Healthy Kanji Powder

Hi everybody.. It has been a very long time since I posted something. The reason is I myself didn't cook anything different after returning from the US. My knee pain is bothering me a lot and I am taking Ayurvedic treatment...but the recovery is too slow. I went to Hosur last month to my brothers place and there he took me to an Acupuncture doctor. He recommended a doctor in  Chennai and now I am much much better. Anyway coming to the subject... There in Hosur the Doctor suggested me to take Sirudhaniyam (millet's)Kanji as it packed with nutrients and is Diabetic friendly too. So I followed his advice and bought all the necessary items. This is very tasty and healthy too. Even people who has diabetes also can take this.. You can Google for it and confirm it if you are not satisfied. One more thing, here in Chennai Mylapore. There is shop which sell all nattu marundhu for more than a century. I bought a powder prepared with all traditional items. This I took it meticulously early in the  morning in empty stomach and after a month we tested for sugar(fasting, postprandial and also HBA1C and believe me my numbers were very very low (85,114 and the HBA1C  is 5.3) which is very very normal..now I continue this thrice a week and  feel very good. This is just for an info and I am not promoting it.

Ok.. Now coming to the Kanji part...

Sambha wheat----------------------------------------------------1/4 kg
Barley------------------------------------------------------------- 100 gms
Red rice-----------------------------------------------------------1/4 kg
Horse gram(kollu)-----------------------------------------------1/4 kg
Soya---------------------------------------------------------------1/4 kg
Whole green gram ( pacha payaru)----------------------------1/4 kg
Pearl millet ( kambu)--------------------------------------------1/4 kg
Foxtail millet ( thinai)-------------------------------------------1/4 kg
Little millet(saamai)---------------------------------------------1/4 kg
Cucumber seeds(vellari vithai)--------------------------------1/4 kg
Kod millet (varagu)----------------------------------------------1/4 kg
Barnyard millet (kudaravaali)----------------------------------1/4 kg
Roasted bengal gram (pottu kadalai)--------------------------1/4 kg (which we use to make chutney)
Poppy seed ( khasa khasa)--------------------------------------100 gms
Almonds ( badam)-----------------------------------------------1/4 kg
Cardamom (elaichi)

Don"t be frightened about the long list.. With a little extra effort you get a very nutritious drink...
Wash each grain separately and drain. Once it is drained fully put this in a dry hot Kadai (do it one by one) and fry till you get a nice roasted aroma..you need not wash the Roasted gram, Almonds and Cucumber seeds.( you can use melon seeds instead of this). After all the ingredients are roasted, mix it well and grind it to a fine powder,either at home or those in India can take it to local flour mill and see to it you grind it in the machine used to grind wheat.

You can make a smaller quantity using the same ratio.

Now the Kanji maavu(powder) is ready..

Take one tablespoon of this and mix in 3/4th cup of water and mix well.then keep it in low flame and keep stirring it and bring it to a boil and add 1/4 cup of milk. Add sugar and mix well and  very healthy and tasty drink is ready.We can drink this with adding buttermilk too.If so DO NOT ADD CARDAMOM while preparing..If you want it both the ways prepare this without Cardamom and while taking this with milk add 2 pinches of Cardamom while boiling it.

Cauliflower Kurma

Hi all.....It has been a very very long time since I posted something in my blog.Not that I didn't cook anything,but didn't have the time to take a picture, post it and write about it.I was out of the country for a year and was really very busy with my grand children.After returning back this Jan(2014) I was suffering from Knee pain and my movements was very much restricted.Due to that my spirits were very low.I have been taking Ayurveda treatment and now I feel a little better.

Coming to the Kurma part...I learnt this from a my friend who lives in Coimbatore.Very easy one and very very tasty too.

Here we GO........

Ingredients

TO GRIND

Tomato--------------------------------------------------------- 2
Onion----------------------------------------------------------- 1
Green chilly----------------------------------------------------- 2
Ginger one inch piece
Saunf----------------------------------------------------------- 1 Tsp
Chilly powder-------------------------------------------------- 1 Tsp
Dhaniya powder----------------------------------------------- 1 Tsp
Khus Khus(optional)------------------------------------------ 1 Tsp
Cloves-------------------------------------------------------- 4 or 5(1/2 Tsp)
Cinnamon-----------------------------------------------------1 inch(1/2 Tsp)
Grated coconut----------------------------------------------- 1/2 cup

The cinnamon and cloves can be added in powder form too.

Grind all the above ingredients adding very little water and keep aside.

