Navratri Appam for VijayaDashami !
Happy Vijayadashami to all of you!
Dusshera is also known as Vijayadashami and is a major festival that is celebrated at the end of Navratri every year. It is a celebration of the victory of good over evil.
The Vijayadashami day is the tenth and final day of the Navratri celebrations and is considered auspicious for beginning learning in any field.
In Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and coastal Karnataka, Vidyarambham is a tradition observed on Vijayadashami day, where children are formally introduced to the learning of music, dance, languages, and other folk arts. It involves a ceremony of initiation into the characters of the syllabary. People across the country worship nine forms of the Goddess during Navratri. Mostly in Gujarat people play Dandiya and Garba during the nine days of Navratri while praying to the Goddess. However, in the eastern and north-eastern parts of India people celebrate Durga puja with much pomp and fervor.
Navratri Appam is a recipe that was shared with me my mother .She learnt the recipe from a friend of hers. It looks quite similar to the unniyappam the traditional snack in Kerala. This Vijayadashami this was what we kept as an offering to the Goddess.
Navratri Appam
1 and 1/2 cup of Raw Rice( soaked in water for about 1-2 hrs)
Jaggery syrup(for sweetness according to taste-I added about 1cup )
2 ripe plantains peeled and sliced
2 tbsp of butter
1 and 1/2 tsp of sesame seeds(black)
3 tbsp of coconut chips
2 tsp of ghee
Wash the soaked rice and add it to the blender. Add in the sliced plantains, butter and grind into a coarse paste. Transfer the mix into a bowl, pour in the jaggery syrup with regard to the amount of sweetness required. In a skillet fry coconut chips and black sesame seeds and pour into the batter. Mix and leave it to rest for about 4-5 hrs. If you really want to cut down the time mix in 1 tsp of baking powder.
Normally, I would prefer to let it ferment a bit on its own. Once the batter is ready, heat a pan with oil.I have used the Unniyappam pan here to have them all of the same shape and size. Once the oil is hot, pour in the batter and cook it on both sides . Once they turn golden in color, drain them of the oil into a colander or on paper towels.
Serve them warm!
This was my offering for Vijayadashami today for the Puja!
.
A homemaker who fell head over heels in love with food -an award-winning cookbook author, food blogger, award-winning culinary demonstrator
Badam Kheer to celebrate Eid!
In this phase 4 of the lockdown that we are undergoing, hoping that all are safe at home. Be it any festivity ..there’s always a special craving for a dessert. Add a nutty sweetness to your Eid festivities tomorrow with this delicious badam kheer. A rich delicacy like this is a perfect way to celebrate the end of Ramzan. It is very healthy and extremely easy to make.
Follow this step-by-step recipe to enjoy badam kheer this Eid-ul-Fitr.
Badam Kheer
Ingredients:
6 tbsp of semolina
100 gm of sugar
700 ml of milk
20 gm of badam
6 pistas (chopped)
4 cherries (chopped)
Instructions:
Boil and peel the almonds.
Grind them into a paste.
Boil milk and sugar in a pan on low flame.
Add semolina and stir well.
Pour the badam paste into the mixture and stir.
Once the mixture thickens, remove it from the stove.
Pour the kheer halfway into a glass.
Add a layer of chopped pistas.
Now, fill up the rest of the glass with kheer.
Garnish with chopped badam, pistas, and cherries.
Serve warm 🙂
A homemaker who fell head over heels in love with food -an award-winning cookbook author, food blogger, award-winning culinary demonstrator
Pineapple Sheera for Diwali !
Diwali or Deepavali the festive spirit always symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance”. This was not a festival that caught a lot of attention in Kerala. But after marriage and relocating myself to Munnar the festive spirits have caught up. For the past many years have been making out a set of Indian sweets. This festive season I thought of sharing with you this quick sheera recipe.
- 1 Cup of Pineapple Puree
- 1 Cup of Semolina
- 1 Cup of Milk
- 3 TBSP of Ghee
- 1 Cup of Sugar
- A pinch of Saffron
- 2 Cups of Water
- A few Cardamoms
- Pour the Pineapple puree into a pan.
- Add 1 TBSP of sugar.
- Mix well and let it simmer for 4-5 mins.
- Keep this aside and heat some ghee into a pan.
- Add the semolina and saute for 5-7 mins.
- Now, keep this pan aside as well.
- Heat some water into a separate pan.
- Add one cup of milk and the sugar.
- Add the saffron and the crushed cardamoms.
