Paper Mache Planets

What you'll Need

Balloons
Cloth clips
Paint
All purpose Flour
Water
Bowl / Glass of different sizes to hold the balloons
Newspaper strips
Thin Rope - For tying & hanging

Method

1. Blow up the balloons corresponding to the size of the planets and tie a knot on each balloon. (Mercury is small...Jupiter is the largest....Other planets' size vary in-between)
2. Hold a balloon in a bowl / glass so its easy to apply the paper mache.
3. In a big bowl, mix 1 part of flour to 2 parts of water. 
4. Tear the newspaper into 2 cm wide strips.
5. Dip a strip of newspaper into the flour - water mixture, wipe off the excess and stick on the balloon.
6. Do this until the balloon is completely covered with the paper strips (except the balloon knot)
7. Now the first layer of paper mache is done. 
8. Using a cloth clip on the balloon knot, hang on a hanger and let it dry overnight.
9. Do another layer of paper mache and dry overnight.
10. Do a third layer of paper mache and dry as before. (3 layers are needed else the planets can deform easily)
11. Poke a small hole in the balloon to release the air and take the balloon out.
12. Seal the top hole with paper mache. (I don't do this because the hole is gonna face the roof and can't be seen)
13. Grab some paint and paint the planet with a paint brush (like kids use for painting)
14. Punch / poke 2 small holes and tie a knot with a rope easy enough for hanging.
15. Do like this for all the planets.

Special Note

1. To make Saturn's ring, I cut out the center of a small paper plate and painted it with the brightest color I had. Make sure to insert the ring from above through the rope before hanging it.
2. Make sure the paper mache dries completely before adding each layer to avoid deformation.
3. The paint I used are from my kids' cabinet. They worked amazingly.
4. For small planets, I used water balloons.
5. Pluto may not be considered as a planet now by scientists.
6. In the flour to water mixture, the water proportion can always be varied between 1 1/2 to 2 parts for every 1 part of flour.
7. After some google search, I figured out the following colors for the planets:  

Planets	Colors Used
Mercury	Brown & dark yellow
Venus	Light yellow, orange & red
Earth	Green, light blue, dark blue & white
Mars	Dark red & black
Jupiter	Dark drown & light brown
Saturn	Green with a bright colored ring
Uranus	Light blue
Neptune	Dark blue
Pluto	Black

Kuruma Kuzhumbhu

Kuruma Kuzhumbhu is a rice accompaniment with the flavours of kuruma since the masala includes fennel along with ginger & garlic....but also includes tamarind which makes it go well with rice.

Ingredients

Oil - 1 tbsp
Cinnamon - 1 inch piece
Potatoes - 1 (cut into big cubes)
Tomato - 1
Tamarind - 1 pod
Red chilli powder - 2 tsp
Coriander powder - 2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt - To Taste

For Masala:

Coconut flakes - 1/4 cup
Fennel (Perunjeeragam) - 1 tsp
Ginger - 1/2 inch piece
Garlic - 3 pods

For Seasoning:

Oil - 2 tbsp
Mustard - 1/4 tsp
Urad dhal - 1/4 tsp
Chopped Onion - 1 tbsp
Curry leaves - 10 Nos.

Method

1. In a pan, add 1 tbsp of oil & add the cinnamon.
2. Now add the potato cubes and tomato slices and fry them for a minute.
3. In a mixer / blender, grind the masala with a little water, and add to the pan.
4. Soak the tamarind in water & add in the tamarind extract.
5. Add the chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder & salt.
6. Let this boil on a medium heat till its half - way done.
7. Do the seasoning and add to the pan.
8. Boil on a low - medium heat till the required consistency is reached.
9. Serve with white rice / brown rice.

Note

1. Ginger and garlic can be replaced by ginger - garlic paste. About 1 1/2 tsp of ginger - garlic paste can be added.

Avial (Tirunelveli Style)

Ingredients

Carrot - 1 (large)

Beans - 10

Peas - 1/2 handful

Potato - 1/2 (large)

Brinjal - 2

Raw Mango (optional) - 1/2 

Plantain (Valaikkai) (optional) - 1

Cauliflower (optional) - 10 florets

Drumstick (optional) - 2

Tomato (optional)

Tamarind - 1/2 pod

Turmeric - 1/2 tsp

Salt - To taste

Water (As needed) - To cook veges

For Masala:

Coconut Flakes - 1/4 cup

Green Chillies - As needed

Cumin - 1/2 tbsp

For Seasoning:

Oil - 2tbsp

Mustard - 1/4 tsp

Urad Dhal - 1/4 tsp

Chopped Onion - 2 tbsp

Curry Leaves - 10 Nos.

Method

1. Have a bowl of water ready to put the cut vegetables, so they won't change color.
2. Slice the carrots round or cut them into 1 inch cubes.
3. Cut the beans into 1 inch long pieces.
4. Cut the brinjal, potato, mango and plantain into 1 inch cubes.
5. Cut the drumstick into 2 inch long pieces.
6. Add all these veges to the bowl of water and wash them really good.
7. To a pan, add all the vegetables. Add tomato if desired.
8. Add turmeric and salt.
9. Add tamarind water. 
10. Add water enough to cover the vegetables. Cook them on a med - high heat, till they are half way done.
11. In a mixer / blender, grind the masala to a fine paste, adding little water.
12. Now, add the masala to the vegetables.
13. Do the seasoning and add to the vegetables.
14. Check for salt at this point.
15. Using a spatula, very gently turn the veges, every 2 minutes.
16. Simmer at a low - medium heat until all the water is evaporated.
17. Serve as a side for rice with sambhar or dhal.

Note

1. I personally prefer to add brinjal 'coz it gets kind of mashed easily and the seeds give a beautiful look and feel to the dish. Eggplant, on the other hand, can also be added, but it just gets soft when cooked.
2. The optional vegetables can be skipped while making the dish.