Ambe Upkari for Mother's Day

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people,promptly announces she never did care for pie - Tenneva Jordan.

Today is Mother's day.I don't remember when these DAYS started popping up and all we could see was people celebrating such occasions with much pomp and glory.No,please don't get me wrong,I am not against celebrating such 'days' but I am of the school of thought which feels that we do not need one day in a year to celebrate such occasions.We love our parents and we don't need a Mother's day or Father's day to tell them that we love them and one day in a year is not enough to thank them.Same with Valentine's day.But times have changed and we need to change too!!I speak to my amma daily on the phone,today I am going to wish her and tell her that I love her!!She's definitely gonna be surprised..and I would love that!!I am also going to call up my ma-in-law whom I also regard as my amma and wish her too!!Since we are celebrating it anyway,I will cook up something which both my ammas are going to love!!

When I thought of preparing something which my amma loves,I was in for a dilemma.I just could not decide what to cook because amma does not have any particular dish which she loves to have.As far as I know,she has always given priority to what we like.I don't remember something which she made and said,here-have it,its my favourite dish,Never!!It has always been what appa likes,what we kids like..So why not make something today which she likes..??Same thing with my ma-in-law.I have never seen her making something according to her taste and likes.She is a pure vegetarian and she churns out almost all varieties of non-veg food for her hubby and kids.So this is for both my ammas..I love you!!!

Coming back to a dish which is their favorite...Ah...didn't I decide it yet??I'll prepare something which is necessarily not their favorite,but something which they would love to have.Yes,a simple meal with a sweet.I am sure they will relish it,mainly because I have prepared it for them with so much love.Love you amma..

A simple meal of rice,dalithoi,batate upkari,cabbage upkari,pickle,papad,curds and the special item - Ambe upkari.

Ambe Upkari - Ripe mango curry

Ingredients

Ripe mangoes - 6(I used Alphonso mangoes)
Jaggery - 4-5 moulds OR half of one big ball of jaggery,grated
Green chillies - 2-3
Salt to taste
Maida or Cornflour - 1 tbsp

For seasoning

Oil/Ghee or a mix of both - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Methi seeds - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Red chillies - 2,cut into pieces

Method

Wash and wipe the mangoes well.
Peel the skin of the mangoes a little thickly with your hands.
In a big pan put all the mango skins and add about 2 cups of boiling water and keep aside.
After 5 minutes,mash the skins with hands till it oozes out mango pulp,collect as much as you can and throw away the skins.
Take one mango and make pulp with it,add it to the above mix.
In a thick bottom pan,add the mangoes,skin pulp and mango pulp together.
Add jaggery,green chillies,salt and let it cook for 10-15 minutes.
Make a paste with maida and 1 cup water without forming lumps and add to the boiling curry,let it thicken a bit.
Prepare seasoning in a frying pan with oil,mustard seeds,red chilly,methi and curry leaves.
Pour it over the curry,serve hot.
It tastes even better next day,cool from the fridge.

Here's to my ammas with looooottttsss of love..I love you amma,
Happy Mother's Day!!!