FLOWER ARRANGEMENT IN DISCARDED CARDBOARD TUBE

Next time don't discard your cardboard tubes. Instead make a cute flower vase which can be pinned to the wall very easily and gives your home a new look. 

VARALAKSHMI VRATHAM

The month of  sravanam(mostly august) is very important for women. This whole holy month is dedicated to worship goddess lakshmi. Pooja is performed in every home especially on fridays and tuesdays. Poojalu, poolu pallu, tambulalu, langa vonilu, nagalu.........India lo vunte bavundanipistondi......

Varalakshmi vratham is performed on the friday before the full moon day(pournami). This pooja is equivalent to worshiping the asthalakshmis, eight goddesses aadi Lakshmi , dhana Lakshmi (wealth), dhanya Lakshmi, gaja Lakshmi, santhana Lakshmi, veer Lakshmi, vijaya Lakshmi, vidya Lakshmi. The vratham is performed by all women to please varalakshmi who grants boons(varam).

Apart from pooja the recipes made as prasadam are also important. Along with maha naivedyam(annam kura, pappu, pulusu, perugu) 9 or 12 different pindivantalu are made. In my home I make 9 of them. My menu remains standard. Check them out.

1. PULIHORA
2. CHAKRAPONGALI
3. KATTEPONGALI
4. DADDOJANAM
5. POORNAMBOORELU
6. BOBBATLU
7. PURI
8. SEMIYA KHEER
9. BAJJILU

SIMPLY PULAO

Now that I am a mother of a Toddler I started finding quick, easy and tasty recipes that he could eat. Here is a simple pulao recipe which is rich in taste, rich in calories and rich in protein and vitamins. After all this is a kids recipe so it can be calorie rich. Try it now.

INGREDIENTS

Rice                  1 cup

Vegetables        1 cup (cut into small pieces)

Ghee                 4 Tsp.

Salt                   to taste

Red chilies        3

Shahi Jeera        1 Tsp

Cinnamon          1 inch piece

Cardamom         3-4

Bay leaf              2

Ginger, garlic     1 tsp.(paste and this is optional)

Onion                 1 small( finely cut)

PROCEDURE

Chop all the vegetables of your choice into bite sized pieces.

I used carrots, green peas, beans, corn, potato.

In a pan, (preferably pressure cooker) add the ghee. 

Now add the red chilies, jeera, cinnamon, cardamom, bay leaf, ginger garlic paste. 

Use whole red chilly as is. This gives the flavor, mild spiciness and can be easily removed after cooking.

Saute for a minute. Add the finely chopped onion.

When the onions turn transparent add the veggies.

Fry for a minute. Add salt and rice.

Add enough water, a little bit more than you usually use.(2 and a half cups)

This way rice will be over cooked but the ghee helps keep the rice separate without sticking. 

Cover and cook till the pulao is perfectly cooked.

You can add grated paneer at the end if your kid don't eat paneer as is.

TIPS

Add more of ginger garlic paste and lots of green chilies if this is for you.
Soy chunks or granules can also be added.
Add nuts of your choice if for kid is more than 2 years of age.
Serve with any raita or plain curd.