This story is really really tue...I know it sounds unbeleivable, but I have witnesses to vouch for it!
I was studying in the ninth standard at the time, and had gone to my grandma's place at Erumely...My aunt had brought along her niece from her husband's side of the family, and we hit it off immediately..H was my same age, all giggly teenager...
we had a grand time, lazing about the ancestral home.One day, my aunts and my mother were talking about how the girls these days are so lazy , and how they don't know a thing about cooking, when we got all fired up..They weretalking about us.,see?So I said, "aha!! You oldies think we don't know anything about cooking? humph!!we'll show you!!"
"and what can you make, my darling girl?" my mom asked.
"So I said, "Ill show you...Im going to make fried rice..so there!!"
And off we went, majestically to the kitchen, H trailing behind me..
"Resh...but do you seriously know how to make fried rice?" she asked .
"I have no idea...It can't be too hard, though. Just boil rice, add a few veggies..and voila!1your fried rice will be ready!!"
H looked at me with doubt"that easy, huh?"
"Yup....c'mon, now first lets put some rice to boil ."
So we started cooking the rice, which was really dreary work, since the water took forever to boil, and being teenagers, we had no patience at all..So we started chopping vegetables to add to the rice while waiting for it to cook.
Being rank newcomers to the kitchen,we had underestimated the time it took for us newbies to chop veggies...
The rice kept cooking and cooking, and cooking , while we kept chopping and chopping, and chopping...
End result? the rice was so overcooked that it resembled a huge white glob!!
"Ugh!! Now what do we do, resh?that mess doesn't look like fried rice to me at all!!" said H.
"Hmm....you know...this looks just like that kheer we had Onam!!"
Looking around in desperation, my eyes fell on a can of condensed milk.
"Aha!!we're saved!!"
I added the condensed milk to the thick gooey mess and stirred..miraculously, the grains seperated a little...but it was still too thick and hard...how to make this like payasam?(kheer)
Swinging around, I saw H , timidly proffering a bottle of milk.
"yesss.."
After adding the milk, it did taste a little like paal payasam, a dessert often served for the onam feast..
To the oldie's queries about where our fried rice rice disappeared to..I gave the airy reply that we made paalpaayasam instead..fried rice is so boring...anyone can make it!!
"wow!!you know more than one recipe?you kids are much better than we expected!"
So that's the story of the fried rice paayasam!!
Though both H and I are homemakers now, we still giggle about that day whenever we meet!!
And now for a real paal paayasam recipe.
PAAL PAAYASAM
Ingredients:
1 litre milk
1 cup brown broken rice
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup condensed milk
Method:
1. In a pressure cooker boil the milk. Then add washed rice, sugar and close the pressure cooker with the lid. Bring to a full cooking pressure. After the first whistle, low the heat to very low simmer and cook for 45 minutes.
2. Open the pressure cooker after it has cooled down to see a paal payasam with a beautiful dark pink shade.
3. Add condensed milk, Serve hot or lukewarm...YUM!!
NOTES FROM A MALLU KITCHEN
A FRUIT WHIP
My garden is ablaze with flowers today..
I do so love to sit at my garden bench,soaking up the morning sun’s tender warmth.
And I marvel at the beauty of it…So much colour..Did I really plant this garden myself? Truly, I never expected such loveliness when I started planting the flower beds last year. Now, the bright flowers spill out of their beds, and butterflies flutter aroud everywhere…Is this what they call Heaven?
I am relly sorry that I cannot write anything today other than such trite nonsense..It is Ramzan after all… and one just can’t think properly on an empty stomach..As we reach the end of this month, we’re all getting tired faster, our movements are more sluggish, and we pass the days in a blur of prayers and cooking. And my tired brain cries out for some simple recipes to make…
Yesterday, at Iftaar( breaking of our fast), I made mixed fruit whip.It’s lovely, easy to make, pleasing to the eye, and so light and tasty. Just what the doctor ordered…full of the richness of fruits and milk, this recipe is perfect for ahot summer day too !!
..
MIXED FRUIT WHIP
Ingredients:
Chilled Milk- 4 cups
Condensed Milk(optional) 2tbsp
Sugar ¼ cup
Vanilla Essence ½ tsp
Apple 1
Papaya (not too ripe) ¼ cup
Small banana 3
Pomegranates ½ cup
Method:
1. Mix together milk, condensed milk ,sugar, and vanilla essence.
2. Chop fruits except pomegranates into tiny pieces.
3. Add to the milk.
4. Chill and serve cold.
THE STORY OF THE MALLU MOMOS
I saw this lovely recipe in a chinese cookbook, and the thought passed my mind that this was such a lovely idea for my ramadan recipe section. Not too oily, healthy, and very light on the stomach too!
