Upma, Vada and Sambar - a great beginning to a great day!!

Breakfast is a must at my place and there surely is no compromising on this most important first meal of the day. The first meal of the day when you actually "break your fast" and take in the nourishment for keeping you going for the rest of the day, is what is most important. Whether you have a long day ahead or otherwise, it is important to provide your body with its nutritional requirements for a great start.

Weight watchers who are ignorant about the importance and benefits of a healthy good breakfast prefer skipping breakfast to reduce weight , however, this is the biggest mistake you can make. If you are watching your weight make sure that you have a healthy breakfast or else you end up snacking during the day which is sure to spoil your plans of loosing weight.

Breakfast can do wonders:
-See you through the day energetically and positively. If you skip breakfast then it is going to show in your energy levels and yes, sure to affect your moods and stte of mind adversely.
- Help you achieve your weight reduction goals.
-Ensure good nutrition and health
-A healthy mind and a healthy body.

Breakfast at my place is mostly a South Indian fare.Idlis, dosas (vada to add to the menu ocassionally) or upma. A change from the usual would mean bread and eggs or a North Indian speciality like Poori bhaji or aloo paratha with curds. I liked this combination of upma, vada and sambar that I had at a restaurant the other day and decided to serve the same for breakfast at home. It was great delicious soft upma combined with the flavors of the traditional favorite "Sambar" and the crispy vadas just made it perfect.This is the recipe to the plain simple upma, you can try variations with adding finely chopped potatoes and carrot pieces too.

Upma
Ingredients:
Rawa/Semolina - 1 cup
Water - 1 to 1.5 cups
Salt to taste
Onions - 1 (chopped small and fine)
Green chillies - 1(chopped finely)
Ginger -1" piece (cut into thin long stips, julienne)
Coriander leaves - 2 tbsp (chopped fine)
Oil - 1 tbsp

For tempering:
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Curry leves 10-12

Method:
1-Fry the rawa or semolina on dry heat for a minute or two till it turns golden and keep aside.
2-Take a pan and add the oil. Now add in the mustard seeds and when they begin to splutter add the curry leaves for tempering.
3-Add the onions, green chillies, chopped ginger and saute till the onions turn soft.
4-Now add the salt and the water.The water should taste salty so as to ensure that the upma has the right amount of salt.
5-When the water comes to a boil, add the fried semolina or rawa. Cover and cook on a low flame for 3-4 minutes till it is completely cooked. Open and add the finely choped coriander leaves and mix well.

Accompaniment: Vadas, Chutney, Sambar
(Vada and Sambar recipe would follow in a future post)

A great beginning to a great day. When I say a great day, I am enjoying some great days now - yes, a on a holiday in Kerala (Home Sweet Home) and would be here for the entire summer vacation. I am enjoying every bit of it. Kerala to me was only home till now but with so much being said and written about this beautiful place "God's Own Country", I have begun to see it in an all new light and have started exploring places which till now have just been taking for granted. Yesterday was a lovely trip to Jew Town (Kochi) and soaking in all the flavors of this colorful vibrant locality that is a treasure house of antiques and old world charm at its best. All this has got me thinking of beginning a travel blog on the sights and marvels of the God's Own Country. Think it would be first thing to do when I get back. For now, however I think would have to get down my food posts to once a week from the twice a week posting. Have to make the most of the holiday and travel as much in this beautiful land as possible. And you sure know how hectic it can get on a holiday.

Some traditional Kerala dishes are what you would find along with summer treats of course. For now its bye from me, please do keep dropping by. It feels great to see so many foodies interested in my blog and just dropping by to say a HI!! Makes my day.