Ari Unda

Ari Unda is one of my favourites & it was something my mother used to make regularly during our vacations & otherwise....I love Ari undas & It sure is pretty simple to make too....

Here goes the recipe....

Ingredients:
1.Raw Rice- 2 cups
2.Jaggery(grated)-3/4th cup,you could add more if you want it sweeter
3.Coconut-1 cup
4.Elaichi-2-3 pods

Procedure:
1.Wash the rice & drain it well. Once dry, dry roast the rice in a heavy bottomed vessel, until it turns brown...Ensure that you do not burn the rice & keep the flame on medium.....Keep aside & once cooled, grind the rice into powder in a mixer...I generally add the elaichi while grinding the rice....

 2.Take the jaggery & add half-1 cup of water & melt the jaggery on low heat...Keep it to a thickish consistency & strain it to remove dirt or other particles that might be present in the jaggery...Add the coconut & mix well.

3.Finally take all the ingredients ie the powdered rice,jaggery & coconut in a mixer,and blend well....Make small balls of these by hand...Ari unda is ready...Enjoy....:)))

Butter Murukku

When it comes to murukke, there is nothing to beat what my mother used to make & it tasted awesome.Only she could make it soo very well & though my trial was not at all bad, I wish I could get it as well as she did....She did the shaping of he murukke by hand & I think I can never master that & I used a murukku presser.....

This is how you make it:

Ingredients:
3 cups rice flour
1/2 cup urad dhal flour
1/2 tbs white/black sesame seeds(optional)         
1 tbs jeera
1/4 tsp hing (I didnt use hing)
5og butter
1 cup water/as needed to knead the flour
Salt to taste
Oil to deep fry     

Procedure:

1. To make urad flour- In a heavy bottomed pan, fry Urad dal till light brown & let it cool. Grind it into a fine powder
2.In a mixing bowl take required quantity of rice flour, urad dhal flour, sesame seeds,jeera, hing and salt.
Add Butter and knead the dough. Add water little by little and knead till you get a soft dough.(Make sure it has the right consistency to pass through the murukku presser)
Meanwhile heat the oil in a medium flame.
Fill the murukku presser with the murukku dough and press it  &drop it into the hot oil and fry both sides till golden brown.
3.Drain them in a paper towel to remove excess oil, let them cool. Store in an air tight container.