While making uddina vada / medu vada, add a tsp of chiroti rawa / fine semolina to 1 cup of soaked and grinded Urad Dal / Black gram split. This will make the vadas crisp. For plants … [Read More...]
Happy Ugadi 2025
I wish you all a very happy Ugadi and Hindu New Year. This year it is the Sri Vishwavasu Nama Samvatsara. Wish you a prosperous and healthy new year! The fragrance of Parijata wafting in the … [Read More...]
Managaluru Southekayi – Mangalore Cucumber
During the first few days of my marriage, the only Huli/sambar that I remember eating was mad from Mangaluru Southekayi. As newlyweds we were not allowed to go for dinner on our own, the relatives … [Read More...]
World Sparrow Day 2025
World sparrow day is celebrated on 20th March every year. Let us welcome them back again with grains and water. I remember seeing them nesting in-between the roofs and pillars of … [Read More...]
Buttermilk Masala Recipe – Chaas Masala Recipe – Chhach Masala Powder
Buttermilk is a soothing to the body and soul during summer. A dash of masala to the buttermilk perks it up more. Buttermilk Masala Recipe, enhances the flavor of traditional Indian buttermilk, … [Read More...]
Happy Holi 2025
Happy Holi to all the readers! These colors were arranged in Kadri, Andhra Pradesh. The roads were lined with shops selling colors, bangles, snacks, and other items. … [Read More...]
Hummus Papdi Chaat Recipe – A Delicious Fusion Snack
Holi is on the 14th and the festival is all about colors, chat, and cool drinks. Here is a unique hummus papdi chaat recipe using Hummus. Ingredients: 1 cup Pumpkin Hummus or … [Read More...]
March 2025 Hints
If you are storing dosa batter for more than two days, keep a Betal leaf on the batter. This will not make the batter sour. Heat a spoon before you use it to scoop out the pickle from the main … [Read More...]
Mosambi Juice Recipe – Sweet Lime Juice Recipe
Tomorrow is Rama Navami and it is a practice to prepare fruit juice and Kosambari (salad) and distribute to friends and family. Here is a Sweet Lime juice suitable for the summer and to celebrate the … [Read More...]
Bagel Sandwich Recipe – Vegetable Sandwich Recipe
Bagels can be eaten in so many different ways. Toast the Bagels and they are ready to eat with a hot cup of coffee. Apply some cream cheese over it and pack it for lunch or a breakfast on … [Read More...]
Chaitra Navratri
Chaitra Navratri also known as Varshik Navratri is a festival observed for nine days in the Hindu month of Chaitra (March-April in Gregorian Calendar). The festival starts on the first day of Chaitra … [Read More...]
Chaitra Poornima
Chaitra Poornima is the first Poornima of the Hindu lunar calendar and falls in the Hindu month of Chaitra, March – April according to Gregorian calendar. It is the Poornima (full moon) after the … [Read More...]
Gazpacho Soup
Gazpacho soup is prepared using raw vegetables and served cold. This recipes is originally from southern Spain and great to serve during Summer. Cuisine: Spain Time required: 15 … [Read More...]
Vegetarian Recipes
Bread Bonda – Bread Fritters Recipes – Bread Pakora Recipe
Bread Bonda is deep-fried stuffed bread. Great to serve as starters in parties! Time required: 45 Minutes Ingredients: Few slices of bread 2 Potatoes, boiled and peeled 1 Cup Peas, … [Read More...]
Purple Cabbage and Cucumber Salad
Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Red/Purple Cabbage, Shredded 1 small Cucumber, Peeled and Chopped 2tbsp Roasted Pine nuts 1tbsp Mustard (fluid) 1tsp Olive Oil 1tsp Crushed … [Read More...]
Cheese and Herb Dip
Cheese and Herb Dip is very easy to make and goes well with fritters and vegetables. Time required: 5 Minutes Ingredients: 1 Cup Cheese, grated 1/4 Cup Milk 1/4 tsp White Pepper … [Read More...]
Ginger Cookies
Cookies with ginger flavor brings back memories of Enid Blyton kids on a picnic! Cookies method: Ice Box Makes: 40 Cookies Ingredients: ¾ Cup Butter ½ Cup Brown Sugar / Cane Sugar … [Read More...]
Bhindi Raitha – Okra in Yoghurt
Bhindi Raitha is a dish prepared using Okra and curds. This is also known as Patchady or mosaru bhajji in Karnataka and Kitchadi in Kerala. Time Required: 30 Minutes Serves: … [Read More...]
