Preparation for Puja

In another fifteen days the Navaratri festivals will start , which will be hectic for any housewife more so for a person  working.A little preparation, of some things we use for everyday  for puja, does save us time.
  1)    One is Gejavasthra ----- In unboiled milk ( the amount of milk depends on , how many Gejavasthras, one wants to colour, use your own judgement) add Kumkum and colour the Geajavastras, and dry it well before storing in a box,or because  of the raw milk, it will smell bad if stored before drying well.

2) For the evening Naividya   cut into pieces five kind of dry fruits  ie Dry Dates, Badam, Kaju, Dry Grapes,     Figs, add some Diamond Sugar and store this comes very useful.

3)  If one is not observing Sowla/Madi,  one can prepare for Appi paayasa. To the desired quantity of Maida add a pinch of salt and mix the Maida into a dough  , slightly stiffer than for Chappathi. Keepm aside  20/30 mins (Chiroti Rava  can also be used) Keep oil for heating,  As for chappathis, take little dough and roll into a thin chappathi, and cut into small squares, and deep fry till crisp, do this all the dough.When the fried pieces , become cold, store  it in air tight  container. While making Kheer boil the milk or Milk and water, when its boiling add  the   required quantity of the fried  pieces into the milk and let it boil till the  pieces or soft and done , then add sugar, fried Kaju and Dry grapes. I would suggest   you put off the fire before adding the sugar and grapes, as the milk curdles  some time but not always. On festivals  days better be a bit caustius.
4)  It takes  time to put the Phool Vathis and heat the ghee and pour over the Vathis. Arrange  the vathis, quite a few of them in a tray, melt the ghee and pour it over it, store this in a container, so when ever you need them you can just take  it and put in the diva.
5) When there are a lot of Divas to be washed , put all the divas in a big bowl, pour in some  liquid soap and hot water to cover the divas. After some time you can wash it i will come out clean, this is in case this all Silver. If using Pithal or Bell metal,  In water soak  i big lump of Tamarind and put in the divas leave it for 30/40 minutes, then wash it with some soap water.
6)For the Akanda  soak the long vathis in oil and store, when you light the Akanda use this vathi after puting the oil and apply a little camphor powder to  the tip and it will light easily.
7) Rangoli is also time consuming. You can use a ready made ones available, or paint it  on a plank, using fabric paints in yellow or white, which can  be wiped clean . You can only add the Sri Om  every day.
8)Another Kheer is,  Pohe the thick variety can be  fried and powdered coursely and stored along with Kaju Drakshe. When ever  it is wanted it can be added to hot milk and if possible boil it once add sugar and vela powder.

The Benifits of Kandadri Lehyam

 KANDADRI is given to mothers after 18 days after child- birth. This has  a number of medicinal herbs in addition to Ginger Juice, Drakshe, [dry grapes] Pomegranate Honey  and   Ghee also. This is given for Digestion,  to boost the hemoglobin level,  to shrink the uterus  and for healing also,  for breast milk and  for recouping .  This given first thing in the morning about a teaspoon full. As the ingredients are heat producing plenty of ghee and milk is given to the mother. I have also heard grand mothers say it prevents depression in new mothers, This Kandadri is given for two full months after child birth. While Kandadri is being eaten an oil bath is a MUST,  every alternate day to cool the system.This leahyam is given for two months. Soon after the third month begin , dishes to cool the system  will be added in the  food menu   foods like methi dosa which is very cooling is given and  more of curds  is included in the diet.
 Lately, i have heard that the girls are refusing to eat this as they think if the leayam is eaten more ghee has to be eaten and there will wait gain. Its true their will be wait gain, this will disappear once the girl goes back to  her daily routine. My advice to girls is  take this leahyam at least half a teaspoon, first thing in the morning, it will do tons of good to your health after the birth of a child.

Hayagriva Maddi.

