Bonda / Undan pori

Imagine you are at a chaikada/tea stall and you have a wide variety of palaharam(tea time snack) infront of you. Without any second thought what would be the one palaharam that you would go for? For me, it is Pazham Bonda/Undan Pori. Do not ask me why? I just love this non fancy and simple snack so much. It was not a frequently made snack at home, though they are quite easy to make. I wonder why? But when we would visit Kerala, I grab on these, every single time, I would go to a bakery or chai kada. Even the shop owners have given me that look/stare when I walk out of there shop, not settling in for any other option, in case they might have ran out of these bonda. It is so addictive for me. If you have some overripe bananas that you are looking forward to using up, try these. It is a different, simple and easy snack to put together for tea time. Uff ! Now I am craving for Bonda.  

Kappa Chips/ Tapioca chips

I love munching on these Tapioca chips. They are so addictive that you can't just stop. I remember getting it while we used to take the train ride form kerala to the township that I grew up in. Forget about these chips getting to the destination, it just wouldn't survive the four day train journey. We would finish it off in the train itself. 

I somehow prefer these match stick shaped tapioca chips rather than the round ones. My lil one also loves it, so its just the perfect excuse to make them at home. I used to think that it would be a huge task to chop those hard tapioca roots. But I was surprised when I actually tried them the first time. Wasn't at all difficult as I had expected. I would suggest to make it at home if you are a tapioca chips lover like us, because nothing beats the taste of freshly homemade chips. 

Instant Unniyappam

My mom's version of instant unniyappams have been always a hit. It always helps to bring down our cravings for unniyappams and to finish off the overripe bananas. And the word instant is so apt. As it doesn't need any soaking of white rice and hence no delay in making it.

Whenever we have guest who pay a surprise visit and I have hardly anything to serve them to snack on, I choose to make it. It has been a hit. Make it and let me know if you loved it.

Ragi Puttu

I must admit that I had not tried ragi before Jordan. My mom says, she has tried her best to feed me ragi, when I was a kid but I used to refuse. When I started giving solid food to Jordan, I had to give him ragi because every other person whom I asked of options, would start with ragi. Now when you give a food to the baby, it's like the presidents assistant tasting it before it is being tasted by the president himself. So I got to taste it too before Jordan. And I must say that I liked it. And then I started hunting for ragi recipes and to my surprise there were so many interesting recipes. One among them is this puttu. 

Jacob doesn't like it. I usually say that is because of his mental block of considering it to be baby food. But his dislike for ragi puttu has never stopped me from making it. When he has the normal rice puttu, mama and Jordan enjoy this ragi puttu . It's awesome. You should try it. 

Unniyappam

Holidays, while in hostel, were most looked forward to. The last few days of holidays would be spent by mummy asking what I wish to take back with me to the hostel? For me, Unniyappam would be one constant thing on the list.

The goodies taken along with us helps to bare or overcome the home sickness as well as to survive the terrible hostel food.

Vettu Cake / Fried Cakes

This is one not so often made snack at my home. But I have had it from my mom's friends place who makes it often. Infact, my mom learnt to make it from her. I used to love these then and now too. 

During my last visit to Kerala, I noticed that the tea shop near our house carried these. They looked pretty placed in the glass cupboards. I was double minded about getting it though. That tea shop doesn't have too many customers in a day and I just didn't want to get something made days back. So every other day when I would pass by that tea shop I used to crave for them looking at it. After a couple of days I realized, the stack remained the same - neither grew or reduce in size , nor did it change its pattern of arrangement. They indeed were never in demand at that shop. My craving then took a change.

Tamukku ~ A Banana Delight !

This recipe, unlike other overripe banana recipes is for you if you are lucky to have too much of banana produce at home or got lots of bananas at a hugely discounted price and wondering what to make out of them to prevent getting spoiled or simply because, you love having Tamukku. In our case, the love for tamukku is the primary reason for making it.

Back at home, whenever we have a huge produce of bananas, apart from distributing and redistributing among relatives and friends and also having it every day for breakfast with puttu, upma, Aval villayichathu etc. we would make this tamukku. They are truly addictive. It is also sometimes given away in churches as Nercha. My intension of making it also had another reason and i.e. to make my lil banana hater, have bananas.

