Best of 2011, "My Favorite Fifteen" from Pan Gravy Kadai Curry

I wish all my beloved readers a very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2012!!

As another year comes to an end, I fondly look back to  see what I posted this year and pick out "My Favorite Fifteen" recipes. Every recipe was created and shared with great love and care. So believe me when I say narrowing it down to 15 from 100+ posted recipes was tough. So here is what made the "Top 15" list -

1. First "Food" Post of 2011: Boiled Fruit Cake



2. Best Photo (According to me anyway): Beet Sliders, from scratch



3. Most Enjoyable Baking(I baked with friends, sharing jokes and tips, ordering them around to weave the Lattice crust for me..Oh, yeah, it was most enjoyable! Esp, the bossy part): Lattice Crust Topped Berry Tart



4. The recipe that nearly drove me to tears(With all the layering of cake batter to achieve the perfect zebra pattern,it was indeed nerve-wracking that I wanted to bawl..badly! Phew!): Zebra Cake



5. The dish that impressed me even before I tried(Love the name, Love the taste): Kenyan Sukuma Wiki With Collards and Ground Turkey



6. Favorite "Sweet" Breakfast #1( I "Heart" this Muffin. Bigger is better, in this case!): Heart Shaped Jumbo Banana Nut Muffins



7. Favorite "Sweet" Breakfast #2(This recipe's success made me feel like I climbed Mt.Everest): Egg-less "Flaxseed Meal" French Crepes with Banana Nutella Filling



8. Favorite "Savory" Breakfast #1(A protein packed nourishment for a perfect start! Yeah, baby, pass me the plate!): Sunday Morning Hash with Spanish Olives and Potatoes



9. Favorite Vegetarian Dish(Making everything from scratch is good for the body and soul. Very rewarding dish! Love the colors!!!): Ragi Noodles/Spaghetti  with Loads of Veggies



10. Favorite Chicken Dish #1(A treat for anyone who loves sweet and savory in the same bite!): Easy Pineapple Chicken Curry



11. Favorite Chicken Dish #2(This spicy chicken dish can ward off Winter Blues at the very first bite!): Chicken In Pickling Spices "Achari Murgh"



12. Recipe that helped me get over the fear of Yeast( An ice-breaker! What a lovely post, if I have to say so myself..it helped me forge a path and now there is no turning back on Yeast): Sweet-Potatoes and Veggies Stuffed "Palya/Masala" Buns/Rolls



13. Recipe that cracks me up everytime I hear its name(LoL, RoFl, LoL!): Pasta Puttanesca "Slut's Spaghetti/Whore's Pasta"



14. Recipe that was most appreciated by Family, Friends and PGKC's Readers(A real joy to eat and look at!): Red Matta Rice Pancakes



15. Favorite "Savory" Breakfast #2(Fiber Up, Darlings!): Rolled Oats Porridge with Veggies

Sending this entry to Srivalli's "Best of 2011" Event.

Enjoy!

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Hello Everyone! Meet Imogen, my kitchen assistant

Hey Everyone, I have a new assistant in the kitchen named Imogen(E-Mo-Juhn). With her sturdy arms and savvy ways, she is here to make mixing and kneading a breeze! She comes in a sexy package,an alluring shade of purple that gives my kitchen the much needed face-lift. Why did I choose her? Purple is the gorgeous lovechild of vibrant red and cool blue. Well, Purple screams royalty!And that wasn't the reason why I chose it. Arrrgh! I really don't have an exact reason why I chose this color. I mean, I had to choose one and this color seemed as good as any. Yeah,they all are good and at par with one another! That was the problem.

While I am "unable" to pinpoint why I chose this shade, I can with (LoL) "somewhat-certainty" tell you why I didn't choose the ones that I came this "--> <-- " close to choosing. Okay, serious considerations were given to Candy Apple Red(which happens to be my favorite color) but its too common, found in many many kitchens. Black(my second favorite color), but that wouldn't co-exist or pop in my kitchen. Raspberry Ice, too girly and so gorgeous but my son may not want it after I kick the bucket!Silver Metallic, to match with all the other stainless steel appliances in my kitchen but I want Imo to not blend but hold her own. Gloss Cinnamon, so warm and reminds one of fragrant freshly baked Cinnamon Apple pies but it wasn't a standout..After going back and forth like a gazillion times I finally decided on Boysenberry.

Umm, this is not a brag post although Kitchen-aid Mixers deserve that and more. But I am so happy with this new addition to my kitchen. She and I have just started a sweet/savory journey and I see plenty of breads, cakes and bakes in the future.

Kitchen-aid in Aqua Sky from Martha Stewart's collection(a possible successor, if something does happen to Imo, which is highly unlikely!) I know, I know. I am confused with what I want next. So many gorgeous colors and its so easy to get befuddled!

