2009 - A Year of Friends and Food!

All photos used with prior permission by photographers.

Initiating this blog almost two years ago, my intention was to create a space to catalog my recipes, without the intention of creating a community as it has, especially over the past year. This year, after thirty-five posts, including posts on cookbook and website reviews and guests posts, this blog has amassed over 20 subscribers. Thank you to my friends, supporters and participants of interviews and guests posts.

This post is a chronicle of guest posts, interviews and a few of my personal favorite recipes of the last year. If you, too want to start making Indian culinary treats in your kitchen, see this post on creating your Indian-inspired kitchen in America, which is a tutorial on different gadgets that can help you create delectable Desi dishes!


Book Reviews
Both Cookbooks reviewed are written by Viji Varadarajan
Want to see Yogurt from a different perspective?
Review of south Indian vegetarian cookery chronicle: A Healthy Taste of Indian Culture: Cooking with Yoghurt.
Temptations from the Tamil Table: Review of Viji Varadarajan’s Samayal South Indian Cookbook

Guests Posts and Recommended Recipes:
Paneer Makhani - Fried Homemade Cheese Cubes in Flavorful Cream Sauce by Srivalli
Recipe Review November 2009
Featuring culinary recipes and tips from blogs: 4th Sense Samayal, Aayi's Recipes, Hindu Blog, Ruchi, Veggie Platter, Vizmaya.
Recipe Review December 2009
Featuring culinary recipes and tips from blogs: Aayi's Recipes, Edible Garden, Fourth Sense Samayal, The Gori Wife Life, One Hot Stove, Veggie Platter


Inspirations and Recommendations
Aloo Bonda and Bread Pakodas by Oldernwiser0
Video cookery segment showcasing ease of making Indian deep-fried mashed potato balls (aloo-bondas) and deep-fried bread pieces with a flavorful batter covering (bread pakoda).
Indian Cooking Made Easier Series by Oldernwiser0
In this post, I shared one of the videos by Oldernwiser0 on paneer (Indian home-made cheese) making.
Okra Curry- the Martha Stewart Way and the Jennifer Kumar Way
A flavorful side dish made with okra (bindi) and spices.
Sambar Inspired by Viji Varadarajan
In this post, I detail how I create a savory, flavorful vegetarian stew, called Sambar as inspired from Viji Varadarajan's book Samayal: The Pleasures of South Indian Vegetarian Cooking (Winner Gourmand World Cookbook Award)


Interviews:
Recipe Blog Review: Vidhya's Recipes
Home cooked and ethnic dishes, using ingredients such as banana blossoms (right), of the South Indian vegetarian fare, Vidhya has also created quite a nice community of enthusiastic readers and people, like me, who have tried our own hands at some of her recipes in our own kitchens.

Insights and Inspirations by Viji Varadarajan
Combining her family's traditions and wisdom, Viji has written a series of TamBram (Tamil Brahmin) recipes, her Samayal series inspires me to learn more about her inspirations to share this wisdom with the world.

Photography
This year, my husband also inspired by some of my cooking skills, began taking photos of some of the dishes I have made. Click on the photos to see the posts.

Krishna's photography

Keera Molagootal Flavorful Spinach/ Mixed Greens and Lentil Soup

Chenna Masala Chickpeas Curry

Coconut Chutney

Dosa and Idli batter recipe and 'HOW TO MAKE'

My photography

Vatthal Kozhumbu

Cornbread with Cream Corn and Red Bean Curried Gravy

Tomato Chutney inspired by Nithya

Create your Indian Inspired Kitchen in America!

Recipe Blog Review: Vidhya's Recipes

Vidhya, thank you for sharing your recipes with us. The cultural, social and healing characteristics found in these posts: Paruppu urundai Rasam (spicy soup with vegetarian dhal-based vegetarian “meatballs”), Thippili Rasam (spicy pepper soup) and Angaaya Podi (lentil powder) intrigue me. What inspires you to share this information and in which ways has maintaining your blog changed your perception of cataloging recipes, food habits, emotional and cultural aspects of food?

Vidhya says: When I first started cooking 5 years back, I felt like I was in the middle of a big ocean without any help. Every time I used to call my grandma or my mother in law for help. When I thought about starting a blog, I just wanted to write everything I know and everything I tried so that it could help new comers in future...

