Sree Narashima Jayanthi Celebrations – 2016

Sree Narashima Jayanthi Celebrations at Uttaradi Mutta, a few pictures from the week shared by my Brother-in-law Ramesh who resides in Bangalore.

P.S: All credit to Uttaradi mutta for the pictures.

And below is the link for the celebrations in Mantralaya.
All credit to SRSmutt for the pictures.
http://srsmatha.org/narasimha-jayanti-celebrations/

Lord Narashima

South Indian Vegetarian Low Carb Diet – Our Progress

It has been almost a month since we started the low carb diet. I wrote in great detail why I wanted to go on this diet. You can read all about it here:

• South Indian Low Carb Diet

We have continued the diet, have not eaten Rice or any rice items. No Upma, No Avalakki, No Dosa, No Idli or No Chapathi(just me). And No Akki Roti  or Sabudhana Khichadi which we love. 😉

Initially for a day or two, I used to have slight headache, now even that has gone away.

We threw away all the bread, Pizza dough, all the potatoes we had. We visited my Daughter for Mothers day, but didn’t visit any restaurant. I am surprised how we always combine any celebration with food or going to a fancy restaurant. I told my daughter instead I wanted to go hiking, and we went on a hike and walked almost 7 miles.

It has been easy doing this diet since even my Husband stopped eating any rice or rice products. I make or sometimes he himself makes 1 or 2 chapathis.

So, if you wish to do this diet, make sure you have a buddy who is willing to do this with you. You definitely need a support system.

I still make all the south Indian dishes, Rasam, Sambar, Vegetables, Khadi, Yogurt, Raitas, lots of Kosambaris.

Yesterday, since it was Pushya Nakshatra if it was my normal diet, I would have made a sweet dish. However, yesterday I made Nucchina Unde, Kosambari, Majjige Huli or Khadi. No sweet dish, instead recited Rayaru’s name a couple more times.

It has also been easy doing this diet since I have not traveled anywhere. Starting next week, I am going to travel again until almost end of July. I hope to continue doing this diet.

I have more energy, sleep better, and am happy losing weight. I have no portion sizes, I eat as much as I want. Since I am eating lots of fruits and vegetables and whole grains, I feel full soon. I should warn that this diet is expensive, since you need to buy lots and lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and pulses.

The one fruit which we have not eaten is Banana. The one vegetable we have not eaten is Potato. Other than that, all fruits and vegetables can be consumed. We have not skipped breakfast even for a single day, and breakfast has been oats every single day.

Share with me your experiences.

P.S: If you really have chronic illness, please consult your Doctor.

South Indian Vegetarian Low Carb Diet – Red Kidney Beans Salad

Quick and easy Red Beans Salad with colorful red and yellow peppers. No Onion. You can eat it raw, but I like it cooked for a few minutes. The pepper still has its crunch.

 

Ingredients:

• 1 Can washed and rinsed Red Kidney beans
• 1/2 large red bell pepper chopped
• 1/2 Large yellow bell pepper chopped
• 1/2 large green bell pepper (optional)
• 2-3 green chillies
• 1 tsp oil, mustard seeds, Jeera and Hing
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. In a pan, add oil and when hot mustard seeds, jeera and hing
2. Add bell peppers and green chillies
3. Fry until translucent
4. Once done, add red kidney beans and cook covered until soft
5. Add salt, cilantro if you wish and lemon juice.

 

South Indian Vegetarian Low Carb Diet – Day 4 Lunch

A simple day 4 lunch which includes lots of proteins and really colorful vegetables. Colorful, delicious and completely healthy. This was prepared on a Thursday, so no onion was included.

So, the plate has Red Kidney beans Salad with lots of colorful bell peppers, Carrot and Cucumber Kosambari, and Cucumber Raita.

You can find recipes for a variety of Kosambaris using both Channa Dal and Moong Dal here:

1. Channa Dal Kosambari
2. Carrot Kosambari
3. Cucumber Kosambari

You can find several recipes for Raita variations other than the plain cucumber ones here:

1. Badnekayi Mosaru Bajji or Roasted Eggplant Raita
2. Carrot and Tomato Raita

I will post the recipe for Red Kidney Beans Salad soon!

 

South Indian Vegetarian Low Carb Diet – Day 3 Lunch

A simple day 3 lunch which again includes lots of proteins and vegetables. Colorful, delicious and completely healthy white beans Salad. I ate this Salad with a cup of Cucumber Raita. My Husband had it with 2 Chapathis.

