Author: Sri Nandhini Hari

I’m Sri Nandhini Hari, a B.Com & M.B.A finance post graduate and have worked in American Express Bank as an Asst. Manager and later with CTS as Financial Analyst. I have a passion towards our own tradition and culture and this has triggered me to share the natural and homemade products to a bigger community for the benefit of all.

Samba Pal Payasam

Ingredients:

Kichali/Jeeraga Samba – 1/4 cup
Milk – 3 cups
Ghee – 1 1/2 tbl spoon
Powdered organic Jaggery – 1 3/4 to 2 cups
Safron – 3 to 4 strands

Method

Heat 1/2 tblspoon ghee in a cooker (or any heavy bottom vessel) and fry the Samba rice. Fry till raw smell goes. Remove from vessel before it changes its colour and allow it to cool. Now grind this in the pulse mode in the mixie so that it doesnt get powdered.
Spread the powdered jaggery in a bowl and jus add water till its covered. Allow the jaggery to disolve and strain the impurities. Meanwhile soak the saffron strands in 1 tblspoon of warm milk.
In the same vessel boil milk , once its boiled add the grounded rice and keep the lid closed till the rice is cooked and the milk is reduced to half. Please stir the mixture occasionally to avoid sticking at the bottom.Cook this in low flame, it tastes richer in slow cooking.

Once its cooked add the saffron mixture and boil for 2 mins. Now add the jaggery mixture and switch off the flame.

Tasty and healthy Rice Kheer/Pal payasam ready serve your taste buds.

Author: Sri Nandhini Hari

I’m Sri Nandhini Hari, a B.Com & M.B.A finance post graduate and have worked in American Express Bank as an Asst. Manager and later with CTS as Financial Analyst. I have a passion towards our own tradition and culture and this has triggered me to share the natural and homemade products to a bigger community for the benefit of all.

Instant Aval/Poha Kara Kozhukkatai / Dumplings

Ingredients

1. Black Rice Aval – 2 cups
2. Chana dhal – 2 tsp
3. Urud dhal – 2 tsp
4. curry leaf – 8 to 10
5. Mustard seeds – 1tsp
6. Green chilly slit – 2
7. Red chilly – 1
8. Coconut gratings – 3/4th cup
8. Oil for seasoning

Method

Wash once and soak Aval/ Poha for 15 to 20 mins
Drain water. Add required salt and keep it in a mixing bowl
In a kadai Heat oil and add Mustard once they crackle add Channa dhal, Urud dhal,both chilies and curry leaves and pour the seasoning to the poha. Add the coconut gratings and kneed well.

Now greese your hand with little oil and start making dumplings with your hand.

Mean time grease the idli plates with oil and put it on heat.
Place the dumplings in the idli plates and cook for 10 to 15 mins.

Hot steaming instant healthy dish ready to be served with idli powder or chutney of your choice.

Black rice aval(Karuppu Kavuni)can be substituted with other Millets and flattened rice like Ragi aval, Bajra Aval/Poha , Diabetic/Arthirites Poha ( Kattuyanam), Normal Aval or Poha

Author: Sri Nandhini Hari

I’m Sri Nandhini Hari, a B.Com & M.B.A finance post graduate and have worked in American Express Bank as an Asst. Manager and later with CTS as Financial Analyst. I have a passion towards our own tradition and culture and this has triggered me to share the natural and homemade products to a bigger community for the benefit of all.

Homemade Healthy KinderJoy (Natural Choco balls / cakes)

 

Ingredients:

Scrapped Coconut : 1 cup
Organic Jaggery : 1.25 cup
Elaichi powder : a pinch
Fried cashew Optional
Desi cows ghee 2 tbl spoon

Method:

Spread the powdered jaggery in a vessel and add water till it is covered and heat till the jaggery is mixed well. Strain the mixture to remove impurities.

Now keep the jaggery mixture in a pan and heat till 1 string consistency.
Once it is arrived add the grated coconut and mix well. After 2 mins add the half of the ghee, elaichi powder and roasted cashew and combine everything.

Now add few drops of ghee to the plate and spread well.
Add the left out ghee to the jaggery coconut mixture. Once you find white bubbles in the sides, start blending it continuously. Just before it comes together as a mass, pour the mixture to the greased plate and allow it to cool.

