Of our darling princess, our second daughter….A baby does bring with it tremendous responsibilities and pressures, albeit very sweet and fulfilling. I will be on a short blogging break of course, nevertheless, less the good times flow.Thank you for all the wonderful words of encouragement and understanding.
See you all very soon.
Shoba
Deepavali always brings in festivities and goodness to an already vibrant occassion. Preparations for Deepavali would start at least a week ahead of the festival with all of us pitching in for the making of the various sweets and savories all overseen briskly by Maduraiamma. She would keep ready large aluminum tins, washed and dried in the sun, for storing the various savories and sweets that we make for this yearly festival.
On the other hand, sweet shops like Surya Sweets, Sri Krishna Sweets. The Grand Sweets and Snacks, Suswaad, etc have brisk business during this festive season stocking up on specialty items for people to buy and enjoy. One such store that makes amazing “Thattai” has been Surya Sweets in Abhiramapuram, Chennai. Their Thattais are amazingly big, thin and crisp and just right to munch with a glass of tea as an evening snack. This was taught to me by a dear aunt!!!
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup of Rice Flour.
1/8 cup of Urad Flour. (Slow roast Urad Dhal in a dry kadai until it turns light brown and emits an aroma. Cool and grind to a fine powder in a coffee grinder or mixer and sieve).
1 Tsp Maida/ AP Flour.
1 tsp salt.
1 Tbsp Butter.
A handful of Chutney Dhal/Pottu Kadalai/ Daliya.
Hing.
3/4 spoon Red Chilli Powder (or as per taste).
10 curry leaves torn.
Water to bind the ingredients.
PREPARATION:
Deepavali
Deepavali – The name itself conjures up memories of early morning oil baths, new clothes, sweets and savouries, families getting together to celebrate the occasion of the vanquishing of good over evil.Deepavali as a festival signifies, the conquest of light over darkness.To Hindus, darkness represents ignorance, and light is a metaphor for knowledge. Therefore, lighting a lamp symbolizes the destruction, through knowledge, of all negative forces- wickedness, violence, lust, anger, envy, greed, bigotry, fear, injustice, oppression and suffering.
Most of the best clothes that I have had all through my childhood would be bought for Deepavali. Many times, we would buy this over the Navarathri holidays and get it stiched and it would be most exciting to feel the fabric of silk through my fingers and wait for the big day with anticipation and longing!!! My grandmother would get up very early and have her oil bath and apply oil for all of us grandkids. This practise signifies “Ganga Snan” or a holy dip in the Ganges. She would then give us the new clothes which we would gleefully adorn after getting her blessings. The kids would run outside to burst crackers. New clothes would be worn and Deepavali Sweets would be eaten by one and all.Some of the sweets and savouries that we make at home for Deepavali are listed here.
Deepavali Sweets & Savouries:
Many times, the menu for dinner or lunch is completely directed by the ingredients in the pantry. Most vegetables are bought from the store, with a particular preparation in mind, and most of the times, never really gets in to the Most Wanted Dish!!! I would have selected fresh spring onions to make spring rolls or chinese noodles, but end up using them in soup instead, or even a kootu!!! Pudina would have been carefully selected, wrapped and stored to make spicy pudina rice, but could conveniently end up becoming a side dish in the form of Pudina Chutney for Dosa or Idlis!!! Last week I had got fresh capsicums to make Capsicum Subji that my husband loves, but ended up in a one pot dish for this Quick Fix Paneer Capsicum Rice!!!
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 Cups of Fragrant Basmati Rice cooked with 3 cups of water.
2 Fresh Capsicums sliced thin.
1/3 cup of Panner Cubes .
1 spoon of Ghee.
A Pinch of Garam Masala.
Seasoning:
1 spoon of Somph/ Shahi Jeera.
8 Green Chillies slit vertically.
1/2 Spoon of Jeera
1 0r 2 Bay Leaves.
4 Cloves.
A few Broken Cashew Halves.
Curry Leaves.
PREPARATION:
HINTS:
I had been wondering why on earth I had not posted this everyday recipe that my mom used to make. It has been an eternal favourite of mine since the day I have had it with Alu Fry. I remember when we were little, my sister D would want this everyday. Mom would keep it special over the weekend and she would have it with a side, with curd rice and every other dish possible. In my opinion, this gravy gets redolent with flavour and aroma at least a day after it has been prepared. There is no great secret recipe or ingredient….only small little things that have to be kept in mind, added a little ahead or later. Here is my recipe for the same.
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 of a Big Onion or 1 Medium sized red onion.
1 1/2 cups of Tamarind Water extract.
1 1/2 spoons of Sambar Powder.
Salt
Curry Leaves.
Turmeric
1 Spoon of Ghee.
1 Spoon of Rice Flour diluted in 1/3 cup of water.
PREPARATION:
HINT:
Serving Suggestion: Onion Vethakuzhambu & Alu Fry.
In the hindu ritualistic vedic poojas, every diety is worshipped by offering 16 services called the “Shodasa Upacharas”. Poojas have basically a two fold purpose. The first is the Baahya Pooja or the rituals we perform outwardly for the Deity, like offering flowers and fruits, incense, neivedhyam etc. It is an expression of our faith and reverence.Perfoming it in a systematic, time tested ritualistic manner is better as it gives better results. It also gives you discipline and better satisfaction & peace of mind.
But apart from that there is a deeper and greater spiritual significance behind the rituals and that is why they were prescribed and practiced by millions of our ancient seers. Understanding this,is known as Antah-Pooja. A vedic ritual is never a meaningless act. They all have deep rooted spiritual, philosophic significance.
Baahya Pooja is the formula. Antah Pooja is understanding and applying the formula to get better results and achieve greater heights. These are the steps involved in the Baahya Pooja:
Tamboolam consits of beetle leaves, beetle nut and caustic represent the three avasthas or states of the human being – jagrad, swapna and shushupti or waking, dreaming and sleeping states. Offering Tamboolam is the effort to go beyond these states – i.e. to the nirvikalpa state. When we offer Tamboolam to a woman or a kanya girl, we see them as a form of Goddess Durga and thus salute them as such.
The Tamboolam plate typically consists of the following:
Betel Leaves.
Betel Nuts.
Areca Nuts.
Kumkum.
Turmeric.
Small Mirror.
Comb.
Bangles.
Fruits – Bananas, Apples, Oranges etc.
Neivedhyam like Sundal, Chakkara Pongal etc.
Small gifts for kanya girls like Chains, Bracelets, Earrings etc.
Blouse Bits for Married Women.
Many times, we also offer little silver kumkum containers, sarees etc to important women in the family and our elders. It is customary to salute their feet and humbly offer the Tamboolam, seeking their blessings.
Anubhavati -Tastes from my kitchen 