Enjoy!

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Dining Table Brings Family Together + Homemade AppleSauce "Click"

Times are changing. In this modern era, life is so hectic and stressful that a family gettogether is almost a thing of the past. I so look forward to the time when I can sit together with my family and rehash the day, however mundane the day was.A dining table is something that brings the family together, be it an important occasion or to create precious memories of day to day life.I remember the good old days when I used to sit the at the table drawing/ playing scrabble with my sister while mom made something wonderful in the kitchen for dinner.

Since I have a small kitchen and even smaller dining area, my preferred choice should have been drop leaf tables due to their excellent "saving space" features and their flexibility to be compact or opened to its full size.But I have a dining table similar to the one below, not quite ornate or adorable as this "Lexington Granada Dining Table" , but it is the most used space in my house and not just for eating alone..Almost all my photography for my blog posts are taken here. Also happens to be a favorite spot to hangout with friends, playing cards and what not.

Did you know that a round dining table, like this "Hooker Furniture Cross Creek Perimeter" table promotes equality and respect within a household? Lack of edges mean that there is no head of the table and everyone is equidistant from everyone.Cozy, no?

I totally adore this "Wildon Home Bay City" breakfast nook with its Tile-Topped Table and counter-height stools. I envision myself and my son huddled together over a lengthy breakfast or me teaching him math or science. 

Lastly, this restaurant style "Linon Azalea White Pine Corner Breakfast Nook" has stolen my heart. I so wish for a bigger kitchen with Bay Windows just so I can have my lazy Sunday morning breakfast with my family right here.

Here comes a "Click" of the applesauce that I made with all the apples I picked last week. Recipe will be posted in my next post.

Enjoy!

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Fast, Feast for the "Richest God" in the World

Well I am not kidding about the post title. He is indeed the richest god in the world.And he is none other than Lord Venkateshwara, also known as Balaji, Srinivasa, Govinda etc etc. So why is he the most rich and famous? The Tirumala temple, located in Andhra Pradesh in South India, has 14 tonnes of gold reserves and jewelery worth Rs.5 billion donated so far by devotees alone. **Gulp**. With more than 50,000 daily visitors and an average of 19 million visitors a year, it is almost double the estimated number of people visiting Vatican City. And this is where I got married. Don't ask, longgggg story.

Here is a summary(a tip of the iceberg) about Hinduism,why Hindus offer money/gold to Lord Venkateshwara and whats with the fasting business? Well, as a born Hindu I myself find it baffling because there are simply too many gods..well too many incarnations/manifestations of supreme being if you will. So here goes-

Hindu religion, somewhat like Christianity, is based on a three-part God.  In Hinduism, the trinity is based on three Gods: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.  These three major figures each have a defining role.   

• Brahma is considered the lord of creation,.
• Vishnu is considered the preserver and protector of creation -the embodiment of goodness and mercy, and is the all-powerful force that works unseen to maintain cosmic order or Dharma (a Hindi word and concept meaning, "That which binds together").  Vishnu is most often seen resting on a coiled serpent, with his consort Lakshmi rubbing his feet.  Additionally, Vishnu is usually represented as resting because he never sleeps, keeping an ever vigilant watch on the world.  Vishnu has nine separate incarnations, each with weapons to care for and protect the world. 
• Shiva, the final deity in the Hindu trinity, is the destroyer.  However, Shiva is not seen as a figure of evil.  Instead, he makes change possible by destroying the old elements and people in the world so they can be reincarnated.  Shiva is most often represented as traveling about on his white bull Nandi, and can also be seen cross legged and with his many arms in the air as he rests in his home atop Mount Kailasa in the Himalayas. 

Now to the story why it is raining gold, diamonds and money at the Tirumala hills where sits the Shrine of the richest god in the world-
Goddess Lakshmi(Goddess of wealth), also referred as Shri, consort of Lord Vishnu,once had a fight with Lord Vishnu and left Vaikunta, the heavenly abode.Around the same time the king/ruler of seven hills of Tirumala was tilling the ground, found a baby in a lotus flower and named her Padmavathi(Lady born in Lotus petals) and adopted her as his daughter. She is none other than the manifestation of Goddess Lakshmi.

Lord Vishnu soon arrived on earth searching for Goddess Lakshmi. But He failed to trace Shri and settled on Tirumala hills in form of a forest gatherer and continued his search.During the search, Lord Vishnu met a beautiful girl named Padmavati who was the daughter of the King of the seven hills in Tirumala. They both fell in love and decided to get married.The father of Padmavati asked for a huge bridal price and to pay the money Lord Vishnu took a huge loan from Kubera, the Hindu god who is the treasurer of wealth. But Kubera gave the loan on the condition that Vishnu cannot return to Vaikunta (heavenly abode) without paying off the debt.

