Ridge Gourd Phodis

Ingredients
Ridge gourd-1(okra,bitter gourd can also be used)
plain rice flour-approx:1cup
kashmiri chilly powder-1tsp
asafoetida-1/4 tsp
salt
oil for frying

Procedure
Here i have prepared ridgegourd as well as okra phodis..

1.Peel the sharp edges alone of the ridge gourd as shown in the picture and wash well..

2.Cut them as 1/4'round slices..(okras cut into diamond slices)..

3.Take all slices in a bowl,sprinkle salt,chilly powder and asafoetida and stir well..keep it aside for a while..

Only just before lunch time, be ready to do the following process..or else the fried phodis might have gone soggy..

4.Take some rice flour on a plate..roll the slices in rice flour and press both sides with your fingers so that flour sticks on all sides of slices..repeat this process and keep all the slices on a plate..in the meantime heat some oil in a kadai..

5.Gently put the slices one by one in hot oil and deep fry them until it reaches light brown color..its done..

6.transfer from kadai to tissue paper to get rid of excess oil..

This crispy phodis can be a substitute to pappad or other fritters is served with main meal...

Ivy Gourd/Tendli Stir Fry

we never get tender fresh tendli here in our market..always get only red riped ones..but they are my favourites..once i prepared them on my own way..my family agreed that it was so tasty..henceforth i use to buy those riped ivy gourds to make this yummy stir fry..i bet fresh green one cant give this much taste..hope you can also try this and feedback me..iam damn sure that you will like this dish well..
ingredients
ivy gourd-1/2 kilo
garlic cloves-5 to 6(or more as per your like)
crushed red chillies-2 heaped tsp
asafoetida-1/4 tsp
mustard
oil
salt
method
1.wash ivy gourds well and cut the tip and tail ends.

2.cut them vertically into 6 thin long strips..

3.add 2tsp of salt to tendli pieces and keep aside for a while(abt30 mnts)..then squeeze off the water..

4.peel and gently crush the garlic cloves..

5.heat some oil in a kadai and add mustard,crushed garlic,crushed red chillies and asfoetida and saute for a mnt..keep checking not to burn the ingredients..

6.add squeezed ivy gourds into it and stir again well..

7.cover and cook for 5to10 mts on a low flame....stir frequently..

8.then open the lid and let it saute atleast for another 20 mnts..stir and spread frequently..make sure the tendli doesnt get stick to the bottom of kadai..adjust the salt as well..

9.when it becomes soft and oily in texture,switch off the flame..

10.yummy tendli stir fry is ready to serve..

This dish goes well with rice or chapathi..

Ami Puppies!

made 2 amigurumi puppies ..not much aware of dog variety..hope you like them..which would you like the most??

                                                            this OR

                                                                this?

Semia/Vermicelli Upma

i always use to do semia upma without adding vegetables or onions..adding raisins it tastes a little sweet,i love that taste rather than veggies..i feel that ghee and raisins are the criteria of this upma..you can also try this simple upma..

ingredients
vermicelli(semia)-1 cup
slitted green chillies-4
ginger-1inch piece chopped
grated coconut-1cup
cashewnuts-5or6 split into halves
raisins-1 tab sp
ghee-1 to 2 tab sp
mustard-1/2tsp
cumin seeds-1/4tsp
water-2 cups
salt
oil

method
1.in a pan add 1tab sp ghee and fry the vermicelli untill it reaches brown color..switch off the flame ..keep aside..or (you can use store bought fried vermicelli..i have used this instant one)

2.heat a wok put some oil, add mustard,cumin,green chillies,ginger,nuts,raisins and finally curryleaves.

3.when raisins become fluffy add 2cups of water along with salt..bring to boil..add a handful of grated coconut in the boiling water and let it boil again for 1mnt..

4.add fried vermicelli and stir well, cover it and cook on low fire till done..

5.uncover and add rest of the coconut scrapings and a spoonful of ghee on top and mix gently..switch off and serve on plate..

TAST 2012 WEEK 25 Cable Chain Stitch

Cable Chain is the TAST for WEEK 25..i tried this stitch making 2 necklaces..used pearls while stitching cable chains..you can see the stitch in the form of pendant also..if you want to go for details and tutorial of this stitch,visit Sharon's blog here ..

closeup

Little Girl and her playmates

iam displaying an amigurumi girl standing by a crochet jar..i had fun while i was making them..made many other crochet items to play for her..some of them are a mini elephant,frog,duck and duckling..hope you like it..i found all patterns from internet..

