Green gourd halwa

Green gourd halwa is pretty easy to make...

Ingredients:

Bottle green gourd:500 gms

Shredded fresh coconut:1 cup

Ghee:2 tbsp

Sugar:1/4 cup

Water to boil the gourd

Salt:1/4 tsp

Preparation:

Peel the gourd and cut in to large pieces..

Grate the pieces on the bigger hole grater...

Boil enough water in a pot to immerse the grated gourd...

Add a drop of green colour and boil the grated gourd until soft...

Drain well...

To the drained gourd,add ghee,a pinch of salt,sugar and shredded coconut and cook for a few minutes in a pan...

Serve immediately..

Enjoy the bottle green gourd halwa...

Pumpkin bread

Pumpkin bread can be made easily with this recipe..

Ingredients:

Sugar:3 cups

Flour:3 and 1/2 cups

Cinnamon:2 tsp

Nutmeg:2 tsp

Salt:1 and 1/2 tsp

Baking soda:2 tsp

Vegetable oil:1 cup

Water:2/3 cup

Pumpkin puree:15 ounces

Eggs:2,beaten

Semisweet chocolate chips:10 ounces

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees..

Lightly grease three 8 by 4 inch aluminium foil loaf pans...

In a large bowl combine the sugar,flour,spices,salt and baking soda..

In a medium bowl combine the oil,water,pumpkin puree and eggs...

Add the liquid mixture to the flour mixture and combine thoroughly making sure no unblended dry ingredients linger at the bottom of the bowl..

Add the chocolate chips and stir well..

Divide the batter equally among the pans..

Bake the loaves for 45 to 50 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted at the centre comes out clean...

Cool before you slice the pumpkin bread...

Enjoy baking the pumpkin bread..

Euphorbia tirucalli - Milk bush - Tirukalli

Euphorbia tirucalli is commonly known as Milk bush..In tamil it is known as Tirukalli...

Classification:

Class:Dicotyledons

Sub-class:Monochlamydeae

Series:Unisexuales

Family:Euphorbiaceae

Distribution:

Euphorbia tirucalli is distributed in the tropical and sub-tropical region of the world..It is cosmopolitan in distribution..It is grown widely in rock garden..It is cultivated as a hedge plant..It is a native of tropical Africa..

Description:

Euphorbia tirucalli is a tall evergreen shrub..The branches are round,succulent,slender,green and remain in a leafless condition as the small leaves fall off soon after they develop..Flowers are small,greenish and clustered at the tip of the branches..

Uses:

The plants are gorwn in ornamental garden..The tender branches,leaves,stem,root,bark and latex are useful parts..The plant is useful in the treatment of leprosy,whooping cough,leucorrhoea,asthma,dropsy,enlargement of spleen,dyspepsia,jaundice,colic,tumours and stone in bladder..The white juice of the plant is considered useful for local application in rheumatic pains and toothache..It acts as a purgative in small doses but in large doses it is acrid,emetic and is also a counter-irritant..It has application in warts,rheumatism and neuralgia..Milky juice is applied to itch and scorpion bites..Decoction of tender branches as also that of the root is adminstered in colic and gastralgia..

Euphorbia splendens - Jesus thorn

Euphorbia splendens is commonly known as Jesus thorn..

Classification:

Class:Dicotyledons

Sub-class:Monochlamydeae

Series:Unisexuales

Family:Euphorbiaceae

Distribution:

Euphorbia splendens is distributed in tropical region and is cosmopolitan in distribution..It is widely grown in rock gardens..It is common in gardens in the plains..

Description:

Euphorbia splendens is a spiny succulent shrub commonly grown in rock gardens and reaches a hright of about one metre..This hardy plant thrives well in poor and dry soil and blooms throughout the year..Leaves are chiefly at the tips of the branches,obovate,thin and the flowers are in branched axillary cymes surrounded by a pair of showy scarlet bracts..Flowers are long lasting..

Uses:

The plants are grown as ornamental plants because of the petaloid leaves..The milky latex ia crid and is poisonous..The milky latex is useful in local application in rheumatic pains and toothache..Powdered leaves are used as poultice on boils..

Acalypha wilkesiana

Acalypha wilkesiana is called 'match me if you can'..

Classification:

Class:Dicotyledons

Sub-class:Monochlamydeae

Series:Unisexuales

Family:Euphorbiaeceae

Distribution:

Acalypha wilkesiana is mostly tropical or sub-tropical with a few representatives in temperate zones..It originated in the Fiji islands..It is called "Match me if you can" because no two leaves are identically patterned..

Description:

Acalypha wilkesiana is a coloured leaves shrub..It grows 1.8 to 3 metres high..The leaves are blotched,mottled with different shades of red,crimson and brown colour..

