Announcing RCI - Cuisine of Kerala

Welcome to God's Own Country! Join in to embark on a culinary journey through the beautiful state of Kerala, tucked away in the south-western corner of India. As the journey takes you through the Western Ghats, dense forests, exotic wildlife and calm backwaters, sprawling tea estates, spice and rubber plantations, lush paddy fields and clean beaches, sit back and take in the sights and sounds of this charming land.

Regional Cuisines of India(RCI), the brainchild of LakshmiK, will be hosted by yours truly in January 2008. The cusine of Kerala has its own distinctive flavour. Coconut forms a dominant part of the cuisine as Kerala, literally translated means Land of "Kera" or Coconuts. Rice is the staple food and a wide array of breakfast preparations are rice-based. A typical meal consists of rice, a kootan or gravy and an upperi or dry side dish along with crunchy pappadams and pickles. Tamarind, coconut, coconut milk or curd form the base for a kootan/gravy while upperi/dry sidedish is either a thoran, ie. a medley of vegetables and grated coconut or mezhukuparatti, ie. stir fried vegetables coated in oil. A typical sadhya/festive feast consists of a number of sumptuous dishes served on a banana leaf. For non- vegetarians, seafood or some form of meat is a part of every meal. Different regions and communities influence the method of preparation and flavour of the cuisine.

What are you waiting for? Put on those aprons and cook up a storm! If you are not very familiar with Kerala cuisine, you can google it or go to this one-stop portal "Essence of Kerala Cuisine". You can also find authentic recipes here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and many more in the food blog community. To participate :

1. Write a post on your blog featuring Cuisine of Kerala from now until the 25th of Jan 2008, including a link to this post.

2. Mail me the permalink/URL to your post, along with a picture of the dish at vjyothsna1@yahoo.com . I shall respond to your email when I receive it. If you do not receive a response from me in three days, please remind me.

3. Non- bloggers may mail me with the recipe and a picture of the dish.

4. Please feel free to use the above logo.

5. Round-up will be done by the 31st of Jan here at Currybazaar!

Wishing all of you a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year!!

Rasmalai

Azure skies and clear blue waters, migrating birds on lush turf and convertibles on the streets, bright days and long, dark nights, blooms on sidewalks and cycles on pathways, early sunsets and barbecues on the beach…….. yes, winter's here! Winters bring pleasant weather and freshness in this part of the world. It is a time to enjoy outdoor activites that the harsh summers don't permit. I was away in India on a very, very busy holiday that didn't leave me time to blog. Now that I'm back, I hope to whip up something interesting and be a bit more regular on the blogging scene.

This rasmalai recipe is one of the first recipes I tried from another food blogger (RP's if I rightly remember) and I have made this many a times successfully. The recipe is simple and the rasmalai just melts in your mouth. Measurements are not accurate and you may substitute the flavour as per your preference. Here's what I do:

Add 2 spoons of sugar to about 250 grams ricotta cheese and mix well. Scoop into a muffin mould and cover it with foil. Bake at 200 degrees C for 25 minutes.

While it is baking, take 2 cups of milk, add sugar to taste and microwave it for 4-5 minutes till the sugar dissolves. You can use sweetened condensed milk also. Add a pinch of powdered cardamom, a tsp of rosewater and some pistachios. Allow the milk to cool completely. You may add saffron strands, but I prefer to add rosewater.

Unmould the baked ricotta and add it to the milk. Refridgerate and serve chilled.

Happy Diwali

Wishing all of you a Happy Diwali! May the lights of the season bring happiness, good health and prosperity in your lives.

Meeting in the real world and my four-in-one life!

Blogging has it's surprises, like meeting a blogger in flesh and blood. I've often associated bloggers with those I've known or met, conjured up an image from what they portray on their blogs and wondered what they look like in person. Hop over to her blog and you instantly know she's charming and talkative, loves to entertain, enjoys cooking and her photography skills are far superior to most others. She's passionate about blogging and gives us insights into life in Weimar, Germany where she lives with her family. She's one daring baker and invites us every month for a mingle at her place. What's more, she even conducts Bollywood Cooking sessions!! Yes, I'm talking of Meeta, attractive, vivacious, multi-talented and warm and the first blogger I've met in person. I also met her son, Soeren who features in every post she writes and her mother. Meeta is here in Sharjah visiting her parents. Meeta, it was great meeting you! Hopefully, we'll catch up on more next time you are here!

