Gongura Pulihora

    Gongura Puliohara is a famous variety rice of Andhra Pradesh. In Tamil Nadu especially in our  kongu region we make Pullicha keerai kadayal. Gongura is the telugu name for sorrel leaves. We usually use gongura which are from our home garden. 

  This Pulihora will tastes different from regular pulihora and will be green in colour as we used green coloured sorrel leaves. No tamarind is used in this rice as the tanginess is enough from the leaves. 

 For this month's Ssshhhh secretly cooking the theme was Cuisine of Andhra Pradesh . I was paired with Sujitha Ruban of  Sujitha Easy Cooking and she gave me Gongura and a ingredient of my choice as the secret ingredients. 

  This is a excellent rice variety to make with a greens and an easy way to make kids eat greens.

Requirements : 

2 cup cooked rice 
2 cup gongura ( Sorrel ) leaves 
2 tbs gingelly oil 
2 tbs Peanuts
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
a sprig of curry leaves
Salt to taste

For Masala : 

 3 dry chillies 
 1 tbs channa dhal 
 1 tsp coriander seeds
 1 tsp sesame seeds 
 2 garlic cloves
 1/4 tsp Mustard seeds 
 1/4 tsp Fenugreek seeds
 A pinch of Hing 

Method : 

Wash the gongura leaves and let it dry. 

Heat a tbs of gingelly oil and saute the gongura leaves for two minutes and let it cool. 

In the same kadai , roast each  ingredient given under for masala separately and let it cool.

Grind the roasted masala to fine powder and transfer to a bowl.

In the same mixer add the sauted gongura and grind to a fine paste.

Heat a kadai and add the gingelly oil followed by mustard seeds .

 When the mustard seeds crackle , add the peanuts and roast then add the curry leaves .

Now , add the ground gongura and salt. Let it cook for ten minutes.

Add the ground masala and mix well . Taste the gongura mixture and adjust the salt if needed.

Add in the cooked Pooni Rice and mix well.

Gongura Pulihora is ready to serve.

Serve along with Fryums or Pappad.

My way of being Healthy

 Health is wealth as the  proverb implies our health is the greatest wealth we ever earn in our lifetime . 

  Health is defined as the state of complete physical , mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease.

 Health is not only considered by the physical health status but by the mental and social well being. Being healthy is a boon to everyone. But being healthy is a huge task in this fast and materialistic world. 

  There were pollutions like air pollution and water pollution everywhere which were the main cause for the detoriation of our health. Be the food we eat were polluted with pesticides. 

 If we look back our ancestors they lived a happy and healthy lifestyle and the disease condition present nowadays were unknown in those days. We can say that the food they ate were pesticide free and were usually grown from their land . They did a lot of physical work. 

  Nowadays due to technology development many new equipments had came to reduce our physical work . Most people want to be in a air conditioned room and munching on junk foods . Are these the healthy life style we are following ........

 The less or no  physical activity and  unhealthy food leads to Obesity which in turn leads to heart diseases and even stroke and paralysis.....

Even though we read lot and lot about the adverse effects of our modern lifestyle we were in in a state to change.


             

Still we can change ourself for our better future as well as to be a role model for our future generation.....

The ways I think of following are :

* Try to do household works physically without any mechanical aid.

* Try to do exercise or yoga atleast 20 minutes a day for five days in  a week. It could include aerobics , running or swimming.

* Try to take on stairs instead of Lift or escalators.

* Go by walk to buy groceries or vegetables in nearby shops. 
* Try to eat more organic food that too grown locally. Take vegetables and fruits grown in your locality or grown your own vegetables and fruits. If we buy vegetables or fruits which are not grown in our surrounding there will be preservatives in them to protect them from rottening.

* Eat more whole grains like millets , unpolished rice and wholewheat flour. Avoid Maida and polished rice. 

* Try to include raw vegtables as salads atleast a bowl a day.
* Eat like a king in the morning , like a general for lunch and like a beggar for dinner. We can eat till our hearts content or full stomach in morning and half stomach full for lunch and quater stomach full for dinner. Many of us skip breakfast thinking it will help in weight reduction. It is wrong , what we eat in morning provides our 
body energy for whole day and keeps us energetic......

* Avoid white sugar and try to take palm sugar or brown sugar as these are made without any chemical processing . Try to buy these sugars from farmers who are making it organically. 

* Try to avoid fried food fully or to take once in a month, as we Indians prefer fried food more.  Use Saffola Heart healthy oil for your fried foods.As we get airfryers now , which gives the same taste as frying in oil without a drop of oil.

