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Don't worry, be happy

Planning can make your Onam hassle free

PHOTO: K.K. NAJEEB

NO TENSION Planning for the big day can give you time to relax with your family

Who wouldn't like to celebrate a festive occasion like Onam with your family? However, the women of the house usually remain trapped in the kitchen with the preparations for the grand sadya, and they miss out on the fun.

But it need not be so. P.K. Girija Devi, Head of Home Science, Government Women's College, suggests ways to make the whole process easier.

Planner

Decide the menu early. The men can help in the preparations while kids will be pleased to cut and wipe the plantain leaves clean.

Prepare pickles a week in advance leaving only the seasoning for the day before Onam.

Powder ingredients for curries such as sambar, rasam and pickles before the important day.

Saute vermicilli for payasam the day before or buy roasted vermicelli.

Scrape enough coconuts at one go for adding to dishes such as avial and thoran.

Buy banana wafers or make them a week before D-day.

Avoid the last minute rush to buy vegetables. Store vegetables in the refrigerator in perforated polythene films.

Peel and chop vegetables after rinsing to preserve the content of nutrients like vitamin B and C (do not chop too finely-the more the surface exposed the more the loss).

Grind the masalas early, leaving only the seasoning, which is common for most curries, and garnishing to be done on the day of Thiruonam.

Cook the rice last in a thermal cooker so that it can be served hot.

Steam and peel enough potatoes earlier on for adding to necessary dishes.

Refrain from adding soda to batters as it drains the valuable nutrient B-complex.

Sprouting pulses helps save time and nutrients.

SAJNI V. SAHADEVAN

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