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June 20, 2017

How To Do Friday Lakshmi Pooja At Home – Thiruvilakku Pooja Procedure

Mahalakshmi pooja procedure - Thiruvilakku pooja
This post explains a simple method of how to perform Mahalaxmi puja / Thiruvilakku Pooja every Friday at home. I have included Puja vidhi/ pooja procedure, slokas, mantra and songs required in Tamil & English. I have given a simple Lakshmi pooja method for working women and a detailed procedure with 108 potri for housewives.  I have also shared a downloadable PDF format for Lakshmi Pooja slokas, mantras in Tamil.  Please download it by clicking the link.

            In South India - Tamil nadu, most of the housewives do this thiruvilakku poojai regularly at home in a simple way by chanting 108 potri. We worship Goddess Mahalakshmi in the lamp and perform this pooja.When I posted Friday neivedyam recipes, my readers requested me to share our Pooja vidhanam with Ingredients needed, Pre-preparation, Pooja kolam/Rangoli, songs in a detailed manner just like my other festival procedures post. 

Few readers wanted me to share a simple pooja that helps working women and busy moms. So I have shared the pooja procedure in two ways by referring my Friday pooja book in Tamil. One is a very simple version( Panchopachara pooja) that hardly takes 5 to 10 minutes to do it. It would be ideal for working women to do it either in the morning or evening around 6 pm.

Not just on Friday, you can do this pooja everyday. The second one is my family’s traditional way with 108 potri which I learnt from my MIL. Some people make it in an elaborate way by keeping kalasha. If you are looking for the authentic Mahalakshmi pooja vidhanam with shodasha upachara puja, please refer my in-laws blog – Learn kolam. I have shared it in detail.

Basically Lakshmi puja is performed by married women seeking long life for their husband, health, wealth, peace of their family.This pooja gives us immense benefits if done whole heartedly with full faith. In North India, this puja is performed during Diwali in a grand manner. 

Today I have shared this post mainly for beginners and newly wedded girls. I have also mentioned the benefits and significance of this pooja. I have shared all the pictures from my pooja room. Hope it would be useful for you all to get some ideas.

When I was young, I have seen Thiruvilakku pooja performed in Amman temples & Murugan temples in Tamil nadu. But I never thought it can be performed at home till my marriage. I came to know about it from my MIL. She used to do this pooja every Friday at home. Initially I was just a listener sitting along with her and watching it. After 5 years of my marriage, I started doing it on my own by following her method while she continues to do it in our Salem house even at this age.

After buying a own house, I performed Vaibhava Lakshmi pooja by keeping Kalasam for 11 weeks as advised by my neighbor. Its an elaborate pooja just like Varamahalakshmi festival. So I will share it later. In this post, we will see how to do Friday Mahalakshmi pooja at home in a simple way without keeping kalasam/Kalasha. 

As usual, this post would be very lengthy as I have given all the sloka in English and Tamil. So please bear with me. If possible. I will try to make a separate post in Telugu and Hindi with the help of my friends and try to make a PDF of them in near future. Thanks for visiting this page. If you find this post helpful, please share a few words in the comment section which will make me happy.

Click THIS LINK to download the PDF format of sloka, mantras in Tamil.

Friday pooja neivedyam recipes

1. SIGINIFICANCE & BENEFITS OF MAHALAKSHMI POOJA

Mahalakshmi pooja is performed by married women or young girls at home seeking health, wealth, harmony and long life for their husband, removal of sins and black magic. By doing this pooja, It is believed that Lakshmi, wife of Lord Vishnu and the Goddess of wealth visits her devotees house during this pooja and bless them with abundant wealth and good health. 

Goddess Lakshmi prefers clean house. So devotees clean their houses, decorate them with lights and flowers, prepare sweet delicacies/neivedyam as offerings and do the pooja. We believe that when the God is more happy at her visit, we get more blessings from her. Lakshmi pooja can be done performed by a single person or by a group of ladies at home. It is considered to be more auspicious to do this pooja on Pournami day( Full moon day).

People can get various types of benefits if they do it in Tamil months from Chithirai (April) to Panguni (March).

Chithirai : Blessed with increased production of Pulses.
Vaigasi : Blessed with Money
Aani : Blessed with Marriage
Aadi : Blessed with Long Life
Aavani : Blessed with New Born Children
Purataasi : Blessed with more Cows
Aipassi : Blessed with Food
Karthigai : Blessed with Moksha
Margali : Blessed with Good health
Thai : Blessed with Victory in life
Maasi : Blessed with removal of sins.
Panguni : Blessed with Dharma

Silver flowers for pooja

2.INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR LAKSHMI POOJA

1. Lamp ( Thiruvilakku – 1 no, Big or small)
2.  Wooden plank or plate or peeta for placing the lamp.Banana leaf or plate for offering sweets/Neivedyam. Thoobakal for sambrani stick, incense stick stand 
3. Betel leaf & Nuts ( Vetrilai Paaku – 2 or 4 nos)
4. Banana - 2 nos ( You can keep in even number count)
5. Coconut – 1 no
6. Kumkum, Turmeric, sandal powder
7. Flowers ( Uthiri poo or malai / garland)
8. Incense stick, camphor, Dhoop / Sambrani in Tamil( Benzoin in English)
9. Gingely oil/Sesame oil & Ghee to light the lamps
10. Wick/ Thread for lamps ( Thiri nool or panchu thiri)
11. Match box, Plates to keep fruits, coconut.
12. If you wish, you can keep a set of blouse piece, bangle, turmeric piece(Virali manjal), small mirror, comb, black chain(Karugamani), kumkum packet etc. Please refer the above picture.
13. I have 108 silver flowers which I use it for archanai. Please check the picture given above. You can use uthiri poo/ flowers instead.

