GATT Quintet

GATT Quintet

Recently I came across two old DD videos of the famous GATT Quintet in Youtube in Dr.Santhosham’s channel. A medley of Simon and Garfunkel songs and Country roads by John Denver. They can be seen here.

They brought back nostalgic memories of my childhood. I was in my 9th standard when I got a cassette of the GATT Quintet. I was hooked to male voice music from that time on. I still remember the deep bass voice of Dr. Grubb in Go Down Moses and the peppy Step into the water numbers from that cassette. They had the misfortune of singing in a period when the recording technology was in its evolution stage. Still you can hear the quality dripping from the songs. Their last CD GATT Together for Christmas is a superb collection of Christmas songs starting from the spirited “When was Jesus born” to the oriental “We three Kings” to the Tamil song “Senthamil Nadaenum Pothinilae”. The songs can be previewed here.

A brief note about the group

The members of the group are Dr Kalyan Subramanian, James Davids,Allan Sathyadev,Dr.Ravi Santhosham and Dr Samuel Grubb. They have been singing unchanged for the last 40 years.
It was their mutual love for music and a strong passion for african-american spirituals that brought four teenagers together more than forty years ago in the youth fellowship of the Emmanuel Methodist church in the southern city of Chennai, India. By the mid-seventies the young men graduated from college and embarked on separate career paths. two became physicians, one an account executive and one an aerospace engineer, who now lives in San Diego, USA, and whose absence brought a fifth member, also a physician, into the group. the GATT quartet thus became the GATT Quintet
Even though they are now separated physically, they are still held together by their love for music and the bond that they share with each other. Successes in their chosen career paths have made them pursue music for the sheer love of it and this shows in their performance.
They have performed in England, in N.Ireland, in USA, in Australia with the world voices in connection with the Sidney Olympics at the Sydney Opera House, in Bahrain.In 2009, the GATT Quintet performed as an alumni member at the 25th anniversary of the International church music festival in the Vatican, under the direction of Sir David Wilcocks.

Kolikari Dosa

Handwork by my Grandparents

GVB Homecoming Baltimore

Ever since coming to the US my desire was to attend one GVB homecoming, One Broadway musical and one classical concert. The first one on the list was ticked off when we went to the GVB Homecoming in Baltimore.The concert was on 12th December. It was a Saturday and we planned to leave some where around 10. As usual we woke up late and started at 1 and by the time we bought something to eat it was around 1.30.
From here to baltimore its around 3.30 to 4 hours and for a guy whose maximum drive previously was an hour this was a great feat. We started without any incidents and without any of my usual wrong lane problems. It was around 5.30 when we reached baltimore and we checked into the Homestead studio suites.
The concert was at 6 and we started around 6.30 from the place. Just when I started the car I realized that the ticket did not have the address and after going to the reception guy I got it. We reached the arena around 6.50 and to my chargin I realized that there was no parking nearby, I crossed the first Mariner Arena where the concert was passed two blocks and turned into a one way street. Thanks to a cabbie who warned me I turned about then retracted the same path and realized that there was a parking lot opposite the arena itself thanks to the missus.
I parked there and we rushed into the areana. My main fears were the concert would be half over and how long my son would allow us to stay there. We punched in our tickets got the flash lights and rushed into the arena. To our great relief Linda Randle was singing there. She was finishing with "Through it all" and then Bill Gaither came out and started the crowd singing. The lights dimmed and then the notes of "Alpha and Omega" came out and it was the GAITHER VOCAL BAND. I was waiting for this moment and was not disappointed.
Wes Hamption,Michael English, David Phelps,Mark Lowry and Bill gaither. They redid a couple of their favorites Satisfied,Journey to the sky,It is finished,Daystar,The love of God. It was odd to see 3 tenors. However the arrangments were different and Bill tried out different combinations. Gene Mcdonald of the Florida boys joining for Hide thou me. Our favorite was Glorious impossible.
I am normally not a big fan of Michael English. However my views went for a toss in this concert.Michael gave a very brief testimony. One of his quotes stuck in my mind. "Our God is a God of second chances". When he sang Daystar I was impressed and I began to understand why so many people go crazy when he sings. Wes was his usual impressive self. Mark, well you can never put down mark and he introduced the vocal band as the recycled Gaither vocal band. He remarked that as he grew old he is not able to run around his brain any more. Bill Gaither was his usual self and he got carried away during the Christmas sing along. He also payed the piano for Hide thou me.
David phelps was the stand out and when sand O Holy night. My, you have to listen to this guy live. I mean I have seen him singing O holy night hundreds of times(DVDs, Youtube). He blew the audience away when he sang it at the end.
There was a break in between and i went out with my son to get some snacks. There was a commotion and I turned around and saw it was david phelps. He was immediately surrounded by people. He patiently signed autographs posing for photographs. The thing that struck me all of them were simple and great in interacting with Fans. David had to tear himself away during the break. He did it with a smile in his face. After the concert was over other than bill , mark and wes everyone else was at the products table obliging all the fans with photos and autographs. Though I wanted to take a photo with David and Kevin I did not because as usual I was a little bit reluctant.
Over all it was a very uplifting experience and I will post more about it later

