Mothers day and rangoli are both important to me because it was my mother who taught me to draw or make rangoli. So for this Mothers Day I would like to draw a few in memory of my mother.
She was an expert in free hand designs and also in drawing big designs. When she was young she lived in Vijaya nagaram a small town near Vishakapattinam. Sankranthi also called Pedda Pandaga in Telugu was an important festival for her for rangoli and celebrations. I have shared some of her free hand designs and Mandra kappa a 21 dot muggu design earlier . When my Google Plus profile views crossed the 10 million ( one crore ) mark I remembered her with pride, gratitude for all she taught me - a simple rangoli for Mothers Day and my mother. I have uploaded a few hundred designs most of them simple, some of them colourful, a few big ones. Of course, I will continue to add more, only with a difference. There will be a rangoli and a recipe in each post. There may be separate posts for rangoli for festivals , themes, beginners in the future too !
This design ( white and in colour ) for Mothers Day and my mother. Parallel line patterns were her favourite types and she invariably used some of these patterns. A simple pattern suitable for a much bigger design.
Paal Poli or Milk Poli
How to prepare ?
For one measure of maida ( refined wheat flour ) add one table spoon fine sooji ( or rava ). Mix thoroughly to get dough.After 30 minutes, make small balls of dough as we do with poori. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into circular or triangle shapes. Boil the milk well , stir continuously to prevent milk from boling over. Add required quantity of sugar according to individual's taste, cardamom powder, saffron while stirring the milk. Remove from the stove , to reduce the heat - however the milk should not become cool.
Fry the pooris in oil. Using a fork prick the dough in one or two places so that air is not trapped inside ( so pooris will not puff ). It is important in this recipe that puris do not get inflated (!). After frying , soak the pooris in the boiled milk for a few seconds ( till the next poori is fried ) and remove it. Place it on a plate. If you soak it for a long time, the pooris will become soggy and may tear into pieces.
Optional - Almonds, cashews and pistachios are made into a coarse powder using a mixer and added to the paal poli or milk poli when served to the guests, for members of our family. It is a simple and interesting option for festivals like Diwali, Navaratri and occasions.
We do it for an auspicious day called "Sravan Sukravar " ( Friday in the month of Sravan - Aavani in Tamil ).
Another method of doing this sweet (!) dish is by using chiroti rava instead of maida.