Thiruvilakku pooja at home

3. PRE-PREPARATION FOR POOJA

On the previous day i.e Thursday night, Sweep the house clean. Wash all the lamps and pooja accessories. Dry them and decorate it by keeping sandal and kumkum dots. You can draw kolam in the entrance on previous day night of you wish. Please visit my in-laws blog Learn Kolam to get some padi kolam ideas.

4. POOJA TIMINGS

Mostly we do this pooja in the morning before Rahu kalam ( 10.30am to 12 noon) or yamagandam (3:00 pm to 4:30pm) on Friday. So we do it around 8 to 9 am after sending the kids and husband to school & office. It is also auspicious if you do this pooja in the evening around 6 pm. So keep all the things ready before pooja timings.

Friday pooja arrangements


Friday Mahalakshmi pooja kolam

5. HOW TO ARRANGE FOR POOJA

A.  Near the pooja room, draw a kolam/rangoli on the floor. You can draw either maakolam( Kolam with wet rice flour paste) or with usual rangoli powder. My MIL draws padi kolam with hrudaya kamalam in the center. But I draw padi kolam with a simple flower kolam in the center as I am not good at drawing hridaya kamalam kolam .Please visit my in-laws blog Learn Kolam to get ideas on padi kolam.

Place the wooden plank or peeta over the kolam. Keep the lamp on the plank or peeta. Lamp should always face the East or North direction. South & west should be avoided. Make sure you leave some space around the lamp for Pradhakshinam ( circumambulation). Please refer the above picture for pooja arrangements. 

B. Decorate the lamp, idols with flowers.Garland it if you wish. Keep sandal & kumkum dots. Add gingely oil/ sesame oil or ghee generously. Lamp should not go off while doing pooja. So add more oil before starting the pooja. Put 5 wicks or minimum 2 wicks in the lamp.

C. Decorate the idols and photo frames with flowers. Some people keep kumkum dots for all the photo in pooja room every Friday. But I do it only for festivals. Prepare the neivedyam. Mostly I make Payasam/Kheer or sweet pongal/ Sakkarai pongal in pressure cooker as sweet pongal is meant to be the favorite for Goddess. You can also make Ven pongal, rava kesari or sweet dishes with aval/poha and jaggery. I will try to make a separate post for neivedyam ideas soon.

D. Place the neivedyam bowl, broken coconut, banana, betel leaves & nuts in a plate or banana leaf. Place them in front of the lamp.

E. Keep the incense stick in the stand. Do not pierce it over the banana. Place the sambrani/dhoop stick in the stand or thoobakal. Keep some ash(viboodhi/thirueeru) in the camphor plate and place the camphor over it.If you don’t have a plate to place camphor, you can keep it over the betel leaf or banana leaf. Do not use the betel leaf which you have kept for neivedyam.

F. Place a mat for you to sit in the side of lamp. We call it as Thadukku in Tamil. Keep all the sloka books nearby. You should sit facing North or East. Avoid facing south.

6. HOW TO DO FRIDAY VILAKKU POOJA – SIMPLE METHOD

Click THIS LINK to download PDF format of sloka, mantras in Tamil

This method is for people who have very less time in hand for doing pooja. It would be ideal for working people. This is called as “Panchopachara Pooja” ( Five fold worship).

1 Offer Gandham (sandalwood paste/powder)
2 Offer Pushpam (flower)
3 Offer Sugandham dhoop (incense)
4 Offer Jyotham (light)
5 Offer Naivedyam (food)

In fact, this pooja can be performed everyday. You can do this pooja by standing in the pooja room.No need to keep the lamp separately in a peeta or plank. If you do not have the offerings/ pooja items in hand, you can do manasa pooja. ie. Assume that you are offering all the 5 things. 

The second method is by offering all the 5 in real. If you have prepared any neivedyam recipe, you can keep it in a plate in front of the lamp/Thiru vilakku and do this pooja and offer sandal paste, flowers, dhoopam, dheepam, neivedyam and mangala harathi/Karpooram. 

Panchopachara pooja in English

Chant these lines if you are doing manasa pooja ( Imagine the offerings)
  • oṁ śrī gaṇeśāya nama:
  • oṁ śrī mahāgurubhyo  nama: / oṁ śrī sadguru paramātmane nama :
  • oṁ śrī mahālakṣmyai nama: śrīmahālakṣmiprītyarthe  gandhaṁ parikalpayāmi   ( Imagine that you offer sandal paste)
  • oṁ śrī mahālakṣmyai nama: śrīmahālakṣmiprītyarthe  puṣpaṁ parikalpayāmi ( Imagine to offer flowers)
  • oṁ śrī mahālakṣmyai nama: śrīmahālakṣmiprītyarthe  dhūpaṁ parikalpayāmi   ( Imagine showing dhoopam)
  • oṁ śrī mahālakṣmyai nama: śrīmahālakṣmiprītyarthe  dīpaṁ parikalpayāmi  ( Imagine showing dheepam)
  • oṁ śrī mahālakṣmyai nama: śrīmahālakṣmiprītyarthe  naivedyaṁ parikalpayāmi  ( Imagine offering neivedyam)
  • oṁ śrī mahālakṣmyai nama: śrīmahālakṣmiprītyarthe  samasta upacāra pūjān samarpayāmi  ( imagine showing camphor/karpoora harathi)
Chant these lines if offering the pooja items