So when I went to my home in Kollam, last week, I made this dish and presented it with a flourish..(a lot of pride too...it looked quite proffesional and stylish..)Ta daaa!!Take a look at that!!It's a work of art!!And sure enough, my brother S and my umma(mom) were in raptures at it's aesthetic appeal..And the taste....ahem...
I think the chinese would love it for it's sophisticated taste...but for a true blue mallu...you need a little more spice and stuff to sink your teeth into..
The look on my Vappa's (dad) face said it all...'Do I dare to spit it out and risk insulting her...or should I swallow this vile stuff and insult my palate?'
My poor brother, who had been waiting eagerly to eat his siter's famed cooking after a long gap, really tried...valiantly ploughing on with the business of chewing the tasteless mush..till I said.." Oh stop it , everyone..I know it's horrible.. you don't have to act for my sake!!"
Even so, I was truly offended by their releived smiles....really...they could have acted for my sake..
So Umma gave me a small advice." My dear Resh, Authentic Chinese food is all nice, But for us old mallus, we prefer something spicy and tangy , so why don't you try this with a different filling? More Indianised?"
I took her advice, and changed the recipe for a more spicy filling,and...it is now a smash hit!!So take a look at my Mallu Momos !!
Perfect for parties , you could make them ahead and steam just before serving.
MALLU MOMOS
Ingredients:
Filling::
Onions chopped finely 2 medium size
Green chillies(minced) 8
Capsicum chopped finely 1/2
Spring Onions chopped finely 4
Celery chopped finely 1/4 cup
Garlic (minced) 4 cloves
Boneless chicken (cooked and minced)-250 gms
Soya sauce 1 tbsp
Chicken stock cube(optional) 1
Chlli sauce 2 tbsp
Water/stock 1/4 cup
Chilli powder a dash
Salt not needed if you're adding stock cube...otherwise, add to taste.
For the pancakes:
-----------------
Egg 1
Cornflour 3 heaped tbsp
Maida 5 tbsp
Soda bi carb 1/2 tsp
Milk 1/2 cup
Salt 1/2 tsp
Water 1 cup
Method:
1. Saute onions in 4 tbsp oil till soft.
2. Add rest of filling ingredients, except for chicken and water. Saute well.
3. Add chicken , then water.
4. When all ingredients are well mixed, and soft, turn off heat.
5. Make pancake batter by putting all ingredients in a blender and mixing well. Keep aside for 15 minutes.
6. Assemble everything near the cooktop..the filling, a chopping board, to make momos, and a steamer for keeping momos in after making it.
7. Heat a small non stick frying pan , pour in about 1 large tbsp of the batter, swirl the pan around, till the batter coats the bottom of the pan evenly.
8. Cover and cook for two minutes, then flip over onto the chopping board nearby.
9. This part , you have to do fast, before they become dry. Put one tbsp of the filling in the middle of the pancake, then, bring the edges together over the filling so that it forms a small sack. Press firmly at the neck of the sack for a minute. It will stick together.
10. Keep aside in a steamer and repeat for rest of the momos, steps no.9 and 10.
11. Just before serving, steam gently for 5 minutes.
12. Lift carefully onto plate, tie the neck of the sacks with a spring onion strand.
13. Serve hot with Thai chilli sauce or any kind of chilli sauce.
A little complicated, but once you get the hang of it, they get easier each time. And they look so gorgeous..
You could make them at ;east one or two days before and store them in plastic containers in the refrigerator, steaming them just before serving.
So when I went to my home in Kollam, last week, I made this dish and presented it with a flourish..(a lot of pride too...it looked quite proffesional and stylish..)Ta daaa!!Take a look at that!!It's a work of art!!And sure enough, my brother S and my umma(mom) were in raptures at it's aesthetic appeal..And the taste....ahem...
I think the chinese would love it for it's sophisticated taste...but for a true blue mallu...you need a little more spice and stuff to sink your teeth into..
The look on my Vappa's (dad) face said it all...'Do I dare to spit it out and risk insulting her...or should I swallow this vile stuff and insult my palate?'
My poor brother, who had been waiting eagerly to eat his siter's famed cooking after a long gap, really tried...valiantly ploughing on with the business of chewing the tasteless mush..till I said.." Oh stop it , everyone..I know it's horrible.. you don't have to act for my sake!!"
Even so, I was truly offended by their releived smiles....really...they could have acted for my sake..
