tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53826255082686349252012-02-02T23:12:55.062-05:00Rekindling The Memories & Recreating The Forgotten Taste...Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.comBlogger1751100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-48241939000567821172011-12-02T00:04:00.001-05:002011-12-02T01:02:00.939-05:00

  I heard you squealing and bursting with laughter, when Appa said , "sharkbait hoo ha haa .." I saw you blushing everytime i let you complete "Ring of .....F I R E" I enjoyed thoroughly , when you charmingly said " neme..neme..nem" to my question , where is Nemo's house? I was dazzled every-time you chuckled, watching  Marlin  sharing the joke of sea cucumbers..what made you

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-43421314303602189162011-11-15T23:00:00.001-05:002011-11-15T23:37:52.374-05:00

It was a spring morning early this year….. I was enjoying the glint in his eye as Little King watched one of his favourite songs, “Mine” by Taylor Swift. As we watched the video ,capturing some  picture perfect  family moments of a young couple with two little boys running around the beach, doing pillow fights jumping up and down on a bed, I heard CJJ asking me, “ nammalum ethu pole aayirikko?

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-33357304912611849252011-01-30T13:37:00.009-05:002011-01-30T22:26:36.871-05:00

Cherupayar Payasam – A rustic beauty from the home kitchens of my native land where in, the green pearls get dressed up in the silky coconut milk , along with the seductress dark beauty, jaggery and perfumed by the sweet scent of crushed cardamom and divine ghee. A favourite of mine and someone else too….. none other than the first man in my life, my father. Along with the many passions he

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-43268590221044829162011-01-17T01:10:00.009-05:002011-01-17T01:53:32.063-05:00

“……..Amma has her version of Unakkameen chathachathu, which is so good and lasts very long! “ wrote Ria on my last post. Her words hit me like a twister. My hankering was strong that I secretly wished I had not trashed that last packet of dried fish my parents got me when they visited us year before last. Yet, I rummaged around the refrigerator, hoping that my memory was wrong and I would find

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-23056997529728363902011-01-13T01:08:00.014-05:002011-01-13T01:48:46.779-05:00

Start the first recipe post of the year with something sweet…..weave the words with a poetic touch…… speak from the heart and write to my glory .....hmmmm. Well, sat at my desk few days back, trying to find my missing writer’s cap and kept wondering when that auspicious moment would strike me like the streak of heavenly lightening from the sky. Nothing magical happened and the blank screen

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-64798545337624378952011-01-01T00:11:00.004-05:002011-01-01T00:20:51.372-05:00

With hopes for a healthy and happy year ahead ....Shn, CJJ & Little King.

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-35703081280868825982010-12-21T00:39:00.009-05:002010-12-21T16:14:08.624-05:00

We have’nt met you…..We don’t know who you are……We don’t know where you are ……Yet…You make us smile , You make us laugh,You shower us with words of love and warmth,You make us feel special !We wish we could celebrate these holidays with you! We send you a box full of season’s best wishes and some rum balls to spike up the holiday spirits!LuvShn, CJJ & Little King

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-5920483644028950212010-12-15T00:15:00.006-05:002011-01-13T13:32:53.205-05:00

I woke up last Saturday with a head full of plans…….soak fruits and nuts for the fruitcake, finalise the goodies for the gift basket, check the availability of orange blossom water in local shops to make the Moroccan fekkas that has evoked my curiosity ever since I saw it here, wrap up the weekly shopping before the blizzard hit the ground and finish cooking for the week ahead. Instead, that

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-31311064506491982262010-12-09T01:15:00.009-05:002010-12-09T12:59:20.161-05:00

Words seem to have deserted me……thoughts seem to have left the shore long time ago…..yet there is an honest desire to breathe some life into this space. I remember reading an article sometime back, about blogger's block and according to the author, one of the options to handle the crisis is to start writing and posting again even if they come out boring. Well, that sounds like a plan to me, if

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-58806694273148910492010-12-02T23:33:00.017-05:002010-12-03T14:53:58.958-05:00

Your eyes sparkled everytime you saw that yellow little thing with orange beak on the diaper caddy…Your third word was “du..dda” and you blushed with excitement everytime you got it right….You woke up from nap saying “du..dda” and you had the winning smile again that melted my heart ….I wanted to see that same twinkle in your eyes and blush on your cheeks one more time last week when we were

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-46072658428347214652010-09-14T23:01:00.047-05:002010-09-17T11:41:37.305-05:00

“Small Talk said...I m from Kainakary...its a hamlet in Kuttanaad...with immense love and warmth I extend a warm invite to visit our beautiful land...all the stories tht u hv heard...and the images people painted for u will be dwarfed wen u see it for urself....if Kerala is Gods own Land...Kuttanaad is the street the he lives on....Until very recently western vegetables like cauliflower.beans

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-89779025371804716872010-09-08T23:37:00.006-05:002010-09-09T17:03:55.827-05:00

It would be really unfair if I start today’s post with an opening line that I do not fancy chocolates but I love the simplest things like Jeerakamittai/Candied cumins and Kappalandi Mittai/Candied groundnuts. I am sure , even before finish reading the line CJJ would give me that , “ helloooo….are u sure? “ look and smile considering the current situation that I have eaten more than my share from

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-44618539547562453132010-08-29T23:25:00.012-05:002010-08-30T00:01:31.514-05:00

A guest post by Soja Suresh, from the Readers Corner...I might be repeating myself but I can’t help emphasising this point that it is always the people behind food and the taste memories associated with the same that gives most dishes a character and uniqueness of its own. As we try to replicate those dishes, either to savour a comforting memory or to connect to one’s roots, whatever be the drive