Haya griva Maddi is a Sweet dish prepared in Madhwa and TMG homes.There is a story too that goes with this dish.
Sri Vadhiraja Swamy used to hold a bowl containing a mixture of boiled Chana Dal and Jaggery on his head and sit. A white Horse would come keep its forelegs on sri Vadhiraja Swamis shoulders and partake of the mixture and also leave some for Sri Vadhiraja Swami to eat as prasad.
Incredents:-- Chana Dal -- Two cups, Jaggery :-- Two cups, Ghee --1/4 cup, Dry Cooconut --grated or cut into small peices --1/2 cup, Khus Khus -- One table spoon, Raisins --8/10,Cashew nuts --8/10 cut into bits, Cardamom powder --1/2 tea spoon.
Preasure cook the Chana Dal in 4 cups of water and drain the water {if One likes this water can be used for saar].
In a thick bottomed Kadai or vessel boil the dal and jaggery together till it is semi dry stirring all the while. In another smaller kadai heat ghee ant fry the cashew nuts, coconut raisins and the khus khus till a arome emits add this to the Dal Jaggery mixture. If one like it 1/4 tsp af Nutmeg powder can be added along with the cardamom powder.
Serve hot. It will be good to eat cold too.

Baal Dhind Ambata Bhaji.

Baal Dhind Ambata Bhaji.
Incredents:--- Cut Baal Dhind ------ 1 or 1.1/2 cup, Tur Dal ----1/2 cup, Sambar powder as per taste, Tamarind --- One small lime size, for podni --- oil --- one Table spoon, mustard -- 1/2 tsp, hing 1/4 tsp, curry leaves -- one sprig. and a few methi seeds or powder.Salt --- to taste.
Wash the Baal dhind well so no butter milk remains. Keep aside. Boil the dal as usual. Soak the tamarind and extract the pulp. Add the Baal dhind to the dal and allow it to boil, in dal for15/20 mins, add the tamarind pulp, and boil for a few more mins, add the sambar powder and salt, allow to simmer for a few mins, remove from fire. Heat the oil in small kadai add the mustard, hing, methi seeds and curry leaves. Serve with rice and Kathracha Mirsinga.
PS. If so desired you can omit the sambar powder, but add green chillies while adding the baal dhind and add dry red chillies to the podni.

Banana Stem/Baaladhind recipes.

Banana stem is obtained from a banana plant which has yielded flower and fruit, it is the cor of the plant. This according to Indians has medicinal properties . Eating this often at least once a week will keep kidney and bladder stones away. If the stones have already there, eating it every day will i have heard will melt the stone. This is hear say and I have no proof at all.Any way the fibre is good for health.
Banana stem, while,buying must be white and fresh. Peel the outer cover. and cut into slices of 1/1.5cm slices and while doing remove any fiber by rolling it round your finger. As you cut put the slices in very diluted butter milk, so it will retain the colour.Next cut the slices into small bits
and put it in the butter milk. this way the stem can be stored for a few days in the fridge.
Baaladhind Koshambir:-- one cup-- Baaladhind,1/4 cup ---coconut scrapings, curry leaves---one sprig, udad dal and chana dal 1/2 tsp in each, Red chilies 2/3, mustard --1/4 tsp, salt --to taste, oil -- for seasoning, and hing.
Method:-- Sqeeze out the water from the baaladhind add salt, coconut scrapings seasonin with udad dal, chana chilies mustard and hing, mix well and serve.
For baala dhind pachdi it is same as above omit the coconut and Sweet dahi which has been well set.

Baal Dhind Bhaji. Baala dhind pieces with the water squeezed out say about 2 cups, 1/2cup --Moong dal, Coconut scrapings--- 1/2 cup, For seosonig, One tsp each of chana dal and udad dal,
3/4 red chillies, mustard --1/2 tsp, hing --- 1/2 tsp, oil--- one table spoon, curry leaves two sprigs.If desired --a little jaggery, and salt to taste.
Heat oil add the dalls one by one when they turn golden add the mustard, chillies , after the mustard splutters add the baala dhind, mix well add the mung dal, curry leaves Add a little water, mix well and close it and allow it cook, checking every now then and add extra water if needed. when dal is cooked add salt jaggery and coconut scrappings, mix well and serve.haldhi powder can be added to give it a colour.

