Banana Bread

Banana Bread is a tastier one.The main ingredients are maida,sugar,butter,egg,of course banana.

Ingredients:
Maida(All Purpose Flour)-3/4 cup
Sugar-1/2 cup
Butter-1/4 cup
Banana-1(ripened big size)
Egg-1
Baking Soda-1/2 tsp
Salt-a pinch
cardamom-3 nos.
Method:
*Preheat the oven to 350'F.
*Grease the pan with butter and flour.
*Sieve maida and baking soda together.
*Whisk sugar and butter until creamy.
*Add banana pieces in batches mash it and mix well.
*Add egg and mix well.
*Add flour mixture,salt mix well without any lumps.
*Add cardamom powder and mix it.
*Bake it for 35-40 minutes or insert a skewer in the center comes out clean.

Note:
*Add any nuts of your choice.

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Kusudama Flowers

Kusudama Flower is one of the easiest origami.Each petals are made separately and then glued together,totally 5 petals to make a  single flower.I made these flowers using old magazines.

Here is the tutorial.

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Tutti Frutti Cake

Its basic vanilla sponge cake mixed with tutti frutti and cashew nuts.This is simple recipe with equal quantities of three ingredients flour,butter,sugar.

Ingredients:
Maida (All Purpose Flour)-100 gms
Butter-100 gms(room temperature)
Granulated Sugar-100 gms
Egg-1
Vanilla Extract-1/2 tsp
Baking Powder-1/2 tsp
Milk-1 tbsp
Salt-a pinch
Tutti frutti-3tbsp
Cashew nuts-10 nos
Extra 1 tbsp flour for mix with tutti frutti.
Some butter and flour for greasing the pan.

Method:
*Preheat the oven 350' f.
*Grease the pan with butter and flour.
*Mix tutti frutti with flour.
*Sieve maida and baking powder together.
*Whisk butter and sugar until creamy.
*Beat the egg.
*Add egg,milk to the butter and sugar mixture,mix well.
*Add vanilla essence stir well.
*Then add maida mixture ,salt and mix well.
*Add flour dusted tutti frutti ,mix well.
*Pour it in the greased pan,level it , arrange the cashew nuts in the top.
*Bake it for 350' f for 30 mins or until the toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Note:
*If u don't have the weighing scale here the approximate cup measurements.
Flour-1/3cup+1 tbsp
Butter-1/4 cup-1 tbsp
Granulated sugar-1/4 cup
*Dust tutti frutti,otherwise it will settle in the bottom.

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Play - Doh Flowers

I like to  make flowers with kids play-doh ,here are my few attempts

Another one

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Water Melon Juice

Summer is here ,so its necessary to have refreshing drinks to quench thirst.I try to have seasonal fruits as much as possible.The summer refreshing drink watermelon juice is here

Ingredients:
Watermelon-roughly chopped 2 cups
Honey or Sugar-1 tbsp
Method:
* Blend watermelon cubes  in a blender,strain it.
*Add sweetener of ur choice, sugar or honey.
*Serve it in a ice filled glass .

Note:
*If water melon is seeded one,deseed it before blending.
*No need to add water,watermelon itself has lot of water.
*Adding a tbspn of lemon juice also gives nice flavour.

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Coconut Chutney

Coconut chutney is common sidedish for idli,dosa,pongal,upma etc.Even if  its little thick, we can have it as sidedish for sambhar saddam or rasam saddham, for this also it tastes good.It is very simple,easy dish involves no cooking.

Ingredients:
Coconut-1/2 cup(grated)
Roasted Bengal gram(fried channa,pottukadalai)-1/2 cup
Green chilli-3 nos.
Garlic pods-3 
Ginger-1/2 inch piece
Salt and Water as needed
Tempering:
Oil-1 tsp
Mustard Seeds-1 tsp
Chana dal-1/2 tsp
Urad dal-1/2 tsp
Curry Leaves-few
Method:
*Grate or cut the coconut into pieces.
*Put coconut,roasted bengal gram,green chilli,garlic pods,ginger,salt and water in  a mixie jar.
*Grind it into a coarse paste.
*Heat oil in a pan,add mustard seeds let it splutter,add channa dal,urad dal saute it until golden brown,add curry leaves let it splutter.
*Add it  to the grinded mixture.Add water and salt to your required consistency.