  • oṁ śrī gaṇeśāya nama:
  • oṁ śrī mahāgurubhyo  nama: / oṁ śrī sadguru paramātmane nama :
  • oṁ śrī mahālakṣmyai nama: śrīmahālakṣmiprītyarthe  gandhān dhārayāmi  ( Keep two sandal dots in the feet of lamp)
  • oṁ śrī mahālakṣmyai nama: śrīmahālakṣmiprītyarthe  puṣpai: saṁpūjayāmi  ( offer flowers)   
  • oṁ śrī mahālakṣmyai nama: śrīmahālakṣmiprītyarthe  dhūpaṁ āghrāpayāmi ( Show dhoop/sambrani stick or incense stick) 
  • oṁ śrī mahālakṣmyai nama: śrīmahālakṣmiprītyarthe  divya maṅgala dīpaṁ darśayāmi ( show dheepam preferrably ghee dheepam)
  • oṁ śrī mahālakṣmyai nama: śrīmahālakṣmiprītyarthe  amṛta mahā naivedyaṁ nivedayāmi ( Offer neivedyam)
  • oṁ śrī mahālakṣmyai nama: śrīmahālakṣmiprītyarthe  samasta upacāra pūjān samarpayāmi (show mangala harathi/Karpoora harathi)
Finish the Pooja by doing namaskaram in front of the God.


How to do friday thiruvilakku pooja in Tamil

7. HOW TO DO THIRUVILAKKU POOJA – METHOD 2

Click THIS LINK to download PDF format of sloka, mantras in Tamil.

Do this pooja in the morning before rahu kalam OR do it in the evening around 6 pm. Light all the lamps other than the one you have kept for pooja because we should light the main lamp only after reciting Ganapathi sloka. 

Basically any pooja should be done by worshipping Lord Ganesha at the beginning. So Vigneshwara pooja is to be performed by reciting Lord Ganapathi slokas. So lets start with Ganapathi song. I have given all the mantra and songs in Tamil and English.

  1. Ganapathi Vaazthu

Ainthu Karaththanai aanai mugathanai
Indhin Ilampirai polum eyitranai
Nandhimagan thanai gnyanak kozhunthinai
Punthiyil vaiththadi potrugindrene

Now light the lamp. While lighting the lamp, chant the following :
”ஓம் ஒளிவளர் விளக்கே போற்றி” – “Om Olivalar Vilakke Potri “

Continue this with Thiruvilakku Archanai (108 potri). You can chant thiruvilakku Ashtothram in Sansrit or Thiruvilakku archanai song in Tamil with 108 potri which I have given below.  We offer flowers ( uthiri poo) or kumkum in the feet of lamp while chanting this potri. You can offer a combination of 54 flowers & 54 kumkum archanai.I use my 108 silver flowers for this. Please check the image given above ingredients section. You can buy this silver flowers & golden flowers in all jewelry shops.

Click HERE to listen Thiruvilakku Archanai sthothram in Sanskrit.