BLACK FOREST CAKE

One who has eaten the best made BLACK FOREST CAKE, will never forget the taste of it till life. I ate it once in my native and from then on it was my special snack every week end. Whenever i eat a new dish or snack i have a desire to try it out on my own. So i tried many a times but i could not get the original taste of the BFC....
What a wonder!!!! The final trial was delicious. Its taste was the same as the one which i ate few months back....
I hope everyone will like it.

INGREDIENTS

For the cake:

Butter(melted and cooled) - 1/2 cup(110 gm)
Sugar(powdered to crumbs) - 1 1/4 cup(275 gm)
Egg - 2
Flour - 1 1/2 cup(140 gm)
Cocoa powder - 1/2 cup(50 gm)
Baking powder - 1/2 tsp
Baking soda - 1 tsp
Vanilla essence - 1 tbsp
Salt - a pinch
Vinegar - 1 tbsp
Milk - 1 cup minus 1 tbsp

For filling:

Heavy cream - 1 cup
Sugar(powdered) - 4 tbsp
Vanilla essence - 1 tbsp
Cherry (seeds off) - 1/2 cup
Chocolate curls or shavings - 1 cup

METHOD
Grease a cake pan or 3 cake pans and keep ready. Pre heat oven at 350 degree C

Pour vinegar in a cup and add milk in it. Stir well and keep it aside.

Sift and keep flour,cocoa powder,baking powder,baking soda and salt.

In a bowl add melted butter and sugar.Beat well for 3 minutes,so that it gets mixed well. Its ok if it is not fluffy.

Add one egg at a time and beat well for 3 minutes.

Add half of the sour milk and vanilla essence and beat just for a minute.

Turn of the beater and fold in the sifted dry ingredients.

Use rest of the sour milk if needed to make the batter smooth.

Pour it in the cake pan and bake till a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
You can bake it as one full cake and cut it into 3 layers or you can straight away bake it as 3 separate cakes.

When the cake is ready transfer it to a cooling rack. Let it cool for few hours before cutting.

While the cake gets cooled,you can prepare for the filling.

Take cream,sugar and vanilla essence in a bowl. Keep the bowl in a cold bath i.e. inside a bowl with cold water and ice cubes.
Start beating it in low speed and then gradually increase to high.
Beat the cream till soft peaks form. Take care not to over beat and make butter. (The cream turns to pale yellow before it becomes butter.)

Cut the cherries into pieces

Keep ready the chocolate curls or shavings. (scrape the chocolate bar with a vegetable peeler or a spoon)

ASSEMBLING

Place one layer of the cake in a tray with top side bottom.
Sprinkle some cherry syrup or boiled sugar syrup.
Apply a thick layer of cream and some cherry pieces on it.

Place the second layer and do as above.

Place the final layer. Apply a layer of cream. Sprinkle chocolate curls on it and decorate it with cherries.

