Fresh Turmeric Pachidi

Pachidi is nothing but Rayita or Rayta, a curd based curry.

We got some fresh turmeric from out pot. Last year during the Nagara Panchami, I bought some turmeric leaves to prepare Kadubu. Turmeric leaf Kadubu is very traditional and on that day of Nagara Panchami we have a custom that, nothing is fried, seasoned or even chapatis, dosas are prepared on Dosa / Chapati Pan. So mostly steamed food or cooked food is eaten on that day.
Coming back to turmeric it was a good yield in the pot. I was so happy to pick them.
I gave fresh turmeric to my relations and our friends too.
I did use this fresh Turmeric for Pachidi and Turmeric Milk which is very good for health these days.

Let us see some benefits of Turmeric.

Turmeric is the most effective nutritional supplement  and  benefits to our body and brain. Turmeric contain bio active properties with medicinal values. It is rich in anti - inflammatory sources and good antioxidant content. Turmeric is good for brain health. It is good for skin health. Turmeric is good for Turmeric can help for preventing and treating Alzheimer disease. It is good for treating depression. It is good for treating age related diseases.
Lets see the simple and healthy recipe of Fresh Turmeric Pachidi.

Ingredients :

Fresh Turmeric : An inch
Curd : 1 Cup
Salt : As required
Green chilly : Just a small piece. (1/2).
Seasoning : 
Ghee : 1 Tsp
Jeera/ Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Curry Leaves : 4 to 5

Method :

1. Slightly scrape out the outer layer of turmeric and wash it nicely.
2. Grate or cut into very small pieces.

3.Wash and cut green chilly into very small.
4. Now add a  small cup of curd, little salt to grated turmeric.

5. Mix it well and add seasoning done with Jeera/Cumin seeds, curry leaves and very little ingh.

6. Serve a tablespoon of Turmeric Pachidi in the beginning of the lunch.

Note :

This Fresh Turmeric Pachidi should be eaten at the beginning of the lunch. It is a healthy pachidi.  It should be served maximum One Tablespoon. Adding more chilly is optional. Mild spice is always better. Turmeric keeps the body warm and is better to use less chilly. (Heat for the body). No Onion or no garlic recipe.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3 Serves.

Banana stem Curry

Banana stem curry is one of  the side dish. Banana stem is full of fiber and it should be eaten at least once a month or two.

Banana Stem has loads of benefits and people say that it takes away the dirt from intestine in a fine manner. It helps to flush out the stone from kidney. It eases the problem of indigestion.
I have used Banana Stem, little jeera and pepper. Added some grated coconut. Little jaggery is used to give a sweet taste.
The stem was given by our neighbour and they do have lots of place to grown banana plants. They do give us some banana and the stem most of the times. So it is easy for me to try many dishes out of banana stem.
Some time I do cut and put the raw pieces in curd and make  raw pachadi. (With out cooking). some time dal, some time curry so this time its dry curry with simple spices.
Let us see some benefits of eating banana stem in our diet.
Banana stem is good for taking out the kidney stone.
It is good for detoxifying our body. It is good for digestion.It helps to control the blood pressure and cholesterol. Healing acidity and gastric problems.
Banana Stem Curry simple, easy and healthy.
Lets see the recipe Now :

No Onion or Garlic is used in this Dish : Banana Stem Dry Curry.

Ingredients :

Banana stem : Small Piece
Butter milk : 1/2 Cup
To Add :
Dry ginger powder : 1/2 Tsp
Jaggery : 1 Tbs
Turmeric Powder : A little
Salt : As required
Coconut : 2 to 3 Tbs
Seasoning :
Coconut Oil : 1 Tbs
Green chilly : 2 to 3
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Tsp
Jeera : 1/2 Tsp
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8 leaves.

Method : 

1. Add a cup of water to butter milk and soak banana stem pieces in it.
2. Wash and cut banana stem into small pieces.

3. Wash banana stem and drain out all the water from it.

4. Pressure cook banana stem for 6 to 8 minutes adding little water. Let it cool.

5, Prepare seasoning with coconut oil, mustard seeds, jeera, add green chilly and curry leaves.
6. Add cooked banana stem and let it boil.Add turmeric powder, jaagery and ginger powder.