* Always keep a smile in your face . Laughter is the gretest medicine in the world. As we laugh , the good hormone seratonin will secrete more in our body and reduces the stress.

* Drink plenty of water atleast three litre a day. 

* Try to include whole fruit in your diet instead of juices or hydrogenated drinks.

* Take a handful of nuts like groundnut , cashew , almond ,pista etc as they are rich in HDL .

* Sleep atleast eight hours a day. Insomnia is a common problem in many of the younger generations these days. Try to avoid using electronics gadgets till late night. 

 Eat well + sleep well + 
    laugh a lot                     =  Happy healthy Life

 I am joining Saffola #ApneTareekeSeHealthy initiative and sharing my ways of being healthy in association with BlogAdda.

Clean Air Beautiful Homes #Royaleatmos

   Home is the place where we spend  most of our  time and a most enjoyable place for all of us, be it a small house  or a huge villa . We spend upto our efficiency to build and decorate our home to live happily. 

    Pollution is the major cause of deadly diseases like cancer and increased death in India. Pollution is defined as the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects. Air pollution is the dangerous of all followed by water pollution. India being the second largest country in the world and is heavily polluted. 

  As the awareness for the pollution control are high now and many people are actively participating in the pollution control programmes. 

  We can use mask while going outside to protect us from air pollution but what will we do if the air inside our home is polluted.

  In the olden days , people live in mud houses and use lime stone for painting walls and cow dung to mop the floor . These has the properties to fight against poisonous foreign bodies. The older generation lived a healthy life even though 

 As urbanisation has bring on so many developments , present generation won't live on mud houses or use cow dung for floor cleaning. Though we can try to make our living environment as clean as possible.

Causes of pollution Indoors :

The Environmental agency found that  the indoor air is five times more polluted than outdoor air. As we are living in concrete jungles we opt to be in air conditioned rooms and most of the homes are centralised air conditioned . 

  1. Though we want to live in a  sophisticated manner , but using air conditioner for a long period is not good . The hazards are skin dryness , respiratory problem due to airborne dust and fungi.

2. If the carpets  and mats in the air condtioned room are uncleaned for a long time , fungi and mould will be a common inhabitant in them. 

 3.The mattress we use , even though they were costly , there will be dust particles which falls out from them . 

4. Chemicals we use like insect repellents especially for cockroach , mosquitoes and the liquids used for floor cleaning and toilet cleaning....

 5. The products we use for our daily pooja  like camphor and incense sticks are mostly made of chemicals though in olden days these were made organically . The smoke from the incense sticks causes cough and other respiratory problems.

  6. Gas stoves emits   more nitogen dioxide  when fuel is burned at high temperatures. Nitrogen dioxide mixes with air to create nitric acid and toxic nitrates  leading to lung irritation and lower infection resistant.  

7. Paints in our home walls are more toxic. If the lead paint is used , it is a highly neurotoxin and can  lead to death. Paints release VOC ( volatile organic Compounds ) like toluene , bromine , benzene , formaldehyde , ethyl Benzene , styrene and acetone.  

8. Another major problem indoor as well as outdoor is the cigarette 
smokers. Passive smokers ,  those who are inhaling the smoke let out by the active smokers are affected more than the smoker himself.  If the elder person of the family smokes in the living room , no other member has guts to talk to him about the issue. Though the government has put ban on smoking in public area , but none follows them. 

9. Pets - Everyone loves pets like dog and cats  but keeping them indoor and allowing them to roam throughout the house is dangerous. The hair from their body falls on the floor , even though we clean there will be some left out. These leads to respiratory problems. 

10. Use of Asbestos sheets in home leads to a lung condition called asbestosis. Nowadays use of asbestos sheets are limited. 
How to Reduce Indoor Pollution : 

 *Service and clean the air condtioners regularly and keep the room ventilated with the fresh air by opening the windows when the air conditioner is not in use. 

* Dust and vaccum the mattress, pillows and carpets frequently and dry them in sunlight to avoid growth of fungi. 
* Avoid chlorine bleach and use less toxic cleaners. Better to use organic cleaners made of  citrus fruits .

* Try to use camphor and incense sticks made with less chemicals or chemical free.

* Kitchen should be ventillated well and fit proper chimney equipments.Avoid using high flame while cooking , this prevents pollution as well as our money by reducing the gas usage .

*Low VOC or Zero VOC paints are good for both interior and exterior. 
* Active smoker must think he smokes for his own pleasure as  it won't be good for his family members and should avoid smoking.

* Better to keep pets outdoors in their own kettle .
* Avoid using asbestos sheets.
*Keep the windows open in the day time to keep the home well ventilated .

