METHI LEAVES UPMA

Normally we make upma with plain suji or with onion or with some vegetables.  My mother used to make the broken rice rava with tamarind pulp which is quite tasty with some papad, kurdais, ela vadams etc.  I tried the same method with little twist in it and was quite tasty.  I used methi leaves which has got medicinal properties as well as good for health.

Those who are suffering from digestive problems can eat methi leaves which is good.  It also helps in losing weight and reduces dullness, dizziness and drowsiness.  It is considered as a good appetizer too.  It is effective in combating diabetes.  It is highly beneficial in treating flatulence, indigestion and sluggish liver.  Heals mouth ulcers, good for blood formation which prevents anemia, cooling.

So when the season is on, make use of this great leafy vegetable by making thepla, muthia, subzi, paratha and get the benefit.

Some people try to reduce the bitterness by adding salt in it.  Please avoid this process as we are loosing the medicinal properties of it by doing this.  Same is with bitter gourd too.

OATS UPMA

Oats porridge, oats upma etc are made out of oats.  This is good for people who are suffering from high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes.  Apart from this, it is also good for digestion problems including irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, diarrhea, constipation.  They are also used for preventing heart disease, gallstones, colon cancer and stomach cancer, joint pain (rheumatism), fatigue etc.

It is quite easy to make, filling and tasty too.  Especially when you are adding some vegetables in it, it is more healthy.

Oats might help reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels and control appetite by causing a feeling of fullness.  Oats bran might work by blocking the absorption from the gut of substances that contribute to heart diseases, high cholesterol and diabetes.

watch youtube: oats upma 1 , oats upma 2 

BROCCOLI PARATHA

Hot Parathas can be served any time with curd, pickle.  I make any kind of parathas any time for breakfast, lunch, evening snacks or dinner as I love to eat garmagaram with pickle.  

Broccoli is rich in dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins and anti-oxidants .  Fresh broccoli is a storehouse of many phyto nutrients.   It is a rich source of Vitamin .  Vitamin A is essential for healthy eye sight and helps prevent from macular degeneration of the retina in the elderly people.    This flower vegetable is rich source of vitamin K and B Complex group of vitamins and have some amount of omega 3 fatty acids.  Also good source of minerals like calcium, manganese, iron, magnesium, selenium, zinc and phosphorus.

In short it is good for the people who are suffering from diabetes and heart related issues.

The florets with paneer and some masalas make the parathas awesome.

CONDENSED MILK

Condensed milk is used in almost all the sweetmeats.  It is very easy to prepare at home without much hassles.  If you run out of your stock of the store bought condensed milk, do not worry, you can try this recipe and will forget buying the store ones. 

I wanted to make the tender coconut falooda and the stock was over.   I thought of trying it at home as one of my friend who had gone to cooking class  shared the recipes which she had.  The ingredients are easily available at home and can be made within 45 minutes maximum.

MANGO SHEERA

Sheera is liked by everyone, especially when it is made for the Satyanarayana Pooja, I loved to eat this prasadam.  Even if I am not invited for the pooja, I always get the chance to have this prasadam.  My daughter loves sheera which is made by me and in her school, the children grab the tiffin box for the sheera.

Now the mango season is on, I thought of making mango sheera which turned out very well.  It is a lovely dish to serve during feast too.   I have already posted various dishes of mangoes viz. mango lassi, mango ice cream,  mango burfi, mango jam, mango milk shake,  mango katli, mango kadhi, mango tender coconut drink etc.

Yourube: Mango sheera 1  mango sheera 2  mango sheera 3

JACK FRUIT SEED KHEER, JACK FRUIT SEED PAYASAM

Jack fruit seed kheer is very tasty and easy to prepare.  We make jack fruit kheer also.  The seeds can be used along  making mango, drumstick and make curry out of it, can be added to avial, make chips out of it.  It is a delicious kheer which can be served chilled.  see other posts in the blog of jackfruit and seeds.

JACK FRUIT SEED CHIPS

Chips are served during tea time apart from serving it during feast or with sambar rice, rasam rice, dal rice etc.  I prefer to have this at tea time especially when it is raining, with a cup of tea or coffee in the balcony watching the rain to munch it.

Jack fruit seed is also used in making avial, jack fruit seed subzi,  jackfruit-pulinkari-chakka-pulinkari,  jack fruit mezhukupuratti, a dry subzi made in Kerala, jack fruit seed kheer etc.

AVOCADO MILK SHAKE

Various dishes can be made with Avocado.

Avocado or butter fruit is very useful as it helps in maintaining a healthy heart, lower cholesterol levels, control blood pressure.  It contains anti inflammatory properties which helps in reducing degenerative disorders, regulates blood sugar levels, prevents birth defects.  High levels of folate in avocados may also protect against stroke.  Oleic acid in avocado is effective in preventing breast cancer.  But helps in weight gain.

I made milk shake with it and was awesome.  While purchasing avocado, you should ensure that the outer skin is soft which means it is ripe.  If it is hard, then you will not be able to scoop out the flesh and will have a raw taste.  this is good for making salad and other varieties of dishes with avocado.

DILL LEAVES PURI

Dill leaves has got medicinal properties and are good for health.  I have already posted varieties of Dill leaves recipes viz. shepuche-vade-dill-leaves-vada, suva-bhajia-dill-leaf-bhajia-bhajiya, health-benefits-of-dill-shepoo, dill-leaves-dosa, dill-rice-dill-pulao-suva-rice-suva, suva-bhajia-kadhi-dill-leaf-bhajia.  To day when I was making the normal puris, I thought of making this puri also and it was awesome.  Only thing that you have to add masalas and should be bit spicy which goes well with batata subzi and aam ras.  Now the mango season is in full swing, you can enjoy this delicious puri with aam ras.

Dill is relaxant, fortifying (strength giving), diuretic (increases urination helping removal of toxic substances from the body), carminative (helps removal of gases), anti spasmodic (prevents cramps), anti flatulent, stimulates lactation (galactagogue) and endocrinal secretions, enhances libido due to presence of Arginine and last but not the least, it ensures bone and dental health being a good source of calcium.

dill leaves puri

watch you tube: dill leaves puri

JACKFRUIT PULINKARI, CHAKKA PULINKARI, PHANSACHE CURRY

Jackfruit is available during summer.   We can make varieties of dishes out of it viz. Idichakka thoran, Puzhuku, chips, kheer, jam and a curry too. Seeds are used for making varuval, kheer and it is a part of avial too.   During mango/jackfruit season, we always prefer to have the dishes made out of this as it was available plenty in our house.  We never used to get bored of it.

This curry is made out of the ripe one and is very tasty which goes well with rice, chapati. It is a very simple and easy dish to make.  In most of the Kerala houses, during the season, the dishes made out of this served atleast four days in a week.

Let us look at the recipe now:

jackfruit pulinkari      jackfruit pulinkari