Thiruvathira Kali

1 cup rice
3 tablespoon mung dal (optional)
1 cup jaggery
1 1/2 cup water
1/2 cup shredded coconut
2 to 4 tablespoon of clarified butter or ghee
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom seeds

Soak the rice in water for 15 minutes.  While the rice is soaking, dry roast the mung dal to a light brown color.  When the roasted dal has cooled to room temperature grind it to a powder and keep it aside.

Next drain the water and dry roast the soaked rice to a light brown color.  Allow it to cool to room temperature after which grind it to a coarse powder in the consistency of rava or sooji and keep it aside.

To a pan on medium heat add water and allow it to come to a boil.  Add the jaggery and let it melt.  After the jaggery has melted add the coconut, mix, add the powdered rice and the powdered mung dal and mix and stir constantly,  when the rice is cooked add clarified butter, stir till it leaves the side of the pan and forms a mass in the middle, turn the heat off and add the ground cardamom.

Serves 4.  Serve with Thrivathirai curry.

Thrivathirai is celebrated in the month of December-January whenever the nakshatram thrivathirai falls.  It is observed to honor Lord Shiva.

Note:  Adding mung dal to this recipe is optional.  You can make the dish without the mung dal.

Thiruvathira Kootu - Seven Vegetable kootu

3 assorted root vegetable (yam, cheppankizhangu/arbi, chena/suran total 3 cups)
1 piece of red pumpkin
1/2 cup of avarakai/Sem (pumpkin and avarakai total 2 cups)
1/2 pigeon peas (green whole toor dal, available frozen at the Indian grocer)
1 cup beans
1/2 cup coconut shredded
2 green chili or to taste
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
2 tablespoon coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
a few curry leaves
2 cups water or as needed

Grind the coconut and green chili and keep it aside.

Peel the root vegetables rinse them and cut them into same size cubes.

To a pan on medium heat add the pigeon peas cover and cook for 20 minutes.  After the pigeon peas has been cooking for 20 minutes add the mixed root vegetables and cook for 10 minutes.  After which add the pumpkin and avarakai, turmeric powder and cook for 10 minutes.  Add the ground coconut and salt and cook for 3 minutes, mix thoroughly and turn the heat off and season.

Seasoning:
Heat the coconut oil add mustard seeds.  When the mustard seeds pop turn the heat off add the curry leaves and add the seasoning to the cooked vegetable.

The listed vegetables and toor dal cook at different times.  The toor dal takes longest to cook, followed by the root vegetables, pumpkin and avarakai adding them one at a time at different intervals, you have a dish with all vegetables evenly cooked.

This dish is prepared during the month of December-January during Thiruvathira nakshartra to to honor Lord Shiva.  It is served with Thiruvathira kali.  This dish can also be served as a side dish to with rice and chapati.

Channa Masala - Chickpeas curry

1 cup dry whole chick peas (Channa)
1 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup chopped tomato
2 small potato boiled peeled and quartered
1/2 teaspoon of cumin seeds
1 teaspoon poppy seeds
2 green chili adjust to taste
1 tablespoon minced ginger
1/2 teaspoon of coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon of cumin powder
1 teaspoon of garam masala
1 tablespoon of dry fenugreek leaves
A few cilantro leaves
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon of salt or to taste
4 tablespoon of oil
2 1/2 cups of water or as needed

Wash and rinse the chickpeas in water and soak it for 4 to 8 hours or overnight.  After it has soaked cook the chickpeas in water for 30 minutes or until it is done.  Alternatively you can cook the chickpeas in the pressure cooker, or you can use canned chickpeas.  If you are using canned chickpeas do not cook it.

To a pan on medium heat add oil, when oil is hot add the cumin seeds and poppy seeds, when the cumin seed turn darker add onion and saute till brown, add green chili, ginger and garlic saute for about 30 seconds, add turmeric powder, chili powder and garam masala saute for 10 seconds, do not allow it to burn, add chopped tomato mix cover and cook for 5 minutes.  After the tomato is cooked add the dry fenugreek leaves and cilantro leaves and a little water, saute for a few seconds, add the cooked or canned chickpeas add water as needed for a gravy consistency, let it come to a boil.  Add the potato and salt and let to come to a boil for 2 minutes.  Add some fresh squeezed lemon juice and turn the heat off  

Serve with rice, pulao, chapati, batura, samosa, cutlet.  Serves 4.

Chick peas is more popularly know as an ingredient in hummus.  It is also used in salads.  North Indians make curry and south Indians make "sundal" out of it.  This is a popular dish and an inexpensive source of rich protein.

Chocolate Cookies with Cream filling - vegan recipe

Make cream filling:
3/4 cup vegetable shortening
2 tablespoon oil
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 cup powdered sugar

To a mixing bowl with vegetable shortening add vanilla extract mix, add the powdered sugar gradually, mix each time until the sugar is fully absorbed in the shortening.  When all of the powdered sugar is added add oil in the end mix and keep it aside until ready for use.  Do not keep the cream filling in the refrigerator.

Melt chocolate:
1/2 cup almond milk
1 cup vegan chocolate chips
3/4 cup sugar

To a pan on medium heat add almond milk, chocolate chips and sugar.  Heat until all is melted.  Keep it aside and let it come to room temperature.

Prepare Cookie dough:
2 1/2 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup vegetable shortening
3/4 cup sugar
3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Whisk the all purpose flour in a bowl.  

Add the unsweetened cocoa powder to the all purpose flour and continue whisking, add baking soda, baking powder, salt.  Switch to a spatula, add vegetable shortening, sugar and vanilla extract and mix.  

Slowly add the melted chocolate to the flour mixture a little at a time and make a dough.  

After the dough is ready divide it into four parts and shape each part into a log.

Wrap each log in parchment paper and freeze it for 15 minutes.  

After it has been frozen remove the wrap and cut each log into 1/8" inch thickness discs.

Place the disc on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 12 to 15 minutes at 330 degrees in the middle rack.  

Watch it while baking it can easily get overdone.  After baking remove it from the baking sheet and place it on a wire rack for further cooling.  

After the cookie is completely cooled, to the side that was facing down while baking apply some cream filling and cover it with another cookie. 

These cookies are easy to make and a special treat.  Box them up and give it as a gift, these are so delicious any time.  Kids and adults alike will love to dunk these cookies in milk.

Makes 45 to 50 cookies.


Note:  Baking is tricky.  Use this recipe as a reference only and adjust it to the area you are living.  The ingredients will be different in your area.