So Umma gave me a small advice." My dear Resh, Authentic Chinese food is all nice, But for us old mallus, we prefer something spicy and tangy , so why don't you try this with a different filling? More Indianised?"
I took her advice, and changed the recipe for a more spicy filling,and...it is now a smash hit!!So take a look at my Mallu Momos !!
Perfect for parties , you could make them ahead and steam just before serving.
MALLU MOMOS
Ingredients:
Filling::
Onions chopped finely 2 medium size
Green chillies(minced) 8
Capsicum chopped finely 1/2
Spring Onions chopped finely 4
Celery chopped finely 1/4 cup
Garlic (minced) 4 cloves
Boneless chicken (cooked and minced)-250 gms
Soya sauce 1 tbsp
Chicken stock cube(optional) 1
Chlli sauce 2 tbsp
Water/stock 1/4 cup
Chilli powder a dash
Salt not needed if you're adding stock cube...otherwise, add to taste.
For the pancakes:
-----------------
Egg 1
Cornflour 3 heaped tbsp
Maida 5 tbsp
Soda bi carb 1/2 tsp
Milk 1/2 cup
Salt 1/2 tsp
Water 1 cup
Method:
1. Saute onions in 4 tbsp oil till soft.
2. Add rest of filling ingredients, except for chicken and water. Saute well.
3. Add chicken , then water.
4. When all ingredients are well mixed, and soft, turn off heat.
5. Make pancake batter by putting all ingredients in a blender and mixing well. Keep aside for 15 minutes.
6. Assemble everything near the cooktop..the filling, a chopping board, to make momos, and a steamer for keeping momos in after making it.
7. Heat a small non stick frying pan , pour in about 1 large tbsp of the batter, swirl the pan around, till the batter coats the bottom of the pan evenly.
8. Cover and cook for two minutes, then flip over onto the chopping board nearby.
9. This part , you have to do fast, before they become dry. Put one tbsp of the filling in the middle of the pancake, then, bring the edges together over the filling so that it forms a small sack. Press firmly at the neck of the sack for a minute. It will stick together.
10. Keep aside in a steamer and repeat for rest of the momos, steps no.9 and 10.
11. Just before serving, steam gently for 5 minutes.
12. Lift carefully onto plate, tie the neck of the sacks with a spring onion strand.
13. Serve hot with Thai chilli sauce or any kind of chilli sauce.
A little complicated, but once you get the hang of it, they get easier each time. And they look so gorgeous..
You could make them at ;east one or two days before and store them in plastic containers in the refrigerator, steaming them just before serving.
ONAM CLASHES WITH RAMZAAN
Today was Onam. All over the world, wherever there is a mallu, Onam is celebrated, regardless of colour caste or creed. Onam is special. It is our festival, it is a time for gathering family and fiends together and swapping stories about how big your sadya ( feast) was..
This year, there was a big difference. We mallu muslims were faced with a big question. To celebrate onam or not to celebrate. This year , caste did come in the way of celebrations. For muslims all over, Ramzaan is happening .. we are fasting . So how can we celebrate Onam when our religion tells us to restrain from celebrations and merrymaking and concentrate on prayers?
So all of us mallu muslims were put on the spot. No Onam for us this year. And so we watched all mallus celebrate Onam without us..
Normally, every year for Onam, My family would gather at the ancestral home of my husband. Clad in traditional Mallu wear, we would be a sight for sore eyes. In cream mundus with the grand gold border, the traditional mallu costume is beyond words. The children would be wearing paavada and blouses in a variety of colours…every lady would be sporting a long strand of jasmine on her hair, and chunky gold jewellery too.
We would put the pookkalam(floral carpet). The kids would do it, with many comments and teasing from the elders..
And we would serve the traditional Kerala feast on tender plantain leaves (thooshanilaa). Steaming hot rice, Pappadam, Sambaar , Parippu, Olan, Kaalan, Aviyal, Pachadi, Achaar, Upperi, Sharkkaravaratti, …..the menu is a foodie’s delight!!
The ladies would serve the men first, then the children..and when they were finished , we ladies would sit down to be served by the men and children.
Aaah…so many things we are missing this year…
So today, in defiance of the fact that it was Onam, I made this totally non mallu like item for Iftaar( breaking fast).
Mutton Vindaloo!!
MUTTON VINDALOO
Ingredients:
Mutton 1 kg.