- Add the sauted semolina next and mix well.
- Infact, keep mixing, till the mixture becomes thick.
- Next, add the pineapple puree and mix well.
- Transfer into a bowl greased with ghee and mould it on to a plate and garnish with
- pineapple pieces.
A homemaker who fell head over heels in love with food -an award-winning cookbook author, food blogger, award-winning culinary demonstrator
Its Waffle time !
Waffles have always been on my to-do list when I started getting involved in cooking. But it took a few years till I got hold of a waffle iron. Here’s a waffle recipe that I normally whip up when I have leftover oats at home. And as my whole family has a craving for peanut butter …I normally don’t miss adding it to my waffle recipe.
- 2 cups of oats
- 1 cup of milk
- 11/2 tsp of vanilla extract
- 2 small bananas
- 1tsp baking powder
- 3tbsp of peanut butter
- 2 eggs
- 2tsps of sugar (optional)
- Butter for greasing
- Preheat waffle iron , puree bananas and keep aside .
- In a bowl add in oats. milk eggs, banana puree , baking powder , peanut butter and sugar .
- Blend all ingredients till it becomes a smooth batter .If the batter seems to be too thick add in around 2-3 tbsps of milk.
- Grease the preheated waffle iron with butter .
- Ladle out the mix on to the hot waffle iron .
- Cook until golden brown .
- Serve hot with dusted powdered sugar and maple syrup .
- Sugar mentioned is optional .I prefer to skip the sugar bit ..but if you would like to have an extra bit of sweetness..you can add the ingredient .
Have you ever had that instance where you have run out of the store-bought batch of maple syrup and you are in a fix of how to recreate the syrup? Heres a quick and simple method of making maple syrup at home.
Homemade Maple Syrup
A quick fix syrup that goes well with pancakes, toasts, and waffles.
¼ cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup of boiling water
½ tbsp of butter
1/2tsp of vanilla extract or maple extract
Spread out sugar in a flat pan or skillet evenly and start heating on medium heat till all the sugar starts caramelizing.
On caramelizing keep aside.
In a saucepan add brown sugar, pour boiling water and vanilla or maple extract and cook till the sugar dissolves.
Add in the caramelized syrup and continue simmering till it is of thicker consistency.
Take it off the heat and whisk in butter.
Store in airtight containers once cool.
Best served with pancakes, waffles, and toasts.
A homemaker who fell head over heels in love with food -an award-winning cookbook author, food blogger, award-winning culinary demonstrator
Pepping Onam with the Parippu Payasam !
A harvest festival that is celebrated all over Kerala..a celebration that brings many hearts together .Its that time of the year again when the festive spirit is on. A festival that has no caste, creed or religion is Onam . A festival that is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali.Each day of Onam has its own significance.
My childhood memories take me to those joyful moments when I used to come to my ancestral home and get together with my cousins trying to pick flowers and decorate flower carpets. On the day of Thiruvonam is when the Sadya is laid out . But we all used to help out with the preps for the big day.
Payasam or the dessert is an inevitable part of the Sadya(the meal on the banana leaf). I am always a huge fan of the jaggery based puddings that is served after the meal. Thought of sharing a recipe that I learned from my mother. The traditional Parippu Payasam or Parippu Prathaman. This is basically made from the green gram split lentils or moong dal .
- 1 Cup of Moong Dal
- ⅛ Cup of Sago (Sabudana)
- 2 Cups of Jaggery Syrup
- 2 Cups of Thin Coconut Milk
- 1 Cup of Thick Coconut Milk
- 2-3 Cardamom (Crushed)
- 4 TBSP of Ghee
- 3 Cups of Water
- ¼ Cup of Coconut Chips
- 1 TBSP of Raisins
- Start by soaking moong dal for half an hour.
- Heat ghee in a pan.
- Fry the moong dal in the pan for 10 mins.
- Now, add water to the lentils.
- Cook until lentils are soft and add the jaggery syrup.
- Cook for some time till the mixture thickens.
- Next, add the thin coconut milk.
- Add the crushed cardamom and let the mixture simmer.
- Wash, boil and strain the sago (Sabudana)
- Add the sago to the pan and mix well.
- Simmer until mixture thickens.
- Next, add the thick coconut milk.
- Turn the flame off once the payasam starts simmering.
- Next, take ghee in a pan for tempering.
- Fry the coconut chips and add the raisins too.
- Once they start puffing, take them off the flame.
- Now, pour this on top of the payasam and mix well.
- Serve this warm !
