442 : UNNIYAPPAM

Sweet paniyaram aka Neyyappam, a common prasadam in Kerala temples. This sweet is must on Gokulashtami and karthigai deepam.  I already posted unniappam recipe  in my blog. This is slightly different from that. You can make this  even 20 minutes. Krishna Jayanthi is very near, try this recipe

INGREDIENTS

 Rice flour                              1 cups

 Wheat Flour                          1/2 cup

 Jaggery                                150 gms

 Ripe banana -                       1 No.

 Coconut bits –                      1/4 cup

 Black sesame seeds              1½ Tbsp.

Green Elachi powder              1 Tbsp.

Baking soda                          1/3 Tsp.

Ghee -                                  1 Tbsp.

Coconut Oil /Cooking oil         For deep frying

Method:

• Add a cup of water to jaggery and melt it. Strain the jaggery and let it cool.
• Cut the banana and grind with 1 tbsp. of jaggery, till you get a smooth paste.
• Fry the black sesame seeds and coconut bits in a ghee till it turns golden brown.
• Take a big bowl, add the rice flour, wheat flour, banana gravy, baking soda and fried coconut bits ,black sesame seeds and melted jaggery. Mix well. Keep aside the batter for 30-45 mins
• If the batter turns too thick after resting, add extra water to loosen it and stir well.
• Heat the Unniappam mould, fill it ¾ of oil, pour the batter into mould.
• When one side is cooked, using sharp ladle flip it.
• Once appam is cooked, drain the oil and set aside.
• Sometimes sugar is sprinkled on top to give that awesome black/brown and white contrast and add sweetness. Also it tastes far better if you take it after couple of days, instead of fresh.other 

Try my other Unniappam Recipe Here

http://www.sadhanakitchen.blogspot.com/2011/01/unniappam.html

Unniappam

This is one of the traditional & delicious sweet dishes from Kerala. In all Krishna temples in Kerala, they make this Neivedyam prasadam for Lord Unni Kuttan. And these prasadam are so yummy like Krishna Himself.

Ingredients

Raw rice                                           1cup

Jaggery                                             1 cup

Ripe Banana                                      1 no

chopped Coconut pieces                      1/4 cup (fried in ghee)

Green cardamon powder                    ½ tsp

Dry ginger powder                             ¼ tsp
Black sesame seed                             - 1/2tsp.

Ghee                                                  2 tbsp

Oil                                                      frying 

Method:

• Soak the raw rice for 4 hours. Drain it.
• Melt the jaggery with little water and strain.
• Smash the banana very well.
• Grind together with rice, melted Jaggery  banana, elachi & dry ginger powder with just enough water to form a smooth batter.
• fry the coconut pieces & till seeds in ghee.
• Mix ghee and coconut pieces with it and mix well. Keep aside it for 2 hours.
• Heat the Unniappam mould, fill it ¾ of ghee (or oil), pour the batter into mould.
• When one side is cooked, using sharp ladle flip it.
• Once appam is cooked, drain the ghee (or oil) and set aside. Sometimes sugar is sprinkled on top to give that awesome black/brown and white contrast and add sweetness. Also it tastes far better if you take it after couple of days, instead of fresh.

• 
  

Janmashtami/Krishna Jayanthi

Janmashtami day is an important day for Hindus. The festival of Janmashtami is celebrated as the birth day of Lord Krishna who was born as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu in Dwapar Yug . The festival is celebrated on the eighth day (Ashtami) day of the dark fortnight of the month of Avani(August-September) in the Hindu calendar.

From Periyazhvar's Tirumozhi

Celebrations:

The festival is observed with Ras Lila and Dahi Handi celebrations for two days in the country. While the Rasa lila re-creates the flirtatious aspects of Krishna's youthful days, the Dahi Handi celebrate God's playful and mischievous side, where teams of young men form human pyramids to reach a high-hanging pot of butter and break it. This tradition, also known as uriadi, is a major event in Tamil Nadu on Gokulashtami.

Janmashtami in Mathura

Kutti Krishna is particularly fond of milk, butter and sweets. People indulge in making delicious Sweets and desserts for Lord Krishna. 

They decorate their houses with flowers, imprints of HIS Divine Sri Krishna's feet entering to the entire house.  Moreover, many people observe a  Nirjal fast during the day, as a part of the celebrations. 

 The fast is broken  after Janmashtami Puja. During both the types of Janmashtami fast, people pass their time by singing bhajans of Lord Krishna and chant mantra. They would not consume the sweet dishes or any other food unless and until they have been offered to Lord Krishna.

On the occasion of Janmashtami, I extend my greetings and good wishes to all my blog readers.