7. Add salt and cook till all the water disappear.
8. Add grated coconut and mix it well. Shift it to a serving bowl.

9. Banana stem curry is ready to serve.

Note :

You can use 2 tbs of curd instead of butter milk. Add a cup of water and mix it well and dip the banana stem cut pieces in it.
Adding any other masala taste differ.  Adding red chilly powder instead of green chilly is optional.
Adding jaggery is optional. Use of any cooking oil instead of coconut oil is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes.

Serves : 4 to 5.

Kashaya Coffee

Kashaya is nothing but some healthy drink. It is helpful to take care of your body. Kashaya is prepared using some home available spices.

This Kashaya powder is very useful to protect you from all type of ill health.
It is good for cough, keeps your body warm and controls blood pressure and diabetes.
Kashaya can be used as coffee, means every day you can drink. Morning coffee time or after breakfast you can have this drink.
Kashaya powder is very easy to prepare and this kashaya recipe I got from my co sister. Her father and brother used to advice people and give home prepared medicines, pain relief oils and they served the local people.
I have used methi/fenugrik seeds, poppy seeds, Jeera/cumin seeds and little pepper.
The four ingredients are dry roasted and dry ground it. The Kashaya powder should be stored well and use it whenever you prepare Kashaya Coffee.
It is good for digestion, controlling your blood pressure, blood sugar and it helps in taking care of your health by protecting the whole system.
Let us see some benefits of Methi seeds in our diet.

Methi /Fenugrik seeds helps to balance the cholesterol level in our body. It helps in reducing the fat.
It is good for stomach upset and digestive problems : When you have stomach upset do take a glass of butter milk and 1/4 teaspoons of methi seeds soaked in it. No need to rest the seeds. Just drink it and you will feel very comfortable after drinking methi - butter milk drink. Methi seeds helps during the menstrual period cramps in ladies. It helps in reducing the fever and soothe muscle pain. It also helps in maintaining liver and kidney health. Methi seeds are rich in fiber and helps in easy bowel movements. They contain good anti oxidant properties and helps in removing the toxins in our body.
This is simple Kashaya Coffee . You can double the amount of methi seeds. My sister in law Leela Somayaji has given this recipe and whenever  we go to Our Birthi Mane in Ooru I too join them drinking Kashaya Coffee after my breakfast.
Let us see the recipe now :
Ingredients :
Methi /Fenugrik seeds : 50 Grams.
Jeera/Cumin seeds : 50 Grams
Poppy seeds /Gasgase : 50 Grams
Pepper Pods : 1 Tablespoon ( Or little less you can use).

Method :

Clean the ingredients and keep it in a tray.

1. Dry fry Methi seeds till it turn golden brown. Take it out from the pan

2. Dry fry jeera/cumin seeds on low flame and take it out to a big bowl.

3. Dry fry pepper pods and add poppy seeds.

4. Now put off the fire and shift the ingredients to a big bowl. So that it can cool fast.

5. Dry grind the ingredients and put the mixture to a bowl.

6. Shift the Kashaya Powder to a bowl. Let it cool completely.

. Store in a glass jar bottle and use it whenever you want.

7. It can be eaten with honey when you have cold, cough and throat pain.

8. Take a quarter tsp of the powder mix it with 1 or 1/2 tsp of honey mix it well and eat it.
9. You can use this powder for daily Kashaya Coffee after food.
10 You can also make kashaya coffee and drink it.

Note :

Use of methi seeds more /less is optional. Dry roast on low flame. Use glass jar to fill the Kashaya powder. Do not add any sugar. Add little jaggery whenever you prepare Kashaya coffee.
Kashaya Coffee is one of the best herb coffee to regulate blood pressure and blood sugar level in our body. Drinking Kashaya Coffee keeps away the cough, throat pain and even fever.
Try and enjoy.
Time : 20 to 30 Minutes.
Serves : As you use. 