So Lord Vishnu resides at Tirumala as Tirupati Venkateswara without returning to Vaikunta(heavenly abode). To help him repay his debt, devotees offer him wealth and in return Lord Vishnu fulfills their prayers.Can you help him repay his debts? I do whenever I visit Tirumala. :)

Puratassi Fasting (Sept 17, 2010 -- Oct 17, 2010)

My MIL keeps strict fasting during the auspicious month [in the Tamil(Hindu) calendar] called Puratassi and the fasting is called Puratassi Viratham/Vratam. This month is of great importance to Tamilians(MIL is Telugu but she keeps fast anyways as she has lived in TamilNadu her whole life) as it is believed that Lord Venkateswara (Balaji) appeared on the earth in this month. Some people observe partial fasting on all days in Puratassi others limit it to Puratasi Saturdays.The strict fast on Puratassi Saturdays which involves not even drinking a drop of water until prayer.Some devotees only eat vegetarian food during the entire month. They also quit smoking and consuming alcohol for one month.

Okay, this is the best/only decent-sized picture of Lord Venkateshwara and this is all I have got since I am not a very pious girl..Yeah, don't have many idols or have an entire room dedicated as a prayer room.Just a small cabinet space with my favorite gods -- a smallish place of heaven and hope to go to when I am upset/state of turmoil.

Hymns dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara are chanted on Puratassi Saturdays.

Clean, cooked and untasted food is offered on a new plate(or any plate unused by mere mortals for eating) on the Saturdays of this month. Food menu should have something sweet, something bitter, something sour and something salty.

A sample of whats on the plate that is fit for the god(s):

• Potato Fry
• Dhal Fritters
• Jaggery and Lentil Payasam(Pudding)
• Dhal With Clarified Butter And Jaggery over white rice.
• Okra fry
• Homemade Yogurt
• Sambhar
• Cabbage Fry

After prayer, everyone takes a small share of this food which is considered to be blessed by the god(s). Delicious! Will upload recipes soon.

There are too many gods in Hinduism. But my favorite is Lord Ganesha(The elephant faced god) and can you guess how many of his idols/pictures are there in the photo?
Curios about how he got that elephant face? Check here.

Enjoy!

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Guess this dish + What I bought with my KrazyKitchen CSNStore Giftcard Win..

I know I promised that I will be posting some traditional dishes, MIL style and this is one such dish. Can you guess what it is? It is made with coarsen red rice, shredded coconut, powdered cardamom and jaggery to be had as breakfast or an evening snack. :). Look forward to the recipe this Sunday.

Ages ago I also promised I will post about what I bought with my $60 CSN store gift card that I won at Krazy Kitchen.I took some time to decide on what I wanted to buy and this is what I got, for props -
iTTala Teema Pasta Bowl in Turquoise(Set of 2, $35), Nikko Ceramics 'Blanc Fleur' Relish tray(Set of 2, $28)

Thanks a bunch Krazy Kitchen. I am enjoying my buys. Immensely!

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An 'August' Announcement - Picture Project 365

"The World is full of Beautiful Things
    Butterfly Wings, Fairytale Things
The World abounds with many delights
  Magical Sights, Fanciful Sights
Our lives tick by like Pendulum Swings
  Delicate Things, Butterfly Wings
And each new day undoubtedly brings
   Still more beautiful things "

-- Beautiful Things by Bobby Darin
Okay, what am I getting at by quoting Bobby's Beautiful things? Well, after a long, very long, extremely long thought(trust me) I have decided to jump the 'Picture Project 365' Bandwagon that seems to be all the rage in Facebook, Flickr, Blog etc etc. I shall be posting one picture a day, everyday for 365 days starting this month in my Facebook Fanpage.

Pictures could be of Art, Architecture, Food,Family,Nature,Wildlife,Scenic, Self, Sun and Sundry.Come follow me on my eclectic photo excursion for a jolly good time. While you are there, show me your support by hitting the "Like" button. Brash, I know. :). I'll see you there.

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Happy Mother's Day 2010

Happy Mothers Day to all mothers(The Nurturers) around the world!

My mom is an extra extra special person -- she almost raised both her kids single-handedly while dad had to come here for a better opportunity. She had to deal with a rebellious, defiant, problematic girl(Moi) and she did a great job in a "splendid, stubborn, silent and non-judgmental" way. In the end, I did turn out okay and plenty thanks to her.
If Mom was visiting this is what I would make for her -
Breakfast:

• Freshly squeezed BloodRed Orange/ Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice
• Eggless Crepes/Pancakes With Rhubarb Coulis
• Mango Flavored Yogurt topped with Blackberries
• Masala Tea

Lunch:

• Masoor Dhal Soup
• Veggie Pilaf and a Turkish Yogurt Side
• Rhubarb and Oatmeal Crisp

Dinner:

• Warm Couscous Salad
• Baked Pumpkin dessert
• Cardamom Spiced Milk

As for me, I wouldn't mind one of these(Ponte Vecchio Jewellery shop, Florence, Italy)-

But I would settle for a bunch of these-

And a box of these Belgian Gourmet Goodies-

I have plans with my family today, so will catch-up with all of your posts tomorrow.

