Diwali Special,Chettinaad,Bachelor's Special...

Significance of Pillayar Nonbu

Pillayar nombu is a nombu celebrated exclusively by Naattukkottai Nagarathars. This post is intended for young chettiar couples living far from their families, who want to know about this nonbu and celebrate it at home. The significance of performing this nombu, is that we pray to Lord Ganesha, requesting him to remove all the obstacles in our life. I have heard that there are 3 versions of the story behind this nonbu. I am sharing the one that my mom has told me... A teenage girl was ill-treated by her step-mother. On karthigai deepam day, this step-mother's diamond ring was missing and she accused this girl of stealing her ring. This girl went to a pillayar temple and prayed to Lord Ganesha that she will prove herself as innocent and find the ring. So she started saying her prayers to Lord Ganesha, by removing one thread a day from her cotton saree for 21 days. She promised to the God that, when she proves her innocence, she will make the number of threads she has on that day as...

Gram flour Halwa (kadalai maavu alvaa)

Happy Diwali to all Readers !! I am going to give the recipe of Gram Flour Halwa Ingredients : Gram Flour (Besan) - 1 cup (sift before using) Sugar - 1 cup Ghee - 2 or 3 tbsp Crushed Almonds - 2 tbsp Water - 1/4 cup Kesar / orange colour- 2 drops 1. In a thick bottomed pan, heat the ghee and fry the gram flour well, till the raw smell goes. 2. After the raw smell of besan goes, add sugar to it and mix. 3. Immediately add the water and mix the besan well without lumps. 4. After it changes colour and is cooked, add the crushed almonds and kesar colour and mix. 5. Now add 1 tbsp ghee to the mixture and keep mixing. 6. When the halwa does not stick to the pan, transfer it to a plate greased with oil or ghee. Instead of serving this halwa with spoon or trying to cut into pieces (which is difficult), you can make small balls out of it or wrap it in butter paper , like we do for badam halwa . Happy Diwali once agai...

Homestyle Mutton Kuzhambu

I am going to share the recipe of my homestyle mutton kuzhambu. Ingredients Goat meat - 250 gms, cut, washed and marinated with little salt and turmeric powder Shallots (chinna vengayam) - about 10 pieces Ginger - 1 inch piece, peel the skin and chopped into small pieces Garlic - 5 cloves, peeled Tomato - 1 medium size, cut into large pieces Coriander powder - 4 tbsp Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp Salt to taste Cooking oil - 2 tbsp ( I used Canola oil) Water - 1 1/2 cups Curry leaves - few Whole spices - Cinnamon - 1 and 1/2 inch piece, cloves - 2, Bay leaf - 1, black peppercorns - 1/2 tsp, fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp, whole red chillies - 3 medium In a pressure pan, heat 1 tbsp oil. Then add the whole spices and fry until they crackle. Then add the shallots, garlic and ginger and saute well. Then add the tomatoes, salt, and turmeric powder and saute for 1 mintue and switch off the stove, Let this cool down and then grind it into a fine paste, by adding about 1/4 cup...

Payasam /Chilled Summer Drink

The weather is getting better and who will say NO to a refreshing chilled payasam... Let's get started.. Ingredients (Serves 5) Milk - 2 1/2 cups Water - 1/2 cup Saffron - few strands (optional) Cardamom powder - 1/2 tsp Raw rice - 1 tsp Almonds - 10 nos Light brown sugar - 1/4 cup Ghee / clarified butter - 1 tbsp Nuts and raisins of your choice to garnish. Soak the almonds, rice and the saffron strands in 1/2 cup of hot water for about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the skin from the almonds. Using a blender, grind the soaked almonds, saffron strands and the rice into a fine paste by adding 2 tbsp of the water that we used for soaking. Then add the remaining water into the blender, mix well and keep aside. In a saucepan, heat the milk. Once bubbles start forming around the edges of the pan, pour the almond and rice mixture. From now on, you have to stir continuously to avoid burning at the bottom of the pan. The mixture will start thickening. Now turn the heat to low and ad...

PARUPPU PIRKANGAI (DAL WITH RIDGE GOURD)

PARUPPU PIRKANGAI This is a kind of Dal made with Ridge Gourd. You can also use chow chow(also called Alligator Pear) for this dish instead o f Ridge Gourd. This dish is easy to prepare for bachelors too. You will need: Ridge gourd - 2 medium Split green gram - little more than 1/4 cup Tomato - 2 medium Garlic pods - 3 crushed Curry leaves - few Coriander leaves - 2 tbsp Chilli powder - 1tsp or as required Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp Salt Cumin Seeds for seasoning Now, 1. Peel the skin off the vegetable which you choose. 2. Heat 1tbsp oil in a pressure pan, put jeera and curry leaves. 3. Now, add the chopped vegetable and tomato together and saute for a minute. 4. Then add salt, chilli powder, turmeric powder, saute. 5. Add the washed dal now, along with 1 cup of water. 6. Now, pressure cook for 3 or 4 minutes. 7. When it is cooked, add the crushed garlic. This will give a special aroma to the dish. 8. Garnish with coriander leav...

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