Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Pinterest Challenge- The Fall Edition

Hello from (mostly) sunny Georgia! The huge storm Sandy battered the North East US this week- we in the South East were spared and got only high winds and cold temperatures because of the storm system. My best wishes to everyone in the North East- I hope you stay safe and warm and dry.

Our family moved this month and all in all, it was a smooth ride. V and I divided up our precious creatures for the move. He drove down with Dale sprawled in the back seat and our curry leaf plant strapped in the passenger seat; a 12 hour drive over 2 days. I took a flight with Lila. I'm happy to say that dog, plant, baby all arrived happy and intact. We're settling into our new home and exploring our new town.

I wanted to pick up the blogging thread where I left off and the Fall Pinterest Challenge on Young House Love (YHL) gave me the perfect excuse to make something and post about it. In case you don't already read it, YHL is an endlessly fun blog written with humor and grace, full of design inspiration and craft ideas. As we transform this house into a home, this is a blog I'll turn to this blog often.



As you might expect, the Pinterest challenge is to stop pinning and start doing. I chose one craft and one recipe.

The Craft Pin: Pumpkins are the dominant decor in this season of Fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving. I had pinned an easy paper craft- making paper pumpkins from strips of patterned paper. I loved the simple, modern look of these pumpkins and thought it would be fun to make a few. The tutorial on It's Always Autumn is very well written. All I needed was some wire and patterned paper from the craft store. I did not find very cool patterned paper so I made the best of the limited selection I found- one black and white damask design, a textured orange and a metallic paper. I eyeballed the width of the strips and one fun evening of cutting and wiring later, I got this.

I would call this pin a moderate success- I enjoyed making these pumpkins and arranged on a cake plate, they add a pop of DIY festive fun to my otherwise-bare dining room. But it is challenging to make the pumpkins keep their shape; the strips keep sliding off to one side.

The Recipe Pin: When I moved from St. Louis, I tried to eat down the pantry as much as possible. In the last week, I still had a few things left that I did not want to move and gave them to friends to use up. The big bag of idli rava eluded all my attempts to get rid of it. I haven't been using idli rava since I switched to using idli rice for idlis. That was the only thing I ever made with idli rava so the stuff just sat there. None of my friends wanted it and I can't throw away food, so the idli rava joined the husband, dog and curry leaf plant on the long trip to its new pantry!

I resolved to use it up- can't have the idli rava still sitting there until we move to some other place. And that's how I pinned Nandita's recipe for Arisi Upma. In her post, she does a nice job of describing all the selling points of this recipe: made in minutes, no need to roast the rava and no chopping!

I had made ghee and the pot in which I make ghee always had a nice amount left on the sides once I pour the ghee into a jar. I don't wash the pot; instead I use it right away to cook something else, and that dish turns out more appetizing than ever with all the burnt on bits from ghee-making. That's the pot I made this upma in.

Arisi Upma
(adapted from this recipe on Saffron Trail)

1. Heat 1 tbsp coconut oil or ghee in a pan.
2. Make the tempering: mustard seeds, asafetida, curry leaves, urad dal, chana dal, bits of dried red chillies.
3. Add 3 cups water, handful of frozen peas, salt to taste and a tsp. of jaggery or sugar. Let the water come to a rolling boil.
4. Add 1 cup idli rava while stirring constantly.
5. Cover the pan and let the upma cook for 3-4 minutes. The water will be completely absorbed.
6. Turn off the heat. Add a handful of chopped cilantro.

Just as advertised, this was a quick and easy recipe. I have no doubt that the idli rava will be put to good use after all. But if you have any other ideas for using idli rava, I'm all ears.

I'm linking this post to the round-up on Young House Love, where you'll see hundreds of pins being tried and tested. 
In a fit of ambition, I have decided to participate in NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month), traditionally held in November of each year. The idea of NaBloPoMo is to exercise one's writing muscles by posting every single day. So November will be one long buffet of posts here on One Hot Stove. Not every post will contain a recipe. There might be crafts and photos and ideas and lists and book reviews and random musings. I'll just go with the flow and see what happens. Consider it a fair warning, dear readers (LOL). If you'd like to see a post on any particular topic, now is your chance to request it.

See you tomorrow- wheeee!

43 comments:

  1. I love YHL!!!!!
    I also love Arisi Upma...altho adding peas is an delightful diversion from the classic recipe!
    I am looking forward to reading 30 days of posts from you!

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    1. I add peas to upma every single time and looks like Nandita did too :)

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  2. Good to hear that your move went well and you're settling in. NaBloPoMo is fun! Looking forward to your posts!