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Sra of When my soup came alive tagged me for this Fantastic Four meme (thanks Sra!), so here goes!

4 Places I’ve lived:

I've lived only in Mumbai, India and Sharjah, UAE.... wonder where life will take me next.

4 Jobs I’ve had:

1. During babyhood - the boss. Could eat, sleep, laugh or cry at will. The coolest job ever!

2. Student life - Rocking career, fun and frolic all the way!

3. Working life - Real world job for real money, loved it.

4. Currently - Chef, laundrywoman, dishwasher, homekeeper, interior decorator all rolled into one, on call 24/7, unpaid, lacklustre job.

4 Favorite places I’ve holidayed:

1. Maldives - for the sun, sand and sea, the most beautiful place I've been to

2. Switzerland - for the mountains, lakes, meadows, villages, chocolates and cheese

3. UK - for the history, the countryside, the underground

4. The Far East trio: Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore for great food and affordable shopping

4 Favorite foods:

Thats so hard to decide but my favourite cuisines are:

1. Indian - absolutely all kinds of Indian food

2. Italian

3. Indo-Chinese

4. Malaysian and Thai

4 Places I’d rather be:

1. Travelling around the world, hosting a travel show

2. At a beach, enjoying the waters by day and barbecuing at night

3. At a serene cottage in the countryside with lush green meadows, colourful flowers and chirping birds

4. In a shopping mall, finding fantastic bargains

4 bloggers I like to tag:

Sandeepa

Sia

Cynthia

Bee

Aloo Anardhana

What do you think of the painting and sculpture? Read more about it later in this post.

Aloo Anardhana

Recipe adapted from an old issue of Living in the Gulf

10 baby potatoes (I used regular ones in this picture)
1 tsp cumin
1 large onion chopped
1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
2 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp garam masala
2 tbsp anardhana/dry pomegranate seeds
butter/oil for frying
chopped coriander for garnish

Peel and wash the potatoes. Place the potatoes in a MW safe bowl, add a little water, salt and turmeric to it and microwave on high till parboiled. Remove and drain the water.

Blend pomegranate seeds with a little water. Heat oil/butter in a wok and add the cumin. When it splutters, add onions and fry till they turn golden-brown. Add the ginger-garlic paste and fry. Then add the pomegranate seeds paste, red chilli powder and garam masala. Add the potatoes and fry on low flame till the potatoes are cooked and the flavours are absorbed. All the moisture will be absorbed by the potatoes. Garnish with coriander leaves, check seasoning and serve with naans.

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The legend of Wilhelm Tell

Wilhelm Tell, who lived in Altdorf, is regarded the national hero of Switzerland whose picture graces the 5-franc coin. Switzerland was once ruled by the Austrians. Bailiff Gessler, the Austrian representative would place his hat on a pole in Altdorf so that every passer-by would pay their respects by greeting the hat. Wilhelm Tell and his son passed by without revering the hat. This disobedience warranted their arrest and Gessler offered to free them if Wilhelm Tell shot an arrow through an apple placed on his son's head. Read more of the story here and here.

The painting and sculpture at the top of this post are made of chocolate, we saw how at Schuh. And so are these.

Don't you agree a holiday is a welcome break from the routine? Walking miles exploring the countryside and tucking into all the healthy C's like colas, chips, crackers, cookies, cheese, cakes, chocolates......... and all that sum up to the big C = calories, is perfectly my kind of holiday! ;) What's yours? :-)

An Alpine Folklore

An excerpt from our recent holiday....