Aval vilayichathu

Aval vilayichathu is one among my favorites. My grandmother used to make these for us to take with us while we travelled back after our vacation, so that we could have it in train. She used to make it with lots and lots of coconut in it. We used to love having it. The very thought of it is so nostalgic and mouthwatering. My aval vilayichathu would come nowhere close to hers.

Jacob doesn't like it, so this was made exclusively for me. I being a fan, thoroughly enjoyed it. I have always been a fan of it. There is another uncooked version called aval nanachathu, that I am fan of. While in hostel, we used to get it for evening snack and not many of us used to like it. However, I used to be a happy soul when it was served. And people who didn't like it used to donate their share. So I sometimes used to end up having some portion of the donated ones too :P. Here is how I make it.

Ela Ada / Valsan

I am one happy soul, if I get to have something to bite on during tea time with the coffee/tea. If it is homemade then my happiness doubles. During my hostel days, when we would return from college in the evening, it would be time for tea. We would pass by the mess, to peek in and see what would be served as snack with tea. If its Puffs, Banana fritters/Ethakka Boli, Ulli bhajji / Onion fritters etc. we would rush to our room to grab our coffee mug and get back to the mess to have them. If it was plain bun, tiger biscuit etc., which were usually served on friday's then we wouldn't even bother coming down for coffee once we get to our own room, as if it was not worth the effort climbing up and down the stairs to grab it.

My mom used to make something to munch on for snacks so that we could have it during tea time. I remember having these as snacks after we got back home from our play time. And I would then sit in front of the TV to watch Small Wonders (a TV show) while I enjoyed the snack. Luckily I had some banana leaf handy, when I thought about it and I could make them to go with tea. It just melted in my mouth. I then realized, I had to crave this simple ada real bad so that I could appreciate this snack more than how I did, while I was a kid. If you manage to get some banana leaf, this is a must try. You would love it.

Unnakaya/ Unnakai/ Kaayada - Coconut Stuffed Plantain Rolls

If I had never built up my interest in blogging, then I think I wouldn't have been introduced to so many delicious and interesting recipes, from different parts of the world or even the country/ state I belong to. This is one such snack I had never had or heard about. Blogging introduced me to this snack and I am glad that it did.

The favorite snack with Ethakka/Nenthrapazham towards our part of Kerala has been the Ethakka Boil/ Pazham pori. So every time I see ripen Ethakka, the only thought that would cross my mind is to make Ethakka Boli out of it. But after trying Unnakaya, this has been a close second option to make with Ethakka. 

Vattayappam / Steamed Rice Cake

This is such a perfect palaharam for tea time. I love it but Jacob doesn't. So, this was made rarely at home. Now that my lil one likes it, I make it quite often. My mom-in-law makes awesome vattayappam that you just can't stop gobbling down. The last time I was home, I got to learn some tricks to make soft and spongy vattayappam from her.

On Maundy Thursday, we make Indriappam, Vattayappam and hot cross buns. I love all three. But among them, its only the Vattayappam that is made anytime of the year and not restricted to making it just on the Maundy Thursday. So its absolutely okay to fall in love with it, because you could make it anytime you crave for it rather than keep calming down your craving for that day of the year.

Idichakka Cutlet / Tender Jackfruit Cutlet / Tender Jackfruit Croquettes

Have you ever tried Idichakka cutlet? Oh yeah, you heard me right. Idichakka cutlet.... One small family and one idichakka bought, can turn into multiple dishes. Yes, its made out of the same idichakka I made Idichakka thoran out of :). After all, having it in the same form becomes boring, so I tried it and amazingly turned out to be a hit.

Jacob was not in for the cutlet plan. He thought it would just another weird idea/recipe that he would have to become a guinea pig for. But when he had it, he was like, "Really.....Idichakka cutlet... it's so amazing". Anyways, I am glad that it turned out so good and was a success.

Kerala Paalappam / Appam

Weddings/ special occasions , Xmas / Easter ..... Or even a normal Sunday breakfast gets so special when you have these Appams paired with a stew. We usually make a large batch of it and have it for breakfast and tea. I sometimes have it for lunch/ dinner too :) . I just don't mind having it at anytime of the day because my craving for Appam is that strong :).

