Kakarakaye : Agakarakaye Fry - Karela

Kakarakaye and agakarakaye both belong to the gourd family. But kakarakaye is the bitter gourd and agakarakaye is not bitter at all. I like to compare them to fingers of the same palm that are so different from each other.
Agakarakaye is rare and expensive, but thanks to the frozen food, available in abundance in the Indian grocery stories in the freezer section. I have eaten more agakarakaye in US than in India. Comes in handy for a quick fry right from the freezer.

Kakarakaye and Onion Fry.

Agakarakaye and Onion Fry.
1 lb Karela {Bitter gourd or Agakarakaye}
3 Onions

Chop karela in circles, transfer them into a bowl, add tsp of salt and let sit for half hr. Then squeeze with fingers and discard the juice (Actually this juice is good for diabetes, but the excess salt in it is the bad part, so reduce salt, if desired to drink the juice.) By removing the juice, karela will not be so bitter anymore. Chop onions.

When using agakarakaye, cut into 4 pieces and add to oil in a skillet.

I normally do not discard the seeds unless they are ripe/red. They give a certain crunchy taste to the fry.

Take 3 -4 tsp of oil in a skillet and heat it. Once oil is hot add the chopped karela and fry for a few minutes on medium flame. Then add chopped onions and fry for a few more minutes and add salt.

Once the vegetables are crunchy or completely cooked add red chili powder and remove from flame. Serve hot with rice when the vegetable is crispy and crunchy.

Or completely fry the vegetable; do not add red chili powder. Just before serving add a tsp of oil and fry on high flame, add red chili powder and serve hot.

Vegetables that are good for frying are: Potatoes, Plantain (Aritikaye), French-cut beans, Ladies finger (Benadakaye), Karela - Indian bitter gourd, Agakarakaye (another variety in bitter gourd- only this not so bitter), Tindora (Dondakaye).

Thotakura majiga pulusu - Amaranth leaves

This is a perfect recipe for those days when you have sour curd left is the refrigerator.

1 bunch Amaranth leaves - Thotakura
Few Ladies fingers - Bendakaya - Optional
2 Tomatoes - Optional
4 cups Sour Curd
2- 3 Green Chilies
1" Ginger
Few Curry Leaves
2 tsp Grated coconut
1 tsp Sambar Powder

Wash and chop thotakura. Cut bendakaye and tomatoes into any desired shape and size.

In a steel vessel thin the curd using a “Kavam” or by using a ladle into buttermilk adding enough water. Take 3 tsp of besan in a bowl and add enough water and mix well. Add this mix to the butter milk and mix well. Then place it on a medium flame and keep stirring till the buttermilk boils. Remove from flame and keep aside.

In a non stick low bottom vessel take 2 tsp of oil and 1 tsp of ghee and make tadka with ¼ tsp jeera, ¼ tsp mustard seeds, ¼ tsp vammu, few fenugreek seeds, hing and red chili. Then add chopped green chilies, ginger, grated coconut, few curry leaves and chopped bendakaye and salt. Fry for a few minutes and add chopped thotakura, tomatoes fry for a few minutes (or thotakura can be cooked in a pressure cooked with salt) add enough water and cook till the vegetables are soft. Be careful not to overcook the vegetables or they will lose their shape.

Once the vegetables are soft add the cooked buttermilk, a tsp of sambar powder and turmeric and bring to boil. Taste for salt and seasonings and adjust accordingly.

Magiga pulusu is a good side dish with rice. One of good combinations is mudda pappu (toor dal) rice and magiga pulusu or in kandi podi and rice.

Bean Sprouts Kura

Bean Sprouts

2 lb Bean Sprouts
3 Green Chilies
1" Ginger
Few Curry Leaves
3 tsp Kura Podi – Curry Powder (From my previous blog in Podis/Powders)
½ tsp Tamarind paste

Wash and air dry bean sprouts.

Take 3 tsp of oil in a skillet and make tadka with ½ tsp urad dal, ½ tsp chenna dal, ½ tsp jeera, ½ tsp mustard seeds and hing. Add chopped green chilies, ginger and curry leaves, fry till nicely done.

Then add bean sprouts, salt, turmeric and cook in high/medium flame for 6 - 7 minutes till the water is evaporated, quantity will come done. Then add 3 tsp of kura podi/ curry powder, ½ tsp of tamarind paste and mix gently. Do not overcook or mix too much, this will make the vegetable all mushy and the shape will be lost.

Taste for salt and seasonings and adjust accordingly. Garnish with coriander.
This can be eaten with rice or rotis/chapatti.

Bottle gourd with sesame powder - Anapakaye kura

1 Bottle gourd - Anapakaye
3 Green chilies
Few Curry Leaves
3 tsp. Nuvupodi – Sesame Seeds Powder

Bottle gourd is a water vegetable; the quantity will shrink after cooking.

Fry sesame seeds in a skillet, let cool and grind to powder.

