The new routine !!!

Since March 1, 2020, it's been like buying everything in bulk for all of us (hope you all know the reason). Preserving the vegetables and spices became the new routine for many.  Getting a slot for an online delivery seems like a humongous victory:) I always love my shopping trips. I have never loathed my grocery runs. A small-talk  with a cashier or someone who asks about an item while shopping always makes my day more cheerful, so I definitely wish everything to get normal very soon. Prayers and well wishes for the whole world ! May God bless and protect us all !

Here I am sharing some methods I imply in our everyday life, to make it easier. Hope many of you love this, just like my previous posts.

My water routine:
Nowadays people have started using the tap water in my neighborhood, as it is not easy to get bottled water. Even before 2020, I always use tap water for cooking and all consumption. So it is not new to me. I have two water filters (Brita brand) and two stock pots (huge stainless steel cookware) at home. So every day, I filter and collect the water in one stockpot, and in the evening I boil that till the water is in rolling boil for 5 minutes. It will take almost 40 minutes everyday. I let it cool and we use it the next day. Since I have two pots, I do it almost everyday or on alternate days as per our consumption.
So I suggest that, if your tap water is drinkable (potable), then feel free to buy some water filter system and boil and use it instead of bottled water. By this way, we are contributing to the environment by cutting down the plastic and carbon foot prints (transportation).
I would recommend this old fashioned water routine, for those who can get good quality drinkable water only. Otherwise, follow the norms in your region.

My stockpots for water.

Milk idea:
Unlike India, here in USA 'milk-man' is not a common scenario for all. We all usually buy gallons and gallons and gallons and gallons........of milk every week.Kids drink organic only while some folks love whole milk or plant based milk etc. Our grocery lists begins with a milk and then goes everything. So milk is a priority for most households.
So if you are planning to reduce the number of grocery runs, then the main question that comes to mind is how to get 'MILK' ?. Last month when I was wondering how to solve this , my hubby suggested me to use milk powder instead of fresh milk. He told me that , his mom used to do this long back. We bought a pack of dry milk powder from Walmart and stop and shop. Both resulted in very good milk. I really really love this idea very much.
I could even make Indian style yogurt out of this milk powder. We drink filter coffee and this milk is very good for coffee too. It tastes amazing with cereal as well as a cup of milk just like fresh milk.
This is not a cheaper alternative (1 gallon costs as much as the fresh milk), but this will come handy to reduce the grocery trips and also to avoid lifting those heavy gallons of milk every week.

Coffee:
The next thing we changed is our coffee / tea recipe. Before this we used to drink tea made with milk or instant coffee like Bru or Nescafe in milk. But in order to reduce the milk consumption (to reduce grocery trips), we bought a coffee maker and started drinking a filter coffee style coffee. Sometimes I prepare a Sukku malli coffee too using this coffee maker (put together coffee powder + dry ginger powder + coriander powder inside the filter). Also we replaced the idea of buying paper coffee filters, we invested in a golden filter from amazon. This saves the effort of buying coffee filter paper again and again. We are using brown sugar which we bought in bulk with a few tbsp of milk and the coffee tastes more better and yummier than our previous versions.

Sukku malli coffee (ginger coriander coffee).

Grow your own spices:
I have some herbs like curry leaf, cilantro (just started growing), mint, Omavalli (Cuban oregano), Tulsi (Holy basil), Basil (pasta / pizza sauce basil) and a flowering plant (a Chrysanthemum) inside , in our window. I am growing this almost every year inside our house as the weather is cold on most days.
We are much thankful to my hubby's friend Mr.Raghu for this curry leaf plant. He gifted us this plant and this has grown much bigger and with many saplings around. I never pick the leaf from this plant usually, as I was saving it for another day always :) So I used to buy curry leaf, but nowadays I get an endless supply of curry leaf from this fragrant plant.

Curry leaf plant

Basil and Cuban Oregano

mint 

Onion, mint, cilantro.

Homemade face mask:
Just for fun (and use too), I made some face masks using a thick fabric I bought for some other project. I am yet to get the filter inserts from amazon and still this mask is worthy even without it.
I followed the hobby lobby's video and it is much helpful. This has a provision to insert the filter too. So I love this tutorial better.
Fabric needed - 15 x 8 inch size thick cloth and some elastics or cords.
I used the elastics I saved from an old bed skirt.  You can use any rope or shoe lace too (for tying at back).

My next post will be about my vegetable preservation and new cooking routine !

 Stay safe !

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all ! Wishing all a happy, healthy, wealthy and a prosperous year ahead ! May the world gets normal and cheerful again just like before.

Palm Sunday : Instead of Palm leaf, we used our indoor plant's leaf.

