November 07, 2007

DEEPAVALI-A FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS!! 2007

A very happy Deepavali to all of you.
May this Deepavali bring all of you loads of happiness,Peace, health and wealth.
Eid wishes to all our Muslim friends too, enjoy the festivities!:))


A colorful Rangoli with a beautiful deepa in the center!

Photo from fotosearch. Here is my last year's Deepavali post!

The Sanskrit word "Deepavali" is derived from Deepa = light and Avali = a row, that stands for victory of brightness over darkness. "Row of lights" are lit and colorful Rangolis are created to welcome Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and to bring prosperity to our homes and huge fireworks display will be enjoyed by all at the end of the day.

A Indian boy lighting rows of little lamps!



One of the most loved festivals for Hindus, Deepavali or Diwali in India is celebrated with lots of enthusiasm. This festival is celebrated for five days. On the third day, Diwali or 'Festival of Lights' is celebrated. Fireworks and colorful Rangolis are always associated with this Deepavali. Diwali is celebrated with people lighting diyas/Earthern lamps all around the house. Lakshmi(Goddess of Wealth) Puja is performed in the evening to seek her blessings and elaborate meals are prepared for the family. Diwali gifts and sweets are exchanged among the family and friends.
Photo from www.brittanica.com




Although, this festival is celebrated by different communities in a many different ways, the main idea is to celebrate the victory of good over evil, to bring a spiritual light into our lives. In India, Diwali is now considered to be more of a national festival, and the fun aspect of this festival like fireworks etc is enjoyed by most Indians regardless of their faith.More info about Diwali stories and rituals is here.

This post goes to Vee of "Past, Present and Me" who is hosting this month's "JFI and Festival series" combined to make a "Diwali special" Thank you Vee, looking forward to the delicious round up!:))

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Well.. Here is my Pre-Deepavali sample thali, I am going to make this weekend! Usually, I make a grand feast for Deepavali like last year but I cooked so much for Dasara, I am cutting down Diwali menu a little this year. I might make some more snacks this week like Chakli which I have already posted. Enjoy!:)

Deepavali Feast!
Menu: Mom's Vegetable Bhath, Parathas, Green Tomatoes Kurma, Carrot-Moong dal Kosumbari, Onion Pakodas, Mini Samosas(store bought), Latha's Mysore Pak and Moong dal-Coconut Payasa, Mysore ajji style!!:)

Now the recipes..

Vegetable Bhath:
This is how my mom makes the vegetable Bhath, which is a spicy coconut paste combined with mixed vegetables and then mixed with cooked and cooled long grain rice. Basmati is not a good match for this spicy masala, which has it's own aroma. Coconut-veggies masala cab be made early and keep in the fridge for atleast 2 days.

Cook 2 cups rice, spread on a wide pan and let it cool.Cook 2 cups of cubed mixed veggies like Green beans, Carrots, Greenpeas, Turnips and Cauliflower separately and drain water.Keep aside.
Grind these with very little water to a thick coarse paste: 1 cup grated coconut, 3-4 green chillies, 4 cloves, 1" cinnamon/Dalchini, 1" Ginger, 2 large Garlic, few curry leaves, stems of Cilantro to avoid green color, 20 leaves of mint.
To make it: 1. Heat 1 tbsp oil and ghee mixed, add 1 small onion chopped and fry until edges are golden. Turn down the heat, add ground masalas and cooked drained veggies, mix gently and simmer for 5 mins.Do not fry, just heat thru' the masala.
2. Add this masala by ladlefuls to the rice with salt, toss gently until well mixed,adjust the salt and use only as much masala you need. Serve with a Salad.

Green Tomatoes Kurma:
We had our first Spring frost last week, that means no more red tomatoes for me! But they were loads of green Tomatoes left on the plants. I made this Kurma with a recipe my friend gave me in B'lore, little different than my own Kurmas! You can use any vegetable you like with the same masala. Goes very well with Poories, but I made some layered Parathas for Kurma.


1. Chop 6-8 Green Tomatoes into big chunks or any veggie you like,peel and cube 2 small potatoes, keep aside. 2. Heat 1 tbsp oil and butter, splutter 1 tsp mustard seeds and 1 tbsp Chana dal, and 1 tsp Urad dal. Add all the Tomatoes and potatoes with a cup of water and cook until almost done. Turn down the heat.
3. Add ground Kurma Masala, simmer gently until you get a good aroma. Tastes great next day. Add more water if needed but Kurma should be thickish.




Grind all these to a smooth paste: 1/4 cup grated fresh coconut, 3-4 red chillies or red chilli pd, 1 tbsp roasted chana or gram dal (chutney dal), 1/2" ginger, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1/8 tsp turmeric, 1" cinnamon stick, few cilantro stems,6 Cashews, 4 cloves, 1 tbsp Poppy seeds(pre-soak in boiling water to make it easy to grind) and 2 Cardamoms(seeds).

Carrot-Moong dal-red Onion Kosumbari/Salad:
A typical but easy and delicious K'taka salad, Carrot Kosumbari, you might have seen in many blogs and in K'taka round ups too. A very refreshing lemony salad to eat with spicy dishes, here is mine.



1. Soak 1 tbsp Moong dal in hot water for 30 mins, then drain all the water, keep aside. Grate 2-3 Carrots to a bowl, add 1/4 red onion finely chopped,1/2 green chilly finely chopped, Moong dal,few chopped cilantro, squeeze 1/4 or more lemon juice, salt and fresh ground pepper.Cover and chill for 15 mins before serving.
You can season it with heated 1 tsp oil, mustard seeds and few curry leaves too.




"Feather light" Onion Pakodas!:D
This is my favorite way of making feather light onion Pakodas, crunchy and tasty. It's also very easy to make in a hurry too. Hope you try!:)

1. Take 1 or 2 large red onions or Vedelia onion or regular onions, slice 1/4" thick half rings,put them in a wide mouthed bowl.
2. Add 1/4 tsp of baking soda, salt, 2-3 green chillies finely chopped,finely chopped few curry leaves, few cilantro, 1/2" grated ginger, 1/2 tsp crushed Ajwain/Carom seeds, 1 tbsp crushed Coriander seeds to the bowl with onions, 2 tbsp hot oil, mix, cover and keep aside.
3. Heat enough oil to deep fry. Now, sprinkle about 3-4 tbsp Besan/ chickpea flour on the onion mix and gently stir just to coat the onions with Besan. Flour should just clinging to the onion, do not add any water at all.Adjust salt and chillies.
4. With a fork, pick a small lump of onion mix and drop in the oil with the help of a spoon. Fry until golden, Drain on the paper towel. Best eaten hot!!