We stepped off the train at Wengen to click some pictures of this scenic village. Out of nowhere, buttoning up his coat, a man in traditional costume made a dash through the crowds of curious tourists and vanished. As the train chugged off into the mountains, the people dispersed. The calm, charming village nestled in nature's lap, the breath-taking landscape and the sounds of lilting melody....was it all a dream? Some one was playing a pleasant instrument we couldn't identify.....where was this beautiful music coming from? We looked and looked and looked, till we saw them.......

An alphorn is a handcrafted, long, flaring spruce tube with a mouthpiece. It measures about 8 to 12 feet in length. It does not have any valves, holes or keys and hence gives pure, soft, clear and resonant music. It is used to call out to the cows.

There was more music now accompanying the alphorn...... cowbells! The sounds grew louder but there was not a cow in sight. Then they marched in.....

Was that a wedding procession? Were they going to church? Like all curious on-lookers, we followed them........as they walked clanging the bells by knocking their knees against them in perfect tandem.

This was a "Cheese Festival". According to a Swiss folklore, as one of them kindly explained to me, at the end of summer the cows return from the high pastures of the Alps bringing the cheese with them. This home coming is celebrated by playing the alphorn and cowbells. The procession ended at this tent where there was more music, fun and games, and food, ofcourse for all the village folk who had gathered there!

Would you like to try.......

Swiss Rosti

or Raclette

or bacon

or pastries, cakes and croissants





or pickles, preserves and jams, flower flavoured sugars



and herb and berry honeys and liqueurs

or say "cheese"?

Food Safety

Foodborne disease remains a signifcant health issue in both developed and developing countries. WHO published the five keys to food safety. Click here to read.

Susan of The Well Seasoned Cook has written quite a few articles on food hygiene which are reproduced here, with her consent ofcourse. Thankyou Susan!

· RULE NUMBER 1 for safe food handling is WASH YOUR HANDS. The germ theory is not a theory anymore; it has been the cornerstone of medicine since its acceptance back in the day of Louis Pasteur (1890s), the Pasteur of “Pasteurized” milk, juice, etc. Germs cause illness and they are spread through contact.

· RULE NUMBER 2 for safe food handling is DO NOT EAT ANYTHING OFF THE FLOOR. That’s right, folks, the 5-Second Rule is a lie. You know, that mischievous little superstition we invoke when we cannot bear the thought of parting with a chocolate cookie that’s fallen to the floor, perhaps the last chewy, gooey cookie in the house. We rationalize that germs can’t possibly contaminate the cookie because it’s only been on the floor for 5 seconds or less. Oh, yes they can and they do. Germs love cookies. They are clingy, needy. They want to live; they need to eat, too.

• Handling raw animal products (meat, poultry, eggs and fish) requires prompt clean up of work surfaces and utensils. You don’t want to be cutting your salad fixings with the same unwashed knife on the same unwashed cutting board that you just used to trim the fat off your steak. This is called cross-contamination and can easily be avoided.

• Clean up means hot, soapy water and a new or freshly sterilized sponge, cloth wipe or paper towel. Rinse the soapy residue well with fresh water. Cleaning means washing away germs as much as it means killing them. Keep several rolls of paper towels on hand; they are convenient and can be disposed of immediately after use.

• Sponges absorb everything & are particularly inviting breeding grounds for germs. Replace them often, but until you do, you can sterilize them with some diluted chlorine bleach in a bowl of water, squeezing under the water to make sure you introduce the bleach into all those dark, dank interior cells. (Please wear latex gloves to protect your hands.) Again, rinse well with fresh water. Bleach is a poison and must be respected.

• Consider plastic cutting boards and stirring spoons rather than wooden ones. Wood is attractive and traditional, but can trap raw juices into its grain, especially as it becomes worn. Wood also requires more careful cleaning since it will warp if exposed to water too long, hastening the very cracks you want to discourage. Though stronger and less porous than wood, plastic will also wear out in time; check your tools periodically for excessive wear and replace as needed.

