Chasing Away Sinusitis With Ukala

It is that time of the year when you cuddle up in the rocking chair with Ukala and Sweet bread with a blanket on the knee and book in hand. The book has been replaced by the iPAD now but the warm fuzzy feeling is still derived from the Ukala. I think this wonderful drink is magic also due to the aroma therapy of the volatile oils from the spices.

It is the time of the year when your Sinuses play havoc. One nostril is blocked and the other is warm. I don't like sprays, sniffies and other sinus gear. What I like best is twice a day of this Ukala that makes you warm inside out. The blood rushes caused by the spicy heat from the Ukala gives you that fuzzy feeling you desire most in the cold winters. I like to hold my large cup in both my palms and move it across my forehead while it is still hot. Pure therapy, as I sip on my Ukala the slightly thickened milk slides down my tongue and the heat from the spice hits my throat. The brain senses the nice smoothness and brightens the mood. I have never been a milk lover but this Ukala is an excuse to enjoy it once in a while. The Tryptophan is strong enough to make me doze off peacefully when had just before bedtime.

Ingredients  

Ukala Masala

3 tablespoons Black Pepper Corns

1 tablespoon Cardamom pods

2 tablespoons Jyeshtha Madh/ Mulathi powder

1 tablespoon Cloves

2 sticks Cinnamon

In a mortar and pestle powder all the ingredients. Store it in a jar in a dry place. Use 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon of this Masala for your Ukala.

Note: If you do not like fresh ginger or cannot avail it you can include 2 tablespoons of dry ginger powder in this masala, mix well and store.

I use fresh ginger most times so add it to the boiling milk.

300 ml Milk (I like to use Goodlife since it is thicker than other brands)

1/4 teaspoon of the Ukala Masala

1/4 teaspoon Dry Ginger powder
OR 1/4 inch Fresh Ginger

 2 teaspoons of honey

In a clean pot boil Milk and this Ukala Masala, till your milk gets a little thick or gets a faint pinkish tinge. Boil it down to 200ml. Strain, pour into your favorite cup, add honey and mix well. Enjoy the fragrant warm sip.

Many of my friends have come to Blr. for work from warmer places of their birth and the cold here puts them down. Nimmy, Pinka, Jyoti and Aditya this post is for you. Say Cheers with Ukala! 

Tip: This same masala can be used to make a spice tea when boiled with water. To get your strong Masala Chai just add the tea leaves along with this Masala to hot boiling water, brew to your taste and add a splash of milk for the perfect cup.

Gul Chane

Gul Chane is a home remedy for cough

also offered as prasad for Santoshi Mata Vrat on Fridays

While growing up in Fort, my building mates Munni and Parul would go around on Fridays distributing Gul Chane as prasad. It was offered to Santoshi Mata on Fridays by thier Moms. Typically me and my uncle would be sitting out in the passage in the evenings and my uncle would point to his rotund tummy and say, "Look at this and give me prasad." Munni would argue she had to offer to everyone in the building. My uncle MJ would negotiate for a kiss instead :)

I would love this too and Mom made it at home only when we had cough and cold. She would give us a vati filled with it and we would relish it though it was a simple snack. 

This snack proved useful to me. Bangalore is seeing so much dynamic changes in weather  more than 70% of the people are suffering from cough and cold. It rains every morning, suddenly it gets very sunny in the afternoon and every evening there are showers light and heavy. I have had bad throat for couple of weeks now. I have been sucking on Cofsil Losenges without any results. That dry cough makes you feel pukish. That is when I remembered my mother's home remedy. I packed a vati sized box with Gul and roasted split Chana for munching through the day. LO ! the next day my cough vanished. I still have a bit of cold but the mucous is clearing. Mom used to say that this ripen/ matures the mucous faster and hence gives relief from that irritant cough.

Also this is a very nutritious snack for people who need high protein supply, recommended highly for kids and adults equally. There is no proportion for it just go by your liking. Jaggery (Gul) + Roasted Chickpeas  whole or split (Chane or Dahale/ Phutani)