Recipe Fundas!-Simple,Tasty, Healthy Vegetarian recipes for a Vibrant Living!

Basic steps for Salt & Sweet Adai: 1. Soak Kaaramani (Brown beans)- 2-3 tbsp for 2 hours and pressure cook this for 1-2 whistles 2. Rice flour- Dry roast till for 3-4 mins. Till the fresh smell disappears. I used the rice flour bought from the shop and sieved after the dry roast. For the Sweet Adai: 1. Measure 3/4 cups of powdered jaggery for about 1 cup of rice flour. 2. Take 1/2 tbsp of elaichi powder. 3. In a pan, add 2 cups of water and add elaichi powder, brown beans and jaggery. 4. Once the jaggery has fully dissolved in water, add the rice flour slowly and stir continuously, so that there are no lumps. Add 4-5 tbsp of ghee at this stage, mix well and switch off the stove, once the water evaporates and you can make balls. 5. Cut the banana/plaintain leaf into smaller parts. Grease the banana leaf with 1-2 tbsp of ghee. 6. Spread ghee in your palm and take small portion of the mixture and spread it in the banana leaf and put one hole with a finger in the center. 7. Steam cook ...

For Thiruvadhirai, its a usual practice to make a special food called Kali, and its served with 7 vegetables kootu (curry). I was told my one of music teachers that Thiruvadhirai signifies that God does not discriminate people by caste. In the olden days in Chidambaram, people from lower caste were not allowed in the temple. There was a very pious man by name Sendhanaar. He was upset of not allowed to have a darshan and he prayed at home offering God with Kali and 7 veg curry in his house. On Thiruvadhirai day, Chidamabaram car festival is conducted. But, the temple car did not move an inch. The priests and the crowd gathering were shocked. There was a noise in the sky that said that only if Sendhanaar comes and sings the temple car will move. Sendhanaar came and sang Thiruppallandu. (9th Thirumurai) and the temple car procession continued. When the priests opened the temple next morning, they found Kali and 7 veg curry in the Lord's mouth. So, with devotion, we continue to s...