Showing off is part of every child and looks like is part of every adult too! And we just wait for opportunities. Last Sunday we had a guest of a 60 year old man along with his 28 year old son. There were my Father’s friend’s relative. As soon as they entered in and after comfortably seated my father introduced all of us to him one by one. As soon as my younger daughter is introduced se asked back their names politely and did a big namaskaram too by which they were way too impressed. They didn’t expect this from a 3.5 year old little girl. But they didn’t know whats the objective of this phew!
She had just joined a classical music class and would have hardly attend a couple of sessions. She had byhearted the first couple of swarams in the sarali varisai and she suddenly said to the guest that she knows singing and would like to sing for them. They were very pleased and said yes. She started her “Sa Re ga ma…” and the old man was taken aback. Might be he was expecting a “Bah Bah black sheep” or a “Twinkle twinkle…” but not this for sure.
After this then came the elder one to demonstrate his keyboard playing skills (mind you, he too has attended just a couple of sessions). By this time they were exhausted I suppose. And the final one came from my Appa. He went in and took 2 slices of the caramelized fig cake (recipe soon) and started showing off my baking skills. I couldn’t hide my laughter and went inside the kitchen to make some tea for them.
Later as they left myself and my sis could not stop laughing for a long time on this “Family Showing Off” session ! Looked like the old man enjoyed everything. Thanks he didn’t feel offended. So now coming to the recipe of the day….
One more vadai recipe but this time its not made in the same week as the previous one. I actually made it for Meeta’s Monthly mingle high tea but missed posting it.
Every South Indian household will know this recipe and everybody has their own ways. But basic ingredients never vary. Any feast made in the poorest family to the richest will include these vadai along with a payasam. That actually rounds up any big feast. 
Ingredients : (makes 20 small vadai)
Husked whole urad dal – 1 cup
Onion chopped – 1/2 cup
Green chilled chopped – 1 T spoon
Salt to taste
How to make it ?
Soak the urad dal for half an hour. Grind it in a stone grinder by sprinkling very little water until you get a fluffy batter. Try to sure as much less water as possible. If grinding in a mixie make sure you leave the mixie to cools down whenever you observe the jar is hot. Add the salt in the last few laps of grinding. The right consistency is if you drop a spoon full of batter in a bowl of water the batter should float.
Take the batter in a bowl and mix in the chopped onions and green chillies. Heat the peanut oil in a thick bottomed kadai until smoking hot. Drop spoon full of the batter and deep fry till golden. Don’t leave it for long else the outer layer will get burnt. Removed the ones with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel. Serve hot with a cuppa!





















