Malvani / Konkani Cuisine of India

Malvani Cuisine is also known as Konkani Cuisine. Malvan is a town in the sindhudurg District of the state of Karnataka.
This Malvani cuisine is prevalent in some parts of Goa as well as some northern parts of West Karnataka. Malvani cuisine is predominantly non vegetarian but they have  many tasty and delicious vegetarian dishes as well. Malvani cuisine has been influenced  by Maharashtrian and Goan cuisines which ingredients sometimes overlap in these dishes also.

Malvani cuisine used lots of coconut  in the shape of grated, dry grated, as coconut paste, fried adn ground coconut paste  and coconut milk extracts as well. many of their masalas contain usual red chillies, coriander, black pepper, Cumin seeds etc, they also use Kokum fresh and dried, tamarind and raw Mango  as well in their cuisines.
Malvani cuisine has a mix of spicy and less spicy dishes in their cuisine. You can find Konkanastha Brahmin style  dishes quite bland  and very tasty, without being
spicy.  They are not only  vegetarian dishes but taste heavenly too.

Fish dominates the scene in the Malvani cuisine  and the fiery red sea food curries  will not be acceptable to many but they are delicious.  They are somewhat similar to south indian cuisine  and the Goan cuisine.
Sol Kadi is a appetizer drink pink coloured which is made from the kokum fruit and coconut milk. This is usually drunk especially  after a hot and spice Konkani / Malvani meal  and it is very very soothing.

Some of the dishes are Kombdi vade, Mori Masala, Sol Kadhi, Bangda Fry, Malvani Mutton Curry, Bombil fry, Kavda Curry, Paplet saar, Phanasachi Bhaji, Kaju Chi Amti, Fish Koliwada,

Kombdi Vade is a combination dish with Malvani Chicken Curry  and Vade is a fluffy, fried  puri like bread made of wheat and nachni flour along with  onion, lemon and solkadhi (a drink made from coconut milk).

108 Vishnu Divya Desams in India

Among the Vaishnavites if one Azhwar  has sung about a temple then it is considered as a Divya Desam.  Like that there are 108 divya desams in the In dian sub continent, spread out from the Himalayas in the north  to Kanyakumari in the south.

There were 12 Azhwars but ony 11 of them wrote hymns on these 108 Divya Desams. These Divya Desams are mentioned below according to the locations they are present in.

Andra,  
Tiruppathi
Ahobilam
Saligramam
Naimisaaranyam
Mathura
Gokulam
Deva Prayag
Thiruppirithi
Badrinath
Ayodhya
Dwaraka

Kerala / Malai nadu
Thiruvananthpuram
Thirukatkarai
Moozhikkalam
Tiruvella
Thirukadithanam
Sengunroor
Thiruppuliyoor
Thiruvaaranvilai
Thiruvanvandoor
Thirunaavaayi
Viththuvakkodu

Madurai Area
Thirumeyyam
Thirukkottiyoor
Thirukkoodal
Azhakar kovil
Tirumogoor
Srivillipuththoor
Tiruththangal
Thiruppullani

Kanchipuram Area
Tirukkacchi
Ashtabujakaram
Tiruveqkaa
Tiruththanka
Tiruvelukkai
Tirukalvanoor
Tiruoorakam
Tiru neeragam
Tiru kaaragam
Tirukaarvaanam
Tiru paramechura vinnagaram
Tiru pavala vannam
Tiru paadagam
Tiru nilaaththingal thundam
Tirupputkuzhi

Chennai Area
Tiruvallikkeni
Tiruneermalai
Tiruvidaventhai
Tirukadalmallai
Tiruninravoor
Tiruevvul
Tirukkadikai

Mayavaram/Seerkazhi
Tiruvazhundhoor
Tiruindaloor
KazhiciIramavinnagaram
Tirukkavalampadi
Tiruchsemponsey
Tiruarimeyavinnagaram
Tiruvanpurushoththamam
Tiruvaikundavinnagaram
Tirumanimadam
Tiruthevanrtthogai
Tiruthetriyambalam
Tirumanikkoodam
Tiruvellakkulam
Tiruppaarththan palli
Thalaisangananmathiyam
Tiruchsirupuliyoor
Tiruvalitirunagari

