AvarekaaLu Saaru/Surti Lilva Rasam

What is better than your Brother-in-law visiting? - having a BIL who loves to cook! what is better than having a BIL who loves to cook? - a BIL who drags your husband into the kitchen for helping and gives you a day off.. :)

My BIL, Praveen, is a wonderful cook and is an avid learner of South Canara cooking. He follows recipes authentically and what’s more, gives exact proportions of the ingredients; unlike my mother whose proportions are always half palmful, quarter palmful, small tamarind ball, one closed fist.... which I never get right most of the time :)

He cooked avareKaalu Saaru when he visited us last winter. It was so mouthwateringly delicious. And it so happened that, that day god blessed us with perfect weather - rainy and cloudy - to savor this rasam!

This spicy, garlicky rasam is a treat for any day.

Veg Noodles(Malaysian Veg Noodles)

I am a sucker for noodles. Especially Indo-chinese versions. It is a delight to eat hot spicy noodles on cold rainy days. My daughter loves them too(somehow, all kids do). So much so that she doesn’t mind eating vegetables in them!! I couldn’t believe my ears when she said “I love vegetables” while eating them! Which mother wouldn’t like to hear those words, right?!  how I wish all dishes were this kid friendly... 

It is called Malaysian Veg Noodles. I don't know what makes it Malaysian..