Saffron, Sankranthi....and loads of Sweets!

Dear Aalayam Family!!

It's the first post of 2014! And I am privileged to be bringing it to you. And this post is full of festive inspiration (Sankranthi is round the corner!..read about our last year's Sankranthi celebrations here!)  some spicerack remedies (remember my series?) and some very mouth watering pictures! I am getting ready for the first Hindu festival of the year – signifying the Harvest Bounty of agrarian India. And as I plan my sweet dish menu, I look fondly at my favorite “rich-man’s spice” – Saffron!! This spice is sure to go into the Gulab Jamoons and Besan Laddus I am making for Sankranthi. So, while I am at it, I figured, I’d rhapsodize a little about the history and trivia related to Saffron…and Sankranthi!! And of course, share some images from my kitchen! 

Saffron - The Royal Spice! Sripriya Murthy Photography

“Saffron”, the royal spice derived from a flower called “Crocus”, widely used in a variety of cuisines as a seasoning and a coloring agent. The spice is actually the dried stigma of the crocus flowers, really expensive and regally exclusive! You would think that a spice that magically makes an unborn child “fairer” while in the mother’s womb, has to be pricey? No? ;)  Trust me, I'd been advised to drink buckets of warm milk with saffron during my pregnancy, to ensure that my twin girls were born with "fair" complexions!. India's obsession with "fair" skin continues right?

Saffron has been historically used as an aphrodisiac, mood elevator, ritually offered to divinities, and used in dyes, perfumes, medicines, and body washes. No surprise that, Persian saffron infusions, are used in baths as a curative for battle wounds! The active components in Saffron have many therapeutic applications in many traditional medicines as antiseptic, antidepressant, anti-oxidant, digestive, anti-convulsant.

Saffron's aroma is reminiscent of metallic honey with grassy or hay-like notes, while its taste is sweet. Saffron is widely used in Indian, Persian, European, Arab, and Turkish cuisines. (Read Kashmiri Biryani, Milanese Risotto and French Bouillabaisse!)  Confectioneries and liquors also often include Saffron to add a double note to the discerning palate. 

Yellu Bella or the mixture of Til, Coconut and Jaggery

Now, Makara Sankranti is an important Hindu festival celebrated with religious fervor in almost all parts of India. The festival is celebrated to mark the beginning of the bountiful harvest season after few months of chilly winter. It falls on January 14, every year, as per the Solar calendar. Makara Sankranti is also known as Pongal. There, it is a three-day festival, starting from January 13 until January 15. January 13 is celebrated as Bhogi, followed by Makara Pongal (Sankranti) and then culminated by Mattu or Kanuma Pongal on the next day. The customs followed in villages of India, on Makar Sankranti, have a unique charm. 

Sakkare Acchu or Sugar Candy in fun shapes!

I have had the privilege of growing up in a Kannada household, but with mixed heritage flowing in from both Tamil and Telugu customs. Courtyards swept and sprinkled with water, and Rangoli (floor design via chalk powder) drawn and decorated with Cow Dung dumplings (Gubbame), is a fun (yes!!!)  Telugu custom, while the Tamil custom of preparation of Pongal (rice and lentil pudding) overflowing from the cauldrons in which they are prepared, definitely has yummy outcomes!  This  festival is a direct symbolism of people extending their gratitude to Mother Nature for good harvest and prosperity. 

Rangoli with Cow Dung (Gubbame). Google Images

Sankranthi is also called Suggi or harvest festival for farmers of Kaveri basin of Karnataka. On this auspicious day, young females (kids and teenagers) wear new clothes to visit near and dear ones with a Sankranti offering in a platter, and exchange the same with other families. This ritual is called "Ellu Birodhu." Here the platter would normally contain "Ellu" (white sesame seeds) mixed with fried groundnuts, neatly cut dry coconut and fine cut bella (jaggery). The mixture is called "Ellu-Bella" (ಎಳ್ಳು ಬೆಲ್ಲ). 

The plate also contains sugar candy moulds of various shapes (Sakkare Acchu, ಸಕ್ಕರೆ ಅಚ್ಚು) with a piece of sugarcane. There is a saying in Kannada "ellu bella thindu olle maathadi" which translates to 'eat the mixture of sesame seeds and jaggery and speak only good.' This festival signifies the harvest of the season, since sugarcane is predominant in these parts.

Gulab Jamoon reigns supreme on festive occasions...sprinkled liberally with saffron strands!

In some parts of Karnataka, a newly married woman is required to give away bananas for a period of five years to other married women (muthaidhe) from the first year of her marriage, and increase the number of bananas in multiples of five. There is also a tradition of some households giving away red berries "Yalchi Kai" along with the above. 

I remember, sitting down in a long brown sofa with all my girl cousins in my grandmother's house, and get showered with the yalchi kai (stinky that they were!) symbolizing the shower of prosperity on the womenfolk!!  Post the shower, we used to collect coins (dakshine) from the stinky shower that had dispersed on the floor...and in the folds of our langa blouses.. and sit and feast on the Sakkare Acchu and he jaggery parts (only!) of the Yellu Bella mixture.

In North Karnataka, kite flying with community members is also a tradition.  Colorful kites of all shapes and sizes fly in the blue January skies in parts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, signifying the farmers' delight at the good weather. 

Besan Laddu anyone? Don't miss the saffron strands, adding the special flavor!!

Isn’t it amazing? The cornucopia of culture, customs and rituals our Indian festivals  are full of?  And the calendar is just beginning for 2014! 

I feel so fortunate, that I am able to chronicle my experiences for my kids to read, cherish and follow. I am not sure if I will get a chance to sit with my girl cousins again on that brown sofa…and get showered by Yalchi Kai..but I sure will try to get my kids and their lot together to follow the same tradition in the years to come!