Peel and cut gourd into small pieces. Add 2 cups of water to the pieces in a skillet add salt, turmeric and cook in medium heat till the vegetable is soft. Remove, drain water.

Take 3 tsp of oil in a skillet and make tadka with 1/2 tsp urad day, 1/2 tsp chenna dal, few mustard seeds, jeera, hing and a red chili. Add chopped green chilies and curry leaves and fry for a min. Then add cooked vegetable and fry for a few minutes. Add nuvu podi and 1/4 tsp red chili powder. Mix well and empty into a serving dish.

This is a good side dish with rice.

Nutmeg - An update.

Update on Nutmeg...

Nutmeg has been good. He is enjoying the company and attention of my kids and waits for them to visit him.

Poor fellow is very busy during the night and sleeps all day. When I check on him during the day, he is too lazy to open both his eyes!

One day he had a "Nutmeg's night out" and scared us all. My son filled his water bottle and probably forgot to lock his cage that night. The next morning, I got up to my daughter's shrieks to find out that Nutmeg was missing. All of us searched everywhere, so I started calling out "Nutmeg"..by his name. I saw something move from the corner of my eye and turned around to see his peeping out of my daughter's closet. She was happy she found him, put him back in him box and went to school happy. We wondered all the places he explored that night! So, his night out. Now we know he knows his name and responds when called his name.

Other than his nuts he has been eating sliced carrots, cabbage and lettuce. Today we gave him a cherry and boy, he was very happy to try new food!

Nutmeg in his strolling /exercise ball.
He loves to be in this ball and explores each and every corner of the house. We are not scared anymore that he may get stuck under furniture or in vents when he is in the ball.

Cherry Picking

Our weekend trip to Terhune Orchards for Cherry Picking. They had 23 varieties of cherries.
For More Information visit:
http://www.terhuneorchards.com/

This is the first time we went cherry picking. It rained so heavily, but we did not cancel the program anyways. The trip was so worth it! Don't know what I was thinking, about how to pick the fruit in rain but, I was so glad to see the cherry trees under a white artificial shade. With so many varieties to choose from, we plucked a few from each variety. There were red, maroon, orange, yellow and different shades of red cherries.

Father's Day 06/21/09

"When a child is born, a father is born. A mother is born, too of course, but at least for her it's a gradual process. Body and soul, she has nine months to get used to what's happening. She becomes what's happening. But for even the best-prepared father, it happens all at once."
Fathers Day Quote by: Frederick Buechner, 'Whistling in the Dark'

Celebrating Father's Day to acknowledge and appreciate the important role played by a father in raising the child and consequently building a strong family. For this great figure in our life that we know as father - it becomes our utmost duty to pay our humblest tribute on the occasion of Father's Day.

Fathers are the biggest source of strength for a child. The child perceives father as the all-powerful, most knowledgeable, truly affectionate and the most important person in the family. For daughters, fathers are the first men they adore and fall in love with. While for sons, their fathers are the strongest person they know and someone they aspire to emulate. Even for the grownups, fathers are someone whom they look up to for the most experienced and honest advice that is always in the best of interest.

My father, son of a school teacher with 8 siblings, his path to success came through hard work and dedication. He is a firm believer that education is a stepping stone of a Dream Life! He spent all his Life on a never ending Quest for knowledge.

A Man of very few words, he would make his presence felt by his deeds, there is not anything my father cannot do! He is such a “Handy –Man”, I never remember calling anyone for any help around the house.

But, I have to mention here, he sort of a lousy critic. He would say whatever was prepared or done was very good. Since others in the family were not so verbally appreciative, I loved to cook for my dad. Sorry dad, for all the Experiments I made on you!

Living with diabetes all his life, he faced a couple of bullets that life thumped on him with will and determination. I told my Dad that he’s been given a second chance, sometimes miracles do happen!

Leading a quite retired life on his own terms in their dream house, visiting his kids in US when possible and trying to keep up with technology, growing a needful flower and vegetable garden been keeping himself busy and active. He is trying to find Himself through Yoga-Meditation and serving God through customs!

He never ever gave a smallest of hint to let us know how hard they work to take care of our needs and fulfill even the most whimsical of demands. His Principles have been the guiding force in my life. I hope I will follow them all my life.

So, Daddy, Thank you for being there for me and Sorry for the times that I may not have agreed with you. A Very Happy Father’s Day to you.

My Children are blessed with a loving father. They should consider themselves very fortunate, for, they have someone to take care of their needs and interests. Someone to stop them, when they are diverting to a wrong path and guide them on a road to success and virtue. My kids adore him; a friend, a confidant for them. They are assured their Dad is there for them always. My daughter has her Dad wound around her little finger. My son says his Dad is absolutely Cool. He Rocks and Rules!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my Husband, Brother, Brother-in-law’s, Uncles, Cousins and Friends a Very Happy Father’s Day.

F.A.T.H.E.R.S.
"F" aithful.
"A" lways there.
"T" rustworthy.
"H" onoring.
"E" ver-loving.
"R" ighteous.
"S" upportive.
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