Garlic 4 cloves
Ginger ½ inch piece
Turmeric 1 tsp
Red chillies 10
Cumin Seeds 4tsp
Vinegar ¼ cup
Onions sliced 4
Tomatoes chopped 4
Green chillies 2
Salt 1tsp
Method:
1. Wash meat. Wipe dry.
2. Grind together red chillies, ginger, garlic, turmeric and cumin. Make a paste with the vinegar.
3. Smear the paste on the meat and keep aside for 2 hours.
4. In a pressure cooker, sauté onions in 4 tbsp oil till soft ;put in meat and sauté again.
5. Throw in the tomatoes, green chillies, salt, and add enough water to just cover the meat.
6. Pressure cook for 20 minutes.
7. If it’s too watery, cook agin without covering till it is thick gravy.
8. Serve hot with rotis, or any type of bread.
LEFTOVER MAGIC!
Yesterday we had fried chicken for dinner..and we had a fair amount of leftovers. What to do with fried chicken? I remembered my sister-in- law S, making meatballs with chicken and pasta..
I first removed the bones, then shredded the fried chicken in a food processer. A dash of steak sauce, (yes!!crazy, isn't? worked out well though..) and other assorted ingredients , and my meatballs were ready. I think any type of chicken will work out nice for this..I did'nt add too many spices , etc, since the fried chicken already has a nice taste..if you're adding pieces from a chicken curry too , I think it wil be as nice. Take a look at the picture below, and you'll understand how tasty it was. I had served the meatballs onto a platter, and I had just gone to get the camera from my room. By the time I got back, half the balls were missing!!
CHICKEN MEATBALLS
Ingredients:
Chicken(cooked and shredded ) 2 cups
Pasta (macaroni is best) 1 cup
Steak sauce 2 tbsp
Pepper 2 tsp
Basil or parsley 1/2 tsp
Egg 1
Cheese, grated 1/2 cup
(mozzarella or cheese slice)
Fresh breadcrumbs 1 cup
Method:
1. Cook pasta and cool. Once cool, shred coarsely in a food processer.
2. Mix together all ingredients except bread crumbs.
3. Roll into small ping pong sixed balls.
4. Roll in bread crumbs till well coated, then deep fry in hot oil.
5. Serve hot .
I first removed the bones, then shredded the fried chicken in a food processer. A dash of steak sauce, (yes!!crazy, isn't? worked out well though..) and other assorted ingredients , and my meatballs were ready. I think any type of chicken will work out nice for this..I did'nt add too many spices , etc, since the fried chicken already has a nice taste..if you're adding pieces from a chicken curry too , I think it wil be as nice. Take a look at the picture below, and you'll understand how tasty it was. I had served the meatballs onto a platter, and I had just gone to get the camera from my room. By the time I got back, half the balls were missing!!
CHICKEN MEATBALLS
Ingredients:
Chicken(cooked and shredded ) 2 cups
Pasta (macaroni is best) 1 cup
Steak sauce 2 tbsp
Pepper 2 tsp
Basil or parsley 1/2 tsp
Egg 1
Cheese, grated 1/2 cup
(mozzarella or cheese slice)
Fresh breadcrumbs 1 cup
Method:
1. Cook pasta and cool. Once cool, shred coarsely in a food processer.
2. Mix together all ingredients except bread crumbs.
3. Roll into small ping pong sixed balls.
4. Roll in bread crumbs till well coated, then deep fry in hot oil.
5. Serve hot .
RAMADAN ,THE MONTH OF FASTING
Ramadan has started today. This is a very special month for muslims. It is a time of fasting, prayer, and doing good. I love this month so much..for the control over ourselves, for the deprivation..for the charity, the feasting in the evening, for the prayers...most of all, I must say that i love the fact that as a family, it is a time for bonding and becoming even more closer. Waking up for edeyathaazham or Suhoor , the pre dawn time to eat, we all have a meal together, sit around chatting about this and that, and when the Subahi , early morning call for prayer is heard from the nearby mosque, we all stand together and do namaz,(pray) together.. yes...even the smallest member of opur family, J3, who is only 4, joins us for this. The feeling of well being and piety and love that I feel all around me when I am surrounded by my family in prayer is indescribable..
And nombu thurakkal,or iftaar, breaking our fast is also pretty special. The whole family sitting around the table eating together... prayers afterward are also done together as a family.
It is a month of forgiveness, and charity..doing good for others takes on a special importance this month.
I think I'm going all religious on you and boring you to tears...so I think I'll just wind up now.. Before I stop, I just want to tell you that the next few postings wil be having special ramadan recipes . Apricots in milk is the recipe I'm giving you today. This is a very light dessert that can be served for Iftaar . It can also be made for any other time too.. Easy to make, with a lovely taste, light on the stomach too..One more tip, you should use the really dry apricots with seeds inside,like the one shown on the left side below..not the fleshy soft ones like the ones on the right side.