Serve it and enjoy the cake
Store the cake in refrigerator.

SPICY HEN BAKE

Baking a whole hen was only a big dream recipe for me as i have just started cooking.I dint have the guts to waste a whole chicken!!!
This Thanksgiving Day i determined to do it at last....Though not a TURKEY,why not,let it be a BROILER HEN!!!
I did it and to my surprise it came out well.
Let me share the recipe.

Ingredients

Broiler Hen - 1 (fully cleaned and inside parts removed)
Soy sauce -2 tbsp
Vinegar- 1 tbsp
Onion- 1 (cut and grind it to paste)
Tomato- 1 big (cut and grind it to paste)
Ginger garlic paste- 2 tsp
Chilly powder- 1 tsp
Cummin seed powder- 2 tso
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Chicken 65 masala- 1/2 tsp
Garam masala- 2 pinch(for aroma)
Coriander leaves- 1/2 cup (finely chopped)
Salt- to taste
Oil- 4 tbsp

Method

1. Marinate the hen in soy sauce, vinegar, half of the oil, turmeric powder and salt for 1/2 hr. Carefully prick the hen with a fork here and there so that it gets soaked in well.

2. Heat a large vessel(hen should fit in) and add rest of the oil in it.

3. Add onion paste, tomato paste, ginger garlic paste and all the spice powders. Saute well for 2 minutes. Add salt.

4. Put the marinated hen in the vessel and rub the gravy all over it and inside.

5. Sprinkle coriander leaves and pour little water.

6. Close the vessel and let it cook in medium flame for 1/2 hr. After the first 15 minutes turn the hen to the other side and cook.

7. Keep ready a wide baking pan lined with silver foil. Pre-heat oven to 350 deg C.

8. Carefully place the hen with leg side up in the baking tray. Coat it with the gravy and bake for 1/2 hr. Keep some gravy for the other side.

9. Take out the tray, turn the hen and coat it with rest of the gravy and bake for 1/2 hr.

10. Spicy hen bake is now ready. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with lime.

CHOCOLATE CAKE

YUMMY CHOCOLATE CAKE

Everybody likes chocolate cake. I have a craze for it and I nearly salivate when i say it. Yummmmy....... This method is from my mother's recipe collections and i love it. By following the exact measurement and duration, it becomes the most wonderful cake. Before I could take a picture of the cake, it was over.....
Hope you'll like it.

Ingredients

Vinegar - 1 tbsp
Milk - 1 cup
All purpose flour or maida - 1 1/2 cup
Cocoa powder - 50 gms
Salt - a pinch
Sugar - 1 1/4 cups
Butter(melted & cooled) - 185 gms
Vanilla escence - 1 tsp
Egg(lightly beaten) - 2
Baking soda - 1 1/2 tsp

Method

1. Grease a baking pan and keep it aside.Pre heat oven at 180 degree C.

2. Add vinegar to milk. Stir well and set aside

3. Sift flour,cocoa powder,salt and baking soda 3 times

4. Take the above mixture and sugar in a bowl. Pour in the melted butter and half of the milk mixture. Beat well just for 2 minutes

5. Add vanilla essence, the remaining milk mixture and the beaten eggs. Beat well for 2 minutes

6. Pour batter into the greased pan and bake for 35 minutes at 180 degree C.

7. Check weather the cake is done by inserting a toothpick. If it comes out clean, your cake is ready

8. Transfer the cake to a wire rack and let it cool.

9. Enjoy the cake after it cools.

911 - 108

Yesterday night was an unforgettable night for me. Around 12 midnight my son woke up crying. He normally does that when I am just sinking into sleep. Thinking it was his usual histrionics my wife took him up and began soothing him. What followed next was terrifying. He started gasping , shuddering and held his neck at an unnatural angle. His eyes went wide and he stared unseeingly at us without breathing. I tried to soothe him and my wife tried and we were at our wits end and something pushed me to call 911. The person who attended the call took all the details regarding the condition and just my apartment number and within 3 minutes a cop with emergency kit was in my doorstep and in another 5 minutes the ambulance crew was there.