108 Potri in English 

1. pŏṉṉum mĕyppŏruḽum taruvāy potri
2. pokamum tiruvum puṇarppāy potri
3. muṟṟaṟivu ŏḽiyāy miḽirntāy potri
4. mūvulakam niṟaintiruntāy potri
5. varampil iṉpamāy vaḽarntiruntāy potri
6. iyaṟkaiyāy aṟivŏḽi āṉāy potri
7. īreḻulakam īṉṟāy potri
8. piṟarvayamākāp pĕriyoy potri
9. periṉpap pĕrukkāy pŏlintāy potri
10. peraruṭ kaṭalām pŏruḽe potri
11. muṭivil āṟṟil uṭaiyāy potri
12. mūvulakum tŏḻum mūttoy potri
13. aḽavilāc cĕlvam taruvoy potri
14. āṉanta aṟivŏḽi viḽakke potri
15. om ĕṉum pŏruḽāy uḽḽoy potri
16. iruḽ kĕṭuttu iṉparuḽ ĕntāy potri
17. maṅkaḽa nāyaki māmaṇi potri
18. vaḽamai nalkum valliyai potri
19. aṟamvaḽar nāyaki amme potri
20. miṉ ŏḽi ammaiyām viḽakke potri
21. miṉŏḽip piḻampāy vaḽarntāy potri
22. taiyal nāyakit tāye potri
23. tŏṇṭar akattamar tūmaṇi potri
24. mukkaṭcuṭariṉ mutalvi potri
25. ŏḽikkuḽ ŏḽiyāy uyarvāy potri
26. cūḽāmaṇiye cuṭarŏḽi potri
27. iruḽ ŏḻittu iṉpam īvoy potri
28. aruḽ pŏḻintu ĕmmai āḽvoy potri
29. aṟiviṉukku aṟivāy āṉāy potri
30. illaka viḽakkām iṟaivi potri
31. cuṭare viḽakkām tūyoy potri
32. iṭaraik kaḽaiyum iyalpiṉāy potri
33. ĕricuṭarāy niṉṟa iṟaivi potri
34. ñāṉaccuṭar viḽakkāy niṉṟāy potri
35. arumaṟaip pŏruḽām āti potri
36. tūṇṭu cuṭaraṉaiya joti potri
37. jotiye potric cuṭare potri
38. otum uḽŏḽi viḽakke potri
39. iruḽ kĕṭukkum illaka viḽakke potri
40. cŏllaka viḽakkām joti potri
41. palarkāṇ pallaka viḽakke potri
42. nallaka namaccivāya viḽakke potri
43. ulappilā ŏḽivaḽar viḽakke potri
44. uṇarvucūḻ kaṭantatora viḽakke potri
45. uṭampĕṉum maṉaiyaka viḽakke potri
46. uḽḽattakaḻi viḽakke potri
47. maṭampaṭum uṇarnĕy viḽakke potri
48. uyirĕṉum tirimayakku viḽakke potri
49. iṭampaṭum ñāṉattī viḽakke potri
50. nokkuvārkku ĕrikŏḽ viḽakke potri
51. ātiyāy naṭuvumākum viḽakke potri
52. aḽavilā aḽavumākum viḽakke potri
53. jotiyāy uṇarvumākum viḽakke potri
54. tillaip pŏtu naṭa viḽakke potri
55. karuṇaiye uruvām viḽakke potri
56. kaṟpaṉai kaṭanta joti potri
57. aṟputakkola viḽakke potri
58. arumaṟaic cirattu viḽakke potri
59. ciṟpara viyoma viḽakke potri
60. pŏṟpuṭaṉ nañcĕy viḽakke potri
61. uḽḽattiruḽai ŏḻippāy potri
62. kaḽḽappulaṉaik karaippāy potri
63. urukuvor uḽḽattu ŏḽiye potri
64. pĕruku aruḽcurakkum pĕrumāṉ potri
65. iruḽcer iruviṉai ĕṟivāy potri
66. aruve uruve aruvuru potri
67. nantā viḽakke nāyakiye potri
68. cĕntāmaraittāḽ tantāy potri
69. tīpamaṅkaḽ joti potri
70. matippavar maṉamaṇi viḽakke potri
71. pākam piriyā parāparai potri
72. ākama muṭimelamarntāy potri
73. ekamāy naṭañcĕy ĕmmāṉ potri
74. ūḻi ūḻi uḽḽoy potri
75. āḻiyāṉ kāṇā aṭiyoy potri
76. ātiyum antamum āṉāy potri
77. antamil iṉpam aruḽvoy potri
78. muntaiya viṉaiyai muṭippoy potri
79. pŏṅkum kīrttip pūraṇī potri
80. taṇṇaruḽ curakkum tāye potri
81. aruḽe uruvāy amaintoy potri
82. irunila makkaḽ iṟaivi potri
83. kuruvĕṉa ñāṉam kŏṭuppāy potri
84. āṟutal ĕmakkiṅku aḽippāy potri
85. tītĕllām tīrkkum tiruve potri
86. paktiyil āḻnta parame potri
87. ĕttikkum tuti ĕntāy potri
88. añcalĕṉṟaruḽum aṉpe potri
89. tañcamĕṉṟavaraic cārvoy aṉpe potri
90. otuvārakattuṟai ŏḽiye potri
91. oṅkārattuḽḽŏḽi viḽakke potri
92. ĕllā ulakamum āṉāy potri
93. pŏllā viṉaikaḽ aṟuppāy potri
94. pukaḻccevaṭi ĕṉmel vaittāy potri
95. cĕlvāya cĕlvam taruvāy potri
96. pūṅkaḻal viḽakke potri potri
97. ulakam uvappuṟa vāḻvaruḽ potri
98. uyirkaḽiṉ pacippiṇi ŏḻittaruḽ potri
99. cĕlva kalvi ciṟapparuḽ potri
100. nallaṉpu ŏḻukkam nalkuvāy potri
101. viḽakkiṭṭārkku mĕynĕṟi viḽakkuvāy potri
102. nalam ĕlām uyirkku nalkuka potri
103. tāye niṉṉaruḽ taruvāy potri
104. tūya niṉ tiruvaṭi tŏḻutaṉam potri
105. potri ĕṉpār amarar viḽakke potri
106. potri ĕṉpār maṉitar viḽakke potri
107. potri ĕṉ aṉpupŏli viḽakke potri
108. potri potri tiruviḽakke potri


After archanai, chant the following lines and offer the sandal paste in the feet of lamp, offer flowers, show the dhoopam, dheepam. Do the neivedyam and finally mangala harathi/Karpoora harathi.
  • oṁ śrī mahālakṣmyai nama: śrīmahālakṣmiprītyarthe  gandhān dhārayāmi - Keep two sandal dots in the feet of lamp
  • oṁ śrī mahālakṣmyai nama: śrīmahālakṣmiprītyarthe  puṣpai: saṁpūjayāmi - Offer flowers
  • oṁ śrī mahālakṣmyai nama: śrīmahālakṣmiprītyarthe  dhūpaṁ āghrāpayāmi - Show dhoopam
  • oṁ śrī mahālakṣmyai nama: śrīmahālakṣmiprītyarthe  divya maṅgala dīpaṁ darśayāmi - - show dheepam
  • oṁ śrī mahālakṣmyai nama: śrīmahālakṣmiprītyarthe  amṛta mahā naivedyaṁ nivedayāmi - – offer neivedyam
  • oṁ śrī mahālakṣmyai nama: śrīmahālakṣmiprītyarthe  samasta upacāra pūjān samarpayāmi - – Show karpoora harathi
Finish the pooja with devi vaazhthu.

Sarva mangala Mangalye Shive sarvartha sadhake,
Saranye tryabike devi, Narayani namosthuthe.

Lastly do the pradhakshinam( circumambulation of lamp ) – 3 times and do the namaskaram in front of the pooja place. Move the lamp slightly towards the east. This shows the end of pooja. Now you can offer kumkum and thamboolam prasadham to the married ladies and young girls if you wish.

Quell the lamp with a flower.If you have offered kumkum for archanai, you can keep it on your forehead and mangal sutra for daily use.Take the flowers used for pooja and put it in a flower pot.Pour the water in tulsi plant or any other plants.

Please do not get too much hung up on the methods/procedures. More than anything, Bhakthi/Bhavana is important. Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita 9th chapter:

patram puspam phalam toyam
yo me bhaktya prayacchati
tad aham bhakty-upahrtam
asnami prayatatmanah’'

Meaning : If one offers me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, water, I will accept it.

Shubam !!

DISCLAIMER : I have shared the pooja methods based on my family’s tradition. Please consult your elders in family, change it and follow as per your custom.

