Ever since we moved to this remote mountain village in the Western Ghats, every year on Christmas Eve, my family and I eagerly await the visit of Santa Claus and the neighborhood carol singers. The first year, a person was sent here in the morning asking us if we wouldn’t mind the children coming to…
Snack
Sweet Khichadi – A traditional teatime snack (Gluten Free)
Whenever I think of Khichadi, all of sudden, I am a little schoolgirl again, transported back to the magical time of childhood. I remember waiting for the long bell to ring at the end of the last period to rush back home, often running at breakneck speed, to see what goodies mother has cooked for…
Dudali – A traditional arrowroot dessert (Gluten Free)
In the good old days of my childhood, when fast food was unheard of, pure unadulterated arrowroot powder was freely available in the market. Whenever a person in the family was struck down by illness, especially typhoid or diarrhea, and unable to take solid food, arrowroot powder would promptly be used to make a reviving hot…
Spicy Collard Nuggets (Vegan + Gluten Free)
Collard greens do not grow well in the hot climate of the Kerala coast. However, in the cooler mountain districts of Wayanad and Idukki, it is an entirely different story. When we purchased our land in Wayanad around 8 years ago, we used to visit every week to supervise the construction work of our home. We…
Eggless Banana Cake (Vegan)
Last week, while enjoying a walk along the slope down the bottom of our garden, I spotted a beautiful little bunch of mature Nendran bananas, ready for harvest. My husband quickly cut it down and severed the combs. At home, I use a large metal container to ripen banana bunches. Old newspapers are spread out…
Agati Flower Pakoda – A hot and spicy snack (Vegan)
Last week, our dear friends from Coorg, a planter couple, visited us together with a couple of their friends. My husband asked me to make some fried snacks, something new and unique, as his dear friend loved to have a spicy fried snack along with his lunch. We quickly plucked some fragrant agati blooms (Agatipoove in…
Sheera / Rava Kesari – A quick and easy dessert
My son loves sheera. Often, he asks me to make some sweet dish for him. One look at his face and I can tell, he yearns for sheera! I am only too happy to comply, as it takes just under 20 minutes to make this delicious, sweet dessert. Sheera, which is also called rava kesari,…
Neyyappam – A deep-fried Kerala delicacy (Vegan)
Long before adulterated vegetable oils were introduced into the cuisine of the Malayali (Keralite), together with their concomitant host of ailments and diseases, the people of Kerala enjoyed a healthier way of life using pure coconut oil in their daily diet. Every town and village had its own quaint wooden oil press powered by oxen…
Potato Pakoda – A tasty snack (Vegan)
Most of us around the world love potatoes. Potato lovers like to think that the earth is round like a potato! We are easily annoyed when asked if it isn’t the other way around. To us, a world without potatoes is just impossible! A kitchen without a bag of potatoes, just inconceivable! Both my dear…
Chili Peanuts – A delicious deep-fried snack (Vegan + Gluten Free)
Nearly everyone loves peanuts (groundnuts). In India, one finds beaches and marketplaces dotted with pushcart peanut vendors, roasting salted, shelled peanuts in hot sand and selling them in little newspaper cones to eager buyers. Such a delight to eat, peanuts are brain food – great for children and adults alike. When peanuts are…