Singing the traditional onam song ,
“Maveli Nadu Vaneedum Kaalam
Manusharellarum Onnupole
Amodhathode Vasikkum Kalam
Apathangarkkumottillathanum
Kallavum Illa Chathiyumilla
Ellolamilla Polivachanam
Kallapparayum Cherunazhiyum
Kallatharangal Mattonnumilla
Adhikal Vyadhikalonnumilla
Balamaranangal Kelppanilla
Maveli Nadu Vaneedum Kaalam
Manusharellarum Onnupole “
Wishing you all a wonderful Onam !!!!
A homemaker who fell head over heels in love with food -an award-winning cookbook author, food blogger, award-winning culinary demonstrator
Gajar ka Halwa to pep up the festive spirit!
Sweets have always been an integral part of festivities in India. Today being Karthigai Deepam / Thrikarthigai -the festival of lamps which is celebrated in the states of Kerala and Tamilnadu, I thought of sharing a sweet recipe with you all. The lighted lamp is considered an auspicious symbol during this festival. It is believed to ward off evil forces and usher in prosperity and joy. On the day, all the houses, streets and temples are well lit with traditional oil lamps. After the floods, it has taken up quite some time to get things back in order. So
Carrot Halwa or Gajar ka halwa is one sweet pudding that you can easily whip up with the ingredients. This batch was made with homegrown carrots…so it was super yum 🙂
5-6 medium sized carrots (peeled and grated )
6tbsp of sugar
1 cup of milk
4-5 strands of saffron
2-3 cardamoms crushed and skin off.
1/4 cup of halved almonds, cashews and raisins
1/8 cup of ghee
Heat ghee in a pan, fry and separate the almonds, cashews & raisins on to a plate. In the leftover ghee, fry the carrots till it shrinks in size and darkens in color. Pour in the milk, add in the cardamom seeds and sugar. Cover and cook the mix till it thickens. Make sure to keep stirring it so as to avoid it from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Garnish with saffron, almonds, cashews & raisins. Carrot Halwa is ready to be
May this festival of lights bring us brightened and enlightened life like that of lamps …Wishing all a Happy Thrikarthika / Karthigai Deepam!!!
A homemaker who fell head over heels in love with food -an award-winning cookbook author, food blogger, award-winning culinary demonstrator
Festive vibes , Buchmesse & Bread pudding !
Its been a few months of happenings all through .In October at last I happened to be at Frankfurt World bookfair representing my cookbooks at the Worlds Largest Book Fair representing India.With all the set of mishaps with last year Frankfurt fair it was quite nerve wracking till I got my visa.To be at the Frankfurt fair was a big moment and meeting up with some of the most wonderful people was even the most memmorable moment.Catching up with most of the cookbook authors after the awards in May was even more exciting .My kiddos were’nt quite happy of me travelling without them …well I truly missed them ..I just couldn’t help myself from from laughing when they used to call me up and complaint about each other ..on Skype! Gosh ! My pranksters !!!
Back from Frankfurt and it was a whirlwind of happenings .. with my fathers accident ..and a few weeks later my uncle passed away ..it was a quite a bit of shock ..my father is still in the process of recovering ..and I really hope to have him all healthy …In the midst of all this I was featured on the cover of a leading magazine in Kerala , “Karshakasree”
Now on to the recipe of the Italian Bread Pudding .I just love this super quick pudding …
- 1tbsp of butter
- 2 apples , peeled , cored and sliced in to rings
- 85g granulated sugar
- 2tbsp of apple juice
- 4 thick slices of bread with the crusts removed
- 300ml of fresh cream
- 2eggs beaten
- Rind of 1 orange , cut into short thin sticks
- Lightly grease a 1.2 litre deep casserole with butter .
- Arrange the apple rings in the bottom of the dish .Sprinkle half of the sugar over the apples.Pour the juice over the apples.Add the bread slices , pushing them down with your hands to flatten them slightly .
- In a bowl mix the left over sugar with the orange rind and cream .Pour the mixture over the bread .Set aside to soak for about 30minutes .Preheat oven at 180degree celsius and bake for about 25-30 minutes until golden and set .Remove from oven , set aside to cool slightly and serve warm .
A homemaker who fell head over heels in love with food -an award-winning cookbook author, food blogger, award-winning culinary demonstrator
The Impeccable crave for Caramel Custard :)
A spin of the time wheel and back to being a child …..gosh wish that happened !!!When you are a child all you wish is to be a grown up and you get to do things that you want to do and when you are grown up you are more bounded with all the worldly expectations that you least expected …well that’s life !!!