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June 15, 2017

Bread Pizza Recipe On Tawa,Oven, Microwave With Video

Bread pizza recipe on tawa, oven, microwave(with video)
Vegetable Bread Pizza is an easy and quick breakfast and snack recipes for kids.It tastes good with or without cheese.Actually Bread pizza can be made in 3 ways.It can be made without oven ie. in dosa tawa ( Stove top) or it can be baked in convection oven or microwave if you have at home. All are easy to make and tastes good in its own way.Its a great idea to use the leftover bread slices. I feel tawa and microwave options are easier as it takes less time to cook than baking in convection oven. But we should do it carefully as the chances of burning is more.This morning I prepared bread pizza recipe on stove top, oven and microwave just to make this post. I have shared all of the 3 methods below with a short video. Choose & try whichever is convenient to youHappy. I have used store bought pizza sauce and pizza seasoning/ spice mix. You can make it  just by using tomato ketchup & pepper powder. To make a pucca Indian version, sprinkle some garam masala powder or tandoori masala powder, marinated paneer cubes if you have in hand. You can top with lots of cheese for kids & without cheese if making for you & your husband ( If you are calorie conscious)Winking.Adding grated mozzarella cheese is just for attracting kids because taste of this pizza comes from the sauce, mixed vegetables and spice mix.Just play around with your favorite veg and non-veg toppings and enjoy it. Now lets see how to make this easy and simple recipe for vegetable bread pizza without oven( on tawa), microwave and convection methods with step by step photos and video.

Bread pizza on tawa

How to make bread pizza on tawa, oven and microwave


How to make bread pizza on tawa, oven and microwave Easy, yummy, kids friendly bread pizza recipe on tawa/stove top, convection oven and microwave methods
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Kids Recipes Indian
Serves: 5
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 10 Minutes
Total time: 20 Minutes


Ingredients

1 cup - 250ml
  • Bread slices - 5 nos
  • Grated Cheese - 1/2 cup to 1 cup ( I used Amul Mozzarella cheese)
  • Capsicum - 1 no ( finely chopped)
  • Big onion - 1 no ( finely chopped)
  • Ripe tomato - 1 no ( finely chopped)
  • Black Olives - 5 nos ( sliced)
  • Boiled Sweet corn - 1/4 cup ( optional)
  • Pizza sauce or paste sauce or schezwan chutney - as needed ( I used pizza sauce around 3-4 tbsp)
  • Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Salt - a pinch
  • Chilli flakes - 1 tsp ( optional)
  • Oregano mix or pizza seasoning mix - 1 tsp

  • Butter - to grease the tawa & bread

Method

  1. To make bread pizza, wash and chop all the vegetables finely. Grate the cheese and keep aside.Take a bread slice and apply butter on both the sides.Keep in a plate.
    Bread pizza recipe without oven
  2. In a wide bowl, mix all the finely chopped vegetables, pepper powder, salt and pizza seasoning mix.Keep it ready.
    Take the bread slice and apply the pizza sauce on one side.Spread the mixed vegetables. Top with grated cheese. You can either cook them on tawa/pan, microwave or bake in convection oven.
    Bread pizza recipe without oven
  3. Bread pizza in tawa : Heat a dosa tawa and apply some butter. Keep the loaded bread slice.Cover cook in very low flame for 3-4 minutes or until the cheese melts.Remove in a plate and serve hot. Cover cook is very important. If you don’t cover cook, cheese won’t melt and bottom of bread slice may burn.
    Bread pizza on tawa / Bread pizza without oven
  4. Bread pizza in microwave : Place the bread slice in microwave and cook in high power( mine is 800w) for 1 minute or until cheese melts.If the power is less, it may take 1.5 to 2 minutes. If power is more, it can be done under 1 minute.So keep an eye.
    Bread pizza in microwave
    Bread pizza without oven
  5. Bread pizza in convection oven : Preheat convection oven in 180c. Keep the bread pizza in a baking tray. Bake it for 5 minutes at 180c. Cheese melts and the sides of bread slice turns slightly crispy. Remove and enjoy !
    Bread pizza baked in oven


Note

  • The quantity of chilli flakes, pizza mix and pepper powder depends on our taste.
  • You can add any number of toppings like paneer, mushroom, jalapeno, sweet corn etc..
  • Do not cook the pizza on open tawa, it takes long time for the cheese to melt.
  • Microwave bread pizza takes very less time to cook.If you keep for more time, pizza would burn.
Enjoy this easy, yummy bread pizza at home ! Kids would love it for sure !!
Bread pizza in oven


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June 13, 2017

Seppankizhangu Poriyal – Arbi Fry - Colocasia / Taro Root Recipes

seppan kizhangu poriyal
This is my MIL’s method of making seppankizhangu poriyal for rice. Sepan kizhangu is known as Colocasia or Taro root in English, Arbi in Hindi, Kesavuna gedde in Kannada, Chamagadda in Telugu.As its a healthy vegetable, we try to include this in our diet very often. Usually I make South Indian style arbi fry with or without coconut or add in gravy/kuzhambu. Today I have shared our version of seppankilangu poriyal with coconut & onion masala.It is a good side dish for sambar & mor kuzhambu. Soon I will share my seppankizhangu roast recipe without coconut. Now lets see how to make this yummy seppang kilangu poriyal with coconut.
Check out my Potato curry, sweet potato curry, small potato curry , Aloo methi
Seppankizhangu poriyal - South Indian arbi fry

Seppankizhangu Poriyal Recipe - Arbi Fry - Colocasia Recipes


Seppankizhangu Poriyal Recipe - Arbi Fry - Colocasia Recipes Seppankizhangu poriyal recipe with coconut & onion masala. Tastes good for sambar & mor kuzhambu rice
Cuisine: South Indian
Category: Poriyal recipes
Serves: Serves 3
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes


INGREDIENTS

1 cup - 250ml
  • Colocasia/Taro root/ Seppan kizhangu - 4 nos
  • Salt & water - as needed
To grind
  • Grated coconut - 1/4 cup
  • Big onion - 1 no
  • Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
  • Sambar Powder - 1 to 1.5 tsp
  • Tamarind - A small piece
To Temper
  • Cooking oil - 2 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Curry leaves - Few

METHOD

  1. Wash the arbi, remove the mud if any.Pressure cook in very low flame for 2 whistles adding enough water. Remove and peel the skin. Chop into thick slices. Set aside.
    Seppankizhangu poriyal
  2. In a mixie jar, grind all the ingredients given under “To grind” to a slightly coarse paste without adding water. 
    Seppankizhangu poriyal
  3. Take the sliced arbi in a plate.Add the ground coconut masala, mix well and check for taste. Add more sambar powder or salt if needed.
  4. Heat oil in a kadai splutter mustard seeds, curry leaves.Add the masala coated arbi and mix well. Keep the flame low to medium. Mix till the raw smell of masala goes off.
    Seppankizhangu poriyal
  5. Remove when the arbi gets roasted well with a nice smell. Serve with sambar rice, rasam or mor kuzhambu. Tastes yumm !

     Seppankizhangu poriyal




Note



  • You can use potato or tapioca instead of arbi and make the same way.
  • Tamarind is used to reduce the itchy feeling of this vegetable. U can skip if you wish.
  • Adjust the quantity of sambar powder as per your taste.
  • If you want you can replace sambar powder with 1 tsp red chilli powder and 1 tsp dhania powder.
Easy, yummy seppankizhangu poriyal recipe for rice is ready ! I served with brinjal gravy and vadam Happy
Seppankilangu poriyal recipee

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June 10, 2017

Bajji Bonda Mix Recipe – How To Make Bajji Bonda Pakoda Mix Powder At Home

Bajji bonda mix powder
Bajji, Bonda, Pakoda & Vada are the most popular tea time snacks recipes in India especially South India. Most of us make these crispy, deep fried delicacies during weekends or for guests as evening snacks. My friends in Tamil nadu buy Aachi or Sakthi bajji bonda mix powder regularly.But in my family, both MOM & MIL never buy store bought bajji bonda mix. They make it fresh whenever needed. Both follow the same proportion of besan flour and rice flour to make bajji batter / Bajji maavu. 

By learning from them, I can make different types of crispy bajji recipes at home easily. Not me, anyone can make it perfect if you know the right proportion of ingredients & the consistency of batter. I never thought of making homemade bajji, bonda mix recipe until Raksha started to eat them during weekends or holidays very often. Whenever I ask her choice of evening snacks, her reply would be mostly onion bajji or homemade cake. I don’t make cakes thinking about the consumption of maida. 

So I prepare onion/potato bajji or pakoda based on her wish. Sometimes I feel lazy to make it. So I started making bulk quantity of my own, homemade bajji, bonda mix and store in refrigerator for a month. It stays good even without refrigeration. I don’t add food color or cooking soda in the mix. I add them while making bajji only if needed. Lets see how to make bajji, bonda mix at home easily! If you have this mix in hand, you can make varieties of bajji, bonda or pakoda in just 5 minutes.  I hope all the moms like me would find this post useful.

Do check out my rava upma mix and instant poha upma mix recipes too.

Check out Raw banana bajji,  Potato bajji,  onion bajji,  Karpooravalli bajji,  aloo paneer bonda,  Potato bonda,  Instant bonda,  Mangalore bonda,  millet flour pakoda.

How to make bajji bonda mix at home

Homemade Bajji, Bonda Mix Recipe


Khoya Kaju Gravy RecipeHomemade Bajji, Bonda, Pakoda mix – How to make bajji, bonda mix recipe at home 

Cuisine: Indian
Category: Snacks Recipes 
Yields:  1.5 cups
Prep time: 5 Minutes
Cook time: 10 Minutes
Total time: 15 Minutes



INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 250ml
  • Gram flour / Besan flour – 1.5 cups 
  • Rice flour - 1/2 cup
  • Asafetida / hing – 1/2 tsp 
  • Red Chilli Powder –  1.5 to 2 tbsp (Adjust based on spice level)
  • Orange Red food color –   2 pinches ( optional)
  • Cumin seeds or ajwain/omam - 1.5 tsp  
  • Cooking soda or baking soda – 1/2 tsp (optional, You can add a pinch of soda while making bajji.)
To make bajji, bonda or pakoda
  • Bajji, bonda mix – as needed
  • Vegetables like onion, potato, brinjal, raw banana
  • Water – as needed 
  • Cooking soda or baking soda – a pinch  ( If needed)
  • Cooking oil – to deep fry 

HOW TO MAKE BAJJI BONDA MIX - METHOD

  • In a wide bowl, mix the besan flour, rice flour, red chilli powder, cumin seeds or ajwain, salt, food color ( if using) and mix well. If you want, you can sieve the flour, salt, chilli powder for uniform mixing and then add cumin seeds. Adding soda in the mix makes the bajji absorb more oil while frying. So I add baking soda just before making bajji.
    Homemade bajji bonda mix powder
     Homemade bajji bonda mix powder
  • To make bajji or bonda : Take the required quantity of bajji mix in a bowl. Add a pinch or dash of cooking soda if you have not added already. Mix well. Add water to make a slightly thick batter. If the batter is too thick, vegetables won’t get coated properly. If the batter is thin, bajji will have tails. So add water gradually. Dip the vegetable in the batter, deep fry till golden in color. Please refer my ONION BAJJI RECIPE & POTATO BONDA for more details.
    Homemade bajji bonda mix powder
     