Note:
*Adjust coconut and roasted channa according to ur taste.
* we  use red chilli,it gives different taste to chutney.

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Ridge Gourd (Peerkankai) Kootu

Ridge Gourd is known as peerkankai in tamil,chinese okra in canada.Here is yummy,delicious ridge gourd kootu in toor dal.Its simple,easy dish.

Ingredients:
Ridge Gourd-2 (medium size)
Toor dal-1 cup
Water-3 cups
Onion-1 (medium size)
Tomato-1(medium size)
Green Chillies-4-5 nos.
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Salt-as needed
Tempering:
Oil-1 tsp
Mustard seeds-1 tsp
Chana dal-1/2 tsp
Urad dal-1/2 tsp
Cumin-1/2 tsp
Red chillies-3 nos
Asafoetida(hing)-a pinch
Method:
*Peel the ridge gourd  and chop it roughly.
*Chop onion,tomato,greenchilles.
*In a pressure cooker add toor dal,water,turmeric powder,salt,chopped vegetables cook it for 4-5 whistles.
Keep it aside.
*Heat oil in a pan,add mustard seeds let it splutter,then add other tempering ingredients saute it well.
*When the pressure is released,add the tadka  and mix it well.
The side dish is prepared in jiffy it tastes equally good also.

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Crepe Paper Roses

As already stated crepe papers are versatile for making flowers.Here  is the crepe paper roses,though its a time consuming process,end result is so natural and elegant.

With two red rose and one yellow rose it looks more beautiful

Generally money plant has no flowers,but money plant has flowers.See how it is

The tutorial for making crepe paper  flowers is here.

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Spinach Egg Stir Fry-Keerai Poriyal

Spinach is well known for its nutritional benefits,same as egg.Both spinach and egg  has lot of  vitamins and minerals.Here is the recipe with combination of egg and spinach.

Ingredients:
Spinach(or) any greens-2 cups
Onion-1 medium size
Red chillies-3 nos.
Egg-2
Salt-as per taste
Oil-1 tsp
Tempering:
Mustard Seeds-1/2 tsp
Urad dhal-1/2 tsp
Chana dhal-1/2 tsp
cumin-1 tsp


Method:
*Wash and cut the spinach.Finely chop the onion.
*Heat oil in a pan,add the tempering ingredients,let it splutter.
*Add the red chillies,then add onion saute it until golden brown.
*Add spinach cook ,until the water dries.
*Finally add the egg, stir well until egg mix with spinach .
Serve it as side dish for rice ,roti.Even kids can also love it.


Note:
No need  to add extra water,water in the spinach is enough for cooking.
Instead of spinach,use any greens.

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Window Bird Feeder

Like Lowes,Home Depot also offer free kids workshop on every month first saturday.One such thing is window bird feeder,

 Fix this and see some feathery friends will come to eat. For more information  check the home depot store or site about the free kids workshop.No need for preregistration.
Check the link of homedepot here.

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VenPongal

Venpongal is one of the typical breakfast ,common in  TamilNadu.Idli ,vada ,venpongal with chutney,sambhar is a nice combination.Here is the recipe for venpongal,

Ingredients:
Raw rice-1 cup
Moong dhal(Passi Paruppu)-1/2 cup
Water-4 cups
Salt-as needed
Tempering:
Ghee-3 tsp
Oil-2 tsp
Cumin seeds-1 tsp
Pepper-1 tsp
Ginger-1/2 inch piece
Cashew-10 nos.
Greenchillies-2(optional)




Method:
* Finely chop the ginger.Paste the green chillies.
*In a Pressure Cooker add rice,moong dhal ,water,salt cook it for 4 to 5 whistles.
*Once its done,keep it aside wait until pressure release.
*Heat oil and ghee in a pan,add cumin and pepper let it splutter,then add cashew fry until golden brown.
*Add ginger and chilli paste fry until raw smell goes.
*Finally add this tempering to rice mixture mix well .


Serve it hot with any side dish but i prefer chutney and sambhar.