Uses:

Acalypha wilkesiana is essentially grown in house gardens for its attractive foliage..

Acalypha hispida - Cat's tail - Kurangu vaal

Acalypha hispida is commonly known as Cat's tail in english and Kurangu vaal in tamil..

Classification:

Class:Dicotyledons

Sub-class:Monochlamydeae

Series:Unisexuales

Family:Euphorbiaceae

Distribution:

Acalypha hispida is mostly tropical  or sub-tropical with a few representatives in temperate zones..It is found in east indies and Burma..

Description:

Acalypha hispida is a bushy shrub with green leaves,hairy on the top and slightly pale beneath..Flowers are bright red in drooping spike up to 40 cm long..Inflorescence is long,pendulous and has spikes of small blood red flowers..

Uses:

Acalypha hispida are favorite plants of most gardeners for their bright coloured foliage and flowers..It is frequently used for hedging or as a screen...

Acalypha godseffina

Classification:

Class:Dicotyledons

Sub-class:Monochlamydeae

Series:Unisexuales

Family:Euphorbiaceae

Distribution:

Acalypha godseffina is mostly tropical or sub-tropical with a few representatives in temperate zones..

Description:

Acalypha godseffina is a dwarf and bushy shrub..The leaves are ovate and bright green edged creamy white..

Uses:

Acalypha godseffina are grown as ornamental plants..

Muehlenbeckia platycladons - Muehelenbeckia

Muehlenbeckia platycladons is commonly known as Muehelenbeckia..

Classification:

Class:Dicotyledons

Sub-class:Monochlamydeae

Series:Curvembryeae

Family:Polygonoceae

Distribution:

Muehelenbeckia is distributed in north temperate zone of the world..These are native of the Solomon islands and are often grown in gardens.

Description:

Muehelenbeckia is a bushy,evergreen ,glabrous shrub about 1.2 to 1.5 metres high..Branches are flattened,green,foliaceous,0.6 to 1.3 cm wide..Leaves are seperately borne on the margin of the stem on short,stalk,oblong,lanceolate and 1.3 to 2.5cm long..Flowers are small,white and sessile in alternate clusters on the margin of the flat stem

Uses:

This plant is grown for ornamental purposes in the garden and in rockery..The fruit is astringent..

Tecoma stans - yellow bells - Yellow trumpet flower

Tecoma stans is commonly known as yellow bells or yellow trumpet flower...


Class: Dicotyledons

Sub-class: Gamopetalae

Series: Bicarpellatae

Order: Personales

Family: Bignoniaceae

In tamil it is known as Sornapatti...

Distribution:

Tecoma stans is mainly distributed in tropical regions..It is abundant in tropical South america especially Brazil...Some do occur in the temperate regions..They are cultivated in india for beautiful foliage and flowers...

Description:

Tecoma stans is an ecrect shrub with a spreading crown growing up to three metres..Leaves are mostly compound,also simple opposite,leaflets lanceolate,4 to 10 cm long,2 to 3 cm wide and sharply serrate..Numerous yellow flowers are borne on a large terminal panicle during summer and rainy seasons also..The corolla is funnel shaped,4 cm across..Fruits are capsulated and have about 12 to 20 cm long seeds with wings...

Uses:

Tecoma stans is a popular ornamental shrub...Its profuse bright yellow bloom has made the species much loved throughout the tropics..Other than ornamental purposes,the leaves,barks and roots have been used for a variety of purposes in herbal medicine..Applications include the experimental treatment for diabetes,digestive problems,control of yeast infections and other medicinal applications..

 

Bougainvillaea spectabilis - Glory of the garden - Thal pu - Kahida pu

Bougainvillaea spectabilis is commonly known as the Glory of the garden..It tamil it is called as Thal pu or Kahida poo...

Classification:

Class:Dicotyledons

Sub-class:Monochlamydeae

Series:Curvembryeae

Family:Nyctaginaceae

Distribution:

Bougainvillaea spectabilis is found in the tropical and sub-tropical region on the northern and southern hemispheres..The plants are especially found in America..They are very common in gardens..

Description:

Bougainvillaea spectabilis is a woody,scandent or straggling shrub..The branches and shoots are hairy..Spines are woody up to 3.5 cm long..The leaves are ovate,densely tomentose on both surfaces..Its flowers arise laterally from the branches..Bracts are ovate to elliptic in shape,cordate at base about 2.5 cm long ending in five star shaped lobes..

Uses:

Bougainvillaea spectabilis has medicinal and ornamental value..Various species of Bougainvillaea are grown in garden for their brightly coloured bracts of different shades...

Videx negundo - Chest nut tree

Videx negundo is commonly known as Chest nut tree..In tamil it is known as Nochie..