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-56701677326097933442010-08-23T17:04:00.009-05:002010-12-21T16:14:25.688-05:00

Wanted to wish you all in advance......yet I believe there 're a couple more days left before you forget the beauty,togetherness and deliciousness of the season Onam brought.....Hope all of you had a fabulous time and we wish all our dear readers, friends and families the prosperity of the season!LuvLittle King, Shn & CJJ

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-74165700612193718922010-08-20T23:19:00.011-05:002010-08-23T17:15:04.771-05:00

Friday evening….more specifically, one of those days I had that I-want-to-feel-good itch. And I had made plans. I wanted to go to the riverside , show Little King his favorite duckies, stroll by the yacht club and sit somewhere, relax and drench in the beauty of the blue canvas dotted with fleet of yachts and watch the hawking seagulls flying on that clear blue sky…….I was playing with Little

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-51757920393189863892010-08-15T23:22:00.011-05:002010-08-20T10:56:45.911-05:00

They may not have a velvety skin as those blushing apricots……..yet that mellowed shade of yellow makes them handsome right at the time they ripen and mature….….and unlike apricots, they have a beautiful heart that’s laced with natural red designs woven by Mother Nature herself….…….and put them in the company of feathery light freshly grated coconut, rosy pearl onions and slender green chillies

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-8973235046802775892010-08-10T22:54:00.008-05:002010-08-11T08:55:23.027-05:00

Almost a fortnight ago, on one of my routine calls to home, my mother filled me in on the gathering they had at her brother’s place earlier that day. They were meeting my uncle’s family after several years and my mother was quite delighted to see her nephews and niece after such a long gap. With bursts of excitement, she went on talking about them and how all three of them have blossomed into

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-49813599679090925502010-08-04T02:06:00.010-05:002010-08-04T21:16:11.349-05:00

Once again, I felt like that little girl who walked into the classroom , after a long leave of absence, fearing if friends would welcome her back into their group ,share same level of closeness or feel some sort of disconnect and to her surprise, she was delighted to notice that warm smile on her friends’ faces. That’s exactly what I experienced, a note of reassurance and support, while surfing

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-71386064442180713532010-07-20T20:42:00.018-05:002010-07-20T21:17:51.130-05:00

It’s been more than 7 months since my last post!! I don’t know where to start.....it would be an understatement if I say, I was overwhelmed seeing your messages on my last one and the bunch of emails I received…..those thoughtful wishes, messages loaded with words of love and prayers, kisses and hugs sent across for our little boy, that bit of happiness you felt for us brought a lump in my

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-78713452030579770132009-12-13T22:20:00.005-05:002009-12-13T22:25:57.742-05:00

..... with a blessed gift from God...Our precious little pea...Our Little King ...born on a late November afternoon... :)LuvShn

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com191tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-71734967990932320882009-11-24T22:28:00.009-05:002009-11-30T21:30:46.190-05:00

Typically, a steamed round rice cake leavened with yeast, sweetened with sugar and flavored with the wonderful aroma and taste of cardamom, dotted with golden brown cashew nuts and plumped up raisins, that satiated my hunger innumerable times as a “Naalumani palahaaram” for those after-school tea time sessions, because of the ease with which my mother could whip it up by just steaming the

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-59781879014883051692009-11-20T00:39:00.011-05:002009-11-23T13:26:17.706-05:00

A glance into a mesmerizing temple festival basking in the old world charm of rituals and practices and a simple traditional food that gains a personality of its own because of all the tales and rituals associated with it……I had one such gem in my mail box early this week from Revathy, who shared with us the recipe for Kannur Style Kalathappam/Kalthappam. Here’s excerpts from a couple of mails

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-88605866065222923322009-11-17T00:00:00.010-05:002009-11-20T00:49:51.429-05:00

As I wrote in my previous post, I fall in love with recipes that comes with a story and history, which gives them a soul and character of its own, no matter how simple the recipe is. Such recipes take me to a bygone era I have not been part of. That’s what happens most of the time when I approach the elderly men and women in our family for recipes and dishes cooked during their childhood……at

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-10008580309817357702009-11-10T23:28:00.014-05:002009-12-03T13:32:42.058-05:00

A simple unpretentious drink by description yet the moment you gulp down that first sip the suspicious glance hidden at the corner of the eyes earlier, turns into one of a pleasant surprise followed by nodding of head in agreement. And if such a down to earth blend is accompanied with some vivid tales and imagery from the past, that’s a recipe to win your hearts. Such recipes come with a soul and

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-42647407888921582502009-11-08T23:43:00.011-05:002009-11-11T00:43:05.568-05:00

“Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter…” How eloquently Keats captured the power of imagination in those beautiful lines!!!! And I must admit , when it comes to food, never tasted or seen, my imagination has no bounds, especially if the food in discussion is painted with a heightened magical image through someone else’s words………..that was the case with Kinnathappam (Kannur

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-37619037159950125552009-11-02T21:53:00.009-05:002009-11-02T22:23:56.309-05:00

“……..Yes, I do want to stay with her…..listen to her stories…..taste her food and of course enjoy the natural beauty of Kuttanadu, "the rice bowl of Kerala", a place near Alappuzha and as I have already mentioned in one of my posts, I have never been to Kuttanadu, and from what I have gathered from CJJ’s vivid descriptions, this place is laced with palm fringed canals and small rivers… lush green

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-5989038921348574942009-10-25T23:21:00.016-05:002009-11-11T00:43:21.302-05:00

