Learn About Lead-Based Paint Abatement

The EPA has just released a new RRP Renovate Right consumer pamphlet on how to deal with lead-based paint for owners of pre-1978 homes and buildings.

Well worth a download and read if you plan to remodel.

Peggy

Jowar Laddu

Here is another quick and easy recipe using jowar grains. I remembered the laddu posted by Srivalli and checked it and found it suits my BM theme of cooking with five or less ingredients. Noted the recipe and went to the kitchen straight away and the laddus were ready in 15 minutes.  It makes a very healthy snack for kids and adults alike. There is very little ghee used in the recipe and is sweetened with jaggery.  This fits the bill as a nutritious sweet for your after meal dessert.

Time Taken : 15 minutes
Yields : 11 nos

You need

• Jowar grains - 1/2 cup


• Grated jaggery - 1/2 cup


• Cardamom - a pinch


• Ghee - 1 tablespoon


• Cashew - 5 nos, coarsely ground

Method

To prepare this laddu, jowar pops is ground and mixed with jaggery. Ghee is the binding agent.  First the pops are to be made. Heat a pan. When it is hot, add the jowar grains. Keep stirring it. After 2-3 minutes, the grains will start pop. For me, not even half of the grains popped and I stopped roasting further in the fear of  burning the grains.  

Pulse the jowar pops in the mixer grinder. Don't grind it to a fine powder. Add the grated jaggery to it. Pulse it further so that it makes a homogeneous mix. Take the mix to a bowl. Add cashews, cardamom powder and warm ghee to the mix. Mix well.  The mix may look dry but you will be able to make balls out of it. Make lemon sized balls. Press it tight so that it stays together. It is very tasty that its difficult to stop with one.

Check out what my fellow blogging marathoners have cooked for the last day of the marathon.

Sri Ganesha Chaturti Prasaadams - Anaasa Annam - Pineapple Rice

ANAASA ANNAM

                                                 

Ganesha's most favoured fruits are kapitta ( Wood apple ), Jambu(Rose Apple ), Aamra phalam (Mangoes), Kadali phalam (bananas), Daadimi phalam ( pomoegranate) and Bahunetra phalam or Anaasa phalam ( pineapple).

Ganesha is Beejapooraphalaasakta - The one who loves the fruit Citron (Narthampazham in Tamil and Heralekai in kannada ). A delicious Kalanda Saadam / Chitraanna can be prepared using the juice of this fruit.

But here is a rice dish prepared with another favourite fruit of Lord Ganesha -  the pineapple fruit.

INGREDIENT

Basmati rice - 1 cup
Chopped pineapple - 1 cup
Red chillies - 2

Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

Coriander seeds - 2 tsps

Bengal gram dal - 2  tsps

Fresh coconut gratings - 4  tbsps

Turmeric powder - 1 pinch
Salt - 3/4 tsp
Crushed jaggery 3/4 tsp
Oil - 2 tbsps
Mustard seeds - 1 pinch
Ghee - 1 tbsps
Cashew nuts - a few

Raisins - a few 

Fresh chopped coriander leaves - 1 tbsp

METHOD

1. Wash and drain basmati rice and allow it to soak for half an hour.
2. Dry roast bengal gram dal, coriander seeds , cumin seeds and red chillies till you get a pleasant aroma.

3. Grind the roasted ingredients with fresh coconut gratings and turmeric powder into a smooth  paste adding little water.

4. Peel and chop pineapple and its core into cubes.

5. Heat oil in a kadai and add mustard seeds.

6. When the mustard seeds splutter add pineapple and the ground paste and saute for a couple of minutes.

                                                 

7. Add the soaked rice and fry, coating the rice with the paste till it starts sticking to the kadai.

                                                  

                                                  

8. Add salt, jaggery and two cups of water to the fried rice.

                                                  

9. When it starts boiling, stir well , cover and cook on low flame for ten minutes.
10. Open the lid, stir once more and replace the lid.

11. Cook for another ten minutes until all the water is absorbed or the Anaasa Annam is done and sprinkle the chopped fresh coriander leaves.

                                                 

Fry cashew nuts and raisins in ghee and garnish the Anaasa Annam  before offering it to Sri Ganesha. Enjoy the flavoursome prasaadam.

                                                  

 THANK YOU FOR  ALL THE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT

                               

                                                  

WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY GANESHA

CHATURTI