Jeera Rasam/Cumin (South-Indian) Soup

Weather is turning very Chilly, everybody has started coughing. Poor Kids, everyday they wait @ morning 6:30 am for the school bus, it would be still dark, Chiilllllll, and all would love a extended sleep tugged under their blankets!!!!! But, no way, cant miss the day, all we can do is just boost up their immunity by cooking up something healthy!!!!

Jeera Rasam/Cumin (South-Indian) Soup, gives you all the freshness needed when you are lazing around with a runny nose, body-ache, a very bad-cold.

Ingredients

1 tsp Cumin seeds/Jeera

1/2 tbsp tuvar dal/Pigeon pea

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

1 green chilli

a small piece of ginger

2 cloves of garlic

2 sprigs curry leaves

a fistful of fresh coriander leaves

1- 1/2 tsp Rasam Powder

Salt to taste

Seasoning

1 tsp of oil/ghee

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

a pinch of hing and turmeric powder

Instant Rasam Powder

1-1/2 tsp Cumin

1 tsp Pepper

3/4 tsp Coriander seeds

1 tsp tuvar dal
1/2 tsp gram dal

1/2 tsp moong dal

Grind all these ingredients together. I usually make a a large measurement, about a cup and store it in a air-tight container.

Method

Soak Cumin/jeera and tuvar dal/pigeon pea for 15-20 minutes. Drain grind them with tomatoes, green chilli, ginger, garlic, curry leaves and coriander leaves and 1/2 cup of water.

Heat a pan with a tsp of oil, splutter mustard seeds, add hing and turmeric powder. 

Now add the grounded paste to this, add 1 cup of water, rasam powder and salt. Mix well.

Let the mixture boil, Keep the flame low, Wait for the rawness of the rasam powder to escape, approx 10-12 minutes.  

Check the consistency, if its very thick, add another 1/2 cup of water or else just put off the flame. 

Garnish with dash of Pepper powder. Enjoy with Steaming Rice and a dollop of Ghee !!! Sending this to CMT-Daal/Kaadi/Sambar/Rasam, Jagruit's Event guest hosted by me.

Arachivitta Kuzhambu / Potato Sambar

Arachivitta Kuzhambu/Sambar is a hot favorite in my home. It is also prepared with many other vegetables and tastes the best with Idlis, Dosas and with plain White Rice. It involves grinding of a simple masala for the Sambar which gives the Sambar a fresh taste and a nice rich flavor.

Ingredients:

Potatoes - 2 Medium Sized

Tamarind paste - 1 Tsp

Toor Dal - 1/2 Cup

Turmeric powder - A Pinch

Asafoetida - A Pinch

Salt - To taste

For the Masala:

Cumin Seeds - 1/2 Tsp

Mustard Seeds - 1/2 Tsp

Dry Red Chillies - 3-4

Urad Dal - 1 Tsp

Chana Dal - 1 Tsp

Coriander seeds - 1 1/2 Tbsp

Freshly Grated Coconut - 1 Cup

For the Seasoning:

Ghee/Clarified Butter - 1 Tbsp

Mustard seeds - 1/2 Tsp

Curry Leaves - A Few

Cilantro - A Few to garnish

Method:

• Peel and cut the potatoes into bite sized pieces.

• In a pan add 1/2 cup of Toor Dal, a pinch of turmeric and a pinch of salt and add water .

• Add the cubed potatoes to the dal and pressure cook the dal for upto 3 whistles.

• In another pan, add a few drops of oil. Add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, Urad Dal, Chana Dal, Dry Red Chillies and Coriander seeds.

• Dry roast this spice mixture until aroma from the spices start to get released.

• Now add freshly grated coconut to this spice mixture.

• Dry roast the coconut with the spice mixture for about 3-5 minutes until the coconut gets roasted.

• Grind the mixture into a paste by adding a little water. Let the paste be a little coarse.

• Take 1 tsp of tamarind paste and dissolve it in 1 cup of warm water.

• Take a pan and add tamarind water. Add asafoetida and salt to the tamarind water.Be careful with the salt as we have already added some salt while boiling the dal.

• Let the tamarind water come to a boil. Then add the ground paste to this water and mix it well.

• Allow this mixture to come to a boil. Then add the boiled Dal and potatoes to this and mix it well. Allow this Sambar to boil well for about 10 minutes.

For the seasoning:

• Take 1 tbsp of ghee and add 1 tsp of mustard seeds to it.Once the mustard seeds pop up add curry leaves. Mix the seasoning well and turn off from heat.

• Add this mixture to the Sambar.

• Garnish the Sambar with finely chopped cilantro.

• Serve hot with Idlis, Dosas or with White Rice.

Notes:

• You can also use vegetables like shallots, drumsticks, chayote, green beans or white pumpkin to prepare this dish.
• If you are using tamarind instead of tamarind paste, then you can take tamarind about the size of a lime.
• You can use Oil also to do the seasoning. Ghee gives it a much richer taste.
• Adding salt while boiling the dal is optional. You may choose to skip the addition as per your preference.

Is Your Bathroom Trying to Tell You Something?

Keep Your Eyes and Ears Open for Key Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Signals!

Your bathroom is one of the most versatile and functional rooms in your home. It helps you stay clean, takes care of waste, and can even help you unwind at the end of a long day. With so many different functions, it’s not surprising that your bathroom can become overworked. The good news is that if you pay close attention, your bathroom will often “tell” you exactly what it needs. Here are some common messages your bathroom may be sending you.

"I Need Better Ventilation": Fogged bathroom mirrors are a sure sign that your bathroom is not well ventilated. Insufficient ventilation doesn’t just make it harder to get ready, but it can cause mold growth and more rapid aging of tile, grout, wood, and other building materials. A bathroom ventilation system that’s working properly should clear the room of steam and excess moisture in about five minutes. If this isn’t happening in your bathroom, you should consider replacing your bathroom fan.

"I Need You to Take it Easy on the Hot Water Heater": If your shower gets cold or takes forever to heat up, you’re likely overtaxing your water heater. There’s really nothing worse than having your nice, warm shower go stone cold on you just as you’re ready to rinse out your shampoo. Installing a new hot water heater will cost about $1000, and there are now several energy efficient models that can help you cut down on your monthly utility bills.

"I Need More Heat": Even if your home’s heating system is working properly, you may need a supplemental heat source in the bathroom. Vents and windows allow heat to escape, which can leave you feeling chilled before, during, or after a shower. For less than $100 you can purchase an electric wall heater or small space heater that will make a significant difference. If you’ve been considering a bathroom remodel, talk to your contractor about radiant floor heating—an energy efficient flooring option that can help make your bathroom warmer and more comfortable.

"I Need a Fixture Overhaul": A water bill that seems to rise steadily month after month is a good indication that your fixtures are aging or leaking. According to the American Water Works Association, installing new, efficient bathroom fixtures and repairing minor leaks can help reduce your daily per capita water consumption by as much as 35 percent. You can find great bathroom fixtures, like showerheads and taps, for as little as $10.

"I Need More Power": Older bathrooms can be especially short on power outlets. If your bathroom has just one electrical outlet, you should seriously consider an upgrade. So many of the tools we use in the bathroom every day—from toothbrushes to razors to hair dryers—rely on electricity and having to go to another room in the house to use them is simply inconvenient. Just $300 or $400 is enough to hire an electrician to install additional outlets in your bathroom.

Listen closely to what your bathroom is trying to tell you, and you’ll be able to nip plumbing and other issues in the bud before they become major repair jobs...and you can save yourself some beaucoups bucks all year round!



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