A name I heard occasionally from the women at my paternal side……...a picture or two I saw at the time I started scanning through the food blogs on Kerala cuisine……and when I browsed through those recipes, the doubts that evolved, based on a murky memory of me, tasting the same at a very tender age when my taste buds were not matured enough to tolerate such a taste, yet uncertain enough to buy

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-44880690362598215842009-10-20T20:47:00.010-05:002009-10-21T17:59:53.798-05:00

With our feet up on the coffee table, holding hands and watching television, cozily snuggled under a soft fabric, the chillness of which caressing my skin as the cool breezy night winds stream through the French windows, my brain was busy recollecting the taste and fragrance of the ghee flavored rice my tastebuds soaked up that noon for lunch……and I heard myself asking CJJ:"….ennathe neichoru

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-51670656513104148802009-10-12T22:06:00.011-05:002009-11-04T11:46:25.170-05:00

For me the thought of Kuzhalappam takes me back to those days when I sneaked a peek into my grandma’s built in snack cabinet and reached out for those crispy tubular shaped snacks during those afternoons, when she was enjoying a nap after lunch and I had a craving to munch on something……it also takes me back to those days when my father took me to the bakery in our city to get our quota of

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-4058119306476967022009-10-06T20:40:00.024-05:002009-11-04T11:45:52.331-05:00

Warning: Long one…Continuing from my previous post….Till the day I left home and homeland, Kerala food was what my mother cooked at home, what I ate from my relatives and friends’ houses and those roadside eateries, Thattukada and small scale restaurants. Even before I realised, I lost count of the large chunk of women and a small bunch of men out there who fired up the stove for me and spread

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-31407093519156647142009-09-22T22:02:00.027-05:002009-11-11T00:43:33.302-05:00

Warning: Long Post.....that charred smell of fresh banana leaves along with the tempting fragrance of rice flour dough and grated coconut roasting on a mann-chatti (clay pot).......I wrote that line almost 20 minutes back and I am stuck there unable to capture the true essence of the I-R-R-E-S-I-S-T-I-B-L-E smell that wrapped me up when we cooked Ottada last week. I realise I do not possess the

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-78566234585888188202009-09-16T22:46:00.010-05:002009-10-26T00:21:09.060-05:00

There have been times in the past when a certain remark in the comment section sparks an idea for my next post... on one occasion it took me down the memory lane making me write about the simplest things from our kitchen and on another, it helped me rekindle the memories of my childhood and recreate the forgotten taste. This time, it is neither about a dish nor a recipe but to introduce a couple

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-60523283143725815512009-09-13T23:20:00.009-05:002009-09-14T00:59:38.180-05:00

...a smell I had never sensed yet transported me to a place I have never been………a taste and flavor completely unknown yet easily conquered my taste buds……. a dish I had never tasted/seen yet recreated in our kitchen translating the words of an old woman - like “ mole….oru nullu manja podi……. lesham injeem veluthulleem…kurachu pacha kurumulaku kallil vechu chathachathu…...” - at the other end

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-63775685918916994782009-08-30T23:22:00.012-05:002009-11-04T11:47:03.621-05:00

A forgotten taste from a lunch box…..that’s exactly what came to my mind , two weeks back when I was enjoying that plate of Aval Nanachathu. As I sat there and savored each bite, a murky memory of a similar snack wrapped me up, taking me back to those days when I looked forward to my friend M opening her lunch box during the break after three hours of lectures in the morning. If her rectangle

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-28406796822207939462009-08-23T22:15:00.021-05:002009-11-04T11:47:22.735-05:00

Most of us grew up in Kerala would be having a delectable taste memory we share in common……a slice of the past we take pleasure in, when we dive into the repository of our thoughts and memories….the picture of the whole family leisurely enjoying or having a casual chat over some humble Kappa Puzhungiyathu/ boiled cassava by dipping into a hot and fiery Mulaku chammanthi/green chilly-pearl

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-72658586813403689162009-08-17T21:18:00.013-05:002009-11-04T11:47:45.847-05:00

Saturday Morning: After roaming around the local farmers market - picking fresh produce and marveling how tender and ‘realistic’ the carrots looked , compared to the chemical injected and genetically engineered ones that refuse to lose its firmness even after lying in the refrigerator for more than a month - we decided to visit the Asian store to grab some more stuff in the shopping list.On

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-65887801464589132192009-08-12T18:09:00.003-05:002009-11-04T11:48:06.333-05:00

Orappam...An attempt out of curiosity! I know that would have been a more appropriate title for this post but my curiosity and desire to learn more about this old world snack from Kerala, got me into thinking that I might be able to catch the attention of some experts out there who would enlighten me with some info about this snack, we have never heard of or tasted in our lives.The moment I read

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-52849121696763857802009-08-09T21:05:00.015-05:002009-08-15T21:11:48.516-05:00

“…oru kozhi-kku….randu savala…’oru pidi’ thakkali arinjathu….’korachu’ malli-podi…..’ethiri’ kurumulaku podi……………ellam kazhinju avasanam ‘kurachu’ andi-parippu arachu chertha nalla ruchi kittum….”That’s pretty much how my mother gave me the recipe for a chicken curry when I was newly married and had the intense urge to impress CJJ by serving the dish he had relished a lot from my mother’s kitchen

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-80621398911111987922009-08-02T21:17:00.012-05:002009-11-04T11:48:28.853-05:00