Maatoda

Maatoda is a bhaji, for which , Plantain Flower, Tender Cluster Beans or Methi Leaves is used.
Most homes use Tur Dal,some use Chana Dal.
Tur DAl--One Cup, REd Chillies --4/5, Ginger --one inch peice, green chillies--5/6 as per taste,Jeera ---One Teaspoon,Hing-- 1/4 spoon,coconut scrapings---1/2 cup,salt to taste and curry leaves---- one sprig.Cooking Oil--- One big laddle full.[more if necessary], mustard seeds.
Incredents;--- One Plantain Flower . When the the top layer is peeled you will find the flower with tiny plantain, Take this and in the middle the will be a long stem witha tiny head, you have got to pull this out. [ it is said that this makes the bhaji bitter] this has to be removed from all the flowers one by one. In a vessel keep diluted butter milk and apply this on your palms before you start to work on the banana flower. [ this will prevent your hands from stains]. after you have dealt with all the flowers cut it and put it into diluted butter milk.
Soak one cup of Tur dal for an hour or a little more along with a few red dry chillies.
Next remove all the excess water, from the dal.Grind the dal with coconut, jeera green chillies ginger COURSLY. Heat oil
Heat oil add mustard seeds, hing and curry leaves.When the mustard splutters add the ground Dal and the plantain flower, mix well and cook on slow fire, sriring the mix every now and then .It should become almost crisp. remove from fire and serve with rice.
for the health conscious, the dal can be made into flat rounds, like we do for cutlets and steamed for 10/12 mins, along with the cut banana flower and seasoned as per the recipe.

Tips on home remedies.

These are Home remedies for care skin and hair.One great problem that,girls and women face.Not, all creams available solve our problems.
For a clear skin and to remove pimple marks|-Dry 1/2kg Green Gram in the sun. In the grinder make this into a course powder[not very course], to this add 50 grams Kasturi haldhi powder. This Kasturi Haldhi is available in all stores which sell Indian medicines.Mix well and store in a bottle. Twice a week Mix a small quantity in dahi or milk. Apply this on the face and neck and leave it for about half an hour. the wash it off in warm water.One can apply this before bath and use it like soap.It also removes dead skin while making the skin smooth.Orange peels can also dried and powdered and mixed with the  Green gram powder.  The orange peel powder can be used as it is , for smooth skin.
 Methi seeds, soaked over night and ground to a fine paste, if applied to the face and neck will the skin smooth and also good for pimples and acne.
  To remove Tan after moving about in the hot sun, apply Dahi  (curds) mixed with a little honey, when applied and washed after half an hour will remove the Tan. This mix can be used for any dark patches too.

In Winter our feet and hands too too get cracks. For this to one spoon of glycerin mix two teaspoons of lime juice  apply on the cracked heels everyday, in a few days  and leave it for 15/20 minutes, before washing it off.
After a few day your hands and feet will be smooth.
For hair fall, Soak 50 grams of Methi/Fenugreek for a few and drain the water and let it sprout a little. Grind this into a smooth paste.In 200ml of coconut oil add this paste and boil till the Methi paste changes colour to a dark brown, Remove from heat. When cool strain in a muslin cloth and bottle. Use this every day if possible or apply this 30 hour before each time, you shampoo your hair.
 FOR SPRAINS.
Sprains.Some times a sprain, takes a long time for the pain to disappear.For this, make a thick extract of Tamarind, to this add a little haldhi powder and a drop of til/mustard oil, boil this extract till it becomes a paste, Apply this on a thin cloth and apply on the effected area and bandage it. This is best done in before going to bed, so it can be left on the effected area for a few hours. Apply this poultice for a few days, and there will relief, for sure.                                                                                         Methi soaked over night ground fine and applied for a last rinse to the hair will give the hair a good sheen. Neem leaves can also be  ground  fine and applied to the will give it a good sheen and bounce.
   
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         GINGER  and Its Uses
  For a  sore throat  crush a piece of fresh ginger  Pour 1/2 cup of boiling over it , close and after a five minuted add a spoon of honey and sip it hot. this ginger tea is sure to give relief.
   For Head ache and heavy head  (head cold)  Grind  ginger and apply the forehead and the temples after applying a little oil or Vaseline  after a while the head will be reduced.
   For a upset stomach -- chew a piece of ginger and a pinch of Jeera with jaggery. This works well for acidity too.
 For a bad cold, boil  piece of ginger, few Tulasi leaves,  few crushed pepper corns  add sugar candy or palm sugar to taste and drink it hot it will  give relief in mild fever too.
  For cough with phelm  Boil methi leaves in water say 1/2 a glass, to this add  spoon of Ginger juice and spoon of honey and drink three four times a day  for a couple of days.
 These are harmless home remedies. For severe cases better to consult a doctor.