Black Swallowtail Caterpillar on Parsley herb Plant. [Black and White Wednesday #102]

This week for Black and White Wednesday event I am submitting image of Black Swallowtail Caterpillar on parsley stem. In September month I spotted one Caterpillar on parsley herb plant which is growing in the pot along with chives. I  gently lifted  caterpillar along with stem and moved it over the lawn but next day it returned back on parsley plant. It looked very pretty with black stripes, yellow dots over bright light Green body. After googling  I was pleasantly surprised to know that the same caterpillar transforms into a beautiful  Black swallowtail butterfly.

Susan, author of TheWell Seasoned Cook who is also a founder of this event is hosting Black and White Wednesday #102. Now Cinzia of  Cindystarblog  looks after admin duties for Susan's Black and White Wednesday Event. For all guidelines  and an index of  all future event hosting blogs please check Cinzia's  post here. Participants can join Flickr group created for B&W event. Next event (BWW #103, 30th October-2013- Hallowen Edition) will be hosted by Lynne  of  CafeLynnylu. 

Caterpillar took  three hours to finish eating one stem of Parsley.

I had plucked and placed it over  side walk, later moved it over mulch.

(Check lower right image for end result.)

Black and White Wednesday
 Event #102, 23rd October-2013

Sliced Zucchini - Black and White Wednesday #100

Tomorrow, 9th October 2013,  Black and White Wednesday event  will be celebrating its 100th  Edition. Cinzia  of  Cindystarblog is  hosting this event who also takes care of admin duties for this event. Susan, author of TheWell Seasoned Cook is a founder of this event. For all guidelines  and an index of  all future event hosting blogs please check Cinzia's  post  here. Participants can join Flickr group created for B&W event. Next event (BWW #101, 16th October-2013) will be hosted by Urvashi of  BuddingHomeMaker.

This week I am submitting my 15th Black and White image. It was a great joy to participate in this event, it added a unique personality to my blog, initiated more creativity and helped me to improve food photography. Thanks to Susan , Cinzia and all the bloggers who hosted this event and shared their beautiful images. My this weeks image is  sliced Zucchini. I clicked this image before cooking  stir fry for lunch. I love to cook with Zucchini for its taste, texture and green and white color contrast. 

Sliced Zucchini

Black and White Wednesday
 Event #100

Cabbage Cilantro Paratha made with self raising flour. {Tava fried Hara Dhania and Band gobi kulcha.}

These cabbage-Cilantro parathas were made in the morning to pack for lunch. Morning short time frame always stimulate me to create good  vegetable based recipes. This time I choose to use self raising all purpose flour instead of regular wheat flour. They are generously packed with fresh cabbage and cilantro, mildly seasoned with ajwain /carom seeds, for extra soft texture sour cream and vinegar is used. Preparing dough, rolling, patting needs some extra care and efforts due to good quantity  of veggies and herb in the dough. Result is good taste, nice Kulcha style appeal, I can also call them as Cabbage-Cilantro griddle fried Kulchas.
Published on june 17,2014.

Ingredients :-

• 1 Cup -  heaping self raising all purpose flour
• 3/4 Cup - very finely thread like sliced cabbage -(1/2 - 1 inch long)
• 1/4 T.spoon - ajwain/Ova/Carom seeds
• 1 Cup - roughly chopped fresh cilantro,hard stem portion chopped finely.
• 2 Green chillies - finely chopped
• 1 Tb.spoon - heaping sour cream
• 1/2 T.spoon - vinegar
• 3 Tb.spoon - oil + more to drizzle over parathas.
• 2-3 Tb.spoon - water for kneading

How to prepare Cabbage Cilantro Paratha/Kulcha :

