SB-CHRONICLES #6 - Reminiscing a sweet recipe of the past

Relishing your memory with a nostalguc favorite recipe . Join this prompt

A Recipe for a Memory: What's a recipe that is tied to a powerful memory? Share the recipe and the story behind it.

This ia Unniyappam. A traditional dish reminiscing nostalgia. I prepared this and continue to prepare once a while after taking the recipe from my mother

The bell rings sharp at 3.30 p.m. This was the timing of the home bell. And our school timing was from 9.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m . This was way back in 1980's, when I was doing my highschool.

We were a group of 8 friends, right from the High school. Together we used to go. Once in school, we start the countdown for the evening bell and the thought of evening snack prepared by my mother keeps nagging me . When it comes to evening snack, it reminds me of unniyapam (rice balls) - a traditional savoury made with rice, jaggery, ripe banana, coconut pieces and whole sesame seeds.

It is usually made in a cast iron pan in those days with several small molds in it. Now non stick pans are available at ease. It tastes well whilst preparing in cast iron rather than non stick pan.

The recipe is made once a while as its time cconsuming. Its a real nostalgia. Once it so happened that we had one hour special class after school hours, ie., after 3.30 p.m. My home being just 10 minutes walk from school, my friends decided to join me for a cup of tea after the special class.

My sweet home (government quarters) in 1980's & 90's. I made a visit 3 years back and stood right in front of the ĥouse . A terrific nostalgia it was. This was the Home where my friends came in. It is a block of 8 homes.

On reaching near the gate of my home, my friends could smell the aroma of the fried oil. Infact, they were more happy because my mother is good at hospitality. As my home sweet home is not a familiar place for them, with a smile, they got in direct into the kitchen.

To my surprise, it was this tasty Unniyapam. It was soft and tasty, probably the result of the effort and love put in by my mother. To beat it all, I remember it was a rainy day. Imagine a hot cup of tea with your favorite snack, no words to describe that beautiful moment.

My friends were happy enough to thank me and my mother for the hospitality and the special treat, which cane in as a surprise, both for me and my friends. As I mentioned earlier, it's a long time consuming process and we do this very rarely

The recipe preparation in short -

• Raw rice - 1 cup (soak for 4 hrs.)
• Jaggery - 1/2 cup or as per your taste
• Banana - 2 ripe ones
• Fried coconut slices - 1/3 cup
• Sesame seeds- 1 tsp

Grind the raw rice. To the grinded raw rice, add jaggery by crushing it, Banana and gind once again. To this mixture added fried coconut slices and sesame seeds and keep it aside for 2 hrs.

Now heat the pan. To it add the cooking oil (this dish tastes good in coconut oil) and keep it in medium flame. Once the oil gets hot, pour a spoon of this batter into each mold and let it cook for 2 minutes. Now turn it around and let it cook for another 2 minutes. Your Unniyappam (rice balls) are ready to be served with hot tea. The aroma spreads around the room making it more tastier.

Thankyou for your time and patience, in going through my blog. 🙏