Mysore special, Moong dal Payasa with ground coconut and poppy seeds:
Hesarubele-Kayi-Gasagase Payasa or Moong dal Payasa/porridge with sweet ground coconut is my ajji's recipe which is typical Mysoorean style dessert. I love the grainy soft dal with a great taste of coconut and poppy seeds paste. I add way less sugar than the my grandmother since I don't like any of my desserts too sweet. Please add as much sugar as per your taste!:)

1. Heat 1 tbsp ghee, fry 1/2 cup Moong dal until golden and add 1 cup of water and cook until dal is soft either in pressure cooker or microwave or in the same pan. Add 1 cup whole milk and 1/4 cup grated Jaggery or brown sugar, simmer.
2. Add ground coconut paste, simmer until thick. Heat 1/2 tsp ghee and fry 1 tbsp Raisins and Cashewnuts until golden and add to the Payasa. You could add more milk to the Payasa if it's too thick and Saffron if you need some color.
Grind these to smooth paste: 1/4 cup fresh Coconut,1 tbsp Poppy seeds(pre-soaked in hot water for 5 mins), 1/2 tsp Cardamom seeds, enough milk to grind to a smooth paste.


Latha's "melt in the mouth" Mysore Pak:

I have made Mysore Pak before with my own recipe but after looking at Latha's golden Mysore Pak, I had to try with her recipe. Although, they didn't come out as good as Latha's, they were very tasty and had melt in the mouth texture just like we get in the sweetmarts in K'taka! Here is her recipe!
Here is how I made it: Warm 1/2 cup Besan(Chickpea flour) in a non-stick pan with 1 tsp ghee. Heat 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup Sugar in the Microwave until sugar dissolves. Add to the warmed Besan, whisk briskly.Add 1/2 cup ghee and 1 tsp Cardamom pd into the pan, keep stirring on medium heat until you honeycomb like texture. Drop the mix into greased plate. Cut into shapes and let it cool.Enjoy!:)

One more look!:)

We lit our front porch with votive candles, a bit toned down than last year's, it was too cold outside!!:)

Kids and Arvind enjoying "noiseless" Deepavali firecrackers all covered up in winter jackets and shoes while mom took photos!!;D


And that's it for this year's Deepavali. Have fun this Friday with all the feast, family, friends and fireworks. Be safe and enjoy. See you next week with Bihari dishes!:))

184 comments:

Altoid said...

Hey Asha

First of all, wish you and yours a very happy Diwali.

I tried your masala peanuts and mixed it with cornflakes chivda and made your badam burfi, but also added pista powder to turn it into pista-badam burfi. Both turned out lip-smacking good.

Thanks for the recipes and best wishes to you and your family

-altoid

Seema said...

Asha - A very Happy Diwali to you & your family.
That plate of yumm food..made me drool!!! Perfect feast for the big day!! Enjoy :-)

Altoid said...

BTW Asha

This 'paw print' always bothers me, makes me feel like you expect bears at your site :D, rather I feel like a bear!

Or do you WANT bears to haunt your site?

:P

Finla said...

Asha A happy Deepavali to you and your family.
Thali looks wonderful. I am comming over. If i could i would :-) just to have the food.
You also made the mysoore pak from Latha. I just finished making it half hour back.
Shyama was going on tasting the spoon. I think yours looks much more niw than mine.
Mine is for the moment cooling in the kitchen.
Will post it next week as Hans is having few concerts this week.

Latha Narasimhan said...

HAPPY DIWALI DEAR!! what a beautiful spread! I too am keeping the menu simple this diwali!
BTW It was my wedding anniversary on 4th nov. I prepared quite a few dishes but could'nt post as I was on the phone almost whole day with friends and relatives calling up to wish!:) I will post that soon.
I am tempted to make those pakodas now!:)

Siri said...

What a lovely feast ashaji... enjoied the awesome pics.. Kash hum aapke paas hote: to enjoi the thali..:))..
Happy Diwali Ashaji to you and your Family. U know how boring is Diwali in US... so as I said to Lathamma, I am planning to celebrate Diwali, by watching "Saawariya" and "Om Shanti Om".. Same question Ashaji: Do u follow Hindi Movies. You must have Dish or Direct tv rite?.. just curious..:) tc n cya..

Jyothi said...

Hello Ashaji! A very happy diwali to you and your beloved family. Really mouth watering recipes. Beautiful pics too. Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend and enjoy diwali dear.

Sia said...

oh ho... you call this cutting down ur diwali menu???? ~faints~

Deepak Gopi said...

Thank you :)
These dishes makes me hungry
Happy divali.

Sia said...

ok... i have just recovered now. my goodness ashakka!!! what a feast u all r gonna have this weekend. plz plz plz mail me ur address. i would rather spend money and fly than sit here and think what to cook;)
bookmarked ur veg baath.
wishing u and ur family a very happy deepavali :)

FH said...

Hi Altoid, good to see you after a long time!:))
WOW! You have created a whole diiferent recipes there, sounds good too me! You too have a great time on Diwali!:))
Paw print: LOL! Yeah, I expect very hungry Bears to visit or haunt me and devour everything here! All big and small bears are welcome!!;D

Thank you Seema. Didn't make much this year.Had too much for Dasara!:))
Enjoy Diwali.

F, did it come right for you? I have hard time taking it of the heat at the right time. Latha is so great with Indian sweets. Can't wait to see your's!:)
Happy Deepavali, enjoy.

sra said...

Hi Asha, your payasa looks very cool and tasty. Drool!

indosungod said...

Asha
Wishing you and family very Happy Deepavali! Looking at your plate full of goodies feels like a visit back home.

FH said...

Happy Wedding anniversary Latha. Why didn't you tell me before!! That is great!:) Mine is coming too but doing nothing special, will go out and have dinner with family!:))
Mysore Pak was great Latha. I will try once more to get that consistency, will not give up!:)
Enjoy. Sometimes, cooking a few dishes and enjoy more is the way to go, we have been eating too much sweets!:D
Pakodas are yum, try it.

Siri, you are right. It's so boring here around festivals. In Raleigh, they do it grandly with all the dances and food. Enjoy the movies! Ranbir and Sona Kappor both look great in the movie!:)
I do have B4U here, but they show only old movies and new hindi film snippets all the time. I do get DVDs sometimes from Greensboro store.It's a hassle to drive back and forth, so I just don't bother! Have fun!:)

Thank you Jyoti. You too have a great time on Friday! Hugs to you!:))

FH said...

Deepak, thanks man. Have a great time there. You will have much more fun than us here. Nothing goes on here except food and few noiseless firecrackers!:)

LOL! Sups, since you are up now, I say thank you! After cooking all those for Dasara which I don't do usually, I am exhausted now! Thanksgiving is in few weeks too, so I have to cook for that.Too much eating going on here!:D
Enjoy, Veg. Bhath tastes great with Knol Kohl too.Try it with Pakodas and salad.There is your Diwali menu!Have fun Deepavali with K, hugs!:)

sra, this Payasa taste great with Holige too, my ajji makes the combo for festivals. Vegan event is up too!! Hahaha!! Waiting for your's. Have a great Diwali!:))

FH said...