My 3rd Award

AWESOME BLOGGER AWARD
thank you so much MR.VAI.GOPALAKRISHNAN SIR for giving me a big motivation in this blogosphere..my congrats to you also,winning this award on creating an awesome tamil blog ..
its nice of you for considering me in this  awesome blogger's list..this is My 3rd award and 50th post and truly you made my day..i will do my best to go ahead..

thank you VGK

BTW i have already posted 7 things about me in my previous award post here..
nothing  more to add..
so going to the next step..i would like to share this AWESOME BLOGGER AWARD to my blogmates who are very keen in blogging field..always their posts inspire me to achieve good progress..my best wishes to all my friends and hope you all will be happy to accept this award..

i will mention the blog names below:

1.http://magicwithhands.blogspot.in/-love her experiments and perfect stitches..
2.http://sriluarts.blogspot.in/-love her blog to follow different wonderful arts..
3.http://sheelarajpainting.blogspot.in/- a silent blogger of beautiful painting..very very talented who specialized in oil painting technique and teaching painting at home..
4.http://noelcollections.blogspot.in/-my native and i like all her yummy recepies and her beautiful presentations and love to try it out..
5.http://beenascreations.blogspot.in/ -my blogger friend and i always like her way of working on stitches..
once again all the best to my dears Savitha,Srilu,Sheelaraj,Reshmi and Beena stephy..

some interesting conditions to accept the award are:

1.thank the giver
2.post it in your blog
3.pass it on to 5 deserving,upcoming bloggers

     

---

My 4th Award THE VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD
Thank you so much SUNAYANA for sharing this award with me. It means a lot to me. You made my day.I am very honoured to get this award from you.she has a wonderful blog with beautiful arts and crafts which she inherited from her dear mom..check out her Blog for everything..

thank you Sunayana

         cheers!
         
                                   

Homemade BUTTER and GHEE making process

Easy Process of Butter Making
iam going to explain the process of butter making..the ordinary method is that by adding a spoon of starter to milk let it curdle for a few hours and by beating into mixie the butter seperates leaving buttermilk as well..i dont want buttermilk, at the same time by this way we can get only a dash of butter at a time..so i have chosen another way for past 3 years..let me share the step by step process with you..

usually i use 3 milma packets(each 1/2 litre)for the daily needs for tea and curds..

1.allow the milk to boil in a vessel and cover it leaving some gap..let it cool..

2.uncover the lid and seperate the cream of milk formed on the top with a scoop..see the different steps of how can i do this..

3.put the cream in a glass bottle and keep in a refrigerator..repeat this everyday..

4.after 2 weeks these collected thick cream pour into a mixie and add more water(approx the same measure or more of the cream) and whip(using whip blade) it for just 3 to 5mnts..you will get a ball of butter so fast..see the steps how the butter forms..

5.seperate the butter ball from the fake buttermilk..throw away the waste water..

this is a very easy process..and 3 advantages are there..fat free milk,fat free curds and butter for no cost..hope you will try this and once you try it may be your routine, seeing the big ball of butter at a time..enjoy easy butter making for preparing cakes and applying on toasts..

process of Ghee making
if you want some ghee out of this butter follow these steps:

6.put the butter ball in a wok and let it melt in a medium flame ..stir constantly..

7.the liquid becomes transparent and can see the bottom of the wok clearly by settling the sediments..switch off the flame once the sediments start getting brownish..the ghee is done..

8.add 4 or 5 fenugreek seeds to it..

9.let it cool and strain the ghee in a glass bottle using a strainer...

10. next day ghee solidifies itself and ready to use for making sweets like cookies,halwas etc..

                                                   enjoy ghee making!

Okra Onion Stir Fry

what you need
okra-250 gms
onion-big 1
coconut scrapings-handful(optional)
salt
for seasoning
oil
mustard
urad dal
redchillies
curry leaves

how to do
1.wash and cut the okra into diamond slices.

2.add required salt into it and mix well and let it stand for 15 mnts..

3.cut onion into square pieces.

4.heat some oil in a wok and season with urad dal,mustard,pieces of red chillies and curry leaves.

5.add onion and saute for 2mnts.

6.then add okras and stir well and cover the lid just for 2mnts.do not add water.

7.uncover the lid and stir frequently till its done.dont allow to stick on the wok.

8.spread coconut scrapings and stir again to mix well.

9.now it is ready to serve..

This Okra Onion Stir Fry is an excellent accompaniment to curd rice.

Crochet Drinks

A set of Crochet Drinks

3 items here to pick up your choice..

Milk jug is full of sweet hot milk..its ready for those who love milk..

Those who like tea, have a cup of hot masala tea with sweet cookies..

                                                                           OR

Those who want wine, a full bottle is here to share..

                                 choice is yours:))))))

TAST 2012 WEEK 24 Buttonhole Wheel

just for fun,i have stitched a fisherwoman using the buttonhole wheel for Sharon's stitch challenge TAST  2012 WEEK 24...i always like to play with stitches:)