The school has closed down for a ten day break and I am at my home (hehe..of course my parents’ home ).For the past few months it’s been a suffocating schedule that I have been hooked up to with my younger one being a bit sick .There’s loads of news that has yet to be shared..a few are waiting to be yet unfolded.
Today’s post is one that I have always longed to post …Baked Caramel custard!
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 can condensed milk
- 2 cups of heavy cream
- 2 tsps of cornflour
- 1 tsp of vanilla extract
- 5 eggs
- 1 cup of milk
- In a bowl using blender mix all the ingredients except sugar till creamy. Heat a non-stick pan and melt the sugar without stirring till the sugar is wholly caramelized. Pour the caramelized sugar on to the base of the baking dish to coat the base evenly. Pour the creamy mix over it .Preheat oven at 180 degree and bake the custard for about 60 minutes or longer till the custard is set in a water bath in the oven. Once baked remove it from the water bath and let it cool down .Run a knife on the edges of the pan and invert it on to a plate. Cut in desired shapes and serve .
A homemaker who fell head over heels in love with food -an award-winning cookbook author, food blogger, award-winning culinary demonstrator
Coffee apple shots to sweeten the pristine year !
Its surprising how 2015 is over and 2016 has started ..an year with quite a bit of happenings..moments of bitterness, humour , love and friendship an other year winds up and the upcoming days are awaiting to be unfolded ..
My long awaited cookbook on the snacks of Kerala at last came to life in October 2015 and was first exhibited at the Frankfurt world bookfair 2015…the worst part was that I couldn’t make it for the most unexpected reasons and my younger one was very sick for a few months.I guess ups and downs are after all a part and parcel of life .I was blessed to have some of my first and best experiences in life all topped with the love for food. That would have been the first and foremost experiences to treasure.
“Its strange how we find the best of friends in the most unexpected people.” This is one quote that I would totally agree with .. that I would say have brought me quite a number of friends in my life in the most unexpected situations of life ..for me life has always been a bag of surprises .The best part is to hitch in the surprises be it the bitter or best moments. This year here’s my profile teaser that was released ..
Starting off this years post on sweet note there’s one recipe from Lal Majid’s chocolate & dessert book ,”Deliciously Yours !”…that I have been longing to post ..”Coffee apple Bavarois”
- 1 egg yolk
- 25g sugar
- 125ml milk
- 1 tsp of gelatin
- 75ml chilled cream
- 1 apple peeled and pureed
- 2 tsps of coffee
- Boil milk on low heatwith the pureed apple .Beat chilled cream with an electric beater and set aside.Add egg yolk sugar gelatin into milk and mix well.Add coffee into the mixture and incorporate well.Let the mix cool.Fold in the whipped cream until smooth.Pour into glasses or bowls of desired shape and chill for 10 hrs before serving.
A homemaker who fell head over heels in love with food -an award-winning cookbook author, food blogger, award-winning culinary demonstrator
Fall in love…… with chocolate shots!!
Strawberries , Mulberries …I can never get over them. My munchkins are now equally crazy about them. Living in Munnar ..the best part is to get the best fruits in the best seasons. I remember reading the recipe in a food magazine. This was a post that I was very keen on posting …as it was all set long back.
A very easy recipe that will be a sure hit with guests at home or even with kids. These chocolate shots are best with fruits like raspberries and strawberries.
- 284ml fresh cream
- 150ml milk
- 450g chopped white chocolate
- 1 tsp of vanilla essence
- 6 egg yolks
- 150 g strawberries sliced into halves
- Heat cream and milk together.
- Put the chocolate in a bowl and pour over the cream mixture.
- Stir until all the chocolate pieces are melted and stir in the egg yolks.
- Pour back into the saucepan with the vanilla essence and stir on low heat, stirring all
- the time until the mixture thickens enough to lightly coat the back of a wooden spoon.
- Take care that you don’t boil or the eggs might scramble.
- Then strain into a jug.
- Divide the strawberries for around 8 small glasses.
- Divide chocolate mix between and cover glasses with cling film and refrigerate till
- they are set.
- They have to just set not go firm.
A homemaker who fell head over heels in love with food -an award-winning cookbook author, food blogger, award-winning culinary demonstrator
Hi! I am Nimi Sunilkumar…an award winning cookbook author /culinary demonstrator/freelance writer / food photographer/food blogger …spiced with the flavors of food..