A well known combination

Note:
*For any pongal use new raw rice,it tastes good.
*Replace oil with full ghee also.
*Can also add pepper powder , instead of whole pepper corns.
*Chilli paste is optional for those who want spicy pongal only.
*If your pongal is too watery let it in the stove top for few mintes ,if its hard boil water or milk add to it,to get required consistency.

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Tissue Paper Carnation

I already said that tissue papers are versatile to make flowers.Here is the tissue paper carnation,

Check the tutorial here. 


My Tissue paper carnation in origami swan vase

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Bread Upma

Its easy,simple dish  for weekend mornings.
Ingredients:
Bread slices-4-5
Onion-1(medium size)
Green chillies-3-4 nos.
Curry leaves-few
Coriander leaves-1 tsp(finely chopped)
Lemon juice-1 tsp(optional)
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Oil-1 tsp


Tempering:
Mustard seeds-1 tsp
Urad dhal-1/2 tsp
Chana dhal-1/2 tsp

Method:
* Remove the sides of the bread slices and crumble it.
* Finely chop the onion and green chillies.
* Heat oil in a pan,add mustard seeds let it splutter,add chana dhal and urad dhal saute it until golden brown.
*Add onion,chillies,curryleaves saute it well,add turmeric powder fry until raw smell goes.
*Add the bread pieces mix it well.Garnish with coarinder leaves and add lemon juice.


Serve it with coconut chutney, even with tomato ketchup it tastes good.


Note:
*Use  4-5 days old bread.
*Lemon juice is optional,if u like little sour taste add it,otherwise omit it.
*For more crunchy taste add more urad dhal and chana dhal.

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Monkey Powered Plane

Last Sunday Lowes Build and Grow kids free workshop was Monkey Plane.Here is the Plane,

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Idli-Dosa Batter

Here is the recipe for SouthIndian staple breakfast idli.
Ingredients:
Idli  rice(parboiled)-4 cups
Urad dhal-1 cup
Fenugreek seeds-2 tsp
Water-as needed
Salt-as needed

Method:
*Soak rice for 3-4 hours and urad dhal for 45 mins -1 hour seperately.Put the fenugreek seeds in the urad dhal itself.
*Drain the water in uraddhal ,grind it by sprinkle  water now and then until soft and fluffy.It will take 30-40 mins.
*Drain the water in rice ,grind it with enough water until the rice become coarse paste.It will take 25-30 mins.
*Collect the batter in same vessel.
*Add enough salt and mix it well.
*Let it ferment for whole night or minimum 8 hrs.

I use same batter for making dosas,oothappam,paniyaram.
Check the post to make dosa.
 Tips
*Before making idli check the consistency of the batter.
*Mostly grind urad dhal first ,rice next,cleaning the grinder is easy,other  than that nothing.
* Fenugreek seeds give golden brown color to dosa,otherwise it will be mostly white.
*Ground batter is not more than half or slightly more than half of the container.Give enough space to rise.
*If you are in freezing outside temperature,keep the batter in oven only with the oven light on.
*For idli the batter is thick and for dosa add water for required consistency.
*If you are preparing idli and dosa batter seperately,u can reduce urad dhal to 3/4 cup.
*Similarly for mixie the ratio of rice and urad dhal is 3:1.
*If the idli is little hard add cooking soda to batter at the time of preparing.
*The softness of  the idli depends on the quality of rice and urad dhal also.So the adjust the ratio according to that.

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Gardening 2012

My first bloom for this year.
                         

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Carrot Stir Fry-Carrot Poriyal

Everyone knows carrot is good for health,here is my simple carrot poriyal recipe.Its nice side dish for sambhar saddam,rasam or curd rice.

Ingredients:
Carrots-3-4 (medium size)
Onion-1(medium size)
Green Chillies-3 nos.
Curry Leaves-few.
Grated Coconut-2 tsp(optional)
Oil-1 tsp
Salt-as needed
Tempering:
Mustard seeds-1/2 tsp
Urad dhal-1/2 tsp
Chana dhal-1/2 tsp


Method:
*Peel the skin and wash the carrots.Then Shred it.
*Finely chop the onion and green chilly.
*Heat oil in a pan,add the tempering ingredients,let it splutter.
*Add onion,greenchillies,curryleaves saute it until the onions become transparent.
*Add salt to it.
*Add the shredded carrots saute it until the raw smell goes.
*Finally add grated coconut ,stir it .
 Your yummy carrot poriyal is ready.