Recipes for Janmashtami (Please see the links)


Almond Cashew Burfi                                            Ambalapuzha Pal Payasam

                                   


Unni appam

                                                                                       Ashoka Halwa
                                                                                                                     

Sweet appam
                                                                                      Madhu vargam
                                

Puzhungal Arsi Murukku                        Puzhungal Arsi Thattai


                                 


Uppu seedai
                                                                                           Navaneetham
                                    

Vella seedai
                                                                                            Thenkuzhal

                                              
Mull Thenkuzhal

                                                                                                     Vadai
                                             

Thattai                                                                              Coconut Burfi


                                    



Unniappam                                                 Kalkandu Sadam

                                     


Thirattipal                                                     Kasi Halwa

                                      

Thattai - 3

Kaarthikai Dheepam Festival

Rows of agal ViLakku in front of every house... this is the image that at once comes to mind when we think of Kaarthikai Dheepam - the festival of lights that is celebrated throughout Tamil Nadu during the month of Kaarthikai (November-December).

Kaarthikai is essentially a festival of lamps. The lighted lamp is considered an auspicious symbol. It is believed to ward off evil forces and usher in prosperity and joy. While the lighted lamp is important for all Hindu rituals and festivals, it is indispensable for Kaarthikai.

At homes Kaarthikai Dheepam greetings and Kaarthikai Dheepam wishes are exchanged amongst family and friends. Females prepare colorful Kaarthikai Dheepam .It is only after the 'Deeparathana' (worship ritual) that the lamps are moved to all the parts of the house and lit to create the dreamy look that enchants everyone.

Vishnu dheepam is also observed as Kaarthikai dheepam by Sri Vaishnavas.Vishnu temples are decorated with Dheepam. Vishnu dheepam is celebrated in SrIrangam temple, Parthasarathy temple and Varadaraja temple. The three Mudhal AzhwArs lit their own lamps in the first verses  of their respective ThiruvanthAdhis and had a cosmic vision of The Lord with Piratti. 

I read  the beautiful article about Karthikai deepam in Anudinam.org. Please see the link

http://anudinam.org/2011/12/10/kaarirul-agartum-karthigai-deepam-dec-10th-2011/

Kaarthikai recipes 

Peanut Urundai                                         appam
                                      

Vadai.                                                      Unni Appam                   

                                   

 kunnuku                                             Unniappam

                   

Janmashtami/Krishna Jayanthi

Janmashtami day is an important day for Hindus. The festival of Janmashtami is celebrated as the birth day of Lord Krishna who was born as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu in Dwapar Yug . The festival is celebrated on the eighth day (Ashtami) day of the dark fortnight of the month of Avani(August-September) in the Hindu calendar.

From Periyazhvar's Tirumozhi

Celebrations:

The festival is observed with Ras Lila and Dahi Handi celebrations for two days in the country. While the Rasa lila re-creates the flirtatious aspects of Krishna's youthful days, the Dahi Handi celebrate God's playful and mischievous side, where teams of young men form human pyramids to reach a high-hanging pot of butter and break it. This tradition, also known as uriadi, is a major event in Tamil Nadu on Gokulashtami.

Janmashtami in Mathura

Kutti Krishna is particularly fond of milk, butter and sweets. People indulge in making delicious Sweets and desserts for Lord Krishna. 

They decorate their houses with flowers, imprints of HIS Divine Sri Krishna's feet entering to the entire house.  Moreover, many people observe a  Nirjal fast during the day, as a part of the celebrations. 

 The fast is broken  after Janmashtami Puja. During both the types of Janmashtami fast, people pass their time by singing bhajans of Lord Krishna and chant mantra. They would not consume the sweet dishes or any other food unless and until they have been offered to Lord Krishna.

On the occasion of Janmashtami, I extend my greetings and good wishes to all my blog readers.

Recipes for Janmashtami (Please see the links)


Almond Cashew Burfi                                            Ambalapuzha Pal Payasam

                                   


Unni appam

                                                                                       Ashoka Halwa
                                                                                                                     

Sweet appam
                                                                                      Madhu vargam
                                

Puzhungal Arsi Murukku                        Puzhungal Arsi Thattai


                                 


Uppu seedai
                                                                                           Navaneetham
                                    

Vella seedai
                                                                                            Thenkuzhal

                                              
Mull Thenkuzhal

                                                                                                     Vadai
                                             

Thattai                                                                              Coconut Burfi


                                    



Unniappam                                                 Kalkandu Sadam

                                     


Thirattipal                                                     Kasi Halwa

                                      

Thattai - 3