Fresh Turmeric Milk

Turmeric milk is one of the healthy drink. It is good to have turmeric drink, since it helps to keep away the cold, cough and take care of your health in good way.

These turmeric roots are from our pot plants. Some time back/its almost a year back I have planted this plant and made use of the leaves for making Kadubu. (Traditional dish from Udupi). The new leaves grew and the plant started to dry up. I never thought so much it spreads and gives out the best roots.

Let us see some benefits of Turmeric.

Turmeric is said to be natural antibiotic and is used in our cooking. It is also used to heel the wounds as I know. It is anti inflammatory agent, good for treating arthritis, helps to decrease inflammation of joints and reduces the pain. Turmeric helps to promote the heart health. It regulates the blood pressure and reduces the heart diseases. The curcumin in turmeric boosts the brain health. It helps in to boost protein. It helps to increase the good cholesterol level in our body. Good for our skin and helps in removing dark circles.

Let us see the recipe now :
It is an easy recipe and helps to boost our health.
Use of jaggery is optional. 

Things Needed :

Turmeric Root : An Inch
Fresh Milk : 2 Cups.

Method : 

1. Boil milk and let it be hot.
2. Wash turmeric root and scratch out the outer layer. (Thin layer).

3.Grate the turmeric root and put it in 1/2 cup of hot water. Do not boil. (For 2 minutes).

4. Now add this to boiled milk and mix it well.

5. No need to sieve the milk. You can eat the last remained pieces as it is. (Optional).

6. Fresh turmeric milk is ready to drink or serve.

7. Adding jaggery is optional. (Little jaggery can be added at the end). Do not add when milk is boiling.

8. Hot Turmeric Milk is ready to serve.

Note : 

You can use organic turmeric powder instead of turmeric roots. Do not drink daily. It might heat up your body. This milk is good for cold, cough,throat pain and even fever.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 2

You can grow turmeric in pots. 

Ragi & Nuts Laddu

Ragi and Nuts laddu is a sweet dish and you can  relish these laddu in the morning as energy booster.

Ragi & Nuts Laddu has lots of dates, almonds, cashews, little figs and very little ghee. I have also used fresh rose petals which we get from our home garden. It has turned the laddu very tasty.
I tried these laddu for taking it for travelling and also packed some to give it for my sisters. Laddu is good to bite at any time of the day and provides good energy to stay cheerful whole day.

Let us see some benefits of eating dates in our diet.

Dates are very nutritious. They are a source of antioxidants. They can help to reduce blood pressure.
Dates are good for brain health.They are good for bone health. They are rich in fiber. They are rich in antioxidants. They help in controlling the blood sugar level. They are good natural sweetener.
No Sugar or jaggery added in this Ragi&Nuts Laddu.
 It is good for any age group. Good to pack for kids snack, ladies day out, travel and picnics.
Used a pack of dates instead of sugar or jaggery.
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Ragi flour : 1/2 Cup
Dates : 500 Grams.
Almonds : 1/2 Cup.(20 to 25).
Cashews : 2 Tbs
Coconut : 1 Cup (5 to 6 tbs).
Rose petals : 2 Rose flowers.
Gasagase/ Poppy Seeds : 1 Tbs full.
Figs : 3 to 4
Ghee : 2 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Take out the seeds from dates and put it in a pan. Keep on the fire and stir slowly. As you stir,  hot dates turn soft. You must do it on low flame, so that it does not get burnt.

2. Grate coconut. Cut almonds and cashews in to small pieces.

3. Dry roast 1/2 cup of Ragi flour and put it in a big bowl.

4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add dates and stir slowly till they turn soft.

5. Put off the fire and take out the dates to a big bowl.
6. Add grated coconut to a pan and dry roast. Add poppy seeds and roast for a minute.

7. Take it out and put it to a big bowl. Cut figs into small pieces and add it to dates mixture.

8. Just stir rose petals in that hot pan. (No need to be kept on fire). Add this to a big bowl).

9. Now kneed dates nicely.
10. now add roasted coconut, poppy seeds, cut almonds and mix it slowly while you kneed dates.

11. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put 2 tbs of ghee and fry cashews nicely till it turns golden brown.

12. Add this fried cashews with ghee to dates bowl and kneed it again to get good form of sweet ball.

13. See that all the ingredients mixes well.

14. Take a handful of the mixture and make laddu. Laddu is ready to serve.

15. Serve or eat as you like and keep the rest in a box.

 Note :
When you stir dates it turns soft and it is easy to smash it to soft texture. No sugar or jaggery is added here. You can powder almonds and add it to the Laddu. Adding pieces of almonds taste better. (Optional). Adding coconut is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves  30 Laddus can be prepared. ( According to the size you want).

Time : 30 Minutes.

Simple Laddu

Lovely laddus are good to have to boost your energy. I try and make it as simple as they are but a healthy way. These laddu is filled with soft dates, lots of raisins, almonds and cashew pieces with poppy seeds. They are real energy booster, healthy filler and delicious crave builders.

There is no cooking here to prepare these laddus. It is as simple as it is. No cooking on fire, no ghee, no jaggery or sugar or any other forms of sweets except the soft dates.
It is good for kids snack box, good to take it for travel, good energetic when you feel tired. It is good for people who diet and it is diabetic friendly.
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Dates Soft and fruity dates : 500 Gr
Raisins : 2 Cups or 200 Gr
Almonds : 200 Gr.
Cashews : 100 Gr.
Poppy Seeds : 50 Gr.