APRICOTS IN MILK
Ingredients:
Apricots 50 gms
Milk 2 cups
Condensed milk 1/2 cup
Sugar if needed
Method:
1. Soak apricots in milk for 1 hour and then boil together for 5 minutes till very soft.
2. Strain the apricots and keep aside. Remove seeds from the apricots.
3. Mix condensed milk with milk, and sugar if you like your dessert too sweet.
4. Put apricots(deseeded) back into the milkmixture, then chill.
5. Break open the seeds with a stone. You will get an almond fro inside each shell. Add this to the milk mix.
6. Serve chilled ..
A LAZY SUNDAY
Sundays at my home are generally lazy...because that's the only day that we're all totally free..except for those weekends when we have some wedding to attend...which is at least once a month.Most mallus are stuck in this routine of going to a wedding every single sunday...somebody's aunt's brother-in-law's sister's daughter will be getting married...somebody's cousin's brother-in -law will be getting married....why, it could even be your local plumber getting married, but you simply must go...N hdecided that we will not go for any weddings other than close relations and family friends of long standing. This rule has helped us to stay at home relaxing most Sundays while most mallus are sweating it out rushing from weddings to housewarmings all day....Yesterday we had to break our rule and go for a wedding..our Electrician is getting married..could'nt afford not to go. Suppose he gets in a snit that we did'nt come for his wedding? Then he might decide not to come when we call him for some electrical repairs and work. And good electricians (and plumbers and carpenters and..ahem, all service workers) are really hard to come by in malluland. So off N went, dashing in and out of the wedding venue in 15 minutes flat..in mallu language, we call this onnu thala kaatttiyittu varaan. In other words, to mark your attendance and run!! We've got it down to a fine art, this showing your head and vanishing. I think most mallus living in Kerala will know exactly what I'm talking about.
Anyway, wedding attendance over, we came home and got down to the business of relaxing. Mowing the lawn, changing lightbulbs, washing our cars, yup...reaaaallee reelaaxing!!
Once we finish the exhaustive business of relaxing, we eat our lunch and have a short siesta(nap). Yesterday evening , we decided to visit N's brother and his family who lives nearby. Since my niece adores my carrot cake, I decided to bake one and take it for her..The best thing about this cake is that once you have assembled the ingredients, which takes only 10 minutes max, it is very easy to make. And it's soo moist ..My personal favorite..the kids are mad about it...and my niece, she goes into a swoon when talking about carrot cake!!
CARROT CAKE
Ingredients
Carrots grated finely -3 cups
Sugar granulated -2 cups
Flour -2 cups
Oil -1 1/2 cups
(if you substitute dalda instead of 1/2 cup oil, it would be evn more soft and moist)
Eggs -4
Soda bi carb - 1 tsp
Baking powder -1 tsp
Cinnamon powdered -1/2 tsp
Clove powdered -1/2 tsp
Nutmeg powdered(optional)1/4 tsp
Salt -a pinch
Method:
1. Beat togeher all ingredients for 2 to 5 minutes(not more than that)
2. Pour into a greased baking tray and bake till done.(15 to 20 minutes)
3. Serve hot or warm...never cold...since it has a tendency for oiliness if cold.
Anyway, wedding attendance over, we came home and got down to the business of relaxing. Mowing the lawn, changing lightbulbs, washing our cars, yup...reaaaallee reelaaxing!!
Once we finish the exhaustive business of relaxing, we eat our lunch and have a short siesta(nap). Yesterday evening , we decided to visit N's brother and his family who lives nearby. Since my niece adores my carrot cake, I decided to bake one and take it for her..The best thing about this cake is that once you have assembled the ingredients, which takes only 10 minutes max, it is very easy to make. And it's soo moist ..My personal favorite..the kids are mad about it...and my niece, she goes into a swoon when talking about carrot cake!!
CARROT CAKE
Ingredients
Carrots grated finely -3 cups
Sugar granulated -2 cups
Flour -2 cups
Oil -1 1/2 cups
(if you substitute dalda instead of 1/2 cup oil, it would be evn more soft and moist)
Eggs -4
Soda bi carb - 1 tsp
Baking powder -1 tsp
Cinnamon powdered -1/2 tsp
Clove powdered -1/2 tsp
Nutmeg powdered(optional)1/4 tsp
Salt -a pinch
Method:
1. Beat togeher all ingredients for 2 to 5 minutes(not more than that)
2. Pour into a greased baking tray and bake till done.(15 to 20 minutes)
3. Serve hot or warm...never cold...since it has a tendency for oiliness if cold.
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