Ask here - The recipes you want from ChitVish

Dear Mrs Chithra,

Hope you are well. I made aappam and stew by yr recipe and it was good. Also made chutta chammandi and it was like cruising along Kerala back waters. I have a request for two more naadan recipes- one is theeyal and the other is chammandi podi which can be eaten with curd rice etc. I make both, but something is lacking in the taste. Pls help me out.

love & best regards
Vidya

Dear Priya,
Fried gram is pottukadalai in tamil, also puffed gram in english. It is the dhal we use for chutneys ! It gives a delicious taste to cutlets.
Love,
Chithra.

Chitvish recipes in Mangayar Malr Feb issue
Dear Il members,
The Feb. issue of Mangayar Malar has featured the recipes of Chitvish with her photo. When I saw the photo of Parannam, I immediately knew it is Chithraji's recipe. Then I looked up- there was her photo and name. People who read the magazine, please check it up in page no. 174. Thank God, if I meet Chithraji anywhere I shall recognise her.I am posting this as soon s I saw the article.
Congratulations Chithraji.
varloo

Dear Varloo,
When they asked for my photo, I said, it is not necessary - so, actually, they have downloaded the photo from IL or Arusuvai !
These things do embarass me quite a bit ! I hope people don't get a shock !
Love,
Chithra.

Dear Kute,
(1) Black anodised vessels are becoming popular now for cook & serve. They are similar to the satillon finish of Hawkins. Though expensive, they last for a long time.
Even pressure pans & small size prestige cookers are available, besides sauce pans & kadais. They are available in Pondy Bazaar Rathna Stores , Mylapore thangavel Nadar etc. It is easy to clean them allso. Chennaikku vanthal, shopping kootitundu poren !
(2) Now all grinders have coconut grating attachments which are excellent. That is the first choice. Vacuum fixing ones like Anjali or similar come second.
(3)As far as I know normal vadam cannot be dried indoors. My co-sister makes elai vadams & always "fan-dries" on the dining table !
(4) Chandrasekharashtakam can be chanted in the morning also definitely. Generally morning time is supposed to be Vishnu's & evening Shiva's. In fact in my chanting machine I put Om namo narayanaya in the mornings & Om namashivaya in the evenings. But there is no hard & fast rule, you can definitely chant at your convenience. God is grace personified & will never be offended !
(5) I can give you a good recipe for uppuseedai - no crackers will explode !But butter murukku, I will have to find out !
(6)When my children were young, we used to have only rice at night. But now only
"we two" are there, " ours two" have flown out of the nest ! So we have 3 course meal for lunch & (only) one course tiffin for night !
Please call me Chithra without any tag - I like that best !
Love,
Chithra.

Dear Vidya,
I shall definitely post Theeyal & chammandi podi, shortly.
Love,
Chithra.

Dear Mrs Chithra,

Very happy to read in Varloo's post abt yr recipe and photo in Mangayar Malar. Soon, we will see yr photo on the jacket of your recipe book.

You have mentioned elai vadam, I cannot even wait. All my appalams and vadams are over and at that moment when you mention a fan dried vadam- I am jubilant. Can you post that at your convenience, please?

Thanking you in advance,
best regards
Vidya

Dear Chitra,

You are correct, kadubu is like idli, little different. I have one question- is kadubu, sannas and mallige idli all the same? Can you teach me paruppu potta vathalozhambu and also vathalkozhambu with your vengaya vadam (no 2). I made with vengaya vadam and taste was good. But vadam became soggy. That is wrong no?

love
Jana

Dear Jana,
I am really not competent to explain the differences between the 3 varieties, you have mentioned !
In vengaya vathakuzambu, the vadam will become soft on boiling in tamarind water - that is how it tastes. It is more like a "thaan" in the kuzambu. I shall post paruppu potta vathakuzambu in due course.
Love,
Chithra.

Dear 'Chweet' Chithra,
Thanks for the detailed & immediate reply. I've tried coconut grating in grinder, but only once --- couldn't hold the coconut properly & it just slipped away and fell into the grinder ! Afraid of scraping my knuckles, stuck to mixie itself. Is the atta kneading attachment which also comes with the grinder, any good ?

Regards,
K K .