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Kolam No.2

Another one simple kolam.
                                          6-6 Parallel dots

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Origami Bag

My Origami Bag,cute bunny resting in it.

Few Origami Bags

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Fish Chilly-Fish 65

Ingredients:
Fish Fillet -1 lb
Corn Flour-1/4 cup
Garam Masala Powder-2 tsp
Chilli Powder-2 tsp
Kasturi Methi  Powder-2 tsp
Ginger Garlic Paste-2 tsp
Salt-as needed
Red Food Color-a pinch
Lime Juice-1 tsp
Oil-to fry


Method:
*Wash and cut the fillet into pieces.
*Take a bowl mix all the ingredients except oil.
*If the mixture is dry sprinkle little water.
*Keep it aside or in refrigerator for 30 mins-1 hour.
*Heat oil in a pan,fry it.If u want u can deep fry also.

Serve it hot with onion,carrot,lemon slices.

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Rava Dosa

Unlike regular dosas, rava dosa is thin and crisp.It tastes good also.


Ingredients:
Rava(sooji)-1 cup
Dosa batter-1/4 cup
Finely chopped onion-1/2 cup
Pepper corns-1 tsp(optional)
Salt-as needed

Method:
* Mix everything in a bowl.Add enough water ,the batter is in buttermilk consistency.
*Heat the dosa tava,   pour the batter starting from outside to inside.Drizzle oil on top of it.
*When one side become golden brown turn other side.


Your dosa is ready.Serve it hot ,with coconut chutney.

Note:
* Don't use roasted upma rava or goduma rava.
*Prepare the batter before 1 hour to make.It tastes good but not necessary.
*If u want add finely chopped green chillies also.

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Crepe Paper-Hibiscus

Like Tissue papers crepe papers also very versatile to make flowers.We can get lot of bright colors in crepe paper.Here is my crepe paper hibiscus.

My crepe paper hibiscus in yellow crepe paper roll.

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Kolam no.1

Kolam is  a traditional art of painting done in front of house,prayer room ,near to auspicious places in South India.In olden days it was drawn using rice flour, it becomes food for ants and other small creatures.But nowadays  lot of things are used, like white stone powder ,limestone water,brick powder,paint,etc.
As per the hindu tradition women wake up before sunrise,they clean the courtyard with cow dung mixed with water then put kolam.There is a common belief that ,doing this bring  goddess lakshmi (prosperity) into the house.In tamil month margazhi everyone draw big kolam in front of their house and end with pongal celebration.


There are different types of kolam
Sikku kolam-Its one of the traditional kolam starts and ends at the same point.
Dotted kolam-It ranges from star,butterfly ,to different patterns.
Rangoli-Its free style based on ones creativity.


This is one of the beginner kolam,most of them start with this.As i am the beginner for computer kolam start with this.
  
  Kolam no.1    6-6(parallel dots)

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3D Modular Origami Swan

This swan is made of 3D modular origami or Chinese origami.3D objects are made by attaching small pieces of  paper triangles.To made this swan need 206 pieces of triangles.

Lot of things can be made by using these triangle,like pineapple,flower vase,butterfly etc.
The video tutorial for making these swan is here.

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Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Strawberry itself is a delicious one,chocolate dipped strawberries are double delicious.

Ingredients:

Strawberries-10

Cooking Chocolate-3 tbsp

Finely chopped cashew,almonds,chocolate each 1 tsp for garnish.

Method:

* Melt the chocolate by double boiler technique.

Double Boiler Technique

*Boil  water in a pan .When water starts to boil ,place the chocolate in another pan or bowl keep it inside the boiling water.Be careful not even a drop of water  mix with chocolate.Because the chocolate will crystallize.

*when chocolate melts without any lumps.Keep aside.

*Dip the strawberries in the melted chocolate.place it in a butter paper till it dries.

*If u want ,spread finely chopped nuts and chocolate over the chocolate dipped strawberries.

Note:

Before dip the strawberries in the chocolate syrup,keep it in the freezer for 10 mins.

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