Pomegranate Plant

We were very happy to see this small plant started bearing flowers and then fruits (Two fruits first and now another one..!!)
I planted this Pomegranate plant some 1 1/2 yrs back. We now have 2 more plants. I did not expect it to start giving fruits so early. The flowers are a beauty. The recent research says, the flowers, peel and even the leaves are useful. The fruit is very good for Diabetics. Also releases energy, good for stomach. The health benefits are endless it seems. That is why the price of this fruit is sky rocketing.

Robust Bananas

What we are looking forward is this green giant loaded with green robust bananas...!! I got the Tissue plant from the ABARD extn. counter in Sakthan Nagar. Thrissur. Pure Organic bananas... baby...!!

The green plantain leaves are good for Meen Pollichathu as well. We got two such Plantains.

Guvava or Perakka

Also known as the Poor mans apple, Guava is rich in Vit C and fibres. Good for digestion and energy. I eat fresh Perakka every morning these days. Fresh green ones just about to ripe are more tasty. The yellow ripened ones are usually coming with worms inside.
This Guava tree was a surprise as it started growing from underneath our neighbors boundary wall. We just allowed it to grow and it started yielding lot of guavas ...!! Our neighbour has a big tree in their compound and probably the seeds got dropped by the feeding birds....

Cheera Fresh from the Garden

Cheera or Spinach fresh cut from my veg. garden in April. The "Venal Mazha" is a spark for the hibernating Cheera in our backyard. They rise up from the ground slowly and then start to grow wild. Good source of Iron and the best for your body..... this humble veggie is a boon. Cheera curry is a vital source of Iron for the working women and moms. Folic acid and lowers BP.

Karela or Kaippakka Chinese Style Curry

Bitter Gourd or Karela is a great Veggie. The bitter taste gives it "NO...NO" from most of the people. But this recipe is good to eat Karela minus the bitterness.

Boil sliced "Home grow Karela's" in a pot. Strain the water and dry it up. Saute the Bitter gourd in a little oil and remove from the pan onto a Tissue paper.

Slice big onions, green chili, red capsicum, garlic and saute them. Add some water and add the Karela's. Add salt and bring to boil. Add some corn flour to make the gravy thick. Garnish with Coriander leaves.

Organic Farm grown Pumpkins

It is a lovely sight to see that stretch of green leaves of Pumpkin. I grow them in my backyard. Keralites basically use Pumpkin only for Sambhar & Mathanga Erisseri. There are other preparations also with Pumpkin both Indian and Western. Pumpkin or Honey Dew is good for Heart.

Setting up a Home BBQ

I was wondering why the Mallus are not copying the BBQ or Grilled Chicken format from the Gulf to their homes in Kerala. Over in the Gulf you can buy everything you need for a BBQ setup in your villa. The foldable BBQ grill, charcoal bags, skewers, liquid to burn the coal, and marinated chicken etc. A lot of Mallus make BBQ chicken there. Here it is not available in the stores. Marinated chicken was available in Varkey's in their good days. It is big business opportunity for the Chicken shops in Kerala. Sell marinated chicken and BBQ grill and accessories like they do in the "Bakkalas" and Super Markets in Gulf.

I am going to set up my Professional Grill at home. I will cut a Old Iron paint drum(20Ltrs) into half horizontally. Fabricate a stand in the Welding work shop to hold the drum. Place an Iron mesh on top. This is the same we use as Grill in our homes to cover up the Work area in the back. The Grill is ready. Now buy some Coal from the shops that sell wholesale charcoal. Or you can use even Coconut shell (Chiratta) Pour some Kerosene and burn it. The fire pit is ready. Buy chicken, marinate and put it on the skewer. Home made BBQ chicken is ready. I does this on top of our Car porch. The smell of the BBQ chicken and the wafting smoke and smell is a spark for the taste buds of our neighbours.

Fish fry for Kerala School Children

Fish is very good for the health of every one. But children especially the growing ones does not like fish mostly. They eat the unhealthy chicken, beef and eggs.... But fish fingers with some tomato sauce, mayonnaise etc can work wonders for the kids. Do not tell them it is fish. Tell them it is cutlets and sauce. They will love it and once they are through, they will add it to their favourites. You can make fish fingers just like you make cutlets. Use some good fish like King fish, Neymeen, Etta or even Prawns fried with the same coating. Remember to give the Sauce  which most of the kids love to have.

Chakara in Kaippamangalam 15th May 2012

"Chakara" is a term so familiar to Mallus. Fish in abundance and that too close to the shore...!! Chala (Mathi) Ayala, Chemmeen.. (Poovalan, Naran) Koonthal, Kanava and lots of others. Chala is one of the best fish on earth. Rich in Omega 3 and other nutrients.Good for heart and bones. But mallus especially the middle class and upper does not like this fish. Because it has scales and small bones.. not that tasty... small...smelly and what not ?? Sardines are very very good and if cooked as curry and fried are mouth watering..!! Sardines need to be marinated for 4-5 hours before frying. Apply a paste of Garlic, ginger, salt, red chili powder, egg white and yellow and some corn flour before frying..... Even the smell of this Chala while frying will make you run to the kitchen.... We used to cook Chala in the "Aduppu" in the older times. It is easy. No need to clean the fish. Just wash it and keep it deeply buried in the amber/charcoal for some time. Take it out.. remove the skin and eat it with chuvanna chammanthy made of red chili powder, salt, water and coconut oil...

Idivettu Meen Curry

It is a Mallu favourite... But boy, making a Meen curry, or even cleaning the fish is a damn job. I tried my hands on cutting and cleaning one of the most difficult of fish in Kerala, The Thiloppi or Thilappia. It has scales, hard fins and tail. I first cleaned the fish with fresh water. Then removed the scales by a kitchen knife, then cut the tails and fins using a Fish cutting scissor. That was the hardest part. My scissors were small and not that sharp. Also the flesh is very hard. Washed the fish again. Cut an incision on the belly to remove the intestine and other waste. Again washed to remove all the blood and remaining filth. Sliced the sides to apply Fish Masala... and a tough job accomplished. I handed over the fish to my wife for making that Idivettu Meen Curry. I cleaned 3-4 fish that day. A hard task indeed. I made up my mind not to buy such fish in the future. Especially one with scales and stuff. I can skip that type of  "Meen Curry" for my better halves sake...