Take the mixture and form into desired shapes. I had made into balls and squares.If you feel the mixture is sticky jus roll it in rice flour once.

I was about to name this dish as Chocolate balls as it was brown in colour, but to my daughter it looked and tasted like Kinderjoy choco ball.I was overwhelmed that i was able to satisfy my little angel’s urge for sugar candies which are chemical based through this homemade healthy Kinder joy!!! Do try this natural candy and share your feedback.

 

Author: Sri Nandhini Hari

I’m Sri Nandhini Hari, a B.Com & M.B.A finance post graduate and have worked in American Express Bank as an Asst. Manager and later with CTS as Financial Analyst. I have a passion towards our own tradition and culture and this has triggered me to share the natural and homemade products to a bigger community for the benefit of all.

Bajra Aval/Poha Veg Cutlet (Kambu Cutlet)

Ingredients:

Bajra/Kambu Aval/Poha – 2 cups
Peanuts – Handful
Boiled Potato – 2
Grated carrot – 1
Onion – 1
Pudina – 10 leaves
Ginger – 1 inch
Green chilly – 2
Salt to taste
Oil for cooking

Method:

Wash once and Soak Bajra Aval/Poha for 15 min.
Finely chop onion,ginger,green chilly and pudina leaves.
After 15 mins squeze the water from bajra poha and add it to mixing bowl.
(This excess squeezed water can be used for making some other dish)
Now add boiled mashed potato, grated carrot, onion, ginger, green chilly and pudina leaves and mix all the ingredients together.

Spread little oil in your palm and make small flat dumplings out of the mixture.
Heat a iron Tawa and pour few drops of oil.
Once its hot place these dumpling in the tawa and cook till golden brown by turning each cutlet now and then.
Put few drops of oil if necessary.

A Healthy lip smacking evening snack ready to be tasted!!!

Bajra Aval/Poha can be substituted with other Millets and flattened rice like Ragi aval, Black rice aval(Karuppu Kavuni), Diabetic/Arthirites Poha ( Kattuyanam), Normal Aval or Poha

Author: Sri Nandhini Hari

I’m Sri Nandhini Hari, a B.Com & M.B.A finance post graduate and have worked in American Express Bank as an Asst. Manager and later with CTS as Financial Analyst. I have a passion towards our own tradition and culture and this has triggered me to share the natural and homemade products to a bigger community for the benefit of all.

Immunity Aval/Poha Mixture – Crunchy Snack

Ingredients:

1. Immunity Aval – 1.5 cup
2. Peanuts – Handfull
3. Fried gram/Pottu kadalai – Handfull
4. Cashew 8 to 10(broken into half
5. Curry leaves – 6 to 7 leaves
6. Salt to taste
7. Chilly powder
8. Hing – a pinch
9. Oil for frying

Method:

Keep all the ingredients ready.
Heat oil in a wok.
Once oil is heated, add Peanuts and fry till it is slightly brown
Remove them and drain excess oil in tissue paper.
Then add fried gram and cashew in the same way.
Now add Immunity Aval/Poha and fry them till the shh sound ceases.
and Drain it in a tissue paper.
At the end add Curry leaves and fry till crisp.
Transfer all the item to a big bowl and add salt, chilly powder, hing and mix well

Crunchy healthy snack is ready for our tea time.

Immunity Aval/poha can be replaced with other traditinal flattened rice/poha varieties like Black rice(Karuppu Kavuni),Diabetic/Arthirites ( Kattuyanam)

Author: Sri Nandhini Hari

I’m Sri Nandhini Hari, a B.Com & M.B.A finance post graduate and have worked in American Express Bank as an Asst. Manager and later with CTS as Financial Analyst. I have a passion towards our own tradition and culture and this has triggered me to share the natural and homemade products to a bigger community for the benefit of all.

Black Rice Idli (Anti oxidant Rice)

Cancer prevention food invented by our ancestors.

Ingredients
  1. Idli rice – 3 cups
  2. Urud dhall – 1 cup
  3. Black rice – 1 & 1/2 cups
  4. Methi seedds – 1 tsp
Instructions

Soak the above items separately for 3 hours and grind it. Keep it overnight for fermenting. Morning, Mix the batter well and pour the batter little by little in the idli mould, in the same way you would make normal idli. You will get very soft healthy idlis.