Thankfully he was well by the time and was starting to look at them like aliens. They had a look at him and wanted to know if we needed to be taken the hospital. When we assured them it was okay they left after giving some medical advice. The police man was the last to leave after ensuring everything was fine.

Three things struck my mind after this episode

1. We are in a foreign country alone with nobody to guide us. The only guidance we have is the Grace of God and the prayers of others. I do not have a clue as to what I would have done if my son did not become normal. I still shudder to recollect the same.

2. The second thing is 911. The thing that amazed me was the speed of response and the way in which they responded. When a few minutes can make a difference between life and death 911 is a lifesaving process by providing emergency services in that precious few minutes. I have begun reading about 911 and its history in the US and I plan to put it in a separate post.

3. Whenever such a thing happens my wife would begin to insist on returning to India and I pointed out her with smugness that such a service is not there in India. Most cases we tend to have a biased attitude when comparing US and India.Each country is unique in its own way. However returning to the main issue I had to eat my words when I came to know we have a similar service 108 in India. Its not available in all the places.However its a start. It has been pioneered in India by GVK EMRI (Emergency Management and Research Institute) and it has a current fleet of 1900 ambulances across Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Goa, Chennai, Rajasthan,Karnataka, Assam Meghalaya and Madhya Pradesh. When you call 108 it would be received by a state of the art call center and they handle Health emergencies, Crime and Fire.
Considering the population factor 108 has some way to go. However its a sterling initiative and we should be proud and supportive of such efforts. Believe me I know the terror of the ordeal when no help is available during your darkest hour.

I have given the EMRI website details below

http://www.emri.in/content/view/24/59/

Home where I belong

The other day I came across a beautiful and Poignant song sung by Mark lowry(Gaither vocal band. Home Where I belong. The verses reiterate the simple truth that we are just passing through. Nobody else can make a fool out of himself and make a point across at the same time like Mark. And when he puts aside his clowns face and sings a song the pure conviction hits you in the face. You can not listen to this song without a tear in your eyes and a smile in your face.

They say that heaven's pretty
And living here is too
But if they said that I
would have to choose between the two
I'd go home, going home, where I belong


And sometimes when I'm dreaming
It comes as no surprise
That if you look and see
The homesick feeling in my eyes
I'm going home, going home, where I belong


While I'm here I'll serve him gladly
And sing him all my songs
I'm here, but not for long
And when I'm feeling lonely
And when I'm feeling blue
It's such a joy to know that
I am only passing through


I'm headed home, going home, where I belong


And one day I'll be sleeping,
When death knocks on my door
And I'll awake and find that
I'm not homesick anymore
I'll be home, going home, where I belong

Watch the song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP6QG_pJuSM and be blessed

LEARNING DISABILITY

Learning disability is a wide topic and is a group of many features. So I have described it in 2 posts. Most of us are aware of LD.However we may not be very clear on the same.I have tried my best to explain few concepts in brief so that it gives a clear picture. This article will give you a clear explanation on,

1. Definition of LD
2. Etiology
3. What constitutes learning disability and what is not

The next post will contain details on each of the clinical features of LD


DEFINING LEARNING DISABILITY
According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), LD is a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction.


ETIOLOGY
The human brain begins growing in the 4th week of pregnancy at a rate of over 4,000 cells per second. Unlike an adult, the fetus does not have a functional blood brain barrier to protect itself from toxic insult. This lack of natural defense allows chemicals into the fetal brain with potential to cause serious harm and disruption in this delicate brain growth process.
Scientists and researchers have now confirmed in a number of research studies that children with learning disabilities exhibit at least one of several types of damage to the brain structure. This can appear as either one or more of the following:

* Fewer numbers of brain cells in important areas of the brain
* Smaller size of brain cells
* Brain cells that migrated to the wrong part of the brain (called dysplasia)
* Lower than normal blood flow to specific areas of the brain
* Brain cells that metabolize glucose (the brain's primary fuel) at lower than normal levels

The above provides a neurological explanation for "WHAT" has actually happened inside the brains of the learning disabled, however, it does not address the question as to "WHY" it has happened. The question of "WHY" is still under research.

