Back to blogging

I have imported my wordpress blog to blogger for a while  . Just to get a feel of Blogger and to get a fresh start with my blog .

Some where in last year I had lost touch with my subtitle 'parenting and child driven learning ' . Kids were busy exploring themselves . It took us some time to get accustomed with the new curriculum and to find out some 'our time ' .

I plan to return to our simple projects and see where it takes us . So , setting out again for a blogging journey with Ruby and Pearl !

The travel bug - Trip to Colombo & Kuala Lumpur

Even though we have been on a traveling spree in and around Kerala , the international travel bug hit us a bit late . As they say , better late than never and every journey begins with a small step . Let this be ours.

Last Tuesday ( October 4 th ) we set out on a 5 day trip to Colombo / Kuala Lumpur . As this was my first trip over seas , frankly , I did not have a clue what I should carry and all. So the pre - trip preparations were a bit hectic . Especially with two over excited kids under your feet grilling you with every kind of questions . By the time I reached the airport on Tuesday morning , I was already exhausted .

At the airport we were delighted to see three other families with kids almost of the same age as that of Ruby and Pearl. Three ten yr old boys , three five year old girls , one toddler and one infant . With in no time they all became inseparable and set the right momentum for a rocking trip.



The tour was on behalf of ICAI ( Institute of Chartered accountants of India ) Cochin Chapter and was arranged by Akbar Travels.



There was a city tour of Colombo on our way to Ramada . Sri lanka is almost similar to India , especially Kerala and Tamil Nadu . But a lot cleaner . We were intrigued by the similarities in the way Sri Lankan ladies drape their sarees . It has a far resemblance to our ' chattayum mundum' . Even when they drape it in Indian style the 'pallu' of their saree reaches their ankle . And I liked it .

(courtesy google )

The streets are similar to our Fort Kochi . I dozed off in between . It has been some time since I got chance to listen to any lecture . The guide's description acted as a good lullaby ;) I managed to get some snaps though .


One thing that I noticed is almost every other building has a statue in the front . So after taking one or two snaps we lost the thrill . The beach side road is very beautiful and we passed through that spot at the right time of sunset .



We came across a snake charmer on the premises of The National Monument . I was looking forward to see the snake dancing to the 'pagdee' . Even though India is known as the snake charmer's land I haven't seen any until now. But the snake charmer turned out to be a bit tactless and right away started asking for money making conditions and clauses and we lost the interest . Anyway I managed some snaps.

For shopping the Guide first took us to some cultural and ethnic shops which we found very expensive and not worth for the money . So later he gave in and took us to House of Fashions which was a good shopping experience .

We reached Ramada Hotel by 9.30 or so . And after food headed right away to sleep .

The Srilankan cuisine included ' idiyapom' , 'stew ' , ' chutney ' and a whole lot of dishes similar to ours . Just like Kerala the Portugal influence is more than that of the British .

Ramada is okay when your are in transit . Be sure that you have every thing you may need with you. The crew is not that keen on service .

We headed to Kuala Lumpur very early the next morning .

An excellent recipe for Chicken Biriyani

I pray most earnestly when the family is huddled around with hungry - eager- hopeful faces and plates in their hand while I try my luck with some new dish .

'Chicken Biriyani ' is one of those dishes which always leaves me depressed for all the effort taken. But today I came across this easy recipe in Paachakam and it came out very well .



I am posting the recipe here . All credit goes to the original recipe .

Ingredients for Chicken Biryani -

For marinade of Chicken Biryani: Chicken - 1/2 kg Yogurt/Curd - 1/2 cup Coriander leaves - 25 gm Mint leaves(Pudhina) - 25 gm Curry leaves - 10 gm Cumin seeds(Jeerakam) - 1/2 tsp Coriander seed powder - 1 tsp Aniseed(Perinjeerakam) powder - 1/2 tsp Green chillies(chopped) - 25 gm Garlic - 20 gm Ginger(chopped) - 2 tsp Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp Lime juice - 1 tsp Poppy seeds(Khashakhasha) paste - 1 tspFor rice: Clarified butter - 1 tbsp Cinnamon(Karugapatta) - 5 - 6 pieces Bay leaf(Vazhana/karuga ela) - 1 no Cardamom(Elakka) seeds - 4 - 5 nos Curry leaves - 4 - 5 nos Cloves(Grambu) - 4 - 5 nos Onion(chopped) - 1 no Broken rice - 250 gm Water - 1/2 litreFor Biryani masala: Clarified butter - 2 tbsp Cinnamon(Karugapatta) - 5-6 pieces Bay leaf(Vazhana/Karuga ela) - 1 no Cloves(Grambu) - 4-5 nos Cardamom(Elakka)seeds - 4-5 nos Nutmeg(Jathikka) - 1 no Onions - 100 gm Tomato(medium) - 1 no (cut into 4 pieces)For garnishing: Boiled egg - 1 no Cashews & Raisins(Onakka munthiri) - roasted in ghee

Preparation Method of Chicken Biryani - Kozhikode Chicken Biriyani Recipe

1)Mix together yogurt, coriander leaves, mint leaves, curry leaves, cumin seeds, coriander seed powder, aniseed powder, green chillies, garlic, ginger, turmeric powder, lime juice and poppy seed paste and marinate the chicken in it. Keep aside for ½ an hour.

2)Heat clarified butter or ghee in a pan.

3)Add cinnamon, bay leaf, cardamom seeds, curry leaves and cloves.

4)Add onions and saute, till they turn translucent.

5)Add washed and cleaned rice.

6)Cook, till rice turns translucent.

7)Add water and allow it to boil.

8)When the water comes to a boil, lower the flame and cover the pan.

9)Cook on low flame for at least 15 minutes, after which the rice would be done.

10)Heat clarified butter or ghee in a pan.

11)Add cinnamon, bay leaf, cardamom seeds, nutmeg and cloves.

12)Add onions and sauté, till brown.

13)Add tomatoes and saute`.

14)Add marinated chicken.

15)Cover the pan and cook for at least 5 minutes on a medium flame.

16)Remove the cover and cook on low flame for another 10 minutes to allow gravy to thicken.

17)Layer the serving bowl with alternating layers of rice and the chicken masala.

18)Garnish the top with a boiled egg cut in four pieces, roasted cashews and raisins.

:- Malabar Chicken Biryani is ready.

:- Enjoy the chicken biryani.

:- Serve chicken biryani with raita and papad.

Simply follow the recipe . I did not have coriander , mint leaves and nut meg powder .

Also I added 1/2 tsp perinjeerakam (aniseed / saumph ) and 2 nos Thakkolam (star anise ) for the biriyani masala. ( About 3-4 small green chillies and 8-10 garlic cloves for marinating . Two onions for masala .

After layering it microwaved for 5 minutes. Then mixed it lightly .

Added fried onion rings also for garnishing .Try it out .

Songs take you back in time

It is a sweet romantic melody and not at all melancholic . But when I hear this song a sadness grips my heart so tight that I cannot even breath . It takes me days to come out of it . Earlier I thought it was depression . But now I think it is just a trance . A bittersweet longing for a period of time which I will never visit again unless in my dreams .

Strangely I found out I like that feeling . It gives me time to think . Makes me silent. I get to finish the pending chores . And allows people around me some peace and quiet ;)

Enjoy !



Like most of my favourite songs I do not play it on my Player . I wait for 'coincidence' to bring it to me .That is why FM is my favourite . I don't use a ipod or  walkman . I like to absorb the music that fills the space around me , like I am floating on the lyrics and the tune .

The last year I was in a very restless mood . It has reflected on my blog too. A few weeks back my father gifted me his tape -recorder and cassette collection to listen to while I am in my kitchen  (er.... and destroyed my plan to buy a new generation MP3 player and radio :P )  .

It has effortlessly connected me again to my  best friend of all time , Music. And for the first time in the last few years I feel at home.

'Balakarunyam - 2011' Donate an Onakkodi to a child

Appeal for support

More than dreaming and chanting about the beautiful days of Maveli, let’s all take a small step towards attaining it !

Onam is here at our door steps and every soul in Kerala is getting ready to welcome it in style.All around us we can see only Discount boards , Mega sales and Exchange offers which make us feel we need everything in those ads to be content while partaking our ‘Onam Sadhya’. All we can think about are the goodies that will fill our houses, the new dresses we will buy, the trips we are going to make and the parties we will attend on behalf of Onam.

But spare a moment to think of those desolate children who neither have a home or parent. No Onam – Sadhya or any happiness to look forward to. Think of the smile that will fill their faces to know someone is out there to hand them an ‘Onakkodi ‘even when fate has abandoned them.

[caption id="attachment_3623" align="alignright" width="189" caption="Image courtesy : Google"][/caption]

If goodhearted people like You can lend us a helping hand these children will not have to spend their Onam in gloominess. Each of them will have an ‘Onakkodi ‘like any other child in Kerala and they will also have a grand ‘Onam Sadhya’ .

'Bala Karunyam'  is an humble endeavor with a vision to make it possible for the young inmates of Bala - Balika Ashrams across Kerala to celebrate Onam just like any other child in a family . Viswa Hindu Parishad- Sewa has been conducting Onam Celabrations since 2004 co-coordinating all the Bala-Balika Ashrams in Kerala. 

Their motto is " A home away from home " . The vision is to provide destitute children belonging to under privileged section of the Society with Food, Clothing , Shelter , Education, Healthcare and Everything needed and thus give every child an opportunity to soar high into the sky .

Website : www.balasramam.org  

To Donate an Onam Sadhya or an Onakkodi to a child and to spread the smile of love :   

Donate ‘Onam Sadhya’ for a child - Rs 75
Donate ‘Onakkodi’ for a child - Rs 500

Contact : Sree Poornathrayeesha Balasramam ,

Balasramam Road,Near Palace High School, Kottakkakom,

Tripunithura., Kochi (Cochin), India

Phone : 0484-2775866, 9447658178 , Email : balakarunyam2011@yahoo.co.in