There’s an image etched in my memories, woven into my life in past and present, by god’s grace ….the sight of my parents casually sitting in our sit-out, either sipping evening tea or just relaxing and having a chit-chat……a sight that is part of my childhood, school and college days and I don’t remember the innumerable times I have asked them this particular question those days, “ what do you

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-57873136787228172242009-07-28T12:55:00.011-05:002009-07-29T16:15:50.273-05:00

At times, some people we come across at various phases in life leave a long lasting impression on us, no matter how short the span of interaction was….it could be just a one time meeting or a day’s interaction or for a season or more…..they touch our lives and leave their handprints and become part of our life and memory. This post is about one such person and her mother who are part of my

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-43444071142539960642009-07-23T07:47:00.004-05:002009-08-01T09:04:48.276-05:00

Apologies to the regular visitors of this blog for the unpleasant tone in this post. I am forced to and helpless and must take this off my chest before things get worse.----------------------Dear fellow blogger,You amaze me ! You know why ? I featured a recipe here in my blog , a dish that came out successfully on my first attempt , following my mother’s instructions…. now exactly 1 1/2 years

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-68110724539878443002009-07-20T20:55:00.018-05:002009-08-03T11:32:24.363-05:00

For a young girl who grew up sitting on the steps of her mother’s kitchen , gazing at the coconut palm fronds swaying in the morning breeze while her mother refilled the plate with laced Paalappam hot off the Appachatti with a side of warm and creamy potato stew, it was literally an eye-popping and jaw- dropping moment when she got a plate of some mushy pile of rice with some tiny specks of

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-13717921754663854572009-07-13T19:35:00.007-05:002009-07-15T11:25:10.971-05:00

Two weeks back, I woke up one morning telling myself, “ I am going to start blogging from today!! “ and curled up under the cover thinking about the peach and plum jam I made the previous night , the fruity fragnrance of which had invaded the dark passages of my nostrils and found its way to my clogged up brain. The intoxicating smell of the fruits cooking in the pot , with a subtle note of the

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-82264817237784679312009-03-29T19:52:00.007-05:002009-03-29T20:11:50.253-05:00

Blogger Me: (In a pensive mood)What’s happening to my blog…...it ‘s been few weeks since I last updated….!!Real Me: So what? If you don’t feel like updating, don’t do it. Btw, who cares whether you post something or not??Blogger Me: That’s true…..yet I have been getting some comments from my readers and mails from friends asking about my disappearance……some of my friends even phoned me …….so

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-6580415173446145232009-03-01T19:44:00.005-05:002009-03-01T21:34:59.283-05:00

Here’s one more to the list of recipes long forgotten from my mother’s memory….a taste completely new to me. She remembered this one when I was showing a picture of Pappadam Thalichathu (recipe coming soon) . Here Pappadam (a crispy thin flatbread made of black gram flour), instead of frying, is grilled/roasted without oil and then ground with freshly grated coconut and mildly spiced with a dry

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-44435787323684119082009-02-22T18:24:00.004-05:002009-11-04T11:48:47.789-05:00

The creative department of my brain is completely frozen and is closed temporarily! That means, you get to reach the recipe directly :)This is a recipe that is long forgotten from my grandmother’s kitchen and quickly fading from my mother's memory. I don’t remember my mother making this during my childhood but it seems, she used to enjoy this a lot from my grandmother’s kitchen. I wanted an easy

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-12818910186271239542009-02-16T21:30:00.014-05:002009-02-22T18:40:26.394-05:00

Last week I happened to read Ann’s evocative post, reminiscing her childhood days spent at maternal ancestral home and her story took me right back to my maternal home where I loved spending most of my childhood and adolescence. Nevertheless, what struck me most was the part where she painted the picture of her grandparents waiting for their arrival……….I knew exactly what she was talking about as

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-86009944546189590482009-02-10T20:07:00.009-05:002009-02-19T07:20:34.783-05:00

I was only a 10 year old and yet I had a crush……my very first crush…..a childhood crush on the gorgeous Caramel Pudding! We had a rock solid relationship but my folks found out about us at a very early stage and from then onwards, we were allowed to meet occasionally strictly in their presence. Even when this decadent dessert made its way into the fridge, I was not allowed to indulge myself in

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-960011759571137522009-02-01T20:30:00.005-05:002009-02-01T20:35:41.594-05:00

At this time of the year, someone who sits under a snow mountain and skates to the parking lot, instead of walking on the ice, should be talking about stirring a pot of soup rather than simmering a pan of jam. But when the last bottle of homemade jam was also polished off, I had only two options, either to buy a bottled one from the store or make a fresh batch of jam even if that meant using

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-10782616565821768772009-01-27T22:05:00.011-05:002009-01-27T23:00:46.681-05:00

Excerpts from some of the comments I have received from my readers:R1: “…..Love your passion for cooking…..”R2: “…And ah I shud say this, you are really turning me passionate about cooking, i was always on the lazy side when it came to cooking.Thank you!!!”R3:” ……today,I love to explore and taste new ones...better ones..And you are the one inspiration..Thank you…”Responses of some of my friends

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-56434603563235303052009-01-20T13:33:00.007-05:002009-01-20T13:46:55.316-05:00

As I opened the vegetable crisper and grabbed the sorry looking raw mango, bought from the lndian store, along with a bunch of red swiss chard, and reached for the frozen bags of drumstick, jackfruit seeds and grated coconut from the freezer, I knew I will not be able to re-create that same taste and texture my taste buds still fantasize........yet the recollection of that plate of Avial my

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-77687912138726327762009-01-11T20:06:00.003-05:002009-01-11T20:15:40.261-05:00