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What a Saree! -- The most expensive Silk Saree

This is something that was sent to me a couple of days ago by my cousin. It was too interesting to not post. So how often have you come across a $100,000(Indian Rs.40+ lakh) silk saree? Chennai Silks, a textile unit has come up with one of its kind and it is seeking an unmistakable entry into the Guinness Book of World Records for being the most unique and expensive saree.

Some facts about this Saree:

• The exceptionally stunning saree is meticulously woven with 12 precious stones and metals to depict 11 of Raja Ravi Verma's popular paintings. Explicitly projected is 'Lady Musicians', one of the painter's very famous works that displays women belonging to diverse cultural backgrounds.
• The border of the saree pictures 10 other paintings of the very same artist.
• The women in the paintings are intricately hand-woven and beautified with jewels of gold, diamond, platinum, silver, ruby, emerald, yellow sapphire, sapphire, cat's eye, topaz, pearl and corals.
• This saree will be the first silk saree that required the use of 7,440 jacquard hooks and 66,794 cards during the weaving process. 
• To make this Saree, a group of consummate workers took nearly 4,680 hours.

Hmm, Impressive!

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NewYear's Special: Pearls Of Wisdom

On New Year's Day, I want to pass on these meaningful pearls of wisdom to my fellow bloggers and buddies. Even if one does not want to follow, it makes for a good read. So Enjoy!

• Have a firm handshake.
• Look people in the eye.
• Sing in the shower.
• Own a great stereo system.
• If in a fight, hit first and hit hard.
• Keep secrets.
• Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen everyday.
• Always accept an outstretched hand.
• Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.
• Whistle.
• Avoid sarcastic remarks.
• Choose your life's mate carefully. From this one decision will come percent of all your happiness or misery.
• Make it a habit to do nice things for people who will never find out.
• Lend only those books you never care to see again.
• Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all that they have.
• When playing games with children, let them win.
• Give people a second chance, but not a third.
• Be romantic.
• Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
• Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems.
• Don't allow the phone to interrupt important moments. It's there for your convenience, not the caller's.
• Be a good loser.
• Be a great winner.
• Think twice before burdening a friend with a secret.
• When someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go.
• Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born.
• Keep it simple.
• Beware of the person who has nothing to lose.
• Don't burn bridges. You'll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river.
• Live your life so that your 'epitaph' could read, No Regrets
• Be bold and courageous. When you look back on life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the one's you did.
• Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
• Remember no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who helped you.
• Take charge of your attitude. Don't let someone else choose it for you.
• Begin each day with some of your favorite music.
• Once in a while, take the scenic route.
• Send a lot of Valentine cards. Sign them, 'Someone who thinks you're terrific.'
• Keep a note pad and pencil on your bed-side table. Million-dollar ideas sometimes strike at 3 a.m.
• Show respect for everyone who works for a living, regardless of how trivial their job.
• Send your loved ones flowers. Think of a reason later.
• Become someone's hero.
• Marry only for love.
• Count your blessings.
• Compliment the meal when you're a guest in someone's home.
• Wave at the children on a school bus.
• Remember that 80% of the success in any job is based on your ability to deal with people.
• Don't expect life to be fair.
• Smile Always :-))

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Happy New Year 2010

One of my dear friend had sent this wish to me a couple of years ago. Now I am passing this "Loaded" New Year Wish to all my blogger/browser buddies worldwide. Here's to a Happy, Halcyon and Prosperous New Year.

May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift, your abs and your stocks not fall.
May your blood pressure, your triglycerides, your cholesterol, your white blood count and your mortgage interest not rise.
May you get a clean bill of health from your dentist, your cardiologist, your gastro-enterologist, your urologist, your proctologist, your podiatrist, your psychiatrist, your plumber and the I.R.S.

May New Year's Eve find you seated around the table, together with your beloved family and cherished friends.
May you find the food better, the environment quieter, the cost much cheaper, and the pleasure much more fulfilling than anything else you might ordinarily do that day.

Wish You all a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2010!

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Mini Break for Eye Surgery

Dear friends,
I am taking a break for about a week or so as I am going for corrective eye surgery today(Epi-Lasik). I am a bundle of nerves thinking about it but I am trying to convince myself that it can't be as bad a childbirth. I had re-scheduled my posts as it needs a once-over prior to getting published.I will be back with a bang after a week. In the mean time, take care and feel free to stop by my spot for some post-peeking.

Cheers,
Cool Lassi(e)

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