  • To make onion pakoda : Take the required quantity of bajji mix in a wide bowl. Add thinly sliced onion and mix well. Rest for 5 minutes. Add water and make a thick paste. Onions should be coated well. Add some hot oil and make pakoda. I will try to make a detailed post soon. Check out my Millet flour onion pakoda if interested.
    Homemade bajji bonda mix

  • Enjoy !
Note
  • Adjust the quantity of chilli powder as per your taste.
  • Adding Kashmiri chilli powder gives a nice color to the bajji. You don’t need to add food color too.
  • You can store this mix upto one month.  
  • For masala flavor, you can add garam masala powder & ginger-garlic paste while making bajji.
Make this easy mix at home. Enjoy bajji, bonda anytime !
Bajji bonda mix
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June 8, 2017

Easy Sambar Sadam In Pressure Cooker – Bachelors Style Sambar Rice Recipe in cooker

Easy sambar sadam recipe - Bachelors style
South Indian style Sambar rice / Sambar sadam using a pressure cooker is an yummy, healthy one pot recipe for vegetarians that is packed with the nutrients of rice, dal and mixed vegetables. Usually I make my hotel style sambar sadam at least once in a week for Sendhil’s lunch box. I prepare it by adding sambar powder made of freshly roasted & ground spices. Recently I saw this easy, bachelors style sambar sadam video in Tamil. Its so easy to make, absolutely no grinding job, no pre-cooking of dals & no tamarind too. 

Yes, Its 100% a bachelors kind of recipe and it would be helpful for students, working women and busy moms to cook easily in the weekday mornings. I loved the idea and tried it the next day. It was so quick to make and tasted really good.I made few changes in the original recipe by adding mixed vegetables & spice powders to make it more healthy and flavorful. Sendhil love it a lot with rice papad or vadam as side dish. I loved it with pickle. It tastes good even if cools down. So we can pack this for lunch box as well.  

You can skip onion to make a no onion no garlic version on festival days. You can use almost all the vegetables except beetroot and bitter gourd as they dominate the taste. Friends, do try this easy, sambar sadam in pressure cooker and let me know your feedback. I am sure you will love its simplicity and taste. Lets check out how to prepare South Indian style Sambar rice with step by step photos and video !
If you like to make Hotel style sambar sadam recipe, please check this link. For Karnataka style Bisi bele bath, check out this link .



How to prepare sambar sadam

Easy Sambar Sadam - Bacehlors Style Sambar Rice Recipe


Easy Sambar Sadam - Bacehlors Style Sambar Rice Recipe How to make Sambar Rice Recipe easily in a pressure cooker - One pot rice variety

Cuisine: Indian
Category: Rice Varieties Indian
Serves: 3
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 15 Minutes
Total time: 25 Minutes



INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 250ml
  • Raw rice or Steamed rice - 1 cup
  • Toor dal - 1/3 cup ( You can use 1/4 to 1/2 cup)
  • Water - 5 cups
  • **Mixed Vegetables - 1 cup ( 1 small carrot, 1/2 radish, 1 brinjal, Beans 3 nos, broad beans 5 nosl)
To saute in pressure cooker
  • Cooking oil - 2 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Methi seeds - 5 nos
  • Curry leaves - Few
  • Coriander leaves - 1 tbsp ( finely chopped)
  • Green chilli - 1 no ( Slit )
  • Big onion - 1 no ( sliced)
  • Ripe Tomato - 3 nos ( finely chopped, I used 2 big tomato)
  • Sambar Powder - 1 tsp
  • Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Dhania powder -1 tsp
  • Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
  • Hing/Asafetida – 1/8 tsp
  • Salt - as needed
To Garnish
  • Coriander leaves - 1 tbsp ( finely chopped)
  • Ghee - 1 tbsp
HOW TO MAKE SAMBAR RICE IN COOKER - METHOD


  • Wash rice & toor dal.Drain the water & Set aside. Wash & chop all the required vegetables.
                             How to make Sambar sadam
  • In a pressure cooker base, heat oil and splutter mustard seeds, methi seeds,curry leaves and coriander leaves. Saute for a second. Add sliced onion, slit green chilli and saute till onion turns transparent.
  • Add finely chopped tomato, mix well.Add turmeric powder, hing, sambar powder, red chilli powder, dhania powder and salt. Saute in medium flame till tomato turns mushy. Do not burn the masala.( Tamarind extract is not needed for this recipe)
    How to make Sambar sadam
  • Lastly add the chopped vegetables.Saute for a minute. Add the washed rice, dal and 5 cups of water. Mix well and check for taste.Add more salt, chilli powder or sambar powder if needed.
  • Close the cooker and pressure cook for 2 whistles in very low flame.Open the cooker after steam is released. Mix well. ( If you want to add tamarind extract, add it now, boil for a minute till its raw smell goes off).Don't forget to garnish with chopped coriander leaves and add 1 tbsp of ghee. Serve hot with chips, papad or pickle if you like !
    How to make sambar sadam
  • Enjoy !
Note
  • Red chilli powder and coriander powder are not given in the original recipe. So if you don’t have in hand, just add 2 tsp of sambar powder instead of 1 tsp.
  • Tamarind is not used in this recipe. If needed, you should add tamarind extract only after opening the cooker at the end because rice & dal won’t cook mushy in tamarind extract.
  • Adding coriander leaves and ghee is a must. It gives a nice flavor.
  • The quantity of water depends on the texture you like. I like it mushy,so I added 6 cups of water.