Palm Sunday mass at our house

We put on a lighted cross on the window to bring up the Easter cheer.

On Saturday before Easter Vigil mass, I prepared a lemon cake and mango custard. Then we watched mass celebrated in our parish church, via television, put some light decors in our house. After mass, as usual we cut the cake and enjoyed it with mango custard.  

On Easter morning, I made Rava kesari and Idli for breakfast. Then made a yummy chicken briyani for lunch. 

Here is a visual treat !

Lemon cake and mango custard

Idli with sambar and kesari

Chicken briyani and raitha

Oats curd rice

Oats thayir saatham (ஒட்ஸ் தயிர் சாதம்), is our new favorite breakfast nowadays.
I soak steel cut oats overnight and cook it in stove top with old fashioned oats to prepare this curd rice. Most days I use old fashioned oats only, if I didn't soak steel cut oats. I won't recommend using steel cut oats only, as the old fashioned one or the quick oats gives a better texture for this recipe. Some days I pressure cook it the night before and leave it in countertop , just like our native style 'old rice' for next morning curd rice.  If you are using a quick oats you can cook it in stove top easily and use that for this recipe too.
I temper this curd oats, so that my hubby loves it like the regular 'curd rice' . I am sure anyone who loves curd rice will definitely like this.

Oats curd rice with mango pickle

Ingredients:
Oats - 1 1/2 cup
(Old fashioned oats - 1 cup + steel cut oats 1/2 cup).
Indian plain yogurt (fat free curd) - 1 cup
sea salt - a pinch
water - 4 cups.
sesame oil - 1 tbsp.
mustard seeds- 1 tsp
urid dhal - 1/2 tsp
ginger - 1 inch ( chopped finely )
green chillies - 1 (chopped finely).
curry leaves - 1 sprig.
cilantro- chopped ( 1 tbsp)
fresh chopped shallot - 2 tbsp
Method:
Soak the steel cut oats for 2-3 hours . Add it to a cooking vessel along with old fashioned oats. 
Cook it in stove top for 10 minutes or until it is gets mushy.
If you are using an instant pot or pressure cooker, soaking is not necessary. Cook it in high pressure for 5 minutes with 4 cups of water. 
We can do this at night and keep it in countertop to get it little fermented. This is a healthier as well as easier version.

Before using it, add salt, curd, chopped shallot, cumin, cilantro to the cooked oats.

To temper: Heat a frying pan . Add oil.
Put the urid dhal and mustard seeds . After hearing the popping sound, add chopped curry leaves, cilantro, green chillies and ginger. Pour it over the oats. Mix well.

Oats curd rice is ready !

Serving suggestions:
Serve as  breakfast with mango pickles or just enjoy simply, because it tastes excellent all by itself. 

Instant pot basic recipes and timings,

Electric pressure cooker (aka Instant pot) is the new hero in many households nowadays. Since its arrival, desi women have started 'fan clubs' for it :) . I too got two IP s , but still using both my traditional cookers too often. (Now since June 2020, traditional cookers are in my storage only😃). 
Still I don't believe that IP can totally replace the traditional pressure cooker of Indians. In my view IP is more safer for anyone who is new to cooking, it won't need much monitoring (switch off automatically) etc. But electric pressure cookers are more expensive than traditional cookers. Also the accessories for all brands of electric cookers are way more expensive than old cookers. 

Still I love electric pressure cookers , as it won't pollute the air inside the house. 

I thought I should write down some of the simple recipes and timings in this post, which I use regularly. (I will be updating this page often).

Links for Instant pot manual : Ultra 10 in 1 , Duo

Sarkarai pongal in Instant pot

Some terms in Instant pot:
NPR - natural pressure release (IP releases pressure in its own - this is more safer)
MPR - Manual pressure release (by turning the feature in weight valve)
Always be careful while releasing the pressure manually. I always suggest waiting a minimum of 10 minutes before opening.

Basmati rice:
Rice - 2 cups, Water - 2 cups 
number of cups of Water = number of cups of rice  
Rinse and add rice and water to Instant pot (directly to the inner pot given).
Choose pressure cooking, high pressure setting.
Set time to 3 minutes. Close lid . Check the pressure weight valve and keep it in sealing position)
After it finishes cooking, let cool for 5-10  minutes (NPR - natural pressure release).
Release excess steam manually now. Open the lid.
We can release pressure immediately also (no need for waiting time).
Gently loosen up the rice using a fork , by stirring it once.
Perfectly cooked rice is ready.

Toor dal (paruppu):
Toor dal - 1 cup, Water - 3 cups (thrice of dal).
(or) just see that the water stands 1 inch above dal.

