List of things which make me happy..

Doing something creative always energises my mind and soul. During my childhood, I was very creative inspired by my mom and grandma. These hectic office days sometimes make me sluggish, complaining girl. But kick those feelings out of my mind doing something cute and close to my heart.

To be creative, we should keep our mind happy and relaxed. A bedroom curio like this makes me creative or simply happy

Things I do which makes me happy..

1. I clean my closet, bedroom and bookshelves. The spic and span room makes me proud.
2. Cooking new and traditional recipes is one such things which occupies my happy times. Shopping groceries for my cooking scores even more points =)
3. Painting or any art work. I use watercolours to paint. I also love making polymer clay models. My oven and kitchen have had enough of me baking clay model experiments. Once I tried baking a panda clay model which ended up with burnt butt with smoke all over. ;)
4. Photography and processing photos. I use all the photo edit softwares in my phone and laptop. I love Instagram and Lightroom.

5. Reading book ..Most of my time taken for travel to work is dedicated for my mom's conversation followed by a good book's company.

6. Spending time with my family. I just love it and which I long for each second.

7. Music. Good Music. Singing or listening to Music is always a great stress reliever.

8. Surfing through my favourite blogs.

Cute Charms which I made recently..

In My Studio : Books I'm reading now...

After a  long time, I headed to library to grab few books. I selected 3 books.



These are the three books I selected. I love reading books which makes me relaxed.

Shot with my Android + Instagram App

Aviyal : Typical South Indian Recipe

I grew up on all the tasty and healthy South Indian Tamil Brahmin Recipes. One of such authentic recipe is Aviyal. My mom and grand ma make excellent Aviyal. I prefer Aviyal with Rasam Sadham(Rice). Mostly this dish is preferred with Adai.

This easy recipe has many nutritious values. Almost all vegetables can be used in this recipe.

The other day I made Aviyal and Rasam sadham, which came out very well. My hubby insisted me to make Aviyal on the same weekend  with Adai. He loves authentic food too.

My mom taught me this dish which I felt to be very easy. Thanks to my MOM!

Ingredients

Beans        -       5-6 No
Potato        -      2 No (Medium Sized)
Carrot        -      2-3 No
Coconut     -      1 cup (grated)
Jeera seeds -      2 tbsp
Mustard      -     1 tsp
Green Chilly-    3 No
Curry Leaves-   10 No
Salt               -    For Taste
Coconut oil  -     2 tbsp
Asafoetida   -     2 pinch
Curd            -     2 cups

Steps

Cut vegetables into 2-3 inch long pieces.
Boil them with 2-3 cups of water

Grind coconut, jeera, green chilly, curry leaves, Asafoetida into a thich paste with little water.

In a  pan, add oil ; temper mustard seeds along with curry leaves.

Add boiled vegetables along with water, ground paste and curd.

Add Salt and keep it in heat for 5 - 10 minutes.

Serve hot with adai or Rasam sadham

PS: Any combination of vegetables can be used. Tumeric Powder (1 pinch) can be added to enhance colour.
If watery , add water (1 cup ) mixed with 1tsp of corn flour

Yummy Aviyal Ready

In My Studio : Rain in Chennai

I launching a new project today for the random pictures I take each day. I have named this project "In my Studio". Since few photos are processed and few are posted directly from my camera, I felt this name would be appropriate.


Rains in Chennai is very rare. Today it is raining and the hot temperature has subsided. I made it a point to spend some time to feel the rain. After so many months, I felt the  chillness of rain drops. It was a amazing experience. So I am journal ling it here.


 With a cup of Joe in hand and boosting confidence I am starting this project. 

I have few more plans in my blog. Keep visiting for more interesting updates. 

Shot with my Android + Instagram App 

Priyaa's No Churn Mango Ice Cream

Summer in India is unimaginable. This made me spend most time in air-conditioned rooms esp at work.  My nerves for making ice cream turned out to be a great success in my family. I can now make any type of ice cream at home thereby avoiding the harmful preservatives and synthetic flavors in usual packed ice cream. 

Mangoes make big market in summer. I love mangoes. So I tried my hand on making Mango Ice cream.

I adapted the recipe of Bing with slight modifications. This softie doesn't require a churn and it is totally free of eggs. Let me list out the key ingredients for making this ice cream.

Ingredients

Fresh Cream Type I  (I used Nilgiris Fresh Cream with 36g of Fat) 500 ml

Fresh Cream Type II ( Amul's Fresh with 25g of fat) 250 ml

Icing sugar -  2 cups

Mango Syrup / Thick Mango juice - 1 cup

Fresh mango - 1 no

Lime - 1 tbsp (optional)

Steps

 

With the key ingredients, first I pour in the fresh creams of two types . Here the fat content is very important to get the text of the ice cream.

 Cut the mangoes into small pieces. It is a bliss to find pieces of mangoes while tasting this ice cream.

 

 Add two cups of finely powdered sugar (icing sugar) into the cream mixture. Blend the cream mixture to get a consistency of a melted ice cream.

Add the mango pieces and mix them gently.

 

I added a tbsp of lime juice for taste enhancing but it is optional.

 

 

I added a handful of butterscotch balls to the cream. Mix well

  

Pour in the mixture into an air tight container. While pouring make sure the mixture get folded as shown below providing space for air bubbles.

 

Close the container and ensure it is air tight. Refrigerate for 10 hours (I usually make ice cream at night and refrigerate all night)

 

After such long time, u need to keep it outside for two minutes before serving. Serve it with chocolate syrup or with Gulab Jamun.

Yummy Mango Ice cream ready. I have also tried and tested strawberry ice cream. My husband and my family loved my ice cream. I make them every weekend.