Tanjore Area
Tiruccithra kootam
Tirukkannangudi
TirunAgai
Tiru thanjai
Tirukkandiyoor
Tirukkoodaloor
Tirukaviththalam
Tiru Adhanoor
Tiruppullamboothangudi
Tirukkudandhai
Tiruccherai
Tirunandhipuravinnagaram
Tirunaraiyoor
Tiruvinnagar
Tiruvelliyangudi
Tirukkannamangai
Tirukkkannapuram

Trichy Area 
Tiruvarangam
Tirukarambanoor
Tirukkozhi
Tiruanbil
Tirupper nagar
Tiru vellarai
Tirukkoilur
Tiru vayindhirapuram

Tirunelveli Area
Tiruvaramangai
Tirukkurungudi
Srivaikundam
Tiru varagunamangai
Tiruppulingudi
Tirukkurugoor
Tirutthulaivillimangalam
Tirukkoloor
Tirukkulandhai
Thentirupperai
Tiruvattaru
Tiruvanparisaram

Out of the world / Universe
Tiruppaarkatal
Tiruparamapatham

Babycorns and its Health Benefits

About Baby corn

Babycorn is a small cereal of wonder , tastes heavenly as well as comes with loads os nutrition. Baby corns are wholesome and are a versatile food which can blend with various spices, herbs and nuts.  Baby corn comes out delicious and tasty in any dish you try from any cuisine.This can also be used as a dressing for the salads, which then becomes a delicacy.Baby corns are a gold mine of nutrients and has the power to give you more than enough resistance aginst dideases and infections  as well as rejuvenating the body of the toxins.
Attributes of Baby corn
Baby corns are tender  and young fruits of  the maize plants which are plucked well before the harvest time before the fertilization of the corns.
Baby corns can be consumed either as  afresh vegetable or as frozen in cans as preserved. They are canned in a solution of 3% brine, 2% sugar and 0.3%citric acid.
The baby corns are about 10 cms long, 1 - 1.5 cms thick and about 7-8 grams in weight. the colour of the baby corns will be between creamish to light yellow and has a regulr row arrangement.
The ears of babycorn are used in pickles, and salads, which with their crunchy taste   makes the dish tasty, delicious, mouth watering as well as wholesome. This vegetable is eaten all over the world for the taste and nutrition it provides.

Nutrition in babycorns
Baby Corns are comparable to other vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, tomato, lady's fingersm spinach, french beans and brinjals.
They have 86- 100 grams of Phosphrous
is a low caloried vegetable
is low in Cholesterol
rich in fiber content
Free from the residual effect of the pesticides
is an organic food since the edible portion is covered by many layers and so protected from pesticides

Health benefits of baby corns
Corn is a rich source of many essential nutrients and fibre. A meal rich in corn can go a long way in protecting yourself against many diseases and ailments.
Baby Corns have complex carbohydrate which provides a steady stream of energy through out the day
It is a good source of soluble fibre and cooked Sweet corn is said to have anti oxidant which is supposed to prevent cancers and Heart diseases.

Foods to be avoided during Pregnancy

Some of the food items are better avoided during pregnancy, such as raw eggs, raw sea food, undercooked meats, unpasturized milk and street food  etc for the fear of infections and diseases it might get you. 

Processed foods have varieties of  preservatives  and artificial colours which are detrimental to the baby

Alcohol is a taboo,  not even a glass should be allowed or given to the pregnant mother or for that matter Lactating mother.

Tobacco and other  recreational drugs should be avoided  as they can cause physical, mental and emotional defects in the baby, can cause still births as well. 

As  an would be mother you would have to restrict your coffee  / tea intake, only 2- 3 cups  a day at the most. If you can make it light by adding milk it would be better.

Chocolates, need not be completely avoided but can be had in moderation.

Fish is  actually very good for a pregnant lady since they are full of Omega fatty acids but avoid shark, sword fish, king mackerel and tuna because of the large mercury content in them. 

The foods mentioned here can harm the baby's nervous system. You need not be alarmed if you had taken any of these and start thinking of an abortion, just stop taking them hereafter.

Related topics 
Diet during Pregnancy what to eat and what not to eat
Diet During Pregnancy
Diet and Nutrition for Pregnant Mothers