Palada Payasam

Festivals are events when a community celebrates some important aspect of that community & its traditions.It is often marked as a local or national event. Festival days are the moment of joy that takes us to our childhood days. I have had happy days celebrating vishu (new year )& onam. As onam is approaching on September 7th i recall the time onam was celebrated with my parents & that's the day dad invited his factory workers,neighbors & we our neighbors....for sadhya(lunch). Mom & the servants used to keep ready all the masalas & we used to help in cutting & chopping all the vegetables ready the day before the onam. Now i wonder how she managed to cook for so many people.As years pass by,my appreciation for her grows in leaps & bounds.My sister, friends & i would love to serve food to all our guests.

One of the most important tradition was the pookalam(Rangoli) A flower mat or carpet that is made of different colors of flowers is visible in every house in the state of Kerala. This was dad's job he used to enjoy doing the rangoli my sister & i used to separate the different colored flowers keep it ready for him. I still remember the smile on his face once it was ready. Now after marriage i make my husband do the rangoli he makes a different designs every year.

 

Pookalam(Rangoli)

Food is a very important part of celebrating all festival, the mains & desserts or sweets.
Here i am posting my favorite Ada payasam.

Ada payasam

Ada payasam can be done with rice or vermicelli, Ada(rice flakes)is made from grounded rice paste & spread in a banana leaves then rolled & placed into boiling water to make the rice flakes.I Find it difficult & have never made it as now a days you get ready to use Ada which is available in most grocery stores. It is a common sweet dish but this is how i make it....

Rice Ada flakes

Ingredients:
Serves : 5

• 100 gm Rice Ada
• 1 litre milk.
• A pinch of saffron.
• 1/8 cup milkmaid.
• 2 tbsp sugar or according to your taste.
• 1/2 tsp freshly crushed cardamom powder.
• 1/4 cup thick coconut milk.
• 1 tbsp ghee.
• Few dry fruits ( cashew nuts,almond,raisins).

Method:

• Wash the rice Ada well & soak it for 10 min then drain the water & keep aside.
• Boil the milk & keep aside.
• In a heavy bottomed vessel add 2 cups milk, 2 cups water with a pinch of saffron & allow it to boil reduce the flame.
• Add the Ada(rice flakes) & cook on medium flame till the Ada is cooked (if the Ada is not cooked & the milk is reduced add little more milk).
• Stir continuously to avoid sticking to the vessel.
• When the Ada is tender add 1/8 cup milkmaid & 1/2 cup milk ,simmer on medium flame & make sure to keep stirring.
• Add 2 tblsp sugar (it depends on how sweet you want) & cardamom powder when it boils add 1/4 cup thick coconut milk & simmer for 5 mins & remove from flame in semi consistency as it thickens after sometime.
• Heat ghee in another pan saute the dry fruits for 1 min & add to the payasam.
• Serve hot or cold.

Note: The quantity of milk can be added if you find the payasam too thick.
         This payasam is thick & richer & light yellowish color.