Method :

1.Remove the pods from dates and keep it aside.
2. Cut almonds and cashews into small pieces and keep it aside.
3. Now put dates, almonds, cashews, raisins in a big bowl.
4. Kneed them together. Add poppy seeds/ gasgase to the dates mixture.
5. Mix all the ingredients nicely and prepare laddu.
6..Take a handful of the almond, dates, raisins and cashew mixture and make small round ball shape laddu.

7. Laddu is ready to eat /serve.

8. Keep them in a steel box or air tight container.

Note :

Use very soft dates. Smash them nicely and then add all the other dry fruits you use. You can powder the nuts instead cutting. But you can relish the bigger pieces. No sugar/jaggery or any other sweet content is not added. Use of more raisins helps to add the sweet to laddu and good for health. You need to kneed them well to get the perfect taste. no ghee or oil is added here.
 Time : 30 Minutes.
15 to 20 Laddus  or according to the size you prefer.

Jack Fruit - Rava - Pepper Idli.

Jack fruits season is here and here we go with Jack Fruit - Rava - Pepper Idli. 

No jaggery in this Jack fruit - Rava - Pepper Idli. It is a famous breakfast food in South Canara/Dakshina Kannada and other places in Karnataka.

 I have prepared jack fruit spicy idli before. Now it it Jack fruit - rava - pepper idli time. Jack fruit is from my sister Vijaya Lakshmi's house. When I went this time we brought one big jack fruit and the fruit is so tasty.

I thought of preparing jack fruit idli.

I have used medium size rava/semolina, coconut, pepper pods and a pinch of cooking soda.

I used the mixi only to grind the jack fruit pieces.

This Jack fruit idli is good for breakfast, kids snack box, travelling and picnic too.
It is a simple, with out jaggery Jack fruit idli and you can eat this Jack fruit - Rava - Pepper Idli at any time of the day.

Things Needed :

Jack fruits : 20 pieces or little more
Rava /Semolina : 1 1/2 cup
Pepper pods : 5 to 6
Coconut : 1 Cup
Salt : A little
Cooking Soda : A pinch

Method :

1. Cut jack fruits grind it with out using water and shift it to a big bowl.

2. Grate coconut and and mix it with jack fruit batter.

3. Add rava / semolina, a pinch of salt and mix it well.
4. Let it rest for 5 minutes.

5. Grease idli plates with ghee or coconut oil.
6. Add a pinch of cooking soda and mix the batter nicely.

7. Add this jack fruits idli batter to each idli mould. ( tatte).
8. Arrange them and keep it in a idli cooker /pressure cooker and cook for 15 to 20 minutes. ( Put a glass of water below the pressure cooker and then place the plates).

9. Put off the fire and take out the idli from idli plates.

10. Serve with ghee and pickle or any side dish or your choice.

Note :

Do not add any water while grinding jack fruits. You can also grind coconut along with jack fruits.
I just mixed fresh grated coconut with jack fruit batter. Let the whole batter rest for 5 minutes after you add rava. Add cooking soda at the last point. Just before you cook idli. A pinch of bicarbonate soda /cooking soda is enough to use.
Adding pepper is optional. But it is better to use pepper pods, so that it reduces the gas in jack fruits.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves :3 to 4.

Kempu Harive Gasi / Amaranth Leaves Curry

Kempu Harive soppu /Amaranth Leaves are packed with vitamins and minerals. I have tried Amaranth leaves Gasi/ curry and it is one of the traditional dish of Udupi.

Gasi means thick curry which has vegetables and fresh fried or roasted minimum spices. Leaves are always loaded with minerals and vitamins. It is good to have leaves in our diet and must eat at least twice in a week. They are full of fiber and helps digest our food easily and helps to ease constipation problems.
I Have used Amaranth leaves, very little toor da, coconut, red chilly and urid dal.
Let us see the recipe Now :
No Onion or No garlic is used in this Kempu Harive Gasi/Amaranth leaves Curry 

Things Needed :

To Cook :
Amaranth Leaves/ Kempu Harive soppu : 1 Bundle
Toor Dal : 2 Tablespoons
To fry :
Coconut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1 teaspoon
Coriander Seeds : 1 Tablespoon
Red chilly : 4 to 5
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
To Grind :
Coconut grated : 1/2 Cup
Fried urid dal mixture
Tamarind : A small marble size
To Add : 
Turmeric powder : A pinch
Ground coconut mixture
Salt : As required
Coconut oil Seasoning.

Method :

1. Wash and cut Amaranth leaves / Kempu Harive soppu in to small pieces.

2. Cook Amaranth leaves and washed toor dal together. ( Pressure cook for 5 to 6 minutes).

3. Keep a small pan on the fire and put a teaspoon of coconut oil.
4. Add urid dal and fry till they turn golden brown. Add coriander seeds and fry for a minute.
5. Add 4 to 5 red chilly and fry. Let urid dal turn golden brown. Switch off the gas and let it cool.

6. Grate coconut and grind it with fried urid dal mixture and small marble size of tamarind.
7. Add required water while grinding. Let it be paste consistency. Remove it from the mixi jar.

8. Keep a big pan and put cooked amaranth leaves. Add required water and salt. Mix it well.
9. Add a pinch of turmeric powder. Let it boil for 2 minutes.
10. Add ground urid dal - coconut mixture. Mix it well and let it boil for 2 to 3 mintues.

11. Shift the curry to a serving dish and add mustard seeds, curry leaves seasoning to the curry.

12. Serve with The main dish you have prepared.

Note :

Do not add more water while grinding. Do not add more urid dal while frying. Fry on low flame. So that it does not get burnt. It should be golden brown or the curry gets sticky. Adding more / less chilly is optional. Use of any cooking oil is optional.