Remaining items for the Kurma

Cauliflower medium size
Finely chopped Onion 1
Oil 1Tbsp
Turmeric powder  1/2 Tsp
Curry leaves  2 sprigs
Salt as required

Put oil in a heavy bottomed pan and add the chopped onions and curry leaves when it is hot.Add turmeric powder and saute till the onion becomes glossy.Now add the washed flowerettes and add salt.Mix well and then add the ground masala.Add 1/2 cup water close the pan and cook in low fire till the cauliflower is cooked well.The masala is ready.It can be had with Chappathi,Poori,Paratha,Dosa ,Idly,Appam or even Ghee Rice.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Wishing all my fellow blogger bloggers a HEALTHY,TASTY AND NUTRITIOUS NEW YEAR!

AALOO DOSA

This is a very tasty dosa and is very easy to make too. 

INGREDIENTS

Wheat flour----------------------------1 Cup
Red chilly powder----------------------1 Tsp
Hing-----------------------------------2 Liberal pinch
Finely chopped coriander leaves--------Little
Curry leaves (optional------------------Few
Salt to taste
Finely chopped green chilly-------------2
Grated aaloo----------------------------1
Oil for making the dosa


METHOD

Peel and wash the potato and grate it.I washed it after grating too to remove the starch.You can skip washing it after grating.In a bowl add all the ingredients and mix well adding water to make it like a dosa batter.It should be a little thinner than the dosa batter.Heat the tawa and pour the batter in a circular motion(Like pouring for a Rava dosa).DO NOT SPREAD IT WITH THE LADLE LIKE THE REGULAR DOSA. Pour a teaspoon of oil and turn it after it is cooked one side.This can be made into a crispy dosa also. You should add some more water to it and make the batter thinner and the dosa will be crispy.Instead of wheat flour you can also use Maida.

Sweet Potato

I am giving a recipe of a sweet made from Sweet Potato and honestly don't know what name name to give for this dish.It tastes like sweet pongal and that too will not be apt as this does not have rice or dhal in it.
Except for the jaggery,cardamom, ghee and cashew this has nothing to do with pongal.Let us not confuse with the name.You can name  it as you wish.

INGREDIENTS

Sweet Potato----------------------------------1/2 Kg
Jaggery----------------------------------------3/4 cup
Cashew---------------------------------------8
Ghee------------------------------------------2 Tbsp
Cardamom Powder---------------------------1/2 tsp

Edible Camphor(pachai Karpooram) a very small pinch.This enhances the taste and gives a nice aroma.I use this in Sweet Pongal too.

METHOD

Peel and wash the sweet potato and steam cook it.Mash it thoroughly and keep aside.Pour half cup water in the jaggery and keep it in low flame.Once it it is fully dissolved strain this and again keep it on the stove and keep stirring occasionally.Once it starts boiling check for a single strand consistency.Now add the mashed Sweet Potato and mix well.Keep mixing it with a flat ladle.Once it becomes thick add the Cardamom Powder and the edible Camphor and mix well.In a Kadai add the ghee and fry the cashew and add this to the mixture.This tastes like sweet pongal and it is very delicious.

My dish is very dark as the jaggery was very dark.So don't worry about the colour.

NEW YEAR WISH!

Peas Pulao

This is a different type of Peas Pulao which I learnt from my son. A bit of extra work than the regular one
but, believe me it is worth the effort.

INGREDIENTS

Onion----------------------------- 1 Medium size finely sliced lengthwise
Fresh or Frozen Peas------------- 1 Cup
Grated Coconut------------------ 1 Cup
Green chilly----------------------  1
Powdered Cardamom,Cloves and Cinnamon---Each a liberal pinch or 2 pinches
Oil------------------------------- 2 Tbsp
Ghee---------------------------- 1 Tbsp
Rice----------------------------- 2 Cups
Salt------------------------------As required
Coriander leaves chopped finely for garnishing---little

METHOD
Add 2 cups of water to the grated coconut to make coconut milk and grind it with the green chilly.Strain this and keep this aside.We can reduce the water accordingly.Normally I add 1 1/2 cups of water for 1 cup of rice.For this we have to add 3 cups of water.

Heat oil in pan which can cook 2 cups of rice.I don't use pressure cooker for making Pulao. Add the onion and saute for two minutes.Then add the green peas and saute for a minute.Now add the Ghee and then add the rice.(I don't soak or wash the rice for Pulao or Biriyani).Fry till the rice become shining and transparent.Now add the salt and add then the coconut milk.Add one more cup of water and reduce the flame.Cover and cook for 2 minutes.Stir the rice carefully without breaking.Repeat the process till the rice is cooked well. Now add the masala powders and stir carefully so that you don't make the pulao mushy. If you like adding whole masala add 2 of each while putting the onion and fry it.This will result in a whiter pulao than adding the powdered masala.Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with any raitha.

Instead of making milk form coconut you can add the finely ground coconut with water directly too.But grind it to a smooth texture.