CARROT, MOONGDAL, LAPSI HALVA

Today is my elder brother's birthday and I would like to take some sweets for him.   First I thought, will take a cake and give him a surprise visit.  Since he goes to the temple for bhajan in the evening, I have to inform them otherwise big Godrej lock will be in front me if I go to his house.

Today, being Ekadashi and Saturday also, he will be fasting will not eat anything.   Finally, I thought of making this halva since Moongdal and lapsi are used for fasting, I thought of adding carrot into it to make halva.

Recently, I made Carrot  Moongdal payasam  and was a hit in my house as well as neighbours liked it.

This halva is also very tasty, simple one and can be had by anyone.

Let us look at the recipe now:

BREAD VADA

Spicy snacks with a cup of tea/coffee during the rainy season is always welcome.  But normal days also, you can enjoy the snacks with the coffee/tea.

I am always in search of new snack recipes which can be made easily withe the available ingredients at home.

I was having four slices of bread so thought of making this vada.  Mix up of few ingredients  here and there makes an innovative recipe and  that is the best one you must have made in a hurry sometimes.

Let us look at the recipe now:

bread vada

APPLE PICKLE

Recently, I have posted the Apple Chutney Recipe.   Apple Pickle is another recipe which I made  long back and shared with www.simpleindianrecipes.com.  Here I am presenting a different version of apple pickle which is very tasty.

You can choose green apple or the red apple and the normal apple which is locally available.  Pickles can be preserved for a long time.  But this pickle has to be consumed fresh hence better to make the quantity required for one or two time serving.

APPLE PICKLE

Let us look at the recipe now:

APPLE CHUTNEY

Chutneys can be served with dosa, idli, upma etc.  I try various kinds of chutney  with vegetables, fruits which are easy to make and readily available at home.  Today I made Apple chutney to serve with dosa.  It was very delicious.  You can make this chutney with very few ingredients which are always available at home.

If you have grated coconut stored in the fridge, then you can make any kind of chutney at home very easily.

Let us look at the recipe now:

METHI POHE VADE

Methi Pohe Vade is  made with left over Kanda Poha which I had in the fridge.  Since I do not wan to waste it, I thought of making something out of it.

I had some methi leaves in the fridge and I made use of that to make this YUMMY Methi Pohe Vade.  It is a nice snack along with a cup of hot coffeee/tea.  Sometimes, with the left over items, we can make some innovative dishes.

This post is lying in my draft since July 2015 and today only I realised that I have not posted it.



Let us look at the recipe now:

BLACK GRAPES PICKLE

I am coming out with yet another pickle recipe which is with a fruit.  Black seedless grapes are available now and I tried the pickle with it.  Since it was very sweet, I had to add extra chilli powder to balance it with vinegar.

Since the grapes are very soft, it will not take much time to  make this recipe.  If refrigerated, will remain for 3-4 days but before that you must have finished the entire lot as you will love them.

This can be served with dal rice, curd rice, paratha etc.  Now the season is of pickle, I am concentrating more on pickles.

Let us look at the recipe now:

VAZHATHANDU COCONUT DRINK

During the summer season, my mother in law always give coconut water to drink for my children.  In fact in the month of February itself, she starts giving them till the rainy season starts.  This practice I also follow till today after her death in 2009.

Fresh Coconut water itself is very cooling to the body.  Since I was having vazhathandu after making the vazhandu neer mor, I decided to make it along with the coconut water as I had an extra tender coconut with me.

VAZHATHANDU COCONUT DRINK

Let us look at the recipe now:

VAZHATHANDU NEER MOR

Vazhathandu means banana stem or stalk you can call it has got many medicinal values and good for health.  The juice consumed in the empty stomach early in the morning helps to get rid of kidney stone problems.

We always add this to our menu once in a week.  We can make varieties of dishes out of this, however, this drink is quite good in quenching your thirst during the summer.

vazhathandu neer mor

Let us look at the recipe now:

VAZHATHANDU THOKKU

Vazhathandu l Unnipinndu l Unnithandu l Banana stem is very good for health.  South Indians make various subzi, pakoras, pickle, Karuvadam etc. out of this.  Its juice is taken in empty stomach to treat for Kidney stones.

 

As I mentioned in the kovakkai thokku, I am a big fan of pickles and tries with various vegetables and fruits.

I had purchased a big vazhathandu with the intention of trying something out of it other than the regular thoran, raita, sambhar, pachadi, kootu, chutney, soup, kofta sambhar, kofta kadhi, vazhathandu bhajia etc.

Today I had some guests and want to try something special for them.  I made Carrot moongdal kheer and the Vazhathandu thokku.  Both the dishes were enjoyed by them.

Let us look at the recipe now:

CARROT MOONGDAL PAYASAM

Payasam or Kheer is liked  by every one.  I am bored of making the normal Paal Payasam, Nei Payasam, Vella Payasam etc. which are common in our house for the  festivals, Sumangali Prarthanai, Shradham etc.

I always make changes in our routine and try something different always for guests if they come to our house for lunch or dinner.

Today, I tried the carrot moongdal payasam and was a hit.  The preparation is very easy and the dish is very tasty too without much sugar added in it.

It tastes more yummy, when it is served chilled.

Let us look at the recipe now: