Kitchen Chemistry

I did my schooling at Chennai. The standard packed lunch that we would carry in those days was "thayir sadam" (curd rice) with either a vegetable palya or a lemon pickle to accompany. Once a while my mom would get some fresh green pepper pods from the market and would make "kuru milagu" ( குருமிளகு )  pickle. This was a welcome change for a tongue that by now does not respond favorably to vegetable playa or to the standard pickle accompaniments.  The kuru milagu pickle is considered  somewhat of a delicacy in Chennai as the main ingredient milagu (pepper) is brought from far of places such as Kerala or Coorg where they commonly grow. Now for my mom's kuru milagu recipe: Ingredients: Kuru Milagu (tender pepper pods) - 1/2 kg Lemon Juice - 1 dawara Table Salt - 5 to 6 teaspoons  Wash the pepper pods thoroughly in water and shake them dry in a colander. Spread it out on a piece of muslin cloth or old and soft piece of dothi cloth. When t...

Ask any Tambram worth his salt as to which food item that he cannot live without? The answer would invariably be Thair Sadam (curd rice). It is the sacred duty of every Tambram to top off his meal with a liberal quantity of Thair Sadam. Ask a second question as to what would he have to go along with it. While he is thinking about it, suggest Maavadu Oorkai, and you would see ecstasy in his eyes. He will be drooling all over and will be your slave forever! In my younger days, during the school's summer vacation my parents would pack me off to my maternal grandpa's place located in a quaint village called Thirukodicaval. The village is located somewhere between Mayavaram and Kumbakonam.  The maavadu from the farm was something to die for. Nowadays, we get the bottled maavadu sold in the local super market. These taste pathetic and by no means anywhere near the quality and taste of the farm fresh maavadu oorkai from my grandpa's village. A dozen and a half  years...

Let us say that I am getting good at this- the salad stuff. I keeping looking for variations that I can make to keep my palate un-bored. For tonight's dinner, I tried the following variation and the result was a crunchy, sumptuous and an awesome salad. Don't think that I am praising myself! I have the ultimate certificate from the wife! Ingredients: Same as the Apple Cucumber Salad In addition Almonds - 3 numbers Walnuts - 3 numbers Raisins - About 10-15 numbers Chop the almonds and walnuts into small granules. Sprinkle the almonds, walnuts and raisins on to the Apple-Cucumber salad and mix evenly. Almonds and Walnuts are supposed to contain oils that increase the good cholesterol. They should be used in moderation as they have other fats besides the good ones- too much of a good thing is also bad! Yummy crunchy Apple-Cucumber salad with almond, walnut garnishing is ready! I would advise that the almonds and the walnut granules be added just befor...

Last week, I went in for an executive health checkup. I always dread these annual thingies for you don't know what you might be in for.  More daunting is the life style changes that your spouse puts you through and the harangue that you will have to hear if you put one wrong thing in your mouth.  As the results of the medical tests came in, I was in for a rude shock.  My cholesterol levels were higher than last year.  It surprises me because, I am a regular jogger and an exercise freak.  I run about 50 km a week and do weights at least three times a week. I silently sat through the discourse given by the dietitian of the clinic as to how I need to go for a brisk walk for 40 minutes (oblivious to my 50 kms-a-week routine) and that I should reduce the amount of oil that I consume. Surprising advice because as a family of three adults we consume about 1.5kg of sunflower oil which is considered quite low consumption...This report is definitely...