* Plant trees and plants around the house . Keep the indoor plants like snake plants and money plants which are found to be releasing high oxygen levels. 

Royale Atmos - A Paint that helps purify air 

 Check for more details here https://www.asianpaints.com/campaign/royale-atmos/index.html

Royale Atmos is a first of its kind paint that not only looks beautiful, but also cleans the air making it purer than before. It’s Activated Carbon technology reduces harmful pollutants from the air. Additionally, Royale Atmos also absorbs select household foul smells to make the air fresher.

Royale Atmos is the first Asian Paints product to have a fragrance, instead of the normal chemical smell of paints.

reduces indoor pollutant

Royale Atmos reduces formaldehyde, a dangerous indoor pollutant.

absorbs malodours

Royale Atmos absorbs select household foul smells, thereby improving air quality within the home.

releases fragrance

Royale Atmos is our only paint that comes with a fragrance. You no longer have to worry about the chemical smell of paints.

activated carbon technology

Activated Carbon is the revolutionary technology that powers Royale Atmos and helps it in purifying indoor air. 

Royale Atmos is developed by the finest scientists at Asian Paints to specifically reduce the pollutant formaldehyde.  It has undergone rigorous testing by a third party on this pollutant reduction capability.Royale Atmos was tested internally and at a third party lab for its ability to neutralize the indoor air pollutant formaldehyde. It reduced formaldehyde levels by 80-85% in 24 hours under standard test conditions. For the third party test certificate and the testing process, please visit https://www.asianpaints.com/campaign/royale-atmos/additional-information.html

Royale Atmos will continue to reduce formaldehyde for up to 2 years post application.

Pan d’Epi or Épis de Blé Wreath (Wheat Stalk Bread/ Ears of Wheat) With Caramelized Onions #BreadBakers

   Epi is the French word used to describe the flower of a wheat stalk. So the Pan d’Epi or Épis de Blé is the name given to bread that looks like a wheat stalk or the ears of wheat. 

     The Pan d’Epi is a classic and commonly made French artisan bread. When made for special holidays and celebrations, this bread is often made more decorative by shaping it into a wreath.

    The Pan d’Epi is easy enough to make and really just one step up from the French baguette. It is made the same way but then cut to resemble a wheat stalk. It is eaten just a baguette and can be served with soup, or used to make sandwiches. 

     This bread is best eaten fresh, the day it is made. It is best stores wrapped in paper until it is used. If the bread starts to go stale, revive it by sprinkling it with water and briefly baking it. Otherwise, use it to make croutons or breadcrumbs.    

    A Pan d’Epi is a plain bread but I decided to add some caramelized onions to mine just to add some flavour. You may omit this if you want to stay authentic with the bread. I also chose to make a round Pan d’Epi wreath because my baking sheet and oven would hold this shape better.

For this month's Bread Bakers Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm of choose to make  International Breads . I made this french bread......

Requirements  :

1 large onion, finely chopped

1 tbsp oil

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp salt

1 1/2  tsp instant yeast

1 tbsp oil

3/4 to 1 cup warm water

Method:

        Heat the oil and add the chopped onions to it. Sauté over medium heat till they turn a nice deep brown. Take it off the heat and let it cool.

      Put the remaining ingredients, except the water, in a bowl (or processor bowl) and mix well. Add enough warm water and knead until you have a soft and elastic dough, almost sticky dough.

      Add the caramelized onions and knead it into the dough till distributed uniformly. Shape into a smooth ball and place it in an oiled bowl, turning it to coat it well with oil. 

      Cover loosely and let it rise for about an hour to an hour and a half till it has doubled in volume. 

      Dust your working surface lightly with flour. If you’re going to shape it as a long wheat stalk (or two if your oven or baking sheets aren’t large enough to take one long one), then press out the dough into a rough rectangle. 

     Fold the long edge away from you towards the center. Fold the long edge near you towards the centre. Now fold over in half, like a letter fold and pinch the seam together neatly and tightly. See this tutorial for a better idea on shaping a baguette. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmu1rg4CPgk )

      Sprinkle flour generously over the baguette. Starting with one end of the baguette, make equidistant cuts in the dough (about three inches apart) holding a pair of scissors so they are parallel to the bread, and then tilting them so they are at a 45-degree angle. 

       Make the cuts in the dough almost as if you were going to snip that bit off but it will still be attached, then take that piece and move it to the left. Make another snip about 3 inches down from the bottom of the last one and move that piece to the right. Keep on doing this until you reach the end of the bread. See this video for a better understanding of this process. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN5QL_kaowQ )

        If you want to make a wreath like I did, then take a look at this tutorial (http://www.artisanbreadinfive.com/2008/12/08/holiday-wreath-bread ) first. Place the risen dough on a floured surface. 

