Kolam by Sudha Balaji

Tulsi Vivah (marriage of Tulsi with Vishnu say the puranas) is also celebrated as Uttwandwadasi.  The image of Tulsi Devi is placed on the Tulsi plant. Since we celebrate a marriage Tulsi is adorned with a mangalsutra.  Garlands made from cotton and flowers like jasmine are used to adorn the plant.  I have used the pink and red roses that bloomed in the rose plants in flowerpots I have. Growing your own floral plants, watering them see the buds bloom into flowers, using the flowers for puja gives me a lot of mental satisfaction.  However, flowers and rangoli have a lot in common, both are beautiful, colourful and both last for a very short time. Tulasi kota decoration or Tulasi katte decoration for Tulsi marriage festival Festival - Tulsi Vivah Some more photos of Tulsi Vivah celebrations decorations rangoli , aarti, cotton garland Tulasi Pooja vidhanam and Tulasi Pooja ela cheyali through pics  Tulasi kota mundu muggulu Tulsi Maa deco...

Butter murukku pieces - savory recipe for Diwali or evening snacks What we need is rice flour that is readily available in the stores or rice flour that is home made by soaking rice in water , spreading it on a clean cloth , drying it in shade and then dry grinding it. Then white sesame seeds , asafoetida , green chillies wet ground in a mixer , butter and salt Take three measures of rice flour , 3/4 to 1 tea spoon butter is added. All other ingredients are added one by one.   Green chillies paste and salt can be varied according our taste. Mix will adding water little by little At this step we can check whether salt and chillies are as per our requirement We should prepare the dough as and when required only.  Do not prepare the entire dough at one stretch . After preparing the dough use the murukku achchu or template with single star shaped opening  Take oil in a vessel and when it has been heated to the right temperature Place the dough the in the...

There are many options for side dish for rice with vendhaya keerai or fenugreek greens or just vendhayam or fenugreek.  I have tried to share some traditional and different varieties that I prepare as side dish for rice at home for children and family.  Similarly with radish or mullangi what I have shared is a different kulambu that  is prepared with jaggery added so it will liked by children due to its sweet and sour taste.   It is also an excellent side dish for Pongal Easy vendhaya kulambu without coconut without toor dhal How to prepare fenugreek kuzhambu  The ingredients are Mustard, urad dhall,  , gram dhall  , fenugreek, asafoetida, red chillies and green chillies cut vertically Gram dhal is taken a little more than normal because we do not use toor dhal for this recipe We can add or decrease chillies depending upon the karam we need. Add a little oil in a vessel and saute with mustard, urad dhal, gram dhal, asafoetida, red chillies ...

    One of the most popular paneer recipes is the paneer butter masala, an all time favourite with adults and kids alike.The images below give the step by step procedure to make this the traditional  way and hence cannot be categorised as the restaurant style paneer butter masala. Take a little quantity of butter in a vessel heated on a stove and let it melt         Add coarsely chopped onions , I have taken four onions , coarsely chopped because we will grind it in a mixer  Add half tea spoon of ginger garlic paste , any reputed brand can be used Add two finely chopped green chillies . Two will suffice because we will add chilly powder also Add a tea spoon of turmeric powder and mix  the mixture well constantly with a ladle.  This will ensure that parts of the onion is not over cooked. Add a few cashew nuts .  This is optional only.  However adding cashews will enhance the richness  of...