    Btw, what is Lila dressing up as for Hallowe'en?

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    1. Lila was a slice of pizza! I'll post a pic later today.

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  3. So good to hear that the move went well Nupur. St.Louis will miss you for sure.

    YHL was featured in the Washington Post and that's how I got introduced to it. Not being craftly oriented I do not use the blog as much as I would like.

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    1. Oh, not nearly as much as I'll miss St. Louis!

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  4. The pumpkins are so much fun! You could make Diwali lanterns similarly.

    Hope you have a great time in GA!

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    1. Oh yes, I do plan to make little lanterns for Diwali!

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  5. Hey Nupur, So glad the moving was smooth! Wishing you tons of happiness in new home.
    I am soooo looking forward to your daily posts !! Yippppee!!
    Rehana

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    1. Thank you so much for the sweet wishes!

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  6. Hi Nupur,
    This is Shilpa. I have been reading your blog for the past couple months or so. I had been reading for some exams, and your blog made a boring afternoon so productive. Mainly because I got a lot of dinner ideas from your posts (I am a maharashtrian from Mumbai, so all your recipes appealed to me).
    So its nice to now that there be a post to read everyday now!
    Love your style of writing-as well as your recipes.
    Good luck to you on your move, and best wishes to you all!

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    1. LOL I can completely relate with spending time reading blogs when I should have been studying or working! But I am very glad you found some dinner ideas here. Good luck for your exams, Shilpa.

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  7. Good to hear that you are settling down in ur new home. Arisi upma looks yumm. Does idli rawa make upma sticky??
    Looking forward to ur posts in November. I just completed a month vegan mofo, so I'll probably take it easy for next month.

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    1. Your vegan mofo was amazing! Oh I won't be cooking something new every day FOR SURE :)
      No, this arisi upma is not sticky at all. I was surprised at how nice the texture was. You might like this quick recipe for a hot winter breakfast.

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  8. I am glad to hear that you all have settled in well in GA.
    Those pumpkins are super cute.
    Like you, I too cannot throw away food, when I moved to TX from IL, I packed it many packets of rava/ sabudana/ idli rava etc which were left after distributing a lot of stuff. Since it was a road trip, I got them here, useful initially since the area was new and we were settling in!
    Looking forward to your NaBloPoMo posts.

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    1. That's true- the food has been coming in handy for quick meals!

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  9. Nupur, I cannot tell you how happy it makes me feel to know that you will be posting every single day of this month.:) Every post of yours makes me calm and inspired. So give me anything, I will lap it up! :)))

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    1. What a sweet thing to say! You just made my day. I'll do my best to write something meaningful every day.

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  10. U r very innovative in making arisiupma, out of idly rawa. I should describe here, how a traditional arisi upma was made. Raw rice was washed once, drained and spread in a white cloth(The man of the house contributes the white cloth here, always he old whit edhoti) , when the rice is dried, it is ground into rawa size with a help of 'endhram' or the chakki. a few tsp of toor dal, pepper and cumin would also get into the endhram. Now the 'vengalapanai' (a must in every household once), (bronze handi) , is heated with generous oil ,and tadka is made with mustard, urad, chana dal, ginger pieces, red and green chillies, hing, currypatta and lots of coconut. water is added and when it boils, the ground rawa mixture is added and the vessal is covered with a plate filled with little water. In few minutes the tasty arisiupma is ready. Now mixie has replaced a chakki and the cooker , the bronze handi.

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    1. Thank you for this lovely description! It certainly sounds like a labor of love when made with raw rice.
      I did not invent this recipe or anything, it was shared by fellow blogger Nandita.

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  11. Hello.. nice to read about your safe move esp from the sandy storm. I loved those craft pumpkins and also the blog link given nice read :)

    Waiting forward to read from you daily :)

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    1. Thanks Kanchan! I like discovering new craft blogs too. Lots of eye candy.

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  12. Hi Nupur good to hear you are settling down in warmer climes. Hope Lila, Dalu and the curry leaf take to the new place well. Many years ago I had made conch shells using the same technique as the pumpkins, may be I should make them this Diwali. Also here is a suggestion try mixing grated cucumber and idli Rava along with green chilies and chopped coriander. Don't use water. Steam it like Dhokla. Serve with chutney.

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    1. Hi anjali, I have once made a similar recipe cooked in rolled turmeric leaves called KADAMB, learnt from the konkani blog aayisrecipes. BTW, is our normal cucumber enough or any specific variety is reqd?. Ny husband is not very fond of cucumber, any replacment would u suggest?

