. Dried legums are inespensive and have a long shelf life, making them very convenient storage in the small towns and villages in India. For vegetarians, eating legumes as a substitute for meat can help lower your risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, and bring down your cholesterol levels. For diet conscious, legumes can make us feel full longer, which may help us eat less and lose weight. Cooking dry beans is the healthiest option and canned beans are a quick substitute as it contains sodium. To lower sodium content, we can drain and rinse canned beans. Legumes take longer time to cook in a big vessel, but in the pressure cooker, it's faster to cook. Some of the indian legumes like pigeon peas(toovar dal), Yellow split peas(chana dal), green lentils(spilt moong dal) and brown lentils(spilt masoor dal) need not be soaked over-night and can be cooked directly in a large vessel or in the pressure cooker with sufficient water. Other legumes like chickpeas, whole yellow peas, red kidney beans(rajmah) and cowpeas needs to be soaked over-night and can also be cooked cooked directly in a large vessel or in the pressure cooker with sufficient water. Legumes not only make delicious indian curries but also some lentils can make lovely soups, stews and hummus for western recipes.

Pakistan:Fresh in flavor

noreply@blogger.com (Rajee) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:10:00 -0700

Mohmood Akbar who owns restaurants of Salt 'n Pepper Village in Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan state gives us wonderful pakistan dishes to the word 'curry' as 'salan'. People in pakistan uses less spices and the first step in making a curyy is almost preparing the massalla-cooking onions, ginger, garlic and tomatoes with spices until the oil separates out. Food colorings are not widely used in Pakistani curries, nor in tikkas and barbecued meats. Red color from red chillies and yellow from turmeric is all that is needed. Only rice dishes such as biryanis and some desserts are tinted with food colorings. It's unique, fresh in flavor, based on seasonal ingredients for the very best taste, carefully spiced, nutritious and economical to make.

TamilNadu:In touch of Turmeric

noreply@blogger.com (Rajee) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 23:42:00 -0700

Upma:

Pongal:

Vegetable Curries: One Pot Meal

Mutton:

Seafood:

noreply@blogger.com (Rajee) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:43:00 -0700

Sorbet:
The word 'sorbet' comes from the french word. Slightly difference from granita. A frozen light dessert made from the fruit purees without dairy products and gives soft, slightly grainy and refreshing taste for summer coolers. Difference from ice-cream and it can be served with or without cookies. Diet watchers can replaced it with ice-cream.

Strawberry Sorbet in a popsicle

noreply@blogger.com (Rajee) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:02:00 -0700

Red chori/Adzuki/Thatta Payir:

The word 'Adzuki' comes from the Japanese and it's widely cultivated in Japan. It has rich in fiber. It helps to eliminate cholesterol from the body. Low in fat and high quality protein which provides a healthy alternative to meat or other animal protein.

Bottlegourd with adzuki bean cooked in sweet and tangy tomato sauce

Red chori in tamarind curry with brinjal and drumstick(Thatta Payir Puli kulambu)

noreply@blogger.com (Rajee) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:33:00 -0700

Potato:

Jeera Aloo(Potato sauted with cumin seeds)

Dal :

noreply@blogger.com (Rajee) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:01:00 -0700

Tarka Dal has a combination of 2 dals, masoor dal and yellow spilt moong dal.

Whole green gram dal/Cheru Payaru

Spinach with Moong Dal/Thuvar Dal and Tomato

Singapore : Banana Leaf Temptation

noreply@blogger.com (Rajee) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:45:00 -0700

Singapore becomes the Food capital of Asia. Singaporeans are passionate about food and eating. Look around everywhere! Almost in every corner of the island, you will find an endless variety of food influenced by Malay muslims, Chinese and Indian, served both hot or cold, at any hour of the day (or endess night)! No one there will go hunger. It's also very hard for dietwatchers to prevent fried food they eat. It smells great in everywhere when we walk on the road or the house we were living. We can also see array of small shops like kovil kadai selling not only variety of food but also toys, dresses for both adults and kids, fruits and other small items at a cheaper rate. We stayed there for 9 years.
Sambal Prawns, Red crab curry, Idiyappam, Fish head curry, Chicken masala, Roti Canai also called Roti Prata, Murtabak should not be missed there. All the foods in every indian restaurants will serve them with the big Banana leaf.
Great taste and aroma in every meal from the Banana Leaf.
Seafood :

Street Food : Convenient, cheap and tasty treats

noreply@blogger.com (Rajee) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:50:00 -0700

Street foods are simply spectacular and very convenient to eat with variety of food from different places in any parts of the world at a cheaper rate.
I love to tour street foods in those places where I visited in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and US. I had enough time to shop till last drop as I can enjoy with street foods when I feel hungry at any time.
In Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, street vendors have more competitions and so they pay more attention to their customers to satisfy their course of meals. Customers enjoyed to explore variety of food from them. I find street foods there are much cheaper when compared to India. Their foods are fresh, clean and neatly packed to take home. I can see many busy street vendors wear plastic cap and wore gloves for Food Hygiene. It's save to eat there.
I am not allowed to eat street food in Chennai. I became crazy of the sight of street foods like masala sundal, masala pori, pani puri etc. My hubby and my amma shouted at me as it's dirty and cleanliness. To me, it's hard to resist.

Pav Bhaji

noreply@blogger.com (Rajee) — Thu, 6 Mar 2008 22:04:00 -0800

Snacks : Simply Irrestible

Vegetables(Onion or Brinjal or Plantain or Potato)Bajji