Krishna Jayanthi

Happy Krishna Jayanthi to all my Indian readers. Every year, people make many varieties of sweets and savory stuff on Lord Krishna's birthday. I have been making them too. This year though, I am changing the plans. I have no will power when it comes to sugar and if I make sweets, I eat them and gain weight. Then feel bad about it and the saga continues.
But for those who want to enjoy all the stuff, here are some links..

Savory items..

Thengol

Easy Murukku

Mixture

Kara Sev and another version

Nippattu / Deep fried savory cracker

Sweets....

Besan Laddoo

Rave Unde/Rava Laddoo

6 cup burfi

Coconut burfi

Boondi Laddoo

Wheat Flour Laddoo

Have you ever wondered why this tradition for Krishna's birthday and Rama gets only fruit salad, kosambari, fruit juices and buttermilk for his birthday? It has nothing to do with God. It has everything to do with the season. Ironically, those who live in U.S have summer when Krishna Jayanthi comes and it makes more sense to be switching over to buttermilk and fruit juice instead of making all these fried and fatty stuff. But if you are blessed with a great metabolism and a perfect size, go ahead and enjoy these delicious treats.

Have a great week ahead. Pin It

Happy Krishna Janmashtami/Krishna Jayanthi

Many people celebrate Lord Krishna's birthday on many different days. Whatever their way of calculation is, there is something very common among all these. Lot of goodies. I made some too. I did share some with you and others I am yet to share in detailed posts. But, here is an overview with the links to whatever I have already posted.

What you see in a bowl is Ompodi which is just a little variation which is explained in this Kara Sev post.

In the platter, you see Rave Unde, Coconut Burfi, 6 Cup Burfi, Wheat Flour Laddoo as one set.
Below that set is Mucchore (not posted yet), Tengol and my mother's Murukku recipe that I have not posted yet.
I don't know if God enjoyed these, but my kids very much did.

Have a great day everyone!! Pin It

Happy Sankranthi

Happy Sankranthi and Pongal to all!!

This is one of the festivals that I have very fond memories of. I remember, as a little girl dressed up in reshme langa / pattu pavadai and decking up with jewelery and going to every house on my street to give Ellu, Sakkare Acchu. I used to wait for this festival so badly. In kannada, there is a saying 'Ellu Bella hanchi, Olle maatu aadu' meaning goes something like distribute sesame seeds and jaggery and speak good words. This being the festival of harvesting, it is customary to use freshly harvested ingredients in cooking. That is the reason everyone makes pongal on this festival. Coming to the topic, a kannada tradition is to make Ellu and Sakkare Acchu and give it to neighbors and friends on this day. Ellu basically is a mixture of Roasted sesame seeds, roasted peanuts (skin removed and split), dalia or hurigadale, kobbari or dry coconut and jaggery pieces. Sakkare acchu is basically made of sugar. Sugar syrup boiled to almost hard candy stage and poured into molds. I just wanted to wish everyone Happy Pongal/Happy Sankranthi!!.

How to make Ellu!!
This cannot even be called a recipe. It is just a mixture of different things. Proportions also vary from house to house. My mother used to combine everything in equal quantity except for bella or jaggery. She would double that. I remember from my childhood that ellu or sesame seeds would always be left over at the end. So, I have made a modification so that it is not wasted. Here it goes..


Ingredients:
Sesame seeds dry roasted - 1/2 to 3/4 measure
Dalia or Hurigadale - 1 measure
Kobbari or dry coconut chopped uniformly - 1 measure
Peanuts dry roasted and skin removed and split - 1 1/2 measure
Bella or Jaggery pieces - 2 measures
Jeerige or cumin candies (optional) - I don't like to mix in these things as I believe it spoils the traditional method.

Method:
Mix all the ingredients in an airtight container and enjoy. Traditionally, 'Ellu Beeruvudu' or distributing ellu consists of some quantity of the ellu mixture, one or two pieces of sakkare acchu, a fruit and a sugar cane cut into at least 6-8" long.


Since this has sesame seeds as one of the major ingredients, I would like to send this as an entry to Priya's Cooking with seeds - Sesame Seeds!!



Enjoy!! Pin It