• Antibacterial soaps and detergents do work, but they are no substitute for hot, soapy water. If you must use them, take extra care to rinse thoroughly with fresh potable (drinkable) water. READ THE LABELS of the cleansers you are using. Many are hazardous to human beings and family pets; directions for their use are clearly stated on the labels and must be followed.

Did you know?
· One bacterium can become 2 in just 15 minutes. This means that within 6 hours, 1 bacterium can multiply to over 16 million. To be harmful, some bacteria need to grow to high levels. Other bacteria can cause illness when they are present in very low numbers. The smell, taste and appearance of food are not good indicators of whether the food will make you sick.

· Meat, seafood, cooked rice, cooked pasta, milk, cheese and eggs are foods that provide ideal conditions for microorganisms to grow.

Some tips.

· Labelling on food package give valuable information on instructions for storage, manufacturing date, use by date, expiry dates, notes for allergy etc. which are to be followed.

· When buying food at the supermarket, buy frozen food last and go straight home. Do not leave food in the car's boot too long where there is no air conditioning.

· Do not buy cans that have swelled or have rust on them.

· Avoid buying potatoes that have green spots on them or are sprouting.

· If the power is off, avoid opening the fridge. Depending upon the kitchen temperature, fridge food can remain cold for 4 to 7 hours.

Asha has, as always given some safety tips at Aroma. Read here.

Off for a short vacation, see you'll soon! :)

Coriander Chutney

The state of Karnataka in South India has a rich cultural heritage dating to thousands of years, from temples and palaces to elaborate cities, now lying in ruins. In 2005, the Indian Pavilion at the Dubai Shopping Festival brought alive many of the wonders of this amazing state. The Indian Pavillion being the largest, prettiest and grandest attracts the most number of visitors each year. Around 300 stalls were accommodated within the 1,30,000 sq.ft pavilion. The theme that year showcased Karnataka, with the Mysore Palace replicated, complete with the extravaganza that is a part of the Dussera celebrations. The centre of attraction was the ruins of Hampi. Needless to say India bagged the award for the Best Pavilion.

My only exposure to Karnataka cuisine was the Udipi hotels in Mumbai frequented by one and all to have "idli-dosa". Little did I know that some of the dishes my mother prepared like lime rice, mysore rasam, masala dosa etc actually belonged to Karnataka cuisine! So here are some recipes that were tried, tested and devoured.

Set Dosa
The only way to describe them is soft, spongy, melt-in-the-mouth. For the recipe, head over to Seema's Recipe Junction. Thanks Seema, we absolutely enjoyed them! Serve the yummy dosas with a spicy gravy or coriander chutney.

Coriander Chutney

You need:
¾ cup coconut grated

3 green chillies

1 bunch coriander leaves

a marble sized tamarind

3 cloves garlic

salt to taste

Grind all the ingredients to smooth paste using water.

Lime Rice/Chitranna

My entry to RCI- Karnataka hosted by Asha, event initiated by Lakshmi.

Lime Rice

You need:

2 cups cooked rice
1 tsp mustard seeds
½ tsp chana dal
½ tsp urad dal
3-4 green and red chillies
a handful of peanuts a handful of cashews
a sprig of curry leaves
1 tsp turmeric
salt to taste
juice of one lime

Heat a tsp oil + a tsp ghee in a pan. Add the mustard seeds and let it splutter. Add the peanuts and allow it to cook. Add the cashews, chana dal and urad dal and stir fry till they turn red. Add the curry leaves and chillies and fry till the chillies change colour. Add the rice, turmeric, lime juice and salt and mix well. Serve hot with rasam/yoghurt.

How safe is your food?

Ever given a thought how safe your food is? Take this little quiz below.

1. Where should you put an open jar of jam?
A. In the fridge B. In the cupboard C. Sometimes in the fridge, sometimes in the cupboard – look on the manufacturer’s label

2. How long can leftovers be left at room temperature?
A. 30 minutes B. 2 hours C. 4 hours

3. What is the correct way to thaw frozen chicken?
A. Place in a warm room B. Immerse in a sink of hot water C. Place in a refrigerator

4. What temperature should your fridge be kept at?
A. 0 – 5 deg Centigrade B. minus 5 to 0 deg Centigrade C. 5 – 8 deg Centigrade

5. What is your pet peeve regarding food safety?

If you wish to add something on food safety or contribute an article or your views on it, you may leave a comment or mail me. Have a nice day!