Indo, all these festivals come so close together makes us all miss home. Specially on Deepavali, we all miss the noise of Fireworks and fun back home!
Oh well, what can you do? Cook something and make the best of it. Hugs to you girl, enjoy with your family. Happy Diwali!:))

Seema Bhat said...

Hey Ashakka,
Happy Diwali to you and your family as well. Diwali is one of the festivals thats on top of the list among the others that makes me miss home sooooo very much. Lovely post. I know I have read this before but read it all over again.
Luvs
Seema

Shivapriya said...

Happy Diwali Asha.

I can taste everything, hmmmmm soooo good. A perfect platter for diwali.
I'm leaving to NY on friday afternoon , I have to make spls to take....
Once again Happy diwali and Happy weekend

Bong Mom said...

Happy Diwali to you both Ts & A.
Did you get fire crackers and where is that lighted besautiful house of yours, i mean where is that pic ?

FH said...

Seema, so good to see you. Your school has started now, right? Busy time again for you.Hugs to you.
Yes, Deepavali always most fun for kids and adults alike! Here in US, not much goes on but do what we can!Enjoy with family. Next time plan a holiday to India around Deepavali, that would be fun! Haapy Diwali!:))

Mishmash ! said...

Wishing you and your family a very happy Diwali :) Looking at the spread, I think its worth taking a flight from here and visiting you there :D

Shn

Kribha said...

Dear Asha,
A very very Happy Diwali to you and your family. Hope you have a great one.
Ok..let's get serious. You call this as cutting back on your menu? You are too modest. You have cooked up a feast there! Loved all the dishes especially the pakoda.Yum Yum Good.

Lisa Johnson said...

Happy Diwali Asha! Everything looks so good and I could really go for some of that Moong dal Payasa! Yum!

TBC said...

Happy Diwali to you and your family, Asha:-)
The green tomato kurma sounds interesting. I like moong dal payasam. When we make it, it is usually brown, how did u get that white color?

Anonymous said...

Asha, another spectacular thali from you. :) I will try and make atleast half of those...

Happy Deepavali to you and to your family. have fun.

Grihini

My Space My Thoughts! said...

Ah! the thali looks so delicious feel like grabbing some right from the picture..
im a big fan of pakodas.. tried once n was a disaster.. im gonna try your onion pakodas today and will let you know how it turns out. Wish me luck :)

Saju said...

Happy Deepavali to you and your family, Asha. The thali looks so tempting.

Anonymous said...

Happy Diwali Asha. Your spread for diwali is very nice and full.

S said...

whishing u and ur family a happy deepavali....
asha i like those diyas.....ur presentation is good dear .
for this deepavali i want to try some of ur version of sweets...thanks for sharing

Namratha said...

Wishing u too a very very Happy Deepavali Asha, lovely platter, esp liked the Payasa and Pakodas, so yummm! Mysore Pak looks great too, should try it..

Anonymous said...

Wish a very Happy Diwali, Asha! That Mysore Pak has joined my To-do list for this my diwali snack, too. I am in a sweets-only-no-namkeen mood this year. My waist line is not happy, but I am.

Thanks for the entry! And Warm Festive Greetings to you and Yours!

Swaruchy said...

Asha : A feast indeed.....A very Happy Diwali to u and ur family :-)

kalpana said...

Wish u a happy diwali asha!...wowww what a feast! i am coming right away..save some for me :)

musical said...

Happy Diwali to you and your family too, Ashakka :). As usual, thats a great thali. My favorites are the vegetable baath, tomato kurma and the pakodas :). Wish i could have some :).

Have a great time,
musical.

Priya said...

Wishing you and your family a very Happy Diwali Asha.

Yummy mysorepak and love it.

Laavanya said...

A very happy Diwali to you Asha.
That thali is just out of world... I wish i had it in front of me and was more tangible so I could feast on it! :) The pakodas in particular stole my heart away... so perfect and golden and onion pakodas are my favorite.

Pooja said...

Such a lovely treat for eyes :) , and for my hungry stomach too :( ...
the whole dish looks lovely, i liked the ideas of carrot anf moongdal kosumbari,very novel and healthy too :) .
thanks for sharing.
those yummt onion pakora makes me feel hunfry anytime :)) ....
looks heavenly....
WIsh you and your Family Happy Diwali and a prosperous new year ahead(Our Gujarati new Year- called Vikram Savant, starts from the Next Day of Diwali, so we wish that too... ) .

FH said...

Enjoy NY Shivapriya. I think you can buy many Indian goodies in NY, better than cooking yourself. Enjoy and have a great weekend, hugs.Thank you!:))

Sandeepa, thanks buddy. You too have a great time this weekend.
I posted that photo in last year's post. Click on the last year's link, you will see it.
I do save some firecrackers for Diwali when we buy loads of them for July 4th. We can't use noisy ones here but just Sparklers etc!:)

HahaHa!! shn, a vegetarian feast for you! Nah! You should have a non-veg feast girl if you spend that much money flying here!;D
Have a great time with your family too!:))

Kribha, compared to last year's, this is like poor man's feast!:D
But it's good to control, made too many things for Dasara. Pakodas are so tasty, making it again this weekend:))
Have a good one, hugs.

ChrisB said...

Happy Diwali to you and your family.

Another delicious menu you have cooked up. I'm tempted to try and make the 'Feather light Onion Pakodas'!

FH said...

Anali, thank you. Diwali is a fun festival for us!:)
That Payasa is full of protein, it's a great dessert. You can make it easily at if you some Moong dal!

tbc, just Moong dal makes it yellowish and with added coconut-Poppy seeds paste-blond Jaggery I have, it becomes golden. I added Saffron too.Try it.Green Tomato Kurma gets little tangy,adjust the spices. Happy Diwali!:))

Thanks G. I was a little lost too about the dishes and then thought I will use whatever I had! Turned out well.Usually, we don't make any Parathas at all, my addition!:D
Enjoy, have a great weekend!:))

Good luck MSMT. Do not add water at all and sprinkle as much as Besan you need to cover the onions. Hot oil is the key, 375F. Use a fork to pick the onions and drop in oil.Enjoy!:))

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful spread.
Perfect Feast.
Very happy diwali to you and ur family :)
-JJ

FH said...

Thank you Saju. These are just samples, got to make more this weekend. Friday is school and working day for the family, so weekend it is for celebration! Have fun there too, Eid wishes to you!:))

Ramya, thank you. Did my best, glad you liked it. Waiting to see all the Thalis too in all the blogs!:))
Happy Deepavali, enjoy.

You are welcome Shathi. Try the Payasa, very K'taka dessert. You will love it. Enjoy and have a fun Diwali:))

Namratha, thanks!:))
I haven't made this Payasa in a long time, loved it.Brings back all the memories! Smells so good too. Enjoy and have a great Deepavali. Mysore Pak was great, I have hard time to decide when to take it off!:D

Rina said...