 

Ingredients:

• 1 Can washed and rinsed white beans
• 1 large onion chopped ( optional)
• 1 large red bell pepper chopped
• 2-3 green chillies
• 1 tsp oil, mustard seeds, Jeera and Hing
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. In a pan, add oil and when hot mustard seeds, jeera and hing
2. Add onion and green chillies
3. Fry until translucent
4. Once done, add white beans and cook covered until soft
5. Add salt, cilantro if you wish and lemon juice.

 

South Indian Vegetarian Low Carb Diet – Breakfast2

It is very tough to be on a low carb diet and eat any Indian breakfast. Especially if you are working since you have no time to do all the grinding for any healthy options of Idli or Dosa where you can completely eliminate rice, use just dals.

It has been 2 and 1/2 weeks, yes it is 2 and 1/2 weeks since I started this low carb diet and I have lost close to 10 lbs. I feel really better, my clothes fit a little better, way more energized.

SO, everyday in the morning it is my Husband who makes a bowl of Oat meal. The first few days I added a tsp of honey, low fat milk, and slowly and steadily moved away and now not using either milk or honey.

Ingredients:

• Steel cut Oats
• 5 Walnuts
• 5 Dates
• Almond Milk
• 5-7 any other nuts you have
• Finely chopped fruits

Procedure:

1. Cook Oats as per instructions using 1/2 water and 1/2 milk or just Almond milk
2. Add chopped walnuts and dates
3. Eat immediately
4. Add any other nuts or raisins you have in hand
5. You can also add strawberries, blue berries, red berries, apples

 

South Indian Vegetarian Low Carb Diet – Snack – Roasted Chickpeas

When you are on a low carb diet you do need some snacks to eat in between meals. I read at a few places about Roasted Chickpeas. Since we started the diet, we brought a big tin of chickpeas from Costco.

Half of the tin I made chickpeas usli. The remaining I decided to make this crunchy yummy roasted chickpeas.

Ingredients:

• Drained and washed chickpeas – 2 cups
• 2 tsp olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Red chili Powder to taste

Method:

• Drain and wash the chickpeas. I brought the canned ones.
• Place it on a paper towel for 1/2 day so all water is evaporated
• In a bowl add Olive oil and coat the chickpeas.
• Transfer to a baking sheet.
• Bake for 30 minutes in 400 degree F.
• Take out and once cooled, add salt and red chilli powder.
• Stays crunchy for weeks.
• Store in an airtight container.

South Indian Vegetarian Low Carb Diet – Breakfast 1- Cracked Wheat Upma/Upittu

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Cracked Wheat Thick Variety
• 4-5 green chillies
• 1/4 cup frozen peas
• 1 chopped red bell pepper
• 1 chopped green bell pepper
• 4-5 curry leaves finely chopped
• 3 tsp finely chopped cilantro
• Salt to taste
• sugar to taste
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp mustard seeds, 1 tsp channa dal, 1 tsp urad dal, 1/2 tsp turmeric, pinch of hing for seasoning

Method:

• First, in a non stick pan or any deep vessel fry the cracked wheat continuously until it turns golden brown. Make sure it doesn’t burn out. Transfer this onto a plate.
• Next, add 2 tsp oil. When it is hot enough add all the seasoning ingredients one after another.
• Add green chillies and curry leaves also.
• Add the peas and bell peppers and 2 cups of water and cover.
• Let this boil until the peppers are cooked.
• Now add salt.
• Once this boils as well, slowly add the cracked wheat.
• While you are adding cracked wheat, make sure there are no lumps, so keep stirring continuously.
• It should look watery when you have added all the cracked wheat. See right side of the picture.
• Now, cover the vessel, and cook on slow fire for another 15-20 minutes, once the wheat is cooked, add finely chopped cilantro and lemon juice.
• Serve with chatnipudi and yogurt.

P.S: Use any vegetables you wish, no potatoes.

• Cabbage Cracked Wheat Upma/Upittu

South Indian Vegetarian Low Carb Diet – Day 2 Lunch

A simple day 2 lunch which includes lots of proteins and vegetables. Colorful, delicious and completely healthy.

So, the plate has Blackeyed Peas Salad, Steamed Carrots, Quinoa Salad, handful of cherry tomatoes and a bunch of walnuts.

I will post recipes for Blackeyed peas salad, and Quinoa Salad.

 

Important Dates in May 2016

A few important dates in May.

May 3rd – Ekadashi

May 9th – Akshaya Thrithiya

May 12th – Guru Pushya Yoga, Reciting Sree Raghavendra Swamy Stotra is important

May 17th – Ekadashi

May 20th – Sree Narashima Jayanthi.