Hey, that fruit topic has got us going! Thanks Akila!

J chittappa, Vivek hates “even LOOKING at” bananas! One kela with our breakfast is a must every day. I do have a salad of cucumber & carrots every day, but it is special on Ekadasi days with the extra fruits in it!

Palaa pazham – it’s got to be just right – crisp & sweet. Even a slight over-ripeness can spoil the texture and taste. The palaa pazham we had bought for sradham did not keep for even a day, S made chakkai varatti out of it that same evening! Rukka athai-athimber, J chittappa-chitti had the fortune to taste it! Sadly, I hate the taste (or smell) of cooked pazham, so left that joy to others!

S is a great one for buying fruits. But he doesn’t buy as much here as he used to in Bombay. Two reasons – kids not here, attitude of the sellers. S gets a kick out of getting a good bargain, & he does not get that satisfaction in Madras, heheh!

If Akila likes- here’s what I do with over ripe bananas – mash them, cook with vellam. Add elaichi, roasted cashew. It should be cooked till all the water goes. Add a little ghee. This is my version of chakkavaratti! Kela-varatti, if you please!