Diwali Thali looks gr8, Ashaji. Enjoy your festival season. Nice yummy desserts.

FH said...

Vee, forget about the waistline until Jan 1st and then go on savory diet!;D
I feel ya, too many festivities at this time.Thanksgiving and Xmas next! Enjoy, Mysore Pak was yum. Latha has great skills, I still have to learn a lot from her about making Indian sweets! Happy Diwali to you too.Hugs:)

Thank you Sirisha. You too have a great Diwali, eat and laugh a lot!:))

Kalpana, thank you girl. Have a great weekend and Diwali. Yes, book a flight ticket too!:D

Musie, wish I could send you some too. It's a great season to eat and be jolly, huh? I know what everybody's new Year's resolution will be too!!;D
Have a great time, hugs:))

Richa said...

Happy Diwali to you & your family!
Thali looks delicious, lovely spread u got there, cutting down or no ;) pakodas...yummmmmm

FH said...

Priya, thank you. Have a great Diwali girl wherever you are. Hugs to you sweetie!:))

Laavanya, thanks buddy!:)
Pakodas are easy too, just need some preparation, that's all. Try it. Have a wonderful Deepavali!:))

Hi Pooja, so good to see you. Enjoy your Gujarati day too.We are all so different yet we celebrate the same Diwali with such affection!!Have a great time.
NJ is a great place to live around Indian festival time.Nothing much goes on here! Have fun:)

FH said...

Thank you Chris!:))
If you get Chickpea flour there,it would be great. You can use plain flour too, it won't be tasty like Besan flour.Hope you do.I am sure you will love it!

Hi Jasu, good to see you. Thank you and you too have a great Diwali feast and joy at home with your family!:))

Rina, thanks. You too sweetheart. Enjoy the good wishes and joyful Diwali!:))

Richa, had to cut down girl,I am tired!!;D
Stirring Mysore Pak took half of my energy but it was worth all the effort. Hope you try the Payasa, it's easy! Have a great fun weekend, hugs to you!:))

Bhawna said...

A very Happy Diwali to U and ur Family , Really a festive time and looking at ur Festive Thaali making it more delicious, colourful and SPECIAL.

Lissie said...

Happy Festival Wishes to you and family, Asha! awesome thali...a complete meal. the green tomato kurma is new to me. love to have the payasa right now :))

Unknown said...

Hi Asha,
Menu for the feast looks good, me too planning on making pulav.
Deepavali wishes to you too.

Anonymous said...

A very very happy diwali to all of you, Asha! Thanks for tempting me with that wonderful thali:) I'll try the payasam and let you know. I'm still deciding what to make for diwali tho'! Have kept all my plans for week-end so my son will be taken care of:)

Meeta K. Wolff said...

Happy Diwali Asha - love and hugs to the family. As always you have made my mouth water. I especially love those pakodas!

Shireesha said...

Asha, Happy Diwali.. wow you have lot of patience for doing so many varieties. Wonderful.. and very good pictures. Hope I can make atleast half of them at home :). Thanks for sharing the recipes, will definitely try some.

Swaroopa said...

asha the thali looks gr8, i loved all he dishes presented on that, will try some of them.

Pooja V said...

Wishing you a very happy diwali & a prosperous year ahead ! Loved this post like always

remya said...

WISH U A VERY HAPPY DIWALI...TO U AND UR LOVELY FAMILY...wat nice soread u hav here....u take much time n effort in doin such wonderful spread...just love them....perfect and awesome feast!!!!

By Deepa and Supriya said...

pre-diwali sampler?? u mean u actually made this thali for this post and will make it again for deepavali???
a couple of things shall be borrowed for diwali at the orchid household..thanks in advance!!

Hppay diwali to u, arvind and the kids!!

FH said...

Thank you Bhawna, I do my best!:))
Enjoy your feast too!

Lissie, you can add any vegetable to Kurma masala.I just had too many green ones from the half frozen plant. Enjoy, have a great weekend!:)

Thank you Madhu, you have a great time there. Wish you were in Chicago etc for Diwali, much more fun! Post your Pulav too, love to have more recipes. Hugs to you, enjoy Deepavali!:))

Latha, take it easy. Don't tire yourself. We all tend to do too much!!:))
Make a few easy ones, you will enjoy more. Thanks, you too have a great Diwali!

FH said...

Thank you Meeta. Didn't get the Pakoda photo right, it looks lot better than in the blog. Hope you try, easy recipe.
You too have a great time with family, do whatever you can there.I know it's not the same as India or elsewhere but just have to do our best! Hugs, take care!:))

You are welcome Shireesha. Try and cook a few delicious ones, doesn't have to be perfect! Enjoy and have a great time:)

Swaroopa, thanks girl. Glad you liked. Have fun this Friday and enjoy!:))

FH said...

Thank you Pooja. With $3 per gallon gas, we do need all the wealth we can get to drive a car these days,huh?:D
You too have fun dear girl, hugs!:)

Remya, my family is not very traditional, so they don't expect anything for any festival. I do this so kids can remember these atleast when they are grown up even if they don't celebrate!:)
Thanks, good to hear all the compliments though! You too have fun on Friday!

Haha!! Orchid,thanks!
Yes I did, sweets and Pulav masala can be stored in the fridge and rest can be made on Friday morning. Easier that way. Enjoy your feast too. Payasa is nutritious as well,make it. Bet you will love it!:))

starry said...

I would love some moong dal payasa.my favorite too.Happy Diwali to you and your family.lovely post and some delicious food.

Anonymous said...

happy Diwali.
the food looks delicious.

shalini

Shivapriya said...

I'm visiting my uncle in NY Asha. I will make some now and while coming back my atta will pack me stuff for a week:) hehehe

Unknown said...

Marvellous post!!!! Wishing u & ur family a very happy deepavali.

Anonymous said...

Hi BigS! Happy Diwali to you and your wonderful family. Nice spread as usual. Green tomatoes kurma has gone into my to-do list. I was hoping to get the recipe for the little samosas in the plate as well:) Have fun! How are your eyes now?

RML said...

Hello Asha,
AHHH.....I dont know for some reason I could not open your blog.I have been trying from last week(I get not responding mesage!!!!)
Finally I made it today and wow! look what I missed The halloween and Diwali food.Yummy.The pics are awesome.
Have a safe and Happy Diwali!
Madhoo

Anonymous said...

happy deepavali,dear asha:) i am going to try the mysore pak & your thali meal looks delicious. no gold purchases this year?
love
paati

Anonymous said...

Hi Asha
Wishing you and your family a Very Happy Diwali.
Nice write up about the festival. OMG....that thali makes me drool ....really wish you could hand over that plate to this side of the coast :)

Shobha

sunita said...

Asha, with that loaded thali, you say that's all? That's a lot :-)))...and they all look so tempting :)

Happy Diwali to you and your family!