One wouldn't go wrong in its making, if the fermentation is done properly. If you happen to make it, you could try combining it with Chicken Curry, Fish Molly, Motta curry (Egg Curry), Green Peas curry , Mutton stew , Mutton curry, Beef curry etc. as a side. They taste so yumm that you would never want to put a full stop to having it.

Ellunda / Sesame seed ladoo / Til ke Ladoo

I have always been a fan of it. So when Papa mummy visited us, I asked them to get it. Now once you trigger your taste buds of the long forgotten taste of this ladoo, instead of calming down the craving, it gets doubled. 

Its just one of those cravings that hit me, which resulted in multiple visits to the Indian store. Every time I was there they had ran out of stock for these Ellunda.  So finally I gave up. After all its just a matter of 3-4 ingredients combining together to make these. So I bought the ingredients and made it at home. 

Pakavada / Ribbon Pakoda

As kids, when ever the study leave starts my mom used to make snacks and store it so that while we would be home the entire day, we could keep munching. Pakavada, used to be one such snack. I used to love pairing it with soda. Yes, you heard it right. It may sound strange but yes I used to loooove it. May be because back then I didn't use to have tea/coffee and so when I had it with sizzling drinks(non-alcoholic) I kind of got hooked on to that combination. But I still like it.

Well, these are super easy to make and equally addictive. You know, like, when you are watching a movie having popcorn and realize that they got over only when you can't get hold of another popcorn, its the same with this snack. The request to make these 'again' used to be put up to my mom within a day or two of her having made these in bulk. Yes, they would have been munched down by us, pretty quickly.

Kerala Mixture

Spicy Kerala mixture is something that would stand first among the choices to pick from the snack aisle at the Indian store. I like it super hot/spicy, no matter how much ever it may make me cry when I have them.

I remember my mom making it once when we were kids. It does involve a bit of an effort I must say, because even though you are frying the same dough they need to differ in shapes. But that is what defines mixture right. 

Paal Payasam / Rice Pudding / Rice Kheer / Milk Pudding

This payasam is the easiest of all. With just minimum ingredients it can be made quickly. After all it is Onam, and a payasam is a must have.

This time, it was at the last moment that I decided to go with this payasam. Well, I had to, as I had not planned well for payasam preparation for Onam in advance and hence didn't have ingredients to make our favorite payasam - Cherupayar Parippu Payasam. Neither did I have Semiya to make Semiya Payasam. So we ended up making it.

Kuzhalappam

Making of Kuzhalappam has some fond memories from childhood. During X'mas, we used to host X'mas party for our family friends at our house. Mummy would make variety of Palaharam/snacks to be served. Kuzhalappam would be one among the snacks.

Making of it would be a combined effort of all at home. Mummy would make the dough. Then the rolling and shaping would be done by Papa, chetan (brother) and me, while Mummy would fry these. I used to love that team work.

Kozhukatta / Modak/ Modakam

Have you heard of Kozhukatta perunnal ? I am sure most of you have not. Because it is a catholic tradition followed only in certain parts of Kerala. My mom had never heard about it untill she got married. At my father's home this is a great tradition, where every one joins in to make it the day before Palm sunday and its called Kozhukatta sheniyazhcha. So we too used to follow the same tradition.

Its celebrated in memory of Jesus Christ being stoned. Its in memory of that, that we make these round stone shaped sweet dish. It has always seemed a strange thing to me to eat something sweet in memory of someone who was hurt that day. That is just one version of the history behind it. There are so many other versions. Hmm...anyways, I love having it and it gets all nostalgic when I start making it. It reminds me of those days as kids when we would sit down to give a hand in making these and my father would pour out so many memories from his childhood. 

Neyyappam ~ Vishu special

Wishing you all a very Happy Vishu!

Vishu - Malayalis newyear - is here. What have you been up to? Did you put up a Vishukkani? Well, we made Neyyappam here and that was our Vishu special. I did try to hunt for Kanni konna but no luck. As a kid, the main attraction of Vishu used to be crackers, movie series in TV, get together of cousins and ofcourse payasam. This time we had to restrict it to Neyyappams..not bad ehh..

Do you like Neyyappams? I love them. After I had made the batter and let it sit for 2-3 hours, the smell of melted jaggery was so tempting that I wanted to make it as soon as possible. I can't blame myself because it had been sooo long since I had them. Well here is the recipe to it. Hope you like it and try it.