Ingredients:

Class:Doctyledons

Sub-class:Gamopetalae

Series:Bicarpellatae

Order:Lamiales

Family:Verbenaceae

Distribution:

Vitex negundo is found in tropical regions..In india they are found in Andra Pradesh,Kerala,Tamil Nadu,Tripura

Description:

Vitex negundo is a tall aromatic shrub..The stem is woody,branched and quadrangular..Leaves are pinnately compound,entire,petiolate and exstipulate..Venation is reticulate..Inflorescence is a raceme..Flowers are small sized,bilipped,corolla tube is short..

Uses:

Vitex negundo is popularly known as chinese chest nut tree..It is a shrub grown for reclamation of forest land..The branches are used for manufacturing baskets..It is used as an aphrodisiac and as a febrifuge..The roots,leaves and fruits are used for medicinal purposes..The ashes are largely used in dyeing..The branches are supposed to keep off insects and hence are kept over stored grains..

Lantana camara - Unni poo

Lantana is commonly known as Lantana...In tamil it is known as Unni poo...

Classification:

Class:Dicotyledons

Sub-class:Gamopetalae

Series:Bicarpellatae

Order:Lamiales

Family:Verbenaceae

Distribution:

Lantana camara is distributed in tropical and sub-tropical region..It is found all over india..It is especially seen in Coorg and Waynaad..This was introduced from tropical America..

Description:

Lantana camara is widely seen everywhere..The plant is a straggling aromatic shrub..It is a significant weed..The stem is woody,branched,hairy,solid with recurved prickles and quadrangular..Leaves are simple,petiolate,exstipulate,opposite,decussate,hairy,ovate and acute..Margin is serrate,venation is unicostate reticulate..Flowers are seen in various colours like red,white,yellow and pink..Corolla is bilipped and the anterior petal is large..

Uses:

Lantana camara is a common hairy aromatic shrub with flowers in various colours in dense heads..It is commonly grown in gardens as hedge plants..The decoction of the plant is given in tetanus,rheumatism and treatment of malaria..The leaves are used as a cure for snake bite..

Holmskioldia sanguinea - Chinese hat plant

Holmskioldia sanguinea is otherwise known as chinese hat plant..In tamil it is known as cup and saucer plant..

Classification:

Class:Dicotyledons

Sub-class:Gamopetalae

Series:Bicarpellatae

Order:Lamiales

Family:Verbenaceae

Distribution:

Holmskioldia sanguinea is distributed in tropical and sub-tropical region..It is found in gardens..

Description:

Holmskiodia sanguinea is an ever green,scandent,attractive shrub..The plant is vase shaped,stem is woody,branched,green in colour and quadrangular..Leaves are simple,exstipulate,opposite decussate,petiolate...Margin is slightly serrate,acuminate..Venation is reticulate..Inflorescence is a raceme..Flower is pedicellate,red and orange in colour..

Uses:

Holmskiodia sanguinea is a strangling evergreen shrub with lilac flowers...

Trifle pudding

Trifle pudding can be made in no time with this simple recipe...Kids will  just love this...

Ingredients:

Raspberry jelly:1 packet

Fresh milk:1 litre

Custard powder:3 tbsp

Sponge cake:a slice

Bananas:3

Apples:2

Seedless grapes:1 cup

Sugar to taste

For decoration:

Pineapple slices

Kiwi slices

Glazed cherries

Preparation:

Take a large serving dish...

Prepare jelly as per the instructions given on the packet...

Set this in the refrigerator...

Prepare custard with milk,custard powder,sugar and cool...

When the jelly sets spread mixed fruits on top and cover with crumbled sponge cake and pour the custard over it...

Now decorate with pineapple,kiwi and cherry slices...

Serve chilled...

Enjoy the trifle pudding!!

Creamy coriander chicken

Creamy coriander chicken can be made easily with this recipe...

Ingredients:

Ground coriander:1 tsp

Garlic salt:1/2 tsp

Turmeric powder:1/8 tsp

Corn starch:2 tbsp

Chicken breast:250 gms,sliced horizontally to make thin flat pieces

Butter:2 tbsp

Chicken broth:3/4 cup

Cilantro leaves:1 tsp

Heavy cream:2 to 3 tbsp

Preparation:

Combine coriander,garlic salt,turmeric and 1 tbalespoon of cornstarch....

Pat this on to the chicken...

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat...

Saute chicken 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through...

Remove chicken to platter...

Tent with foil...

Now combine the borth,cilantro and the remaining corn starch..

Add this to the skillet...

Bring to a boil...

Reduce heat to simmer and cook for a minute...

Stir in the cream...

Serve the creamy coriander chicken with rice or roti or naan...