WHAT IS LEARNING DISABILITY AND WHAT IS NOT?

A learning Disability is what one see as wrong from the outside. That is, a child that can not read, write, do math, or run properly among their peer group is a learning disabled child. At the same time if a child has a stroke and ends up with deficits like a learning disability, we don't call it that, even though it may look exactly like a learning disability. Learning disabilities can be strongly inherited.

Even i had the same confusion on how to conclude it as Learning Disability during my study period,when one of my tutors explained it to me in such a way that i still remember it. Let me share it.

X is 8 years old. He can not read. He knows his letters, but still lags behind in reading. He also is poor in maths. He is clumsy than most children his age. His memory is not that good. His writing is very poor. There is nothing that X does to what a person would expect from an 8 year old boy. He has always been behind, and he is a very slow learner.
This is the feature one sees in mental retardation. That is, X is poor at reading, but he is not worse at reading. I would not say that X has a learning disorder.

Y is also 8. He can not read either. He knows his letters, but when he reads he reads backwards, skips lines, and can't understand how words are organized on the page. He is good in math, loves to build things, is a good drawer and is on two sports teams.
Y has a learning disorder in reading. He is of average intelligence and his reading is much worse than a person who is of average intelligence.

Z is also 8. She can not read in school, however her mom swears she can at home. She knows the letters and sounds, but doesn't pay attention to what she is doing. She has a hard time paying attention to other things, too. She is interested in fishes. Once she found a book about fishes that she was very interested in reading, she read it without problem.
Z has Attention Deficit Disorder.She has no problem reading, if she can pay attention.

I hope the examples cited above would have cleared the confusion on when to call it Learning Disability

Halloween - Trick or Treat

Halloween has come and gone. Since this is my second time in the US I was not surprised to see the Pumpkin decorations and ghosts outside the houses here in new Jersey.But i was quite unprepared for Trick or Treat. As a Halloween tradition children go from house to house asking Trick or Treat. If you do not treat them with sweets they would play some trick on you.That's how if works.

Well Saturday evening I was watching a movie with my wife and my son was sleeping. Though its a Indian neighborhood we do not mingle that much. I was slightly surprised when my door bell rang. When I opened it there were two small witches and a skeleton standing outside. It was the kids from the neighboring houses with their moms and they cried Trick or Treat. To say I was embarrassed would be the understatement of the year.I stammered out a sorry and explained that I had forgotten about the whole thing and did not have any sweets. The two girls smiled at me and turned away. The little kid dressed up as the skeleton glared at me and said Trick or Treat again. His mom dragged him away. But not before he fixed me with a "What a idiot" glare. As he belongs to the little ruffians league in my neighborhood I shudder to think what kind of a trick he is going to play on me.

RSI- A bane for IT folks

BEWARE OF RSI

A recent work published by Capers Jones, chief scientist emeritus of
the Software Productivity Research (SPRI) cited that there are 15 million IT
professionals worldwide.I think there is no harm in calling it an 'IT world'.

People working in the IT industry are subject to same posture or movement throughout their work time.Most of the time the work involves staring at the monitor and using the keyboard and mouse for longer time frame without rest and they are ideal candidates for RSI. .Its nothing but repetitive strain injury. It is especially important for IT professionals and people who use computers for longer time periods to know about RSI.

The term "repetitive strain injury" is most commonly used to refer to patients in whom there is no discrete, objective, pathophysiology that corresponds with the pain complaints. It may also be used as an umbrella term incorporating other discrete diagnoses that have (intuitively but often without proof) been associated with activity-related arm pain.

The first sign of RSI is unlocalised pain in the arm during work which relieves after a short break but again appears on work. Many people neglect the indicating sign.This on progression leads to numbness and tingling sensation in the arm.Finally it leads to muscle fatigue and lack of endurance.