Rinse the dal and clean it in water.  Add 1 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp hing , 1 onion (sliced), 3 green chilies, 1 tsp cumin.
Mode : Pressure cooking, high pressure.
Time : 7 minutes
Set it to pressure cooking high and 7 minutes. After it switches off, release pressure manually after 5 minutes or immediately .

Mutton (lamb):

Lamb loin (or any lamb / goat meat) - 1 lb , Water - let water stand 1 inch above mutton pieces. 

Turmeric powder - 1 tsp.
Mode : Pressure cooking, high pressure.
Time : 7  minutes
Set it to pressure cooking high and 7 minutes. After it switches off, release pressure manually after 5 minutes or open immediately by manual release mode or wait till pressure releases naturally.

Chicken curry:

Chicken with bones - 2 lb, Water - should be 1 inch above curry.

Prepare curry as per directions in any recipe (use saute' mode) . 

Add water for a curry consistency.
Mode : Pressure cooking, high pressure.
Time : 5 minutes
Set it to pressure cooking high and 5 minutes. After it switches off, release pressure manually after 5 minutes or immediately .

Chicken roast (sukka / dry curry):

Chicken with bones  or boneless - 2 lb, Water - should be just enough to cover curry.

Prepare the onion tomato masala as per directions in any recipe (use saute' mode) . 

Add chicken and saute.

Sprinkle water just enough to cover curry.

Mode : Pressure cooking, high pressure.
Time :3 minutes
Set it to pressure cooking high and 3 minutes. After it switches off, release pressure manually after 5 minutes or immediately .

Open the lid and set to saute mode to evaporate the standing liquid, to get a dry curry.

Hardboiled Egg (5-5-5 minutes rule):

using an egg rack for instant pot is more convenient. 

I got this from Walmart for $2 on clearance sale. 

Pour 2 cups of water in a 3 qt (or any) IP inner pot. Place the steel trivet inside (see images to understand what this means).
Place the eggs . (I keep a silicone IP egg cooking holder above the trivet and place the eggs on it).
Set to high pressure, pressure cooking mode, 5 minutes.
After it finishes cooking, wait 5 minutes, release steam manually.
Fill a separate bowl with cold water (tap water) and keep the eggs for 5 minutes.
Peel them off.
Perfect hard-boiled eggs are ready !

Oats:
Steel cut / old fashioned oats - 2 cups
water - 5 cups (cups of oats x 2 + 1 cup water)
Mode : Pressure cooking, high pressure.
Time : 5 minutes
Set it to pressure cooking high and 5 minutes. After it switches off, release pressure manually after 5 minutes or immediately .

Curd oats: (after it cooks, release pressure valve after 5 mins or naturally. 

For 2 adult serving : Take half of the cooked oats. Keep other  half in fridge for next day.

Then add 1/8 tsp salt ,1/4 tsp pink salt, 1/4 tsp cumin powder, 3 shakes of hing, yogurt 3/4 cup). Mix well. serve.) 

Dry peas (green or white pattani):
Dry peas - 1 cup, Water - 3 cups (thrice of dal).
(or) just see that the water stands 1 inch above dal.
Rinse the dal , Soak the peas overnight (or) Boil some 5 cups of water. Add the dry peas and keep it closed for an hour before cooking.
Mode : Pressure cooking, high pressure.
Time : 2 minutes
Set it to pressure cooking high and 2 minutes. After it switches off, release pressure manually after 5 minutes or immediately .

Green gram (whole moong  / paasi payaru):
green gram - 1 cup, Water - 3 cups (thrice of dal).
(or) just see that the water stands 1 /2 inch above dal.
Rinse and soak green gram overnight .
Mode : Pressure cooking, high pressure.
Time : 1 minutes
Set it to pressure cooking high and 1 minutes. After it switches off, release pressure manually after 5 minutes or immediately .
If not soaked overnight,
Mode : Pressure cooking, high pressure.
Time : 3 minutes
Set it to pressure cooking high and 3 minutes. After it switches off, release pressure manually after 5 minutes or immediately .

Black beans:

Soak overnight.

Pour water in instantpot's cooking pot just to cover the beans (up to 1/2 inch above).

Mode : Pressure cooking, high pressure.
Time : 3 minutes 

Set it to pressure cooking high and 3 minutes. After it switches off, release pressure manually after 5 minutes or immediately. Drain and discard the water immediately. (use beans immediately or freeze it). 

White Channa :

Soak overnight.

Pour water in instantpot's cooking pot just to cover the beans (up to 1 inch above).

