சுண்டலோ சுண்டல் ! - A protein rich snack - Sundal!

It is an overcast, somewhat cold day both inside and outside. All I can think of is my home. There was hardly a care in the world. The one place you can gaze at eternity and not be bored is the beach. And that sends vivid imagery of "Sundalo sundal", the sound from small boys/ men with a basket in their hands and with sundal inside. The aroma is very inviting. It is best tasted with a group of people sitting in a circle in the beach and with the cool slightly salty summer breeze gently kissing your hair and neck, with the wafting of a myriad smells including that of fresh jasmine, with the backdrop of the sea waves.

Alright, now to the recipe!

You may use any of a variety of lentils. Best suited are Pattani or dried pea and kondai kadalai. You know how apt this name is for that lentil - it is just as it is described - a brownish red lentil that has a projected top that sits like a bundle of air on top.

Soak the lentil the previous day night. Anytime in late morning or evening, drain the water, clean and pressure cook the lentil. Cool and drain the water.
Take a saucepan and with a little oil, add mustard seeds, jeera, urad dal, green chillies, (onions if you want) and saute. Add the boiled lentils. Add turmeric powder, salt and asafoetida. Top off with finely cut coriander leaves. Just before serving add a few drops of lemon juice.

This is a best cushioning food beween meals or beween lunch and dinner. It is healthy, very little fat and economical. If you drink juice or water with it will sustain you for atleast 1 -11/2 hours.

For dramatic effect, take a piece of newspaper and roll it into a cone; put some sundal in it, close it. Go out to the terrace, or beach or garden and enjoy your "Sundalo Sundal".

சுண்டலோ சுண்டல் ! - A protein rich snack - Sundal!

It is an overcast, somewhat cold day both inside and outside. All I can think of is my home. There was hardly a care in the world. The one place you can gaze at eternity and not be bored is the beach. And that sends vivid imagery of "Sundalo sundal", the sound from small boys/ men with a basket in their hands and with sundal inside. The aroma is very inviting. It is best tasted with a group of people sitting in a circle in the beach and with the cool slightly salty summer breeze gently kissing your hair and neck, with the wafting of a myriad smells including that of fresh jasmine, with the backdrop of the sea waves.

Alright, now to the recipe!

You may use any of a variety of lentils. Best suited are Pattani or dried pea and kondai kadalai. You know how apt this name is for that lentil - it is just as it is described - a brownish red lentil that has a projected top that sits like a bundle of air on top.

Soak the lentil the previous day night. Anytime in late morning or evening, drain the water, clean and pressure cook the lentil. Cool and drain the water.
Take a saucepan and with a little oil, add mustard seeds, jeera, urad dal, green chillies, (onions if you want) and saute. Add the boiled lentils. Add turmeric powder, salt and asafoetida. Top off with finely cut coriander leaves. Just before serving add a few drops of lemon juice.

This is a best cushioning food beween meals or beween lunch and dinner. It is healthy, very little fat and economical. If you drink juice or water with it will sustain you for atleast 1 -11/2 hours.

For dramatic effect, take a piece of newspaper and roll it into a cone; put some sundal in it, close it. Go out to the terrace, or beach or garden and enjoy your "Sundalo Sundal".

கலக்கோ கலக்கல் மிக்ஸ்சர்! - A snack you will win hearts hands down!

Today I am in a lousy mood - nothing is going right and I am hungry.

So something to munch is what I am looking for.

Not murukku, not pazham, not sweet, not chips .. then what I asked myself one day and this is what I came up with:

A hot sizzling recipe for a less than 10 min work that was everyone's favourite.

kallakkO kalakkal mixture!

Take what you have at home. Fried snack items from the store or home made that are fresh, snacks like biscuits, chips, cookies, wafers. Cereals with or without fruit mix.

Take a large bowl and keep adding a little bit of everything; murukku, mixture, chivda, thenkuzhal, biscuits, popcorn, cereal, biscuits, etc., etc.,

The mix should be tipped in favour of healthier snacks like cereals and a little less towards chips, for eg. A 560-40 or 70-30 blend.

Add some salt, hot chilli powder and raisins and nuts of any kind. Mix well and break into uniform pieces.

This is a dry snack. You can cut and keep strawberries, cucumber and blueberries.
take a bowl or cup full of the snack mix and top it off with the fruit/ veg of your choice.
There is your colourful no non-sense ready to eat kalakkO kalakku mixture!.

Hm, haven't heard from you ... so write away and send your

" I am stressed out - this is what I have. mami enna solrEl? " request for ideas and recipes.