A couple of raw mangoes the neighbor woman gifted while she folded the dried clothes hanging from the clothes line ……that slender Kaanthari-mulaku she plucked from that chilly plant growing happily at the corner of the compound wall and the young sprig of leaves from the curry-leaf plant swaying in the evening breeze, …….a small pile of coconut flakes, as white as Thumba poo, grated from a

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-78974229009910742512008-12-21T19:36:00.030-05:002010-08-29T17:40:26.302-05:00

From the house where I grew up, there is a mosque just 200 feet away from my home……and in less than 100 feet from there is a temple……and within the next half a kilometer , there is one more temple and a church. Whether it is in a straight line or in a triangle, this co-existence of different religious institutions is something you can find uniformly throughout Kerala and this attitude of

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-67953719946309037412008-12-20T10:56:00.012-05:002008-12-20T11:38:35.616-05:00

‘Tis the season…..of high festive spirits and to be merry……..that time of the year when I long to be part of my family and friends……that time of the year when I yearn to get drenched in the holidays spirits of the land where I grew up………the sights, the sound and the smell of those familiar streets of childhood and adolescence came flashing intermittently like comforting bout of hiccups…..and so

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-18851220168755711952008-12-14T21:16:00.009-05:002008-12-15T16:25:22.126-05:00

Neighbour's plate envy is a syndrome most of us go through occasionally on our restaurant visits....but do you really get hungry or smack your lips when you see someone relishing a piece of food?? I do! Only two people can make me smack my lips.....one is a wage worker named Chothi whom my father appointed every year at the end of monsoons to remove weeds and clean up the yard. As a child, I had

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-72427574899697601332008-12-11T12:47:00.005-05:002008-12-11T13:00:25.365-05:00

Need your help….My mother got some ‘Nellikka Puli’ and she would like to find out a method to cook this other than pickling and brining…….I don’t know the botanical name or other regional names of the same. From my recollection, it looks like green pearls clustered in a tamarind tree and it resembles a small gooseberry/Nellikka to an extent and I guess that’s why it is referred as ‘Nellikka Puli’

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-91864628153517885422008-12-07T20:24:00.010-05:002008-12-08T09:31:53.491-05:00

"How come we don't make this often?!" , wondered CJJ when I served him some Kerala style fried chicken last week. I had a deep sense of satisfaction and pleasure hearing his response but it is a fact that I don't make Chicken Fry very often considering the amount of oil consumed in the whole process, even though I follow a pan-fry method. Back home, it is a deep fried goodness and simply

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-20173704737890186372008-12-03T22:35:00.007-05:002008-12-03T23:00:01.689-05:00

The thought or the mere mention of Koorkka takes me back to a particular ritual practiced at home...a ritual my mother carried out...... a sack filled with Koorkka was thrashed on the floor until its skins fell off partially. Then she would spend the rest of the evening scraping the skins off with a knife and at the end of this ritual her fingers and nails would be left with some dark brown

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-91483821976899268042008-11-30T21:30:00.023-05:002008-12-07T20:53:51.204-05:00

A couple years back I read somewhere that in the northern part of Kerala, particularly among the Muslim community, there is a culinary tradition of roasting a whole goat stuffed with chicken which again is stuffed with boiled eggs. I don’t know whether this is true or not….those who can contribute to the authenticity of this culinary tradition, please drop a line here.What I know for sure is that

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-74268750198385006342008-11-23T21:56:00.013-05:002008-12-20T11:27:14.062-05:00

Till that day the word ‘wine’, to me , was associated with my mother’s ceremonial soaking of some fruits in a brown colored earthenware, Bharani and the occasional stirring and the day my father helped her to strain the fermented juice into glass bottles using a funnel…….until that day , it was that fancy bottle my father’s friends gifted us during the Christmas season……until that day, it was

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-7486760368689667452008-11-16T21:12:00.007-05:002008-11-17T13:52:40.249-05:00

“You can be cultural ambassadors sitting in your own dining room” – Mishmash!I am not kidding…..think about it…..when you stay away from your homeland, the food you serve to others, who belong to different cultures and cuisines, is a representation of your own homeland, its years of culinary legacy and hence a part of its culture. Most of the time food is powerful enough to stir up an active

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-77830045711427171862008-11-12T22:06:00.014-05:002009-11-04T11:49:06.563-05:00

When you make a list of things you should do on your culinary travel in Kerala, then Pazhampori has to find a place in your list! I would say, it is one of those iconic foods in Kerala cuisine. It is deep fried goodness made with a native variety of Kerala banana called Eathappazham or Nenthrappazham which are ripe plantains. The natural sweetness from the ripe plantains, when coated with a flour

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-68416017151200851782008-11-09T21:27:00.010-05:002009-11-04T11:49:22.590-05:00

Ariyunda is one of my favourite snacks my grandma made and packed for us whenever she visited us or we returned home after a long stay at her place. It was an ideal snack for munching that made us take a quick peep into the Palahaara-paathram aka snack boxes whenever we wandered lazily through the kitchen after watching television for long or reading a book. Traditionally it is made by roasting

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-61945326506395563602008-11-05T19:25:00.018-05:002008-11-13T03:11:56.043-05:00

NOTE: If you are looking for the popular Kerala’s signature version of the roasted fish wrapped in banana leaves, Meen Pollichathu, you may go directly to the recipe HERE.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------One of our very dear friends mailed me sometime back, “ My friend here is all admiration for ur blog ;) Some recipes made her feel that you

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-63977001715217589472008-10-30T12:21:00.010-05:002011-02-04T12:18:40.525-05:00