Anonymous said...

Asha..I am still wondering....if you are going to cook these on weekend, how did u get the picture?? Are u cooking same thing twice?

Thali looks delicious...

Wish you and your family a very happy Diwali.

FH said...

Hi Lalitha, Payasa is easy, you can even cook this in the Microwave once you have the coconut paste. Enjoy and have a fun Diwali!:))

Thank you Shalini. I appreciate your comments in all my posts. Hope one day you will have your own blog so I can visit you!:))
Hugs to you, happy Deepavali.

Aha! Shivapriya, you lucky girl! I thought you are going on a little vacation. Well.. this is more like fun vacation, eat and bring back more food!;D
Enjoy, hugs to you.

FH said...

Thank you Pushpa. I was not feeling happy bcos I didn't have any special recipes for Diwali. Glad you gals liked it. Have a great weekend!:))

Hello lil sis!:))
My eyes are 99% healed, still have 2 appointment, but it's healing very well. Thank you. Enjoy the recipes. These Samosa are store bought, didn't have time to make more but one day I will. These are dal stuffed Samosas, taste wonderful!:))
Have a great time with your family Hema, hugs.

Madhoo, few do tell me that they can't open my blog and most donot have problem. Wonder why? I tried to check all the settings, seems to be right. Oh well... headaches of these blogs! Glad you could come today!:))
Have a wonderful time this Friday, hugs to you.

FH said...

Paati, no more gold!;D
I realized that it's a waste of money since I don't get wear anything anywhere except for few parties which is very informal. I will buy more books instead!:D
Post Mysore Pak when you do try, mine came out okay(texture) but tastes divine. Enjoy, happy Diwali!:)

Shobha, Thali is coming your way all the way from the east coast!:D
Hey, they are so easy, you can make it I am sure. Thank you Shobha, have a great year filled with peace and prosparity!:))

Haha!! I made it somehow! Couldn't think of any special dishes since I have cooked most of them!:))
You too have a great Diwali Sunita, hugs.

Shilpa, I made sweets already and Pulav masala is ready in the fridge to be mixed with freshly cooked rice on Friday. Pakodas, salad etc can be made again, they are easy. I just made a small amount just for this!:D
Hope you have already planned for Diwali feast, I am sure you are!:)
Have a great time with hubby. My blessings to you, hugs.

Amanda at Little Foodies said...

Hi Asha, a very Happy Diwali to you and your family.

FH said...

Hi Amanda, thank you. Wish you and your family a happy Diwali too.
Do you plan anything for Diwali? Snacks and few firecrackers would do fine! Have fun there!:))

Anonymous said...

Happy Deepavali, Asha! Even your 'toned down' platter has so many things! All look yummy! Enjoy the festival with your lvoely family, Asha! Hugs!!

Chef Jeena said...

Brilliant Asha I love all these recipes, everytime I am here I feel like I am looking at a feast of food. :D

Anh said...

Asha! Happy Diwali! :)

Keshi said...

HAPPY HAPPY DEEPAVALI TO U AND UR FAMILY ASHA!

Let there be LIGHT in our hearts n minds..always!


HUGGGGGGGGGGGZ!
Keshi.

Manasi said...

HAPPY DIWALI!!!!!!!!!
That thali is sooooooooooooo droolworthy!!! And u call this cutting down??!!!! LOL!!

Daily Meals said...

Hi Asha! Happy Deepavali. The food looks delicious.

Rajitha said...

asha..first off..sorry to reply this late..my computer kept getting jammed!! Happy Diwali to you and ur family :)..those pakodas are making my mouth water...

Anonymous said...

moms vegetable bath is delicious
balanced flavours
green tomato kurma is looking good too
i see a red onion in kosumbari ;)
onion pakoras.......i need to make those
payasa is looking delicious
i thought u added coconut milk
mysore pak tastes great no matter how it looks sis .....i need to gain strenght to try it once ;)
so have a blast of diwali
have loads of fun.
i really miss my home this diwali

Anonymous said...

Deepavalia hardika Shubhashayagalu Asha. The thali looks delicious. I loved your tomatos kurma. It is completely new to me. I also like the way you call pakoda "feather light". Now if only we turned that way after eating that yummy pakoda :-(

Unknown said...

Hi Asha,
Wish you and your family a wonderful well-lit Deepavali!
I have another update and request - I have changed the url to my food blog. It now is http://thebravecook.blogspot.com. Could you please update it whereever you have linked to my blog? Thanks
P.S:- You are the only blogger I know who links to my food blog :)

Sana said...

Happy Diwali Asha!!

Latha said...

A very happy Deepavali to you guys Asha! Cannot believe i know u now for over a year! I still remember u're last year's Diwali post :-)
Super thali! I'm so tired after a really rough day at work that i'm ready to hit the sack, no energy to make anything close. Really wish NC was closer!
Hugs and wishes
Latha

Linda said...

Everything looks wonderful, Asha! I knew there would be a giant yummy spread so I went and put my laundry in the dryer while this post loaded!! ;) Lots to add to the must-try list here -- love that green tomato kurma, what a great idea! I am still looking at green tomaotes, too :) Diwali wishes to you and your family and hugs to you my friend :)

Sig said...

Its always party time at Asha's place :) Nice spread... Happy Diwali to you and Arvind and the kids Asha...

bha said...

Happy Diwali, Asha.
The thali looks awesome.

Srivalli said...

Asha..you cooked so many and you call that its cut down!!!..god..everything looks lovely in that plate..great..thanks for the visual treat!

Rachna said...

wishing you a happy, prosperous and joyous diwali... dear asha

Shionge said...

I come here for the food :d Kekekek..just kidding, I come by to wish you Happy Deepavali my dear friend :D

Be heading to America soon for a vacation but not to where you live, otherwise you'll have to cook up a storm for me sweetie hehehe...

luv you, take care pal!

Kajal@aapplemint said...

Aaaassssshhhhhaaaaaaaaaaa i'm comming to get your Thali !!!
Hahaha Happy Diwali Honey ! wish you and your family the best :)

FH said...

Hello Vani, goos to see you. Thank you and you too have a great Diwali tomorrow. M's first Diwali, I think!!Enjoy, hugs!:))

Hi Jeena, thanks buddy!:))
Yeah, it feels like I am cooking feasts too every week!;D
Have a great weekend.

Thank you Anh, I appreciate it!:))

Keshi, thank you sweetie. Wish you and your family a happy Diwali. Enjoy. Hope you are going to a party or something and get to eat some yummies!:))

Menu Today said...

Hi Asha,
Happy Diwali:-)
Yummy Spread!!! Mysorepak looks so delicious...

FH said...

