Methi kofta in kadhi & Friday Kolam

Kadi is to North Indians  what morkootan/morkuzhambu is to South Indians. Morkuzhambu has liberal use of coconut in it and the choice of veggies determine the taste. And what I like about Kadi is that its very light, no coconut and can be made in a jiffy, though some kadis take the elaborate route too. Next is green, which I try to make atleast thrice in a week. When ever I buy a bunch of methi, it sure gets its way into various dishes in handfuls. This is a Tarla Dalal's recipe where the koftas are not deep fried but steamed. When I saw the reecipe for Kadi and steamed kofta with one of my favorite green, I could not wait to try it out. Kadi was delicious. The koftas didnot breakup and stayed in shape even when I served for dinner. Koftas were not bitter too.

If you feel its too much of time involved, then you can shape the koftas ready the previous day and refrigerate them. Before preparing the kadi, all you will have to do is to just steam the koftas and kadi making will not take more than 10 minutes including the preparation and cooking time.

For Methi Koftas


Finely chopped methi leaves - 1 cup

Whole wheat flour - 1 tbspn

Rava/Semolina- 1 tbspn

Ginger-green chilli paste- 1/2 tspn

Tamarind juice - 1/2 tspn (or lemon juice)

Sugar - 1/2 tsp

Cooking soda- a pinch

Preparing Kofta

Add salt to methi and leave it aside for 5 minutes. Squeeze the water and plce in a bowl. Add all the ingredients for kofta along with little salt and knead to a soft dough. Add little water if required.

Moisten your hands with water and shape the dough into small koftas. I got 12 out of it. Steam in a steamer of your choice and keep it aside. I microwaved it for 2 minutes.

 

 
For Kadhi

1 cup fresh curds whisked with 1 1/2 cups of water

Besan/Chana dal flour - 2 tblspn
Onion - 1
Turmeric  a pinch
Salt to taste

To Temper

Oil - 1 tblspn

Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Hing - a pinch
Curry leaves - few


Preparing Kadhi

Combine whipped curd and besan in a bowl. Whisk well and there should not be any lumps.

Heat oil in a pan add cumin. when the seeds crackle, add hing , curry leaves, onion and saute for 5 minutes or so. Add the whisked curd-besan mixture, turmeric powder, salt and bring to a boil over low flame.

Combine Kadhi and Kofta
If you are serving immediately, slowly drop the koftas. Else just before serving, add the koftas to kadhi and bring to a boil to serve hot.

I am sending this to Yasmeen's Bitter Better Health event

Friday Kolam/Thai Velli kolam

Since I was not keeping on good health, I could not do the podi kolam. So only one for this week.

Milagu Kuzhambu

Milagu Kuzhambu-a spicy gravy made by boiling tamarind extract with fresh ground spices is usually had with rice and ghee. When it rains, I can't think of a better main course meal than this one! Here's Milagu Kozhambu recipe coming straight from my Amma's kitchen.

Ingredients:
Tamarind-Medium lime size ball
Sambar powder-1/2 tsp(optional)
Salt
Hing-1/4 tsp
Rice flour paste-Mix 1.5 tsp of rice flour in some water to make a thick paste(optional)
Grated Jaggery-1/2 tsp

To roast in 1/2 tsp oil until golden brown:
Urud Dal-2 tsp
Channa Dal-2 tsp
Red chillis-2
Curry leaves-a few(about 8)
Whole pepper-1 tsp

Seasoning:
Mustard seeds-1 tsp
Curry leaves-a few
Oil-1/2 tsp

Method:
Soak tamarind in 1 cup warm water.
Roast the spices. Cool and grind into a smooth paste adding some water.
Extract 2.5 cups of tamarind water. Discard the tamarind. Add salt, hing, sambar powder, 1 cup water and boil for 12-15 minutes.
Add the ground spice paste and continue boiling for another 10 minutes.
If the mixture is not thick enough, add rice flour paste and stir continuously for a minute.
Add jaggery and stir.
Season with mustard seeds and curry leaves.
Serve hot with rice and ghee.

Prevent Frozen Pipes Now!

Each and every winter, thousands of households across the country have their homes ruined and their lives disrupted by frozen, cracked and burst water pipes. At Horizon Services, we get dozens of calls per day related to frozen pipes and plumbing during the winter months. It's not just copper and metal pipes that can freeze and burst -- even the more modern plastic and PVC pipes can become victims of the cold weather.

Frozen pipes can mean extremely expensive and extensive repairs...and not just from a plumbing perspective. Even a small crack can spew hundreds of gallons of water a day, and that can cause extreme damage to ceilings, walls and floors.

These kinds of plumbing disasters don't have to happen. By taking these simple preventive measures, you can save you a lot of money and heartache

Before Winter Weather Sets In...

Insulate all pipes throughout your home -- particularly in crawl spaces and attics (these exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing). The more insulation you use, the better protected your pipes will be. A variety of insulation materials are available at your hardward store including insulated sleeves, heat tape and thermostatically-controlled heat cables. Be sure to use products approved by an independent testing organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc., and closely follow all manufacturers' instructions for installation and use.

Look for and seal all leaks that allow cold air inside near where pipes are located, especially around electrical wiring and vents.Use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out and the heat in. With extreme cold temperatures, even a tiny opening can let in enough cold air to cause a pipe to freeze.

Disconnect outdoor garden hoses. Shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. A freeze in these pipes on the outer perimeter of your house could quickly spread throughout the entire home.

When the Temperature Does Hit The Freezing Point...

Try not to let your plumbing go idle. Each day, try to run at least some water from as many fixtures -- sinks, toilets, tubs -- as you can. Even a trickle of hot and cold water running through all of your houses pipes might be all it takes to keep your pipes from freezing. It's a good idea to let a little bit warm water drip overnight from faucets. If you have any uninsulated pipes that are hidden under sinks or in closets, open up cabinets and doors to allow room heat to get to them.

If you leave your home for a few days or take a winter vacation, keep the heat on. Make sure you set the thermostat no lower than 55°F. Ask a friend or neighbor to keep an eye on your house to make sure it stays warm and pipes aren't freezing. If you're going to be gone for a real long time, it may also a good idea to entirely shut off and drain your home water system (including any fire sprinkler systems).

What To Do If Your Pipes Do Freeze...

If you turn on your faucets and nothing comes out, leave the faucets turned on and then call a professional plumber. If you suspect or know that your water pipes have frozen and burst, turn off the water at the main shut-off valve and leave the water faucets turned on.

If you suspect your pipes are frozen or actually see ice forming on your pipes, NEVER try to thaw a pipe with a torch or other open flame; not only can you cause further damage to your plumbing, you risk setting your house on fire. Instead, try to thaw a frozen pipe with the warm air from a hair dryer. Start by warming the pipes that are closest to the faucet and work your way toward the coldest section of pipe. Do not use a hair dryer or any electrical appliances in areas where water has leaked or collected -- you could be electrocuted.

Related Plumbing Information...

• Horizon Plumbing Services
• Winter Plumbing Maintenance Tips
• Winter Survival Guide