“Munthiri Pickle” sounds familiar?No ???How about “Appachan’s Munthiri Pickle” ?Aahhhh….now I see a large chunk of Keralites staying abroad nodding their heads with a playful smile :)For those who are wondering if I have gone nuts, here is the background; this is from a popular Malayalam sitcom, Akkarakazchakal that is catching up like wildfire among the Malayalees staying abroad as well as the

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-89559821397176277822008-10-26T19:33:00.005-05:002008-10-26T21:20:19.479-05:00

A steaming plate of fluffy rice with a drizzle of golden ghee ........the whiff of divinity sure enough to tickle anyone's nostrils....to that add a pinch of Unakka (Onakka) Chemmeen Chammanthi and then it is ready to delight your palate……OR..... a hot bowl of thick and creamy plump rice soup, Kanji flavored with a dash of salt and a sprinkling of Unakka (Onakka) Chemmeen Chammanthi….scoop some

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-10942919653649808822008-10-19T20:03:00.014-05:002008-10-20T11:32:01.257-05:00

If someone out there is dreaming about writing an international best seller I guess you should consider this topic, Young Bride’s Culinary Blunders and if you proceed with it, please do feel free to contact me if you want stories for your introductory chapters. I started my saga from the third day of marriage by shocking my mother-in-law, asking a very genuine doubt on making a simple stir-fry

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-58796786340971579862008-10-15T22:09:00.011-05:002009-11-04T11:49:37.685-05:00

I think it was almost towards the end of the first year of my blogging that I added a note to my blog title, “Rekindling the memories and Re-creating the forgotten taste…” At that point in time I was not conscious of the depth and spectrum of the word, “The forgotten taste..”. Till two days back, it meant the taste of my childhood….the taste of teenage and early adulthood….the taste of those days

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-68281403023629542542008-10-14T21:09:00.004-05:002008-10-14T21:20:40.326-05:00

Dear Friends, A ton of thanks to all those who took time and dropped a line responding to my request for finding the traditional name of a snack. I have updated my previous post with information collected based on your comments, mails and an article published in a Kerala magazine. Kindly check the post for the updates.Thanks AgainShn

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-10786469945494776622008-10-12T21:27:00.011-05:002009-11-04T11:49:59.885-05:00

A conversation between mother and her bloggie daughter….Daughter: Mummyy….I was thinking of posting that kutti unda in coconut milk…you know, the one you used to make for our evening snack time…..Mother: Which one……? I don’t remember…Daughter: Mummyyy …the one I like a lot…that small rice flour balls…and you used to soak that in sweetened coconut milk….remember?Mother: aah…. I remember now….yeah

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com80tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-9035293242040394702008-10-08T20:48:00.008-05:002008-10-09T09:59:45.840-05:00

That small magic container in your mother’s kitchen cabinet……….a pinch of it spruces up that simmering bowl of spicy curried meat or a steaming pot of stewed vegetables…………..The essence that lends the authentic taste…………the aroma that awakens your senses and makes you float in the clouds of spice heaven……….a secret of many kitchens but a mystery to some!!Here’s the delightful spice mix from my

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-21510631422773437742008-10-05T19:15:00.010-05:002008-10-08T21:21:30.822-05:00

Let me start with a request. After reading this post, some of you might think that I am touting my own horns here. Well, I cannot blame you if you conclude that way but honestly that is definitely not my intention here. As most of the things come under the category of “accidental” in my life, this one also is not an exception. I am just chronicling a magical moment in my personal-chef life!Well,

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-10632066497388629792008-09-24T20:25:00.009-05:002008-09-28T11:38:06.168-05:00

Food evokes memories ………the smell wafting though the air and flavours lingering on the palate is powerful enough to glide us through the long forgotten days of childhood and in my case, sometimes even a mere mention of a particular food, takes me back to those days that has begun to fade away from my little brain. That is exactly what happened when Mathew wrote “uppu itta kanjivellam is a

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-29631037715080639982008-09-21T20:33:00.011-05:002009-02-12T12:20:19.609-05:00

The simplest festive dish where the divine ghee along with an exotic set of Indian spices dress up the fragrant basmati rice with caramelized onions and ghee fried golden raisins and nuts into a beautiful dish………Ingredients: Serves 3 AdultsFor Rice: 2 cups Basmati Rice4 ¼ cups Water1 small size golden yellow big onion, thinly sliced4 cardamom pods6 cloves5-7 small ½ inch long cinnamon sticks 1

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-41325335382492212472008-09-14T20:37:00.010-05:002009-11-04T11:50:20.675-05:00

“Hi S…..I am trying to rewind back to my childhood days, a very lengthy period of around fifty eight years back…..I am sure that it will be a very tough mental exercise, especially at this stage when the memory area of my brain has been partly dried…..I am trying to make it wet.I still remember the year 1949- 50……. I was admitted to the 1st standard of Boys High School Cranganore …..that was the

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-65074760793855007672008-09-07T16:40:00.007-05:002008-09-16T14:55:26.393-05:00

This morning when I got off the phone with my parents, I felt a sort of numbness……a numbness that comes out of an unsettling helplessness and painful realization that we will not be there at home with our families this year too, to be part of those celebrations around this festival time of Onam. The holiday spirit that spontaneously brings a refreshing mood amongst the family members…………utmost

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-32372085239556612652008-08-31T20:02:00.007-05:002008-08-31T20:48:48.308-05:00

