When my very dear friend, sent me a text that the concert is very nice, and I can attend, all I wanted to do was prepare food, I couldn’t think of attending a concert or a rehearsal without taking home made snacks. It goes a long way, from the tastiest potato mezukkupuratty, to the 3 finger size, whether you measure length, breadth or diameter, the signature Ethakkappam, Puffs, Cutlets and Parippu Vada.
The most sustainable size snacks are an improvement I did after the nonstop supply of palaharams (snacks) we Created!!! Manufactured!! and supplied to everyone who visited us, for over a decade, every single day 24×7. I started making miniatures, be it biscuits, puffs, ethakkappam, cake, cutlets, puddings, parippu vada, uzhunnu vada, sukhiyan, bonda, bun with kismis (raisin on top), rusk, sandwich, you name it everything was just a bite size, there was no way you could waste. It was tiny, soft or crispy or flaky, clean and yummy.
I did make Ethakkappam and Parippu Vada; in the limited time I had, and took for the amazing Nightingale.
When I was at Kayamkulam, Valiammachy would sit by the wooden step in front of the pathayapura (store) churning yoghurt. Butter and buttermilk were the byproducts. Buttermilk was made to Pacha Moru, white in color called green buttermilk!! adding the right amount of salt, freshly picked curry leaves, a few shallots, ginger and green chillies crushed.
By noon I would see groups of ladies coming to see Valiammachy, carrying steel thookku, containers with handle; they were clad in kalli mundu (lunky) with madras checks, fitting blouses which seemed ironed to their bosom, covered with the multipurpose thorthu made of white cotton with a tiny colour strip at the edge, used as a small tiny shawl either to wipe the beads of sweat while working and walking, to make a head support by rolling to an uzhunnu vada, to hold heavy loads or to dry after a bath.
I was always intrigued at the shine and luster of their skin that sparkled in the rays of the mighty Sun.
They would chit chat with her– they were the face book group of Kayamkulam. they would post, share, like and comment on the many breaking news around, including births, deaths, marriages, small fights, colorful gossips etc. Valiammachy would be religiously filling their vessels with Pacha Moru.
I was pretty much amazed by this feat; the ladies told me, this is good enough for the whole family to have a square meal to hearts content.
I have to admit, till date, I have not tasted anything close. The simple Moru had Gods blessings, made with love and served with love.
I used to ask Valiammachy a thousand times the secret of her amazingly tasty food, no matter what it is. It was always Valiappachen who answered my question “Monomakkaliye the secret is your Valiammachy’s heavenly ingredient “Sneham”. Which is added without measure to everything she makes.
Valiammachy would never be intimidated by any number of people who would land at her door step. She would feed anyone and any number with simple food but so tasty and so filled with love. Till date I have successfully followed the same principle whether it was in the office hosting for 1000’s of guests, any nationality or at home, and I am grateful to her for the lifesaving theory.
I do what I know best and home food, simple Kerala recipes. There are so many amazing recipes we cook at home on a daily basis and serving that is my best bet. All I try is remember my Valiammachy and my Amma and add enough of love and reverence to the food. It’s done with a silent prayer all the time.
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