Palada Payasam

It's been raining "sweets" this week with Onam, Raksha Bandhan, relatives returning from India and a birthday all packed into the last seven days!!! Here's a palada payasam I'd prepared for Onam, very similar to a pal payasam. Back home my mother and grand mother would have made the ada or rice flour pressed into flakes which is a long process in itself, I took the easy way out and bought the ada. Ofcourse store bought ada is just not as soft and tasty like the home made ones which are worth all the effort in making them.

You need:
¼ cup ada or rice flakes
5 cups milk
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
2 tbsp butter
a handful of cashew nuts and raisins for garnish

Cook the ada in 2 cups of milk till soft. Add the remaining milk and bring it to a boil. Reduce heat and cook till the milk reduces to 2/3rd. The milk should turn pink. Add the condensed milk and cook for another 10 minutes. Depending on the sweetness of the condensed milk, you may add sugar at this stage if the payasam is not sweet enough. Take it off the flame. The payasam will continue to thicken, so keep it liquid. Heat butter in a pan, add the cashews and raisins and fry till golden and the raisins are plump. Add to the payasam and serve hot or cold.

My entry to JFI-Rice going off to Sharmi - I know I'm late!!!

I also thank my blogger buddies for passing on these awards to me.

The Power of Schmooze Award is for bloggers who “effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don’t limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello - all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship.”

Thankyou Sandeepa, Sia, Pravs, Mallugirl, Archana! I pass this on to all those reading this post :)

Happy Onam!

Happy Onam to all of you!

Puri Bhaji for a tea party

( With blogger behaving badly, I was refused access to my own blog! These posts-in-waiting have been delayed. )

When Anita invited us to make puri-bhaji for her tea party, puri-bhaji it was for the weekend breakfast! Being puri lovers, it takes all morning of rolling out puris before I can sit to enjoy some. Puris are always served hot, straight off the smoking oil. Yet I was beaming from ear-to-ear thinking of the beautiful puffed up puris and my favourite potato bhaji to accompany it. And the husband dropped the bomb. "No, not puris today. I want something light." "Are you alright?" I asked, all my ballooned dreams crashing. What was wrong with this puri lover I wondered? "I'm not exercising enough", he said. The puri-less weekend passed by and the husband left on a week long trip. On such occasions, I'd generally stick to a one-pot meal, but puris have the ability to melt my will power.

For the puris, I took 2 cups of flour and kneaded it into a stiff dough adding a little water at a time. Rest it for 5 minutes and roll out puris and fry in hot oil.

For potato podimas/ potato bhaji, boil 5 big potatoes, peel and mash them. Heat oil in a pan, add a tsp of mustard/jeera and let it splutter. Add a chopped onion, 2 chopped green chillies and fry till translucent. Add a chopped tomato and fry for a minute. Add water, salt, red chilli powder, turmeric powder and a spoon of pav bhaji masala and let the tomatoes turn soft. Add the mashed potato and allow it to cook for a few minutes. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Microwave Bhindi/Okra

Express cooking idea # 3

Rotis

Bhindi/Okra ki subzi

Masur-Moong Dal

Rotis – I'll not elaborate on this. It should suffice to say I make only designer rotis.

Bhindi/Okra

Chop one large onion finely. Chop ½ kg of bhindi/okra finely. Take a large MW vessel and put in the onion and okra. Add 1/4 tsp of each of salt, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, amchur/mango powder, garam masala, jeera powder, hing/asafoetida, pepper. Add a tsp of oil and sprinkle 2 tsp of water over it. Mix well and microwave on high for 4 minutes. It should be done. If not, cook for one minute at a time. It should not take more than 5 minutes. A masaledhar, almost oil-free okra ready in minutes!

Masur-moong dal – Recipe will follow.