Fruit Juice and Nostalgia

Orange juice
My dad's favorite question "Why not just peel and enjoy the natural fruit? "

Pachadi - பச்சடி
One of the childhood adventures was to climb on the branches of the mango trees and jump off them where the altitude was very low. As we didn’t have steps to the open terrace, I used to climb on the ladder and reach the terrace pick the mangoes straight from the tree. There were 4 varieties of mango trees in my garden. I just remember one name ---…neelam. Others I don’t remember. One variety was meant for pickles. I was really scared of the weaver ants (முசுடு - 'musudu' in my language) roaming on the tree branches and building nests with mango leaves. Nowadays whenever I see the mango trees I always remember my childhood and mischievous acts. Let’s see the recipe: For this pachadi, mango should be sweet and sour. But I made this pachadi with whatever type of mango I got in the store.

Ingredients:
Mango – 1
Red chilli powder – ½ teaspoon
Turmeric powder – 1 pinch
Mustard seeds – 1/2 teaspoon
Fenugreek seeds – 5 seeds (I didn’t add)
Salt
Oil, Jaggery – small piece (crush into powder),Curry leaves few

Method:
Cut the mangoes into small piece (some may like to add the seed also).
Heat the oil in the kadai.
Add mustard seeds and allow it to crackle.
Then add the mango pieces and sauté.
Then add the red chilli powder, turmeric powder and salt.
Add ½ cup of water.
When the pieces become tender add the jaggery powder and mix.

Buttermilk (மோர்) :I remember thanneer pandhal which has both water and neer morr in earthen pots. Whenever I return back from school in a bicycle, I used to count by how many houses have kept thanneer pandhal. In some houses people will sit beside to give the drinks with a warm smile. Other places, no persons to attend. In some places, there won’t be any pots but only the pandhals are available. At my house, when relatives arrive, the first thing they get is morr. As we lived in tropical climate, only experience can tell how the one feels after having morr. No ice is added. It is just the earthen pot made from the pottery wheel. The magic is that the teeny tiny pores of the pot let some moisture of the contents to escape and in turn making it cool on the outside part protecting the morr from heat. This is a natural cooling process. Ah, science…
The way to make மோர் as I know is, to crush green chillies, curry leaves, ginger and add to butter milk with salt.

Buttermilk sent off to the 15-minute event.

Posted in: Fruits