Alu Jeera – Aloo Jeera Recipe – Potatoes Cumin Recipe
Potatoes stir fried with plenty of Cumin Seeds. Time Required: 20 Minutes Ingredients: 4 Potatoes, Peeled and diced 1 Big Onion, Chopped finely 2tsp Jeera / Cumin Seeds 2 Green Chilies, … [Read More...]
Davengere Benne Dosa Recipe – Butter Dosa Recipe – Davengere Benne Dose
Dosa in South India is prepared in more than a zillion ways and each way has it's own followers. One way, which is ranked amongst the top 5 is the "Davengere Benne Dose". Benne means Butter and … [Read More...]
Tomato Onion Masala
When you have only Onion and Tomatoes at home, you can make Tomato Onion Masala as an accompaniment to Indian Bread. Cuisine: South India Time Required: 10 Minutes Ingredients: 4 Tomatoes, … [Read More...]
Travel
Ottinene Beach
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Saheliyon Ki Bari Udaipur
It took some time for us to pronounce the name (Saheliyon Ki Bari) of this ancient park built by Maharana Sangram Singh II in Udaipur in the 18th Century. He built Saheliyon ki Bari, … [Read More...]
Basillica of Bom Jesus, Goa
I had read and heard a lot about St. Francis Xavier’s mortal remains enshrined in the oldest church in India, the Basillica of Bom Jesus in Goa. When I got the opportunity to visit the … [Read More...]
Yercaud
Yercaud is a beautiful hill station on the Shevaroys hills of the Eastern Ghats. Yercaud got its name because of the many trees surrounding the lake. Yeri means Lake and Kadu means forest. The … [Read More...]
Pookode – Pookot Lake
Pookot Lake is a perennial freshwater lake in Wayanad district of Kerala. Forests around the lake enhance the beauty of the lake making it the most popular destination in Wayanad. Panamaram stream, … [Read More...]
Andal Temple, Belur
Belur Chennakeshava Temple complex comprises of many temples dedicated to various deities. One such temple is the Andal temple. The presiding deity Andal is also known as Ranganayaki. This is situated … [Read More...]
Phantom Rock
Phantom Rock also known locally as Cheengeri Mala is a skull shaped rock on a metamorphic rocky hill. When we visited it was raining continuously and hence we could not attempt to climb the … [Read More...]
Festivals
Phala Gowri Vratha – Molake Gowri Vratha – Gowri Festival
Phala Gowri Vratha (observance) also known as Molake Gowri (Sprout Gowri) falls on the Sharvana Amavasya day in the Hindu month of Shravana. August – September according to Gregorian calendar. For the … [Read More...]
Lullaby to Lord Rama
It is Lord Sri Rama's birthday today. Rama Navami is celebrated all over India with great devotion. The lullaby below was written by my grandfather M.M.Patil, Kurtakoti. ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮನ … [Read More...]
Siriyala Shashti
Shiva Shiva endare bhayavilla Shiva namake sathi berilla (2) The above lyrics is a famous song from the movie Bhaktha Siriyala starring Lokesh, Aarathi, and Ashwath. The meaning of the … [Read More...]
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Karaavalambam Sthotra in Kannada
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Karaavalambam Sthotra is written by Sri Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya in Sanskrit, my grandfather Sri M.M.Patil has translated the Sthotra to Kannada. ಶ್ರೀ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀನರಸಿಂಹ … [Read More...]
Aarathi
Items Required: Camphor or Cotton Wicks soaked in Ghee Aarathi Plate Flower Petals and Manthrakshathe (Rice smeared with Ghee and Kumkum or Ghee and Turmeric Powder) Definition: Aarathi is a … [Read More...]
Deepavali Song – Diwali Song – Deepavali Haadu
Deepavali song is written by my mother in Kannada script to be sung anytime during the Deepavali festival. The lyrics cover the importance and joy of celebrating Deepavali / Diwali … [Read More...]
Visarjana Manthra
The following manthra is chanted while performing the visarjana / send off to god. In Kannada Script: ವಿಸರ್ಜನಾ ಕ್ರಮ ಯಜ್ಞೇನ ಯಗ್ನಮಯಜಂತ ದೇವಾಃ | ತಾನಿ ಧರ್ಮಾಣಿ ಪ್ರಥಮಾನ್ಯಾಸನ್ || ತೇಹ ನಾಕಂ … [Read More...]