In my last post, I tried to paint the faces of Subaida, Umma and Bappa, some of the yarns in my childhood fabric, who belong to the Kerala Mulsim community and stirred my memories of the rich aromatic food they served, especially during the festival days of Ramzan and wedding ceremonies like Mailanchi Kalyanam and Nikah. From there I introduced you to a more prominent and distinct culinary pocket

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-50987903507302038702008-08-26T12:25:00.017-05:002008-11-11T10:58:48.192-05:00

Subaida, Umma and Baappa stepped into my world when I was a toddler, without even realizing that they were becoming a thread in my childhood fabric. When Subaida walked into our lives to baby sit me and later to take care of my toddler brother, she was just a teenager, staying in a small house at the end of our street. She used to call her parents Umma and Baappa (mom & dad) and I guess that’s

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-34144970574088642542008-08-18T18:49:00.016-05:002009-11-07T11:55:18.578-05:00

Well, mine is not a Cleopatra yet……Hopefully I will become an expert to bring her home one day :)Paalappam is every Keralite’s pride and it is the classic breakfast from the land of coconuts. A hybrid between French crêpes and Ethiopian enjera, Paalappam has a fermented pancake like texture in the centre with a beautiful lace around and to me, it is a symphony in rice flour and coconut milk!It

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com52tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-33788925754644173992008-08-04T22:11:00.007-05:002008-08-14T10:16:34.242-05:00

After picturing the faces of Shantha and Njondi last weekend, somehow my thoughts were still stuck there, in that neighborhood, like a kid hesitating to return from the seashore. The urban neighborhood, lined with concrete houses on both sides of a well-tarred road, right in the middle of that bustling city where my grandma spent more than 50 years of her life…..the same neighborhood where I

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-87057345594297621522008-07-27T20:50:00.015-05:002008-07-28T07:55:53.914-05:00

Francis and Mammaali……… Heroes of our neighborhood! The faithful wives in our neighborhood used to wait impatiently and desperately for these two young men….they were not those charming princes who came on a white horse yet they were popular among the neighborhood women who used to take a quick sprint from their kitchens at the honking of their bikes……some women used to wait for these men even

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-86371296970207573602008-07-21T21:10:00.031-05:002009-08-25T10:45:33.256-05:00

Warning: This is a 7 mile long post, so only those who suffer from insomnia and are having sleep deprived nights may go ahead. Click on the pictures to enlarge.***A Saturday mid-morning with a pleasant sunshine and clear blue sky with spring birds chirping on the background……….lazing on the couch after returning from the neighborhood breakfast joint stuffed up like a camel, unable to lift the

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-63210861373815917572008-07-06T18:24:00.011-05:002008-07-06T18:39:48.509-05:00

One year and three months back, I slogged out in the kitchen for almost two days cooking 16 items all alone to have a traditional feast, for both of us and managed to click some pictures, even though I was completely exhausted and hungry, thinking I could share a glimpse of Kerala’s traditional feast with those who are not familiar with it. I re-used my own pictures in another post recently. Does

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-6359886962523971972008-06-29T20:41:00.007-05:002008-10-08T21:20:43.307-05:00

Shall I give you a break from my lengthy prefaces and go straight to the recipe? :)Staying in a place blessed with abundance of fresh seafood, my mother always knew how to preserve the essence of seafood, especially prawns, with her careful use of spices. Also, she always made sure that such preparations were served with light and simple curd based curries and vegetable stir-fries for our

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-85380735531196981512008-06-22T20:23:00.007-05:002008-06-22T20:52:17.891-05:00

In the company of ruby red apples and sapphire green pears, amber gold apricots adorned the fruit stand with a jewel studded look……With a light blush and a velvety skin, they reminded me of my soft flannel blanket……I caressed 'em....they sat there like a bunch of naughty adorable cuties……Dancing on my head were the delightful taste of the apricot jam I bought from the Amish country store a couple

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-42171734099686642382008-06-15T17:20:00.010-05:002008-09-14T20:56:06.330-05:00

An excerpt from the speech made by Egg Biryani at the National Biryani Fest 08….“My dearest gastronomists…….till yesterday, I was this undiscovered jewel, in the deep sea leading a dreary life ………when all my peers made it to the glitz and glam of the dining table receiving great raves from the guests, I was sitting there, with a heavy heart, waiting for the day I will be finally asked to come to

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com71tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-48239147863984949872008-06-08T19:38:00.012-05:002008-06-15T17:16:39.691-05:00

Multi-colored candy rings of Poppins for a pack of Camel crayons…a stack of paper labels for a sheet of sticker labels… Archie & Jughead Double Digest for a packet of Luxor sketch pens… Bobanum Moliyum for a bar of 5 Star….colour chalks for those pretty white erasers wrapped with blue paper coming from Gulf…… SportsStar Magazine poster for a one day loan of ankle shoes to wear on the dress down

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-78541550426116052692008-06-01T21:00:00.012-05:002008-08-18T19:36:32.824-05:00

Fish Molee/Fish Molly!No, it is not fish cooked by aunt molly, though my aunt Molly also makes this dish every now and then!To my understanding, this stewed fish in rich silky coconut milk, flavored with fragrant fennel and pungent peppercorns, embellished with the tartness of tomato and vinegar, aroma of fresh curry leaves and coconut oil, has its culinary legacy woven intricately with Kerala’s

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-43786299323269359932008-05-25T20:12:00.005-05:002008-05-25T20:36:57.066-05:00

A chat between Child Ego and Adult Ego of yours truly.Child Ego: I want chocolate pudding Adult Ego: No, you shouldn’t! It is full of fat….you should stay away from it and eat healthyChild Ego: No, it is good for bones!Adult ego: What?? Who said so?Child Ego: Susan said so!Adult Ego: Susan? Who?Child Ego: Susan of Food Blogga!Adult Ego: What did she say?Child Ego: She asked to eat chocolate

