Sri Rama Navami

Ramanavami is celebrated on the ninth day in the bright half of Chaitra and represents the birth anniversary of Rama. The occasion is also used to perform SEETHA KALYAN or VIVAH at the Temple.This is an occasion for great rejoicing especially for the Vaishnavas who celebrate it with due solemnity allover the country. The ancient texts lays tress on fasting on this day, and it is believed that anyone who does not will go to the worst hell. It is also said that Rama fulfills the wishes of all those who pray to him on this day.According to recent astrological studies, his year of birth is consider to be January 10, 5114 B.C.

Ayodhya is the focus of great celebrations. A huge fair is organized for two days.People keep awake the whole of the ninth night, in anticipation of Rama's birth. They sing devotional songs in praise of him and rock his image in cradles to celebrate his birth.A special puja is performed the next morning as thanksgiving.

On this occasion, in temples Panakam and Spicy buttermilk are served as prasadam. Panakam, a sweet drink prepared on this day with jaggery and pepper.There is an element of fasting. Some people don't eat certain foods, particularly things like onions, garlic, some spices and wheat products.And in houses,people worship the lord rama by performing pooja's on that day and by offering panakam, buttermilk and kosambari as neivedyam to the god.



Panakam:
Dissolve 3 tbsp of jaggery in 2 glass of water and add a tsp of fresh grated ginger , cardamom powder, pinch of pepper powder and boil it for 2 minutes ,cool and strain.Finally add a tbsp of lime juice to it.

Spicy Buttermilk:
Beat 2 tbsp of yogurt with a glass of water in blender along with a tsp of grated ginger and a pinch of hing.Add few chopped coriander leaves, salt and tadka to it.

Kosambari:
Soak a cup of moong dal in water for about 40 minutes.Drain the dal and add peeled & chopped cucumber to it along with a pinch of salt,chopped coriander leaves,green chillies and tadka to it.

Fruit Custard

I prefer fruit custard as a healthy alternative for ice cream. It is one of the easiest dessert to make and at the same time very nutritious and healthy too.......We buy lots of fruits for making fresh juices and as well as eating raw after meal. At the end of every week, I used to make fruit custard with the remaining fruits whatever left over.Watching good movie along with a big bowl of fruit custard are the greatest things which we used to do every weekend.I hope you will also enjoy it.



But care should be taken while boiling the custard solution,as it will stick to the vessel .I have added nuts to make it more nutritious and two tbsp of condensed milk and vanilla sugar for rich taste.

Ingredients:
Fresh fruits - 1 cup(Any fruits of your choice)
Custard powder - 3 tbsp
Milk - 3 cups
Condensed milk - 2tbsp
Vanilla sugar - 1 tbsp
Almonds - 1 tbsp(grated)
Pecan nuts - 1 tbsp(chopped)
Sugar - 3 tbsp

Method:


1. Mix 3 tbsp of readymade custard powder in 1/4 cup of milk and make it into a running paste.
2. Boil remaining milk in a container.
3. When the milk gets boiled ,simmer the heat and slowly add the prepared custard paste into the milk and keep stirring.
4. Allow it to boil for 4 to 5 minutes until it gets thickens but stir simultaneously to avoid lump formation.
4. Leave it aside for cooling , it will take about 30 to 40 minutes for complete cooling.
4. Keep it in fridge for 1 hour.
5. Take a cup of fresh fruits(I used apples,pears,green grapes,strawberry and banana) and sprinkle a tbsp of vanilla sugar over it (This is to be done just before serving)
6. While serving add 2 tbsp of condensed milk to the custard solution and stir it well .
7. Now add the custard solution to the bowl of fruits and mix it gently.
8. Garnish it with almond and pecan nuts and enjoy.

Tomato Bhath

One of the biggest challenges are finding recipes for lunchbox everyday.I used to struggle if i won't preplan about tommorrow's lunch box.Always lunches have to be quick and easy to make or can be made ahead of time and at the same time tasty too..........That too ,my family needs variety everyday.Whatever the new varieties we make, we still can't forget those all time favourites from our childhood.Tomato bath is one of that......easy to make ......tastes great when it is little bit spicy.


Ingredients:
Rice - 1 cup
Onion - 1 (medium)
Tomato - 3 (big)
Jeera - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tbsp
U.dal - 1 tbsp
Channa dal - 1 tbsp
Green chillies - 2
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Hing - a pinch
Curry leaves
Coriander leaves
salt

Method:
1. Pour a tbsp. of oil in a pan and add jeera and mustard seeds to it.
2. When it splutters add u.dal ,channa dal and green chillies (slitted lengthwise).
3. Add curry leaves and chopped onions.
4. When the onions become translucent,add chopped tomatoes(riped ones).
5. Cover the pan and cook it in simmer.
6. When the tomatoes are transformed into pulp,add salt,chilli powder,turmeric powder and hing.
7. Cook for further 5 to 10 minutes and then add chopped coriander leaves.
8. Cook until it becomes a thick gravy.

Summer Treat

Another refreshing drink next to watermelon in summer is cantaloupe juice. We enjoyed our childhood, with those summer time specials coconut water, cantaloupe juice, masala buttermilk and watermelon etc..Its hard to forget those days....especially my mom's preparation.

Whenever I get cantaloupe from store, I used to prepare juice from half of it. And the other half by dipping the fruit slices in sugar syrup.That was my husband's childhood favourite and I experimented on it.It was really good.I don't have the pictures right now......I will post it soon.Always cantaloupe's are less sweet,so addition of sugar is must and good ripe ones are best for making juices.

We used to take a glass full of fresh juice evryday during our breakfast. So, I keep on experimenting some juice varieties to bring some variations.This time, I tried this in my mom's way. Remove the rind of the fruit and cut them into small cubes.So that, it will be easier to mash it in blender. Add 1 cup of water to 2 cups of fruit ,few ice cubes and sugar as per your taste.Give it to the blender to make a round and serve chilled. You can make variations like watermelon juice by adding a tsp of pepper,pinch of salt, sugar and a tbsp of lime juice to cantaloupe.But,I like in this way.

Aloo in Besan curry

Iam much happy to post this recipe after a long gap.This is one of my favourite dish which i used to cook always.Whenever i was running out of time, I will jump to this recipe instead of searching other ingredients........
Consumes less time and tastes awesome.....



Ingredients:

Onion - 1 big
Tomato - 1 big
Potato - 2 medium
Green chillies - 2
Besan flour - 2 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
U.dal - 1 tsp
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Curry leaves
Coriander leaves
salt

Method:

1. Chop all the vegetables and keep aside.
2. Pour a tbsp of oil in a pan and add mustard seeds,urad dal ,green chillies etc.
3. Then add chopped onion and fry for 2 minutes.
4. Add chopped tomatoes and fry until it becomes soft.
5. Then add chopped potato and add 2 cups of water after few minutes.
6. When water starts boiling add curry leaves, salt and chilly powder.
7. Take 2 tbsp of besan powder abd 3 tbsp of water and make a paste from it.
8. Now reduce the heat and add besan paste to pan by stirring simultaneously.
9. Allow it to boil for few minutes until it becomes thich gravy.
10. Stir it meanwhile and serve hot with roti.