The symptoms of RSI if given importance at the very beginning,can be prevented by making modifications in the work posture, minor adaptations in the work station, altering the work routine by giving regular breaks in between and so on. When we come to see about the prognosis, almost all suffers of RSI improve on following proper ergonomic principles in work station and other recommended therapies.

To conclude, IT people are committed when it comes to work. However the same is not true in looking after their health and fitness.A few modifications to the way they work and some good workplace ergonomics would improve healthy work performance.

HOME PROGRAM IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Occupational therapy as you all must have known is a part of rehabilitation program that incorporates active participation of the clients in the process. The therapist explains the purpose of an activity and simulates it for the client and remains passive for the rest of the time. The client is encouraged by the therapist in every way for his/her progression. As long as the client comes to the department, they work with the therapist instructing by their side. But nobody wants to continue their department visit lifelong. So after a period of regular visits, the clients are given follow up schedule and are asked to visit the department once in a while.

It is here where HOME PROGRAM plays a main role. The therapist creates a home program for the client.
What is home program all about?
As an Occupational Therapist let me explain this to you...


It is a detailed Therapy program given to the clients to do at home till they visit the department next time. The therapist prepares the home program in such a way that the clients can do it successfully with the things available at their home.
Home program includes list of symptomatic activities (i.e.) activities according to the clients symptoms, the frequency of intervals in which they have to be performed and activity progression according to the clients improvement level. The above mentioned are the highlights in a Home Program without which it is incomplete. The therapist explains it in detail for the client and asks for any clarifications. The client is given a detailed picture about the importance of home program.

The clients on performing the home program as per the therapist's guidelines feel the rate of improvement in their skills during their follow up visit. This serves as a strong source of encouragement for the client in achieving their end goal which in turn helps the therapist to proceed on.

I hope I’ve given a clear outline on what home program is all about. Occupational Therapy is a cluster of many such concepts which when explained, makes a lot of sense. Occupational Therapists as a rehab team member create a client-friendly environment and helps out their client to achieve a near normal life.

Black Friday - US Aadi thallupadi

I recently came across the term black Friday when going through some of the deal websites. I initially thought it was a horror movie. A little research gave some interesting insights. Black friday is the Friday after the thanksgiving week in America and it is the starting of the traditional holiday shopping season. The term originated in Philadelphia in the 60s from the police department who coined this not so affectionate phrase to mark the crowds, traffic jams, general trouble that comes with the start of the shopping season.

By early 1980s the retailers gave a new dimension to the term by giving the new theory that this day signifies that their losses (Generally marked in red ink in the accounting books) turn to profit (Marked in black). The activity starts as early as October when different retailers start announcing the deals.The day itself would be characterized by people staying overnight in malls so that they can pick up the deal items that would be stocked by the retailers. There have been stampedes gunfights on the day over the past years.

Reading up on this info made me think back to Aadi sale that happens in Tamil nadu,India. The aadi season which falls in mid july to mid august is considered to be an inausupicious time during which people do not buy anything new. To offset this a huge discount sale was proposed by the retailers such as pothys to entice customers to buy. It has progressed to such an extent that in the last few years this season is the time when the sales is huge.

You will not be able to enter Tnagar ranganathan street which is the garment hub in Chennai. Huge crowds, jam packed stores, huge traffic hold ups are a common feature of this season. Unlike the web advertising for black friday you can see a lot of hoardings, TV and radio adsfor Aadi.
Both aadi and black Friday have a lot in common.Both of them reflect the resourcefulness of the retailers in drawing customers.

Somebody's Praying

I recently came across Ricky Skaggs's song "Somebody's praying'. A moving and a deeply touching song that drives home the simple fact that we are what we are since somebody's praying for us. Through all the trials and troubles we face in life's journey we are held up by prayers. Especially now as we are in a foreign land and away from all our loved ones it has been their prayers which are holding us up.

Lyrics
Somebody's praying; I can feel it
Somebody's praying for me.

Mighty hands are guiding me
To protect me from what I can't see
Lord I believe, Lord I believe
Somebody's praying for me.

