Onion Pakoda/Onion Thool Pakoda

                                                             Onion pakodas are a very tasty and popular South Indian fried snack.It is available in every nook and corner sweet shop in the streets of Tamil Nadu.I just love the aroma of these pakodas.I love the pakodas stacked in a heap with a spring of curry leaf on top of it, in the sweet  and snack shops.I remember when we were kids and when we used to go on religious trips I used to get the aroma of these pakodas from the sweet and snack shop near the hotel we used to stay and bug my uncle to buy some for me.It is a perfect evening snack with a cup of filter Coffee.It tastes great as an accompaniment for sambar rice and curd rice also.

Vegetable Makhanwala

                                                              Vegetable Makhanwala is a rich creamy subzi with all the vegetables in a tomato gravy.It goes excellently well with all the Indian breads and Pulaos.I tried it only recently.It tastes like a restaurant subzi and all of us loved it at home.You can either add cashew nut paste or fresh creme to get the creaminess.I used cashew paste and it turned out really well and tasted great.If you have the mixed vegetables and cashew paste ready, it is quite easy to make. so you can even include in your party menus!!!!

Pomegranate Juice/Matulampazha Juice

It is a prolonged summer in the month of June and July in Chennai.I thought let me post some juice recipes. Pomegranate juice is the most healthiest juice i have known.My hemoglobin is low so i am trying all possible ways to improve it.One such attempt is the pomegranate juice.

I would like to mention few health benefits of Pomegranate fruit and juice so that it reaches the readers.

• It Lowers the amount of bad cholesterol and protects your heart against blockage.
• It maintains your blood sugar levels at the requisite amounts.
• It helps in maintaining blood pressure.
• It protects you from cancer and particularly skin cancer.
• It soothes the stomach  used in treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery.
• It boosts your immunity levels as do most fresh fruits and vegetables. 
• It prevents Anaemia and is a great way to control it, as well.
• It improves Digestion and should be part of your staple diet.
• It helps in cartilage Regeneration.
• It is very good for Prenatal Care and hence a must for Pregnant women.
• It suits all types of skin and contains various anti aging properties.
• It helps in the healing of scars and diminishing the scar.
• It improves the texture of your skin.

Rawa Khichdi/Vegetable Rawa Upma

                                                                        Rawa vegetable upma or khichdi is one of my favourites.I love plain rawa upma and the rawa tomato bath.Sadly there are not many takers nowa days and in my house also,but i can eat it for breakfast,tiffin or dinner.I don'teven need chutney or sambar i will eat it with sugar sprinkled on the upma.My mother used to make the best upma with a lof of vegetables in it.The ghee in the rawa khichdi makes it very aromatic and tasty.

Some people add cinnamon,fennel seeds to the khichdi but i prefer it this way.

Chilly Paneer

                                                      I have been wanting to try this recipe for a long time now.My kids are so fond of paneer and this is a Indo chinese recipe and you don't have to ask they love it.I had some home made paneer and that was the best use of it.

Jeera Rice/Jeera Pulao

                                                                    Jeera Pulao or Jeera Rice is the most simple rice dish after steamed rice.It is a flavourful rice that is good on the stomach and goes well with any kind of dal or subzi.I made Moong Dal today and was wondering what rice I would make with this. I tried out Jeera pulao with Basmati Rice amd it was a hit ! The aroma of the Basmati rice engulfed the house and the kids couldn't wait for Lunch !

Oats Porridge (Sweet and Salt )/Healthy Breakfast Recipe

                                                             Oats porridge has become a universal breakfast cereal now.Right from people living in western countries to traditional people living in Indian villages, oats porridge is part of the breakfast diet.My uncles and aunts, everyone has oats porridge with buttermilk(savoury oats)since they are all diabetic.I like to eat oats porridge with milk,banana and few nuts.I think that is a very healthy breakfast with Banana in it and it is the best way to kick start your day and body!!!My kids prefer to have the savoury one with buttermilk and so does my husband.
                                                     Needless to say the enormous health benefits of oats.It is high in fiber and helps to keep your cholesterol under control. It helps in weight loss and it cooks in a jiffy!!!!!

Black Eyed Pea Masala/Lobia Curry

Black-eyed Pea or White Karamani ,is a simple yet tasty protein rich Dal or curry.I got exposed to a lot of  Dals and Subzis only through my Maharashtrian friend from Singapore, when I used to live there. As a south Indian, I was not Exposed to a lot of North Indian food. For that matter, I learnt to make Phulkas only with the help of my friend. My mother used to make only Karamani Sundal during Navrathri or used to put it in the Karadayan Nombu adai. Here is a tasty recipe of the curry....