My version of Banana Modak

*NOTE- these recipes need not be unique to me. These are everyday
recipes with a few moderations I've made. If someone has thought of
similar ideas, I claim on knowledge of it.

5. Banana modak.
You will need:
~ 2 diced elakki banana.
~ 1 cup jaggery roughly broken into chunks.
~ 1 cup roasted groundnuts.
~ 1 tbsp roasted sesame seeds.
~ 2 cup fine rice flour.
~ water, for making dough and steaming.

Things to do:
+ boil about 2cups water thoroughly. Make a well of dry rice flour seasoned with a little salt. Pour a quarter of the water in the cavity and immediately mix briskly with a spoon to make a granular flour. Keep aside to cool.
+ when it reaches room temperature, add normal water little by little and knead with hands to make a pliable dough.
+ grind together groundnuts, jaggery and sesame seeds to granular texture. Take in a bowl. Add in the banana.
+ take a fist size chunk of dough, smoothen it out and flatten to thick saucer with your hands. You can use oil to grease your hands.
+ place a spoonful of the mixture in middle and carefully close into a crescent.
+ seal the edges by pressing the mouth lightly. Repeat for other pieces.
+ steam for 20mins. Serve warm.

My version of Aviyal

*NOTE- these recipes need not be unique to me. These are everyday recipes with a few moderations I've made. If someone has thought of similar ideas, I claim on knowledge of it.

You will need:
~a cup each of Chopped vegetables of your choice.
~ 1inch ginger, 5-8 garlic, 3 green chilies
~ 1 and half tsp cumin seeds
~ 1 tbsp soaked rice
~ 1tbsp oil for cooking
~ 1 finely chopped onion
~ half cup tomato puree
~ 1 and half cup whisked yogurt
~ half cup coconut cream
~ salt to taste
~ 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
~ 2pinch of citric acid
~ 10 - 12 curry leaves
~ 1 tsp mustard seeds
Things to do:
+Dice into equal size (medium) a cup each vegetables of your choice. Also keep a cup of green peas with it.
+boil yam separately in salted water.
+Make a fine paste of ginger, garlic, green chilies(alter to your taste), cumin seeds and soaked rice.
+ Heat oil in a deep pan, saute onion till it turns translucent. Add the above ginger-garlic paste. Saute a few seconds.
+ Add in all the vegetables, saute again for a min.
+ whisk in together tomato puree, pre-whisked yogurt, and coconut cream. Stir thoroughly till boils begin to appear.
+ add salt, turmeric powder, and 1 and half cup water. Bring to a boil for 10mins or till vegetables are done.
+ check seasoning, add a pinch of citric acid if it's too bland.
+ Simmer for 2mins, remove from heat and serve hot garnished with few curry leaves and mustard seeds.

The maladies of rain

Its been raining cats and dogs in South India for better part of last month, and honestly there's no better word to describe it than wrathful.

Mother nature drenched us mercilessly under the superior command of the Almighty, and the respites were too far and few in between.

My hearts and hopes are with the afflicted, but what astounds me about the entire situation is the laxity of authority, the lack of preparation, and the lessons not learnt over the years.

We all know this land lies in the cyclone belt of Asia, and every year numerous cyclones visit us in quick succession and without fail. So, why are no one making efforts to better prepare for these monsoon visitors? Why do roads get clogged every year, why are homes flooded and with no effort to counter it? Why are sea shores encroached and no officer clears it (give the poor people better and safer places to dwell?)

Its high time we wake up, gear up, and put an end to these maladies before the next season of cyclones and heavy rainfall.