Angels are watching; I can feel it
Angels are watching over me.

There's many miles ahead till I get home
Still I'm safely kept before your throne
Cuz Lord I believe, Lord I believe
Your angels are watching over me.

Well, I've walked the barren wilderness
Where my pillow was a stone
And I've been through the darkest caverns
Where no light had ever shown.

Still I went on cuz there was someone
Who was down on their knees
And Lord I thank you for those people
Praying all this time for me.

Somebody's praying; I can feel it
Somebody's praying for me
Mighty hands are guiding me
To protect me from what I can't see.

Lord I believe, Lord I believe
Somebody's praying for me.

Somebody's praying for me.

Thank God for all the people who pray for others.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI_h_IRfRe8

Be thankful to Him

God worked miracles

Was just thinking a while on what to write next....when something in me gave the idea of sharing few testimonies. To be frank, I'm not a perfect follower of Christ....but a simple lover of God. I do not pray every mornings and nights but i pray many a times a day for everything. I've not shared any testimonies to date. God has performed many wonders in my life still.Then why am i not still sharing it with anyone???? I've questioned myself like this many times. So just thought why don't I use this blog as an opportunity. I ll share a few here...

My very first testimony would be to Praise God for giving me a wonderful mom and dad. Without them i wouldn't have known God. They brought me up in the best way. When I was a child I still remember my mom say, "when u do something which you are not supposed to, Jesus will cry for you. So ask Jesus sorry for the thing you did and He ll forgive you". I pray God that I should be as my parents were to me, to my little son.

For the first of half of my life God guided me through my parents.But that day i didn't know I would be blessed with a loving husband and a caring in-laws for the res of my life.When time came for me to get married my parents asked me how i would like my husband to be. Truly i didn't have any particulars but the only thing i told them was, "I want my mother-in-law and father-in-law to be kind as you are to me". I knew not whether this will happen. You know what happened, I was blessed more than what i asked for.Praise the Lord. I can call my mother-in-law as my next mom and father-in-law as my next dad.How blessed am i to get them.And my husband.....oh i have no words to explain his love and care to me. Everyday i ll Praise God for giving me such a loving family.

Most recent of all, i would like to Praise God for having blessed us with a sweet little boy. And recently when we moved to US God was with us through all trials and sickness.We as a family are thankful to Him.

Brinjal Pepper Curry

Kathrikai Mizhagu Kuzhambu

Ingredients

Brinjal-250gm
Garlic - 8 - 10 Cloves
Onion-1 medium
Tomato-1 medium
Coconut-2 sliced pieces
Pepper-1 tsp
Turmeric pwder-1/4 tsp
Corriander powder-1/2 tsp
Cumin powder-1 tsp
Mustard seeds-1 tsp
Water-1 cup
Oil-4 tbsp
Salt-to taste
Curry leaves
Corriander leaves

Method

1. Cut brinjal into long medium pieces and put in water

2. Finely chop onion, tomato and garlic

3. Heat oil in a pan.

4. Add mustard seeds. When it splatters add curry leaves. Then add half of choped onions and fry till transparent.

5. Add the chopped garlic and fry till slight brown

6. Add the cut brinjal pieces and fry till soft

7. When the brinjal is done, add salt, turmeric powder, corriander powder and cumin powder and fry for 5 min

8. Grind together pepper, coconut and left over onion

9. Add the ground ingredients to the brinjal masala

10. add a cup of water and let it boil. Water quantity depends on your wish. If you want the curry to be thick, you can use less water.