Author: Sri Nandhini Hari

I’m Sri Nandhini Hari, a B.Com & M.B.A finance post graduate and have worked in American Express Bank as an Asst. Manager and later with CTS as Financial Analyst. I have a passion towards our own tradition and culture and this has triggered me to share the natural and homemade products to a bigger community for the benefit of all.

Herbal Pouch For Nutritious Hair

Hi Friends,

When I was sharing my Shikakai powder, many were asking some solution for hair-fall. So I thought I will share another grandmas home-made solution for hair-fall.  This is a pouch which consists of 8 major herbs required for a healthy hair growth. Our grandma insists us to use this as our daily combing oil. May be because of this we used to have healthy thick hair in our childhood. Time passed on and as I grew up, started using all cosmetics available in the markets which are easy to be applied and readily available. The results are:

  • Pre mature greying
  • Dandruff
  • Hair fall
  • Dull hair

I was also a person who was affected by all these problems. Use of chemicals  are not the only reason for these above mentioned issues, its because of our lifestyle, pollution and atmospheric changes too.

Just then my grandmas herbal oil struck in my mind which she used to make for us. I called her and asked for the recipe. Thank you Grandma! for sharing this recipe with me. Yes!!! it worked again. Wondering how come our ancestors found solutions for all problems with items which are connected to nature. Now I see a drastic reduction in my hair fall. Just thought that I would share it with a bigger community.

How this works

The below 8 natural and basic ingredients are added and slowly heated in the natural sun light, it provides the necessary nourishment needed for the hair.

  • Methi seeds – Treats Dandruff and acts as body coolant
  • Dried Amla – Improves the texture of the hair
  • Surul Pattai/Alkanet root – Naturally colours the hair
  • Dried Hibiscus flower – Gentle cleanser and prevents hair shedding
  • Mehandi cake – Prevents premature greying and conditions the hair
  • Dried Curry leaves – Repairs damaged roots n reduces hair fall
  • Rose petals – Tightens the scalp
  • Vettiver – Fragrant and coolant

How to prepare

Actual Pouch
Pouch after few hours
Inside Pouch
Pouch just added in oil
Pouch after few a day under sun light

Take a glass jar/bottle with lid and drop this herbal bag in 300 ml normal coconut oil. Pour  oil which the necessary to cover the bottom part of the pouch and place it under the sun for 4 to 5 days. The warmth and light from the sun will help to infuse the herbal properties into the oil. The oil will turn into light red colour. Now you can add the rest of the oil and use it. This oil mainly helps in  premature greying of hair and makes the hair denser and smoother. It reduces dandruff and hair-fall too. This herbal oil can be kept till 4 months.

Each pocket costs Rs.108. If anyone is interested you can place your order at sriharicares@gmail.com or call me at 7760292062/9884554149.

Note : If in case you want the entire process viz. soaking of herbal pouch in cold pressed coconut oil and exposing to sun to get the complete herbal oil, please let me know. This can be done on request basis to facilitate parents who are unable to do it. This is done with additional cost for the coconut oil.

We are part of HLP.World/Store, a community driven shopping project, that revives Indian indigenous traditional organic food. A project initiated exclusive by parents for parents at whatsapp holistic group.

Author: Sri Nandhini Hari

I’m Sri Nandhini Hari, a B.Com & M.B.A finance post graduate and have worked in American Express Bank as an Asst. Manager and later with CTS as Financial Analyst. I have a passion towards our own tradition and culture and this has triggered me to share the natural and homemade products to a bigger community for the benefit of all.

How to wash hair with Shikakai Powder

This post will explain the way of using the Shikakai powder. First of all let me thank all of you  for showing interest in using shikakai powder. I am really thankful to the people who helped me in doing this product.

I got to know that many of them have doubt about how to use this shikakai powder as some are using it for the first time. Please refer below for the procedure.