       Gently poke a hole through the dough in the centre with your fingers and stretch out the dough into a round ring. Place this on the parchment lined baking sheet and then generously dust the top of the dough with flour. 

       As described above for the baguette, make cuts about 2 inches apart and move each portion outward forming a wreath. Once the Epi has been shaped, loosely cover the dough and let it rise again for about 15 minutes. 

       In the meanwhile, preheat your oven to 240*C (470*F) with a baking tray upside down on the rack and an empty pan at the bottom of the oven.  

      When ready place the Epi in the oven and pour a cup of water into the pan at the bottom to create steam.I didn't use steam .

      Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes till the Pan d’Epi is done and golden brown in colour. Let it cool completely before cutting.

  Enjoy the onion flavoured Pan d'Epi..........

We Knead To Bake #42

Apfelpfannkuchen (Apple Pancake)from A Day in the Life on the Farm 

Auvergne Crown from Karen's Kitchen Stories 

Bauerbrot from All That's Left Are The Crumbs

Bialys from Spill the Spices 

Boule from Bread Therapy 

Chilli and Coriander Scones from Sizzling Tastebuds 

Dallas Pulla from The Schizo Chef 

Dutch Tiger Bread (Tijgerbrood)from Baking Sense 

Eggless brioche bread from I camp in my Kitchen 

Epi di Pan from Sara's Tasty Buds 

Franzbrotchen from Gayathri's Cook Spot 

German Soft Pretzels (Laugenbrezel) from Hostess At Heart 

German Soft Pretzels from Herbivore Cucina 

Kardemummabullar from Ambrosia 

Pita Bread from Sneha's Recipe

Pletzel from Cook's Hideout 

Pretzel bites from  My Cooking Journey 

Savoury Kugelhopf from The Mad Scientist's Kitchen 

Slovak Bread Rolls(Rozky) from Mayuri's Jikoni 

Whole wheat Pitta bread from Sonlicious 

Yemeni Kubaneh from Food Lust People Love

#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. You can see all our of lovely bread by following our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated after each event on the #BreadBakers home page.

We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient. If you are a food blogger and would like to join us, just send Stacy an email with your blog URL to foodlustpeoplelove@gmail.com.

Love time with Grandparents.......

Happy Grandparents Day ......

 Grandparents are our favourite companions from our childhood. Be it to save us from our parent's beating or to buy us candy's without knowledge of our parents. ...

 Everyone must have lot of memories to cherish the time we spend with our grandparents....

 Me and my sister Anu spend a lot of time with our Maternal grandparents . I used to accompany my Grandma where  ever she goes , we call her as Mamema ( Named by me ). I goes with her to markets and for grocery shopping. Everytime we go for grocery shopping she used to buy me candies.....

 This was a old photo which we took during our temple trip on my grandpa's retirement. In this picture my grandparents , me , my sister , my aunt and cousin.

 My grandpa who worked in Muncipality would take us to Pulse polio camps , it will be fun and excitment to see kids like us......He used pick up us from our school bus stop to home.

Most of the recipes shared in my blog especially Kongunadu recipes are from my Grandma.....

We used to spend our weekends and school holidays in our maternal grandparents house. My grandpa used to make swing with a thick rope on the large neem tree . We and our cousins used to make turns to play in the swing . They used to have cow and buffalo , so they will be celebrating Mattu Pongal on the cattle shed. It will be a most pleasant memory for us all....

 My paternal grandpa used to have a bullock cart . I remember there were two bulls in their home. They used to have goats , cows..... I like my paternal grandma's groundnut masala and coconut chutney . She used to make potato bonda and egg bonda ( fritters ).

  My paternal grandpa had fractured his thigh bone ( Femur ) and he was bedridden because of fear of falling , he skipped walking. Later, he was paralysed due to haemarrage in brain. I didn't know details about the conditions then. Later when I studied my Bachelors of Physiotherapy, i realised what each condition was.....He died on December 1999.

My paternal grandma was under medication for long period for Diabetes later she had kidney failure and died on July 2011.

My maternal grandpa was diagnosed with block in the heart and underwent bypass surgery , he lived for nine years after surgery and died on July 2012.....

we lost both our paternal grandparents and our grandfather from maternal side.... but we cherish the lovely moments we spend with them......

#Lovejatao
I look forward to hear from you how would you celebrate Grandparents Day. Do share a selfie with your grandparents on Sept. 10, 2017 on Twitter or Facebook with #LoveJatao & tag @blogadda to win a goodie from Parachute Advansed.