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
Sol Kadhi – Kokum Coconut Milk Drink Recipe
Sol Kadhi is a refreshing drink prepared using Kokum fruit and Coconut milk. Kocolada! Cuisine: Konkani Time Required: 10 Minutes + Soaking time Ingredients: 2 Cups Coconut Milk 1 Cup … [Read More...]
Kalina Usali – Mixed Lentils Usal Recipe – Usal Recipe
Kalina Usali is prepared using a mixture of whole lentils like Chik Peas, Horse Gram, Green Gram, Cow Peas, Kabuli Peas, and so on. Cuisine: Karnataka Time Required: 30 Minutes + … [Read More...]
Mango Phirni
Sweet dish prepared using Rice paste cooked in Milk. Mango Phirni is a very popular dessert of Kashmir. Time Required: 1 Hour + Chilling Time Ingredients: ½ Cup Basmati rice ½ litre … [Read More...]
Paneer Tikka
Cottage Cheese coated with spices and grilled or shallow fried. This dish is very suitable to be served as a starter. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 10 – 15 1” square pieces of … [Read More...]
Shahi Makhanwala – Creamy Vegetables Recipe
A side dish prepared using Vegetables, Butter, Cream, and Spices. Cuisine: Mughlai Required Time : 1 Hour Ingredients: 1/2 Cup Shelled Peas 2 Tomatoes 1 Cup Cauliflower florets 2 … [Read More...]
Hittina Masala Dosa
Pancakes prepared using a mixture of different flours. Ingredients: 1 Cup Rice Flour 2 Cups Sorgam / Jowar Flour 1 Cup Wheat Flour ¼ Cup Uddina Hittu / Urad Dal Flour / Black Gram split … [Read More...]
Heerekayi Chutney – Ridge Gourd Chutney
Heerekayi Chutney is prepared using Ridge Gourd and Coconut. This is known as Heerekayi Gojju in Udupi Region. Cuisine: South Karnataka Time Required: 15 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Fresh … [Read More...]
Bhindi Besan Masala – Okra Gram Flour Stir Fry Recipe
Bhindi Besan Masala is a dish where Okra is cooked with spices, yogurt and gram flour. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 10 Bhindi / Okra / Lady’s Finger 3tbsp Besan / Gram … [Read More...]
Travel
Heritage buildings of Pondicherry
Apart from Parks, Beaches, Backwaters, Temples, Ashrams and Auroville another interesting aspect of Pondicherry are its heritage buildings. The heritage buildings of Pondicherry comprises of … [Read More...]
Pashchima Vahini, Sangama and Gosai Ghat at Srirangapatna
These three places form a part of places of interest around the historic town of Srirangapatna on the banks of river Cauvery. Sangama and Gosai Ghat are located in a place called Ganjam. Yes, the … [Read More...]
Wayanad Heritage Museum
Wayanad Heritage Museum is situated in Ambalvayal, Wayanad, Kerala. A very well maintained museum, it displays the 14th to 16th century artifacts. You can peek into the lifestyle of the different … [Read More...]
Pokhran, Rajasthan
"I love the full moon night in the sandy desert and wish to spend time there alone and I love Pokhran because it is a theatre of action and liberty," said our ex-president Hon. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam … [Read More...]
Saumyanayaki Temple, Belur
Belur Chennakeshava Temple complex comprises of many temples dedicated to various deities. One such temple is the Saumyanayaki temple. Saumyanayaki is the consort of Lord Vishnu (Chennakeshava). The … [Read More...]
Pushkar
I had great expectations from one of the oldest cities of India – Pushkar, but was a wee bit disappointed as the holy Pushkar lake, which is the highlight of this pilgrimage center was almost … [Read More...]
Srirama Temple, Ponkuzhi
A stop at Srirama Temple, Ponkuzhi on the way from Mysore to Sulthan Bathery is a must, as it is situated in a very serene and scenic place. The Ponkuzhi River flowing on one side, the bamboo … [Read More...]
Festivals
Mannethithina Amavasya
Manneththina Amavasya, “mannu” means mud; “yeththu” in Kannada means bullocks and “Amavasya” means no moon day. This festival is celebrated in North Karnataka, and bullocks made of mud are worshiped … [Read More...]
Saraswathi Prarthane – Prayer to Goddess Saraswathi
Today is Saraswathi Pooja, which is part of Navrathri celebrations. This is a prarthane (prayer) to Goddess Saraswathi written by my grandfather Sri M.M.Patil in 1969. ಸರಸ್ವತಿ … [Read More...]
Mangala Drowya and Pooje Samaanu
Mangala Drowya and Pooje Samaanu means sacred items used on auspicious occasions like marriage rituals, upanayana (sacred thread ceremony), shrimantha (arathi to pregnant women), namakarna (naming … [Read More...]
Deepavali – Diwali
Deepavali (“avali” means rows and “deepa” means lamp) or Diwali is a festival of lights much loved by one and all. It is the time for sweets, savories, family get-together, new clothes, crackers and … [Read More...]
Song to Goddess Lakshmi – Varamahalakshmi Arathi Haadu
My mother had written this song in the praise of Goddess Mahalakshmi in 1996. This song can be sung on festivals like Varamahalakshmi, Diwali Lakshmi Pooja, Shravana Shukravara Pooja, Ashada … [Read More...]
Shivana Bhajane – Shiva Bhajan – Jagratha Bhajan
Happy Maha Shivaratri! Here is an easy Bhajan (devotional song) on Lord Shiva. We used to sing this every evening during our Summer break. Hey Shiva Shankara Namami Shankara Shiva Shankara … [Read More...]
Glory of Lord Mailaralinga – Mailaralinga Mahatme Haadu – Khandoba Mahima Geet
The glory of Lord Mailaralinga's song in Kannada has been sung by my mother's immediate and extended family for decades. This song was taught by a relative called Sri Shankar who lived with my … [Read More...]