How to make Kashaya Coffee.

Boil a glass of water. Add 1/2 tsp of Kashaya powder and let it boil nicely for 5 minutes. Add 1/2 tsp of jaggery and boil for a minute. Sieve this Kashaya coffee to a big glass. Add 1/2 cup of milk. Serve or drink.
1/2 Tsp of Kashaya Coffee powder is enough for 1 glass of water.

Boil the mixture till it reduces to 3/4  glass. Add milk after you shift the kashaya to a bowl.

Let the mixture cool a little or when you add milk it might curdle. So let the Kashaya cool down for 1 to 2 minutes.

Shanka Pushpa - Lemon Juice.

Shanka Pusha is a flower. I have used this flower and prepared lemon juice. This flower adds natural colour to water when it is slightly boiled.

Shanka Pushpa is known as clitora tematee, commonly known as Asian Pigeonwings. It is also known as bluebell vine or blue pea, butterfly pea, condofan pea and Darwin pea. This plant species belongs to the fabaceae family. The latin name of this genus is " Clitoria ", from clitoris.
Since this flower gives out the natural colour and it is used in many dishes mainly in Asian Countries.
I first tasted the juice that prepared by my sister in Udyavar. She added lemon and was too good.
Then I saw Shri Kripa one of the FOODIE group admini putting up the pic of the juice.
I brought this plant seeds from Udyavar and planted it in a pot. It did not come up. One day I suddenly noticed a flower that grew by the side of the compound wall on the terrace. Saw the plant in a mud bag and removed the plant and replanted it in a pot. For my bad luck the plant died. I brought some more seeds in my next visit to sister's house and planted it in a pot. It has come out nicely and Here we go  :)  me a happy person to see the plant growing and flowering.

Let us see some benefits of Flower Shanka Pushpa.
Shanka Pushpa plant is known for years for their healthy properties in them. They are used in Ayurvedic medicines from ages. They are good for hypertension. They contain the properties that are good for control the production of body's stress hormones and helps in reducing anxiety and stress.
They are the good remedy for improving memory power. The plant has anti -ulcer properties and is very good for fighting against any type of ulcer which is formed in the body. It also helps to improve the nerve tissue. Shanka Pushpa herb helps and controls cholesterol level in our blood. They help in flushing out the fatty acids which are harmful to our body.

Note : One who is suffering from hypertension and low blood pressure must consult the doctor and get his advise. Since it has a quality of decreasing the blood pressure level it might cause problems.
I have used this flower for preparing the juice and added jaggery which turned its colour slightly golden and the other time I used salt and very little sugar. It was ok with  less sugar and good too
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Shanka Pushpa flowers : 5 to 6
Water : 2 Glasses
Jaggery /Sugar  : As your requirement.
Salt : A pinch

Method :

1. Wash Shanka Pushpa flowers nicely and separate the petals.

2. Keep water for boiling. Add Shanka Pushpa flower petals.
3. Let the water boil. The flowers start leaving their colours and the water turns colourful.

4. Put off the gas and sieve boiled water. Throw away the remained flower pieces.
5. Let the water turn cool.

6. Wash and squeeze out the lemon extract to the bowl. ( 1 to 1 1/2 lemon extract).

7. Add a pinch of salt and required sugar. Mix it well.

  8. The healthy drink is ready to serve. Serve the juices that you have prepared.

Note :

Let the water boil nicely. Clean the flower nicely so that no harmful worms go off.
Adding sugar /jaggery / or honey is your choice. I have used Kama Kastorri seeds which I collected from our home garden. Using these seeds helps to cool the body and mind safe and cool.
I have added some kamakasturi seeds/sabja seeds. Remove the husk nicely and clean it. Soak the seeds in little water. Add this water to the juice. Using Sabja seeds helps to cool the body.

Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3  (According to the requirement).
Shanka Pushpa Juice with Jaggery
Followed the same above mentioned method. The change is, used jaggery instead of sugar.