Manasi, that looks like a okay feast to me girl, compared to last year's!!;D
Eating too much thses days, got to cut down. Have a great Diwali, you don't need to cook snacks and sweets, you lucky girl!!:))

Thank you Vijaya. You too have a great year of peace and prosparity. Enjoy!:))

You are not late Rajitha, Diwali is tomorrow. Thanks. Try the Pakodas, have fun in Friday. Hugs to you!:))

Oops, did I forget to add red onion there? I will, thanks!:)
It took 1 hr to stir that Mysore Pak, my arms were hurting for a day, but it's tasty!
Enjoy wherever you are, what can we do but do the best, right? Next year, you could plan a trip to India at this time! Hugs to you!:))

FH said...

Red chillies, tough luck becoming "feather light" after eating Pakodas but it will bring you a great big smile!!:D
Enjoy, nimmellarigu Deepavali shubhashayagalu. Have fun. Hugs!:))

Siri, of course I will gladly link it. I am the only one who does? Really. I hope not.
Have a great day tomorrow and enjoy your movies. Arvind and kids have regular work/school day, so not much goes on here at home until after 7pm!:))

Thank you Sana. You too a have great Eid day, good wishes to you too sweetie. Enjoy!:)

Latha, Deepavali or any festival are all in the mind. Just say a prayer and you are done. Everything else is just to please others, isn't it? Yeah, time flies. One year already!!:))
Just relax, buy some sweets and snacks, tell kids about Diwali. That's all. Enjoy. Hugs to you!:)

FH said...

Linda, thank you sweetheart. You are always so gracious. I will add you and your's to my prayers too tomorrow!:))
My plants finally shrivelled up after the frost. Green tomatoes Kurma were little tangy to taste, had to add some more potatoes. Kurma Masala can be used with other veggies too. Have a great weekend, hugs!:))

Haha!! Sig, wish it was true but life goes on with such regular routine here until we go on vacation!:D
Have a great weekend and Diwali. Best wishes to you and Siv, hugs:))

Thank you Bha. You too have a great day tomorrow, God bless you and your's!:))

Thank you Sri! I thought Thali wasn't that good and feeling a little guilty for posting it!:D
Have a great day tomorrow. Enjoy:))

FH said...

Thank you darling Rachna. You too have a joyous Diwali tomorrow. Have fun!:))

Shi, that's a great news, enjoy your trip to USA!:))
Thank you, I bet you can get Diwali feast there too in Indian restaurants. We will have to cook ourselves here. Got busy this week, I will see you later. Hugs. Safe flight!

Thank you dearest Kajal. Wish you the best for coming year, be happy and healthy, wealth follows!:))
Have a great time sweetie.

Thank you MT. Mysore Pak gave me quite a arm workout but tasted divine!:))
Have a great Diwali, post some photo of Diwali there. You guys have more Deepavali fun there than here!:))

Anonymous said...

Wish you and your family a very happy diwali dear Asha....ur post is beautiful...what a treat ...i remember how fond i was of the different, huge n colorful rangoli designs

Have fun

FH said...

Rahin, thank you. Wish the best for Eid too, enjoy!:))
I know, colorful Rangolis and those eardrum busting Firecrackers! We all miss it!:)
Have a great weekend, hugs to you.

Anonymous said...

Hi Asha,

Yes I did manage to make the payasa on Diwali day today:) The poppy seeds bring a refreshing taste to the usual moongdal-jaggery payasam. I added more jaggery and pressure cooked the dal. MMMMMM yummy!

FH said...

YAY! Latha, I told ya it tastes good. Glad you tried it!:))
Poppy seeds makes you drowsy too, so try not to drive after having it! HeHe!!

Anonymous said...

Awesome Asha!!! Wishing you a very Happy Diwali!

FH said...

Thank you Ashu. You too have a great Diwali tomorrow with your family. Hugs o you!:))

bee said...

happy diwali to yo and our family, dear asha.

FH said...

HeHe!! You are in a hurry today Bee! Thank you darling, you too have fun. Regular day for us tomorrow, few firecrackers after 8pm for kids, few sweets, that's it. Have a great weekend!:))

Anonymous said...

Hi Asha,
Just wanted to wish you and yours a very happy Diwali. Enjoy! ANGELA

Amanda at Little Foodies said...

Hi again Asha, I'm going out with a friend for the evening but before I go I plan on doing some rangoli patterns with the boys. We'll also put lots of candles around and I'll try and make them something Indian, maybe a chickpea and potato dish, also a sweet rice dish that an Indian lady taught me how to make earlier in the week. Wishing you all a very Happy Diwali. :)

USHA said...

Hi Ashaji,

Happy Diwali....Wow!!all the recipes are just amazing....

For us tomorrow only main as we have gowri viradham.So we have have fasting and evening after pooja...we will have dinner.Planning to before 2items..

So how is your celebrations going on?

FH said...

Thank you Angela,we will. Great to see you girl!:))

That sounds like a great plan Amanda. Good for you. I bet boys will love to draw the Rangolis.Enjoy the feast and have fun, hugs!:))

Hi Usha, thank you and you too have great time with your family!:)
I will be busy cooking today and tomorrow. It's a regular day for kids and hubby, so everything has to wait until they come home on Friday!:))
Enjoy, hugs to you!

Finla said...

Asha next time i am going to try this. Only half cup ghee tgat us really good.
I am not trying this for a while you know as you said too much sugar, then i am messing up my blog :-)

FH said...

LOL! F, I was just kidding girl! Nobody likes our desserts too sweet at home here,so I cut down the sugar in any recipe. Second time, Mysore Pak came out really well. Try it again for Christmas!:))

Smita said...

wow!!! Happy Diwali to you and you family!!!! :) I love the moong dal payasam.....I will also try your onion pakoda recipe and let you know how it turns out....I made some murukku and some coconut barfi this year...Will try to post pictures and recipes. I am not sure if you know this sweet called Shankarpali but I tried that and something went wrong with the ghee or milk I used and it tasted terrible..Will give it another shot if I find time:)...

FH said...

Thank you Smita. Payasa is so easy if you use pressure cooker, try it. Burfi and Murukku,YUM! I know Shankarpali, it's usually easy to make, wonder what went wrong!
Have fun tomorrow, enjoy. Can't wait to see your goodies!:))

Lotus Reads said...

A very happy Deepavali to you and your loved ones dearest Asha. Among all the bright things I think of this Deepavali, one of the brightest is your blog. I love coming here and checking out your wonderfully chatty posts and your excellent recipes.

The Deepavali thali you plan on making for tomorrow is making me so nostalgic for home...every dish there looks so delicious! Have a wonderful time feasting on all the lovely dishes Asha and once again, wishing you a truly happy Deepavali!

FH said...

Thank you Lotus!:))
So good to read that, you made my day. I am truly exhausted to tell you the truth. So much sugar consumption until Jan 1st is over!:D
Your plans sounds way better than me, have a good one with your family. Let us know how you liked "Sawariyan" next week. Enjoy, hugs to you!

DK said...