Vidhya, home cooking unlike ready made foods in the grocery store vary based on subtle ingredient changes. I really appreciated you presenting this in your blog through offering series on different topics; such as different ways to make beans or eggplant curry, idli upma and varieties of podis (all links at end of interview). What inspired you to create these series? When creating these series, does it make you see your own preparation methods in a new way? Do you have plans of creating other such series in the future?

Vidhya says: Truly speaking, I have no future plans of creating a series in the future. The reason I tried various methods with one basic ingredient is my twin daughters who are very picky eaters and I wanted them to try all the Indian food even though we live in USA. If I follow the same methods every time, they may get bored....

photo right: Banana Blossom by Vidhya Iyer

Vidhya, your recipes also bring back some memories of my own stay in Tamil Nadu especially since some include regional ingredients and preparations that are not familiar to my friends from other parts of India. Some such recipes are: Paruppu urundai Rasam, Vaazhapoo Curry - Banana Flower Curry, Vaazhapoo vadai, Jack fruit seeds Curry, Sundakkavathal Vatha Kozhambu, Garbanzo Sundal (spicy garbanzo fried snack). Being in America, are you able to acquire the exotic ingredients required for some of these recipes? If not, are these recipes written simply from memory or calling home for details? What kinds of memories do these special dishes bring to your mind?
Vidhya says: If you see a picture in my blog post, it means I have prepared those dishes here in USA. Lucky for me, I get all the basic ingredients in the grocery stores here in bay area which helps me try all the traditional recipes. But you may not find jackfruit seeds curry in my post which I tried but forgot to take picture and now it’s not jack fruit season here, I couldn't do it again. But definitely do it again and add the pictures there...

Who are two or three recipe bloggers you are inspired by? What about their style is inspiring? Can you recommend any recipes from their blog that you have personally prepared and eaten?

Vidhya says: First person I would suggest is Jaishree (http://jaisrecepieblog.blogspot.com/). Even though she started her recipe blog after couple of months, I like most of her recipes and have tried couple of her recipes. Another person is Jujubs (http://jujubscreativecorner.blogspot.com/) and I love her lunch box special blog. I have tried many of her ideas with my kids and most of them were successful.

Vidhya, all the recipes on your blog are Indian inspired. Are there other cuisines you enjoy eating? Which foods outside the Indian menus have you tried and would like to learn to create on your own?

Vidhya says: I love to eat American vegetarian burgers, Pasta with lots of cheese. But I have not tried by myself. I think its time to try something new. I will try it soon.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jennifer for putting so much effort to encourage bloggers like me. Thanks Jennifer for inviting me to take this interview. I really enjoyed doing this...

Thank you for participating in this interview, Vidhya. Continue sharing your unique taste buds with us!!

Additional notes to share from Vidhya's blog:


Series to follow:

(a) Four different ways to make beans curry varities (1) (2) (3) (4)

I prefered the first variety and enjoy this once a month or so.

(b) Two ways to make eggplant curry (1) (2)

(c) Three ways to make Idli upma (1) (2) (3)

(d) Series on podi (podi means powder, eaten with rice, idli or dosa).

Paruppu Podi, Dhaniya Podi (coriander seeds Podi), Ellu Podi (sesame Seeds Podi), Angaaya Podi, Karuvepillai Podi (Curry Leaves podi), Kalathu Podi

(e) Series on pachadi (dish similar to chutney or salsa)

Boondhi Pachadi, Cucumber Pachadi, Tomato Pachadi (1) (2), Onion Pachadi, Okra Pachadi, Dangar pachadi (urad dhal/lentil), Banana Stem pachadi - Vaazhathandu pachadi, Gooseberry Pachadi

Some of Vidhya’s recipes I have prepared and devoured: Black Eyed Beans Sundal, Garbanzo Sundal, Masala Vadai (spicy fried lentil donuts), Omapodi (fried rice/besan flour sticks), Paruppu urundai Rasam, Polla Rice flour Vadai (spicy, crispy fried snacks).

Recipe Comparisons – You can study both, see the differences and decide which you like, or make your own recipe innovation!

Lemon Rasam: Vidhya Jennifer

Bitter Gourd Curry Vidhya Jennifer

Sundakkavathal Vatha Kozhambu Vidhya Jennifer

Mango Thokku Vidhya Jennifer

Tasty Tidbits: Rasam (Cultural Facts about this tasty broth!)

More South Indian Recipes - Samayal series of award winning Tamil/South Indian cookery guides by Viji Varadarajan.

Thank you for reading.

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