1. Take a small piece of cabbage, slice it into very thin thread like pieces not more than 1 inch long. Based on the size of cabbage piece you may get longer threads, just chop further into an inch size. This can be done either with knife or slicer. I have sliced it with the knife. Transfer to a medium size bowl.
2. Separate cilantro stem and leaves, roughly chop the leaves and finely slice hard stems into tiny pieces. Keep few tender stems 1 inch long for nice appeal over rolled paratha. Transfer chopped cilantro and stems into the bowl.
3. Add 1 cup heaping self raising flour, 1/4 tsp ajwain/Ova, 2 finely chopped green chillies, 1/2 tsp vinegar, 1 heaping tbsp sour cream to the bowl. Add only a pinch of salt because self raising flour contains good quantity of salt. Mix all well, merge into a ball, smear  1 tbsp oil around ball then start kneading again. Add 2-3 tbsp water and try to merge dough into smooth ball. If it is sticky, sprinkle some flour, knead again by coating dough ball with more oil.
4. Divide dough into 4-5 equal size  balls. Oil your palm and fingers, hold each ball between palms and roll to form smooth ball, lightly dust with flour, keep it aside.
5. Start rolling ball with light pressure, turn clock wise, if required very lightly dust with flour. Roll up to six inch diameter.
6.  place it over griddle. Start with medium low heat, after 30-40 seconds flip and fry for another 30-40 seconds. Fry by flipping 3-4 times. Pat edges and center with Chapati press or ball of paper towel  for even frying. Spray some oil over and around edges. Momentarily increase heat  to medium but don't let paratha get dark burnt spots. Maintain golden brown spots. It takes around 2.5 to 3 minutes to fry each paratha. Multiple actions will perfectly roast each paratha.  After frying stack them over paper towel lined plate, once they are cooled but still warm, cover with dome lid.
7. Serve with sour cream, yogurt, ranch dressing or pickle. Make it more interesting by garnishing paratha with chopped raw cabbage, sliced raw onion rings, fresh cilantro sprigs and sliced lemon wedge.

Onam Pookalam / Floral rangoli for Kerala Onam Festival. {Simple Pookalam with garden flowers, Leaves, wild Chinese Privet berries and Pampas grass}

Tomorrow is Onam,  Kerala's  prime festival  associated with the legendary noble King Mahabali. Beautiful floral carpets are laid on the floor at the entrance of the homes to welcome King Mahabali.  I love onam ritual of floral Rangoli. In this post  I am sharing two pookalam images, one from  year 2011 and another from 2012, both pookalams were  done with available garden and store brought flowers. Traditionally Pookkalams are round floral patterns but last  year I made square floral design. I have used some wild green berries (Chinese Privet, Ligustrum Sinense) and Pampas grass. These are very simple Onam pooklam patterns one can make with available flowers. I have mostly used whole flowers  instead of pinched petals. Enjoy few additional images of Chinese Privet berries  and Pampas Grass captured around home.

Wishing all my readers, followers and visitors a very Happy and Blessed Onam!!

Flowers and berries before setting Onam Pookalam.

Pampas Grass.

Chinese Privet berries captured today morning. 

In fall they turn black, scroll down to check more images 

taken during different  season and weather conditions.

Chinese Privet berries captured on 28th October 2012.

Image taken on 16th November -2012

Image taken on 12th January 2013, on a cold, misty Day.

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Ona-Pookkalam (09/29/2011)

Home made Purple Sweet Potato Chips and Plantain Chips {Black and White Wednesday # 95}

This week for Black and White Wednesday event I am submitting image of  home made Purple sweet potato chips and plantain chips.  I made these chips over labour Day long weekend for evening  tea time snack. I had two green raw Plantains and one  purple sweet potato, It took me around 45 minutes to prepare these deep fried chips. I simply peeled the skin of plantains and sweet potato, directly sliced it over oil Kadhai. My slicer blade makes extra thin slices. Per banana I got above 100 chips and total yield was little over two cups. Sweet potato, I got 1.5 cups chips. I seasoned  chips with  extra fine ground sea salt.

Deepali  from Lemon In Ginger  is hosting Black and White Wednesday Event #95. Susan, author of TheWell Seasoned Cook is a founder of this event. Now Cinzia of  Cindystarblog is a new admin for Susan's Black and White Wednesday Event. For all guidelines  and an index of  all future event hosting blogs please check Cinzia's  post here. Participants can join Flickr group created for B&W event. Next event (BWW #96, 11th Sept-2013) will be hosted by Haalo  of  Cook allmost anything.

Home made Purple Sweet Potato chips & Plantain Chips

Black and White Wednesday
 Event #95, 4th Sept-2013