  1. Mix this Shikakai powder 2 hours before the wash  or previous night with water (Actually rice water works well) into a smooth paste and leave it.
  2. Massage your hair and scalp with oil of your choice.
  3. Split your hair into two halves n Take shikakai  paste and spread all over the hair and scalp and wait for 5 min.
  4. Take little water  and rub the hair with your hand gently. Take more water as required.
  5. Wash off and redo if necessary.
  6. You will feel the softness once your hair dries.

The amount of shikakai depends on the length of your hair. I hope this is clear if you have any doubt feel free to reach me at sriharicares@gmail.com.

Author: Sri Nandhini Hari

I’m Sri Nandhini Hari, a B.Com & M.B.A finance post graduate and have worked in American Express Bank as an Asst. Manager and later with CTS as Financial Analyst. I have a passion towards our own tradition and culture and this has triggered me to share the natural and homemade products to a bigger community for the benefit of all.

HOMEMADE UBTAN- Traditional bath powder

Homemade Green gram powder is a herbal bath powder used for babies. The custom of making this homemade bath powder for babies has been followed for many years. Generally you would not get this bath powder at shops. This powder is very effective antiseptic and prevents the child from skin diseases. We give oil massage to babies and bath them with this powder. You can see the benefits of oil massage for babies in this link . Regular use of this powder will gradually reduce the body hair growth in girl babies. If you need for boys please let me know as you have to lessen the amount of Kasthuri Manjal and Poolankazhangu.

IMG_20150504_092832

We used to make this powder at home especially for new born babies. I found out from our watsapp group that there were expectant mother and new born babies, so I thought I would help them in making this powder.

All the ingredients used to make this powder are  natural. Therefore, it does not have any harmful side effects and suits all skin types.  I have listed the ingredients used to make this ubtan below with its benefits.

Payatha Maavu (For Baby Skin)
S.No Ingrediants Use
1 Green moong Does not strip natural oil,softens skin,Removes the baby hair in the skin
2 Channa dhal Helps to improves complexion, lightens n maintains fairness
3 Kasthuri Manjal/ Wild Turmeric Anti onxidant,anti inflamatory,anti septic n anti bacterial,removes unwanted hair,keeps the baby skin blemish free
4 Poolankayangu / White Turmeric Good for skin, imparts fragrance, prevents infection n heals damaged skin
5 Vasanai podi* Consists of Rose petals, Vettiver , vasambu

*This vasanai podi is used to suppress the smell of green gram powder.

Please note that this product should be made during hot summer as all the ingredients must be dried properly. I will collect orders and make as per the demand. In case you need it later , you can always let me know as I can get it ready during the month of October as it is the next possible time to get this prepared. The shelf life of this product is 4 to 5 months if  maintained properly. Make sure you take little for the usage and store the rest in an air tight container. See to that the powder is kept away from any moisture.

Cost is Rs. 360/ Half KG.  If anyone is interested you can place your order on the above mentioned link . For more information email us @sriharicares@gmail.com or call me at 7760292062/9884554149.

We are part of HLP STORE , a project initiated exclusive by parents for parents at whatsapp holistic group.

Author: Sri Nandhini Hari

I’m Sri Nandhini Hari, a B.Com & M.B.A finance post graduate and have worked in American Express Bank as an Asst. Manager and later with CTS as Financial Analyst. I have a passion towards our own tradition and culture and this has triggered me to share the natural and homemade products to a bigger community for the benefit of all.

Shikakai Powder – For the Health of Hair

Dear Friends,

In our whatsapp group, we generally insist on oil bath as we all know that benefits of the same. You can see the benefits of oil massage for babies in this link. For an oil bath one of the best hair washing powder is shikakai powder and Green Gram Powder (Payatha Maavu) – Ubtan For Babies. I found out that many parents do not have option other than buying shikakai power available from market. That is when I decided to help the bigger community with this homemade product which is natural and does not have any chemicals.

Our Ancient Indian practice uses Shikakai powder for washing our hair. I am one of the parent of this group who believes that there should be some scientific reason behind our ancient practice. This Ancient Shikakai powder acts as a natural astringent for hair enhancing its binding properties. It clears dandruff and cleans the dirt accumulated on the scalp. Being a natural conditioner for hair, shikakai strengthens hair roots and promotes luxuriant growth. This homemade Shikakai powder has certain vital properties that act as coolants for the scalp.