11. When it is done garnish with corriander leaves and serve

This curry suits well with rice and dosa

Kheema Egglet

Kheema Egglet

This is a delicious dish with minced meat and egg. Its a high caloric diet as it has more number of eggs. The below ingredients makes an egglet that can serve two. You can finish your breakfast or dinner with this dish.
Ingredients

Minced meat(kheema)-250gms
Garlic-4 cloves
Onion-1 medium
Tomato-1 medium
Turmeric powder-1/4 tsp
Corriander powder-1/2 tsp
Cumin powder-1 tsp
Chilli powder-1/2 tsp
Egg-4 no
Oil-2 tbsp
Salt-to taste
Corriander leaves to garnish
Cake tin (any shape)-6"or 9"
Butter-to grease tin

Method

1. Clean minced meat and cook in medium flame with salt and turmeric powder, till the water drains out.

2. Heat a pan with 2 tbsp oil.

3.Finely chop onion,tomato and garlic

4. When the oil is ready, add chopped onion and fry till it becomes transparent

5. Then add chopped garlic and fry till slightly brown.

6. Now add chopped tomatoes and fry till the skin peels off.

7. To this add cumin poder, corriander powder, chilly powder and salt. Fry for about 3 min.

8. Add the partly cooked kheema to the masala mixture and fry for 10 min.

9. While the kheema is getting cooked, in a bowl slightly beat all 4 eggs. add salt to taste.

10. Grease the cake tin with butter.

11. Preheat oven to 250F

12. Put the kheema mixture in the tin and press it to the base evenly.

13. Pour the beaten eggs into the tin. With a fork prick the base meat layer here and ther so that the egg batter and peep in.

14. Place the tin in the middle rack and let it bake for 20-30 min at 300F.

15. You can chek the egglet inbetween by inserting a toothpick.
When it is done the toothpick comes out clean.

16. Garnish with corriander leaves and serve as slices.

Hope you will enjoy this dish.

Curd Rice in minutes

Simple Curd Rice

Curd rice is the most common dishes in south India.In fact, no afternoon meal is without curd rice and pickle.Its such a simple and easy meal to make. There are many ways toprepare and each follow their own easy way to make.I've discussed the way i learnt from my mom........delicious meal in minutes!!!

Ingredients

Rice-2 cups
Water-5 cups
Milk-1 cup
Curd -1/2 cup
Green chillies-2 no
Ginger -1 inch piece
Mustard seeds-1 tsp
Curry leaves-few
Oil-2 tbsp
Corriander leaves to garnish

Method

1. Clean rice and pressure cook in 5 cups of water for 10 minutes

2. Cut the green chillies into thin rings and chop the ginger piece. Keep them aside.

3. Take cooked rice in a shallow bowl and smash it well with a flat spoon.

4. Add 1 cup of milk to the smashed rice,stir and set it aside for few minutes till the rice gets partly soaked in milk.
The idea of adding milk is to make sure the curd rice does not get the sour taste after few hours.

5. Add curd to the rice and stir well.

6.Add required amount of salt.

7. Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds.

8. When the mustard seed crackles add curry leaves, green chillies and ginger. Turn off stove.

9. Carefully pour the above seasoning into the curd rice and spread it evenly.

10. Garnish with finely chopped corriander leaves and serve it hot.

This tastes even good when served with hot lime pickle or dried fish. Enjoy your meal.....

Aiyra meen fry

AIYRA MEEN FRY

Ingredients

Aiyrai meen -250 gm
Cummin seeds -1 tsp
Pepper -1 tsp
Corriander seeds -1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder -1/2 tsp
Tamarind pulp -1/2 tsp
Salt to taste Oil - 1 tbsp




Method

1. Clean the fishes and pat dry

2. Heat a pan and fry pepper till aroma comes out. Keep it aside. Dont put oil in pan while frying pepper cause, the seeds may burst and injure you.

3. Pour oil in the same pan and let it heat.

4. Add the cumin seeds and coriander seeds and fry till aroma comes out. Keep it along with the fried pepper.

5. Grind the above fried ingredients into fine powder

6. In a medium sized bowl, add tamarind pulp,turmeric powder,salt and the finely ground powder.

7. Mix well. Add water if needed and bring it into a smooth paste.

8. To this paste add the cleaned fishes and mix well so that the paste is coated on all fishes.
(make sure you don't smash the fishes when you mix)

9. Cover the bowl and keep it aside for an hour or two.

10. Heat a non-stick pan and fry the marinated fishes till they are dry.

This south Indian dish can be enjoyed with Curd rice or Sambar rice