Wish readers a very happy Christmas and happy holidays! … [Read More...]
Surinam Cherry Tree
Common names are Barbados cherry, Brazilian cherry, Cayenne cherry, Florida cherry, Pumpkin cherry, and French cherry. The botanical name is Eugenia uniflora and belongs to Myrtaceae (Bottlebrush) … [Read More...]
Braised Purple Cabbage Recipe – Purple Cabbage Stir Fry Recipe
This is a simple stir-fry dish using purple cabbage. You can serve with either Rice or Noodles. Ingredients: 2 Cups Purple cabbage sliced 1" Ginger, sliced 4 pods Garlic, minced 3 Red … [Read More...]
Flower Arrangement – Maui’s gift
It was delight to watch the Disney movie "Maui". Here is an arrangement where Maui is gifting a boat filled with flowers to Moana! Way to go Maui! Materials required: A boat shaped … [Read More...]
December 2024 Hints
Cover children's dining table chairs in the dining room with clear plastic drapery liners to protect from spills. Curtains for the kitchen can easily be made by stitching a hem along one end of a … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes
Mirchi ke Tipore – Instant Chili Pickle Recipe – Chili Pickle Recipe
A Rajasthani friend of mine dropped in for lunch this weekend and she churned up this instant Chili pickle - Mirchi ke Tipore to our delight! Cuisine: Rajasthan Time Required: 15 … [Read More...]
Rasavangi Powder – Palya Powder – Side Dish Masala Powder – Subzi Masala
Rasavangi is a dish prepared using vegetables like Ridge Gourd, Brinjal, or Okra. If you make the masala powder before hand, it becomes easy to prepare this dish. Cuisine: … [Read More...]
South Indian Potato Masala – Alu Masala Recipe – Aloo Masala Recipe
South Indian Potato Masala is a side dish that goes very well with Poori or Chapathi. You can also serve this with Dosa instead of the dry potato side dish. Cuisine: Karnataka Time … [Read More...]
Basundi Recipe – Milk Pudding Recipe – Rabri Recipe
This is the month of Shravana and a bunch of festivals follows. There is a never ending flow of sweets and savories during this month. Basundi was my dad's favorite dessert and mine … [Read More...]
Paneer Stuffed Bhindi – Cottage Cheese stuffed Okra Recipe – Ladies Finger Recipe
Paneer Stuffed Bhindi dish is Cottage Cheese stuffed Ladys finger/Okra. Time Required: 30 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 15 tender Bhindi/Lady's Finger/Okra 1 Cup Paneer/Cottage Cheese, … [Read More...]
Soppina Kadalekayi Kosambari – Green Chickpea Salad Recipe
Green tender Chickpea salad. The tender Chickpea is available during December - January in South India. The plants are sold along with the pods. It is fun to shell the pods to make a … [Read More...]
Croutons Chaat – Bread Crouton Chat Recipe
A tangy spicy snack known as Chaat prepared using bread croutons. Cuisine: North Indian Time Required: 20 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 16 Bread slices, cut into cubes 2 tsp Chat … [Read More...]
South Indian Masala Lassi
Buttermilk with seasoning. Time Required: 10 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 4 Glasses of Buttermilk 1 Green Chili 1" Ginger Few Springs Curry Leaves 2tbsp Chopped Coriander Leaves 1/2 … [Read More...]
Travel
Masinagudi
Masinagudi is one of the 5 ranges of Madumalai wild life reserve. The others are Thepakadu, Mudumalai, Kargudi and Nellakota. Masinagudi hills are my favorite blue hills. They are majestic and … [Read More...]
Chikmagalur – Chikkamagaluru
Chikmagalur was always mentioned by my dad and his cousins with a lot of affection as they spent all their holidays in their maternal Grandfather’s coffee estate. I have heard many incidents and … [Read More...]
Lord Shiva Statues in Nanjanagud Temple
Ramayana and Mahabharatha are famous for the narration of Indian culture (Samskrithi). There are very few who have not heard about these two great epics. The different events of the epic are painted … [Read More...]
Cellular Jail in Port Blair
You can visualize men in white with cap renting the air in the corridors of the Cellular Jail in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands with the slogan Vande Mataram! Bharath Matha ki Jai! The … [Read More...]
Moti Dungri Fort, Jaipur
Moti Dungri means Hills of Pearls and Moti Dungri Fort, Jaipur forms the backdrop for the beautiful Birla Mandir. The fortress was called Shankargarh (Shiva’s Home). Sawai Man Singh II … [Read More...]
Kurinji Andavar Murugan Temple
When I heard about this temple, I wanted to visit as a flower name was associated with the deity. Kurinji Andavar Murugan temple is situated in Kodaikanal on a hillock surrounded by Kurinji flower … [Read More...]
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
The best part of our trip to Chikmagalur district last summer was the time spent at the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary is one of the best forest reserves that we have been to and would love … [Read More...]
Festivals
Subramanya Shashti
Subramanya Shashti also known as Champa Shashti is celebrated honoring the birth of second son of Shiva named Subramanya / Skanda. It falls on the 6th day of the Hindu month of … [Read More...]
Teej Festival
Teej festival is celebrated in Rajasthan, Punjab, Gujarat, and Nepal. This festival is commemorating the day when Goddess Parvathi reunited with Lord Shiva after 108 births. In her 108th birth, Lord … [Read More...]
Lord Vishnu Arathi Song – Lord Hari Arathi Song
This is a song in praise of Lord Vishnu also known as Hari. My mother had learnt this song from her late aunt few decades back. Tomorrow is Vaikunta Chaturdashi vratha (observance) and … [Read More...]
Goddess Sharadamba Utsava
Happy Saraswathi Pooja 2014. In Sringeri, Karnataka, during Dasara festival, the utsava murthy (procession idol) of Goddess Sharadamba (Saraswathi) is taken in a small chariot around the temple … [Read More...]
Aanai Pandige – Aane Habba – Karthika Deepotsava
Aanai Pandige Karthikai also known as Karthika Deepotsava, Aane / Elephant Habba is an important festival of Iyengars (Vishishtha Advaitha sect) of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. It is … [Read More...]
Vijayothsava – Vijayadashami – Importance of Banni – Kannada Version
Story of King Raghu (of Raghuvamsha) written by my mother in Kannada script. This story appears in the Ramayana and my mother has written in simple words for easy understanding. Click here for … [Read More...]
Nagara Panchami
Nagara Panchami Nadige doddadu Naada Naadiyar Kodona Naada Naadiyar Kodona | Gelathi| Naagappage Haalu Hoyyona || The above Kannada song is sung during Nagara Panchami festival. The … [Read More...]