You will make me fat by jus making me see all ur post!

I blame you for all these packed pounds girl... :) It wud be a wonder if you all are thin in ur family! I mean who can stop eating ur food :))

Anyways Happy Diwali Asha! and accusations nevertheless..keep posting..Luv to droool at ur photos !

Chandrika said...

Wish you and your family a very Happy Diwali, Asha! Gosh! The feast is so inviting!! :-) Shall I come over for lunch?

Keshi said...

yep we r having a small get together tmrw nite...:)

u hv fun Asha MWAH!

Keshi.

Kajal said...

Nice photo of lots of diya my dear...I also like diya. We are celebrating the diwali with lots of fun and decorate the house with diya.
You made whole dish my dear. Where should I start to write? Mysore Pak is one of the favorite sweet dish.

Happy Diwali to you and your family.:))

Raks said...

Hope you made and enjoyed that thali on diwali day.....:))
How your celebration went on?
Hope you had a great time::))

Anonymous said...

Would you pass on those feather light pakoras this way please ;D

Hapyy Deepavali to you and your family Asha

Anonymous said...

the anon is me Asha Pearlin couldn't sign in with my name

FH said...

Hahaha!! Dhivya, except my son who is skinny by nature, all of us are plump chickens girl! Not that I am complaining, little meat on the bone is good for ya!;D
Enjoy, have a fun Diwali, hugs!:))

Chandrika, just started cooking, so yeah! Be here by 6pm today!:D
Have a good time buddy, wish you the best too!:))

Good for you Keshi, have fun tonight sweetie. We have a regular day today, after kids come home it will be fun. Arvind doesn't care much about any festivals anyway!!;P

FH said...

Kajal, it's more fun to be in India than here girl. Nothing happens here except expect eating and firecrackers! Enjoy. Mysore Pak is a tasty sweet! Happy Diwali!:))

Rakss,thanks. Friday just started for us here. Just got up, started preparing few dishes now. Kids are in school, when they come back, Diwali starts for us!:))
Have fun Diwali too, hugs.

Thank you Pearlin. Just preparing this morning, will have to wait until 6pm when everybody comes home tonight! Have a great weekend dear girl!:)

Reeta Skeeter said...

Happy Diwali!!!
Great post as usual :)
And I so love the onion pakodas recipe of urs :)

Bharathy said...

Sorry dear asha!!!I didnt blog hop for the past few days as held up with some other imp things..:)
Now that I am back....went thru all your recent recipes!!!
Loved the haloween feast!!:)!!!!!
to be frank I love the coconut filling version rather than the dal ones!..
really amazing that you tried Mysore pak too!!It is not that simple and yours look so perfect,girl!!

Hope you had a fantastic Diwali!..Belated wishes to you and your family, Ashaji!!:)...Sorry again for not visiting promplty!:)

FH said...

Reeta, fried stuff always attracts you first, huh? ;D
It must be so much fun in Delhi now for you. It's boring here, nothing happens unless we make something. Enjoy Diwali, hugs to you!:))

Don't be sorry Bharathy, I was just teasing you!:))
Take your time. Our Friday just started, started cook just now, it must be somuch fun there for you. Enjoy and hugs to you. Take it easy, I know we all get busy!:))
Happy Deepavali to you and your's, hugs.

Lakshmi said...

Hi Ashakka,
A very happy n prosperous Deepavali to u n your loved ones. Trust you had a fun filled day. :))

Mansi said...

Wish you and your family a very very Happy Diwali too Asha! may u have tonnes of fun!!

The thali looks as inviting as always!

Vineela said...

Hi ASHA JI,
Happy deepavali to you and your family.
vineela

FH said...

Thanks Lakshmi. Fun, not yet!Kids are at school and Arvind at clinic. May be after 6pm. Right now I am cooking!:)
Enjoy your's too.

Thank you Mansi. Enjoy your day too.Not much fun here but will make it when the kids come home!:))

Thank you Vineela. I am sure your house had filled with delicious aroma by now! Have fun, my best wishes to you!:))

Mandira said...

Asha - happy diwali to you and your family. Have a fabulous time :)

FH said...

Thank you Mandira. You too have a great time and enjoy. Me beset wishes to you!:))

Padmaja said...

Asha!!! hope its working now!!
Thanks for updating it again and hey hey have a wonderful diwali with frens n family!! have a great time!!

Pravs said...

Happy diwali to you and your family Asha.What a yummy thali of food. Have a great weekend !

Mona said...

Wish you and your family a very happy and a prosperous Diwali Asha!

That feast is o so delicious :D

ServesYouRight said...

Asha - Happy Diwali!! You make me want to celebrate - what a feast!!

Thank you for sharing all your tips. You are so generous and they are invaluable. I never thought of adding poppy seeds to moong dal payasa - the idea is sheer genius in its simplicity. Can't wait to try it!

Smita

FH said...

Padmaja, I did link you again today, don't know how your blog disappeared! I thought you were on break until I saw your comment elsewhere!:D
Thanks, hope you are having a time time too!:)

Thank you Pravs. You too have a great Diwali celebration today. I am cooking now, waiting for everybody to come home!:)

FH said...

Thank you Mona, just a few vegetarian goodies this time, my kids would prefer Thanksgiving dinner!:D
Hope it's too noisy there already with all the fireworks!
It's boring here, nothing special other than few "quiet" firecrackers and dinner in the evening! Enjoy there!:)

Smita, thank you!:)
Arvind is not that into any festival but I make it special so kids can remember Indian festivals, not just Thanksgiving etc!:))
My ajji always makes this Payasa for Deepavali, coconut and poppy seeds are classic masala even for everyday Saaru her Mysore home. Enjoy. Poppy seeds makes you drowsy, so be careful!;D

Vanamala Hebbar said...

Hello Asha

How are you ?

Deepavali habba da shubashayagalu :-)

-Mala

FH said...

Hi Mala, so good to see you, glad you are back!:)
Thanks. I am just done with cooking, waiting for the family to come back home!:))
You too have a great Deepavali, see you later. Best wishes to you and your's.

KellytheCulinarian said...

Oh man, this looks delicious. Thanks for the heads up on the holiday, I'm really enjoying learning more about Diwali.

Sagari said...

happy diwali

Cynthia said...

Happy Diwali to you and the family.

Anonymous said...

HI Asha,

I am Renuka from South Africa. Wish you happy Diwali, yesterday for diwali I tried your Paneer Makhani, Vegetable Bath, Kessar Pulo(Suffron pulo, It was really excellent.

You are a great cook no doubt.

Thanks
Renuka

Latha Narasimhan said...

Asha have you posted the mysoor pak that came out well? It is only practice that makes us perfect!:)
Today as I was rolling stuffed gobi parathas, I was thinking of my SIL satish and you!:) satish loves these parathas!
You say you always have problem rolling them! I will try to post step by step rolling pics and procedure. I cut the cauliflower into big flowerets as for curry!
Just going through your recipes to plan shopping for ingredients!:)

FH said...