Mode : Pressure cooking, high pressure.
Time : 12 minutes 

Set it to pressure cooking high and 12 minutes. After it switches off, release pressure manually after 5 minutes or immediately. (Drain the water . Cool and use that water as fertilizer for plants).

Red Channa :

Soak overnight.

Pour water in instantpot's cooking pot just to cover the beans (up to 1 inch above).

Mode : Pressure cooking, high pressure.
Time : 8 minutes 

Set it to pressure cooking high and 8 minutes. After it switches off, release pressure manually after 5 minutes or immediately. (Drain the water . Cool and use that water as fertilizer for plants).

Rajma: 

Soak overnight.

Pour water in instantpot's cooking pot just to cover the beans (up to 1 inch above).

Mode : Pressure cooking, high pressure.
Time : 10 minutes 

Set it to pressure cooking high and 10 minutes. After it switches off, release pressure manually after 5 minutes or immediately. (Drain the water . Cool and use that water as fertilizer for plants).

Air fryer : Onion Pakoda

 Air fried spicy snacks is my newest passion in cooking. After I started airfrying (since 4 years or more), I started loving air-fried items better than deep fried ones. When it comes to airfrying , one has to develop a mindset to appreciate this taste too, as our tastebuds are used to deep fried items only. So the first step is to prepare some easy recipes like French fries in air fryer , sweet potato fries and we will slowly get used to this. There are a lot of airfryer recipes in the internet. I formulate my own, to suit our taste.  My hubby loves this very much, and many a days he will demand this quick snack along with tea:) . Try this and fall in love with oil-less  spicy snacks.

Ingredients:
Red onion - 2 (big) (250 gms)
besan flour - 1/2 cup
rice flour - 2 tbsp
salt - 1 tsp (to taste)
olive oil (or any cooking oil) - 1 tbsp
red chili powder - 1/2 tsp
asafetida (hing) - 1/4 tsp
garam masala (optional) - 1/2 tsp

Method:
Preheat the airfryer to 375 F.
Peel and slice the onion into long pieces. Put it in a mixing bowl.
Add all the other items and mix well. Sprinkle very little water (handful) and mix well.
The mix should not be watery.
Spread this pakora mix in the airfryer basket (not necessarily a single layer).
I do this quantity in 2 batches.
Start heating and bake for 20 minutes. Every 5 minutes take the basket out and shake well and repeat cooking again. Depending upon the airfryer , onion size and water content in the recipe, the pakora will get ready within 15-20 mins. Don’t let it char.
Take out and enjoy.

For bigger batch:
When it comes to party, I wouldn’t suggest airfried items, as this gets longer time to cook and also, deep frying is always associated with party foods.
But if you are planning for 'meal prep' kind of idea, then make this onion pakora in advance (say a day before) , put them in zip lock covers and keep refrigerated.
Before serving do the airfrying for 5 mins at 350 F or spread on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes (until crispy) at 350F in regular oven.
Serve hot.

Serving suggestions:
Serve as evening snack with tomato ketchup and hot tea.

Happy Valentine's day

Everyday is a Valentine's Day for everyone who lives in love ! Love is exciting when we are young, it grows with age everyday ....keeps the marriage totally happy always ! Love is the bond that glues the couples together and makes the house a home. Love is the salt of this earth and a gift from God to mankind. True love lives forever !
காதலோடு வாழும் தம்பதிகளுக்கு எந்நாளும் காதலர் தினமே ! அனைவருக்கும் இனிய காதலர் தின நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள் !
Wishing all a Happy Valentine's day !

Snacks made by my friend !

Recently a very sweet family has moved to our neighborhood and we feel  very glad to be their friends. We celebrated Christmas at our home. After that, during Pongal they invited us for a get-together during their son's birthday. At that time only I came to know about my friend Gayathri's passion for cooking. She had made an array of yummy snacks for Pongal festival ....A spicy Andhra style murukku, Jangiri and Kajirikai (somas in Tamil) and a ginger tea.  Everything was perfect. I love the way the Kajirikai holds the shape beautifully and the yummy  jangiri made without colors and the crispy spicy murukku.
We enjoyed this party very much and went together to the movie Jumanji the next day in East Brunswick mall and to a lunch at Cici's pizzeria, where kids can play too.

I am sharing some of the pictures I got. I will share the recipes here (same page) once I get.

Pongal snacks made by Mrs.Gayathri. I admire her dedication very much. 

Yummy snacks made by my friend Gayathri.

 And on another wintry evening Gayathri has brought us this spicy pakora - Palak mirchi pakora and that too tastes  totally YUMM! ....Thanks dear !

Palak mirchi pakora.

I think , this inspiring friendship will kindle my passion to cook (blog) again.
Thanks be to God !