What is your favorite family tradition surrounding Sankranthi? Do you make the Yellu Bella mixture? Or do you make Pongal - Sweet and Khara? 

Do tell..!! Who knows, I might just drop by to “Yellu Beeru” at your place soon! 

Love,

Supriya

Makara Sankranti Kite flying - Google Images

The art of entertaining and Spotlight on block print

namaste - a welcome greeting & a symbol of hospitality!

The Taittirriya Upanishad (source) says "Athithi Devo Bhavah" which reads "May your guest be your God" laying down the guiding principle for Indian hospitality. The offering of the doctrinal "chai-pani"  (tea -water) as you enter an Indian home is not just a social more but an ingrained symbol of hospitality.  Images of my grandmother's considerate hospitality extended to her guests is lovingly etched in my memory. She never turned away a guest unfed and her piquant home cooked meals came to be a symbol of her legendary hospitality in our circles. 

Our dining room gets ready for visitors!

I have always sired a passion for hosting even since the time I was a novice cook (pity my first guests!) Entertaining implied inviting friends into our house and into our lives. Over the years, our home has hosted many gatherings - poker nights, festive potluck dinners, sunday brunches, casual chai huddles and celebratory regales. And so, for me,  entertaining has evolved into an esoteric interest. Being on this side of the pond, I have the opportunity to combine the Indian tradition of hospitality with the Western art of entertaining. From theme parties to cocktail hours to fine dining, the Western way of entertaining involves the creation of a viscerally stimulating experience  - one that I have come to admire and appreciate.

An assortment of colorful Indian delicacies served in basic white serveware.

"Dinner is not what you do in the evening before something else. Dinner is the evening" ~ Art Buchwald

Hosting a party means putting several elements together - the food, the  beverages, the table scape, the music, and the people. While it sounds simple enough, cohesively bringing the said elements together involves scrupulous planning, effort and preparedness. Entertaining is not only about cooking a meal and feeding your guests - it is about creating a palpable experience with a harmonious medley of ingredients - the aroma of food and flowers, the ambience created by music and lights, interesting conversations and lots of laughter. And hence the reference to art.

Desserts anyone?

  Throwing a good party takes time and if you are working outside the home it takes even more time! Given that my work days tend to be busy, I plan days in advance checking off one little thing at a time. Planning well and getting a head-start is a great way to trim costs. Prepping lets you do more at home and outsource less.  A to-do list is your best friend  and allows you to track all the little details.   The chaos and frenzy leading up to the event can leave you worn out and frazzled.  Therefore, I seek help when necessary. Cleaning  your home, picking your serveware and tableware, cooking the dishes, setting the table, planning the decor - the  tasks add up quickly! There are times when I wished  I had my mother or my aunts around and that's when I turn to my girlfriends (thank god for them!). 

A hand drawn elephant gracefully adorns the menu board

So, once you have the logistics down -it's time to party!

We recently hosted our American friends at home. The challenge of showcasing India through the food, desserts, decor and customs to an international audience was something I thoroughly relished. Collating the spices, the aromas and the textures for a  non-Indian palate was a formidable but fun culinary exercise. 

Fresh flowers in accent colors for an inviting feel

I used a base of solid white serveware to let the vivid colors of the food and decor pop.  The food was served buffet style but prearranged seating around the table allowed for a more relaxed "sit-down" dinner. For the tablescape,  I used white as the anchoring color with purple and fuchsia as accents. The dessert bar had a choice of two Indian desserts served in mini-flares and mini-bols for visual appeal. I also had a cake, just in case! Experience has taught me that contingency planning is key. I toyed with the idea of serving lassi but settled on a watermelon cooler punch keeping in mind the little guests of the day. The bright red beverage added  just the right splash of color.

Watermelon cooler

 I tied in all the different elements with one common denominator - the elephant.  That's right! Nothing represents India with more sanctity than the mighty elephant. From Indra's Airavata to Lord Ganesha to Maharaja's sawari, elephants have gained notoriety as an Indian cultural symbol not to mention they are also a personal favorite! Yes, I collect elephants! 

The bright red hand painted wooden elephant flanked by arabismo Morroccan glass serving as candle holders  (more on that in another post!)  looked resplendent as the buffet centerpiece . And lastly, my hand drawn elephants on the menu and the namaste sign board added a personal touch to the party .

Buffet centerpiece

My party was by no means perfect and it was never intended to be! But it was priceless, nonetheless - as a group of wonderful people gathered around my kitchen island to enjoy a home cooked meal and filled our home with warmth and laughter!

At Aalayam, we like to shine the spotlight on treasures that are unique to our homeland and today, I will be drawing your attention to my table linen in a beautiful block print fabric.

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication" ~ Leonardo Da Vinci

 

There is nothing more simple and sophisticated than block print fabrics. An ancient textile imprinting technique, block printing is done by artisans in rural India and these handmade fabrics are perfect inspite of their imperfections!
The symmetry of the ornate motifs adds drama and detail and makes these fabrics a great home decor accessory and more recently a global design trend. In a provencal (?) and paisley pattern my place mats and napkins are cheery and compatible with the  spring weather. 

 Buy block print and keep this artistic textile making technique alive and infuse your home with color, texture and a chic sensibility! Check out Apartment therapy's feature on the Indian block print fabric.

That's it for today folks! 

Be merry, live well and savor your Srikhand!

Recipe for Srikhand from here!

Cheers!
Deepa

All images are from my home and copyrighted! Please ask before using.

p.s: Thanks to turmericnspice for helping me plan the menu!