Thanks Kelly. Diwali is the fun holiday for us. We love this festival regardless of age and faith. Glad you could learn about it:))

Thank you Sagari. Hope you enjoyed it too yesterday!:))

Cynthia, thanks. Hope you had fun too. It was great for us. After the family came home in the evening, we ate our meals and lit candles in the porch and a few firecrackers too!:))

FH said...

Renuka, thank you somuch for the feedback. So happy to hear that you enjoyed the Diwali feast!:))
Enjoy your weekend.

Latha, I left you a comment after I tried a small amount and it came prefect. I posted the new photo, my proportion too. Tushar and Arvind loved it, thank you!:))
Yes, tried aloo paratha but Gobi is always little difficult. Glad you are posting it, I will try.
Yesterday was fun, we lighted the porch, I will post the picture later today!:))
Say hello to Lakshmi from me, see you later girl!

Seena said...

Belated(?) Deepavali wishes, Asha!
Had no net connection since few days..:(
I like the tomato kurma, it is tempting me to taste with rice..

SMN said...

Hi Ashakka u had a great feast.. Happy Diwali. i think come down to ur place coz both me and my hubby are not keeping well so having a very bad diwali infact! but just cudnt resist being ion blog.. great dishes.. thank u so much for the recipes..

FH said...

That's okay Seena. Wishes are wishes, thank you!:)) Green Toamtoes can little sour, increase the Potatoes, it tastes great with rice too, enjoy.

Hi smn, so sorry to hear that you are not feeling well. Everybody seems to be coming down with cold and flu these days. Take it easy, Diwali can be enjoyed anytime we like! Hugs to you. Enjoy the recipes!:))

Sona - quick picks/pick quicks said...

u say u have cut down the diwali menu, but i just dont see any empty space in the platter, Asha..its one deadly huge spread!!!

FH said...

Thank you Sona, always do my best!;D
Hope you had a good one too girl. We are the only Indian family here, so not much fun excpet whatever we do at home. Enjoy!:))

Beccy said...

Looks like a wonderful festival.

FH said...

Thanks Beccy. It is a fun festival for us, lot to cook, share and enjoy!:))
Happy Monday to you.

Rohini said...

Happy Diwali, Asha!

FH said...

Thank you Rohini, hope you had a great Diwali too!:))

swapna susarla said...

Hi ashaji
Belated wishes for diwali.
The thali looks yummy!!

Altoid said...

Asha

In case you miss it in the comments in my post, here's the link to "the" recipe :D

http://emolior.blogspot.com/2006/11
/all-about-bs-bangalore-bakeries.html

Thanks for stopping by.

KayKat said...

Wow, Asha! This spread looks awesome! I love the veggie baath recipe, can't wait to try it out.

Arun Shanbhag said...

Asha -
Wishing you and your family a wonderful Deepavali and a wondrous new year! :-)
(I was travelling, again, and thus the delay)

Loved your sample thali!

Since I was out of town, we didn't really do anything and are planning our own diwali this weekend.

yaay!

Best wishes to you and your family

FH said...

Thank you Swapna, hope you had a great Diwali too!:))

Thanks A, I will check it out. I did surf for a while in your blog, couldn't find it!:D

Thank you Kay. Hope you try, enjoy!:))

Hello Arun. Festivals can be celebrated any time we want to, it's all in the mind. Enjoy.
We had fun too although it was a little cold outside. Not much fun compared to India, but hey, Who cares!:D
Enjoy your Deepavali, see you later. Happy Monday!:))

AnuSriram said...

Asha, This is my first visit to foodie's hope... What a wonderful blog u have!!! Inspiring and amazing how u manage two blogs at a time...

FH said...

Anu, many don't realize that Aroma and this blog is mine too!:D
Aroma is mainly for cooking for events. I keep this as main blog. Enjoy! Glad you are here!:))

Mallika said...

Wow Asha. You really spoiled your family again. The meal looks amazing. I hope it was a great Diwali and wish your family the very best.

Anonymous said...

Hi Asha,

Wish you and family a very happy Diwali too. I raelly loved the way you must have made that thali. It looked graet!

Deepak Gopi said...

Thank you Asha ji
Good day

FH said...

Mallika, thanks buddy. Hope you had a great Diwali too. I saw "Diwali at Trafalgar Square" on B4U. it was fun!:))

Thank you Kulpreet. It's not as much fun as India, but got to do something so kids can remember Indian festivals!:))

Hello Deepak, enjoy your Birthday and have a great week!:))

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

171 comments...my goodness Asha!!!Diwali is a wonderful time to strengthen family & social relationships. Your menu looks spectacular as always!!!!

Sagari said...

thali looks sooo yummy and lovely pics asha

Prema Sundar said...

Looks like u had a great diwali Asha . Thali looks so wonderful.. U sure are super energetic girl.would love to taste the feather like onion pakodas sometime. thanks.

FH said...

Thank you Valli. Yes, indeed! Festivals are special time for us Indian bloggers, so many goodies to look at and stories to hear!:))

Thanks Sagari. Hope you had a great Diwali too. Hugs to you!:))

You are welcome Prema. Those Pakodas were great, I made them twice bcos they kept disappearing from the plate!:D

Vani said...

WOW!!! What a cool blog! Absolutely loved my stay here.
Thanks for the Deepavali feast :-)

Vani

FH said...

Thank you Vani. Glad you found me. Enjoy!:))

Chef Jeena said...

Hi Asha wow I am lost again in all your recipes. I feel like I want to feast on all your cooking. It all looks so delicious.

FH said...

Thank you Jeena. Diwali is a fun festival!:))

Cyberkitty said...

Wishing you a belated Happy Diwali! Not finding much time to blog these days :(

sirisha said...

Dear Asha ji,
I have become a sort of addicted to your site.If i donot see it once in a day , I feel as if some thing is not going right. I tried your masala peanuts, badam burfi, the green tomato korma and keep lookign for other items. Your spread of the food items and also the detailed instructions make your site a must visit. Thanks for sharing.

FH said...

Thanks CK. Take it easy, I understand. I am going on a break too in Dec. It does gets exhausting sometimes! Hope you had a good one too!:))

Thank you Sirisha. Glad you are enjoying all the recipes. Bake a bread or two. Once you start baking, it's hard to stop!:))
Enjoy and have a great weekend.

Anonymous said...

Hi Asha- Fairly a newcomer to your site, I love to try different types of vegetarian receipes, from all parts. I was going thru various receipes,that you posted, I will be trying some. So many to choose !!!!!! will be in touch.
Thank you----Mrs. Anand.

FH said...

Hello Mrs.Anand, glad you liked my blog. Yeah, there are too many!:D
Go to my recipe Index to make it easy to find any dish you would to try, easier than going thru' the whole blog! Enjoy!:))