At our home we have been using this homemade shikakai powder for generations. Generally during summer we prepare this  SHIKAKAI POWDER which includes ingredients that will enhance the growth and health of hair. I had learnt the art of making this shikakai powder from my grandmother and have been preparing this at home.

IMG_20150504_092602

I generally try to restrict myself from buying these kind of items outside. But nowadays most of us do not have time to do all these things because it is a long process and time consuming. As this is not a business , I will collect orders and make as per the demand. This is a product has to be prepared only during summer , so I may not have extra stock. In case you need it later , you can always let me know as I can get it ready during the month of October which is the next possible time to get this prepared.

Normal Shikakai Powder available in the market consists only of 3 to 4 ingredients like Shikakai, Soap nut or Methi or dried amla but at home we make this ancient shikakai powder with 14 ingredients which i have listed below with its benefits

Ancient Shikkakai Powder
S.No Ingrediants Use
1 Shikakai Hair growth, Treating Dandruff, Scalp related disease,Keeps the hair healthy and lusturous
2 Methi seeds Treats dandruff and Helps in regrowth of hair,Reverses baldness, prevents premature greying, Body coolent
3 Green gram Reduce hair breakage,Removes dandruff,Gives dark colour n shine to hair
4 Lemon skin Improves dull hair,Hair smells fresh n clean
5 Dried amla / Nellimulli Conditions hair leaving it Soft n luscious,Prevents greying
6 Rice Helps to detanle n manage hair, improves hair elasticity,strenghtens hair roots
7 Hibiscus flower Improves texture,Stimulates blood circutaion in scalp,Strenghthens root n hair
8 Hibiscus leaves
9 Boondhi Kottai/ Soap nut To get Soapy nature,cleans scalp,adds shine,anti fungal agent
10 Neem leaves / Veppilai Prevents hairloss,enhances growth,kills head lice,anti bacterial
11 Curry leaves Repairs damaged roots,Reduces hair fall,stops hair thinning,treats premature greying, strengthens hair  follicules
12 Dried Rose petal Tightens scalp,Gives a good smell in hair
13 Dried Maruthani leaves Treats dry brittle hair, colours n conditions hair
14 Vettiver Very fragrant n cooling,treats lice n relieves stress

You can keep this product for more than 6 months if maintained properly. Make sure you take little for the usage and store the rest in an air tight container. See to that the powder is kept away from any moisture.

 If anyone is interested you can place your order by clicking on the above button. For more information please mail @sriharicares@gmail.com or call me at 7760292062/9884554149.

Natural Lathering Shikakai Powder

As per feedback from many of you, here is another version of shikakai powder which produces lather and makes it easy to wash the oily hair. Wanted to have an All Natural Lathering Shikakai Powder which can substitute the use of shampoos and was working on it for quite sometime and here it is for you! !

This combination of natural products will be –

  • Easy to wash
  • Produce lather in order to remove the oil and clean the scalp
  • Helps to have healthy, smooth and shiny hair
  • Naturally conditions the hair

This all natural product which consists of shikakai, amla, methi, reetha and arappu powder is sun dried and grinded in shikakai grinding machine . This frothing shikakai powder can be used just like a shampoo. We need to mix the powder with water and make it thin, to a pouring consistency, like a shampoo. This can be used separately or can be mixed with the ancient shikakai powder in equal amount to get the benefits of other herbs.

Please refer the below link for easy way of washing hair with shikakai powder

https://swarnaprashana.org/how-to-wash-hair-with-shikakai-powder/

You can keep this product for more upto 6 months if maintained properly. Make sure you take little for the usage and store the rest in an airtight container. See to that the powder is kept away from any moisture.
 If anyone is interested you can place your order at below link. For more detail email @sriharicares@gmail.com or call me at 7760292062/9884554149.

We are part of HLP STORE, a project initiated exclusive by parents for parents at whatsapp holistic group.

Author: Sri Nandhini Hari

I’m Sri Nandhini Hari, a B.Com & M.B.A finance post graduate and have worked in American Express Bank as an Asst. Manager and later with CTS as Financial Analyst. I have a passion towards our own tradition and culture and this has triggered me to share the natural and homemade products to a bigger community for the benefit of all.