Aadi Velli Kozhukattai

See how I started my Friday today.I simply love kozhukattais.I can gorge on unlimited quantities of these.This was made by my MIL for Aadi Velli.

Its raining pakoras...

My MIL visited us yesterday,with her help made one batch of onion pakodas and another batch of cabbage pakodas. Check out the recipe.

Besan Flour-3 parts
Rice flour-1 part
Onions-6
Coriander leaves-a bunch
one inch-ginger
2 springs of curry leaves
Chilli-1 or 1/2 a tsp of red chilli powder
Rice bran oil to fry
If u want to add cabbage-1 cup

Method: Mix all the ingredients mention above. Add water to make a tight dough. Pinch out small portions and fry.And viola,yummy onion fritters are ready to be consumed.I skipped dinner after having this deep fried treat.

Weekend Exploits and a Movie

It was pouring in Chennai, I skipped lunch, see how I made up instead. I had brown bread with grilled Italian vegetables and balsamic vinegar. A black currant mousse cake and hot chocolate. The sandwich, was the best of the lot.I didn't like the Hot chocolate though. So for a quick bite head out to the French Loaf Anna Nagar.The place is quite cozy .

Later that night I watched a true Russian movie called The Italian(2005) directed by Andrei Kravchuk. The story is about illegal adoption in Russia, and a child's quest to find his birth mother. Vanya is the name of the boy who dares all odds to finally find his mother. He even learns how to read to achieve his mission. I really loved the locales in and around the orphanage. Do check it out if you want a break from commercial cinema.

International Blog Meet at Chennai Citi Center July 15 2010

Priyadharshini wanted me to name this blog meet an International one for apparent reasons. Girls you gave a sleepless night. I couldn’t stop thinking about you. See the kind of effect you guys had on me. I really enjoyed myself after a long time; I was meeting my own kind!

Like I already mentioned I never felt I was meeting you for the first time. Thanks for making me comfortable. I am writing at random about the people I met.

Srivalli, (the mother of all Chennai Blogger’s), you are an inspiration to me. I still ask how do u do it girl, blogger, mother, working woman. Really have to learn so much from you.I should probably call you the hub.

Priyadharshini, you are the first blogger I spoke to thanks for telling me about the event in the first place. I found you to be a very caring person. Always checking on me to eat and stuff. Sweet. You even offered to drop me back home…how nice is that!

Priya Srinivasan, I felt such positive vibes coming from you. As a person you have an infectious positive aura around you. The minute I saw you I knew I could jabber a lot with you, but I had a mouthful of rava laddoo. I’m sure you will miss Chennai, once you get back to Dubai.

Nithi, you are a power house of talent. I need not say more. I loved your sunflower. You are perfect wife material!

Srividhya, you are so fit. I saw you running around with your children, where do you get your energy from. I think if there is a competition between you and your children you will win hands down.

Jayashree, I found you to be pretty, confident and friendly. I’m sure you are a brain with all the mathematical ability and all. Teach me mental math please.

Hey now I’m coming on to the big one. Lataji, you are awesome. Friendly, open minded, willing to experiment. You are the youngest one amidst us. I loved your enterprise and amazing skills to network. I loved your mask from Ghana. It’s currently my prized possession.

Guys, I’m not all that pious like my blog suggests nor I’m I that old like my blog leads people to believe, maybe I’m the devil in sheep’s clothing! I know my blog is a little boring and unknown but thanks for accepting me into your fold. I’m looking forward to another meet.

Guest Blog: Simhachalam Temple A.P

Machetti Srikant, who hails from Visakhapatnam, is a budding photographer. He is also interested in temples. He wanted to share his temple pictures in this forum. He recently visited Simhachalam temple, located in Visakhapatnam dedicated to the Vishnu avatar Narasimha (the Lion-Man incarnation).Check out the Collage

According to Wikipedia, this is the second richest temple in India after Tirupati, earning revenue of 520 million. The presiding deity is Varaha Lakshminarasimha, combining the iconographic features of Varaha and Narasimha . The image resembles a Shivalingam covered with sandal paste. It is only once a year, during the Chandana Visarjana that the sandal paste is removed, and the image is seen by pilgrims. This temple combines the Orissan and Chalukyan features of temple construction, and it attracts scores of pilgrims from both Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. This is a west facing lion hill Temple.For more details check out Wikipedia and TempleNet .