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-69068547629548419902008-05-21T21:36:00.017-05:002009-11-04T11:50:41.030-05:00

Mother lovingly plates some leafy thin steamed Adas, carefully unfolding from the banana leaf parcel, and serves her teenager daughter with a glass of warm milk mixed with her favourite Bournvita……Teenager makes a face…..and says.."…mm…I'm bored of this…..cant you make something else…you should have asked Acha to get some Meat rolls or burger on his way back…:( "Years later……..the same teenager

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-80403292389872207612008-05-18T21:45:00.014-05:002009-11-04T11:50:58.714-05:00

Q: “What did you have for tea this evening?” A: “…..bomb “, replies with a broad playful smile. Strange!!! Something doesn’t make sense, right?? :D This is the reply you can expect from any of my uncles or aunts or cousins at the paternal side not because they eat bomb but they are actually referring to a delicacy called Kozhukkatta! I don’t know who came up with this funny thing or how it came

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-81625469468170332162008-05-11T22:21:00.013-05:002009-11-04T11:53:45.391-05:00

I have been writing about Kerala cuisine for more than a year now and so was wondering if I can show you the sign board, ‘Detour Ahead’! I feel like taking a stopover at the Konkan Coast as I happened to enjoy the Konkan flavour a bit!! Wondering who lured me into this and gave me an opportunity to cook something with a very quintessential ingredient in Konkani food? Who else can it be? Shilpa of

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-6308397797244234292008-04-28T13:03:00.015-05:002008-08-18T19:41:38.577-05:00

Looks like it’s been a long time since I made a chat with my virtual friends……..a long time since I really sat back and scribbled few things here with a relaxed state of mind. I have been too pre-occupied with our relocation and then settling in the new place and just when I was trying to get accustomed to the new kitchen, I tired to squeeze in a huge project like this one, just out of some

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-52378692732433810572008-04-12T20:07:00.027-05:002009-08-25T10:17:56.858-05:00

When someone asks me what I want to be, if there is a re-birth, for me the response comes quite spontaneously…….I don’t have to think twice to say that I should be able to sing, I should be able to paint beautifully and I should be able to write beautiful poems, capturing the serenity of nature, the beauty of chirping of birds, the sound of flowing water on river rocks…….and now I wish I could

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com65tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-65888062279444195322008-04-12T19:09:00.007-05:002008-04-14T08:09:22.551-05:00

This post is part of SADYA VIBHAVANGAL – Learn to make the traditional Kerala Feast- An Artist’s Edible Palette ! Kerala’s classic Dhaahashamani, thirst quencher in its true sense……..A refreshing summer drink and on a side note, Sambaram is also given when someone is sloshed or hammered :). Even before lemon juice and Rasna and aerated drinks grabbed its current place, Sambaram was served to

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-11310917902875695932008-04-12T19:06:00.007-05:002008-04-13T00:00:08.557-05:00

This post is part of SADYA VIBHAVANGAL – Learn to make the traditional Kerala Feast- An Artist’s Edible Palette !A tangy tomato soup spiced up with the pungent taste of garlic, black peppercorns and cumin seeds, and flavored with asafoetida, coconut oil and curry leaves. This can be tailored to suit to personal taste by making it spicy or tangy or garlicky. It is great for digestion as well as

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-77546300119869264692008-04-12T19:00:00.008-05:002008-08-14T10:14:34.038-05:00

This post is part of SADYA VIBHAVANGAL – Learn to make the traditional Kerala Feast- An Artist’s Edible Palette !Kerala Sambar is a curried lentil and mixed vegetables preparation in thick gravy. Unlike its popular cousins from the neighboring states of Southern India, Kerala Sambar is cooked with a wide variety of vegetables. In some regions of Kerala, roasted coconut is added as a taste

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-56415038483819447422008-04-12T17:57:00.007-05:002009-02-18T10:44:20.104-05:00

This post is part of SADYA VIBHAVANGAL – Learn to make the traditional Kerala Feast- An Artist’s Edible Palette ! Childhood weirdness…..hmm…..interesting topic, huh? I had my big share too…….. :) Anyone interested in knowing a deep dark secret of yours truly?? Well…. I never used to drink Payasam cooked in jaggery….anything in dark or brown color was “karutha Payasam“ to me and as a 6 or 7 year

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-8095761032433310102008-04-12T17:54:00.011-05:002008-04-13T00:13:05.662-05:00

This post is part of SADYA VIBHAVANGAL – Learn to make the traditional Kerala Feast- An Artist’s Edible Palette ! Most modest and humble entry on Sadya , an artist’s edible palette as I would like to call it, is when Parippu is served with a drop of ghee on top, after rice is served on the leaf. This Dal /lentil preparation is the simplest dish and the only logical reasoning I can think of,

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5382625508268634925.post-50934479624589697832008-04-12T17:52:00.009-05:002008-10-10T11:06:04.419-05:00

This post is part of SADYA VIBHAVANGAL – Learn to make the traditional Kerala Feast- An Artist’s Edible Palette ! Kuthari choru is the cooked rice from Rosematta/Kerala red rice. It is the soul food of Kerala and chances of people from other states falling in love with this rice is very remote as generally most of them complain that its too big and plump to eat and hard to chew and perhaps that

Mishmash !http://www.blogger.com/profile/18038923718366741085noreply@blogger.com3