VAZHAPPINDI VANPAYARU THORAN /BANANA STEM AND RED GRAM COOKED WITH GRATED COCONUT

Banana stem is rich in fibre and helps in weight loss. Like banana, banana stem is also rich in Potassium and Vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 provides good immune system and Potassium prevents from high blood pressure. Having the juice of banana sttem twice a week will help you to recover from kidny stones and urinory infection.

Ingredients :

Vazhappindi / Banana Stem : 1medium Piece
Red Gram : 1/2Cup
Shallots : 6-7, Chopped finely
Crushed Chillli Flakes : 1 1/2tsp
Grated Coconut : 1/2Cup
Curry leaves : 2Springs
Coconut Oil
Salt

Method :

1. Soak red gram overnight. Wash it and keep aside.

2. Remove the outer covering of the bnanana stem and take the centre part. Cut them into rings and  chop again to small pieces. After chopping put them into water immedietly to avoid the changing  of color.

3. Pressure cook red gram along with banana stem, with enough water. Banana stem will release too much of water, so add correct amount of water.

3. Heat oil in a kadai and add shallots. Saute till it turns light brown in color. Now you can add crushed chilli flakes. Saute for 2minutes and add grated coconut & currry leaves.

4. Add the pressure cooked ingredients to the kadai with enough salt. Cook till the water leaves completely from the thoran.

5. Serve hot with rice, pappad, curd and pickle.

PAALADA PRADHAMAN

January is too special for me... 2 Birthdays in one month, My baby Rithika on Jan 15th and my hus Rashmin on Jan 25th :)..Celebrated my Husbands birthday with Kerala Sadhya.. Dishes were  Sambar, Aviyal, Moru curry, pachadi, mathanga olan, kothavara upperi, Erissery, Ishtu, Injam puli, sambaram, rasam, parippu curry, inji achar(ginger pickle), pappadam,Kuthari choru(brown rice), parippum neyyum, sarkkara upperi, kaya varuthathu, and Palada Prathaman.With mom's help i could give food on time.. :)

How to make Kerala Traditional Paalada Pradhaman / Palada Pradhaman
Preparation time : 1 1/2 hrs, Serves : 8 adults
Ingredients :

Ada / Kuthuvilakku Ada : 1/2 Cup

Milk : 4 Cups

Sugar : 1 Cup

Butter : 2 tbsp

Cardamom Powder : 1/2 tsp

Directions for Paalada Pradhaman Recipe :

1. Prepare Ada : Boil 4 Cups of water in a wide pan. Add the ada into it and cook until soft. Now Strain the ada and rinse it in cold water to remove the stickiness. Drain and keep aside.

2. Roast Ada in butter : Add butter to a heavy bottom vessel / Dutch oven and slightly saute Ada in butter for 3 minutes. 

3. Add Sugar and Milk : Add the sugar to the roasted Ada and stir well. After 3-5 minutes, Combine the milk and allow it to boil in a low - medoim flame for a long long time : ). 

4. Stir - stir - stir : Cook on low-medium flame for 1 hr to 1 1/2 hrs till the quantity of milk is reduced to 2/3rd.  Stir in every 15 mins and continue to cook the Paalada Pradhaman. (No wonder why People make Paalada pradhaman only for festivals).

5. You can turn of the flame when the ada floats on the thick- light pink  payasam. Add Cardamom powder and turn off the flame. Paalada Pradhamn is ready to serve.

Note :

 1. Traditional paalada prathaman is not garnished with cashews and raisins. If you need, you can add it after 4th step. for that add 1tsp ghee in a pan and add cahews and raisins. Golden fry both and add to payasam.

2. easier way to make paalada prathaman is roast Ada in a pressure cooker and after 3rd step, bring the pradhaman in to 1whistle. open the lid only after 10minutes. you will get light pink color paalada prathaman. 

You might also like,

• Pazham Pradhaman
• Pineapple Pradhaman
• Paal Payasam
• Gothambu Payasam
• Semiya payasam

Enjoy,

Lena

CELEBRATED RITHIKA'S 1ST BIRTHDAY ON 15/01/11

We cant believe one year has gone..  :)...
A year ago, we welcomed her to our world. A baby of our own...
 A year has gone so quickly..
Her laughs,smiles,
and tears,
woww.. she is our bundle of joy!!!!
We are thanking god for the great gift of parenthood..

Party was in our home with Maroon  and White as theme colors. Birthday Menu was
Cream of Mushroom Soup,
Persian Cucumber Salad with Cherry Tomatoes,
 Baby Corn 65,
 Fish Cutlet,
 Fried Rice,
 Chappathi,
 Mushroom Manchurian,
 Murg Kaali Mirch Kabab,
Paneer peda and
store-bought Litchi Cream Cake.

Easy to cook CHILLI MUSHROOM

Ingredients :

Mushroom : 500g, halved

Onion : 2, diced

Capsicum : 1, diced

Green Chilli : 3, chopped

Garlic  : 5cloves, chopped

Soya sauce : 1 1/2tbsp

Green Chilli Sauce : 1tbsp

Tomato Sauce : 2 1/2tbsp

Pepper Powder : 1tsp

Cornflour : 1tsp

Water : 1/2Cup

Sunflower Oil : 1tbsp

Salt

Method :

1. Heat oil in a kadai and add green chilli and garlic. Saute for 5minutes on medium flame.

2. Add Onion and capsicum to this and saute well.

3. After 5minutes add soya sauce, chilli sauce and tomato sauce and combine well.

4. Add  mushroom, pepper powder and salt at this stage and saute for 5minutes.

5. Sprinkle courflour and combine well.

6. Add water and boil on a low flame for 5minutes.

7 When gravy turns thick and covers the mushrooms as a thick layer turn of the flame.

8. Garnish with celery / spring onion.

Note : If you want more gravy mix 1tsp of cornflour mixed with 1cup water and add  before 7th step.

BANANA PANCAKES

Making banana pancakes is the best and delicious way to use over ripe bananas.

Ingredients :

Ripe Banana : 3
All purpose flour : 2Cup
Baking powder : 2tsp
Sugar : 4tsp
Milk  : 1Cup
Egg : 1, Slightly beaten
Salt  : 1/2tsp
Melted Butter : 1tbsp

Method :

1. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Keep aside.

2. In another bowl, combine the milk, sugar and Egg.

3. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well.

4. Using a mixer, make a paste of  banana and fold in this to the mixture.

5. Heat a griddle / frying pan on medium flame and add butter. Now  pour the batter on the hot griddle (almost 1/4Cup)  and cook for 2-3mins on each side until light brown in color.

6. Serve hot with corn surup / honey / maple syrup.

STRAWBERRY WITH CREAM

Wish You all a Very Happy New Year :)

Ingredients :

Strawberry : 15

Whipped Cream : 250ml(Normal cream can be used)

Powdered Sugar : 1/4Cup

Powdered Almonds : 2tsp(Optional) 

 

Method : 

1. In a bowl combine all ingredients except strawberries with an electric blender.

2. Blend till the sugar dissolves completely and Keep this in freezer for 1hr.

3. Slice the strawberries and keep aside.

4. In a serving Glass/ dessert bowl arrange a layer of strawberries and then pour prepared cream as a layer on  it. Continue the layering. Serve Chilled.