Try this easy, one pot sambar rice recipe and have a quick, hassle free lunch !
Sambar sadam

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June 6, 2017

Lemon Sevai Recipe – Instant Rice Sevai Recipes

Lemon sevai recipe
Lemon sevai is our family favorite breakfast recipe. Sevai also known as Idiyappam sevai is one of the popular South Indian breakfast. Making soft idiyappam at home needs some practice and expertise. So to ease our job, readymade rice vermicelli ( Rice sevai or rice idiyappam in Tamil, Rice vermicelli in English) is available in the market.Though there are many brands, I have tried Anil rice vermicelli and Concord rice sevai. Basically rice sevai is cooked by soaking in hot water for 15 minutes and made instantly just like noodles. Once we know how to cook the rice sevai properly, we can make varieties of sevai recipes by adding different flavors and prepare lemon sevai, tamarind sevai, tomato sevai, coconut sevai, masala vegetable sevai and even sweet sevai by adding sugar or jaggery. Usually I make lemon sevai and sweet sevai as both are our family favorite. I make this dish mostly for breakfast during busy weekday mornings as it saves lot of time when compared to our traditional idiyappam. So today I have shared this post on how to cook the instant rice sevai and make this flavorful, yummy lemon sevai with it. Lets move on with step by step photos !

Do check my homemade basic idiyappam recipe, lemon idiyappam recipes, side dish for idiyappam.
Instant Lemon sevai recipe

Lemon sevai recipe - Instant lemon sevai using rice vermicelli


Lemon sevai recipe - Instant lemon sevai using rice vermicelli How to make lemon sevai using instant rice vermicelli/rice noodles for easy breakfast or dinner
Cuisine: Indian
Category: Breakfast
Serves: Serves 3-4
Prep time: 20 Minutes
Cook time: 10 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes


INGREDIENTS

1 cup - 250ml
  • Rice vermicelli - 200gms packet ( I used Anil rice vermicelli)
  • Water - approx. 4 cups
  • Salt - as needed
  • Cooking oil - Few drops
To prepare lemon sevai
  • Cooking oil or gingely oil - 2 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Urad dal - 1 tsp
  • Chana dal - 1/2 tbsp
  • Peanuts - 2 tbsp ( optional)
  • Curry leaves - few
  • Red chilli - 1 no ( Pinched )
  • Green chilli - 2 nos ( slit)
  • Hing - a pinch
  • Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
  • Lemon juice - 2 tbsp or as needed
  • Salt - as needed
  • Water - 1 tbsp to add in lemon juice
  • Coriander leaves - to garnish ( optional )

HOW TO MAKE LEMON SEVAI

  • Roll boil 4 cups of water adding few drops of cooking oil. In the mean time, squeeze two small lemon and take the juice.Discard the seeds. Add 1 to 2 tbsp water to it. Mix well and keep aside.
    Lemon sevai recipe
  • Take the vermicelli in a wide bowl and add the boiled water. Level of water should be 1 inch above the vermicelli. Cover & soak it for 20 minutes.
    Lemon sevai recipe
  • After soaking, drain the excess water completely using a colander and keep the cooked rice vermicelli ready. Make sure there is no trace of water. It should be fluffy and separate.
  • Spread the vermicelli in a greased idli plate. Boil water in an idli pot. Place the idli plate and steam it for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove and fluff the cooked sevai in a plate. (This step is optional). You can proceed without steaming too.
    Lemon sevai recipe
  • Heat oil in a kadai,splutter mustard, urad dal, chana dal, peanuts, red chilli, green chilli and curry leaves.Saute till dals become golden. Add the turmeric powder, required salt, lemon juice.Mix well and switch off the flame.
    Lemon sevai recipe
  • Add the cooked rice vermicelli to it. Mix gently using a fork like ladle. Check for taste and add more lemon juice if needed. Cook in very low flame for 2 minutes till all the moisture goes off. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot for best taste !
    Lemon sevai recipe
  • Enjoy !


Note

  • The quantity of lemon juice and chilli varies as per the sourness of lemon.
  • If you want, you can use a part of cooked vermicelli to make sweet sevai adding sugar or jaggery syrup, grated coconut and cardamom powder.
  • Do not add more water to soak the vermicelli because it may become mushy.
  • Make sure, you drain all the excess water completely without even a single drop left out. It helps to keep the vermicelli soft and looks fluffy too.
  • Steaming the soaked vermicelli makes it soft like homemade idiyappam. You can try this way for variations. 
Enjoy this easy, instant lemon sevai using rice vermicelli for your breakfast or dinner.
Instant lemon sevai - Rice sevai recipes

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June 2, 2017

Bread Roll Recipe – Potato Stuffed Crispy Bread Rolls Recipe

Stuffed potato bread roll recipe
I have few snacks recipes using bread in my try list for long time. So I started with this bread roll recipe and thought of trying them one by one to share in my blogHappy. This potato stuffed bread roll recipe is a yummy, kids friendly snack with their 2 favorite major ingredients – Potato and bread. Recently I tasted this bread rolls in a simple birthday party conducted in my neighbor’s house.It was a snack party.So she had served this bread roll with tomato sauce/ketchup,a cake slice, store bought potato chips and a glass of store bought drink. Bread roll was crispy outside and soft inside. When I asked about the recipe, she gave a gist about it. After getting the idea from her, I watched a chicken bread roll video in YouTube to find out how to make it crispy. I tried it last week for Raksha and her friends. I made some lemon popsicle too. All of them loved itLove Struck. Myself and Sendhil stopped with one as its deep friedWinking. I guess these aloo bread rolls can be baked as well.  Friends, Do try this easy, kids friendly evening snack & party snack – Indian style Stuffed bread roll at home and enjoy.  Lets see how to make bread roll recipe with step by step photos and video.

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