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    2. OOH Anjali, I will certainly try this steamed dish. Sounds tasty.

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  13. I am enjoying ur posts as usual, expecting more from ur new place, anotherway to use idly rawa. Pittu or puttu, which is very difficult to make can be made easily with idly rawa. Roast a cup of idly rawa till light brown. Dissolve 3/4th cup of jaggery in 2 cups of water and allow it to boil.U need not stick to measurements as the taste of gur varies from place to place. keep some more boilinbg water, if reqd. Filter the jaggery, once it is dissolved and kep it again on the stove, now add the rawa and allow it to thicken. Once it reaches the thickness of idly batter, pressure cook it for 2 to 3 whistles. While adding the rawa, add a tbsp of ghee. Allow it to cool, add fried cashews and serve.

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    1. Very interesting dish- thanks for sharing this recipe!

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  14. I was eagerly waiting for your post Nupur. So glad to know the move was a success and everything and everyone reached the new home safe and sound. I was a little worried about Dale since your last post about his condition, I was praying he would be strong enough for this long trip. Thanks so much for the update. And I can't tell you how happy I was to read you'll be posting all this month, I almost did a happy jump! :) I would love to read about how you manage your time and how you keep a stock of everything that's in your pantry (how often? and just plain 'how'?)

    My favorite thing to make from Idli Rava is Idli Rava Khandvi (not the gujarati khandvi but the maharashtrian one which is like a soft and delicately sweet vadi) its quick, easy and very delicious. You can also use idli rava to make 'appe'. You will find both recipes on 'chakali' blog.

    - Priti

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    1. Priti- I'll definitely write a couple of posts on keeping stock in the pantry in the next week or two. Thanks for suggesting this!
      Ooh, the idli rava khandvi and appe sound delicious- I'll look up the recipes.

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  15. The recipe is just perfect.. I had some idli rava to use up too.. since I bought a bag of idli rice this week. :)
    Love reading your posts.. look forward to the rest of the month ...

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    1. LOL good luck with making idlis and using up that idli rava- there are more recipes suggested in the comments above!

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  16. Hi Nupur,

    I love reading your blog and check for new posts everyday.I love your writing style and today when I read that you will posting every single day on November...OMG I was thrilled.

    I have a 7-month old baby who is starting on solid foods. Would you blog a few indian homemade recipes for baby.

    -Swapna

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    1. Thank you Swapna! That's a great suggestion- I'll definitely write a post this month on some homemade baby food recipes.

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  17. glad that the move went well and i was chuckling at the thought of the curry leaf plant strapped to the seat... i am attempting nablopomo too for the first time... wish me luck!

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    1. YAY glad to have you as a NaBloPoMo- mate :) good luck!!

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  18. Hi Nupur,
    Its great to know that will be writing everyday ...the feeling you get when your favourite magazine will be coming daily instead of weekly :) i am sure you have made a lot of your loyal readers very happy ...me included. Apart from cooking i have enjoyed your posts on other topics too .. could u write on parenting too..that would make an interesting read. Are there things you would do teach your daughter....how does that change with changing of generations and geography. That apart could u also write about some of your favourite things to make when u invite people over? Just some ideas ...some suggestions ...i hope you dont mind them
    Lila is very adorable in her veggie pizza costume ...thanks for sharing the pic.
    roshni

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    1. Thank you for the suggestions, Roshni! I'll definitely try to do a post about what dishes seem to be hits with my guests.

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  19. Haha, just when I gave up (for a few days) coming and seeing here if you have posted anything new, you start NaBloPoMo! yaaaay! I'll have a reader feast! :D Show us you rnew apartment as it settles down.. and how is Dale taking to the new town?

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    1. Thanks for being so enthusiastic :) I hope you enjoy reading along!

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  20. Darling,
    So glad to see the poor old Arisi Upma featured here. Also, i'm inspired to join the NaBloPoMo bandwagon. Too late??

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    1. Not too late! November is still young. C'mon- join us :)
      And thanks to your Arisi upma, I'll be enjoying many hot breakfasts.

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  21. Glad you're move was smooth Nupur ( an unusual thing). I moved thrice in the past 18 months so we are getting quite good at it ourselves :-) we live in a small town now and much prefer it. The first thing I do on moving to a new place is check out the public library. Lila looked cute in her pizza costume.Mehuli was a ladybug.would love to hear about you're organization of the new house in the daily posts.
    Best Arpita.

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    1. Thrice in 18 months- yikes, you poor thing. That's what I did as soon as I got here too, got a public library card :)
      A ladybug- so cute!!!

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